Destinations
Trump Coming to YVR
Trump International Hotel and Tower Vancouver, scheduled to open late this summer, will have 147 guest rooms and be the second-tallest building on the Vancouver skyline. Located on West Georgia Street, the luxury hotel will feature Vancouver’s first pool bar nightclub, Drai’s Vancouver; the latest incarnation of the Michelin-starred restaurant Mott 32; as well as an exclusive Champagne Bar “showcasing the finest champagne vintages.” Trump Vancouver features a unique “twist” design created by famed architect Arthur Erickson that maximizes the window exposure and views in...
Spotlight on Switzerland
The Swiss city of Basel has plenty of experience in the art of showcasing art. Doris Schuermann, sales manager for Basel's tourism board, told a Friday Toronto gathering that her city has more than 40 museums, with its fine arts museum housing the oldest public art collection in the world. “World-class” museums are only one side to Basel, with Schuermann adding her city sees numerous festivals, among them celebrations of music. Basel is also home too the “oldest and largest Christmas market in Switzerland,” she continued. Basel is only 10 minutes from both the French...
Empress of the Seas Now Home In Miami
Royal Caribbean's Empress of the Seas arrived to its new homeport, Miami, this week following a US$50 million revitalization. The ship sets sail today (May 27) visiting Royal Caribbean’s private island CocoCay, Bahamas and Nassau, Bahamas. The ship will then offer short four- and five-night getaways from Miami to Nassau, The Bahamas; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; Grand Cayman and Key West, Florida. With longer stays in every port, guests will be able to experience golden sunsets in the Caribbean. Plus, on select five-night itineraries, guests can experience the authentic Mexican...
Peregrine Offers 20% Discount On Antarctica Tours
Peregrine Adventures, the Intrepid Group’s premium adventure operator, is offering a 20% discount off tours in Antarctica. With 10 Antarctic voyages on offer, travellers can save up to $5,000 on trips booked before July 31. The expeditions include both boat and plane options ranging from 10 to 20 days. “Antarctica is widely considered the final frontier and the Earth’s last great wilderness,” says Leigh Barnes, regional director for the Intrepid Group in North America. “For many people it’s a bucket list destination that seems unattainable, but this offer provides an...
On The Move: Where Canadians Are Looking To Go
Where are Canadians looking to go and what does it cost to get there? Is Asia proving to be more popular than Europe? The answers are revealed in Cheapflights.ca’s new Compass Report, offering insights gathered from a year’s worth of search data and revealing the most affordable and most popular destinations on a national level, as well as at a local level for six key markets across Canada – Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Some interesting findings include: Of all the searches done from those six key airports from May 1, 2015, to April 30, 2016,...
Silk Holidays Announces Grand Prize Winners
Two travel agents who attended recent road shows by Silk Holidays on Taiwan and the Philippines are winners of trip grand prizes. Silk Holidays held the Fun in the Philippines and Taiwan road shows in Nanaimo, Victoria, Abbotsford, Kelowna, Edmonton and Calgary. The events drew hundreds of travel professionals to learn about both destinations. Each are supported by the campaigns “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” and “Taiwan -- The Heart of Asia.” The two prizes were sponsored by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Philippines Department of Tourism and EVA Air. One prize...
Pack Your Flip Flops For South Padre Island
While known as a “playground” for Texans, South Padre Island is also proving very popular with Canadians, especially those affectionately known as “Winter Texans,” reports Greg Coates in this week's digital edition of Travel Courier. Located on the coastal tip of Texas at the end of one of the world's longest barrier islands, South Padre is a nature enthusiast's paradise, offering some of the best beaches in the Lone Star State, as well as a laid-back atmosphere – it's said that neck ties are forbidden – reminiscent of Florida's Key West. The island is 2.5 square miles...
San Diego Keeps It Fresh
This September, San Diego Restaurant Week (Sept. 25 to Oct. 2) will “celebrate local” by showcasing the fresh and delicious ingredients that the region is known for. For eight days only, visitors can enjoy dishes compiled of local products and ingredients at more than 180 participating restaurants throughout San Diego County. Dinner will be served as a three-course, prix-fixe menu for US$20, US$30, US$40 or US$50 per person and lunch will be served as a two-course prix-fixe menu for US$10, US$15 or US$20 per person. Participating restaurants team up with local distributors to...