Americans and Canadians culture Q&A Thread.

[john7994]

That's me and my DH. You are excused for not recognizing us.

heyyyy ... thats whats-her-face and her husband from that other country!

 

[ronandannette]

heyyyy ... thats whats-her-face and her husband from that other country!

That's exactly how you would describe either couple.

 

[john7994]

That's exactly how you would describe either couple.

pretty much haha (if you mean the ones that are living here) - no disrespect of course!

 

[Frozen Canuck]

You had to know the actors weren't really from Saskatchewan, there were no shows during the winter. I guess they weren't brave enough to film in the Prairies over the winter months. Even the one Christmas episode I can remember didn't show anyone outside.

Ummm...Brent Butt is from Tisdale, Saskatchewan and Oscar is from Indian Head. Emma was originally from England, but she helped found the Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon decades ago.

As for not filming in winter...I can't imagine the logistics. Even though you could drive to Rouleau and see the grain elevator with "Dog River" painted on it, drive down the street past the Foo Mart, and the RCMP detachment (it actually had an ice cream store inside the last time I was there), and even the exterior of Oscar and Emma's house, the Ruby and the Gas Station were just sets...not real. They were built for the show. The outside shots were all shot on location in Rouleau, but the inside scenes were filmed elsewhere. They kept security on hand to guard it even when they weren't filming there, to keep people from wrecking it. The set was dismantled after they filmed the movie.

ETA: None of the actors live in their hometowns anymore (obviously), and the actress who played Emma has since passed, but they do know what a Saskatchewan winter would be like.

 

[declansdad]

Ummm...Brent Butt is from Tisdale, Saskatchewan and Oscar is from Indian Head. Emma was originally from England, but she helped found the Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon decades ago.

As for not filming in winter...I can't imagine the logistics. Even though you could drive to Rouleau and see the grain elevator with "Dog River" painted on it, drive down the street past the Foo Mart, and the RCMP detachment (it actually had an ice cream store inside the last time I was there), and even the exterior of Oscar and Emma's house, the Ruby and the Gas Station were just sets...not real. They were built for the show. The outside shots were all shot on location in Rouleau, but the inside scenes were filmed elsewhere. They kept security on hand to guard it even when they weren't filming there, to keep people from wrecking it. The set was dismantled after they filmed the movie.

ETA: None of the actors live in their hometowns anymore (obviously), and the actress who played Emma has since passed, but they do know what a Saskatchewan winter would be like.

Sorry, that was more of joke that fell flat.

More about the lack of realism without a prairie winter.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Okay here is my question for Canadians today:
Do you get as many advertisements to visit the USA as we do to visit Canada? Lately (at least where I live), I seen so many visit Canada commercials on tv it’s boggling to me. Well, I have seen a ton of visit Australia commercials too but on a much lesser scale. To be specific for the Canada commercials, I believe it’s advertising #mapleleave.
https://us-keepexploring.canada.travel/mapleleave

 

[Jrb1979]

Okay here is my question for Canadians today:
Do you get as many advertisements to visit the USA as we do to visit Canada? Lately (at least where I live), I seen so many visit Canada commercials on tv it’s boggling to me. Well, I have seen a ton of visit Australia commercials too but on a much lesser scale. To be specific for the Canada commercials, I believe it’s advertising #mapleleaves.

Lately I haven't seen many. Prior to Covid I constantly saw Myrtle Beach ads. I see more ads for visiting things in Canada

 

[OnceUponATime15]

@Buzz Rules The only tv ads for travel destinations I’m seeing lately are for Walt Disney World and for The Bahamas.

 

[Buzz Rules]

USA advertisements:

 

[Buzz Rules]

@Buzz Rules The only tv ads for travel destinations I’m seeing lately are for Walt Disney World and for The Bahamas.

We get a lot of those too as well.

 

[Jrb1979]

@Buzz Rules The only tv ads for travel destinations I’m seeing lately are for Walt Disney World and for The Bahamas.

I wonder if a lot of that has to do with the economy right now. I don't think a lot of people have to money to travel much right now.

Our local park has sold close to a million season passes already for the summer. That tells me more people are planning to stay close to home this summer.

 

[ronandannette]

Lately I haven't seen many. Prior to Covid I constantly saw Myrtle Beach ads. I see more ads for visiting things in Canada

Maybe it's a regional thing? Occasionally there will be a Visit California campaign running but I can't remember ever seeing one for any other American destination. FWIW, I need no further convincing; southern California is one of my absolute favorite vacation destinations!

 

[Jrb1979]

Maybe it's a regional thing? Occasionally there will be a Visit California campaign running but I can't remember ever seeing one for any other American destination. FWIW, I need no further convincing; southern California is one of my absolute favorite vacation destinations!

It makes sense. Like I said all that was prior to Covid. Since then I rarely see any ads from US destinations.

 

[john7994]

When compared to the same period last year, flight searches for travel in March and April are up 40%, with interest in far-flung destinations like Punta Cana, Paris and Tokyo seeing double-digit increases compared to Spring Break 2022.

And on the other hand ...

The economy will play a major factor in leisure travel in the 12 months ahead, Deloitte said in the report.

Travel demand started to soften in September following high demand in the months prior. That could be either a blip or a "lasting downshift by belt-tightening consumers," Deloitte said.

International travel should continue to increase as many key destinations have reopened their borders. However, Deloitte cautioned, an increase in international airfare could dampen that desire among consumers. Those who do travel will likely seek destinations with good exchange rates.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

When compared to the same period last year, flight searches for travel in March and April are up 40%, with interest in far-flung destinations like Punta Cana, Paris and Tokyo seeing double-digit increases compared to Spring Break 2022.

And on the other hand ...

The economy will play a major factor in leisure travel in the 12 months ahead, Deloitte said in the report.

Travel demand started to soften in September following high demand in the months prior. That could be either a blip or a "lasting downshift by belt-tightening consumers," Deloitte said.

International travel should continue to increase as many key destinations have reopened their borders. However, Deloitte cautioned, an increase in international airfare could dampen that desire among consumers. Those who do travel will likely seek destinations with good exchange rates.

I can tell you our plane tickets to Venice and Athens for this July are astronomical. We're paying mostly Chase reward points but combo with cash. My husband priced out Japan (where we think we're going in 2024) and it's considerably cheaper to go there than it is to Europe and we can get Business fare with lay flat seats.

 

[john7994]

I can tell you our plane tickets to Venice and Athens for this July are astronomical. We're paying mostly Chase reward points but combo with cash. My husband priced out Japan (where we think we're going in 2024) and it's considerably cheaper to go there than it is to Europe and we can get Business fare with lay flat seats.

Our company has definitely stopped non-essential business travel - as has most of the companies we do business with - makes me wonder is it demand driven or expected drop off of business travel boosting those ticket prices. I am jealous of your destinations - two of my bucket list destinations (Italy and Japan). *sigh* We are going to Portland for a wedding and maybe a side trip to Napa Valley along with a trip to Hawaii (Aulani) in October...

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Our company has definitely stopped non-essential business travel - as has most of the companies we do business with - makes me wonder is it demand driven or expected drop off of business travel boosting those ticket prices. I am jealous of your destinations - two of my bucket list destinations (Italy and Japan). *sigh* We are going to Portland for a wedding and maybe a side trip to Napa Valley along with a trip to Hawaii (Aulani) in October...

Yeah I'm sure business travel in certain industries has def. gone down.

Venice is because we're going on a cruise that starts there. We're mainly going on a cruise that has a Greece focus as we've been wanting to go there for the last several years. We're most excited for this trip. I can't wait to see all the history sites. This is considered our biggest/grandest trip by far in the 15 years we've been together.

Japan is because my husband has been dying to go back there ever since I think it was 2014 when he went there for work for an equipment test (talk about an expensive work trip) and I guess decided 2024 was when we'd go.

Hawaii is great! We've been wanting to go back, we went in 2016 although we didn't stay in Aulani (we stayed in Makaha) we did go there for a short day trip.

We almost went to Hawaii again to use our promotional Companion pass from SWA that was good Jan-early March of this year but didn't want to spend the costs for hotels so we went to Puerto Rico instead. We just got back last Wednesday night from that. It was great to get away for a quick trip (a 5-day/4-night). I'm already missing this view and the sound of the waves


Then we have a Cancun trip in Mexico to celebrate our 10 year although some family is joining for that.

Covid interrupted our planned 2020 beach vacation so I guess you could say we're making up for it with Puerto Rico and Mexico.

I'd like to visit the Pacific NW at some point, I've heard it's beautiful.

 

[john7994]

Yeah I'm sure business travel in certain industries has def. gone down.

Venice is because we're going on a cruise that starts there. We're mainly going on a cruise that has a Greece focus as we've been wanting to go there for the last several years. We're most excited for this trip. I can't wait to see all the history sites. This is considered our biggest/grandest trip by far in the 15 years we've been together.

Japan is because my husband has been dying to go back there ever since I think it was 2014 when he went there for work for an equipment test (talk about an expensive work trip) and I guess decided 2024 was when we'd go.

Hawaii is great! We've been wanting to go back, we went in 2016 although we didn't stay in Aulani (we stayed in Makaha) we did go there for a short day trip.

We almost went to Hawaii again to use our promotional Companion pass from SWA that was good Jan-early March of this year but didn't want to spend the costs for hotels so we went to Puerto Rico instead. We just got back last Wednesday night from that. It was great to get away for a quick trip (a 5-day/4-night). I'm already missing this view and the sound of the waves
View attachment 737888

Then we have a Cancun trip in Mexico to celebrate our 10 year although some family is joining for that.

Covid interrupted our planned 2020 beach vacation so I guess you could say we're making up for it with Puerto Rico and Mexico.

I'd like to visit the Pacific NW at some point, I've heard it's beautiful.

Sounds like you have your travel locked-up!

This will be our second trip to Hawaii having stayed in Kuai - which I would prefer again - but want to use those DVC points for something interesting.

Just before COVID hit April 2020, we had 10 days in England / France / Ireland, so thats definitely something we want to try to setup again. So much to do, so little time!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Sounds like you have your travel locked-up!

This will be our second trip to Hawaii having stayed in Kuai - which I would prefer again - but want to use those DVC points for something interesting.

Just before COVID hit April 2020, we had 10 days in England / France / Ireland, so thats definitely something we want to try to setup again. So much to do, so little time!

When we were looking at Hawaii again we were thinking about doing Maui or Kauai, glad you liked Kauai though put that to a mental note about a future trip. Aulani from what I hear is a good usage of DVC points. One of our DISer friends is headed there to use his points for an April trip where they usually would go to WDW.

We still may do a northern European cruise next year too, we want to but haven't been able to come to an agreement on a cruise and the ports of call yet.

10 days is not nearly enough for those countries! But I bet it was an amazing trip!

 

[john7994]

When we were looking at Hawaii again we were thinking about doing Maui or Kauai, glad you liked Kauai though put that to a mental note about a future trip. Aulani from what I hear is a good usage of DVC points. One of our DISer friends is headed there to use his points for an April trip where they usually would go to WDW.

We still may do a northern European cruise next year too, we want to but haven't been able to come to an agreement on a cruise and the ports of call yet.

10 days is not nearly enough for those countries! But I bet it was an amazing trip!

We were so excited about it - I have not spent much time on the European continent beyond a business trip to Berlin a few years back.

Kauai (fixed my spelling) is absolutely amazing from my perspective. The so-called "garden island" was spectacular and even had a Costco by the airport - so who could ask for more! But seriously, Hanalei beach is beautiful in the north by Princeville, and the Waimea Canyon is a must see - not Grand Canyon level - but still worth a visit. On Kauai, it is illegal for buildings to be taller than a coconut palm tree or the equivalent of three or four stories - so a whole different vibe.

I have never been on a cruise, although open to the river cruise idea.