Family Spring Break $1090 incl flights

How's this for one heck of a deal.... And it's on the school break!

3 Westjet tickets from Winnipeg to Kelowna
4 nights exceptionally rated hotel
Breakfast included.

$1087. NOT per person..... TOTAL

Like to Ski? Big White is just minutes away.

Screenshot is from Expedia.ca

The price is so low because Westet has price matched New Leaf Airline's introductory fares to Kelowna, making the price under $200 return. Very limited time offer.

There are a number of area hotels similarly priced.

Montreal vs Manitoba

There are very clear differences between the City of Montreal and the Province of Manitoba. On  our recent trip to Montreal, my son remarked of the differences from home.

His top 5 teenage observations: 

1. In Montreal, they have cool transportation. Subways, trains, tunnels, all underground, efficient and cool. Manitoba...not so much.

2. Everyone in Montreal is bilingual. You don't have to speak French to get around as a tourist. In Manitoba, we have French in schools but it's rare to encounter anyone in public who is fluent in both. A tourist who only understood/spoke French in Manitoba wouldn't have an easy or as pleasant an experience.

3. Clothing and styles are different. In Manitoba women shuffle around in UGGs everywhere. In Montreal we didn't see anyone in UGGs, everyone wears fancy boots and shoes. Men everywhere wear scarves. Women are wearing patterned nylons (like fishnets, colours, and bold patterns), and tights.

4. It is less expensive to see a Montreal Canadiens game than a Jets' game. But each audience is equal in passion for their team. A lot of people in Montreal were late in getting to the game. (Lots of seats empty at the Anthems.) Whereas Jets' fans tend to be very early and wouldn't dare miss shouting "TRUE NORTH" during the Canadian Anthem.

5. Montreal has a lot of smokers. Outside every office building, restaurant and hotel there were smokers on the sidewalk. You often smelled smoke in the air. In Manitoba, it seems really quite rare to see a crowd of smokers.

$3.25 a ride ticket. This rapid transit was efficient & easy to use.

Metro map showcases the detailed transportation system. 

Underground plaza and shopping centres. You go UP to street level.

Fast 5 Travel Tips: HOT HOT Deals

Black Friday sales are abound. You can cash in on travel deals right now.

Here are the first 5 offerings:

1. Westjet.com - flights & vacations on sale. Hot deals include bargains like this one to San Diego California. Look at those flight times...no overnight stop in Calgary and no driving to Winnipeg on icy roads!

2. Aircanada.com Their sale includes destinations across Canada, to the USA, plus International and Sun destinations too. You can travel until April 30th 2016 if you book during this sale. Yes, Spring Break dates ARE included.  One really great deal I spied was to Fredericton, NB. $418! Unbelievable to fly to the Maritimes on Spring Break at that low of a fare. Definitely worth the drive to Winnipeg to board that flight. 

3. Sheraton Hotels are offering 25% off on hotel rooms booked before December 6th. Book now and travel into September, 2016.

4. Redtag.ca is a bonus savings of $15-$100 per person if you book your travel package with them.
There are great deals to Mexico, including 5 star resorts at under $1200 with taxes included.

5. On November 30th there will be a Twitter Travel Auction presented by Air Transat. They are auctioning off vacation packages on twitter. This is the second Cyber Monday auction for them. Funds raised go to charity. Last year's packages were hot sellers, with some going for $1000 less than retail. The trips up for auction will be revealed on November 27th. 

Here's a sample of one of the winning bids from last year. 

My best advice to you in shopping for travel deals this week is to act quickly. The top bargains will sell out easily. And, if it's in your budget, book your Spring Break flights now. It will be the best opportunity for savings on those popular dates. 

You're up early Christmas morning anyway....

What about a getaway to La Paz, Mexico off the Baja peninsula?

Here's a link from theplanetD with their recent, and glowing review.

Westjet will fly you there direct, from Winnipeg Manitoba. Isn't that another bonus? No delays or connecting flights simply means more beach time. However, La Paz is a 2 hour drive from the airport in Los Cabos, Mexico.

There are two things to note about this package, as shown. These are not all inclusive packages, but the hotel does offer a free and fabulous breakfast daily.

The hotel is not a sprawling resort. It's a Hyatt Place, similar to those you would find in Minneapolis, Denver or the like.

Eco tourism activities, like whale watching, sea lion and turtle watching, hiking, paddle boarding and kayaking are some of the most popular recreation activities here.

The price is certainly a bargain. The reviews are outstanding. Will you be putting La Paz on your travel list for Santa?

This price is for 2 adults.

This price is for a family with 2 adults and 2 children. 

This is for comparison. This is the hotel price alone. (and in US $$) 

From Souris to Capilano

If you're looking to take your hike to the next level, you might want to put Souris, Manitoba, or Vancouver, British Columbia on your travel list.

Souris Manitoba is home to Canada's longest historic suspension bridge, but tourists and locals alike call it the Souris Swinging Bridge. It's a perfect day trip from Winnipeg, or a short afternoon outing from Brandon.

Originally built in 1904, it sustained flood damage in 2011 and was rebuilt in 2013 at a cost of over $4 million. It is one of the town's most recognized and most endearing attributes.

If you're a Manitoban and haven't ever detoured off the Trans-Canada highway to visit the Swinging Bridge and the Souris Rock Shop, you're missing out. It's a local treasure!

Via Google Maps

If your budget is more than a tank of gas and an afternoon, you should make sure to visit Vancouver and the Capilano Suspension Bridge.

To read all about it, please check out my friend Carolynne's blog at The Thirsty Tourist.

To follow me on twitter: @cdntripseeker
To follow Carolynne and her blog: @1ThirstyTourist

To add your Canadian travel blog to our reading list, please mention it in the comments.

Visitors Welcome!

Eye spy Vancouver! 

It seems that we have hundreds of new visitors this week. That's wonderful and welcome! Perhaps there's a common desire to escape this polar vortex and get away somewhere warm? I know I feel it!

If you're new here, first know I'm not trying to sell you anything. Simply, I'm a travel junkie and when I spy these deals and can't go myself, I do take comfort and it warms my heart (awwww!) knowing that someone else might be able to go and benefit from the deal.

Why do I look for deals? I'm a Manitoban. Enough said?

What is a bargain? To me, a bargain is something that I would gladly pay more for. It is also good value. Value is a personal and subjective term. But just because something is cheap does not mean it's a bargain. If it seems sketchy, or can't be recommended on Trip Advisor, I'm not interested. I live for the 5 star holiday at the 2 star price.

How do you find the bargains? For the most part, I stick to three bargain hunting principals:

1. Go when others aren't going. (Like stocks, buy low and sell high.) This is as simple as travelling after major holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving.

2. If a market is being advertised, they want tourists. When they want you to visit, there are incentives. And competition among providers (like hotels) makes for better sales.

3. Keep your eyes and ears open. Twitter and other sources like airfarewatchdog.com provide some great tidbits. (Like when AFWD said flights to Boston were on sale from LAX, YVR & DEN, I thought, I wonder if they are on sale from our market too? The answer was yes.) You then just have to follow the trail that leads to the deal.

I have a job and family life, like everyone else, so I typically end up reading, researching and writing late in the evening. So watch for posts in the morning, that way YOU can capitalize on the bargain before the deals disappear.

Prices are time sensitive. That's why I use screen shots, to prove it was there. Prices can change daily or hourly. If you are prepared to act quickly, you get the best prices. As in the old Wheel of Fortune game show motto "once you buy a prize it's yours to keep!"  Meaning:  Once you click confirm and pay for your flight/hotel/package, it's done. That price/bargain is yours to keep - even if it was simply a typo or #deltaglitch. And you can buy the deal anywhere. Click expedia.ca or phone your favourite travel agent. It's up to you. Again, I'm not on commission or affiliated with anyone. Unless YOU want to hire me or pay me to travel and write about it.

I don't get paid to write, but that doesn't mean I don't know what I'm talking about. I might have been a best-selling author at one time, or I might be in the future. I have certainly travelled a fair bit in the last 5 years, and for the last year been documenting it here. Actually, this is an anniversary of sorts, a year blogging about travel bargains. That's 150 posts.

150 posts means there is quite a bit of solid reference material. If you wonder what bargains might appear this April, go back and read last April's blog. History often repeats itself.

I welcome your feedback and interactions. I am media friendly. Simply leave a comment, tweet me or track me down through the friend who sent you here. Whether it's 90 seconds on the radio, or a guest blog post, or even speaking at your staff meeting, we can talk.

I also LOVE MANITOBA. It's a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family. But it's cold, and I strongly believe that every time you travel, and for whatever reason (work, family, entertainment) you learn something and you bring that home with you and enhance your own community.

If you want to read about my finds regularly, please sign up for the e-mail notification. It's not me e-mailing you, it's the blogger system. I won't be using the addresses for anything. I definitely don't post even half my bargains on Facebook or Twitter.

What can you do for me? Share these posts, comment here and give me encouragement to keep doing this. And definitely, give me leads and recommendations on trips you've enjoyed yourself. I'm always searching for new warm and affordable destinations.

Thanks for stopping by. Stay warm!

@cdntripseeker

International Peace Gardens

Take a day trip!





Looking for a "one tank trip" close to home?  Why not drive to the International Peace Gardens at the Manitoba - North Dakota border near Boissevain?

It is located on Manitoba Highway #10 and is just about an hour south of Brandon.

The Peace Gardens are more than floral displays. They also showcase artifacts commemorating our history of friendship and partnership across the border, including concrete peace towers symbolizing our togetherness.

Steel girders from New York and the 911 tragedy are in a memorial display there as well.

This is a popular site for school tours and is a welcoming tourist stop. Plan for 90 minutes or longer to visit. If you plan to include lunch double your time allotted.

When you can't escape

5 fun and fabulous things to do in Manitoba in the winter:

1. Skate the Forks river trail

2. Visit the Festival du Voyager  (Feb 15-24)

3. Explore the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair (March 23-29)

4. Meet the new polar bear, Hudson, at the Assiniboine Park Zoo

5. Take in a concert

Admission to each of these events/activities is $30 or less.

A week later

What a difference a week makes! Last week I was lounging on designer furniture under a patio umbrella wondering if the drizzle (not even heavy enough to be called rain) was going to stop so we could go for a walk or golf again. That was California.

This week it's literally -32C in Manitoba, and that's before the windchill. I'm worried the dogs will freeze solid as they try to pee outside.

My truck was reluctant to start, as am I.

A week ago I had a fancy breakfast with fresh strawberries brought to me on a tray. Later I tidied up the hotel room to make it easier for the maid.

Today I'm scrubbing toilets, bleaching stains from boy clothes and soon, I need to wash the floors at my own house. The maid won't be arriving later. There is no maid.

Real life 101.

But, if the truck won't start and I don't go out today, that saves gas money. Hmmm, a few dollars I can put towards the next trip? Lol.... now that's Manitoba trip logic 101.

Domestic Flight Sale

Good prices announced today by both Air Canada and Westjet for travel within Canada. Some warm destinations are also on sale too, but I didn't see anything on the list worth splurging on.

Take a look for yourself. Maybe it's time to jet to Vancouver and escape the Winter here for a week or two! A quick check of fares netted $440 with Westjet and $460 with Air Canada. Both prices are for Tuesday flights, returning a week later. All taxes and fees included.

Air Canada Sale

Westjet New Years Sale

**As with all flight and vacation prices, variables exist based on your choice of dates, length of stay, supply/demand. Air fares can vary several times a day. The best bargain is one that suits your vacation plans and your budget.

Escaping the 204

I love Manitoba! But I believe that when we travel we make our own lives better. Sharing stories can enrich the lives of others as well. At the very least it can be entertaining.

That in a nutshell is my goal. Travel and tell stories.

The better the bargain I find, the more I will be able to travel. The more stories I have to tell. You see the pattern. I hope you'll tune in and tag along on some of my adventures if you are so inclined.