Last February I was all set for a spring trip to Egypt but due to the political unrest that erupted across the region, I ended up changing my plans and heading to Turkey. I figured a country that bridges the gap between Europe and Asia could be as interesting as the land of the pyramids.
Turns out I was right. Istanbul is a cosmopolitan city with wonderful food, bazaars and incredible historic sites. Cappadocia, located in the middle of the country, boasts one of the most incredible landscapes I have ever seen. Picture Alberta's hoodoos, Bay of Fundy's Hopewell Rocks and the Grand Canyon juxtaposed together. Then add in the fact that there are caves, some of which are hiding elaborately frescoed churches behind their unassuming entrances, carved into the side of these rock formations. It's hard not to be impressed.
Evidently, I was not alone in my enthusiasm for this country. In their upcoming report on Rising Stars (due to be released at the end of the month) cheapflights.ca places Ankara, Turkey at the top of their list of new "it" destinations. They tracked the percentage increase in on-line searches from January to June 2010 versus January to June 2011 for destinations around the world. Travel to Ankara, Turkey is up 10 per cent versus same time last year and is tracking to grow. It's not all that surprising as people who want to experience the region see it as a safer bet than countries like Tunisia, Syria and Egypt. Additionally, a beneficial exchange rate and a push on marketing their attributes to Canadians is positioning Turkey well as an alternative vacation spot.
Check out www.tourismturkey.org and www.cheapflights.ca
My other suggestions on today's segment included:
Tiny Anguilla with a population of just 14,000. This gem of an island is fast becoming the sophisticated place to be in the Caribbean. My travel agent tells me requests for the island are skyrocketing. If you are not looking for all-inclusives but rather a flavour of the classic Caribbean, this is a great choice. Expect no high-rises, no cruise ships and no fast food restaurants, but do expect more than a hundred restaurants from the toes-in-the-sand-burger-n-beer beach joints to some of the most elegant dining options in the region, 33 of the best beaches in the Caribbean and a range of villa options from $100 to $10,000 per night. Most Canadians fly into St. Martin, the closest island, and take a ferry or private speedboat over to begin their tropical holiday. www.ivisitanguilla.com
Tahiti is a gorgeous paradise that is increasing in popularity with the numbers of Canadians travelling there almost doubling in the last two years. I was there a few years ago and in addition to the incredible scenery and beaches, I loved the French influences; great wine, baquettes, pastries and cheese. www.tahiti-tourisme.com
The Bay of Fundy area in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick is a wonderful part of Canada and soon the entire world will find out about it. Don't forget to vote to ensure it becomes one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. www.votemyfundy.com
Lastly, weekend getaways to the great cities of the United States are becoming increasingly popular. With a favourable exchange rate and some great hotel deals, now is a good time to go to places like N.Y.C., Chicago or Seattle. If you want your chance to win four CityPASSes to some of the major attractions in 10 American cities (and Toronto!) email your name, address and contact information, along with a jpeg of your last vacation, to FamilyFun@ctv.ca
For full details about the contest, click here
