Palm Springs Break

A quick search of a bargain 5 star vacation in January leads to two destinations:  Las Vegas & Palm Springs.  Each of these mini-vacations gets you a 3 or 4 night stay in a desert location. One with bright lights and action.... the other, Palm Springs.

Palm Springs California is known for its retirement living, its sunshine and golf. It's also home to a wide range of rental accommodations. From trailers and condos, to 5 star resorts and time-shares.

Each of these hotels shown will satisfy your need for 5 star luxury, access to golf and relaxation. The Westin is located 8 kms from the airport and the Hyatt 24kms. The Hyatt is home to the Golf Channel's reality show the Big Break. Tune up your golf game at one of their clinics, or just enjoy the scenery on your own terms.

Wine Tour to Kelowna

I've heard criticisms of Westjet's flight times and connections regarding the daily flight from YBR. Well, I'm here to prove that wrong.

How about a wine tasting trip to Kelowna, BC? Wouldn't this make a fabulous girls' trip? Or even a romantic couples' long weekend get away? Guys' golf trip?

This price is current as of the evening of September 5th.  See the variety in flight prices? But see the fabulous connection times? No layovers or extra night in an airport hotel. Ideal!! Be in Kelowna in time for a lovely sunset dinner.

Choose hotels along the coast, $100 and up per night. Wine tours are abundant in this region and can be as little as $75 for a guided afternoon bus tour.

A great site to start planning your trip to suit your own tastes and needs is:  http://www.tourismkelowna.com/do/wine/

A moderate hotel, with prime location and Canadian roots is the Coast Capri Kelowna.
Coast is the hotel chain's name. Coast is a brand which hails from BC and has expanded into Alberta. They are super! They have a customer reward/loyalty program and I would not hesitate to stay with them again. They do not have 5star amenities and are not a Fairmont, but certainly meet my needs and I travel frequently!

Today's rate for 21st-24th is $126 plus taxes. They are a short walk from the ocean and shopping, restaurants and more. They do offer a shuttle and free WIFI.

So the way I look at this getaway, it's $635 per person and includes either a wine tour or golf game.

$360 airfare, $200 (per person for 3 nights), $75 for wine tour/golf. That's a great little trip, originating from your own back yard.  See Westjet.com or your local travel agent to book your choice of dates.



See below for recent reviews from Tripadvisor.ca

Westjet site screenshot from 10pm September 5th. Prices are ever changing and only guaranteed in the booking process. 

Golfing in January

My son and I golfed 9 holes together at the cost of $25. Quite the bargain considering the fun we had, not to mention the breathtaking view of the bay at Newport Beach, California.

We golfed at our hotel, at their on-site executive course. It is a very short, pitch and putt "practice" style course. The longest hole is 100 yards. That being said, it was perfect for us. The holes had curves and sand traps and inclines and declines. They challenged us as much as we needed to be challenged. 

Since January is still winter in California, there isn't that much demand for golf, hence the bargain. We practically had the course to ourselves. Again, this was a researched and planned event, resulting in our maximum satisfaction.

If I have to say so myself, my game was "on" by the sixth hole. I felt like I was in a groove.  A good time was had by all!

Golf in Arizona?

If you live in the 204, your main airport is Winnipeg. (James Richardson International) It's airport code is YWG. However, it's not that convenient if you live in Brandon or Boissevain, Melita, or Morden. My way of thinking is that if it takes you 2 hours to the nearest airport, you might want to consider other options.

As I see it, those other options are just across the USA border, in Grand Forks, Devils Lake or Minot North Dakota. Each is within an hour or so of the border.

Allegiant Airlines has made a business out of flying from smaller airports and often border towns. Allegiant is represented in both Grand Forks (GFK) and Minot (MOT). They do not fly out of Devils Lake.

That's why I keep my eye on a few different airports.

If you'd like to hit the links in Arizona this February, you can fly Allegiant on February 24th into the Mesa AZ airport. It's a direct flight. Return flights, taxes in are $268 per person. To add four nights hotel at the Arizona Golf and Country Club makes it $515 per person.

If you'd rather stay at the Westgate area, which has both the home of the NHL Coyotes & NFL Cardinals on site it's $610 per person. However.... I think if that's your preference you'd find a better price calling the hotel directly and bargaining with them. I say this as the Cardinals missed the playoffs and the Coyotes are on strike... therefore no games.  I use this as an example because Westjetvacations.com offers the same hotel.

Same dates, same hotel with Westjet is $850 per person, all in. Note that Westjet flies out of YWG only, not GFK.

**Prices are subject to change. Various dates net various prices. Examples are current to publishing date.