A Scotiabank survey has revealed that 80 per cent of Canadians are desperate to get away somewhere sunny. Are you one of them? Me too. Given the winter we’re having, who can blame us?
Scotiabank partnered with travel expert Corinne McDermott to provide us with her five tips on where to start, where to book, where to go, how to pay and what to bring.
Here are Corinne McDermott’s Top Five Tips For Winter Travel:
1. Where to start?
• Have a conversation with your fellow travellers to determine what kind of vacation you want. Involving the kids and/or your partner is essential – it changes expectations so everybody is on the same page. From food and culture, to action and adventure, to rest and relaxation, landing on this helps to narrow down destinations and makes sure everyone is considered.
• Have an approximate timeline in mind. Whether you’re planning a minibreak for Family Day long-weekend or an extended trip over March Break, securing your vacation timing helps determine where you should go and what you’ll have time to do.
2. Where to book?
Spend a bit of time examining travel websites for the best deals and promotional codes. Travel providers have promotions on a daily basis, so following Twitter feeds or signing up for email blasts can be a great way to keep on top of deals. Pricing fluctuates without any rhyme or reason, so if you do see a trip and the price is right, book!
3. Where to go?
Family Day weekend is a great excuse to play in the snow at a nearby resort, or even a staycation at a local hotel. Many offer attractions deals and discounts, so you can see your city like a tourist without the distractions of home.
March Break sees the crowds and prices grow, but there are still a lot of great options out there! Are you looking to lounge on the beach, or do you prefer a more action-packed getaway? By answering these questions you can narrow down your list and then select your vacation based on price. Places like Mexico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic often have great deals for all-inclusive resorts, and flights are usually short. Driving south to Florida is another option that can help keep costs low.
4. What’s your budget?
Determining your budget is a good way to narrow down the countless options of destinations. One of my travel secrets is to use a travel rewards credit card to keep the cost of a vacation more manageable. My best piece of advice is to get one that is flexible, suits your lifestyle, and earns the most points on everyday purchases. A really great card on the market right now is the Scotiabank Gold American Express card because you can earn four times the points at gas stations, grocery stores, on dining out, and entertainment. For flexibility, Scotiabank Gold American Express allows you to book with any travel provider, making the process so much easier, and allows you to jump on travel deals right when you see them. Not to mention, as a loyalty card it allows you to earn points towards your next vacation while you’re still on vacation. Other bonuses include no blackout periods, the ability to use rewards points to cover fees and taxes and, the ability to redeem your trip when you want, even after you’ve returned from your vacation. And if you don’t have enough points to cover your entire trip, you can always pay for part of your travel with points and the rest with you card.
5. What to bring?
If you’re travelling as a couple, pack as lightly as you possibly can. Challenge yourself to only use carry-on luggage if you can swing it! You’ll end up packing what you need and will save on baggage fees.
As a parent, packing can be more challenging, and getting there is no longer half the fun. If you’re traveling with babies, toddlers, or kids, make sure your carry-on is stocked with the following essentials, so you’re prepared for any type of delay:
- Diapers and wipes (twice as many as you think you’ll need)
- Pack some snacks (twice as much as you think you’ll need)
- Special blanket or a stuffed animal
- A first-aid kit including anti-histamine and pain-relief medication
- Crayons and paper
- A smartphone or tablet. You won’t regret it.
Here are a few interesting facts from the Scotiabank survey:
The poll revealed that 76 per cent of Canadians say winter is their least favourite season in Canada. In fact, the poll shows that 80 per cent of Canadians somewhat or strongly agree that they would love to be travelling to warmer climates; however, less than half (44%) revealed that they have booked a last-minute trip, and only 3% plan to use reward points to pay for the majority of their trip expenses.
While Canadians are known for braving the cold, the survey also revealed that two-thirds of Canadians (66%) agree that come mid-January they can’t wait for winter to be over and only 4% of Canadians selected winter as their most preferred season. Add to this that 33% would probably or definitely cancel their social plans if there was a sudden cold snap or snowstorm and the question for many right now is how they can get to a beach sooner.
Here’s how the polling data was collectd: Using Harris/Decima’s proprietary panel of Canadians, a total of 1,002 completed online surveys were collected from a random sample of panel members across Canada. The study was conducted from December 12 to24, 2013.
Follow Irene Seiberling on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ISeiberling
