American Express Travel today released its 2023 Trending Destinations list, which features the 10 most popular places for travel in the next year based on Card Member booking data. It’s a mix of tried-and-true and lesser-known destinations around the world.
The 2023 Trending Destinations are: Copenhagen, Denmark; Florida Keys, Florida; Istanbul, Turkey; Lisbon, Portugal; Mexico City, Mexico; Montenegro; Paris, France; Sydney, Australia; Woodstock, Vermont; and Yakuve Island, Fiji.
American Express travel consultants have helped narrow down the top places to go and what to do with 3-day weekend itineraries for each of the 2023 Trending Destinations, highlighting where jet setters can stay, eat, shop and explore with ease. Actress and entrepreneur Issa Rae consulted on the Paris itinerary, recommending some of her favorite places in the City of Light.
I’ve been to seven of the destinations on the list. Copenhagen is a beautiful city, as is Istanbul. Lisbon is both attractive and very affordable. Mexico City has amazing food, while Paris kinda speaks for itself. I love the Florida Keys for the weather and laid-back vibe, and I’ve been lucky enough to visit Sydney several times over the years, including a few days in May of this year. It’s truly a fantastic city, with wonderful beaches, great neighborhoods, fabulous food + much more.
Other American Express findings:
* 88% of respondents agree that they wish that their trips and travel experiences could be longer
* 70% of respondents want to travel to wish list destinations in 2023
* 50% of respondents have already started to think about where they want to go on their upcoming summer 2023 vacations
* 81% of respondents agree they want to feel a sense of adventure at their next travel destination
* 44% of respondents agree they find it extremely helpful to have a travel expert help plan itineraries for a trip
Santorini, Greece. Dan-Unsplash Photo
G ADVENTURES NEW TRIPS FOR THE NEW YEAR
Global adventure operator and community tourism pioneer, G Adventures, has been hard at work designing a host of new adventures for the new year, with a focus on stepping off the beaten path and uncovering hidden gems, getting active in some of the world’s most breathtaking locations, and rediscovering “that feeling” that only travel can provide.
With so much more of the world accessible since 2020, G Adventures is confident that 2023 is going to be a big year for adventure travel.
From heart-pumping challenges like taking on Morocco’s Mount Toubkal and trekking Iceland’s lesser-hiked southern coastline, through to sampling authentic mole in Mexico’s gastronomic heartland and experiencing the mystical mountains of Bhutan, these new adventures span G Adventures’ Classic and Active travel styles, and range from four to 12 days. The range of new trips is diverse, but they all share G Adventures’ commitment to local cultural experiences and to ensuring the local communities visited benefit from hosting travellers.
David Green, managing director for G Adventures in Canada, says the new trips offer some new ways to see some of G Adventures’ most popular locations as the operator’s programme expands in size for the first time since the pandemic.
“Our new Classic trips offer even more immersive, authentic experiences to travellers that give back to local communities, and our new Active trips capitalize on the continued post-pandemic trend to get out in nature,” says Green.
A selection of new trips for 2023 include:
* The Many Sides of Mexico: Puerto Vallarta to Oaxaca – This 15-day Classic style trip takes travellers through interior Mexico, visiting towns and cities rich with culture. Visit G for Good project Alebrijes Artisan Community in Oaxaca – a collective of local artisans that make intricate wood carvings that help support the local economy. Priced from $2,999 per person. (Prices do not include international flights.)
* The Moroccan Coast and Marrakech – Starting and ending in Marrakech, this eight-day trip combines the sun drenched beaches of Morocco with the not-to-be-missed excitement of Marrakech. Participate in a tagine-making demonstration, dine in a souk in Agadir, hike to a waterfall and sip tea in a Berber Village with a local family. Priced from $1,299 per person.
* Hiking Southern Iceland – This six-day Active style trip will get your heart pounding. Starting and ending in Reykjavik, travellers will hike the scenic Múlagljúfur Canyon, a little known gem that conjures up fairy tales, visit waterfalls and lagoons and even climb a glacier. Priced from $3,199 per person.
* Highlights of the Greek Islands – This eight-days Classic trip from Athens to Santorini is an island-hopping adventure that hits the must-see sights as well as some of the more under-the-radar spots, including Tinos, one of Greece’s more slower paced islands. travellers will hike, explore beaches and of course be treated to mouth-watering local cuisine. Priced from $2,499pp.
Air Canada plane.
AIR CANADA AND EMIRATES LAUNCH CODESHARE
Air Canada and Emirates today announced the launch of their codeshare cooperation. The new partnership will allow customers of the carriers to enjoy seamless connectivity to 46 markets spanning three continents, including to destinations across the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.
Beginning today, codeshare tickets will be available for sale to 35 markets for travel effective December 1 with 11 additional markets to be added pending final regulatory approval, and the potential for more markets to be included beyond that. Tickets are available via the carriers’ websites at aircanada.com and emirates.com as well as via major GDS systems and travel agencies.
“This exciting new partnership with Emirates will allow Air Canada to meaningfully broaden the choice of flight options for our customers. It will create easier connections between Canada and destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. As well, it will allow us to draw more connecting traffic through our Toronto global hub and expand our presence in these dynamic regions where demand for global travel is expected to grow,” said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer at Air Canada.
Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: “We are delighted to establish a partnership with Air Canada, to expand our reach into more points in North America. Partnering with Canada’s flag carrier enables us to offer customers seamless connectivity when flying to domestic points within Canada via Toronto. Besides the added-value benefits and rewarding experiences that leisure and business travellers of both airlines can look forward to, the partnership allows Air Canada’s customers to travel to destinations across Asia, Africa and the Middle East, thanks to our expansive network via our hub in Dubai.”
Emirates customers will be able to book codeshare flights to and from Canadian points beyond Toronto, including Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver.
Air Canada will place its code on routes operated by Emirates from its hub in Dubai, expanding the airline’s reach across the Indian subcontinent and unlocking more destinations, including Colombo, Dhaka, Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore.
Seamless connectivity will also be enjoyed by Air Canada’s customers travelling to Southeast Asian destinations including Bangkok, Hanoi, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore; the Middle Eastern cities Jeddah and Muscat; as well as destinations in Africa, namely Addis Ababa and Dar Es Salaam.
Coming soon, the airlines will introduce a reciprocal frequent flyer offering, allowing members of Aeroplan and Skywards to earn and redeem points on flights operated by Emirates and Air Canada, respectively. Eligible passengers will also soon be able to take advantage of reciprocal lounge access, along with select benefits for Aeroplan Elite and Skywards members when travelling on the partner airline. Further details and launch dates will be announced at a later date.
* Codeshare activities are subject to government approvals.
Little Niagara-on-the-Lake at Little Canada in downtown Toronto. JIM BYERS PHOTO
LITTLE CANADA VOTED TOP ONTARIO ATTRACTION
Shortly after winning the title of Top Indoor Attraction in Ontario, Little Canada has been named the province’s overall Attraction of the Year by earning the most votes in Attraction Ontario’s seventh annual Ontario’s Choice Awards.
The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario recently hosted the annual Tourism Summit in Huntsville at Deerhurst Resort. That evening, the Attractions Ontario Ontario’s Choice Awards were recognized, and Little Canada was named the winner of the Attraction of the Year award. This title was bestowed to the attraction that received the most votes overall across all categories of the eight Ontario’s Choice Awards.
“We are thankful and humbled to hear the outcome of Ontario’s Choice Awards,” says Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer, Founder and President of Little Canada. “It warms our hearts that so many people have enjoyed visiting Little Canada during our first year of being open to the public. Little Canada has been a journey 10 years in the making. Our dreams are finally coming to fruition, and we deeply appreciate the recognition and sentiment.”
Little Canada stands out with its masterfully detailed miniature landscapes that allows for guests to experience the magic of Canada, all under one roof. Even more exciting, visitors have the opportunity to become a ‘Little Canadian’ by getting a 3D scan of themselves in the Littlization Station.
I visited a few months ago and thought it was terrific; the level of detail is simply amazing.
