Special Offers from AirMiles! Vacationing during the holidays…sand or snow?

Have
you ever taken a vacation over the holidays? Seeing family is amazing, and the
holidays are my favourite time of the year BUT
getting away to warm weather and having someone else do the cooking, cleaning
and entertaining sometimes seems very appealing. 

One
of the trends we see in the travel business is families traveling in groups
during the festive season. You keep all the “spirit” of family, just not at
your house! Package vacations and cruises are perfect for this with a variety
of activities tailored to appeal to several generations. 

Granted,
it is a more expensive time to travel, but if you have school age children who
you might not want to pull out of class at other times of the year, and if you
take into account all the expenses you would have if you stayed at home, and
consider the vacation as a “gift” to one another, the cost is not so high. 

Resorts
and cruise lines also make things very festive to ensure that you get that
holiday feeling. Everything

will be decorated beautifully. If you are
interested, there are always visits from Santa and if you travel over the New
Year a “gala ball’ is usually included in your price. Children’s clubs are good at hosting special holiday themed
crafts and activities. 

Now,
this travel period sells quickly, and the longer you wait you could end up
paying more rather than less. 

However,
I did some checking around and there are still some great options available.
Call one of the AIR MILES Package Vacation & Cruise experts at 1-888-AIR
MILES (247-6453) or in Toronto 416-226-5171 with any questions. (You do not need
to be an AIR MILES Collector to book.) 

When
planning this post, I was chatting to one of my colleagues who mentioned that
her husband is a “purist” and would never want to spend the holidays on a beach
under the sun, maintaining that the cold and snow make everything more
festive. What about you? Would you or have you spent the
holidays under the tropical sun? Take our poll below and share your thoughts in
the comments section below on whether you prefer sand or snow during the
festive season. 

Next
time: holiday “travel” closer to home. 

For
category descriptions, IS = Inside Stateroom, OV = Oceanview
Stateroom, BL = Balcony Stateroom 

Carnival Glory
– Dec 20^th – 7 Days from Port Canaveral

Rate are
Cruise Only in USD

Category 1^st/2^nd Taxes 3^rd/4^th Taxes

4A
(IS) $690 $279.09 $570 $244.09

6A (OV) $840 $279.09 $600 $244.09

8A
(BL) $1040 $279.09 $670 $244.09

Carnival
Imagination – Dec 22^nd – 4 Days from Miami

Rates are
Cruise Only in USD

Category 1^st/2^nd Taxes 3^rd/4^th Taxes

4A
(IS) $380 $182.14 $310 $162.14

6A
(IS) $420 $182.14 $330 $162.14

Carnival
Freedom – Dec 28^th – 6 Days from Fort Lauderdale

Rates are
Cruise Only in USD

Category 1^st/2^nd Taxes  3^rd/4^th Taxes

4A
(IS) $840 $272.81 $640 $242.81

6A
(OV) $1070 $272.81 $690 $242.81

8A
(BL) $1340 $272.81 $790 $242.81 

Holland America Line – Eurodam –
Dec 20^th – 7 Days from Fort Lauderdale

Rates are Cruise Only in USD

Category 1^st/2^nd  Taxes  3^rd/4^th Taxes

J
(IS) $1159 $295.29 $800 $260.29

G
(OV) $1199 $295.29 $800 $260.29

VF
(BL) $1339 $295.29 $800 $260.29 

Holland America Line – Westerdam
– Dec 21^st – 7 Day from Fort Lauderdale

Rates are Cruise Only in USD

Category 1^st/2^nd Taxes  3^rd/4^th Taxes

J
(IS) $919 $291.75 $239 $256.75

H
(OV) $939 $291.75 $239 $256.75

VF
(BL) $1239 $291.75 $239 $256.75 

Holland America Line – Veendam – Dec 28^th
– 7Day from Tampa

Rates are Cruise Only in USD

Category 1^st/2^nd Taxes 3^rd/4^th Taxes

L
(IS) $889 $286.19 $539 $251.19

F
(OV)  $1039 $286.19 $539 $251.19

BB
(BL) $2339 $286.19 $539 $251.19 

Norwegian Cruise Lines – Norwegian Jewel – Dec 21^st
– 5 Days from Miami

Rates are Cruise Only in USD

Category 1^st/2^nd Taxes 3^rd/4^th Taxes

K
(IS) $549 $233.09 $419 $203.09

G
(OV) $669 $233.09 $419 $203.09

BB
(BL) $909 $233.09 $449 $203.09 

Norwegian Cruise Lines – Norwegian Dawn – Dec 20^th
– 7 Days from Miami

Rates are Cruise Only in USD

Category 1^st/2^nd Taxes  3^rd/4^th Taxes

KK
(IS) $679 $301.78 $459 $259.78

G
(OV) $759 $301.78 $489 $259.78

BC
(BL) $889 $301.78 $519 $259.78 

Norwegian Cruise Lines – Norwegian Sky – Dec 29^th
– 4 Days from Miami

Rates are Cruise Only in USD

Category 1^st/2^nd Taxes  3^rd/4^th Taxes

K
(IS) $649 $211.40 $399 $187.40

G
(OV) $729 $211.40 $399 $187.40

BB
(BL) $999 $211.40 $399 $187.40

I
also got the “inside scoop” from Transat Holidays and these are some of their favourite choices for families. Book by the end of September to avoid
paying fuel surcharges. 

Christmas and New Year’s Prices from Toronto

Rates are All-Inclusive in CAD

Montego Bay,
Jamaica – Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort & Spa Imperial Club 4
½* – Jr. Ste.

Departure:
Sat. Dec. 20 ~  Adult Rate: $1898 + $166 tax

Child rate:
$1648 + $166 tax

Departure : Sat. Dec. 27 ~ Adult Rate: $2498 + $166 tax

Child
rate: $1908 + $166 tax

Varadero, Cuba – Tryp Peninsula Varadero 4 ½* – Jr. Ste

Departure:
Sun. Dec. 21 ~ Adult Rate: $1648 + $199 tax

  Child rate:
$1188 + $199 tax

Departure:
Sun. Dec. 28 ~ Adult Rate: $18288 + $199 tax

Child
rate: $1298 + $199 tax

 

Punta Cana,
Dominican Republic – Melia Caribe
4 ½* – Dlx. Jr. Ste.

Departure:
Sun. Dec. 21 ~ Adult Rate: $1878 + $308 tax

Child
rate: $1408 + $308 tax

Departure:
Sun. Dec. 28 ~ Adult Rate: $2278 + $308 tax

Child
rate: $1668 + $308 tax

 

Puerto
Vallarta, Mexico – Holiday Inn Puerto Vallarta 4* – Hotel Room

Departure:
Mon. Dec. 22 ~ Adult Rate: $18288 + $177 tax

Child
Rate: $1018 + $177 tax

Departure: Mon. Dec. 29 ~ Adult Rate: $1998 +
$177 tax

Child
rate: $1218 + $177 tax

 

Cancun, Mexico – Barcelo Maya Palace Prestige
Class 5* -Jr. Ste.

Departure: Sat. Dec. 20 ~ Adult Rate: $2378 +
$177 tax

Child
rate: $1748 + $177 tax

Departure : Sat. Dec. 27 ~ Adult Rate:
$2898 + $177 tax

Child
rate: $2198 + $177 tax

 

Christmas and New Year’s Prices fromVancouver

Rate are All-Inclusive in CAD

 

Montego
Bay, Jamaica – Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort &
Spa Imperial Club 4 ½*

Departure:
December
19 ~ Adult Rate: $2098 + $163
tax

   Child Rate: $1968 + $163 tax

Departure:
December
26 ~ Adult Rate: $2528 + $163
tax

   Child Rate: $2218 + $163 tax

Varadero, Cuba – Tryp Peninsula Varadero 4
½*

Departure:
December
22 ~ Adult rate: $1898 +
$196
tax

Child
rate: $1808 + $196 tax

Departure:
December
29 ~ Adult
rate: $1978 + $196
tax

Child
rate: $1778 + $196 tax

Punta
Cana, Dominican Republic – Melia Caribe 4 ½*

Departure:
December
18 ~ Adult
rate: $1958 + $305 tax 

Child
rate: $1638 + $305 tax

Departure:
December
25 ~ Adult
rate: $2348 + $305 tax 

Child
rate: $2048 + $305 tax

Puerto
Vallarta, Mexico – Holiday Inn Puerto Vallarta 4*

Departure:
December
19, 20 ~ Adult rate: $1698 + $174
tax

Child rate: $1439
+ $174 tax

Departure:
December
26 ~ Adult
rate: $1798 + $174
tax

Child
rate: $1499 + $174 tax  

Cancun,
Mexico – Barcelo Maya
Palace Prestige Class 5*

Departure: December 21 ~ Adult rate: $2968 + $174
tax

 Child rate: $2318 + $174 tax

Departure: December 28 ~ Adult rate: $3168 + $174
tax

Child
rate: $2478 + $174 tax

 

Christmas and New Year’s Prices from Calgary

Rates are All-Inclusive in CAD

 

Montego
Bay, Jamaica – Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort &
Spa Imperial Club 4 ½*

Departure:
December
19 ~ Adult rate: $2098 + $168 tax 

Child
rate: $1968 + $168 tax

Departure:
December
26 ~ Adult rate: $2528 + $168
tax

Child
rate :$2218+168 tax

 

Varadero, Cuba – Tryp Peninsula Varadero 4
½*

Departure:
December
21 ~ Adult rate: $1898 +
$201 tax

Child
rate: $1808 + $201 tax   

Departure:
December
28 ~ Adult rate: $1978
+
$201 tax 

 Child rate: $1778 + $201 tax

Punta
Cana, Dominican Republic – Melia Caribe 4 ½*

Departure:
December
18 ~ Adult
rate: $1448 + $310 tax

Child
rate: $1688 + $310 tax  

Departure:
December
25 ~ Adult
rate: $2438
+
$310 tax 

Child
rate: $2098 + $310 tax

Puerto
Vallarta, Mexico – Holiday Inn Puerto Vallarta 4*

Departure:
December
22 ~ Adult rate: $1648 + $179
tax

Child
rate: $1328 + $179 tax 

Departure:
December
26 ~ Adult
rate: $1798 + $179 tax

Child
rate: $1499 + $179 tax

Cancun,
Mexico – Barcelo Maya
Palace Prestige Class 5*

Departure: December 19 ~ Adult rate: $2728 + $179
tax

 Child rate: $2118 + $179 tax  

Departure: December 28 ~ Adult rate: $3168 + $179
tax

Child rate: $2478 + $179 tax

 

Christmas and New Year’s Prices from Edmonton

Rate are All-Inclusive in CAD

 

Montego
Bay, Jamaica – Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort &
Spa Imperial Club 4 ½*

Departure:
December
19 ~ Adult rate: $2098 + $163
tax

Child
rate: $2098 + $163 tax  

Departure:
December
26 ~ Adult rate: $2528 + $163
tax

Child
rate: $2258 + $163 tax

Varadero, Cuba – Tryp Peninsula Varadero 4
½*

Departure:
December
21 ~ Adult rate: $1898
+
$196
tax

Child
rate: $1848 + $196 tax

NEW
YEARS SOLD OUT

Punta
Cana, Dominican Republic – Melia Caribe 4 ½*

Departure:
December
18 ~ Adult
rate: $2048 +
$305 tax

Child
rate: $1728 + $305 tax 

Departure:
December
25 ~ Adult
rate: $2848 + $305 tax 

Child
rate: $2138 + $305 tax

Puerto
Vallarta, Mexico – Holiday Inn Puerto Vallarta 4*

Departure:
December
23 ~ Adult rate: $1798 + $174
tax

Child
rate: $1278 + $174 tax  

Departure:
December
30 ~ Adult rate: $1748 + $174
tax

Child
rate: $1328 + $174 tax

Cancun,
Mexico – Barcelo Maya
Palace Prestige Class 5*

Departure: December 19 ~ Adult rate: $2478 + $174
tax

 Child rate: $1868 + $174 tax  

Departure: December 29 ~ Adult rate: $3028 + $174
tax

Child
rate: $2358 + $174 tax 

All
prices are per person based on two adults sharing a room or cabin. Prices are subject to change without
prior notice.