Vacation Suggestions For a Budget Traveller - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

burnin_vernon · 06-14-2009, 07:37 AM

I was supposed to go to Mexico last month but the swine flu forced me to change the trip to Hawaii. I received a credit for about $800 but they are making me use it by Sept 17, and I can't transfer it to anyone, and it has to be used on one single trip.

This sucks for me because I have no more vacation pay and spent a lot of cash in Hawaii. I don't want the credit to go to waste so it seems like I should fly somewhere far (the credit is only for flight) to take advantage of it.

So I need ideas for destinations where you can enjoy the trip as inexpensively as possible. I'll likely be going for a week and traveling alone.

Deelow · 06-14-2009, 08:07 AM

There's some good info in the "Confesstions" thread.

CrusaderPi · 06-14-2009, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deelow

There's some good info in the "Confesstions" thread.

Firefly's house?

I keed, I keed

Bar-None · 06-14-2009, 09:44 AM

I hear vegas is nice this time of year

Ethaniel · 06-14-2009, 09:46 AM

Calgary Zoo?

surferguy · 06-14-2009, 10:10 AM

Amsterdam, Puerto Rico, NFLD, Yukon, San Fran, Montreal, Chicago, Queen Charlotte Islands, Samoa

sureLoss · 06-14-2009, 10:11 AM

Cuba?

wooohooo · 06-14-2009, 10:12 AM

How about las vegas? They had seat sales a while back running about $155-175/trip. You could probably find a good package deal there. Or just book the flight and the hotels there are pretty cheap and you might be able to find deals that include food (buffet) and $25 credit for gambling.

I-Hate-Hulse · 06-14-2009, 10:12 AM

Portugal. 50 cents CAD for a beer.

cmyden · 06-14-2009, 10:16 AM

Can the credit be used on any airline?

If you want to get the best 'bang for your buck', right now (and use up all of your credit) I would suggest the flights to Brazil. They are going for about $779 USD (all in) and are currently the 3rd best value of any city in the world on a 'per mile' basis (13,000 miles round trip).

The only better deals are...

Calgary to Tokyo ($400) - 9,950 miles round trip. Insane price. But you would be leaving your credit on the table. Japan isn't exactly a budget destination, but damn, that price is the price of a lifetime, maybe you can convince someone to go with you, and pay you for the credit?

Calgary to Munich. There were flights for $360ish (9,740 miles round trip) on Air Transat. I haven't bothered to check to see if they're still available. It was pretty limited dates.

Of all these destinations, Brazil would be the cheapest once you got there.

Sylvanfan · 06-14-2009, 11:16 AM

^^^
Which city in Brazil, as its' a rather large country? I would guess Sao Paulo, but I noticed when I was in Miami earlier this year that American Airlines is doing flights to places like Belo Horizonte and Recife as well. Recife might not be a bad place though as it would be a long flight, but it would be 4-5 hours shorter than a flight to Rio or Sau Paulo.

ken0042 · 06-14-2009, 01:53 PM

Can you redeem it for a multi-flight trip? If so, maybe hit a few American cities. Pick a few that you would like to visit, find an inexpensive hotel like a Motel 6 or something, and off you go.

Kybosh · 06-14-2009, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

Can you redeem it for a multi-flight trip? If so, maybe hit a few American cities. Pick a few that you would like to visit, find an inexpensive hotel like a Motel 6 or something, and off you go.

I just came back from Boulder, CO a couple days ago and, let me tell you, that place is great. If you choose to stay in NA I'd recommend the whole Boulder scene.

cmyden · 06-14-2009, 05:35 PM

Quote:

^^^
Which city in Brazil, as its' a rather large country? I would guess Sao Paulo, but I noticed when I was in Miami earlier this year that American Airlines is doing flights to places like Belo Horizonte and Recife as well. Recife might not be a bad place though as it would be a long flight, but it would be 4-5 hours shorter than a flight to Rio or Sau Paulo.

RIO = $710 USD
SAO = $697 USD
both are on United. Those are the only two you're likely to find good deals on from YYC.

Displaced Flames fan · 06-14-2009, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kybosh

I just came back from Boulder, CO a couple days ago and, let me tell you, that place is great. If you choose to stay in NA I'd recommend the whole Boulder scene.

Did you go to The Sink?

I spent one crazy 24 hour period in Boulder in the fall of 1989.

tvp2003 · 06-14-2009, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

Can you redeem it for a multi-flight trip? If so, maybe hit a few American cities. Pick a few that you would like to visit, find an inexpensive hotel like a Motel 6 or something, and off you go.

This would be my pick, although I enjoy going to places like NY, CA, etc. I'm sure a like Brazil will give you pretty good bang for your buck once you're there (some other places like Thailand also come to mind -- not sure how much flights are though), but there can be some good deals in the US as well.