Top local tips that will make the most of any visit to Seattle

SEATTLE — It can be easy to lose yourself in a city like Seattle, home to a vast network of bustling neighbourhoods, waterways, top-rated attractions and picturesque parks. But with a few top tips from locals, visitors can make the most of their time in the Emerald City so that they return home with memories that last a lifetime.

EAT & DRINK

Perfectly capturing the city’s diverse food scene is Fuji Bakery, a Japanese artisan bakery in the International District known for its delicious malasadas filled with inhouse-made ube custard. For other sweet treats, head to Bakery Nouveau in Capitol Hill for a twice-baked almond croissant that you can savour while perusing the stacks at Elliott Bay Book Company.

With its waterfront location, it’s no wonder that Seattle is renowned for fresh seafood. Walrus and the Carpenter is where to go for the freshest oysters, while The Whale Wins in Fremont dishes out delicious halibut that never disappoints.

Other must-visit eateries include local pizza chain Pagliacci and Molly Moon’s for local ice cream. Visitors can also pair local bites with local brews from Cloudburst Brewing or Fremont Brewing Co., or enjoy craft cocktails with local spirits from Letterpress Distilling and Copperworks Distillery in SoDo.

Attractions

There’s certainly no shortage of things to do in Seattle, starting with Olympic Sculpture Park, a one-of-a-kind outdoor space with views of the Olympic Mountains and Elliott Bay. Nearby is Pike Place Market where visitors will find Seattle’s own Gum Wall, a tourist experience with all the fruity and minty smells of chewing gum.

Families will love taking a ride on Wings Over Washington, an aerial adventure that transports riders above Washington state using 5K cameras, as well as MOHAI, the Museum of History and Industry, home to over four million historic artifacts and photographs from throughout the Puget Sound region. And of course, no visit to Seattle would be complete without a ride to the top of the Space Needle for spectacular 360-degree views.

Outdoor Adventure

Over at Ballard Locks, where the fresh water of Lake Union meets the salt water of the Puget Sound, visitors can watch boats being raised and lowered as the locks’ water levels are adjusted. While on Lake Union, they also have a choice of how to get around, from an Electric Boat rental or, if they’re feeling adventurous, a Hot Tub Boat rental.

More outdoor fun awaits on the banks of Lake Union, home to the iconic Gas Works Park, built on the site of a former Seattle Gas Light Company gasification plant. On neighbouring Lake Washington, Seward Park offers a 2.4-mile bike and walking path, an amphitheatre, an art studio and a stunning shoreline perfect for sunbathing and picnics.

And for visitors looking to explore one of Washington State’s National Parks, Evergreen Escapes hosts small group and private full-day tours that highlight such natural gems as the San Juan archipelago, Deception Pass State Park, Mt. Rainier and Snoqualmie Falls.

For more information about travel to Seattle go to www.visitseattle.org.

JUNEAU — UnCruise Adventures is celebrating the holidays early with new early bird offers for select 2024 voyages.

From July 24 through Oct. 31, 203, the ‘Holidays in July’ promotion allows guests to enjoy 10% early booking savings on all cabin levels for 2024 voyages to Alaska or the ‘Canadian Coastal & Olympic Peninsula Adventures.’ This offer translates to savings ranging from US$720 to US$2,980 per cabin on 2024 itineraries. A $250 per person deposit is required to secure these savings during the early booking offers.

But the early holiday cheer doesn’t stop there. For all new bookings across all destinations, guests who pay their final balance in full, by cash, on or before Oct. 31, 2023, will receive a 10% early final payment savings (EFP).

And for those eyeing Alaska and Pacific Northwest itineraries, the savings get even better with a combined total savings of up to 20%, early booking savings and early final payment savings (EBS + EFP).

UnCruise Adventures is also offering special savings on warm water cruises.

Guests can save $400 per person, or $800 per cabin, for all sailings in Baja, Mexico or Hawaii, also valid between July 24 through Oct. 31, 2023.

In addition, the company is offering savings of $500 per person on individual sailings or a buy one, get half off the second cabin of equal value for 2023 adventures on the Columbia & Snake Rivers, Pacific Northwest and Belize sailings. These offers are valid for bookings made from July 24 to Sept. 1, 2023 and are combinable with loyalty savings, refer a friends, and kids in nature savings.

Quintana Roo appoints Toronto company to facilitate payment of Cancun’s visitor tax

TORONTO — A Toronto-based company has been put in charge of collecting Cancun’s mandatory visitor tax.

Implemented in April 2021, Quintana Roo’s VISITAX is an infrastructure improvement tax that all travel operators, airlines and other providers are mandated to collect on behalf of the state, which includes popular destinations like Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen and Cozumel, among others.

Travelkore, based in Toronto, has been appointed by Quintana Roo to automate the collection of VISITAX via its payment platform. Tim Scurry, CEO of the Torkore group of companies, said it was “quite an honour to be chosen as a unique provider of the fulfillment platform.”

HOW MUCH IS THE TAX?

The Quintana Roo State VISITAX costs US$18.80 per person and must be paid by all non-residential visitors prior to arrival at Cancun International Airport (CUN). Cash payments are not permitted upon arrival. Individuals arriving via land through the Quintana Roo’s southern border are exempt from paying the tax.

HOW DO YOU PAY?

According to Scurry, the Travelkore’s user-friendly system provides travellers with a QR code, which is presented upon customs entry at the Cancun airport. Upon departure, the QR code is then cancelled.

The payment of the VISITAX on Travelkore’s platform is currently being integrated into the booking systems of airlines, tour operators, OTAs and GDS such as Amadeus.

People

CAN YOU PAY FOR MULTIPLE PEOPLE?

A group of up to 10 persons can be processed on a single transaction, making it convenient for families and friends travelling to Quintana Roo together.

WHAT SHOULD TRAVEL AGENTS KNOW?

According to Scurry, travel advisors can earn a small referral fee per payment on the Travelkore payment link.

In addition to simplifying the payment process, the Travelkore ecosystem also provides free health and safety support tools such as Safekore, Quintana Roo’s Guest Assist embedded link, and Nurse Concierge.

For more information go to https:// travelkore.app/ or www.travelkore.com