It may not be necessary to fly non-stop to get where you’re going, but it sure is nice. Delays that turn comfortable connection times into mad dashes to the gate are not pleasant. There is also the slight annoyance of departing for your trip to Europe by heading in the exact opposite direction to connect in Montreal or Toronto. The chance to fly non-stop might also serve as that last bit of incentive needed to make you book that trip you were thinking about. Here is a run down of the non-stop destinations from Halifax to Europe in 2019. [Read more…]
Should You Buy Choice Privileges Points on May 15th?
Last year was my first time buying points to redeem for hotel stays. I had previously purchased small amounts of points for a seldom used loyalty account to prevent the balance from expiring due to inactivity. This was the first time buying a rather large amount. It goes against my general mindset when it comes to points – their accumulation should be a result of regular spending, a good promotion or an incentive to sign up for a credit card. It turned out to be the right move and saved us money. On May 15th this opportunity will appear again. [Read more…]
Our Nested Aeroplan Itinerary
Last June my mother and I decided to plan a trip or two…or three. We wanted to go to Europe but Vancouver was on the list as well. I had read about nested itineraries booked with miles or money to save on flights. As I understand it, it refers to putting one flight booking inside another. It was a daunting challenge to make everything line up correctly but we did it. Here is how it went. [Read more…]
Blog Posts On The Horizon
I thought I would share a list of ideas for future blog posts. My travels have been limited to North America and Europe so much of the content will be influenced by those experiences and interests. Points and miles also figure heavily in my travel research and planning so those topics will appear frequently. I hope to highlight as many good airfare deals and loyalty program promotions as is feasible along with some assessment of their value. These are in no particular order… [Read more…]
Air Miles MegaMiles 2019 – You Still Have Time!
If you’re an avid Air Miles collector you’re likely already aware of this promotion. If you’re not, there is still time to get it done. The promo ends April 25. If you use 5 offers from different Air Miles partners you get 1000 bonus miles. Using 3 offers gets you 300 miles. The coupons can be found in booklets available at stores or online. (Be sure to check the online version because there are a few that are not included in the booklet) This is a really great opportunity to add to your Air Miles balance. The next best promo is “Shop The Block” in November/December. Here are a few thoughts on why and how to jump on this promotion. [Read more…]
Back to the Blog
After an extended hiatus, I’m going to fire this thing up again. I originally decided to start this blog as a place to put budget travel information that might be of use to someone. That will still be the goal.
I have a lot of great memories from past trips. They are a valuable gift and spur me to create more. Unfortunately, travel is often quite expensive and it can be a time-consuming endeavour to research how to best arrange an affordable and enjoyable trip. I hope to provide some tips and info to help get excellent value for your money or points.
I am also going to try to learn how to give this blog a more polished appearance. Figuring out a complicated Aeroplan itinerary or finding the right accommodation to stay for a week – that’s fun. Figuring out computer stuff – not fun at all. But I will try my best. Any suggestions in that regard are most welcome.
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…]
Choice Privileges Promotion Sept. 1 – Nov. 11, 2016
The loyalty program for the Choice Hotels chain is back with its usual promo – stay twice, get 8000 points and you can earn the bonus an unlimited number of times. It’s straightforward but favours those who tend to stay single nights. It would be great on a long road trip. There are a lot of Choice hotels in the Maritimes. They include brands such as Quality Inn and Comfort Inn among others. See the list here. If you think you might be staying twice at a Choice hotel during this period you should register for this promotion. [Read more…]
Great Fares to NYC from all Maritime Cities
Air Canada has dropped the fare to New York’s LaGuardia airport from everywhere in the Maritimes from now into December. Air Canada’s Special Offers page says this is the last day for booking the sale fare. The lowest I found was from Fredericton to New York (LGA) at $307 on some dates but there are many in the $320-$340 range. I see there are similar low fares on WestJet, and on Porter from Moncton and Halifax to Newark. All have connections. The non-stop on United from Halifax to Newark has not matched. The Delta flight to JFK that ends October 1st hasn’t either. But a cheap airfare to New York is just one piece of the puzzle. You also need reasonably priced accommodation and Autumn is a popular time in NYC. However, if you choose your dates carefully, it’s still possible to get a deal. Here’s an example. [Read more…]
Good 2017 Fares
We’re still in the middle of 2016 but it’s not too early to be on the lookout for good deals for next year. There are various opinions about when is the best time to book airfare. However, the best time is simply when you see a great price. If you’re planning on taking a trip next year but you’re not ready to book flights, it’s wise to start monitoring fares now so you can recognize a drop when it happens. Here are a few good sample 2017 fares I have come across recently. (Note – many of these are available on various dates in 2016 as well). [Read more…]
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