Glorious mountains and fine apple pie outside San Diego ... Deal of day:

OUTSIDE SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA-We Canadians think of a few things when we think of San Diego; beaches, the zoo, golf, maybe the military presence and good food. Most of us don’t think of the beauty and ruggedness and charm of the mountains and small mountain and hill towns just east of the city.

Heck, I grew up in California and had never visited the area until a drive-through this week. But I would absolutely LOVE to go back.

My Dad and I were in Borrego Springs the other day, south of Palm Springs by a couple hours. The plan was to stay the night in Borrego, but a sandstorm shut down power and we opted to high-tail it to San Diego instead.

The road out of Borrego to the south is fairly desolate, but you soon pass through winding canyons around Yaqui Pass Rd., with towering cliffs and rocks and cactus and more rocks and more cactus. It’s pretty imposing, actually, and fairly inspiring.

It also feels pretty strange to look at a roadside sign that says it’s 65 or 85 (sorry, can’t remember) miles to the pretty, beachside community of Oceanside, as this part of the state feels more like the moon than the California the Beach Boys sang about.

After maybe a half hour you suddenly edge close enough to the Pacific that the prevailing winds bring enough moisture (or maybe the soil changes) and you suddenly, and I mean wham kind of suddenly, start seeing five to eight-foot high shrubs and green bushes and towering, rocky hills that feel like northern Spain or southern France.

The cactus gives way to small farm houses and ranches and horses as you wind your up the hill towards the western-looking town of Julian.

It’s a pretty community maybe 90 minutes from San Diego, but 1,000 worlds away, with stores like Miner’s Diner and Jack’s Grocery with western fronts and shops selling saddles and cowboy gear.

The region is famous for apples, and we stopped in at the Julian Pie Co. for apple pie and apple-boysenberry crumble, both of which were to die for. Two generous slices and two coffees set us back $11.

There’s a small patio out front at the pie shop but it was a freakin’ ridiculous 37 degrees Fahrenheit at 3 p.m. on Monday; about one-half the temperature we’d registered in my Dad’s car in Palm Desert at 10 a.m.

It warmed up as we went lower in elevation, past ranches and a camel dairy and out into broad, sweeping valleys of green backed by rugged hills and smaller mountains.

The main route from Julian to San Diego is through the small town of Ramona, famous for a bar called the Turkey Inn with a giant, brown turkey that’s lit up at night with neon. It’s a real hoot, at least on the outside, and I’d love to go back some time to have a beer or watch a San Diego Chargers game on TV with the locals.

The mountains and hills outside San Diego don’t get much publicity out our way, but it’s a glorious region with fruit orchards, ranches, egg farms, cowboys, wineries, cute towns with art galleries and lots more. Well worth checking out next time you’re in southern California.

Oh, by the time we got to San Diego it was sunny and a lovely 64 Fahrenheit. Just so you know....

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for fabulous Los Cabos, Mexico; priced at $952, including $357 in taxes.

Jaunt Highlights

• SAVINGS: Two travellers save up to $370 by booking with Jaunt.ca.
• All-inclusive 7-night stay at the 4-Star Holiday Inn Resort, located in Los Cabos, Mexico
• Includes return airfare from Toronto or Vancouver to Los Cabos, and round-trip airport/resort transfers in Mexico
• Accommodations in a Gardenview Room, featuring 1 king or 2 double beds. Maximum Occupancy: 3 adults or 2 adults + 2 children
• Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks 
• Shaped like a W, the resort has different wings that cater to both children and adults alike with a playground and an adults-only pool
• The Chiqui Kids Club is a great place for your children to make friends, learn something new and make the most out of their vacation
• Off the resort, Cabo San Lucas has lots of kid-friendly activities from swimming with dolphins to sailing on a real pirate ship

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departure dates:
  Toronto: May 11 & 18, 2013
  Vancouver: June 3, 10 &17, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Toronto:
  Double: $595
  Single: $945
  Triple: $555
  Child (2-12yrs): $295
  Tax: $357
  
  Vancouver:
  Double: $665
  Single: $1015
  Triple: $625
  Child (2-12yrs): $335
  Tax: $340
  
  Other DATES and GATEWAYS available.
  Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
  
  
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is refundable until 5PM EST on April 17. After that time, this offer is 100% non-refundable.

World's least visited countries/A Barenaked Lady does travel TV/Deal of Day

We all know about the countries that get the most tourists: Italy and France and the U.S. and all that. France had 79.5 million visitors a year, which is tops on the planet. But what about the places that see the least number of visitors?

 I ran across a great list the other day, from the United Nations World Tourism Organization and blogger Gunnar Garfors. These are all countries that contrast - just a bit - to France's numbers, with visitations ranging from 73,000 down to a mere 200. Most are in the poorest parts of Africa or scattered across the Pacific Ocean.

Here's the list.

25. Dominica, 73,000. Pretty Caribbean country (see rainforest photo at right) but small.

24. Chad, 71,000. Not so many tourists given political unrest in this part of Africa.

23. Central African Republic, 54,000. One of the poorest countries in Africa, but apparently there are nice river trips you can take.

22. Liechtenstein, 53,000. Sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria, it's a country I actually drove through once. Pretty spot. I think I stopped. For a minute. I don't remember.

21. Djibouti, 53,000. Said to have great diving. And a great, great name.

20. Sierra Leone, 52,000. Great beaches, Garfors said.

19. Tonga, 45,000. One of those tiny Pacific countries, with fab coral reefs but few tourists.

18. East Timor, 40,000. Political issies keep folks from visiting what's said to be a pretty country connected to Indonesia.

17. Bhutan, 37,000. I keep reading this spot in the Himalayas is the happiest country on earth. Maybe because they don't get many annoying tourists.

16. North Korea, 35,000. Safe to visit. Unless you run into Dennis Rodman.

15. Libya, 34,000. Do I really need to write anything for this entry? I didn't think so.

14. Guinea-Bissau, 30,000. Another poor Afircan country.

13. Mauritania, 29,000. Not much to see in this part of west Africa. Nice camels, though (see pic below).

12. Federated States of Micronesia, 26,000. Hard to get to, but beautiful.

11. Solomon Islands, 23,000. More beautiful South Pacific scenery but not a lot of flights in. Country includes Guadalcanal, site of one of the worst battles of World War II.

10. Afghanistan, 17,500. I'm shocked that many people go, to be honest. Looks beautiful in photos but way too many other things going on.

9. Comoros, 15,000. Garfors says great seafood in this island spot north of Madagascar, and mosquitoes not as bad as folks think. Still, I'll take a pass.

8. Sao Tome and Principe, 8,000. This island spot is said off the coast of west Africa is said to be the smallest nation on (or near) the continent.

7. Turkmenistan, 7,000. I can't think of anything to say about this central Asian country. Not quite as crazy as North Korea, says Garfors.

6. Equatorial Guinea, 6,000. I think there are too many countries in the world with Guinea in the name.

5. Marshall Islands, 5,000. Fab diving but even I, a map freak, couldn't find them on the globe without some help.

4. Kiribati, 4,700. Wikitravel says this nation of Pacific atolls is friendly but that "South Tarawa is one of the most densely populated, severely poverty-stricken places in the world."

3. Tuvalu, 1,200. Rising tides could make this Pacific nation disappear. So boogie on down to Tuvalu while you still can. Said to be the third least populous nation on earth, smaller only than Nauru and Vatican City.

2. Somalia, 500. See entry for Libya.

1. Nauru, 200. Not far from Kiribati (hey, a new tourism slogan!). The smallest nation on earth, just 21 square kilometers and just under 10,000 residents. If it was downtown Toronto it would, of course, have 1.6 million inhabitants in 86 storey condos with shards of broken glass littering the sidewalk. A troubled economy and a fair bit of poverty, apparently (see photo at left). Garfors calls it the only country in the world with a capital but I don't know if that's true. Lots of phosphate mining and some beautiful water.

BARENAKED LADY ON TV

Travel+Escape and Farpoint Films say they'll begin production on a new TV series called The Illegal Eater, and that former Barenaked Ladies frontman Steven Page (remember him?) will star.

The 13-episode series will debut this fall and feature Page "on a mission to hunt down clandestine dining experiences as he explores the tastiest, creative, underground and often illegal spaces that chefs around North America have to offer."

"My passion on the road has always been to obsessively research the foods, restaurants and markets that make each place I've played different," said Page. "Often, newer trends start underground before breaking through on the public's palate, so I can't wait to explore everything from fancy, underground supper clubs to hole-in-the-walls."

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on hand for a week in sunny Samana in the Dominican Republic, priced at $791 (including $392 in taxes).

Jaunt Highlights

• BONUS: $50 Future Travel Voucher per person to be used on future vacations with Transat or Nolitours
• All-inclusive 7-night stay at the 4-Star Grand Bahia Principe Cayacoa, located in Samana, Dominican Republic
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Samana and round-trip airport/hotel transfers in the Dominican Republic
• Accommodations in a Room, featuring 1 king-size or 2 double beds and balcony or terrace. Maximum occupancy: 3 adults
• Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

• Located right on the beach, amidst lush greenery, with impressive views of Samana Bay
• Enjoy free shuttle service into Samana
• Dine at three different a la carte restaurants

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on May 6, 13, 20 or 27 and June 3, 10, 17, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  May 6, 13, 20, 2013:
  Double: $499
  Single: $729
  Triple: $479
  Tax: $392
  
  
  May 27 & June 3, 10, 17, 2013:  
  Double: $399
  Single: $629
  Triple: $372
  Tax: $392
  
  
  Other DATES and GATEWAYS available.
  Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
  
  
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

 

 

 

Drive without fear in Florida, folks: International Driving Permit law repealed

That sure took a while. But it's a big development for Canadians and others who enjoy the Sunshine State.

Florida Governor Rick Scott on Tuesday signed the repeal of a bill that required non-American drivers to have an International Driving Permit. The repeal of Bill HB 7059 ended weeks of uncertainty for Canadians and other non-American drivers.

The Star broke a story on Feb. 14 after it was discovered that Florida legislators had passed a law requiring non-American drivers to have an International Driving Permit as of Jan. 1, 2013. For Canadians, that meant a $25 permit through an office of the Canadian Automobile Association.

Some law enforcement officials quickly backed off, saying they wouldn't enforce the rules. But word of the law caused big lineups at CAA offices from Canadians worried about getting tickets during trips south in the winter or during March break.

State officials said the law was aimed at folks who don't have driver's licenses printed in English, not at Canadians. But Canada still was swept up under the legislation, at least technically, and there were reports that some car rental agencies were insisting Canadians have the permit before they could drive away in their rental vehicles.

One Florida paper even quoted a frightened (and very law abiding) Canadian couple living in the state as saying they'd abandoned their car for fear of arrest and were virtually house-bound.

Embarrassed tourism officials distanced themselves from the rule and encouraged Canadians to come. The House of Representatives in the state voted to repeal the law a couple weeks ago and the Senate followed suit a few days back. Governor Rick Scott signed the repeal into law in Tallahassee, the state capital, today.

International visitors still must have a valid license from their country of residence to drive. But they don't need International Driving Permits.

Scott said his state is "committee to being the number one tourist destination in the world, and signing this bill into law will ensure that our international visitors continue to come to Florida. Florida has had two consecutive years of record visitation to Florida, which has created thousands of jobs for Florida families."

“Effective immediately, Canadians in Florida can go back to doing what they have always been able to do – drive with peace of mind in the Sunshine State using their provincial driver’s license,” said Jeff Walker, CAA Vice President of Public Affairs. “CAA is pleased that the voices of its members and others were listened to by state officials, and that the state of Florida has removed any uncertainty.”

Will Seccombe, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA said, “Last year, the Florida tourism industry welcomed nearly 14 million visitors from 181 countries who spent $15 billion. We thank Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature for taking quick action to ensure our vital international visitors continue to feel welcome in the Sunshine State.”

UK, Italian and German officials also applauded the move.

It's great the law was repealed, but you still have to wonder how anyone in a state so dependent on tourism allowed such legislation to be passed in the first place.

ISLAND AIRPORT GROWS

The Toronto Island Airport (also known as YTZ and, more formally, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport), brought in 23 per cent more travelers in 2012 than the previous year. Toronto Port Authority officials said they welcomed 1.9 million passengers, passing the previous high of 1.5 million in 2011.

CANADIAN AIRLINE NUMBERS

A very mixed bag for Canada's airlines today. WestJet today reported an impressive March load factor of 86.1 per cent, up 8.2 per cent year over year. The airline flew 1.6 million guests in March, a year-over-year increase of 6.7 per cent.

"I am pleased to report a record first quarter load factor of 84.3 per cent, up from last year's record of 83.0 per cent, and our third strongest March in WestJet history," said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. "Our airline partnership strategy continues to contribute to our traffic and in March we added Air France as our ninth code-share partner."

Air Canada later in the day reported a record March 2013 load factor of 83.5 per cent, versus 81.5 per cent in March 2012, an increase of 2.0 percentage points.

Over at Porter, however, the news wasn't so hot. The Toronto-based airline reported a load factor of 58.1 per cent in March, representing a decline of 1.7 points compared to 2012.

Air Canada numbers usually come out later in the day, so I'll have a look if and when I get them.

CARIBBEAN UPSWING

More than 15 million people visited the Caribbean region in 2012. Some 4.56 million hit the beach in the Dominican Republic (see photo), followed by Cuba with 2.8 million and Jamaica (just under 2 million). The Bahamas was fourth (1.26 million) and then Puerto Rico (1.1 million). Montserrat apparently had less than 5,000 visitors. Maybe I should go sometime?

UAE VISA ISSUE RESOLVED

The UAE, which includes Abu Dhabi and Dubai, says it will no longer charge Canadians for a Visa. The issue became an acrimonious once a couple years ago when Ottawa and the UAE were fighting over how many slots the Canadian government would provide for Etihad and Emirates airlines looking for landing places in Canada.

The CBC reports that visitors from most European countries, Australia and the U.S.didn't need visas for the U.A.E. Canadians, however, had to pay $165 for a single-entry, 30-day visa; $330 for a single-entry 60-day visa; and $660 for a six-month, multiple-entry visa.

It was a thorny issue, but Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird met with UAE officials at a Tim Hortons in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and announced the visa rules have been lifted as part of a thaw in relations between the two nations. It remains to be seen if Baird will continue to protect Canadian airlines or if he'll relent and allow more landing spots for Etihad and Emirates. With WestJet and Air Canada looking stronger of late than any at time in the recent past, it's possible he'll relax the rules. Maybe.

READY FOR THAT DIET?

Funny to see Air Samoa charging folks by combined personal and baggage weight. I wrote about that extensively last week and got a lot of comments from folks, most of whom thought it was fair.

I still can't see other airlines doing the same though.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on hand for seven nights on The Riviera Maya in Mexico (great area) for $1,147, including $308 in taxes.

Jaunt Highlights

• SAVINGS: Two travellers save up to $105 by booking with Jaunt.ca!
• BONUS: Stay at 1, Play at 3! (Includes access to Grand Bahia Principe Akumal and Grand Bahia Principe Tulum)
• BONUS: ACV Privileges offer exclusive check in/late check out, 4 guaranteed à la carte reservations per week, 20% spa discount, nightly turn down service and more!
• All-inclusive 7-night stay at the 4-Star Grand Bahia Principe Coba, located in Riviera Maya, Mexico
• Includes return airfare from Toronto or Montreal to Cancun, and round-trip airport/hotel transfers in Mexico
• Accommodations in a Junior suite, featuring 1 king or 2 double beds and private balcony or terrace. Max. occupancy: 3 adults and 1 child, or 2 adults and 2 children
• Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, and unlimited domestic alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

• The stay at 1, play at 3 feature lets you explore beyond the grounds of your resort
• Extra large rooms are ideal for families
• 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 the following departure dates:
  Toronto: April 21, 2013
  Montreal: April 22, 2013
  
  
• Pricing (Rates are per person):
  
  Toronto:
  Double: $839 plus tax
  Single: $1269 plus tax
  Triple: $799 plus tax
  Child: $629 plus tax
  Tax: $308
  
  Montreal:
  Double: $1157 tax included
  Single: $1577 tax included
  Triple: $1117 tax included
  Child: $1037tax included
  
  Other DATES and GATEWAYS available.
  Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
  
  
• 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

 

 

 

 

 

Ten places I'd rather be today ... Bogart festival in Key Largo ... Deal of Day: Italy

I've just about had it.

I love this city. I really do. But I HATE WINTER AND I'M SICK OF THE COLD. I mean, has anyone looked at the forecast for the next couple days? Two degree highs from now til the end of the weather page on the back of the Star's sports section today.

TWO DEGREES? IT'S ALMOST APRIL!!!!!

The Weather Network forecast this morning shows the temperature climbing all the way to six degrees by next Thursday. Woo hoo!

Geez, I know it'll warm up eventually but I could really use a blast of heat. Which brings me to this list of 10 places you should check out if you feel the same way; all of them places I've had the good fortune to visit in the last few years.

1. Tahiti. Okay, it's expensive to get there, but it's one of the most beautiful places on the planet; crystal clear lagoons, green, jungle clad mountains rising into an impossibly blue sky, great food and warm, friendly people. The most romantic place I've ever stayed in my life was an overwater bungalow (alas, I was on my own) at Le Taha'a Resort. Unbelievable. Bora Bora is a prettier island, as is Moorea (see photo at right at the fabulous and affordable Club Bali Hai resort) But I liked that bungalow the best.

2. Dunedin, Florida. Last chance to catch the Jays in person before they fly north for their home opener. Maybe the last chance to see Ricky Romero in a big league uniform for a while, too, given talk that he might start the season in the minors.

3. Jamaica. You could try one of the all-inclusives but I had a fabulous time at Jake's at Treasure Beach a couple years ago. There's not much in the way of a beach, but the coastline is beautiful and there's a small pool. Best of all is that fun, funky spirit of the place, which has rooms that feel like Morocco meets the Caribbean and great staff. Dougie the bartender is a treasure.

4. New Zealand. It's just turning fall down there now, but the weather is still pretty great. It's supposed to be 23 degrees in Auckland tomorrow. It's a cool city with a great harbour and excellent food. Tremendous beaches are close by, as is Waiheke Island, which has not only great beaches but world-class wineries, olive orchards and inventive, local cuisine. It's still pretty warm down on the South Island these days, too. Queenstown lies on the shores of one of the prettiest lakes you'll ever see. And the Pinot Noir they make at nearby wineries is to die for.

5. Santa Barbara, California. Great wineries, terrific food and beautiful scenery. The beaches are long, the hotels are terrific and the red tiled roofs and towering palm trees paint a pretty picture (see photo at left).

6. Corsica. Okay, it's only 16 degrees today but it's a lot better than here. It's a great part of France, with historical ruins, glittering beaches, great local wines and absolutely tremendous food. An easy flight from Paris or Marseille.

7. Hawaii. Anywhere in Hawaii. I prefer Maui because it was my family's semi-annual vacation spot for years, but Kauai is beautiful and the Big Island has tremendous variety, including the volcanoes and huge ranches with cowboys, called paniolos. I recently wrote about Lanai, which is tons of fun. And don't forget Oahu. Waikiki is fabulous, and Honolulu is a fun, cosmopolitan city with great food and culture. There are great hiking trails and incredible beaches all over the island of Oahu, which doesn't get enough exposure in my book.

8. Barbados. Terrific golf courses and endless, sunny beaches in the west. On the east side, you can find casual restaurants and rum shacks and windswept beaches that go on forever, often with big surf. Don't miss a chance to visit the eccentric and highly entertaining Hunte's Gardens.

9. New Orleans. Again, absolutely killer food and a great cocktail scene. But also tremendous history in this whirling melting pot of a city (see photo at right). I've got a story on New Orleans in Star Travel tomorrow.

10. Australia. Sydney is one of the great cities of the world, with picture perfect beaches like Bondi and Manly, an outstanding harbour, great architecture (well, the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, anyway) and great food. I had a great visit to Dunk Island, up near the Great Barrier Reef, after the Olympics in 2000. And I was lucky enough to take a trip to Uluru (formerly known as Ayers Rock) and the outback a couple years ago, a near religious experience. A country with a little bit of everything.

VOGUE PUMPS UP TORONTO

Despite the weather, Vogue Magazine is touting our fair city. A story I spotted on their website (via Twitter) talks about taking urban trips for March break and names Toronto, Istanbul, Dallas and Lisbon as "four of the buzziest cultural capitals."

HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU, KID

Nice item here from Associated Press on a cold, dreary morning. (Wait, did I mention that already?)

Key Largo will celebrate the 65th anniversary of the movie "Key Largo" with a film festival honouring the movie's late star Humphrey Bogart.

Bogart was married to Lauren Bacall, who also starred in the movie. Their son Stephen Bogart is scheduled to headline several events at the Humphrey Bogart Film Festival in Key Largo May 2-5, including a May 2 cocktail reception that he will host with film critic Leonard Maltin. The reception will be followed by an outdoor waterfront screening of the movie.

The 1948 movie "Key Largo" told the story of a group of gangsters holed up in a hotel with the hotel owners and others during a ferocious hurricane.

The festival will feature screenings of additional Bogart films and other classics. Cruises will be offered on the original, century-old African Queen, the boat used in the Bogart film of the same name. Registered as a national historic site, the vessel was relaunched in 2012 following a $70,000 restoration.

Stephen Bogart will also host a "Casablanca"-themed Bogart ball May 4 at the Hilton Key Largo Resort with a Moroccan-themed dinner where Maltin will speak about Humphrey Bogart's contribution to the film noir genre. Tickets to the ball are $175 per person.

Tickets to individual screenings are $10 each. Details at http://www.bogartfilmfestival.com.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on offer for fabulous Tuscany for $2,647, including $498 in taxes. As a guy who met his wife in Florence, I highly recommend this part of Italy for a romantic getaway. Even if you don't drink wine.

Jaunt Highlights

• SAVINGS: Save $300 per couple off regular rates!
• 9-Day/8-Night Dolce Vita in Tuscany, Italy Coach Tour, featuring visits to Cinque Terre, Florence, wine tastings, a cooking class, and much more!
• Includes departure airfare from Toronto to Florence (via Rome) and return airfare from Rome to Toronto, both on Alitalia, plus airport/hotel transfers in Italy
• 8 Nights' accommodation at 4-Star Hotels featuring rooms with private bath or shower, 2 single beds or 1 double bed. Hotels include NH Hotel Excelsior in Siena, Italiana Hotels Florence and the Grand Hotel Beverly Hills in Rome.
• Includes transportation via motorcoach, boat and train, services of an English speaking guide, and all entrance fees as per itinerary
• 16 meals including daily breakfast, 4 lunches, 4 dinners, one including a ¼ litre wine & ½ litre water

• Experience a real Italian cooking lesson in Tuscany
• Sample the robust taste of Italian wines in the countryside they're created in
• Stay in luxurious 4-star accommodations

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on June 6, 2013
• Pricing (rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Toronto:
  Double: $2149
  Single: $2849
  Triple: $2099
  Tax: $498
  
  We also offer other departure DATES and GATEWAYS.
  Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
  
  
• Includes all taxes and service charges
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

WASTING AWAY IN ST. THOMAS

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

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

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

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

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

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

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

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

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

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

Offer Details

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

 

 

 

Men are more loyal travel partners ... A dog's Ireland adventure ... Deal of the day

Yes, we have our share of philanderers and strays and men with wandering eyes. Tiger Woods, for one.

But a new study by Toronto-based G Adventures seems to suggest men are loyal to their spouses than wives when it comes to travel. In advance of March 20 being International Happiness Day (who knew?) the company did an online survey of friends, family and partners and found that men suggested their ideal travel partner is their wife. Women? Ha. No loyalty at all. A majority of the women who responded said THEY would rather go on a trip with their friends.

As a man, I'm insulted. Yeah, I'm sure you ladies have a great time with your girlfriends. No demands (well, maybe or maybe not) for sex, for one. And presumably nobody waiting at the door of the shops at the outlet mall starting at their watch and tapping their foot as they pass the time. Still, it gives me some degree of pleasure to know that men prefer to take their wives on holidays than to go with their friends. Of course, we all know we'd be hopelessly lost without our wives, as we're often reminded (INSERT SMILING EMOTICON HERE).

Actually, I don't put much faith in these online polls but it's innocent fun, I guess. The group they were surveying were friends and family and G Adventures is a travel company, so it's no surprise to find that 83 per cent of folks said travel is very important to them. And no surprise to find that 61 per cent of folks said they'd rather get more time off to travel than get a raise or a nicer office.

The survey had some other interesting findings. Asked to name a perfect destination, 2 per cent of folks said they "find bliss in the snow." Eight per cent said they're nautical enthusiasts, and 46 per cent said they "need to keep on movin'" and would enjoy an active holiday. Forty three per cent said they "wanna take in some sun." And amen to that.

On the other hand, when asked to name their perfect destination, Australia and New Zealand came out on top, followed by Antarctica. Brrrr....

Following those three destinations came South America (a surprise, perhaps, but remember G Adventures isn't packaging European bus tours for seniors), then Europe, Asian, a tie between North America and Central America and then the Arctic. You'd like to see the Arctic, some of which is in Canada, do better than Antarctica. But I guess it's tough to beat penguins.

DOG TAKES A RIDE

Hendrix, a six-year-old Spaniel, was supposed to be flown from New Jersey the other day to Phoenix. But there was a mixup at the airport and the poor pooch was sent on a long ride to Shannon, Ireland. Which isn't terribly close.

The dog was put back on a flight to the U.S. after the error was discovered. He also was upgraded to Milk Bone class and got to watch The Incredible Journey in 3-D.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for Cancun, Mexico for $908, with a $550 U.S. resort credit.

• BONUS: Enjoy $550 USD Resort Credit per room to enjoy on spa services, room upgrades, lobster dinners and more!
• All-inclusive 7-night stay at the 3.5-Star Barceló Tucancun Beach, located in Cancun, Mexico
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Cancun and round-trip airport/hotel transfers in Mexico
• Accommodations in a Superior room, featuring 2 double beds or 1 king-size bed and Garden View. Maximum occupancy: 2 adults and 2 children or 3 adults and 1 child
• Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

• A host of recreational facilities provide tons of fun right on site
• The perfect, waterside location is a short distance from Cancun sports, shopping and nightlife
• Use your $550 credit at their full-service spa, various bars and other on-site perks

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on March 31, 2013
  Other DATES and GATEWAYS available. Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
  
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Toronto:
  Single: $1130
  Double: $599
  Triple: $599
  Child: $499
  Tax: $309
  
  
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

 

 

 

Milk bone class.

DEAL OF DAY

 

The perfect road trip?

Not a bad theme for a tourism campaign aimed at folks from eastern Canada and the northeastern U.S. In this case, it’s the new marketing scheme put in place to lure folks to the lovely shores of Nova Scotia; an “aggressive emarketing campaign to increase first-time visitors and boost overall tourism.”

“The province’s new tourism direction and marketing campaign will allow us to compete as a top travel destination,” said Economic and Rural Development and Tourism Minister Percy Paris.

The new campaign, “Take Yourself There,” portrays the province as a place where a "diverse, vibrant landscape and culture combines with friendly and engaging locals and accessible seacoast and communities to create the spirit of a perfect road trip."

I get the bit about the friendly locals. When I was in Halifax last year, on two occasions I was attempting to jaywalk and had drivers pull up and stop and wave me across the street. Try THAT on Yonge St. sometime.

Because first time visitors spend 42 per cent more and travel more extensively through the province, the campaign is aimed at bringing in more first-timers, said Patrick Sullivan, CEO of the Nova Scotia tourism Agency.

“If we get them here once, our research shows that they come back again and again.”

The new ads will run in Ontario and also, for the first time in three years, in Quebec in both French and English. They’re also going after the mid-Atlantic and New England states, as well as the UK and Germany.

Our family took a road trip through Halifax and Cape Breton and the south shore of Mahone Bay and Chester many years ago, where we toured the waterfront in the city, drove the jaw-dropping Cabot Trail, spotted a moose and played the wonderful Highlands Links Golf Course. I seem to remember our first lobster boil, too, up in Ingonish at a small cottage.

I hadn’t been back for a while until my daughter enrolled in grad school at Dalhousie University in Halifax a couple years ago. That allowed me to go and do a quick story or two on the city, which is a real treat and feels a bit like Vancouver to me with its seaside heritage and slower pace of life. There are awesome walks and boat tours and fabulous restaurants and breweries and nearby lakes; a great place to visit or to raise a family, I’d think.

I also found time on that trip to dash up to Cabot Links, the new golf course in Inverness on Cape Breton Island. It’s the only true links course in Canada, with views of the ocean from every hole and a handful of holes directly along the sea. It’s also a beauty and a huge asset to the community, complete now with accommodations and a fine restaurant and more.

Last year I was able to take a trip in May and explore a bit more of the province, taking in more time in lovely Lunenburg, as well as Annapolis Royal and Wolfville. Lunenburg was great; with some of the best food of my life at the Salt Shaker Deli (killer scallops with pancetta and an award-winning chowder) and Fleur de Sel (a fabulous, inventive menu in a beautiful old home with some wonderfully tasty drinks). There’s also, of course, the lovingly resotred Bluenose II and lots of maritime heritage. Be sure to drive out of town a bit to check out the fishing village of Blue Rocks.

From there I drove up past the lakes and ponds and hills of Kejimkujik National Park, passing small villages and cute roadside stops as I wound pass rivers I imagine are teeming with fish and hardly a soul to be found.

I had a day and a bit in Annapolis Royal, which has fun, colourful shops due to the many artists in the community. Good food, too, and a great inn called HIllsdale House with (when I was there) the most marvellous blackberry-lemon muffins you can imagine.

The town of Bear River is nearby and has some some nice galleries and pretty wineries. The Bay of Fundy is only a short drive from Annapolis Royal, and the shore road that goes along the bay is a beauty; very gentle with lovely sea views and small villages and rocky bays. Just as striking is the Annapolis Valley, with its rolling hills and orchards and the Annapolis River running through it all. It feels like a kinder, gentler era in these parts, and it's a real tonic for the soul.

Wolfville features the oh-so-pretty Acadia University and some fun shops on the main street. Tempest, a restaurant in town, was serving up an incredible chowder when I was there, with chunks of smoked haddock (a common ingredient in chowder in these parts), local chorizo sausage and smoky paprika oil. The Blomidon Inn is a fabulous B and B with good food and lovely rooms and grounds and a great porch that's an excellent place to read a book or sip a local beer, or a glass of wine from one of the many wineries in the area. My personal favourite winery was Luckett Vineyards (see photo at right) but there are more opening up all the time.

And don't forget to check out Grand Pre, with its nice museum explaining the history of the Acadians and their expulsion from this part of North America. A pretty chapel, too, with a large statue of Evangeline, heroine of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem.

There's a ton more in this most lovely province, and I hope to get back sometime soon. 

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for Panama's Pacific Coast.

 

Jaunt Highlights

• BONUS: Sunwing's SMILE inclusions offer: Includes spa discounts, welcome cocktail, two in-room beach towels and more!
• All-inclusive 7-night stay at the 4-star SMILE at Playa Blanca Resort, located in Panama
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Panama City and round-trip airport/hotel transfers in Panama
• Accommodations in a Deluxe Room, featuring 2 Queen beds. Maximum occupancy: 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children
• Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

 

• Panama is an up-and-coming resort favourite
• Includes SMILE inclusions perfect for a family getaway
• Engage with resort activities like kayaking and mini-golf, or head off the resort to bustling Panama City or the historic Panama Canal

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on March 22, 29 & April 5, 2013
  Other DATES and GATEWAYS available. Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
  
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Toronto:
  Single: $815
  Double: $665
  Triple: $635
  Quad :$615
  Child (2-12): $295
  Tax  $310
  
  
• 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

 

 

What women want in biz travel ... More free hotel Wi-Fi ... Deal of the Day: Spain

Found a nice story on CNN Travel the other day, talking about how hotels are working hard to cater to businesswomen.

Women apparently are travelling more than ever on business, so much so that a woman named Carolyn Pearson has formed a website called maiden-voyage.com, which connects female biz travellers around the world and rates hotels on how friendly they are to women.

It makes sense. There are entire hotel floors given over to women at some properties so they feel safe, including one at the Georgian Court in Vancouver (see below).

"Women are nearing half of all business travellers, and they make up 85 per cent of purchase choices in the household," Pearson said. "A woman might choose a hotel for business travel and then, if she likes it, go back for a weekend stay, or boook the room again with the family.

"Hotels are starting to realize that when it comes to travel decisions, women are really influential."

Interesting stuff.

Pearson also trains hotels to look at their service from a female perspective, CNN said.

"We take the entire hotel staff - from concierge to food and beverage - and really get them to see their hotel through a woman's eyes," Pearson said.

I guess that means no more half-priced chicken wings at the hotel bar....

Hyatt apparently has done enormous focus groups with women and developed programs where guests can get anything from deodorant to humidifiers to a multitude of nail polish colours if they need something on the road.

Here's what maiden-voyage.com has to say about the Georgian Court Hotel in downtown Vancouver.

"Internationally recognized as a Small Luxury Hotel of the World, the Georgian Court Hotel in downtown Vancouver offers modern amenities with a boutique feel.

Within our 180 spacious guestrooms, you will find the Orchid Floor, featuring 18 rooms dedicated to female travellers. You’ll find a flat iron, curling iron, ladies emergency kit, satin-padded hangers and skirt hangers, and upgraded Aveda spa products. Take a soothing bubble bath, and then relax with complimentary copies of In Style and other fashion magazines.

For business and pleasure, the Georgian Court Hotel offers convenience, charm, and luxury—within reach."

MORE FREE HOTEL WI-FI?

I'd prefer they provide free Wi-Fi in the rooms, but at least it's a step in the right direction. Barb DeLollis at USA Today reports more than 300 Marriott Hotels and Resorts will soon be offering free wireless Internet access in their hotel lobbies, for both guests and non-guests.

Free Wi-Fi currently is offered in about 185 Marriott properties. But DeLollis said it should be standard at 500 of them by the end of this month, and amen to that.

DeLollis has reported in the past on how hotels are increasingly tearing up their vast, ground-level restaurants and bringing in smaller, fun areas with libraries, lounges and even ping pong tables.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a good deal on tap for sunny Spain. It's a 10-day affair priced at $2,274, including $475 in taxes, and includes both fabulous Barcelona and the beaches of Ibiza. Barcelona is an awesome spot, with great, imaginative cuisine, a fine waterfront, bustling markets and my favourite urban park in the world, Parc Guell (featured in photo at right). It's got great views of the city and fantastic, colourful architecture, including stone lizards covered with brilliant blue and orange and red and yellow tiles.

Jaunt Highlights

• BONUS: $150 Future Travel Voucher per person
• BONUS: Extend your flight for up to 30 days at no additional cost (accommodations extra) and return from anywhere Transat flies in Europe
• 10-Day, 8-Night Barcelona & Ibiza - City & Beach Package
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Barcelona on Air Transat, domestic round-trip flight from Barcelona to Ibiza, and airport/hotel transfers in Spain
• 8 nights' accommodation in 3 or 4-Star hotels (double occupancy). Hotels include the following: Hotel Berna (Barcelona) and Hotel Sol Pinet Playa (Ibiza) . 
• Includes Barcelona Hop on Hop off Pass 
• Meals include 5 breakfasts while in Barcelona and 2 meals daily during 3 night stay in Ibiza

• Tour the fascinating, dynamic city of Barcelona
• Relax on the beach in Ibiza

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on June 21, 2013
  
  Other DATES and GATEWAYS available.
  Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
• Pricing (Rates are per person):
  
  Toronto:
  Single $2279
  Double $1799
  Tax: $474.64
  
  
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is refundable until March 13 at 5PM EST. After this time, this offer is 100% non-refundable