MSN Travel has come up with a list of the world’s safest cities. Each city was looked at for a variety of factors and given a numerical ranking. The United Arab Emirates cleaned up, notching the top three spots and five of the top six. The Netherlands had four cities in the top 20, while Switzerland, Norway and Croatia each had two in the top 30. The only North American cities in the top 30 were Merida, Mexico and Quebec City, Canada. No U.S. cities made the cut. Here’s the full top 30. Abu Dhabi, UAE, 88.9 Ras-al-Khaimah, UAE, 86.6 Read more
Jamaica
Travel and Tour World has a new list out of the top 30 countries in the Americas and the Caribbean for beach lovers. I would perhaps argue that a few of the placements are a tad off-base, but it’s a pretty solid list. Here’s what they came up with, along with a note or two from yours truly. Mexico (I haven’t seen enough of the country to say, but I’ve been to fine beaches on the Riviera Maya and in Los Cabos) USA (It’s hard to dispute a country that offers up Hawaii, Florida, California, Oregon, the Carolinas, Puerto Rico, Read more
Vegas, solo travel, WestJet Vacations summer plans, New York City tourism and cruise news. It’s a real grab bag (does anyone use that phrase any more?) in today’s blog post. INSANE LAS VEGAS DEAL Here’s a truly remarkable deal. Arriving just in time for spring and summer travel, MGM Resorts International is launching an all-inclusive experience on the Las Vegas Strip, bundling hotel accommodations, daily resort fee, dining, entertainment and parking into a single upfront price – starting at $330 plus tax for a two-night stay for two guests – at Luxor Hotel & Casino and Excalibur Hotel & Casino. Read more
March Break is almost here for many North American travelers. Here’s a look at some of my fave Caribbean getaway spots, as well as a glimpse at some of the most affordable places in the U.S. for students on spring break. JIM’S LAST-MINUTE MARCH BREAK CARIBBEAN SPOTS St. Vincent and the Grenadines: The island of St. Vincent is home to a fairly new Sandals Resort. It’s a short ferry ride from St. Vincent to the tranquil island of Bequia, where you’ll find stunning beaches, lovely waterfront walking areas and the lovely Bequia Beach Hotel. Further south, check out the posh 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
