Florida rolls out hi-tech highway helper
Travellers heading to Florida this winter can save time and take some of the hassles out of the trip by using the Florida Department of Transportation’s new free 511 and www.FL511.com travel information service.
The 511 service provides detailed, real-time information on traffic conditions, construction updates, and severe weather alerts on all of Florida’s interstate highways and Florida’s Turnpike.
You can call 511 from a cellular phone and connect to the Florida system almost as soon as you cross the state line – regardless of area code or point of origin.
The 511 system recognizes a caller’s location and connects them to the service in their area. Web users can log on to www.FL511.com from anywhere, including Florida’s Wi-Fi-equipped rest areas, to check out conditions along the route.
The phone system uses voice-recognition so callers simply ask for the road for which they want information, followed by the name of a nearby city or county. Visitors planning to fly to Central Florida can use 511 to get detailed local road and transit information, including flight and parking information at Orlando International Airport.
OFF TO IXTAPA: Air Canada has launched new, non-stop scheduled flights from Toronto to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo on Mexico’s Pacific coast.
The seasonal service will operate every Saturday until April 14. Flights are aboard 120-seat Airbus 319 aircraft, offering Executive Class and Economy service.
AC ADDS DEER LAKE: Starting May 4, Air Canada will introduce daily flights between Toronto and Deer Lake, Nfld. The service will be aboard 120-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.
Flights will leave Toronto at 2:55 p.m. and arrive in Deer Lake at 7:05 p.m. Return flights will leave Deer Lake at 7:55 p.m., arriving in Toronto at 9:18 p.m.
GOING TRANS-FAT-FREE: Royal Caribbean International will start to remove trans fats from its menus on March 1, culminating in a fully trans-fat-free menu fleetwide by the end of this year.
Effective immediately, trans-fat-free frying oil will replace the old pour-and-fry oil originally used in food preparation, and entirely new, trans-fat-free menu options will be introduced to Royal Caribbean’s menus.
PORTER ADDS COMFORT: Porter Airlines passengers at Toronto City Centre Airport now have a climate-controlled environment with the recent installation of covered walkways from airport gates to the aircraft.
Passengers are also protected from the weather throughout the terminal and lounge, in the ferry and in the ferry terminals. The installation also allows two aircraft to board or deplane passengers simultaneously, improving turnaround times and schedule reliability.
PLAY BALL: With Major League Baseball’s spring training just around the corner in Florida (the first game is scheduled for March 1), now is the time for fans to start making their getaway plans.
For each of the Florida team’s schedules, see www.SeeFloridaOnline.com
VANCOUVER TOPS: Vancouver is the number one gay leisure travel destination in Canada, according to an international survey by Community Marketing Inc. of more than 7,500 gays and lesbians.
Tourism Vancouver has been actively marketing the city to gay travellers and its website offers a special section on gay-friendly events, accommodation and nightlife. See www.tourismvancouver.com
DOUBLETREE EXPANDS: Doubletree Hotels has announced the opening of its first, full-service hotel in Quebec.
The 313-room Doubletree Plaza Hotel Montreal is a former Crowne Plaza and recently completed multi-million-dollar renovations to upgrade all guest rooms and public and event space.
Amenities include an indoor heated swimming pool, a 24-hour fitness centre and sauna.
DID YOU KNOW? Starting on Jan. 30, all Air Canada passengers departing from Toronto on national and international flights will check in at Pearson International’s Terminal 1, with the exception of some Air Canada Jazz commuter flights to the United States, which will continue to use the East Satellite Terminal.
Greg Coates covers the travel industry for one of Canada’s leading travel trade publications. He can be reached at gcoates@baxter.net