Thank God for Canadians.

That's not quite the message of the day in tourism, but it could be. In the last 24 hours, I've received press releases extolling the virtues of travellers from Canada enriching economies around the world.

We're great travellers. Of course, given days like today when I walked down Yonge St. and spotted small patches of lawn outside the Star building covered with brown-grey ice and bits of litter and cigarette butts, and with a stiff wind whipping off Lake Ontario just for added misery, it's easy to see why so many of us take to the roads and the skies.

Florida, naturally, is one of our favourite targets of tourism largesse. The Sunshine State this week announced that a record 89.3 million visitors arrived last year, up 2.3 per cent from the record 87.3 million in 2011. Of those 89.3 million visitors, about 10.2 million were international visitors and 3.6 million of those were Canadians.

VISIT FLORIDA said both the international and Canadian visitation numbers are record highs. International visits were up 9 per cent and Canadian visits up 7.3 per cent from 2011.

Officials also said the number of direct travel-related jobs in 2012 was also a record high, with 1,030,600 Floridians employed in the tourism industry.

Later on Tuesday I got a note saying that visits to Korea are on the upswing. Maybe it's the search for something new in Asia, or maybe it's Psy and his viral Gangnam Style video, but I've seen more stories on Korea tourism in the last year than in the previous couple combined.

The note the tourism folks sent out says tourist arrivals in 2012 were up 13.7 per cent over 2011, with more than 11.1 million arrivals in all. Canada's numbers were up 5.1 per cent to 128,000.

“Canadians continue to pick Korea as not only a top stopover destination in Asia, but also for its unique culture, cuisine and history," said NJ Park, director for Korea Tourism. "Easy transfers to many of Asia’s top destinations, a 5,000 year history as well as transit tours have been key in our increasing numbers."

Park said Canada and Korea are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations.

(On a related note, I saw an item from Associated Press on Tuesday that quoted North Korea tourism folks as insisting that tourism is booming since they launched their latest nuclear bomb test. Hey, if North Korea says tourism is booming it must be true.)

Finally, I got another note Wednesday (you might have guessed, but there's a theme here folks) to announce that Jamaica recorded an increase in Canadian visitors in 2012, the ninth year of increases in a row. Jamaica welcomed 403,200 Canadians in 2012, an increase of 6.4 per cent over 2011 and a remarkable 38.9 per cent hike since 2009.

“We are thrilled to report our ninth year of growth in Canadian visitors to Jamaica,” said Philip Rose, Regional Director of Canada for the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB). “Our efforts to drive demand have been successful thanks to great partnerships with our airline, resort and attractions partners who continuously deliver great Jamaican experiences to visitors. It’s clear Canadians have cultivated a strong relationship with Jamaica which we will continue to foster.”

I was on the island in the summer of 2011, touching down at Half Moon A Rock Resort outside Montego Bay, which was spectacular; with a great beach and wonderful food and beautiful grounds. You can even ride a horse out into the surf.

I also spent some time in Montego Bay on the so-called Hip Strip and spent a night at the lovely Sandals resort in Negril, where I got to take in the cliff-diving at nearby Rick's Cafe. I topped it off with a stay at one of my favourite spots in the world, Jakes at Treasure Beach; a funky and fun and vibrant spot on the south coast that's a bit out of the way but well worth it.

So, all in all, some pretty impressive numbers for Canadian visitors. Let's hope our economy stays solid so we can keep it going and take even more trips in 2013.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, is offering a deal on a 13-day trip to beautiful Thailand. The trip is listed at $1,599 for land only, while a double including air transfer is $3,544 (including $425 in taxes). 

Jaunt Highlights

• 13-Day Enchanting Thailand Tour, including visits to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Thai temples, markets, hill tribes and more
• Land-only OR Air-Inclusive from Toronto via Cathay Pacific Airways, plus all transfers in Thailand. Pricing for both options below.
• Tour transportation via deluxe motorcoach and accompanied by English-speaking guide. Includes all admission fees, excursions and cruises specified in itinerary
• 11 nights' accommodation in 4-star hotels (double occupancy). Accommodations include stays in the following or similar: Montien Surawongse (Bangkok), The Legend (Chiang Rai), Empress (Chiang Mai) and Veranda Resort and Spa (Cha Am)
• Meals include 11 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 2 dinners throughout your tour

• You'll have small tour groups with English-speaking guides
• See all the distinctive regions of Thailand from Bangkok to the jungles of Chiang Mai and the beaches of Cha Am
• Enjoy unique accommodations like a boutique river resort

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on October 26, 2013 departure
• Pricing (per person):

• Land Only:
  Double: $1599
  Single: $2209
  
  Toronto Air-Inclusive:
  Double: $3119 + $425 tax
  Single: $3759 + $425 tax
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• Refunds available until 5PM EST on February 13, 2013. After that time, this offer is 100% non-refundable.

 

 

 

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Happy 125th to Fairmont Banff Springs ... Hot times in Hilton Head...Deal of Day

Thanks to the folks at Travel Alberta for filling the media in last week on what's happening out their way.

Top of the news for most folks might be that Canada's most iconic hotel (other than that really nice Comfort Inn in Niagara Falls, that is) is celebrating its 125th birthday this year. The Fairmont Banff Springs was opened in 1888 in a stunning part of the Rockies and remains a standard-bearer in the industry; a regal and beautiful hotel in an equally magical setting.

"Opened in 1888, the landmark hotel was the inspiration of Sir William Cornelius Van Horne, 19th century railway pioneer and hotel visionary, who famously quipped, “If we can't export the scenery, we'll import the tourists.” 125th anniversary celebrations will run year long including special events, exclusive offers, community engagement and much more," according to the hotel web site.

They've recently renovated the Royal Suite and the hotel's two signature Terrace Suites, overlooking the lovely Bow River Valley. Both the Rundle Lounge and Waldhaus Restaurant & Pub, the original golf course clubhouse, also have been given a re-do for the birthday, officials said.

Check the website for special promotions and deals for a special birthday.

Banff was the first national park in Canada and only the third in the world, apparently. And that's pretty cool.

Things will soon heat up in Edmonton, as well, with another edition of the fabulous Fringe Fest, plus a stop on the LPGA golf tour this summer, the CN Canadian Women's Open Aug. 22-25. The city also will host the start of the Tour of Alberta cycling race.

Down in Calgary they're celebrating an increasingly sophisticated city, with new restaurants and micro-breweries and new festivals, including what's billed as Canada's first professional outdoor opera festival come September.

HILTON HEAD HEATS UP

Great beaches. Beautiful waterways for boating. Fabulous golf courses. And no high-rises in sight.

Sounds better than a foot of wet snow outside your doorstep here in Toronto, doesn’t it?

I had a chance to sit down with folks from Hilton Head, South Carolina the other day and I learned the area was “the first planned eco planned destination in the country,” with no buildings over five storeys high and no bright lights allowed to block night viewing of the stars.

Charlie Clark of the Hilton Head tourism bureau (check) said all the island’s waterfront properties are currently undergoing renovation of some kind, those being the Westin, Marriott, Omni, Sonesta (formerly the Crowne Plaza) and the Beach House (formerly the Holiday Inn).

“Our biggest secret is how lush it is,” Clark told me. “There’s a natural dolphin habitat. Kids as young as five are out there in kayaks and there’s a Disney resort on the island, too.”

The island, just north of the Georgia border, is about 12 by 5 miles, roughly the size of Manhattan, with 24 golf courses. Some are as low as $49, but you also can try your luck at Harbour Town, where the RBC Heritage classic will be played April 15-21.

Not a golfer? There are miles of bike paths and the sand is firm enough that you can ride your bike on the beach.

“Just remember to ride upwind first,” Clark said with a smile.

Tennis is also huge,e with more than 300 courts.

The island has a bit of a reputation as fairly high-falutin, but Clark said there are a variety of lodging styles available including Hampton Inn with a kids’ suite.

It’s a lot closer than Florida, maybe a 16 or 17-hour drive from Toronto, and the weather is excellent about this time of year. Today’s high is slated to be 20 degrees Celsius, and wouldn’t that feel nice right about now?

For families that want extra space, there are a ton of home and villa resorts available, some quite closwe to the beach.

I went online at Expedia.com the other day and found a room at the Red Roof Inn for four days in mid-March for just $60 a night and a condo for as little as $74. The Hilton Head Island Beach and tennis Resort was showing rooms for just $89, while the Omni’s rooms were listed at $179 and up.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY: ITALY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on offer for a great trip to Italy, priced at $4,690 for 16 days and 14 nights.

Jaunt Highlights

• 16-day/14-night Country Roads & the Vineyards of Italy tour, featuring visits to Cinque Terre - a UNESCO World Heritage site, the vineyards of Tuscany, the ‘Gates of Paradise’ on the Baptistery and more!
• Includes roundtrip hotel/airport transfers, transportation in Italy via Luxury air-conditioned coach, services of a professional tour guide, and headsets for all visits and walking tours
• 14 nights' hotel accommodation in Premium Hotels. See Offer Details section below for hotels included (based on double occupancy)
• Includes 14 buffet breakfasts, a welcome reception, 1 celebration dinner, and 4 three-course evening meals with choice of tea or coffee

• Hotels are conveniently located and range from rustic Tuscan villas to romantic Roman rooftops
• You'll taste your way through the Italian countryside and also enjoy Italy's major city sights
• Insight Vacations is a luxury tour provider with attentive guides and spacious coach buses

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departure dates: May 11 & September 21, 2013

• Pricing (Rates are per person, based on double occupancy):
  Double: $4690
  Single: $5929
  Triple: $4392
  Child: $4196
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer 100% non-refundable at time of booking

 

 

 

 

 

West Jet ups the ante in fight with Air Canada, Porter ... Deal of Day is Turkey

Big news in the Canadian airline biz today, as WestJet takes aim at both Air Canada and Porter.

Calgary-based WestJet announced today it will start flying twice weekly between Toronto and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (see photo at right), beginning May 2. Air Canada doesn't fly that route but Porter does, out of the Toronto island airport.

Myrtle Beach folks are obviously excited to welcome hundreds more Canadians to their beaches, golf courses and fine restaurants each week.

The Star's Vanessa Lu reports that within Canada, WestJet also is increasing the number of flights between Toronto and Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon and Regina, and will introduce new non-stop service between Toronto and Fort McMurray.

The airline will also boost flights between Toronto and Orlando to 11 weekly from seven a week, which is great news for Florida fans.

It is moving service between Calgary and Los Angeles to twice daily from once a day. Beginning April 29, it is also introducing daily service between Calgary and Dallas-Fort Worth, which is a hub for WestJet’s code-share partner American Airlines, Lu reported.

A lot of that sounds like warning shots across Air Canada's bow to me. And let's hope it means an air fare war of some kind, as prices these days are crazy high.

The Financial Post is reporting that Encore will serve Fort St. John, Saskatoon, and Nanaimo, from Calgary starting June 24. The Post also said they'll provide Encore service between Vancouver and Victoria with a 78-seat Bombardier Q400 turboprop.

The airline has plans to expand the Encore service to several other routes including flights between Calgary and Edmonton, Regina, and Grande Prairie as of Aug. 13, the paper said.

Last week, WestJet reported strong profits for 2012 of $242.4 million, or $1.78 a share, up from $148.7 million in 2011. Still the airline is embarking on a $100 million cost-cutting initiative over the next three years.

CHAOS AT PEARSON

It’s not bad enough that ordinary Torontonians don’t know how to drive in the snow. It’s worse when folks at Pearson Airport can’t handle a dump of the white stuff.

It was chaos at Pearson on the weekend. Every time I turned on the news there was some poor schlep standing in front of a camera explaining how he’s been at the airport since 1998, or something like that, and was still waiting to take his trip to Florida.

“The bad news is I’ve had to wait 15 years for the de-icing equipment to work and for a new flight crew to arrive,” I thought I heard one man say. “The good news is I’m now 75 and I won’t have to take off my shoes when I go through security.”

It was not only crazy inside the airport, but a story in today’s Star outlines how folks had to wait hours and hours just to get their cars out of the lot at the Park'N Fly, which seems crazy.

A report on travelmole.com this morning says more than 7,000 flights were cancelled because of the winter storm that hit eastern Canada and the northeast U.S.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for spring and summer. Because all we’ve have to worry about then is flooding and thunderstorms and hurricanes.

CRUISE SHIP TRAGEDY

It was about a year ago that the Costa ship ran aground in Italy. Now comes word of another tragedy, this one, bizarrely, during a drill lifeboat usage.

The incident took place during a safety drill on the cruise ship Thomson Majesty while it was docked in Santa Cruz on La Palma in the Canary Islands.

The lifeboat fell into the water killing five members of crew and injuring three.

Nautilus International, the union for seafarers and maritime professionals, argues that more people get killed and injured during lifeboat drills than rescued by lifeboats.

Andrew Linington, head of communications, said: "This is just ridiculous. There have been dozens of fatalities in the last few years alone due to these drills.”

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has an offering for a trip to fabulous Turkey.

Jaunt Highlights

• 16-day/14-night Ottoman Discoveries Turkey Tour with visits to ancient cities, mosques, Turkish markets and more!
• Optional return air from Toronto to Istanbul via Air Transat. Land-only option also available.
• Includes all transfers in Turkey via air-conditioned motorcoach, services of a professional English speaking tour guide, and all sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary
• 14 nights' accommodation based on double occupancy. See below for hotels included (or similar).
• Includes 40 meals throughout the tour

• Your small tour and boutique-style accommodations ensure a unique, personalized experience
• You'll visit famous sites of antiquity like Ephesus and Troy
• You'll experience the energy of Istanbul and the healing powers of Turkey's countryside

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on May 19, 2013
• Pricing (based on double occupancy):
  
  Land Only:
  Double: $2029 per person, tax included
  Single: $2679 per person, tax included
  
  Including Toronto Air:
  Double: $2609 + tax
  Single: $3259 + tax
  Tax: $457.60 per person
  
  
• Accommodations included (or similar): Aziyade (Istanbul), Iris (Canakkale), Kalehan (Selcuk), Pam (Pamukkale), Dogan (Antalya), Anamas Konukevi (Beysehir), Upper Greek House (Cappadocia), The Apple Palace (Amasya) & Kadioglu Sehzade Konagi (Safranbolu)
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is refundable until Feb 13 at 5PM EST. After this time, this offer is 100% non-refundable

Romance blooms in Ontario (of all places!) - a look at Canada's romantic hotels

Well, what do you know. I'm often on the case of the poor folks at Trip Advisor, gently (sometimes) ribbing them about reader polls they do that seem to favour those lucky saps out in Vancouver who probably are already looking at crocuses and daisies popping out of their (wet) gardens.

Time after time, it seems, I get reader polls or what have you that give all the kudos to hotels in British Columbia and all but ignore Ontario and even Quebec. Let alone the poor Maritimes and Newfoundland. But now, just in time for Valentine's Day, comes a Trip Advisor Readers' Choice awards with more geographical balance, Canada-wise.

Their latest offering lines up the 10 most romantic hotels in Canada, and Ontario takes the top prize. I frankly don't know how they get such rewards on Trip Advisor, but Harbour House Hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake got top spot for romance in Canada, followed by the Brentwood Bay Resort and Spa in B.C. The next four spots in a row, which I find unrealistic as well, went to Ontario: Woodland Echoes Resort in Magnetewan, Sterling Inn and Spa in Niagara Falls, The Charles Inn in Niagara-on-the-Lake and Riverbend Inn and Vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

In seventh spot came Hotel Kutuma in Montreal, followed by Le Relais Lyonnais in Montreal, Mercer Hall Inn in Stratford, Ontaro and Smugglers Cove Inn in lovely Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

This means Ontario grabbed six of the top ten spots, Quebec two, British Columbia a paltry one (heh, heh) and good old Nova Scotia one.

I put very little faith in these things, to be honest. They're fun to write about but I haven't a clue how people judge these things. Niagara is a romantic place that deserves some spots in the top ten, but 40 per cent?

It's fun to see Ontario beat out those romantics in Quebec, but I simply can't believe there's no place in beautiful Banff that doesn't deserve the top 10. Let alone places I've visited that are absolutely stunning: The Wickaninnish in Tofino, B.C. and Auberge Saint-Antoine in Quebec (see photo at left of Panache restaurant), which might be the top property in the country. Not to mention Toronto's Ritz-Carlton, Hazelton, Four Seasons, Trump and Shangri-La, or the lovely St. Germain on Mercer Street; still my favourite hotel in the city.

For what it's worth, Trip Advisor also listed the ten most romantic hotels in the U.S. and in the world. Here they are:

U.S. ROMANCE SPOTS

1. Bardessono, Yountville, California, 2. Koa Kea Hotel and Resort, Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii, 3. Inn of the Five Graces, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 4. Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California, 5. Honor Mansion, a Wine Country Resort, Healdsburg, California, 6. Ocean Lodge, Saint Simons Island, Georgia, 7. Casa Laguna Inn and Spa, Laguna Beach, California, 8. Mountain Home Lodge, Leavenworth, Washington, 9. Tickle Pink Inn, Carmel, California, 10. Henderson Park Inn, Destin, Florida.

Lots of California content, for sure. And, once again, North Dakota gets robbed.

WORLD ROMANCE SPOTS

1. Anastasis Apartments, Imerovigli, Greece, 2. La Minerva, Capri, Italy, 3. Cranleigh Boutique, Bowness-on-Windermere, United Kingdom, 4. Cedar Manor Hotel and Restaurant, Windermere, UK, 5. Baros Maldives, North Male Atoll, Maldive Islands, 6. Casa del Mar, Langkawi, Malaysia, 7, Bardessono, Yountville, California, 8. Al Maha Desert Resort, Dubai, 9. Layana Resort and Spa, Ko Lanta, Thailand, 10. Veligandu Island Resort, North Ari Atoll, Maldives Islands.

Nice, but no mention of Tahiti's overwater bungalows? For shame! On the other hand, I've actually been to one of these, Al Maha Desert Resort in Dubai. It's stunning and I had an outdoor spa/tub overlooking the desert and a watering hole with, I think, a type of gazelle hanging about. Alas, I was alone...

TROUBLES IN MEXICO

Associated Press reports that six Spanish tourists were raped by a gang of armed, masked men in the Mexican resort of Acapulco, the latest chapter of violence that has tarnished the once-glamorous Pacific coast resort.

The attackers burst into a house the Spaniards had rented on the outskirts of Acapulco, in a low-key beachside area, and held 12 Spanish men and women and one Mexican woman at gunpoint before dawn on Monday. They tied up the six men with phone cords and bathing suit straps and then raped the six Spanish women, said Acapulco Mayor Luis Walton at a press conference later Monday.

"This is a regrettable situation, and of course it is going to damage Acapulco," said Walton. The once-glittering resort that attracted movie stars and celebrities in the 1950s and 60s has already been battered by years of drug gang killings and extortions, but except for a very few incidents, the violence largely has not touched tourists.

Walton said he believed, but wasn't sure, that the assailants in Monday's attack didn't belong to a drug gang.

"From what the attorney general has told me, I don't think this was organized crime, but that will have to be investigated, we don't know," Walton said.

Mexico's Foreign Relations Department issued a statement saying it regretted the attack, and suggesting it was not drug-cartel related.

That's nice. But it doesn't help their tourism situation.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY - JAMAICA

Snow's on the way, folks, so it's a good time to think about a sunny getaway. Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, is offering a deal for the lovely island of Jamaica, at the Grand Bahia Principe in Runaway Bay.

Jaunt Highlights

• BONUS: ACV Privileges offer exclusive check in/late check out (subject to availability), 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 Jamaica, located in Runaway Bay, Jamaica
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Montego Bay, and round-trip airport/hotel transfers in Jamaica
• 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

Why We Love It:

• Continue the relaxation in your Junior Suite with your own hydro massage tub
• The experience of swimming in a 3-lake style interconnected pool
• The sleek and unique Victorian-style accomodations

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departures:
  Toronto: March 12, 16, 17, 18, 20 & 23, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person):
  
  Single: $1449
  Double: $999
  Triple: $979
  1st Child (2-12): $879
  2nd Child (2-12): $399
  Tax: $377
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of bookin

 

Where to save money in Europe this year & where to spend ... Jaunt Deal of Day

Nothing like a good list to bite into on a Monday morning. And today there are some excellent ones to look at.

A website called priceoftravel.com puts out a series of lists each year to outline what places in the world are the most affordable to visit. I spotted their backpackers' list for Europe last year, but just this morning I found a vast amount more; not only backpacking places in Europe but also 3-star places in Europe and a backpacking daily cost index for North America and for the entire world; very cool.

I can't vouch for the results, but their rules seem fair. For backpackers, they choose the cheapest bed in a good, central hostel with good reviews for one night, then add in two public transit rides, one paid famous attraction, three budget meals and three cheap, local beers or glasses of wine. It's a similar deal for 3-star hotels but they change transit to two short cab rides and aim for better restaurants (but still in the budget category).

For North America, here are 12 cities they reviewed in order of cheapest to most expensive: Las Vegas ($57.90/day U.S.), New Orleans, Washington D.C., Montreal ($63.59), San Francisco, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Miami Beach, Toronto ($78.59), Chicago, Vancouver ($82.02) and New York City ($89.30). The most expensive in the world was Zurich at $115.96, good for 116th and last place. Close behind were Oslo, Venice, Stockholm, Helsinki, Amsterdam and Sydney.

For Toronto, they cited the high cost of public transit but also said the city is one of the nicest and cleanest (not so much any more, I'd say, personally) around and that transit isn't too much of an issue given the compact downtown. They said the nightlife district is one of the best in the world, which is good to hear.

For Europe 3-star travelers, the cheapest was Sofia Bulgaria (see photo below right) at $48.55 per day. Then came Bucharest, Budapest, Krakow, Riga Latvia, Sarajevo, Belgrade, Bratislava Czech Republic, Kiev and Tenerife, Spain (in the Canary Islands). Most expensive were Helsinki, Copenhagen, Rome, Brussels, Stockholm, Oslo, London, Venice, Paris and Zurich, at a whopping $201.88 per day. Which means you could spend almost FOUR DAYS in Sofia for the price of one day in Zurich. I like Zurich a lot and have never been to Sofia, but I imagine the Bulgarian city would be pretty decent at a quarter the cost of Switzerland.

The website also rated the most and least affordable spots in the Caribbean, using a 3-star hotel room for a week and a return flight from New York City. Which isn't so useful for Canadians as we don't fly south out of New York very often. Most affordable was Cancun, then Negril, San Juan Puerto Rico, Puerto Plata and Barbados. Most expensive in their survey were Grenada, La Romana in the Dominican, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla and, no surprise, exclusive St. Bart's.

For all-inclusive places (again, not flying out of Canada, so potentially misleading for us) the list was as follows: Cancun, Puerto Plata, Ocho Rios, Punta Cana, Montego Bay, Negril, La Romana, Samana in the D.R., St. Lucia, Nassau, Antigua/Barbuda, Barbados and, lastly, Aruba.

Looking to really save money as a backpacker? The cheapest spots in the world survey were Pokhara, Nepal ($14.75; see photo at left), Hanoi, Kathmandu, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, Phnom Penh, Chiang Mai in Thailand, Delhi, Goa in India, Quito Ecuador and Hoi An, Vietnam. That's three spots for Vietnam in the top 10.

I could go on and on but that provides a pretty good overview of a fun site. Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia continue to provide excellent value for students. And adults, too. You spend more to get there, perhaps, at least to Southeast Asia. But the daily savings can be huge compared to Rome or Paris or Scandinavia. Let alone poor Zurich.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a seven-night deal on tap for a lovely looking getaway in Venezuela (see photo below right) for $944, including $345 in taxes.

• 7-night All-inclusive stay at the 3.5-Star Dunes Hotel Beach & Resort, located in Margarita, Venezuela
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Margarita, and round-trip airport/resort transfers in Venezuela
• Accommodations in a Room featuring 1 king, queen or 2 twin beds. Max. Occupancy: 3 adults (max 1 child per room)
• Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

• The resort is in the heart of Venezuela's vacation hub
• Enjoy world class diving on off of shores that rival the best in the world
• Choose from a variety of activities on the resort

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departure dates: February 20, 27 & March 6, 2013
• Pricing (rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Single: $699
  Double: $599
  Triple: $549
  Child (2 yrs): $299
  Child (3-6 yrs): $349
  Child (7-12 yrs): $499
  Tax: $345.04
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is refundable until 5PM EST on February 4, 2013. After that time, this offer is 100% non-refundable.

 

 

Air Canada low-cost airline hiring ... Hong Kong visits climb ... Jaunt deal of day

A bit of good news on the job/aviation front.

Air Canada rouge announced today that it will hire 150 flight attendants from the GTA as it gears up for its scheduled launch of summer service to the Caribbean and Europe.

In case you missed it in December, Air Canada rouge is the company's long-awaited low-cost carrier. A press release sent out today says the new recruitment campaign "is focused on Torontonians and GTA-ers and is targeted to those who ideally have customer service or hospitality experience and are passionate about travel."

"This is an ideal job for recent GTA high school, college or university grads," officials said. "With the ongoing slump in the job market for young people and the increased appeal of taking time off between school and careers, a stint as an Air Canada rouge flight attendant provides the unique opportunity to travel to exciting locations like the Caribbean and Europe while providing warm, welcoming service to vacationers."

Air Canada talked in December about bringing in a company such as Disney to help train rouge workers and give the airline a kind, gentle feel. They didn't like it much when I asked if maybe that suggested the current crop of Air Canada flight attendants aren't quite as friendly as they could be, but I think it's a fair point.

Anyway, it's good news for local workers, although one has to recognize that a low-cost carrier won't be able to pay the same as Air Canada does for flight attendants. Or pilots or other workers, one presumes.

HONG KONG VISITS UP ... BUT NOT FROM CANADA

The Hong Kong Tourism Board has announced that total visitor arrivals in 2012 reached 48,615,113, an increase of 16.0% over the yearly total in 2011. Of the total figure, 48.9%, or 23.77 million, were overnight visitors, 6.5% more than in the previous year. 

Arrivals from many short-haul markets posted positive growth figures, affected by the fact that many vacationers in the region cancelled their trips to Japan following that country’s earthquake and related incidents in 2011, officials said. In the long-haul regions, the sluggish performance of both European and Americans economies caused a slight drop in the number of arrivals. UK visits were up 5.3 per cent, but visits from Canada dropped from 410,591 in 2011 to 392,519 last year; a decrease of 4.4 per cent.

If you've never been, you're missing a great destination with tremendous food and culture and shopping, not to mention a remarkable energy. It's also got great natural beauty, with fabulous hiking trails and beautiful coastlines and a couple very nifty golf courses, to boot.

It's Asian enough to make you feel you're on a different continent, but familiar enough to westerners that it's not a total shock. So it makes an ideal entry point for an Asian trip, or at least a way to dip your toes in the water.

I didn't think I'd like it a lot the first time I went but it has quickly become one of my favourite places...

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for some Caribbean sunshine. They're offering a seven-night stay at the Hilton Curacao, a colourful spot with great winter weather, for 1,613, including $299 in taxes.

 

Jaunt Highlights

• EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS: Save up to $488/couple!
• BONUS: FREE upgrade to an Oceanview Room (March 23rd departure only)
• BONUS: Enjoy welcome cocktails upon arrival, free Casino Matchplay coupons, free shuttle service to downtown area, and more!
• All-inclusive 7-night stay at the 3.5-Star Hilton Curacao in Willemstad, Curacao
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Curacao, and round-trip hotel/airport transfers in Curacao
• Accommodations in a Islandview Room, featuring 1 king bed or 2 double beds and balcony. Max. occupancy: 4 adults
• Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

• The Hilton offers special extras like welcome drinks and an exclusive cocktail party
• The hotel has a beautiful beachfront property on pristine Piscadera Bay

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departure dates: March 23 & 30, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Toronto:
  Double: $1399
  Triple: $1299
  Quad: $1249
  Child (2-12): $499
  Child: (13-17): $1169
  Tax: $214
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is refundable 100% non-refundable at time of booking

Lovely St. Augustine, Florida ... Jaunt.ca has a delicious, escorted tour of Italy

SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA - It's not the biggest fort you'll ever see. But if you like boat rides and wide, flowing rivers and big skies and walking on the beach, Fort Matanzas and the surrounding area is a great place to spend a couple hours.

And it's free (almost all the time, anyway).

About 20 minutes south of downtown St. Augustine on A1A, you'll reach the Fort via a small but pretty visitors centre that's surrounded by towering trees dripping with Spanish moss, which I was told once upon a time is a member of the pineapple family and is called Spanish moss because the elongated shape resembles the beards of Spaniards who came this way in the 16th and 17th centuries, just so you know. Anyway, you then take a small pontoon boat for a four or five-minute ride across the river to the three-story fort on Rattlesnake Island.

There are several long, sleek, black cannons pointed out towards the sea. They don't look amazingly powerful but I was told a good cannon master could hit his target 90 per cent of the time at distances up to 2 km or even a bit more.

Inside is a fireplace and an eating area and single beds that show what life was like for the six soldiers stationed here at a time, usually for 30 day periods. It looks fairly bleak and had to have been stiflingly hot in the summer.

Upstairs is a decent sized but still dark officers' quarters, and you can climb a short but steep ladder to the roof for excellent views of the river and tidal basin and out towards the Atlantic.

The parks rangers are dressed in old-time costumes with bright socks and vests and tricorn hats, and they're excellent at explaining how things worked. And super-friendly, too. The kids seemed to love it, and most of the adults.

Boats leave about every 20 minutes and the trip is free unless you go to one of the night-time cannon exhibitions, which sound pretty awesome. It's open 9 to 5:30 every day except Christmas.

Back on land, there's a one-km hiking trail that shows off the cool, forested areas of the barrier island ecosystem.

Back across the highway, you can pull into the parking lot and walk out (or drive, although why anyone would drive on a beautiful beach I can't for the life of me understand) to an immense beach that goes on forever. It's a great place to soak up the sun or contemplate nature or watch locals fish.

I also checked out the famous, black-and-white-striped St. Augustine lighthouse, which has 219 steps to the top and offers fine views of the city, the beach and the various islands and rivers and waterways that snake between the town and the ocean.

They also have a team of archaeologists who have helped dig up fascinating relics and can tell stories about the fascinating pirates, soldiers and civilians who have lived in the area since St. Augustine was established in 1565.

They're a little sensitive about that 1565 business down this way. Quite often you'll hear a local historian talk about how Jamestown in Virginia gets so much credit as an old settlement in the U.S. and how everyone talks about the Pilgrims in Plymouth Rock.

"Heck, St. Augustine was already undergoing urban renewal when the Pilgrims got to North America," locals will tell you.

It's a fair point. The settlers in Jamestown were mostly British, and Jamestown is close to Washington D.C. and the big cities on the eastern seaboard. St. Augustine is a good deal older (1565, versus 1607 for Jamestown and 1620 for the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock). But it was settled by Spaniards and Africans, who mixed with local native Americans. And it's way down in St. Augustine, about a half hour south of Jacksonville. 

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, is offering a fabulous-sounding escorted tour of Italy's top food and wine spots. Offered at $3,177, incluidng $479 in taxes, the package includes Rome and the beautiful Tuscany region.

Jaunt Highlights

• BONUS: Extend your flights for up to 30 days at no additional cost, and return from anywhere Transat flies in Europe
• BONUS: $150 Future Travel Voucher
• 10-day/8-night Tuscany & Rome Food & Wine Tour, hosted by celebrity chef Christian Pritchard, known for his presence on the Food Network and in the online foodie community
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Rome on Air Transat
• Includes all transfers in Italy via deluxe air-conditioned motor coach, services of a professional English speaking tour guide, and all sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary
• 8 nights' accommodation in 4-Star hotels (based on double occupancy)
• Includes continental breakfast daily, 2 lunches and 3 dinners throughout the tour

• Learn the ins and outs of Italian eats with the renowned chef Christian Pritchard
• Get the best of both worlds with cooking classes, demonstrations and wine tastings
• You still have time to visit all of the wonderful landmarks that make Italy so entrancing and beautiful

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on May 24, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person, and based on double occupancy):
  
  Double: $2698
  Single: $3098
  Tax: $479
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is refundable until 5PM EST on January 31, 2013. After that time, this offer is 100% non-refundable.

 

 

Clearwater to St. Augustine, with beer ... World Golf Hall of Fame ... Jaunt Deal

CLEARWATER to ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA – It started with a glorious sunrise. And ended with a party at the World Golf Hall of Fame. Not a bad way to spend a day in Florida.

If you’ve never had the chance, you should check out the Sheraton Sand Key Resort/Hotel in Clearwater Beach. The rooms are what’d you’d expect from a Sheraton, which means a decent sized room with a good TV and all that and a pretty small but perfectly adequate bathroom (the sink is just outside the room with the bath/shower and toilet). It’s the grounds and the beach that’ll keep you coming back, though.

The pool sits out back, alongside the white sand beach, with a couple hot tubs and a poolside bar and beautiful landscaping. The beach here is enormously wide, but you can get to the water in a couple minutes and do some people-watching along the way.

The Sheraton is on the north end of Sand Key, just over the bridge to Clearwater Beach proper. Which means it’s quiet but close to the shops, restaurants and activities of Clearwater Beach, including the aquarium/marine research center where you’ll find Winter the Dolphin, the dolphin who was found with a damaged tail and had a prosthetic tail built for it and was featured in a recent movie that did pretty well at the box office. They also have sea turtles and manta rays you can feed and touch, and it’s a great, educational spot for kids and adults both.

Dunedin is just over the bridge to the mainland and up the road a couple miles, so we went back for drinks and dinner. I highly recommend the margaritas at Casa Tina, a standby on Main St. in Dunedin with lots of Mexican dolls and photos and crazy stuff on the wall. Splurge and spend an extra buck for the top margarita on the menu, called a Tina Rita. I always find it’s better to spend a bit more on a margarita and get the better juice mix and better tequila.

For dinner it was The Living Room, on the far east end of Main St. It’s got a fun atmosphere, with orangey-red walls and a large room out back with drapes hanging off to one side and bookcases with books and old photos and mementoes. A tad eclectic in both style and menu, but the food was pretty good. We sampled Kobe beef sliders with brie and caramelized onions that were pretty good, and the shrimp on the jambalaya skewers were fat and perfectly cooked with peppers and onions. We also had sautéed green beans just to up the veggie quotient a bit.

The wait staff served us rather too quickly but the waitress was charming, so we didn’t mind. It’s mostly a sharing/large tapas style place, so you get a good variety for reasonable prices, and there’s a very good wine list. It was about 12 degrees Celsius at dinner time outside but one hardy group opted to eat al fresco while the rest of us stayed warm.

We made the drive up to St. Augustine in about four hours, stopping – of course – at the outlet mall in Orlando. Much to my surprise, I spotted a food/drinks cart outside one of the stores that sold not only juice and pop but also bottles of beer. A godsend for overshopped guys, no doubt. And God Bless America for selling beer openly off a food cart.

I’m at a convention called Florida Huddle from Thursday to Saturday, with tourism/travel reps from all over the Sunshine State and some 54 media from around the world. So that should be great. They had an opening reception Thursday night at the World Golf Hall of Fame, next to the Renaissance Hotel/Convention Center. As the Star’s former golf writer and golf magazine editor, I got quite the charge out of seeing things like the Claret Jug, given to the winner of the British Open each year (Sorry, THE OPEN, as they call it) and old photos of Bob Hope and Bobby Jones and crazy, old clubs and gutta percha golf balls and featherie golf balls, old-time balls fashioned from feathers and sewn up together. Light as, well, a feather, those balls were.

I didn’t have a lot of time to browse but I was happy to see the bust/likeness of legendary Canadian golfer Marlene Stewart Streit, inducted a few years back after a stellar amateur career in which she won dozens of titles, often beating women half her age.

Good stuff. Congrats, Marlene, for being the first Canadian inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

CANADIAN HOTELS HONOURED

Congrats to two new members of the Canadian Automobile Association’s prestigious five-diamond hotel group. The CAA on Wednesday announced that four Canadian properties were awarded five-diamond (like five-star) status for 2013; holdovers The Four Seasons Whistler and the Ritz Carlton Toronto and, now, the Shangri-La Vancouver and the new Ritz Carlton Montreal (see photo)

Pretty impressive that the Ritz has two of the four highest-rated properties. I haven’t got a final answer, but the Shangri-La in Toronto wasn’t rated for the 2013 awards, perhaps because it opened too late in the year (pretty much September). Ditto for the Four Seasons new hotel in Yorkville, which opened even later.

So perhaps next year we’ll get more five-diamond properties in Toronto.

I also feel compelled to note that the Trump International Hotel on Bay St. downtown failed to get the five-diamond status it had hoped for. I don’t much like the lobby but the spa looks tremendous and I hear good things from guests who’ve stayed.

I’d like another five-diamond property in Toronto, but I gotta say it doesn’t make me sad to see a blowhard like Trump fall short and have to settle for four diamonds instead of five. Better luck next year, Donald.

Not that I put much stock in it, but the CAA report surely indicates what a crock the recent Trip Advisor ratings were. As readers of this space may recall, I recently raised an eyebrow or two at how British Columbia hotels dominated the top 10 of the Trip Advisor ratings for Canadian hotels.

In the CAA report, they got two of the four five-diamond properties, but at least we got one in Quebec and one in Ontario. Which seems a little more logical to me.

SPEAKING OF RATINGS

Air Canada is the only international network carried in North America to get a four-star ranking from the U.K. research firm Skytrax.

The airline on Thursday said it was immensely chuffed at the award, calling it a “significant industry benchmark” that “reflects the professionalism and skll of Air Canada’s employees in taking care of our customers and delivering an award-winning product that continues to set industry standards.”

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a couple of Avalon river cruises on special. The two for one Tulip Time river cruise goes through the Netherlands and runs for $1,725 plus $133 in taxes.  There's also a two for one river cruise through Burgundy and Provence; both fabulously beautiful areas of France for $2,086 plus $133 in taxes.

Check both out at jaunt.ca or by clicking on the above links....

 

Dunedin Florida; more decidedly different than you'd think ... Jaunt.ca deal of day

DUNEDIN, FLORIDA - There's a sign showing a Scottish bagpiper when you cross into Dunedin from next-door Clearwater. And the guide books still talk about the kilts and tartans and all that Scottish heritage.

But, aside from the name, I gotta say I've never felt this town has any more relationship to Edinburgh than it does to Whitehorse or Tokyo. Yeah, they do a Celtic Festival in November and there's a Highlands Games week in spring, but the pubs on fun and pretty Main St. are called Skip's and O'Flanagan's and Blur. The shops on Main St. tend to sell tropical signs that advertise directions to Aruba and Jamaica or pink flamingo night lights, not shortbreads and tams.

Mardi Gras is a pretty big deal down this way, as is Oktobeerfest (their word for it) and Martin Luther King day and even Cinco de Mayo.

Anyway, the point here is that I started spending tons of time down this way when I covered the Blue Jays from 1992 to 1998, and I've been coming here steadily since for the beauty of the coast and the nearby beaches and the food and the shopping and the laid-back attitude and, yes, diversity.

I'm only here (truth be told, I opted to stay on the beach at the lovely Sheraton Sand Key resort in next-door Clearwater, as I'm a sucker for sunsets and having sand between my toes) for about 36 hours. But the diversity point was driven home pretty quickly. When I got in on Tuesday night, I parked outside the bank on Main St. and walked up to a newish spot (for me, anyway) called Pan Y Vino. As I strolled past the nightclub that's attached to Kelly's restaurant, a long-time fave, I could see a group of cross-dressing guys belting out a tune inside.

I don't know how it started, but there's been a gay-friendly, drag queen-filled place on quiet little Main St. in Dunedin since I started coming here 20 years ago. And it's a hoot. I confess to never having been inside, but I always chuckle about it and think, "Well, good for you to be so open-minded." Just to make the point even more obvious, I noticed a sign outside the club for an upcoming night of Drag Queen Bingo.

A woman at a shop on Main St. told me she's proud of her city's tolerance. She thought I was stretching the point when I said it's kinda like a miniature, more subdued Key West but I think she got the idea.

The town has changed quite a bit over the years, with more and more offerings for tourists. A few months back, a fun shop called Middle Earth Olive Oil Company opened just below Main St. on Broadway. They sell olive oils from Morocco, Italy and Greece and more, and they also have a ton of flavours, including lemon pepper and basil. Ditto for the thick, flavourful balsamic vinegars you can taste, including chocolate, blueberry and lots more.

There are new pubs and shops and cafes opening fairly frequently, so if you haven't been in a while it's worth a peek. And don't forget we're less than a month from the day that Blue Jays pitchers and catchers report for spring training. So don't despair as you shovel and shiver; happier days are at hand.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal for a lovely getaway to Cabo San Lucas in Baja California, Mexico. It's priced at $1,505, including $240 in taxes. Here are the details:

Jaunt Highlights

• All-inclusive 7-night stay at adults-only RELAX at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Resort & Spa, located in Los Cabos, Mexico
• Includes return air from Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Regina or Saskatoon to Los Cabos, with hotel/airport transfers in Mexico
• Accommodations in a Deluxe Room, featuring 1 king or 2 queen beds and a balcony or patio. Maximum occupancy: 3 adults
• Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

 

Why We Love It:

• Enjoy unlimited a la carte dining at several on-site gourmet restaurants
• The resort features an award-winning spa
• RELAX features include separate check-in, in-room bottle of alcohol and more

• Valid for travel on the following departure dates:
  
  Toronto: March 15, 16, 22 & 23, 2013
  Vancouver: March 7 & 28, 2013
  Edmonton: March 9 & 16, 2013
  Regina: March 14 & 21, 2013
  Saskatoon: March 7 & 21, 2013
• Pricing (rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Toronto
  Single: $2015
  Double: $1265
  Triple: $1145
  Tax: $257
  
  Vancouver
  Single: $2015
  Double: $1265
  Triple: $1145
  Tax: $240
  
  Edmonton
  Single: $2015
  Double: $1265
  Triple: $1145
  Tax: $250
  
  Regina
  Single: $2015
  Double: $1265
  Triple: $1145
  Tax: $260
  
  Saskatoon
  Single: $2015
  Double: $1265
  Triple: $1145
  Tax: $260
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking 

 

 

Pensacola to pretty Panama City Beach, Florida ... Jaunt.ca deal for Scotland

 

PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA - We did pass a few bodies of water. I think I saw a couple egrets. And the towers of downtown Mobile, Alabama, which look like copies of New York’s Chrysler Building, there was damn little to see on a drive from New Orleans to Pensacola, Florida.

But things got a lot nicer in a hurry once I turned off Highway 10. If you skip past downtown Pensacola (not much to see at 8 a.m. on Martin Luther King Jr. day in the U.S.) and head south, you’ll soon pass over to Pensacola Beach and it’s brilliantly tacky, colourful welcome sign. I loved it. 

You pass along a series of motels and shops and a giant Ferris Wheel, but pretty soon it peters out and you’re driving alongside enormous stretches of pure, white sand dunes. To a northerner, they look like drifting snow banks. Thankfully they’re a little nicer to walk on. I pulled over for just a minute at a beach entry spot with stairs and walked out. And immediately fell in love.

I’ve heard about the pure, white sand of this part of Florida but I didn’t know it was quite like this. Pillow-soft. Three-ply Charmin toilet tissue soft. And fine grains with no visible rocks. And dazzlingly white.

I also was taken aback by the pure green colour of the water; like an Asian emerald. I was later told it’s really only this pretty, the water I mean, when it’s cold and that things get more murky and darker in the summer, when you really want to swim here. The water’s pretty chilly, maybe 13 degrees Celsius, but an outside temperature of  20 without much breeze is a perfectly fine day, especially in January when a temporary snowbird checks out the forecast in Toronto.

You can drive for miles along Gulf Blvd. between Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach Park and mass miles of wide-open beaches, with only a few high-rises to mar the view. Further along, after passing the usual strip of gun shops and car washes and banks and nail salons that litter suburbia all over North America, I drove over the small bridge that separates Okaloosa Island and Destin and immediately spotted a development called Harborwalk Village on the edge of Destin.

It’s a cute development with a ton of restaurants and clothing stores and surf shops that’s right on a lagoon/inlet with white sand dunes in the distance and towering boats tied up at the docks. A great place for a sandwich and a bit of shopping. We stopped at Harry T’s for fish tacos and blackened mahi mahi. The former were good; the latter was tremendous; a thick slice of fish with a perfect amount of blackening spice and seared perfectly.

From there it was on to Panama City Beach. There’s a nice development in the east end of town called Pier Park, which has a slew of nice shops and restaurants, plus a toy train and a small amusement park with a roller coaster, rock-climbing wall and lots of rides. It’s directly across from the beach, so if one person in the family wants to shop and the other wants to build sand castles or dip their toes in the surf it’s a perfect spot.

There’s a huge pier that’ll cost you $3 to walk out on, but it’s enormously long and it’s a great place to chat with locals or visitors about the catch of the day. Yesterday it was mostly pompano, I was told, but in the fall it’s not unusual to get massive mahi-mahi or even sailfish off the end of the pier.

I had a great visit at St. Andrews State Park (see photo) with a local worker who showed me the fine dunes and crystal-clear waters around the mainland and over towards Shell Island, a 10-km stretch of quiet beaches and dunes. It’s said that a Norwegian sailor marooned there in the 1920’s and lived in a seaside shanty for several decades, selling his fish and keeping domesticated chickens and other animals.

It’s a beautiful spot with surfing, sailboarding, paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing and, they say, some of the best diving in Florida. U.S. Navy divers train nearby and it’s said to be great for serious divers or casual snorkelers. There’s also a rock-enclosed “kiddie pool” that’s a great place for kids to swim and there are trails galore and campgrounds and playgrounds and such. The area is home to a large group of white-tailed deer and they’re fairly easy to spot. There’s also a gator pond and a few coyotes these days, we were told.

There are a ton of casual seafood joints in Panama City Beach, but we checked out a posh, delicious restaurant called Firefly. There’s a lit-up tree inside the restaurant that may or may not be your cup of Java, but the rack of lamb was perfect and featured six good-sized pieces of meat. The scallops were outstanding and a new friend raved about his Texas boar shank. Top that off with fabulous crème brulee with white chocolate and you see why I think I could use an hour walk on the beach today.

Off to delightful Dunedin and Clearwater Beach today; about a seven-hour drive from Panama City. Thank goodness for satellite radio and the Bruce Springsteen/E Street Band station. Not to mention, if I choose, the Canadian news or the Catholic station or hip-hop or the 60’s station I love or even the POTUS station (President of the United States news).

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on hand for a great trip to Scotland. It's a 10-day extravaganza priced at $3,481; a $2,898 base plus $583 in taxes and fees.

Jaunt Highlights

• BONUS: Extend your flights for up to 30 days at no additional cost, and return from anywhere Transat flies in Europe
• BONUS: $150 Future Travel Voucher
• 10-day/8-night Scottish Dream Tour & Military Tattoo featuring a Loch Ness cruise, visits to Edinburgh Castle, reserved seating for the Military Tattoo and more!
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Glasgow on Air Transat
• Includes all transfers in Scotland via luxury coach, services of a professional English speaking tour guide, and all sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary
• 8 nights' accommodation in Superior First Class hotels (based on double occupancy)
• Includes full breakfast daily (except day one), and 6 dinners throughout the tour
  
  

Why it's a good deal:

• The incredible amount of inclusions in the trip, from accommodations in Superior First Class Hotels, Military Tattoo, meal inclusions, to cruises, tours and more
• Visits and admissions to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Inveraray Castle, Clan Donald Centre at Armadale Castle, Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, Balmoral Castle or Crathes Castle, Glamis Castle, St Andrews and Edinburgh Castle
• Cruise on the legendary Loch Ness, and Loch Lomond

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on August 10, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person, and based on double occupancy):
  
  Single: $3448 + 583 tax
  Double: $2898 + $583 tax
  
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is refundable until 5PM EST on January 23, 2013. After that time, this offer is 100% non-refundable