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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. and Mrs. Smith come to our fair land/Canada means business/Deal of day

Mr. and Mrs. Smith have arrived in Canada. No, not Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie,  although James Lohan and Tamara Herber-Percy are used to the mixup.

The couple, a highly entertaining husband and wife team from England, took their love of travel and interesting hotels to a new level ten years ago when they formed a company called Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

We’re not entirely in on the joke here in Canada I suspect, but in Britain a “Mr. and Mrs. Smith weekend” implies something racy; a couple checking in under an assumed name and wink-wink-nudge-nudge and all that.

They showed a hilarious video with a tremendously hot, young couple trying to get it on at home on after work, only to be interrupted by their dog, who seemingly has worms and is dying for a visit to the vet and scrapes his butt along the carpet outside the couple's bedroom door just as they're about to, well, you know. Thus, the need for a getaway to a smart hotel somewhere.

Herber-Percy and Lohan specialize in helping folks book unique and sexy hotels around the world; usually smaller places (but not always) that don’t have a large marketing staff of their own. It’s a great concept, and you can book some absolutely tremendous places all over the world; some 850 in all. Bookings can be made in Canadian dollars as of June 1 or so at smithhotels.com, or you can call 1-800-464-2040 and TALK TO A REAL, LIVE PERSON. What a concept!

Properties range from handsome inns on Nantucket Island, near Cape Cod, to the Shangri-La hotels in Vancouver and Toronto, the Drake in Toronto, the awesome Wickaninnish Inn in B.C (see photo above right), the Standard and the Crosby in New York and Hotel St. Paul in Montreal.

In Europe, you can book places such as The Grazing Goat, a small pub with rooms in London, or Cliffside dwellings in Basilicata Italy or mountain retreats in Corsica, an island I visited a few years ago that’s absolutely tremendous.

They showed off a wide array of properties at a posh reception at the Shangri-La Toronto last night, topping it off with a reception in the 17th floor Shangri-La suite with its terrace view of bustling University Avenue.

The emphasis for Smith hotels are luxury properties, but Lohan said many go for well under $200 a night.

All properties are evaluated by them and then by a writer who goes in and checks things out, sometimes a local but occasionally someone famous such as Stella McCartney or Modesty Blaze.

The emphasis is on “buzzy” places and boutique properties with cool design.

“We don’t care if they can make a swan out of a napkin,” Lohan said. “We want a place that makes a perfect martini, where you will get wet when you take a shower and with a bathtub that can fit two people.” 

AIR CANADA GETS READY TO ROUGE

Air Canada has taken possession of its first Airbus aircraft in advance of the debut of its discount airline rouge, which hits the air July 1 (aw, Canada Day1) with flights to Europe and the Caribbean. They’ll be unveiling their new flight uniforms next Monday at the Distillery District in downtown Toronto and will be talking about the flight training workers have been given, reportedly under the direction of Disney folks in Orlando. I wouldn't be surprised if a couple of cute rodents make the trek north for the announcement.

CANADA MEANS BUSINESS

The Canadian Tourism Commission has launched a new arm aimed at bringing more business travel and convention biz to our country. Called Business Events Canada, it's said to place a "new focus on seven priority sectors where Canada holds a competitive advantage. CTC’s BEC team will be leading its sales approach on aerospace, agriculture and food, clean technology, infrastructure/engineering, information/communication technology, life sciences and natural resources;" areas where the CTC says Canada has a leading role.

 

The new BEC brand reflects the growing significance of the meetings industry to Canada’s economy. Meetings, conventions and incentive travel attracts close to two million visitors each year to Canada with total spending of $1.7 billion—almost a quarter of all money spent by inbound overnight travellers. Canada is the No. 1 location for outbound meetings business from the US, which brings in about $1.4 billion annually.

Interesting addition here: In case you missed it, Toronto City Council voted the other day (when they were killing the casino idea) to look at adding more convention space in our fair town. It's a good call given the competition from the likes of Chicago and San Francisco, for sure. 

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal today for a great trip to beautiful Antigua, priced at $1,262, including $363 in taxes.

Jaunt Highlights

• EXCLUSIVE TO JAUNT: Savings of $166 per couple!
• BONUS: AirCanada Vacations Privileges offer personalized check-in/check-out, beach towel in room, 25% spa discount (excluding products) and more!
• All-inclusive 7-night stay at the 4-Star The Verandah Resort & Spa located in Long Bay, Antigua
• FREE CONNECTOR FLIGHTS: The cost of your connector flight from Kingston (ON), Ottawa or Montreal to Toronto is FREE (subject to departure gateway tax)

• The Verandah is the perfect place to visit for honeymoons or vow renewals
• Antigua is a breathtaking, serene island

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on June 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 2013
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Antigua and round-trip airport/hotel transfers in Antigua
• Accommodations in a Super Saver Room, featuring 1 king-size bed and 1 queen-size sofa bed and Kitchenette facilities. Maximum occupancy: 4
• Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax and includes all tips, taxes and service charges):
  
  Toronto:
  Double: $899
  Single $1309
  Triple: $859
  Quad: $789
  1st Child (2-11yrs): $599
  2nd Child (2-11yrs): $699
  Tax: $362
  
  Other DATES and GATEWAYS available.
  Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
  
  
• Why choose Air Canada Vacations?
  Earn & Redeem Aeroplan® Miles, in-flight seat-back entertainment on most flights, airline service and reliability of Air Canada, and more!
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

 

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TOP TRIP ADVISOR CITIES

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

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

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

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

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

CALLING ALL LOTTERY WINNERS

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

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

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

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

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

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

Jaunt Highlights

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

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

Offer Details

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

 

Another Toronto Olympic bid could be on the horizon ... Deal of day: China

Here we go again. Maybe.

Canadian Olympic Committee chief Marcel Aubut was quoted last week as saying the COC is considering a Toronto bid for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

Aubut was believed to be pushing for a Quebec City bid for the 2022 Winter Games. And maybe he still is. But he said last week that the country needs a Summer Games more.

"Toronto is going to deliver a great 2015 Pan Am Games and it should be the first step in going higher for the Olympics like Brazil did (in winning the 2016 Summer Olympics), Aubut told Reuters. "If not we are going to look again at the Winter Games, and Quebec is a very good possibility. But the first goal is to convince people to go with Toronto in the summer."

The time for a 2022 Winter Games bid is almost here, actually. The International Olympic Committee will vote in September of this year on the site of the 2020 Summer Olympics, with the final ballot consisting of Istanbul (the favourite), Madrid and Tokyo.

A 2022 decision will be made by the IOC in 2015, while the 2024 decision comes two years after that.

It's good to see Aubut talking about the need for a Summer Games. Because Canada still needs good, Olympic pools and running tracks and other facilities. And a Summer Games in Toronto would do a lot for the city's tourism if it's done right.
Lord knows we should've learned how to bid, too, having lost out for the 1996 Games and then losing to Beijing in the 2008 race.

What we do NOT NEED is another ski jump or another bobsleigh/luge/skeleton course. It's bad enough to have Olympic winter facilities in Calgary and Vancouver; to spend public money on duplicating them in Quebec would be absurd.

Having staged the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary and the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver is probably enough for Canada. But the trouble is that, with global warming (or global inconsistency), there aren't many places cold enough to pull it off any more. Quebec might be one of the few dependably cold places the IOC can find for a Winter Games at some point, although there should be plenty of options for 2022, including perhaps China, Norway or maybe a Slovakia-Poland joint bid.

Staging the 2024 Games in Toronto is fairly soon after Vancouver. But it's definitely time for the big summer event to return to a North American stage as the last one here was way back in 1996 in Atlanta (after Atlanta nudged out Toronto and other cities).

Since then we've seen the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Athens, Beijing, London, and Rio in 2016. It's time to come back to North America.

But I’d be leery of the U.S. Big-time. The U.S. and the IOC were kinda like Karen Stintz and Rob Ford for a while; very much at each other’s throats. But they resolved a major issue over television money a while back and are now back on good terms. I think a Canadian bid would be extremely hard-pressed to elbow the Americans from the front of the IOC food line.

So far there's been interest from Los Angeles (which already has held the Games twice), Philadelphia and, um, Tulsa. I think Toronto could take on Tulsa, no offence to my Oklahoma friends. Also rumoured to be mulling a 2024 bid are Rome, Paris, Doha, Dubai and Durban, South Africa.

Aubut sounded excited.

"There won't be any political problems, there won't be a problem with terrorism. They (members of the IOC) love Canada. It's close to America. They love our country.

"But we have to make sure the interest is there, the government support is there."

I can see Mayor Ford jumping at it. Hard. But I'm not sure Premier Kathleen Wynne and the Ontario government would feel the same way about such a huge undertaking during tough economic times. I'm also hugely worried about the potential security costs of a Toronto Games, as the bill would be massive.

Still, it should be fun to watch.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal today for a great-sounding trip to mystical China to see The Great Wall, rhw remarkable Terra Cotta Warriors and more. It's a five-star, 11-day trip priced at $2,419, including $720 in taxes.

Jaunt Highlights

• 11-Day/9-Night Terracotta Treasures Tour, including visits to Tian An Men Square, the Imperial Palace, and the Great Wall of China, an itinerary offering time to shop for cultural and artistic treasures, and more!
• Includes international airfare with Air Canada, plus domestic airfare and airport/hotel transfers throughout the tour. See Offer Details for more info.
• Includes transportation via private air conditioned coach, accompaniment of licensed English speaking local tour guides, tours & entrance fees as per the itinerary and more!
• Pricing includes single-entry China Visa (valued at $120) and gratuities for local driver & guide (valued at $150)
• Accommodations for 11 nights in 5-Star Hotels, based on double occupancy. See below for hotels included (or similar).
• Meals include 9 daily breakfasts, 8 lunches & 6 dinners including dinner with a traditional Apsara show 

• You'll experience China in depth, from traditional medicine to dance shows and savoury foods
• See the Great Wall of China, Forbidden City and the Terracotta Warriors
• Stay in true luxury at five-star acommodations

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on November 20, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person):
  
  Vancouver:
  Double: $1699
  Single: $2119
  Tax: $720
  
  Toronto:
  Double: $1899
  Single: $2319
  Tax: $720
  
  Calgary:
  Double: $1799
  Single: $2219
  Tax: $720
  
  For Other DATES or LAND ONLY option, Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
  
  
• Accommodations Included (or similar): Oriental Bay Hotel, Beijing (3 nights); Titan Times Hotel, Xian (1 night); Sanli New Century Grand Hotel Zhenjiang, Hangzhou (1 night); Landison Plaza Hotel Wuxi, Wuxi (1 night); Grand Metropark Hotel, Suzhou (1 night) and Majesty Plaza Hotel, Shanghai (2 nights)
• Your Flights Include: Departure airfare from Toronto, Vancouver or Calgary to Beijing and return airfare from Shanghai to Toronto, Vancouver or Calgary, domestic round-trip flight from Beijing to Xian and Xian to Hangzhou.
• Valid passport and visa required for travel from Canada
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

 

Improved customs/entry for Canadians at Pearson ... Jaunt.ca deal of the day

Those new Automated Border Kiosks went live yesterday in Terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson Airport, which should help considerably with the customs process.

In a note I received from the p.r. folks at the airport, I was told the kiosks can be used by Canadian passport holders returning home.

"You enter your (customs) declaration card and scan your passport, then you get a receipt and move on. A CBSA (customs and border/security) officer checks the paperwork and then you go to the baggage hall.

"No membership, no sign up – just scan your passport."

Border rules apply, so this doesn't mean you can go sneaking in 14 gallons of Crown Royal or $5,000 worth of clothes from the cheaper American Target stores. Still, it's a big improvement.

There are 20 of the kiosks in effect at Terminal One. They also have 20 at Terminal 3, which has had the system since February.

NOVA SCOTIA COMES TO TORONTO

Here's a great idea. The folks at Nova Scotia tourism will be re-creating the world-famous Peggy's Cove Lighthouse in downtown Toronto next week.

The likeness will arise at Bay and Wellington at noon next Wednesday, May 15. So check it out. And remember: it's BYOFAC - bring your own fish and chips.

FLY ME TO THE MOON ... AND MARS

Wow. Thirty five Canadians have signed up for a one-way trip to Mars on a space flight. We haven't actually figured out how to make the trip just yet. And certainly not how to get back. But some folks are just adventurous that way. Or maybe they're depressed about the Maple Leafs' prospects.

Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing Dion Phaneuf take the trip given his bonehead play in game four.

As for me, I think I'll take a pass. To quote Elton John, "Mars ain't the kind of place to raise the kids. In fact, it's cold as hell."

WESTJET KUDOS

WestJet today announced it has once again been named Canada's most-preferred airline in a national study of Canadian flyers conducted in April of this year by Leger Marketing. The study also rated WestJet as the most trusted airline and the airline that offers the best customer service.

In a separate study also conducted by Leger Marketing, WestJet is also ranked as the most reputable transportation company in Canada. Leger's Canadian Corporate Reputation Study ranked the airline tops among six airlines, rail and bus companies.

PORTER STOPS RELEASING LOAD FACTORS

I thought something was funny the other day when WestJet reported its latest load factors, but Porter didn't follow suit. It turns out there was more to it than I thought.

The Financial Post reported today that Porter has stopped releasing its monthly figures on what percentage of its seats were filled. They claim it's normal procedure, but it seems strange that they did it for years and now, with their numbers slipping, have stopped.

In an earlier report, Porter said that for March their load factor fell 1.7 per cent to 58.1. Air Canada and WestJet have been reporting load factors higher than 80 per cent.

I'm no financial analyst but the failure to report can't be a good sign for Porter.

BOMBARDIER JET TEST COMING

The Star's Vanessa Lu reports today that the CSeries jetliner from Bombardier - the ones Porter says it wants to buy and fly out of longer runways at the Toronto Island Airport - is set to take off in late June for its first flight as promised.

“Most of the issues that could trip us up are behind us,” said Guy Hachey, president of Bombardier’s aerospace unit, after the company’s annual meeting in Montreal on Thursday.

“We’re still feeling very good about flying in June. Obviously there are always some risks until the end. I don’t anticipate any major delays if something were to happen,” Hachey told reporters.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for the Dominican Republic, priced at $746, including $387 in taxes.

Jaunt Highlights

• SAVINGS: Two travellers save up to $112 by booking with Jaunt.ca!
• BONUS: ACV Privileges offer exclusive check-in/check-out, 10% spa discount, turndown service and in-room beach towels
• All-inclusive 7-night stay at the Barcelo Puerto Plata, located in the Dominican Republic
• Includes return air from Toronto to Puerto Plata, with hotel/airport transfers in the Dominican Republic
• FREE CONNECTOR FLIGHTS: The cost of your connector flight from Kingston (ON), Ottawa or Montreal to Toronto is FREE
• OPTIONAL UPGRADE: Enhance your vacation by upgrading your airfare to Executive Class (C Class) which includes premium wines, spirits and cuisine, Maple Leaf Lounge access, extra baggage allowance, priority check-in and more!
• Accommodations in a Double Room, featuring 1 king or 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
  
  

• Valid for travel on May 29, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Economy:
  Double: $359
  Single: $409
  Triple: $333
  Child: $349
  Tax: $387
  
  Executive Class (C Class):
  Double: $458
  Single: $508
  Triple: $432
  Child: $448
  Tax: $387
  
  Other DATES and GATEWAYS available.
  Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
  
  
• Why choose Air Canada Vacations?
  Earn & Redeem Aeroplan® Miles, in-flight seat-back entertainment on most flights, airline service and reliability of Air Canada, and more!
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

 

 

 

A $1.56 million trip of a lifetime ... New flights T.O. to Dublin ... Halifax golf

It’s a tad expensive as trips go. Roughly $1.56 million, to be precise. But it promises to be the vacation/expedition of a lifetime.

A company called VeryFirstTo.com is selling an Ultimate Journey package that includes the Taj Mahal, Petra in Jordan, Angkor Wat in Cambodia (see photo below), the Forbidden City in Beijing and Peru’s Machu Picchu. And a few other spots, such as, get this, every one of the world’s 962 World Heritage Sites.

Although various governments current advise against visiting some World Heritage Sites, including Pasargadae in Iran and Leptis Magna in Libya, the firm apparently will try to make everyone happy, according to the Daily Telegraph in London.

The trip includes overland travel and flights (in business class cabins or superior), while tours of the different sites will be guided (presumably by workers carrying peacock feathers and iced Grey Goose martinis). Accommodation will be at a range of luxury hotels, including Sandy Lane in Barbados (a lovely spot I got to stay in - briefly - a few years ago) the Hotel George V in Paris and The Plaza in New York (a Fairmont property, also a very fine hotel).

The trip – billed as the ‘world’s most expensive holiday’ – was launched last month by VeryFirstTo.com. Now the company’s founder, Marcel Knobil, says two wealthy travellers have expressed firm interest in becoming the first people to embark on what the Telegraph called “an epic odyssey.”

The first chap is said to be a Chinese fellow who can’t go until he’s finished his PhD tudies next year. An Italian industrialist also is on the verge of booking, according to Knobil.

Just in case you have cash to spare, VeryFirstTo.com also is willing to book you a trip into space for $108,000 and the chance to wake up surrounded by more than one million rose petals for a $110,000.

The latter seems kind of expensive to me. I think you probably could drive to Ottawa and lie down in front of Parliament Hill and wake up in mid-May with about a million tulip petals all around. And you’d only have to pay for your bail after the cops arrest you.

ON THE OTHER HAND

If you’re more in the market for value, Fox News recently put out a list of its top value hotels around the world.

Among them was the Coco Palm Resort in St. Lucia, which I’ve heard previously is a good deal, as well as Le Richelieu in the French Quarter of New Orleans, The Dean Street Townhouse in London, England and Hotel Le Germain Dominion in Quebec City.

Fox cited the Germain’s “historic, wood-and-stone façade” and bank vault doors that are played off against stylish, modern décor. Breakfast is included and there’s also free Internet (hurray) and a Nespresso coffee machine in each room.

I went online and found a room in early May for $222. Not cheap but not bad for what looks like a nice property.

IRELAND RISING

More than a million folks from Canada and the U.S. visited Ireland last year and spent more than $994 million, an increase of 9.3 per cent. This year marks a year-long event called The Gathering, a series of festivals and events celebrating “the unique nature of what it means to be Irish.” Which means numbers could increase even more. Air Canada this week announced it will start year-round service from Toronto to Dublin on its new, discount airline, Rouge, beginning May 1, 2014. Service this year is from May 17 to Sept. 30.

THIS AND THAT 

Toronto golf designer Tom McBroom has announced a new, championship course for Halifax. It’s called The Links at Brunello and is slated to open in June 2015. There hasn't been much in the way of new golf course construction in this country for a while, so it's a good sign. I hope … I guess we can put our pocketknives – and hockey sticks – back in cold storage. After suggesting they’d lift the ban on those and other items on airplanes, the folks at TSA in the U.S. now say they need to consult pilots, airline workers and other concerned parties (many of whom have expressed alarm at the proposal) before they can revoke the ban … Nice way to start a vacation? Not really. It seems a worker at Los Angeles International Airport the other day mistakenly hit a switch and, for eight minutes, caused flight status signs to flash the message “Emergency: Leave the Terminal.” …

Honours for Canada hotels and YVR, WestJet teams w/ Iceland Air, Deal of Day

A couple of Toronto's newest hotels have made a mark. 

Conde Nast Traveler the other day issued its hot list of the top new hotels in the world. The new Four Seasons in Yorkville and the new Shangri-La on University Avenue both made the grade, as did the Ritz Carlton in Montreal and La Ferme in Baie-St. Paul, the new hotel built at the Le Massif ski hill by Daniel Gauthier of Cirque du Soleil fame.

The magazine described the look of the Four Seasons (see photo below right) as "uber-polished and somewhat austere, with huge, dark wood columns and 1,700 commissioned pieces of art." They said the "taupe and beige colour scheme and stone floors lend a somewhat chilly atmosphere to public spaces" but that "rooms are softer, with flowered fabric headboards and sweet little framed prints of Canadian wildlife."

They also said the new Four Seasons is a "clear departure from the old-fashioned, out-of-date original," that the sleek Daniel Boulud restaurant is "a magnet for Toronto's upwardly mobile" and that the 30,000 square foot spa is the largest urban spa in the Four Seasons chain.

I gotta admit I find the lobby area a bit cramped and not overly welcoming, but I'm a big fan of old-fashioned hotels with welcoming chairs and don't really like the artsy, austere look.

I personally much prefer the lobby space at the Shangri-La, with its Asian touches and sofas and open spaces. It seems like the Conde Nast folks agree. They call the look "urban zen" and commented on the subtle Asian elements, such as the Japanese watercolours and orchids that dot the property. They said the hotel "feels illuminated and airy thanks to a soaring lobby space with plenty of blonde wood and travertine stone (and the occasional pop of magenta from a silk pillow or rug).

"Guest rooms are painted in soft cream, and the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the Toronto skyline create a cheery atmosphere, even on overcast winter days. Enormous bathrooms are swathed in veined marble and include the now almost ubiquitous TV in the mirror."

Although it may attract biz types, the magazine noted the Shangri-La "has all the necessities for a city vacation, including indoor cabanas surrounding a whirlpool, a gorgeous hammam spa and the excellent lobby-level restaurant, Bosk."

Heady praise, indeed.

In addition to citing both hotels, Conde Nast also named their respective spas as blissful hot spots for 2013.

Heading to Quebec? Conde Nast called La Ferme's look "eclectic and whimsical," with rooms that vary wildly in style. They seemed to like the French comfort food at the restaurant, Les Labours, but cited the lack of a good spa. They had lots of great things to say about the Ritz Carlton in Montreal, citing it's "turn-of-the-century grandeur" and the "Gilded Age fantasy" of the Palm Court, combined with modern, sleek rooms. They said the pool and gym feel cramped, but overall gave the place a very solid review.

WORLD'S BEST AIRPORTS

The folks at Skytrax, who do regular airline reviews, have issued a new list of the top airports on the planet. Vancouver's YVR was, understandably, named the best airport in North America, finishing eighth overall. YVR was the only North American airport in the top ten.

It marks the fourth straight year Vancouver was named tops in North America, based on a survey of 395 airports that looked at everything from comfort to efficiency to signage and amenities. The Vancouver airport has a bright, lively feel to it, with great shops and a large fish tank and even a liquor store on the way out. It beats the living daylights out of Toronto Pearson. which came 46th to finish second in Canada. Also in the top 100 from a Canadian angle were Halifax/Stanfield at 58 and Montreal/Trudeau, which came 83rd.

I said Vancouver was the only North American airport in the top ten. Actually, it was the only North American airport in the top 29. The next best facility in North America after YVR was Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky at number 30. Other American facilities in the top 50 were Denver (36), San Francisco (40) and Atlanta/Hartsfield (48).

Changi Airport in Singapore came first overall in the world, a common occurrence for the renowned facility with shops and spas and all kinds of attractions. Next was South Korea’s Incheon International Airport, followed by Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Hong Kong International and Beijing Capital International Airport.

WESTJET TEAMS WITH ICELAND AIR

WestJet continues to sign deals with world airlines to make things easier for Canadians heading out of the country. It was announced today that WestJet and Icelandair "have launched a new interline agreement opening up the skies for passengers connecting between the Americas and more than 20 Icelandair destinations throughout Europe." 

"Passengers can now book a single combined e-ticket for WestJet and Icelandair flights which includes the conveniences of single check-in for all flights and baggage sent through to the final destination. When connecting in the Americas, Icelandair customers will enjoy WestJet’s fleet of Boeing 737 Next-Generation aircraft serving more than 80 cities in North America, Central America and the Caribbean."

"Icelandair and WestJet share many of the same philosophies including offering our passengers a refreshing travel experience” said Helgi Mar Bjorgvinsson, Icelandair's Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales. "Our complementary customer service and connections through Toronto and Halifax make this a natural partnership. We also look forward to further opening the skies of Canada for both inbound and outbound passengers."

Earlier this year Icelandair expanded its seasonal service from Toronto to a year-round operation with plans to increase capacity next summer. Icelandair will also resume seasonal service from Halifax with two flights a week starting June 1, 2013. 

“We’re excited to welcome Icelandair as WestJet’s thirty-second partner airline,” said Todd Peterson, WestJet’s Director, Alliances. “Icelandair and WestJet share a reputation for quality service and great value. The new relationship between our airlines will enhance options for travel between North America and Europe.”

AIR TRANSAT IMPROVEMENTS

Missed this last week when I was away, but the Star's Vanessa Lu reported the other day that Air Transat  is rolling out Italian leather slimline seats on its newly revamped Airbus 330 planes, which are often used on transatlantic routes.

Joseph Adamo, Transat's vice-president of marketing (see photo), said while the pitch - the distance from any point on one seat to the exact same point on the seat in front of or behind it - doesn't change, it will feel roomier.

"We can't say it's more space, but it's a better experience," Adamo said as Transat  held a media event in Toronto to show off a mockup of its revamped cabin. "The seat is thinner with new generation foam."

The airline also is replacing its outdated entertainment system with individual seatback touch screens that feature movies, books and games like Sudoku.

It's adding LED lighting inside the cabin that switches colours, depending on the situation, including orange for when a plane is arriving in Europe to mimic a sunrise, and supposedly reduce jet lag.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for the sunny Dominican Republic for $836, including $387 in taxes.

• SAVINGS: Two travellers save up to $100 by booking with Jaunt.ca!
• BONUS: ACV Privileges offer exclusive check-in/check-out, 10% spa discount, turndown service and in-room beach towels
• All-inclusive 7-night stay at the Barcelo Puerto Plata, located in the Dominican Republic
• Includes return air from Toronto to Puerto Plata, with hotel/airport transfers in the Dominican Republic
• Accommodations in a Double Room, featuring 1 king or 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

• Beachfront property gives you direct access to the Caribbean sea
• The resort offers unique activities like dance lessons and horseback riding
• Barcelo is located directly on the beach at Playa Dorada, five minutes from downtown

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on May 8, 15 & 22, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Toronto:
  Double: $449
• Single: $500
  Triple: $423
  Child: $399
  Tax: $387
  
  Other DATES and GATEWAYS available.
  Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
  
  
• Why choose Air Canada Vacations?
  Earn & Redeem Aeroplan® Miles, in-flight seat-back entertainment on most flights, airline service and reliability of Air Canada, and more!
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

 

 

Hilton's new spa in Markham ... Forbes snubs Canada ... Deal of the Day: Miami

Hilton will soon open its first branded Canadian spa.

Called Eforea Spa at the Hilton, it will open at the Markham Suites Hilton on Highway 7 on April 8. They'll feature organic products and all the latest treatments, including a "men's journey" program designed for guys. 

"We've never had a spa brand," said John Forrest Ales, senior director – global brand public relations. "Increasingly, however, guests say a spa has an impact on their hotel decision."

It will be only the third branded spa by Hilton in Canada, which now has 15 Hiltons in total out of more than 550 worldwide. Hilton also operates Hampton Suites and other brands, including Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, Doubletree and Embassy Suites.

The hotel chain also is helping boost their bookings from Chinese visitors, who (I mentioned this last week) now make up the second largest group of visitors to Canada after Americans. They created a program called Huanying with 20 hotels, offering a Chinese speaker at the hotel when guests arrive, Chinese language tour guides, Chinese televisioin stations, in-room tea, slippers and a Chinese breakfast menu.

There are now 70 or so such programs at various Hilton properties, including the Hilton Toronto, the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown and the Hilton Vancouver Airport.

Hilton is, of course, growing in China, where they set up shop 25 years ago. They also are opening their second hotel in Colombia soon and their first in Peru and also their first all-inclusive property in Mexico, on the Pacific Coast in Puerto Vallarta. Other all-inclusive's are being set up in Costa Rica and Spain.

The chain is having a bit of fun with North Americans who don't take enough vacations, sending out office survival kits and telling folks about the symptoms of "vacation-itis." If you go on their web site - www.vacationcarecenter.hilton.com and type in your address and postal code you'll get various offers or suggestions. I plugged in my data and my typical workload this morning and was told I should come by the Hilton Toronto for an after-work cocktail and try the lobster mac and cheese at their Tundra restaurant, or perhaps take in a meal at Ruth's Chris Steak House, which I find horribly overrated and way too expensive.

Anyway, it's a fun site and it's interesting to see Hilton being a bit more edgy than I would've expected.

FORBES SNUBS CANADA

The latest Forbes' list of great hotels and restaurants is another in a long line of American-centric lists that drive me crazy. They recently came out with their five-star awards and managed to find 58 properties in the U.S. worthy of the designation. But nary a one in Canada.

Restaurants? Twenty eight five-star quality in the U.S. Canada? Zilch.

Utterly ridiculous.

For the record, they did list 13 four-star properties in the True North Strong and Free. Four are in Toronto: The Park Hyatt, The Hazelton, The Ritz-Carlton (see photo at left) and The Trump Tower. Likely they didn't have time to review the new Shangri-La or Four Seasons. Also on the list for Canada wwere the Four Seasons Vancouver, Four Seasons Whistler, Shangri-La Vancouver, Sutton Place Vancouver, The Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino B.C. (a personal fave), Hotel Le St. James in Montreal (a great spot), The Ritz Carlton Montreal and the Kingsbrae Arms in St. Andrews, New Brunswick.

Five Ontario restaurants got four-star ratings: Langdon Hall in Cambridge, One Restaurant, Splendido, Canoe and Scaramouche.

Still, gimme a break.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has an excellent deal on tap for the beautiful Deauville Beach Resort in fabulous Miami . It's a seven-night package that includes air fare for just $718.

• Two travellers save up to $120 by booking with Jaunt.ca!
• 7-night stay at the Deauville Beach Resort in Miami Beach, Florida
• Includes return airfare from Toronto or Montreal to Miami
• Accommodations in a Double Guest Room, featuring 2 double beds or 1 king size bed, in-room wireless internet access and refrigerator. Max Occupancy: 4
  

• Only a 20 minute walk from the illustrious South Beach strip
• Prime shopping territory in the Art Deco district and at the Bal Harbour shops
• Why choose Air Canada Vacations?
  Earn & Redeem Aeroplan® Miles, in-flight seat-back entertainment on most flights, airline service and reliability of Air Canada, and more!

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on April 7, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person):
  
  Toronto:
  Double: $579 + tax
  Single: $956 + tax
  Triple: $482 + tax
  Quad: $435 + tax
  Child: $305 + tax
  Tax: $139
  
  Montreal:
  Double: $803 tax included
  Single: $1182 tax included
  Triple: $708 tax included
  Quad: $661 tax included
  Child: $551 tax included
  
  We also offer other DATES and GATEWAYS.
  Call us at 1-855-687-5925.  
  
  
  
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

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

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

1. Toronto, $80 (quite the bargain)

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

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

4. Vancouver, $82

5. Seattle, $97

6. Las Vegas, $81

7. Boston, $97

8. Orlando, $73

9. Chicago, $80

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

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

CARNIVAL CRUISE WOES

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

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

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

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

USA TRAVEL WOES, TOO

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

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

Jaunt Highlights

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

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

Offer Details

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

 

 

 

Via Rail gets more entertaining ... Transat attendants falling ... Deal of Day: DR

Train trips with VIA Rail are about to get a little better.

Canada's rail giant has announced that they'll now be showing CBC news and other shows on board their trains, as well as top documentaries and other entertainment.

Starting in Spring 2013, the new interactive digital platform will provide passengers on VIA trains in the Windsor-Quebec City corridor (sorry, that's all for now) "free access to Canadian programming, including CBC/Radio-Canada TV shows programs, documentaries and animation from the NFB, and "Heritage Minutes" vignettes and Memory Project veteran interviews produced by The Historica-Dominion Institute."

Over time, they said, entertainment will be added from other organizations.

"Over the past two years, VIA Rail passengers have become accustomed to world-class Wi-Fi on our trains. Today, we are pleased to extend our Wi-Fi offer with entertainment and information produced by Canadians, for Canadians," officials said.

Okay, it's not quite Netflix. But it's certainly a nice step, and fitting that the content will be Canadian.

The VIA press release says the "on-board entertainment initiative required a total investment of $543,000 by VIA Rail. This program is part of VIA Rail's modernization plan launched in 2007, and was made possible by the nearly $1 billion in capital funding announced by the Government of Canada since 2007 to rebuild aging equipment, refurbish stations, upgrade infrastructure, improve accessibility and support critical information technology projects."

Rail officials posted a YouTube video about the coming system, which you can find here.

FAIRMONT ANNIVERSARY DEALS

The legendary Fairmont Banff Springs hotel is celebrating its 125th birthday with a year-long deal. The special 125th Castle Celebration Package offers two nights in luxury and a daily resort credit of $125. Guests can enjoy sumptuous dining with expansive mountain views, golf on the world-famous Stanley Thompson golf course, hikes down the Spray Valley to the site of the original Rundle stone quarry or a sojourn in the world-class Willow Stream Spa. Available year-round, rates start from $359 per night with a minimum two night stay.

This is also an eventful year for Quebec City’s Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, which Fairmont said "is celebrating 120 years as the most photographed hotel in the world." The 120th Anniversary Package highlights the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac’s inauguration in 1893 with a special rate and historic gift. The package includes accommodation in a Fairmont room, a full buffet breakfast for two at Le Café de la Terrasse restaurant, a vintage reprint poster of the famed Château Frontenac, and access to the hotel’s indoor pool. Available through June 24, 2013, rates start from $189.30 per night (to celebrate the hotel’s opening in 1893).

(I don't know about that most photographed hotel in the world bit. But it probably makes sense when you think about the hordes of tourists in and around Quebec City in summer. There's no way to quantify these things and I guess there could be a hotel somewhere next to a famous landmark that has its picture taken more often, but I can't honestly think of one. I mean, there's no Hyatt Machu Picchu I know of and there's not yet a Comfort Suites at the end of the Golden Gate Bridge or a Ritz Carlton under the Eiffel Tower.)

In Arizona, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is celebrating a quarter century of luxury. The AAA Five-Diamond resort’s 25th Anniversary Early-Bird Special is perfect for a summer getaway. The package includes nightly accommodation and a daily $25 USD food and beverage credit. Available for stays from May 27, 2013 to September 2, 2013, rates start at $125 USD per night.

TRANSAT CHANGES

The Star's Vanessa Lu reports on looming changes to staff on board Transat flights.Writing in today's paper, she says that because of stiff competition in the leisure travel business, "Air Transat’s flight attendants have agreed to $9 million in cost-saving measures.

About 1,750 flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, voted 66 per cent in favour of the company’s plan, which will reduce the number of flight attendants on Airbus 330 wide-body planes to 10, from the current 11.

“They haven’t touched our salaries,” said Peter Buzzell, president of CUPE’s Air Transat component, in an interview. “Working with one person less, that just means we have to work a little bit harder.”

 

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for the sunny D.R. this week for $1,087, including $388 in taxes.

Jaunt Highlights

• EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS: Save $300 per couple with Jaunt compared to what you'd pay for the same vacation on other sites!
• BONUS: ACV Privileges featuring exclusive check-in/check-out, 4 guaranteed a la carte reservations, 20% spa discount, and more!
• All-inclusive 7-night stay at the 4-Star Grand Bahia Principe El Portillo, located in Samana, Dominican Republic
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Samana, and round-trip airport/hotel transfers
• Accommodations include a Standard Room featuring 1 king or 2 twin beds and a balcony or terrace. Maximum occupancy: 2 adults, or 2 adults and 1 child
• Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
• The exquisite natural beauty on the Samana peninsula
• It's a charming property that's perfect for family getaways
• Close the beautiful town of Las Terrenas

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on March 17, 23 & 24, 2013
  Other DATES and GATEWAYS available. Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Toronto:
  Double: $699
  Single: $1039
  Child: $699  
  Tax: $388
  
  
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking