News that has caught Chris' eye in the Travel World

Earn Aeroplan points with Amazon.ca (28 March, 2018)

Aeroplan has been working to prepare for the end of its agreement with Air Canada. The airline served notice last year that it does not plan to renew its partnership when the current contract ends in 2020.

So Aeroplan has now announced a partnership with online giant Amazon, that will offer members rewards for everyday shopping with the world's largest retailer. With Amazon Aeroplan will now have the four biggest online retailers in Canada in Amazon, Apple, EBay and Costco.

Members who visit Amazon.ca through the Aeroplan website will be able to earn at least one Aeroplan mile for every $1 dollar spent. Members with silver and black status will earn up to twice the miles and those with diamond status will receive up to triple the miles per transaction.

Those using Aeroplan-affiliated credit cards will earn miles twice on purchases from Amazon.ca. Aeroplan members will be able to earn points on most of their purchases on Amazon.ca beginning April 24. This new deal with Amazon is just what Aeroplan and its members needed to move on effectively from their old relationship with Air Canada.

The Happiest Place on Earth (21 March, 2018)

If you’re in need of a holiday in a super-positive place, you may be interested to learn that Finland has been named the happiest country in the world in the World Happiness Report 2018. It also took the top spot in the ranking of immigrant happiness, meaning it has the happiest immigrants and the happiest population in general.

The annual report has just been published by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and it ranked 156 countries by happiness levels, based on factors like life expectancy, social support and corruption. It also evaluated 117 countries by the happiness and well-being of their immigrants.

The top ten countries were, in order:
1. Finland 2. Norway 3. Denmark 4. Iceland 5. Switzerland 6. The Netherlands 7. Canada
8. New Zealand 9. Sweden and 10. Australia.

The top ten positions are held by the same countries as in the last two years, although with some swapping of places.

All of the top countries tend to have high values for all six of the key variables that have been found to support well-being: income, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, trust and generosity. The ten happiest countries in the overall rankings also filled ten of the top eleven spots in the ranking of immigrant happiness. The countries with the happiest immigrants were found not to be the richest countries but rather the countries with a more balanced set of social and institutional supports for better lives.

It's good to see Canada consistently in this top ten of course, but maybe it’s time to plan a trip to one of the other happy places around the world: Scandinavia or Down Under anyone?

5th annual Island Hopper Songwriter Fest (14 March, 2018)
 

For listeners planning their fall escape to Florida, here is confirmation of the fifth annual Island Hopper Songwriter Fest in The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel. This popular festival, which we have covered on past Travel Shows, returns to fill The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel with music and fun at a number of tropical venues between September 21-30, 2018.

The 10 day festival will take place on Southwest Florida’s most beautiful barrier islands. It’s also a chance for fans to hear popular songs that they’ve heard on country radio performed by the actual songwriters themselves.

The festival kicks off on Captiva Island, then moves to historic downtown Fort Myers, and wraps up on Fort Myers Beach. The exciting lineup of festival headliners and songwriters will be announced later this year. For more information visit www.islandhopperfest.com.