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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Venice considers increasing cost of local gondola rides to deter tourists
Authorities in Venice are considering increasing the price of 'secret' cheap gondola rides – usually used by locals – after social media influencers shared tips about the budget-friendly boats. Queues have been getting longer at four crossings at the Grand Canal, Venice 's main waterway, after influencers posted about the large gondolas or traghetti (ferries). The ferries cost around €2 (£1.70) for tourists, and even less for residents, which is a far cry from the €80 (£68) gondola ride that most visitors will pay on average. Locals have complained that they are now suffering as a consequence. 'The ferries have become the latest trend for tourists who want to spend little and get in a gondola,' Andrea Morucchio, a local artist, said in a statement to the Times. 'Thanks to influencers and bloggers it has become one of the most popular things in Venice and as a result Venetians are suffering.' While travel guides have long recommended boarding traghetti to get around the city, the rise of social media has increased their popularity. Influencers have recommended the boat ride to solo travellers who may not be able to afford an individual gondola, plus mooted it as an easy way to snap a selfie without going over budget. Simone Venturini, Venice's councillor for tourism, told The Times that the city was considering increasing the price for tourists, then investing these funds into opening up two new ferry crossings across the Grand Canal. 'An increase would be justified since tourists are using the service as a substitute gondola ride,' he said. Tourists causing havoc on gondolas is not new. In 2024, a group of tourists fell overboard after taking photographs from the vessel. While navigating a low bridge near St. Mark's Square, the gondolier's alleged request for the passengers to remain seated were ignored, causing the incident to occur. The city has a complicated relationship with tourism. Last year, Venice became the first city in the world to charge admission for day trippers. A €5 (£4.30) to €10 (£8.60) levy was trialled between April and July this year. Tourists who make reservations less than four days in advance are charged the higher rate. Day trippers visiting during peak hours – 8.30am to 4pm – have to pay the daily fee, while overnight tourists with hotel reservations are exempt from the charge. However, businessmen in the city have proposed an even larger entry fee at €100 (£86) after they said Venice is in a 'state of calamity'. Setrak Tokatzian, president of St Mark's Square residents' association, called for the charge in order to stem the 'rivers of people' arriving in Venice. 'There's a complete explosion of overtourism like never before, with a type of people wandering around without entering shops or even knowing where they are.'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
A (bath)room with a view: Inside the Lana Dorchester Collection hotel which offers an understated elegance and breath-taking vistas for those in search of the 'anti-bling' Dubai
Dubai has long been synonymous with a flashy opulence that attracts a 'nouveau riche' crowd who want to holiday in the latest 'it' hotel and be seen dining in the newest restaurant. But for those who would rather shy away from that scene, The Lana Dorchester Collection offers different kind of luxury - sleek, refined, and purposefully restrained. In a city famed for pushing the boundaries of architectural spectacle and gilded extravagance, The Lana is something a little different. The 5-star hotel's 30-storey silhouette rises above the vibrant Business Bay district. Its clean lines and shimmering facade present a sharp contrast to the city's more ostentatious landmarks. Its rooftop infinity pool is a calm oasis with 180 degree views of Downtown Dubai, and flanked with white cushioned sunbeds. There are many signs of a good hotel: one is that your feet don't burn on its tiling in the afternoon sun. The Lana manages that with aplomb. Just don't ask me how! Just beside it is the popular High Society bar which attracts a crowd of couples and business travellers. From its vantage point overlooking Marasi Marina, the rooftop offers uninterrupted vistas of speedboats skimming the water and the Burj Khalifa looming in the distance. It's the perfect spot from which to sip on a cool cocktail, brought to you by the hotel's very cool staff Inside the hotel lies an expanse of cool creamy marble, walnut trimmings and elegant neutral furnishings topped off with huge floral displays, a theme that continues into the bedrooms. We stayed in a junior suite which came furnished with a vast bed, floor-to-ceiling windows, small lounge area and a private balcony. But the standout feature - which the hotel staff described as 'the influencer's favourite' - was the deep soak free-standing bathtub positioned directly in front of the window and with an uninterrupted view of the glittering marina. . Slipping into its bubbly warmth was heaven. I can't think of a better way to relax after an evening desert safari (highly recommended!). The hotel is also rightfully proud of its culinary credentials. Michelin-starred Martín Berasategui brings an inventive Basque tasting menu and we sampled an extensive array of it. For those seeking an oasis of calm amid Dubai's ceaseless energy, The Lana offers a rare combination: modern luxury with memories you will cherish - like a bath framed by the glittering skyline - that linger in memory long after checkout.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Air Canada plans to cancel 500 flights by Friday ahead of looming strike
MONTREAL/OTTAWA, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Air Canada ( opens new tab said on Thursday it expects to cancel several dozen flights by day's end and around 500 flights by the end of Friday affecting 100,0000 passengers, ahead of a planned Saturday strike by its unionized flight attendants. Mark Nasr, chief operations officer at Air Canada, said the complexity of the carrier's network, which operates over 250 aircraft on flights to over 65 countries, requires it to start winding down service now. A strike would hit the country's tourism sector during the height of summer travel and poses a fresh test for the ruling Liberal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney, which has been asked by the carrier to intervene and impose arbitration. Air Canada and low-cost carrier Air Canada Rouge carry about 130,000 customers a day. Air Canada is also the foreign carrier with the largest number of flights to the U.S. U.S. carrier United Airlines (UAL.O), opens new tab, a code share partner of Air Canada, said it has issued a travel waiver to help customers manage their travel plans. Restarting Air Canada's operations would take a week to complete, Nasr told reporters in Toronto. "It's simply not the kind of system that we can start or stop at the push of a button," he said. "So in order to have a safe and orderly wind down, we need to begin down." FlightAware data shows Air Canada has, thus far, cancelled only four flights as of Thursday morning. Earlier in the day, Canadian Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu urged the country's largest carrier and union to return to the bargaining table to reach a deal that could avert disruptions. A spokesperson for the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents the carrier's 10,000 flight attendants, said Air Canada negotiators are not bargaining and have not responded to a proposal they made earlier this week. "We believe the company wants the federal government to intervene and bail them out." CUPE has previously said it opposes binding arbitration. Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, chief human resources officer at Air Canada, said the carrier never left the table. "We are still available to bargain at any time on the condition that the negotiation has substance," she said. The Air Canada executives were speaking at a press conference that ended abruptly due to protests by union members donning placards. The dispute hinges on the way airlines compensate flight attendants. Most airlines have traditionally paid attendants only when planes are in motion. But in their latest contract negotiations, flight attendants in North America have sought compensation for hours worked, including for tasks like boarding passengers and waiting around the airport before and between flights. The union said Air Canada had offered to begin compensating flight attendants for some unpaid work but only at 50% of their hourly rate. The airline said it had offered a 38% increase in total compensation for flight attendants over four years, with a 25% raise in the first year.
