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
Portugal
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
Europe can get mighty crowded in July and August. Solution? Go in May or June, when museum line-ups are shorter and restaurant reservations much easier to get. Here are four cities you should check out before the summer crowds arrive. LONDON This city can be frighteningly expensive. But I’ve found some fun and affordable neighbourhoods, including my new, favourite part of the city. The area around the Southwark tube station is a thriving region on the south side of the Thames River, but only a short walk or subway ride to the main attractions of London, including The Globe Read more
Two travel groups have come up with different lists of the most romantic cities in Europe for Valentine’s Day. Research by Catamaran Charter Croatia ranked Europe’s capital cities based on their number of romantic restaurants (as described on TripAdvisor) and hotels per million residents. A Canadian travel company, redtag.ca, also listed five top romantic cities in Europe and came up with somewhat different results. Here’s the top 10 from Catamaran Charter Croatia: Lisbon Monaco Paris San Marino Rome Andorra La Vella, Andorra Amsterdam Athens Prague Reykjavik, Iceland I’m not so sure about San Marino or Andorra as I’ve never been. Read more
