Ireland cuts tax to promote tourism

Castles and reduced taxes make Ireland a great
 vacation option for Canadians this summer.

My friends over at Tourism Ireland - one of the best tourism organizations operating in Canada - sent out word today that the Irish government has introduced a new tourism inititative that will see the tax charged on tourism-related goods slashed from the current 13.5 per cent to 9 per cent.

That's great news for Canadian travellers who are looking for bargains in Europe to offset the strength of the euro versus the dollar. The Irish government announcement means cheaper prices at restaurants and hotels but the tax cut also extends to things like cinemas, theatres, museums, fairgrounds, amusement parks and sporting facilities like golf - all things that tourists like to do while on vacation.

Starting July 1 of this year, flights into Dublin will also be cheaper thanks to the elimination of the €10 (C$14) Air Travel Tax. Air Canada and Air Transat operate regional flights to Ireland.

Ireland is still basking in the attention it got from two high profile visits recently - the first by the Queen and then U.S. President Barack Obama (or O'Bama as the Irish like to call him).

Ireland was recently recognized as having the cheapest hotels and as being the cheapest country to visit in Western Europe in a survey by Hotels.com, which also rated Dublin as one of its “best-value cities”.

For more information on the tax reductions and other offers to Ireland, go to www.discoverireland.com/hotoffers

AA military policy makes us proud

While I waited for a flight at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport recently, I was struck by an announcement made by an American Airlines employee that "pre-boarding for people needing assistance, parents with small children and American military personal is now open."

I was reminded of that American Airlines goodwill policy last night while watching Memorial Day celebrations on television. American Airlines is touting its military priority boarding policy in moving ads showing U.S. Military personal helping fellow passengers with luggage and addressing airline employees with lots of "thank you sir or madame." At the end of the ad, the AA pilot stops the U.S. soldier who has just thanked him for a nice flight and says "no, thank you!"

Okay, it may be a little too patriotic for us Canadians to get our heads around but I tip my cap to American Airlines for recognizing the sacrifice these kids are making for their country.

It would be nice if Canadian airlines would follow American Airlines' lead on this one.

Stillwater spa may get rubbed out

If someone were to ask me to describe Toronto, the city in which I live, in four words, I would answer:

"Great city, lousy spas!"

And I point to what's generally accepted as the city's "best" spa, Stillwater in the Park Hyatt Hotel as proof.

Last night I arrived at Stillwater expecting to enjoy a steam before surrendering my body to Wendy, the excellent therapist who has rubbed away my aches and pains on numerous occasions. Instead, I got no steam and no Wendy, who was on duty and I was told would be my therapist.

The men's steam room was out of commission - "sorry for the inconvenience" the sign hanging on the door informed me - and when the therapist arrived, it wasn't Wendy. The receptionist confirmed I was getting Wendy and never informed me about the change or that the steam room was out of order.

The young therapist who did treat me - I won't divulge her name because she was charming - lacked the skill set one expects from a spa that charges New York prices. So the treatment my aching shoulders and back were expecting turned into nothing more than a good rub down.

Stillwater - it sits over a subway line and the treatment beds shake every time a train rumbles by - has had Toronto's spa population in the palm of its hands because it really is the only game in town.

However, with the addition of new 5-star hotels in Toronto - the Ritz-Carlton (now open); Shangri-La and the new Four Seasons (both will open in 2012) and all will be offering ultra-modern spa facilities - Stillwater better get its act together or it will be rubbed out by this competition.

Canada shut out for China license

I’m happy to see China continues to open up more international travel opportunities for its citizens - this week China granted “outbound” licenses to three foreign companies, thus allowing those firms and their joint venture partners in China to organize tours for Chinese tourists abroad.

The three companies, European giant TUI based in Germany, America’s CITS American Express Travel Services and JTB New Century International Tours of Japan were granted the outbound licenses as part of a three-year pilot program launched by the all-powerful China National Tourism Authority.

Canada’s travel industry was shut out – that leaves Toronto-based Tour East Holidays as the only Canadian company licensed to operate offices in China (the 35-year-old Tour East Holidays has offices in Beijing and Shanghai). Tour East was one of several Canadian companies who did apply for an outbound license but were rejected. Maybe it’s time Stephen Harper and his Conservative government put pressure on the Chinese to give us a slice of the juicy outbound pie. The outbound licenses, after all, are the most coveted documents in the travel world right now, with companies worldwide hoping to tap directly into the Chinese thirst for foreign travel. Last year, almost 50 million Chinese travelled abroad and that figure is expected to grow to over 90 million by the end of 2011.

The three companies granted the license have had long relations with the Chinese. All three set up shop in China many years ago. However, I find it curious that American Express is ramping up its operations in China and winding them down in Canada – AmEx recently announced it was ending its retail travel operations in Canada, which will affect over 100 agencies. It’s also odd that AmEx is pulling out of Canada at a time when record numbers of Canadians are crossing the border into the U.S.

I’m left to wonder – is AmEx finding it easier to do business in communist China than Canada?

Paolo's Travel Deal Today

My pooch Paolo digs up great air deals every day!

Delhi Airfare

$667

Return form Toronto

Airline: Jet Airways

Travel Period:
May 24 - June 18, 2011

Ticketing Until: May 31, 2011

Air Taxes: $459 (approx.)

Call: 1-866-929-6688

Good Boy Paolo

Ryanair flight causes a dust storm

Dust and ash from Iceland volcano is
causing panic among Europe's airlines.

Ryanair touched off a dust storm of controversy today when it flew one of its planes into the "red zone" set up over Scottish airspace because authorities fear the dust cloud spewing from the erupting volcano in Iceland will cause harm to aircraft engines.

Ryanair, wanting to prove the authorities wrong, said its plane completed a one-hour "verification flight" up to 41,000 feet over Scotland this morning without incident. The aircraft took off from Glasgow Prestwick, flew to Inverness, on to Aberdeen and down to Edinburgh.

European authorities ground planes when the volcano erupts and ash enters airspace because they fear the dust may harm delicate jet engines and thus put passengers in jeopardy.

In a statement to news organizations, a spokeswoman for the airline said: "There was no visible volcanic ash cloud or any other presence of volcanic ash and the post-flight inspection revealed no evidence of volcanic ash on the airframe, wings or engines.

"The absence of any volcanic ash in the atmosphere supports Ryanair's stated view that there is no safety threat to aircraft in this mythical 'red zone', which is another misguided invention by the UK Met Office and the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority)," the statement said.

Airlines all over Europe have had to cancel flights because of the ash cloud and fear a repeat of last summer's travel disruptions that led to them losing billions of dollars in lost revenue.

So who are we, the passengers, supposed to believe? The air authorities who claim to have our best interests at heart or a low-cost carrier who has a history of putting profits ahead of people.

I'd rather be safe than sorry - so sorry Ryanair, I won't take a chance on you.

O'Bama kicks off his Irish tour

You can bet O'Bama will pull a pint in an Irish pub.

Tourism Ireland is hoping U.S. President Barack O'Bama's - let's make the President truly Irish - visit to the Emerald Isle this week will help encourage more Americans to make travel plans to the prettiest patch of green in the world.

Ireland is where O'Bama has some firm family roots - it's the home of his great, great grandfather, and let's face it, with all its economic woes, Ireland needs all the help it can get.

I have no worries O'Bama will love Ireland - I'd rank it among the Top 10 places in the world I've visited.

He won't have much time there so he'll miss Lahinch, one of the loveliest towns I've ever set foot in and whose seaside golf course is legendary, and of course Gallway, my favourite place in Ireland.

Gallway is where Christopher Columbus left from to discover the New World and it has a great connection to the Kennedy family - former president John F. Kennedy visited Gallway when he was in the Oval Office. Gallway's Old Town with its ancient book stores and quaint fish and chip shops is a delight.

I'm not a big fan of Dublin - too rowdy - but I must admit its coloured doors and parks charmed me.

Irish security officials have been put to the test the last few weeks - the Queen left Ireland a few days before O'Bama arrived - but you can bet the U.S. President will get a warmer welcome.

Europe too expensive for tourists

Great European cities are getting too
expensive for North Americans to visit.

Friends returning from Europe are all telling me the same thing - they're not going back!

Between the euro being so strong against North American currencies and the cost of everything - especially hotels and restaurants - being so high, they tell me Europe has priced itself out of their league.

And with the announcement this week that major carriers like Delta, KLM and Air France are cutting back on transatlantic flights - due to high fuel costs and empty seats - getting to Europe is going to cost much more thanks to the decrease in capacity.

Cash-strapped European countries, which have been closing up tourist offices in North America because they don't have the money to operate them, are facing stiff competition from the Asia/Pacific region, mainly China, where Canadian tour companies can offer great 2-for-1 deals (see http://www.toureast.com/ for examples) because costs of Asian hotels are so much lower and airline capacity continues to expand to that part of the world.

Europe has no one to blame but itself, of course. They thought they could keep raising prices and North Americans would keep coming. But, with the emergence of Asia, where most of the new hotels in the world are being built, and the aggressive marketing campaigns launched in Gulf Coast countries like Dubai, North Americans have been presented with lots of valued options that European countries like France, Italy and Great Britain just can't match.

This week the World Tourism Organization predicted China will soon replace France as the No. 1 travel destination in  the world - and I predict that in five years, three of the Top 5 spots on the organization's tourism rankings' list will be occupied by Asian countries.

North American travellers are looking for bargains - the continued increase in online travel bookings is proof of that - but Europe has none to offer.

Qantas plane has engine problems

What the hell is happening at Qantas Airlines?

Once one of the most reliable carriers in the world, Australia's national airline has been beset by mechanical problems over the past few years and that has cast doubt over the reliability of the company's fleet.

Qantas' latest incident: One of its Boeing 747s was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok after the pilot shut down one of the plane's Rolls-Royce-powered engines while on a flight to London.  According to Qantas, the pilot noticed “vibration and high temperatures” in one of four engines and managed the land the plane with 308 passengers aboard without incident.

However, this latest incident may have more to do with Rolls-Royce than Qantas. That's because earlier this week a Cathay Pacific plane made an emergency landing in Singapore after the pilot noticed sparks coming from his plane's Rolls-Royce engines.

United left red-faced over 9/11 flights

Oops!

Our friends at United Airlines were left red-faced yesterday when they inadvertently reinstated the flight numbers - 93 and 175 - of planes that perished during the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

United officials have spent the last 24 hours in full damage control over the embarrassing mixup and have issued an apology on Facebook. The airline now says it will permanently retire the numbers.

Duh! That should have been done on 9/12!

The ill-fated 9/11 Flight 175 originated in Boston bound for Los Angeles but was hijacked and flown into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York. Flight 93 took off from Newark, N.J., and crashed in a Pennsylvania field after at attempt by passengers to wrest control of the plane from terrorists.

United representatives told Reuters news agency the change was the result of oversight that came up as United works to align its operations with merger partner Continental Airlines. Apparently, Continental uses the flight numbers, which came up in an automated system and the carriers failed to notice it until it was brought to their attention.

Out of respect for all those who perished in the 9/11 crashes, may I suggest all airlines retire the flight numbers of the planes lost that day.

Atlantis offering free room night

Atlantis is offering free rooms this summer.

Atlantis, that Disney-type resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, is making it hard to resist with special summer offers directed to cash-strapped travellers.

The cutting-edge resort's latest deals sent to me to pass along to you: Complementary fourth night if you stay three nights and a kids stay free program and Fantasy Camp.

Guests who book before June 6, 2011 stay for four nights for the price of three and will each receive complimentary breakfasts.

To sweeten the deal, children stay and eat for free (breakfast, lunch and dinner) when they book the package for travel now through August 31, 2011. Rates start from $509 (U.S.) per person and the package includes:

- Unlimited access to Aquaventure, the resort's 141-acre water scape with thrilling water slides and rides, and a marine habitat that's home to over 50,000 marine animals;

- Fourth night free

- Complimentary Breakfast

- Kids (11 years of age and under) stay, play and eat for free

It's a great deal, especially for Canadians who can buy this with a strong loonie.

This offer can be booked by calling 1-800-Atlantis or online at www.atlantis.com

Vancouver gets set for the re-opening of historic Rosewood Hotel Georgia

Vancouver has so many good things going for it these days. Canada's most beautiful city is still basking in the success of the best Winter Olympics (2010) ever staged and will soon be celebrating its first Stanley Cup victory - Go Canucks Go!

Vancouver's  Rosewood Hotel Georgia never looked better.

But the best thing that will happen in Vancouver this year will be the opening of the Rosewood Hotel Georgia, which occurs in July - just in time to give summer visitors a chance to sleep in a hotel where the likes of Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones and Frank Sinatra once laid their heads.

 

Actually, the Hotel Georgia dates back to 1927 when it served as the "in" place for Hollywood types visiting Vancouver. A $100 million facelift of the Hotel Georgia by the luxury Rosewood group out of Dallas has given the Grand Dame a new lease on life and she's never looked better.

 

I met with Steve Halliday, the congenial Managing Director of the Rosewood-managed Hotel Georgia over a coffee in Toronto yesterday and he's beaming with pride with what has been done to make the Hotel Georgia the best place to stay in Vancouver.



The "new look" Rosewood Hotel Georgia features 155 spacious rooms and luxury suites and a number of fine dining spots - Vancouver is abuzz with excitement over the opening of Hawksworth, the hotel's main dining option (it actually opened to great fanfare earlier this week) which is governed by celebrity Chef David Hawksworth. Head Chef Ned Bell, another of Vancouver's culinary giants, will oversee the hotel's other dining rooms.

 

The Rosewood Hotel Georgia also features a state-of-the-art spa and its public areas are dotted with pieces from a million dollar art collection - I especially like the native Canadian pieces that Steve showed me yesterday.

 

I can't wait to test-drive this beauty on my next visit to Vancouver. I was recently introduced to the Rosewood brand on my visit to Dallas - home of the flagship Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek; a stunning beauty in its own right - and I was instantly hooked on this luxury collection. 

 

If you're heading to Vancouver in the near future, I highly recommend you treat yourself to a stay at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia. Go to http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/ for details and information on opening specials at the Vancouver property.



Paolo's Travel Deal Today

Cairo Airfare

$440

Return from Toronto

Airline: KLM
Travel period:

May 17 - June 18, 2011

Ticketing Until: May 25, 2011

Air Taxes: $534
Call: 1-866-929-6688

Good Boy Paolo

TPC courses offer great thrills

Over 30,000 crowd around the 16th at TPC Scottsdale
to challenge PGA stars to hit the green.

I've been horizontal most of the weekend watching from the comfort of my couch the Players' Championship being played at TPC Sawgrass in Florida - the most exciting golf course in the world thanks to its 17th Island Hole - and it brought back memories of the day a few years ago when I stepped into the tee box at the par-3, 17th.

I actually bogeyed the hole which many of the PGA stars in this year's Players' Championship are scoring double and triples bogeys on.

There's three TPC courses that I've played - the TPC Las Vegas, TPC Sawgrass and TPC (Stadium Course) Scottsdale, which I played on my recent trip to Arizona.

Each of the TPC courses has a "gimmick" hole like the 17th Island Hole and Scottsdale's signature hole is the par-3 16th, often called the loudest hole in golf because usually staid golf fans turn into college football rowdies at the 16th and howl and shout at the professionals should they fail to hit the green off the tee during the annual Phoenix Open.

When I arrived at “the loudest hole in golf "the day I played, I was greeted by silence.

Just a few days before I played, 30,000 boisterous fans had filled every seat in the grandstand they erect around the 16th hole for the Phoenix Open. But the day I played, only a few workers were quietly dismantling the stands. They appeared too busy to notice me.

As I settled into the tee box, I tried to imagine what it’s like to have 30,000 people just hoping you hit an errant shot so they can hurl insults at you.

Even without the crowd, my heart rate quickened and my grip tightened as I approached the ball. The menacing bunkers that guard this precious piece of Arizona golf real estate suddenly appeared bigger than the green itself.

As the ball left my club, I had a good feeling about the shot. I tracked its progress as its sailed majestically over the left edge bunker and admired it landing gently on the green. A smile crept across my face as the ball rolled to about 10 feet from the flag.

Phew, I thought.

Then suddenly, the silence was broken by the sound of applause, which was quickly followed by someone shouting “you da man.”

The crew apparently stopped working while I was in my back swing and was now saluting my effort.

“That felt good, didn’t it?” shouts one of the workers.

The applause sure felt better.

If you're ever in a town that has a TPC course, try and secure a tee time - you'll have a great time.

Paolo's Travel Deal Today

Paolo digs up great air deals every day!

Belgrade/ Bucharest Airfare

$700

Return from Toronto

Airline: Lot Polish Airlines

Travel period:

May 13 - June 18, 2011

Ticketing Until: May 20, 2011

Air Taxes: $340 (approx.)

Call: 1-866-929-6688

Good Boy Paolo

Finnair connects Toronto & Singapore

Just got word from my friends at Finnair that they're launching a flight to Singapore via Helsinki from Toronto.

That means you can visit two great parts of the world on one trip. Price of the round trip ticket from Toronto: $1,069 return!

That's an amazing price and one that will be hard to pass up.

I just got back from Singapore and I can tell you there's so much to see and do in Asia's loveliest city - and I strongly suggest you stay at the St. Regis Hotel; one of the best in the city. I've never been to Helsinki but from what I hear, it's one of Europe's best places to visit.

Finnair will be flying out of Toronto five days a week from May 26 to Sept. 11, 2011.

Finnair, which operates one of the youngest fleets in Europe, is the only airline offering a daily connection between Singapore and Northern Europe.

Helsinki’s compact terminal is designed especially for transfer traffic so making your connecting flight from Toronto to Singapore won't be a problem.

Finnair offers a comprehensive route network via Helsinki to over 50 destinations in Europe and 10 cities in Asia. 

For more information, go to www.finnair.com

Paolo's Travel Deal Today

My precious pooch Paolo.

Sydney, Australia Airfare

$898

Return from Vancouver

Airline: Qantas

Travel Period:

May 12-June 8, 2011

Ticketing Until: May 19

Air Taxes: $680 (approx.)

Call: 1-866-929-6688

Good Boy Paolo

Forbidden treasures taken in Beijing



There's always a heavy military presence in front of the Forbidden City.

 China's communist rulers are no doubt red faced with embarrassment this morning after reports began circulating that seven pieces of art have been stolen from the Palace Museum within the heavily guarded Forbidden City.

Talk about Forbidden treasure.

It's the first such robbery at the most famous of all Beijing landmarks in the last 20 years. Police are reported to be looking for a 27-year-old man in connection with the theft.

After just visiting the Forbidden City on my latest trip to Beijing last month, I can't understand how the thief  made off with the precious pieces since the entrance and exits are so heavily guarded by police and troops.

Is all this new-found wealth making the Chinese soft?

The stolen items - which were on loan to the museum - include a purse and women's make-up cases that date from the beginning of the 19th century. Some are encrusted with precious stones and are worth millions.

News reports say the thief got into the complex by knocking a hole in a wall.

You can bet heads will roll for this breach of security.

Tourism drowning in U.S. flooding

You have to feel for the people living along the Mighty Mississippi as the vein of America bleeds into communities located along its banks and destroys homes, property and lives as record spring flooding continues.

Tourism in communities like Memphis are being seriously affected - city officials in the place where Elvis' Graceland stands have been emphasising all week that the King's Memphis mansion where he is buried and other important tourist areas like Beale Street, the city's entertainment hub, have not been affected by the flooding.

But Mississippi's tiny Tunica, once the poorest region in the United States, is the place I really feel sorry for this morning.

Reports out of Tunica say the city's all-important gambling casinos, the lifeblood of the economy there-they generate almost $80 million U.S. a month in revenue, create much needed jobs in this desperately poor area and contribute almost $10 million a month to the community via taxes; money used to build schools - are almost all under water.

The area's golf courses, built to help attract high rollers to the casinos, are also under water and it will take months - maybe even a year - the clean the mess up.

Tunica, where I played golf on some great courses like Cottonwoods next to the Grand Casino Resort, River Bend ,built by Resorts Hollywood, and Tunica National, which lies in sight of the city's biggest casino, Harrah's, is one of the best-kept secrets in the golf area. Rounds there on courses that rank among America's Top 100 are cheap and the casinos, while not Las Vegas glamorous, are certainly fun places to hang out at night.

State laws demand that gambling take place on the river which is why Tunica's valuable casinos are built so close to the Mississippi. Maybe it's time the laws are changed since global warming is now changing the flow of the Mississippi.

In the meantime, we can only hope and pray the river will get back where it belongs very soon so Tunica, Memphis and all the other communities along its banks that rely so heavily on tourism can get back to doing business.

What Kate and Will can see and do while on honeymoon in the Seychelles

They can enjoy the island nation's natural beauty. 

Or just relax in one of the country's great spas.

Take a long walk along the Indian Ocean shoreline.

Just sit in their resort's infinity pool and soak up the sun.

Visit the wonderful fish market in Victoria.

Admire the mini-Big Ben.

Sample cinnamon right from the tree.

Or just sit back and admire their regal surroundings like I did.

NFL coach to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro



Former Titans' coach Jeff Fisher
 likes tackling outdoor challenges.


Once you've coached in the NFL - and specifically the Tennessee Titans - I guess you can tackle anything.

Or at least that's what Jeff Fisher, who a few weeks ago parted company with the Titans after a long coaching stint in Tennessee, appears to be thinking because in retirement - short lived I'm sure - Fisher has decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.

Hey, if you can coach moody Vince Young, climbing one of the world's tallest and most challengingg mountains should be a breeze for Fisher, one of the most likable coaches in the NFL who has always spent his off season doing outdoor things like this.

Fisher is joining two former NFL players and four injured U.S. service members - they were wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq - to raise awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project.

“It’s like anything else in life,” Fisher told media outlets this week. “You approach it with the expectation of completing it, but the reality is not everybody does. My understanding is 20,000 people try it every year and maybe 11,000 or 12,000 people finish. I plan on making it (to the summit), but it’s hard to predict.”

Recently, TraveLife magazine contributor Mark Scissons completed the climb to the top of  Mount Kilimanjaro, also known as Seventh Heaven, and his report on the experience will be published in the July issue of Canada's most popular travel magazine. I'll let you know when it appears.

Paolo's Travel Deal Today

Paolo digs up great air deals every day.

Johannesburg Airfare

 $995

Return from Toronto

Airline: KLM

Air Taxes: $592 (approx.)

Travel Period:
May 10-31, 2011
Ticketing Until: May 19, 2011
Call: 1-866-929-6688

Good Boy Paolo

Wills & Kate off to the Seychelles

I awoke this morning to the news that Prince William and his new bride Kate Middleton - better known in royal circles as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - have taken my advice and are reportedly en route to the Seychelles to enjoy their long-awaited honeymoon.

Last week the British press was reporting that an Indian Ocean location was in the cards for the honeymoon and I suggested the Seychelles, one of the most beautiful grouping of islands in the world and reportedly the original location for the Garden of Eden.

I spent a glorious week in the Seychelles a few years ago and can honestly say they and neighbouring the Maldives are my favourite islands in the world - I'm currently working on my Top 10 islands in the world list and will let you know when they are posted on travelife.ca.

In the meantime, since we now know the royal couple is reading this daily blog and taking my advice on where to honeymoon, let me give them some advice on what they should get out and see in the Seychelles.

Hey Wills (that's what the Prince likes his trusted friends like me to call him) take Kate to the local market in Victoria, named after your great, great, great grandmother Queen Victoria. There you can buy her some lovely hand made crafts made by decendants of slaves from Africa who first populated the once uninhabited Seychelles. The spices and fresh fish sold every day at the market are truly remarkable. The school kids in their uniforms are only too eager to stop and let you photograph them.

There's also a small shopping area in the downtown area of compact Victoria and don't miss the city's mini Big Ben clock.

Also, make sure you have someone take you to the cinnamon groves where you can taste the bark of the sweet tree that enhances your Starbucks cafe latte each day.

The food on the Seychelles, most of which was swimming in the Indian Ocean a few hours earlier, is spicy and sweet and a lot of it has an African flavour. There's also a big Asian community on the Seychelles and the Thai food is amazing. Just don't eat ther fruit bats - the massive wide-wing bats are what the early slaves relied on to survive and some people told me that the creatures still show up in local stews.

But the romantic sunsets and virgin beaches are what you'll really like best. The Seychelles setting brings out the romantic in all visitors so put the clock on this couple becuase this honeymoon may produce a heir to the throne of Great Britain.

Have fun Wills and Kate.

Muslims kicked off Delta flight

Take a Valium America.

I say that after hearing this morning that two Muslim religious leaders were ordered off a Delta flight in Memphis Friday after the pilot refused to take off with them aboard.

The disturbing incident involved Masudur Rahman, who is an adjunct instructor of Arabic at the University of Memphis, and another imam, Mohamed Zaghloul. They had already been allowed to board their Delta Connection flight to Charlotte, N.C., at Memphis International Airport before they were asked to get off the plane.

The unidentified pilot apparently began to taxi the plane and then returned to the gate, where the men, both wearing traditional Arab garb, were ordered off. News reports said some passengers were uncomfortable with the men aboard. Delta is investigating the pilot's actions aboard the flight operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines, based in Atlanta, for Delta. The men were taken to a lounge and booked on a later flight.

Ironically, the two Muslim men were en route to a conference where the topic was "racism against Muslims in America."

In the wake of the Osama Bin Laden execution and the revelation that Muslim terrorists may have been plotting new attacks against America's transportation infrastructure, one can understand why some Americans are nervous.

But enough with this type of discrimination.

Delta and other airlines must demand their pilots and flight crews accept everyone who buys a ticket and have undergone the necessary security screening, as both these men obviously did, or they should take disciplinary action and ground any pilot or flight attendant who takes such terrible action. As far as passengers who feel uncomfortable with Muslims aboard, well, those passengers should be asked to leave, not the Muslims.

All this comes just a week after my visit to Muslim-dominated Malaysia, where I was welcomed with open arms by the gentle, hard working people of Langkawi, the country's northern island paradise. They could have been nervous with me in their midst but instead they were warm and friendly.

Maybe Americans have to get out more and see that not all Muslims ,or Irish like me, are terrorists.

Smart Phone Contest winner named

TraveLife’s “Win a Smart Phone Contest” is over and it generated a lot of excitement.

And the winner is – drum roll please –Sandy Spalvieri of Alliston, Ont.

Congratulations Sandy – seen here on a recent trip to China with her husband – and thanks to all those who entered our “Win a Smart Phone Contest”.

In all, we received almost 3,000 entries.

We know TraveLife readers like contests like this so stay tuned for more coming shortly – prizes will include trips and retail merchandise so tell your friends to sign up to become a subscriber to TraveLife online now!

Paolo's Travel Deal Today

My precious pooch Paolo digs up great air deals daily.

Delhi Airfare

$640

Return From Toronto

Airline: Jet Airways

Travel Period:
April 11-31, 2011

Ticketing Until: April 15, 2011

Air Taxes: $467 (approx.)

Call: 1-866-929-6688

Good Boy Paolo

Cape Town tops top destination poll

Cape Town's harbour is one of the loveliest in the world.

I see today CNN Travel is reporting results of TripAdvisor's "World's Top Destination Poll."

No. 1 on the list is Cape Town, the South African beauty that so many people were introduced to last year during the World Cup of soccer.

According to poll rules set down by TripAdvisor, "cities are ranked based on a combination of travelers' favorite places and the overall popularity of the destination." It's the third year TripAdvisor has released the survey.

Sydney captured second spot in the TripAdvisor poll, with Machu Picchu, Paris and Rio de Janeiro filling out the Top 5. New York, Rome, London, Barcelona and Hong Kong rounded out the Top 10.

Hong Kong, Kyoto, Japan and Siem Reap in Cambodia were named the top three destinations in Asia, while Paris, Rome and London topped the popularity contest in Europe.

My Top 10 cities - of the cities I've visited - in the world are 1-Paris; 2-Shanghai; 3-Singapore; 4-New York; 5-London; 6-Tokyo; 7-Bangkok; 8-Hong Kong; 9-Hanoi; 10-San Francisco.

Mom's the word in Niagara Falls



The Marriott gets you close to Niagara Falls.

You’re all probably wondering what to do for Mom this Mother’s Day?

May I make a suggestion?

Treat her to a luxury weekend in the Romantic Capital of the World, Niagara Falls.

My good friends at the Marriott Fallsview Hotel and Spa sent me an item I thought you might like – a spa weekend for Mom that includes some treatments in the hotel’s Serenity Spa by the Falls.

The Marriott’s spa is one of Ontario’s best and offers top-of-the-line treatments like reflexology, hot stones and aromatherapy that are sure to make Mom feel 10 years younger.

They even offer a Spa Suite for couples so Dad can join her.

If you buy Mom a rejuvenating treatment at the Marriott’s Serenity Spa you’re sure to leapfrog everyone else on her favourite child list.

For prices, go to www.niagarafallsmarriottspa.com

Paolo's Travel Deal Today

My precious pooch Paolo digs up great air deals daily.

Hong Kong Airfare

$818

Return from Toronto

Air Taxes: $411.09 (approx)

Travel Period:

May 3 - June 27, 2011

Ticketing Until: May 10, 2011

Call: 1-866-929-6688

Good Boy Paolo

Cambridge in U.K. tourist spotlight

Old university town will be getting lots of visitors
now that it's linked to Kate and Will.

When the Queen bestowed the title of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on her grandson Prince William and his new bride Kate Middleton, she unwittingly – or maybe wittingly – cast the tourist spotlight directly on the university town with the ancient history.

Cambridge is one of the loveliest towns in Great Britain and is sure to become a destination of choice for many tourists wanting to see all things relating to Will and Kate.

So, knowing this, Ted Flett, the congenial Public Relations/Communications Manager for VisitBritain – the U.K.’s fine tourist organization – thoughtfully forwarded me the best attractions Cambridge has to offer tourists. And they are:

- The famed university itself, the second oldest in the English-speaking world, where most guided tours of the city start. A two hour city tour costs about $20 CDN and covers all the major sites. For information, go to: www.visitcambridge.org/TicketServer/DailyTours

- Magnificent King’s College Chapel, which is seen by millions every Christmas who watch the Carols from King’s service. Visits to the chapel usually include a performance by the choir at Evensong. www.kings.cam.ac.uk

- Punting in a square-ended wooden boat on the River Cam – or let a professional do the work and you enjoy the ride.

- The Fitzwilliam Museum, home to a world-class collection of art work that spans centuries and cultures. Highlights of this museum include treasures from the 14th century and antiquities dating back to ancient Egypt and Greece. www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

- Kettles Yard, an art gallery displaying modern art in a unique homey setting. www.kettlesyard.co.uk

- Cambridge Botanic Garden, which features over 8,000 plants displayed in 40 of the most pristine acres this side of Eden. The garden is located right in the heart of the city.

- Take a walk along the Cam to the nearby village of Grantchester and the Orchard Tea Rooms, frequented by poet Rupert Brooke and others.
www.orchard-grantchester.com

- Duxford Air Museum, part of the Imperial War Museum, which is located a short distance from the city centre. www.iwm.org.uk

- Note: Cambridge holds a number of festivals annually, one of the most famous being the Cambridge Folk Festival in late July. www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk/

- The Scott Polar Research Institute, an amazing place where secrets of the polar explorer are on display.

- The Eagle, a traditional English pub dating back to the 16th century with many historical features, including its RAF bar with its world famous ceiling. It even has a resident ghost.

For more information on the city now ruled by the newly crowned Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, go to www.visitcambridge.org