Last Minute Flights from Aeroplan

This week's Aeroplan flight offerings are as follows:

With just a few clicks of a mouse you can cash in your points and be on your way to somewhere warm, somewhere cosmopolitan, somewhere culturally rich or somewhere sporting! The choice is yours.

No points? You can change that too. To sign up and start collecting Aeroplan points is free. Just visit their web site. To get a free flight, sign up for one of the Aeroplan branded credit cards. Then start earning mega miles on grocery and gas purchases. It won't be long before you're in the air!

Why Bermuda?

I titled this blog "Escape from the 204" because every now and then, I get this incredible and spontaneous urge to travel...to escape!  Last week was the golden example of this. The weather forecast for the week ahead looked unbearable.  It was returning to those horrible frigid Arctic temperatures that make us all question why we live in Manitoba.  And that's when I kind of snapped. I didn't want to stick around to see parka weather again, I wanted to walk on the SAND and I wanted to do it as soon as possible!

So, I looked at my travel reward balances and I had enough for a domestic bargain trip. I just had to find one. Finding the trip to save my sanity was actually very easy. A few clicks on the on-line rewards sites (like Aeroplan and Air Miles) revealed my potential last minute destinations.

My options were:  Fort Myers, Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Sarasota in Florida. I could also choose Belize or Bermuda for the same amount of points.

While I did take a minute to consider the Florida destinations, Bermuda was easily the most appealing choice. After consulting various travel sites and the official tourism site of Bermuda, I realized how little I knew about this mysterious island in the Atlantic Ocean and just how badly I wanted to go.

Bermuda is often lumped into the collection of islands known as the Caribbean, but it's really not part of the Caribbean. In fact, it's most accurately described as mid-Atlantic. The weather is temperate, but not hot year round, like the Caribbean.  In February and March you can expect temperatures from about 18C to 25C. That's very comfortable, and indeed about 40 degrees warmer than any February day in Manitoba.

I booked my trip, chose a hotel (The Fairmont Southampton) and instantly my mood lightened. I was starting to feel better already. The anticipation of a trip always gets my blood flowing. Within a day I'd immersed myself in reading and planning for my three nights/4 days in Bermuda.

I vowed to make the most of the trip with early mornings and days filled with exploring and I did just that! I learned so many things about the island and I can't wait to share them with you through this blog! I took over 300 photos and talked to locals and other tourists every chance I got.

Stick with the series and I will tell you why Bermuda is very "Canadian" and also why I think Bermuda is the perfect destination for solo travellers, and also retirees. I'll also let you in on a few budget saving tips that just might bring Bermuda into your price range and onto your "must see" list too.

Bermuda was exactly the escape I needed! I feel re-charged, refreshed ready to contribute again to my family and community with new energy and ideas. It's a good feeling. And that's why I travel.

7 Days Sin City $427 Taxes In

Sometimes you just need to escape.

Sometimes the budget says "road trip" and your soul screams "VACATION."

So what about a week away... $289 plus $138 in taxes, at a 4 star hotel? Sadly it's not on a beach, but it is a veritable hot spot. Or, at least 50C warmer than you are in the 204. And people say the pool there is really nice. You could just enjoy the pool area and NOT be in a parka. So where is it?

Vegas.

Vegas at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

The "catch" in this case is the flights are not direct. You have to travel either thru YYC or YEG. And it's flying out of YWG.

But this IS on road trip budget.

Now this is a full week. And it's a week that includes Super Bowl! Where is the best place on earth to watch the Super Bowl if you are not in New York AT the Super Bowl? Well, Las Vegas of course!

But what if you only wanted a couple days?
Take a look at the second screen shot. The $249 price, for 4 nights ($138 taxes) includes direct flights.
And if your flight is on time,(January 12th) you should be able to score some last minute discounted tickets to see the Zac Brown Band which is playing at the Hard Rock that very night.

But, you know me, I prefer to stay centre strip, where all the action is. And in Vegas, a little enhancement of the budget and you are REALLY going 5 star.

So why not a week at the Cosmopolitan or Aria? Both are amazing. And a typical week at either will normally cost you about $1200.

This is, of course, the kind of deal that makes me want to pull my hair out. I really would LOVE to just chill at Aria for a week, eating crepes and drinking Baileys. But, alas it's not in the cards. With hockey games and a new puppy, well, I'm on an 8 foot leash myself.

Basically, all Vegas is cheap in January. The prices only go up from here, until November when it will be super-el-cheapo again. (sigh)

Just go to westjetvacations.com and find yourself an escape! Prices shown as as of January 8th.

Grenada and Curacao

Now, you simply do not see this kind of package very often. Grenada & Curacao.... those are not your typical Dominican and Mexican last minute deals.

Each of these islands in the Caribbean has had excellent reviews from friends. But I can't remember which hotels they stayed at.

These packages are from aircanadavacations.com

Cuba - this weekend!!

Aren't you just a little bit tempted to race to the airport and leave this winter wonderland? A blowy snowy blizzard makes me want to see a beach immediately if not sooner.

Take a look at these last minute deals from Redtag.ca  

These are reputable chain hotels too! You'll see great Trip Advisor reviews for each of them.