January 6, 2006 - Win A Vacation to South USA
Travel South USA has launched its first consumer web site at www.travelsouthusa.com with the goal of helping travellers "discover the southern way" through its listing of regional tours, state-by-state trip ideas, and bookable tour packages, all organized by themes and activities. And thanks to the marketing association's keen interest in Canada, a special link has been included that gives Canadians a chance to win monthly trip giveaways.Register each month over the coming year to win a fabulous FREE vacation to the southern US in the Travel South USA Discover the Southern Way Vacation Sweepstakes! For the next twelve months, Travel South USA will feature a wonderful FREE vacation package provided by one of the twelve Member States of Travel South USA.
January 9, 2006 - Cruise the Med with Sunquest
Sunquest's new 2006 Mediterranean cruise brochure is available and is featuring Costa Cruises and a number of early booking incentives. Travellers booking by Feb. 14, 2006 will save $300 per couple, as well as enjoy a complimentary "Wine & Water" package (valued at $200) featuring seven bottles of hand-selected Italian wines and seven bottles of mineral/natural water per cabin. New for 2006, Sunquest introduces a "Rome Stay & 7-night Cruise" on the new Costa Fortuna. Guests spend a night in the Eternal City before being transferred to the Naples Pier to set sail on a seven-night Western Mediterranean cruise to Italy, Tunisia, Spain and France.
Prices for this 10-day package, with the early booking bonus, start from $2,629 p.p. for an inside cabin, or from $3,049 for a veranda oceanview cabin. This includes airfare from Toronto, the one-night Rome package, the seven-night cruise and all transfers. For further information, visit the web site Sunquest Vacations.
January 11, 2006 - Sunwing Adds New destinations For Its Winter Program
Sunwing is gearing up for the winter season with the release of a brochure that gives travellers several new vacation options and new Ontario points of departure. New are Panama, where an all-inclusive resort is featured; Ixtapa, Mexico, where Sunwing clients can choose from several properties; and different Jamaican destinations, including Negril and Montego Bay.
The tour operator's lineup also features Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and other parts of Mexico. Clients can choose from the Caribbean or a Pacific Ocean destination, with the latter available on the Pacific coasts of Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama.
Among Sunwing destinations are ones that have built a huge following in this country, such as the Mayan Riviera, Punta Cana and Varadero. Sunwing has now decided to offer winter flights from five points in Ontario * Toronto, Ottawa, Thunder Bay, Sudbury and London.
Meanwhile, the tour operator has a number of new lures, including a lowest price guarantee that has Sunwing promising that if an agent or agent's client "finds the same vacation that Sunwing is offering for a lower price, Sunwing will not only match, but undersell by $10."
The tour operator is also touting what it says are two new customer-friendly rating systems for hotels found in the brochure; and a "worry-free vacation security plan" that will allow the customers the "opportunity to cancel their vacation up to three hours before departure, with the ability to rebook within the year at no extra cost."
The plan ranges from $59 to $129, depending on the length of stay. Clients can also buy a Sunwing Premium Package that includes 10 services, such as seat selection, priority express check-in, four drinks, a guarantee against a fuel surcharge, and a $50 travel voucher for their next flight. Sunwing says the package is worth $410, but costs $59. A child's version is available for $20.
January 13, 2006 - Air Canada Vacations Golf Vacations Brochure Now Available
Air Canada Vacations' new 2005/06 Golf brochure is now available in English and French, featuring an expanded product line and new fully customizable, component-based packages. Travellers can choose from 72 of the world's finest golf courses, including the Blue Monster Course at Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami, and PGA West at La Quinta Resort & Club in La Quinta, California. The brochure offers golf experiences in 40 destinations in the Caribbean, US and Mexico. Program highlights include increased booking flexibility, as well as four new destinations - Alabama, North and South Carolina and Puerto Rico.
Standard packages start from three nights and include green fees, pre-booked tee times, shared cart, hotel accommodation, vehicle rental or return transfers, 1,000 Aeroplan Miles and resort taxes and service fees.
Visit Air Canada Vacations to download online.
January 15, 2006 - Transat Holidays Offers Free Toronto Hotel Stopovers
Transat Holidays is offering passengers travelling from outside the Greater Toronto Area a free Toronto stopover hotel at the Radisson Suite Hotel - Toronto Airport. The offer includes accommodation, airport shuttle and up to 14 days free parking. The promotion is available for new, individual bookings only for departures prior to April 30, 2006.
January 15, 2006 - Thinking of going to Jamaica? How to get there.....
Recent enhancements in air service to Jamaica are making it easier than ever to get to the Caribbean destination from Canada this winter. Last winter, Jamaica experienced an increase of more than 20 per cent in visitor arrivals from Canada over 2004, and early bookings indicate even more Canadians will be vacationing there this year. The following is an update on air service from Canada: * My Travel/Sunquest Vacations will offer flights to Montego Bay from Toronto three times a week, as well as once-a-week departures from Montreal, Calgary and Ottawa and, new this year, Halifax (beginning in February).
* Air Canada will offer daily service from Toronto to Montego Bay in the winter season, while Air Canada Vacations will also maintain weekly flights from Calgary, Montreal and Winnipeg starting in December, and weekly departures out of Halifax beginning in February.
* Air Transat Vacations will continue air service with weekly flights from Montreal and Toronto to Montego Bay. Sun-wing Vacations will be offering a weekly flight out of Toronto to Montego Bay every Wednesday.
* Signature Vacations have a weekly flight out of Toronto to Montego Bay every Saturday.
* Air Jamaica will continue to offer service out of Toronto to Kingston and offers daily flights in both directions.
January 18, 2006 - Air Transat Adds Fun for Kids
Air Transat's new Kids Club offers younger passengers a variety of new services and benefits. Designed for children aged two to 11, the service begins immediately upon arrival in major Canadian airports, with a check-in counter reserved specifically for families and where children are offered game booklets. In Montreal and Toronto, the Air Transat Kids Club mascot, Airnest, will entertain young passengers at various times of the year. At all airports where Air Transat operates, people travelling with young children will be able to take advantage of priority pre-boarding.
As well, kids will now receive priority meal service (except for flights to and from Florida), a youth audio channel and colour head sets, free of charge. On all flights, they will receive a surprise pack including a log book, electronic games, electrostatic stickers and magic pads. And kids travelling to sunshine destinations will also receive a beach ball.
Kids Club
And by joining the Air Transat Kids Club, young travellers living in Canada will automatically receive a special kit including a membership card (child's name and ID number), two vouchers for free treats on board, two baggage tags especially identified with "Member of the Air Transat Kids Club," a postcard of the aircraft they last travelled on, a letter from Airnest and a letter for their parents signed by Allen B. Graham, president and CEO of Air Transat. And if the younger set surfs on over to www.airtransat.com, they'll find a special Kids' Club section.
January 22, 2006 - Czech Republic requires health insurance for entry
The Czech Tourist Authority is advising travellers heading to the Czech Republic that all visitors to the country now require valid health (medical) insurance of at least E30,000 (approx. $50), valid for the duration of their stay. Visitors must be able to give proof of their insurance to customs agents at the port of entry into the Czech Republic, and failure to do so may result in refusal to enter.
Canadian citizens do not need a visa to enter to the Czech Republic for less than 90 days, however, visa applicants must present their health insurance documents when applying for the visa.
For more information go to the Czech Embassy website
January 29, 2006 - Upascale Jamaica for Canadian Travellers
The Jamaica Tourist Board is reminding Canadians Jamaica has many accommodations options for upscale travellers.The board notes Air Canada Vacations offers the toney Island Outpost properties of The Caves, Jakes, Strawberry Hill and Goldeneye. Goldeneye, found near the resort town of Ocho Rios, is where Ian Fleming wrote his James Bond novels, while The Caves has villas and suites built along the cliffs of Negril. Jakes, found on the south coast, has eco-friendly cottages looking onto the ocean, while Strawberry Hill is found in mountains above Kingston. Strawberry Hill has a spa. More information is found at www.islandoutpost.com.
Near Trelawny is Arcadia, described as "one of Jamaica's great houses of the 19th century." The hilltop house can be rented to families or friends travelling together. Arcadia is a member of Elegant Resorts Inter-national.
Royal Plantation, found in Ocho Rios, is a British colonial-inspired hotel with 74 suites that has been hosting guests for nearly 50 years. A spa offering botanical and indigenous products is available. More information is found at the web site www.royalplantation.com.
Roaring Pavilion, located just outside Ocho Rios, is a private rental villa with a spa and a dedicated spa therapist. The property is found on James Bond Beach, where Sean Connery greeted Ursula Andress emerging from the surf in Dr. No. Visit www.lacurevillas.com.
The Round Hill Hotel and Villas Resort in Montego Bay is a former pineapple, spice and coconut plantation. Guests can choose from the Pineapple House Hotel, with has 36 rooms overlooking the Caribbean, or one of 27 private villas. Those wanting more information can access www.roundhilljamaica.com.
