Zoom Airlines was grounded on Thursday, as the recent spike in fuel prices was too much to handle for the popular discount airline.   Operations are suspended immediately, and all flights are cancelled, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.

Customer funds are covered by TICO (the Travel Industry Council of Ontario) for Zoom flights booked with an Ontario Travel Agent.

HERE is the Reuters report on the story

Some people would still consider eating sushi an adventure.  For most of us, though, adventurous eating goes way beyond that.  Brain, eyeballs, tarantulas, snakes, and even bull testicles are just some of the delicacies enjoyed around the world.  With an open mind and a bit of courage comes a whole buffet of unexpected adventures!

Here are 10 Tips for the Adventurous Eater (from Outpost Magazine):

1. If you can’t find it back home, don’t pass up the opportunity
2. If it’s on the menu, it probably won’t kill you (more…)

The Dominican Republic is one of the most popular Caribbean destinations for Canadians, and it is still picking up steam!   They will host over 4 Million tourists in 2008, and with a goal of 5 Million by 2012, ensuring that the infrastructure is keeping pace with the growth has to be a priority.

During a recent visit to Toronto, the Tourism Minister of the Dominican Republic, Felix Jiminez, announced investments of US$1-billion on infrastructure that will improve the tourist experience.  Among the developments that are planned: (more…)

Ten Reasons to Use a Travel Agent

1. PERSONALIZED SERVICE – Travel agents are your neighbours, and they want to build a relationship with you and learn what you want, and what you value in a travel experience

2. TIME –There is so much information out there, but where do you start. Travel agents can do the research for you and save you hours of your valuable time.

3. CONVENIENCE – Travel agents save you time and money by handling every aspect of your trip, including flights, car rentals, accommodations, activities, and even insurance.

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Computer viruses are an unfortunate reality in the highly connected world we live in, and they are often spread through e-mail attachments.  The main way to combat those viruses is to simply delete the e-mail without opening the attachment.  The problem is that the dredges of the computer world are getting more creative, so it is often far from obvious when an e-mail is a phony. 

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A great opportunity if you want to get away this Christmas!

Travelonly has some group space booked on the Carnival Freedom, sailing from Fort Lauderdale on December 20, 2008 for an 8 day Western Caribbean cruise.   It is a very interesting itinerary including Costa Rica and Panama!   Potential excursions are exploring the rainforest or white water rafting in Costa Rice, and of course the Panama Canal in Panama.

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Want to give back on your vacation?

Signature is now offering a Volunteer Holiday Tour to Costa Rica!  Immerse yourself in local culture while improving the quality of life and living conditions for rural Costa Rican residents.   With this rewarding opportunity, you have the chance to work alongside local families and develop friendships.  Many people in Costa Rica live in homes that do not provide adequate protectiion, and you will be working with a local organization to improve the housing situation.  

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Welcome to my new Travel Blog, and thanks for coming by!

Blogging can be a great way to share a constant stream of information, and it provides a central communication point for myself and my business. It seems like a natural fit to me!

The posts that you find here today are really just the tip of the iceberg!   I will regularly be adding short articles with Travel News, Reviews, Tips, Promos, Articles, Events, Humour, and pretty much anything else that is travel related. 

Please take a look around, and feel free to post comments, send feedback, or contact me with any questions or travel enquiries!  Thanks again, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Kevin Visser, Travelonly

Rising fuel costs are forcing airlines to become more efficient, to add ‘fuel surcharges’ to their flight prices, and to get very creative in cutting costs.  This means that they are eliminating or charging for things that we have taken for granted in the past, such as snacks, pillows, and even luggage!

Or how about this more recent (and shorter) interpretation of airline gouging from MAD TV:

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In July I spent a week in Mexico on the Mayan Riviera, touring hotels and experiencing the region.  Checking out potential vacation destinations is one of the ‘tough’ parts of my job!   The Mayan Riviera is truly a breathtaking slice of heaven, and there is a hotel that is perfectly suited for everyone.

What is your priority - romance, adventure, family, food, beach?  I can help you pick the ideal resort for your vacation goals!

For a sampling of photos from the trip, click HERE