It’s not the easiest time to sell a U.S. destination in Canada. But Visit Florida folks are a determined bunch. The new head of the group charged with boosting tourism to the Sunshine State, Visit Florida President and CEO Bryan Griffin, was in Toronto this week to chat about the state’s ongoing efforts to keep Canadian travellers heading south. I sat down with him for a one-on-one chat that covered off everything from lesser-known corners of the state to explore to Michelin restaurants. And, of course, the ongoing problem of diminished Canadian visitation to Florida. “This is part of my Read more
Fort Myers
A new report from KAYAK finds domestic destinations are more popular with Canadian travellers for Labour Day Weekend this year than last year, with more than a 19% increase in searches. Top domestic travel spots include Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Halifax, a city I love. Canadians also are looking for trips to Paris and London (the England one). Top trending destinations include Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, Edmonton (an underrated Canadian city) and Dublin, Ireland, KAYAK said. A NEW ATTRACTION FOR NIAGARA FALLS One of Canada’s top destinations – and one of the great vacation spots in the world Read more
This year, Canadians are looking beyond the usual beach resorts by basking in the beauty of stunning landscapes and immersing themselves in new communities. According to data from KAYAK, interest in travel to Africa and Central America is soaring, with jumps of 17% and 12% respectively, compared to last year – a clear sign that long-haul, experience-driven getaways are on the rise. Planning a getaway on a budget? We have good news! Average airfare is down compared to last year (down 4%), with popular destinations like St. Maarten, Martinique, and Cabo San Lucas down more than 20%. And for Canadians Read more
It’s that time of year. Time to thank all the people who’ve been nice to me in my 2024 travels. And, more than likely, time to annoy all my friends who feel like I’m bragging. It may seem that way, but I really am just trying to send another thank you to the hotels, restaurants and destinations that hosted me this year. It’s also fun to look back a bit, and to post some silly or inspiring photos. So, without further ado, here are some great experiences I had this year in Ontario, Florida, Alberta, Alaska, Hawaii, Vancouver, New York Read more
Travelzoo has a nice sale on Air New Zealand flights from Canada to New Zealand and to Australia. Until today (Dec. 3, 2024) at midnight, take advantage of reduced Air New Zealand fares from Vancouver. Nonstop roundtrip flights to Auckland are $1395 CAD. The sale also lets you fly to other cities in New Zealand from $99. You’ll have 18 destinations to choose from, including Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. Travel on select dates from April–October. Air New Zealand is the only carrier offering nonstop service during this period. Travelzoo said the price saves over $600 compared to what they usually see Read more
