A new list of the top 10 food and wine cities in the world leads with Hong Kong. I also have updates on ambitious, new plans to boost tourism in Toronto and across Canada, plus Expedia tips on where to go in Canada and Europe this year, and the ideal time to book your trip. Food and Wine magazine also looked at the world’s best cities for food and wine. Here’s their top 10 for world cities: Hong Kong (truly spectacular cuisine) London (it wouldn’t have made the list 25 or 30 years ago, but the city has come a Read more
Bangkok
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
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
Travel + Leisure has released its awards for best destinations, hotels and more for 2025. There are tons of categories – far too many to list here – so I’ll concentrate on some of the top awards for North America and a few world categories. WORLD’S TWENTY BEST CITIES San Miguel de Allende, Mexico Chiang Mai, Thailand Tokyo Bangkok Jaipur, India Hoi An, Vietnam Mexico City Kyoto Ubud, Bali Cuzco, Peru Florence Seville Granada Istanbul Siem Reap, Cambodia Mumbai Cape Town Rome Santa Fe Agra, India I was quite surprised to see Mumbai rated so highly, as I haven’t heard Read more
MSN.com has a very useful story on where the Canadian dollar goes the farthest. Knowing your foreign currency exchange rates is a great way to save money, as some destinations might surprise you in terms of their value. Many Canadians are avoiding the US these days for political reasons, but also because the dollar is still quite low. As of June 16 ,the Canadian dollar is still down at 74cents US, which means a US dollar will cost you at least $1.35. That’s not so bad in, say, Kentucky or New Mexico, but it could make a trip to a Read more
