Confessions of a YYC Travel Junkie

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Philly06Cup

Has anyone been to Reno before? I'm looking to go to there from Jan 14 - 19. I love Westjet, but they unfortunately don't fly to Reno.

Is it better to just fly to Vegas, then find another flight from Vegas to Reno?

Hmmm, looks like the best flights to Reno on those dates are $458 USD, compared to $322 for Vegas. Cheapest flight between the two that I can see is $200 (SouthWest), so not seeing any savings.

Do you have any points/air miles you can use?

You could also fly into Sacramento for $378 and rent a car (2 hour drive) but probably only worth it if you had planned to rent a car in Reno anyways.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by kermitology

I'm hoping that I got a good deal to Mexico last night:

$1167 to Grand Bahia Principe Coba for 7 nights. That's on the Mayan coast. It's a fair bit South of Cancun and our flights suck, but the hotel looks amazing, and they cater to celiacs, which my girlfriend sort of is.

It's the number 1 rated hotel on trip advisor for Akumel

Yep $1167 is the cheapest I can see, good deal! Should note this same price can be had for 8 night stays as well.

Departure dates with this price....

Sat, Jan 9, 10
Mon, Jan 11, 10
Sat, Jan 16, 10
Mon, Jan 18, 10
Sat, Jan 23, 10
Sat, Jan 30, 10
Wed, Apr 7, 10
Mon, Apr 12, 10
Wed, Apr 14, 10
Mon, Apr 19, 10
Wed, Apr 21, 10

Great reviews!

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...Peninsula.html

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by surferguy

check out hotel seven in midtown. i don't have a link for the place but a quick google search will work. I've stayed there and it was basic but fine. I found we didn't spend anytime at the hotel anyway so it was just a place to crash.

edit:
it is just off of Union Sqaure

The places I'm looking at are the Seton Hotel, the Murray Hill Inn and Hotel 31. Hotel 7 could be in the mix, too.

[kermitology]

Yeah, the 8 day thing isn't quite true. I mean we leave on the 23rd at 5 PM, get to Cancun at 11:25 or so, then the flight home is at midnight on the 31st.

The flights suck ass, but I figured that $1167 per person taxes included was a good enough deal for how people rave about that resort.

Westjet Vacations

January 10/09
5 days to Las Vegas $315 taxes included.

Downfall: You stay @ Primm Valley Whiskey Pete's which is a jaunt from Vegas. For that price, it might be worth it just for the price of the flight.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Puxlut

Westjet Vacations

January 10/09
5 days to Las Vegas $315 taxes included.

Downfall: You stay @ Primm Valley Whiskey Pete's which is a jaunt from Vegas. For that price, it might be worth it just for the price of the flight.

There are actually some flights for $259 USD on Delta for Jan 10 - 14/15 but yeah, there are definitely sometimes package deals that have better all in prices than the flights alone.

You should be able to get the WhiskeyPete package above for $300 after taxes I believe. It's the cheapest Vegas package between now and June (for a good reason)

But is that Delta flight a direct flight?

I just looked... didn't realize it's a 40 minute drive to Vegas! You're right! There is a reason it's cheap! I would hope the outlet mall in Primm is wicked... what else is around there? It's a 3 hour drive to LA or Palm Springs.

[kermitology]

Not worth it to be at whiskey pete's. Primm is okay, but that's a day trip, no more. You go to Vegas to be on the strip, not a mall. If it costs you $100-150 more to stay on the strip, that's by far worth it.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Puxlut

But is that Delta flight a direct flight?

Good point, they have 1 stopover each way. Cheapest non-stop is $374 USD.

[rubecube]

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or
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and Monday. Tabú is dark Tuesday and Wednesday. Complimentary local and toll free phone calls during stay.
We are unable to guarantee specific room types and locations, however a sincere effort will be made to
accommodate your needs. Rates are subject to change and restricted dates apply. Not available for existing
reservations. This promotion is non-transferable, subject to availability, may not be combined with any other
MGM Grand promotion and is not available to groups or persons attending meetings or conventions or over
certain blacked-out dates. All prices are subject to tax and/or handling fee and based on double occupancy
on a per-stay basis. MGM Grand reserves the right to cancel or modify this promotion at its discretion and
without prior notice.

[cmyden]

For the Vegas geeks, just got this email from the MGM Grand:

MGM Grand Hotel and Casino - Las Vegas, Nevada
************************************************** **********************************

Hesitation Can Wait.
96-Hour Sale From MGM Grand.

Rooms from $51 per night

Nice! Definitely some prices there that are cheaper than showing on Kayak.

[Stumptown]

Warning to anyone flying to the states any time soon. Just heard from a friend flying back here from Regina that they're not allowing ANY carry-on bags on international flights into the US. No purses, no laptop cases, no diaper bags. They let him on with a book and his laptop sans case. THIS IS SO STUPID!

[Draug]

Originally Posted by Stumptown

Warning to anyone flying to the states any time soon. Just heard from a friend flying back here from Regina that they're not allowing ANY carry-on bags on international flights into the US. No purses, no laptop cases, no diaper bags. They let him on with a book and his laptop sans case. THIS IS SO STUPID!

No diaper bags?!?! I mean, come on, really. As far as I can tell, all of these crazy restrictions dont make air travel any safer, they just appear to make things safer.

We're planning on going to Hawaii this April, with a 4 yr old and a 2 yr old. Anyone who has travelled with little kids knows that doing so without a diaper bag is impossible. Because we're going for a wedding, we have to go. Maybe we'll have to fly to Vancouver, drive to Seattle, then fly on to Hawaii.... what a piss off that would be.

[Stumptown]

Originally Posted by Draug

No diaper bags?!?! I mean, come on, really. As far as I can tell, all of these crazy restrictions dont make air travel any safer, they just appear to make things safer.

We're planning on going to Hawaii this April, with a 4 yr old and a 2 yr old. Anyone who has travelled with little kids knows that doing so without a diaper bag is impossible. Because we're going for a wedding, we have to go. Maybe we'll have to fly to Vancouver, drive to Seattle, then fly on to Hawaii.... what a piss off that would be.

He said they allowed people to put their personal items (wallets, keys) into clear plastic bags, but the bags were small and flimsy, and obviously wouldn't hold a laptop and probably only a single diaper and some wipes. I doubt this rule will stick. If it does the US can kiss a lot of foreign tourism money goodbye. My friend said there was close to a riot at check-in because of this new arbitrary rule, and lots of crying kids on the plane because they couldn't bring any toys with them.

[cmyden]

Calgary to Bucharest, Romania - $732 USD

Similar price to the KLM deal we saw in December, but this one is on Air France.

Here are the departure dates that I can see (one week trips):

Feb 17, 19, 21

Mar 1

Apr 2, 30

Round trip price, including taxes. Can see it on Orbitz, Kayak, etc.


Hmmm, interesting, I'm seeing a way to get a 2 night stopover in Paris for an extra 15 bucks or so.

Go to Kayak, do a multi-city search:

YYC to CDG - Feb 17
CDG to OTP - Feb 19
OTP to YYC - Feb 26

Should come out to $747 total.

[drewboy12]

Originally Posted by Stumptown

Warning to anyone flying to the states any time soon. Just heard from a friend flying back here from Regina that they're not allowing ANY carry-on bags on international flights into the US. No purses, no laptop cases, no diaper bags. They let him on with a book and his laptop sans case. THIS IS SO STUPID!

As I am sure most people have heard, many restrictions have been lowered now. You can take one small bag on the plane, but they can only be a small purse, laptop bag, or diaper bag. all roller bags must be checked in. Last I heard, on board tv will now be turned on, and you don't have to stay seated the last hour of the flight.

Just make sure you check your bags in, or security will turn you around and make you check them in.

[JFK]

cmyden, could you help me find some deals to Vegas for April 1-5?

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by JFK

cmyden, could you help me find some deals to Vegas for April 1-5?

Cheapest flight is $434 USD on WestJet for those dates.

Hotels on those dates...

Ballys $89
Trump $107
NY NY $101
MGM $101
Paris $103
TI $103
Mandalay $135

So you'd be looking at about $634 USD/person currently or about $670 CDN.

The 3 night package deals (Apr 1-4) are really close to that price.

I think pretty much every package deal leaving on Thu is for 3 nights, not 4, so you're pretty much just left with building it on your own.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by drewboy12

As I am sure most people have heard, many restrictions have been lowered now. You can take one small bag on the plane, but they can only be a small purse, laptop bag, or diaper bag. all roller bags must be checked in. Last I heard, on board tv will now be turned on, and you don't have to stay seated the last hour of the flight.

Just make sure you check your bags in, or security will turn you around and make you check them in.

I'm heading down to Palm Springs on Monday.. anyone know if they'll allow a backpack as carry-on?

[hockeycop]

Originally Posted by Tyler

I'm heading down to Palm Springs on Monday.. anyone know if they'll allow a backpack as carry-on?

No. Zero carry on bags to the USA right now. No end date for that restriction has been determined yet.