Destinations

WISH THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY? Tourists tapped for visiting Trevi Fountain

Tourists visiting the Trevi Fountain are now going to pay more than just the legendary coin toss over their shoulder to get a selfie in front of one of the world’s most celebrated waterworks. Starting Feb. 1, the city of Rome is imposing a 2-euro ($3) fee for tourists to get close to the fountain made famous by Federico Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita” during prime-time daylight hours.

LOUVRE DEFENDS BIG ADMISSION HIKE: Visitors question logic

Long lines beneath I.M. Pei’s glass pyramid in Paris have become as much a part of the experience as the “Mona Lisa” itself. Now the Louvre has put a higher price on that pilgrimage, raising admission prices for most non-European visitors by nearly half last week as it tries to shore up finances after repeated strikes, chronic overcrowding – and a brazen French Crown Jewels heist that shook the institution.

TO SUR WITH LOVE: Iconic California highway reopens at last

A 145-km (90-mile) section of California’s Highway 1 along the famous Big Sur coast has fully reopened after three years of closures and repairs following a series of landslides and a roadway collapse that hampered tourism on the scenic route.

PICTURE PERFECT NASSAU-PARADISE ISLAND

For a true taste of Bahamian culture, visitors naturally point their lenses toward the islands’ many heritage sites and lively celebrations – such as the rhythmic energy of a Junkanoo rush-out, with performers dressed in elaborate, colourful costumes dancing to the beat of goatskin drums and cowbells. It’s an explosion of sound and movement that’s a dream for any photographer. But there are quieter stories that are just as powerful.

CANADA COMPASS: Peace Tower next in line for reno work

Visitors to Parliament Hill soon won’t be able to see the iconic Peace Tower, once it’s covered with scaffolding to enable renovations and repairs later this year. The Peace Tower is set to be sheathed so that workers can repair its interior and exterior – part of sprawling renovations to the nearly 100-year-old building.

THREE’S A CHARM: Grenada gets third flight from Canada

Air Canada is set to launch a third weekly flight to Grenada next Thursday (Jan. 22). Operating seasonally through April 23, the additional frequency reflects strong demand from this country and Canada’s status as one of Grenada’s fastest-growing source markets.

CUBA REASSURES CANADIANS AFTER TRUMP COMMENTS

By Michael Baginski/ It’s been quite a time for Cuba: blackouts, hurricane, mosquitos, and now Donald Trump, the latter vowing this week to cut off Cuba’s oil supply from Venezuela (amongst other vague threats) in a bid to damage the country’s economy.

WISHLIST ’26: Postcard-pretty Paros, Greece

When it comes to postcard-pretty Greek Islands, Paros ticks all the boxes – white-washed cubist villages, blue-domed churches, waterfront seafood tavernas and countless golden-sand coves. All that’s missing are the crowds, who flock instead to nearby Santorini and Mykonos – Paros’s glitzier cousins.

SKY’S THE LIMIT FOR INNOVATIVE BANGKOK PARK

In a bustling city where space is at a premium, Bangkok has unveiled a new rooftop park that serves as the city’s newest landmark. Part of the Central Pattana mixed-use development in the heart of the city, Central Park blends nature, culture, dining, and commerce into one integrated precinct.

MASTER OF ITS DOMAIN: Tiny Anguilla cashes in on lucky, unexpected URL

For Anguilla – the quiet Caribbean gem most widely known as a sun-and-sand snowbird haven – it all started with a little bit of luck. Assigned the .ai domain name all the way back in 1996, the then-residents of Anguilla could scarcely predict that the rise of ChatGPT, Midjourney, and Gemini almost three decades later would turn .ai into one of the world’s most desirable domains.

OFFICIAL MEXICO GUIDED TOURS AN UNDER-THE-RADAR GEM

Amid the constant blare of car horns in southern Mexico City, it’s hard to imagine that Cuicuilco was once the heart of a thriving ancient civilization. Yet atop its circular pyramid, now surrounded by buildings and a shopping centre, a pre-Hispanic fire god was revered.

CANADA COMPASS: New indigenous experiences for 2026

As interest and the demand for authentic Indigenous experiences across the country continues to rise, the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) has created a list of new and notable experiences where visitors can discover the resilience and vibrancy of Indigenous cultures and communities through events range from revitalized traditions and sustainable stays to culinary storytelling and community-led adventures.

WISHLIST ’26: Secret towns of the Algarve

Portugal’s Algarve is by no means unknown to world travellers, but the southern region of the country still allows for unspoiled experiences, with Visit Algarve touting to visitors the authentic beauty of its lesser-known towns, scenic trails and nature.

FOR LAUDERDALE ROLLS OUT WELCOME MAT FOR IPW: No. 1 Canadian trade invited

By Michael Baginski/ U.S. Travel’s signature inbound travel trade show IPW – running since 1969 – is set to take place for the first time ever in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and organizers are putting out the welcome mat for Canadians for an event that organizers promise will be like none before.

HOLY MOLY, ROME JUBILEE ATTRACTS OVER 33 MILLION

As the final pilgrims of the 2025 Holy Year passed through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome last week, the Vatican claimed success after more than 33 million people participated in what was the rarest of Jubilees: opened by one pope and closed by another.

THE ART OF LUXURY TRAVEL: Where elegance meets the Earth

By Cindy-Lou Dale/ A quiet shift is reshaping what luxury means. Once, it was measured in exclusivity – fine linens, private jets, and polished isolation. Now, it’s measured in connection: to nature, to people, and to place.

MOSQUITO THREAT DIMINISHING, SAYS CUBA

Citing the successful implementation of comprehensive prevention and control measures across the country, the Cuba Tourist Board in Toronto is reporting a sustained downward trend in arbovirus cases in the destination, including dengue, chikungunya, and Oropouche.

WISHLIST ’26: Inspiring Scotland on screen

According to the latest Scotland Visitor Survey, one in five visitors (19%) said film, TV or literature inspired their trip – a figure that rises to 37% for long-haul travellers.

CANADA COMPASS: Edmonton prepares lively ‘winterruption’

As it does every year, Edmonton is preparing to make the most of Central Alberta’s typically frosty winter weather with a host of activities and events in the New Year that will bring a city alive with light, music, and outdoor celebration.

WHERE ART MEETS ICE: Amazing ICEHOTEL boasts Canadian touch

Sweden’s ICEHOTEL – the world’s first (since 1989) – has opened in doors for the season, inviting guests to sleep surrounded by shimmering art made of ice and snow created by 33 artists from 12 countries, including Canada. A highlight this year is a grand piano – a full-scale piano made of ice – which will be played during the winter season.

CHRISTMAS AT THE CASTLE: Windsor puts on its holiday best

Tis the season: Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest inhabited castle in Britain, is always a holiday delight, bedecked in seasonal décor and offering visitors a festive experience steeped in royal history. For those who can’t be there in Christmas morning, here’s a wee peek at what the royal family will wake up to.

AN ICELANDIC CHRISTMAS: 6 traditions that make yule cool in Nordic nation

Many Christmas holiday traditions in Iceland will be familiar to North American and European travellers, such as the Christmas trees that dress their living rooms, the large family gatherings that take place, and the singing of yuletide carols. However, there are some aspects of Christmas in Iceland that set it apart, giving the occasion its own unique charm…

THE MOST BORING TRAVEL STORY YOU’LL EVER READ

Staring into a fire deep in the woods. Watching the stars stretch over Arctic skies. Waiting on a frozen lake for a fish that may never bite. In Sweden, boredom isn’t a problem – quite the opposite, says Visit Sweden, which this winter is leaning into a quietly growing trend in wellness and travel: boredom as a form of luxury – where stillness and silence aren’t just accepted, they’re encouraged.

THE NEW SAFARI STANDARD: Food, conservation, and low-impact luxury

By Cindy-Lou Dale/ Safari travellers increasingly expect lodge cuisine to match the quality of wildlife and landscape experiences. Historically, lodge menus were modelled on European colonial food systems, relying on imported ingredients and generic continental dishes.

JAMAICA UPDATE: Island meets recovery goal, funds continue to be raised

As travel advisors were discovering for themselves at the Jamaica Tourist Board’s annual ‘One Love Affair’ event, the island’s tourism minister declared that Jamaica had met its target of restoring tourism operations by Dec. 15, marking an impressive turnaround just over six weeks after the island was ravaged by Hurricane Melissa.

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