Thursday, April 30, 2009

Rolling on the River Again

It was a excellent trip. We landed in Zurich and had time to go downtown on their super efficient, super speed trains.

It was Sunday so shopping opportunities were at a premium, but it is a very nice city.

On board the Avalon Tapestry out of Basel the next day we are welcomed by an exceptionally friendly crew and shown to our cabin with its full floor to ceiling sliding door.

It made cruising down the Rhine seem like a non stop tourist attraction. feeling a little tired? Lie down and watch a world of history pass by you.

Open seating on a small ship means you will meet people...and we met wonderful people on this cruise.

Part of the ship was taken by people who booked through a PBS Burt Wolf promotion. We sat with a number of them and made really close friends with a few.

That to me is the one aspect of River cruising that is great...you run into people often either in the bar or the restaurant since these essentially are the only places to go for the little time you spend on board.

We ended our journey in Amsterdam. Ann Franks house, the poppy festival (or whatever its called) and wondering through the streets and sailing through the canals made for an excellent couple of days.

Consider river cruising as an option. It is very different and really can't be compared to ocean cruises for many reasons I will write about later.

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posted by That Travel Guy @ 3:24 PM  |  0 Comments

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

What's Happening to My Thailand?

I think I have been to Thailand 5 times over the years. I have travelled to the Chiang Mai region, Pattaya, and of course Bangkok.

I have done all the tourist things and eaten in some of the finest restaurants, at reasonable prices, and shopped for suits, gifts, and all the rest.

I have found the people warm and friendly.

But politics can be ugly. It has led to a horrible situation. Not knowing all the facts one cannot take sides. But the country has a history of coups, most of them peaceful.

I want to go back again and I will lead the parade once the problems have diminished. right now tourism is in the tank and regardless of what happenns overe the ncoming weeks, Thailand will take a long time to recover...and that is sad.

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posted by That Travel Guy @ 9:33 AM  |  0 Comments

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Do you Care for Your Little Children

We have come across an amazing new product directed strictly at child safety on aircraft.

the product is called CARES--which stands fro Child Aviation Restraint System. It is approved by the federal bodies in both the United States and Canda for all phases of airplane travel--taxi, take-off, turbulence and landing.

It is made just for children 22-44 pounds in their own car seat.

It is an extremely well designed harness system which provides for a lap belt, shoulder straps and a chest belt as well.

Even though it is extremely easy to install it comes with a DVD to show you how to use it. It is still compact to be packable when you are driving to your destination and may be one of the most important child safety breakthroughs for airline travel in a long time.

It received the 2008 Good housekeeping Good Buy award and has already sold over 30,000 units in the United States.

Journeys is one of the first to have the product in Canada. You can see it on line as one of the feature products at www.journeystravelgear.com.

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posted by That Travel Guy @ 11:31 AM  |  0 Comments

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Going Fishing?

As much as I love to travel around the world, fishing is a pasttime I enjoy as much. Just sitting on a boat, bobbing along and occaionally bringing in a fish.

I have often said "I don't really like fishing, I just like sitting on the water under the sun feeling a warm breeze off the lake. But sometimes that can get boring so I need to catch the occional fish."

That's a lie of course because I love catching fish and will have the exceptional experience in June of fishing at an exceptional Northern Manitoba lodge. Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge has attracted American and Canadian fishing enthusiasts for a long time.

It is a lake where you are certain to bring in a big one...including a Master Angler Award, part of a Manitoba government program recognize those who have brought in fish of a certain size by species.

I will bring you up to date and let you know when you can listen to a live interview with them, likely on my CJOB radio show at noon on June 13, immediately after we get back.

Stay tuned.

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posted by That Travel Guy @ 11:46 AM  |  0 Comments

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Rollin' on the River

In less than two weeks Rae and I leave on our first River Cruise.

I am quite excited because it will be our first one and we are lucky to be going on a good one. The Avalon line is very good and the Tapestry promises to be exceptional.

I have yet to hear anyone who has gone on a River Cruise come back unhappy so I go with high expectations.

We are going on what they call the Romantic Rhine cruise from Basel in Switzerland to Holland Amsterday with some excellent stops in between.

Your comments are most welcome as is any advice.

When we get back I will update everyone on the experience.

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posted by That Travel Guy @ 1:17 PM  |  0 Comments

Friday, April 3, 2009

Two Realities for the Canadian Air Traveller

It is almost certain that Air Canada, by the end of the year will be in bankruptcy protection. But let me offer one certainty.

The Air Canada name will live on and we don't have to fear losing our tickets as a result of bankruptcy or restructuring.

But you can be sure routes will be cut and frequency to some markets decimated.

The second certainty in my mind is that Westjet, even though it is suffering from some of the same challenges, will not only not need to go into bankruptcy protection, but will use Air Canada's misfortune to gain even a larger share of the domestic market.

It will also grow into the United States and its careful strategy of expanding its Westjet Vacations divisions suggest it too will grow and erode some of the other tour operators, including Air Canada Vacations.

We are seeing a slow down in overseas bookings and it is likely to hasten Air Canada's decision to restructure. And I have suggested, don't worry, there are always people willing to through more money at an industry that taken over history has likely never made anybody any money for any sustained period of time.

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posted by That Travel Guy @ 3:44 PM  |  0 Comments