AIR TRAVEL>Discount Airfare

Discount flights are also known as the no-frills airlines or low cost carriers, they are airlines that offer Cheap Flights to your destination of choice.Westjet and Sunwing are the leaders in Discount Flights from Canada.

Other international airlines offer discounted airfares on a regular basis…checking their respective web sites is usually the best way to go about finding these reduced airfares. Often each airline web site will have a special page for marked-down airfares that they are offering as as last minute deal.

The possibilities are endless on where you can go, Discount Flights to Europe, the Caribbean or within Canada are not out of reach with Westjet, and Sunwing When is the best time to travel

When is the best time? Westjet and Sunwing offer Discount Flights 365 days a year, but have amazing deals from time to time, Take advantage of the non peak times to travel and save a bundle.

Discount Flights are available from many carriers, such as Westjet, Sunwing and Fly Globespan

The famous Seat Sale from Westjet, Discount Flights to Montreal, Las Vegas, Maui (Kahului) are just a few. more ( Discount Flights from Westjet )

Discount Flights to Europe from Canada, both scheduled and chartered flights to Belfast, London, Gatwick , Cardiff, Manchester, Glasgow and Paris

Sunwing has some of the best Discount Flights within Canada, Cheap Tickets from Ontario, Western Canada and Atlantic Canada

DESTINATIONS>Europe

According to the world tourism organization, in 2004 Europe travel destinations enjoyed the largest part of the international travel business, with 54% of the market, followed by Asia with 20% and then the Americas with 16%. Why are Europe travel destinations so popular? The reason to travel to Europe may be different for each traveler, but a few of the common reasons are:

Cultural Opportunities: For those interested in museums, arts, history, music or theater Europe travel offers nearly endless opportunity for cultural activity. From London to Paris to Rome to Amsterdam travelers can enjoy some of the most exciting cultural opportunities the world has to offer.

Landmarks: People like to visit and associate themselves with something (or someone) famous. Europe travel destinations are rich in famous landmarks. Some of the most well known landmarks of the world, from Big Ben, to the Eiffel Tower, to the Coliseum are located in Europe.

Roots: People like to visit the countries of their ancestors. Ancient Europeans were wanderers who put up stakes in destinations around the world. Their descendants are now traveling to Europe to return to their roots and see the places their forefathers once called home.

Variety: Where else can you enjoy such a diversity of culture, climate and geography over such a small distance. A traveler to the US will notice relatively small changes when traveling from L.A to New York City, a flight of approximately six hours. Language is the same, food is similar, and culture is not remarkably different. However, a two hour flight from Zurich, Switzerlandto Athens, Greece , will reward the traveler with an enormous difference that is immediately obvious. Everything from language, food to lifestyle is completely and utterly different. Distances in Europe are relatively small and cultural variety is large. This gives the traveler to Europe the opportunity of easily enjoying a diverse range of cultures and lifestyles by making a relatively low investment of time and money.

DESTINATIONS>Bahamas

Blessed with the perfect location—less than 100 miles off the coast of Florida; the perfect climate—averaging a little over 75 degrees; and the perfect environment—crystal clear turquoise blue waters and pearly white sandy beaches, the Islands of the Bahamas is the perfect travel destination for your wedding, siesta, party, honeymoon, or family vacation.

Calm waters and cooling tradewinds have rightfully earned The Bahamas an international reputation for sailing, with regattas and races held year-round. The islands are actually the birthplace of the Gulf Stream, a phenomenon that also accounts for their astonishing variety and abundance of marine life. Legendary gamefish draw sport fisherman in search of the “big one,” and more than 50 international fishing records have been set in these waters. The great writer / fisherman Ernest Hemingway considered the Bahamian island of Bimini a home. The same conditions that make these islands so amenable to sailors and fisherman draw visitors to the vast and diverse underwater parks. With more than 5% of the planet’s reef mass, The Bahamas offer inexhaustible pleasures and challenges to snorkelers and divers.

The natural beauty of the water extends to the thousands of miles of shoreline, which has some of the world’s most stunningly beautiful and unsullied beaches. From the pink sands of Harbour Island and Eleuthera to the deserted strands of the Exumas and San Salvador, there is a lifetime of beaches to experience. Further inland are gardens and National Parks with rare and endangered species, such as the exotic Abaco Parrot and the Bahamian Iguana. Although The Bahamas are as diverse and numerous as the days of the year, the reassuring unifier is the charm and hospitality of its people.

DESTINATIONS>Egypt

Most people who think of Egypt think of antiquities, but Egypt offers much more. Certainly it is a prime location to see our great heritage from the ancient world, including Pyramids and wonderful temples, but it is also part of the Holy Land, and tours to Christian and other religious monuments are popular. Yet Egypt also offers nature and desert treks, great scuba diving and even golf, fishing and birding expeditions. One may choose to relax on the wondrous Egypt Red Sea or Sinai coasts, take in the high culture of Cairo, or even leisurely float down the Egyptian Nile on a luxurious river boat.

The classic tour of Egypt is mostly Pharaonic (Ancient Egypt), though most of the time this will also include some religious and Islamic  sightseeing. The most common classic tour is usually 10 to 14 days, and generally includes Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, though not particularly in that order. Classical tours are often arranged with, or without a Nile Cruise.

Typically, such a tour will begin in Cairo, as that is the major airport where most tourists enter Egypt. However, tours of the Cairo area are frequently split between the beginning and end of the trip. For example, a tour might cover the Giza Pyramids (Great Pyramid), as well as Saqqara (Step Pyramid) and even the Egyptian Antiquities museum on the first day of the tour. Then, after traveling to Luxor and Aswan and returning to Cairo, tours will often visit the Citadel and Khan el-Khalili market in Islamic Cairo and the churches and Coptic museum in Old Cairo. Of course, the tours may not be in this specific order.

Air Egypt is served by international airports at Alexandria, Cairo, Luxor, and Hurghada on the mainland, and at Sharm el Shaykh on the Sinai peninsula. The largest and most active airport is in Cairo.

There are non-stop flights from most major African, Asian, North America and European cities. Airline tickets must be confirmed before departure. Check with a travel agent in your hotel or contact the airline office in Cairo. Most major airlines have offices at the Cairo International Airport and downtown in and around Midan Tahrir.

In recent years Cairo International Airport has expanded into a first-class facility. Despite the fact that it is located to the north of the city, most airlines from Europe approach the airfield from the south. In daylight passengers are offered a spectacular view of Cairo, the Nile, and the Giza pyramids.

Super Model Island: Canouan is to the Caribbean what Gisele Bunchen is to the Runway

Raffles Resort Canouan Island

I’ve recently met paradise, and her name is Canouan. She’s a beguiling mix of shy, coltish lapping waves and bold constructions of coral. This svelte island has the leggiest stretches of peppermint sand I’ve ever seen. The island produces nothing, no jostling of industry or agriculture - just an evergreen kiss of land on sea.

Raffles Resort Canouan Island Opens with a Bang: The first thing to know about staying at RRCI is that everybody - even those who quite like you - will hate you for it. Reason enough to book straight away. You might as well announce you’re also being treated to a midnight , in-suite couples massage with Jude Law. But when you’re dining at RRCI’s La Piazza watching a tangerine sunset, it’s hard to recall the rest of the world even exists, much less fret over what it might think.

RRCI has some of the most appealing topography as well as an impressive standard of sustainable tourism. The site boasts stunning vistas, creamy pink beaches and coral waters. Guests stay in nothing so conventional as a room. Dotted around the hillside, pastel villas give privacy and uninterrupted views. This is a resplendent resort of icing-sugar sand and champagne-laden speedboats; where delectable handmade chocolates magically appear in your bedroom and everyone looks as sun-kissed and sleek as if they’ve just returned from their last holiday. We love the private pools that come with the gorgeous villas:

Squeals from the 18th Hole: Even the most staid gentleman golfer has squealed with delight at the dramatic coastline view. If you want to see a grown man gasp, take your stoic to Trump International Golf Club at Raffles and watch his jaw drop.

Island hopping is the ultimate way to see the Grenadines. And if you can’t tell your sheets from your slips, a professional Raffles crew is at the ready. Captains Phil and Nicola Jones, a lovely Scottish couple introduced me to snorkeling, where I saw luminous parrotfish, trigger fish and swarms of angelfish.

Ooh-La-La-Amrita Spa: Raffles Amrita Spa massages the soul with relaxing treatments, whether physical (aromatherapy, deep tissue) or mental (yoga, meditation). The spa features 11 thatched-roof, palapa spa suites scattered along a hillside. Two over-water treatment suites feature glass bottoms looking down on a turquoise sea, only accessible by boat.

The Trump Effect: The Donald, renowned for his luxury brand of residential real estate, makes his first venture into the Caribbean this year with the Trump Island Villas on the RRCI site. Priced between $1-2.5 million USD, the three-acre lot choices include 18 Monte Carlo Villas in a gated community surrounding the Trump Club Privee Casino and 20 Marine Villas with individual boat slips surrounding a 30-slip marina.

How to Canouan:

• Leave status handbags at home - a basket is much chicer, especially if it’s Gucci.

• High marks for linen shirts. Minus points for mobile phones at dinner.

• Sarongs are good - especially Versace, and especially on men. Take tailored shorts as well - sarongs are no good for climbing into speedboats.

• You’ll need at least three bikinis: a designer for sailing, a stay-put number for swimming, and a strapless ditty for sunbathing.

• Many female guests look like Luxury Spa Finder models, so to avoid feeling frumpy and silently mortified over dinner, pack a silk cocktail dress.

• Don’t forget to pop into Hermes for monogrammed snorkel and flippers.

To Book this trip visit www.rafflescanouan.com

Anna Kournikova: Tennis Star Lives At the Top of Her Game in Miami

A Place Where Sun-Kissed Divas

Don’t Have to Worry About Bronzer Application

Miami resident, tennis bombshell and K-Swiss fashionista Anna Kournikova loves her South Beach lifestyle. She ran the Nautica South Beach Triathlon as part of a HOTTIE celebrity relay team that included Olympian Dana Torres (swimming) and model/triathlete Katya Myers (biking). Kournikova and boyfriend Enrique Iglesias obviously thrive in the sunny climate of SoBe:

“I just love the area and the water and the weather and the people. I travel so much for work that when I come home, it’s like I am on vacation. I like the relaxed lifestyle and being able to wear flip-flops and shorts. In a city like New York you can’t go outside and relax, and I don’t have time to worry about how I look. And I like that it’s a small community. I just like everything about it.

The Perfect Weekend Itinerary

Blink your eyes, the saying goes, and Miami changes yet again. Yesterday’s dollar store pedestrian mall becomes today’s concourse for Parisian perfumeries. The international crowd’s moved in, the city has reinvented itself, and it’s the season for a new wave of galleries and hipster haunts.

Five Things You Must Do:

1. Sip a sidecar at the freshly minted and restored Art Moderne jewel, the luxurious South Beach Ritz Carlton. Since its inauguration, the SBRC’s enjoyed the instantly smitten loyalty of socialites and starlets alike. 1 Lincoln Road (305) 793-8268

2. Make an appointment to view the renowned Margulies Collection of contemporary art. 591 NW 27th Street 305-576-1051

3. Check out Art Basel Miami Beach in December. This is an A-List affair. www.artbaselmiamibeach.com

4. Spend a highbrow afternoon at the austere Wolfsonian Museum. The collection explores the persuasive power of design in the modern world, giving Miami a cultural oasis of international importance. 1001 Washington Avenue (305) 535-2626

5. Meet up with friends at the Shore Club. With such asset franchises on site as Oribe and Nobu, the hotel rivals The Delano as the name-dropper’s destination du jour. 1901 Collins Avenue (305) 695-3100

Where to Find Your Dream Ottoman:

The Miami Design District occupies an 18-block area centered at Northeast Second Avenue. Alongside 125 high-end showrooms, the drowsy 1930s factories now house vibrant galleries, restaurants, and clubs. When galleries hold opening receptions, the area explodes into a sophisticated block party. Holly Hunt is a chic 25,000-square-foot mecca of contemporary home furnishings by the likes of Christian Liaigre and Rose Tarlow. Kevin Bruk Gallery has an impressive mix of blue chip such as Ed Ruscha.

To Book this Trip visit the official tourism site for Miami.

The A-List Loves Bermuda: Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas

The Perfect Island for Couples Craving Culinary Creativity

Batten down the hatches, the gluttons are coming! An international coterie of professional eaters descend on Bermuda evety November to celebrate the annual Bermuda Culinary Arts Festival. From hit reality shows to cult followings, chefs remain a hot commodity these days.

Targeting the true food fan’s interest in learning from culinary mavericks, the BCAF is at the forefront of engineering much coveted intimate experiences with true masters of the craft. From cozy demos to decadent dinners, BCAF’s luscious offerings satiate even the most well-traveled and tasted palette. The programming is pitch perfect, an unprecedented opportunity to get up close and personal with the best of the best.

Imported foodies went wild over some of New York’s hottest chefs - Tom Colicchio of Craft, Cornelius Gallagher of Oceana, Aaron Sanchez of Paladar. Ashbell McElveen of London hosted the most incredible beachside BBQ, where I tasted the best pulled pork of my life. Canada’s own culinary treasure, Susur Lee, held his dining audience spellbound with his divine menu of caramelized sable fish with bone marrow crust and rack of lamb with two chutneys.

Sigourney Steak Out: If that isn’t enough to tempt you to book, I should mention BCAF’s momentum in securing celebrity hosts. The 2004 edition had three-time Oscar nominee Sigourney Weaver clinking glasses with guests.

Perhaps the most desirable attraction of BCAF is the tiny isle itself, which balances beautifully on two circles of extinct volcanoes. The millionaire’s haunt markets itself as a haven of order and social discipline. Vendors offering second-rate mementos are completely absent from the landscape. It’s simply not allowed.

Locals are polite, a feathered elegance born of offshore banking. There are no fast food outlets or wild discotheques. The streets are pristine and I had to ask the taxi driver whether there were any dogs on Bermuda. The rules for acquisition of a dog are so stringent, a glamour puss may click her kitten heels, nose in the air, without fear of undesirable accident.

Celebrity Real Estate Tidbit: Ross Perot, Quincy Jones, David Bowie and Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones all maintain homes on this 21 mile isle.

To Book for the next BCAF, click here.

Catch Me If You Can: Hollywood Loves Quebec City

Catch Me If You Can exceeds the stylistic and thematic ambition of Minority Report. The film is not merely a glib look at a real man’s life filtered through the forgiving, kaleidoscopic lens of Hollywood. It’s an enduring and evocative portrait of one man’s unique gift in a time that precedes the casual technicalities of modern police procedure.

Spielberg’s exhilarating pursuit that ennobles our own idiosyncratic search for identity amongst our peers. From the stylish credits and John Williams’ jazzy score, the incredible story of opportunist con artist Frank Abagnale Jr (Leonardo DiCaprio) bounces along at a fast-pace and with a Spielbergian theme of distant fathers.

Ricocheting around the USA from ‘Florida’ to ‘Louisiana’, the movie was shot largely around Los Angeles, and in Quebec (the ‘French’ scenes).

Montreal and Quebec stood in for ‘France’. Place Royale, Quebec City, with Notre Dame des Victoires in the background, stood in for the square of ‘Montrichard’ where Abagnale is arrested.

Auberge Sainte Antoine: The Most Romantic Hotel in Quebec City

The Perfect Place to Pop the Question…

Auberge Saint-Antoine, in the cradle of Old Québec City, sits on a property dating back to the 1600s. Owned by the prominent Price family, this hotel perfectly blends Old World charm with 21st century luxury.

Why the concept’s so fresh: If you’ve ever fantasized about sleeping in the Smithsonian, you’ll love waking up in your suite. With a Chinese porcelain fragment embedded in your night table, you’re the Indiana Jones of Le Petit Champlain. Each guest floor is dedicated to one of the original owners of the property, and each room is named after an artifact from that period. In 2002, Saint-Antoine underwent a $16 Million expansion that uncovered priceless historical artifacts. Over 5000 objects found on the archaeological site were restored by the Centre de conservation du Québec, and more than 250 of these significant finds contribute to owner Llewellyn Price’s boutique hotel-meets-Musee des Beaux-Arts concept. Saint-Antoine honours its distinct history by showcasing relics in stunning museum vitrines throughout the hotel.

Why you’ll never leave your room: You’ll lather up like a rock star in the Olympic-sized deep soak bath, acoustics blazing on the in-suite Bose sound system. With a true snuggle bunny’s bed of luxury linens, goose down duvets and pillows - a Cinderella sleep is guaranteed. Many suites boast private terraces and fireplaces. All suites feature dramatic throw-open windows, high speed Internet, heated bathroom floors and no-fog mirrors.

Where to pop the question: After sampling Chef Francois Blais’ rustic take on traditional French Canadian cuisine, coax your beloved to the secluded vaulted study next to the elegant bar. There’s a perfect romantic symmetry to this space. If you need a little roar in your arsenal for the night, I can attest that Blais’ wild boar delicacy is the most exquisite game I’ve tasted in Canada.

Most Explosive Architectural Feature: The conservation of a 17th Century cannon battery that slopes through the lobby.

8 Rue Sainte-Antoine, Québec City 1-888-692-2211

www.saint-antoine.com

Hollywood Hits the Mandarin Oriental to Celebrate the Blockbuster of the Year

The Perfect Hotel Ballroom for the Hottest Celebrity-Studded

After Party of the Summer

The Dark Knight reached a critical mass of buzz this year. Stars Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Batman himself, Christian Bale, gathered Monday night for the film’s official premiere, with a screening at the AMC Loews Lincoln Square and an after-party for 600 atop the Mandarin Oriental New York.

The only Imax theater in Manhattan, where overwhelming demand prompted the theater to offer midnight, 3 a.m. and even 6 a.m. screenings the night before its official release, Lincoln Square was a natural choice for the movie, which was filmed with Imax cameras. Before the screening got underway, film composers Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard treated guests to a live performance featuring musicians playing down the theater aisles and a brief light show choreographed to the film’s score.

When the curtain closed on the 152-minute movie, it was time for the after-party. Warner Brothers’ Bonnie Horton, Chad Hudson, Courtney Saylor, and Troy Williams oversaw the event and enlisted Wendy Creed Productions to recreate the sinister tone of the film on the 36th floor of the Mandarin Oriental. Guests departed Lincoln Square in school buses (a reference to the film), and traveled nine blocks down Broadway, where the bat signal beckoned buses to the black carpet stretched out in front of the hotel.

Celebrities love to party at the top of the Mandarin Oriental New York.

To Book a Stay visit www.mandarinoriental.com

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