ONTARIO FLOATS YOUR BOAT
Great travel deals close to home,
You don’t have to go far to find fun in Ontario this summer. In Georgian Bay, the new “Inn Stay-and-Play” package at Cobble Beach combines one night’s accommodation at the Inn at Cobble Beach with one round of golf. Continental breakfast is also included. Prices start at $169 per person, with double occupancy. See cobblebeach.com.
On the Niagara River, the Niagara Belle is plying the waters with lunch and dinner cruises, a Captain’s cruise on Sundays and a VQA wine tasting cruise. Does the ship look familiar?
The New Orleans-style paddle wheeler used to sail harbour cruises right here in Toronto. See niagarasunsetcruises.com. In St. Thomas, Ont., kids will love the “Day Out with Thomas, The Celebration Tour 2015” event hosted by the Elgin County Railway Museum at the St. Thomas-Elgin Memorial Centre. Tickets cost $25 per person plus taxes and fees for the 25-minute train ride. The event takes place July 18 to 19 and July 24 to 26, and organizers recommend purchasing advance tickets. See ecrm5700.org. The Four Points by Sheraton London has a Thomas-themed package just for the event.
See fourpointslondonontario.com. Contiki’s “Summer Fifteen” sale Young travellers ages 18 to 35 can save 10 per cent off the cost of 15 trips worldwide with Contiki’s “Summer Fifteen” sale. The deal covers destinations in Europe, Asia, Latin America and the South Pacific. The 13-day Greek Island Hopping trip includes three nights each on Santorini, Mykonos and Ios, plus time in Athens at the beginning and end of the itinerary.
In Australia, the 14-day Beaches & Reefs starts in Sydney and heads up the eastern coast for sun and sand in places such as Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay and Surfers Paradise. The trip ends in Cairns with an optional excursion to the Great Barrier Reef. See contiki.com. Eurostar savings Rail Europe is taking 30 per cent off select Eurostar Standard Premier (Comfort Class) train tickets purchased by July 6, for travel July 15 to Sept. 13. Some blackout dates apply. Eurostar’s network includes London, Paris and Brussels. Rail Europe is also taking up to 27 per cent off select youth fares on Eurostar tickets, valid for purchase until June 15. See raileurope.ca. Best buy of the week Getaways of three nights or more at Florida’s Sandpearl Resort qualify for a 25-per-cent discount. The deal is good through June 30 for travel anytime. Some blackout dates apply. See sandpearl.com. Kathryn Folliott is a Toronto-based freelance writer. Prices quoted are subject to change and availability. Follow @KathrynFolliott.