Saturday, November 28, 2009

Black Friday

So my son was supposed to be the one who buys out the stores on Black Friday, the biggest shopping and bargain day in America.

We head out to the Palm Gardebs mall, only a couple of kilometres away from the PGA Resort.

I just want to kill a couple of hours while Carey shops so I wonder into Sears.

Three trips back to our vehicle to drop off bags later I wait for Carey, camera ready to take a picture of his overburdened with bags arms.

Two or three small packages for a couple of hundred dollars.

Because we are leaving later Friday night I start packing my stuff in his suitcase.

Did I buy gifts for the family? Did I find toys for the kids? Did I purchase trinkets for the house.

It was me, me, me. I am pretty sure I got some good deals.

But I'm the guy who hates shopping. We still managed to get a last game in at the Presidents Golf Club before we left for the airport.

This was a great father and son trip.

Great resorts, beautiful golf courses, amazingly good weather considering the rain possibilities. And a plan to head back to San Antonio next year at the same time to visit our old friend Jack Parker at the Tapatio Golf Resort just outside the city.

If you're thinking about a golf trip to Florida over the next while contact me and I will be pleased to help you plan it.

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posted by That Travel Guy @ 5:20 PM  |  0 Comments

Friday, November 27, 2009

Thanksgiving Day USA

We arrived at the PGA Resort Palm Beach Gardens here in Florida on Tuesday after playing the Blue Monster at Doral, and the championship Soffer course at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle.

We were able to golf the Haig track not long after we arrived, finishing about a minute before the rains duluged.

In minutes we could have just as well have been in the centre of a rain forest.

We were certain our golf was over as the forcast was for showers for the next two days.

However, by late morning Wednesday the rains had totally stopped and we took a start time of 12:18.

We golfed the Palmer Course which was really interesting and well laid out.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day. Everyone wishing each other the best for the day.

We are scheduled to golf the Squire Course at just after eleven.

There were few people on the course, and the only thing that slowed us down was the deterioration in both our games, which had been pretty steady for the entire week.

The Squire course is like being on a wild bird preserve with forest and natural grasses, bordering a number of holes.

We even saw a baby alligater, if 4-5 feet is baby.

Everything is closed on Thanksgiving. It is the big day of the year here.

We look at the 49 dollar traditional buffet set up at the PGA Resort and decide to head out to find something less expensive.

What do the few restaurants that are open offer? A traditional Thanksgiving buffet.

We take one that is $29 and wish we would have stayed and had the PGA offering which looked absolutely fabulous.

We are up early because, like the Americans, we want to find the bargains.

Shopping is really not my cup of tea but Carey wants to buy a few things and I am sure I will find something that I must really need for me or Rae.

Perhaps some Xmas gift ideas may hit me in the face, and pocketbook.

We leave for home tonight.

We golfed every day, stayed in some great places, talked, had a few beers, dined well, and go hope looking forward to doing this again next year.

If you can listen to show this Sunday at 12:30 when I will be interviewing Craig Felanga of the PGA Resort.

I will be interviewing Rachel Pinzel of the Fairmont Turnberry Isle in January and will let you know when a little later.

If you want to book these resorts do call Journeys or go on line to www.renaissancetravel.com or www.journeystravel.com and leave and email. Someone will get back to you quickly.

In the meantime I have to get back to welcome the first snow, which is later than usual this year, but unavoidable

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posted by That Travel Guy @ 6:05 AM  |  0 Comments

Thanksgiving

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posted by That Travel Guy @ 6:05 AM  |  0 Comments

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

It's Raining at the PGA resort

Thunder is rolling across the sky.

The rain, so far, is gentle but the forcast suggest lightining may be in the vicinity.

So we will be forced to sit around the bar, which is huge here at the PGA resort at Palm Beach Gardens in Florida.

The Junior Championship is taking place here this week. Carey thought he was at high school grad looking at all the young guys and girls walking around yesterday.

This tournament is a big deal. College scholarships will be offered to many who golf well.

There is no doubt that at least a few of the names we see on the leaderboard today will make the PGA or LPGA in a few years.

There are few a few Canadians as well who have earned the right to be here.

It they are allowed to play later we will watch a few of the best demonstrate why millions of dollars may be lurking on their golf horizons.

This is a really nice resort and last night, only a few minutes from here, we experienced one of the best pizzas ever.

Called "When the moon hits your eye" (You need to be my age to get the name. Dean Martin once crooned those words in a song followed by the next line "Like a big Pizza pie), we watched them flip the dough in the air before loading it with fillings.

It proved to be an excellent recommendation by the front desk here. Before we leave we will likely go back to the sister restaurant across the patio, which is a slightly more formal Italian tablecloth restaurant.

Carey saw the pasta entres being delivered and exclaimed "I want that".

We did get a game in on the Haig course yesterday and if we miss a round today that is fine, but we do hope the weather improves for tomorrow.

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posted by That Travel Guy @ 8:37 AM  |  0 Comments

Congratulations Fairmont Turnberry Isle...Aventura

I am a lucky guy, no doubt about it.

I get to travel the world and report on my findings in print and on air.

Sometimes I travel first class and other times I chose the cheapest options possible.

And occasionally I run into an exceptional hotel property that really deserves special notation.

On this golf journey we stayed for two nights at the Fairmont Aventura Turnberry Isle near Miami...actually in the city of Aventura itself, which is close to Hollywood Florida.

They have just done a $150 million plus upgrade and it shows.

I have always enjoyed staying at Fairmont properties when I can and spent the few minutes it took to fill out the form to make me a Fairmont member. It costs you nothing and other than a few emails, which are not all that bothersome, it gives you a few benifits, in my case free internet during my stay.

The rooms are exceptional, as they would be with the upgrade.

The staff training must be comprehensive and ongoing because I have seldom seen such a consistent friendly attitude at every stage of service, including from every single person you pass by during the day.

For golfers of course this is a now brainer, as the championship Soffer course is not only challenging but a beautiful track from beginning to end.

There are two pools...one with a waterslide and cabanas that you could camp in.

The restaurants give you options to keep you on site but the Aventura Mall across the street provides dozens more.

We tried the Cascata Grill on the property and were appropriately impressed.

Billed as Italian American its selection is wide. I had one of the best braised veal shank meals I ever had.

We tried the mixed appetizer tray and could have made a meal out of the huge prawns, the calamari, the meatballs, and everything else.

Carey choose the steak and could not finish it all.

So after all that why did we still order desert. Like climbing a mountain, because it was there.

I had the cheesecake, perhaps because we didn't have this dessert at the Cheesecake Factory, the restaurant we dined in the night before.

I was so full I couldn't even sample Carey's apple tart with ice cream.

As I said at the outset, I travel a lot and stay in many properties world wide.

This one is deserving of the extra recognition.

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posted by That Travel Guy @ 8:08 AM  |  0 Comments

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Florida Golf

It was a day to remember. My son Carey and I golfed the famous Blue Monster course at the Doral resort in Miami Florida.

We have both watched championships from here many times.

We decided to golf from the blue tee boxes today, which are really beyond my capabilities.

I actually golfed quite well and stayed steady except for three or four balloon holes that took care of a good score.

It was not Carey's best day. Great drives, poor irons, which is the opposite of his usual game.

We ended up tying at 102 and I could have broken 100 except for making 18 my worst of the game.

But golfing in a place like this with my son has been a treasure.

Tomorrow we golf the Soffer Championship course at Fairmont Turnberry Isles.

What an amazingly beautiful resort.

We just checked in and cannot believe our rooms. Big, well appointed, white chocolate golf balls and chocolate score cards welcome us. Absolute class.

A couple of nights here and we move to the PGA resort and spa at Palm Beach.

This will be another one to remember

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posted by That Travel Guy @ 8:42 PM  |  0 Comments

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Florida Here We Come

The weather here is unseasonably warm...but it isn't in the 70 degrees F. Or 20C for that matter.

So my son Carey and I leave for Florida knowing we will enjoy a great week of golf.

Staying at the PGA Palm Beach Resort and the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort for a few days in each place will not be hard to take.

This is an exceptional region of the country to golf with all kinds of championships held here every year.

We will be in florida for the U.S. Thanksgiving and of coarse for Black Friday, the day retailers hope will signal a successful Christmas shopping season.

The bargains are great and we will likely find lots of bargains for Christmas giving.

I am also a great fan of the service industry in America. Hospitality is a proud career there and that pride is felt in the way most places treat the customer.

I think the occupancy will be high at both places.

A friend just returned from Mexico and found the November occupancy dismal. They stayed at a resort with 5 buildings of bedrooms and only two were opened.

As much is parts of America are going through the same think I am confident we will find a higher feeling of confidence even though the economy is still in the tank to a great degree.

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posted by That Travel Guy @ 5:56 PM  |  0 Comments

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Lest we Forget

In my early years I could not appreciate that I might be a product of the war.

I don't mean this from a Baby Boomer perspective but from the degree to which my upbring was influenced by World War II.

My father did not serve in the war, rejected because of feet problems. I honestly believed he suffered for that rejection for much of his life, knowing that so many family and friends served, with many dying.

And that's where I come so to speak.

My mother's brother, my grandfather's only son, was killed in Holland in the last weeks of the war. My mother and he were very close and it was clear that Louie Gallant was a quality individual.

I was born in 1944, my uncle died in 1945. I still have his letters today that enquire about me, wondering how I was doing, since I too almost died that year.

I became extremely close to my grandparents who doted on me. I lived in the country, they in the city, but my travels began when I was very young as trips back and forth from Angusville to Winnipeg became common and frequent.

Growing up my grandfather, who I adored, became my idol as he taught me through simple discussion about business, values, and community commitment.

My grandmother also raised me as the son she lost.

I never understood that until I was a teenager.

In my 20's I had the opportunity to visit my Uncle's grave in Holten. It was perhaps the most poignent moment in my life.

I don't know if I could have ever lived up to what I believe my Uncle might have been. But from my grandparents, who never had the chance to see their son grow up to prove the point, I only received coninuing and uncompromising support.

Now that I am older I still want to go back to Holten one more time, and I believe I will.

But every Rememberance day I think of the lines of In Flanders Field that have particular meaning for me.

"To You from failing hands we throw the torch.
Be yours to hold it high.
If yee break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep
Though poppies blow in Flanders fields.

Please take a moment to reflect and you may be surprise how much your life has been influenced by a war you never had to fight.

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posted by That Travel Guy @ 6:43 PM  |  0 Comments

Proud of our unique tourist product

It is with a great sense of pride to note and congratulate Frontiers North Adventures for having been awarded the 2009 Skal International Ecotourism Award.

The award was presented to Frontiers North Adventures on November 2nd at the Opening Ceremony of the 70th Skal World Congress held in Budapest, Hungary.
Skal International is the largest organization of travel and tourism professionals in the world, with locations in 90 countries and over 20,000 members.

As the winner of this year's award, Frontiers North Adventures demonstrated excellence in contributing to the conservation of nature and cultural heritage conservation, community involvement and benefits, educational features, business viability and innovation with their adventures in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada.

To win this awaard they were essentially competing head on with some of the most renowned eco-tourism projects in the world. It is an amazing achievement for a Manitoba based company.

If you would like to hear more about them listen this Sunday at 12:30 PM to radio station CJOB in winnipeg or go on line at www..cjob.com and listen live.

What is more astonishing is that another Manitoba tour operator won this award last year in Taiwan. Northern Soul, a company which takes people on canoe adventures, offering sweat lodge experiences at the same time for those interest, were last years recipients.

This again was against unbelievably high profile organizations from around the globe.

Then to top it off Manitoba's own folklorama was given a best event in Canada award a couple of weeks ago from the Tourism Association of Canada.

Now all we need to see is more people from around Canada and the world come to Manitoba to experience our exceptional tourist product.

And we need more Manitobans to jump on the bandwagon as well.

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posted by That Travel Guy @ 6:19 PM  |  0 Comments

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Remembering New Brunswick

A couple of years ago we went to New Brunwick to visit my wife's family.

We plan to go back again this summer. As I started planning our airflights and other connections I recalled highlights of our last trip.

I recorded these in and article which was published in the Winnipeg Free Press. I hope you enjoy it.

New Brunwick...a Canadian Treasure

To fully appreciate an Acadian portrait of New Brunswick it is helpful to understand an essence of the history that shaped the region into the unique personality it is today.

Over 400 years ago the Acadians landed in Nova Scotia from France and spread themselves from there through the coastal areas of New Brunswick. In 1755 many of the original families were torn asunder as the British forced those who would not sign oaths of allegiance to be deported to various states of America. The remnants of these families still share scars and resentment over those actions, and today form the basis for a culture and a lifestyle that is fiercely proud in their adherence to traditional values of community and family. You can see this pride in the waves of Acadian flags that can be spotted everywhere on poles, benches, and even wood carvings scattered throughout the region.

It is this almost ostentatious display of culture that makes a stay on this coastal region so satisfying. You can drive Highway 11 from Moncton to Miramichi in less than three hours, but if you drive along the coastal roads and use one of the counties as home base you will gain a lifetime of memories in a 7 to 10 day vacation. Acadian New Brunswick is a region that in many ways stands apart from the rest of the Canada. Walk into a store or restaurant and you are most often greeted in both official languages. Rugged coastal waters and un-crowded beaches abound. Fresh seafood is on most menus. And everyone seems to greet tourists with genuine interest and appreciation.

It is the rich blend of English and French history that enhances the flavour of the Acadian experience.

It is noteworthy that the only British Prime Minister not born in England was from a community almost in the centre of the Acadian coast. From his birthplace in Rexton N.B. where his home is now an interesting museum, Bonar Law returned to England after his mother died when he was just 12 years old. He would become a successful businessman and was elected Prime Minister of England in 1922.

Some of the best scenery and craft shops can be found along the roads less traveled. Route 505 takes you to Cap Lumiere along the coast past craggy ocean cliffs, secluded beaches and two of the most interesting shops in the region. Hudson Oddities specializes in making earrings, broaches, and other jewellery style items out of glass found along the shores that have been worn by ocean waters.

They look like precious gems and make for unique gifts which cannot be found in many other places in the world. While handcrafted soap shops can be found in most tourist areas, the Olivier Soapery, which identifies itself as Canada’s only soap economuseum, offers almost a 150 ecological and biodegradable homeopathic products. Regular live presentations present an informative overview of the evolution and techniques of soap crafting.

While Kouchibouguac National Park is a must visit for tourists, where you could spend any number of days enjoying its environmentally protected areas and beautiful beaches, the Dune de Bouctouche, only minutes from the Olivier Soapery, is in its own way, even more awe inspiring. Think Grand Beach and then add a few kilometers of sand and you gain a feeling about this exceptional sand dune. Over 11 km. long, with a boardwalk that follows this sandbar for a significant part of it, one never has to fear overcrowding.

For fun and frolic, look for the information boards in shops and grocery stores where local entertainment options are frequently posted. While the usual trendy music venues can be easily found, try to take in a country style dance or other traditional music option. You will meet the people who built the foundations for the communities you visit, and gain memories beyond what you will get from the rock stars of the region.

For most travelers dining is a vital link to the complete experience. From Shediac to Miramichi, summer offers up fresh lobster in most good dining restaurants. Fresh mussels, clams, and crab, with other choice catch of the day options round out the seafood extravaganzas. Try buying fresh lobster and cooking it up yourself at a campground. A large pot and boiling water is all you need to create a camp memory which will last a lifetime.

The Habitant Restaurant in Aldouane, in addition to excellent food, features a large serve-yourself wine cellar with an extremely wide range of brands with a very fair pricing model. Selections are available for all, including high end choices for the connoisseur.

New golf courses seem to be opening on the Acadian Coast almost every year, particularly around Moncton and Shediac. But one of the hidden gems can be found in the heart of Acadia not far from St. Louis de Kent. The St-Ignace Golf Club will test the skill of most golfers regardless of handicap. While just under 6500 yards, its elevations change dramatically from hole to hole offering a challenge and scenic beauty one expects from the mainstream brand courses most have heard about from major tournaments.

While some choose to walk the course, unless you are in good physical condition power cart rental is advised.

Wherever you travel in the region you will come face to face with Acadian history. Perhaps the best way to feel that history personally is through time spent at Le Pays De La Sagouine, possibly the best known destination in the entire coastal area. Its presentations are a living representation of the food, the trade, and the daily life of the Acadian pioneers. Offered in both English and French, and constructed around a traditional village environment, this summer long activity and information based centre will take you back 400 years giving you a better insight into why that pride of tradition is still so strong today.

If you go:
Where to Eat: don’t miss the seafood pizza from the 5 Star Pizza Restaurant in St. Louis. It is a local favourite and needs to be tasted to be appreciated. Restaurant de la Sagouine in Bouctouche features fried clams in addition to other traditional Acadian items. In Shediac you will find a good choice of dining options all along the main street. Auberge Gabriele specializes in French cuisine including crepes and seafood. For more family dining take in the Green House restaurant, situated in an interesting old house.
What to Do: Parlee Beach near Shediac is most famous for tourists but up the coast you will find so much more that is not as well known. Guided canoe or Kayaking Adventures are offered Miramichi as is guided fishing www.miramichifish.com.
Where to Stay: Most of the major brand hotel properties are situated around Moncton with lesser known but good quality hotels all the way up the coast. There are a number of good bed and breakfasts along the Acadian Drive. Go to www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca for a good rated listing of B&B’s and smaller lodgings.

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posted by That Travel Guy @ 5:23 PM  |  0 Comments

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Is fear of H1N1 holding back holiday bookings

Most tour operators going south this winter will tell you there has been a slow down in bookings going south.

Interestingly though, no one is panicing...yet.

Most feel that much of the cause is people wanting and waiting to get vaccinated. They want to feel secure that they can do this and have the maximum protection take effect before they travel.

A number of people have asked me if it will be safe to go to Mexico, or the Dominican, or the States.

Some regions were not as progressive as Canada in ordering the number of doses required to protect the entire population.

My answer to them was the same as it is now. Get your vacination and you will be perfectly safe unless you get into a traffic accident. Because the facts are that that is still the most frequent cause of holiday problems.

It beats out theft, robbery, sickness, and falls.

So be careful when you cross the street and don't drive fast if you rent a vehicle.

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posted by That Travel Guy @ 6:05 PM  |  0 Comments