Author: TravelBloggers.ca

European Visitors Flock To Central America

Published by

Central America was a big hit with European visitors in 2012 according to new figures released by the ministries of tourism of the seven Central American countries. In total Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama – received 832,567 European visitors last year, an increase of nearly 16 per cent when compared to the previous year. The German and British markets experienced the biggest growth last year, and were up by nine per cent and seven per cent respectively. Spain continues to be the main European outbound market for Central America with 151,202 visitors in 2012, followed by Germany (120,911 visitors) and the UK in third place (107,101 visitors). While Costa Rica continues to be the most popular destination for British visitors, a growing interest in the Maya culture and the celebration of the start of a new era according to the Maya calendar resulted in a huge surge in visitors to Guatemala, which received 31,286 British visitors in 2012, 27 per cent more than in 2011. Honduras, another destination with a …

Hotwire Reveals Annual List of Canadians’ Top Ten Destinations for Victoria Day Weekend

Published by

Also announces the “Great Weekend Sale” – Save Up to 70% on Deals for Holiday Travel and Beyond SAN FRANCISCO, May 7, 2013 /CNW/ – Hotwire.com®, a leading discount travel site, today announced the 10 most popular destinations for Canadian travellers booking hotels over Victoria Day Weekend 2013 (May 18-20). This year, more Canadians are staying in Canada, with domestic destinations like Montreal, Vancouver and Ottawa gaining popularity and newcomer Quebec City joining the list. Still, perennial favorite New York City tops the list. The good news is that regardless of where travellers want to venture to this holiday, they can now score even deeper discounts with Hotwire’s biggest sale ever – the “Great Weekend Sale” – offering folks up to 70 percent off weekend Hot Rate hotel bookings made throughout the month of May. [“Great Weekend Sale” ends 5/31/13. Saturday night stay required. Hotwire Hot Rate hotels only] “Hotwire prices are down in eight of the ten most booked cities for Victoria Day, so the trend was already good for holiday travel, and with …

TravelBloggers.ca

Visit Barbados And Get “Free Spending Money”

Published by

Barbados’ Island Inclusive Package Boasts Added Value With “Free Spending Money” On-island Travelers seeking the ultimate Caribbean getaway need look no further than the sun-drenched island of Barbados, now offering even more reasons to flock to the destination this year — free spending money for island experiences! This exciting offer is available for travel May 1 – December 21, 2013 inclusive, but trips must be booked during the period April 29 – June 22, 2013 in order to experience the island known for mastering the art of fine living with daily lessons offered to those seeking to do the same!

travelbloggers.ca, The Good Earth, Niagara Wine Region

Good Food, Good Wine, Good Times …. Good Earth Food & Wine Co.

Published by

Nestled snuggly in a quiet residential area on the outskirts of Niagara Wine Country you will find the most charming boutique winery, bistro and cooking school called The Good Earth. Iain and I recently visited The Good Earth to attend a Good Girth Supper Club event. It was an unusually cold April day with snowflakes in the air – slightly disappointing since last year when we visited, spring had come early and the orchards were adorned in their beautiful pink blossoms. In an attempt to describe to you the essence of what The Good Earth is all about, I cannot put it more aptly than they do:  “Since 1998, when we opened our farm, home and hearts to our guests, The Good Earth has been a haven for discerning food and wine lovers and an oasis for the senses. Our gardens, orchards and vineyards provide a spectacular backdrop for culinary and wine experiences that reflect all the good things the earth has to offer.”

F1X2, © 2013 TravelBloggers.ca, Gail Shankland

Formula One Two-Seater – F1X2 … Thrill of a Lifetime!

Published by

(Including Exclusive Interviews with Kevin Kalkhoven, Paul Stoddart, Zsolt Baumgartner, Patrick Friesacher and Claire Bourdais) By Gail Shankland  Ride of a lifetime … we’ve heard that expression used before with previous generations of Formula 1, Champ Car and IndyCar two-seaters, and to me it always sounded so cliché – so when I was asked to help promote the F1X2 (Formula 1 times 2) two-seater program (for the ChampCar World Series) I promised myself that I would find a more apt description for the experience. Unfortunately I have to admit that there really is no better way to sum it up … it is a thrill of a lifetime … every race junkie’s dream … something you’ll never forget. The Formula One Minardi team is the worlds’ only regularly running two-seater program being operated on a commercial basis. Before the Champ Car World Series (CCWS) and IndyCar merged, Team Minardi brought several of these machines to North American tracks in order to give fans an opportunity that they would never otherwise have had. CCWS didn’t hide …

TravelBloggrs.ca

Tangiers Group Launches Medical Insurance For Workers, Travellers & Volunteers Living Or Visiting Dangerous Places

Published by

Tangiers forms new international private medical insurance underwriter SLIEMA, Malta, April 23, 2013 /CNW/ – Tangiers Group announce the formation of a product development and insurance underwriting subsidiary called Tangiers Global. The company’s goal is to provide creative insurance solutions for workers, travellers, and volunteers living in or visiting dangerous places.  With the support of Lloyd’s of London, Tangiers Global have launched battleface™, an individual travel medical insurance plan, and International Employee Defence™, (IED), a comprehensive group healthcare plan. “We’ve been managing difficult medical cases for some of the largest international insurance companies since 2006,” said Tangiers Group CEO Christopher Catrambone. “It made sense for us to include product development and insurance underwriting as an extension of the great work our claims department is doing. We’re excited about the team we’ve assembled to carry out this mission.”

Proposed U.S. Border Fee For Canadians Ruffles Feathers

Published by

The United States government wants Canadians to pay to enter the United States to help ease their desperate financial situation. TORONTO, April 21, 2013 /CNW/ – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Fiscal Year 2014 budget requests a study to determine the feasibility of collecting a fee from pedestrians and passenger vehicles crossing between the United States and Canada by land. Whether this fee would focus on those entering or exiting the United States, or both, and how much each crossing might cost has yet to be determined. “While we appreciate the fiscal challenges faced by our friends in the United States we would prefer the U.S. government focus on ways to reduce obstacles at the border that hinder trade and tourism,” MacKenzie said. The Canada-U.S. economic relationship is one of the largest in the world. Trade in goods and services between the two countries totaled $645 billion in 2010—more than $1.7 billion in goods and services each day. Fees for many commercial goods and agricultural inspections are already charged at the U.S. – Canada border. …

Watkins Glen , 2- Seater Indy Racing Experience Gail Shankland, Iain Shankland © 2013 TravelBloggers.ca

A Two-Seater IndyCar Ride – The Most Fun You Can Have With Your Clothes On!

Published by

As a race fan going back to when I could barely walk – just being able to say I’ve “been there” is a thrill and an honour. To have been driven around the track in an IndyCar 2-seater is without a doubt a dream-come-true and something I’ll never forget. Although this article isn’t ‘brand-new’ it is new to this site and it’s something I thought would be of interest to our readers because the IndyCar Series will be offering 2-seater rides at all 2013 events. On the Thursday prior to race weekend (Friday-Sunday) a select few of us from the media had the privilege to  experience the thrill of two laps of the Glen. I had the honour of doing my laps with Davey Hamilton in the 2-seater IndyCar and it was a very big day for me … because, I got to cross two things off my list of “things I’ve always wanted to do, but never dreamed I’d have the chance” AKA: my Bucket List. 1) Going to a race weekend at the …