Confessions of a YYC Travel Junkie

[Notorious Honey Badger]

Hey Chris I want to go to Florida for Feb, any suggestions? Ill be going around the Miami, Tampa area but an Orlando landing/depart is ok. Dates are feb 2/3 to 5/6

thanks!

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Notorious Honey Badger

Hey Chris I want to go to Florida for Feb, any suggestions? Ill be going around the Miami, Tampa area but an Orlando landing/depart is ok. Dates are feb 2/3 to 5/6

thanks!

A search on Kayak will cover everything that's out there. Select nearby airports so it searches both MIA and FLL. Use a flexible search.

If the cheapest happens to be Westjet or AC, check out the promo codes they both have out at the moment and try directly on their site.

[cmyden]

Today's Westjet Blue Tag deal is a little different. It's a promo code for '40% off' certain routes.

To redeem this offer, bookings must be made on westjet.com. Both the Promo code PCR52 and Coupon code WYEWPGG are required at time of booking on the first page of the booking process. Bookings must be made by December 22, 2011 (4:00 p.m. MT) and travel must occur on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from January 10, 2012 to February 15, 2012.

link: http://www.westjet.com/guest/en/deal...thursday.shtml

Offer is available on the following flights:

Calgary to/from Comox
Calgary to/from Kelowna
Calgary to/from London, ON
Calgary to/from Montreal
Calgary to/from Ottawa
Calgary to/from Victoria
Calgary to/from Winnipeg

Of course, 40% off is a great exaggeration, since it only applies to the base fare. There are some pretty decent prices though. I would estimate it's a true 20-25% discount off the usual bottom price on certain routes.

[Otsy]

San Francisco or New York? 1 week around May. San Fran would inlcude some time in Napa Valley (big wine fans), alcatraz, ball game, just some regular tourist stuff. New York would be just taking in everything we can there too. Ellis Island, shopping for the wife, ball game, museum, just wondering around central park/Manhattan where we'd be staying. Have not been to either city.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Otsy

San Francisco or New York? 1 week around May. San Fran would inlcude some time in Napa Valley (big wine fans), alcatraz, ball game, just some regular tourist stuff. New York would be just taking in everything we can there too. Ellis Island, shopping for the wife, ball game, museum, just wondering around central park/Manhattan where we'd be staying. Have not been to either city.

Personally I would say either is an awesome choice, those are probably my two favorite U.S. cities. Maybe in a 3 way tie with Chicago.

If cost is any issue, flights are likely to be more expensive to NYC ($150-$200/more per person on average) and hotels are likely to be significantly more in central Manhattan than central SFO (all factors being equal). But New York definitely rocks.

[cmyden]

Belize, Costa Rica, Honduras - from $362 roundtrip after taxes... this time on Delta

It looks like the very cheap flights to Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, and Belize are back, but this time on Delta. They range from about $360 - $400 roundtrip after taxes!

Delta actually dropped theirs during the tail end of the fare war to Central America near mid-December, but they weren't around very long (as in, less than 24 hours). And then shortly after that, the fare war was over, with prices going back up on all airlines. But now Delta is back (seemingly by themselves at this point) for another go-around.

The drops seem to be focused on mostly February and March. Here are some example searches to help find them...

Tegucigalpa, Honduras - $362 roundtrip after taxes (bad connections both ways)
http://www.kayak.com/flights/#YYC-TG...03-01-flexible
http://www.kayak.com/flights/#YYC-TG...03-19-flexible

Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR) - $381 roundtrip after taxes (decent connections both ways)
http://www.kayak.com/flights/#YYC-LI...03-01-flexible
http://www.kayak.com/flights/#YYC-LI...03-04-flexible
http://www.kayak.com/flights/#YYC-LI...03-19-flexible
http://www.kayak.com/flights/#YYC-LI...04-01-flexible

Belize City, Belize - $403 roundtrip after taxes (bad connection there, decent on the way back)
http://www.kayak.com/flights/#YYC-BZ...03-01-flexible
http://www.kayak.com/flights/#YYC-BZ...03-19-flexible

Screenshot of verified price on Delta.com

[Hi-Psi]

I just booked yet another trip thanks to Chris lastnight haha

I've wanted to go to Costa Rica for years and almost booked the last seat sale but the days didn't work the best, this time I got it sorted and in March I'll hopefully be diving with Hammerheads!

Jason

[cmyden]

From the feedback of this latest deal post, I think there will be more Canadians than usual down in Costa Rica this February/March. Glad people are taking advantage of it!

[Deelow]

I take it the deal is long gone?

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Deelow

I take it the deal is long gone?

Nope, still there. Some dates from my original post seem to be sold out, but I replaced the links on the blog with new dates that aren't.

Here are some date ranges to Costa Rica that are still cheap at the moment ($381 roundtrip after taxes!)

http://www.kayak.com/flights/#YYC-LI...03-04-flexible

http://www.kayak.com/flights/#YYC-LI...03-11-flexible

http://www.kayak.com/flights/#YYC-LI...03-19-flexible

http://www.kayak.com/flights/#YYC-LI...03-26-flexible

[CASe333]

I was really bummed out when I missed the previous sale to Costa Rica but just booked my tickets in March for only 370CAD! Thanks so much Chris for the heads up.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by CASe333

I was really bummed out when I missed the previous sale to Costa Rica but just booked my tickets in March for only 370CAD! Thanks so much Chris for the heads up.

Awesome! I'm glad Delta has been letting them stick around for a little while this time. Gives more people a chance.

[Boblobla]

I have a question. Going to a wedding in Mexico and I wanted to compare rates with what the travel agent is telling us is the price.

Nov. 18-25 @ Ocean Turquesa, near Cancun. Travelocity is telling me they have no rooms available on those dates. What sites are good to book Mexican all-inclusives through?

[red sky]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

I have a question. Going to a wedding in Mexico and I wanted to compare rates with what the travel agent is telling us is the price.

Nov. 18-25 @ Ocean Turquesa, near Cancun. Travelocity is telling me they have no rooms available on those dates. What sites are good to book Mexican all-inclusives through?

www.itravel2000.com

www.redtag.ca

www.airlineticketcentre.ca

It might be too far out in terms of the dates you are looking for. I would doubt it would be full at this time. Keep in mind that November is hurricane season as well.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by red sky

www.itravel2000.com

www.redtag.ca

www.airlineticketcentre.ca

It might be too far out in terms of the dates you are looking for. I would doubt it would be full at this time. Keep in mind that November is hurricane season as well.

All 3 of those will be searching the same products and prices, from the Canadian tour operators. It's almost guaranteed that your agent is likely accessing those same prices as well and trying to sell you a product from the Canadian tour operators.

Most people would be amazed at how much time they've wasted comparing identical travel products & prices.

Canadian Tour operator prices are generally available about 9 months ahead. Your agent can probably quote you a price, but likely one that's high enough to make sure it's covered. Would probably start looking in February, but even then the prices will still be at their maximum. They generally start to soften about 2-3 months before departure.

[cmyden]

Calgary to Jamaica - $261 roundtrip after taxes



You might remember the crazy price drops to Jamaica that occurred in late 2010 and early 2011.

There were no signs of them this winter, until today. Could this be the start of them again ?

Here's how to find it...

1. http://www.flightcentre.ca/

2. Search for a flight from Calgary to Montego Bay, Jamaica.

3. Departing January 16, returning January 23.

screenshot of verified price:

[fundmark19]

Any other dates or just that week?

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

Any other dates or just that week?

That's all I've found so far. Generally, when a charter flight drops like that, it's common to see the next week drop as well. So I'll be keeping an eye on Jan 23-30.

[fundmark19]

I have noticed that the drop doesn't show on kayak what is the best way to monitor charter flights just luck of the draw on flight centre?

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

I have noticed that the drop doesn't show on kayak what is the best way to monitor charter flights just luck of the draw on flight centre?

Yes, Kayak only searches the major airlines. For charters, you need to use a Canadian-based site such as FlightCentre, SellOffVacations, etc.