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.