Booking tips from Canadians 🇨🇦?

**we2are469** · 05-27-2016, 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by JandSwithanF

Westjet doesn't have a contract signed with Hedo for 2017 yet so no westjet packages are available with them. I have always used westjet vacations for any all inclusive (still haven't been to hedo) and have nothing but great things to say and they tend to be cheaper as well.

Westjet flights alone tend to run around $1200-1400 no mater where you are flying from in Canada. Looking at the packages available for this year westjet packages are about $500 give or take cheaper than booking with a group and flight separate....I blame this on the exchange rate right now. The benefits you get from the groups is not having to pay full price up front and the extra perks that group offers and having a rep on site if there are any problems. Some 3rd party sites also offer the down payment option (as well as sunquest).

Tripcentral.ca by far has the best search for finding the best prices for different dates, just use their classic grid. travelnationcanada.com and itravel200.com are both Canadian companies that I have dealt with and offer different deals at different times such as price protection, down payment options, and even visa giftcards.

Honestly if I could find a company that accepts bitcoins that is exactly who we would book with, seems to be hard to find in Canada though.

Pretty much concur with this assessment. April 2016 Westjet air only from Vancouver was $1450 to MBJ, the least we have ever paid from Vancouver. We had booked with a US travel agent (H2 only) in April 2015, but dumped that reservation when the beaver buck went south, and lost our $200.00 deposit. But, we saved $600.00 (net savings of $400.00 ) by booking thru a Canadian TA.
Westjet had the best price for a vac., package at that time, but they refused to delay our return to Canada by three days, without charging us much more money, even though the return flight was the same price, three days later. We normally go for the 14/3 package. Air Canada was willing to delay our return, at not extra cost, but there initial cost for their vacation package was much higher. In the end we booked Westjet air only, and the resort thru a Canada company, and paid in beaver bucks, saving $600.00. For what it's worth, flying from Seattle, which we have done in the past, is usually cheaper than WS or AC, but with the bad beaver buck, it's not worth it. The Canadian TA that we used was quite good at ensuring we got our three free days at the resort (and free transfers to boot).
We have booked through TripCentral before, and I love their vacation grid, but I stop using it when I discovered, that they were favouring one airline, and not showing results for AC or WS, even when I specifically requested those airlines on their site. When I called them in person the TA said the flights didn't show because there weren't any from AC or WS. Yet I could find them on their respective web sites. When I pointed this out, the TA checked on his Internet connection, and agreed with me that they were not showing all flights. He couldn't explain why, but said he'd refer it to the IT department, 2 weeks later nothing had changed. I suspect they were trying to fill seats on a specific airline, perhaps for kickbacks.
Bottom line, check with multiple sources, including the above airlines, then go visit your local bricks and mortor TA (if for no other reason than they have insurance).

**Wedo2** · 05-31-2016, 01:56 PM

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**Cdn_cpl** · 05-31-2016, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by Wedo2

We contacted the resort directly and asked if they had a rate to compensate for the low Canadian dollar. The rate they quoted is bit lower than any of the group bookings.

But I assume they would want you to pay in US dollars? That's always the catch when our dollar is low like it is now.

**lacdeloo** · 05-31-2016, 03:47 PM

The high airfares from Winnipeg and Canada has a nasty effect, and the prices have not moved

**Wedo2** · 05-31-2016, 05:16 PM

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**Cdn_cpl** · 05-31-2016, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by Wedo2

Yup quoted US dollars, it pricey to be a Canadian traveler this year. But the good times had are worth every dollar.

So given that it's US dollars I would think it would still be way cheaper to buy a package than but direct from the resort and then pay for your airfare separately.

**Cdn_cpl** · 05-31-2016, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by lacdeloo

The high airfares from Winnipeg and Canada has a nasty effect, and the prices have not moved

I think the airfare is the least affected portion of the cost. We've found the fares haven't increased too much over the past few years. We've always taken the Wednesday direct Westjet flight out of Winnipeg and usually get a decent deal. I think it's the fact that the tour companies have to negotiate with Hedo in US dollars that is causing the biggest pressure on the total price.

**ShyinOntario** · 06-01-2016, 12:42 AM

I think us Canadians will soon see those Canadian TA rates go up. I think we're just seeing a delay in the exchange rate effecting Sunwing, WestJet, etc... they probably negotiated their pricing prior to the dollar going for a shit and stayed locked in.

Now that our dollar has been bad for some time, I think those deals will probably disappear for next year when they negotiate at these bad exchange rates.

I'm hoping I'm wrong.

**lacdeloo** · 06-01-2016, 06:16 AM

For us the problem is going 3-4 weeks to Negril in November we stay a week at Hedo, and also a condo so we have to buy flights then stay. I guess we should think of going twice to negril and just go to hedo for one week but $$$$$$$$$. Oh the price of fun.............