Irish tourism offering golf contest

Tourism Ireland is honouring
Rory McIlroy's U.S. Open win
and making golfer happy.

The only thing I like more than Irish whiskey is Irish golf.

So you know I was excited when Tourism Ireland sent out word today that, in honour of Rory McIlroy's recent win at the U.S. Open, they're holding a contest where the lucky winner will win a trip for four to this year's Irish Open, to be played at the famed Killarney course July 28-30.

I'm already stuffing the ballot box!

You have until July 18 to enter and the prize includes return economy flights, rental vehicle, accommodation, a round of golf and tickets to the 2011 Irish Open for the winner and three friends.

You can find out more by visiting  http://goo.gl/IHnEY

If you've never played golf in Ireland, well then, you've never played golf. The Scots may have invented the game but the Irish perfected it by building the best courses in the world - most border great bodies of water and small quaint towns which just happen to have the best pubs and friendliest locals in the world.

For full contest rules, visit http://www.discoverireland.com/ca-en/forms/confirmation/rules17

Swiss tips help save tourists money

A Swiss Rail pass can save you lots of money.

Because Europe has become so expensive for North Americans - what with the strong euro vs. the dollar and ever-rising hotel prices in big European cities - some forward thinking folks at European tourism organizations are offering up suggestions to help us cut travel costs this summer.

Switzerland is leading the way - the folks at Swiss Tourism here in Canada sent me three suggestions today that I want to share with you:

Tip No. 1: Save on sleeping

Stay at a youth hostel. Switzerland's 58 youth hostels are more than just a bed for the night. Clean and simple, Swiss Youth Hostels are not only for the young but open to everyone. They are geared towards guests who are uncomplicated, seek variety and enjoy meeting travellers from all over the world. Family rooms, delicious catering and a variety of fun activities in and around the youth hostels make for a terrific atmosphere.

Hostel details: http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/suggestions/alternative-accommodation/youthhostel-1.html

Tip No. 2: Save on drinks
Many people think this is an urban legend, but it is actually true: you can drink the water from all the fountains you find in Switzerland (not palable water is clearly marked as such). Being on your feet and discovering a Swiss city can make thirsty, so rest assured you always have your water bottle with you for a refill. Close your eyes, think of a sparkling, pure mountain spring and enjoy the fresh taste of a cup of Swiss Water - right in the heart of the city!
Details: www.myswitzerland.com

Tip No. 3: Save on getting around
A Swiss Pass will save you lots of money on transportation. Switzerland boasts an excellent public transport system and the Swiss Pass entitles you to free travel throughout the entire country - be it by train, bus or boat. Kids up to 16 go for free - a great family offer. But that's not all: you enjoy free admission to more than 400 museums and several hotel chains will extend generous discounts to you.
Details: www.myswitzerland.com


Every little tip helps when planning a trip to Europe these days and so I thank Swiss Tourism for sharing these three with TraveLife readers.

Fairmont offers guests a Golden deal

The iconic Banff Springs Hotel is part of the Gold Floor promotion.

My friend at Fairmont Hotels, Mike Taylor, made my day by sending me word that the Canadian chain is offering simple guests like me the chance to sample its renowned executive Fairmont Gold rooms at bargain-basement prices. This is like flying Business Class at Economy Class prices, folks!

I've experienced Fairmont's Gold product several times and it's the best in the business, impressing me more than even Ritz-Carlton's executive floors.

Along with enhanced service, Gold floors also provide their own private reception desk, complimentary deluxe continental breakfast, evening hors d’oeurves and late night desserts, full honor bar, a residential-style, comfortable room décor with luxurious amenities, and many more specialized services and benefits. Through a partnership with Random House, guests also have access to fully-stocked Fairmont Gold Libraries featuring hot reads, best sellers, city guides and more.

For the business traveller, Fairmont Gold acts as a functional business centre away from the office. With private meeting spaces, staff to assist with light secretarial requests and wireless Internet access, guests can carry out business meetings without leaving the comfort of their hotel.

Fairmont Gold is boutique-style accommodations with the full-fledged services of a major hotel.

The special summer time Fairmont Gold rates start as low as $175 U.S. at the Fairmont Dallas - I just stayed there and it's a great hotel in a great location, right next to the city's famed Arts District.

Other Fairmont Hotels offering this incredible deal include:

The Fairmont Orchid - $440 US
The Fairmont Washington, D.C. - $399 US
The Fairmont Copley Plaza (Boston) - $379 US
Fairmont Battery Wharf - $369 US
The Fairmont Chateau Whistler - $295 CAD
The Fairmont Banff Springs - $549 CAD
Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac - $429 CAD
The Fairmont Vancouver Airport - $375 CAD
The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver - $329 CAD
Fairmont Pacific Rim - $449 CAD
The Fairmont Waterfront - $349 CAD
The Fairmont Palliser - $255 CAD
The Fairmont Royal York - $295 CAD
Fairmont Chateau Laurier - $265 CAD
Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth - $315 CAD
Fairmont Peace Hotel (Shanghai) - $335 US
Fairmont Beijing - $309 US
The Fairmont Southampton (Bermuda) - $479 US
The Fairmont Hamilton (Bermuda) Princess - $999 US
Fairmont Nile City - $255 US

For a full list of locations and promotional rates, or to make a reservation please visit www.fairmont.com/promo/gold.

Cambridge enjoying a tourism revival thanks to the new Duke and Duchess

Our friends over at VisitBritain, the fine tourism arm of the British government, confirmed a few days ago what I predicted would happen the day Prince William and Kate Middleton were named the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - that historic Cambridge would quickly become a must visit for tourists.

You didn't have to be a Cambridge professor to figure that out.

And so, just after two months of their marriage, Cambridge's tourism officials say guided tours of the city are up 25 per cent over the same period last year.

And it's all because of two people who don't even live in Cambridge - Prince William is completing his training as a helicopter pilot in the Royal Coast Guard and the couple are living in a quaint Welsh village near his base.

However, that's not stopping the tourists from arriving.

“We’re delighted that Prince William and Kate Middleton were issued the titles of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge,” says Emma Thornton, Visit Cambridge's head of tourism. “William and Kate are a modern and dynamic couple who we believe have and will broaden the appeal of Cambridge as a visitor destination.”

A VisitBritain-commissioned report released earlier this year revealed that history and culture – particularly when linked to the monarchy – contribute significantly to the country’s unique appeal as a holiday destination. More than 10,000 foreign tourists were given a list of 18 things that can only be done in Britain and asked to pick the ones they’d like to do most. The top three choices were, in order of importance:
- To go on a tour of Welsh castles;

- Visit Buckingham Palace;

 - Stay the night in a Scottish castle.

Here's some royal facts you might like to know about Cambridge:

- Two years after his conquest of England, in 1068, William of Normandy built a castle on what is now Castle Hill, Cambridge.

- The city's famed King’s College was founded by Henry VI in 1441 and the college’s chapel, completed during the reign of Henry VIII in 1544 boasts an elaborate interior.

- Trinity College is considered a favoured place for successive generations of royals to be educated – including the late Edward VII and Prince Charles, the new Duke of Cambridge's father.

- The Queen’s mother received an honorary degree from the university in October 1948 making her the first woman to receive one from the University.

- The husband of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and a number of other royals have graced the University of Cambridge as its chancellor over the years. This honour is currently held by Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, who has been Chancellor of the University of Cambridge since 1976. He is due to step down from the role this year.

Will & Kate are spoiling my weekend

Please allow me to rant for a few paragraphs.

I came home from Panama a day early so I could participate and watch coverage of Canada Day celebrations across the country but all I find when I turn on television is a couple of Brits taking all the attention away from our great nation.

Why are these non-Canadians spoiling our party?

Will and Kate may make great tabloid press and the few remaining monarchists in this country may find their visit orgasmic but I find it insulting.

And before you go off on "he will be our king one day" let me just point out that he's not our king or queen (you can never be too sure with the royal family) right now. In fact, he's a nobody - made a Duke only because they have to give him a title to get his welfare pay cheque - the royals are the biggest welfare family in the world, after all.

I have nothing against the royal family and especially this young couple who seem to be sweet and engaging but why they have to be here during Canada Day weekend and take the focus away from what we should really be celebrating - the greatest nation on Earth - is beyond me.

Panama is a very impressive place

Panama City is as modern a metroplis as Hong Kong.

Just got back from my Panama visit and my first impression of this new kid on the block tourist destination is I'm very impressed.

Panama is much more than a canal - which, I must admit, is one of the most impressive man-made structures I've ever seen; right up there with China's Great Wall and Egypt's pyramids.

Panama City, the capital, is a fast-paced vertical metropolis that's as exciting as Hong Kong, New York or London - lots of great restaurants, brand new hotels (like the about to open Trump Tower), old world charm in its Old Town district and an exciting nightlife that's spiced up with lots of casinos and clubs.

The people of Panama are friendly - a bit shy and certainly not as in your face as Brazilians, but they are welcoming and always flash a smile.

Of course, as I discovered, Panama's ecology is second to none and its eco-tourism sector, that feature rain forest safaris and jungle walks that lead to breathtaking waterfalls even impressed a couch potato like me.

Some people are calling South and Central America the new Caribbean. I couldn't agree more. The Caribbean is too costly for me and the beach resorts one finds in Panama and the rest of Latin America offer much better value.

Okay, I know there's always a safety concern about Latin America. Get over it folks. The drug dealers have all moved north to Mexico from places like Colombia and the only thing you have to be afraid of in Panama is the giant-sized insects that look like jumbo jets.

Speaking of Colombia - a place I can't wait to visit - people in Panama were telling me their neighbour - Panama once belonged to Colombia - is the next tourist hot spot in this region.

I flew with Copa Airlines to Panama and the Panama City-based carrier, which will soon become a member of Star Alliance along with Air Canada, is superb in every way - service and reliability are right up their with the 5-star carriers.

Business is booming in Panama and my plane was full of Canadian business executives headed to Panama City to make big deals in mining and finance. One of the biggest banks in Panama is our own Scotiabank.

One of the fastest growing demographics in Panama is retirees, mostly from the U.S. and Canada. Here you can get downtown Pacific Ocean-view condos for about $140,000 and over on the Caribbean side of the country, Canadian developers are about to open condos along the Atlantic Ocean coast for about the same price.

I highly recommend Panama as a vacation destination and Copa Airlines is a great way to get there.

El Macho waterfall a big Panama thrill

El Macho is well worth the trip to Panama.

DATELINE PANAMA - This was the Panama I wanted to see - lush rain forests, volcanic mountains, endless ocean vistas, waterfalls, rare flowers and quaint vacation towns tucked away in dramatic tropical landscape.

It all came together for me early this morning when we pulled into the small tourist town of El Valle de Anton - think Muskoka with a Latin accent - that sits at the base of a majestic range of mountains known locally as the Sleeping Lady whose peaks are hidden from view most days by low hanging clouds.

Located within those lush mountains is El Macho, a beautiful waterfall that is the biggest tourist draw in this part of Panama - about 120 kilometres south of the capital Panama City.

You can zip line across the waterfall and lush jungle for about $35 dollars or just walk the tails leading to El Macho for only $3. Along that trail are rare plants, some wild creatures like golden frogs - one of rarest species in the world - and even a few square trees - honestly, the trunks are square.

We were welcomed at El Macho but a loud buzzing sound made by giant bees - think the 747 variety of the bee world. Insects like cockroaches that come in small sizes everywhere else in the world are super sized in Panama - the cockroaches here are as big as a big man's fist.

Panama, I'm quickly realizing, is an eco wonderland and El Macho is the big boy in this eco tourism world.