Kudos to Iceland, the Netherlands, Australia and Canada. Great marks for Singapore, Honolulu and San Francisco. Travel insurance provider Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) has released its 11th annual State of Travel Insurance Safest Destinations report, “the longest running and most trusted research project evaluating the attitudes of U.S. travelers toward travel safety and travel insurance.” The Netherlands, Australia, and Austria have been named the safest countries to visit in 2026, while Reykjavik, Copenhagen, and Zurich top the list of safest cities. Canada was named fifth safest country, which is down slightly from its third place finish last year. Montreal Read more

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Baseball fans in Canada are riding a rollercoaster, as the Toronto Blue Jays bounced back from two losses at home to the Seattle Mariners with a 13 to 4 win on Wednesday night. As the Jays look to advance to their first World Series since 1993 (a series I covered for the Toronto Star, allowing me to witness Joe Carter’s home run with my own eyes) attention on the team has advanced well past regular ball fans. New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds two-in-five Canadians following the team closely on this run (39%) – rising to half Read more

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Expedia Group today released Unpack ’26: The Trends in Travel™. The annual global report highlights shifts in traveller behaviour and the destinations set to dominate itineraries in 2026, including several Canadian destinations and activities spotlighted throughout. It’s also got some great destinations in such places as England, Italy, Asia and Australia.  From Destinations of the Year to salvaged hotels and reading retreats, to curling and farm stays, the seven trends in Unpack ’26 offer a look at the future of travel. Each trend is backed by first-party data from Expedia Group, and insights from 24,000 global travellers. Expedia — Destinations of Read more

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A new study from KAYAK finds shoulder season is bringing great travel deals for Canadians. Between the heat of summer and the chill of winter, shoulder season marks a time for peak travel perks with off-peak prices, KAYAK officials said in a study released today (Oct. 9). I’ve often argued that the fall is the best time to visit Europe, as crowds are down and the weather not as hot as summer. The fact there are bargains to be had on flights makes autumn travel all the more attractive. KAYAK says both domestic (-20%) and international (-11%) flights are cheaper Read more

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The annual Conde Nast Readers’ Choice Awards are out for best travel of 2025, and there’s plenty of great North American and world content to check out, as well as fabulous hotels and cruises. Canada made the top 10 for best countries to visit, while New York City won kudos for its food scene and hotels. Victoria, British Columbia was named best small city in the world, Barbados made the top three for most friendly countries, and Tokyo was named world’s best food city. The top ten hotels list for Canada included 1 Hotel Toronto and, in first place, the Read more

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Muskoka has officially reached 100% colour change and the region is ablaze with vibrant reds, fiery oranges, and glowing yellows – making it one of the most spectacular fall displays in North America. Visitors from near and far are heading north to experience this breathtaking season before the colours fade. (Play @DiscoverMuskoka Video)   While Algonquin Park has now passed its peak, Muskoka is just hitting its stride. Muskoka’s forests are glowing in full colour, dominated by vibrant reds and oranges. Sugar maples cover hillsides in deep orange and red, red maples have turned brilliant scarlet, and silver maples add Read more

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DETROIT – Once one of the richest cities in the world, Detroit has undergone a tremendous renaissance. I was in the city last summer for a few days to scout out its suitability for hosting the annual convention of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), of which I’m a board member. My SATW colleague and I gave it two thumbs up, and we held our convention there last month. The city’s tourism board worked tremendously hard and helped us put on a fantastic, successful convention. The locals and volunteers were welcoming and helpful, the weather was perfect and the convention Read more

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