Read the full feature on the CMTA Travel Services blog
The world map, for the serious food traveller, looks like the ultimate tasting menu. Every country has a cuisine shaped by geography, history, and culture — and the best way to understand a place is to eat your way through it. Here are 10 destinations where food is the reason to go, curated by Goway’s destination specialists who’ve actually eaten there.
France — The Birthplace of Fine Dining
France has more Michelin-starred restaurants than almost any country in the world, but its culinary greatness lives equally in the corner bistro, the regional market, and the cheese shop. Each region tells its own story — Brittany’s crêpes, Provence’s bouillabaisse, Burgundy’s wine-braised beef. “Is there anything better than chocolate croissants and French onion soup in Paris? There are honestly too many restaurants, cafes, and hidden gems to pinpoint as my favourite,” says Destination Specialist Teresa Dahl.
Japan — More Michelin Stars Than Any Country on Earth
Tokyo alone has over 200 Michelin-starred restaurants. Japan’s cuisine — recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage — is defined by precision, balance, and seasonal ingredients. Fresh sushi at Toyosu Market, kaiseki dining in a Kyoto teahouse, sizzling street food in Osaka’s Dotonbori — the variety is extraordinary. And Japan’s award-winning whisky distilleries are a revelation for anyone who thought Scotland had a monopoly on the spirit.
Thailand — The Street Food Capital of the World
Bangkok’s night markets and food courts offer everything from authentic pad Thai to Michelin-starred meals at extraordinary value. Thai cuisine’s regional diversity is part of its magic: Chiang Mai’s Lanna farm-to-table recipes, the fresh seafood curries of the south. “Green, Massaman, Yellow Thai curries and Pad Thai — of course!” says Destination Specialist Maria Spitman, who knows the country intimately.
Peru — The World’s Leading Culinary Destination
Lima consistently ranks among the world’s top 50 restaurants with multiple entries. Peruvian cuisine blends Indigenous, Spanish, African, and Asian influences into dishes like ceviche, lomo saltado, and causa. The World Travel Awards have recognized Peru as the “World’s Leading Culinary Destination” multiple times. And yet the most memorable meals are often in humble family-run cafés around the corner from the famous restaurants.
Italy, Morocco, India, Australia, South Africa, and Brazil
Italy’s culinary greatness lives in pasta-making in Bologna, pizza in Naples, and balsamic tasting in Modena. Morocco’s fragrant tajines and mint tea in Marrakech’s medina. India’s vast regional diversity — from Mumbai’s street food to Rajasthan’s royal kitchens. Australia’s world-class Barossa Valley wines paired with farm-to-table feasts. South Africa’s vineyards of Stellenbosch and “boma” dinners under the stars. Brazil’s churrasco in Porto Alegre and Bahian cooking classes in Salvador. The world is a restaurant — and it’s all open for business.
Ready to plan your culinary travel adventure?
Renée Charbonneau is a Certified Travel Agent and proud member of CMTA Travel Services in Grande Prairie, AB.
Read the full feature on the CMTA Travel Services blog
Italy is more than a destination — it’s a sensory immersion. Nowhere is that more true than in Italy’s wine regions, where rolling vineyard landscapes, medieval hill towns, and centuries-old winemaking traditions create an experience that goes far beyond the glass. Whether you’re drawn to Tuscany’s dramatic cypress-lined roads, Umbria’s truffle-scented forests, or Sicily’s volcanic terrain, Italy’s wine country rewards slow, curious travel.
Tuscany — The Classic
Few regions embody Italian romance like Tuscany. Chianti Classico estates sit tucked between Siena and Florence. Brunello di Montalcino — one of Italy’s most celebrated reds — is best tasted in the hilltop town of Montalcino, paired with local pecorino. Montepulciano’s cellars extend deep beneath its cobbled streets. Collette’s guided tours bring you into these estates before the doors open to the general public, with winemakers who share stories alongside tastings.
Umbria — The Authentic Alternative
Just east of Tuscany, Umbria remains Italy’s best-kept secret. Known as the “green heart of Italy,” it offers the same hill towns, medieval character, and exceptional food and wine — with far fewer crowds. Sagrantino di Montefalco is the bold, complex signature wine. And then there are the truffles: joining a local truffle hunter and their dogs in the Umbrian forests is one of the most authentically Italian experiences available to visitors.
Veneto and Prosecco Country
Beyond Venice’s canals, the rolling hills of Prosecco country offer a gentler, more playful wine experience. Visits to vineyards in the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene area pair naturally with Verona — the city of Romeo and Juliet — and nearby Valpolicella, where the powerful Amarone is produced. Lake Garda adds scenic drama to any Veneto itinerary.
Sicily — Volcanic and Extraordinary
Etna wines, grown on the slopes of Europe’s most active volcano, have become some of Italy’s most exciting. Sicily adds Greek temples, Norman cathedrals, and sun-filled piazzas to the mix, making it one of the most layered destinations in Europe. Marsala wine, produced in the town of the same name, has a history as rich as the wine itself.
When to Go
Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) are the prime seasons for wine travel in Italy. Autumn brings grape harvest festivals and truffle fairs across Umbria and Tuscany — a particularly magical time to visit. Collette’s guided tours run across multiple dates, giving Albertans flexibility to find the departure that fits.
Ready to taste Italy?
Renée Charbonneau is a Certified Travel Agent and proud member of CMTA Travel Services in Grande Prairie, AB. She can book your Collette Italy tour and handle everything from Alberta.
Some trips need to be more than good. A honeymoon, a 25th anniversary, a 50th birthday trip, a bucket-list adventure — these are the journeys that need to be perfect. Your travel agent is the professional who makes that happen.
The Stakes Are Higher
When a trip is attached to a once-in-a-lifetime milestone, the margin for error shrinks dramatically. A mediocre hotel room is disappointing on any trip, but devastating on a honeymoon. A flight cancellation that’s a hassle on a business trip can mean missing a special dinner reservation on an anniversary trip. The emotional weight of these journeys means the planning needs to be meticulous.
Perks That Only Agents Can Unlock
Travel agents who specialize in luxury and special occasion travel have access to amenity programs — like Virtuoso, Marriott Stars, and other preferred partnerships — that can add room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, resort credits, and welcome amenities to your booking at no extra cost. A newlywed couple might arrive to find champagne, flowers, and a room upgrade waiting for them — not because they got lucky, but because their agent arranged it.
Surprise Elements Done Right
Part of what makes special occasion travel memorable is the unexpected detail. Your agent can coordinate with hotels, cruise lines, and tour operators to arrange anniversary dinners, private excursions, spa packages, and personalized touches that wouldn’t be possible if you booked independently. They know who to call and how to ask.
Managing the Stress So You Don’t Have To
Planning a honeymoon while also planning a wedding is overwhelming. Planning a major anniversary trip while managing a career and family isn’t much easier. Your travel agent takes the research, the comparisons, the booking, and the logistics entirely off your plate — leaving you to enjoy the anticipation of your trip rather than dread the planning.
Creating the Trip You’ll Talk About for Decades
The best special occasion trips become stories — the villa in Tuscany, the private catamaran in the Maldives, the Northern Lights from a glass-ceiling cabin in Iceland. Your agent knows how to find these experiences, what they really cost, and how to make them happen within your budget.
You deserve a trip worth celebrating. Let’s plan it together.
Read the full feature on the CMTA Travel Services blog
G Adventures has set out to make 2026 the happiest travel year yet — and they’ve done it by researching exactly what destinations and experiences make travellers feel most alive. The result is nine brand-new trips built around joy, community, and wonder. Here are the standouts most likely to appeal to adventurous Albertans.
Southern Africa: Kruger, Victoria Falls and Zimbabwe
This 17-day Geluxe journey covers four countries with the perfect mix of indulgence and adventure. From lions at sunrise on the Kruger savanna to the thundering roar of Victoria Falls — the world’s largest waterfall by width and volume — you’ll track wildlife with expert guides in Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa. End with a cycling tour of Stellenbosch vineyards and views from Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain. This is Southern Africa at its very best.
Panama: Sandy Beaches and San Blas Sunsets
Panama offers one of the most surprising combinations in travel: a sophisticated cosmopolitan capital (Panama City’s Casco Viejo is genuinely beautiful) and the utterly remote San Blas Islands off the Caribbean coast — home to the Indigenous Guna people, with powdery sand, swaying palms, and zero light pollution. Six days of contrast and colour, perfect for travellers aged 18 to “thirtysomething” — and beyond.
The Silk Road: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan
For adventurous travellers who want somewhere genuinely different, the five Stans of Central Asia are starting to appear on the radar. This 23-day National Geographic Journeys itinerary traces the storied Silk Road through ancient cities like Samarkand and Bukhara, dramatic landscapes from canyon country to steppe, and cultural experiences including learning to build a yurt and making traditional manti dumplings. This is the kind of trip your friends haven’t done yet.
Iceland — Local Living
G Adventures’ new Local Living format slows everything down — fewer destinations, longer stays, local guesthouses and homestays instead of hotels, public transport instead of tour buses. In Iceland, that means six days based in the remote village of Bakkagerði, hiking coastal trails, soaking in steaming pools, cooking in a family kitchen, and connecting with a place — not just passing through it.
Arctic Expedition: Realm of the Polar Bear
On the new G Expedition ship — just 128 passengers — sail into Norway’s fjords and Arctic bays to encounter polar bears, seals, reindeer, and colonies of seabirds. Zodiac rides, kayaking, and on-foot wildlife encounters make this the most intimate way to experience the High Arctic. Given Alberta’s appreciation for wilderness and big skies, this one hits differently close to home.
Ready to plan your G Adventures 2026 trip?
Renée Charbonneau is a Certified Travel Agent and proud member of CMTA Travel Services in Grande Prairie, AB.
Read the full feature on the CMTA Travel Services blog
Portugal has quietly become one of Europe’s most compelling destinations — and Canadians are catching on. With a strong wine tradition, breathtaking landscapes, UNESCO-listed cities, and some of the warmest hospitality in Europe, it rewards every type of traveller. From the cobblestone streets of Lisbon and Porto to the vineyard-terraced slopes of the Douro Valley and the sun-soaked Algarve coast, Portugal delivers depth and beauty in equal measure.
The Douro Valley — Wine Country at Its Most Spectacular
The Alto Douro Wine Region, established in 1756, is one of the oldest demarcated wine regions in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Steep terraced vineyards — hand-built over centuries — cascade down to the river below, creating one of Europe’s most dramatic agricultural landscapes. This is where Portugal’s famous Port wine was born, and the tradition of welcoming visitors to the quintas (farms) and wine lodges is centuries old. A river cruise through the Douro is one of the most memorable ways to experience it.
Lisbon and Porto
Lisbon is one of Europe’s most underrated capital cities — hilly, soulful, and full of character. Trams rattle through historic neighbourhoods, viewpoints offer sweeping river vistas, and the pastel de nata (custard tart) at Pastéis de Belém is a genuine pilgrimage for food lovers. Porto, to the north, is smaller and equally enchanting, with its UNESCO-listed historic centre, dramatic gorge, and extraordinary concentration of wine lodges just across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia.
The Alentejo and Beyond
For travellers who want space, silence, and cork oak forests stretching to the horizon, the Alentejo delivers. It’s also one of Portugal’s most exciting wine regions — named the world’s best wine region to visit by USA Today readers — with historic estates offering overnight stays, tastings, and immersive harvest experiences. The medieval city of Évora, another UNESCO site, sits at its heart.
Madeira — A Treasure in the Atlantic
No discussion of Portugal is complete without Madeira. This Atlantic island of terraced vineyards, dramatic cliffs, and levada walking trails produces wines prized since the 18th century by kings, generals, and explorers. It’s a destination that surprises visitors who expect just another island resort — and instead find something far richer.
Portugal is waiting — let’s make it happen
Renée Charbonneau is a Certified Travel Agent and proud member of CMTA Travel Services in Grande Prairie, AB. She builds custom Portugal itineraries including river cruises, wine tours, and city breaks.
