Travel
Chilly snowbirds want sun and sea at bargain prices
WENDY BIRD
Fall 2007 |
“People are getting some amazing rates on cruises,” said Teresa Filice, a travel consultant with Sears Travel in Sudbury.
“Our high dollar is definitely impacting the choices people make (when it comes to travel).”
Brad McNulty, communications officer with CAA North and East Ontario, said, “There are great deals to be had for anyone looking for a cruise because their prices are usually set and printed a year in advance. The Canadian dollar was quite a bit lower a year ago, so if people can arrange to pay in American money, they can save a nice bit of money. I completely recommend people inquire about American cruises.”
In 2005 Statistics Canada reported that between January and March, more than five million Canadians travelled outside the country. The top three destinations are Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Cuba, but Florida and Arizona are also top hot spots.
“People are looking at heading down to the usual hot spots down south,” said McNulty. “They tend to go where the best deals are, as long as it’s hot and sunny.”
Filice added her customers are interested in the Mayan Riviera as well as Jamaica and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, locations well known for miles of beautiful and bright sandy beaches.
With the spike in the Canadian dollar, quite a lot of people have been wanting to travel to Italy recently, said McNulty.
European vacations have certainly become a bargain especially during the off-season months.
People who are planning on travelling this winter should have their passports in order.
The Government of Canada recommends travellers carry a valid Canadian passport for all visits abroad, including the United States. A passport is the only universally accepted identification document.
As of January, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative goes into effect. This is an American law that requires all travellers, including U.S. and Canadian citizens, to present valid passports when travelling to the United States. (People driving across the border may have to produce passports as early as next summer.)
“If you haven’t done so already, get your passport,” McNulty said.
In an effort to help people obtain a passport more easily, Passport Canada launched a new policy in October that allows current passport holders to be a guarantor for new applicants.
Under the new policy, an eligible guarantor must be a Canadian citizen 18 years of age or older, hold a five-year Canadian passport that is valid or has been expired for no more than one year, have been 16 years of age or older when they applied for their own passport, and have known the applicant personally for at least two years.
In the last few years, demand for Canadian passports has more than doubled. Between 1999 and 2000, Passport Canada issued 1.7 million passports. Between 2006-2007, it issued 3.6 million passports. The figure for the next fiscal year is expected to reach more than four million.
For more information on travel documentation required for travel to the United States and upcoming changes due to the U.S. Western Hemispheric Travel Initiative, visit: www.cbsa.gc.ca/agency/whti-ivho/menu-e.html.
Both Filice and McNulty also urge travellers to buy medical insurance for the length of their trips.
“You’d be surprised to find out what OHIP won’t cover when you are on vacation. A trip to the doctor’s office for a simple sprain can end up costing you quite a bit of money, which won’t leave you with funds for fun,” said McNulty.
“Most people don’t realize that even a doctor’s visit in another province could possibly cost you out-of-pocket. Nothing can ruin a vacation worse than a visit to a hospital. We never plan on having an accident or something to go wrong, (so having the appropriate travel insurance would ensure) complete peace of mind.”
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