Confessions of a YYC Travel Junkie

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by cmyden

^^ I agree with Getbak. Traffic around L.A. is always a nightmare. I guess it depends on what kind of experience you're looking for. I think that's a smart idea about changing hotels too, if you have a rental car.

I was rear ended on a freeway in LA by a woman who's license plate said "RUTHLES". Then when we pulled off to the side to exchange information, this huge police truck drove by and yelled at us with loud speakers to get off the freeway.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Kavy

cmyden,

Thanks for all your information eariler. You requested me to post what deals I may of found, we ended up with a resort called the Royal Playa De carmen on West Jet Vacations, we never really found an amazing deal but are quite happy with it!

Air Canada had better travel times but was more $$

Wow, that's one of the nicest all inclusive resorts in Mexico, or anywhere for that matter. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[cmyden]

Just noticing that all inclusive packages to Mexico on Expedia are pretty cheap right now

Maybe it's all the bad PR that Mexico has been getting lately, but it seems like there are a lot of cheap all inclusive flight + hotel packages on Expedia.ca at the moment.

Normally the Canadian tour operators are the most competitive, but it looks like Expedia.ca is beating them right now on some resorts. Although it should be noted that the Canadian tour operators often have direct flights, and the cheap flight + hotel packages on Expedia involve stopovers on US Airways.

Nevertheless, there seems to be some really good prices. Here's a comparison:

First, try searching for a 'flight + hotel' March 7 to 14, on http://www.Expedia.ca - to Cancun.

Expedia.ca vs the Canadian Tour operators - example 1



Sort by price and go down to around the $800s.

Sea Adventure Resort is showing as $853/person after tax for flight and all inclusive hotel. And it looks like they have a 'room second kid free' promotion.

The cheapest package in March from the Canadian tour operators to the same hotel is currently $1127/person after tax.

By the way, families seem to love this hotel (the picture of the pool above gives an idea of why). Google for the reviews on TripAdvisor.


Expedia.ca vs the Canadian Tour operators - example 2



Also look at Royal Solaris Cancun Resort, Marina & Spa All Inclusive. It's showing as $875/person after tax with a bonus $200 resort credit.

The cheapest from the Canadian tour operators in March? $1263/person after tax. And no resort credit.


Expedia.ca vs the Canadian Tour operators - example 3




Gran Bahia Principe Sian Ka'an All Inclusive, is showing as $903/person after tax on Expedia.

It's hard to make a direct comparison, because the Sian Ka'an isn't offered by Canadian tour operators, but their other 3 highly rated resorts are (Gran Bahia Principe Coba, Tulum, and Akumal). And the cheapest of those is going for $1400/person after tax in March.

And when you stay at any Gran Bahia property, you get access to the others anyways. I could be mistaken, but I believe you also get unlimited golf at the Sian Ka'an


Anyways, those were just 3 examples that I noticed. If you're looking for an all inclusive vacation in March/April/May, you might want to have a look at Expedia.ca at the moment, to compare it against what the Canadian tour operators are offering.

Also try February 23 to March 2nd for some decent prices in February.

Can get the Gran Bahia Principe Coba All Inclusive for $997/person after tax.

If you see any other great prices on Expedia.ca be sure to share!

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by cmyden

Wow, that's one of the nicest all inclusive resorts in Mexico, or anywhere for that matter. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Ha, cool!

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Has anyone flew out of Santa Ana SNA in LA?

Westjet has some descent prices on direct flights there this summer. Just wondering if anyone has ever flew out of there, how are they equipped for rental cars etc? Thinking of making a mid week pilgramage down there in the summer. Thanks.

Santa Ana is great. Rental cars are onsite (instead of having to shuttle to an offsite location at LAX), the airport is small and not busy at all and it's in a great location near all things Anaheim, Newport Beach, etc.

[FCAV]

Flying to Phoenix for about four or five days nearing the end of March. Any anticipated seat sales? When would be the best time to buy?

[Peanut]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

Santa Ana is great. Rental cars are onsite (instead of having to shuttle to an offsite location at LAX), the airport is small and not busy at all and it's in a great location near all things Anaheim, Newport Beach, etc.

I second this. The only thing I noticed was that the rental cars are quite a bit more expensive at Santa Ana. But probably worth it to avoid traffic on the freeway if most of your activities are in the Anaheim/Disneyland area.

[Captain_Obvious]

I go to LA quite a bit and have found out some things through trial and error.

In the last year rental car rates at LAX seem to be a lot lower than they were previously.

I now fly in to LAX, rent a car, and stay somewhere close to Orange county.

If I have something specific to do early and it's in LA or Hollywood I'll stay in west Hollywood.

But the cheapest hotels (that are still on the clean and comfortable side) seem to be in Orange County or just north of there. It's also a nice area with a lot to do.

It's about a 40 min drive from there to Hollywood or downtown LA at the right times. Just avoid 7am - 10am and 3pm - 7pm.

I love LA.

[cmyden]

Free Lonely Planet North American City Guide Apps - [expires: February 4]

The 13 guides will be free in the iTunes App Store from 6pm PST on Tuesday, February 1st to 6pm PST Friday, February 4th 2011. Here are the cities available for free download:

• San Francisco
• New York City
• Boston
• Washington DC
• Chicago
• Seattle
• New Orleans
• Vancouver
• Las Vegas
• Miami
• Toronto
• Los Angeles
• Montreal

And the Montreal link in the blog post is pointing to the wrong link. Here's the correct link

[Cactus Jack]

Cmyden, if you would be so kind:
GRU to YYC and back. Leaving after 6pm March 4. Returning March 9 before noon. 2 people.
Or at least a good flight to YYC, as I found a cheap return for $700CDN
Thanks

[anyonebutedmonton]

Cmyden,

I missed the expedia deals from yesterday to Mexico, and they seem to have changed since then. If you see that kind of drop again I would love for you to post it and maybe next time I can snag a great deal.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

Cmyden, if you would be so kind:
GRU to YYC and back. Leaving after 6pm March 4. Returning March 9 before noon. 2 people.
Or at least a good flight to YYC, as I found a cheap return for $700CDN
Thanks

Wow, flights in this direction are expensive. Seems like around $1785 roundtrip after tax is cheapest? March 2-8 is $1355 on Air Canada and seems to be the closest with anything decent.

[jjbouma]

Chris, thanks for the heads up on the Expedia deals to Mexico. I managed to get a great deal on an 8 night stay at a Secrets resort in Riviera Maya in early April!

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by jjbouma

Chris, thanks for the heads up on the Expedia deals to Mexico. I managed to get a great deal on an 8 night stay at a Secrets resort in Riviera Maya in early April!

No problem! Was it the Capri? Or the Maroma? Or Silversands? Their resorts seem to all get amazing reviews.

The Capri seems to be a good deal right now on Expedia. Looks like it can be had for around $1047/person after tax (7 nights) which is pretty cheap for a resort of that quality level.

Have to watch those US Airways flights on the cheap flight + hotel packages though, some of them have ridiculous travel times. Need to play around with the dates to get decent flights.

[jjbouma]

Originally Posted by cmyden

No problem! Was it the Capri? Or the Maroma? Or Silversands? Their resorts seem to all get amazing reviews.

The Capri seems to be a good deal right now on Expedia. Looks like it can be had for around $1047/person after tax (7 nights) which is pretty cheap for a resort of that quality level.

Have to watch those US Airways flights on the cheap flight + hotel packages though, some of them have ridiculous travel times. Need to play around with the dates to get decent flights.

I booked at the Capri. I ended up paying $1600/pp for 8 nights but with some good United flights (through Houston going there and Chicago coming back) that made sense time wise. Also excited about the free golf at Playa Paraiso which looks like a pretty nice course!

[cmyden]

March flights to London, UK have dropped to $580 roundtrip after tax

Air Transat seems to like to drop their flights to the UK about a month ahead of departure.

They just dropped their March flights down to $580 roundtrip after tax.



Here's March 16-23 for example, on Orbitz:



Other date combos that are cheap include: March 9-16, March 9-19, March 12-16, March 12-19, March 16-26, March 19-23, March 19-26

cM

[cmyden]

Air Canada just dropped every flight to Mexico City down to $357 roundtrip after tax

I'm guessing with all the news about Mexico lately, there must be a lot of half empty planes heading to Mexico City.



Air Canada just dropped the price of pretty much every flight between now and October or so down to $357 roundtrip after tax.

Mexico City doesn't normally see flights below $650 or so. It's not like Cancun or Puerto Vallarta or other tourist hot spots with charter flights competing for fares. So a 45% price drop is pretty significant.

If you can think of a reason to go to Mexico City, this is your chance. Pick a date, any date.

You can see the cheap flights right on their site, http://www.AirCanada.com or likely anywhere else you like to search for flights.

cM

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by cmyden

Air Canada just dropped every flight to Mexico City down to $357 roundtrip after tax

Can CM or someone provide a pair of dates and site where this price is possible? I've searched a wide variety, and the most common price seems to be $114 each way plus taxes, coming to ~$566 or so.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Can CM or someone provide a pair of dates and site where this price is possible? I've searched a wide variety, and the most common price seems to be $114 each way plus taxes, coming to ~$566 or so.

Unfortunately, taking a look this morning, the prices appear to have gone back up.

AC dropped their prices by about 50% yesterday from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, and Regina (basically, everywhere out West). And then raised them back up today.

[billybob123]

Originally Posted by cmyden

Unfortunately, taking a look this morning, the prices appear to have gone back up.

AC dropped their prices by about 50% yesterday from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, and Regina (basically, everywhere out West). And then raised them back up today.

I'm still finding tons of dates on AC.com for $114 each way, but the surcharges are nuts. $339 on a $224 fare. That's disgusting. They used to have a feature that would break down the surcharges, but it's gone now it seems. Hmmm wonder why? Maybe it's your $100 fuel surcharge!

I checked yesterday and the taxes/surcharges were $150ish. Seems that's the difference.