Win a trip from Lay's Canada

Here's one more Twitter contest with a travel prize!  You can post a photo daily, but you must be over 18 to enter.  #LaysLovesSummer

I'd sure love to win the trip to Italy!

Cheaper than a stay-cation!

Broke? Tied to work? Even if you can't go anywhere, with a little imagination, you can make your own home feel like a fancy hotel. Delight the kids or dazzle your next house guests.

This can work for your cabin, your first apartment and even your RV.

Here are 5 easy ways to make your imagination, stay-cation a 5 star delight for $25 or less!

1) Afternoon tea like the Fairmont. Use the good china or picnic plates, it won't matter.... just invite your guests to join you at 3pm. Cut your sandwiches into triangles. Have veggies and dip. Put Pot of Gold chocolates or brownies on dessert plates. Place a candle on the table.  And of course, drink tea!  But give it a fancy name. "Would you like some raspberry marigold catillion tea? Why yes!"  If you're serving iced tea, make sure to add fruit as garnish and little drink umbrellas.

2) Play some elevator music. Something instrumental. It makes everything seem fancy!  Or play steel drums or Caribbean tunes if you've got an island theme.

3) Buy some sample sizes in shampoos and lotions.  New toothbrushes too. Set them out for your guests. You could even roll your towels and tie them with ribbons.

4) Post an activity schedule.  4pm badminton on the front lawn. 5pm movie trivia. 6pm cocktails on the deck. 9pm storytime by the fire.

5) Serve room service on a tray. Add a single flower from your garden, in a bud vase to emulate the elegance of a Westin hotel.

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Your Dollar Store Shopping List: 

Napkins & matching plates

Note cards or invitations 

Bud vase

Candles 

Serving tray

Tiny cups or ramekins

Grocery Store: 

Strawberries

Chocolates

Colourful veggies

Shoppers Drug Mart/Superstore/The Body Shop:

Sample size shampoo, lotion. 

Toothbrushes

See a pattern? Let's look...

Just for a lark, I decided to go back to my posts from a year ago. Then I did the same search today and was fairly impressed by the data.

In 2013, you could go the last week of summer, as a family of 4 to the Westin Kierland (amazing resort) in Phoenix, for $205.53 per person.

In 2014, the same vacation will cost you $250.19 but includes an extra night!

This is Allegiant Air out of Minot, ND.

I will be interested to try this comparison with other destinations, now that I've been writing this blog for 18 months.  Perhaps we'll be able to predict and nab some awesome bargains together?

Summer flights to Maui

Just when I thought this week was going to pass without any notable bargains, I spied this anomaly.

Screen shot from the On The Fly App

The sale fare is from Winnipeg (YWG) to Maui (OGG) on United Airlines.

Depending on the number of days you stay prices vary in that $600-$680 range. There are excellent flight times available. This is a flight price only, but it does include all taxes etc for the return trip.

Prices are higher, and back to that $850 range by September.

In Maui I stayed at the Maui Coast Hotel and would recommend it. Many people choose to rent condos. There are also some pretty exclusive hotels like the Ritz-Carlton, Westin, Four Seasons, Hyatt Regency etc.

Whatever your budget, you can start a bargain trip with this airfare from YWG. It's at least $200 higher per person to fly out of the USA on this one.

Incidentally, $617 is the round trip price from Edmonton or YEG and it is much closer to Maui!

This appears to be a sale from Canada, by United.  Thanks United!

Pool view at the Maui Coast Hotel

Choosing the right vacation

I've always said that any destination can be great... as long as it fits your needs. And in order to do that, you must be truly honest with yourself regarding expectations, the setting, your travel companions and your budget.

If you want to sit on the beach and read, and your travel buddies want to hike and go sight seeing and to concerts, regardless of destination, you will be wildly challenged to make everyone happy.

Budget:  If you have 5 star dreams, and 2 star cash, you will have your work cut out for you to find a satisfying trip. But it can be done! I live for the 5 star bargain on the 2 star budget.

For this year's summer vacation we have about a 12 day window without commitments. That's pretty hard to find a bargain without flexibility on dates, however, it can be done.

The kids want activities. They want water slides, amusement parks and golfing. I want rest, relaxation and a little fine dining. (Ok, it doesn't have to be fine dining. I just don't want to cook at all. I want a break from my restaurant life.) Harry just wants to sit, read and enjoy his summer vacation.

Based on our budget, and the airline travel points in my account, I narrowed it down to about 5 destinations. Then I started analyzing the prices for flights and various airports. I then considered hotel costs, entertainment and on-site transportation. Ultimately I had about 8 pages of scribbling. Airport codes, airline codes, hotel offers and more. Really, you'd have to be me in order to read it. Or, maybe a doctor's secretary! LOL

I read trip advisor reviews, looked at real photos of the destination and subscribed to area tweets. I talked to friends for their personal experiences and read travel blogs too. Then I presented my family with 3 options within our budget. A) Disneyland B) Fort Myers, Florida and C) The Bahamas.

Each is a repeat destination. We've been there before. We know these locations make us happy and we feel safe. Whatever the kids choose, or whichever flight price hits the mark, we'll be happy.

And knowing that I have evaluated every single acceptable option. And knowing that I have analyzed the bargain possibilities "six ways from Sunday" I'm happy. Whatever we choose... will be great! The 40 hours of research means that I will get a trip that will suit our needs and at a price I can live with. No regrets or second guessing what deal I've missed. I've done my homework. Now it's just time to sit back and let the kids pick our next adventure!