If all the studies and polls I read are correct, it looks like it will be a very busy summer (in the northern hemisphere) for tourism. The price of flights and the jet fuel surcharges and bag fee hikes we’re seeing could slow things down, but people are travelling in near-record numbers these days. That means things could get pretty crowded in some of the world’s fave destinations. With that in mind, here’s one world traveller’s suggestions on great places to go in late April, May and into early June. I’ll have another, similar list in a week or so. Read more
Auckland
Shoulder season is here; that time between the big winter getaway and the much-loved summer vacation. It’s a time of year when crowds are still down in a lot of popular spots in the world (hello, Europe and Australia, as well as Canada and many parts of the U.S.), and when prices are often better than during peak season. On top of that, there are some great places in the world where North American dollars can really help you save money. With both of those factors in mind, here are some great places where both Canadian and American travellers can Read more
Sometimes I wonder about people. I was looking at my Threads social media account yesterday ,where I saw that someone worried about the demonstrations in Los Angeles asked if it was safe to visit Monterey, California. What?? Has this person ever looked at an atlas or a map? Did they bother to look at the map on their phone to see where Monterey is? Folks, it’s a good five-plus hours from L.A. to Monterey, which is a sleepy, tourist town known for its aquarium and lovely waterfront. Of course, it’s safe to visit Monterey. It’s like asking if it’s safe Read more
Florida has posted a record third-quarter for tourist visits this year. Despite highly-publicized hurricanes in August and September, Visit Florida this week said 34.61 million people traveled to the Sunshine State in the third quarter of 2024, up from 33.995 million during the same period in 2023 and 34.551 million in 2022. “The hard work and resilience of Floridians have been instrumental in keeping our tourism industry strong, showcasing the best of what our state has to offer,” Visit Florida President and CEO Dana Young said in a statement. CBS News said Visit Florida estimates that 2.27 million overseas travelers Read more
Time Out has just issued its annual list of the world’s 40 coolest neighborhoods. Of course, it’s entirely a judgment call; what I call cool might be considerably different from what you like. Still I enjoy these lists. So here are some highlights that include some of my fave countries and U.S. states to visit. UNITED STATES California impressed with two spots in the top 30. The vibrant and funky Arts District in Los Angeles was 13th overall and second in the U.S. only to the Mid-City district of New Orleans. Here’s a Vancouver Sun story I wrote that talks Read more
