Help!! for Sun-Starved Canadians
A few weeks ago, around my husband's birthday, we were thinking
of taking off for a quick package-deal week in the sun. We
never got to go because I was too busy at work, but we started
looking into it anyway.
I am usually not the greatest fan of package vacations since
I like to explore foreign places on a more individual basis,
but they do have their proper place as a getaway. Particularly
in a cold northern country like Canada, where the yucky weather
can start in October and drag on into April, with occasional
errant snowstorms in May!!!!
A winter like this would be bearable.
Package deals are great for stress relief, for slouching on
the beach, sipping margueritas, playing some beach volleyball
and having some all around affordable unadulterated fun. Packages
usually include flights, airport transfers, all meals and
some activities, so they are definitely one of the least expensive
and most convenient ways of getting away from the snow.
So we started looking into cheap affordable package getaways
and there are a number of great online sources to check into.
Here is a list of helpful websites (in alphabetical sequence)
to start you off on your package holiday shopping:
www.bookitforless.ca
www.belairtravel.com
www.destina.ca
www.exitnow.ca
www.expedia.ca
www.flightcentre.com
www.itravel2000.com
www.lastminuteclub.com
www.redtag.ca
www.selloffvacations.com
www.sunholidays.ca
www.sunquest.ca
www.sunwing.ca
www.thetravelhotline.com
www.wholesaletravel.com
These websites offer convenient search engines where you can
check out destinations and book holiday packages within minutes.
Booking last minute (literally a day or two prior to the departure
date) is usually not a problem, particularly in months from
October to about January (excluding Christmas) since they
are not prime travel time. February and March, when the deep
winter blues hit, may make it more difficult to secure equally
low priced vacation weeks since the demand shoots up at that
time of year.
Popular inexpensive destinations include Cuba, the Dominican
Republic and Mexico. All these destinations offer beautiful
beaches and a great variety of recreational activities. In
addition, for the more inquiring minds among us, they are
also countries rich in culture and history.
Mexico's Puerto Vallarta: A perfect destination for Northerners
tired of our harsh winter.
In particular, we were looking into the Dominican Republic
and places like Santo Domingo boast a rich colonial history.
Christopher Columbus' brother, Bartolomé Colón, founded the
Dominican Republic's capital city, originally named La Isabela,
in 1496. A number of New World 'firsts' occurred here, including
the first cathedral, university, monastery and hospital. This
is also where Spanish conquistadors set off to conquer the
rest of the Caribbean, and regions of North, Central and South
America.
Puerto Vallarta's famous mermaid statue.
Cuba and Mexico equally offer great opportunities for travelers
who are interested in history, architecture, culture and music.
So despite the low prices of these destinations, they offer
a great mix of relaxation and tourist attractions. I found
packages from about $400 and up, excluding taxes, departing
the next day.
Florida destinations like Orlando also offer package deals
that include flight, hotel and car on a last minute basis
from about Can$380 and up, meals not included. Departure taxes
also need to be added and they usually range between $150.00
and $250.00, depending on the destination. So from about $600
and up you can actually get an all-inclusive break from the
slush and snow that the rest of us get to enjoy.