Jetsettersblog

Porter Airlines is adding two more daily flights to New York, increasing daily roundtrip departures between Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport to as many as 13 flights, with a wider range of morning, afternoon and evening departures for passengers. The first new flight starts March 26, with a second flight beginning on April 16, and additional weekend options as of March 25.

Porter also launched a new nonstop service between Newark and Mt. Tremblant, Que., this winter, a popular skiing destination.

Ontario Tourism UK continues in their quest to promote outdoor adventure and the many opportunities to connect with nature in the Canadian province by partnering with premier outdoor clothing brand, Berghaus.

Ontario Tourism and the leading outdoor brand have joined forces to execute a nationwide, multi-channel marketing campaign, which will commence in February 2012, and will consist of in-store promotions, advertorials in a selection of special interest magazines, social media, and online marketing.

The campaign will see a giant image of breathtaking Terrace Bay, in Thunder Bay, Northern Ontario, featured in Berghaus’ four flagship store windows across the UK in February. A competition to win a 13-night outdoor adventure trip of a lifetime and £1000 worth of Berghaus kit will be promoted in-store, online and in publications such as Lonely Planet, Wanderlust, Adventure Travel Magazine and National Geographic Traveller.

Lyndsey Thomas, Sales & Marketing Manager for Ontario Tourism UK said “We are delighted to be able to secure this partnership opportunity with Berghaus. They are the ultimate leading outdoor clothing brand and this campaign will further strengthen Ontario’s position as a premier destination for those looking to experience the great Canadian outdoors.

Angela Turley, Marketing Manager for Berghaus said: “The destination is a great fit for us; so it makes sense to partner with Ontario; hopefully the great prize we have put together will attract more customers to our stores”.

Ontario Tourism will also be exhibiting at the Adventure Travel Show on 28th and 29th January at Olympia in London where visitors will have the opportunity to enter the competition.

No one knows a country better than a local. Travellers to Canada can now access real local knowledge and tips via social media with the new Explore Canada Like a Local online travel tool.

Social media has given everyone a voice for honest, tell-it-like-it-is recommendations on bars, restaurants, shopping, events and more. The Canadian Tourism Commission gives travellers direct access to real traveller voices by combining information from local users of Foursquare, Yelp and Gowalla.

The result is a one-stop-shop website where travellers can create their own online itineraries based on recommendations from Canadians and Canada devotees and then carry them on their smart phones for instant access.

Itineraries can be developed on the Explore Canada Like a Local website by themes based on interests or by destination. Users can also access other travel itineraries and lists developed by fellow travellers.

Whether you’re looking for culinary hotspots of Montreal, ski resorts of British Columbia or shopping in Toronto, it is all there at the one site including real time reviews, comments, images and videos from other travellers who have ‘checked in’ at the destination.

No marketing hype, no brochure speak, just real traveler to traveler reviews.

First time users simply view a how-to video then Canada’s your oyster.

For more information on Explore Canada Like a Local visit www.explorecanadalikealocal.com 

Air Canada said that it would launch triple-daily, nonstop flights between Toronto Pearson and New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport beginning May 3. It will also schedule hourly flights to LaGuardia Airport. On May 1, Air Canada will add an additional daily roundtrip flight between Toronto and LaGuardia, providing customers with convenient hourly service each business day.

The new Toronto-JFK service will be operated by Air Canada Express using a 50-seat CRJ regional jet. The JFK flights will have early morning, afternoon and evening arrivals and departures. With the new services, Air Canada will operate a total of up to 38 roundtrip flights a day to the New York metropolitan area from Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver.

VIA Rail is offering discounted packages of up to 50 percent off. The package allows for travel anywhere in Canada on VIA Rail’s network in any of their quality service classes. Those who book a train trip between eastern and western Canada or Quebec and Ontario will receive 50 percent off the adult regular fare from VIA’s most popular Canadian destinations. The deal is available for travel until May 31, but must be booked by Jan. 26.

VIA Rail is also offering discounted business and economy class trips between Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal until April 3. One-way trips departing from Toronto to both Ottawa and Montreal are $39 for economy class and $79 for business class with free Wi-Fi included.

Here are five more activities to put the wonder back in winter. Click here for the first five:

1. Poles fit for a prince

Cross-country skiing, Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta

Lake Louise is for lovers. Ski lovers, that is. You can check out tree-lined cross-country trails or fly downhill in waist-deep powder, all under gorgeous blue skies. And if you’re up for more rustic adventure, try the famous Skoki Lodge, where Prince William and theDuchess of Cambridge visited in the summer.

TIP: Bring a camera to take great snaps of deer and elk as you shush by on your Nordic skis.

Lake Louise area cross-country ski trails

The Lake Louise Ski Area

2. Get seriously soaked, Radium Hot Springs, Kootenay National Park, Alberta

You can get me into hot springs at any time of year but on cool, crisp winter days, just try to get me out. Surrounded by snow-covered trees and the icy Mount Rundle, I love to wade shoulder-deep into the soothing mineral-rich waters and just smile.

TIP: For more warmth, try Banff Upper Hot Springs in Banff National Park.

Radium Hot Springs

3. Mush ado about winter

Dog sledding, Kluane National Park and Reserve, Yukon

Here’s one for the bucket list. A chance to mush a team of gorgeous huskies through Kluane National Park and Reserve. Contact a local dog sled tour operator for itineraries.

TIP: Canada’s highest mountain, Mount Logan (5,959 metres; 19,545 feet), is located within the park.

4. Go waterfall ice climbing

Banff, Jasper, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks, Alberta and British Columbia

If you were born with a silver pick-axe in your hands, here’s news. Some 1,000 waterfalls exist through the Canadian Rockies, making it one of the world’s premier waterfall ice climbing destinations. Experienced climbers have easy access and incredible options.

TIP: Massey’s and Pilsner Pillar are classic climbs near the village of Field in Yoho National Park.

5. Plan a family below zero family boil-up

Winter picnicking, Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta
Bundle up the family and head out for a picnic along the lake, stopping at one of the park’s enclosed camp kitchens. Cook lunch over a wood stove, seasoned with a dose of the stunning Rocky Mountains.

TIP: Snowshoe up and over the Akamina Pass and have a picnic on the continental divide.

Blount Small Ship Adventures is offering a new cruise itinerary with three days in New Brunswick beginning in August. The line will operate three nine-night cruises from Boston. The cruise visits Saint John and St. Andrews-by-the-Sea in New Brunswick as well as Rockland, Eastport, Bar Harbor and Portland, Maine.

Departure dates are Aug. 1, Aug. 12 and Aug. 23. The line also offers a discount of $800 per couple when the cruise is booked by April 1.

Porter Airlines has begun flying to Timmins, Ontario, with three roundtrip flights daily between Timmins and downtown Toronto. This is the 18th destination in Porter’s network, and the first of several new services to launch this year. Timmins passengers can also access connecting flights to other airports.

Holland America Line will offer 27 cruises on three ships — the Maasdam, the Eurodam and the Veendam — to Canada and New England this year. Scheduled from May through October, the itineraries range from seven to 15 days and also visit the region during the height of the fall foliage display.

The Maasdam begins the season with a 15-day northbound cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Montreal.

Highlights include an overnight call at Quebec City, the line’s only call at Sept-Iles this season. From May 12 through the Sept. 29 departure, the Maasdam offers 15 seven-day sailings between Montreal and Boston.

The itineraries feature cruising along the St. Lawrence River. The Maasdam concludes the season with a 13-day sailing departing Oct. 6 from Montreal to Fort Lauderdale.

The Eurodam will sail on three 10-day cruises in September and October between New York and Quebec City.

The itinerary features an overnight call at Quebec City and cruising along Saguenay Fjord.

On Oct. 14, the Eurodam will depart on a 13-day cruise from Quebec City to Fort Lauderdale.

The Veendam begins its Canada/New England season with a 13-day cruise from New York to Montreal, departing Sept. 2. It will include an overnight call at Quebec City. In September and October, the Veendam will sail five seven-day itineraries between Montreal and Boston.

For seven-day Maasdam and Veendam itineraries, guests can combine two seven-day sailings for a 14-day roundtrip journey. Fares on 14-day Collectors Cruises reflect up to 10 percent savings. Fares for Maasdam’s Canada and New England cruises start at $749, Eurodam’s cruise fares begin at $1,499, and Veendam’s fares start at $1,349. Seven-day cruises offer reduced third and fourth fares. All fares are per person, double.

Porter Airlines will start flying to Washington, D.C., making it the sixth U.S. destination with up to three daily roundtrip flights operating between Dulles and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.

“Greater Washington is a region that our passengers have told us is their number one priority for new Porter service,” said Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines. “We expect great interest for both business and leisure trips.”