Spend those Air Miles

The Safeway e-auction is back. To over simplify, it's a few weeks a year that Safeway and Air Miles team up to clear out some inventory. There are 2 ways to participate. 1) Group Buy.... meaning you must be quick on the draw (these sell out in minutes) and you are purchasing a specific item that is available in a mass quantity. 2) The auction items take bids for a set amount of time. (I think it's 24 hours) and you compete to win one item.

You must sign up to participate, and you must have an access code per action. The access codes are little square cards you are given at the Safeway checkout line when you buy participating products (like Campbell's Chunky Soup).

So, there are quite a few steps to this. Is it worth it? Maybe. Depends what you are in the market for. However, you need to do the math before even considering buying the gift cards (see example shown at bottom of page). You see, you can redeem Air Miles at the checkout at Safeway any time at all, at the rate of 95 miles per $10...therefore 950 Air Miles is equal to $100 in Safeway credit. Therefore, I can't see any reason other than over-excitement that someone would bid over 1000 Air Miles for a $100 gift card. What a waste.

They have in the past, and elude to in the fine print, that there will be travel items up for auction. If I remember correctly, there was a trip and a couple gift cards last time around.  The Safeway e-auction has been around since 2011 I believe.  I will post if something exciting pops up.

Go Now.... Turks & Caicos... A/C $688 plus tax

Gahhhh!  Sometimes I really hate seeing these deals when I can't go.  $688 plus tax to the Turks & Caicos on a top rated airline? BARGAIN! September 6-13.

Yes, this one hurts. I would LOVE to just have a week to soak up the sun on a relaxed beach and enjoy a hammock and a cocktail.  There is NO BETTER place that I've ever been, for this, than the Turks and Caicos.

As you probably know, these islands have long lobbied to become part of Canada, and though we (not me. Heck no, I would have screamed YES) have denied them, they have gone ahead and welcomed our businesses and banks etc. It is a very familiar, almost Canadian-looking island if that makes sense. They have Scotiabank, Royal Bank, Home Hardware, IGA etc. If it weren't for the palm trees, and brightly coloured buildings, and driving on the opposite side of the road, you might think you were at home.

So, my point is... this is a safe and gorgeous destination. You will walk to shops, stroll on the beach and enjoy a hassle-free week eating great, but pricy food ( remember they IMPORT most everything and don't have an agricultural industry like we do) and enjoy a blissful vacation.

If you want to see pics and read about my 2012 visit, you can click here.

But, I really think you should see it for yourself. Or google "Grace Bay Beach" and see photos and read why the world thinks it's Top 5.

Lastly, why is this package so cheap?

1. Technically, Hurricane Season. But read the data and check the forecasts, the odds of it impacting your vacations are ridiculously low.
2. It's back to school time. Crowds and available travellers are few.
3. It's last minute.

So, the final price, after tax is $956. That's amazing. It's about 50% less than you would pay at other times of the year for the same great resort. As always, I encourage you to go to www.tripadvisor.com and read recent reviews so that you may get a full picture of what you are likely to experience.

And the thing about ALL the resorts at Grace Bay, is that regardless of whether you are paying $3000 for a week, or $956 your toes are on the same perfect sand, enjoying the same perfect views of the ocean. It is a deceptively small area of beach (about like walking 1st street in Brandon) if you are looking at brochures. In reality, you can walk past 10 resorts in about 10 minutes.

So..... grab your Aeroplan card and your Visa and head to www.aircanadavacations.com
or your favourite travel office, or online retailer, like www.selloffvacations.com and book yourself some bliss....discount bliss. And, send me a postcard. I'm jealous already.