The Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda are getting ready to welcome new visitors to their shores this winter as new construction continues to ramp up to satisfy the boom in tourism. A number of new properties are offering great deals for the upcoming season. The Hodges Bay Resort & Spa, which opened its doors in December 2018, is a charming hotel nestled on 3.2 hectares between beautiful crystal-blue waters and lush tropical vegetation. Opened in May 2019, the Royalton Antigua Resort & Spa by Sunwing is a stunning 294-room resort situated on the white beach of picturesque Deep Bay. Scheduled to open in December 2019, the brand new Hammock Cove Resort & Spa by Elite Island Resorts will feature an adults-only, all-inclusive paradise offering 42 beautiful private villas. visitantiguabarbuda.com
Consider a memorable expedition to the Arctic or Atlantic Canada in 2020 aboard an Adventure Canada ship. From the company’s Voyages of Discovery brochure, choose to celebrate spring in Costa Rica and the Panama Canal aboard the 48-passenger Panorama. The Mighty Saint Lawrence itinerary takes you from Québec City to Saint Pierre and Miquelon, while the new Atlantic Explorer expedition stops in three Atlantic provinces with two days of landings on Sable Island, famous for its wild horses, grey seals and the Ipswich sparrow. AdventureCanada.com
Preparations are underway for the performance of the once-in-a-lifetime Passion Play, held every 10 years in Oberammergau, Bavaria. With more than 2,000 local Bavarian actors participating, the play is set to exceed your expectations. From the beginning of May 2020 until October, the Oberammergau Passion Play will once again renew its centuries-old pledge to those travelling to the German small town from around the world. This spectacular event is only one of many you will experience on a 13-day itinerary organized by Connaissance Travel and Tours, which includes an excursion to Germany’s south, visiting the magnificent Neuschwanstein Castle, an enchanting night in Oberammergau and a Danube River cruise along the Wachau Valley. Prices start at $5,890. ConnaissanceTravel.com/OberammergauPassionPlay2020
Effective February 11, 2020, Air Canada will be offering a new mid-week flight between Toronto and Basseterre, on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts, to complement its existing Saturday service. The non-stop Tuesday service, aboard a 136-seat Airbus A-319, will operate until April 14, giving locals and visitors more options to visit this scenic Caribbean island during peak tourist season. The carrier is also all set to operate new non-stop flights from Toronto to Quito, Ecuador, this December. And in addition to its current service from Toronto, the airline will also be introducing non-stop service three times weekly effective June 2, 2020, between Montréal and Bogotá, Colombia, with special introductory fares starting as low as $795 return. aircanada.com
Small Luxury Hotels of the World recently welcomed five new hotels to its portfolio. The Lennox Miami Beach boasts original 1930s art deco design and 119 contemporary guest rooms with sweeping views of the city. In Jamaica, S Hotel Jamaica overlooks the famous Doctor’s Cave beach and exudes cool Caribbean vibes. At the oceanfront KASA Hotel Riviera Maya guests can revel in a Mayan clay bath day, relax on the beach or at the infinity-edge pool, sail and play golf. In Tulum, the KASA Hotel Parota is a family-friendly boutique hotel set among uncrowded beaches and world-class restaurants. Situated in a stunning 19th-century Venetian-style palazzo, the romantic Vista Palazzo Lago Di Como in Lago Di Como, Italy, is among the most photographed structures on Lake Como. Nightly rates range from US$160 to $586. slh.com
Looking for a little diversion while in the Sunshine State? Book a fun two-night getaway any day of the week with the Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line between the Port of Palm Beach, Florida, and Grand Bahama Island. Once on board, you can dance the night away, dine to your heart’s content, roll the dice in the casino or sit back and enjoy amazing live entertainment ranging from Vegas-style shows to late-night comedians. You can also book a cruise-and-stay package if you prefer to spend more time in the Bahamas. Enjoy two nights at sea plus two or four additional nights on the island at one of the cruise line’s partner resorts. bahamasparadisecruise.com
WestJet’s regional air service, WestJet Link, recently expanded its services to include non-stop flights twice daily between Vancouver and Cranbrook, B.C., on board a 34-seat SAAB 340B aircraft. Each aircraft includes six seats in WestJet Premium, offering passengers advanced boarding, no charge for two checked bags and seating at the front of the aircraft. Since its inception in 2018, WestJet Link has serviced Cranbrook, Lethbridge, Lloydminster, Medicine Hat and Prince George through the Calgary hub. This expansion into Vancouver is perfectly timed as the region prepares for its busiest time of year with inbound winter adventurers and outbound sun seekers. westjet.com
Have you ever wondered if you have what it takes to be a spy? The new and completely reimagined Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. immerses you in the undercover world of espionage and adventure. Armed with your personal secret cover identity and an RFID-enable badge, you can test your spy skills on a mission through the museum as you create a disguise, crack codes, pick locks, analyze intel and more. Along the way, view thousands of pieces of espionage gear, gadgets and other items on display. Tickets are available for purchase online. SpyMuseum.org
One of the best places in the world to see the aurora borealis is in the Northwest Territories. The northern lights come out to play more than 200 nights a year, giving visitors ample opportunity to experience this breathtaking phenomenon. And there are a number of ways to do just that. Soak up the local culture and sample traditional food as the northern lights dance above you before you retire to your igloo for the night. Leave Yellowknife’s city lights behind as you ride a snowmobile to your wilderness cabin 30 minutes away. At Aurora Village just outside Yellowknife, savour a gourmet meal in a VITeepee before you settle into a heated outdoor seat to witness the greatest show on Earth. Or head out on an aurora photography tour with Sundog Adventures. It doesn’t get much better than this. spectacularnwt.com
In July 2020, Shinjuku will be at the centre of the Olympic Games. Often referred to as the Times Square of Tokyo, the area’s new National Stadium is undergoing a $1.26-billion rebuild for the upcoming Summer Games. This city within a city is known for its skyscrapers and flashy billboards and its wide range of attractions, which include the charming winding alleys in the micro-neighbourhood of Golden Gai with its more than 200 bars and restaurants, the ever-popular Robot Restaurant featuring cabaret-style shows, Yayoi Kusama Museum and live jazz performances and whisky tasting at the Park Hyatt’s New York Bar. olympic.org/Tokyo-2020
Cuba is gearing up for its 2019/20 tourism season with a number of luxury resorts, resulting in 4,200 new hotel rooms ready to welcome tourists from Canada and around the world. In Havana, head to the new five-star urban resorts—Iberostar Grand Hotel Packard, Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana or the Sofitel Prado Malecón—to celebrate the city’s 500th anniversary with music, live performances and revelry. In Cayo Cruz, two new hotels include the Valentin Cayo Cruz and the Hotel Marina & Spa Cayo Cruz. In Holguín, the new five-star Iberostar Albatros Guardalavaca is an ideal choice. In Cayo Guillermo, the luxurious Cayo Guillermo Resort Kempinski features 245 rooms and suites, including six over-water villas. Nearby in Playa Playuelas, MGM Gran Muthu Rainbow Hotel was created for the LGBT community. GoCuba.ca
Following a three-year expansion project, the Musée Ingres has reopened its 19th-century building in Montauban, the birthplace of the French neoclassical painter Jean-August-Dominique Ingres. Situated in the heart of southwest France, this flagship of French culture houses an exceptional collection of the master’s paintings and drawings, the largest outside of the Louvre Museum in Paris. In 2019/20, the museum will showcase four expositions: Dans l’atelier d’Ingres, from December 14, 2019 to June 7, 2020; Constellation Ingres Bourdelle, from December 14 to June 7; Un site très convoité, du château comtal au musée du XXIe siècle: le musée Ingres Bourdelle, from December 14 to June 7; and L’oeil de la machine 2019/Miguel Chevalier, from December 14, 2019 to December 15, 2020. museeingresbourdelle.com
