Dreams or Secrets for Christmas?

Pssssst.... that's just the names of the resorts I'm going to talk about.

Yes, there's a whole chain of resorts called "Dreams" and another called "Secrets." Both are all inclusive, both are 5 star luxury chains, but Secrets is Adult only. I guess what you do there on a vacation will remain your secret.

Both are on-sale right now and have Christmas availability. So, rather than jewelry this year, you might opt to wish her away on vacation.

About $2000 per person, is a great deal on these resorts. And they are direct flights, from Winnipeg.

These ultra all-inclusive resorts are located in Huatulco Mexico.  Offered by Sunwing Vacations you can purchase these packages directly through them (www.sunwing.ca) or from a local reseller like Sell Off Vacations. (8th Street in Brandon, or online)

Don't forget to look them up on Trip Advisor to see that this splurge is right for you.

Speaking of dreams, this would be it for me... to pack up and head to Curacao for a week right now. Any of these resorts would do quite nicely. But for me, the biggest bargain on the list is the 5 star Renaissance at $800 plus tax. (That hotel will typically set you back $1700 or so, per person.) The packages are available through Air Canada and include flights from Winnipeg.

This certainly isn't an apple to apples comparison to the two above. (It's not Christmas and not all-inclusive.) But it would definitely go on my Christmas wish list, if I had such a thing. 

Bahamas Jan 17th: $475 & tax

For $860 taxes included ($475 & 385) you can get out of the cold and wiggle your toes in the sand in sunny Freeport, Bahamas.

This is an excellent last minute price from Sunwing vacations. You can book it through Selloffvacations.com which also has a physical travel agency here in Brandon, on 8th street in the strip mall across from Superstore.

For $100 more, you can have an all-inclusive option at the hotel next door. While the Grand Lucayan is rated as a better resort, it is not all-inclusive.  Do read reviews on Trip Advisor so you can make the right decision for you.

Weather there is not super-hot this time of year, like Mexico, but if you would enjoy 25C, sunshine and incredible beaches, you should love this bargain.

I would be on the plane with you, in a heartbeat, except for the fact that I will be enjoying a little league hockey tournament in Regina this weekend. Jealous?

Family of 3? Christmas Vacation Trip

If you're hoping to book a Christmas vacation, you should seriously consider booking before September 30th. Unless, of course you prefer to spend more.

You can budget about $2200 per person for a hot holiday during this peak season.  If you're having a reggae Christmas down in Jamaica, you can plan on about $8000 for a family of 4.

What about a week in Tampa Florida? December 21-28th?

I spotted this deal on Sunwing.ca for a family of 3. The only rooms left are the 1 bedroom suites which can accommodate one adult and 2 children, OR two adults and one child. This might be an absolutely perfect package for a single parent with international travel documents.

It's from Winnipeg, to Tampa and includes a week on the beach, daily breakfast AND a car. Trip advisor reviews are good for this hotel. If you're dreaming of a Christmas vacation on a beach, in a safe and relaxed area. This might be just the ticket!

At a total price of under $3300 Canadian, this might be your Christmas bargain. To book now, you need to put just $750 down and pay the rest in November.

Start your research on the Tampa and Clearwater Bay areas here.

Prices on the rise

After a waste of a couple hours, I can honestly say this is a lousy week to book a bargain vacation. There just aren't any eye-opening ones popping up no matter how hard I look.

And even a quick search of last week's bargains reveal price increases.  For example, the 5 star resort in Freeport, Bahamas has increased $190 per person on the EXACT vacation.

What's the reason for this? There are a few things it could be.

1. Supply and demand pricing. With cold weather across the country, more people are looking to getaway

2. Major airlines are offering big sales on TV and their "sales" aren't often the best bargains.

3. Canadian dollar has dipped. Perhaps the airline has increased price to reflect cost of goods/services.

So, if you haven't booked a February getaway yet, I'd suggest you give it a week. See what surfaces next Tuesday when prices are likely to fluctuate again.