Portugal is seeing a tourism boom, but Hawaii is slow to recover from pre-pandemic numbers. I also have a look at the best travel reward credit cards, the top places for women over 50 to travel this year, and most iconic foods from countries around the world. PORTUGAL TOURISM SPIRALS UPWARD Portugal brought in more money than ever before from tourism in 2023, and the country’s tourism boom shows no signs of slowing down. Tourism revenue increased to more than $36.5 billion CAD in 2023 compared to $30.8 billion the previous year, Secretary of State for Tourism, Read more
Portugal
Air Canada today announced significantly expanded service to Europe for next summer, including a new, year-round route between Montreal and Madrid, expanded service to Italy and earlier seasonal start-up flights between Toronto and Edinburgh, Scotland. Canada’s largest airline said it plans to operate 100 per cent of its peak summer 2019 trans-Atlantic capacity next year, taking full advantage of the robust recovery in its largest international market. Air Canada will begin its seasonal flights between Toronto and Edinburgh on March 1, 2024. I’m scheduled for an AC flight from Pearson to Edinburgh a week from today, actually. “Air Canada saw Read more
Today’s travel roundup includes news on air passenger protection rules for Canada, a boom in European tourism, and an item on how major U.S. destinations are hoping to restart major tourism from China. I also have a note about the new Eastern and Oriental Express train’s Malaysia trips. AIR PASSENGER RIGHTS IN CANADA Today, the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) is launching consultations on proposed amendments to the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), and invites Canadians to participate. The Budget Implementation Act introduces changes to the Canada Transportation Act (the Act) to clarify, simplify and strengthen the Canadian air passenger protection regime. The CTA will have Read more
It’s summer, and that means Canadians and Americans are looking to hit the road. But we’re also facing rampant inflation and rising costs for flights, and, sometimes, hotels. It’s not always easy, but there are ways to save money on travel this summer, and beyond. Here are travel tips to help you save on trips to Canada and Europe, and also some Marriott Hotel tips on how to save on the cost of a hotel or resort. WHERE TO GO IN CANADA THIS SUMMER Not every city in Canada is expensive. You might pay $20 for a glass of Read more
I’ve been posting a series of “Canada Shorts” that provide a glimpse into great destinations for people without a lot of time on their hands. Today it’s my first “Europe Shorts” item, looking at lovely Lisbon. The city is built on a series of small hills, so you’ll find great views almost everywhere you look. There are tons of terrific cafes, many of them situated in parks overlooking the city below. You’ll also get fab views from the top of the arch in the main Comercio Square near the Tagus River. Be sure to take the city’s famous No. 28 Read more
