Category: Travel Deals

  • Air Canada introduces Bid Upgrades

    The airline is rolling out an auction-style program where passengers can make a cash bid to upgrade their seat to premium economy or business class.

    It is funny that I have an upcoming Aeroplan flight and received an email to make an upgrade.

    Upgrades are available for select destinations and scheduled flights operated by Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, and under the Air Canada Express banner.

    If you receive an upgrade to Premium Economy Class, you will experience a different class of comfort including a larger seat, extra legroom, priority airport services and more. See the full list of benefits associated with Premium Economy Class.

    With an upgrade to North America & Caribbean Premium Rouge or International Premium Rouge, you will experience an enhanced Air Canada Rouge travel experience including a larger seat, premium meals and complimentary beverages and more. See the full list of benefits associated with Premium Rouge Class.

    The Air Canada bidding system is run by the Montreal-based company, Plusgrade. Its clients include Lufthansa, Air China, Swiss Air Lines and Qantas Airways, which also offer the bid program.

    Would you bid for an upgrade? I like the way Alaska does this – last minute upgrades with great prices at the very end (although they are probably leaving some money on the table).

    Here is a link to the FAQs.

  • Cheap Hotel Stays in Vancouver Through April 2017 -BeVancouver Promotion

    Between now and April 30, 2017, you can receive an American Express gift card worth 50 to 125 Canadian dollars for your first night at participating hotels through the beVancouver American Express promotion.

    It is a good idea to make separate bookings if possible!

    Here are the details:

    • You must book through the beVancouver website and check-in by April 30, 2017
    • You must pay with a Visa, MasterCard, or American Express
    • Bookings are pre-paid and can NOT be cancelled
    • Gift cards do NOT have to be used towards the hotel booking.  You can use them anywhere AMEX gift cards are accepted
    • Only 3 bookings per person for this offer
    • Booking separate consecutive nights at the same hotel will NOT earn you more than one 50, 75, 100 or 125 Canadian dollar AMEX gift card

    Note:  While the promotion says the bookings are pre-paid, folks report certain hotels don’t charge you until you check-out.

    Thanks to Million Mile Secrets for this tip!

  • West Jet Canada Black Friday Flights Sale

    WestJet Black Friday deals:

    westjet-canada-black-friday-sale-at-smartcanucks-ca-500x230

    • Book by: November 25, 2016 (11:59 p.m. MT).
    • For Canadian, U.S., Mexico and Caribbean destinations, travel until: April 29, 2017
    • For European destinations, travel from: January 17 – April 29, 2017

    Lowest fares can be found for travel on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Fares on other days may be higher. Offer limited and subject to availability. New bookings only. Advance purchase required. Blackout dates apply.

    Click here to get WestJet Canada Black Friday sale. 

  • Vancouver Hotels Offering $100-$175 AmEx Gift Cards (ends December 31, 2016)

    Book your stay now with beVancouver.com and they’ll give you a prepaid American Express Gift Card of up to $125 to reward your booking AND an additional $50 American Express Gift Card for every subsequent night you stay.

    be-vancouver

    It’s that simple … book your stay and they’ll give you up to $125 in American Express Gift Cards, book additional nights and they’ll add an extra $50 American Express Gift Card per night.

    Here is a link to the promotion.

  • Canadians: Save 25% on 4-Day or Longer Tickets and Enjoy All 4 Disney Theme Parks

    Finally a deal for Disney (although our current exchange is terrible)!

    multi-day-tickets-sliver

    Here are the conditions:
    -Tickets (unless upgraded with Park Hopper or Water Parks & More Fun Options) are valid for admission to one theme park per day.
    -Tickets and any options purchased must be used within 14 days of first use.
    -Items are priced for Canadian Residents only. Savings compared to the price of the same ticket sold at the Theme Park Ticket Window.
    -All tickets and options are nontransferable and nonrefundable and exclude activities/events separately priced. Water parks subject to rehabilitation, seasonal and weather closures.
    -Tickets will be sold as exchange certificates, which must be redeemed at the theme park Main Entrance for admission.
    All Guests must present a valid Canadian passport to exchange the certificate for a valid ticket at the theme park ticket window or Guest Relations prior to first use.
    -Residents of Canada who are not Canadian citizens must bring valid passport and valid proof of Canadian residency.
    Offer is valid for advance purchase only and is not available at Walt Disney World Resort theme park ticket windows.

    To take advantage of this special offer, you must purchase your tickets in advance between September 16, 2016 and February 28, 2017.

    Be sure to book enough days to explore all the excitement at all 4 theme parks!

    The best part? You can use these discounted tickets at any time during 2016, 2017 and beyond—they won’t expire!

    Here is a link to the promotion.

  • Vancouver Hotels Offering $100-$175 AmEx Gift Cards (ends August 2016)

    For every booking made at one of 36 downtown Vancouver hotels, Travelzoo members will receive American Express Gift Cards valued up to $175.

    vancouver-amex

    What you need to know:

    • Includes a mix of basic, moderate and the most luxurious hotels in the city
    • Gift cards can be used towards any purchase, including the hotel room itself
    • Every additional night booked comes with another $50 AmEx card
    • Covers most dates through August
    • We paired the best available rates with the appropriate gift card
    • Each gift card is valid per stay when you book a minimum of two nights

    $125 AmEx Gift Card for rooms priced $179-$304

    • Ramada Downtown: On Granville, in the entertainment district
    • Sandman Suites Vancouver on Davie: Overlooks English Bay
    • The Sylvia Hotel: Heritage hotel steps from the English Bay seawall

    $150 AmEx Gift Card for rooms priced $329-$450

    • Pinnacle Harbourside: Overlooks Coal Harbour and Stanley Park
    • Residence Inn by Marriott: Studio suites outfitted with kitchens
    • Executive Hotel LeSoleil: Elegant rooms feature marble bathrooms

    $175 AmEx Gift Card for rooms priced $529-$679

    • Pan Pacific Vancouver: Luxury property steps from the cruise ship terminals
    • Fairmont Waterfront Hotel: Chic harbourfront hotel with an outdoor pool
    • Fairmont Pacific Rim: Posh and modern, with a rooftop pool

    Promotion Details

    • Check-in must be before or on August 31st 2016
    • All Bookings must be made a minimum 5 days in advance of the check-in date
    • Bookings can be made using VISA, MasterCard, or American Express
    • This promotion is non-cancellable and non-transferrable
    • All bookings will be made in CAD and any other currency displayed is a representative value
    • Guests will receive their $100, $125, $150 or $175 AMEX Prepaid Gift Card per first 2 nights of booking
    • Guests will receive an additional $50 AMEX Prepaid Gift Card for every additional night after the 2nd night
    • Separate consecutive 2 night bookings at the same hotel will not result in the guest receiving more than one $100, $125, $150 or $175 AMEX Prepaid Gift Card
    • A Maximum of 3 bookings per person is enforced – all subsequent bookings will be converted into normal Best Available Rate bookings (and will apply the corresponding Terms and Conditions) and the guest will not receive an AMEX Prepaid Gift Card

    Click here to find rooms and conditions.

  • T-Mobile U.S to offer “Tourist Plan”: $30 USD for 3 weeks

    Great deal for Canadians travelling to the US!

    T-Mobile is starting a new “Tourist Plan” for $30 USD for 3 weeks of service (starts June 12th).

    tmobile

    Pros:
    Free Sim
    1,000 Minutes of U.S. calling
    Unlimited International Texting to 1,000
    2 GIGS of 4G/LTE data (after that it’s unlimited 2G data).
    WiFi Hotspot/tethering allowed

    Cons:
    No calling back to Canada (use Fongo)
    Can’t renew the plan (at least the sim is free), goes dead after 3 weeks.
    Only 200 megs of data roaming (areas NOT covered by T-Mobile owned towers)

    Here is a link to the promotion.

  • Air Canada Offer: 25% off base fare sale from/to Alberta. Sale ends on May 28, 2016

    Air Canada is running a 25% off base fare promotion for flights to Alberta. Works from all Canadian cities and vise-versa. Book by May 28, 2016 at 11:59pm from your city of departure.

    Seat Sale!
    Seat Sale!

    Travel from June 1 to September 6.
    NOTE: The only period with substantial savings appear to be from early to mid June.

    Apply promo code ‘ALBERTA2016’.

    Source

  • According to Trip Advisor, Best Time to Book a Hotel for Summer Travel In 25 Popular Destinations

    TripAdvisor®, the travel planning and booking site, today announced its “Best Time to Book” report, revealing the least expensive times to book hotels for summer travel in popular destinations around the globe, based on TripAdvisor hotel booking and meta click data .

    trip-advisor

    The research showed that the best time periods to book can vary depending on the region or city where the traveler is looking to visit for summer and that for most destinations, the hotel rates change gradually over time, without dramatic increases or decreases in price.  For example, the least expensive time to book U.S. hotels is within two months of the summer trip, but U.S. hotel prices for summer remain fairly consistent throughout the year, with a relatively modest potential savings of seven percent when booking during the least expensive time period.  By comparison, for European hotels, the best time to book for summer is between three to five months out, when travelers can save 23 percent compared to the most expensive booking period.

    “Travelers researching trips almost always want to know – am I booking at the right time, or will I save money by booking later,” said Brooke Ferencsik, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor.  “The report shows there are a variety of time periods during the year when it’s ideal to book on TripAdvisor depending on the destination, and savvy travelers can use these insights for significant savings when booking their hotels for summer.”

    TripAdvisor analyzed hotel booking and interest in nine popular regions around the world for the summer months of June, July and August. The best time to book was defined as periods when hotel prices were less than the average for the destination.  Below is the breakdown of potential savings for nine world regions and 25 popular world cities when comparing the least expensive to most expensive times to book hotels for summer.

    Best Time to Book Hotels for Summer in World Regions

    • U.S. hotel rates consistent but travelers can save by booking inside 2 months – U.S. hotel pricing remains fairly steady throughout the year, but those booking within 2 months of their summer trip can save 7% on their hotel.
    • Plan for longer lead times when booking summer hotels in Europe – Travelers looking to visit Europe during the summer months should plan to book their hotel rooms between 3-5 months out to save 23% percent versus the peak booking period for the region.
    • Asia value to be had booking inside 3 months – Booking a hotel within three months of a summer trip is the best time in Asia, when travelers can save 23% versus peak pricing. Asia prices rise slightly 3-5 weeks out, before seeing the lowest prices within the final two weeks before the travel date.
    • Within 4 months best for the Caribbean – Booking within 4 months is the sweet spot for Caribbean hotels for summer when travelers can save 7% compared to the peak pricing periods.
    • Modest savings in Central America within 3 months – Booking a hotel within three months of a summer trip is the most cost-effective approach for Central America, when travelers can save 7% compared to peak price weeks.
    • Inside 4 months ideal for South America – Travelers planning a South American trip can find 20% savings by booking within four months of the trip.  For those willing to wait, they can save an additional 2-4% booking within the final few weeks before the travel date.
    • Within 4 months best for Middle East – For those planning a Middle East trip, inside 4 months is the optimal booking period when travelers can save 24%. Prices increase slightly during weeks 3-4 before dropping again for last minute deals within a couple of weeks of the travel date
    • Wide booking window for African hotels – Travelers booking a hotel for summer in Africa can save 21% when booking within 5 months of the trip. Hotel rates rise slightly between 3-5 weeks out, before dropping in the final two weeks before the travel date.
    • South Pacific savings inside 5 months – For summer trips to the South Pacific, travelers can save 19% or more per night by booking within 5 months of their travel date.

    Best Time to Book Hotels for Summer in Popular World Cities for Travel

    • Bangkok – Within 3 months for 16% savings
    • Barcelona – 2-7 months out for 27% savings
    • Beijing – 2-6 months out for 16% savings
    • Berlin – 2-5 months out for 33% savings
    • Buenos Aires – 1-4 months out for 19% savings
    • Cancun – 2-4 months for 16% savings
    • Cape Town – Within 3 months for 13% savings
    • Dubai – Within 2 months for 40% savings
    • Dublin – 2-5 months out for 14% savings
    • Hanoi – Within 3 months for 16% savings
    • Istanbul – Within 5 months for 29% savings
    • Jakarta – Within 3 months for 39% savings
    • London – 3-5 months out for 18% savings
    • Marrakech – Within 4 months for 28% savings
    • Moscow – 4-7 months out for 55% savings
    • Mumbai – Within 3 months for 17% savings
    • New York City – 2-4 months out for 25% savings
    • Orlando – 1-4 months for 10% savings
    • Paris – Within 4 months for 32% savings
    • Prague – 2-5 months for 33% savings
    • Rio – 3-5 months out for 11% savings
    • Rome – 3-5 months for 32% savings
    • Singapore – 2 weeks to 5 months for 26% savings
    • Sydney – Within 5 months for 34% savings
    • Tokyo – 2-5 months for 31% savings

    Here is a link to the article source.

  • Leap Year Into Savings at Starwood Hotels

    Starwood Hotels and Resorts across Canada are offering guests savings so great they only come around once every four years.

    Today only (Feb. 29), participating Sheraton, Westin, Four Points, Le Méridien, W, Element and Aloft hotels are offering travellers the chance to enjoy up to 29% off stays through April 30.

    The Leap Day sale is a limited time offer that must be booked by 11:59 p.m. EST today (Feb. 29). Rates vary by property, based on single/double occupancy and availability.

    A limited number of rooms are available at each property and blackout dates may apply. Rates require full advance pre-payment, rates are non-refundable, plus taxes and are commissionable to travel agents. These rates are not applicable to groups.

    Here is a link to the promo.