Lonely Planet rates best countries in the world for food (what, no USA?)

I'm often chiding U.S. tourism folks or websites for being too Ameri-centric. Here's an instance of things going the other way around, though.

Lonely Planet has published a list of the 11 top countries in the world for food, and the USA didn't make the list. No, in all likelihood the Lonely Planet folks were writing for Americans who want to travel to other parts of the world. Still, you'd think they might slip the US in there somewhere, given the magical array of fresh and inventive dishes on display in California, New York, Chicago and Miami alone, not to mention the barbeque of Texas or Tennessee and the remarkable Cajun/Creole cuisine of Louisiana.

I was talking with a friend at work the other day, and he surprised me by defending Americans for not spending as much time out of their own country as do Canadians or Brits or Aussies or other folks in the world.

"They've got just about everything you can imagine in the U.S., so it only makes sense to stay," he said, or words to that effect. It IS pretty remarkable that in one nation you can find everything from some of the highest mountain peaks in the world - permanent zones of ice and snow and black rock - to tropical flowers on a sweeping beach lined with palm trees to vast, painted deserts and mesmerizing cities and bayous and backwoods lakes and rolling hills and misty rainforests.

From a geographic standpoint, the U.S. pretty much covers it all. Culturally, of course, it's another story. There's nothing in the U.S. to resemble Quebec City, and there aren't many places in the U.S. where you get the feelilng you're in another country.

Anyway, notwithstanding the U.S. issue there's some solid thought behind the Lonely Planet list. There's a huge, tasty world out there and they've pretty much nailed some of the top spots in my book. These have numbers assigned but the LP folks said they weren't ranking them; just mentioning their top 11

1. Thailand. The crossroads of China, Oceania and India. Remember when we only had a few Thai joints in Toronto? Now there's one on almost every block in some neighbourhoods.

2. Greece. Oven-fresh bread, rosy tomatoes and fish fresh from the Mediterranean.

3. China. Incredible regional variety and a real balance of yin and yang; sour and sweet, salty and fresh. A no-brainer for any top food list.

4. France. No kidding. Worth it just for the cheese alone. I don't know if it's true, but I once saw a quote attributed to former leader Charles DeGaulle that went something like this: "How do you expect me to run a country that makes 763 (or something) types of cheese?"

5. Spain. Excellent food but always a little hard to define Spanish cuisine in my opinion. When you think Italy you know what comes to mind. Ditto for Greece or Thai. Spanish food is a little harder to put into a box, but it's still excellent. Full marks just for inventing the tapas bar, too.

6. Mexico. You wouldn't know it by staying at some all-inclusives, I suppose, or by trying Tex-Mex joints iN Toronto. But Mexican chefs do remarkable things with fish, chocolate and other foods. Kind of a marriage between Europe and new world, I think.

7. Italy. Also remarkably varied. Risotto and game meats in the north, couscous in western Sicily, pasta and fresh veggies and seafood just about everywhere. Hell, even folks in Arkansas who've never been outside of the state like Italian food.

8. India. Hear, hear. So rich and flavourful and exotic and varied; with huge disparities in style from one region to another. I had some dynamite Keralan cuisine my last day in Delhi a year ago.

9. Japan. Inventive and classic and such attention to detail. There's plenty to love, even if you don't like sushi or even if you don't like any kind of fish. Also, a fine Japanese meal is an exquisite, beautiful experience.

10 and 11. Malaysia and Indonesia. I don't see as many of these restaurants in Toronto as I used to. I loved Ole Malacca up on St. Clair, and there used to be a fine rijsttafel (Dutch for 'rice table') place downtown for Indonesian food. Again, a real crossroads with traces of India, China and more.

It's not quite top 10, but I will say that British food has come a long way in the past 20 years. And I'm quite partial to the fish in Hawaii, where they use a mix of world cuisine styles to make wonderfully fresh and inventive food. I haven't been, but I heard they make a mean steak in Argentina...

 

 

WTF: Colorado city A-1 slogan ... new poll gives thumbs down to Canada culture

This might be one of the great stories of the year. It seems, believe it or not, there's a town in Colorado called Fruita. (Yeah, all the good names - Steamboat Springs, Golden, Denver - were taken). Anyhoo, the good burghers in charge of promoting this little piece of Colorado paradise decided they would do up a nice marketing slogan. What did they come up with? I'd try to describe it but you can see for yourself.

I absolutely love it. Cheeky and fun and cutting edge and just the thing to get folks talking about moving the state capital to Fruita, a small city west of Grand Junction and huddled close to the border with Utah.

A story on msn.com describes the controversy thusly:

The popular destination for mountain bikers, rafters and other DIY adventurers considered the slogan after a couple's homemade WTF stickers proved popular with local businesses...but the idea also led to "hundreds of emails, phone calls and in-person contacts from overwhelmingly dismayed residents," according to The Daily Sentinel. "When I've explained [what WTF stands for online], or had my grandson explain it," Fruita mayor Ken Henry said, "They've come unglued."

Well, yeah, I can see some older folks tsk-tsking a bit. But, honestly, had anyone in the world EVER heard of Fruita, Colorado before this came about? Other than my cousin in Idaho who claims to have a friend living there? I don't think so.

CANADA CULTURE SUCKS!!!!

Geez. You think we're making a bit of a mark around the world with stories about Toronto's restaurant scene or Vancouver's edginess, and now this.

A web site called Hub Culture (www.hubculture.com), which looks pretty edgy and hip and cool and all that, has published its sixth annual "Hub Culture Zeitgeist," a poll of allegedly edgy and hip and cool cities around the world. You know it's an important poll because they coolly slipped in the word Zeitgeist, a German phrase that means "we're really cool. And edgy and hip."

A story on the site today says there are signs the U.S. and European economies "are finally evening out from their death spirals" and that "income equality is being addressed via pop culture platitudes." Don't you feel better already?

One interesting bit is that the Hub Culture folks note the emergence of more BRIC cities (Brazil, Russia, India, China), not to be confused with BRICK cities (Mississauga, Scarborough, Welland) in the top 20.

Indeed, Sao Paulo, Brazil ended up #1 in the world for the third year running. Here's what Hub Culture had to say about the Brazilian city (see photo below right):

"Perched at the top of the list for a record third year is São Paulo, where the defining topic of conversation continues to be how hard it is to find good help.  You know things are going well when staffing your dinner party adequately is a major topic of concern.  It is however a harbinger - inflation and class ambition do not make a tranquil mix forever. The strong currency and commodity growth at large aren't the only thing fueling Brazil - property and consumer retail are continuing to enjoy enviable growth rates despite a 4Q dip last year. Meanwhile, the city is ever more popular, and ever more desirable for corporate postings, regional businesses, and those looking to experience the Brazilian boom first-hand. Enjoy it while it lasts, Brazilianos."

Second was Hong Kong, up from number seven in 2011. Here's the Hub Culture report:

"Hong Kong hits a high note this year - a cosmopolitan mix, fantastic shopping and epicenter attitude for business make it the world's drop-in city.  But the downsides - pollution, overcrowding, and little thought for public space - have often held it back. Despite these issues, lately the world just seems to bend more toward Hong Kong - maybe because there is an ever stronger air of confidence and derring-do in the city? HK simply doesn't care what everyone else thinks anymore, and that makes us all care even more (especially big brother to the north).  As the world navigates the shift of power from west to east, Hong Kong remains perfectly balanced between the two. Plus, try going out on a weekend - holy schmodel! HK is ground-zero to the world's young, rich and beautiful, tomorrow's bright lights rocking today's late nights."

The rest of the top 20 is as follows, with the 2011 ranking in parentheses:

3. Beijing (7)

4. Berling (4)

5. London (9)

6. New York (6)

7. Sydney (3)

8. Singapore (11)

9. Istanbul (18)

10. Rio de Janeiro (20)

11. Capetown (17)

12. Tokyo (12)

13. Seattle (unranked)

14. Mexico City (16)

15. Shanghai (8)

16. San Francisco (10)

17. Dubai (15)

18. Los Angeles (4)

19. Moscow (15)

20. Abu Dhabi (19)

Nope, not a Canadian burg to be found. Not even Peterborough made the list.

I did a little research, however, and found that Toronto was ranked ALL THE WAY UP AT 17th back in 2009, when David Miller was mayor and culture wasn't an evil word in the rotunda at City Hall. Even then, however, the praise heaped upon our fair city was fairly tepid. Here's what Hub Culture wrote about the Big Smoke in their 2009 ranking:

"Stability is a big theme of the moment, and Toronto keeps coming up in this thread.  Canadian globe trotters are heading back home to Canada's most influential business city as they check out of their stints abroad.  Again, the economic roll here has been a bit more mellow, so the vibe hasn't been totally destroyed by doom and gloom.  Take into account Toronto's great outdoors and socialized services, and it all starts to look pretty good."

Wow. Stability! Influential business city! Great outdoors!

I can see TO maybe being out of the 20. Maybe. But behind Dubai and Abu Dhabi? Crikey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costa Allegra cruise fire and Puerto Vallarta robbery should mean good deals

Minutes after I sent out a Twitter message yesterday about how a bunch of Carnival Cruise ship passengers were robbed near Puerto Vallarta the other day, I got a note from a savvy friend of mine.

"Good time to book that Puerto Vallarta trip, doncha think?"

It may sound a little cold, but he's absolutely right. The best time to book a trip often is right after an incident such as this. Call it a BNB if you like, Bad News Bargain, but that's often the way things work in life.

The papers have been rife lately with great cruise deals, seeing as so many people were scared by the deaths of passengers on the Costa ship that struck land off Italy a few weeks back. Then came word yesterday that another Costa Cruise ship, the Allegra (see photo), was adrift off the Seychelles Islands after a fire onboard knocked out power to the engines. ABC News had some fun with the issue, stating that the accident left the ship without power in the "pirate-infested" Indian Ocean.

(Costa is owned by Carnival, which means Carnival got a double hit yesterday; the Puerto Vallarta robbery and the Allegra fire. Oh, sorry, make that a triple hit. Two Carnival Corp. ships were turned away from docking in Argentina because they had stopped earlier in the Falkland Islands, still the subject of dispute between Argentina and Britain.)

So you have to think that cruises are going to remain attractive, from a price standpoint, for a little while longer. Puerto Vallarta, too, will have to work harder in the next few weeks to overcome the robbery.

Hey, you want a REALLY great deal? Maybe you can find a cruise departing from Puerto Vallarta! That's a double bad-news-bargain if I ever saw one.

Actually, just for fun, I went onto the Costa Cruise website this morning and found some pretty great-sounding deals. One cruise, called Mexican Magic, is a 10-day affair that departs Miami on March 18 and goes to Nassau, Grand Turks Bahamas, Ocho Rios in Jamaica, Cozumel in Mexico, Belize and Roatan (Honduras). The website has a starting price of $1,889 crossed out and replaced with $699 - a 63 per cent discount. It's for two people in an undoubtedly small cabin, but if you do the math you're looking at $70 a night for a room per person and all the food you can eat. An even crazier deal is the Costa Caribbean, Spain, Portugal trip that's 15 days (departing March 5, mind you) and is being discounted from $2,449 to $749. That's less than $50 per night per person, although you'd have to pay to get to Guadeloupe in the Caribbean to take advantage. The Mexican Magic deal is better, probably, as it's far cheaper to fly Toronto to Miami.

Either way, there are obviously some great deals to be had out there.

The powerless Allegra and its 1,000 passengers and crew is being towed by a French fishing vessel to the Seychelles Islands, according to wire reports. Helicopters are said to be bringing in food, satellite phones and shortwave radios. The ship isn't expected to make land until Thursday morning.

One report I saw today said the ship originally was headed to the small island of Desroches (see photo). But it was decided that wouldn't work as it's a small island and there wouldn't be any way to moor the ship or get guests onto the land in a proper fashion. Desroches is a favourite holiday island for Prince William and Kate Middleton and has one luxury resort with 48 rooms and villas, costing about $1,500 per night. As if Costa needs that kind of bill....

The ship now is headed to Mahe island in the Seychelles, according to ABC News.

A story at www.travelmarketreport.com expanded on the situation with Carnival and the problems in Mexico.

"The latest Carnival troubles came on the heels of news that 22 passengers on the Carnival Splendor were robbed during a shore excursion in Puerto Vallarta last week.

There were no injuries, but the armed assailant made off with cash, cameras, jewelry and other valuables. The specific tour was the City Tour & Tropical Jungle Escape.

All the guests returned safely to the ship and disembarked Sunday in Long Beach, Calif., following the weeklong Mexican Riviera sailing.

In the Mexico incident, Carnival issued a statement saying that "numerous authorities were notified and responded to investigate, as well as assist the affected guests. The tour in question has been suspended until further notice."

Yeah, I guess so.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Looking for a quick getaway? Check out www.jaunt.ca for a night at The Glenerin Inn in Mississauga. For $119 you get a night's accomodation for two in a traditional room, plus a "scrumptious breakfast" for two and a $40 spa credit. The deal is valid for travel until Aug. 31 but May is blacked out. It's a $302 value, so you're getting a huge savings.

Jaunt.ca also has getaway deals for Niagara Falls, Quebec, New York and more....

 

 

 

 

 

Lovely Fairmont Mayakoba a great spot on the Mayan Riviera in Mexico

Canadian golfer Stephen Ames is a guy known for speaking his mind. So when he tells me he thinks the Fairmont Mayakoba resort in Mexico is a "fantastic property," that says something.

Ames was playing last week in the Mayakoba Classic in Mexico and was staying, along with a bunch of other players, at the Fairmont. It's a beautiful property (with a five-star rating from the American Automobile Association) that's quite secluded, with plenty of room (45 acres) to roam about.

There are 401 rooms, but some 90 per cent of them are behind the mangrove line that's behind the beach so as to protect the fragile environment. Only 34 units are in the beach area, many of them with private pools and all with butlers at your service.

The units are spread out along a vast network of canals that are home to dozens of species of fish, as well as herons, ibis, ducks, turtles and the occasional crocodile, which usually gets whisked away as quickly as possible. You can't - and wouldn't want to - swim in the canals, but they're a relaxing backdrop to the resort. There are free boat rides (all electric boats with overhead covers called lanchas) through the mangrove forests; a great way to learn about the environment and the local wildlife. They even had an ecology manager on site to make sure things are done right.

The beach is a little remote from the units for some folks' taste, but Paulina Feltrin, the resort's public relations director, tells me beach shuttles run all the time and that nobody has to wait more than five minutes for a ride. You also can hop on a BMW bike any time you wish and take a short ride to the beach or the beachside pool or the restaurant Las Brisas, where they serve a wonderful blue crab tostada and will make you a margarita with cucumber or tamarind if you wish. All the seafood they serve is sustainable, Feltrin says. And the views out onto the Caribbean and over to Cozumel are wonderful.

(The food is great but watch the habanero hot sauce. Just a small drop is enough to satisfy all but the most avid chile fans.)

The Fairmont Mayakoba also has a beautiful spa with 20 treatment rooms and Maya-inspired treatments and several enormous swimming pools, one an adults-only facility. There's also a kids' program and a nice pool with a small waterslide to keep youngsters entertained. It also is the only Fairmont in the world that has an all-inclusive program for those who wish one.

The hotel is right alongside the El Camaleon golf course, which is a beauty. A couple of the rooms have fine views of the course.

Mayakoba is an area north of Playa Del Carmen, a fun place to walk about and have drinks or dinner, and the city of Cancun. So it's a shorter ride to the airport in Cancun than many of the resorts on the Mayan Riviera.

Feltrin says Mayakoba's seclusion makes it one of the safest areas along the Mayan Riviera, which many folks say is the safest part of Mexico. I certainly had no problems during my recent week at the Barcelo Maya Beach resort south of Playa Del Carmen, and I wouldn't hesitate to go back again.

 

The sunny, warm - and seemingly safe - Mayan Riviera in Mexico

MAYAN RIVIERA, MEXICO - Okay, it's only a couple days. And I AM spending my holidays at a high-end, all-inclusive resort. But so far, I'm feeling extremely safe on my first vacation in Mexico.

Issues with service, sure. But unsafe? Not at all.

I'm staying at the Barcelo resort, in particular at the Barcelo Maya Beach Resort. It's a sprawling complex of four four-star properties and one five-star, where I'm not staying but got to visit on Monday.

The complex has a great beach that's at least 2 km long, with a shallow reef that's said to be good for snorkeling although I haven't gotten around to it yet. There are tons of pools and, yeah, tons of bars. Very good food, too, and a million activities; everything from scuba diving to catamaran sailing to ping pong, volleyball, basketball, mini-golf, tennis, billiards and more.

The grounds are huge and impressively landscaped, with open areas of lawn and bright pink bougainvillea or oleander, plus jungle-like areas where you're likely to spot meter-long (well, almost) iguanas sunning themselves on a rock in a clearing.

We had to pay an extra $140 or something per person, but we upgraded to the premium package to get access to the reservation restaurants and a wider variety of food at dinner, plus a nice lounge where I can type out notes and check email. The seafood restaurant, Mare Nostrum, was a touch hit and miss the other night, but the Japanese spot was quite good for sushi and mains if a little off on the tempura. The Mexican spot last night was best of all, I thought, with chicken mole and fresh grouper on a slice (not fresh, I don't think) of pineapple, plus fabulous chips and salsa.

I gotta say the service is rather hit-and-miss, however. They've been good at replacing burned out light bulbs in our unit, and we got moved to a room with a nicer view without asking, but I still don't have a clock radio that works, forcing me to get up and turn on a light in the middle of the night to check my watch. My laptop is acting goofy, and I can't get into the WiFi system. It might be my laptop's fault, but the concierge here didn't do much to help; calling a tech person but not asking them to come check it out the way I've had happen at other hotels I've stayed at.

The wait staff, on the other hand, is super friendly and they seem to work their butts off; dashing to and fro at breakneck speed to keep tourists like me supplied with coffee in the morning and margaritas at night (with some folks seemingly doing it the other way around, or skipping the coffee altogether).

We decided to skip the fancy cenote tours offered by the hotel and walk across the highway yesterday to check out some of the ones with booths on the side of the road. It was $15 per person to swim in three cenotes - underground, freshwater caves that form when water seeps through the porous limestone in these parts. And that included a mask and snorkel and lifejacket, just for extra safety.

The water was clear as can be and with beautiful rock formations you can see under water. Not a lot of fish, but a few were darting to and fro. The final cenote we visited - sorry, i can't get my photos to load - looked like something out of cenote central casting - a glorious pond of water open to the skies and surrounded by high, limestone walls and a flat area dotted with towering palm trees. The water wasn't as clear as some other cenotes but there was lots of plant life and reddish flowers blooming under the water, looking like a Disney painting. The greens were so bright I felt I was in an underwater Ireland.

A guy in a small compact car picked us up near the highway and drove us a mile or so to the cenotes, where my family and I swam alone until joining up with some locals at the final swimming spot. I don't think they wanted five wet tourists in the back of their car, so we walked back to the highway when we were finished, walking through scrub land and past the odd farmhouse with barking dogs and satellite dishes.

They say the Mayan Riviera in general is far safer than most areas of Mexico. But I suspect it's pretty darn safe 99.999 per cent of the time in Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco, too. Certainly one wants to take precautions, but it seems unfair to label all of Mexico as dangerous when most of the problems involve drug cartels in states bordering the USA. It would be like having a few isolated cases of an infectious disease in Toronto and making everyone else in the world think the entire city is under siege and that they need to wear masks at Pearson or the Rogers Centre. Oh, wait....

Off to check out the PGA Tour event at the El Cameleon course today, up in Mayakoba. I'll report back later this week on the Fairmont Mayakoba and possibly on the ruins at nearby Tulum.

 

 

 

 

Stupid passengers trying to get guns onto planes ... Mexico/Kenya warnings

How is this even remotely possible?

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration says it found a few firearms in suitcases last year. Um, more than a few. As in: 1,238 of them; almost four per day across the United States.

I guess you could say that's not so bad given the number of Americans who own guns (why they have them is another matter not suited to a travel blog, but suffice to say I was born and raised in the U.S. and don't get it). But, my goodness, four PER DAY?

I mean, are you people really so stupid and naive that you don't know about Sept. 11 and the not-so-new rules of flying?

"Clearly just the fact that we are getting four to five guns every day indicates that there are people who are not focused on the security protocols," TSA Administrator John Pistole (isn't that a great name for this subject matter?) told Congress in November, a month when officers found nine guns in a single day.

Most guns are found in carry-on bags. But Pistole says full-body scanning machines also detect contraband hidden beneath passengers' clothing, including a .38-caliber handgun in one idiot's ankle holster in Detroit.

Makes you despair for the future of the world, doesn't it?

MEXICO AND KENYA TRAVEL ISSUES

Once again, Mexico Tourism officials are going on the offensive, telling Canadians and others that it's quite safe (most of the time, in most of the places) to visit their country.

The latest assurances come after a couple of high-profile deaths of Canadians in the sunny south last week

Mexico authorities say a Canadian is more likely to be killed in Canada than they are in Mexico. And he may be right. But it doesn't look that way to many folks.

The Canadian government has issued a warning to those travelling to Mexico, warning Canadians to exercise a high degree of caution "due to a deteriorating security situation in many parts of the country."

B.C. resident Taara Chan told the CBC that she's taken holidays in Mexico in the past but won't be doing so again any time soon.

"In light of recent events, and just overall with the political things that have been going on over the last few years ... I can't say I would," she said. "I loved it there and I have fond memories, but now we have kids, too, and I just don't feel like it's safe."

Meanwhile, British officials have issued a warning about the threat of a terrorist attack in Kenya.

After an alert from the Kenyan authorities about a heightened threat of an attack in Nairobi, the British Foreign Office is urging tourists and expats in Kenya to be extra vigilant in hotels, shopping centres and beaches.

"We believe that terrorists may be in the final stages of planning attacks," it said. "Attacks could be indiscriminate and target Kenyan institutions as well as places where expatriates and foreign travellers gather, such as hotels, shopping centres and beaches. We strongly advise British Nationals to exercise extra vigilance and caution in public places and at public events."

 

 

Australia says no to sexist tourism strategy, Thomas Cook Facebook sale, more

The Aussies don't exactly have a reputation for forward thinking when it comes to equality between the sexes. I can't verify it, of course, but I still hear comments from women who travel Down Under about rather old-fashioned male attitudes towards the female sex.

But things may be changing. A story in the Herald Sun says Tourism Australia officials are distancing themselves from a beauty pageant that is supposed to pick a young woman to travel around and promote Australia's bountiful tourism opportunities. The winner was to be crowned in Melbourne today, but Tourism Australia says it didn't grant approval for the contest.

A woman named Leslie Cannold, described as an "ethicist and author," told the paper that the MIss Tourism Australia pageant disrespects women.

"It's not appropriate to use this kind of platform to sell Australia and I obviously don't think it's appropriate for any of our public officials to be involved in some very outdated ideas about what is valuable about women," she said. "My own view is that a tourism campaign is very much the expression of values of a country, and one of the key values is gender equality."

It certainly should be. If someone wants to hold a contest, that's fine. But there's no way Tourism Australia should be involved. I mean, can you imagine the stink if Canadian tourism folks followed suit? Yikes.

Miss Tourism Australia director Deborah Miller said the pageant would promote Australia's model of healthy living.

"I think a young, healthy, fit woman is someone young people should look up to," she said. "Miss Tourism International is the fourth biggest pageant in the world ... and this is different to usual beauty queens as they will help promote Australia."

Oh, so THAT makes it different. The young, healthy (and, naturally attractive) women pictured in short skirts are going to PROMOTE AUSTRALIA.

Honestly, what a crock. Miss America contestants are supposed to, ahem, promote world peace and all that, too. Utter nonsense.

There REALLY is a Miss Tourism International Pageant. At least, there's a pretty thorough website, at which you can find not only a list of contestants but a, wait for it, Miss Tourism International HALL OF FAME.

There's a Miss Tourism Canada photo on the site, and there's a Miss Tourism Canada website (very, very basic) that says a 23-year-old named Melanie (no last name provided) is the crown holder at the moment. The site says that "Miss Canada Tourism chooses women who love Canada, who have a warm personality, are intelligent and possess inner beauty."

The reigning Miss Tourism International is Nathalie Den Dekker from The Netherlands. But the group, based in Malaysia, also gave out a ton of other awards for 2010, including Miss Charm Fantasia, Miss Focus Point Dazzling (I'm NOT making this up) and Miss Secret Charm. Unreal.

THOMAS COOK FACEBOOK SALE

Tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. check out Thomas Cook's Facebook page - www.thomascook.ca/fb - for deals on Mexico. It's the first-ever Facebook page sale for Thomas Cook, and they're promising deals, discounts and upgrades for travel to several sunny spots in Mexico.

The company has had some financial issues in Europe, but officials insist they're going strong in Canada and want to make a determined push to make that point.

They're promising discounts on packages from Nolitours and Transat Holidays, savings on WestJet flights to Mexico, deals on Sunquest all-inclusive vacations, room upgrades on Karisma Hotels and various five-star Transat Holiday properties in the Mayan Rivieria and Cancun, plus cruise offers from Disney Cruise LIne and Norwegian Cruise Line, and more.

HARRY POTTER EXPANDING

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been a huge success at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Now comes word they're expanding to Hollywood Universal Studios in California.

Officials said the SoCal park "will be as impressive as what has been created in Orlando," and will include a Hogwarts castle and its signature ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

They also say they'll be expanding Harry's presence in Orlando, although I haven't been able to find any details. USA Today reports attendance at Universal is up a whopping 52 per cent, so it's no surprise officials are looking to capitalize.

 

 

 

Porn movies on a plane? Ryanair folks talk it up... Fairmont Mexico all you can eat

I gotta hand it to them, so to speak. The folks at Ryanair are simply marvellous at keeping their name in the spotlight.

A year or so ago, they were making waves by talking about installing pay toilets on board airplanes. Visions of lineups and folks digging into their pockets for coins as they danced a jig in the aisles of planes sparked a huge outpouring of media attention, including comments from me of course. To my knowledge, Ryanair hasn't built a single pay toilet on board a plane. But they got a ton of publicity.

Now comes word they want to develop apps that will allow passengers to play games, gamble or even watch a porno flick at 36,000 feet.

Chief executive Michael O'Leary, who I'd love to meet some day, said it would need at least a year to implement the technology as the plan doesn't even have broadband on its planes (and you thought Air Canada was bad).

"I'm not talking about having it on screens on the back of seats for everyone to see," Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary told the Sun in London. "It would be on handheld devices."

Oh, that's SO MUCH better, Michael. How discreet. How marvellously sensitive!

"Hotels around the world have it, so why wouldn't we?" O'Leary said.

Um. Last time I checked, most hotel rooms have doors that close so folks walking down the hall don't see what's on the TV in every room. Maybe Ryanair could issue magic cloaking devices so we can't see our neighbours smartphone or iPad. Come to think of it, let's hope they can do just that so I can avoid sitting next to adult men who play annoying video games that go "ping" and "zowie" and make other, horrible sounds FOR A SOLID TWO HOURS on the way back from Jamaica.

I don't want to get into the details of the idea, but I can just imagine the nightmare of having people watching erotic movies in their seats as they fly over France or, better yet, Come By Chance, Newfoundland. Sales of those little moist towelletes would soar, for sure.

"Ladies and gentlemen (especially gentlemen), if the oxygen mask drops please place it over your nose and mouth and breathe heavily."

O'Leary is almost certainly kidding. But when you're playing with a master p.r. guy like this, it's sometimes hard to know. I mean, check out their "Girls of Ryanair Calendar."

(Nice that proceeds go to charity, but isn't that Silvio Berlusconi up in the cockpit?)

You're not going to see that in Canada any time soon, folks. Porter has given us those cool pill box hats on the flight attendants but I can't imagine a "Girls of Porter Airlines" calendar....

FAIRMONT GOES ALL-INCLUSIVE FOR FOOD

The Fairmont Mayokoa on the Riviera Maya in Mexico is experimenting with a semi-allinclusive package. Faced with competition from high-end all-inclusive resorts, the hotel is the first Fairmont property to test a food-and-drink package that allows customers to buy all their meals - and drinks - in advance.

Barb De Lollis in USA Today writes that folks who buy the package can go to any restaurant at any time of day. You can order alcohol. If you choose to eat at the Fairmont's highest-end restaurant that serves imported meat and seafood dishes, you'll pay a surcharge and then eat as much as you want.

The hotel is selling the package at $429 per day for a family of four (with children over age 5) for what typically is considered worth $740 of food and drink per day, retail. Kids under five eat free.

The package excludes sale of alcohol by the bottle. "It would be hard to control" if customers were ordering two bottles of Cristal at $150 a pop, he says.

You'll also find limits on some cocktails or glasses of wine. If you want a scotch, for instance, you'll receive Johnny Walker Red; if you want Johnny Walker Black, then you'd have to pay for it.

"You won't get well drinks," Robinson says. "When you order vodka, you'll get Absolut."

Pretty clever idea. As a guy with a family of five, I can definitely see the advantage of knowing my costs in advance. It's about $100 per day for a family of four; not cheap but pretty good if you have hungry children who are of drinking age.

 

It's 2012 travel list time & Lonely Planet goes goofy ... Also Berlin/Vienna news

There's frost on the pumpkin here in Toronto and that can only mean we're getting close to the year-end. And that can only mean it's time for more travel lists.

I like Lonely Planet a lot. I know they've kinda taken over the world, but you can't fault them for putting out good guides.

I do, however, have to wonder about their latest group of lists. They sent me an item today to say that their top 10 cities for 2012 travel are London, Muscat (Oman), Bengaluru (India), Cadiz (Spain), Stockholm, Guimaraes (Portugal), Santiago (Chile), Hong Kong, Orlando and Darwin.

You can always argue with things like that. I don't know where Bengaluru came from and I don't know Guimaraes at all. I kinda like that they chose Orlando, which is featured in Star Travel this Saturday and has a lot more going for it than the Mouse.

But the Lonely Planet folks also sent me their list of best-value destinations for 2012, and it's quite, well, stupid. They have a heading on the press release that says the following: "If past years (or recessions) have sucked up your travel budget, plan smart and get more bang for your buck in 2012)."

They then go on to list, in the number one spot for VALUE, the NorthEast USA. Yep, the home of New York City and Boston, two of the pricier cities on the continent.

Number two is more like it: Tajikistan, followed by Lesotho (see photo below) and the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. Number five? SAN FRANCISCO!!!!

I adore San Francisco. It's a fabulous place. But VALUE?

I guess you could argue that any city that great is worth the price, so it's a good deal. San Francisco has tons to offer and you CAN find cheap places to eat and great places to wander for free. Ditto for New York. But hotels in both cities are pricey, and neither is a destination most folks would consider as "great value," at least not in the traditional way of thinking of the phrase.

I mean, if you put Lesotho in there and Tajikistan, you clearly don't mean high-end, popular destinations that cost a fair bit but still deliver a strong punch.

The six through 10 spots in the value destination are Japan (usually expensive but probably a better deal since the horrible tsunami they had), Ohrid in Macedonia, Merida in Mexico, Iquitos in Peru and Porto, Portugal.

I understand maybe they wanted some American destinations, but value destinations in the U.S. would, I think, be someplace like Las Vegas or maybe Austin, Texas or Myrtle Beach or Milwaukee, which, incidentally, is a pretty good town. Definitely NOT the Northeast USA or San Francisco.

While we're on the subject of lists, here's what the folks at Frommers have said about top destinations for 2012: Curacao, Chongqing  (China), Fukuoka (Japan), Beirut, Ghana, London's Greenwich neighbourhood, Girona (Spain), Kansas City (not a bad town, either), the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and, finally, The Bay of Fundy. They listed the Bay of Fundy as being in Nova Scotia, which is partly correct, and say they choose it because it's a "quiet, charming area; perfect for recharging your batteries."

BERLIN AND VIENNA JOIN FORCES

One is known as an edgy city with plenty of history. The other is known as a quiet, historic city with more energy than you might expect.

They make a good couple, Berlin (see photo) and Vienna. So much so that they've joined forces and are marketing themselves together as tourist destinations.

"In Europe we're competitors but not here," Burkhard Kieker, CEO of Visit Berlin, told me over breakfast the other day. "Vienna has old style from the empire but also a great savoir vivre. Berline is edgy but it's the focal point of a lot of history with a young and vibrant crowd."

"Our cities are similar enough and different enough to make the perfect match," said Norbert Kettner, managing director of the Vienna Tourism Board.

Kieker said the two cities are only an hour apart by plane and flights cost as little as 29 Euros.

There are no direct flights from Toronto to Berlin right now, Kieker said, but Berlin will open a new airport next June and he hopes to have service restored and that Berlin will turn into a major European airport hub.

Vienna is an historic and a beautiful city, said Kettner. But it's also got plenty of galleries and nightspots and edginess to it.

"We're old-school but not old-fashioned."

Kieker said world war sites are popular in Berlin but the city is trying to be careful.

"We don't want to do a Nazi Disneyland," he said.

Kieker said Jewish life is increasingly vibrant in Berlin and that his city is the number one foreign destination for Israelis.

The two cities began their joint marketing in Brazil earlier this year and continued it this week in Toronto with a couple media events.

 

 

 

Aussies slag a key city ... Book now to avoid holiday gouging ... India warnings

Folks everywhere love to bitch about their city's traffic or crime or what have you. But this one caught my eye the other day.

It seems a tourism official in Australia felt obliged to tell residents of a particular city to stop whining about the place and fall in love with it again. I can see this happening in, say, Darwin (not that I've been) or Canberra (ditto). But this salvo was aimed squarely at one of the world's favourite tourist destinations: Sydney.

Yes, the city of the Opera House and the gleaming harbour and stunning beaches and funky shops and great neighbourhoods is, apparently, some kind of hell-hole.

In her first comments since being appointed the first chief executive of Destination New South Wales (the state Sydney is part of), Sandra Chipchase said she wants to recruit state residents as "ambassadors" to help revitalise the tourism industry.

Geez, and we thought Toronto was something of a tough sell in this economic market.

Chipchase said she has had conversations with Sydneysiders in the past and that they'd "whinge" for 20 minutes. It's understandable, but she said such conversation can cause serious "brand damage."

Her words appear to be falling on deaf ears. Folks writing into the Sydney Morning Herald have criticized the city in no uncertain terms.

A fellow named Jay Hash told Chipchase to do her homework.

''What is there to fall in love with," he asked. "Unfriendly neighbours and people … crappy buses and trains … a road network that was designed during the time of the Romans … shops and restaurants closing early at night … hospitals with terrible staff … and only one airport.''

Of course, there are vast differences in living in a city and being a tourist in a city. I don't expect to take many buses in Sydney, and most of my time when I've been has spent walking. I don't remember stores or restaurants closing early at night. I found the airport to be just fine. I didn't go to the hospital so I can't comment on that. But I certainly don't see his point about unfriendly people. Aussies, by and large, are about as gregarious a race of people as exist on this planet of ours.

Destination New South Wales is aiming to double tourism spending in the state by 2020, which could be tough given the world economy. Apparently, like many folks, they're targetting China and India.

"We have so much to be positive about," Chipchase said.

That they do. I've been to Sydney twice, and I'd have to rank it right up there with the great cities of the world. A harbour boat ride from the main ferry terminal, which is wedged between the Opera House and the famous Harbour Bridge, out to Manly Beach or any of the other beaches (see photo taken near Bondi Beach) is about as wonderful a tourist experience as anyone can get. Toss in great hotels, terrific food and wine, great shopping and a fabulous climate, and, yeah, you might say there's a fair bit to be positive about.

HOLIDAY PRICES ON THE RISE?

Here's a scary thought. I spotted an item this week that said every day you wait to buy a ticket for air travel around Christmas will cost you $5 per day.

Rick Seaney of FareCompare.com told a Wisconsin radio station the other day that airlines are upping prices for holiday flights around American Thanksgiving in November (not so much of a concern for us) and at Christmas.

"They've cut back seats," he said of North American airlines. "Fuel prices are up. That means they're going to try to pass alogn those fuel prices and that means tough sledding for holiday travelers."

His advice? Book. Right. Now.

"If you're traveling for the holidays, I have sort of a rule-of-thumb right now: add $5 to your virtual airline ticket every day you wait."

Airline experts often say it's bad to buy too far in advance, but Christmas might be an exception. As folks get closer to the big holiday, that sense of panic and "I need to visit my family in Saskatchewan this year" could cost you big-time.

I booked a ticket for my daughter the other day to come home from Halifax at Christmas. I think it was about $575 on Air Canada. Not cheap, but I don't feel totally gouged, either.

There are a billion sites out there - travelalerts.ca, expedia.ca, kayak.com - so check them out religiously and sign up for air-fare alerts. Be flexible about when you fly, if possible, and look for mid-week flights as opposed to weekends.

I went onto Expedia and, just for fun, found a couple reasonable deals for anyone interested in celebrating New Year's in New York City. One option to consider for budget folks is the Comfort Inn on Staten Island, with rooms from $116 from Dec.30 to Jan. 2. It ain't Manhattan, but you can take the legendary Staten Island Ferry to town for a few bucks and enjoy a nice ride, weather permitting.

The Days Inn in surging Brooklyn was listed at $168, while the Holiday Inn Express New York Wall Street was averaging about $294. As readers of Star Travel would know from a recent story we did, the financial district of New York is an increasingly fun and diverse spot, with plenty of good restaurants and hotels and tons of things to do in an area with a little more peace and quiet than other parts of NYC, especially on weekends.

As for holiday destinations, it appears Canadians are relying on many tried-and-true destinations. Cuba,the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Mexico are big sellers, while folks with a bit more cash in their jeans appear headed to Barbados and St. Lucia.

I'm hearing a lot more these days about Central America, too. Costa Rica was the big spot for years, but more folks appear to be sprreading their wings and checking out places such as Nicaragua and Guatemala, which has a huge variety of cultures and landscapes if not the beaches of Costa Rica. Panama has been putting on a big push of late with a major international campaign, although I don't think much of the slogan "Where the World Meets" as it tells me squat about what I might see if I visit.

 

INDIA TOURISM WARNINGS  

Given the importance of tourism and travel, it's not surprising to see government folks in India blasting Canada and other countries for warning their citizens about potential attacks during the country's coming festive season.

Canada, the U.S., Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand - all key tourism markets for India - all have issued warnings ahead of the Indian holiday period, which runs from October til the end of January. Security has been increased in New Delhi (see photo at right) and several Indian cities amid media reports of increased risk from attacks, the CBC reported the other day.

India's tourism minister, Subodh Kant Sahay, is quoted as saying the alerts are "nothing but scaremongering."

"I have taken it up with the external affairs ministry and asked it to persuade these countries to withdraw the travel advisories immediately," he said.

Canada's alert says Canadians should be "particularly vigilant" on holidays and days of national significance, such as Diwali, "as militants have in the past used such occasions to mount attacks."

"I can assure them (would-be visitors) that India is still a very nice place and the weather is wonderful," Sahay said this week. "They should come."