I had some great visits outside of Canada and the U.S. this year, visiting Sydney, Tasmania, Western Australia, Dominica, Puerto Rico, Martinique, Scotland and England. Here are some highlights. BEST RENTAL CAR EMPLOYEE My reservation was all messed up and the Budget Rental Car counter was closed when I landed at the airport in Esperance, Western Australia. I called the phone number for after hours help and reached a very kind woman named Hope. She was about to head off to a gender reveal party but said she could drive out and get my car set up for me, which Read more
Dominica
Two men were charged with the murder of Quebec entrepreneur Daniel Langlois and his partner, Dominique Marchand, in a court in Dominica Wednesday morning. The CBC reports that Jonathan Lehrer and Robert Snyder briefly appeared in the courtroom, both in handcuffs. Neither is said to have entered a plea. The Daily Mail said Lehrer, 57, has been charged with the Canadian couple’s murder – along with Snyder, another non-national. The bodies of Langlois and Marchand were found in a burnt-out car last Friday in Dominica, the Caribbean island nation where the couple had lived since 1997. They opened the posh, environmentally-friendly Read more
Time Magazine (remember them?) is out with a list of its top 50 destinations for 2023. Some of my fave places made the list, including Vancouver, Vienna, surprising Tampa and the Caribbean island of Dominica, where I spent five days in January. Also making the list on the Canadian side of the ledger was Churchill, Manitoba, which I haven’t had the pleasure of visiting. For Australia, placements went to Kangaroo Island in South Australia and Brisbane, the capital of Queensland. There are six U.S. places on the list but none from the United Kingdom or Ireland, which is a little Read more
This story originally appeared at EverythingZoomer.com The Caribbean is one of the world’s top destinations. But which is right for you? Here’s a list of five great spots in the Caribbean you should check out. I’ve visited and enjoyed all of them. SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES The second half of the country known as St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a sheer delight. On the island of Bequia, which is just a short ferry ride from St. Vincent, you’ll find a sleepy waterfront village called Port Elizabeth. It’s got a wonderful, laid-back vibe and small, narrow streets packed with Read more
I don’t always agree with magazines that publish top destination lists. Sometimes they seem rather contrived, as if they’re trying to show off. But the latest one from Conde Nast Traveler hits the mark pretty well. The magazine asked travel experts to name the top island getaway places in the world, and they listed a half-dozen of my personal faves. Vancouver Island was cited for whale watching and other activities. “There’s far more to Vancouver Island than Victoria. One of my favorite places on the island is Tofino, a small town on the far west coast about halfway up the island Read more
