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February 2016

This is shaping up to be quite a Leap Day for travel lovers. It’s barely noon in Toronto and I’ve already seen several really, really good deals for folks looking for travel bargains. Here are a few I’ve noticed so far… Air Canada Vacations: I got an email just after noon EST to say folks can save up to (yes, it seems there’s always that famous catchphrase, “up to”, but still) 50 per cent on trips to the Caribbean and Mexico with ACV. You also can get Aeroplan bonuses of 2,900 miles until March 3 for May and June departures, Read more

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That U.S. dollar is right there, smack-dab in front of your face. You’re strong-minded, but this is one staring contest you’re likely to lose, at least in the short term. Luckily, there are tons of great things to see and do here in Canada that don’t involve giving the bank a loonie in exchange for 65 U.S. cents. VICTORIA We’ll start with a city that’s usually among the warmest in Canada this time of year (normally hovering near the double digit mark). This used to be known as a sleepy government town, with tourists nattering on about tea at the Read more

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ORLANDO – Just east of The Mouse, there’s an entire city waiting to be discovered. This city has long been known for its theme parks and shopping malls, but there’s a cool, new vibe in the city’s growing downtown. Which makes it attractive for not just family trips but also hipsters looking for a fun (and reasonably priced) alternative in the Florida sun. Here are some suggestions. DRINKING Most folks don’t conjure up images of Orlando when you mention great bar towns, but the cocktail scene has kicked things up a notch or three the past few years and you’ll Read more

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A lovely beach. A relaxed but upscale environment. And super-friendly staff. This was my first experience at Sugar Bay Resort on the southwest coast of Barbados, but I hope it’s not my last. My wife and I only had one day as we were getting ready to head out on a cruise with Sea Dream Yacht Club (more about that in another report), so we made the most of it by staying on the property for our 21-hour visit. We were greeted with a cold, eucalyptus-scented towel when we checked in the covered but airy lobby, which features a couple Read more

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It started small and has mushroomed into a massive, mid-winter occasion that leaves some folks jubilant and others horribly confused. The “wave season” in the cruise travel business sounds a lot like the Super Bowl, but in this case it’s about saving money on a great vacation. Wave season started as a one-day cruise sale a couple decades ago and is now a weeks-long bonanza featuring hundreds of deals, discounts and extras ranging from free Wi-Fi to on-board spa treatments. “Wave season is sort of the Black Friday or Cyber Monday of the cruise space,” said Jason Sarracini, chief operating Read more

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