In this blog I try to highlight good value opportunities in all areas of travel including airfare, accommodation, sightseeing, transportation and food. Further to that goal, I cover a variety of points and miles programs that might be of interest to other Maritimers who enjoy travelling but like to save money. These include Air Miles, Aeroplan, WestJet Rewards, IHG Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, Choice Privileges, Best Western Rewards, Hilton Honors, along with a few others.
For me, taking a trip usually means finding a deal. It has to be an affordable endeavour, not a once-in-a-lifetime splurge, because I know I’ll want to go somewhere else soon enough. I aim for a good value at a low cost – not a shoestring budget but not a big spender’s either. It’s a matter of figuring out the angles to get you where you’d like to go and enjoy yourself once there without breaking the bank. Research and planning is key.
The first vacation I can remember was a short trip to PEI when I was about five years old. I remember the excitement waiting for the ferry and being slightly alarmed at the red soil. We had fun times in Cavendish but then evening came upon us and we had to find a place to stay. My parents had not booked any accommodation. We drove by many, many “no vacancy” signs. Mom later told me she thought we’d be sleeping in the car. Finally we found a B&B with a room although it was just for two people. Thankfully they let us stay and the four of us made it work.
My first plane ride came when I was ten years old. We went to Orlando and I was over the moon. Words cannot describe the joy on that trip. My parents used a travel agent and it was terrific. However, we missed out on some great opportunities because we just went with the flow. There’s certainly value in that approach, but looking back, if we had cracked a book or two (it was pre-internet) we’d have maximized our vacation dollars a little more.
After high school graduation came my first trip to Europe. Again, extreme jubilation. It was a whirlwind organized tour that I wouldn’t recommend, but at the time it was just awesome to be in Europe and I learned a lesson about travelling. My next trip across the pond was for a summer study abroad program in England. I also took the train up to the Scottish highlands to see the village where my ancestors lived before they took off for Nova Scotia. It was incredible.
I’ve travelled quite a bit in North America and Europe in the years since. To make it happen, I’ve been collecting points and miles, analyzing promotions, looking for deals and gathering information on how to achieve good value at a low cost.
I love researching travel. The purpose of this blog is to share whatever interesting deals or tips that I come across that might be of value to other keen travellers. Thanks for reading.