Great wine tasting around the world part I: New Zealand, California, even India

I’m not a wine snob. But I have a decent knowledge of the stuff and I know what I like. Luckily, wine and travel go together like a cork and a bottle. With that in mind, here’s a purely personal look at some favourite spots for sipping around the globe.

1. New Zealand. An awesome food scene to go with remarkable wines in a country that feels like Canada but looks like California, Switzerland, Scotland and, at times, Tahiti mixed together. Marlborough is famous for crisp Sauvignon Blancs, and they make gorgeous reds up in Hawkes Bay. Central Otago makes probably the best, most consistent and full-bodied Pinot Noir in the world; with great fruit. There are something like 178 wineries in Central Otago alone these days, which is pretty crazy. I didn’t like Pinot much until I visited NZ a few years ago and now it’s my favourite summer wine. Chard Farm has a fun tasting room and an interesting drive along a steep canyon, while Rippon, near the town of Wanaka, has killer lake and mountain views (see photo above). This is a country with great seafood (yes, and also a bit of fresh lamb), spectacular scenery and marvellous people make this my favourite wine destination on the planet.

2. Ontario. The food and wine scenes both are incredible. Try Ravine Vineyards, especially if

you can sit out on the patio. Great reds with plenty of body. Excellent Rieslings abound in Niagara and it's a hugely versatile food wine that goes great with pork and also with curry and Chinese/Thai dishes. And don't forget our world-class ice wine. Looking for something different in Ontario? Check out
the growing wine scene in Prince Edward County, about 90 minutes east of Toronto.

3. India. Okay, the wine’s not exactly incredible just yet, but there are some tasty varieties being made
in the north of India and the food has always been a world-beater.  A truly exotic, off-the-beaten-path
destination for wine.

4. California. Napa and Sonoma are great, but nothing beats a Santa Maria-style grilled steak and a bottle of Paso Robles Syrah. The Paso Robles area is growing increasingly diverse and sophisticated by the day, and they do marvellous things with Rhone blends. Santa Barbara (see photo at left of the lovely and fun Alma Rosa winery a few miles out of town) is a great area for Pinot Noir, as any fan of the movie Sideways will attest. If you're in the East Bay area of San Francisco, check
out some of the great spots in the Livermore Valley, an underrated wine area with good prices and lots of great wines, especially Cabs and Chardonnay. Try Tamas or, for more of a touristy experience, Wente Bros.

5. Nova Scotia. The wine I’ve had isn’t amazing, but they grow some pretty good stuff in up around
Wolfville; lighter-style reds and some nice whites. Luckett’s was the best of the bunch I tried this summer. Excellent food can be found at several Wolfville restaurants, including Tempest and, they say, Le Caveau at Grand Pre Vineyards.

MORE TO COME WEDNESDAY OR LATER THIS WEEK

THIS AND THAT

How about that Horizon Air attendant in the U.S. who apparently stole a guy's iPad? Isn't it bad enough they rob us blind with pillow fees and baggage fees? ... Interesting to see WestJet adding British Airways as a codeshare partner. It should help WestJet attract more business into Toronto, with connections to London. And vice versa for Brits coming to Canada, I'd think ... Mitt Romney is getting a lot of abuse for talking about how the windows can't open on airplane to help put out a fire. Regardless of the science, wouldn't it be cool if you stick your head out the window. I mean, aside from the lack of oxygen and the wind factor of a plane going 400 mph it'd be pretty cool to make like an Irish setter and take a look without having to peer through scratchy windows. I know it's a silly comment to make but the guy's gotta be whipped from a brutally long campaign. I had lunch with Romney and his assistant when I was covering Salt Lake's Olympic organizing commitee. And The Star's Rick Westhead and I had a Chinese dinner with him at a hotel in Moscow in 2001 during the run-up to the International Olympic Committee's vote on the site of the 2008 Summer Games. He's a very bright guy, but I'm still more of an Obama fan ...

Prince Harry antics boost interest in Vegas visits ... New Jaunt Golf site

The Queen is not amused.

Las Vegas is delighted.

In case you somehow missed the news, the Internet is awash with stories and the odd photo of Prince Harry cavorting naked in a Las Vegas hotel room.

Travelmole.com reports that the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is rather pleased.

"Las Vegas is excited that Prince Harry continues to visit the destination for his stateside getaways," said Courtney Fitzgerald of the LVCVA. "Las Vegas is about adult freedom and that means different things to different people.  It's important for friends to know what activities can be shared publicly and what activities are protected by the code of 'What Happens in Vegas; Stays in Vegas.'" 

Virgin Holidays said inquiries for trips to Sin City had shot up 30% since news of Harry's antics broke. The company said it had sent a care package to the Wynn hotel for the Prince, which includes spare trunks, sunglasses and an energy drink, and I like their style.

In the interest of being a family blog and all, I've only shown you a modest shot of the Prince in some nice, red Hawaiian board shorts. Other images, which don't appear to show anything, really, are available on the web for the curious.

GOLF TOURISM ON THE GO

Jaunt.ca and SCOREGolf.com have teamed up to launch Jaunt Golf, which offers exclusive, hand-picked golf getaways. It's billed as "the most extensive, fully-packaged online travel destination for beginners, avid golfers, Bubba Watsons and Happy Gilmores alike."

The first round of getaways are available now, featuring nine different locations. Included are Niagara, Muskoka, British Columbia, Mexico, Arizona, Florida and more. 

"We know that Canadians are eager to attempt new and challenging golf courses, and combining the most notable links with luxurious hotels and travel bonuses is the ultimate vacation experience," said Jonathan Tafler, general manager of Jaunt.ca. "We're thrilled to partner with SCOREGolf and pair our travel offers with their trusted voice and niche expertise."

Jaunt.ca is owned by Torstar Digital, a division of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. Just so you know.

 

WEST JET VACATIONS KUDOS

WestJet Vacations this week announced results of a study showing it has the highest customer satisfaction and loyalty among the six most widely used tour operators in Canada.

Conducted by Leger Marketing on behalf of WestJet Vacations, the survey was conducted across Canada in June and July. WestJet Vacations scored higher than the competition for overall satisfaction, likelihood to recommend and customer service. It was also was rated as the most trusted vacation company, WestJet officials said.

FOUR SEASONS GROWTH

In addition to adding the new Yorkville hotel on Oct. 5, Four Seasons is busy around the world. The Toronto-based chain spans five continents and 36 countries and there's plenty more on the way.

China is a large growth area, representing more than 20 per cent of projected openings for the next four years. A new hotel in Guangzhou opened last month, and more hotels are coming to Beijing and Shanghai in the coming weeks.

This fall, Four Seasons also will enter Sub-Saharan Africa with the opening of the first of three properties. Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, Tanzania "will be a unique opportunity for the brand in an exciting new destination," officials said.

Located within Tanzania's Serengeti National Park, the landscape features "the largest concentration of plains animals in Africa and is acclaimed for the best game drives and abundant, year-round wildlife."

Sounds pretty good to me.

U.S. TRAVEL SKYROCKETING

TravelAgent.Com reports that U.S. Commerce Department data shows international visitors have spent an estimated $82.2 billion on U.S. travel and tourism-related goods and services year to date. This is an increase of 11 percent when compared to the same period last year.

The new data confirms that the U.S. travel and tourism industry is on pace for another record-setting year and, if these trends to continue, international visitors could end up injecting more than $169 billion into the U.S. economy by year-end, the Commerce Department says.

The U.S. not long ago launched a new Brand USA campaign in the hopes of increasing visitor numbers. If the latest figures are any indication, it appears to be working.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to spring in foggy Toronto - flight cancellations and delays today

I was outside last night in my backyard in shorts and a t-shirt at 7:30 p.m. When I woke up this morning, though, it was like pea soup. With so much heavy fog in southern Ontario today, it felt like a bad London movie where the bad guys emerge from the mist or something.

It's fine for most of us, but it's a real mess at the airports. Porter's website advises folks there are weather warnings for not only Toronto but also Windsor, Ottawa, Sudbury, Timmins, Sault Ste.  Marie and even up in Thunder Bay.

I spotted at least two Porter flights from Toronto to Ottawa that were cancelled this morning, as well as three cancelled flights from Montreal to the Island Airport. And the fog down here at the foot of Yonge St. doesn't look all that much better than it did an hour ago.

"There are currently a number of cancellations and delays due to fog," Porter spokesman Brad Cicero said in an email around 9 a.m. "Passengers should monitor their flight status before arriving at the airport. The situation is evolving based on changing weather conditions. No arrivals/departures currently at Toronto City."

It appeared that a couple Air Canada flights from Pearson to Montreal were delayed today, but service appears to be pretty good considering the conditions. Then again, Pearson is pretty far from Lake Ontario.

It looked like things finally cleared up around 11 a.m., which is good. I'm sure the folks at the Island Airport were glad to get things cleared up, but no doubt it was a bit of a mess this morning.

All in all, not a great week for travel. The Air Canada pilots are back at work after a weekend where it appeared a significant number of them booked off work. That was good news Monday. But then we found out that Aveos, the company that does Air Canada's maintenance here in Canada, has issued layoff notices to its staff and it appears Air Canada is scrambling to find folks to repair their planes.

Air Canada officials on Monday afternoon insisted they had contingency plans and that all was pretty much normal. But lawyers for the company said flights could be cancelled and 3,000 passengers affected every day if Aveos doesn’t complete repairs on several planes.

Aveos Fleet Performance Inc. got creditor protection from a Quebec superior court Monday, after laying off 1,800 workers and suddenly halting operations at their three main plants in Montreal, Winnipeg and Vancouver, as well as other facilities, including one in Mississauga.

Three widebody planes and several narrowbody planes remain stranded in Aveos hangars across the country.

Despite the airline’s earlier claims that day-to-day operations would not be affected by the shutdown, Air Canada lawyer Louis Belanger said in court that the next 24 to 48 hours will be crucial in determining if the aircraft repairs can be completed on schedule.

So who's right? I suspect the lawyers know what they're talking about, and their comments came later in the day. But it's still obviously a situation in flux, so we should all be prepared for delays. I have a flight on Saturday morning, so we'll see how that goes.

Anyway, it's been quite the week already. I mean, pilot book-offs. Maintenance issues. Fog. All we need is a plague of locusts to descend on Air Canada's headquarters in Montreal and it'll be a perfect storm.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Here's a good deal for a weekend getaway from jaunt.ca; a night at the White Oaks Resort and Spa in Niagara-on-the-Lake, where the flowers should be out even more than here in Toronto. Here's the deal:

• One night's accommodation in a Superior Room with one king or two double beds:
  • For $219, stay Sunday-Friday nights
  • For $250, stay Saturday nights
• Wi-Fi access in-room
• One $100 resort credit to use towards any White Oaks amenities, including restaurants and spa
• A wine tasting for two at Peller Estates
• Guest membership to The Club at White Oaks
• Facility fee
• A complimentary welcome gift upon arrival

Offer Details

• Valid for travel until June 30, 2012
• Based on double occupancy (2 people per room).
• Offer is subject to hotel availability

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yeah, I guess so.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

Great spots to think about for a spring holiday this year

Nice item from Christine Sarkis at SmarterTravel.com, listing places folks can go for a reasonably priced spring holiday.

Because of our winters, we Canadians tend to travel a lot in January, February and March. And a lot of families do Disney World or other trips in the summer, when the kids have more time out of school. Consequently, a lot of us tend to stay home in April and May, and that means there are some pretty good deals - and often less crowds.

April and May are awesome times to visit Europe; as the massive tourist hordes haven't yet descended. The weather is decent in places like Paris and London in spring. It can be downright glorious in southern Europe; often near 20 degrees during the day.

Here are the spots Sarkis recommends, with the odd thought of my own as I veg out on a beach on the Mayan Riviera on a short holiday...

PORTUGAL The average hotel for spring is said to be about $100 in this country, and that's remarkable. Heck a chain hotel in Belleville is likely to cost you that much. And when you wake up and stumble outside you're in Belleville and not at a small cafe in Lisbon. The city of Guimaraes is the European Capital of Culture for 2012, meaning plenty of exhibits and concerts and such. Great golf and lovely beaches and superb wine in this affordable European haven, as well.

ORLANDO Okay, not quite as exotic. But with Disney, Legoland and the Harry Potter park at Universal, there's tons to do. Also, the food and drinks scene is surprisingly sophisticated, and the shopping is excellent. The beach isn't far away, either. Sarkis wrote that Disney Resorts has a 30 per cent off deal for April 13 to June 4 if booked by Feb. 28. I haven't had time to check it out but it would be worth noodling about on the Internet for shoulder-season deals in Orlando. Oh, don't forget the great golf at a time when Ontario golf is still something of a dicey affair from a weather standpoint.

SEATTLE A bit far away for us, but if you're visiting Vancouver it's a great side trip. Lovely food and a great waterfront for moseying about. Not to mention fine wines grown in state and great brewpubs, and, of course, Pike's Market. There are a couple major shows for culture lovers, too; a Gauguin exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum through April 29 and a Tutankhamun exhibit at the Pacific Science Center starting May 24.

HAWAII A personal fave for four decades, it's a great spot in the spring as crowds have thinned considerably. You can almost always find a clean, decent room in a hotel near Waikiki Beach in Honolulu for $100, and often for $80 or less. Food and wine can be expensive at trendy waterfront spots but if you eat a little further inland you can eat well for very little money in a city that's a real melting pot of Asian cultures. Terrific Chinese, Japanese and Thai places, plus touches of Portugal and, of course, American cuisine. Sarkis says Pleasant Holidays is offering 3-night packages from San Diego or San Francisco for $555, and that's a great deal. You could fly to San Diego or San Francisco for a few days, then soak up the sun in Hawaii before returning home to Canada. Check WestJet or Air Canada vacations for other deals, or the other Canadian tour companies.

PUERTO RICO Not a lot of Canadians head here, but I'm told that's changing a little. San Juan has beautiful, historic streets with colourful buildings and a gorgeous waterfront fort. The beaches are lovely and you also can find stunning rainforests and, if you wish, casinos.

A few other ideas worth thinking about include the Florida Panhandle, which warms up nicely by April. Ditto for Myrtle Beach, which is easy to reach via Porter Airlines. Washington D.C. or New York are great for culture. And the weather is usually terrific in southern California by the time the calendar hits April.

The Greek islands can be terrific in May. Ditto for South America, where it'll be fall.

Want to venture a little further? It'll be fall in New Zealand and Australia and a lot of tourists have gone home to the U.S., Canada or Europe, so it's a good time to check out either country at more affordable prices than their summer (our winter).

And don't forget Canada. The weather starts warming up nicely out west in April, so it's a great time for Vancouver or Victoria. Ditto for Montreal or Quebec City, especially as we get closer to May. Or just settle in for a great weekend in Niagara-on-the-Lake or a spa weekend or one-night stay at someplace romantic, such as Ste. Anne's Spa in Grafton, Ontario; very close to the GTA and a real sanctuary.

Enjoy! I'll be back with my nose to the old blog grindstone on Monday....

 

 

 

 

Prices fall in Greece/Visits to Australia dropping/Air Canada boosts London flights

Dying to see the Acropolis or check out one of those beautiful Greek islands with the blue-painted doors and seaside cafes? It appears to be a great time.

According to a story I spotted on travelmole, a study by the trip advisor folks out of the UK showed hotel prices in Greece have fallen as much as 20 per cent.

The company looked at  nine popular Greek destinations and found that all but two (sadly, but expectedly, perhaps, two of the most popular spots for tourists) have seen hotel rates fall signficantly in the past year.

The biggest fall was in Corfu (see photo), where hotel rates have dropped on average by 20 per cent. Corfu is full of rich history and sights. I haven't been but here's what Frommer's has to say about the island on its web site: "Cast aside the Corfu package tour...and you will find Homer's 'rich and beautiful land' of hazy olive groves and rugged mountains, 20 miles off the west coast of Greece. The ouzo-fuelled revelry and beaches are there if you want them, but this island also has culture and poetic landscapes."

Rates in Zakynthos dropped 12.4 per cent, while rates in Athens dropped 7.9 per cent and prices in Crete - another lovely part of Greece - fell 7.7 per cent.

Prices, however, in Santorini were up 0.1 per cent and rates in Mykonos rose 0.7 per cent.

"While the Greek economy has experienced a traumatic year, the silver lining for tourism could be an increase in visitors due to the lower prices in many of its popular destinations," said Emma Shaw, a TripAdvisor spokesperson.

TROUBLE DOWN UNDER?

Another fascinating item I spotted on travelmole.com talks about tourism woes in Australia. The story says 10,000 fewer international visitors came to Australia in 2011 compared to the previous year, while the number of Australians travelling internationally surged to 7.8 million.

Australian Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive John Lee calls it "a seriously worrying trend."

"With the dollar likely to remain strong for some time and investment in new resorts in south-east Asia, many leisure tourism operators in Australia are facing an uncertain future," he said.

Lee said the same global economic conditions pushing up the Aussie dollar were affecting Australia's source markets.

"ncertainty in many of our traditional markets has seen declines in annual arrivals, including from the UK, Europe, Japan, Canada and the U.S."

I haven't seen any studies on the matter such as the tripadvisor one in Greece, but Qantas.com is advertising seats from Vancouver to several Australian destinations for $998. Be aware, however, that the site says there's a $500 fuel surcharge plus government fees of $70 to $200. Plus you'll have to make your way to Vancouver. so this is far from the deal of a lifetime.

Expedia.com today was showing a room at the Travelodge Sydney for $160 a night. Okay, it's not the Trump but it's not Joe's motor hotel, either. I found a room at the two-star Manly Beach house in lovely Manly Beach for just $138, and tons of decent-looking spots in the $200-$250 range. The Quest Potts Point, which is a great little hotel in a fabulous part of town, had one room left in mid-March for just $162.

AIR CANADA BOOSTS LONDON

Canadians have another option for getting to London Heathrow. Starting June 2, about seven or eight weeks prior to the start of the London Summer Olympics, Air Canada, Air Canada will boost its Toronto-Heathrow flights from four per day to five.

Even if you don't care about the Olympics, summer's a great time to visit London. Or you can hop off at Heathrow and connect to a RyanAir flight or another cheapo airline and get to just about anywhere you want in Europe for a song. Just don't take too much baggage or you'll get hit with expensive luggage fees.

THE NEIGH'S HAVE IT IN ATLANTIC CITY

A report out of New Jersey  says things are so tough on the Atlantic City boardwalk that there's talk of bringing back diving horses.

Steel Pier, one of the Boardwalk's most storied landmarks, will become a year-round attraction as part of a $100 million makeover that will create new amusement rides and resurrect one famous older-style act - the diving horse, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

"The multiyear renovation project is being done by a new ownership group, including the Catanoso family that operated the pier under lease for 20 years and acclaimed Las Vegas architect Paul Steelman. The investors began exploring ways to revitalize the fading pier after buying it last August for $4.25 million from casino operator Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc." the paper said.

"We hope to make it a showplace again. We want to make it a major destination," said Anthony Catanoso, of Steel Pier Associates. "We're really excited about bringing back some of the old architecture and iconic features, along with new rides. We have what we believe is the perfect balance between the old and new."

Heaven help us all. USA Today reports that one newspaper reader suggested that instead of diving horses, they should have diving homeless people.

"It's a win win," said the reader. "The homeless and downtrodden, who have been residing under the pier for years make a little money and the tourist enjoy the $100,000,000 pier's show. And Bonus... No animal cruelty."

TRAVELALERTS/JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Here's a romantic getaway in time for Valentine's Day. With TravelAlerts/Jaunt.ca, you get a room at the Eganridge Inn in Fenelon Falls, Ontario for just $99. The deal includes one night's accomodation in a Terrace Room for two, featuring a king-sized bed, whirlpool tub and a fireplace. You also get complimentary continental breakfast for two and a 2 p.m. checkout in case you find something to do in your room after a romantic dinner....The deal is valid for stays up until April 30.

For more on this and other deals, go to www.jaunt.ca.

  

 

 

Jaunt Highlights

• 1 night’s accommodation in a Terrace Room for two, featuring a king-sized bed, whirlpool tub and fireplace
• Complimentary continental breakfast for two
• Late checkout until 2pm
• Eganridge is part of the Windsor Arms group

Offer Details

• Valid for stays until April 30, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

Great Places in Canada: vote now ... Caribou antler snow goggles for Will & Kate

There's only a month to go in the "Great Places in Canada" contest, and communities across the land are vying for attention.

Among the categories up for grabs are favourite street, favourite neighbourhood and top public space. And there's competition from all over Canada.

Folks down in Niagara-on-the-Lake, usually a tad reserved you know, are pushing for Queen Street to be named Canada's top street. I think it's ridiculous to suggest a highway should be known as a great street, but Alberta folks are suggesting Icefields Parkway should get some votes. Come on guys. Even in Alberta you understand what an urban street is, right?

Other streets making a mark in the voting, I'm told, are High Street in Grand Falls-Windsor Newfoundland, Yonge St. here in Toronto (too easy), Main Street in Summerland, B.C. and the Niagara River Parkway, which falls under the same, if less spectactular, category as the Icefields Parkway in that it's not really an urban street.

I'm surprised not to see Main Street Vancouver or Fourth Ave. in the Kitsilano area of Vancouver in the running. But perhaps folks out there are too busy weeding their tulip patches, or gunning to stop the Kitimat pipeline, which sounds increasingly like a worthy environmental cause the more I read about it.

Toronto's Parkdale is currently in first place for top neighbourhood.

"Parkdale is the dynamic and inclusive community I am proud to represent," said city councillor Gord Perks, who's a very earnest and decent chap as I recall from my days at City Hall. "The secret is out ... it's one of the best places in Canada."

Victoria Park in Kitchener currently is one of the top ranked nominations for Canada's Great Neighbourhood, as is Plateau Mont-Royal in Montreal; a very worthy nominee. Roncesvalles Village is getting some votes, too, which makes sense. I just spotted a story in the paper this morning on The Ace bar on Roncesvalles, and it looks like a spot worth trying.

Mayor Gregor Robertson of Vancouver is pushing the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese garden as the top public space. Also gunning for that honour is Botanical Beach in Juan de Fuca Provincial Park near Renfrew, B.C. Oooh - a B.C. bun fight!!

There are 33 nominations so far, and they've collectively received some 3,400 votes. Nominations can be made until Jan. 31, and voting takes place until Feb. 29. Judges will decide on semi-finalists in early April and announce the winners in late April of this year. People's Choice awards also will be made in each of the three categories.

Go to www.greatplacesincanada.com to make a nomination or vote, or simply to follow along.

WEIRD GIFTS FOR ROYAL COUPLE

I love these stories about strange gifts that people give to visitors. None are better than what Will and Kate got when they made their trips to Canada, Australia and New Zealand after their marriage in 2011.

Someone in Australia (I presume with a sense of humour) gave Prince William a jar of vegemite, and how awesome is that? In Canada, the prince and the Duchess of Cambridge were given a pair of "caribou antler snow goggles," surely perfect for a night on the town in London. Someone gave Kate a tartan fascinator, which I think Don Cherry might want to wear some night on Coach's Corner. The Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also gave Kate three pairs of shoes, although I can't imagine why. The governor-general gave her a quilt, which seems a little more practical.

In a touching note, folks in Christchurch gave Prince William some rubble from the Christchurch earthquake, as he visited following the earthquake last February.

Prince Charles went to Portugal last year and got a bottle of port (I'm sure he used it quickly), and four bottles of olive oil. The Spanish government gave him a cured ham, which he undoubtedly had trouble getting past British Customs owing to the UK Ham Protection Act, which designates that "only hams made in Berkshire by Englishmen of certain heritage who swear the European Union is the sworn enemy of mankind may be allowed to be consumed within the borders of glorious Britain. Said Englishmen also must agree that it's remarkably improper for the Americans to have let Meryl Streep make a movie in which she dares to play the role of the Most Dearly Beloved Margaret Thatcher, and by the way any self-respecting Brit could tell the accent's dead wrong."

PORTER GOES TO WASHINGTON

Good for Porter Airlines for announcing a sixth U.S. destination on Wednesday. The aggressive, Toronto-based airline says it will begin flying from Toronto's Billy Bishop Island airport to Washington Dulles International on April 16.

"Greater Washington is a region that our passengers have told us is their number one priority for new Porter service," Porter president and CEO Robert Deluce said in a press release. "We expect great interest for both business and leisure trips and look forward to bringing competition to the route."

Amen to that.

JAUNT.CA DEAL

Jaunt.ca is offering a great deal for an overnight getaway to the lovely Fairmont Chateau Montebello in Quebec. For $119 you get a night's stay, plus a $25 spa credit.For $238 enjoy two nights, a $25 spa credit, a $25 Food and beverage credit and a $25 activities credit (good for snowmobile, ATV (All-terrain vehicle) and curling).

The deal is valid Jan. 15 to April 30 but some blackout dates apply. See www.jaunt.ca for details on this and other getaways, including downtown Toronto and Niagara, where you can go check out what the fuss is all about with Queen Street.

 

 

 

 

Maldives denies its spas are brothels/UK flight delays today/Jaunt.ca deal of day

We all know about sex tourism in some parts of the world. Sad to say, it's been happening for decades if not centuries.

People talk about Bangkok as if it's some sort of Sin City. And I guess it can be if you go to certain areas. But I was there last year and didn't see a sign of anything funny, at least not in the neighbourhoods I visited.

On the other hand, it seemed Vietnam was overrun with massage parlours that offered a lot more; with frequent cries of "Hey, you want boom boom?" every time I walked past a massage place that looked innocent enough on the outside.

Now, the folks in the Maldives - those famous, low-lying, exotic islands off the south coast of India - are having problems. Last week, the tourism ministry instructed resort hotels across the nation's coral islands to close all spas and health centres offering beauty treatments and massages, according to the AFP news agency. Officials believe some or many of the centres are actually fronts for prostitution.

Now, it could very well be that this is true. Although I'd have to say it's not terribly economic. The Maldives are hard to get to and resorts tend to be pretty expensive, especially compared to Vietnam or Thailand.

Anyway, tourism officials are up in arms over the closing order issued by the government.

"Sex tourism definitely does not happen in the resorts," said Sim Ibrahim, head of the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry. Ibrahim said the spas are critical to the resorts, which, in turn, are hugely important to the local economy.

UK WEATHER TURNS UGLY

It's not just Toronto that's suddenly in the middle of some weather issues. Over in the UK, they're having all sorts of problems today with Old Man Winter.

Many UK airports are facing major cancellations and delays today, including London Heathrow and London's Gatwick airport, as well as Glasgow. All incoming flights were cancelled into Edinburgh at one point Tuesday morning, with limited departures.

It's bad for folks heading to the UK, of course. But also bad for anyone using Heathrow or Gatwick for a connection.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Feel like you need a rest from Christmas and New Year's? Jaunt.Ca (www.jaunt.ca) is offering a "Learn, Cook, Wine and Dine" package in lovely Prince Edward County, just a few minutes east of Toronto. It's a real hotbed for wine and top-notch cuisine these days. The deal is for $349 for one night or $449 for two nights and includes accommodation for two in a Premium Lodge Room or Suite at the Waring House Restaurant, Inn, Cookery School and Spa in Picton; offering luxurious surroundings and featuring geo-thermal heating, solar power and other eco-friendly features and a "one-of-a-kind cooking school and dining experience" for Jaunt subscribers with Cookery School Director Chef Jordon McGinnis where students will learn to prepare a 4-course meal and how to correctly pair food and wine, and then get to eat their meal complete with wine. There's also a full, hot hot breakfast for two (Sunday morning breakfast will be upgraded to a full Sunday buffet breakfast) and a $25 dining voucher valid at Amelia's Garden Restaurant on site (only valid for 2-night stay option).

COME FOR THE LOUSY WEATHER - TRUTH IN ADVERTISING OUT WEST

Here's a nice bout of honesty. Folks in Oregon know they get terrible storms in the winter. There are great golf courses on the Oregon coast, including Bandon Dunes and others, and there are wonderful beaches. But it tends to rain a lot in winter, with big, rolling waves and heavy rains off the Pacific.

Rather than fight it, Oregon resorts are now encouraging people to come for the rotten weather.

It makes sense. It's also something they've doing for years up in Tofino, where the renowned Wickaninnish Inn has great rooms overlooking a wild beach, plus a dining room with huge panes of glass right near the water. It's a great place to sit by the fire and watch the action, or, for braver souls, donning a rain slicker or three and some big old boots and going for a stroll on the sand.

I don't know about Oregon, but the Wickaninnish has a hugely impressive clothes and boot drying system so you can be sure you're not stepping into soggy footwear or slipping into a clammy coat.

It's not for me, but rooms are a lot cheaper in winter than in the lovely, long days of summer....

GRENADA SAFE FOR TOURISTS?

It always happens after a high-profile crime; the quick proclamation that all is well and for people to, as the man says in the Wizard of Oz, "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain."

Such is the case in Grenada. In case you missed it, a Canadian resident who was born in Grenada went for a visit last week and got involved in an altercation with police and later died. Two police officers have been charged in the death of Oscar Bartholomew.

Grenada tourism types have been quick to try to quash any concerns from tourists, who play a huge role in the island economy.

"From the perspective of visitor safety, and in comparison to other tourist-dependent nations of the world, Grenada still is - and will continue to be - an extremely safe destination for travelers from around the world," said Tourism Minister Peter David.

Likely it's probably even safer today than it was a week ago given the adverse publicity. But I'm sure the incident has had an effect on people making plans for winter travel.

 

 

Toronto-Vermont on Porter: New destination means more than just convenience

A belated thanks to the U.S. Consul General in Toronto, Kevin Johnson, for hosting a reception last week for Vermont tourism and Porter Airlines.

Porter flew its first-ever Toronto to Burlington (a delightful city, by the way) flight last week, filled with dignitaries and business people and such. Its part of Porter's ever-increasing dispersal of planes out of the Toronto Island Airport, with flights now headed to Halifax, Myrtle Beach, northern Ontario, New York, Montreal, Chicago, Ottawa, Boston and more.

It's quite the success story, as we all know. But it's also interesting to think about the business opportunities this presents for both sides.

I've attended a few tourism events as travel editor, and I'm often struck by just how critical flights are. I mean, you could have the greatest rum punch in the world being served on the planet's most beautiful beach in the Caribbean, but it don't matter unless you can get butts in seats on airplanes; preferably on direct flights.

"This new, direct connection strengthens the economic links" between Toronto and Ontario and Burlington and Vermont, Porter president Robert Deluce told those gathered at Johnson's Forest Hill residence.

"This isn't just about flying in to Vermont to ski on the weekend," Johnson said, citing Vermont's forests and high-tech industry and other shared interests.

For us in Toronto, it's a nice way to get to the heart of New England faster than driving through Montreal or upstate New York. Much less hazardous and nerve-wracking, too.

But the flight also, as Deluce and Johnson mentioned, means easier commercial connections between Burlington and Toronto and between Vermont and Ontario and all of Canada. As much as we focus on Asia these days, Johnson pointed out the U.S. is still Canada's key market.

Lawrence Miller, Vermont's secretary of commerce, noted that Canada is his state's largest trading partner; with exports to Canada equalling as much as the next eight countries combined. He also said 20,000 jobs in Vermont are due to trade with Canada.

Tourism is the biggest industry in Vermont, so the extra flights - and having Vermont more in the public spotlight - is a big deal. Skiers in Toronto might be salivating at the idea of quick access to Killington and Sugarbush and Stowe's ski hills. But Megan Smith, Vermont's tourism commissioner, said it goes both ways (as do the flights, come to think of it).

"We hope you'll do some marketing on our end," she said, "because those of us who live there love Toronto."

ARKANSAS ALSO ON THE HUNT FOR TOURISTS

You don't hear much about Arkansas. I know it's Bill Clinton's former stomping grounds, and I love the scenery in True Grit. But that's about all I can tell you about the state.

I must not be alone, as they recently opened the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville and are planning a big tourism push across the southern U.S. It's apparently a $300,000 one-time advertising buy will pitch Arkansas as a destination for arts and culture, while still promoting the state as a place for outdoor activities such as hiking and camping.

"We've been The Natural State for 25 years now," said Joe David Rice, Arkansas ' tourism director, referring to the state slogan. "We still think we're The Natural State, but we think we ought to be a natural for arts and entertainment, too."

The museum was built by Wal-Mar heir Alice Walton and the architect is the highly renowned Moshe Safdie, and it looks like a stunner.

 

New "Signature Experiences" for Canada tourism include Ottawa! Ritz Paris reno

There's one less thing for Ottawa folks to complain about today.

The folks at the Canada Tourism Commission announced this week that they've expanded the "Signature Experiences" program to a fulsome 115 activities to entice visitors from abroad. And, yes, five of them are in Ottawa.

Readers may recall I wrote a column on the front page of the Star this past summer talking about how Ottawa politicians were aghast that the nation's capital wasn't included in the first round of the Signature Experiences program. They were, of course, all abluster about how wonderful their city was and that it was the Paris of Canada or the Miami of Canada or the Rio of Canada, when, in fact, it's more like the Philadelphia of Canada or the Brasilia of Canada.

Anyway, it's nice and fitting that there are five activities in the Ottawa area part of the new program, so we can at least put this round of sniping behind us. For the record, here are the five:

• Stimulating the Senses! – National Gallery of Canada (see photo at left)
• Aboriginal Voyageur – Aboriginal Experiences
• Exploring Canada’s flavours in a unique culinary destination – Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa
• Lost Ships of the 1000 Islands Cruise – Gananoque Boat Line Ltd.
• The Grand Hall Tour – Canadian Museum of Civilization

A press release describes the Signature Experiences Collection are listing activities that are "authentic, that represent Canada’s nature, people and/or culture and that are immersive and engage a variety of senses. The Collection is used by the CTC to promote travel to Canada from its key foreign markets, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, South Korea, China, the United States, Mexico, Brazil and India. The next round of applications will begin November 15 and end December 15, 2011."

Also on the newly expanded list are the Maid of The Mist boat ride in Niagara Falls (highly recommended if you've never been). Canadian Press reports another of the 67 newcomers is something called "Rails, Trails & Ales," offered by Northern Edge Algonquin. It combines mountain biking in Algonquin Provincial Park with a beer-tasting visit to the Highlander micro-brewery in South River, Ont. There's also "an evening of brews" in a century-old log cabin. Participants can come by train to the South River station.

Also added to the collection is a six-hour sidecar ride along the Columbia Icefields Parkway offered by Jasper Motorcycle Tours. "Be amazed by unobstructed views of towering mountains, powerful waterfalls, raging rivers, hidden lakes, mammoth glaciers and wildlife," the company says on its website.

Other additions include hut-to-hut trekking in the Rockies, fossil prospecting in the Alberta Badlands, a historical and culinary walking tour in Quebec City, New Brunswick's Kings Landing Historical Settlement, the Celtic Colours International Festival in Cape Breton, N.S., and an iceberg tour off Newfoundland."

I got to see a small iceberg in Newfoundland a few years ago when I was visiting Twillingate, one of my favourite trips of all time. Locals said my iceberg was just a runt, but I thought it was pretty cool...

Certainly something you don't see in Brazil or China, so it's probably an excellent choice for the Signature Experiences program.

RITZ PARIS RENO

The famous Ritz Hotel in Paris says it's closing for two full years starting next summer. It will undergo an "unprecedented" renovation.

They haven't renovated the place (probably it's a dump by now) since 1979. It was built in 1898.

The five-star property, owned by billionaire tycoon Mohamed Al Fayed from Egypt, earlier this year failed to win one of several coveted "palace" designations awarded by the French government. Le Bristol, a personal fave, got the designation.

Fayed's son, Dodi, dined at the hotel in 1997 before his fatal car crash with Princess Diana. It was a favourite in long ago days of such celebrities as Ernest Hemingway, Coco Chanel and Charlie Chaplin.

Officials said hotel facilities, including its 160 rooms and suites, would preserve their traditional style while "offering the latest technological innovations".

No costs were revealed, but you can bet this is a multi, multi-million dollar refit if it's slated to take 27 months.