If September is the new August, maybe October is the new September? The tenth month of the year can mean cooler temperatures for those of us in North America, or parts of Europe. But it’s a great time of the year to visit both northern climes, where you can enjoy sweater weather, fall colours and (in most places) fewer tourists, as well as more southerly destinations, which haven’t reached peak visitor season and probably won’t for another couple months. With all that in mind, here are some fine options. IRELAND – Ireland claims to be the home of the original Read more
Azores
Air Canada on June 11 will begin flying from Toronto to Ponta Delgado in the Azores, a remarkable set of islands in the Atlantic Ocean with some of the world’s best hiking, fresh and fabulous food, Mediterranean villages, Hawaiian-looking coastlines and grass so green it makes the Irish weep with envy. Here’s a story I wrote for the Globe and Mail after my first (and still only) visit to the islands. AZORES, PORTUGAL – I am terribly confused. When I envisioned landing on some far-flung islands in the Atlantic Ocean – five and half hours east of Toronto; two hours Read more
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
MSN has a nice list out of trending travel destinations for this year, including some of my fave places. Here’s a look at what they had to say in their report, as well as some thoughts from yours truly, who’s managed to visit all five (and lives in one of them). JAPAN MSN’s report said Japan “continues to draw travellers who value structure, safety and cultural depth. In 2026, the country’s focus on regional tourism — beyond the usual big-city circuit — makes it even more compelling.” Their story highlighted several great options for exploring the country, including scenic regional Read more
It’s a tough time to be a sun seeker from the US or Canada. In January, flights were disrupted to the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao) due to the US action in Venezuela. A few weeks later, flights to Cuba were halted because of an ongoing lack of aviation fuel, leaving Canadians and other visitors scrambling for alternative sun destinations. Many would-be Cuba visitors, including personal friends of mine, opted instead for Mexico. But some potential visitors are now spooked because of the violent outbreak in Puerto Vallarta on the weekend following the killing of a top Mexican drug Read more
