Bet on World Series Baseball?

A few weeks ago I wrote of an amazing price to Los Angeles, California this fall.

Well, some of those bargain prices are still hanging around.  Currently, $337 includes taxes, return flight from Winnipeg airport. (Screenshot from October 2nd)

This is an amazing week to go if you are a baseball fan. If the LA Dodgers win the National League, their World Series home games would take place October 30-November 1st.  (click to see the whole post season schedule.)

Now, if you're a Blue Jay's fan, wouldn't it be AMAZING to see a Dodgers/Jays World Series?

But you also like hockey too? Well, the Staples Center is just down the road from Dodger's stadium. Perhaps you'd like to take in a Kings' game as well?  They host the Nashville Predators on Saturday Night, Oct 31st.

You can pair the flight with a hotel through Expedia.ca and save a few dollars there, booking together. Or, you might like to use Hotwire and book a hotel in the area using their blind purchase system.

Tickets to the baseball games will be pricy. But wouldn't this once-in-a-lifetime California trip be one to remember?

Seriously!! What? YWG to LAX $314 includes tax.

Ok, I had to look at this three times and from three different sites, but it's true. A round trip ticket from Winnipeg, to Los Angeles for about the price of a night at the Jets' game.

$314

I'll say it again.... $314 Canadian dollars, including tax.

October 14-21, but many other great dates available through Air Canada.

You could take this flight from Vancouver for $256. So, Air Canada is willing to give you the round trip connection YWG to YVR for $60. Amazing.

I'm so excited by this find I think I smell burnt toast. Or perhaps I burnt my toast because I was so distracted by this deal.

I'll shut up now, so you can book this before it disappears.

Denver: The Rockies Game

We went to our first Colorado Rockies' MLB game while we were in Denver last week. We've been to a few ballparks before, and always love a good game.

Coors Field, home of the Rockies is located downtown Denver and is an easy walk from most of the hotels.

It's a great stadium, which holds about 50,000 fans and was opened in 1995.

There isn't a bad seat in the house. We opted for Club Seating so that we could get the view we wanted. I positioned us strategically on the first base side, after reading that you get the best view of the mountain sunset from this area. It was indeed beautiful!

We took a good walk around the stadium. There were so many unique concessions to see games to play. It's a fabulous, family evening out.

We got lucky and there were several foul balls hit into the stands nearby. We had our ball gloves with us. (I definitely recommend taking your glove. You might catch a ball, but in the meantime, you can use it to hold your footlong hotdog.)

While I didn't catch a ball, it was really close. A gentleman just two rows back caught one. He was very kind and generous giving that ball to my son. It's a souvenir CJ will treasure!

The home team won this game. There was even a grand slam homerun! An evening to remember for certain.

Blue Jays Trip Contest

Great contest! Open to Canadians. Just 3 days left to enter, today and Tuesdays September 1st & 8th. 

Here's the link to all the rules & how to enter. 

Home of the Braves

Some of my best travel stories have come from detours and wrong turns. Like the night we ended up in Atlanta, at the Braves game.

We were on a flight from Minot, North Dakota thru to Nassau, Bahamas, via Atlanta airport. That's when and where we were delayed and bumped overnight to the next flight. Delta Airlines set us up with a nearby hotel and meals (plus future flight credits) for the inconvenience.

With a free evening in Atlanta, I looked up and found a Major League Baseball (MLB) game starting in 2 hours. We rushed to the stadium only to find out it was a sold out game. Turns out this October night was the one-game playoff to determine which team got the wildcard into the playoffs.  It was the Atlanta Braves vs the St. Louis Cardinals.

The automated ticket kiosks only offered standing room tickets to this big game. I passed. Next up, the scalpers. "C'mon kids, mom's going to make some new friends." But all they had to offer were single seats.

As a last resort, I went to the on site Box Office.  "Don't suppose you have 4 tickets for the game? We're Canadian and my kids have never seen a live MLB game...."  I didn't even have to finish the sentence before the clerk said she had great seats right behind home plate. The visitors (Cardinals) just released their team seats. We could sit right behind the Anthem Singer and special guests. Tickets were $40 each and we were in!

A quick stop at the souvenir booth for a couple of Braves' shirts and hats, and we were cheering for the home team!

It was a heck of a game! But better than that it was an EXPERIENCE. Since then, each of my kids has gone to 2 other stadiums to see 2 more games. Our spontaneous detour in Atlanta helped to ignite a passion for the live game.  A MLB game, with a cold lemonade and an Oscar Mayer hot dog... well, it's hard to beat. One of those must-do events when you travel through America with your kids.

No time to travel?

When you have no time to travel, but you really need a little break, a "stay-cation" might be just the answer for you.

A stay-cation is a modern term used to suggest that you are a tourist in your own back yard. You are staying home, but having a little vacation from the routine. (Who doesn't need a vacation from laundry & dishes? Even if it's just one day!)  By my definition a stay-cation includes any and all destinations you can drive to in 3 hours or less.

Recently, I took an overnight break from work and travelled to The Forks in Winnipeg. I stayed at the very stylish Inn at the Forks, which is right on The Forks Market property and is right in the centre of all the action.  The Inn at the Forks has a special rate for Sunday night stays ($129) meaning that if you can take Monday off and make it a long weekend, you can enjoy a bargain stay-cation.

The Forks Market property includes the Goldeyes Baseball Stadium, the MB Children's Museum, the Johnson Terminal Shops, the skateboard park and the (opening soon) Human Rights' Museum.

There is a number of dining options on site, including kiosks for crepes, greek food, hot dogs, and more. There are also a number of patios perfect for a leisurely drink on a hot day.

You may wish to bring your sneakers as there are miles of great trails and green spaces for your walking enjoyment. There are also river tours that can be arranged at the dock and go out several times a day.

While you are there, treat yourself to a coffee at the Espresso Junction. It's been a jewel at The Johnson Terminal for over 20 years now. I love their coconut cappuccinos!

Really, if you live in the "204" I can't think of a better stay-cation than a night at The Forks.

See the Boston Red Sox

Are you a baseball fan? Wouldn't it be amazing to see the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox play at Fenway Park?  Yes it would! And if you start planning the trip now, you'll nab a bargain.

Delta Airlines has Boston (BOS) Logan Airport on sale NOW. This is true for dozens of departure cities across North America.  In some cases, flights are about 40% off. Sale dates appear straight through until August.

Sales and preferred dates don't last long. I'm guessing you have a 2-3 day window to book your flight. After that you can take your time booking the rest of your baseball dream trip. You might even want to rent a car for a day or two and see Cape Cod and the ocean. How about a seaside lobster roll? Doesn't that sound like a well-rounded week? Now you can sell it as a couples' vacation to your spouse! LOL

Step by step: 

1. Go to the Boston Red Sox schedule and pick the game(s) you like. Baseball often plays 2-4 days in a row at home. This should give you a chance to pick a couple different opponents you wish to see. (Make sure your dates don't align with major holidays/events, unless you wish to pay more)

2. Run your dates through an iphone app like "On The Fly" to get flight prices. (See screen shots below.) Or, go straight to Delta.com. You can then book through whatever travel service you like. If you want to double dip.... go to airmilesshops.ca and then click through to expedia.ca. You will be booking through a trusted operator, plus collecting Air Miles on the value of your purchase. (Which of course, when accumulated can later be used towards a different trip. See how I do this? )

3. Get tickets to the games. Cheapest thru the Boston Red Sox site, but you can also use Stubhub.com if you are looking to score particular seats or a game that is normally hard to get tickets to. Expect to pay more.

4. Watch for hotel deals near Fenway. This is the easy part. No rush...though good to start looking now and watch for loyalty specials with your favourite chain.

Total estimated costs per person:

Flights: $365
Tickets $100 (2 games)
Cabs to/from airport: $35*
Hotels 5 nights $300*
-----------------------------
$800

*Cost split between 2 people
Food/souveniers/tours extra

For my examples I have searched and chosen May 28-31st games. You could see the Atlanta Braves and the Tampa Bay Rays.  There are substantial savings with this flight sale. Best rates are out of GFK. You can choose flight times in both directions that do NOT NECESSITATE an overnight stay in Grand Forks. Awesome flight times available. ***If you don't already have a Delta Skymiles loyalty account. Make sure to sign up first. It costs nothing!

Now that you're booked, enjoy! You've got something amazing to look forward to this summer!

Sit in the good seats

The way I look at things, if you are going to spend a few hundred, or a few thousand dollars to GET to a sports game, you really ought to sit in the good seats. Having the last row in the stadium because they were $30 cheaper is ridiculous.

For me, the memory comes with the view. Loved it every time.

20 Rows up from the catcher. $220 for 4 tickets. Priceless experience!

Delta Field in Atlanta, Georgia. Wild Card Playoff Game Oct 2012