2016 | The Great Canadian Travel Co.

STAFF PICKS

August 21, 2024 | Pearl McCallum

It is August 2024.  Since the return of travel in early 2022 following the Covid-19 pandemic, airlines have faced staff shortages, strike action (actual and threatened), tightening regulations, and higher operating costs.  These conditions, in addition to the challenges of regular operations, can seriously affect an airline’s level of service.  …

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March 14, 2023 | Pearl McCallum

We want to paint a picture for you.   Imagine you’re at a gathering with friends and acquaintances. It’s a fairly large group, let’s say around 15-20 people. Just as you begin to get hungry, someone brings out a large, layered cake. It’s smothered in rich, chocolate buttercream frosting – …

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June 29, 2022 | Lois Farley

Way back in 2017 I wrote a blog in recognition of Canada Day; 50 Great Things Canada Contributed to the World. Since I wrote that blog I’ve been studying about the Indigenous peoples who have lived on this land we now call Canada for millennia – the First Nations and …

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March 17, 2022 | Lois Farley

Saint Patrick’s Day brings Ireland and all things Irish to a lot of people’s minds. And, those of us lucky enough to be Irish or are of Irish descent, particularly so! My ancestors on both sides of my family emigrated to Canada from Ireland back in the mid to late …

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March 1, 2022 | Allison Silvaggio

There are so many things that we miss when it comes to travel, such as exploring new places, trying new things and meeting new people.  What I miss the most, are those extremely peaceful moments where you can just take it all in.  Whether you are enjoying a beautiful hike, …

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2016 Newsletters

December 08, 2016 | GCTG Marketing

December 2016, issue 12 – Season’s Greetings

November 2016, issue 11 – Some Like it Hot

October 2016, issue 10 – Land of Fire and Ice

September 2016, issue 9 – I Dream of Africa

August 2016, issue 8.5 – In Search of Northern Lights

August 2016, issue 8 – Cruising Down the River

July 2016, issue 7 – All Hands on Deck

June 2016, issue 6 – Walk a Mile in My Shoes

May 2016, issue 5 – Whiskey, Wine and Wildlife

April 2016, issue 4 – Now’s the Time to Explore Canada

March 2016, issue 3 – Experience it All on An Expedition Cruise

February 2016, issue 2.5 – International Polar Bear Day

February 2016, issue 2 – Go North Young Man (and Young Woman)!

January 2016, issue 1 – Where in the World Do You Want to Go?

Antigua Winter Getaway

November 22, 2016 | Karen Pearson

In March of this year, I went to Antigua for the first time and I absolutely loved it.

I first spent three nights at Verandah Resort and Spa. It was a wonderful resort with many activities that are all part of the all-inclusive package. I was able to try many activities I normally would not have the opportunity to try here in the prairies, such as wind-surfing, stand-up paddle boards, and sailing a catamaran. I was terrible at all of these but that was certainly not the fault of Andrew, the extremely patient and capable instructor. The service from the rest of the staff was excellent, and the food was very good. I loved that the accommodations are mainly duplexes, because it feels more like private residences or cabins than a hotel complex. Read More >

Beautiful Belize

November 21, 2016 | Lois Farley

As a former British colony, the Central American country of Belize has a unique history.  Although having gained independence in 1981, English remains the official language, easing navigation for North American tourists.

The country is known for diving; the Belize Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts over 100 000 tourists each year.  Additional attractions include Mayan ruins, eco adventures such as ziplining and cave tubing, and of course tropical beaches.  The capital, Belize City, is home to museums and cultural events, including the annual Street Art Festival.  Belize is a popular stop for cruise ships, which is how my family came to visit.

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Dual Canadian Citizens Need a Valid Canadian Passport

October 20, 2016 | Martha Banias

If you are a dual Canadian citizen used to travelling to or transiting through Canada by air with a non-Canadian passport, you will no longer be able to do so as of November 10, 2016. You will need a valid Canadian passport to board your flight coming back to Canada.

If your country of origin needs you to enter and exit that country using a passport issued by its government, you will still need a valid Canadian passport to board your flight to Canada. Make sure to carry both passports when you travel.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/dual-canadian-citizens.asp#background

Iceland Blue Lagoon Spa Day

October 14, 2016 | Ian Kalinowsky

Wheels up in Winnipeg at 2:45pm, down in Toronto long enough to have some dinner, then 4 hours and 50 minutes later we landed at Keflavik International Airport in Iceland. With black lava fields all around it felt a bit like I think it might feel to land on the moon!

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San Bushmen of the Kalahari

October 13, 2016 | Margot Kalinowsky

What can one learn from walking in another’s shoes (or in this case, bare feet)? More than I could have ever imagined!!! When in the Deception Valley area of Botswana with my husband and our two teenage sons, we were fortunate enough to spend the day trekking through the Kalahari  Desert with a fascinating father and son team from the local indigenous San Tribe.
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Food Glorious Food Iceland Style!

October 11, 2016 | Ian Kalinowsky

What’s the food like in Iceland? We get asked that a lot.  I had the good fortune to sample a variety of local, Icelandic foods during my week here with my family.  It was fresh, a lot local and organic, innovative and all delicious!

One of my favourite eateries in Reykjavik is the Tapas Restaurant. A 16 year old restaurant set in a cave-like setting it’s warm with the right amount of lighting and is very quiet despite being full of people. An amazing group of the most attentive staff on the planet! Great service and the managers knew absolutely every single ingredient in every dish of an extensive menu.

Serrano with fresh figs and chilled honey       Puffin* with blueberry sauce and nuts

*I’m sorry – I know puffins are cute!  But, they’re also plentiful (by the millions here in Iceland in the summer) and are a popular food in the Nordic countries.

Tapas – small dishes served when perfectly done. The three of us shared 10 dishes in total and were full by meal’s end. 10 dishes, 4 glasses of house red, a beer and our bill was ISK21,200 (about US$190/CA$250), which we felt was very good value.

And how could we not try the iconic Icelandic pylsur (hot dog), made mostly from fresh, organic, Icelandic lamb mixed with a bit of pork and beef.  The casing is natural, giving the hot dog a nice “snap” when you bite into it.  Order “ein með öllu” (roughly pronounced “ane meth alt) and you’ll get one with the works – a hot dog in a soft, steamed bun topped with raw white onions, crispy fried onions, ketchup, sweet brown mustard called pylsusinnep and remoulade, a delicious, creamy sauce made with mayonnaise, capers, mustard, and herbs. You can choose to leave off some of the toppings, but we’d recommend you try “one with everything”, just like the Icelanders do!

Food, glorious food, Icelandic style!

Remarkable Reykjavik

October 05, 2016 | Ian Kalinowsky

I had the good fortune to stay for a week in the remarkable, capital city of Reykjavik with my wife Margot and our son David.

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Thanks to Elfa Bjork, manager of one of the apartment properties we use for our clients, we stayed in a beautiful, centrally located, two-bedroom apartment. Read More >

Scuba Diving and Snorkelling, Silfra, Thingvellir National Park, Iceland

October 04, 2016 | Ian Kalinowsky

I had a few extra days before and after a conference I was attending in Iceland so my wife, Margot and one of our sons, David, decided to come along for a vacation in this amazing country.

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On October 2nd, David and I went scuba diving and Margot went snorkelling and experienced the clearest water in the world.  We were diving in a rift between the North American and European tectonic plates in Thingevillir Park, at a dive site named Silfra. Read More >

Northern Lights or Fireworks?

August 19, 2016 | Shauna Cook

It could be both! New Year’s Eve in Reykjavík and, indeed, throughout Iceland, is a crackerjack of a holiday!

If you would like to go somewhere special for New Year’s but also want to do some Northern Lights hunting, look no further.  Think Iceland!

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