Fully vaccinated Canadians taking short trips out of the country will no longer be required to take COVID-19 tests before returning home, multiple sources report. Both the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail report that the government will introduce a rule waiving the need for tests for anyone who’s outside of Canada less than 72 hours.  PCR tests, also known as molecular tests, would still be required for trips longer than 72 hours. Those tests can cost $200 or more in the U.S. The CBC said the change likely will be made near the end of the month, just Read more

Australia held a virtual global tourism summit today (Nov. 16), with tons of great information and tantalizing stories about the country. Canadians still aren’t allowed to visit, but there is a travel bubble with New Zealand, which allows Kiwis to visit without needing to quarantine. They’re hoping to set up an Australia-Singapore bubble soon. There’s no date for when Canadians or Americans can go, but they’re hoping it’s not far away. Given that one in 13 jobs in Australia depend on tourism, there are a lot of reasons for Aussies to want to welcome overseas visitors again. I was lucky Read more

Chicago is one of the world’s great cities, home to amazing architecture, sensational food and warm, welcoming people. Here are seven great things to see, do and eat, as well a wonderful place to lay your head at night, when you visit. CHICAGO DOGS Portillo’s main restaurant on Ontario Street downtown is as Chicago as it gets; a wild emporium packed with sports paraphernalia, old cars hanging from the ceiling and other kitschy but fun pieces. They serve everything from Italian beef sandwiches to massive salads and desserts big enough to feed the starting five of the Chicago Bulls NBA basketball Read more

Cross border travel between Canada and the U.S. is growing, and experts see a strong recovery on the horizon. BrandUSA, which seeks to boost travel to the United States, sponsored a virtual tourism/travel session earlier today with border, tourism and airline officials. Tim Liu, Managing Director, Sales Planning & Effectiveness at Air Canada, said things are looking much better these days. “We are definitely seeing strong signs of growth and we expect to return to a more normal Canada-USA air travel market,” he said. “We definitely see that recovery under way.” “We expect it to be fast-paced recovery and expect Read more

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are approaching fast. Here’s a look at some great travel savings. Stay tuned for more great deals as we get closer to the big days. LE BOAT SAVINGS Le Boat, leaders in European and Canadian private houseboating adventures, have announced their Black Friday deals for tourists looking to explore Europe or the UNESCO World Heritage Rideau Canal in 2022.  This year’s Black Friday deals will run from November 25 to December 1 and customers can save up to 25 % on French and Rideau Canal boat rentals for 2022. “Le Boat is an ideal option Read more

Flair Airlines continues to expand and change the face of the Canadian aviation market as it introduces nonstop, low-fare flights to Cancun and Los Cabos, Mexico, from Vancouver, Abbotsford, Edmonton, Ottawa, and Kitchener-Waterloo. “Starting in February, Canadians will enjoy affordable, sunny winter getaways to Cancun and Los Cabos without breaking the bank,” said Garth Lund, Chief Commercial Officer, Flair Airlines. “We can’t wait to get our customers to the beach.” “The average February temperature in Canada is -6 °C; the average temperature in Cancun is 28 °C, so February seemed like a good month to start service,” he added. Starting Read more