Three of Canada’s loyalty powerhouses captured eight out of the twelve categories in Canada’s Choice 2024. Rewards Canada’s annual survey of Canadians had an excellent turnout of over 35,000 votes cast over the course of two weeks which saw Aeroplan, TD Bank and Scotiabank/Scene+ dominate the rankings. Marriott Bonvoy also scored a big win.   “In general the results do show the prowess that the large loyalty programs and credit card issuers have,” said Patrick Sojka, founder of RewardsCanada.ca.  “Several categories were hard fought battles that were closely contested. The overall Credit Card Rewards program saw 1st and 2nd place separated by Read more

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  Maui County recently released a draft of its long-term recovery plan for Lahaina.   I find it an encouraging report, but there aren’t a lot of details just yet.   “To the naked eye, little progress has been made in the 14 months since the fire, with only a handful of houses breaking ground on reconstruction,” Forbes.com reported recently. “However, most of the debris from the fire has been cleaned up, and crews are almost done restoring utility access to all impacted lots.” Forbes said release of the  Lahaina draft plan is “no doubt a welcome sign for the Read more

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It’s that time of year. No, not Halloween. No, not the even scarier U.S. election. It’s time for travel magazines and online publications to issue their suggestions on where we should go in 2025. One of the first off the mark was National Geographic, a publication I have written for in the past. Nat Geo’s top 25 destinations for 2025 has some intriguing destinations including Haida Gwaii in British Columbia, Greenland and Los Angeles. Here’s what they said about L.A. “L.A.’s cultural scene is getting a jolt of new energy. Destination Crenshaw, the largest public/private Black art program in the U.S., Read more

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Excitement is building for this year’s most anticipated concert experience, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Known as one of the world’s top destinations for global music tours, Toronto is rolling out the “Red” carpet as Swift takes over Canada’s largest city with six unforgettable shows on November 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, and 23 – the most shows in North America, outside of Los Angeles. With an expected 240,000 concert-goers attending Swift’s shows, Toronto will have no shortage of Swift-inspired events and packages for those visiting the city, whether for one night or six.  From where to stay, where to eat Read more

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As a travel writer lucky enough to roam around the world and lucky enough (and then some) to stay in some of the most amazing hotels, I can’t complain for a moment. But after visiting with the owner of The Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento, Italy, I have to say I’m a little wistful that I haven’t had a chance to try this sumptuous property. A new hotel with all the bells and whistles is great, but the places that speak to me most are the ones with great history, amazing settings, and a true sense of place. As Read more

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If you’re looking for a hassle-free flight in Canada, you might want to think twice about Flair Airlines. Low-fare Flair Airlines had more customer complaints than any airline in Canada in the last fiscal quarter of the year, while Porter Airlines had the least. The Canadian Transportation Agency has released airline complaint figures for the three-month period from April to June of this year. The report includes airlines with an average of one or more complaints per 100 flights to/from/within Canada submitted to the CTA during 1one of the quarterly periods. Airlines that did not meet this criteria, or that did not Read more

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 Canadian travellers are  looking for information for places such as the Turks and Caicos, Peru, Portugal and San Antonio. They’re also looking for deals, sports and art-oriented trips, celestial travel and a taste of cowboy culture.   Leading global travel app Skyscanner today unveiled its annual travel trends report, revealing deep insights into Canadian traveller behaviour and spending for the coming year.  Using proprietary data, a specially commissioned survey of more than 18,000 travellers and trusted industry insights, Skyscanner’s Travel Trends report reveals all you need to know about travel for Canadians in 2025 – from the top 10 trending and best value destinations to Read more

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