DIGGING OUT: When Florida sand is not a good thing
- When a hurricane sets its sights on Florida, storm-weary residents may think of catastrophic wind, hammering rain and dangerous storm surge. Mounds of sand swallowing their homes? Not so much. Yet, that’s the reality for some after Hurricanes Helene and Milton clobbered Florida’s Gulf Coast with back-to-back hits in less than two weeks.
UNIVERSAL ORLANDO TO OPEN FOURTH RESORT NEXT MAY
- Universal Orlando Resort announced it will open its fourth theme park – Universal Epic Universe – on May 22, 2025. The park will feature themed areas based on Harry Potter, Super Nintendo and “How to Train Your Dragon,” as well as monster movie brands, Universal officials said Thursday.
DON’T LET TD FLUSH YOUR TRIP: The best and worst destinations for public restrooms
- When you gotta go, you gotta go. Like most people, public restrooms are not my first choice for bio-breaks, or even the second choice. But when you don't have a choice and nature is calling loudly then you can plan your international travel based on the best and worst destinations for public restroom cleanliness.
NOISY, SMELLY, AND SHY: Endangered penguin is New Zealand’s newest star
- Travelling bird watchers take note: New Zealand’s elusive hoiho – believed to be the world’s smallest penguin – is New Zealand’s bird of the year, having won the country’s recent fiercely fought avian election and offering hope to supporters of the endangered bird that recognition from its victory might prompt a revival of the species.
NICE BEACH, BUT THERE’S SO MUCH MORE TO NICE
- Le jazz was hot. The band rocked sets that ranged from Abba to Zappa. Bubbly and sangria were the drinks of choice. The party on the roof overlooking Promenade des Anglaise had the electric chic of a music video and the location was the most sybaritic on the French Riviera.
WORLD SPA AWARDS NAMES TOP CANADIAN VENUES
- Guerlain Spa Toronto, situated within Hotel X Toronto, was named Canada's Best Hotel Spa 2024 at the World Spa Awards. In its 10th year, the international awards program celebrates the very best in the global spa industry.
LISTENING IN: Bon’s bagpipe shows another side of AC/DC
- Recently we ran an early-days clip of U2 when the band were hardly recognizable as what they would become. Here’s another – of AC/DC – from 1976 on Australian TV, though the band isn’t so much unrecognizable as just kinda funny.
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EGYPT TAKES BITE OUT OF VISA BURDEN FOR CANADIANS
- Starting Dec. 1, Canadian citizens will again be able to obtain their Egyptian visa upon arrival in the country, or electronically, reversing a controversial pre-entry requirement implemented by the Middle Eastern country last October that forced applicants to obtain their documents via mail from Egyptian consulates in Ottawa or Montreal.
GEOPOLITICAL INSTABILITY A GROWING CONCERN FOR TRAVELLERS
- Travellers are becoming increasingly concerned about the evolving risks in international travel, according to a survey of frequent travellers conducted by travel risk experts Global Rescue. Based on the survey of its members, the company says nearly a third (30%) of respondents revealed that geopolitical instability is their most significant perceived travel risk.
WESTJET WILL WING IT TO GRENADA THIS WINTER
- The Grenada Tourism Authority reports that new direct service by WestJet from Toronto to Grenada will start Dec. 15 and operate weekly until April 27, 2025. Flights to ‘the Spice Island’ are now open for booking.
TWO VICTORIA FALLS HOTELS THAT WILL MAKE YOU JUMP FOR JOY: And an audience with Africa’s famed medicine man
- When in Africa, you’ll often hear passing reference to Zimbabwe’s outstanding hospitality, and there’s nowhere better to appreciate it than at the iconic World Heritage Site of Victoria Falls. Everyone smiles warmly and greets you like an old friend – they’re all genuinely delightful. And how could they not be, living at a World Heritage site?
LEARN & EARN WITH CARNIVAL
- Carnival Cruise Line has announced an announced an enriched Learn & Earn training platform as part of its Loyalty Rocks! program for travel advisors. Travel advisors will now have new curriculum options, as well as access to more than 50 video-based courses designed to sharpen expertise on a variety of Carnival topics, including ship overviews, industry trends, and tools like social media training.
LH FINED FOR DENYING BOARDING TO ORTHODOX JEWS IN 2022
- The United States has fined German airline Lufthansa $4 million for its treatment of a group of Jewish passengers who were denied boarding a 2022 flight in Frankfurt after they had flown to Germany from New York.
TAKE MY WIFE – PLEASE!
- An annual event involving dirt, beer and cash once again drew dozens of eager competitors to a […]