Airline mixup sends folks to wrong continent ... Top Canadian cities ... Deal of day

You say Dakar, I say Dhaka. You say Oakland, I say Auckland.

It amazes me how these things can happen in this day and age of the information highway. But every once in a while the airlines give us a doozy.

The latest is a mixup involving a couple from Los Angeles who thought they were flying Turkish Airlines to Istanbul and then on to Dakar, Senegal. Their flight to Turkey was fine and they went to sleep on the second leg, thinking they were headed southwest to Africa. Instead, Sandy Valdivieso woke up and looked at the seatback video and found their plane was flying over the Middle East.

Turns out that there was a mixup at Los Angeles International and she and her husband were mistakenly given tickets to Dhaka, Bangladesh instead of Dakar, Senegal (see photo below right of Goree Island in Dakar, which I'll mention in a minute).

They got things fixed up and were sent back to Istanbul and then on to Dakar. Their luggage arrived a couple days later.

The airline wasn’t doing much for them, apparently, until the Los Angeles Times learned about the incident. The couple was then given free flight passes. In economy.

The story reminds me of the time, way back when before the Internet, when some guy in L.A. allegedly was trying to fly to Oakland, California (a one-hour flight) and couldn’t figure out why two hours later he could still see the Pacific Ocean outside the airplane window. The story goes that he was mistakenly routed to Auckland, New Zealand.

At the risk of offending my home town of Oakland, I think I’d prefer Auckland, actually. Putting aside the 12-hour flight, that is.

I also can recommend Dakar, actually. It’s the only place I’ve been to in Africa, having taken the trip to cover an International Olympic Committee meeting for the Star’s sports department. There are a couple of lovely hotels on the ocean with beautiful pools and even a small golf course with local caddies.

I didn’t see much of the city, although I did conduct an interview with the family of then Toronto Raptor Mamadou N’diaye, who was from Dakar.

The IOC folks also took the media along on a visit to Ile Goree, a pretty island near Dakar with a terrible history as the embarkation point for thousands and thousands of West African slaves. We toured the tiny chambers where people were held against their will while waiting to be put onto ships with deplorable conditions and saw the chains used to bind prisoners.

An awful place, for sure. But also one very much worth seeing (not unlike a World War II concentration camp in Europe) to remind us just how cruel we humans can be to one another.

The slave quarters and the so-called "door of no return" that led to the ships is powerful. But there also are beautiful views of the surrounding ocean and brightly-coloured boats on the beach, plus casual shops selling casual clothes in a million shades of red, green, yellow and blue - and just about any other colour you can imagine.

TOP TRIP ADVISOR CITIES

TripAdvisor today released a list of the most sought-after cities in the world, and the places Canadians are looking for.

The awards, based on reviews and opinions of millions of TripAdvisior travelers, found Vancouver on top, followed by Montreal, Niagara Falls, Toronto, Quebec City, Banff, Victoria, Whistler, Lake Louise and Ottawa. No surprise, I guess, given the millions of folks who live in the Greater Toronto Area and would be searching for places like Niagara and Ottawa and Montreal for weekend getaways or family trips.

Still, it's too bad we didn't get Halifax or St. John's on the list as they're both tremendous cities to visit.

TripAdvisor also did a world list, with the top 25 listed. No Canadian cities made the top 25. Here's the top ten: Paris, New York, London, Rome, Barcelona, Venice, San Francisco, Florence, Prague and Sydney. Three cities from Italy in the top 10; not bad.

For the U.S., the top ten were New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando, Washington D.C., Boston, Los Angeles, Honolulu and New Orleans. Once again, Minot North Dakota failed to elbow its way into the top 10. Or 25,for that matter.

CALLING ALL LOTTERY WINNERS

Someone down in Florida just won something like $60 million in a lottery. Which is an almost unfathomable amount of money.

The interest alone would be enough to live like a king. Or you could try living the high life in New York City.

A story I spotted on the weekend in the Telegraph (England), talked about the most expensive hotels in New York City. Topping the charts, the paper said, was the St. Regis.

At $823 a night, it’s quite pricey. Then again, there are marble floors, Louis XV furniture from France (I prefer Louis XIV myself; although he was a big fan of Ikea), Waterford crystal and more. Probably they have good soap and shampoo in the washrooms, too. And I bet they don’t bolt the blow dryer to the wall to prevent thefts.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for a fabulous-sounding seven-night trip to Sicily, priced at $2,422.

Jaunt Highlights

• 7-Day/6-Night Taste of Sicily Tour, featuring visits to Palermo, Marsala, the Valley of the Temples, Mount Etna and much more!
• 6-Nights' accommodation in a variety of 4-Star hotels, based on double occupancy. See below for hotels included (or similar).
• Includes transportation via deluxe motorcoach, services of an English speaking guide, and all guided city tours as per itinerary
• Meals include 4 breakfasts and 5 dinners

• Early fall in Italy is the absolute best time to visit: perfect weather and less crowds
• Leisure time in Palermo paired with guided tours for the rest of your trip give a perfect balance of freedom and itinerary-based fun
• Visit stunning landmarks in Siracusa, Taormina and the beautiful and towering Mount Etna

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on September 25 & October 9, 2013
• Includes departure airfare from Toronto to Palermo (via Rome) and return airfare from Catania (via Rome) to Toronto, both on Alitalia, plus airport/hotel transfers
• Pricing (rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  September 25, 2013:
  Double: $1949
  Triple: $1949
  Single: $2199
  Tax: $523
  
  October 9, 2013:
  Double: $1899
  Triple: $1899
  Single: $2149
  Tax: $523
  
  For Other DATES or GATEWAYS Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
  
  
• Accommodations Included (or similar): Mercure Hotel (Palermo); Hotel Della Valle (Agrigento) and (Giardini Naxos) Antares or  Caesar’s Palace (Taormina)
• Includes all taxes and service charges
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is refundable until 5 PM EST on May 23, 2013. After that time, this offer is 100% non-refundable.

 

Easter Travel dull for Canadians ... Carnival cruise cancellations ... Deal of day

I guess it makes sense. It doesn't exactly make Canadians look like world travel beaters in terms of exotic destinations, but it shows some very solid bargains to be had for next weekend.

Hotwire.com this week unveiled a list of the 10 most popular Easter destinations for Canadian travellers, based on bookings with their site. They said Canadians seem to be staying closer to home this year compared to 2012.

Here's a look at their findings for most bookings, with average nightly rates found on Hotwire:

1. Toronto, $80 (quite the bargain)

2. New York, $201 (not bad for NYC, actually)

3. Montreal, $80 (see photo at right)

4. Vancouver, $82

5. Seattle, $97

6. Las Vegas, $81

7. Boston, $97

8. Orlando, $73

9. Chicago, $80

10. Minneapolis, $54 (probably shoppers from Manitoba)

New York was the top destination for Canadians last year. Vancouver was sixth last year but fourth this year.

CARNIVAL CRUISE WOES

Carnival has cancelled ten cruises that were slated for its damaged Triumph ship. The cruise line announced Tuesday that the Carnival Triumph will be out of service longer than first expected after it was crippled by an engine fire in the Gulf of Mexico last month, leaving 4,200 people stranded for five days.

AP reports the company said the ship won't return to service until June 13, which means the cancellation of 10 more cruises.

"Those guests will receive full refunds, reimbursement for non-refundable transportation costs and a 25 per cent discount on a future four- to five-day cruise," AP said. "Also, the Carnival Sunshine, which is undergoing a scheduled full-ship makeover, will return to service May 5, following the cancellation of two European cruises."

Carnival says it is improving services that can run on emergency power and also fixing ship's fire prevention systems. Yeah, I would hope so.

USA TRAVEL WOES, TOO

A story from USA Today says overseas travelers want to avoid the United States because of long wait times and inefficient entry procedures at gateway airports -- and recommend to others that they too stay away.

A new survey of travellers from Britain, France, Germany, Japan, China and Brazil (but not Canada) found 43 per cent of travelers who had traveled to the United States say they'll tell other countrymen and women not to visit because of the cumbersome entry process.

It comes at a bad time for the U.S. as they're spending a small fortune to promote the country with their BrandUSA campaign. It's a good campaign that shows off the best of the U.S., but it may not matter if people are turned off by a customs or immigration hassle.

The USA Today story said one in three travelers said that "the U.S. was falling behind other countries or it was the worst they had ever experienced in terms of getting through U.S. Customs and Border Protection procedures.

* Business travelers, especially, said they were put off by the entry process, with 44% saying they will refuse to visit in the next five years.

* One in seven international travelers said they had missed a connection because of delays at Customs. Two-thirds said they would consider the U.S. an attractive destination if the Customs lines and wait times were shorter."

Speaking of the Statue of Liberty, the old girl's island was damaged by Superstorm Sandy. But officials Tuesday said it should re-open by the Fourth of July. Hopefully visitors will be able to clear U.S. customs by then.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on hand for an Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Celebrity Reflection for $898, including $99 in taxes.

Jaunt Highlights

• BONUS: $75 Onboard Credit per cabin
• BONUS: Includes Classic Beverage Package for Two! See offer details for more info.
• 7-night Eastern Caribbean Cruise sailing on the Celebrity Reflection
• Ports of Call include: Miami, Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten
• Accommodations in a Oceanview (Category 8) or Deluxe Ocean View w/ Veranda partially obstructed (Category 2C) stateroom

• The brand new Celebrity Reflection has the most up-to-date amenities and attractions
• The beautiful grassy knoll of the Lawn Club has private alcove hideaways, a delicious grill and other activities
• Visit some of the best ports the Eastern Caribbean has to offer

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on December 7, 2013
  We also offer other departure DATES and FLIGHTS.
  Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
  
  
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Oceanview (Category 8):
  1st & 2nd Passenger: $799
  3rd & 4th Passenger: $399
  Tax: $99
  
  Deluxe Ocean View w/ Veranda partially obstructed (Category 2C):
  1st & 2nd Passenger: $889
  3rd & 4th Passenger: $499
  Tax:  $99
  
  
• Classic Beverage Package: Applies to two guests per stateroom and includes beers up to $5 per serving; spirits, cocktails, and wine up to $8 per serving, all soda selections, fresh squeezed and bottled juices, premium coffees, and teas and non-premium bottled water.
• Server gratuities are included
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is refundable until March 20 at 5PM EST. After this time, this offer is 100% non-refundable

 

 

 

Florida launches tourism campaign as storm hits the north/Deal of Day: Paris

Miserable out today, ain't it? Flights cancelled over the place, roads a mess, biting winds and cascading snow all around.

Not to make it hurt too much, but the forecast for Dunedin and Clearwater Beach, Florida is sunny and 22 degrees Celsius, with only a 20 per cent chance of rain. Which makes the announcement of a new Florida tourism campaign all the more perfect.

On Thursday, VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s official tourism marketing corporation, announced a new brand campaign that captures all the feelings of a Florida vacation experience in just four words: Must Be the Sunshine. It includes a great commercial that shows a penguin wandering into a hotel room filled with toys, such as golf clubs and a pink flamingo and a flying shark and a couple of famous mouse characters, plus a boy dressed as a pirate and a girl as a princess and tons more. I saw it a couple weeks ago at a Florida tourism conference and I think it's absolutely fabulous; touching all the buttons and more.

No plans to show it in Canada just yet, I'm told. Quite frankly, I think they're missing an opportunity. But we'll see. If you want to see it in the meantime, you can click here.

“There is nothing more powerful than a personal story being shared directly with others, and so at its core ‘Must Be the Sunshine’ is a storytelling campaign,” said Will Seccombe, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA.

The first television commercial, which will air in Detroit during Sunday’s Grammy Awards show, lands the viewer in the afterglow of an epic Florida family vacation.  In the months ahead – via TV, cinema, radio and print, as well as jumbotrons, subway station takeovers, commuter train wraps and even an interactive online game – “Must Be the Sunshine” will remind people why Florida vacations make great stories. 

“Unlike other destinations, we don’t have to invent the narratives,” said Susannah Costello, VISIT FLORIDA Vice President of Brand. “People are telling great Florida vacation stories all the time. This campaign capitalizes on that insight.”

The message has inspired some major participants.  Several of Florida’s heavyweights – Disney, Universal, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens, along with the Viva Florida 500 initiative, Florida State Parks and many other key tourism businesses – are all partnering together for the first time in the same TV ad.  Besides Sunday in Detroit, the commercial will play in Atlanta, New York, Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Dallas on such programs as the Today Show, Good Morning America, American Idol and The Big Bang Theory.

AIR CANADA PREMIUM ECONOMY

As much as it makes sense for Air Canada (and WestJet) to introduce premium economy seating, it's going to make things a tad less pleasant in regular economy.

There's only so much room in an airplane, and by adding more seating with more space it means a crunch for the people at the back of the plane. Air Canada insists it's a minor change, but we'll have to wait and see. I bet it'll be noticeable for most folks. Toss in the added fees and lack of amenities on flights these days and we know why flying ain't so fun any more.

STAY TUNED FOR WESTJET ENCORE

WestJet on Monday will reveal some of the destinations it'll serve with its new regional carrier, Encore. They're not saying if they'll do the western part of the country first or the east, but you'd have to think they'll be adding flights out west versus the already crowded eastern market.

Communities all over western Canada have been clamouring for service, as they understand the benefits of planes full of tourists, business people and just plain visitors coming to their towns. The lobbying has been intense, and the announcement will be quite interesting.

VEGAS GOES TO SPAIN

This report from Associated Press: Las Vegas Sands casinos and Madrid officials have chosen the town of Alcorcon on the outskirts of the Spanish capital as the site for the multibillion-dollar "EuroVegas" casino project, which authorities hope will bring much-needed jobs and investment to the recession-wracked country.

Madrid regional government president Ignacio Gonzalez said Friday that work on the first of three phases would begin at the end of 2013 and would be completed by 2017. The entire project, initially comprising 12 hotels and six casinos, is to be finished by 2023 at an estimated cost of €22 billion.

Las Vegas Sands is to fund 35 per cent of the project. It is not clear where the remaining 65 per cent will come from.

Spain has a swollen deficit and 26 per cent unemployment

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, is offering a nine-day tour of some of the finest sights in France, including Paris and beautiful chateaux in the Loire Valley. The deal goes for $1,998 plus $510 in taxes for a total of $2,508 and is offered by Transat. Here are the details:

• SAVINGS: Save up to $674 per couple, compared to the cost of booking your air, accommodations, touring and meals separately!
• BONUS: $150 Future Travel Voucher per person
• BONUS: Extend your flight for up to 30 days at no additional cost (accommodations extra) and return from anywhere Transat flies in Europe
• 9-Day, 7-Night Royal Week in Paris Semi-Escorted Tour including visits to the Chateaux of the Loire Valley and Vaux-le-Vicomte, Palace of Versailles, a cruise along the Seine, and more 
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Paris on board Air Transat, and airport/hotel transfers in France
• 7 nights' accommodation in 4-Star hotels (double occupancy). Hotels include the following or similar: Mercure Gobelins Place d'Italie or Mercure Montmartre Sacre-Coeur
• Includes transportation via deluxe motorcoach, services of an English-speaking licensed tour guide, and all sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary
• Meals include 7 hot buffet breakfasts, 2 lunches (1 including wine) and a farewell dinner with wine 
• The tour is a mixture of guided sightseeing and independent time
• You'll tour famous sites like the Palace of Versailles
• Explore the amazing castles that dot the French countryside

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on August 23, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person):
  
  Single: $2269
  Double: $1998
  Tax: $509.67
  
  
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is refundable until February 13 at 5PM EST. After this time, this offer is 100% non-refundable

Dresden top world city for hotels: London worst, T.O 70th ... Jaunt deal of day

Looking for a great hotel breakfast? Try Dresden, Germany. More a fan of over-priced hotels with small rooms, expensive mini-bars, long lines at check-in and line-ups for breakfast? Check out hotels in London, England.

Yet another hotel rating report has landed on my virtual desk, this one from a German company called Trivago. According to Reuters, Trivago, a "travel metasearch website," compiled hotel reviews from more than 140 accommodation booking sites and found London came last in a list of 100 cities that had at least 135 hotels and 60 reviews. It did not include TripAdvisor postings.

"Dresden came top with its hotels receiving the highest ratings and most positive reviews from guests," Reuters said.

"Users praised Dresden hotels for their value for money, whilst London hotels were criticised for their prices," said a spokeswoman for Trivago. "In particular, reviewers felt the minibars were overpriced and breakfast service was both overpriced and disappointing, whilst hotels in Dresden were praised for their delicious and well-valued breakfasts."

She said London hotels were also criticised for overcrowding at breakfast, long queues at check-in, inability to cope with large groups of people, small rooms and poor views. On the other hand, hotels in Dresden were praised for their exceptional service, efficiency, helpful staff, as well as their spacious rooms with excellent views.

Finishing just behind Dresden in the list of cities with good hotels were Hanoi, Portland (Oregon), Tokyo and then, in the fifth spot, Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The rest of the top ten featured, in order, Gdansk in Poland, Chicago, Seattle, Krakow and Budapest.

The worst ten? From 91st to 100th and dead last, were the following: Los Angeles, Kiev, Frankfurt, Panama City (Panama), Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris, Copenhagen, Rio de Janeiro and London.

Dresden got a "reputation score" of 83.08, while London notched a mark of just 73.42.

It's a rather damning statement for western Europe, with five big name cities in the bottom 10. But fairly decent for the U.S., with three in the top 10; two in the northwest part of the country.

What about Canada, you say? Glad you asked. Montreal finished down in the 58th spot with a 78.67 reputation score. Toronto? Ai-yay-yay: a pretty poor 70th place with a reputation score of just 78.15.

Other notable cities and their placement in the top 100 include Venice (14), Las Vegas (18), Prague (24), Florence (25), New Orleans (32), Barcelona (33), Orlando (40), Madrid (52), Hong Kong (59), San Francisco (62), Dublin (65), New York (67), Sydney (69), Rome (74), Delhi (80) and Glasgow (86).

I have found London to be quite expensive and rooms are small. Rooms tend to be small in most older, urbanized areas of Europe, for sure. But I'm a tad surprised at some of the results. I've been to Hanoi but only stayed in one hotel. It was pretty nice and fairly cheap; maybe $100 for a room with a nice bath and balcony and decent breakfast very close to the city centre. But number two in the world? I don't know about that.

BETTER TEA WITH BRITISH AIRWAYS

Good story in Star Business today by reporter Vanessa Lu, talking about how British Airways worked with Twinings to develop a better-tasting tea for folks at 35,000 feet. Apparently we lose a lot of our taste buds at such high altitudes and in dry airline cabins, so they're worked out a new "formula" to give the best taste.

Personally, I think tea is highly overrated and doesn't even compare to a good cup of coffee. But, then again, I get grief from friends/family about preferring creme in my coffee versus taking it black. And I VASTLY prefer Tim Horton's drip coffee to Starbucks, although I''ll take Starbucks for a good latte.

I tried Aroma coffee bar at Yonge and Eglinton for the first time on Tuesday and had a wonderful latte. Plus the croissants smelled divine!

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, is offering a cruise package to Alaska. The deal, with Celebrity Cruise lines, is priced at $1,468, including $339 in taxes, and includes air fare.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• BONUS 1: Inside Stateroom - $50 Onboard Credit per stateroom
• BONUS 2: Oceanview Stateroom or higher - $50 Onboard Credit per stateroom PLUS one of the following for FREE:
  - Classic Beverage package for 2 per day
  - Prepaid Gratuities for two per day
  - Additional $200 Onboard Credit per stateroom
• 7-Night Alaska cruise aboard the Celebrity Century, starting from and ending in Vancouver
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Vancouver with Air Transat, and airport/port transfers
• Ports of call include: Vancouver, Inside Passage, Icy Strait, Hubbard Glacier, Juneau & Ketchikan
• Accommodations in an Inside (Category 11) or Oceanview (Category 4, 5 & 7) Stateroom
• Standard onboard dining included

Why We Love It:

• Days at port are full of adventure, days at sea full of amazing sites
• Travel to Juneau, Alaska's capital, as well as the emblematic Hubbard Glacier
• Choose from a wide variety of excursions that pander to active spirits

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following sailings: May 5, 12, 19, 26 & June 9, 2013
• Pricing (per person, based on double occupancy):
  May 5:
  Inside: $1259 + $336 tax
  Oceanview: $1659 + $336 tax
  
  May 12:
  Inside: $1149 + $329 tax
  Oceanview: $1599 + $329 tax
  
  May 19:
  Inside: $1199 + $336 tax
  Oceanview: $1799 + $336 tax
  
  May 26:
  Inside: $1129 + $339 tax
  Oceanview: $1849 + $339 tax
  
  June 9:
  Inside: $1149 + $314 tax
  Oceanview: $1749 + $314 tax
• To redeem Bonus 2 for Oceanview bookings, please enter your choice in the Request Box upon booking
• To upgrade to Balcony Stateroom or higher, and receive an additional $50 Onboard Credit, call our travel professionals at: 1-855-GO-JAUNT
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada

 

 

Canadians stuck in a rut for holiday spots? We dream of Oz but do the Caribbean

A very cool study was released today by the folks at Cheapflights.ca. The company surveyed more than 1,000 Canadians and found that more than 80 per cent of us are likely to return to the same place over and over again for a holiday. And eat the same dishes. At the same restaurants.

"We learned that, while travellers dream of trips to Australia, they find themselves in Florida, again and again," said Melisse Hinkle, site editor for Cheapflights.ca. "Another years means another trip to the same Disney Resort or the same beach condo."

Yeah, I bet the Florida tourism people hate that.

Forty four per cent of Canadians surveyed said they ate at the same restaurant on repeat visits, with 36 per cent visiting the same attractions. More than 32 per cent of us stay at the same hotel and almost 20 per cent eat the same meal over and over again.

I can see that being the case. There are a whack of restaurants on Main St. in Dunedin, Florida. But when I go I invariably end up on the patio at Sea Sea Rider's (see photo below) for a blackened fish sandwich at lunch. And I usually have dinner at Kelly's. They remind me of my days covering the Blue Jays in spring training and I like the ambience at both. And the food, of course.

The study found that, to no one's surprise, the Caribbean is our favourite spot for repeat visits, with 12.7 per cent of the vote. Next was Florida at 10.3 per cent, then Western Europe (7.3), Las Vegas/Southwest U.S. (6.9), Hawaii (6.7), the Maritimes (6.0), Mexico (5.9), the UK (5.5), Banff/Calgary/The Rockies (5.0), Toronto (4.5), California (4.4), Vancouver (3.8), Montreal/Quebec (3.1), New York (3.0) and Ottawa (1.9).

There was a bit of a difference between men and women on some of the destinations. The two sexes agreed mostly on the Caribbean and Florida. But men liked Western Europe more than women (8.3 per cent for men, 6.7 for women, which I find quite surprising). On the subject of Vegas/Southwest U.S., men named it their third favourite spot with a 9.2 per cent vote. Women had it number nine, with just 5.2 per cent support. Which probably isn't too surprising.

Men put a higher value on Hawaii (7.6 versus 6.0), while women liked the Maritimes more (7.1 versus 4.4 for men). Toronto? Women had us eighth at 5.4 per cent, while men put us in the 12th spot at 3.2 per cent. Montreal/Quebec I found strange. Men had the two cities ranked number nine at 4.4 per cent. Women had them down in 14th spot at just 2.3 per cent. Maybe men like the gentlemen's clubs in Montreal, who knows?

Asked where we'd go if we could travel to a new destination, the clear winner - by a country kilometer - was Australia and New Zealand. Those two countries garnered a whopping 31 per cent of the vote. Next was Eastern Europe, left in the dust at 7.0. Those two were followed by Costa Rica (6.7), the South Pacific (5.9), Alaska (5.4) and Belize (3.9). Then came, in order, Japan, Brazil, South Africa, China/Hong Kong, Thailand, India, Russia, Argentina and the Middle East.

Still, we seem to love going back to the same places an awful lot. Asked how likely they are to vacation at the same spot more than once, 20.8 per cent of us non-adventurous Canadians said it was "extremely likely." Another 32.7 per cent said it was very likely and 26.9 per cent said it was "moderately likely" and 11.5 said it was somewhat slightly likely. Meaning 80.4 per cent said it was slightly to extremely likely they'd go back. Only 8.2 per cent of us said it was not at all likely.

Asked why they would go or do go back to the same vacation spot, the top response was great weather, followed by value, "best holiday I've found," ease of access, peace of mind and safety.

Cheapflights.ca asked chartered psychologist Dr. Jane McCartney for some thoughts. The good doctor said the numbers can partly be explained because there's comfort in routine.

"Although it is widely accepted that a certain amount of structure and order is required for a healthy and productive life, having too much control can lead to boredom, tedium and being un-stimulated," she said.

WIKIMEDIA GOES TRAVEL

More on this tomorrow, but check out wikivoyage.org for the Wikimedia folks new foray into the travel biz. Interesting.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on for a WestJet/Royal Caribbean cruise package. The deal is priced at $1,214, plus $253 in taxes, for a total of $1,467.

My family and I did a Royal Caribbean cruise to the same spots a few years ago and loved it. It's a wonderful family holiday, with something for everyone, and we were able to get off the ship a few times and do tours of the various islands, including St. Maarten/St. Martin and St. Thomas, which is beautiful and is an island I featured recently in Star Travel after a visit in October.

Here are the deal details:

Jaunt Highlights

• BONUS: Includes $50 Onboard Credit per cabin
• 7-night Eastern Caribbean Cruise sailing on the RCI Allure of the Seas
• Includes return airfare on WestJet from Toronto or Montreal to Fort Lauderdale 
• Departs and returns to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Other Ports of Call include: Nassau, Bahamas; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas & Philipsburg, St. Maarten
• Accommodations in an Inside Stateroom (March 3: Category N, March 17: Category Q)

Also included:

• The exciting DreamWorks Experience Character breakfast 
• Broadway calibre production of Chicago: The Musical
• Kids can't get enough of the Adventure Ocean Youth Program

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departure dates:
  Toronto: March 3 & 17, 2013
  Montreal: March 17, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person based on double occupancy):
  Toronto
  March 3: $1214 + $253 tax
  March 17: $1364 + $253 tax
  
  Montreal
  March 17: $1658 tax included
• Airport/port transfers are NOT included
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

 

 

Club Med comes to Canada (minus the palm trees) ... Drag queens on Carnival

Travel Pulse reports that ClubMed and Le Groupe Massif in Quebec have signed a deal to jointly operate the first Club Med resort in Canada.

You won't see any palm trees, at least not outdoors, but plans call for the resort to be built at the renowned ski hill at Le Massif de Charlevoix, in Petite-Rivière-Saint-François.

Le Massif Chairman Daniel Gauthier (of Cirque du Soleil fame) made the announcement at a Chamber of Commerce and Industry conference in Quebec City.

Plans call for a 300-room hotel to be built by Dec. 2015. Gauthier said that represents 24 per cent of the total number of units in phase one of the development project at Le Massif.

“Club Med’s interest confirms Le Massif de Charlevoix’s vast tourism potential," Gauthier said in the Travel Pulse story. “It coincides perfectly with our aspiration to offer all-inclusive lodgings at the mountain. It is nevertheless important to mention that this hotel, which will be jointly operated with Club Med, represents only a portion of the mountain’s overall lodging offer.”

DRAG QUEENS BACK ON BOARD

Etravelblackboard reportsthat Carnival Cruise Lines "will now allow guests aboard what is being dubbed as the largest gathering of drag queens at sea to wear drag during the cruise, following outrage at a letter sent to passengers advising them that they will not be permitted to do so in public areas."

The letter, sent by Carnival Cruise Lines vice president of guest services Vicky Ray, told passengers sailing on the 2 December Carnival Glory voyage out of Miami that guests who violate the policy, “will be disembarked at their own expense and no refund will be given.”

Ms Ray attributed the decision to the amount of families and children that sail aboard the ship and expressed the line’s expectation that passengers “recognise that minors are onboard and refrain from engaging in inappropriate conduct in public areas.”

Carnival Cruise Lines president and CEO Gerry Cahill has taken to social media to explain what he says was a miscommunication between the cruise line and travel agency, Al and Chuck Travel, who booked the cruise.

“When the group was presented to us we were advised that only the performers would be dressed in drag during the private events,” Mr Cahill writes. 

“However, we are now aware that this was not clearly communicated to members of the group and therefore anyone who wishes to dress in drag may do so.

Mr Cahill goes on to express the importance of onboard safety and security procedures asking passengers to keep in mind that people must still be recognisable by their government-issued ID.

ZIP AROUND VEGAS

Tourists will soon have a new way to see the lights of Las Vegas: By being spit out of the mouth of an 11-story slot machine and zinged down a five-block zip line past some of the city's oldest casinos, says a story from Associated Press.

Officials on Tuesday unveiled plans for a permanent zip line on the downtown Las Vegas promenade known as the Fremont Street Experience.

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman said the thrill ride dubbed SlotZilla was destined to become an iconic city landmark.

"This is going to be known around the world: Come ride our Slotzilla," she said, standing beside showgirls and a scale model at the unveiling.

The monster zip line will cost $11 million to build and between $20 and $30 to ride. Construction is expected to start in January.

The attraction, expected to open in June, is an expansion of a much smaller, temporary zip line that has for two years scooted families, newlyweds and Elvis impersonators beneath a long metal canopy that displays an hourly light show.

That ride was intended to be a 30-day novelty, but it proved such a crowd pleaser the business community began working to make it permanent.

Currently, riders launch four at a time from a 67-foot (20-meter) metal scaffolding and land 800 feet (244 metres) away near the Four Queens casino, halfway across the pedestrian mall that features the world's largest video screen.

The new tower will be twice as tall, feature twice as many lines, and will look like a giant slot machine spitting out disoriented tourists.

With each new batch of zip-liners, the handle will dip, the wheels will spin, and the doors will open, revealing the course to the tourists on top.

"If you're going to do something here, you have to do it bigger and better than anywhere else," said Fremont Street Experience marketing director Thomas Bruney.

Officials are betting the new attraction will lure more visitors the downtown area, which has struggled to compete with the flashier Strip three miles (less than five kilometres) away.

It is intended to reflect the "vintage Vegas" vibe that characterizes the promenade, nicknamed "Glitter Gulch" for the classic casino signs that glow amid the souvenir shops and buffet signs.

Riders will be able to stop halfway, or continue to the end of the 1,700 course, landing near the Golden Gate casino. They will have the option of flying along the lines in a horizontal "superman" position, and accelerating their ride using a new "power launch" system.

Bootleg Canyon Flightlines operates the current ride. The new structure will be built by the Hawaii-based company Skyline, better known for zip lines that span waterfalls and forests.

“However, we are now aware that this was not clearly communicated to members of the group and therefore anyone who wishes to dress in drag may do so.

 

Cyber Monday travel deals, plus Dubai's latest plan to rule the (tourism) world

Well, it's Cyber Monday. But my inbox isn't exactly overflowing with travel deals. I think there are a few to be had, so I'd advise sticking by your computer today.

The best deal I've seen so far today is from the terrific Kimpton hotell chain, a deal offering 30 per cent off on stays from Thursday to Sunday between now and Dec. 30. It's a pre-paid, non-refundable deal that's valid only at certain hotels and you need to use the word "CYBER" as your rate code.

I found a room for Dec. 21 and 22 at the Kimpton Palomar in downtown Phoenix for $139. Rooms at the outstanding Burnham Hotel in downtown Chicago, which I reviewed in the Star a few weeks ago, were going for just $140 on weekends in early December. It's a fabulous, historic hotel with a cool bar and a nice vibe in a good part of town and very much worth checking out.

I also spotted a series of deals at Expedia.ca, including rooms in Las Vegas for $16, hotels in Montreal from $66 and from Vancouver from $70 and Canmore/Banff from $84. Further afield, there were rooms in Punta Cana, D.R. from $90 and a three-star spot in Paris for $107, which is quite impressive. The deals must be booked today, Nov. 26 for travel by Dec. 31.

DUBAI ON THE RISE?

I had to shake my head at a Reuters report over the weekend, talking about Dubai's latest announcement for a monstrous tourism and retail development.

I don't particularly love Dubai as a destination but I guess it's a good sign for world tourism that Dubai thinks it's gotten over the corporate debt crisis that brought it (almost) to its knees three years ago. For those who missed it, the latest plan calls for the largest shopping mall in the world to be built on the outskirts of what passes for Dubai's current downtown area. There's also supposed to be a park that's 30 per cent bigger than Hyde Park in London.

A retail complex named the "Mall of the World" will be able to host 80 million visitors a year and include over 100 hotel facilities, officials said. A family entertainment centre linked to the mall, developed with Hollywood's Universal Studios would be designed for six million visitors each year.

It's all fine for Dubai, but just because a park is 30 per cent bigger than Hyde Park doesn't make it better. Ditto for the malls. I went to the big shopping mall in Dubai a couple years ago, the one with the indoor ski hill, and was utterly underwhelmed. Aside from the cosmpolitan group of customers, it may as well have been the Mall of America in Minneapolis with higher-end stores or the West Edmonton Mall in Alberta.

The historic centre of Dubai is fun and quite interesting, and there's a nicer beach than you might think to go with some sumptuous resorts. But the downtown feels like Houston without the southern charm and the majority of the developments that march ever onward make you feel like you're in Vegas, minus the crazy guys in costumes and the wedding chapels. Also without the girls and the gambling.

Still, folks seem to flock there and it is quite safe and there's a lot to do for kids, including a fun water park I tried out a couple years ago. They're clearly doing something right to warrant this kind of tourism plan....

 

 

 

You have to think they’re not hockey or basketball fans. Or soccer enthusiasts, for that matter.

The folks at Travelzoo Inc. released its 2012 Travelzoo Awards list on Thursday and there was a rather large surprise in the category of “Best Overall Provider of Entertainment Experiences in Canada.” The winner? Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.

I had to give my head a shake. At first I thought it was an award for “best condo builder.” But no. Then I thought it was “most outrageously profitable entertainment experiences where fans are continually hosed by owners who don’t care if their teams win.” But no. It was “best overall provider of entertainment experiences.” IN ALL OF CANADA!!

MLSE? The folks who struggle to put even a mediocre product on the ice and the basketball court and the soccer pitch? The laughingstock of North American sports? The organization that's part of a league that isn't even playing this fall?

You gotta be kidding me. Yes, Real Sports is a great sports bar. Yes, the Raptors dance pack features some pretty hot routines. And yes, the Raptor himself continues to dazzle (I think, I haven’t seen a game in a couple years).

But this is an organization that has run Toronto FC into the ground and can’t field a hockey playoff team and a basketball team that's consistently below average with a general manager that is riding on his success in Phoenix a century or two ago.

Good concerts at the ACC? Maybe that’s what did it, but not if you judge that category by the feedback from fans at this week’s mysterious Bob Dylan show.

The other Canadian categories in the Travelzoo awards were for best overall provider of Airfare (Porter), best overall provider of hotel deals (Sutton Place, Vancouver, which is often on sale on various websites) and best provider of vacation and cruise packaging (Cruise Connections, Inc.).

 

QUEBEC CITY HOTELS KICK BUTT

Congrats to Quebec City for having the highest rated hotels in the U.S. and Canada.

CheapHotels.org released a survey this week of 30 destinations north and south of the border. It was based on evaluations written by customers over the past 12 months following their stays.

To ensure proper comparisons, the study was based only on 3-star hotels (the kind most of us stay in most often) in the city centre. Two booking sites, Expedia and Priceline, served as the aggregator from which reviews were drawn.

The winner, with 75 per cent positive reviews, was Quebec City. Next was Washington D.C. at 73, followed by Chicago (72) and a tie between Boston and Montreal at 71. So, good on La Belle Province for a great showing.

The bottom five were Las Vegas (61), Honolulu (59), Ottawa (a terrible 57 score), Atlantic City (56) and, at the very bottom, Miami at 54.

Sounds like theirs food for thought down Florida way….

For the record, Toronto was pretty much in the middle (slightly above average) at 67, one spot behind Niagara Falls (68), although the study doesn’t say whether that’s the U.S. or Canadian side of the falls.

New York City was at 65.

 

THIS AND THAT

Fairmont is opening its first-ever property in the Philippines, which seem to be getting more and more travel press these days. The Fairmont Makati opens Dec. 3 in Metro Manila. Fairmont Makati will have 280 rooms and suites with a Filipino design. The tower housing the Makati also is home to the 32-room, all-suite Raffles Makati and to condos under the Raffles Residences brand. Raffles is a sister brand of Fairmont under the parent company Fairmont Raffles Hotels International … Kudos to Cabot Links on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia for being named best new golf course by SCOREGolf. It’s a no-brainer, really, as it’s by far the best new course opened in this country in some time. It’s a true links course, the only one in Canada, and it’s absolutely marvelous.

 

More top American cities in Travel + Leisure survey; what about Canada?

More today from the recent issue of Travel + Leisure, which each year ranks American cities in various categories. As I mentioned on Friday, New Orleans took the overall top city trophy this year, and it's hard to argue with that.

Here are some other categories from the survey:

Top City for Friendly People: Nashville

Top City for Attractive People: Miami (see South Beach photo at right)

Top City for Tech-Savvy Folks (what a dull category that is): Seattle

Top City for Stylish People: New York

Top City for Barbecue: Kansas City

Top City for Pizza: Chicago

Top City for Fine Dining: Charleston

Top City for Ethnic Food: San Francisco

Top City for Microbrew Beer: Portland, Oregon

Top City for Cocktail Lounges: Las Vegas

Top City for Sports Bars: Chicago

Top City for Museums/Galleries: Washington D.C.

Top City for Free Attractions: Washington D.C.

Top City for a Romantic Escape: Charleston (see photo)

Top City for a Cultural Getaway: Santa Fe, New Mexico

It's a nice, fun list. But what about Canada? How do our cities stack up? Well, sadly we don't have as many of them, do we. But we can maybe make a go of it. I'm not claiming this as definitive as I haven't been to all our major cities. And we don't have so many to begin with. But you could at least argue that I'm in the ballpark on these, so here goes....

Top City for Friendly People: St. John's. (I will hear no argument on this because I'm right.)

Top City for Attractive People: Toronto (Only because we have so many from around the world.)

Top City for Tech Savvy People: Calgary (You have to be tech savvy to entertain yourself in winter.)

Top City for Stylish People: Montreal (Hands down, right?)

Top City for Barbecue: Not saying much but I'll go with Toronto. (Maybe we should say best city for poutine and give it to Montreal).

Top City for Pizza: Toronto (We have the most Italians.)

Top City for Fine Dining: Toronto.

Top City for Ethnic Food: Toronto. (Sorry, sheer variety and size wins again for Hogtown.)

Top City for Microbrew Beer: Victoria

Top City for Cocktail Lounges: Montreal

Top City for Sports Bars: Edmonton (it IS the ciity of champions, notwithstanding yesterday's rout by the Argos)

Top City for Museums/Galleries: Ottawa

Top City for Free Attractions: Vancouver (the beach, Stanley Park)

Top City for a Romantic Escape: Quebec

Top City for a Cultural Getaway: Toronto

That's TOTALLY off the top of my head and I'm more than willing to entertain thoughts from folks with broader experience than I. I'm sure Saskatoon would be up on my list for friendly people if I went there.

Just for a bit more balance, let's toss in a few categories that pertain to us:

Top City for Outdoors Types: Calgary

Top City for Adventure Seekers: Whitehorse

Top City for Lovers of the Sea: Halifax

Top City for Hockey Lovers: Winnipeg (sheer exuberance wins it)

Top City for folks who'd rather have their mayor coach football than attend council meetings: Toronto

Top City for Municipal Corruption: Montreal

Top City for Sushi: Vancouver

Top City for Job Seekers: Saskatoon

Top City for Wine Drinkers: St. Catharines

Top City for finding an Australian in Winter: Whistler

Top City for bloggers who put too much emphasis on the great things to do in Toronto: The capital of the universe.

 

 

 

 

 

Travel + Leisure top U.S. cities list; New Orleans #1 but where's L.A. on the list?

It's list day in the Toronto Star travel editor's blog. Okay, I've got a cold and I'm not feeling like inventing my own copy, so instead I'm shamelessly ripping off two other outlets and adding my own comments in the hope that this looks like semi-original copy. Is that a better description of today's entry?

TRAVEL + LEISURE TOP USA CITIES

1. New Orleans. Great food, music, exuberant culture. Hard to beat. I was only there once, and I was 11 years old. I failed to appreciate the finer things but I do remember wrought-iron courtyards, jazz music and the sight of nearly naked women dancing behind a string of beads that covered the entry to a night club. My mother quickly pulled me away but not before I got a glimpse of something mysterious and sexy.

2. Santa Fe. I confess, I've never been to New Mexico. Weird for someone who grew up in California but there you go. I hear nice things about the architecture, the jewelry shopping and the food.

3. New York City and Nashville tie. I love New York. It's hard not to with the incredible buildings and parks and food and nightlife and energy. If you've never been, I suggest a trip in late April or early May before it gets too hot. New York in summer is not much fun. Nashville? Again, sorry, never been.

5. MInneapolis/St. Paul. I like it fine, having visited many times when I covered the Blue Jays. It's pretty but I don't recall the downtown being anything remarkable. Frankly, it's a nice place and probably underrated, but I wouldn't put it anywhere near the top 10 from what I recall.

6. San Diego and Savannah tie. Both on the coast but polar opposites in a lot of ways. San Diego is new and has fabulous beaches and a great brewpub culture and surprisingly good nightlife. Savannah is old-school, southern charm with great food and old-time squares and fountains. Not at all alike but both great spots.

8. Charleston and San Francisco tie. I've only spent a few hours in Charleston but found it charming in a "too many tourists walking around looking at old-time, charming buildings" kind of way. San Francisco, again, is the complete opposite; a joyful, exuberant, crazy explosion of sound and food and culture. I grew up near San Francisco so I'm biased. But I'd put it far ahead of Charleston, personally.

10. Chicago. Should be ranked higher, I'd say. Fabulous museums, a beautiful waterfront almost untouched by buildings, incredible food and culture. Plus Wrigley Field and world-class architecture. Definitely top six.

11. Portland. Very pretty and quite cosmopolitan, with fabulous brewpubs and wine bars and old, brick buildings. Great coffee culture and fabulous, fresh food add to the west coast vibe for a very cool city.

12. Austin and Boston and Providence, tie. Never been to Austin, but Boston has everything you want in a city; fun walks, beautiful parks, great shopping and hotels and another wonderful ballpark, Fenway. I've never found the food to be quite as good as I'd expect but perhaps I need to try new places. I hear great things about Austin's music and bar scene, and the local hills that are ablaze in colour in spring, but have never had the pleasure. I think I drove through Providence, Rhode Island once and thought the seashore and the marinas and huge boats with white sails were pretty. But that's not much to go on.

15. Honolulu, Las Vegas, Miami and San Antonio tie. Whoa, a four-way tie? Okay, here goes. Las Vegas does not belong on this list. It's a destination, it's not a city. Okay, okay, the shows are awesome and the food is excellent and you can do some fun things in the desert. So I guess 15 isn't too crazy. Miami? I just spent a few days there and enjoyed it. The beach is great and the hotels are fun and South Beach is a gas. But there's no downtown to speak of that I could find. So I'd have to agree with the placement, despite the great weather (most of the time). San Antonio? Sorry, never been. But I'd put Honolulu (see Waikiki Beach photo at right) closer to the 12 spot, personally. I adore Hawaii so that's part of it. But there's also absolutely remarkable food and a strong cultural component to the city to go with great beaches, sunshine, surfing, fabulous Hawaiian music and great hikes and golf. Definitely top 12, Honolulu is.

19. Philadelphia, Seattle and San Juan tie. Philadelphia is an under-rated spot with great history and fun neighbourhoods such as South Street. I'm not just where I'd put but a 19 tie seems pretty fair. Seattle I might push up just a bit given the Pikes Place market and the beauty of the water and nearby mountains, not to mention the coffee and restaurant scene. San Juan is a nice addition here, with great beaches and an old, waterfront fort that's awesome to explore, plus a very colourful old town with pastel painted buildings and a New Orleans/Caribbean feel. Also underrated.

So that's my take on the top 20 (or so). I was a bit surprised to find Los Angeles didn't make the cut. I mean, it has its faults but L.A. is a hugely underrated city. I lived there for five years at university and go back fairly often (in about eight days I'll go again, actually). It's got fabulous culture, with outstanding museums all over town. It's got great beaches. It's got some outstanding, old-time architecture. Add in the movie stuff and amusement parks and the great hiking/horseback riding in the hills and the proximity to the desert and mountains, plus some of the world's most iconic hotels and incredible cuisine, and you've got a top 12 city. Yes there are freeways and traffic. But there also are cool neighbourhoods such as Santa Monica and Manhattan Beach and Pasadena and Los Feliz that are tons of fun. Come on, folks. Where's the love? I"m also surprised to see Denver left off the list. Maybe not top 15, but I'd have expected a presence in here somewhere.