Anne Green Gables disapointment / Wine in a can on Spirit: ugh! / Deal of day

Visitors to Prince Edward Island are coming away disappointed, according to a report on CTV news. CTV Atlantic says Parks Canada is saving money by restricting operationg hours at Green Gables, closing on Sunday and Monday in the month of June.

"It's supposed to be a national treasure and they (tourists) were here and they wanted to see it on a Sunday and they couldn't," said tour guide Harry Moreland. "Definitely I don't think it is of any advantage to tourism on this island, for the Green Gables house to be closed up so early."

The grounds will be open seven days a week in July, the network said.

WINE IN A CAN - PLEASE NO!

Another sign the apocalypse surely is upon us? Or just another sign of how unglamorous air travel is these days?

Either way, the news that Spirit Airlines will begin serving wine (or something they call wine) in cans is surely not welcome news. The U.S. carrier, known for its extra fees and fun advertisements (which we don't see much in Canada) says it will save weight on board by selling its white moscato or strawberry moscato (sounds AWFUL) wines in aluminum cans. The cans are easier to stack and store on airplanes and also weigh less.

Spirit will continue to sell mini-bottles of Sutter Home wine, which is kinda drinkable last time I checked. But strawberry moscato? Why not just suck on some strawberry licorice?

The cans will cost $7, or two for $12.

Spirit, in case you've never had the pleasure, charges $3 for a drink of water. Want a bag in the overhead bin? That'll cost you $35.

And you thought airlines were nickel and diming you in Canada ...

RECORD REVENUE FROM FEES

Speaking of nickel and diming,a report by IdeaWorksCompany and CarTrawler says ancillary revenue reported by airlines grew to $27.1 billion (all figures U.S.) in 2012. That's up a sizeable 19.6 per cent over 2011 and represents more than double the ancillary revenues that airlines brought in in 2009, when the figure was $13.47 billion.

"The blueprint for an airline business has changed dramatically over the past 10 years," said Mike McGearty, CEO of Car Trawler.

No kidding. We get hit for excess baggage. We get hit for change fees. We get hit for sandwiches and wine in cans. And, if you're on Spirit, even water.

A chart of the top airlines showed that United raked in $5.35 billion in extra revenue, followed by Delta at $2.58 billion and American at almost $2 billion. No Canadian airlines made the list of top ten revenue producers.

The study also showed that Qantas brings in an average of $56.21 per passenger in ancillary revenue, tops in the world, and that Spirit gets 38.5 per cent of its revenue from ancillary fees; also tops in the world.

One odd note: the study said Aeroflot sold $171.3 million of duty free goods on its flights in 2012 and attained a 115 per cent mark up on cost. That's a lot of perfume and, probably, vodka.

MONTREAL JAZZ FEST

The 34^th edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, will take place from June 28 to July 7, is coming up soon. On the menu this year : Oliver Jones, Martha Wainwright, Nikki Yanofsky, Wayne Shorter, Pink Martini, Charles Lloyd, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, George Benson, She & Him, Vijay Iyer, Alpha Blondy & the Solar System, Oliver Jones, Belle & Sebastian, Madeleine Peyroux… and many more acts.

BOMBARDIER SENDS PLANES TO WESTJET

In a ceremony in chilly Toronto today, Bombardier Aerospace today delivered its first Q400 NextGen aircraft to WestJet.

WestJet has ordered 20 of the planes with options for an additional 25, and will use them on its new regional carrier, WestJet Encore. WestJet Encore launches June 24 and will provide flights to a series of regional destinations in Canada, including places like Saskatoon, Fort St. John, B.C., Brandon, Manitoba, Grande Prairie, Alberta and Nanaimo, B.C.

BIG VEGAS RESORT

Travelmole reports that plans have been unveiled by Eurasia Resorts for a massive new development in Las Vegas, including six hotels, 39 casinos and a six-million-square-foot convention centre.

Located off The Strip, the complex would also include indoor and outdoor theme parks, the world's largest Ferris wheel (800-feet tall), a sports arena with a visitor-participation XTREME Sports World, three PGA-quality golf courses and a shopping mall (naturally) with 15 million square feet of retail space.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal today for a terrific, nine-day trip to Scotland, including visits to Edinburgh and Loch Ness. It's priced at $2,807, including airfare and $609 in taxes.

Jaunt Highlights

• EXCLUSIVE TO JAUNT: Save up to $1576 per couple, compared to the cost of booking your air, accommodations, touring and meals separately!
• BONUS: Extend your flights for up to 14 days at no additional cost, and return from anywhere Transat flies in the UK or Ireland
• BONUS: $150 Future Travel Voucher per person to be used on future vacations with Transat or Nolitour
• 9-day/7-night Scottish Dream Tour featuring a Loch Ness cruise, visits to Edinburgh Castle, Speyside Distillery and more!
• Includes all transfers in Scotland via luxury coach, services of a professional English speaking tour guide, and all sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary, Ferry to the Isle of Skye and more
  
  

• October in Scotland means less tourists and the continuation of fair fall weather. As one of the local Scottish sayings goes: "There's no such thing as bad weather; only the wrong clothes!"

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on October 5, 2013
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Glasgow on Air Transat
• 7-nights' accommodation in Superior First Class hotels (based on double occupancy). Hotels include the following (or simmilar):Glasgow Marriott Hotel, Glasgow (1 night); Isles of Glencoe Hotel, Ballachulish (1 night); Newton Hotel, Nairn (1 nights); Ardoe House Hotel, Blairs (2 night) and Holyrood Hotel, Edinburgh (2 nights)
• Includes full breakfast daily (except day one), and 6 dinners throughout the tour
• Pricing (Rates are per person, and based on double occupancy):
  
  Toronto:
  Single: $2598 + tax
  Double: $2198 + tax
  Tax: $608.82
  
  
  
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe faves: Where to get fat in France, plus top views in Rome ... Deal of day

A recent study by the United Nations’ world tourism organization found that 43 per cent of all the tourism money spent in the world last year was spent in Europe.

Meanwhile, the folks at TripAdvisor this week announced their 2013 Travelers’ Choice Destinations, based on reviews and opinions of millions of TripAdvisor travelers. The top 10 was as follows: Paris, New York, London, Rome, Barcelona, Venice, San Francisco, Florence, Prague and Sydney. That’s seven of 10 for the Euros, which is why so many of us book trips to places like Paris and Prague each summer.

With that in mind, here’s a personal look at a few European faves (or not) I’ve discovered over the years.

Favourite Irish pub: Gus O’Connor’s in Doolin, which looks like something out of Lord of the Rings. Great music and Irish camaraderie in a perfect little town (see below).

Best-looking museum (outside): City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain. A beautiful interplay of structure and light by Santiago Calatrava, who designed the interior of what’s now Brookfield Place at Yonge and Front Streets (the old BCE Place).

Best-looking museum (inside): The Musee d’Orsay in Paris is a former train station that’s a joy to simply sit in. Toss in some of the world’s best Impressionist art and you’ve got a killer combination.

Sweetest treat: Some folks swear by macaroons in Paris, but I’ll take the crème cakes in Lake Bled, Slovenia; thin pastry with custard-like crème and vanilla and powdered sugar. The views of Lake Bled, a perfect church on a small island, a fort on a towering cliff and the Slovenian alps are even sweeter in what might be the prettiest spot in all of Europe.

Best place to get fat: The Dordogne region of France, east of Bordeaux, features tons of Foie gras, local duck, good wine and more foie gras. The rivers are lined with beautiful castles on high hills, which makes for a great canoe trip to work off some calories.

Best golf course views: Nefyn and District (photo at left) is a fabulous links setup in northwest Wales. The last couple holes are played out (mostly) on a tiny peninsula high on a hill. You can peer down at a small, beachside village that’s achingly beautiful and features the renowned Ty Coch Inn.

Best tour of Paris: Take a ride in an old Citroen and tour the City of Light with a company called 4 roues sous un Parapluie.

Best place to get to another continent: If you stay on the European side of Istanbul, you can take a short ferry across the Bosporus and plant your feet in Asia for lunch.

Best place for a cheap hotel in London: Inexpensive places abound in the area near Bayswater and Paddington, north of Kensington Gardens. Good access to the underground, too.

Best place to get in touch with George Clooney (in your dreams): They say he still hangs out occasionally in the Lake Como area of Italy. It’s a beautiful spot with Swiss effiency, alpine scenery and Italian food. The perfect match.

Best mix of sweet and spicy food: In Holland, be sure to try Indonesian rijstaffel; a huge array of small dishes surrounding a serving of rice. Too exotic? You can’t go wrong with a Dutch pancake house.

Easiest Athens escape: Sick of the crowds in the Plaka? Hop on a short ferry ride to the island of Hydra, where there are no cars but wonderful seaside bars or places to dip into fresh calamari or a giant bowl of rich, Greek yogurt.

Best view of Rome: Snag a room (if you can afford it) or dip into your pocketbook for a drink or a small meal at the Hotel Hassler, built at the top of the Spanish Steps. Magnificent views of beautiful churches, piazzas and The Vatican (see photo at right).

Tastiest coffee: Caffe Al Bicerin is an Italian institution in Turin that serves up a mix of espresso, chocolate and crème in a small but glamorous shop. Heavenly.

Best place to hit the beach in Sweden: Halmstad offers a lovely stretch of sand on this Scandinavian country’s gentle west coast. A great place for a game of beach soccer.

Worst Mexican food: I don’t remember the name but I had without a doubt the most inexcusable, sorry plate of Mexican food at a place in Salzburg a dozen years ago. Yes, I know, why would anyone order Mexican in Austria?

A great place to impress your friends: The island of Corsica is part of France but feels like old-time Italy. Towering, craggy mountains that plunge into impossibly blue seas, small villages that are perched on top of giant cliffs over the water, fabulous drives, terrific food and wine, amazing historical sites and lots more. Easily one of the best places I've ever visited.

Best place to rub something: Folks have been rubbing a likeness of St. John of Nepomuk on the Charles Bridge in Prague for years. They say if you do you’ll return to the city. I gave it a go in 2003 but haven’t returned. Yet.

THIS AND THAT

What's up with the freaking weather? It was four degrees Celsius and windy this morning in Toronto. In northern Italy, heavy snow forced cancellation of stage 19 of the Giro d'Italia cycling race. It's almost June; will someone PLEASE turn up the thermostat? ... Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey held a grand opening Thursday for Margaritaville, the $35 million restaurant, bar, and gambling complex that's part of a $70 million expansion and renovation of Resorts ...

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal today for a fabulous trip to Scotland, priced at $1,492, including $623 in taxes.

Jaunt Highlights

• BONUS: Includes 7-day Economy car rental (Ford Fiesta or similar)
• BONUS: 1-day Edinburgh Hop-on/Hop-off Bus Tour Passes
• 9-Day/7-Night Scotland Freedom vacation with Air Canada rouge, offering the freedom to explore Scotland at your own will!

• Only 3 nights of included accommodation lets you decide where you'd like to stay next

• Scotland's diverse geography is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world
• Having your own car rental leaves you the freedom to choose where you want to go and allows you to travel at your own pace

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on July 4 & 9, 2013
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Edinburgh via AC rouge
• Accommodations for 3 nights at the 3-Star Edinburgh City Centre Haymarket Premier Inn
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax and based on double occupancy):
  
  July 4, 2013:
  Double: $999
  Tax: $623
   
  July 9, 2013:  
  Double: $869
  Tax: $623
  
  
  
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• Car rental insurance and local fees not included and to be paid locally
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

Canadians want more airline competition...Naked body scanners...Deal of Day

More flights. More airlines. More purchasing options.

A study conducted for the Consumers Association of Canada shows Canadians are strongly in favour of more access for international carriers.

The group’s polling found that 60 per cent of Canadians believe foreign airlines should be allowed to increase their service to Canada. Only 14 per cent of respondents were opposed.

Looked at another way, 61 per cent of Canadians said they think foreign airlines should be allowed to compete with Canadian airlines for their business, with only 20 per cent opposed.

Air Canada has been fighting to keep Emirates from adding more flights to Canada, saying it would hurt the Canadian economy and cost jobs in this country. The Harper government, so far, has been swayed by that argument. But there’s been a thaw in relations between Ottawa and the United Arab Emirates government, and it could be that efforts by Emirates to get more landing spots in Canada will soon be renewed.

The CAC poll had some other findings that weren’t too surprising. Asked if allowing more foreign airlines to fly to Canada would lead to more competition for their travel dollar, a full 77 per cent of folks agreed. Only six per cent disagreed. Asked if allowing more foreign airlines to come here would lead to lower travel costs, 69 per cent said yes and 12 per cent disagreed.

But those are silly questions. Of course more airlines means more competition. The question that matters is whether that competition is a good thing. Sure, it’s good for our travel budget. But it might not be good for the economy as a whole, which is what Air Canada argues with some justification. I’d like to see more competitition, but I am mindful of the effects it might have here at home. So is the Prime Minister.

The CAC said it will use the poll “to renew our call for Canada to adopt a dramatically different approach to international aviation.”

“Current policy has protected vested interests,” said CAC president Bruce Cran. “It is time to open Canada’s skies and welcome foreign carriers into this market to compete for the business of Canadian travelers.”

Good luck, sir. Good luck.

CANADA’S SENATE WEIGHS IN ON AIR TRAVEL

The Canadian senate has weighed in with a report on the future of the aviation industry in this country.

The Standing Committee on Transport and Communications issued a report called “One Size Doesn’t Fit All: The Future Growth and Competitiveness of Canadian Air Travel.” Putting aside the sexy title and all, I can’t for the life of me tell what the report is supposed to mean by reading the committee’s press release.

The top sentence in the release says this: “Canada needs a single, cohesive national air travel strategy, which must take into account the needs and challenges of all regions, particularly in the North, to chart a new course toward increased air travel in Canada.”

The release says the committee determined that “efforts to improve the competitiveness of regional and northern air transport should begin with transportation strategies that support air traffic growth, and infrastructure improvements that lead to accessible pricing for all Canadians.”

Later I discovered, it talks about how airport rents should be phased out to make airlines more competitive. This also was in the committee's interim report and is an interesting item.

The National Airlines Council of Canada sent out a release today saying it welcomes the Senate report "supporting its position that air travellers are being unduly penalized by excessive taxes and fees that are making air travel more costly for Canadians."

LESS INTRUSIVE SCANNERS AT CANADIAN AIRPORTS

It’s probably a good thing that the Harper government says it will bring in new software that will reduce the size of the images revealed by so-called naked scanners at the airport.

Officials in Ottawa said the new software will produce a computer-generated stick figure, and not so much a realistic body image, while still protecting Canadians with proper security.

I guess it’s good. But I never bought into the whole civil liberties argument about body scanners and all those crazy folks screaming about invasion of privacy.

I mean, do folks honestly think that airport security workers who can access any pornography they want at home will get their jollies by looking at wavy, grainy images on a computer screen in a back room at Pearson Airport? I don’t think so.

BLUE MOUNTAIN CHANGES

Skyline International Development Inc. today announced the closing of a $20 million investment and acquisition in Blue Mountain.  Skyline has purchased both retail and undeveloped residential land interests in and adjacent to the renowned Blue Mountain Village at the base of Blue Mountain Resort.

"Under the retail portion of the agreement, Skyline has acquired 50 per cent of existing commercial retail space within the Blue Mountain Village from current owner Intrawest ULC. In addition, Skyline will manage the remaining 50 percent of the Village's retail space. Skyline has also acquired the land to build an additional 20,000 sq. ft. of retail space to expand the Village retail. Skyline's retail interest under agreement at Blue Mountain is currently generating $1.5 million of net operating income.

In the residential portion of the acquisition, Skyline has acquired 136 acres of remaining developable land in and adjacent to the Village, with plans to double the Village's current residential footprint. Skyline intends to develop 1,200 residential units, townhouses and single-family homes along the golf course and in the Village centre in the years ahead.

 

“We are very excited to be part owners of one of North America’s premier destinations. The Blue Mountain Village acquisition is an important milestone for Skyline’s growth. As of today, we can offer visitors and home buyers a unique set of four-season activity-focused destination communities, extending from downtown Toronto and reaching across southern Ontario,” says Gil Blutrich, Skyline Chairman. “We look forward to bringing the knowledge and expertise of our team to the table to make Blue Mountain this country’s top vacation destination, while offering more home buyers the chance to live in the heart of this thriving resort community and be connected to the rest of our portfolio.”

 

CARNIVAL IMPROVEMENTS

Good to see that Carnival Corp., the cruise operator that has suffered so many black eyes this year, will spend around $700 million or more on fire protection and backup systems across its 101-ship fleet.

According to Bloomberg News, Carnival will install added emergency generators and reinforce shipboard systems to prevent losses of power like the one that occurred on the Carnival Triump in February.

“Safety is our highest priority,” said Carnival vice chair and COO Howard Frank.

If it wasn’t before, it damn well should be now.

Nice moves, but the cruise company had little choice but to make a splash (pardon the pun) given the problems they’ve had.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for Cancun that includes a $1,500 resort credit and ticket to see the wonderful Beach Boys. It's priced at $1,727, including $348 in taxes.

• BONUS: Enjoy $1500 USD Resort Credit and 2 FREE Adult Beach Boys Concert Tickets per room!
• All-inclusive 7-night stay at the 4.5-Star Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort, located in Cancun, Mexico
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Cancun, and round-trip airport/resort transfers in Mexico
• Accommodations in a Superior Garden View Room featuring 1 king or 2 double beds. Maximum Occupancy: 4 adults
• Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

Why We Love It:

• Enjoy the laidback beach beats of The Beach Boys in concert
• Pamper yourself with the world class spa services and golf course
• Entertain the whole family with Kids Clubs and numerous dining options

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on August 3, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Toronto:
  Double: $1379
  Single: $2069
  Triple: $1319
  Quad: $1259
  Tax: $347.56
  
  Other DATES and GATEWAYS available.
  Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
• Use your $1500 resort credit for a range of perks including spa treatments, select excursions, golf and more! For a full breakdown of how to use your credit CLICK HERE
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non refundable at time of booking

 

 

 

Better summer ahead for Canadian tourism?/Jimmy Buffett hotel/Deal of the Day

Encouraging news out of the U.S. this week, as a survey suggests the optimism of travellers has risen beyond pre-recession levels.

A story by Hugo Martin of the Los Angeles Times says the Travel Sentiment Indes, put together by a company called MMGY Global, "may help predict how much Americans plan to travel for vacation this summer."

The survey, Martin said, asked respondents about their attitude toward travel; looking at prices, affordability and other issues. The February 2013 score jumped to 100.8, passing the previous high of 100 in March, 2007.

Martin wrote that the survey found that factors that influence travel, such as fuel costs, personal debt and the cost of airline tickets, all have declined in February, compared to Feb. 2012.

It remains to be seen if Canada, with our relatively woeful marketing budget these days, can take advantage of Americans who seem willing to spend. But it's encouraging news for Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Vancouver, Banff and the rest of our splendid country.

WASTING AWAY IN ST. THOMAS

Singer Jimmy Buffett is planning a Margaritaville resort on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to USA Today.

The resort will be a timeshare on the site of the former Renaissance Grand Beach Resort on Smith Bay, east of Magens Bay on the northeast corner of the island. I visited St. Thomas last year and had a great time.

Buffett and Wyndham Vacation Ownership President and Chief Executive Officer Franz Hanning announced the 262-unit resort, which is due to begin construction in July. First units could be done 18 months later.

Buffett plays the buffoon on stage but has become quite the business tycoon. USA Today reports Buffett now has about two dozen Margaritaville bars, cafes and restaurants and hotel in Pensacola, Fla., plus one due in Bossier City, La. And, of course, one in Niagara Falls.

There also are Margaritaville casinos in Vegas and Biloxi, Miss., with more to come.

A Margaritaville casino is due this spring at Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, and one just announced that's coming to the River Spirit Casino in Tulsa.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for a great holiday in beautiful Jamaica for $1,135, including $390 in taxes.

• BONUS: FREE UPGRADE to a Royal Beachfront Room with 1 king-size or 2 double beds, balcony, and prime beachfront location. Max. occupancy: 3 adults, 2 adults + 2 children
• All-inclusive 7-night stay at the 4-Star Braco Village Hotel & Spa in Rio Bueno, Jamaica
• Includes return airfare from Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal or Quebec City to Montego Bay and round-trip airport/hotel transfers in Jamaica
• Daily buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner, and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

• As part of Sunwing's Family Collection, Braco Village has a range of activities for the whole family, including a supervised Kids Club
• Resort won a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for 2012
• Enjoy amazing views from your Royal Beachfront room

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departure dates:
  
  Toronto: April 3, 12, 15, 20 & 24, 2013        
  Ottawa: April 5, 19 & 26, 2013            
  Montreal: April 5, 12, 19 & 26, 2013            
  Quebec City: April 5, 19 & 26, 2013   
  
  Other DATES and GATEWAYS available.
  Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
  
• Pricing (Rates are per person):
  
  Toronto:
  Double: $745 + tax
  Single: $945 + tax
  Triple: $705 + tax
  Child (2-12 yrs): $445 + tax
  Tax: $390
  
  Ottawa:
  Double: $754 + tax
  Single: $954 + tax
  Triple: $714 + tax
  Child (2-12 yrs): $445 + tax
  Tax: $380
  
  Montreal:
  Double: $1145 tax included
  Single: $1345 tax included
  Triple: $1105 tax included
  Child (2-12 yrs): $845 tax included
  
  Quebec City:
  Double: $1145 tax included
  Single: $1345 tax included
  Triple: $1105 tax included
  Child (2-12 yrs): $845 tax included
  
  
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is refundable until March 27 at 5PM EST. After this time, this offer is 100% non-refundable.

 

 

 

Florida crazies say thanks to Canada with new driver license rule ... Ireland deal

What a lovely way to say thank you.

Last year, some three million Canadians weathered fierce snowstorms or long, grueling drives or paid hundreds of dollars to fly to Florida. We spent our hard-earned money in Florida restaurants and Florida hotels and Florida theme parks and, some of us, in Florida tiki bars.

We make up, by quite a large bit, the largest group of visitors to The Sunshine State. So what do we get in return? We get told we’re supposed to pay $25 for an International Driving Permit for the privilege of driving in the state that we help keep in business.

Because, you know, there’s nothing more dangerous than a Canadian driving along I-75 or Biscayne Blvd.

As outlined in today’s Star by reporter Katie Daubs, the rule is supposed to hellp Florida law enforcement folks interpret foreign licenses. But it means Canadians and Chileans and Kiwis and Germans will have to apply for an international permit. In our case, that means a passport picture and $25 at the local Canadian Automobile Association office.

Tourism types are apologizing for the inconvenience, as well they should. And there’s talk that the law might be changed by July 1, at least for folks, get this, with English-language licenses.

What about Quebeckers? Would an exemption cover them or just folks from the rest of Canada? What about Aussies? They have English licenses but they certainly don't speak the language. Ba-da-boom.

We can get angry but I think it makes perfect sense for Florida to take action like this. I mean, people with licenses from Brazil and Mexico and Canada and Australia and Britain are wreaking HAVOC on Florida roads. You think unemployment and immigration issues and, oh, I don’t know, gun control are important? You silly, silly people. Those problems absolutey PALE in comparision with the carnage left behind in Clearwater and Kissimmee by rampaging hooligans from Halifax, with their fancy Nova Scotia licenses that no Florida cop could possibly understand.

So it’s no wonder the state had to do something.

(Hey, I was just driving about in Florida last month with an Ontario license. I guess that makes me something of a criminal. Yeah, just call me James Dean, rebel without an IDP).

This could be a windfall for the cops. They could just park outside the Blue Jays spring training complex and the stadium in Dunedin and hand out tickets to all those law-breaking Canadians. Think of the revenue!

Honestly, some days I just shake my head at the insanity around us. For a state so dependent on tourism, this is unbelievably stupid.

So here’s an idea. How about the Florida governor send out a note of common sense and tell police in the state to ignore this idiotic law until saner heads prevail.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, is offering a Transat deal for a pub and folk music trip to fabulous Ireland for $2,463, including $465 in taxes. Here are the details:

• BONUS: $150 Future Travel Voucher per person
• BONUS: Extend your flight for up to 30 days at no extra charge and return from anywhere Transat flies in Europe (accommodations for extension extra)
• 9-day/7-night Irish Pub & Folk Tour with visits to Dublin, Kilkenny, Waterford, Kilarney, Westport and more
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Dublin on Air Transat and transfers to/from airport to hotel
• 7 nights' accommodation in 4-star hotels
• Meals throughout your tour (as outlined in itinerary below)
• Includes professionally guided tours of Ireland via air conditioned Deluxe Motorcoach, and all admission fees as per itinerary

• Enjoy the traditional Irish pub life with tours, samplings and shows
• Take advantage of your pockets of free time to explore Ireland at your own pace while still enjoying the services of a local guide in Dublin
• Tour includes entry into popular Irish attractions like the Blarney Castle, Guinness Storehouse and more

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on June 7, 2013 departure
• Pricing:
  Single: $2,498 per person, plus tax
  Double: $2,098 per person, plus tax
  Tax: $465

 

 

Trouble in Thailand and Belfast not helping tourism ... Jaunt.ca deal of the day

It's a shame to see such great destinations struggling with tourism concerns.

I spotted an item on travelmole.com's British website today that suggested tour operators in Thailand are nervous about sending clients to at least one major spot; the island of Koh Phangan. Following the fatal shooting of a British tourist in a Thai bar that's popular with backpackers on Koh Phangan, TravelMole did a poll asking about the shooting and if operators felt it puts them off from selling marketing or visiting.

A massive 83% voted yes, it does put them off while only 17% voted no - taken from more than 1,400 votes. I dont' know how scientific that is, but it has to scare folks in Thailand just a little.

There have been other incidents of late, mostly on the islands from what I've seen and not in Bangkok, for what it's worth.

Half a world away, there are tourism concerns about recent protests by pro-British forces in Belfast, Northern Ireland (see photo above right).

Things have been thankfully peaceful in the north since 1998, when a peace deal was struck to end 30 years of conflict between Protestants and Catholics. But riots began again last month when mostly pro-Irish councillors in Belfast voted to end the century-old tradition of flying the British flag atop Belfast City Hall.

A Reuters report today says businesses have been disrupted and Belfast's reputation tarnished by some of the worst scenes in a dozen years.

"We are already aware of investors who have lost interest in Northern Ireland because of these disruptions," said a Confederation of British Industry statement.

From what I've seen there are no threats to tourists. Still, it can't help the country's tourism situation. And the timing is unfortunate as Ireland and Northern Ireland are together celebrating The Gathering 2013 this year, asking folks of Irish heritage (of those who wish they were) to come for all sorts of reunion/gathering activities.

I was quite surprised by Belfast when I visited a couple years ago. The food was exeptionally good and varied, the pubs were (understandably) fabulous and the architecture was hugely impressive. Definitely a spot worth visiting, and here's to hoping things calm down soon.

THIS AND THAT

Google is apparently helping install free Wi-Fi across a wide swath of the Chelsea District of Manhattan. Cool idea ... Elvis Presley would've been 78 yesterday, which meant it was time for fans to flock to Graceland. Personally, I've never been a big Elvis fan. I think mostly because his best years were over by the time I started paying attention to music, that being around the time of the Beatles arrival in North America ... Happy Birthday number 150 today to the London Underground, otherwise known as the Tube. It's still a world-class system, with enormous, snaking lines all over town that should make a Torontonian green with envy. I don't like the endless hallways and stairs, but in an old system you have to expect some inconveniences, I guess. I remember visiting England for the first time ever in 1979 and buying a white t-shirt with a map of the system and the words "I'd be lost without it." The damn thing shrunk in the dryer when I got home and I've been wanting that t-shirt ever since!

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a divison of Torstar, is offering a deal for a Scandinavian cruise from just $678 plus $75 in taxes. The cruise is with Royal Caribbean International's Vision of the Seas and leaves from and returns to Copenhagen. Here are the details:

Jaunt Highlights

• BONUS: Includes $50 Onboard Credit per cabin
• 7-night Norwegian Fjords Cruise sailing aboard the RCI Vision of the Seas
• Departs and returns to Copenhagen, Denmark. Other Ports of Call include: Alesund, Norway; Geiranger, Norway; Flam, Norway; and Bergen, Norway
• Accommodations in one of the following staterooms: Inside (Category N, M or K), Oceanview (Category I), or Balcony Oceanview (Category D1)

• Ports of call offer a substantial mix of historic insight and natural beauty
• Vision of the Seas offers guests the utmost in comfort and luxury
• Plenty of time to explore each unique and wondrous port of call

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on May 18, 2013 departure
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Inside Stateroom (Category N)
  Double Occupancy
  1st and 2nd passenger: $678
  
  Inside Stateroom (Category M)
  Double, Triple or Quad Occupancy
  1st and 2nd guest: $688
  3rd and 4th guest: $499
  
  Inside Stateroom (Category K)
  Double, Triple or Quad Occupancy
  1st and 2nd guest: $728
  3rd and 4th guest: $499
  
  Oceanview Stateroom (Category I)
  Double Occupancy
  1st and 2nd guest: $738
  
  Balcony Oceanview Stateroom (Category D1)
  Double, Triple or Quad Occupancy
  1st and 2nd guest: $1439
  3rd and 4th guest: $499
  
  Tax per person for each option: $75

 

Canadian Tourism video makes mark in UK (it's quite good, as you can see here)

Nice to see some good news for Canada's sliding tourism industry. This country has slipped - badly - in terms of incoming tourism numbers over the years.

But maybe a cool, new video put out by the Canadian Tourism Commission that displays both urban cool and country culture, not to mention a fair bit of adventure, will help.

Canadian Press filed a story on Wednesday that said the video "has been an online hit around the world, generating about 1.6 million views since its Nov. 20 launch on YouTube.

"The video, produced in 30-second and two-minute versions, was pieced together from some of the 8,000-plus submissions the commission received this past summer in response to a contest calling for visuals that 'captured the essence' of Canada."

The video features lots of lakes but also a "rapid-fire sequence" of roller coasters and ice cream cones and bears and fish tacos and dolphins and northern lights and moose sniffing into a car and pods of dolphins, not to mention cityscapes and native dancers and wolves and surfers and skidding mountain bikes and such, all put together with a screaming-good song by a Vancouver band called Yukon Blonde and shot in that herky-jerky style so popular with car commercials today.

The video is "an anthem for Canada to inspire visitors from around the world to come visit here," said commission CEO Michele McKenzie.

The 30-second version currently is being screened in U.K. movie theatres, said Greg Klassen, the commission's senior vice-president of marketing strategy. He added there are plans to roll it out to other international markets over the next few months.

The commission has recently shifted some of its marketing efforts toward Asia, particularly China, and wants to get the video seen on that country's versions of Facebook and Twitter.

"We will dribble it out in China, test it to see how well it performs, and if it performs well we'll unleash it a bit more and spend a little bit more money pushing it out," said Klassen.

I'm biased as a Canadian, but I think it's quite good. Edgy, fun and, best of all, perhaps a bit surprising for folks overseas. Nice job, guys, and nice work by all the Canadians who sent in all the video to begin with.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, is offering up a 4.5 star all-inclusive hotel in Holguin, Cuba (the Riu Playa Turquesa) for early 2013 for a pretty fair price. The seven-night deal goes for $549, plus $290 in taxes, for a total of $839. Not incredibly cheap by Cuba standards but it looks like a very nice property. a definite cut above the cut-rate spots often advertised for Cuba.

Here are some highlights of the deal, according to jaunt.ca:

- Savings up to $512 per couple

- The first child from 2 to 12 stays free and the second child only pays for the flight

- Includes return airfare from Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Winnpieg, Quebec City or Halifax to Cuba

- Accommodations in a Standard Hotel Room,  featuring 2 twin beds and a balcony or terrace. (Maximum occupancy: 3 adults, 1 child)

- Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

The property is said to feature "an impressive open air lobby with a bar and impressive grounds" that include "a slew of pools and waterfalls."

The resort is close to Roca Azul Bio-Parc, offering a wealth of hiking opportunies and wildlife experience.

The deal is valid for travel on certain dates in January and February, so check jaunt.ca for details on this and other packages.

WIZARD OF OZ THEATRE DEAL IN TORONTO

Toronto's Pantages, a Skyline Hotel, has a nice Wizard of Oz theatre package. Available until Feb. 28, 20913, the package starts at $399/night and includes accomodation at the "boutique, all-suite Pantages Hotel" (just steps from the theatre) and two tickets to the Wizard of Oz production at the Ed Mirivish Theatre.

For information, go to www.pantageshotel.com or call 1-888-889-0068.

 

Aeroplan offers a ton of great merchandise and deals (not just free flights)

Sleek barbeques. Dazzling jewelry. A place to mix your own, personal perfume. Eco-friendly laptops. And tangerine-coloured Kate Spade clutch purses.

The folks at Aeroplan held a media day in Toronto Tuesday to showcase the fact that Aeroplan points can be used for a lot more than free flights to Philadelphia.

The company has come a long way in the last few years even, and the array of goods is impressive.

Standing outside the main showroom downtown, a spokesman for Broil King told me his company “moves a lot of barbeques” through Aeroplan, which includes Air Canada, United and other airline partners (a solid 36 in all). Folks also can get points by using their Aeroplan number at a wide variety of retailers, including Home Hardware and Esso.

The Broil King representative told me there seem to be more “staycations” of late and that folks are using their points “for things for the home like TV’s or barbeques that they can enjoy with their family at home.”

Inside was a dazzling array of goodies. In addition to the above there were Burberry purses, Canon cameras, leather bags, Citizen watches, Bose speaker systems, walkie-talkies, African-style jewelry where proceeds go to charity, Swarovski crystals, yoga gear, dart boards, Birks bracelets,  Riedel wine glasses and much more. There are some 1,000 items available in all and the stock rotates all the time.

Aeroplan’s Chris Willoughby showed the media some of their specialized items, such as guitars signed by the members of Nickelback.

The design-your-own perfume booth also was getting a lot of business yesterday. A spokesman said folks can redeem 16,500 points and get a two-hour program in Montreal where you sniff a wide variety of scents and mix and match different types to create your own personal cologne. It’s supposed to be coming to Toronto early in the new year, perhaps in time for Valentine’s Day.

In addition to all, Willoughby explained Aeroplan’s “destination miles” to reporters. I haven’t noticed it in my own transactions, but if you click on the “earn miles” button and search the drop-down menu you can find the entry point to the destination miles section, which offers up hotel and car rental deals that allow you to pay cash (as opposed to redeeming points) and get two Aeroplan points for every dollar you spend. Use your Aeroplan credit card, such as the CIBC Aerogold, and you’ll get credit card points, too.

Another Aeroplan feature I didn’t know about is the e-store, a “hidden gem” where you can enter dozens of different websites (including Apple, Birks, Banana Repubic, Indigo and the Mastermind toy stores; always a hit this time of year) and make purchases that earn you points as well. A number of stores won’t let you earn Aeroplan points on purchases made in the store, but if you go through Aeroplan to reach their website you can get the points. And use your credit card for a “double dip.”

Of course, travel is still the big lure. Officials said perhaps 75 per cent of Aeroplan redemptions are for flights.

To showcase some of the destinations, they had big screens set up on Tuesday with photos and video of San Francisco, New York, Las Vegas and Paris. Willoughby said folks can use their points for everything from shows to museums in New York, Cirque du Soleil performances in Vegas and hop-on, hop-off bus tours in Paris.

For an Aeroplan produced video on media day, click here.

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.

 

 

 

Great history and awesome Caribbean beauty in St. Thomas, USVI

 

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – Like anyplace else you choose to visit, the island of St. Thomas is what you make it.

You can step off your cruise ship or your airplane and head straight to the duty free shops on the main shopping drag and walk into air-conditioned shops (thank goodness on a day like Wednesday) and look for Swiss watches and six dollar bottles of local rum and French perfume and Tommy Hilfiger polo shirts (guilty as charged) and all sorts of goodies. You can dine at one of 1,314 Senor Frog’s restaurants in cruise port cities around the Caribbean. Or shop at the little stalls near the waterfront and load up on knock-off Coach purses and five dollar t-shirts and sandal-shaped key rings or Bob Marley towels.

Or, you can wander a block or two off the main street and find an entirely different city. You can wander down one of the quiet laneways and find yourself in the wonderful Gladys Café (see photo below), where they have local art work on the exposed stone walls and you can sip on freshly made passion fruit juice and fork out $18 for a lunch of curried goat, rice and peas, sweet plantains, sweet potatoes and a block of mac and cheese. Or sample the fungi, a polenta-like dish made from cornmeal, or jerked mahi-mahi topped, if you like, with one of the tremendous, homemade pepper sauces they sell for six bucks a pop.

If you choose to wind your way up, WAY UP, to Mountain Top you can pose outside with the pirate statues or wander into what’s billed as the Caribbean’s largest gift shop (some of the stuff isn’t bad, actually). Lots of folks stop for the alllegedly world's best banana daiquris, but that's not really my thing. There are all those touristy things available if that's your thing, and God bless you for it. Then again, if you like you can bypass the kitsch and go straight out to the deck and stare down in wonder at the lovely strand of sand at Magens Bay and gaze off to the east and take in St. John and the deep green British Virgin Islands of Jost Van Dyke and Tortola rising from the blue water of the Caribbean. It's a stunning sight, for sure (see photo below left).

We did a little bit of all of those things on Wednesday, and quite enjoyed ourselves.

The remarkably knowledgeable Felipe Ayala, a local institution, gave us a great tour of the Blackbeard’s Castle historical complex, a series of historical homes that rise up a hill just a few steps from downtown. It’s a complex sometimes called The Williamsburg of the Caribbean.

Ayala showed us the inside and outside of several old homes in the area. Villa Notman dates from 1861 and features acres of white wrought iron trim and railings brought in from New Orleans.

Haagensen House dates to 1822 and was built by a Danish banker and has Greek revival elements. Better for visitors are deep orange walls inside and a lovely balcony high over the harbour with excellent views (see photo below right) and cooling breezes. The period furniture in the dining room and bedroom are lovely, and they also have some Camille Pisarro prints as Pisarro was born and raised in Charlotte Amalie. (Another famous St. Thomas celebrity, just fyi, is Kelsey Grammer of Cheers and Frasier fame).

At the top of the hill is the SkyTower or Skytsborgtarn in Danish, also known as Blackbeard’s Castle. It’s unlikely Blackbeard actually used it as the Danes were pretty good about keeping pirates at bay.

Still you can’t blame folks for the marketing angle. They also have a Blackbeard Ale made on the island that’s pretty good, and Bluebeard’s Castle is a popular hotel that houses the Room With a View restaurant I wrote about yesterday.

We finished the night with a good if not overwhelming meal at Amalia Cafe, a Spanish place with a nice, covered, outdoor patio on a quiet laneway (Charlotte Amalie is VERY quiet at night) and drinks at the bar at Hotel 1829, where Patrick entertained a small but enthusiastic group with tunes from The Beatles, Bob Seger, Willie Nelson, Jim Croce and more. It was the sort of casual, fun, sing-a-long, goofy night you'd almost certainly never get at a big resort, which is another great advantage of staying in town at a small hotel.

On today (in iffy-looking weather with big, dark clouds) to St. John, where I have a reservation at an eco-tent place called Concordia on the far eastern edge of the island and then, for something completely different, a night at The Westin resort.

You can email me at jbyers@thestar.ca or follow me on Twitter @jimbyerstravel