News about LGBTQ+ travel, plus a Nova Scotia golf update and European train travel item. My news roundup for today. Canada Ranked Safest Country in World for LBGTQ+ Travelers Canada ranked at the top of the 2023 list as the most LGBTQ+ country in the world for the third year in the row. Journalists Lyric and Asher Fergusson run a travel site dedicated to LGBTQ+safety. At the beginning of March, they published a report called “The 203 Worst (& Safest) Countries for LGBTQ+ Travel in 2023.” CIC News says they reviewed every country’s individual laws and gathered data from Read more
Canada
Architectural Digest has a good piece on high-end hotels and resorts that are frequented by celebrities. Included in their list is the Four Seasons Whistler in British Columbia, Amangiri in Utah, Alila Ventana Big Sur in California and Island House, a quiet spot on super remote Lord Howe Island, Australia. I don’t think I’ve stayed there but I believe I’ve had a meal or two at the Four Seasons in Whistler. I haven’t stayed at Amangiri in Utah but I hear amazing things. I also haven’t stayed at Alila Ventana, but I’ve spent a bit of time in Big Sur, Read more
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the airport… Canadians managed to get through a winter marred by travel snafus, including winter storms, overcrowded airports and cancelled flights. But now comes a potential spring double whammy. Some 155,000 federal works are on strike today (April 20). Talks are back on between the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Trudeau government, but for now Canada Revenue Agency workers are not at their desks, and Canadian passport offices are closed. The CBC reports that passport applications and renewals “are on hold and limited to those in humanitarian Read more
A Canadian parliamentary committee is calling for sweeping changes to Canada’s air passenger rights rules, including better compensation regulations for those facing delayed or cancelled flights, and tougher enforcement of the rules. Canadian Press reports that the recommendations, tabled in Ottawa on Tuesday (April 18), comes after chaotic travel seasons over the summer and winter holidays brought on by soaring demand, labour shortages and winter storms. The House of Commons standing committee on transport offered 21 recommendations, including stronger monetary penalties, smoother processing of compensation claims and automatic payout offers after cancellations, significant delays or denial of boarding. The Globe Read more
The union representing WestJet pilots says they have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate. A representative of the Air Line Pilots Association told the CBC that 95% of pilots took part in the strike mandate voting, and that 93% were in favour of giving the union the ability to call a strike. Yahoo finance said pilots could strike or be locked out if notice is given on May 13. A job action that close to the long May weekend would obviously be extremely disruptive for Canadian travellers. WestJet officials pointed out that a strike authorization vote is a Read more
