Sunquest celebrates 40th anniversary with new deals, WestJet says yes to pets

Sunquest is celebrating its Ruby Anniversary (40 years if you're a rube like me and didn't know) with a host of new winter trips, including destinations such as Colombia and Ft. Lauderdale.

Included in the sizeable destination list for 2011-2012 is Cartagena, Colombia, a UNESCO heritage site with fabulous colonial architecture (see photo), great food and a terrific climate. Sunquest will feature one flight per week from Toronto and offers several resorts, including the Hotel Caribe and the Occidental Grand Cartagena, which is on the beach and 15 minutes from the city centre. Packages at the Occidental start at $999 per person.

Starting Dec. 17, Sunquest will have direct flights from Toronto to Ft. Lauderdale on Thomas Cook Canada, which it will operate in partnership with sister company Encore Cruises. Car rentals will be offered with every package in addition to flights and accomodation. Air-only rates start at $199 per person, plus tax.

They're also adding Thomas Cook Canada flights out of Calgary and Vancouver to Punta Cana and Jamaica. From Calgary only, they'll add direct flights to Cozumel.

Cozumel packages start at $1,289 per person, plus tax, and the program runs from Dec. 14 of this year to April 4, 2012, with eight and 15-night packages available at a variety of hotels.

Also new are WestJet flights out of Thunder Bay to Jamaica (see photo at right of Half Moon, a Rock Resort, near Montego Bay) from Nov. 5, 2011 to April 21, 2012,with all-inclusive pricing starting at $869 per person.

There's plenty more, including new onboard service options. For more information, visit sunquestvacations.ca or www.thomascook.ca.

WESTJET SAYS YES TO PETS ON PLANES

The Canadian Medical Association made waves the other day when it said pets should travel in airplane cargo holds because of folks who suffer from pet allergies.

WestJet Airlines was quick to pounce on the idea, stating Wednesday that it wasn't interested in making the move.

The Calgary-based airline, according to Canadian Press, says it keeps passengers with pets and folks with allergies away from each other on a plane. That's provided, of course, that people tell them in advance about allergies, and that seems reasonable enough.

(If I tell them I'm allergic to people who trim their toenails on board or play video games too loudly will they put me in a different row? Or even business class? I wouldnt' mind, actually).

WestJet says another option is to put allergy sufferers on an entirely different flight, although who wants to be delayed two hours just because someone brings a dog or cat on board a plane?

Anyway, the airline says there have been only a handful of allergy-related incidents on board its planes in the past 18 months.

I haven't seen any immediate word on Air Canada about Fluffygate. Air Canada had a policy between 2006 and 2009 that banned pets on planes but then reversed it.

 

 

This just in - Canada and Mexico separate themselves from North America

Nothing like getting yourself worked up about a website on a Monday morning after a blissful weekend in Muskoka.

A quick scan of some major travel websites this morning revealed an interesting item on cnn.com about "secret" beaches of North America. Forgetting the fact that there isn't a "secret" beach anywhere on the planet, there are a couple of noteworthy items, including Caladesi Island near Dunedin, Florida. It's a great little spot you mostly reach by boat from Honeymoon Island, just north and west of downtown Dunedin. You also can walk there from Clearwater Beach at high tide.

It's a lovely island with nature trails outlining the eco-system and small mangrove swamps and higher ground dotted with towering pine trees. And a beach that stretches on forever.

That's fine, as are entries for Pfeiffer Beach in northern California and Queen's Pond on Kauai, up the deserted west coast near Polihale. But, my goodness, isn't it amazing that an American website would list nine such "secret" beaches and fail to mention anything in Mexico or Canada? Sadly, it isn't.

I get lists and lists and more lists sent to me on a regular basis, and almost none of them acknowledge anything beyond the U.S. borders. It's fine for USA Today to be American-centric, I guess, but what excuse does a world-wide operation like CNN have for blithely ignoring the U.S.A's NAFTA trading partners?

It drives me batty. No mention of Sandbanks or Nova Scotia's endless coastline or Sauble Beach or Wasaga or Tofino in B.C. Not to mention no Cancun or Mazatlan or any of the glorious beaches in Baja California in Mexico, such as Loreto or Cabo San Lucas.

Nope. Once again, we in Canada and the poor souls in Mexico are reminded that the world begins and ends with the U.S.

Anyway, it was a glorious weekend in Muskoka once more. Had a chance to play (not well, but there you go) South Muskoka golf club in Bracebridge. It's truly one of those tucked-away sort of places that don't get the attention they deserve. Several holes have that classic Muskoka rock that sticks out above the grass, while almost all are nicely shaped in a true parklands-style layout. I could've used easier pin placements and faster greens, but it's a fun, not too long course that's about $60 on the weekends; much less than the big boys in the region.

Highly recommended.

 

WestJet beefs up winter sun destinations for Canadians...Lower fares on way?

Yeah, it's not exactly the type of weather that has up dreaming about going south. More like north to a lake with cool water and a couple or six brewskies.

But six weeks from now (and sorry to mention this),  it will be September. And pretty soon the nights will be crisp and then some leaves will start falling and we'll be looking to book our winter vacations. So here's some good news: Canadians have more options than ever for winter getaways to lands where palm trees sway.

WestJet Wednesday said it will start added service to sun destinations from several Canadian destinations starting Oct. 30, including flights from Toronto to San Juan, Puerto Rico (see photo).

Here are the new flights they're starting:

Toronto to San Juan every Saturday and Sunday, starting Nov. 5 (fares from $189 plus taxes and fees)

London, ON to Cancun: Every Saturday starting Nov. 5, then Saturdays and Wednesdays beginning Dec. 14 (fares from $159)

London to Las Vegas: Thursday and Sunday starting Oct. 30 (fares from $179)

Thunder Bay to Montego Bay: Every Saturday starting Nov. 5 (fares from $189)

Winnipeg to Palm Springs: Thursday and Sunday service staring Dec. 15 (fares from $219)

Kelowna to Phoenix: Every Monday starting Oct. 31 (fares from $189)

Victoria to Phoenix: Every Friday beginning Nov. 4 (fares from $189)

WestJet also said it will resume its non-stop, season service to Hawaii from Calgary this winter, althought details haven't been released.

LOWER FARES COMING OUR WAY?

Might be wishful thinking, but the Financial Post today said Canadian airlines might be looking to ease off on fares.

Higher fares in June appear to have slowed demand for air tickets, and airlines analyst Ben Cherniavsky said lower prices from Air Canada and WestJet might attract more customers.

"The very aggressive fare increases that Canada's airlines have recently implemented finally appear to be having a negative impact on demand," Cherniavsky said in a note to his clients.

Summer air fares to Europe were sky-high. I paid $800 recently for a round-trip ticket from Toronto to Montego Bay.

Underwear exhibit at N.Y. museum ... Lonely Planet's top food destinations

I've heard of the sex museum in New York City. I even went in once and found it rather unexciting, to be honest.

But now comes something slightly different; an exhibit about underwear through the ages. It's being staged at the History Center in Ithaca, N.Y. - only a few hours drive from Toronto if you're so inclined.

A piecein USA Today says the exhibit features "woolen long johns, corsets and cage crinolines -- a rigid structure worn under long skirts, which not only made sitting impossible, but, in a stiff wind, could lay a hapless wearer flat."

"If anything, this exhibit shows that women have long suffered for fashion," says The History Center's executive director, Scott Callan.

But men have been victimized by their underwear, too. Woolen long johns were standard issue into the 20th century, as were corsets, worn by high-ranking military officers, Callan notes in the USA Today piece.

"I'm happy when someone comes in and has a good laugh," Callan said. "After all, everyone can relate to what's in the exhibit. "

Given how stiff some museum types can be, Callan sounds like a good guy.

TOP FOOD DESTINATIONS - NO USA?

Lonely Planet has a list out of its top 10 food destinations. Thailand, which I'd have to put right up there, was listed first although the LP folks said the countries weren't listed in any particular order.

Also on the list are Greece, China, France, Mexico, Spain, Italy (naturally), India (ditto), Japan (for sure) and Indonesia/Malaysia. It's hard to argue with those, although I might have put Argentina in there for a bit more geographic balance and a bit of old-fashioned steak and potatoes sort of thing.

I guess it's because Lonely Planet is based in the U.S., but I still was surprised to see the USA not listed. I mean, any place that can deliver awesome barbeque, original Cajun recipes and fresh takes on cuisine from around the world deserves a mention.

I'd probably put Thailand and Italy at the top of my list. I can think of no better soup in the world than Tom Yum Goong, with its spicy, rich flavours and shrimp and lemongrass and mushrooms and coriander and chiles. Italy, of course, for pasta and wine and olive oil and great cheeses. I've been making bucatini alla amatriciana a lot since gorging on it in Rome last summer, and it's really terrific.

 

 

 

Happy Cinco de Mayo - celebrate with mezcal! 1 King W. Hotel smashing party

Star Travel correspondent Bert Archer files this report on celebrations for May 5 down south of the border...

Cinco de Mayo is a sort of Mexican St. Patrick’s Day. It’s bigger with the ex-pats than it is back home, where it’s mostly celebrated in the state of Puebla, where that battle against the French that it commemorates was fought.

And like St Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo has a drink attached: tequila. But the Mexicans do something better with agave than that, and though there’s only one example of it available at the LCBO, it’s worth a shot. Or three.

Mezcal hasn’t yet got its kick at the can hereabouts, but when I tried it for the first time last month in Mexico City's La Opera bar, I was hooked from the first smoky, peppery sip. I had my second a few hours later, and my third the next day. Then I brought some home and vowed I’d do what I could to make Ontario a safer place for what some call Mexico’s cognac.

Turns out, Allan Fryman had the same idea, and a good deal more wherewithal. He’s the organizer of the Tequila and More Show, which happens Friday May 6 at the Convention Centre from 4-11:30pm. In addition to all the tequila, he’s bringing up 12 mezcals in addition to the one – Jaral de Berrio – the LCBO carries.

I suggest trying at least three – a young one, a reposado, and an anejo. The flavours are deep and rich, even with the youngest of them, and if you’re over about 21, you may find yourself forsaking tequila for its brooding older brother.

Sounds great, Bert. Maybe I'll try some tonight in celebration of Cinco de Mayo and something that feels suspiciously like spring weather in Toronto, not that any of us remember.

Back to Travel Edito Jim Byers for now....

ONE KING WEST HOTEL/CONDO 

The folks at 1 King W. hotel and condos put on a Wowser of an open house on Tuesday night, complete with a fabulous oyster bar, Asian food and plenty of nice spirits. That was great but what blew me away was the main hall on the second floor.

It's the former main hall of the old Dominion Bank at King and Yonge, and it's definitely one of this city's hidden architectural highlights, with soaring arches some three-storeys high, painted ceilings with coats of arms and lots of gold and burnished wood. A stunning place for a reception, for sure (see photo with dramatic purple lights below).

The main floor entry is a tad small, but it's a nice lobby with a good-looking bar called Henri's, right off the street. They also will serve dinner or do special occasions on the lower level, even inside the massive vault. I'd never seen a real bank vault, and to witness a giant, round silver door that had to be 10 feet wide and 10-feet high and five-feet thick was pretty cool.

They also had food and drinks upstairs on the 12th floor in what was the old headquarters of The Ontario Club. It's a lovely, warm room with lots more polished wood, big windows looking south towards the bay and a giant fireplace; the sort of spot where captains of industry met in days of yore to plot out the next mayoral election or stock market takeover. Very cool, and it's another spot that would be a great place for a private function.

I didn't get a look at any of the hotel rooms, but perhaps some other time....

They served some pretty interesting drinks, including one called The Royal Reserve with sparkling wine, aged Appleton rum and lemon juice. I tried one, but I probably won't do so again. Too bitter, I thought.

Sparkling wine is great with a bit of lemon juice and a splash of cognac, but not so much the rum in my book. And, anyway, Appleton rum is great stuff so why ruin it with adding sparkling wine? Orange juice and pineapple and a maraschino cherry in a tall, frosty glass on the beach in Jamaica? That's another story....

 

Keep me from blowin' away while I write about Trip Advisor's best beaches

There's a storm brewin' up in Toronto. A whopper. And I don't mean the federal election - bah da boom. As I finish these notes in my handy sunroom in north Toronto, the winds are howling like a wounded Canadiens fan. I'm actually afraid one of my maple trees might come crashing down, as they're both about a hundred years old and we've had lots of rain lately. This happened a couple years back. We had a big rain storm and then it cleared up and I went and sat outside in my back yard. I came in for a minute and, whomp, a branch as thick as a telephone pole can crashing down and split the chair I had been sitting in clean in half. It was about 40-feet long and reached all across my back yard, resting on the fence but causing no damage except the chair. Oh, and a Japanese maple that it also cleaved in half. Still. to this day, that little maple only grows on one side.

But enough of that. I wanted to mention a pretty decent Trip Advisor survey of top beaches in the world. I often find Trip Advisor pretty American-centric - filled with folks who are surprised not to find ice machines in their pension in Italy - but this is a pretty decent list. For world beaches, this is what the readers/users/raters came up with:

1. Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

2. Boracay, Philippines (see photo at left)

3. Palm/Eagle Beach, Aruba

4. Negril, Jamaica

5. Tulum, Mexico

6. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

7. Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman

8. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

9. Cape May, New Jersey

10. Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

For U.S. beaches, it was:

1. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

2. Cape May, New Jersey

3. Panama City Beach, Florida

4. Miami Beach, Florida

5. Sanibel Island, Florida

6. Clearwater, Florida

7. Honolulu, Hawaii

8. Captiva Island, Florida

9. Poipu, Hawaii

10. Siesta Key, Florida

I like the world list. I've heard great things about Boracay and it's hard to argue with Jamaica. Millions flock to Punta Cana every year and I've been to the beaches at nearby Cap Cana, so that makes sense.

I don't much care for the U.S. list. Honolulu? I guess they mean Waikiki, which is famous and pretty but it's not even close to being the best beach on Oahu, let alone anywhere in Hawaii. Poipu, number nine (see photo at right), deserves a good spot. But where's Kaanapali on Maui or, better yet, the best beach in the world for my money, Napili (also Maui?). Of course, you can make the point that most tourists only get to Honolulu/Waikiki, so it's hard to fault them for not knowing about Waimea or Sandy Beach or the other great ones on Oahu or the other islands.

And, hey, not to get too provincial about it, but a born-and-raised California dude is wondering how the west coast got shut out? Malibu's overrated but Santa Monica is great and Newport (better yet, next-door Corona del Mar) and Laguna beaches are some of the best you'll find anywhere.

There's nothing here from Europe, and you can't tell me that beaches such as those in Portugal and Spain, let alone the Greek islands, don't deserve some mention. The seacoast and beaches north of Barcelona are magic, especially spots such as Tossa del Mar. There's also the French Riviera, which has awesome (if rocky) beaches in places such as St. Jean Cap Ferrat.

I'll tell my kids to shield their eyes here lest they be embarrassed - again - by their father, but the best European beach I ever saw was on the island of Paros in Greece. It was about a half-hour walk from my small hotel on the waterfront in the main town, but it was in a gloriously quiet part of the island with hardly a soul. I was lying there in May, 1984 (I think) when two young and very beautiful women came by and laid out their towels. Great. Then they got up and stripped down to nothing. Gulp. Then they started rubbing suntan oil on each other. Yowsa.

You wouldn't think a memory like that would stick with a guy but somehow I can still recall some of the details...

 

 

 

Air Canada to launch new, low-cost carrier? Sounds like good news for consumers

The Canadian airline industry keeps getting more interesting every day, and this time it could be good news for the little guy.

Reporting in today's Globe & Mail, reporter Brent Jang talks about Air Canada's plan to create a "discount, leisure airline to complete on routes to Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean and other popular vacation spots."

The Canadian industry has been in turmoil for some time, given the Sunwing-Signature merger in 2009, the growth of Porter, the coming (May 1) return of Air Canada planes to the Toronto Island airport, and West Jet's attempt to muscle in on more of the Toronto-Montreal-Ottawa biz market. The Air Canada discount move would be yet another shift in the industry landscape.

Jang's story talks about Air Canada starting with 10 planes and potentially increasing that to 50, a move that he says "will ratchet up the competitive pressure on tour operators such as Transat A.T. Inc."

Air Canada, like other airlines, is just emerging from a rather nasty economic hole, so it's an interesting statement on their part.

I, of course, would LOVE to see more chances for Canadians to save money on flights. The cost these days is absolutely horrendous. I just looked last night into the details for a flight to San Francisco in June and the best deal I could find on Air Canada was almost $800! Even flying through Buffalo and making a stop along the way didn't seem to help, with the cheapest ticket I could find being something like $500.

I guess we know where some of that money is going. Reports across Canada this morning suggest Air Canada union folks are outraged over the news that Air Canada chief exeecutive Calin Rovinescu last year collected salary and benefits that totalled $4.6 million. That's a 75 per cent increase over the $2.6 million he got the previous year, according to Reuters.

AC union folks called Rovinescu's 2010 earnings a "disgrace."

"The Air Canada bargaining committee and our union will be demanding equal improvements and solid gains from Air Canada," said Ken Lewenza, national president of the Canadian Auto Workers CAW.

Reuters reports that Air Canada's shares are down by more than a third this year, partly on worries about strikes at Canada's biggest carrier as it negotiates new labour contracts with all its unions.

 

Top travel bargains include Mexico, Ireland...Golden Globes travel deals!

Max out your cash in Mexico. Invest in Indonesia. And get your way to Greece.

Tim Leffel, who wrote a book called The World's Cheapest Destinations: 21 Countries Where Your Money is Worth a Fortune, is echoing a point I've made in the past (and many, many others have made, of course), which is to say that so-called "trouble spots" are often some of the best travel deals around.

Leffel singles out Mexico, saying that many folks have avoided the entire country because of drug and crime issues along the border. Not to cover up the country's troubles, but avoiding Cancun because of problems in Tijuana is kinda like skipping Seattle because of gang trouble in Reno, Nevada.

There have been isolated problems in tourist areas, but the point Leffel is making is that there are great bargains to be had in Cancun or Cabo San Lucas. Probably Cozumel and Mazatlan, too. "There are so many rooms they are trying to fill, so every week there are unbelievable deals." Look for interior cities, too, he says. www.visitmexico.com

Also on Leffel's list:

NEPAL - "fascinating cultural tours out of Kathmandu...(with) fully outfitted whitewater rafting trips...at less than $50 a day." www.welcomenepal.com

 

GREECE - The protests and strikes, compounded with the recession that has cut the number of European visitors, means there's excess capacity now, USA Today reports in a story on Leffel's advice. He's quoted as saying that Greece is "hurting for business and rolling out the discounts." www.visitgreece.gr

INDONESIA - "It's a whole chain of islands and it's got everything; beaches, diving, mountains and culture." http://www.indonesia.travel/

HONDURAS - "First-class diving and Mayay ruins," Leffel says. www.letsgohonduras.com

HUNGARY - "All the charm of its western neighbors at lower costs." They haven't adopted the Euro, and the currency has dropped against the American dollar. Leffel suggests skipping Budapest and trying cheaper digs in Hungary's wine country. www.gotohungary.com

ETHIOPIA - "Incredible ruins and scenery" and a currency that dropped nearly 30 per cent against the U.S. dollar in 2010. www.tourismethiopia.org

THE USA - Leffel says to look for deals in cities hit by a drop in convention business, such as Orlando and Las Vegas. Good advice, for sure, in places that normally have pretty competitive rates. Good for Canadians, too, given the fact our dollar IS ABOVE PAR AGAINST THE AMERICAN GREENBACK, and how often do we get to say that? www.discoveramerica.com

VIETNAM - Once again, somewhere where the American dollar - and presuming the Canadian with it - gained value last year. "Whether you're a backpacker looking for a $5-a-night flophouse or a high-end visitor seeking a luxury hotel, you'll find bargains here," Leffel advises. www.vietnamtourism.com

IRELAND - Economic troubles and a slew of new hotels means travel deals for 2011, Leffel advises. I made my first trip there in April of last year (see photo of right of the lovely coast of Donegal) and fell in love with the people, the scenery, the castles and the overall atmosphere. The cities also are awesome; Dublin, sure, but also Belfast in Northern Ireland with great restaurants, wonderful architecture and, yeah, a couple of nice pubs. www.discoverireland.com

UNUSUAL CRUISE DESTINATIONS? YOU CAN ADD LIBYA TO THE LIST

Here's a cruise you can write home about. Crystal Cruises, according to USA Today, is going to begin stops in Tripoli, Libya; a first for the 22-year-old company.

"The luxury line says the 1,080-passenger Crystal Serenity will visit the Libyan port of Tripoli during the vessel's 11-night "Italian Splendor" voyage from Venice to Barcelona that begins Nov. 16. The voyage also includes calls in several Italian ports including Naples, Civitavecchia (for Rome) and Livorno (for Florence) as well as Dubrovnik, Croatia," Gene Sloan wrote on the USA Today travel site.

The city was founded by the Phoenicians back in the 7th century and has some cool architecture and wonderful archaeological sites.

READY FOR SOME HOLLYWOOD? CHECK THESE L.A. BARGAINS FOR THE GOLDEN GLOBES

Yeah, it's probably hard to find a cheap hotel in LA when the Oscars are on. But apparently it's not bad for the Golden Globe Awards. CheapOair.com says they found a slew of good spots in western LA, in or near Hollywood, for reasonable prices. Among their recommendations are the W Hotel Los Angeles in Westwood Village (my former home when I was at UCLA way back when, and still a great part of LA for stargazing, a little bit of space and, wait for it, actual places to walk and shop and eat without needing a car!), for $188 a night, the Omni Los Angeles Hotel California Plaza (downtown) for $135 and the Grafton on Sunset (West Hollywood) for a very good price of $177 per night.

Downtown LA has come a long way, with plenty of good restaurants and shops and lots to do, even if you are a good half hour from the beach. West Hollywood is known as the gay capital of southern California and probably is more in line with what Canadians would want to see and experience in a trip to so-Cal, with tons of nightclubs and restaurants and funky shops and colourful characters. Like Scarlett here. I'm not saying you'll run into Scarlett Johansson, pictured here at left in a rather modest dress from the 2006 Golden Globe Awards, I do believe. But there's a chance you might see that guy who was the third dude from the left in line at the grocery store in some really horrible episode of Three And A Half Men (as opposed to the funny, intelligent, well-written episodes, I mean).

 

 

 

More on the Mexico hotel explosion...Mexican authorities changing their tune?

I was a little suspicious of that swamp gas story.

When we got news yesterday of the hotel explosion near Playa del Carmen, south of Cancun in Mexico, I wrote in this space that it sounded a little strange. After all, hotels and other properties have been built near swamps or on former swamp land for years and we never hear of such explosions. It simply sounded odd to me when a state prosecutor and local officials blamed swamp gas.

I'm not saying this happened, but if I was a hotel operator I'd probably want to blame natural causes rather than anything operational. So perhaps the initial explanation was understandable. But today, according to recent reports in the Star, it appears it might have been another issue.

An authority for the federal Environmental and Natural Resources Secretariat (Semarnat) agency today said the problem likely was linked to an operational or maintenance issue at the hotel.

“I’m nearly 100 per cent sure that it was due to an operational problem in the hotel’s infrastructure, and not an accumulation of gas in underground caves,” said Gabriela Lima Laurents of Semarnat. “If that was the case, not only (the state of) Quintana Roo but the entire (Yucatan) peninsula would be in danger to explode or would have already blown."

Now, I'm going to put my suspicious journalist hat on again and make the following point. I have no idea what happened down there. But if you're a federal agency in a government somewhere, and you're worried about tourism in your country, the last thing you want is anyone thinking that a whole bunch of hotels could go "boom" at any moment. The best-case scenario would be that an explosion like this was simply human error and, thus, limited to one specific property. Like I say, I'm not judging anyone here. I'm simply pointing out that if the explosion at the Grand Princess Riviera Hotel was because of a problem at that hotel and that hotel only, it would make folks in Mexico tourism breathe a little bit easier. Don't you think?

That having been said, it sounds more plausible to me that there was a hotel malfunction than some issue with methane gas. I did, however, read a couple stories this morning about how scientists were suggesting that methane could be responsible, and they're a lot smarter than I am. Which leaves me rather perplexed and still very much of the opinion that we should all be diligent in researching and selecting vacations, and safety should be one of the criteria.

I''m not suggesting any particular country is at fault, but I'd probably feel better staying in a high-rise in a country where people are paid a decent wage and where there are firm standards for construction and maintenance of hotels and other tourist sites.

In the meantime, let's see how the investigations play out with the situation at hand....

FREE HOTEL ROOMS IF YOU GET FILMED IN BED?

I spotted a great item on the wires about how a Swedish porn king (didn't know they had any, but there you go) is touting the idea of building five-star hotels that people could stay in for free. It sounds too good to be true, and it is. The catch, however, is a wee bit unusual.

Berth Milton, who runs something called Private Media, says the rooms would be gratis only if guests agreed to have their sexual exploits broadcast on the web.

I dunno, Berth. There are a lot of people out there who would PAY to have their exploits broadcast on the web if you ask me. So I think you're, um, blowing an opportunity here to pad your pocketbook.

That issue aside, Milton isn't thinking small. He's talking about 100 properties and thinks each hotel could generate $43.8 million a year in subscriptions from folks watching at home. I can see one in Toronto, perhaps at, and you'll have to forgive me for this, Exhibition Place.

Milton says the hotels have to have a wide appeal, and here's a great quote.

"It has to be a hotel for non-swingers as well - not super-explicit where everybody's running around naked. That takes the style and class out of it."

God forbid we remove the class from such a stylistic, tasteful idea, Berth. Geez.

Milton says it's critical that the idea is, um, fully formed.

"The important thing is to go all the way - not halfway or a third of the way. Imagine how they were laughing at Steve Jobs and Bill Gates when they came up with their own ideas."

Good luck, Mr. Milton. The style gurus of the world are counting on you to do this right.

 

 

 

Mexico explosion raises issues travellers should be aware of...St. Kitts trouble

It's pretty horrifying to read the story in today's Star about the explosion that ripped through a hotel in the popular Playa del Carmen region of Mexico. Losing a child is especially painful and something no parent should have to go through.

Authorities say five Canadians and two Mexicans died in the powerful explosion yesterday at the Grand Riviera Princess Hotel, south of Cancun. Two other Canadians remain in critical condition.

I don't think it's cause for panic, as it's a seemingly unusual occurence. But we still don't seem to have very solid information about what exactly caused the explosion. It sounds like it COULD be a buildup of methane, perhaps from a nearby swamp.

If I was travelling to this part of Mexico, and it's important to stress this is something that occurred in one tiny portion of the country, I'd want to know what's under my hotel, and how close my hotel is to this particular swamp. What about other swamps?

I don't know. A lot of Florida is built around swampland, but I've never heard of hotels blowing up like this down around the Everglades or anything. I'll take authorities at their word for now, but as a journalist I have to be wary of the party line.

Francisco Alor, attorney general for the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, said reports suggest "an accumulation of gases produced by decomposing organic material in the subsoil, and this gas produced the explosion."

“Expert examiners and civil defence personnel will have to determine if the underground space filled with swampy water that remained in this zone when the building was constructed four years ago, could have generated this type of gases,” he said.

Officials said no gas lines were located in the area where the blast occurred.

It's still early, but the issue certainly is disturbing. What other hotels are in this region, exactly? How close are they to this swamp that seems to be attracting attention? If I was a traveler, I'd want to find out precisely where my hotel is compared to the Grand Riviera Princess.

The Grand Sunset Princess appears to be right next door, according to some web maps I've found. There are several popular Mayakoba resorts just up the beach a bit, but Mike Taylor at Fairmont tells me the Fairmont Mayakoba is 15 or 20 minutes away.

Fairmont released a statement about 2 p.m., which I'm providing here in its entirety:

Fairmont Mayakoba sends its condolences to those affected by the incident at the Grand Princess Riviera Hotel that occurred on November 14, 2010. Local Playa del Carmen authorities have the situation under control and have assured us that this was an isolated incident only affecting that property. Fairmont Mayakoba is operating normally; as reference, our property is located 2 kilometers away from the Grand Princess Riviera Maya Hotel. All local services and attractions are also operating normally. We do not expect any service interruptions for current or upcoming guests.  Fairmont Mayakoba is not affiliated to the Grand Princess Riviera Hotel, nor are our sister properties in Mexico, Bermuda and Arizona.

On top of this, it is also important to note Jim that Fairmont Mayakoba's ongoing inspections and safety procedures comply with local regulations, with international standards, and the comprehensive standards dictated by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts to ensure the safety and well being of our visitors and colleagues.

It's hard for travelers here to get all the information, but if I was headed to that region I'd want to do all the research I could before putting my family up for the night. Good on Fairmont for getting the information out there.

If you have any concerns let me know at jbyers@thestar.ca.

ST. KITTS ROBBERY

Not great news for the tourism folks in St. Kitts, either. Associated Press reports a group of visitors on a cruise day-trip were robbed of their wallets and cameras.

Apparently someone threw an old tree across the road in the middle of a jungle-like area. When the bus driver got out to remove the tree, two masked gunmen pounced, on 16 passengers from the Celebrity Mercury ship, then fled into the forest or jungle.

Police say the tourists from the Celebrity Mercury ship were traveling to the Brimstone Hill Fortress, a park popular with visitors. No one was harmed, according to the AP report.

It's pretty rare, but we did see a tourist from a cruise ship killed in what was said to be a gang-related shooting in St. Thomas.

Isolated incidents, but disturbing to be sure.

PEARSON PROBLEMS..AND NUTS TO YOU

Flew home from Australia yesterday, then caught an Air Canada flight from Los Angeles to Toronto. Our plane was on the ground at 8:21 p.m. and at the gate at 8:28 or so. When did the first bit of luggage arrive? 9:01 p.m.

That's a whopping 33 minutes on my watch. Even if I'm off by 10 per cent, it's a full half hour for the FIRST suitcase to come tumbling down the belt.

Hugely unacceptable, Pearson. I've heard them blame the airlines, but as a passenger I don't give a damn. All I know is when I arrive at most other airports in the world, luggage arrives within a few minutes of the plane hitting the gate. Sometimes it's even there before I make it to baggage claim, but it's almost always slow as molasses at Pearson.

It's not just me. An acquaintance of mine who holds public office (nope, not saying) says they've complained many times to Pearson about it and they just blame the airline.

What's up, guys?

While I'm on the subject of airlines and airports, I had a nice flight with Qantas on my way from Sydney to Los Angeles. I ordered breakfast, and don't remember what the menu said. But when my muesli arrived, I noticed there were nuts in the bowl.

I have a mild allergy to most nuts, so I was curious what they were. I asked the flight attendant.

"I have no idea," she said. "I think they're macadamia nuts."

I think they were, too. But I wasn't sure, and I didn't want to take a chance. So I picked them out of my bowl.

I suppose I could've said "I have a small nut allergy, can you tell me what these are?" Okay. But still, when you're on a plane two hours from the nearest bit of land and you're a flight attendant in a day when nut allergies of a very severe nature are quite common and someone asks you, "What kind of nuts are these," I think it calls for a response that's slightly better than "I have no idea, I think they're macadamia nuts."

A friend of mine at the Star says it drives her crazy that they still serve nuts of any kind on a plane. Her kids have severe peanut allergies and she has to clothe them in long pants and long sleeves in case someone else has peanuts on the plane.

Banning nuts entirely on a plane is a whole other issue. But I'd think that, given the nature of the problem, we'd have a bit more sensitivity.

It was my only issue with the flight, so I don't want to dump on Qantas. They had a great selection of movies and TV shows on the plane and everything went smoothly. They even gave me an upgrade, which I"m quite grateful for after eight days traipsing around Australia and meeting some wonderful people and seeing some remarkable sights. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't point out what I think is a flaw in their service...