All come recommended by someone working at the local Delta hotel.
A program called Delta Recommends lets visitors know about restaurants, shops and attractions they might otherwise miss. They are contributed by Delta employees throughout the system -- chambermaids, servers, managers.
You don't have to be a Delta guest to tap into this lode of tips. Visit pages.deltahotels.com/recommends/ and click on the region you'll be visiting, then on the city or cities.
If you are staying at a Delta, ask at the front desk about the program. I did last fall when I checked in at the Delta in Fredericton.
A tourism contact had already put Boyce Farmers' Market on my itinerary, but the duty manager passed along a restaurant tip, which proved to be a good one. (Details are in a column on Fredericton coming this spring).
Sandy Indig, Delta's public relations manager, told me Delta wants to to go beyond the tourism brochures and provide guests with a more authentic experience.
It's a great idea. I've found front-line workers in hotels to be a good source of practical information. They don't make big bucks and seem to know where to to find good value. Hotel breakfasts are often beyond my budget, so I always ask if know of a good cafe or diner.
More leisure travel news:
-- Traverse City, Mich., is offering a TC Escape package -- good until May 19 -- that combines low rates at 28 participating hotels and resorts with discounts on recreation, shopping, dining and entertainment. For winter sports enthusiasts, the package includes discounts on lift tickets, ski lessons and equipment, trail passes and snowmobile rentals. Each adult guest also receives $10 in free play at either of the area's two casinos.
Traverse City is located on the state's Lake Michigan side. It's a major summer resort so has an abundance of good places to stay and eat, and some interesting shops, most of which stay open in winter. Visit TraverseCity.com.
-- Ottawa Tourism's new two-night getaway packages, Get to Know Your Canada and Taste of Canada, offer a third night free at participating hotels. This promotion is valid for bookings made until March 31, but the actual travel can take place any time. The price for each package starts at $116 per night based on a two-night stay for two adults. Visit ottawatourism.ca.
-- Water: The Exhibition, open March 12 at the Royal Ontario Museum. Water is described as a dramatic sensory and educational experience for visitors of all ages. Featuring multimedia installations, hands-on exhibits, live animals and cultural artifacts, it will be displayed in the Garfield Weston Exhibition Hall on Level B2 of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal until Sept. 5.
-- Les Brasseurs du Temps, in Gatineau, Que., has added a regional brewing heritage museum focusing on the importance of the brewing industry to the border city. Visit brasseursdutemps.com and click on English.
-- Jucy Rentals, a New Zealand company better known for renting compact campervans, has opened its first hotel in downtown Auckland. Photos on its website, jucyhotel.com, suggest guestrooms are fairly spartan. But they have TV and tea/coffee-making equipment, and price is right -- starting at $49 NZ (about $38) per night for a room with shared bathroom, or $89 NZ (about $69) for an ensuite room.
Traveller's tip
Winter means off-season deals at many of Ontario's inns and spas. A family member and her partner enjoyed two nights at the Kettle Creek Inn in Port Stanley just before Christmas. The dining packages are particularly attractive, and the inn has a reputation for good food. Visit kettlecreekinn.com.
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