From landmark royal anniversaries and the return of favourite annual festivals to an exciting line-up of hotel openings, there’s a whole host of reasons why Britain will be pulling on your heartstrings to travel in 2022. Major events drawing global attention this year include Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years since her accession. Public events over Platinum Jubilee Weekend (June 2-5) will be the focal point, however this momentous occasion will also be marked with special experiences and exhibitions throughout the year, such as the Tower of London’s Superbloom display, the Platinum Jubilee Display at the Palace Read more
Beatles
Dealing with tourism boards is sometimes a funny business for a travel writer. Most of us who’ve been doing this job for years often attend mass meetings where we chat one-on-one with destination marketing organization types, such as Tourism Toronto or Visit Britain. Inevitably, at some point, I ask PR people what’s new. But I’ve discovered – slowly, for the fact is I’m not that bright – that it’s often the wrong question because the person I’m talking to automatically starts focussing on a new hotel or attraction. Which means they ignore the things that people have been visiting their Read more
This story originally appeared under my byline at TravelPulse Canada, where I work as senior editor. AUSTIN, TEXAS – Canadian travel agents have no shortage of great product to sell when it comes to Great Britain. In my TravelPulse Canada capacity, I sat down with a dozen or suppliers at this week’s Destination Britain North America meeting in Texas and came away with a remarkably diverse number of great options for agents to consider when booking their next visit. It would take a small book to include everything I learned, but here are some highlights: MANCHESTER: Governments are spending nearly Read more
I spent a great deal of time in Canada and the U.S. in 2016. I also had visits to several Caribbean Islands, including small spots like Mayreau on a Sea Dream Yacht Club cruise and larger islands such as the Dominican Republic, Anguilla, Barbados and St. Martin. I had week-long visits to both Australia and New Zealand. And I managed time in Portugal, England, Italy, Germany and several other countries on my Viking River cruise. Here are my Jimmy Awards for top travel spots of 2016 outside Canada and the U.S. Best Beach Surprise: Playa Rincon, Dominican Republic. Reached via Read more
MONTREAL – New finds in one of North America’s oldest – and best – cities. The other day I talked about some new spots in emerging parts of Montreal. But there are equally great places in the old city; some tried and true places and some new and emerging. On the old front, you simply can’t beat a nice afternoon in Place d’Armes. Montreal has plenty of ordinary, modern architecture (probably it’s worse than Toronto, or just as bad) downtown. But this part of town is something else; majestic stone buildings (mostly) and the hugely impressive Notre Dame Cathedral surrounding Read more
