If you’ve ever seen the tremendous video of the poor “Zone One” boarding pass guy waiting to get on a plane, you might understand where I’m coming from with this piece. For those who don’t know it or don’t have time right now to watch it via this link, the skit involves a fellow who eagerly bounds to the front of a gate lineup as he’s holding a precious “Zone One” boarding pass. Of course, he waits for First Class, and then Business, and then elite rewards members and kids and folks in wheelchairs and is still standing in line. Read more
Europe
A barrage of visitors is usually a good thing in Niagara Falls. But maybe there’s too much of a good thing. Associated Press reports that Niagara Region has declared a state of emergency as it prepares to welcome up to a million visitors for the solar eclipse on April 8. The mid-afternoon event will be the first total solar eclipse in Ontario since 1979, and the moon is expected to entirely block the sun for a few minutes. No less a source than National Geographic declared Niagara Falls as one of the best places to see the eclipse, which was Read more
A look at where North Americans are thinking of traveling, the latest stats on foreign visits to Canada, miscellaneous news and a European theme park with something called “Spitting Toilet Man.” Today’s blog post has a little of everything. WHERE NORTH AMERICANS WANT TO TRAVEL Skyscanner has a new study out that shows North American travelers are seeking new destinations and also looking at old faves. Their date for June to August of this year shows a +3% increase in people looking at South America, a +2% increase for North Asia and a +1% increase for Southeast Asia. The shift Read more
Choosing a cruise is a very personal experience. Some of us crave serenity, others want non-stop action. Some people like dinners in tuxedos and ball gowns, others (me, me!) want their most casual Jimmy Buffett attire. Some clients want quirky ports of call in southeast Asia, some want to see the great cities of Europe. I recently finished a one-week cruise around the Mediterranean on the posh MSC World Europa, and found it quite amazing. It’s a ship that’s a little tricky to categorize, as it really does offer something for everyone. When I wanted to enjoy a vibrant Broadway Read more
I’m still working on my story about the MSC World Europa cruise ship. In the meantime, here are some highlights of our shore excursions. Our cruise started and finished in Rome. Along the way we stopped in Palermo (Sicily), Malta, Barcelona, Marseilles and Genoa. A cruise is a fabulous way to see great sights and cities in Europe, as you unpack your bags once and your “hotel” takes you from city to city. No need to arrive at airports two hours prior to a flight and hope your plane leaves on time, no big security hassles. Here’s a look at Read more
