A new list of the top 10 food and wine cities in the world leads with Hong Kong. I also have updates on ambitious, new plans to boost tourism in Toronto and across Canada, plus Expedia tips on where to go in Canada and Europe this year, and the ideal time to book your trip. Food and Wine magazine also looked at the world’s best cities for food and wine. Here’s their top 10 for world cities: Hong Kong (truly spectacular cuisine) London (it wouldn’t have made the list 25 or 30 years ago, but the city has come a Read more
Europe
With Canadians increasingly interested in staying home for their vacations this year, a new report from KAYAK finds that domestic airfare prices are up 70% so far in 2026. It’s normal for domestic flights to increase in price in spring and summer as compared with winter, when Canadians tend to seek warmer climates. But the KAYAK study finds it’s a pretty serious increase; an average hike of $158 for flights between Canadian destinations. Not only are prices up 70% from January, but domestic airfares in Canada are up 26% in April of this year, compared to the same month in Read more
Skyscanner has a new look at great travel hacks that are bound to save you money on your next great trip. They also have information on the cheapest destinations in May for Canadian travellers, including Ireland. Japan and Greece. Hack #1: Best Time to Book Flights Save big on airfare this month! Skyscanner data shows the best time to book flights for May: This handy tool will tell Canadians when the best time is to book flights for travel to May hotspots in Ireland, like Dublin and Cork. Travellers travelling from Toronto to Dublin in May typically see the biggest savings when Read more
MSN has posted a pretty good list of the world’s top cultural destinations for 2026. There’s always room to quibble with most “best of” lists, as they’re generally based on someone’s personal experience or preferences. I’m sure people look at some of mine and think, ‘Dude, WHAT are you thinking?” Anyhow, this latest MSN cultural list seems pretty good to me. Here are their top 10 choices for this year, with a short excerpt from their comments, And, for places I’ve visited, some of my own thoughts. SINGAPORE “Modern yet deeply rooted in tradition, Singapore offers a mix of cultures Read more
Great Caribbean hotels in Jamaica, Bahamas, Saint Lucia and more. A look at new Hilton hotels in Greece, London, California and more. And a look at new cruise ships from Norwegian Cruise Line, Explora and Royal Caribbean. SIX GREAT CARIBBEAN HOTELS AND RESORTS I’ve been lucky enough to visit a couple of dozen islands in the Caribbean. Here are some of my fave hotels in the region. THE CRANE, BARBADOS Established in 1887, this is considered the oldest, continuously run hotel in the entire Caribbean. It’s a posh but not over the top property on the quiet, southeast coast of Read more
