The folks at Travelzoo Canada* have some pretty good advice to offer holiday travellers in Canada, and some very, very good deals to offer as well, with prices up to 70% off at awesome destinations such as New York City for the very lovely Gild Hall Hotel. Here’s what they had to say in a press release issued today:
The Gild Hall Hotel in New York City.
Canadians may be frustrated with the soaring prices of holiday travel but vacation deals are still available. While travel agents and online booking sites are quoting prices that are double or even triple the rate rates of non-holiday travel, deal experts at Travelzoo Canada have managed to score a wide variety of vacation options at affordable, and often discounted, prices.
“Finding good hotel deals for Christmas or New Year’s is not quite like catching a unicorn. They (good deals) still exist,” notes Michael Duchesne, publisher for Travelzoo Canada.
Duchesne does note, however, that travel by air is going to cost extra this time of year. “Aim to vacation somewhere local,” he suggests. “But if you need to go, take the train or plan a road trip instead of a last-minute flight,” he adds.
One of their deals features the very fine Gild Hall Hotel in lower Manhattan for just $274 Cdn. per night. That’s a steal for a very handsome property in a good location. It’s not midtown, but you’re close to many historic sights and to Wall Street, as well as the new observation tower built to replace the World Trade Center taken down on 9/11.
Here are a couple of other deals they’re offering:
One night at the Sunshine Mountain Lodge, Banff’s only ski-in, ski-out hotel, with 2 ski lift passes (including Christmas) for $219, a savings of 33%,
One night at the Old Mill Toronto, with premium continental breakfast for 2 and other extras (including Christmas) from $199, a savings of 47%,
One night at the Muskoka JW Marriott Resort, with $30 dining credit and $20 spa credit (including Christmas) for $179, a savings of 37%,
One night at The Pacific Gateway Hotel in Richmond (including Christmas and New Year’s) for $155, a savings of 40%,
One night at the Hotel 10 boutique hotel in Montreal (including Christmas) for $100, a savings of 35%.
Looking to head south of the border? Travelzoo U.S. deals include:
One night at the Hamilton Crowne Plaza in Washington, DC (including Christmas) from $155 per night.
One night at the Holiday Inn Resort Orlando-Lake Buena Vista (including Christmas) for $145 per night, a savings of 40%,
One night at the Acme Hotel Company Chicago (including Christmas and New Year’s) from $122, a savings of 65%.
For further information, visit Travelzoo.ca.
*FULL DISCLAIMER: I write regularly for the Travelzoo website, offering destination stories and travel tips.
MORE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC AND G ADVENTURES TRIPS
The folks at Toronto-based G Adventures today launched a new lineup of 70 trips as part of their National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures program.
The line-up of tours connects travellers with local cultures while discovering destinations where National Geographic’s explorers and storytellers have helped shaped history. Each trip features travel experiences that are unique to this program, including encounters with National Geographic-supported researchers or projects.
Examples include a game drive in South Africa with a scientist from the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Carnivore Conservation Program, a dual-narrative walking tour in Israel led by both Israeli and Palestinian guides who were trained by a National Geographic Emerging Explorer, and spending time at the Kyan Sithar Umin monastery in Burma to discuss Buddhism and daily life with a resident monk.
Trips are on sale from December 15, 2015 and the first departures begin on January 5, 2016. Here are a couple of links to some videos that are definitely worth checking out….
PARIS WE LOVE YOU
I’m just now hearing about this new campaign for Paris tourism, using the hashtag #ParisWeLoveYou. Not to get all serious or anything, but I think it’s critical for folks who believe in justice and free speech and freedom to support Paris in her time of need. This is one of the greatest cities on the planet, and she’s been ripped apart by terrorist attacks that are hideous and barbaric. It’s up to everyone with a conscience to stand up to people behind incidents like the latest one in France, so it’s absolutely wonderful to see this campaign.
Here’s the press information I received: “Alongside the French Government, the City of Paris , Alliance 46.2 and some 50 companies and organizations, the tourism group Atout France will serve as one of the partnering “Ambassadors” of a new social media campaign targeted at boosting Paris as the tourism gateway of France and Europe.
All lovers of Paris, in addition to Parisians, are invited to join in this movement of solidarity in the hopes that the world will see and understand that life goes on in Paris; safely, freely and with beauty and pride.”
It’s a gorgeous city, with fantastic streetscapes, museums, cafes, hotels and famous landmarks. This campaign is very important, and utterly fantastic.
