New York state launches $60 million tourism campaign ... Deal of the day

We love New York City. But do we really know New York state?

Canadians flock to Manhattan on a regular basis. And most of us in Ontario know Buffalo and Rochester and perhaps Syracuse.

But I suspect most Canadians aren’t as familiar with some of the great sights that the Empire State has to offer. Which is why New York state governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday announced the launch of what’s billed as “New York’s largest tourism campaign in decades,” committing some $60 million to grow tourism and create jobs.

The announcement came at the end of a massive New York State Tourism Summit, held to protect the fifth largest employment sector in the state.

“New York State has some of the most beautiful tourist attractions in the world. From the peaks of the Adirondacks to the beaches of Long Island, no matter what you’re looking for you can find it here,” Cuomo said.

Considering the state invested just $19 million in tourism last year, the $60 million figure is astonishing.

(It’s also a good idea for the Canadian government to follow should they ever wake up to the potential of tourism in a country with the variety we have. Instead, however, we have the Canadian Tourism Commission budget being gutted in a very short-sighted move by Ottawa. Shameful).

The campaign will include advertising space in New York subways and airports that promote upstate New York tourism, as well as an emphasis on new welcome centres and a focus on luring folks from Asia and South America.

Chinese and Brazilian visitors love New York City, so it makes sense to try to get them to visit great places like the Adirondacks or the Finger Lakes. But if they’re not bumping up their marketing in Canada they’re missing an easy target. We love shopping in New York and we love New York prices.

I was only in the Adirondacks once, and it was long ago, but it was a beautiful spot; much more mountainous than anything we have in Ontario. Rochester is a fun city we recently profiled in Star Travel, with good food and wonderful (and cheap) golf courses. The Finger Lakes have great food and wine and marvelous scenery, with stunning waterfalls and gentle hills that we’d consider mountains.

I spent a night at a great lodge outside of New York City a few year s ago, the Sagamore on beautiful Lake George (see photo at left). It’s an old-style place like Muskoka's Clevelands House, located on a lovely stretch of lake. A real Muskoka, old-time feel to it, with nice rooms and a big lobby and a fabulous golf course next door.

 

PANAMA CITY BEACH UPDATE

 

We’ve heard of the ball dropping in Times Square in New York. But did you know that on New Year’s Eve in Panama City Beach, Florida they drop thousands of them?

A few years ago, they decided to play up the beach theme down PCB way and drop 10,000 inflated, brightly coloured beach balls from suspended nets. It’s now a great annual tradition, with one group of balls dropping on thousands of kids in the early evening and then a single ball dropping at midnight for adults able to stay up a little later and enjoy live entertainment.

It’s one of many fun and clever events they stage down in Panama City Beach. They also have an annual pirates festival around Canadian Thanksgiving And each winter they do a prom for the seniors who spend their winters in the area. This year there’s also a homecoming event, with a homecoming king and queen.

They've built a new ampitheatre down at Pier Park, a fun area with shopping and rides that's right next to the beach. They'll feature ZZ Top on American Memorial Day weekend later this month and then a couple of teen idols: The Wanter and Cody Simpson.

It’s a fun part of Florida with incredibly white, fluffy sand beaches, good food, lovely nature reserves and good prices.

 

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Jaunt Highlights

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Florida's 500th birthday touches down in T.O./Porter/WestJet news/Deal of day

It's tough to cover the entire Sunshine State in an hour. But they made a pretty good attempt at it.

Folks from Florida's tourism department put on a breakfast at the Hazelton Hotel in Toronto today, serving up French toast and eggs and delicious orange juice (Florida variety, I presume). There were representatives from Miami, Naples, Sarasota, Orlando, Tampa, Amelia Island, Fort Lauderdale, The Space Coast, Fort Myers/Sanibel, The Palm Beaches and more, including some smaller, old-time places such as Flagler Beach (between Daytona and St. Augustine) and Crystal River, about 80 minutes north of Tampa.

It would take way too long to go over the details, but here a few tidbits/highlights to whet your Florida whistle:

- Ponce de Leon "discovered" Florida in April, 1513. There's a replica of one of his ships sailing the waters of the area he called "La Florida" right now.

- The $100 million Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibition opens in late June at the Kennedy Space Center.

- Greater Fort Lauderdale gets 3,000 hours of sunshine a year and there's a new Barbie Dreamhouse Experience opening at Sawgrass MIlls shopping centre tomorrow (May 8).

- Miami (this is from their p.r. person) has a temptation for everyone, "no matter what your vice." They also have upcoming months focussed on deals for romance, golf (speaking of vice), restaurants and spas. On top of that, they're getting set to open a 30-acre museum park with a science museum and an art museum and a new Metro station.

- The Inn on Fifth in Naples has undergone a major renovation and now has club level suites with larger space and 24-hour concierge service, while the Omni Amelia Island (a great beach location) near Jacksonville just underwent an $85 million reno.

- Tampa has several new hotel options, including a new Aloft on the HIllsborough River and a Le Meridien inside the old federal courthouse. In Tampa's Hyde Park historic district, a 137-room boutique hotel called The Epicuream will open in Dec. 2013. It will devoted to "extraordinary culinary experiences" and is being developed in collaboration with Bern's Steak House. It also will be the first newly constructed property in the U.S. to join the Autograph Collection of Marriott International and will sport a rooftop lounge. Nice idea.

- In Naples, there's a Dolphin Explorer Cruise you can take with scientists who study dolphins; a fun and educational experience, I'd think. They also have a new children's museum and a kids' area in the Naples Botanical Garden.

- They call The Palm Coast and Flagler Beaches area "the quiet side of Florida," with a real, old-time feel. I've seen photos and I like the look of the place, but alas have never been. Noting her area is between Daytona's famous speedway and historic St. Augustine, a public relations woman called the coast "between The Fast and The Past."

- Sea World Orlando will soon open "the coldest attraction in Florida," a ride/exhibit called Antarctica; The Empire of the Penguins.

- Orlando is adding a giant Ferris Wheel that's a replica of The Eye in London.

- There are 90 public golf courses in Fort Myers, not to mention excellent beaches and bird-watching opportunities. I had no idea, but there's also an Amish/Mennonite area of town.

AIRLINE COMPETITION. ISN'T THAT A GOOD THING?

I had to laugh at the Globe's Report on Business this morning. They had a solid story on WestJet starting its new Encore service and Air Canada getting ready to launch its discount Rouge service. The story talked about how the increased competition might mean too much capacity or could mean big discounts. When the story turned from the front page of the section, there was a headline that said "fare wars are feared."

Maybe if you're an investor, they are. But if you're a consumer like you and me, the appropriate headline might be: "fare wars could be coming: LET'S PARTY!!!!"

Speaking of WestJet, it's fascinating to see the front page story in today's Star on how the federal government has said the airline can now operate with one flight attendant for every 50 passengers, rather than the previous standard of one for every 40. The move allegedly was made to put Canadian airlines in line with U.S. and international standards.

But a union official made a good point in today's Star.

“What does competitiveness with U.S. airlines have to do with the safety of these employees and the flying public,” asked Paul Moist, national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents flight attendants at such airlines as Air Canada, Air Transat, Canjet and Sunwing.

An excellent point.

PORTER DEBATE CONTINUES

I think that was a pretty major victory for Porter on Tuesday, getting Toronto city council to sign off on studies (at Porter's expense) on how jets would impact the Island Airport. It sounds like the airline has made some concessions to opponents such as councillor Adam Vaughan, so we'll see where it goes. But I like their chances of getting final approval later this year; a move with wide implications for the tourism biz in Toronto and for travellers.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

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Bike sharing comes to NYC ... Hidden gems of Italy ... Jaunt.ca deal of the day

I'm not sure I'd try it on Sixth Ave. in rush hour, but it's great to see that New York City is joining the crowd of cities with bike-sharing options.

City officials say the largest bike-sharing system in the U.S. will start sometime this month, with 6,000 bikes at 330 stations in Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. That's for now. Ultimately, they plan on 10,000 bikes at 600 docking spots in Manhattan, booming Brooklyn and on-the-rise Queens.

The program is called Citi Bike after a $41 million sponsorship from Citibank, plus another $6.5 million from MasterCard.

AP reports that thousands of folks already have signed up as Citi Bike founding members, forking over $95 as an annual fee for unlimited rides of 45 minutes. Which sounds like a helluva deal to me.

AP quotes a U.S. bike expert as saying there are a whopping 534 bike-sharing systems in the world. That includes Toronto's seemingly trouble Bixi bike program, which I utilized today to get from the Thompson Hotel at Wellington and Bathurst to 1 Yonge St. in a little over 10 minutes.

HIDDEN GEMS OF ITALY

Cnn.com/travel has a good item today on some of lesser-known great spots of Italy. Among them are some spots we've featured in the Star or that I'm aware of, including Ischia (an island near Capri), Syracuse in Sicily and Turin, which has some fine restaurants and beautiful covered arcades for shopping and which, of course, hosted the 2006 Winter Olympic Games.

Also noted by CNN were spots such as San Felice Circeo in Lazio, Pienza in Tuscany and Narni, located in increasingly popular Umbria region, not far from Rome and known by the Romans as Narnia (hence the Chronicles of Narnia). It's an excellent list. To which I'll add a personal favourite I visited a couple years ago: Ponza.

Ponza is a fairly short ferry ride off the coast of central Italy, also not far from Rome. There's a small village with faded, colourful paint jobs and working fishing boats, as well as excellent restaurants and hotels mixed among the t-shirt shops.

I rented a car and drove around for a few hours, checking out dramatic, cliffside scenery and swimming in beautiful water. There are caves you can explore by boat, but it was too windy when I was there. Still, I just loved the sense of remoteness. I imagine it feels like Capri did before it was discovered by the beautiful people, not that there's anything wrong with that.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

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Jaunt Highlights

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Looking for love in the air? Try United or Delta ... Jaunt.Ca deal of the day: Disney

I wrote an item recently about Sir Richard Branson's Virgin airline launching a way for folks to buy each other a drink on board as a way of making a mile-high introduction. Now comes a report suggesting the best airlines (alas, only American ones) for making a love connection.

According to a story in the Atlanta Journal Constituion, your best chances are on a Delta Air Lines flight if the object of your desire is a single woman. The "destination-dating" website MissTravel.com surveyed 2,000 single female travelers to find out which airline they use most often and 28 percent said Delta was their No. 1 choice. The airline was preferred by 13 percent more women than those who chose No. 2 United Airlines. Delta and United are the No. 1 and No. 2 largest U.S. carriers, respectively.

United was followed by US Airways, Southwest, Virgin, JetBlue and AirTran.

Single women also appear to be more talkative while traveling, according to MissTravel.com. Sixty-four acknowledged they speak to strangers at airports or on flights than anywhere else; 39 percent said that they have or would consider dating someone they met during a flight.

Brandon Ware, the website's founder, suggested airlines increase their appeal to women traveling for leisure and the woman "who may have her eyes open for a potential love interest."

CHEAP U.S. AIRPORTS STILL LURING CANADIANS

The exodus of Canadians to cheaper airport south of the border shows no signs of abating. A CBC story out of WInnipeg says folks in Canada's avaiation industry are quite worried.

"What we really need to do is get airports, airlines and government in the room together to develop a new, national air travel strategy," said Daniel-Robert Gooch of the Canadian Airports Council.

Gooch was speaking at the Western Canadian Aviation Forum in Manitoba last week.

Canadians flying from U.S. airports "is a growing problem," said Senator Dennis Dawson, chairman of the Senate transport and communications committee. "It has been a problem for a yew years, but every year it grows by about 15, 20 per cent, so that means it is revenue lost for Canada."

Gooch said Ottawa needs to look at fees and taxes levied on Canadians and that lower fees would encourage Canadians to fly out of Canadian airports. But the federal government appears unwilling to do much about it.

Steven Fletcher, Canada's miniser of state for transport, suggested taxpayers shouldn't subsidize people's flights.

"Why would a Canadian taxpayer want to subsidize a trip to the Caribbean? Because that's essentially what is being argued."

THIS AND THAT: Cabot Links golf open ... Air Canada Vacations ... Wales and New York news

Cabot Links, which is an absolutely outstanding golf course in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, is open for the season. They've reworked the course a bit and created a new 12th hole, which means six holes are right on the ocean (and the others have ocean views). They also have upgraded and renovated the clubhouse bar, which has great views of the course ... Members of Aeroplan have another way to earn miles or points. Aeroplan has signed a deal with The UPS Store Canada, giving customers more options for earning flights ... Air Canada Vacations has added Turkey to its lineup for the first time. Starting in June of this year, they'll offer nonstop flights to fabulous Istanbul  ... Happy first birthday to the Wales Coast Path. The path traverses The only footpath of its kind on the planet, the Wales Coast Path encircles all three sides of the Welsh Peninsula, along the entire 870 miles of its pristine coastline, encouraging visitors and residents alike to ‘discover the shape of the nation.’ It's a gorgeous coastline, I can tell you that. I especially loved the area around Nefyn when I was there for a golf trip a few years ago ... Starwood is spending $400 million renovating some of its top properties in New York City, including The Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, W New York – Times Square, W New York - Union Square, W New York, The Westin New York at Times Square and The Westin New York Grand Central. I stayed at the W at Union Square last summer and thought it was terrific.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a fine deal on tap for Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort in Orlando, Florida, priced at $1,344, including $145 in taxes.

Jaunt Highlights

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Suing Air Canada over a 7up served in English ... Transformers ... Deal of day

At first glance, it is to laugh. The Supreme Court of Canada, CP reports, has agreed to hear the appeal of a couple who sued Air Canada when they weren't able to order a 7up soda in French.

It's a sad joke, you think to yourself. I mean, really? A 7up? They couldn't say 7up in English or point to a can or say "Sprite" or something?

We all know English speakers can run afoul of absurd language rules in Quebec. And we'll hear a lot about that as this case gets to the court, I'm sure.

But that's missing the point. Air Canada is mandated to serve people in both of our official languages. It's a legal requirement.

The 7up thing is silly on its own. Stupid, even. But if you read the fuller story you'll find that Michel and Lynda Thibodeau filed eight complaints with the official languages commissioner over what they say was English-only service they got on Air Canada flights between January and May, 2009.

You'll also find that Air Canada admitted fault. Here's the Canadian Press story on the Federal Court ruling from July, 2011, the ruling that's being appealled to the Supreme Court.

 Air Canada must pay $12,000 and apologize to an Ottawa couple after admitting it failed to provide them with services in French, a Federal Court judge ruled Wednesday.

However, the judge decided against imposing punitive damages, saying the carrier has tried to comply with its obligations under the Official Languages Act.

The case arose out of two trips Michel and Lynda Thibodeau made in the first half of 2009 between Ottawa and the United States.

They argued they couldn't get service in French when they checked in, at the boarding gate and aboard the flight, and that an announcement about a change of baggage carousel was made only in English.

The Ottawa couple each sought $25,000 in compensation.

"The applicants' language rights are clearly very important to them, " Madam Justice Marie-Josée Bédard said in her ruling."The violation of their rights caused them a moral prejudice, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of their vacation."

Under the Official Languages Act, Air Canada   s required to communicate and provide services in both official languages where there is significant demand in the minority language.

Air Canada conceded the Thibodeau's had four legitimate complaints, but argued they didn't suffer damages that should be compensated. The judge disagreed. 

"Awarding damages in this case will serve the purpose of emphasizing the importance of the rights at issue, and will have a deterrent effect, " Bédard wrote.

After considering the various factors at play, Bédard set the amount at $6,000 each - $1,500 for each of the four admitted breaches. But she rejected the Thibodeau's request to award $500,000 in exemplary and punitive damages, which they based on what they described as arrogance from Air Canada's side.

Call me soft, but I think if Air Canada admits fault it should be required to pay something. The ruling by Bedard sounds quite reasonable to me, however.

It's difficult for Air Canada in the sense that other Canadian carriers aren't bound by the same rules. But AC gets plenty of help from the government (like in the recent pension decision). So I don't feel particularly sorry for them. These were flights from Ottawa, folks. Surely they'd have someone at the airport and on board to speak French.

Given the decision, I can't quite see why the Supreme Court is taking up the issue. Surely it's not the sort of publicity Air Canada wants. Nor the Prime Minister, I suspect.

ONTARIO GOVERNMENT APPLAUDED BY TOURISM FOLKS

The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario today sent out a release applauding Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne's new provincial budget.

 "Yesterday’s budget showed us that the Ontario government is listening and supports the tourism industry in Ontario by maintaining their current level of investment in tourism, by increasing investment attraction activities, and by increasing the commitment and programing for job creation."

The Association said it had laid out three priority areas for the Province to consider in the 2013 budget:

- Maintain the current level of investment in tourism;
- Encourage the attraction of new investors to the tourism industry to build new product; and
- Maintain support of workforce development and skills training in tourism.

Tourism is a $23.6 billion a year industry in Ontario, the association said, noting opportunities for growth in places like China, India and Brazil.

"By working with partners across the country, Ontario can leverage its marketing dollars to draw new visitors and increase visitor spending. Attracting increased foreign and domestic tourism investment to Ontario benefits everyone: tourism operators, municipalities, residents and visitors alike. Investment in new and existing tourism experiences will attract more new visitors and encourage repeat visitors, enhancing Ontario’s reputation and strengthens the provincial economy."

It's interesting to see the note about China. I've said it before, but it seems everyone and his brother (and cousin) is madly chasing Chinese tourism dollars.

 A story I saw Thursday from Xinhua, the Chinese news agency, noted that Australia is trying to become "China Ready" as China is its fasted growing "and most cherished" market.

I've noted previously how hotels in Canada and the U.S. are adding more Mandarin speakers, plus adding Mandarin TV stations and other amenities. You'll find the same thing in top high-end shops on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, I'm told. Now, in Sydney, folks who want to climb the famous Harbour Bridge will find Mandarin guides awaiting them.

If I was a kid today, I'd be trying to learn Mandarin...

CALGARY AIRPORT GROWING

Here's an item that'll make Montrealers gasp. It seems Calgary's airport is poised to become Canada's third biggest by the end of the year, surpassing Montreal Trudeau International.

Calgary is behind right now and in fourth spot, but with a faster growth rate than Montreal it's expected to go past the 14 million mark by the end of the year and surge past Montreal.

NEW TRANSFORMERS THEME PARK

Universal Orlando says it's new, 3-D theme park ride, based on the Transformers toy brand, will open June 20 in Florida.

Officials describe the ride as an interactive, "larger than life battle" between the Autobots and the Decepticons. It uses flight simular technology, along with wind, heat and smoke to make the riders feel immersed in the experience, according to Associate Press.

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  Call us at 1-855-687-5925 or visit our partner at targetvacations.ca for other great charter flights
  
  
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

Pearson baggage woes ... Ottawa's tulip festival .. WestJet to Myrtle ... Deal/day

I flew into Toronto on Sunday from a trip out west, landing at Pearson around 4 p.m. Canadian Customs wasn’t remotely busy and there weren’t many people in the baggage claim area.

Yet it was crowded as can be as seemingly all the flights were disgorging bags onto the same carousel, number 10. There seemed to be a few other carousels in use at the far end, but in my immediate area there were probably seven or eight empty carousels. Yet mine was listing seven different flights for that carousel at one point.

After waiting 20 minutes (from the time the plane reached the gate) for the first bags to finally show, we were told they were switching over to Carousel 9; a good call given the crowding at number 10. Even then, however, it took another 15 minutes or so for the first bags to show up. And on a day when the airport wasn't busy.

I’m sorry but I just don’t understand how this works. As I’m wont to do, I put out a note on Twitter and got several responses from fellow frustrated Pearson users.

I got a response today from airport officials, explaining that they haven’t been able to get definitive answers from Air Canada about their staffing levels.

They went on to say they’re “looking at better ways to allocate the carousels, and we’re working with all airlines to make sure they are moving bags onto our system asap.”

Spokesman Scott Armstrong also told me that with the introduction of automated Customs kiosks in Terminal 3 (the first ones are coming to Terminal 1 soon; maybe the third week in May) and with more folks using the Nexus pass to speed through customs, folks are getting to the baggage hall a lot faster, “which exacerbates any delay of baggage delivery.”

At least officials admit they have work to do…

TULIPS AND MORE TULIPS

If you love spring flowers as much as I do, you definitely should check out the Canadian Tulip Festival, which starts Friday in Ottawa.

From May 3 through 20, 2013, the event features special programming and more than a million tulips of every colour on display in public areas downtown. Commissioners Park alone features 300,000 bulbs.

The tulip is Ottawa’s official flower, stemming from World War II, when the Dutch Royal Family took refuge in Ottawa and Princess Margriet—the younger sister of recently retired Queen Beatrix—was born during their stay. Canadian troops played a pivotal role in the liberation of the Netherlands, so when the war ended and the Royal Family returned to Europe, they sent a gift of 100,000 tulip bulbs to Ottawa. The gift of tulips continues to this day.

TORONTO TRAVEL NUMBERS

Toronto tourism is on the upswing. Officials with Tourism Toronto say American visits in 2011 rose 3 per cent, while last year they jumped 4.7 per cent.

When you consider the strength of the Canadian dollar and the expense of gas and airline tickets these days, those aren’t bad numbers. Mind you, cities around the world are claiming pretty significant tourism increases in general as the world economy stabilizes and business travel returns.

Still, 4.7 per cent is a decent number no matter how you slice it.

WEST JET TO MYRTLE BEACH

WestJet today begins seasonal service from Toronto to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The service runs every Thursday and Sunday from now until the end of October, making it easy to take a four-day break or a longer holiday in a market that’s always been hugely popular with Canadians.

The high season is really March and April, which WestJet has missed. But Tim Croyle, vice president and general manager of WestJet Vacations, said bookings are good.

“It’s a great long weekend spot as it’s only two hours away,” he said. “You can leave Toronto at 9:30 a.m. and be there in time to have lunch on the beach.”

Golf is obviously a big part of the draw, with some 250 courses in the area, Croyle said. I was there a couple years ago and found some tremendous courses at very reasonable prices. I especially loved Caledonia Fish and Golf Club; a fabulous layout that’s dripping with beautiful trees covered with Spanish moss and littered with flowering shrubs. There’s also a terrific clubhouse where you can sip a cool drink on a wide porch and watch golfers play over the water at the 18th hole.

Nearby Murrells Inlet is a great place to stroll and get a bite to eat, right on the water.

And I found the food to be outstanding all over town for the most part. And very reasonably priced.

Croyle said WestJet has air only options, or you can book a package and arrange a stay at a hotel, resort or condo.

They currently have four properties, all on the beach or right across from the beach, and more are on the way.

“It’s a great family destination and there’s lots of shopping, too,” Croyle said.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for a great, 15-day trip across South America. It's priced at $5,895, including $250 in taxes, and hits on the most iconic sights on the continent.

Jaunt Highlights

• 15-Day/13-Night South American Wonders Tour, including visits to Rio de Janeiro (see photo at right), Buenos Aires, Iguassu Falls, Machu Picchu and more!
• Includes all international and domestic airfare, plus airport/hotel transfers throughout the tour. See Offer Details for more info.
• Includes transportation via private air conditioned vehicles, accompaniment of a licensed English speaking tour guide in Peru, Brazil & Argentina, sightseeing & entrance fees as per the itinerary and more!
• Accommodations based on double occupancy. Refer to itinerary below for hotels (or similar).
• 21 meals including daily breakfast, 4 lunches & 3 dinners

• Embark on a scintillating journey to world famous sites like Machu Picchu and Iguassu Falls
• Have unique experiences like dinner & folklore in Lima and a tango show in Buenos Aires
• Enjoy the best possible views in Brazil with trips to the top of Sugarloaf and Corcovado Mountain

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on November 8, December 29, 2013 & February 3, 2014
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  November 8, 2013:
  Double: $5645
  
  December 29, 2013:
  Double: $6975
  
  February 3, 2014:
  Double: $5995
  
  Single Supplement: $1200
  Tax: $250
  
  We also offer Other TOURS to South America.
  Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
  
  
• Your Flights Include: Departure airfare from Toronto to Rio de Janeiro and return airfare from Lima to Toronto, domestic round-trip flight from Rio to Iguassu, Iguassu to Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires to Lima, Lima to Cusco and Cusco to Lima.
• Accommodations Include: Windsor Plaza in Rio de Janeiro (3 Nights), Viale Cataratas in Iguassu Falls (2 Nights), Amerian Park in Buenos Aires (3 nights), Eco Inn Cusco in Cusco (4 nights) & Jose Antonio in Lima (1 night)
• Optional Tours: option to add a full day tour to Petropolis and/or a Rio by night show during stay in Rio de Janeiro at an additional cost. 
• Visa, gratuities and optional tours/excursions are NOT included. Tourist visa for Brazil is required. For more information CLICK HERE
• Ferry tickets from Buenos Aires to Montevideo are required and NOT included. Additional cost of $150 per person to be paid locally.
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

 

 

 

 

 

 

Born on "Hornyold Road" in England/ROM T.O. Tours/U.S. cab fares/Deal of day

 

I had a bit of fun in a recent Star Travel column, talking about funny place names such as Butts, Georgia and Dildo, Newfoundland. I got a few comments from readers, one of them talking about a spot in Ontario.

"Enjoyed your Sat. 27th article...brought a broad smile," John Rankin said in an email. "Here in Prince Edward County Ont. we have a hamlet (a few houses) called Gomorrah in Sophiasburg township.  No record of a Sodom."

Chris Roberts of Ontario also sent in a note.

"Really enjoyed your Saturday piece which I read while in Thunder Bay.  (Just got home yesterday.)  I was born during the war on Hornyold Road in Malvern (England), which now gets a laugh when I mention it.   

Recently, I looked this name up and found that it is a family name with a very long history in Worcestershire, going back to at least the Norman Invasion, when it was known as "de Horning Wold." In 1068 John de Horning Wold was a former Saxon Chief who was hanged "for stirring up discontent against the Normans."

In 1547 a descendent was Auditor of the Exchequer for Henry V111 and later, Queen Elizabeth 1, acquiring a manor and enormous estate of over 3,000 acres, also with a very long and sometimes dramatic history.

Isnt' that cool?

U.S. CAB FARES CITY BY CITY

Heading to the U.S. anytime soon? You might want to know what it’ll cost you for a cab ride.

Turns out, according to USA Today, that the most expensive city for taxis in the u.S. (no figures were available but you can bet Toronto would be sky-high) is San Jose, California, at $8.01 for the first mile. Tied for second were San Francisco and Honolulu at $7.78.

Chicago cabs cost $7.25 for the first mile, while a taxi in New York costs a relatively paltry $6.31 for the first mile. Buffalo is more expensive than New York at $6.39, while the first mile costs $7.06 in Las Vegas.

The cheapest taxi cities in the U.S. were Tulsa at $3.70 for a mile (just $1.50 when you step into the cab) and Detroit at $4.35. It’s just $5.04 for a mile in Miami and $5.55 in Tampa.

ROM TOURS OF TORONTO

I had no idea, but it seems the Royal Ontario Museum has been conducting tours of Toronto for a while now. Canadian Press reported this week that the city’s entertainment district has been added to the lineup.

The performing arts and the ever-growing list of names on Canada's Walk of Fame on King Street West are among the themes of the latest addition, along with a look back at the city's early history and the more recent rise of upscale hotels. Participants also stroll by the iconic CN Tower, CP said.

Most of the walks are free (the Entertainment District walk, called Arts & Entertainment Plus, costs $10).

The Annex, Cabbagetown and Wychwood Park are some of the distinctive neighbourhoods on this year's list, as well as tours along Jarvis, Front and Adelaide streets that take in historic architecture.

The walks are held every Wednesday evening and Sunday afternoon from May through October.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal for a great trip to exotic Thailand, priced at $2,140, including $350 in taxes.

JAUNT HIGHLIGHTS

• 11-day/10-night Island and Beach Hopping in Thailand Tour, including visits to Bangkok, Phi Phi Island, Krabi, Lanta Island and more!
• Includes round-trip flight from Toronto, Vancouver or Calgary to Bangkok, domestic flights as per itinerary, and airport/hotel transfers in Thailand
• Transportation throughout the tour via deluxe vehicle, domestic air and ferry
• Meals include 9 daily buffet breakfasts throughout the tour
• Accommodations based on double occupancy. Refer to itinerary below for hotels (or similar) 

• Thailand’s beaches have picture-perfect shorelines, warm waters and white sand that’s almost unbelievable at first sight
• Koh Lanta, one of 52 islands that make up  the Mu Koh Lanta National Park, is home to exotic species, coral reefs and tropical rain forests
• Accommodations are set in lush surroundings and feature modern amenities like bathrobes, air conditioning, hot and cold showers and a balcony sure to have an amazing view

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on October 12, 28 & November 4, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Toronto:
  October 14, 2013:     
  Double: $2140 + Tax
  Single: $2530 + Tax
  Tax: $350
  
  October 28 & November 4, 2013:
  Double: $2240 + Tax
  Single: $2630 + Tax
  Tax: $350
  
  Vancouver:
  October 14, 2013:     
  Double: $1790 + Tax
  Single: $2180 + Tax
  Tax: $350
  
  October 28 & November 4, 2013:
  Double: $1890 + Tax
  Single: $2280 + Tax
  Tax: $350
  
  Calgary:
  October 14, 2013:     
  Double: $2090 + Tax
  Single: $2480 + Tax
  Tax: $350
  
  October 28 & November 4, 2013:
  Double: $2190 + Tax
  Single: $2580 + Tax
  Tax: $350
  
  
  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.

 

 

 

Hotel concerts a great idea ... Westin T.O. deal for sports fans ... Deal of the day

I hadn’t heard this, but it seems the folks at Aloft Hotels (a division of Starwood) have been trying to draw in guests by staging concerts in the lobby with local musicians. It’s a fine idea for both musicians and hoteliers, I’d say; good publicity for both. Dan Young at Starwood tells me the Aloft property at Vaughan Mills north of Toronto has a different band, artist or DJ come in on occasion. They had an L.A. band called Wicker play last June and you can click here for the video.

Of course, Hotel California would be a popular hit. And also Heartbreak Hotel, I guess. I’ve always liked Motel Matches by Elvis Costello. And don’t forget Gordon Lightfoot’s Hangdog Hotel Room.

WESTIN TORONTO SPORTS DEAL

Here’s a nice one for sports or music fans. The Westin Harbour Castle on the Toronto waterfront has a deal through Sept. 2 where guests can save on their stay if they come to town for a special event such as a Jays game or Leafs playoff contest or a concert. Guests must show the front desk their ticket for an event scheduled within 48 hours of their stay when they check in to get the offer, which can be booked with rates from $139 per night. Call 1-866-716-8101 or mention the EVENTS rate plan or visit www.westintoronto.com for more information. Rates are fully prepaid at time of booking and priced per room, per night based on single/double occupancy and are subject to availability. Advance reservations are required. Go Leafs, Go.

PENINSULA HOTELS UPDATE 

Peninsula Hotels are celebrating some big anniversaries this year. The New York property (Fifth and 55th) is celebrating a quarter century in business. There’s a new restaurant at the New York property, designed by the Toronto firm of YabuPushelberg. It’s set to open in the fall and will feature modern American cuisine with plenty of produce and other items from the American northeast. If you’ve never been, the rooftop bar at the New York property is quite something.

Elsewhere, the Peninsula Beverly Hills has finished an extensive renovation of its 193 guest rooms, suites and villas. Officials say it’s the only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star hotel in Southern California for 20 consecutive years.

In Bangkok, the Peninsula is celebrating its 15th anniversary. I had a chance to stay for a couple of nights two years ago and loved it: an incredible spa and a beautiful pool and fabulous food, combined with excellent service. Last I checked you could get a room for about $200 and it’s well worth it. The only thing I wasn’t crazy about when I visited was the lobby, which seemed rather old-fashioned. But I saw pictures of the new one and it’s jazzy and bright and modern; a nice change.

The venerable Hong Kong property – easily one of the top hotels of the world – is celebrating it’s 85th birthday this year and just finished a $60 million renovation. There will be year-long celebrations such as traditional tea dances (see photo below) and puppet shows and they also have specials.

They’re set to open their first property in Europe with the opening (probably next year but given French unions who knows) of a hotel in an old Beaux Art building on Avenue Kleber in paris, a short walk from the Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe. The outdoor terrace looks outstanding and there will be a rooftop restaurant, bar and terrace with killer views of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe.

Peninsula announced last week that they’re proposing a hotel for Yangon, Myanmar (Burma) on the site of the former headquarters of the Burma Railway Building. It’s remarkable when you consider Myanmar was almost nowhere on the travel radar screen two or three years ago…

In addition to fine hotels, Peninsula likes to offer guests great local experiences. In New York you can arrange theatre tickets plus a chat with an actor or director and a behind-the-scenes look at a Broadway production. Or you can go casual by foraging for food in Central Park and having a picnic lunch (with or without the wild mushrooms you might have picked). Not your style? How about a tour of Brooklyn in a bespoke Mini Cooper and some great local pizza. At the Peninsula in Manila, you can take a helicopter ride to a distant river and have a picnic on a boat or check out the war history of the Philippines.

No word on a Canadian property any time soon but you'd have to think it's only a matter of time until Peninsula steps into the market.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for a great 12-night cruise from Rome to Athens for $2,145, including all fees and taxes.

Jaunt Highlights

• EXCLUSIVE TO JAUNT 2 for 1: For every one person paid in full, the second traveller's cruise is FREE! (Two for one pricing already reflected in the price)
• 12-Night Athens to Rome Cruise on board the Aegean Odyssey, starting in Athens, Greece and ending in Rome, Italy
• Includes excursions in the following cities and/or ports of call: Athens, Greece; Piraeus, Greece; Nauplia, Greece; Syracuse, Sicily; Trapani, Sicily; Palermo, Sicily; Sorrento, Italy; Bonifacio, Corsica; Livorno, Italy; and Rome, Italy 
• Accommodations in a Standard Inside Cabin (Category M)
• Includes open-seating dining, plus wine included with dinners on board
• Enjoy top lecture series and guest speakers on board to complement your cruise itinerary
• Includes gratuities on board, plus unique onboard experiences like lectures and fresh local fare
• A smaller cruise ship means exposure to less visited ports
• See Rome, Athens, Pompeii, Sicily and more

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on June 24, 2013 sailing
• Pricing (per person, based on double occupancy)
  
  Standard Inside Cabin (Category M): $2145 tax included
  
  NOTE: 2 for 1 pricing above reflects the following breakdown:
  1st passenger: $3300 + $495 port tax = $3795
  2nd passenger: $0 + $495 port tax = $495
  = $2145 tax included per passenger
• Option to upgrade your package and include airfare, transfers and hotel stays pre or post-cruise. Call our travel professionals to book: 1-855-687-5925
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking 

 

 

 

 

A quick tour around Santa Cruz, California ... U.S. border fee a no-go?

SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA - The far north coast of California is famous for its redwoods, as is Muir Woods in Marin County, just outside San Francisco. But it’s hard to beat the ones you’ll find towering magnificently around the coast near the surf town of Santa Cruz, an hour and a bit south of San Francisco. 

On a quick visit last week I started the morning at The Ugly Mug coffee shop in the town of Soquel, just down the road from my family cabin. It’s a fabulous coffee spot on the main drag, just up from Capitola Beach, with a great local vibe. In the Santa Cruz area, that means advertisements for acoustic music and raw milk in the window, local art on the walls and a list of characters that run the gamut from flower child to motorcycle dudes to local ranchers and surfers, all rolling in for their morning lattes and pastries.

If you opt to stay and drink your coffee, you can fill up with any of dozens of mugs (only some of them truly ugly) that are washed out daily and put out for folks to use. I opted for a rather garish one from Universal Studios in southern California if you must know. 

I got back to our cabin and told my Dad about how I’d read something in one of the local magazines about a good German restaurant in a nearby town called Ben Lomond. My Dad being fond of German food (he also used to turn on the radio on Sunday mornings and listen to oom-pah-pah music, or so my Mom used to tell me), I mentioned it to him.

Hearing about Ben Lomond prompted him to recall being a teenager in Oakland and driving down in a friend's Model A to go to dances or go swimming in the area. He also talked about a place called the Brookdale Lodge, where he said a river ran through the dining room.

I’ve seen a place like that in Kelowna, B.C., a Best Western hotel with a huge atrium and a powerful, rushing river, but I didn’t know there was one in northern California. So we hopped in the car and went for a drive to check it out and see about some schnitzel or sauerbraten for lunch.

Alas, the German place was closed for lunch and the Brookdale Lodge has been shuttered for a couple years. It’s in a state of dusty disrepair but the security guard was nice enough to briefly show off the place to a couple of nostalgic visitors.

The dining room doesn’t look too much different from the way it did back in the day, my Dad said. The river still runs down the middle, and there are banks of tables that rise toward a high wall featuring stained glass segments. There’s a magnificent glass light fixture hanging over it all and a small bridge at one end. It’s said that former U.S. President Herbert Hoover used to fish off the bridge for brook trout, and my Dad said that back in the day you could catch your own fish in the stream and give it the kitchen staff, who’d prepare it for your dinner.

The place needs a ton of work and probably has too many rooms by half, I’d say. But I can imagine some dot.com billionaire from the nearby Silicon Valley giving it a shot. I hope so, as it would be a great story and a fun place to bed down in the redwoods.

The nearby town of Ben Lomond (see photo at left) feels like a small city you’d find in Oregon or the interior of British Columbia, with old wood fronts and a casual, outdoorsy feel. We stopped at the old Mac’s Bar, where folks used to pin dollar bills to the ceiling with darts. It’s now a fun shop featuring all sorts of old-time knick knacks; Pinocchio dolls and old car models and fun signs.

From there we backtracked to Felton and then took Highway 9 back into Santa Cruz. It’s a winding road that drops through a line of incredibly tall, beautiful redwood trees. It’s a thick, luscious canopy that feels like a cathedral, with broken light cascading through the green treetops and the deep smell of redwood and fog and sunshine all at once.

We motored into Santa Cruz and opted to have a bowl of chowder and a beer out on the pier, where you can dine behind tall panes of glass that keep out the wind. The surfers were dashing about in the waves off to the west at Steamer Lane - a legendary surf break in California - and noisy sea lions were barking on the pier below us as we dined.

The pier in Santa Cruz is a great shop for a bite or a stroll or for fishing. And the views are great. You can see the dun-coloured cliffs and colourful homes on West Cliff Drive. Off to one side and, to the east, the old-timey Santa Cruz boardwalk with its historic merry-go-round and one of the oldest wooden roller coasters in the world.

We also stopped at a hole-in-the-wall (I mean that in a good way) Mexican joint on Water St. called Tacos Moreno, where for about $5 you get a massive quesadilla filled with chicken and beans and cheese and oozing hot sauce. I can only imagine how filling a $6 burrito would be.

U.S. BORDER FEE A NO-GO?

Canadian Press reports that a U.S. congressman says Canadians should not be overly concerned about a proposed border crossing fee, saying it just isn’t going to happen.

Democratic representative Brian Higgins, who is from the border city of Buffalo, N.Y., told CTV’s Question Period on Sunday that he has a lot of allies in the U.S. Congress who will stop any legislation that includes a fee.

Higgins, who is a member of the Homeland security committee, has been a vocal critic of a proposed feasibility study on a border fee since it was spotted last week buried deep in the department’s 2014 budget.

New York Senator Charles Schumer, a Democrat, has also spoken out in opposition.

The Canadian government said it would lobby against such a fee.

But Higgins says there is sufficient political opposition to stop any such fee in its tracks.

“I’m telling you it’s not going to happen,” Higgins said. “The early indications are that both Democrats and Republicans oppose it and any new fee would have to get by both the House of Representatives, of which I am a member, and also the United States Senate, which Senator Schumer is a member. I’m going to fight this very very aggressively and I have a lot of allies.”

 

HOT AIR BALLOON DEATHS

You have to wonder about the safety of these things. Travelmole.com reports two people are missing, feared dead, after a hot air balloon carrying six tourists crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Peru.

Peruvian authorities rescued five women on Sunday but the pilot and another man are still missing. The women were found clinging to the balloon's floating basket. Peru's Interior Minister criticised the balloon's owner, Globos Peru SAC, for failing to provide life jackets and for not equipping it with a GPS tracker.

 
In February, you may recall, a hot air balloon crashed in Luxor, Egypt, killing 19 tourists. Star Travel columnist Arthur Frommer wrote a story about the safety of balloons after that incident, and his words seem remarkably prescient today.

Returning to action Monday ...

Under the weather today, will be back at the blog on Monday. Thanks, folks

 

jim