Airlines are running off with bags of our money thanks to the added fees their charging for extra luggage.
The U.S. Transportation Department announced today that U.S. airlines raked in $2.57 billion (U.S.) in bag fees in 2010 and that figure is expected to top the $3 billion mark in 2011.
Most U.S. airlines this week announced they are raising the fees for second and third bags of luggage – you’ll be charged as much as $90 for a third bag of luggage on some airlines.
Soon you’ll be charged more for extra luggage than the air ticket is worth.
The extra bag fees mean more and more people are trying to stuff everything into their carry on to avoid the extra fees. This means less room in the overhead bins.
The airlines are taking advantage of that, too – some U.S. carriers have started charging $10 for priority boarding to let people get first dibs on the overheads.
American Airlines is now charging $19-$39 for “Express Seats” – they’re located in the first few rows of coach.
TRAVELIFE MAGZINE
Thursday, March 31, 2011
TraveLife magazine hot off the presses
I’ve been in the publishing game for over 30 years now but no matter how long I’ve been around, I still get a rush when publications come off the press – whether it be the Toronto Star where I was Travel Editor for many years or now at TraveLife magazine.So, when I was handed the hot, right off the press copy of the latest issue (April) of TravelIfe earlier today, a rush of printer’s ink surged through my veins. There is no sweeter smell to me than fresh drying printer’s ink.
And, I must say, the April issue, with the hot air balloon cover photo I took one gorgeous sunny morning in the Sonoran Desert just outside Scottsdale, Arizona looks damn good.
Yes, I did haul myself out of bed and went to great heights to get the cover story, which deals with finding a place this summer where unpredictable global warming won’t spoil my suntan time around the pool. A friend who just got back from South Africa tells me she encountered torrential rains, the likes the African continent has not seen for 300 years at this time of year, during her stay in Nelson Mandela’s nation. That’s the havoc global warming is playing on travel planning, folks.
So, Arizona, with its 333 days of sunshine and a monsoon season that lasts a few hours in August, may be the answer – and the fact amazing 5-star resorts and golf courses there cut their summer rates by as much as 60 per cent, is another good reason to think about Arizona this summer.
So read all about it in the online edition of TraveLife magazine at www.travelife.ca when it appears Monday.
Oh, and there’s lots more to read about in the April issue – stories and great photographs from Burma, China, Montreal (where you can actually surf in the St. Lawrence), Sarnia (where the sunsets rank among the best in the world), Bangkok, Florida and Doha, the capital of Qatar and a city considered the best money can buy.
And, Claudia Tsang, our assistant editor, shares some tips on travelling with a baby on vacation – Claudia made the sacrifice of going all the way to Hawaii with her hubby and 1-year-old son to do the research!
Casey Nolin shares her amazing photography tips and wusing a 2D Barcode can give you a chance to win a new smart phone.
Read all about in the online version of TraveLife magazine Monday!
Help! I need a jetlag cure
Does anyone out there have a good cure for jetlag?
I arrived home from China Sunday feeling great but last night (Wednesday) I crash-landed - brought back down to earth by jetlag.
Am I feeling the effects of jetlag more now because I’m getting older?
Is there a simple solution to my problem that I’m missing?
Any help would be appreciated, because I don’t intend to stop travelling – so I expect more bouts of jetlag.
Send your suggestions to marc.atchison@travelife.ca or leave a comment – if your cure works, we’ll share it with other readers.
I arrived home from China Sunday feeling great but last night (Wednesday) I crash-landed - brought back down to earth by jetlag.
Am I feeling the effects of jetlag more now because I’m getting older?
Is there a simple solution to my problem that I’m missing?
Any help would be appreciated, because I don’t intend to stop travelling – so I expect more bouts of jetlag.
Send your suggestions to marc.atchison@travelife.ca or leave a comment – if your cure works, we’ll share it with other readers.
Low class Ryanair ups fees again
The day budget airlines in Europe started charging to use bathrooms aboard flights – I’m not kidding – that’s the day they went from being “low cost airlines” to “low class airlines” in my opinion.
And the sky is the limit with these low class carriers when it comes to passing along fees to you.
The latest is what amounts to a $3 (U.S.) levy Ireland’s Ryanair is charging passengers on all flights in order to cover costs of flight cancellations, delays and to meet obligation guidelines set down by the European Union for “force-majeure” incidents.
That’s on top of the fuel surcharges, extra baggage fees and of course the bathroom usage levy that Ryanair is already taxing passengers with.
The low class carrier has endured 15,000 flight cancellations and delays over the last year and Ryanair says that’s cost them almost $200 million.
Hey folks, when it comes to low class airlines, you get what you pay for and with Ryanair that’s not much. Next they’ll be charging for seat cushions – oops, I hope I haven’t given them another money-making scheme to sit on!
And the sky is the limit with these low class carriers when it comes to passing along fees to you.
The latest is what amounts to a $3 (U.S.) levy Ireland’s Ryanair is charging passengers on all flights in order to cover costs of flight cancellations, delays and to meet obligation guidelines set down by the European Union for “force-majeure” incidents.
That’s on top of the fuel surcharges, extra baggage fees and of course the bathroom usage levy that Ryanair is already taxing passengers with.
The low class carrier has endured 15,000 flight cancellations and delays over the last year and Ryanair says that’s cost them almost $200 million.
Hey folks, when it comes to low class airlines, you get what you pay for and with Ryanair that’s not much. Next they’ll be charging for seat cushions – oops, I hope I haven’t given them another money-making scheme to sit on!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Porter extends golf flights into fall
Porter, the little airline that could, is having a ball running flights between Toronto and Myrtle Beach, S.C. that are packed with golfers.
The Island Airport carrier launched its winter/spring golf flights a few years ago and they've been so successful that Porter has decided to extend them ino the fall.
Porter announced yesterday one-way fare for the fall product to Myrtle will run you $179, plus taxes.
That sounds good but a couple of U.S. airlines based in Niagar Falls are running spring golf escapes to Myrtle for as low as $296 return, and that includes taxes. And there's no charge for parking at the Buffalo/Niagara International Airport.
With the loonie so strong these days against the U.S. Greenback, that fare is even lower for Canadians.
The only thing you have to decide is: "is it worth the drive to Buffalo to save yourself a few bucks?"
The Island Airport carrier launched its winter/spring golf flights a few years ago and they've been so successful that Porter has decided to extend them ino the fall.
Porter announced yesterday one-way fare for the fall product to Myrtle will run you $179, plus taxes.
That sounds good but a couple of U.S. airlines based in Niagar Falls are running spring golf escapes to Myrtle for as low as $296 return, and that includes taxes. And there's no charge for parking at the Buffalo/Niagara International Airport.
With the loonie so strong these days against the U.S. Greenback, that fare is even lower for Canadians.
The only thing you have to decide is: "is it worth the drive to Buffalo to save yourself a few bucks?"
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Late breaking travel news
Here’s some travel tidbits I came across today while scanning the Internet:
LONDON: The final piece of turf has been laid on the field of play in the Olympic Stadium, marking completion of construction of the venue. Construction started on the Stadium just under three years ago in May 2008 and has been completed on time, under budget and with an exemplary safety record.
THAILAND: Hundreds of tourists are stranded on the popular Thai resort island of Koh Samui following a torrential downpour. Flights from the island have been suspended indefinitely, with a number of British tourists among those affected.
LONDON: EasyJet, the UK’s largest airline, has formed a partnership with VisitBritain, the UK’s national tourism agency, to jointly market Britain as a tourist destination over the next four years. The deal between the two parties is worth over about $25 million in cash and marketing in kind, and will help boost visitor numbers to the country and capitalize on the unique opportunities provided by the impending Royal Wedding, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and 2012 London Games.
WASHINGTON: Despite the lingering effects of the recession, the hotel business actually started coming back to life last year. According to a Hotels.com report released last week, the average cost of a hotel room rose 2 per cent in 2010, the first time it’s risen, year over year, since 2007.
TOKYO: Business travel to Japan has largely dried up in the wake of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear reactor crisis there, and industry experts do not expect it to bounce back until the nuclear problems have been solved. Corporate-related travel to Japan has plummeted 80 per cent since the earthquake, estimates Andrew W. Menkes, chief executive of Partnership Travel Consulting, a Princeton, N.J.-based firm that helps companies manage their travel and entertainment expenses. Business travellers have canceled their trips, he said, “because of potential exposure to radiation, challenges with the transportation and ground infrastructure, and lack of hotel space.”
LONDON: The final piece of turf has been laid on the field of play in the Olympic Stadium, marking completion of construction of the venue. Construction started on the Stadium just under three years ago in May 2008 and has been completed on time, under budget and with an exemplary safety record.
THAILAND: Hundreds of tourists are stranded on the popular Thai resort island of Koh Samui following a torrential downpour. Flights from the island have been suspended indefinitely, with a number of British tourists among those affected.
LONDON: EasyJet, the UK’s largest airline, has formed a partnership with VisitBritain, the UK’s national tourism agency, to jointly market Britain as a tourist destination over the next four years. The deal between the two parties is worth over about $25 million in cash and marketing in kind, and will help boost visitor numbers to the country and capitalize on the unique opportunities provided by the impending Royal Wedding, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and 2012 London Games.
WASHINGTON: Despite the lingering effects of the recession, the hotel business actually started coming back to life last year. According to a Hotels.com report released last week, the average cost of a hotel room rose 2 per cent in 2010, the first time it’s risen, year over year, since 2007.
TOKYO: Business travel to Japan has largely dried up in the wake of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear reactor crisis there, and industry experts do not expect it to bounce back until the nuclear problems have been solved. Corporate-related travel to Japan has plummeted 80 per cent since the earthquake, estimates Andrew W. Menkes, chief executive of Partnership Travel Consulting, a Princeton, N.J.-based firm that helps companies manage their travel and entertainment expenses. Business travellers have canceled their trips, he said, “because of potential exposure to radiation, challenges with the transportation and ground infrastructure, and lack of hotel space.”
Alternate cherry blossom trips
Which is too bad because the cherry blossom spectacle I saw in Osaka (especially along the river which I snapped in this photo) was the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.
She still wants to see cherry blossoms somewhere, though.
So she asked me to pick some alternative cherry blossom destinations. So here goes:
Washington, D.C.: America’s capital is at its loveliest in the spring when cherry trees are flush with blossoms and every landmark seems to be framed by cherry trees. There’s even a festival held around cherry blossom time.
Hanzhou, China: This ancient silk city, where they also harvest some of the world’s finest teas, is about an hour’s drive outside Shanghai and in spring it becomes the blossom capital of China. Plum and cherry trees along the banks of the city’s beautiful West Lake are heavy with blossoms and the walk around West Lake is among my favourites in the world.
Macon, Georgia: This southern bell calls itself the “Cherry Blossom Capital of the World” and boasts 300,000 Yoshino cherry trees. The city even holds a yearly cherry blossom festival and everyone is welcome.
Seoul: Come April, the South Korean capital is carpeted with cherry blossoms. The best places in Seoul to see an abundance of cherry trees is Mount Namsan, the Children’s Grand Park and Seoul Forest.
San Francisco: The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival held in San Francisco claims to be the biggest outside Washington, D.C. and more than 150,000 people turn up in mid April from all over the world to join in the festivities.
Brooklyn, N.Y.: Yes, a cherry tree grows in Brooklyn – in fact many of them do and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has some very special ones which they showcase during its annual Sakura Matsuri festival held in early May.
Tourism favourites in “no fly zone”
Tourism is always a victim of global events.
No one is going to Japan on holidays right now – and probably won’t for a long time to come.
Events in the Middle East – an uprising in Egypt; civil war in Libya; riots in Bahrain; car bombs in Jerusalem – have all but stopped tourism to that part of the world.
Security concerns caused by the ongoing drug war in Mexico have drastically reduced tourism to that nation.
So many tourism favourites seem to be caught in a no-fly zone right now.
However, there are still save havens and let’s face it, Canadians aren’t going to stop travelling.
So here’s the five destinations I’m recommending you consider this summer – and let’s hope “events” don’t disrupt life in these places:
1- Canada: There’s no safer place in the world right now – and there lots to see and do on home turf.
2- The U.S.: States like Florida and Arizona are great summer values – if you can stand the heat.
3- Asia: China and Indochina are the greatest travel bargains on the planet right now.
4- Europe: Just stay out of the big cities like London and Paris –rural Europe has a lot to offer and it’s much cheaper.
5- The Caribbean: Warm sunny days are guaranteed and summer is the off-season there, meaning really cheap flights and hotels.
No one is going to Japan on holidays right now – and probably won’t for a long time to come.
Events in the Middle East – an uprising in Egypt; civil war in Libya; riots in Bahrain; car bombs in Jerusalem – have all but stopped tourism to that part of the world.
Security concerns caused by the ongoing drug war in Mexico have drastically reduced tourism to that nation.
So many tourism favourites seem to be caught in a no-fly zone right now.
However, there are still save havens and let’s face it, Canadians aren’t going to stop travelling.
So here’s the five destinations I’m recommending you consider this summer – and let’s hope “events” don’t disrupt life in these places:
1- Canada: There’s no safer place in the world right now – and there lots to see and do on home turf.
2- The U.S.: States like Florida and Arizona are great summer values – if you can stand the heat.
3- Asia: China and Indochina are the greatest travel bargains on the planet right now.
4- Europe: Just stay out of the big cities like London and Paris –rural Europe has a lot to offer and it’s much cheaper.
5- The Caribbean: Warm sunny days are guaranteed and summer is the off-season there, meaning really cheap flights and hotels.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Time to rest up before my next trip
I’m back home in Toronto after a whirlwind visit to Beijing and Hong Kong and now I’ll rest up for a few weeks before heading off to Dallas on assignment for TraveLife magazine in mid April.
But I'll be doing daily blogs keeping you up to date on what’s happening in the travel world.
By the way, China continues to amaze. There’s no hotter travel destination on the planet right now and the Chinese capital never disappoints.
However, visiting that amazing city can be exhausting. The traffic chaos, noise and sea of people wear me down after a while. But each time I leave, I can’t wait to go back.
Ditto for Hong Kong – and pretty much the rest of Asia.
Asia’s turn has finally come as a preferred travel destination and the glut of new hotels and resorts being built there compliment the record number of flights now being offered to that area of the world out of North America and Europe. All this will only hasten Asia’s rise to the top of the tourism chart over the next few years.
Asia offers great value, great sights and great hospitality – and it’s only going to get better.
Good for you Asia!
But I'll be doing daily blogs keeping you up to date on what’s happening in the travel world.
By the way, China continues to amaze. There’s no hotter travel destination on the planet right now and the Chinese capital never disappoints.
However, visiting that amazing city can be exhausting. The traffic chaos, noise and sea of people wear me down after a while. But each time I leave, I can’t wait to go back.
Ditto for Hong Kong – and pretty much the rest of Asia.
Asia’s turn has finally come as a preferred travel destination and the glut of new hotels and resorts being built there compliment the record number of flights now being offered to that area of the world out of North America and Europe. All this will only hasten Asia’s rise to the top of the tourism chart over the next few years.
Asia offers great value, great sights and great hospitality – and it’s only going to get better.
Good for you Asia!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Hong Kong is putting on the Ritz
DATELINE HONG KONG – My three-day visit here has been lived in the lap of luxury, thanks to my decision to stay at the Peninsula Hong Kong. The historic Grand Dame of this city’s hotels, which is located on the Kowloon side and offers breathtaking views of the Hong Kong side from its harbour view rooms and suites, just keeps getting better with age.
Over the years, the Pen, as she is affectingly known by residents living in this former British colony, has fought off challenges from the likes of Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental to hold onto her title of “Best Hotel in Hong Kong.”
However, the Pen may have finally met her match. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel chain, which closed an older property on the Hong Kong side of the bay many years ago, is back – the new Ritz officially opened March 28.
And while it will take some time to wrestle the title of Best Hotel in Hong Kong away from the Pen, the Ritz already has one bragging right – it’s the tallest hotel in the city, soaring 490 metres above Hong Kong harbour in a new office/residential/hotel complex known as the International Conference Centre (the photo is taken from Star Ferry terminal) at 1 Austin Road West in Kowloon’s commercial area.
The hotel lobby sits on the building’s 102nd floor and from the top floor rooms on the 118th floor you get stunning views of Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong Island and on a clear day you can see into the far-off New Territories bordering China.
Also, the hotel’s swimming pool on the ICC’s top floor is now recognized as the highest pool in the world. The 312-room Hong Kong Ritz also features six restaurants and pampers guests with a 9,257 ESPA spa on the 116th floor.
Apparently, the sky’s the limit when it comes to Hong Kong hotels.
Some food for thought
DATELINE HONG KONG – I’m always trying to find new restaurants when I visit cities like Hong Kong. And I found three new ones on this trip which I offer up to you as food for thought:
1-Ambrosia Oyster Bar and Grill, located on the 28th floor of the Isquare building at 63 Nathan Road.
I bellied up to the oyster bar and enjoyed salty delights from France, Japan, the South China Sea and New Zealand – along with some Canadian clams and a prawn cocktail. The price tag at Ambrosia was a bit high but the freshness of the food and the spectacular view of Hong Kong’s colourful night skyline and Victoria Harbour were priceless.
2-The Sweet Dynasty, located at 100 Canton Road on the Kowloon side.
Sweet Dynasty is well priced and offers some sweet surprises. Lineups are always long but the line moves fast and the food – especially the won-ton soup - is well worth the wait. This is great value for money and the two-storey room is well lit and very clean. Sweet Dynasty is a late-night favourite with the locals.
3-Dim Sum Restaurant, 63 Shing Woo Road, on the Hong Kong side.
You’ll have to jump on one of Hong Kong’s iconic little trams (always a fun experience) to get to this Happy Valley neighbourhood eatery that has become a favourite with tourists thanks to all the positive internet write-ups it’s received. This is dim sum eating at its best. Order anything – no dish disappoints in this cramped room where you may have to share a table with a total stranger or some of the locals. Great fun! Because of its popularity, the prices are mid-range but the quality and taste are amazing.
1-Ambrosia Oyster Bar and Grill, located on the 28th floor of the Isquare building at 63 Nathan Road.
I bellied up to the oyster bar and enjoyed salty delights from France, Japan, the South China Sea and New Zealand – along with some Canadian clams and a prawn cocktail. The price tag at Ambrosia was a bit high but the freshness of the food and the spectacular view of Hong Kong’s colourful night skyline and Victoria Harbour were priceless.
2-The Sweet Dynasty, located at 100 Canton Road on the Kowloon side.
Sweet Dynasty is well priced and offers some sweet surprises. Lineups are always long but the line moves fast and the food – especially the won-ton soup - is well worth the wait. This is great value for money and the two-storey room is well lit and very clean. Sweet Dynasty is a late-night favourite with the locals.
3-Dim Sum Restaurant, 63 Shing Woo Road, on the Hong Kong side.
You’ll have to jump on one of Hong Kong’s iconic little trams (always a fun experience) to get to this Happy Valley neighbourhood eatery that has become a favourite with tourists thanks to all the positive internet write-ups it’s received. This is dim sum eating at its best. Order anything – no dish disappoints in this cramped room where you may have to share a table with a total stranger or some of the locals. Great fun! Because of its popularity, the prices are mid-range but the quality and taste are amazing.
Hong Kong booming with Chinese buying up luxury fashion items
DATELINE HONG KONG - Sometimes I worry that this fast-paced city that was my introduction to Asia many years ago, is missing out on the economic boom its cousins in China are now experiencing.
Well, that worry quickly disappeared while I was walking the streets of old Hong Kong and her twin sister Kowloon across the bay the past couple of days.
I’ve never seen Hong Kong’s streets this crowded with tourists – and most of them are Chinese mainlanders.
The thing the Chinese love coming to Hong Kong for is to buy luxury goods. Designer shops here look like Walmarts on a giveaway day.
Beijing and Shanghai have plenty of designer stores – there’s Gucci and LV shops on just about every corner of those two giant mainland cities – but import taxes in China are high so Stella McCartney’s designs are much cheaper In Hong Kong and the selection is much better in this former British colony.
At times, the scenes in those designer shops can be chaotic. One Hong Kong resident told me some designer stores limit the amount one customer can purchase on a busy day – so mainlanders “hire” Hong Kong residents to go in the shops and buy up the Prada bags they yearn.
It all makes for some amusing theatre for those of us who can only afford to watch.
Oh, and by the way, most of the purchases are cash – the mainlanders like to buy with cash and I personally witnessed one man produce a brick of money from his “man purse” and peel off thousands of HK dollar notes and hand them to the salesperson.
I’m not worried about Hong Kong anymore.
Well, that worry quickly disappeared while I was walking the streets of old Hong Kong and her twin sister Kowloon across the bay the past couple of days.
I’ve never seen Hong Kong’s streets this crowded with tourists – and most of them are Chinese mainlanders.
The thing the Chinese love coming to Hong Kong for is to buy luxury goods. Designer shops here look like Walmarts on a giveaway day.
Beijing and Shanghai have plenty of designer stores – there’s Gucci and LV shops on just about every corner of those two giant mainland cities – but import taxes in China are high so Stella McCartney’s designs are much cheaper In Hong Kong and the selection is much better in this former British colony.
At times, the scenes in those designer shops can be chaotic. One Hong Kong resident told me some designer stores limit the amount one customer can purchase on a busy day – so mainlanders “hire” Hong Kong residents to go in the shops and buy up the Prada bags they yearn.
It all makes for some amusing theatre for those of us who can only afford to watch.
Oh, and by the way, most of the purchases are cash – the mainlanders like to buy with cash and I personally witnessed one man produce a brick of money from his “man purse” and peel off thousands of HK dollar notes and hand them to the salesperson.
I’m not worried about Hong Kong anymore.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Major hotels putting all their money into fast growing Asia/Pacific market
DATELINE BEIJING - While scanning my International Herald Tribune over morning coffee in the lounge at The Ritz-Carlton Beijing (great hotel – highly recommend you book here) I came across a story quoting STR Global - a marketing giant that looks at travel trends among other things - about hotel occupancy rates in the Asia/Pacific region.
According to STR, Asia/Pacific nations have seen strong recovery from the recent global recession, with over-heated China leading the way, and that has led to a hotel building boom throughout the region.
China, as always, is leading the construction of new hotels, with 101,118 rooms now being buoilt – that represents more than half of those under construction in the region. India is next with 31,104 new rooms under construction followed by Thailand (8,089 rooms), Vietnam (7,277) and Indonesia (5,103).
And, according to the STR report, the Asia/Pacific region is no longer depending solely on North American and European travellers to keep those rooms filled. While the region has seen a vast improvement of overseas travellers from the darkest periods of the recession, the rapidly expanding middle class in Asia is accounting for most of the occupancy in the region these days.
As a result, every major global hotel chain plans aggressive expansion in the Asia/Pacific region – Hilton Hotels & Resorts has 38 new properties currently under construction in China alone (I stayed a couple of nights on this trip at the new Beijing Hilton and this is one Hilton that stands out in the chain – lots of marble and plenty of smiles from eager staff).
So, what does all this mean for us North American travellers?
Well, even with the aggressive expansion, get set to pay more for hotel rooms in Asia/Pacific countries because the new hotels are costing a lot more to build and the highly-trained staff at those properties will be paid more. That means the costs will be passed along to us.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that the newer Asia/Pacific hotel room rates will still be 50 per cent cheaper than European properties of the same quality.
So, the Asia/Pacific region remains the best value in international travel.
According to STR, Asia/Pacific nations have seen strong recovery from the recent global recession, with over-heated China leading the way, and that has led to a hotel building boom throughout the region.
China, as always, is leading the construction of new hotels, with 101,118 rooms now being buoilt – that represents more than half of those under construction in the region. India is next with 31,104 new rooms under construction followed by Thailand (8,089 rooms), Vietnam (7,277) and Indonesia (5,103).
And, according to the STR report, the Asia/Pacific region is no longer depending solely on North American and European travellers to keep those rooms filled. While the region has seen a vast improvement of overseas travellers from the darkest periods of the recession, the rapidly expanding middle class in Asia is accounting for most of the occupancy in the region these days.
As a result, every major global hotel chain plans aggressive expansion in the Asia/Pacific region – Hilton Hotels & Resorts has 38 new properties currently under construction in China alone (I stayed a couple of nights on this trip at the new Beijing Hilton and this is one Hilton that stands out in the chain – lots of marble and plenty of smiles from eager staff).
So, what does all this mean for us North American travellers?
Well, even with the aggressive expansion, get set to pay more for hotel rooms in Asia/Pacific countries because the new hotels are costing a lot more to build and the highly-trained staff at those properties will be paid more. That means the costs will be passed along to us.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that the newer Asia/Pacific hotel room rates will still be 50 per cent cheaper than European properties of the same quality.
So, the Asia/Pacific region remains the best value in international travel.
My Top 5 hotels in Beijing
DATELINE BEIJING - One tip I always give first timers coming to China is never scrimp on hotels.
Four or-five star Western-style hotels are much different than their Chinese counterparts, especially when it comes to sanitation. So, while you may have to pay a bit more, it’s money well spent. And five-star Western hotels in China are priced like three star hotels in Europe.
If you travel outside China’s big cities, you’ll have to rely on Chinese chains so make sure it has a five-star rating.
Beijing has many great hotels and here are five favourites among the ones I’ve stayed at:
1- The Ritz-Carlton – 5 star (it’s brand new and grand but typically Ritz cozy)
2- The Peninsula – 5-star (this older property fits like a pair of comfortable shoes)
3- China World – 4-star-plus (a local brand but Western in every way)
4- Fairmont’s Raffles – 4-star-plus (an historic property right next to the Forbidden City)
5- Grand Hyatt – 4-star-plus (it’s grand and in a great location and has lots of shopping nearby)
Four or-five star Western-style hotels are much different than their Chinese counterparts, especially when it comes to sanitation. So, while you may have to pay a bit more, it’s money well spent. And five-star Western hotels in China are priced like three star hotels in Europe.
If you travel outside China’s big cities, you’ll have to rely on Chinese chains so make sure it has a five-star rating.
Beijing has many great hotels and here are five favourites among the ones I’ve stayed at:
1- The Ritz-Carlton – 5 star (it’s brand new and grand but typically Ritz cozy)
2- The Peninsula – 5-star (this older property fits like a pair of comfortable shoes)
3- China World – 4-star-plus (a local brand but Western in every way)
4- Fairmont’s Raffles – 4-star-plus (an historic property right next to the Forbidden City)
5- Grand Hyatt – 4-star-plus (it’s grand and in a great location and has lots of shopping nearby)
Beijing’s KFC a real whopper!
DATELINE BEIJING - While waiting in line today to get my Western food fix (a steady diet of even the world’s best Chinese dim sum and hot pot wears thin on me after four straight days) I start to wonder what to order in the KFC I find opposite Tiananmen Square.When I reach the front of the line I tell the nametag “Sophie” I want the BIG fries; BIG bucket; and a BIG Coke. Hey, this is the BIGGEST KFC in the world, after all.
Spread over three floors and almost 35,000 square feet, this is one whopper of a restaurant. And it was the first KFC ever opened in China – back in 1987. It was refurbished in 1999 and each of the floors is now themed.
The first floor is a tribute to China’s Great Wall – remnants of which are located within walking distance of this KFC – and showcases some beautiful photographs of the greatest ever man-made structure.
The second floor celebrates the roll hutongs (courtyard homes) once played in this society. Few hutongs, which date back 300 years to the Ming and Qing dynasties, remain standing in Beijing and the few that are, ironically, are being turned into chic restaurants.
The third floor is a celebration of Chinese art.
After awhile, you wonder if this is a restaurant or a museum.
KFC is enjoying unprecedented success in China – the Chinese love their chicken – and a recent report I saw on CBS suggested one new KFC outlet opens somewhere in China every day.
Photos from a Sunday morning stroll through the ancient streets of Beijing
The photo of the monk was captured outside the Lama Temple in the oldest part of Beijing - it's the only temple of its kind outside Tibet and it's where the Lama came to study back in the 17th century. The grounds are beautiful and the place is a real oasis of calm from the noise and chaos happening outside on the traffic-clogged streets of Beijing. Inside, the grand Buddha is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen - the female features are stunning.
Beijing truly is a beautiful city - especially on a sunny Sunday morning.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
I’m the Wikileaks of travel
Been blogging just a short time but already it appears I’m getting under the skin of the European Travel Commission for leaking information that more of its members are pulling out or drastically reducing staff in Canada – Britain being the latest to reduce its Canadian office staff by half thanks to budget cuts ordered by London.
Just call me Wikileaks Light
The Swiss are particularly angry at me – poking holes in my recent post that they’re closing their New York office and bringing their operation to Toronto. In fact, the Swiss say they’re only moving their North American media operations to Toronto but their New York tourist office will remain open. Seems I misunderstood the “we’re closing our New York office” comment as told to me by a high-ranking Swiss tourism official. My apologies.
And the Euro Commission is apparently upset that I brought to light its dismissal of John Stephenson, the man who represented the Euro zone so well in Canada for many years. Seems the Euros don’t like to share these trivial facts with Canadians.
And, claims the Euro Commission rep who scolded me about the blog: “The European Commission will actually be spending more money promoting European travel in Canada.”
Well, if by cutting staff, closing offices and not renewing the contract of its Canadian representative is the way the European Travel Commission feels it’s “investing more” in Canada, you’ll excuse my confusion.
Sadly, I think I’ll be investing lots of time posting news about more European closures in Canada in the coming months.
Just call me Wikileaks Light
The Swiss are particularly angry at me – poking holes in my recent post that they’re closing their New York office and bringing their operation to Toronto. In fact, the Swiss say they’re only moving their North American media operations to Toronto but their New York tourist office will remain open. Seems I misunderstood the “we’re closing our New York office” comment as told to me by a high-ranking Swiss tourism official. My apologies.
And the Euro Commission is apparently upset that I brought to light its dismissal of John Stephenson, the man who represented the Euro zone so well in Canada for many years. Seems the Euros don’t like to share these trivial facts with Canadians.
And, claims the Euro Commission rep who scolded me about the blog: “The European Commission will actually be spending more money promoting European travel in Canada.”
Well, if by cutting staff, closing offices and not renewing the contract of its Canadian representative is the way the European Travel Commission feels it’s “investing more” in Canada, you’ll excuse my confusion.
Sadly, I think I’ll be investing lots of time posting news about more European closures in Canada in the coming months.
Observations from Beijing
DATELINE CHINA - I would like to share some news and observations I've picked up on the streets of Beijing this week during my visit:
1- China’s capital city will introduce a “no smoking” ban in restaurants and all indoor public venues beginning May 1, 2011, thus eliminating one of the biggest irritants North Americans face when visiting this amazing city – smoked filled everything.
2- Can someone please take the car horns away from Beijing drivers? Their constant honking is driving visitors like me stir crazy.
3- Renowned New York chef Daniel Boulud has just opened a restaurant in Beijing (Maison Boulud) in the old American Embassy (23 Qianmen Dongdajie, Dongcheng District) and it’s getting rave reviews. The good news is that Bouloud’s Beijing menu offerings are 25 per cent less than what his New York room charges.
4- Tourism authorities here revealed during my visit that 50 million Chinese travelled abroad last year and that 70 million are expected to take foreign vacations in 2011. Half those Chinese travellers – 25 million – go to Hong Kong and Macau. A large majority of the remainder prefer the Asia/Pacific region for holidays, with Japan (before the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power leak) being their favourite destination. Europe is still attracting lots of interest from the Chinese and one tourism official told me that North America is gaining in popularity but “because of the cost and time commitment involved in travelling to Canada and the U.S., it may take another three years before those countries see any major economic benefit from Chinese tourism.” Hey, we can wait.
5- Many of Beijing’s famed hutongs (courtyard homes) are being gutted and transformed into chic restaurants where the city’s elite like to be served. The courtyard homes date back 300 years to the Ming and Qing dynasties. In recent years, their numbers have been reduced from thousands to a mere hundred or so; victims of Beijing’s runaway expansion and modernization. My favorite hutong restaurant is Hua’s (www.huajiacal.com) followed by Palette Vino (5 Dong Si Shiyitiao), Saffron Restaurant (64 Wu Dao Ying Hutong) and Xihe Yaju Restaurant (www.xhyj.net).
6- In an effort to bring its traffic chaos under control, Beijing announced recently that it’s restricting to 200,000 the number of new vehicles it will allow on city streets each year. That’ 200,000 too many. Beijing has now unseated Tokyo as the traffic gridlock capital of the world.
7- Subway rides in Beijing cost 2 yuan (about 30 cents) a ride but if you think the chaos on the streets is bad, try hopping on a Beijing subway at rush hour.
1- China’s capital city will introduce a “no smoking” ban in restaurants and all indoor public venues beginning May 1, 2011, thus eliminating one of the biggest irritants North Americans face when visiting this amazing city – smoked filled everything.
2- Can someone please take the car horns away from Beijing drivers? Their constant honking is driving visitors like me stir crazy.
3- Renowned New York chef Daniel Boulud has just opened a restaurant in Beijing (Maison Boulud) in the old American Embassy (23 Qianmen Dongdajie, Dongcheng District) and it’s getting rave reviews. The good news is that Bouloud’s Beijing menu offerings are 25 per cent less than what his New York room charges.
4- Tourism authorities here revealed during my visit that 50 million Chinese travelled abroad last year and that 70 million are expected to take foreign vacations in 2011. Half those Chinese travellers – 25 million – go to Hong Kong and Macau. A large majority of the remainder prefer the Asia/Pacific region for holidays, with Japan (before the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power leak) being their favourite destination. Europe is still attracting lots of interest from the Chinese and one tourism official told me that North America is gaining in popularity but “because of the cost and time commitment involved in travelling to Canada and the U.S., it may take another three years before those countries see any major economic benefit from Chinese tourism.” Hey, we can wait.
5- Many of Beijing’s famed hutongs (courtyard homes) are being gutted and transformed into chic restaurants where the city’s elite like to be served. The courtyard homes date back 300 years to the Ming and Qing dynasties. In recent years, their numbers have been reduced from thousands to a mere hundred or so; victims of Beijing’s runaway expansion and modernization. My favorite hutong restaurant is Hua’s (www.huajiacal.com) followed by Palette Vino (5 Dong Si Shiyitiao), Saffron Restaurant (64 Wu Dao Ying Hutong) and Xihe Yaju Restaurant (www.xhyj.net).
6- In an effort to bring its traffic chaos under control, Beijing announced recently that it’s restricting to 200,000 the number of new vehicles it will allow on city streets each year. That’ 200,000 too many. Beijing has now unseated Tokyo as the traffic gridlock capital of the world.
7- Subway rides in Beijing cost 2 yuan (about 30 cents) a ride but if you think the chaos on the streets is bad, try hopping on a Beijing subway at rush hour.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Hong Kong’s camping housekeepers a treat
The reason I love Hong Kong so much is because you see things here that you won’t see anywhere else – like a moving sidewalk (known locally as the travelator) which eliminates climbing steep steps to reach the island’s Mid Level section; and the “camping housekeepers.”
I literally stumbled upon the “camping housekeepers” on my initial visit to Hong Kong many years ago. I tripped over one I didn’t see sitting on a sidewalk near the old Ritz Carlton Hotel. After picking myself up and apologizing to the woman, I was taken aback to see what looked like a major demonstration taking place all around me involving thousands of women.
“No demonstration, just the camping housekeepers,” a local policeman assured me.
Seems Hong Kong housekeepers get only one day off and because they’ve been cooped up all week they like to congregate on the elevated pathways leading to the major shopping malls in the city’s Central District to socialize with fellow Filipinos.
It’s a tradition that’s been going on since the early 1980s.
The housekeepers spread blankets, construct makeshift tents out of cardboard, do each other’s hair and nails and catch up on all the gossip from back home in the Philippines from early Sunday morning to dusk.
It’s one of the most incredible sights I’ve ever seen.
I literally stumbled upon the “camping housekeepers” on my initial visit to Hong Kong many years ago. I tripped over one I didn’t see sitting on a sidewalk near the old Ritz Carlton Hotel. After picking myself up and apologizing to the woman, I was taken aback to see what looked like a major demonstration taking place all around me involving thousands of women.
“No demonstration, just the camping housekeepers,” a local policeman assured me.
Seems Hong Kong housekeepers get only one day off and because they’ve been cooped up all week they like to congregate on the elevated pathways leading to the major shopping malls in the city’s Central District to socialize with fellow Filipinos.
It’s a tradition that’s been going on since the early 1980s.
The housekeepers spread blankets, construct makeshift tents out of cardboard, do each other’s hair and nails and catch up on all the gossip from back home in the Philippines from early Sunday morning to dusk.
It’s one of the most incredible sights I’ve ever seen.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Hong Kong screens airline passengers for radiation in wake of Japan leaks
I just arrived in Hong Kong and it’s like stepping back in time – to the time of SARS and Bird Flu. Air passengers are once again being greeted by masked security and health officials.
Hong Kong health officials appear to be monitoring arriving passengers, especially those from Japan, for radiation. So far, Hong Kong officials have not detected any abnormal rates of radiation on passengers or planes landing here.
However, Taiwan officials reportedly discovered at least one passenger arriving in Taipei had higher than normal levels of radiation on his clothing and that touched off alarm bells in this former British colony.
Taiwan tourism is bracing for a major hit thanks to the problems in Japan. Over one million Japanese visited Taiwan last year but because of the ongoing troubles caused by the earthquake, tsunami and the ongoing nuclear radiation leaks and the economic fallout that is sure to follow, Taiwanese officials are expecting much fewer Japanese to take holidays there in the next few years.
In China, meanwhile, panic buying has broken out for of all things salt. Rumors that sea salt in Japan, a major supplier for Chinese tables, will be contaminated for many years to come sent Chinese consumers rushing to supermarkets and they quickly cleaned out salt and soya sauce shelves.
Hong Kong health officials appear to be monitoring arriving passengers, especially those from Japan, for radiation. So far, Hong Kong officials have not detected any abnormal rates of radiation on passengers or planes landing here.
However, Taiwan officials reportedly discovered at least one passenger arriving in Taipei had higher than normal levels of radiation on his clothing and that touched off alarm bells in this former British colony.
Taiwan tourism is bracing for a major hit thanks to the problems in Japan. Over one million Japanese visited Taiwan last year but because of the ongoing troubles caused by the earthquake, tsunami and the ongoing nuclear radiation leaks and the economic fallout that is sure to follow, Taiwanese officials are expecting much fewer Japanese to take holidays there in the next few years.
In China, meanwhile, panic buying has broken out for of all things salt. Rumors that sea salt in Japan, a major supplier for Chinese tables, will be contaminated for many years to come sent Chinese consumers rushing to supermarkets and they quickly cleaned out salt and soya sauce shelves.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Arizona has red rocks and red wine
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During a recent visit to Arizona I discovered the state's fastest-growing industry isn't solar panel farms - they harvest the sun and produce a lot of clean energy - but wine.
Yes Virginia, they can grow grapes and produce wine in the desert.
Seems the state's higher elevations around Tucson in the south and Sedona in the north produce the perfect growing conditions - hot air during the day and cool desert air at night to go along with the area's red clay soil which apparently is similar to that found in Burgundy, France where they've been known to produce some pretty good vintages over the centuries.
Not being much of a wine snob - it all tastes good to me - I thought the Sedona branch of the Arizona wine industry produces some pretty good bottles - lots of fruity taste but a bit too much alcholol. Apparently my wine snob friends tell me that's because the vines are too young.
They are flabbergasted to learn, as I did on this trip, that Arizona's wine industry dates back to the 17th century when missionaries from Mexico and South America planted vines so they could have wine for religious ceremonies. The latest crop of wineries began sprouting up in the 1970s.
Sedona - I always get that place named mixed up with California's Sanoma - is where hippies and healers dropped out in the '70s amidst some of the most beautiful mountain scenery anywhere. Most have turned into old hippies with money - thanks to the cottage "healing" and bead industries they started and got rich off. And now they're using their new found wealth to start up
vineyards.
The small town of Cottonwood - sounds like a town out of an old John Wayne western (many of the Duke's movies were actually filmed in this area) - is where most of the best Sedona wineries are located. The town is a throughback to the U.S. Prohibition period and according to townfolk, there's lots of tunnels crisscrossing under main street where illegal booze was once stored.
Pillsbury - the winery, not the doughboy - and Stronghold were my favorite Arizona vintages.
A restaurant in Scottsdale called FnB - the food is excellent and the owners are even better - serves only Arizona wines and they turn people away at the door most nights - if that's not a good endorsement for the state's wines, nothing is.
FnB held a wine tasting event a few years ago and Arizona wines topped the competition, beating out French, Italian and California vintages to take top spot in both the red and white catagories.
"Must have been a blind taste test," grumbled a fellow journalist and wine snob from Vancouver who wasn't much of an Arizona wine fan.
Well, like I said, it tastes pretty good to me so if you get a chance to sample I'd love to know what you think of Arizona wines. Please leave a comment.
During a recent visit to Arizona I discovered the state's fastest-growing industry isn't solar panel farms - they harvest the sun and produce a lot of clean energy - but wine.Yes Virginia, they can grow grapes and produce wine in the desert.
Seems the state's higher elevations around Tucson in the south and Sedona in the north produce the perfect growing conditions - hot air during the day and cool desert air at night to go along with the area's red clay soil which apparently is similar to that found in Burgundy, France where they've been known to produce some pretty good vintages over the centuries.
Not being much of a wine snob - it all tastes good to me - I thought the Sedona branch of the Arizona wine industry produces some pretty good bottles - lots of fruity taste but a bit too much alcholol. Apparently my wine snob friends tell me that's because the vines are too young.
They are flabbergasted to learn, as I did on this trip, that Arizona's wine industry dates back to the 17th century when missionaries from Mexico and South America planted vines so they could have wine for religious ceremonies. The latest crop of wineries began sprouting up in the 1970s.
Sedona - I always get that place named mixed up with California's Sanoma - is where hippies and healers dropped out in the '70s amidst some of the most beautiful mountain scenery anywhere. Most have turned into old hippies with money - thanks to the cottage "healing" and bead industries they started and got rich off. And now they're using their new found wealth to start up
vineyards.
The small town of Cottonwood - sounds like a town out of an old John Wayne western (many of the Duke's movies were actually filmed in this area) - is where most of the best Sedona wineries are located. The town is a throughback to the U.S. Prohibition period and according to townfolk, there's lots of tunnels crisscrossing under main street where illegal booze was once stored.
Pillsbury - the winery, not the doughboy - and Stronghold were my favorite Arizona vintages.
A restaurant in Scottsdale called FnB - the food is excellent and the owners are even better - serves only Arizona wines and they turn people away at the door most nights - if that's not a good endorsement for the state's wines, nothing is.
FnB held a wine tasting event a few years ago and Arizona wines topped the competition, beating out French, Italian and California vintages to take top spot in both the red and white catagories.
"Must have been a blind taste test," grumbled a fellow journalist and wine snob from Vancouver who wasn't much of an Arizona wine fan.
Well, like I said, it tastes pretty good to me so if you get a chance to sample I'd love to know what you think of Arizona wines. Please leave a comment.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
I'm heading to Beijing over Japan
I'm off to Beijing Friday (March 18) and no I'm not worried about being exposed to high levels of radiation from those leaky Japanese nuclear reactors.
Anyone heading to China, or anywhere else in Asia for that matter, should not be worried about being contaminated because the infected plume of smoke from those damaged reactors will likely hit the West Coast of North America before it hits anywhere in Asia thanks to wind patterns.
My Cathay Pacific flight will probably fly right over Japan and at 35,000 feet, I'm not a bit worried.
I appreciate why people are nervous about travelling to Japan and completely understand why many Canadians who scheduled trips to that unfortunate nation in the next few weeks have cancelled or postponed their departures.
However, why do people assume what happens in Japan is happening elsewhere in Asia?
Did we all fail geography? Japan is an island unto itself, literally, and Tokyo is over 2,100 km from Beijing. Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore are even further away. Even Japan's closest neighbour South Korea is not in danger.
I'll report back daily so stay tuned!
Anyone heading to China, or anywhere else in Asia for that matter, should not be worried about being contaminated because the infected plume of smoke from those damaged reactors will likely hit the West Coast of North America before it hits anywhere in Asia thanks to wind patterns.
My Cathay Pacific flight will probably fly right over Japan and at 35,000 feet, I'm not a bit worried.
I appreciate why people are nervous about travelling to Japan and completely understand why many Canadians who scheduled trips to that unfortunate nation in the next few weeks have cancelled or postponed their departures.
However, why do people assume what happens in Japan is happening elsewhere in Asia?
Did we all fail geography? Japan is an island unto itself, literally, and Tokyo is over 2,100 km from Beijing. Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore are even further away. Even Japan's closest neighbour South Korea is not in danger.
I'll report back daily so stay tuned!
Visit Britain downsizing in Canada
The exodus and/or downsizing in Canada of European tourism bureaus continues at a record pace.
I just learned that Visit Britain has decided to drop a couple of employees at its Toronto office - leaving two people to defend British Tourist interests here in Canada. The downsizing from four to two will be complete by summer's end and is all part of the British government's budget cutbacks.
I've also learned that Visit Britain's offices in New York will soon close and tourism staff will be moved to Britain's consulate offices in the Big Apple.
In the past few years, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and the Czech Republic have all abandoned Canada - citing cost cutbacks as the reason - and Germany's once powerful tourist office in Toronto has been reduced to one desk in a local PR company. How sad!
While others pull out, Switzerland is staying in Canada. Ironically, the Swiss have just moved into offices in the German consulate on University Ave., which were once occupied by the German National Tourism Board. The Germans hired a Toronto PR firm last year to handle their tourism interets in Canada.
We hear that cash-strapped Greece and Ireland may be the next to leave town.
European Union countries are investing all their euros in emerging tourism markets like China and India and have none left for long-time supporters like Canada.
The EU tourism folks did not even renew the contract of their fine long-time Canadian representative John Stephenson this year.
Maybe it's time Canadian travellers give up on Europe since they've given up on us!
I just learned that Visit Britain has decided to drop a couple of employees at its Toronto office - leaving two people to defend British Tourist interests here in Canada. The downsizing from four to two will be complete by summer's end and is all part of the British government's budget cutbacks.
I've also learned that Visit Britain's offices in New York will soon close and tourism staff will be moved to Britain's consulate offices in the Big Apple.
In the past few years, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and the Czech Republic have all abandoned Canada - citing cost cutbacks as the reason - and Germany's once powerful tourist office in Toronto has been reduced to one desk in a local PR company. How sad!
While others pull out, Switzerland is staying in Canada. Ironically, the Swiss have just moved into offices in the German consulate on University Ave., which were once occupied by the German National Tourism Board. The Germans hired a Toronto PR firm last year to handle their tourism interets in Canada.
We hear that cash-strapped Greece and Ireland may be the next to leave town.
European Union countries are investing all their euros in emerging tourism markets like China and India and have none left for long-time supporters like Canada.
The EU tourism folks did not even renew the contract of their fine long-time Canadian representative John Stephenson this year.
Maybe it's time Canadian travellers give up on Europe since they've given up on us!
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