Vacation season is upon us!

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PrivatePilot said:
In related news, my wife and I are still at a loss about what to do with our 2 weeks this year now. The discussion of going out to BC and spending it there however has come up a few times however. Found out today in another "Canadians looking for Canadian things to do" thread elsewhere that BC Ferries runs 3-5 day cruises up the BC coast - whoda thunk it. Not quite sure that'll be our bag (it's a lot different than a traditional cruise), but it's something to keep in mind. We might just rent a motorcycle or something and tour, or rent a motorhome and wander, who knows. If we do opt for BC, I do want to get out to Haida Gwaii however, it's been a bucket list location for a long time, and I'd like to get some tattoo work done by a Haida first nations artist out there.
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My sis lived in Klemtu for a while and they have a spirit bear lodge if that's something you would find interesting. Or highly boring...

A ride out to Bella Coola and then taking the ferry south to Port Hardy has been on my wish list for a while as well - almost did it in 2020, but Bella Coola wasn't allowing tourists in during Covid, so I had to ride to Victoria instead.

In the news, BC ferries is having some problem with their vessels, so check into that before committing.
 
In DR now. Meh. It's fine. Food is acceptable but not exciting.

Most of Cuba is a hard no for my wife. A friend went and died on vacation largely due to inability to access competent medical care. If you are close to a major urban centre, hopefully things are better.
 
PrivatePilot said:
I know a lot of Canadian tour companies and TA's stopped booking Cuba a few months back because of the electrical grid problems and an overall complete absence of available food in some areas apparently - people were being fed basically thin and basic sandwiches for 3 meals a day in some cases I'd read. We sailed within sight of Cuba on our last cruise this past December and large swaths of the island were still in the dark where there should have been light.

My wife and I still favour cruising vs All-In's however as there's just so much more to do on a ship and all the ports - I like to keep busy, and floating around in a pool or sitting in a chair would bore the **** out of me, unlimited free booze or otherwise. Yeah, pool toys/water toys, meh, I still don't think I could do a week.

As for cruising, we have a deposit on a January 2024 Royal Caribbean cruise out of Florida that we'd booked before the Fuhror went full potato down south, so I'll be giving some serious thought about just walking away from that deposit if the rest of the year goes as sour as the last few weeks have. A lot of Canadians are looking for Non-US based cruise lines and MSC is coming up quite a lot in discussion as they are not USA parented whatsoever - a lot of mixed reviews on their ships, but honestly, a cruise is what you choose to make of it in many cases, so if things stay sour in the USA, we'll fly overseas somewhere and give them a shot. If they're smart, they'll launch some 10-15 day cruises out of eastern Canada that just skip the USA entirely.
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The key to consistently enjoying all inclusive is to break up the week. Every other day do an excursion or rent a driver/car and go see something. Sitting on a beach staring at the same endless ocean while sucking back Old Fashioned's gets old quick.
 
I avoid all ins for that very reason , needing to spend a day at a pool bar got old decades back . My other challenge for me , they often get built so far from anything , except the resort next door ,so a walk is next to impossible .

I did Machu pichu few years back with G Tours . Would highly recommend.
I go to a walk in clinc in Burlington on upper middle and appleby , he has a map on the wall and you point to where your going and he gets you the shots . Some need to be twenty or thirty day apart ( or did ) so best get on that if going offshore .


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We did a few all inclusive but always at good snorkel sites. Cuba you could get good snorkeling right off the beach - 100m swim to a decent reef - spend the day snorkeling.
We enjoyed Cuba, liked the people, felt very safe - 1 week we spent vegging in the resort the next week rented a car and wandered.
I'm sure it is changed now but damn there were a lot Canadians there. They even had a Terry Fox run while we were there.

We did a few cruises, Alaska, Baltic/Atlantic again value for money - places we could not afford to go individually. All NCL and liked the dining set up - mix of all inclusive and for pay
 
ToSlow said:
What shots are you getting? I still need to get my shots for Africa
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We went to the local travel medicine clinic.
So far DPT + Polio, MMRTT, Shingrix, Prevnar, Yellow Fever, with more to come plus something for Malaria and Diarrhea. Planning on Rabies which is optional. I’m 65 so some of them are free. Best to check with a travel medicine clinic, our nurse is very knowledgeable and her kids have travelled all over the world, including where we’re going. They do charge per visit, I think it was $45.
Edit: Going back for my Hep, Shingrix & Rabies, maybe more, like flu, Covid and that other respiratory one.
 
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Evoex said:
Every other day do an excursion or rent a driver/car and go see something
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Problem is that some areas aren't always safe to go off the property, ie some areas in Mexico. I'd rather not go wandering and end up in some cartel nonsense, or in a bad area of town where the "rich tourists in that rental car" look appealing. I know that's not everywhere, but it's also a legit concern in many areas.

Anyhow, seems that the US congress isn't all onboard with the tarrifs situation. This is a really good read to get some insight on cracks forming on the USA side on that topic.


Even if your're not into the CBC, don't trash the source, just go read it... it's just the facts.

It's funny that they're worried about a 10% drop in Canadian tourism, saying it'll cost their economy $2 billion, with 14,000 job losses. I've got really bad news for them, but I don't think it's an "If" anymore, and that number is already going to be a lot bigger than 10%. And that's just Canada - they've managed to piss off the entire world now. US tourism is about to experience their very own FAFO moment.
 
PrivatePilot said:
Problem is that some areas aren't always safe to go off the property, ie some areas in Mexico. I'd rather not go wandering and end up in some cartel nonsense, or in a bad area of town where the "rich tourists in that rental car" look appealing. I know that's not everywhere, but it's also a legit concern in many areas.

Anyhow, seems that the US congress isn't all onboard with the tarrifs situation. This is a really good read to get some insight on cracks forming on the USA side on that topic.


Even if your're not into the CBC, don't trash the source, just go read it... it's just the facts.

It's funny that they're worried about a 10% drop in Canadian tourism, saying it'll cost their economy $2 billion, with 14,000 job losses. I've got really bad news for them, but I don't think it's an "If" anymore, and that number is already going to be a lot bigger than 10%. And that's just Canada - they've managed to piss off the entire world now. US tourism is about to experience their very own FAFO moment.
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Jamaica.
 
keep the boycott on boil.
She cited an estimate from the U.S. Travel Association that a 10 per cent drop in Canadian travel would cost the American economy over $2 billion US in lost spending and 14,000 jobs; a similar drop from Mexico would double that damage.
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come enjoy Sydney

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Our travel agent called to suggest looking at cruises leaving from US ports , allegedly CNDs are cancelling cruises leaving from American ports to avoid going through the US . Then I read snowbirds have posted property for sale at an alarming rate . The thousands that flock to AZ / Cali and FLA that “ won’t go” will leave excellent value for those that don’t care . Dollar still sucks but ok…


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Sis and BIL are spending their last winter in AZ. They're getting on, but trump sped up the process some.
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