The folks at hotels.com have come up with a list of 10 Instagram-worthy spots in the U.S. I also have a look at the new rules for visitors to Hawaii that come into effect Sept. 1.   Top Instagram Places in the U.S.   They skipped over some obvious places such as the Empire State Building and came up with a nice list. I’ll note that four of the 10 places they listed are in my home state of California. Just sayin’.   Here’s the list:   1. Big Sur, California 2. Red Rocks Park and Ampitheater, Colorado 3. Montauk Read more

A lot of folks were skeptical when Air Canada said it was taking over Aeroplan and would bring in a whole new loyalty rewards system. But the early reviews are excellent, indeed. Air Canada this morning officially released details of its new Aeroplan program, which begins Nov. 8. Among the changes: Every seat on every Air Canada flight can now be booked with Aeroplan points (they’re using points as the terminology, not miles) There are no longer any annoying fuel surcharges or other surcharges on Aeroplan tickets The credit cards have been given a big boost, with more perks for Read more

Cruising is on the rebound in Europe. But the Cayman Islands have extended their border closure until October 1. A rather mixed bag for my Future of Travel report for August 10. Cayman Islands Extends Border Closing The Cayman Islands Government has announced that having continually monitored the rate of infection in other countries, particularly in the United States where the pandemic is still widespread, Cabinet has taken the decision to extend the Islands border closure for an additional 30 days, until 1st October 2020, at which time a further decision will be made.  During this time, repatriation flights by Read more

A report on over-tourism. Which is now under-tourism. Which isn’t good, either. Also, a note about the U.S. State Department lifting its four-month advisory against Americans travelling abroad. My Future of Travel  blog for Aug. 7. Finding the Right Tourism Balance For years we’ve read headlines about too many tourists cramming the Champs Elysees and jamming the canals of Amsterdam. Locals on some popular Spanish islands got so fed up that they vandalized visitors’ cars. Petitions against over-tourism sprang up in overcrowded cities such as Barcelona and Venice, where they had to put limits on cruise ships. Now, what some Read more

A new listing of the top cities in the U.S. gives a boost to NYC and to several California cities. I also take a look at tourism in Nova Scotia and the re-opening of a fabulous hotel in the Caribbean. My Aug. 5 Future of Travel blog. Top 20 Cities in the U.S. The Big Apple takes top prize. But California has plenty to boast about. A company called Resonance Consultancy has once again published its list of the top cities in the U.S. They used six categories for ranking American cities: place, product, people, prosperity, program and promotion. The Read more

This is an excerpt from my new book, “Ontario Escapes: 19 Great Places  to Visit Right Now.” It’s available from Apple Books (and only for Apple devices) for just $4.99 Canadian. What a deal! Here’s the link for the book: https://books.apple.com/ca/book/ontario-escapes/id1523750857   Chapter 11: Gravenhurst and Muskoka WHAT: There’s a reason some folks call Muskoka Toronto’s playground. Located just two hours (maybe less given COVID-19 traffic, or lack of same) north of the city, you’ll find amazing lakes strewn with rocky islets and towering, deep green trees. It’s as pretty as a postcard, and easy to reach. WHERE: Gravenhurst, the Read more