April 2010

OTTAWA — Canada’s Transport Minister John Baird announced on April 7 that effective Thursday, April 8, airline passengers who are travelling to the United States from Canada will be permitted to bring two carry-on bags and one personal item.

“The Government of Canada is unwavering in our commitment to implement the most effective measures possible for a safe and secure aviation system, while upholding a level of comfort and convenience for air travellers,” said Baird. “With more robust air security measures in place for passengers, we are able to remove the temporary carry-on baggage restrictions put into place following the December terrorist attack.”

Following the December 25, 2009 terrorist attack on a flight headed to Detroit, the Government of Canada announced carry-on baggage restrictions for flights to the U.S. in response to newly implemented U.S. security measures.

In addition, the Government of Canada announced new measures to bolster Canada’s aviation system including the introduction of new full body scanners, strengthening explosive trace  detection, announcing its intention to develop a passenger behaviour observation program, and new funding to enhance aviation security in Budget 2010.

Passengers are reminded to check with the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (www.catsa.gc.ca) or their airline for items that are allowed in carry-on luggage.

Porter Airlines is significantly expanding its service on the key Toronto-Montreal and Toronto-Ottawa Eastern Triangle routes, offering up to 84 combined daily flights.

Flights between Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and Montreal Trudeau Airport will grow to 46 daily trips from the current peak of 28. On the Toronto City Airport-Ottawa route, flight frequency increases to 38 daily trips from 34. The majority of flights will operate every 40 minutes on the Montreal route and every hour on the Ottawa route. These changes take full effect May 5.

Effective May 1, 2010, Air Canada (excluding Jazz) is transitioning to credit card only cabins for all flights where OnBoard Café or Duty-free Boutique products are sold. Paying for your on-board purchases will now be as easy as one swipe of your major credit card.

If on-board credit card payment is not an option for you, and you’re travelling on a flight of 2 hours or more that does not include complimentary meal service, you can purchase prepaid OnBoard Café vouchers online at any time up to 1 hour before your flight (provided you have not already checked in), and redeem them on board for light meals, snacks and alcoholic beverages. And remember that complimentary non alcoholic beverages are always available on board our flights.

Pre-purchase options and savings:

If onboard credit card payment is not an option, you may be able to:

...pre-purchase Onboard Café vouchers and save up to 20%!
Save up to 20% when you purchase OnBoard Café vouchers online at any time up to one (1) hour prior to your eligible flight's departure (provided you have not already checked in). A voucher code appears on your boarding card and is redeemable for light meals, snacks or alcoholic beverages during the flight.

...pre-purchase Duty-Free online...
Select from the wide range of leading brands available in our Duty-free Boutique catalogue and place your order at any time up to 96 hours before your eligible international flight.

Accepted Credit Cards:

OnBoard Café: All onboard purchases of food, alcoholic beverages and headsets will be payable only with Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit cards.

Duty-free Boutique: We will accept only Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and Japanese Credit Bureau credit cards for on-board duty-free purchases.

Debit cards and pre-paid gift cards are not accepted for payment on board Air Canada and Jazz flights.

You can stay at a select Walt Disney World Resort hotel and save up to 30%  with special room-only rates.

Just add Theme Park tickets to take advantage of all the summer fun, including the return of Main Street Electrical Parade, which is now more dazzling than ever.

You can save 30% off the non-discounted price when you stay at select Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts for stays most nights May 2 - Aug. 14, 2010. Plus, there are more great savings at other resort categories.

But hurry, you must book by August 14, 2010!

Call your Vision 2000 consultant today

Last week this was our most popular article...so we've got a new list, the same crack team of Vision 2000 agents and maybe, just maybe a new monthly column in the making.

Last month was scariest airport codes featuring Mafia Airport, Tanzania and Rifle Airport, USA.

This month we are featuring the weirdest airport codes we could find...and here they are:

1. Batman Airport (BAL) Turkey
   
2. Useless Loop Airport (USL), Australia
   
3. Black Tickle Airport (YBI), Canada
   
4. Beaver Creek Airport (YXP), Canada
   
5. Moron Airport (OZP), Spain
   
6. Ogle Airport (OGL), Guyana
   
7. Eek Airport (EEK), USA
   
8. Pickle Lake Airport (YPJ), Canada
   
9. Deadhorse Airport (SCC), USA
   

Spring is here and Avis is offering up to 20% savings on European rentals of 3 or more days.
Book by June 4, 2010 for rentals commencing between April 12 and June 30, 2010. Blackout dates apply.

Great springtime savings—just another way Avis tries harder.

Terms and Conditions: To take advantage of this offer, Avis Worldwide Discount number (AWD) # D808300 must be used at time of reservation. Offer is available for U.S. and Canadian residents only at the following participating locations in Europe: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Reservations must be made on or before June 4, 2010 for rentals commencing between April 12 and June 30, 2010. Rentals in France only must be completed between April 26 and June 13, 2010. Blackout dates only apply to rentals in Norway between June 15 and 30, 2010. Minimum rental length of 3 days applies. Taxes, optional items and other surcharges may apply. Renter must meet Avis age, driver and credit requirements. Minimum age may vary by location and an additional daily surcharge may apply for renters under 25 years old. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotional offer, discount or AWD. Offer is subject to availability and subject to change without notice.

The Government of Cuba decided last February 16, that all travelers, foreign and Cubans living abroad, coming to the
island from May 1, 2010 and thereafter shall take out a medical insurance policy.

To meet such requirement, travelers shall have a travel insurance which covers medical expenses or a policy for medical expenses with coverage in Cuba.

The insurance policy should be taken out at the home country of departure.  Travelers, who, exceptionally, do not have insurance at arrival, could take out a policy of insurance and assistance from Cuban insurance companies at the airport, port or marina.

For additional details, please consult the Embassy of Cuba in Canada.

On March 29, the STM introduced a new bus service, the 747 Express.

Featuring nine stops in each direction, the 747 service will be provided 24 hours a day, 365 days a year between Montréal’s central bus terminal (Berri-UQAM metro station) and Montréal-Trudeau airport.

Highly anticipated, this shuttle service should fulfill the expectations of airport employees and of the countless people travelling between downtown and Montréal-Trudeau airport.

Buses on the 747 route are equipped with three luggage racks for the convenience of travellers. The $7 fare is payable in cash aboard the bus. It also provides travellers with a transit pass valid on the STM bus and metro network for the next 24 hours.

Other public transit fares can also be used for the express service, at no additional cost, including regular and reduced fare weekly and monthly CAM cards, 1-day and 3-day passes, and monthly TRAM cards, for zones 1 to 8.

For more information, click here

Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth - Montreal

The Beaver Club’s Famous Banana Bread:

Ingredients for two loaves
(20cm x 10cm x 71/2cm)

• 500 gr bananas, peeled and very ripe
• 450 gr sugar
• 450 gr flour
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup of oil
• 1 cup of buttermilk
• 5 teaspoons of baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 275F and place the rack in the middle
2. Line the loaf pans with butter and flour
3. Combine the bananas, sugar, baking soda and salt and blend at high speed in an electric blender for one minute
4. Pour the mixture into a bowl and mix in the eggs one at a time
5. Then mix in the flour alternately, the buttermilk and the oil and beat the mixture for two minutes or until smooth and well blended
6. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pans and bake for 21/2 hours

Fairmont Scottsdale introduced a first of it’s kind summer camp available to resort guests and in 2010, they are going one step further with the announcement of the new, year-round National Geographic Explorers Camp for kids in an exclusive partnership with National Geographic. This is the second year Fairmont Scottsdale and National Geographic are partnering up to bring the camp exclusively for overnight guests of the resort.

The year-round National Geographic Explorers Camp will launch May 29, 2010 and is filled with fun, discovery- based activities for children ages 5-12 including photo safaris, navigating with a GPS to discover desert creatures and meeting real-life adventurers who have discovered new species and traveled to the ends of the Earth.

To really enjoy the Explorers Camp this summer, the Fairmont Scottsdale is offering this incredible package!

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

One (1) night accommodations in a Fairmont room Up to three (3) half-day Explorers Camp passes Complimentary National Geographic breakfast for up to three (3) children in LV Bistro

AVAILABILITY:

This incredible package is available for booking now through September 6, 2010 for travel between May 1 through September 6, 2010.

RATES:

Rates start at $189 per room, per night

Kids ages 3-9 stay and play FREE* when you purchase a 4-night, 5-day Magic Your Way vacation packageat a select Disney Value Resort at the Walt Disney World® Resort for stays most nights May 2 - June 3, 2010.

This Walt Disney Travel Company package includes accommodations at a select Disney Value Resort and Walt Disney World Resort theme park tickets.

Booking between April 8 - May 8, 2010

Travel between May 2 - June 3, 2010

Best Price starting at $499 per adult 
based on adult double occupancy for this 4-night, 5-day Magic Your Way Package, at a select Disney Value Resort in a standard room for stays most nights May 2 - June 3, 2010.

Ask about other select Walt Disney World Resort hotels and packages for other lengths of stay.

*The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Tickets valid for one Theme Park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use. Child must stay in same room with adult. Maximum of four Guests per room. No group rates or other discounts apply. Advance reservations required.