We all love our Chocolate how about a chocolate-themed cruise?

 If your anything like me you can’t let a day go by without a chocolate fix, especially coming from the U.K. I have my Cadburys Chocolate to give me a taste of home and keep me happy here in Canada.

I came across this luxury cruise which could be a chocoholics dream. The seven-night voyage out of Rome on board an old fashioned sail ship, aboard the 312-passenger Wind Surf, will be part of the line’s Signature Collection Host Series for 2010. It begins May 2, 2010.

There will be gourmet chocolates to sample as well as chocolate tastings onboard the ship. The cruise also will host an exclusive shore excursion to the Gay-Odin Chocolate Factory in Naples, Italy where passengers will have a guided tour and chocolate tasting.

So why not combine that European trip you have always promised yourself with that desire for chocolate, what a winning combination! The 7-night chocolate cruise includes port calls in Porto-Vecchio, France; Messina, Italy; Sorrento, Italy; Capri, Italy; and Ischia, Italy. Fares start at $1,749 per person, based on double occupancy.(pre taxes and port charges).

Flights to Rome can be arranged from your local airport.

Airlines gear up for more Vancouver-Beijing flights.

Now that the Chinese government has finally granted Canada Approved Destination Status, the goal is to increase at least a 50-per-cent increase in the number of Chinese visitors by 2015.

Starting in June 2010, Air China will add three more Vancouver-Beijing flights per week, going from seven to 10. It’s a doubling in flights that puts Air China up there to match Cathay Pacific Airways service from Vancouver to Hong Kong. Cathay now flies twice daily, connecting to more than 16 cities in mainland China via its sister airline, Dragonair. With return airfares starting at only CAD $730.00*

At the moment Air China’s flights from Vancouver to Beijing leave in the afternoon, but the airline is trying to schedule all its new flights as midnight departures, which are the most convenient for Pacific-crossing business travellers. This allows a full day’s work in Vancouver enabling one to jump on board, sleep and arrive in Asia in time for the morning’s first coffee break and easily catch a connecting flight to elsewhere in China or Southeast Asia.

* Taxes extra

You will find that if you must travel during the holiday period a premium will still apply but you will still save on previous years last minute peak travel fares.

The cheapest fares apply to Dec 25 and January 1 & 4.
The next cheapest fares will be approximately 30% higher for travel on 18,20,21,24,30 and 31st December.
Finally the next cheapest fares will be approximately 55% higher for travel on 19,22,23,26,28 and 29th December.
For 27th December and 2nd & 3rd January havn’t been included in the holiday airfare sale and will definitely be more expensive.

Whatever dates you choose to travel at the last minute be assured that you will still get good value for money.

Happy Holidays Everyone!!

Maui Whale Festival Celebrates Humpback

 

My clients here in British Columbia escape the winter weather by taking their vacation in Hawaii.

What better reason to combine a vacation with Hawaii’s Whale Watching Festival.

The warm “winter” weather of Hawaii not only attracts human visitors, but also endangered humpback whales. While whale watching can be enjoyed from most Hawaiian Islands on your own, through chartered boats, nature tours.

Although Maui continues to be the centre of whale watching activity and the annual month-long Maui Whale Festival honours and celebrates these beautiful mammals.

This upcoming 2010’s Festival will be held from February 1 through the 28 and events include the Run for the Whales, Maui’s Parade of Whales, Maui’s Whale Day Celebration and the Great Maui Whale Count.

So why not use this excuse to take off, air fares are very competitive and with accommodations starting at only $80.00 USD per room per night this can be very affordable.

Cuba Cycling Tour

Came accross this offer today, how about a Cuba Cycle Adventure.

This tour lasts 8 days / 7 nights and is a fully escorted cycling tour, prices are from $999*

The tour itinerary includes HAVANA – VINALES – CAYO JUTIAS – SOROA – LAS TERRAZAS – HAVANA

This cycling adventure features Cuba’s beautiful west and tobacco valleys, the picturesque Cayo Jutias beach, natural caves in Cueva de los Portales, plus Havana.

I have been to Cuba lots of times with my airlne as a flight attendant but only to Varadero and always thought it would be really cool to explore the rest of the country and mix with the locals who I have found to be very friendly and welcoming. What better way than on a bicycle and keeping fit at the same time.

This is what’s included:
7 nights accommodation in carefully selected 3* hotels
Hotel taxes and service charges
Daily breakfast, 4 lunches & 6 dinners
Private roundtrip transfers from/to airport
Bike rental & accompanying mini-van
Sightseeing tours including entrance fees
Experienced multilingual local tour guide

What’s not included: Cuban departure Tax 25 CUC per person & Airfare.

Guaranteed departures: Dec 27/2009; Jan 10 & 31, Feb 14 & 28, Mar 21, May 10, Jun 10, Jul 10, Aug 8 & 29, Oct 10 & 31, Nov 21/2010.

We can arrange flights from your local departure point via any Canadian Gateway.

*Rate is per person in USD, based on double occupancy including hotel taxes & service charges. Single & triple room rates, plus additional hotel nights, excursions and tour extensions are available on request.

The offer is from MSC Cruises for Caribbean 7nt Cruises.

As a single guest you can book an interior, ocean view, or balcony stateroom on select MSC Cruises’ 2009-10 Caribbean itineraries with rates starting at only $649.

Usually single travelers are penalized with rates as high as double the twin rate so I hope that other cruise lines take note and make the same effort that MSC Cruises have.

So now is the time to take advantage of this amazing offer.

All you need to add on are the taxes and of course the airfare to Fort Lauderdale but with the airlines locked in a price war fares are now at their lowest I have seen for a long time.

This is a limited-time offer which expires on January 31, 2010 so if you’ve always promised yourself a Caribbean Cruise but have not been able to justify the single supplement now is the time to act and treat yourself at very affordable prices.

This special single promotion offer is applicable for Categories 1, 4, and 6 on the following MSC Poesia itineraries from Fort Lauderdale:

7-night–“Island Treasures & Ancient Temples” on February 13 and March 13 to Key West, Florida; Playa del Carmen, Mexico; Georgetown, Grand Cayman; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Nassau, Bahamas; single rate begins at $749 and $699, respectively;
7-night—“Eastern Caribbean Enchantment” on February 20 and March 6 to San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas; single rate begins at $699 and $649, respectively.
Rates are per person, cruise only and subject to availability; government fees and taxes are additional.

What’s the first thing you think of when Amsterdam is mentioned?

Well if it’s the Red Light District things are going to change.

Amsterdam is trying to clean up it’s Red Light District, overflowing with den’s of iniquity, coffee shops and dope smoke.

At it’s height there were an estimated 450 spots showcasing working women, now down by 100 and more to go.

Artists and fashion designers are taking over, the real life flesh figures are being replaced by fashion clad mannequins showcasing Amsterdam’s top designers wares of fashion. You can even choose the designer ring from the jewellers to put on your loved one’s finger from a snack machine that has been modified to dispense rings.

This transformation has even stretched to other parts of the city such as Zeedijk towards Nieuwmarkt and Chinatown where a new Buddhist temple has been erected.

You ask me to recommend a hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia, it has to be the Fairmont Vancouver Airport.

I have been lucky enough to stay there twice for FREE!!!. Once as a travel agent when it first opened its doors, wow I can’t believe its been 10 years already. The second time as a flight attendant. Our aircraft went sick so the company paid for my whole crew to rest there before setting off for the Caribbean.

If you are an aircraft spotter their piano bar has amazing views of the airport and the aircraft apron, so sip a cocktail whilst watching 747’s arriving and departing to all points on the globe.

The Fairmont Vancouver Airport is the only soundproofed luxury hotel and spa located in Vancouver’s international airport (YVR) in Richmond, BC, Canada.

To get to downtown Vancouver is a breeze DIRECT SKYTRAIN MONORAIL TO DOWNTOWN ONLY 25 MINS from door to door, it couldn’t be easier.

DEAL OF THE DECADE!

It’s their 10th anniversary! While all anniversaries call for a deal, they’re flashing back to 1999 and opening the vault to release the $99 opening-year rate.

The deal is book one night at the rate of the day and receive your next night or a subsequent one-night stay at $99 CDN for a Fairmont room, or book one night at the rate of the day and receive the next night or a subsequent one-night stay at $199 CDN on the Fairmont Gold.

The booking window is from now until April 29, 2010 for reservations taking place from December 1, 2009 to January 11, 2010 and March 1 to April 30, 2010. The rates are based on single or double occupancy, subject to availability, and are valid for new reservations only. A fully non-refundable pre-payment will be required at time of booking. Deal of the Decade cannot be combined with any other offer and is not applicable to negotiated Business Travel, Government Travel or Group rates.
First and second nights must be used between December 1, 2009 to January 11, 2010 or March 1 to April 30, 2010.

The Dead Sea Scrolls on show in Toronto.

There is still time to see a very important aspect of the Israeli and Jewish culture dating back thousands of years.

“The words that changed the world”, that’s what the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) calls them

Widely considered among the greatest archaeological finds of the past century, the Dead Sea Scrolls include the earliest written sources for the Hebrew Bible, dating back to approximately 250 BCE.

They are on display at the Toronto museum until Jan. 3, apparently the Scrolls have been a huge hit in Toronto; since its debut in June, 208,000 people have seen the exhibit and another 100,000 are estimated to visit by January 2010.

The Israel Government Tourist Office in Canada (IGTO) is hoping that interest in the Dead Sea Scrolls will encourage more people to visit Israel, and in particular the historic site of Qumran where the Scrolls were found.

So here is a chance to view a piece of history on your doorstep in North America.

Flights to Toronto from Vancouver start at only $179.00* each way

* Taxes and fees extra

Alaska Airlines Seat Sale!

Alaska Airlines have just announced a “Seat Sale” as they are the proud sponsor of decorated speed skater Apolo Ohno, and to celebrate his quest for gold, they are putting some really hot deals on ice.

You can head to Seattle for some outdoor adventure and culture or just get away from it all at one of their other exciting destinations. No matter what you choose, grab this chance to follow your adventurous spirit for as little as $100. This sale ends December 7, 2009, so don’t wait because these hot deals are thawing out quicker than you can say: Go Apolo!