Confessions of a YYC Travel Junkie

[AndyM]

Originally Posted by Ferarri

Anybody know why Vancouver is so expensive hotel wise the week of Sept 18? Staying downtown in a decent four star is showing crazy prices of $700 plus a night.

Lavar Cup is also happening that week.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

How long do you have to wait for a passport these days?

My wife got hers in less than two weeks, that was about a month ago.

[Engine09]

Just reading through the US Sim card posts in this thread, wondering about a few things.

Is there anywhere here in Calgary I can buy a physical US Sim card to use on my trip next week?

Can I just hit up a cell provider in Montana on the way and buy one?

I got an extra $75 on my bill during my Hawaii trip this spring and that was with barely using it. Want to avoid that again.

[MissTeeks]

Has anyone stayed in Montreal lately? Heading down for a week in October and have no idea where is a good place to stay that won't cost a small fortune.

[MoneyGuy]

Seems too good to be true. HelloVacay has a service where for $39/year if your flight is delayed by at least 60 minutes you get a voucher for the lounge in hundreds of airports. If this is legit, with all of the travel we do it’d be terrific.

Imagine this. You've just landed after a long flight, and your connecting flight is delayed.

You're tired, hungry, and just want a quiet place to rest.

But the terminal is crowded and noisy.

Then you remember - you activated VacayDelay so you can access up to 1,300+ airport lounges around the world, when you face a travel delay.

Now you can find a lounge where you get easy & quick access, and within minutes, you're sinking into a comfortable seat in a peaceful lounge, a complimentary drink in your hand.

This could be your reality!

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Activate VacayDelay now and start making your travel experience more enjoyable today!

For just $39 per year, you and up to 4 guests can access over 1,300+ airport lounges around the world each time your flight is delayed...for the entire year.

Click to learn more
https://hellovacay.com/vacaydelay39

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Seems too good to be true. HelloVacay has a service where for $39/year if your flight is delayed by at least 60 minutes you get a voucher for the lounge in hundreds of airports. If this is legit, with all of the travel we do it’d be terrific.

$39? yeah that's too good to be true and if it is true, prepare to be in the lounge with 1000s of people...

Maybe if it was $390.

[Fuzz]

I assume it will be essentially useless for any serious event, because typically delays mean multiple flights cancelled, which means those lounges start restricting access as they fill, and if you think your $39 pass provides you any priority, well...

[chemgear]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1700876421126623285

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Seems too good to be true. HelloVacay has a service where for $39/year if your flight is delayed by at least 60 minutes you get a voucher for the lounge in hundreds of airports. If this is legit, with all of the travel we do it’d be terrific.

The problem with that is that airport lounges are getting increasingly busy and they do have limited capacity. I have a bank account that has a perk that I get four ‘free’ lounge visits per annum.

On more than one occasion it has been impossible to get entry to the lounge unless you’ve pre booked because it’s full. That is bound to happen to those carrying insurance for entry related to delays, because how do you prebook for a delay?

[bizaro86]

They're partnered with Priority Pass, which means you'll get a priority pass lounge voucher. Potential issues include priority pass not being available everywhere, but the bigger one is that it's the lowest priority. Eg. I have a full priority pass membership, which theoretically includes access to the Westjet Elevation lounge. Only once out of my last 3 trips has it been available for Priority Pass guests when I walked up, because they save space for Westjet business class customers/elites. They're even less likely than normal to have space during times with delays because the people who are higher priority will stay longer.

In terms of pricing, they're probably expecting to sell this mostly to occasional travellers who end up using it 0-1 times per year. In the US priority pass comes with most travel credit cards, so any reasonably serious traveller already has it. The fine print says you don't get the pass until it's actually delayed the hour, so even if a 90 minute delay is published you probably don't actually use it, because you don't get the code until 60 minutes past scheduled departure and by then you'll want to be at the gate for the new departure not heading for a lounge somewhere else.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

They're partnered with Priority Pass, which means you'll get a priority pass lounge voucher. Potential issues include priority pass not being available everywhere, but the bigger one is that it's the lowest priority. Eg. I have a full priority pass membership, which theoretically includes access to the Westjet Elevation lounge. Only once out of my last 3 trips has it been available for Priority Pass guests when I walked up, because they save space for Westjet business class customers/elites. They're even less likely than normal to have space during times with delays because the people who are higher priority will stay longer.

In terms of pricing, they're probably expecting to sell this mostly to occasional travellers who end up using it 0-1 times per year. In the US priority pass comes with most travel credit cards, so any reasonably serious traveller already has it. The fine print says you don't get the pass until it's actually delayed the hour, so even if a 90 minute delay is published you probably don't actually use it, because you don't get the code until 60 minutes past scheduled departure and by then you'll want to be at the gate for the new departure not heading for a lounge somewhere else.

There were significant changes to Priority Pass about a year ago as well where they lost a significant amount of lounges due to a contract change.

[alexle]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Seems too good to be true. HelloVacay has a service where for $39/year if your flight is delayed by at least 60 minutes you get a voucher for the lounge in hundreds of airports. If this is legit, with all of the travel we do it’d be terrific.

Thanks for this. I've never heard about VacayDelay until now.

There is a $29 promo currently https://hellovacay.com/vacaydelay-get-started/ I'd probably give it a try at least for a year since I fly Flair and more often than not, I will experience a lengthy delay

[butterfly]

Doesn't seem like a particularly useful scheme. Delay rates are about 20% and are defined as anything 15+ minutes. I couldn't find data for delay severity.

A portion of these delays occur after the passengers have already been boarded, rendering the benefit useless. It also seems like you have to register every flight with them and likely update it if you switch flights or standby. I'd rather put the $29 toward paying for a lounge when I actually want to use it.

[TimSJ]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Has anyone stayed in Montreal lately? Heading down for a week in October and have no idea where is a good place to stay that won't cost a small fortune.

We were there late August and stayed at the Delta Montreal. Older hotel now but decent not too far from anything.

Was able to get a decent rate using a McGill code for visiting parents. We were there to do a McGill tour with our daughter. They didn't ask for anything on check in code is on the Mcgill website somewhere.

I think we were around $220 a night not cheap but not terrible. We moved up to a Residence inn in Laval later in the week for Baseball Nationals for my son and it was $199.

My personal favorite to stay in Montreal is the Place d'Armes but it is expensive as hell now.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

There were significant changes to Priority Pass about a year ago as well where they lost a significant amount of lounges due to a contract change.

Yeah, I have Priority Pass and it's rare that I even have a lounge in the specific airport and terminal that I'm in. Maybe once a year. Maybe.

Priority Pass really got way worse about 5-6 years ago when they lost the United Club contract. After that, it became largely useless.

[RW99]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Has anyone stayed in Montreal lately? Heading down for a week in October and have no idea where is a good place to stay that won't cost a small fortune.

Just checked out of Travelodge by Wyndham Montreal Centre. It's a decent location and seems to be in the lower end for that area. But that's all you get, don't expect anything to work, or friendly service.

[Weitz]

Anyone with a suggestion for passport photos downtown?

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Anyone with a suggestion for passport photos downtown?

London Drugs.

[flamesfan1297]

Anyone have any suggestions or advice on Seattle? My buddy and I are planning on going for a weekend in December for a Kraken and Seahawks game. Any places we should or shouldn't stay? Flight advice?

[tipenmat]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Has anyone stayed in Montreal lately? Heading down for a week in October and have no idea where is a good place to stay that won't cost a small fortune.

If you are okay staying at a B&B, this place is quite decent and affordable. You get a private room and bathroom, also free homemade breakfast is included. I stayed there this summer. The nice thing is that, unlike other B&Bs the room is separate from the owners living area so you just go through a set of stairs to get to your room:
https://gitedezery.com/home-en/