It’s not the oldest of London’s top-tier luxury hotels but The Savoy is arguably the most famous. Many would also argue it’s also the best, living up to every inch of it’s outsized reputation. Founded in 1889, the iconic property has hosted a bevy of rich and famous patrons (Monet painted from it’s windows) over its nearly 135 years, and even some who weren’t famous yet – like Guccio Gucci, who once worked there as a luggage and lift-boy early.
For the first time, Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Ca., has released its lineup of special events and limited-time festivities for the coming year, with 2024 highlighted by the resort-wide Pixar Fest celebration beginning in the spring.
The Bahamas is continuing a “meteoric” rise in tourism as air and sea arrivals reach unprecedented heights, marking sustained growth that has surpassed previous years’ benchmarks. As of the end of November 2023, the cumulative count of foreign air and sea arrivals soared to over 8.65 million, representing 41.8 percent surge compared to the corresponding period in 2022.
The Jamaica Tourist Board is inviting Canadian travel advisors to kick off 2024 with a virtual destination refresher and orientation event on Friday, Jan. 19 from 1 to 4:30 p.m. ET.
The countdown to Mardi Gras began Saturday in New Orleans as Carnival season kicked off with dozens of costumed revellers and a brass band crowding onto a streetcar for a nighttime ride down historic St. Charles Avenue. Meanwhile, a walking club in the French Quarter marched in its annual procession honoring Joan of Arc.
Extremely cold temperatures compounded by gale-force winds and snow wreaked havoc across the Nordic region Thursday, leaving thousands without power while others braved the cold for hours stuck in their cars along clogged highways. Heavy rains in Germany, France and the Netherlands again caused floods in regions that have seen persistent flooding in the last two weeks.
There’s a frequently used word in Papiamentu – “dushi”– which, while hard to precisely translate from the local lingo on the Caribbean island of Curaçao, essentially means positive vibes, beautiful, and the good things in life, all mashed up into one.
Fancy seeing the ancient Acropolis uncluttered by thousands of selfie-snappers? A solution is in the works, but it will set you back up to 5,000 euros ($7,300). Starting April 1, 2024, Greece plans to offer exclusive guided tours of its most powerful tourist magnet to handfuls of well-heeled visitors outside normal opening hours.
The Tour d’Argent already boasts a 320,000-bottle wine cellar, a world-famous duck recipe and a storied 441-year history. Now, the legendary Paris restaurant is about to serve up its “plat de résistance”: a front-row view of two of the biggest events of 2024 – the renaissance of Notre Dame Cathedral and the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Mark your calendars, the next edition of the Destination France road show will roll out in four Canadian cities in February: Montreal on Feb. 19; Toronto Feb. 20; Calgary Feb. 21 and Vancouver, Feb. 22. Details to come.
Winnipeg is well-known for particularly brisk winters; but many residents lean into the weather by celebrating the season in creative and inspired ways – from the Guinness World Record holding largest snow maze to a fine dining festival on a frozen river, and an interactive art and architecture showcase on an ice-skating trail.
The Italian city of Venice announced new limits on the size of tourist groups, the latest move to reduce the pressure of mass tourism on the famed canal city. Starting in June, groups will be limited to 25 people, or roughly half the capacity of a tourist bus.
Jamaica is expecting its best winter season ever in 2023-24 with tourism minister Edmund Bartlett declaring that for the first time in the island’s history, there will be over one million stopover travellers for the season.
British Columbia’s abnormally warm winter has left local ski resorts grappling with a lack of snow during the holiday tourism season, as resorts struggle to keep runs open. Fewer than half of Whistler Blackcomb’s trails are open, while Vancouver’s Mount Seymour is closed entirely while it waits for better conditions.
Bulgaria and Romania have received permission to join Europe’s passport- and visa-free Schengen Area, starting in March. The move initially will apply only to travellers arriving by air and sea, while Austria has committed to continuing negotiations over the need for border checks when crossing from the two countries by land.
As the world anticipates the arrival of 2024, many eyes will turn to Hong Kong for the city’s largest New Year’s Eve firework display on Dec. 31, 2023 (Sunday). Set against the iconic Hong Kong skyline, spectators will be treated to a 12-minute firework musical, surpassing any previous New Year’s Eve displays in the city in both coverage and duration.
With final year-end totals of 864,000 Canadians forecast to have visited New York in 2023, Canada will reclaim its second-place ranking amongst top source markets for the Big Apple. Tops is the UK (974,000), while the rest of the top five includes France (728,000), Brazil (589,000) and Germany (554,000).
If 2023 was the year that travel came roaring back, 2024 promises to see the continuing evolution of travel, with travellers looking to see ‘traditional’ destinations in a new way – and discover new ones – and in a way that gives back to local people and communities and gets them closer to the culture and tradition of a place, says G Adventures.
Bethlehem is gearing up for a subdued Christmas, without the festive lights and customary Christmas tree towering over Manger Square, after officials in Jesus’ traditional birthplace decided to forgo celebrations due to the Israel-Hamas war. The cancellation of Christmas festivities, which typically draw thousands of visitors, is a severe blow to the town’s tourism-dependent economy.
There’s nothing like Christmas in a castle, and this year, Windsor Castle outside London will see Christmas displays celebrating the 675th anniversary of the Order of the Garter, the oldest order of chivalry in Britain which was founded in Windsor in 1348.
This year’s 46th Winterlude in Canada’a Capital Region is scheduled to take place Feb. 2-19 with a promise of experiences that combine winter with rich culture, artistic creativity, and a celebration of Canada’s diversity. Each year, the iconic event transforms Ottawa-Gatineau into a festive gathering with indoor and outdoor activities for all tastes.
Goway and APT & Travelmarvel, both like-minded Down Under specialists, leveraged a long-standing partnership earlier this year that saw the former become the official North American partner for the latter – and it’s a plan that has proved positively bonzer (“first rate” in Aussie lingo), according to company officials.
New York City is always a hive of activity, and never more so than during the holidays, culminating in the famed New Year’s ball-drop at Times Square. But there is much more to do in the Big Apple, and much of it is free.
Scientists anticipated the eruption of a volcano in southwestern Iceland near the country’s top tourist attraction for weeks, so when it happened on Monday night, it was no surprise. The region had been active for more than two years and thousands of small earthquakes rattled the area in recent weeks. Here is a look at what happened and how it may affect flights and tourism.
Brazil’s Embratur has joined the Canadian association of tour operators (CATO), an unusual arrangement for a tourist board, but one that reflects the South American country’s keen interest in the Canadian tourism market.
It’s been an “incredible” year for Nassau Paradise Island (NPI), from the opening of the city’s spectacular new cruise port to a Golden Jubilee, plus landmark hotel happenings and record arrivals. And in Canada, the return of representation for the NPI Promotion Board, which has “ambitious” goals for the destination in this country.
The Bahamas is perhaps best known as a beach destination, famed for soft white sands, sparkling turquoise waters, and abundant sunshine – more than 300 sunny days each year. But beyond the beach visitors will discover a destination brimming with vibrant culture, natural beauty, and fascinating history, where Spanish, West African, and British influences come together with a uniquely Caribbean twist.
There’s so much to discover in Nassau Paradise Island – from turquoise blue waters and lush beaches to vibrant culture and array of accommodations. Indeed, every moment is precious. So, how to make the most of one’s time in the Bahamian paradise? Here are some insider tips.
“Finally!” our driver declared, musing on the opening of The Fontainebleau Las Vegas last week (Dec. 13), echoing the sentiment of many in the city of the long-delayed and much-anticipated sequel to its glamourous Miami Beach counterpart.
Tourists at the Acropolis can witness the resolution of one of the world’s most heated debates on cultural heritage. All they need is a smartphone to pinch and zoom their way around the ancient Greek site, with a digital overlay showing how it once looked. That includes a collection of sculptures called the Elgin Marbles, removed from the Parthenon more than 200 years ago that are now on display at the British Museum in London and which Greece wants back.