I first visited Molokai maybe 20 years ago. It was just for a getaway night for my wife and I, who were on vacation on Maui with my family, and I don’t remember a lot. The weather wasn’t the best but it was quiet and restful. I went back for a day trip with my sister five years later and rented a car, so we were able to enjoy the drive to the Halawa Valley and got to briefly check out the valley and the pretty bay and beach. I went back for a travel story in the Toronto Star Read more
U.S.A.
There’s been a good deal of attention paid to how the ongoing trade wars and increasing political hostility between the U.S. and China and between Canada and China is hurting the economies of both the U.S. and Canada. What I hadn’t seen until today is something that focusses on how travel and tourism are being affected. A report on CBS News paints a troubling picture that should have American tourism folks pretty scared. I also found a Statistics Canada study from this week that shows Canadians also are being hurt. The CBS News item quotes a study from Tourism Economics, Read more
This item originally appeared at aarp.org/travel, where I’ve been publishing a variety of stories. Maui is a magnificent part of the Hawaiian Islands, with wondrous beaches, posh resorts, sensual hula shows and Instagram-worthy coastlines. Those memories can be expensive if you’re not careful. Luckily, however, there are lots of great free and extremely affordable ways to enjoy the island. Here are some tips from a 20-time-plus visitor. GO IN THE SHOULDER SEASON Summer is pricey as kids are out of school and many families want a beach holiday. Winter is expensive as snowbirds are anxious to flee the cold. I Read more
Happy Canada Day to all my friends and family! I was going through my emails on this lovely summer’s day in Toronto and spotted a new study from the Canada Goose clothing company that says 95 per cent of Canadians are proud of their country, which is great. The study also found that 64 per cent of Americans have considered moving north of the border, which I suppose means I was ahead of the curve by 38 years and two months, having landed on these shores via my Honda Accord hatchback on May 1, 1981, following a drive from my Read more
Newly refreshed rooms. A real sense of history. And a tremendous location. The Hotel Pennsylvania has been one of the top places to stay in New York City for decades, and it shows no signs of slowing down in its 100th anniversary year. I recently was in town for a night and managed my first-ever stay at the hotel, located on 7th Avenue and 32nd Street; directly across from Madison Square Garden and Penn Station. It may not be the centre of the universe, but darned if it doesn’t feel like it. They’ve refurbished a number of rooms and have Read more
