News that has caught Chris' eye in the Travel World

Travelling to the US will cost more (14 February, 2018)

Canadians travel to the States in huge numbers – making almost ten times the number of trips to the US, compared to the next most popular country, which is Mexico. So, it should be big news when government actions increase the costs of Canadians travelling to their favourite country. But amidst everything else going on south of the border, the tax increases on travellers contained in the Trump Administration’s $4.4 trillion budget proposal seem to have been largely overlooked…

In the proposals that the administration sent to Congress last Monday, the White House identified three travel security-related fees and taxes that it wants to see increased. All these taxes are charged both on entry and exit from the US.

The budget calls for a 47% increase in the passenger security fee by 2020 to $8.25 from the current $5.60. Although this is called a security fee, Congress diverts approximately one-third of the revenue for items totally unrelated to security.

The budget also calls for an increase in the customs inspection fee, which is assessed as part of air and cruise ticket prices for people arriving in the U.S.  This is targeted to rise by 37%, from $5.65 to $7.75.

Finally, the budget calls for a 29% hike in the immigration fee, also assessed upon ticketing for air and cruise passengers to the U.S., from $7 to $9. The proposal includes putting an end to an existing exemption on that fee for passengers arriving via sea from Canada.

All this seems very much counter to the Trump Administration’s much vaunted tax reduction claims…more like robbing Peter to pay Paul. Also contained in the budget proposal was more bad news for travellers in the US. The White House is calling for cuts of nearly 40% to federal subsidies for small-community air service and over 50% to long-distance Amtrak rail service. It also makes explicit its support for privatization of U.S. air traffic control.

Trends in Small Ship Cruising (7 February, 2018)

In the realm of cruise ships, bigger isn’t always better. Cruise ships carrying thousands of people have monopolized the headlines in cruising in recent years. But there's also been a boom in small ships, river cruises and expedition cruising on ships designed to sail to places bigger vessels cannot reach. 

New river ships are launching this year from AmaWaterways, Avalon and Crystal Cruises. New expedition ships are on their way from Ponant and Scenic. And Viking is coming out with its fifth ocean-going ship this year.

The experience of sailing on a ship that carries a few hundred people is very different from the experience of cruising on a ship so big that it's practically a floating city with dozens of eateries and water parks with massive slides.

Smaller ships may be more understated in style, with a casual elegance that's in stark contrast to the glitzy Vegas-style decor so often a hallmark of the bigger ships. Or if they're expedition ships with a focus on rugged adventures to see wildlife and scenery - as I experienced recently in the Galapagos and covered on the Travel Show - the ships may have fewer creature comforts onboard but a more compelling experience on land than you'd get in a typical port of call.

And smaller scale doesn't preclude smaller ships, especially the newer ones, from offering special features. For instance, Ponant is launching a new ship this year, with a lounge beneath the water line of the ship which will have two windows and digital screens showing images from underwater cameras; it will also transmit underwater sounds and vibrations.

A ship coming out next year from AmaWaterways will have a built-in expedition platform for watersports, making it easy for guests to use paddleboards, Zodiacs or kayaks. The new Scenic Eclipse even has amenities which include helicopters and a submarine for guest use.  So…if mega-ship cruising isn’t for you…take a look at the newest trends in small ship cruising…but be prepared to pay a little more.

E-Visas for Brazil (January 31, 2018)

Ticking Rio off your bucket list has gotten a little easier for Canadians, thanks to the launch of an electronic visa initiative by the Brazilian government. It means Canadian travellers can now obtain travel authorization to enter Brazil by completing a simple online application form. The Brazil Online Visa is valid for two consecutive years and allows Canadian tourists to enter Brazil for periods of up to 90 days.

Prior to this, it was necessary for applicants to travel to the Brazilian embassy or consulate to fill out the application from, which can now be done from home in a matter of minutes. The online application involves entering some basic personal information and answering some simple questions.

You need to have a valid Canadian passport (with a minimum of eight months remaining from the date of arrival), a credit or debit card to pay for the visa, and an e-mail address to receive the e-Visa.  Processing of the applications takes five working days. Following approval, the Brazil e-Visa is sent to you by e-mail in PDF format and you can then print the e-Visa at home. Simple. The website to go to is www.Brazilevisas.com.