Thinking of a trip to Europe next year? You’ll likely need a special waiver form/authorization statement. Americans, Canadians, Australians, Mexico citizens and many others heading to Europe have traditionally not needed special documentation, other than a passport. But the European Union is changing the rules for 2024, and will now require a special authorization for people travelling from visa-exempt countries (1.4 billion people in all) to so-called Schengen Zone countries, which you can apply for in advance through the European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS. NOTE: This does not apply to the United Kingdom or Ireland, which are Read more
Europe
WESTJET NEW WINTER SCHEDULE WestJet today announced its winter schedule, unveiling significant opportunities for Canadians to plan their winter escapes and extending key domestic and international routes from summer to year-round service. New routes include Calgary-Tampa Bay, Toronto-Bonaire and Edmonton-Montego Bay. The Tampa Bay flights will allow greater access to St. Petersburg, Clearwater Beach and Dunedin, spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays. WestJet also is extending key routes to operate year-round, including Calgary-Paris and Vancouver-Atlanta. “This year’s winter schedule is about providing Canadians with what they want: affordable sun destination getaways from across Canada; enhanced domestic Read more
Dreaming of a European summer? The ultimate list for a summer of travelling has been revealed. It’s been a busy and warm summer in Europe, so here are some ways to beat the heat. Once you’ve cooled off, get out there and enjoy. The team at Spin Genie analysed the average price and the number of days it would take to view the tourist attractions of major European cities to create a list of the 11 best places to visit in Europe. 11 of the Best Places to Visit in Europe: City Country Average Hotel Read more
Heat warnings have become a regular occurrence in Europe this summer, with scorching temperatures in Athens, Rome and other cities. Here are some pro tips on how to stay cool and survive the Europe heat wave this summer. Toronto-based travel agent Wendy Davis, owner of Zebrano Travel, a member of the Virtuoso Luxury Travel Network, said knowing your hotels and your geography can help you battle record high temperatures in Europe and other destinations. Davis said she thought it might be a hot summer, so she’s been booking families into hotels with swimming pools so they can stay cool. “Cities Read more
Today’s travel roundup includes news on air passenger protection rules for Canada, a boom in European tourism, and an item on how major U.S. destinations are hoping to restart major tourism from China. I also have a note about the new Eastern and Oriental Express train’s Malaysia trips. AIR PASSENGER RIGHTS IN CANADA Today, the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) is launching consultations on proposed amendments to the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), and invites Canadians to participate. The Budget Implementation Act introduces changes to the Canada Transportation Act (the Act) to clarify, simplify and strengthen the Canadian air passenger protection regime. The CTA will have Read more
