Archive for the 'Eastern Canada' Category
Win five trips to see the world’s ‘wild wonders’
September 20, 2008 3:40pm
Through its new online giveaway, eco-tour company Natural Habitat Adventures will be setting up a lucky duo with adventures alongside penguins, polar bears, giant tortoises and more. The grand prize of the “Wild Wonders Sweepstakes” is a series of trips for two, including airfare, on “the world’s five greatest nature expeditions,” once a year for five years.
The expeditions will be in Tanzania; the Galapagos Islands; Churchill, Canada; the Amazon and Machu Picchu; and Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falklands. The prize value exceeds $90,000. Read the rest of this entry »
Last minute: New England/Eastern Canada cruise deals for Sept. 21, 28 and Oct. 8 departures
September 15, 2008 3:33pm
Take in the fall colors of New England and Eastern Canada with a six- or 10-day cruise on Norwegian Cruise Lines. Certain departures this month and next are on offer for bottom dollar. The trips, on ships Norwegian Spirit and Norwegian Jewel, depart from New York City, so they would be ideal for those leisure or business travelers already in the region, or those who are looking to get over to the Big Apple anyway (after all, what better way than cruising to wind down from a few days in the concrete jungle?).
Deals: The six-day Norwegian Spirit cruise takes in Nova Scotia’s Halifax and St. John (Bay of Fundy) as well as Boston and Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. For departures on Sept. 21 and Sept. 28, 2008, interior staterooms are going for as low as $299 per person, before taxes and fees; the total price, as booked on NCL’s website, is $503.15 for the Sept. 21 trip and $538.16 for Sept. 28; these are per person, based on double occupancy.
But compare that price with what’s offered by your favorite cruise agent. Read the rest of this entry »
Travel Ticker website from Hotwire focuses on bargains
July 21, 2008 12:01am
The unemployment rate in California is up to a five-year high, and that tells you nothing good about the economy in the Golden State or anywhere else.
So the timing for Travel Ticker (www.travel-ticker.com), a new bargain website from the Hotwire people, probably couldn’t be better. It makes its debut today.
“We love to read about deals so we wanted to have something that was enjoyable to read and peruse and would inspire travel among enthusiasts,” said Barbara Messing, vice president of Travel Ticker.
Unlike some sites that suggest bargains that aren’t bargains for West Coasters, Travel Ticker uses “geo-targeting,” meaning you’ll see bargains appropriate to where you live. Read the rest of this entry »
Canada: Wake up in these 25% off hotels
May 28, 2008 12:06pm
Open up those peepers and check out our neighbors up north.
GreatCanadianHotels.com is offering 25% off the lowest available rates on more than 25 hotels across the grand expanse that is Canada. If the rates even at a discount don’t sit well with your wallet, then try for a trip that’s 100% off: The same website is holding a contest (more info at bottom of post).
Deal: Nearly all of Canada’s provinces are home to hotels included in the “Wake Up to Canada” promotion, though the most represented province is Alberta, with nine hotels. That’s good news if you’re thinking about a trip to Calgary, or perhaps Banff National Park. Read the rest of this entry »
Bonjour Canada: Paris too pricey? Get sweet on Montreal
May 9, 2008 2:01pm
If you want to practice your Français without hopping across the pond to Paris, how about a trip to Montreal, Canada? The Canadian dollar (a.k.a. loonie) may not be the bargain that it once was at the exchange counter, but it sure beats the U.S. dollar-to-euro trade.
In Quebec’s largest city, you may not get the Tour Eiffel, but you will find a Notre-Dame (pictured) and plenty of unique attractions. And the “Sweet Deal” package offered by Montreal Marriott Chateau Champlain could certainly persuade me to give the city a go.
Deal: You have until May 31, 2008, to get 50% off of your second night’s stay with this promotion. In addition, you’ll receive a full buffet breakfast for two, free cookies and milk for the kids, discounts for various local attractions, two Passport Privileges for Casino Montreal (a $10 value), and a mystery gift from Montreal Tourism valued at $20 (maybe it’s something sweet?). The regular room rate at this Marriott starts at $199 per night (pre-tax).
Come summer, the deal is still on, but it’s just a tad less spectacular: From June 1 to Oct. 15, 2008, you get your third night’s stay for 50% off, rather than the second. Read the rest of this entry »
Canada - VIA Rail spring specials for the family
March 30, 2008 3:42pm
Do you want to while away some days gazing out a window, taking in the beauty of our neighbor to the north? Consider riding the rails through Canada, as VIA Rail Canada has some great discounts going on this summer.
Note that on all of the following deals, discounted seats are limited, so act soon. Prices included here are approximate current U.S. dollar conversions (the Canadian dollar is a tad stronger, with 1.02 of them for every one of our poor dollars, at present).
Head west from Toronto: A trip from Toronto to Montreal or Toronto to Ontario in economy class is now just $58 one-way (pre-tax). When: You must complete travel by May 31, 2008.
Kids ride free: If summertime train travel sounds like fun for the family, take note of this offer. Read the rest of this entry »
India’s Jet Airways to fly daily from San Francisco
March 29, 2008 4:00pm
Jet Airways, one of India’s largest airlines, is fast expanding routes in North America.
The airline, which launched service to Mumbai (BOM) from Toronto (YYZ; Pearson Intl.), Newark, New Jersey (EWR), and New York’s JFK airport in the last 12 months, is now announcing daily service starting May 5 from San Francisco (SFO) to Mumbai, with a stop in Shanghai, China (PVG; Pudong Intl.).
My mom flew Jet Airways from Newark to Mumbai this month, and liked its increased legroom (30-inch seat pitch, the airline says) and found the staff “very courteous.” Read the rest of this entry »
Spring break - Do U.S. citizens need a passport for Mexico & Canada?
March 11, 2008 8:00am
A reader wrote in and asked us if he would need a passport if he was going to Canada for two weeks? That’s a good question and there is plenty of confusion out there when it comes to what kind of paperwork travelers need just to get across the border. The rules for re-entry to the United States changed in January, so if you are confused, your concerns are valid.
Crossing the Canadian or Mexican border: If you are a U.S. or Canadian citizen and want to take a short trip across the U.S. borders, you will need proof of citizenship when crossing by land or sea. Take a passport, a traveler program card such as NEXUS or SENTRI, or a birth certificate with a driver’s license. If you are 18 or younger, just a birth certificate will get you through. If you are flying across the Canadian or Mexican borders, you will need to bring your passport. These rules also apply to Bermuda and the Caribbean. [U.S. Customs and Border Protection]
Leap Day deals - 29% off, today only!
February 29, 2008 9:31am
Happy Leap Day, everyone! If you missed out on the previous Leap Year hotel deals, don’t worry. Expedia is offering 29% off hotels and vacation packages to Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada and even right here in the good ol’ U.S. of A. But hurry — it’s good only until midnight tonight!
There are so many destinations to choose from in the “Save 29% on the 29th” deal. I tested a three-night flight + hotel vacation package to Las Brisas in Acapulco, which came to $626 per person (double occupancy), including taxes.
Passports - Bracing for new Mexico & Canada border rules
January 30, 2008 5:22pm
Could the rules for crossing borders get more confusing? You need a passport to leave the country. No, wait. To return from Canada and Mexico, you need one only if you fly. If you drive or go by sea, an oral declaration plus a government-issued photo ID are enough. No, wait. Starting Thursday, you will need at least a birth certificate plus the ID. Um … unless you’re 18 or under. Then a birth certificate is enough.
Cross a border. Carry a passport. How hard is that? This being America, it’s way more complicated, thanks to some businesses, foreign governments and travel interests that have lobbied against tightening borders, even as they say they support the goal. Add a compliant Congress and government bungling, such as last year’s passport backlog at the State Department, and you’ve got a snarl of shifting rules that rivals an IRS form.
Riding to the rescue, at last, is U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Department of Homeland Security. Under fire for not adequately publicizing Thursday’s changes, the agency is posting a 30-second public service announcement [Windows Media audio file, opens in a new window] on its website that it will soon ship to broadcast outlets, said spokeswoman Kelly Klundt. Sung by Canadian Shirley Myers, the country-flavored song has lyrics only a bureaucrat could love (rhyming “common sense” and “documents”), but at least it delivers the message.
