VirtuosoWeek top ten | Canada on sale

Shangri-La Vancouver

Ourisman Travel is back from Virtuoso Travel Week. Here's is the first of our "top ten" takeaways from this years #VirtuosoWeek: Canada is on sale! One USD (greenback) is currently worth 1.28 CAD (loonie). This is a 40% discount from where things stood one year ago.

Great news for U.S. citizens wanting to travel north of the 49th parallel ... and it also makes Canada the perfect destination for U.K. or European citizens in shock over the current value of the pound sterling and the Euro. Here are our top ideas for visiting Canada this summer, fall, or winter:

Fogo Island Inn. This resort was one of my top ten takeaways from the 2014 Travel Week, and it's a stunning, all-inclusive resort on a small island in Newfoundland. Virtuoso guests receive a $100 USD hotel credit in addition to everything that's already included.

Vancouver is one of my favorite cities in the world, with great Virtuoso hotels (including the Shangri-La pictured above), fine dining, and a climate suited for year-round active travel. You can bike or hike to your heart's content. Walk across the Capilano Suspension Bridge, visit the Archeological Museum at UBC, shop at Granville Market, or take a seaplane to Vancouver Island and visit the Buchart Gardens.

Quebec City's Christmas Markets. You don't have to travel to Germany to experience Old World Christmas Markets. Less than a two hours from New York, less than three hours from Chicago... it's a wonderful weekend getaway with two Virtuoso hotels ready to offer their five-star hospitality.

Montreal's shopping and dining. On parle français ici. The largest city in the provence of Quebec, Canada's francophone province, Montreal offers visitor great shopping and dining opportunities, including three Michelin-starred restaurants.

Wine Tasting at Niagra Falls. There are 50 wineries dotting the shores of Lake Ontario, and we can arrange wine tours of this not-yet-discovered wine region.

copyright (c) 2016 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Shangri-La Vancouver | boutique luxury

I am writing this from my Corner Executive Balcony Room at the 119-room Shangri-La Vancouver. As beautiful as the picture is, it doesn't begin to capture the spaciousness and features of this room. My first impression upon entering was of the dramatic floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall picture window on the wall opposite the bed (much, much larger than the window beside the bed pictured above). The view of downtown Vancouver was incredible.

Opposite the "bedroom" half of the room is an equally large sitting area with sofa and easy chair. The room features a desk with ports for complimentary broadband internet access, a USB charging dock, a printer port, and power sources. It is equipped with a Sony LCD flat screen television, DVD player, and electronic controls for the lights, sheers, and curtains. There is a large walk-in closet and a great bathroom - and even a small television in the bathroom mirror.

The Shangri-La Vancouver occupies the first 15 floors of this contemporary Vancouver skyscraper. On the third floor is MARKET by Jean-George, an outstanding restaurant with signature dishes from his other restaurants as well as unique offerings that utilize the fresh ingredients available in British Columbia; it was full on Tuesday evening when I dined there, so do make reservations. Floor Five features Chi, a beautiful spa (again, reserve your time in advance), as well as a health club and outdoor rooftop pool and jacuzzi.

Upscale travelers who want luxurious accommodations in a downtown location will enjoy their stay at the Shangri-La Vancouver. As a member of Virtuoso, the Shangri-La offers exclusive amenities to guests who book through a Virtuoso travel consultant — a daily Deluxe Breakfast for two at MARKET by Jean-George; Afternoon Tea for two, once during your stay; and a room upgrade if available at check-in.

Shangri-La Vancouver (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2010 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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