These cruises are going to be rare ones, Holland America fans. So get ready to book before they fill up.
25.02.2024 - 21:53 / lonelyplanet.com / Art
Cobblestone streets, citadels and canons perched atop fortress walls are unexpected sights in North America – but you can find all of that and more in Québec City.
The capital of French Canada, Québec City is known for its 400+ years of colonial history, and yet the only walled city north of Mexico also has a young lifeblood. From wild festivals to bars with live music, a spectacular waterfall to an illuminated night walk showcasing Indigenous history, here are the best things to do in Québec City.
Sure, Old Québec is where the tourists go, and the 19th-century Fairmont Le Château Frontenac Hotel is probably one of the most photographed accommodations on earth, but you simply can’t visit Québec City and skip the UNESCO-recognized old town – it’s far too beautiful.
Bigger and older than Montréal’s old town, Vieux Québec has an upper and a lower portion. Old Upper Town includes the Le Château Frontenac and Dufferin Terrace, where canons above an archeological crypt deter any would-be hordes. If you're around in winter, slide down Les Glissades de la Terrasse, which has been hosting toboggan rides for nearly 150 years.
Old Lower Town is more charming, and perfect for a winding meander. Strolling the streets sounds simple, until you’re enticed by charming artisanal boutiques and splurge-worthy restaurants like Le Lapin Sauté, a restaurant starring rabbit meat.
Québec is the highest-taxed province in Canada, but it uses some of those funds to support the arts, including incredible festivals year round.
In July, Festival d’Été is a nine-day festival with stages across the city, including on the Plains of Abraham, where a 1759 battle between France and England decided the fate of North America. Comparatively speaking, Festival d’Été hosts artists from around the world at an affordable price – for instance, 2023's full festival pass costs $140 and gave access to all eleven days of music.
Come February, Québec’s Bonhomme opens its arms wide to travelers at Winter Carnaval, the world’s oldest winter carnival. Yes, it gets cold, but you’ll keep warm skating, dancing in night parades or sipping Caribou – a traditional boozy punch.
Canada's national dish is poutine – squeaky cheese curds and gravy dumped over golden-brown fries – and you’ll find it on pretty much any menu in town. If you ask around, you’ll probably get plenty of recommendations to try Chez Gaston, a no-frills traditional casse-croute (takeaway) in the Saint-Roch neighborhood, but in a pinch, Québec City’s version of McDonald’s, Chez Ashton, is open 24 hours and has locations around the city.
Quebeckers love a good charcuterie setup as much as anyone in France, so provisions won't be hard to come by. Grab some local cheeses, sausages, wine and a baguette
These cruises are going to be rare ones, Holland America fans. So get ready to book before they fill up.
Last September, my husband and I left our kids with their grandparents and set off to Ireland. Our $2,132 itinerary took us from Minneapolis to Toronto to Dublin on tickets booked on United Airlines through Expedia but ultimately operated by Air Canada, a United partner. We had boarded our connecting flight in Toronto (and I was already dozing in my seat) when the captain announced an operator had crashed the jet bridge into the starboard engine. We were given hotel vouchers and told we would be rebooked for the next day. Checkout time came and went without a word, so we went to the airport and were told to call Air Canada customer service. An agent booked us a flight for that evening, and we printed out boarding passes at an airport kiosk. But when we tried to board, we were told the boarding passes were invalid. Eventually, we were offered two options for the next day: Fly to Dublin via Newark, or return to Minneapolis. We cut our losses and went home after staying the night in Toronto at a hotel. But United refunded us only $1,087, barely half of what we paid. Air Canada did reimburse us for the second hotel and other expenses, but we believe the airlines owe us not only a full refund, but also 400 Canadian each ($295 apiece) under Canadian law for denied boarding. Both refused. Can you help?
How to Travel Better is a monthly column with Condé Nast Traveller’s sustainability editor Juliet Kinsman. In this series, Juliet introduces us to the sustainability heroes she meets, signposts the experiences that are enhancing our world, and shares the little and big ways we can all travel better.
Let's assume you're planning a trip to Europe and want to include a visit to the United Kingdom. Should you plan to visit London at the start, in the middle or at the end of your trip? Does it even matter?
Madalyn Monto grew up outside New York City and knew she'd live there one day.
France was the most visited country in the world in 2023. Its capital, Paris, sits comfortably at the top of the league table of most desirable places to visit – a position that will only be strengthened when the city hosts the 2024 Olympics this summer. But away from tourist magnets such as the Eiffel Tower, Disneyland Paris and the teeming beaches of the Cote d’Azur, there are still plenty of places where you can experience “la France profonde”.
For the period of the Olympic Games in 2024, flight bookings, not just searches, to Paris are up 125% compared to the same travel period last year.
The city’s timeless charm provides a perfect backdrop for every traveler seeking a unique experience. So, pack your bags, explore the journey, and let the city weave its magic.
Finding the lowest price for a flight can be challenging, but one airline has a somewhat hidden tool to help travelers snag the best deal. JetBlue has a section of their website with a fare calendar that displays flight prices in grid view between an origin and destination airport, helping travelers plan a vacation to get the lowest cost airfare. The tool, called "Best Fare Finder," is located under the «Book» tab on JetBlue’s homepage. The page allows passengers to select how many children and adults will be traveling, whether they would like to pay in cash or TrueBlue miles, and then choose the desired destination from any airport. For example, the price of a flight ticket from New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Orlando International Airport (MCO) in April 2024 varies widely. If a traveler booked it for April 18, they would pay $259, but if they can wait six days later, the price drops to only $70. The Best Fare Finder provides all of the prices in the calendar view.
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When you first look through the airplane window and down at the Azores, you’ll be left speechless. From this very first glimpse, you’ll understand why many call this Portuguese archipelago the “Hawaii of Europe” and the “Islands of Colors.”
Travel experienced a boom in 2023, with visitor numbers in many hotspot destinations returning to pre-pandemic levels.