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Canada

19 festive events to get you into the holiday spirit

‘Tis the season to put on your biggest scarf and soak in the holiday season with a warm glass of mulled wine. To help you get into the holiday spirit, we’ve rounded up our favourite events from across North America that will fill you with joy. From Christmas markets to festive dinners to the best spots to snap a photo with Santa – here are 18 holiday events for you to explore. Willard InterContinental Washington D.C. The Willard’s nightly caroling program now include a wide array of highly accomplished choral and vocal ensembles from around the D.C. metropolitan area. Between December 1 and December 23, city dwellers and visitors alike can enjoy the sounds of the season with complimentary, nightly chorale performances from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m in the hotel lobby. The annual holiday gingerbread display at the Willard InterContinental will also be unveiled on November 29 in the…

England

How to dine and shop in London over Christmas

There is nothing more magical than seeing London lit up by Christmas lights and decorated for the holidays. Every inch of London is covered in tinsel and twinkling with lights. When visiting London, you will never be short on things to do or places to visit. Start off your morning with a delicious brunch, shop the day away in one of the unique neighbourhoods and end your evening with a night cap at one of the many cocktail bars. Brunch Brunch is likely the best meal ever invented. It has the warm comforts of breakfast food but at a time that is manageable after a busy weekend. Next time you’re visiting jolly  ol’England, be sure to include these bunch spots to start your morning off right. The Albion Café Located on the main floor of The Boundary Hotel, The Albion Café, Bakery and Food Store is a one stop shop…

Travel News

Swoop Introduces FlyDay Fares for Extra Savings

Tomorrow Swoop will debut a new weekly feature on its website aimed to stimulate travel to new destinations while easing the cost of booking during the advertised period. FlyDay Fares are sale-fares released on the airline’s website every Friday at 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. MST. The markets offered vary from week-to-week but share the commonality of providing great value. “FlyDay Fares are a fun way to play with spontaneous travel,” said Karen McIsaac, Senior Advisor of Communications at Swoop. “Let the weekly sale determine which city you will explore next or check back every Friday for a sale-fare on that certain trip you’ve been planning. The weekends just got a little more Swooper.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Swoop (@flyswoop) on Oct 29, 2018 at 8:30am PDT FlyDay Fares are available to view and book on FlySwoop.com. Travellers can choose to check back…

British Columbia

There are 2 days left to buy your Epic Pass to ski around the world

Attention all ski lovers, snowboard fanatics and snow bunnies – if you haven’t bought your Epic Pass for Whistler Blackcomb, you’re going to watch to jump online and do so ASAP! Ending on Sunday November 18th, the Epic Pass offers skiers and snowboarders unlimited, unrestricted access to 19 mountain resorts, including world-class destinations like Whistler Blackcomb, Vail, Breckenridge and Park City, plus additional access to 46 more throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, France, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Whistler Blackcomb (@whistlerblackcomb) on Nov 13, 2018 at 12:09pm PST The Epic Pass is valid in Canada at Whistler Blackcomb, Fernie Alpine Resort, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort and Kimberley Alpine Resort in British Columbia, Nakiska in Alberta, and Mont-Sainte Anne and Stoneham in Quebec. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mont-Sainte-Anne (@montsainteanne) on Nov 10,…

Travel Tips

CONTEST: Get the chance to see #My7WorldWonders with Exodus Travel

Exodus Travels is kicking-off #My7WorldWonders, a once-in-a-lifetime contest offering aspiring travellers the chance to see the world’s wonders their way. From being captivated by the Northern Lights dancing over Iceland’s snow-capped mountains, spotting India’s elusive Bengal Tiger in the wilderness, and marvelling at the mysterious moai of Easter Island  – three lucky winners will have the incredible opportunity to see all 7 of their personal World Wonders on 7 awe-inspiring trips with Exodus Travels. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Exodus Travels (@exodustravels) on Jul 4, 2018 at 3:22am PDT The #My7WorldWonders contest runs in the United States and Canada from Oct 10, 2018 until January 15, 2019. To enter, simply visit www.my7worldwonders.com, complete the online entry form by selecting 7 personalized World Wonders from the video content and submit. After entering the contest, each entrant will receive a short, personalized video based on the trips…

Canada

How to Explore Niagara Wine Country By Bike

Just a quick jaunt from your downtown Toronto condo, Niagara-on-the-Lake is a delightful area of the province boasting some of the best wine made in not only Ontario but Canada. This region Niagara region spans miles and miles along the QEW, so depending on how long you have in the area, and your mode of transportation, I suggest mapping out the wineries you’ll be visiting in advance. Here are five wineries you should visit during your next trip to Niagara. 1. Between the Lines Winery  You’ll notice as you read through my suggestions that I prefer smaller, more boutique vineyards. While the larger ones have their value, I find it is the smaller ones that give you the chance to meet the winemakers and explore the vines. For awhile now, Between the Lines Winery has been one of my favourite spots in the Niagara because they have a delightful…

Caribbean

Swoop launches a new low-cost route to Jamaica

Today Swoop announced Montego Bay, Jamaica as its first Caribbean sun-destination. Twice weekly service from John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM) to Sangster International Airport (MBJ) begins December 16, 2018, through to April 24, 2019. Flights are now available for booking through to April 24, 2019. Service Between Service starts Service Offered Frequency Hamilton and Montego Bay, JM December 16, 2018 Wed, Sun 2x weekly Swoop is the first Canadian ultra-low-cost carrier to provide sun-service from Canada to the U.S. and Caribbean, with the addition of Montego Bay complementing the five U.S destinations that were announced with the winter schedule release on August 2, 2018. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Swoop (@flyswoop) on Sep 12, 2018 at 8:54am PDT

Design

Maggie Gyllenhaal joins together with Autograph Collection Hotels to Celebrate Female Filmmakers

Autograph Collection Hotels transformed the always-buzzed-about Mongrel House at TIFF this year and hosted cocktails to celebrate Maggie Gyllenhaal  as newly-appointed Independent Film Advisor for the Brand’s Indie Film Project.  The venue feature pop-up interactive displays that represented the unique properties part of the Autograph Collection Hotels all over Canada. From a gin tasting at The Douglas (Vancouver) to a beautiful golf course display for The Algonquin (St. Andrews by-the-Sea), visitors were transported to their properties from coast to coast. For this year’s program, which focuses on female screenwriters, Maggie was personally inspired by Virginia Woolf’s famed feminist 1929 essay “A Room of One’s Own,” which argues the importance of literal and figurative space that women writers need within a literary tradition dominated by men. Industry insiders gathered to celebrate the ‘the next class’ of female screenwriters adding their voices to the industry with Maggie Gyllenhaal — Sarah Jane Inwards (Jellyfish Summer), Amanda Idoko (Breaking News In Yuba County) and Chiara Towne (V.I.N.) — all of whom were selected by Maggie personally from The Black…

Design

Here are all the items the stars are coveting this year at TIFF

Every year, the best and brightest of the film industry flock to Toronto to debut their works at the Toronto International Film Festival. But one of the more glamorous parts of this festival, aside from the red carpets, is the gifting lounges where the celebs get the chance to take a peak and take home some of the newest and most innovative items on the market. To help you feel like an A-lister, here are some of the best items to help you get through the festival this year. 1. Keds from The Essentials Lounge 9 Running from screening to press conference, a new pair of Keds will be your bff during TIFF looking chic in their new styles (don’t you just LOVE their latest collab with Riffle Paper Co.?!?) but also comfy as you run down King St. West. 2. House of Hayla from Bask-It Style As you’re switching from day to…

Mexico

This resort in Mexico wants to pay you $120,000 to vacation for a year

Vidanta wants to hire you for the World’s Best Job! Boasting an impressive hotel portfolio located along some of the most coveted beaches in Mexico including Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, Acapulco, Puerto Peñasco, and Puerto Vallarta, Vidanta is looking for a brand ambassador to leave the office life behind and make some of Mexico’s most stunning resorts their new workplace. Days will be spent acting as Vidanta’s on-location social influencer, gathering content by experiencing all of the comfort, relaxation, adventure and luxury they have to offer. The “World’s Best Jobwor” will come with an attractive one-year salary of $120,000 USD plus travel expenses, dining credit at each of the resorts, and resort accommodations at Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta, the most expansive of all Vidanta destinations set on over 2,500 acres and comprised of five resort hotel brands, including the Five-Diamond Grand Luxxe. Once selected, the candidate will go through an extensive employee…