Canadian Travel Hacking

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  • Free Hyatt Platinum Status

    Hurry!

    fast-track

    This is a great open link (although intended for Microsofties – aka Microsoft employees).

    Microsoft Strategic Sourcing GPG has partnered with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts to create this exclusive, best-in-market Hyatt Gold Passport offer for MS employees.

    Upgrade to Platinum Status
    Register to enjoy the premium perks of Hyatt Gold Passport® Platinum membership through February 2015 when staying at Hyatt hotels worldwide. With this exclusive offer, you can experience the premium benefits of Platinum status including a 15% point bonus, complimentary in-room Internet access, 2 p.m. late check-out and more. Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, every stay at Hyatt will be even more rewarding.

    Additionally, with just 4 stays or 10 nights in 2014 you will maintain Platinum status through February 2016 – that’s 1 fewer stay or 5 fewer nights than normally required to achieve or maintain this elite status.

    Fast Track to Diamond
    Once you’ve achieved Platinum status, you will be registered to achieve Diamond status even faster. After only 20 stays or 40 nights in 2014, you will be upgraded to Diamond status through February 2016 – that’s 5 fewer stays or 10 fewer nights than normally required to achieve this elite status. You will enjoy elite benefits and rewards including a 30% point bonus, exclusive access to the Regency Club® or Grand Club® lounge, suite upgrade awards and more.

    Already a Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum member? 
    Re-achieve your Platinum status through February 2016 with just 4 stays or 10 nights in 2014 and also be on your way to earning Diamond Status sooner, after only 20 stays or 40 nights in 2014 with the Microsoft Fast Track offer.

    Already a Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond member? 
    Re-achieve your Diamond status through February 2016 with just 20 stays or 40 nights in 2014 with the Microsoft Fast Track to Diamond Status offer.

    Your mileage may vary. It seemed to work for me (status was upgraded).

    Source was Points, Miles, and Martinis.

  • Air Canada Promotional Code: Save 15% Off Fall Travel Within Canada

    Book a fall flight with Air Canada by April 21st, 2014 and save 15% off!

    air-canada

    Simply enter the promotional code 15SPRING right at the booking menu to save 15% off your flight between September 8th, 2014 and December 14th, 2014. This coupon will not work between October 10th and October 13th, 2014.

    This coupon code will not help you get to somewhere warm in the states as it is only valid on flights within Canada, but it is still a fantastic offer. Seats are limited so make sure you book your desired seats as soon as possible.

    The fares indicated on the Air Canada website are ONE-WAY per person.

    Click here to check out the Air Canada Fares an Save 15% off Your Fall Flight Within Canada!

  • Melia Giving 12,000 Free Hotel Points For Signing Up – Enough For A Free Hotel In Europe

    To get started on this offer, head over to their website, where you must first sign up for Melia Rewards. Next, you’ll have to sign in to your account and you should see your account balance reflect 12,000 MeliaRewards points. You can then redeem these points for a free night and several of their properties.

    melia-rewards-free

    The following hotels have been confirmed to have rooms available for under 12,000 points:

    Croatia

    • CampingIN Park Umag
    • Apartments Polynesia
    • Sol Katoro
    • Sol Stella Apartments

    Egypt

    • Melia Sharm
    • Sol Cyrene (All inclusive for 9k points)
    • Sol Sharm (All inclusive for 9k points)
    • Melia Sinai (Bed&Breakfast)

    Germany

    • QGreenhotel by Melia, Frankfurt
    • TRYP Bochum-Wattenscheid
    • TRYP Centro Oberhausen
    • Tryp Celle

    Majorca

    • Tryp Palma Bosque
    • Sol Cala d’Or Apartemntos
    • Sol Trinidad
    • Sol Alcudia Center Hotel Apartamentos
    • Sol Kathmandu Park&Resort

    Spain

    • Tryp Madrid Airport Suites
    • Tryp Madrid Gran Via
    • Tryp Leganes
    • Tryp Madrid Chamartin
    • Tryp Madrid Chamberi
    • Tryp Madrid Alcala 611
    • Tryp Madrid Washington

    Portugal

    • TRYP Covilha Dona Maria
    • TRYP Montijo Parque
    • TRYP Porto Centro

    Terms & Conditions says a minimum of 3 nights stay, but I was able to book a room for 1 night, so were others. Points must be used by the end of April other 10,000 of them will be forfeited (you keep 2,000 as these are the regular sign up points you get).

  • Free Club Carlson Gold Elite Status

    I love travel hacking – part of smart travel is getting elite status. If you are looking for elite status, this is a perfectly easy way to achieve status.

    amex-club-carlson

    American Express has a targeted promotion for its European cardholders that includes free Club Carlson Gold Elite status through February 28, 2015, but it appears that anyone can register as long as they have a European address. Be sure to use your real name but use your real alternate Europe address.

    Benefits include discounts on food and beverage, free internet, room upgrades, a 35% earning bonus, early check-in, late check-out, welcome amenity, and guaranteed availability 72 hours in advance.

    Remember that you can status match this with other chains.

  • Air Canada to offer WiFi

    Air Canada will begin offering WiFi on North American flights next month with a plan to offer the service on all its North American narrow-body aircraft by the end of next year.

    air-canada

    The airline has two Airbus A319 planes offering WiFi now in a test project and has hooked up with in-flight WiFi provider Gogo to equip 29 aircraft this year and the rest of its Airbus, Embraer and Bombardier planes by 2015.
    “In today’s connected world, our customers want to access e-mail, mobile device applications and the Internet wherever they are, both to increase their work productivity and expand their leisure options,” Ben Smith, Air Canada executive vice-president and chief commercial officer said in a statement Wednesday.

    The deal with Gogo includes testing a WiFi system for international flights, Air Canada said.

    Gogo Inc., based in Itasca, Ill., said about 2,000 aircraft now use its service.

    WestJet Airlines Ltd., said in February that it has signed a deal with Panasonic Corp. of Japan to offer a new entertainment system on its Boeing 737 aircraft that allows passengers to watch television and movies and gain access to the Internet with their electronic devices.

    As well as a marketing tool, the move to offer WiFi will also boost Air Canada’s revenue.

    Charging for WiFi service is part of the effort by all airlines to raise ancillary revenue, or funds generated from services or other fees in addition to airfares.

    The direct charge for the services is one way of raising money, but airlines also encourage passengers to shop online and onboard for boutique items such as perfume and chocolate.

  • US$1849 – Disney World: 6 Nights w/7-Day Park Tickets for 4

    I have never been – maybe I won’t go until the kid(s) are older but a great deal for some families out there.

    disney-deal

    Families of four save US$171 on regular rates when staying in a Standard room at their choice of the following select Disney Value Resorts: Disney’s All-Star Sports or Disney’s All-Star Music.

    Stay in the middle of the magic with this package that includes:

    • Six nights accommodations for four guests (two adults, one junior, one child)
    • Seven-day Magic Your Way Base Ticket (per person) that includes admission to any one of the four Theme Parks per day
    • Complimentary parking and transportation throughout Walt Disney World Resort
    • Extra Magic Hours: Each day, one of the Theme Parks offers extended hours, so guests can stay longer at select attractions

    Stay most nights Aug. 3-20 for US$1849, or July 1 – Aug. 2 for US$2092 (savings of US$231).

    This is part of a larger offer for select Disney Value, Moderate, Deluxe and Deluxe Villa resorts. Inquire at booking for pricing.

    Note: Tickets are valid for one theme park per day and expire 14 days after first use. Offer valid with two adults, one junior aged 10-17 and one child aged 3-9. Different rates available when both children are 3-9 or 10-17.

    Courtesy of TravelZoo Canada.

     

  • Free 2,500 Aeroplan miles for a Volvo Test Drive

    If you’re in the market for a new car, take a look at the 2014 Volvo S60, XC60, or XC90. Because until May 31, 2014, you’ll not only get the exceptional safety and stylishness that Volvo is known for you’ll also drive off with 25,000 Aeroplan® Miles. Plus, if you upgrade one of these models to the R-Design package, you’ll earn an additional 15,000 bonus miles, for a total of 40,000 miles.

    aeroplan-volvo-test-drive

    By the way, for a limited time, you can also earn 2,500 Aeroplan Miles just for test-driving a 2015 Volvo V60 Sportswagon.

    Not too shabby! I wonder if my wife and I each test-drive will they give us 5,000 total?

    I hope I don’t walk away buying another vehicle though.

     

     

  • Canadian Travel Hacking in the Toronto Star

    Welcome Toronto Star readers!

    toronto-star

    I am happy to see my family in the article (a photo from our first family holiday to Europe in beautiful Portugal). The only error was my wife’s name (should be Lina)!

    I offer my tips on savings on travel hacking.

    My top tip at the moment is getting the American Express Platinum Card – currently has a 60,000 Membership rewards points bonus (equal to $600 of free travel or 60,000 Aeroplan miles -enough for 2 round trip tickets anywhere in Canada or a ticket to Europe).

    Here is a copy of the article.

  • Vancouver to Los Angeles, California | $224

    the first two weeks of May seem to be a target for price drops, as you can see from this Google Flights search…

     

    Using Google Flights you can find sub $225 fares from YVR to LAX the first 2 weeks of May.

    https://www.google.ca/flights/explore/#explore;f=YVR;t=LAX;li=3;lx=5

     

    Source

  • Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has been named by Skytrax as North America’s best airport

    For the fifth consecutive year, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has been named by Skytrax as North America’s best airport.

    yvr-logo

    The announcement was made in Barcelona earlier today during the World Airport Awards – a global benchmark of airport excellence that is known within the travel industry as the Passengers’ Choice Awards.

    The rankings are based entirely on independent passenger surveys and is held in the highest regard for its impartiality and integrity.

    YVR Airport was also named the world’s best airport serving between 10-20 million passengers, ranked 2nd in the North America’s best airport staff list, and ranked 9th overall in the world’s best airports list (just behind Zurich and ahead of London Heathrow). The Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel on the east end of the terminal building was named the best airport hotel in North America.