Destinations
Jade Hosts Japan Fam
Jade Tours, United Airlines and City of Tokyo Tourism are hosting a six-night familiarization trip to Japan, March 2-9. The trip includes return flights from major Canadian gateways to Tokyo and Osaka-Narita flight with interline partner; superior or deluxe accommodations in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, tours, transfers, train tickets and most meals. Tour highlights include Meiji Shrine, Tsukiji Market, Asakusa Temple, Mt Fuji, Hakone, Kyoto/Nara and a walking tour in Osaka. The cost is $1,650 (inclusive of taxes), double occupancy. Due to limited space, the fam is limited to one...
Japengo Serves Up Valentine’s Special
Chef Jon Matsubara from Japengo, located in the Ewa Tower on the third floor in Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa, is inviting visitors to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a special romantic dinner available all weekend Feb. 13, 14, and 15 from 5:30 p.m. To 10 p.m. The four-course $96 prix fixe menu includes Chilled Oyster and Caviar Shooter, Japengo Chirashi, a choice of Filet Mignon with Foie Gras or Dungeness Crab with Lobster Tail Orzotto, and a dessert buffet filled with a collection of decadent chocolates and sweets. Coursed wine pairings are also available for purchase...
WestJet Expands Halifax Service
WestJet is expanding its service from Halifax Stanfield International Airport with the release of its 2015 summer schedule, making official – WestJet Encore is now serving Canadians coast to coast. “Halifax is at the core of our service increase across Atlantic Canada, now marking WestJet Encore’s presence from coast to coast,” said Ferio Pugliese, president, WestJet Encore. “Within two years of the launch of WestJet Encore, and with the support of our guests and the hard work of WestJetters across the country, we will have grown from two aircraft serving five cities in...
Israel Tourism Soars
It seems Americans are falling for the Holy Land as, “2014 broke the record for American tourism to Israel,” reports Uri Steinberg, Israel Tourism Commissioner for North America. “While the increase is modest over 2013,” Steinberg continued, “it is a considerable achievement in light of the troubles that affected our region during the summer of 2014,” he said. Steinberg went on to explain that he believes many Americans see Israel as a '”bucket-list, must-see” destination, for whom, he continued, “it's not a matter of 'if' to visit Israel, but 'when.'” The US...
ASTA Supports Cuba Initiatives
The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) has commended the Obama Administration for taking another giant step toward allowing Americans to travel freely to Cuba. In regulations issued last week by the Commerce and Treasury departments, travel agents will be legally unencumbered from selling authorized travel services to Cuba, effective upon publication in the Federal Register. “It is a long-standing policy at ASTA that travel freedoms should not be used as a pawn in matters of foreign policy,” said president and CEO Zane Kerby. “On behalf of our US-based members, we have...
A Taste of St. Croix
Hotels on the sun-and-rum-soaked island of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands have announced packages for the 2015 St. Croix Food & Wine Experience, which will dish out a series of fundraising events April 12-18. Vacation packages offer car rentals, tickets to events, meals and more. Hotel taxes and service charges are additional unless noted and restrictions may apply. St. Croix Food & Wine Packages need to be booked with the hotel. Packages are as follows: The Buccaneer The Buccaneer Culinary Getaway is $2,990 and includes five nights in ocean-view accommodations, a...
Shuffling Off To Buffalo
Sunwing will begin Buffalo-Cancun service Saturday (Jan. 17), with the tour operator predicting that it will be carrying significant numbers of people from both sides of the Canada-US border to the Mexican sunspot. Sunwing – which earlier bought US tour operator Vacation Express – expects to see many southern Ontario residents heading to Cancun from Buffalo and also boarding Sunwing planes that will begin flying from Buffalo to Punta Cana as of Valentine's Day, with the company's Lawrence Elliott telling a Toronto audience Thursday that “the cost of flying out of Buffalo is...
Dine Out Vancouver
Special room rates and packages in Vancouver are on the horizon, in preparation for the Dine Out Vancouver Festival, which returns for its 13th anniversary, Jan. 16 to Feb. 1. Gourmands can opt for a foodie getaway, as a number of hotels are offering discounted room rates of $78, $108 and $138 per night, plus Dine Out packages. Some 200-plus restaurants around the city are offering prix fixe menus, with price points of $18, $28 and $38 per person. There are also themed events like Street Food City, a gathering of the city’s popular food carts over a week. The Film Feast at the...