Central London luggage check-in

Full baggage check-in facilities are now available at London’s Paddington Station for those using the high-speed Heathrow Express rail service. With check-in facilities open from 5am to 9pm daily, passengers on more than 20 airlines can check their luggage in central London and be issued boarding passes before they head for the airport. The Heathrow Express leaves Paddington every 15 minutes and takes 15 minutes to reach Heathrow.

Vail discounts

Vail Resorts, owners and operators of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, and Keystone resorts in Colorado, have introduced discounted international ticket pricing. Vail Resorts lowered the price and increased the flexibility of ‘The Colorado Ticket’, good for unlimited skiing at all four resorts next winter. In Canada, the Colorado Ticket is sold through Air Canada Vacations and Rocky Mountain Tours.

Hotel award

The Radisson Suite Hotel Toronto Airport was recently honoured with a President’s Award making it one of the top properties in the Radisson Hotels Worldwide system.

Airline drops meal surcharge

Canada 3000 recently dropped its controversial policy of charging for special meal requests. Although some passengers were in favour of the move if it kept fares down, the policy was criticized by religious groups and those who needed special meals because of medical reasons.

Sunquest cruise changes

Sunquest’s revised cruise brochure includes a new itinerary and reduced rates for the ‘Carousel’. Originally based in Calica, near Cancun, and departing Saturdays, the Carousel Tequila Sunrise itinerary will now depart Cozumel on Sundays between December 5 and April 9. Scheduled stops include Puerto Cortes in Honduras, Roatan Bay Island, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, and Calica. Prices have been reduced up to $300 on all departures, and early booking bonus prices are still offered for cruises booked by September 30. Space on the Christmas and New Year’s sailing is still available.

Sandals offer

Until further notice, Sandals and Beaches Resorts are offering complimentary basic WeddingMoon packages for all new bookings. This offer is valid for stays of five nights or longer in all room categories at any Sandals or Beaches resort excluding Beaches Varadero. Basic WeddingMoon packages include the services of a personal wedding coordinator,minister/registrar/justice-of-the-peace, preparation of all documentation, wedding reception, and more.

Irish family holidays

Sunquest Vacations is offering special charters to Ireland over Christmas and New Year. Skyservice aircraft will fly from Toronto to Dublin/Shannon on December 20 returning Tuesday, January 4, 2000. The cost is C$899. Also available is the Dublin/Shannon to Toronto flight on December 21, returning Monday, January 3 to Ireland for C$799. Taxes and service charges are extra. Special rates apply for seniors and children; a $250 deposit is required at the time of booking.

More e-tickets

Air Canada expanded its electronic ticketing service to include Antigua, Barbados, Kingston, Montego Bay, Nassau, Port-au-Prince, Port of Spain, and St. Lucia. Since introducing electronic ticketing in 1995, Air Canada has expanded it to include virtually all of its North American network, as well as London Heathrow, Frankfurt, and Bermuda.

ThinkPad testing

Air Canada and IBM Canada have launched the IBM ThinkPad Test Flight Program whereby Air Canada Executive First and Executive Class passengers get to try out the IBM ThinkPad 570 note-book PC on selected flights. The one-inch thick, four-pound notebooks are available until October 5 to Executive First and Executive Class customers on selected long-haul flights within Canada and on Vancouver-Hong Kong flights. The notebooks will be pre-loaded with a selection of application software and games. Those who test the notebooks will be entered in a draw when they fill out a questionnaire.

Personalized Bermuda

Bermuda is using new technology to engage potential visitors. Within minutes of hanging up the phone, Internet-connected 1-800-BERMUDA callers receive a personalized ‘weblet’ giving specific and detailed information on hotels, activities, and interests based on the information given by guests to the call centre.

‘SASY’ in the Caymans

A new invention enables children as young as four to enjoy the underwater world of the Cayman Islands. The system, known as SASY or Supplied Air Snorkelling for Youth, consists of a ‘pony’ air tank, small regulator, and buoyancy vest that prevents submersion. No experience is necessary just a short instruction on ‘the basics’. Eliminating the need for a snorkel, SASY allows children to float along the surface, under the careful eye of certified dive instructors, while their parents dive below them. SASY is offered through Red Sail Sports and Bob Soto’s Diving.

Raising funds for Cystic Fibrosis

Royal Airlines donated 50 tickets to the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for fundraising purposes. In addition, as of May 1999, the airline has distributed ‘Change for a Cure’ envelopes on all their flights, requesting passengers to donate foreign coins or notes towards the search for a cure.

Business as usual on BA

British Airways was officially given the highest ‘blue’ rating and is certified to be on track for ‘business as usual’ during the critical millennium period. The assessment forms part of the work commissioned by the CAA for the UK National Infrastructure Forum to ascertain the readiness of providers of essential services in the U.K. Bookings for the year 2000 are at an all-time high with more than half a million bookings already taken - a 150 per cent increase over last year.

Two for one

Malaysia Airlines, in cooperation with American Express Platinum Card, is offering a complimentary companion ticket to cardholders who purchase a full-fare First or Business Class ticket. The promotion on Malaysia Airlines applies to two passengers travelling on the same itinerary from the same North America gateway located in either Los Angeles or Newark. Travel must take place during the program’s timeframe through to April 30, 2000.

Jamaican film festival

Jamaica’s first ever film festival, the Jamerican Film & Music Festival, ‘Cinema Inna Yard’, will take place November 17-21 in Montego Bay at the luxurious Wyndham Rose Hall Resort. Travel arrangements can be made through Air Jamaica. For a full line-up on Jamaica’s calendar of events, visit their Web site at www.jamaicatravel.com

Hilton stampedes into Calgary

The 135-room Hilton Garden Inn Calgary Airport represents Canada’s first Hilton Garden Inn hotel as well as the first Hilton hotel to open in the city. The hotel is the second newly constructed Hilton to open in Western Canada, the first being the 237-suite Hilton Vancouver Airport. Call (800) HILTONS.

Cunard’s cruising line-up

Cunard’s Year 2000 brochures are out. Among the cruise line’s exciting itineraries are the QE2’s 104-day World Cruise as well as the Cape Town Line Voyages between Southampton and Cape Town, South Africa on the Caronia and the QE2. Cunard’s early booking plans save you from 5 to 20 per cent on cruises.

Save on a Bahamas getaway

Through December 15, 1999, American Express cardholders can save US$75 on a three-night vacation and $150 on a four-night or longer vacation when they book their Bahamas Getaway. Call (888) 414-8747 or visit them at www.bahamas.com.

Skip winter this year

Qantas Vacations’ new brochure ‘Australia Long Stay Vacations’ presents cost-effective trips to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Long-stay vacations last for a month or more and cost as little as $89 per day. Accommodations are three-and four-star apartment-style properties that offer a full range of features. Call (900) 268-7525 or check out their site at www.qantasvacations.com

Mont-Tremblant luxury

Located on the shores of Lac Ouimet, less than three kilometres from Tremblant Resort, Le Grand Lodge du Lac Ouimet is a 4-star hotel with 112 full suites, complete with kitchens, stone fireplaces, and balconies with panoramic views of the lake. Facilities include a luxurious dining room, an indoor/outdoor café, a children’s centre, a spa, an indoor pool, a whirlpool, and an outdoor hot tub. Swimming, sailing, biking, rollerblading, hiking, tennis, and golf are just a few of the outdoor activities available. Nightly rates for two start at $115; children under 14 stay free. Call (800) 567-6763.

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