Destinations
Costa responds to environmental concerns
Costa Cruises is moving quickly to respond to environmental concerns in the wake of the grounding of the Costa Concordia off the coast of Giglio, Italy. In a statement, the cruise line said: "For Costa Cruises protecting the environment is an integral part of its corporate mission, as it has demonstrated by obtaining the most stringent international certifications (UNIEN ISO 14001)." And it continued: "The company therefore recognized the need to promptly address issues concerning the protection of the marine environment following the Costa Concordia accident. In the hours immediately after...
A little romance at YVR Sandman Suites
The Sandman Suites Vancouver is ready for Valentine's Day with a new Romance package. It includes one night's accommodation, chilled sparkling wine, a Canadian breakfast for two, complimentary parking for one vehicle, tickets to an Arts Club Theatre production or a $25 gift certificate for pHresh Spa + Wellness Club (located in the hotel). The package is available for $139 plus tax, based on double occupancy....
Golfers can pick a package in Kauai
The Makai Golf Club at The St. Regis Princeville Resort on the island of Kauai is offering options in 2012 for golfers who want to experience the course, which has earned rave reviews since its post-renovation reopening last year. Featuring two courses with 27 holes of golf, Makai Golf Club is situated in the Princeville Resort community on Kauai's north shore. Guests can enjoy a round of golf, then relax and unwind at the St. Regis Princeville Resort with the Nine, Wine & Dine package. The package includes nine holes of afternoon golf on the Makai Golf Course (play starts after 3 p.m.) and a...
Waikiki Outrigger wired for business
Outrigger Luana Waikiki is bringing something new to the table for businesses and groups with its newly introduced meeting space, suited for everything from presentations to parties. Four meeting spaces are equipped with wireless Internet and flat screen televisions. At Outrigger Luana Waikiki, working professionals will also find a 24-hour business centre for around-the-clock high-speed Internet access, personal computers, as well as access to a printer, and a fax machine that can be rented for meetings for an additional fee. The all-wireless property in Waikiki also offers free Internet...
Defying the gloom of winter
The holidays are over. The bills are arriving in bulk. And the sad reality is sinking in that we have months to wait until the next holiday break or to get a glimpse of warm weather. Enter Cheapflights.ca with a plan to "defy the gloom" (#DefyTheGloom) -- forget that extra dose of Vitamin D and check out its top 25 "most cheap and cheerful" destinations. The top 10 (in order from 1 to 10) include Cancun; Puerto Vallarta; Mexico City; Bucharest, Romania; Fort Lauderdale; New York; San Diego; Miami; Los Angeles; and Orlando. Cheapflights crunched the numbers to come up with its list of...
Haida Gwaii luxury schooner cruises set for 2012
Dates are now set for the 2012 sailings of the nine-day, eight-night Haida Gwaii eco-cruises operated by Maple Leaf Adventures of Victoria. The company does so with a classic 28-metre schooner that sails into the Gwaii Haanas National Park Marine Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, an area rarely travelled and explored. The cruises depart from Masset, BC (returning to Sandspit, BC) on May 7, May 16, May 25, Jun. 4 and June 13. The cost per passenger is $4,640 and includes all shore excursions, meals, accommodations and use of onboard equipment....
A little love from Virginia
The Virginia Tourism Office has just released the 2012 Virginia Travel Guide, with new destinations, family favourites, wineries and attractions that "put love at the heart of every Virginia vacation."New features include vacation ideas for all four seasons, a special section on small towns, scenic drives and a listing of the newest attractions in...
Responsible Travel: Industry needs to do more
A newly released survey reports that the global travel and tourism industry could do more for responsible and sustainable tourism. Conducted by SustainIt during the 2011 World Travel Market in London, the survey found that more than 7 out of 10 industry professionals -- including hoteliers, airlines, resorts and tourist attractions -- believed the industry could do more to reduce poverty and support sustainable local economic development in destination communities. It also found that only 18% of companies questioned had sustainable supply chains and procurement policies in place. The survey...