New Passport Requirements for Canadian Citizens announced

 SCHENGEN AREA: Canadian Passport must be valid 3 months beyond intended stay. Here is the list of the countries affected by this regulation :

 BELGIUM

 CZECH REPUBLIC

 FRANCE

 GERMANY

 GREECE

 ITALY

 NETHERLANDS

 PORTUGAL

 SPAIN

 SWITZERLAND

 TURKEY: Canadian Passport must be valid at least 150 days upon entry. In addition, Canadian and USA passports need a visa to enter Turkey. The visa must be purchased prior to departure; e‐Visas are available on‐line. Visitors arriving in Turkey without visas will be able to obtain e‐Visas via interactive kiosks placed in Turkish airports. Fees for e‐Visas obtained prior to arrival via the e‐Visa website (www.evisa.gov.tr) will be lower than the fees for visas obtained upon arrival.

More information on fees can be found on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey website (http://www.mfa.gov.tr).

and

 HONDURAS : Canadian Passport must be valid 3 months upon entry.

FEES FOR REPLACEMENT CANADIAN PASSPORTS EFFECTIVE MARCH 31, 2014

Canadians will pay additional administration charge for lost or stolen passports......

On Mar. 31, 2014, Passport Canada implemented a new service fee for replacement passports. The move comes in response to the number of lost or stolen Canadian passports annually, which amounted to more than 65,000 in 2013.
"As a cost-recovery operation, the Passport Program must charge the appropriate fees to cover its costs which will keep general passport fees down and maintain a high level of service for Canadians," the organization says on its website.
The new fee for certified true copies of part of a passport or other travel document (one to three copies) is $45, as is the fee for replacement of a valid lost or stolen passport or other travel document (in addition to passport fee)

TRUMP BUYS DOONBEG GOLF CLUB IN WESTERN IRELAND

I had the pleasure of inspecting and having lunch at the Doonbeg Golf Club & Lodge in County Clare, Ireland a few years back. It has just been announced that it was acquired by the Trump Organization.  The property includes the 218-room Lodge at  Doonbeg, which will join the Trump Hotel Collection.  Trump will rename the property Trump International  Golf Links, Ireland.
The 400-acre oceanfront property is on Ireland’s west coast, about 50 miles west of Limerick.

CATSA’S PACKING TIPS HELP TRAVELLERS BREEZE THROUGH SECURITY

Things to do before you leave home.

To speed up the screening process at the airport, follow these five packing tips:

1. Place all your liquids, aerosols and gels in a clear, plastic 1L bag.
   Remember these must be in containers of 100 ml or less. 

2. Pack your small electronic devices (smart phone, tablet, MP3 player, portable CD and DVD player, camera, GPS device, batteries, etc.) in your carry-on baggage.  Be ready to unpack your laptop computer at the checkpoint. 

3. Pack and keep your medication (over-the-counter or prescription, pills, eye drops and inhalers) in your carry-on for easy inspection. 

4. Avoid wearing large metal items (belt buckles, metal snaps, buttons and studs, etc.). 

5. Dress comfortably with easy-to-remove outerwear, jackets, belts and ideally, slip-on shoes.

For complete information, visit the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority at www.catsa.gc.ca/whatcanIbring  

CHANGES COMING FOR VISAS TO TURKEY

Here is the official announcement. Travellers will no longer be able to obtain visa on arrival to Turkey. Changes are coming for travellers looking to obtain a visa to Turkey. Currently, a Turkish visa can be obtained on arrival, from the Turkish embassy, or through the e-Visa Application system. However, of these options, a visa on arrival will no longer be available as of Apr. 10, 2014. According to a report on WorldBulletin.net, Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Omer Celik made the decision so that the use of the e-visa, which became available in April 2013, would be more widespread. The e-visa process is quick and simple, the fee is US$60. Passports must be valid for six months by the time travellers enter Turkey

STYLE AT YWG - WINNIPEG AIRPORT

Winnipeg international airport has been named one of the 10 most-stylish airports in the word by Fodor's Travel, a New York-based publisher of international guidebooks. The $585-million James Armstrong Richardson International airport recently celebrated its second birthday. Erica Duecy of Fodor's says she was fascinated how the architects played off the prairie landscape in designing the airport.The highlight is the more than 50 skylights looking down on the arrivals area. Stanis Smith, executive vice-president of Stantec, which worked with Pelli Clark Pelli Architects on the design, says the idea behind the constellation of skylights was to create a galaxy-like feel and represent the night sky in an abstract way. He says he's delighted at being recognized along with some of the most famous airports in the world, including San Francisco International

Turkey Visa requirements changed

In the past Canadians could pay for and obtain their Turkey entry Visa at any point of entry in Turkey.  As of April 10th you will have to obtain your Electronic Visa online prior to your departure.  Most airlines already require the Electronic Visa prior to boarding so it is best to get it online before you go to the airport or you could be denied boarding.   The process is very quick and simple and you could get your Visa within a few minutes.  For more information go to Turkey Visa