The latest IHG Rewards PointBreaks list is out. These are IHG hotels with redemption rates temporarily lowered to between 5000 and 15,000 points. If you’ve got some points, booking one of these can be a great way to maximize their value. I’m actually quite pleased with this list. If any of the hotels interest you be sure to lock in a reservation sooner rather than later because supply is limited and they will revert to the original redemption rate. [Read more…]
We Booked A WestJet Member Exclusive Fare – Was It The Right Move?
I recently wrote about the annual passholder discount for the onsite hotels at Universal Studios in Orlando. The 3 hotels in the premier category offer the added perk of unlimited express access to many attractions in the parks. Upon finding 2 nights at the lowest rate, we made a speculative booking. We also booked a nearby Doubletree on Hilton points for the arrival night. A couple of days ago we went ahead and booked a flight. [Read more…]
Interesting Stopovers On One-Way Alaska Miles Flights From Halifax
I previously wrote about ways you can collect and use Alaska Mileage Plan miles. The flights for which you can redeem these miles are relatively few out of Halifax. Still, within those options are further opportunities to maximize the value of your miles by including an extra destination in your trip. Alaska Mileage Plan generously allows one to add a free stopover on a one-way redemption. I played around on the Alaska Airlines website to see what possibilities exist and there are some interesting ones. [Read more…]
Universal Orlando Hotel AP Rates – Confusion, Perseverance And Deals
About a year ago we booked 2 nights at one of the 3 deluxe onsite hotels at Universal Orlando as part of a short December trip. We took advantage of a great opportunity to get a rate that is somehow both a bargain and a splurge. Our other nights were spent at a nearby Best Western on points. It worked out so well that we decided to try again this year. However, the website is doing strange things. We did eventually find a rate similar to last year so we made a speculative cancellable booking in case we decide to do a repeat trip. [Read more…]
Cheap Flights Halifax To Europe In October (Mix And Match One-Way Fares)
Sometimes you need to get a little creative to figure out a good flight deal to Europe. A nice thing about WestJet and Condor is the ability to book a one-way flight at a reasonable fare. This allows you to combine separate flights on different airlines into one reasonably priced trip. In contrast, if you look at one-way fares to Europe on Air Canada your search for a deal will hit a dead end very quickly. While checking today I noticed a few great one-way fares in October. [Read more…]
IHG Points Sale (Until June 8, 2019) 3 Maritime Deal Examples
IHG Rewards Club occasionally offers a bonus on the purchase of points. Until June 8th you get 100% bonus (double the points) if you buy at least 7000 points. Sometimes the bonus will vary for different members but this one appears to be the same for everyone. Below are a few examples of how you can save on a stay at certain hotels in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. [Read more…]
Low Hotel Rates In Chicago June 30 – July 7
Finding an affordable trip is like putting a puzzle together. You need an appealing destination, good airfare and reasonable hotel rates. Searching for ways to lower the cost of your trip with reward points makes the challenge even harder to complete. If you have an interest in visiting Chicago this summer, here is one piece of the puzzle to get you going along with a few flight options. [Read more…]
IHG Point Breaks (June – August 2019)
The IHG Point Break list just came out this afternoon. If you have IHG points this is one of the best ways to maximize their value. Hotels on the list are discounted significantly from their regular point rates. The Point Break list is the main reason I pay attention to the IHG loyalty program. However, it’s always hit or miss whether there will be a hotel on the list that I’d actually like to book. And the best ones run out of availability fast. Here are a few thoughts on the current list and Point Breaks generally. [Read more…]
Good Fares Halifax To Europe June 2019
If you’ve got some time to head across the pond next month, here are a few options. I’ve mentioned before that I tend to consider airfares from Halifax to Europe under $800 to be a good deal. I up the ante a bit for flights in July and August. But flying within the next 30 days is in last minute territory and scoring a bargain can be a challenge. I took a look today and here is what I found. [Read more…]
Fall Fares and Trip Ideas (2016)
It’s now September but there is still time to plan a nice trip somewhere this Autumn. The airfares to Europe this year are the lowest I have seen since I started paying attention several years ago. If you’re contemplating a trip across the pond this is a great time to go. Here are a few examples of fares currently available for travel in the next couple of months. Some are available on later dates as well. If you’ve got time to visit more than one location take a look at open-jaw fares. [Read more…]