Ireland Takes Centre Stage For St. Patrick's Day, Plus NYC News And More

While St. Patrick's Day is approaching, Air Transat presents its best offers to travel to Ireland and invites Canadians to discover all shades of green of this destination. Ireland has everything: windswept cliffs and undulating green hills, cozy pubs and friendly people. And thanks to Air Transat, it will be easily accessible between May and October from Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver.

Flights to Ireland: options abound

During peak summer season, Air Transat will be offering five direct flights between Toronto and Dublin, also accessible from Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver thanks to the airline's connecting flights program.

An incomparable flying experience

All Ireland-bound passengers are in for an unparallelled inflight experience with Air Transat, named the World's Best Leisure Airline in 2018. The cabin comfort, complimentary hot meals, including in Economy Class, personal entertainment system accessible via individual touch screens or Air Transat's Cineplus A mobile app, as well as an attentive crew are just some of the reasons why flying Air Transat is so enjoyable. Passengers in Club Class benefit from an exclusive cabin with spacious and comfortable seats, in addition to two checked bags, various priority services and a gourmet menu by Daniel Vézina.

Ireland Travel Tips

To find out more about other travellers' take on Ireland, readers are invited to check out Experience Transat, a blog by and for globetrotters eager to explore new places. On the blog, everyone can read about A Stunning Road Trip through Northern Ireland, Cliffs of Moher and Other Stunning Landscapes of Ireland, 9 Irish Restaurants to Visit in Dublin, and much more!

For all details on Air Transat's best offers to travel to Ireland, visit www.airtransat.com or Get Connected.

Dublin captures the attention of the world on St. Patrick's Day, but with 69% of today's clients seeking an experience that takes them beyond the tourist track, travel's most awarded brand, Trafalgar, the world leader in travel for over 72 years, looks at the Emerald Isle to celebrate how tourism can be a force for good and support local communities.

"The tourism sector has immense opportunity and power to stimulate economic activity, which delivers jobs, sense of purpose and participation. By encouraging dispersal and year-round travel, this helps communities outside of the main centres - sites of cultural significance and history - to remain thriving," says Trafalgar's Global CEO, Gavin Tollman.

"We pride ourselves on offering unique opportunities for clients to connect with the real Ireland - and they love that when they travel with us, they can see the tangible impact their visits are making in lesser-known destinations while enjoying the richest possible travel experience," he said.

With 14 unique itineraries and counting, Ireland continues to be one of the brand's most popular destinations with Canadian guests returning time and time again. While the wild landscapes, energetic cities, characters and plenty of craic fulfil plenty Irish travel dreams, it's the brand's inclusion of alternative destinations and experiences that offer a different travel experience Trafalgar constantly seeking out new, immersive experiences that encourage tourism dispersal that benefits local communities.

Celebrating 10 years of their exclusive Be My Guest experiences in 2019 is another way Trafalgar supports tourism dispersal, where visits help to sustain the upkeep of historic properties, preserve cultures and local stories.

Always #AgentsFirst, with Trafalgar, agents can be reassured that customers travel with confidence, enjoying deposit guarantees, definite departures on 2019 Ireland trips, more choice and the world's best deals.

St. Patrick's Day has arrived, bringing with it the traditional tales of Irish folklore about shamrocks, leprechauns, and of course, Saint Patrick. The celebration, dating back as far as the ninth and tenth century, is no longer reserved exclusively for the Irish, with people around the world joining in the festivities featuring all things green from green beer to head-to-toe green garb. Insight Vacations, the global leader of premium escorted journeys is inviting clients to celebrate by "wetting the shamrock" and embarking on an immersive journey through the Emerald Isle.

Below are the Top Seven Insight Experiences clients can enjoy as they discover Ireland's insights, not just the sights:

Ashford Castle

County Antrim

Giant's Causeway

Ring of Kerry

Trinity College

Cliffs of Moher

Guinness Storehouse

For more information, contact your District Sales Manager or call Insight Vacations at 1-800-582-8380

New York City has been named the best city in the world as part of a recent survey of travellers and experts.

According to TimeOut.com, the global magazine and Tapestry Research teamed to develop the Time Out Index 2019, which used responses from almost 34,000 anonymous travelers and the opinions of editors and experts to create the list.

Will Gleason from Time Out New York revealed the city took the top spot due to its "ongoing diverse and accepting vibes," as well as a unique culture and unparalleled eating and drinking options.

The city has more reasons to celebrate today, as the massive Hudson Yards project officially opened. s been buzzing with activity and construction. Located on the Hudson River, Hudson Yards will include five acres of gardens and public plazas on its Eastern Yard. The Public Square and Gardens at Hudson Yards is designed to become a new gathering place for Manhattan's West Side. At the center of the square will sit Vessel, a new kind of public landmark: social, engaging and interactive, meant to be entered and explored. Vessel is comprised of 154 intricately interconnecting flights of stairs-almost 2,500 individual steps-and 80 landings. This larger-than-life art piece will be New York City's next public landmark. The Shed, the cultural centrepiece of this new city within the City, opens its doors on April 5. The adaptive, rolling space, which has drawn accolades for its architecturally daring design, will host a broad slate of arts programming.

Bequia Beach Hotel, a family-owned upscale resort on the idyllic island of Bequia in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, kicks off its milestone 10th anniversary year with the unveil of new offerings and experiences. Bequia Beach Hotel announces the debut of a new four-bedroom villa, ultra luxurious superyacht programming, and a new executive chef who will lead the resort's culinary team. As part of a year-long celebration, a special 15% commission incentive will be applied to travel agent bookings throughout 2019.

STAR OF THE SEA

New for the 2019 season, Bequia Beach Hotel guests have luxury at their fingertips with Star of the Sea, the property's 114-foot Italian-built superyacht. Star of the Sea can accommodate up to 12 guests for private charters, and up to 50 guests for events such as cocktail parties and 20 for sunset cruises.

NEW RESORT ACCOMMODATIONS:

The Palm Villa is Bequia Beach Hotel's newest luxury accommodation. Featuring four bedrooms, a separate living room and kitchen, this private villa has its own large swimming pool and sundeck, and is set back in lush gardens ensuring total privacy. Rates start at $750 USD per night based on double occupancy, including full breakfast.

INCREASED AIR ACCESS:

The island of Bequia is reached from North America via Barbados or St Lucia, with daily connections to London, New York, Toronto, Miami etc. SVG Air operates scheduled shared and private charters to Bequia - all bookable via the hotel. American Airlines announced nonstop flights from Miami to St. Vincent; Caribbean Airlines flies direct from New York; Air Canada has seasonal direct service from Toronto to St. Vincent.

CULINARY TEAM EXPANSION:

Chef Nils-Bertil Hansson recently joined Bequia Beach Hotel as Executive Chef. A seasoned Swedish culinarian, Hansson oversees the hotel's dining venues, including signature beachside restaurant, Bagatelle. Hansson works hand-in-hand with the resort's talented locally trained chefs to infuse new techniques that complement their skills, passion and creativity.

It's bound to be the most memorable trip of 2020 (or a lifetime): author of the No. 1 New York Times-bestselling OUTLANDER series Diana Gabaldon is exclusively hosting a NEW Author Cruise on the Rhine River with Avalon Waterways, giving fans the chance to get insider OUTLANDER insight with their favourite author for a week in June of 2020.

"Diana Gabaldon has added to the storytelling tapestry of our lives while also inspiring travel with her literature," said Pam Hoffee, managing director of Avalon Waterways. "In her OUTLANDER series of novels and novellas - now an award-winning series on W Network - she has brought to life the backdrops of Scotland, North America, France, Germany as well as dozens of destinations across the globe. On the June 9, 2020 departure of Avalon's Romantic Rhine Author Cruise with Diana Gabaldon from Basel to Amsterdam, this inspiring storyteller will share an inspired cruise - and daily excursions - with an intimate group of her fans."

A MAGICAL JOURNEY: From the German Black Forest of fairy tales to the historic canals of Amsterdam, Avalon Waterways and Diana Gabaldon invite travellers to savour the magic of the Rhine River. This week-long vacation on board the Avalon Expression (with a capacity of just 166 passengers) delivers cruisers to the heart of Europe to explore towns and cities along the Rhine River while they enjoy panoramic views and spectacular, castle-lined backdrops day and night.

Also new for 2020 is themed cruise Reflections on the Seine for Photography Enthusiasts hosted by Brenda Tharp, photography veteran and co-author of EXTRAORDINARY EVERYDAY PHOTOGRAPHY.

United Airlines will begin twice-daily flights between Toronto and San Francisco beginning March 31. Both are non-stops, giving Canadians another easy way to get to northern California.

What to do:

Immeasurably iconic, the two-day San Francisco PrideFest June 29-30 is the largest gathering of the LGBT community and allies in the nation. The celebration features parades, creative and colourful costumes, live entertainment and directly supports local non-profit LGBT organizations. Expect live performances, this August 9-11, Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival is San Francisco's best celebration of music, craft beer and wine, and food. Must-see acts this summer include The Weeknd, Janet Jackson, N.E.R.D., Odesza, Florence and The Machine, Future, Janelle Monae, and many more.

Where to stay:

As the top-rated healthiest city in the United States for 2019, San Francisco is home to like-minded hotels for the wellness state of mind. Check in at the Stanford Court hotel, located atop Nob Hill along the famous cable car line. Enjoy Blix electric bikes and Peloton bikes in the updated fitness centre or check in to one of their newly launched wellness suites - dubbed "Urban Sanctuaries" - complete with yoga mats, meditation cushions and more. Alternatively, stay nearby Union Square at the hipster and art-focused Tilden Hotel, where they've partnered with SF-based app Simple Habit to provide guests with complimentary access to a 500+ guided meditations and exercises. Emphasizing community, the hotel features a newly updated backyard space open to the public, and regularly rotates the lobby art with works available for purchase from local San Francisco artists.

Norwegian Cruise Line, the innovator in global cruise travel with a 52-year history of breaking boundaries, today unveiled the Norwegian Cruise Line Giving Joy campaign, developed to recognize and reward educators in the U.S. and Canada.

In advance of Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6-10, 2019) and the North American debut of the cruise line's 15th ship, Norwegian Joy, the company is leveraging the ship's heartwarming name for a compelling campaign that acknowledges and celebrates the intersection of travel and education by honouring deserving teachers that are doing the most to bring joy to their students.

"Travel is a powerful means of education," said Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. "It brings people closer to each other and to diverse cultures around the world. It promotes awareness and understanding...it broadens perspectives. Through our Norwegian Cruise Line Giving Joy campaign, we celebrate the power of education and travel, and reward teachers who have taken responsibility for our future, our children, and who lean into that responsibility with all they've got."

Norwegian Cruise Line's Giving Joy campaign runs from March 12 to April 12, 2019. The company is asking for nominations of certified or accredited teachers in the U.S. and Canada who are inspiring joy in the classroom. The 15 teachers with the most votes will win a seven-day cruise for two. They will also be provided airfare and accommodations for an award ceremony taking place in Seattle on May 3, 2019, where they will have the chance to win $15,000 for their school.

To nominate a favourite teacher, to vote and for terms and conditions, please visit nclgivingjoy.com.

For more information about Norwegian Cruise Line and to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com.

Leading small-group tour operator Exodus Travels has launched a new Luxury Adventure Collection that will take travelers to the farthest reaches of the planet in high style. Whether it's soaking in a hot tub on a Galapagos Island Voyage or sipping on a glass of bubbly after a Big Five safari in East Africa, each trip in the collection combines the intrepid nature of adventure abroad with the extravagance of a five-star getaway.

Designed to allow curious and discerning travellers to explore the world's most remote and captivating destinations without compromising on comfort. Indulge in fine local cuisine, butler services and spa treatments in-between all manner of active and responsible wildlife excursions and embark on epic journeys led by local guides that feel not only exploratory but tailored for refined tastes.

"We at Exodus have always believed there is a time and place for all styles of travel," said Robin Brooks, Marketing Manager. "This carefully curated portfolio has been handcrafted to marry the very best of our 45 + years of global adventure and exploration expertise with special services, elite experiences and luxury properties reminiscent of 'The Golden Age of Travel.'"

The Exodus Travels Luxury Adventure Collection currently features new tours to Kenya, The Galapagos Islands, a Costa Rica to Panama voyage, an Amazon rainforest cruise and other trips.

Universal Orlando revealed more details this week about Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, the new attraction coming to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter this summer.

Officials announced Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure would combine a new level of storytelling, innovative coaster technology and rich environments.

The ride will transport passengers to one of the most mysterious places in the wizarding world, the Forbidden Forest.

When the new Universal ride opens on June 13, guests at least 48 inches tall will join Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures class and board the magical motorbikes. Whether on the motorcycle itself or in its sidecar, guests will fly deep into the Forbidden Forest and brave the mysteries and thrills beyond the grounds of Hogwarts castle.