COLUMN ARCHIVE
March 30, 2016: Scotland; mother country to many Nova Scotians
You can chalk it up to the power of the Internet, but it is an odd feeling when you get an email from a man whose name is the same as your late Father’s, and this guy owns a tour company in Scotland, from where all your ancestors came (on both sides of my family)!
William Bishop lives in a town between Glasgow and Edinburgh, and has been a personal tour guide and Scottish historian for the past 25 years. He offers tours to suit your taste and budget all over Scotland – its highlands and its islands, from two to seven days. He’s already taught me that the first recorded Bishop in Scotland was a Norman knight who built the first Knight Templar Preceptory in 1140!
Just imagine what a tour guide like William Bishop could do for your trip to Scotland, if you have any Scottish roots whatsoever. He and I have already decided to work together in helping Nova Scotians discover their Scottish roots, so don’t hesitate to give me a call about this to discuss.
Coincidentally, another Scottish company has approached me, calledSelf-Catering Scotland, which represents beautiful homes and cottages to rent all over the country. This is another option I can hook you up with if you like to be truly independent in your travels.
Remember, too, that WestJet has direct flights to Glasgow this summer from Halifax starting May 1. There really isn’t an easier way to get to the mother country of many Nova Scotians!
Perhaps you’re just an avid fan of all of the United Kingdom. I’d definitely recommend a guided coach tour by Globus, Cosmos orMonograms Vacations. These package trips from seven to 20 days in length include accommodation, sightseeing and many meals, and a variety of prices are offered to suit all budgets. Most of the departures start in April and end in October.
Back in the USA
I know the exchange rate for Nova Scotians going to the US is pretty bad right now, but I also know for many of you, that isn’t a deterrent for visiting your favourite places in New England! And I’m one of the thousands of Nova Scotians who has relatives in that part of the world, too.
It’s good news that Bay Ferries will be offering high speed catamaran service between Yarmouth and Portland, Maine, this summer, beginning in mid-June. Advance tickets will be on sale in April and prices are expected to be similar to those of the mid-2000s.
The sailing time will be 5.5 hours, which is about half the time it would take to drive from Portland to get to Nova Scotia. Departures from Yarmouth are expected to be at 8:00 a.m. local time.
How can I help? Well, I have access to accommodation databases that are designed for travel agents to find you the best prices and amenities for the days you want to travel. My agency commission is built into the price you are quoted, which is probably the same price you would have found if you went searching on your own. The big difference is that you won’t know if that is the best value or the best guestroom you could have booked. Let us do the dirty work and save your stress levels!
WATCH BISHOP TRIPS VIDEO ABOUT SCOTLAND VACATIONS: https://youtu.be/fZFS-8pymqw
March 16, 2016: Fly across the pond to Europe this spring, summer or fall
Okay, all you Maritime wannabe vacationers to Europe this year! The good news is that there are several airlines that leave from Stanfield International Airport in Halifax to destinations ‘on the continent’ this year – with many beginning seasonal service as early as May 1.
The United Kingdom is always popular with Atlantic Canadians, and you can fly daily to London via Air Canada almost year-round. But beginning May 1 this year, non-stop flights also leave on WestJet for Glasgow. If you’re flexible with dates, the airfares are very attractive!
Direct to Dublin...
On July 7 (until October 13) Europe Airpost (also known as ASL Airlines) from France, will fly direct to Dublin on Thursday nights, arriving Friday morning. The same flight continues on to Paris for an extra $40. ASL’s base price to Dublin will be just under $800 return.
Condor Airlines, which had been flying to Frankfurt, Germany from Halifax during the past couple of summers, has so far not scheduled any flights for this year.
Non-stop to Iceland...
Now if Iceland is more your desire, Icelandair will be once again flying non-stop to the capital of Reykjavik beginning on May 26 until October 17. It will depart two or three times a week, leaving Halifax at 9:30 pm and arriving at 4:45 am. This is convenient, as you can pick up many flights from the capital city to points all over Europe.
Maybe you’re interested in a little taste of Europe, but don’t want to cross the big pond?
Smell the croissants...
There are always the two French-owned islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, off Newfoundland’s southern coast, that will make you think you’ve landed in the land of the Gauls. Starting April 27, there will be Monday, Wednesday and Friday departures at 12:30 pm, arriving at 2:45 pm on Air St. Pierre from Halifax. Like anywhere else in Europe, you will need a valid passport to enter the islands, and the currency used is the Euro. I can smell the croissants baking right now…
European packages...
Transat Holidays has package trips available to 29 destinations in Europe this coming summer. From Halifax, you would first have to fly to Montreal or Toronto to pick up your flight. Just send me a message if you’d like to chat about all the options that are available should you want a package trip. Brochures should be available soon from these suppliers.
I’m seeing a big surge in people wanting to take European river cruises and/or escorted coach (bus) tours. The best itineraries sell out early, as your cruise or coach mates might be from anywhere in the world, so book these kind of vacations early with us. Personally, I like the Cosmos, Monograms and Globus coach tours with their big buses that have super comfortable seats, and even include WiFi!
Leapin' loonies...
A Canadian travel trade magazine recently released the results of its findings as to countries where our battered loonie does well against local currencies. So, in order of how far our dollar will go – think about visits to Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Colombia, Uruguay and Russia.
For example, you could go to Brazil and Rio de Janeiro -- the city of the 2016 Olympics before the actual Games, and spend a week there for two people for under $2,000. That’s airfare for two from Halifax and a hotel on Copacabana Beach! Not too shabby, eh? And you avoid the crowds that the Olympic Games will definitely bring. (Brazil has also waived visa requirements for Canadians visiting this year, due to the summer games.) Brush up on your Portuguese!
Think about Bishop Trips...
Whatever you decide for a vacation, BishopTrips.com can make all your vacation arrangements to Europe – as well as coordinate air and rail tickets, hotels and sightseeing attractions, once you’re there. (Remember that train travel is so much easier and stress-free than in renting a car in order to get the most out of your holiday!)
March 2, 2016: Tips & tricks for online travel shopping
On the quest for inexpensive flights
If you want to book air tickets on your own, rather than use a company like mine, the New York Times reported recently that airlines “…are perpetually tweaking prices, making predictions [for lowest prices] difficult… latest research asserts that weekends have the best fares, [but] consumers who spot a good deal on Thursday shouldn’t wait until Saturday to buy it with the hope that the price will tumble even further.”
And how far in advance should you be looking? The same article states, “…Expedia reported in December that the optimal time to buy an economy ticket for travel in North America is 57 days in advance, resulting in a potential savings of about 10 percent versus the average fare. Recommended lead times for travel to international destinations, including Europe and Asia-Pacific, were even longer.”
Travel agents have access to airline consolidators, so I am able to see and reserve fares to the same destination from several airlines at once, making comparison shopping easier. I can book your flight and you’re given 24 hours to decide about it – and then payment is required. The average consumer must pay the airline immediately when he or she makes an online reservation on his or her own.
Watch those cruise “deals”
I had a call from a Yarmouth professional who wanted to join her friends on a seven-day Caribbean cruise leaving in approximately two weeks from the day she contacted me. The cruise line’s website was very enticing, and offered various perks and deals, which can be overwhelming for anyone who hasn’t dealt with booking a cruise in the past.
Cruise lines are notorious for charging high single supplement fees, first and foremost. Some cruise companies have rooms geared for singles, but those are rare. Prices quoted on websites are always for double occupancy (i.e. the price seen is per person); often in U.S. dollars; and for “interior” cabins (staterooms with no windows). You must also figure in the price of taxes, fees and gratuities, as well.
Suddenly that cheap deal on a website may not be so inexpensive any longer. Also, getting airfare from Halifax to a city like Miami to pick up your cruise two weeks hence will be anything but cheap. Cruises usually leave in the mornings, so you’d have to fly to Miami the day before and spend the night.
Your cruise can be booked a year or more in advance, giving you lots of choices of cruiselines, excellent incentives, and a wide range of staterooms to choose from: interior, exterior, and those with verandahs or balconies.
You’re only making a deposit on your trip after initially booking with me – and not having to pay the full amount until about 90 days before you leave.
Booking hotels online
Before I started the process to be accredited as a travel agency in Nova Scotia, I booked many of my hotel reservations online just like many of you do. I wish I had known then to use a travel agent to do this for me, but I always thought that I’d have to pay the agent a separate fee to do so. This is not the case 98% of the time.
It can be quick and easy to book a hotel room with Orbitz and Expedia, as two examples of the many online booking sites. I’ve personally used both.
If you’re pleased at how little you may be paying for your guestroom, you might see why when you check in. On one occasion I was housed in the worst section of the hotel – it was run down and smelly compared to the floors which had been through a refurbishment. I thought the king bedroom I had reserved would look like the one pictured online. Not so.
Often when booking a hotel room online you can’t request being placed far away from the elevators and vending machines if you’re a light sleeper. But travel agents can ask the hotels for things like this on your behalf – or other perks. For example, I had a couple who were flying into Glasgow from Halifax last September, and I knew they’d be tired upon arrival, since it was an overnight flight and check-in to their hotel technically wasn’t until mid-afternoon.
I wrote the resident manager of the Glasgow hotel and asked him to take special care of my Nova Scotian clients – which he certainly did! They were whisked in to a hospitality suite when they arrived as their room was not ready…and then the same Scottish manager authorized a complimentary mini-bar as they were staying more than one night. Try getting Expedia to do that for you! That manager knew I would recommend his hotel to future clients of mine – and I definitely will.
Fasten your seatbelts and let’s go travelling!
February 17, 2016 - Did someone say "snow and cold"?
Did someone say snow and cold? Nova Scotia has had a visit from Old Man Winter in the past couple of weeks, but that has only made us more determined to think about future travel where the sun is shining, and the loonie is soaring. (Okay, maybe not “soaring”, but at least flying on par!)
The Caribbean
Let’s first look at what’s happening down south. Cuba and the Dominican Republic are still two of Canada’s most popular and favourite Caribbean destinations, with Jamaica not lagging far behind.
- The newest hotspot in Jamaica would have to be the all-inclusive Moon Palace Jamaica Grande, located in Ocho Rios. With 700 deluxe guestrooms and suites, it’s not too mammoth and not too small. This resort is part of the family-owned Palace Resorts company in Mexico, and the high standards of its Mexican properties carries over here in its beautiful Jamaican location. Check out the YouTube video: https://youtu.be/fDfu9hKwObs
- My very first trip to the Caribbean many years ago was to Barbados, and I think I’ve been in love with the region ever since. One of the island’s newest properties is a luxurious Sandals all-inclusive in the St. Lawrence Gap area. The property spans three unique villages, world-class cuisine with international appeal, and includes a festive Indian cuisine restaurant.
You’ll find Barbados to be a lush, “veddy” British island nation and you will definitely enjoy its history and culture. I deal directly with Sandals when booking trips to any of its resorts, so if you’re interested, look at this short video about the unique culinary offerings at Sandals Barbados: https://youtu.be/745rvSfdhuE
As a travel agent, I have a duty to inform my clients that the Zika virus has been spotted on some Caribbean islands, but depending on where you go, your likelihood of being bitten by an infected mosquito may be next to nothing. (According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, the virus’ “…symptoms can include fever, headache, conjunctivitis [pink eye] and rash, along with joint and muscle pain. The illness is typically mild and lasts only a few days.”)
For the record, Jamaica has had one confirmed case of the virus, and Barbados seven cases. (Compare those numbers with the 1,331 confirmed cases in Colombia and 236 cases in Brazil, according to the Pan American Health Organization, as of this writing.)
So please don’t cancel your vacation planning to the wonderful Caribbean due to what may be largely exaggerated media accounts. You can see several short videos I’ve produced about the Caribbean on my YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/BruceWBishop/videos .
The Luck of the Irish
It’s only a month away to Saint Patrick’s Day, and who hasn’t wanted to take part in the big festival in Dublin at some point in his or her life? Here’s the link: http://www.stpatricksfestival.ie/
I was curious to find out what kind of airfares there would be from Halifax to Dublin, leaving on March 15 and returning on March 22. The best routing I saw (with only one stopover on the way there, and returning) was $978, all taxes and fees included, per person.
Then I wanted to see the type of hotel I’d spend time at myself for a week in Dublin during this very festive week, and I found a great place just outside the city, at about $940 for six nights and two guests. The hotel is the Glenview Hotel & Leisure Club, and is located in the garden setting of Wicklow.
Now I have four-leaf clovers and leprechauns dancing in my head! If you’re so inclined to quaff some Irish Whiskey next month, message me and I’ll get you there without breaking the bank!
BishopTrips has an affiliation with two of
Final note: I’m having a Facebook “Like my Page” contest and the winner will be announced in the next Travel Today column. The prize is a $30 Gift Certificate to any Cineplex Odeon Theatre in Canada! Simply go to http://www.facebook.com/BishopTrips-1631669690379380/ , and like and share the page with your other travel-minded friends.
See you again on March 2!
February 3, 2016 - Welcome to Travel Today
Welcome to the first column of Travel Today – a bi-weekly look at taking journeys to a plethora of destinations that are safe, interesting, within reason and within your budget! I hope I can help you plan your ideal trip away; whether it be to another coast of Canada or to the far reaches of the world.
I decided to open up a boutique travel agency last year because I’ve always had a passion for travelling myself, and there are many more countries I would love to visit while I am healthy and able to do so. Like you, I don’t want to break the bank, and that hardy Nova Scotian blood that flows through me is always looking for a good deal.
So what is it with our low, low, low Loonie? Don’t let it stop you from thinking about a vacation south this winter.
For example, did you know that Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is offering “Dollar for Dollar Days” through April 2016? Certain hotels are offering discounts of up to 60 percent, with select live entertainment, attractions and restaurants offering discounts of up to 30 percent. This means your Loonie can stand right alongside George Washington ‘on par’. Canadian identification will be required to take advantage of these offers.
Indeed, this March, the 55th Annual Can-Am Days Festival takes place (March 12-20, 2016), in Myrtle Beach, which showcases Southern hospitality at its finest. You’ll find even more discounts then, including golf, but the discounts continue to be available until April 30, 2016.
Porter Airlines has special golf packages to Myrtle Beach, incidentally. Let’s say you, your spouse and another couple wanted to spend a week at a golf resort there, but wanted to wait until the temperatures were even more summer-like. In early May, historically that is about 25 C (77 F). You can get a two-bedroom condominium, plus return airfare for a week from Halifax, on May 5, for about CAD$960 per person. Not bad for a U.S. holiday, eh?
Maybe you’d rather take a trip to Scotland in May before the crowds converge on all the U.K. cities. I could book you a return, non-stop flight from Halifax on May 8 to Glasgow, and returning May 19 for only CAD$755. That should allow you enough time to explore your roots, if you’re a Mc or a MacDonald! I’ll also find you central accommodation to your liking using my travel agents’ hotel database, which makes those ones advertised on TV look like chump change.
Something important to remember if you decide to book your vacation plans online by yourself, is that often you will have to pay the full amount upfront. I can get extended payment plans for you in many instances, especially on cruises and some package holidays which only require a deposit upfront.
I can also hold your airline reservation for you for up to 24 hours while you make your final decision on whether to go. (Remember, too, that travel agents can book your airport-to-hotel transfers in many cases; reserve railway tickets; and buy sightseeing tours in advance.) Nine times out of ten, I’ll be paid a commission by these suppliers, and will let you know beforehand if you have to pay an additional service fee.
In this column in future weeks, I’ll concentrate on travel information that is most valuable to you as Nova Scotians. We’ll discover what airlines are coming to Halifax for the summer of ’16; what bargains may be had overseas and in other parts of Canada; and when preferred destinations in the USA decide to take Canadian dollars at par, I’ll be on top of it!
Fasten your seatbelts and let’s go…
Send comments about this story or questions for Bruce to: [email protected]
Bruce Bishop owns a full-service travel agency, www.BishopTrips.com , based in Yarmouth, N.S.
He is a former travel writer and author; a past president of the Travel Media Association of Canada; and a former member on the Advisory Board for the Nova Scotia Tourism Agency. His company specializes in itineraries for the discerning traveller who may be looking at a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but also for the vacationer who simply needs expert guidance in booking and securing all aspects of a well-deserved holiday. He can be found on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest or on the website, BishopTrips.com .
WHAT IS TRAVEL TODAY?
It was Shakespeare who wrote (in similar wording), “The world is your oyster” and indeed it is. For many Maritimers, though, it may sometimes seem daunting to dream of voyaging across the globe to new and exotic destinations – but these days, we truly are living in a global village and it is not difficult to travel to places once considered impossible to visit.
It’s hard to make sense of the millions of websites that offer travel-related services - from airlines to accommodation providers to travel insurance companies to package vacations. How do you know you’re getting the best deal out there without getting ripped off? Are you remembering the all important details in your trip planning, such as passport or visa requirements for certain countries?
Travel Talk will cut through the mysteries of international travel and explain the things you need to know before you go on your long-awaited and well-deserved holiday. The column will explore destinations that are easily accessible from gateways in Nova Scotia in particular, in all four seasons of the year.
Be sure to bookmark this page and watch for regular columns on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. And please do ask questions that will be answered in future columns!
Send comments about this story or questions for Bruce to:[email protected]