And now my Jimmy Awards for Best International Travel Experiences in 2024. I didn’t do a lot of overseas travel, but I did manage trips to Istanbul and Singapore, and our MSC cruise on the World Europe took us to Italy, Malta, Spain and France. Thank you to everyone who helped along the way, both in big and small ways. Best Tour: We had a superb tour of Palermo, Sicily with a local guide on our MSC World Europa visit. We admired the beautiful cathedral, nibbled on cannoli the size of a football, and briefly toured a furiously noisy local Read more
Europe
The Canadian dollar is taking another beating today, and was down below 70 cents at one point. It’s a devastating problem for people who bring in U.S. goods, and it definitely hurts Canadians who want to take trips to the States or to other countries with a strong currency. Luckily, there are ways to offset the low Canadian dollar. CHOOSE YOUR VACATION SPOTS We’re getting crushed by Uncle Sam greenbacks, but so are many other parts of the world. One secret is to find places where the Canadian dollars goes a long way. For example, a hundred Canadian loonies (one Read more
Expedia has come out with its list of top world destinations for 2025, and there are some great picks. Here’s their top nine for the upcoming year. A Catalonian culinary haven Girona, Spain As Catalonian capital Barcelona hits the headlines for record-breaking tourism numbers, conscious travellers are keeping visits short and sweet, basing themselves primarily in nearby Girona, a hill-top medieval showstopper just 40 minutes away via the new Avlo high-speed train service. In gastronomic circles, Girona has been an insider secret for years, with 12 Michelin-starred restaurants in the region, snapping at San Sebastián’s crown as Spain’s culinary Read more
ISTANBUL, TURKIYE – One of the richest histories of any city on earth. Wondrous places of worship. Remarkable food. Some of the world’s most interesting markets. And hotels for every budget. I recently spent eight days in Istanbul for a board meeting and then a full convention of the Society of American Travel Writers, and got to check out several hotels and some wonderful restaurants. I also had walking tours that included the Aya (also known as Hagia) Sophia, the amazing Basilica Cisterns, the Spice Bazaar, the sparkling, new Galataport shopping/dining/cruise port, and outside glimpses of the Blue Mosque and Read more
Canadians just can’t get enough of the U.S. in general, and Florida in particular. Leading global travel app Skyscanner has revealed the top destinations with the largest year-over-year increase that Canadian snowbirds are flocking to this winter, as well as valuable insights looking at how adults are prioritizing their travel plans. Using proprietary data, a specially commissioned survey of 2,000 travellers and trusted industry insights, Skyscanner’s exclusive data reveals the best winter travel options for Canadians for the remainder of 2024-early 2025. This winter, Canadians are looking to take flight to warmer climates, drawn to destinations that are easily accessible, Read more
