An influential U.S. Senator is ratcheting up the pressure on President Joe Biden to fully open the U.S. border. Canada and the Trudeau government allowed its COVID-19 travel restrictions to expire on Saturday, October 1. But the U.S. still requires all non-residents to show proof of vaccination before entering. Critics say that’s hurting American tourism. “We urge the United States to reciprocate the policy of our Canadian neighbours by easing our own COVID-19 restrictions for the sake of our northern border communities and their economies,” New York senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Brian Higgins (western New York) said in a Read more
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RANCHO SANTA FE, CALIFORNIA – I have the privilege of staying in a LOT of wonderful hotels and resorts. Few of them offer the tranquility of the Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa in southern California. Simply driving into the property, which is roughly a half-hour north of downtown San Diego, put my wife and I into a relaxed state of mind, as we wound our way up a small hill past thickets of dense trees and traffic signs that said “24 MPH.” (Why 24 versus 25, I don’t know; maybe it’s supposed to get your attention, in which case it Read more
The Fort Myers airport is slated to open for limited traffic today, but that doesn’t mean tourism will be back any time soon in Southwest Florida. A spokesperson for Fort Myers tourism told me on Tuesday that limited flights will begin today and that Air Canada is tentatively scheduled to fly in and out of Fort Myers on Friday. A few hotels could open soon, but rooms are being set aside for utility workers and other responders. Hurricane Ian did tremendous damage to Florida and other parts of the U.S., as well as to some Caribbean islands. The death toll Read more
Conde Nast Travel has put out its annual list of top cities, islands, airlines and hotels, and both my home state and adopted country did well. Hawai’i, which is like home to me, also put on a strong performance, as did Florida. The magazine today listed Victoria as the number two small city in the world, while Montreal (10) and Quebec City (5) were named among the top ten best big cities on the planet. Chicago was first for big U.S. cities, followed by Honolulu and San Diego. San Francisco was seventh for big U.S. cities, and New York City Read more
Norwegian Cruise Line today announced that it has updated its global health and safety protocols by removing all COVID-19 testing, masking and vaccination requirements effective Oct. 4, 2022. Given the significant, positive progress in the public health environment, the cruise line said it updated its health and safety guidelines, which are now more aligned with other global travel organizations. “Health and safety are always our first priority; in fact, we were the health and safety leaders from the very start of the pandemic,” said Harry Sommer, Norwegian Cruise Line president and chief executive officer. “Many travelers have been patiently waiting Read more
