Tagged With "Canadian dollar"
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Re: Antarctica, part 3. Antarctica Rocks!
Hi Kirsten, Behind in my emails, but did want you to know that the last of your series on Celebrating Nature went live today. I want to personally thank you so very much for sharing your tremendous talents with our audience. I enjoyed reading -- and learned a lot -- from your posts and greatly enjoyed your wonderful photography! I'm sure many others did, too. If you have more material you'd like to post on TravelGumbo in the coming months, it would be our pleasure to host it. Hope you had a...
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Re: Belfast: An Uneasy City
Human conflicts always go deeper than face value. To make sense of each case it's necessary to "Follow the Dollar". Religious Freedom motivates the masses. Financing conflicts produces great wealth for the few.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 10, 2013: Banff and the Bow River Valley
Is there a list somewhere of these UNESCO World Heritage Sites ? What are the criteria for inclusion ?
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 10, 2013: Banff and the Bow River Valley
If you hadn't asked, I wouldn't have known! So, from UNESCO's website, here's the word: T he World Heritage List includes 981 properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value. These include 759 cultural, 193 natural and 29 mixed properties in160 States Parties. As of September 2012, 190 States Parties have ratified the World Heritage Convention. Here's a LINK to more info, including the list.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 10, 2013: Banff and the Bow River Valley
There are a lot of fabulous places to visit. I need to get busy. The list is handily sorted by countries. I will bookmark this and consult it when planning a trip to a particular country or region. Thanks for the information.
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,
England is only as big as Florida ! I haven't seen a Guide book that sub-divides us! Wales is full of Castles, Mountains and Lakes. Tourists often divide England between the North and South. The North is often cooler and wetter than further South. But your Dollar will go twice as far up here in the North! And we're much friendlier. Have a look at places you'd like to visit. York (the old one) will keep you busy for 2 days. Train or Bus from Liverpool. Or a day or two in Europe from Liverpool...
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Re: Whom did you say was flying this plane?
It just compromises passenger safety for extra profit ! It would make flights cheaper. But you and I wouldn't see the savings ! Airlines have shown they would squeeze you dry into a bucket for another Dollar ! Ooops ! Sorry, They already do that.
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Re: Up, Up and Away: Airline miles cards with big bonuses
I have a Delta American Express Platinum card that has served us well. The fee is higher than the gold card, but we can check two bags free, priority boarding, and a free companion pass yearly. We fly two or three times a year and the value of the waived baggage fee and the companion pass far exceed the $150 annual fee. The card also accrues one mile for each dollar spent and lately has offered cash back incentives. For example: spend $15 at Panera's using the card and receive $5 credit on...
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Re: Two Canadian airlines expand their reach
The Westjet expansion is most welcome to Canadians. The planes will be opening Gatwick, which I don't think Air Canada flies to. Porter flies just small aircraft, but is very popular in the Toronto area.
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Re: A visit to Waterton National Park
I love the pictures, Roderick. Part of what makes Waterton so special are its many wild animals. Almost like going on safari in America! I'm especially fond of the little bear. He looks so very lost without his mother. Hope you didn't get between her and the little one! And thanks for your first contribution to Travelgumbo!
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Re: U.S. on track to record for overseas visitors
It's really amazing because the US dollar has done so well in 2014 compared to most currencies . I'm not surprised at all that Japanese tourists to the US decreased after the hit the Yen been taking, but i guess thats been more than made up in increased travel from travelers from Brazil,Mexico and China
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, July 30, 2015: Spirit Island
I know what you mean. Maligne Lake is a beautiful area to see and the tour out to Spirit Island is certainly worth it. One of the most notable things about the lake is the colour of the water itself that is due to being glacier fed. Up there this past June and was treated to a young moose feeding along the water near the boat launch and then two young black bears dining along the cutline just off the main road. Chatted with a family from Washington DC and a young German couple. They were...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, July 30, 2015: Spirit Island
Thanks for sharing this great image, Vagabond! I recall standing on the very spot and enjoying the same view, although it was cloudy on my travel day. A good first contribution to TravelGumbo! Hope there's more to follow.
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Re: Traveling to Europe soon? It may pay to prepay...
I do think it's a good year to add Europe. And with cheap airfares available now for spring and summer all the more reason Another currency that has has dropped compared to the US dollar recently is the Canadian Dollar. http://www.theglobeandmail.com...air/article22446079/
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Re: Thinking Cuba? Tickets not so easy yet!
Mac. Cuba has already changed since my first visit 15 years ago. Buses and cars are everywhere now thanks to those intrepid Chinese salesmen. Living standards are rising rapidly thanks to the tourist dollar. Fields of Sugar Cane are now rare. Castro has decided that Cuba's future lies in tourism. Bicycles prevail in most Towns and a horse and buggy are common. When I first went to Cuba it was painfully poor. It's like going back in time to a 3rd world country. But with safety and very civil,...
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Re: Dollar Strength Making World Travel Cheaper for Americans
Of course there is a corollary to this story. While a strong dollar may be good for American travelers going abroad, it's bad for American businesses. Foreign travelers will have to pay proportionately more to travel to the USA, and will be looking to go elsewhere where their Euros and pounds and ruppees will go farther. Less visitors, less revenues, less jobs, less good for the USA economy.
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Re: Do Airlines offer the Best Loyalty Rewards Programs?
Agreed, especially if you are clever enough to find a great back door to use your points the way you like. I think the point of the video was that your hotel gives you a lot more for the money you spend there than airlines do. I use a generic rewards card in Canada that builds up a dollar amount of bonus. I buy the hotel, flight, car rental I want and the money is returned to me. That way it's simple and easy.
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Re: March 28, 2019: World's Largest Airplane Weathervane, Whitehorse
Awesome Capturing This airline is really big and amazing to see.
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Re: Poutine at the Canadian Potato Museum Restaurant
That looks like tasty poutine! Filling, isn't it?
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Re: Poutine at the Canadian Potato Museum Restaurant
It was very good! Thanks for sharing it with me, Rob.
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Re: Exploring the Baltic Coast. 1) Poland
Thank you for this. Poland really is wonderful and the people are some of the most generous in the world. I spent some time there in the 1980's, and at that time a tourist, could live on a dollar a day, although the government forced tourists to exchange more. Even though it was so cheap for me, my Polish friends insisted on paying and life there for them was expensive.
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Re: Survey: U.S. is 2016's top vacation destination
I'm a little surprised that there's so much interest in the USA given the relative strength of the US dollar currently. But it is regarded as a fairly safe place to go and airfares are cheap now, so that may be the driving force behind this.
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Re: Weaker 'loonie' good and bad news for Canada travel
With the fall especially of oil prices (and other natural resources, which Canada is a major producer of), the loonie has indeed fallen compared to the US dollar but kept its relative value with most other currencies, including the pound and Euro. It seems despite a reasonably healthy economic profile, including until recently an almost balanced federal budget and low debt-to-GDP ratio, the value of the Canadian dollar is pegged to its natural resource valuation. With the pullback in the...
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Re: Have you a reservation, sir? Thailand considers selling tickets to country!
I think this idea will backfire. A dollar or so a day fee will not discourage anyone from visiting as a sex tourist. A $16 fee might discourage some from even visiting the kingdom. So the sex tourists will likely still fly in for their weekend jaunts. Good serious tourists, say young backpackers on a budget, might be offended by the extra fee and bypass Thailand for one of its neighbors.
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Re: Saguenay Fjord — Deep and Long but not very Tall
Thanks for this one! I was last in that area as a teenager, 50 years ago, treated to a steamer ride from Quebec with my uncles. We spent part of a day going up the Saguenay, and then stayed a few days at the Manoir Richelieux...a very ritzy resort surrounded by poor farmers. The whole trip was full of beautiful sights.
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Re: Saguenay Fjord — Deep and Long but not very Tall
Thanks for your note, Pheymont! Glad it brought back some good memories. The scenery is beautiful, like much of the Canadian Shield, with the added benefit of all those maple trees. I hope to get there in September again to enjoy the fall colors and hopefully to see some of those whales migrating. I have to admit that I had my heart set on seeing whales this trip and did spot even one. We were there in early June, which was just too early.
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Re: Where Gumbo Was #13. Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, British Columbia
Hehe thank you for the praises i'm so proud Beautful mountains by the way
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Re: Where Gumbo Was #13. Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, British Columbia
It is beautiful. I thought it was Lake Louise.
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Re: Where Gumbo Was #13. Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, British Columbia
Similar, but different. Some photos of Lake Louise and the Plain of Six Glaciers hike, one of my favorites.
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Re: Takakkaw Falls, Yoho National Park, British Columbia
I certainly remember these falls and this area with fond memories.
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Re: Takakkaw Falls, Yoho National Park, British Columbia
LestertheInvestor -- If you look closely at the photo of the four shadows in the river, you may recognize one of them as yours!
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Re: Takakkaw Falls, Yoho National Park, British Columbia
Really good quality photos DrF. I love looking at frozen landscapes - on a screen ! Your words about reflection jogged my memory. Ever been walking through a store and see someone you think you recognise in the distance ? And as you get closer you realise its a mirror you're walking towards ! My wife says I need glasses - but its OK - I stop before I get into a conversation !
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, July 22, 2014: Columbia Icefields, Alberta
Great photos Dr Y. Is this an all year tourist resort or would I freeze to death in winter ? I presume this remains sub zero all year due to its elevation. Does it contain any wildlife ? Is it receding with warmer weather ? We see pictures of areas where glacier ice is disappearing but there are areas we don't see where it's on the increase. I remember being taught about shifting ice regions in the 1950's and all this alarmist talk today seems to be just a continuation of normality.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, July 22, 2014: Columbia Icefields, Alberta
Hi Garry, if you came in the mid of Canadian winter, the glacier ice field will look no difference to rest of the country . So, walk on the glacier ice under the hot summer sun is much more thrill! Yes, during last visit, we were told that the Columbia Ice Field glacier is receding.
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Re: Delta: Cheap inflight WiFi for Smartphones
It seems to me the smart thing for all the airlines to do would be to offer free wifi for any device, any flight, any distance. Southwest has stood out from the crowd by continuing to offer a free checked bag when others haven't and have gained loyalty as a result. May it continue. I understand that baggage fees have added a huge amount to the bottom lines but brand loyalty is worth a lot too. By giving away a $2 item and thereby correcting the notion, to a certain degree, that airlines mean...
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More Frequent Flier changes in the air
The world of award travel and elite perks continues to shake and shift. Delta, which like United, has switched for next year to awarding flight miles based not on distance but on price paid for ticket—a move that hurts many frequent...
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Saguenay Fjord — Deep and Long but not very Tall
I’d heard as a schoolboy that the Saguenay Fjord was one of the longest in the world. Years later someone told me the area around Tadoussac was pretty, sparsely developed and inviting. Given a spare day or...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 10, 2013: Banff and the Bow River Valley
The Canadian Rockies are noted for their jagged peaks, many of which are snow-capped even in summer. Much of the natural beauty of the area has been saved by their incorporation in a series of national and provincial parks, including Banff National...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 23, 2013: Sunset, Banff National Park, Alberta
(Sunset over Mt. Rundle and Canmore, Banff National Park) It's sweet to be in just the right place at just the right time! The Canadian Rockies are known for their beautiful rugged peaks, hanging glaciers, turquoise lakes and...
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Dollar Strength Making World Travel Cheaper for Americans
A stronger US Dollar has reduced costs for Americans in much of Europe,Japan,India, Australia and many more places. The Euro on Monday was at it's lowest against the Dollar since 2006. Read More:...
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Traveling to Europe soon? It may pay to prepay...
If you're traveling to Europe in the next few months and can be reasonably sure of your plans, this may be a good time to prepay some of your expenses such as rent, car rental (especially since most agencies offer a prepay discount). the reason? The...
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Ecuador Spends 3.8 Million for a Super Bowl Ad
Ecuador becomes the first foreign country to have a tourism commercial on during the Super Bowl.The Ecuadorian Ambassador Nathalie Cely states that if Ecuador gets just a one percentage increase in American travelers, it will pay for the...
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Booking.com Changes as Travelers Change : Interview With Stuart Frisby
One of the biggest stories in travel over the last 20 years has been the growth of accommodation website, Booking.com. It was founded by a computer scientist, Geert-Jan Bruinsma in 1996 and is based in Amsterdam. Priceline bought Booking.com in 2005...
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U.S. bad weather, strong dollar = big bonus for Mexico tourism
A north-of-the-border 1-2-3 combination of severe weather, cheaper gas and a strong dollar have meant a booming tourist season south of the border, as Mexico is seeing more U.S. tourists than usual, with more money than recently to spend. ...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, June 22, 2015: Rocky Mountain Sunset
For travelers like me who love mountains, the Canadian Rockies are about as good as it gets. One evening I was driving to Calgary from the Crowsnest Pass in southwestern Alberta, along highway 22x, the beautiful Cowboy Trail. The Cowboy...
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Euro Keeps Dropping.Is Parity With US Dollar Next?
The Euro reached a 12 year low today vs the US Dollar at $1.0850 . It was as high as $1.40 just last May. Spring breaks and Summer trips to Europe for Americans will be much cheaper. Read More:...
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Making Lemonade, cont.: US $ and Norway cruises
The stronger U.S. dollar versus European currencies (see previous Gumbo news items on the Euro) changes the picture a bit for U.S. travelers to the most expensive countries, and Norway's Hurtigruten Voyages, which operates cruise ships along Norway's...
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Delta's Cutting International Seats. Will United and American Follow?
Delta is cutting seats for their international routes next winter by 3 percent. A strong dollar and regions that are feeling the decline in oil prices are the markets mainly affected. Service to Africa, Brazil ,India,Japan and the Middle East are...
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Visiting Cuba pt 2. + more cars !
EXPLORING CUBA (Missed pt 1 ?..... http://www.travelgumbo.com/blog/visiting-cuba ) Getting about in Cuba varies dramatically. In the populated areas they have regular buses. Out in the countryside you'll have to take a taxi or go on an...
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Disneyland Shanghai Delays Opening
It was announced by Disney's CEO that the 5.5 billion dollar Disneyland Shanghai will now open Spring of 2016. It was scheduled to open late 2015. Disneyland Shanghai is a joint venture between the Chinese State owned Shanghai...