The best point redemption deal in the world of hotel loyalty programs is back – the IHG Point Break list. Hotels on the list may be redeemed for only 5000 points per night for stays that take place before the end of October. However, there are a few important things to remember. First, the most popular hotels will drop off the list fairly quickly and revert to their original points rate. Also, you may only make up to two bookings at any one hotel. There are two participating hotels in the Maritimes. [Read more…]
Airfare Update
There are some great fares within Canada and to Europe, including the return of the super Moncton – Toronto fare. These are available on certain dates only so you need some luck or flexibility to use them. If you’re going to be on the move, see if you can book an open-jaw flight using the “multi-city” or “advanced search” feature on the booking site. Remember, with Icelandair you have the option to add a stopover in Iceland of up to 7 nights. Here are a few I found with some examples. [Read more…]
Aeroplan Stopovers in North America
A great feature of Aeroplan is the ability to include a stopover in your trip using the “multi-city” search option. For flights in Canada and continental USA (25,000 long-haul and 15,000 short-haul “fixed mileage”) you can book either an open-jaw itinerary or one with a stopover. The stopover can be of any length. This is a great way to get some added value for your miles. It also makes for some interesting destination combinations. [Read more…]
Converting RBC Rewards to Avios (2016)
There is currently a promotion that awards a 30% bonus when RBC Avion cardholders convert at least 10,000 RBC Rewards points to British Airways Avios points until July 31. These points can be used to book flights with airline partners of British Airways. From Halifax, that means you can use them for flights on American Airlines. Here are a few AA flight redemption examples along with a couple of ways you can earn some additional Avios points. [Read more…]
Renting Timeshares
Before I get to the stuff about renting a timeshare, I’d like to mention a bit of important info. If you know someone who just recently bought a timeshare directly from a developer for a lot of money, please remind them to check the rescission period in the contract (for example, it’s 10 days in Florida) and examine the re-sale market for the one they purchased. I know there are exceptions, such as winter weeks at ski resorts, however many timeshares can be purchased resale for a tiny fraction of the retail price or for free. [Read more…]
A Few Low Fares in August
As it’s nearly the middle of July, I guess we’re getting into last minute territory for booking a trip that involves flying somewhere this summer. If anyone is looking to go outside the Maritimes here are a few destinations that currently have low fares on certain dates in August. [Read more…]
Buying IHG Points
There are times when buying hotel points can save you money, either by topping off your account so you have enough for a free stay, or by buying the entire points amount required. IHG is a hotel chain that includes Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Crowne Plaza, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites, InterContinental, Indigo and Even hotels. Here are a few different ways you can buy IHG points. [Read more…]
$50 USD Delta Voucher for 250 Air Miles
Every Monday the Air Miles website usually posts new travel specials for Air Canada and WestJet. Today there was something new – a Delta Airlines $50 USD travel credit voucher for 250 air miles. This is a great value per mile. However, there are a few reasons why anyone from the Maritimes might want to take a pass on this one. [Read more…]
London Trip Cost
With the great fares to London at the moment, some might be pondering a trip across the pond. I thought I would add up what a week in London might cost when you consider the rest of the expenses. Included are flights, accommodation, transportation and sightseeing. The cost of food was left out as that will vary depending on the travellers’ preferences. Here’s an example for 4 adults departing from Halifax. [Read more…]
Air Miles Redemptions
The impending expiry of Air Miles has been in the news a few times. If you’re a collector and you haven’t already, you should find out if you have any Air Miles set to expire at the end of the year. If so, you’ve got to decide how you want to redeem them. Here are a few travel-related redemption options for getting good value for your Air Miles. [Read more…]