Not-so-frugal Vacation

**mndtrp** · 06-01-2011, 01:20 AM

What about both of you meeting in a larger location, with cheaper accommodations? Otherwise, are there any extended-stay hotels?

**peanut** · 06-01-2011, 11:19 AM

mdtrp: the larger location had more expensive airfare and accommodations. We fly into Moncton instead of Halifax. In Moncton we stay with my sister for free. In Halifax it's $120/night (a discounted rate) at a hotel. All the B&Bs are booked already. Flying into Moncton we save over $100 each per ticket. Because we have so many people to see in the Maritimes, we are not staying any one place longer than 4 days.

**Nadams** · 06-09-2011, 05:36 PM

just wanted to mention if you do end up staying at the holiday inn, make sure you join their priority club program and rack up points for future trips, with that many nights you would probably earn a free night :-) my husband has to travel for business sometimes and we end up racking up enough points we can take a weekend away now and then on points and not have to pay a dime for the hotel. it's a free program.

you can also use priority club discounts (15-30% off) and earn points on car rentals if you're using avis, hertz or or budget.... they have the discount codes for car rentals on the priority club website.

**Libby** · 06-09-2011, 05:55 PM

peanut - when are you traveling? Hope I'm not too late!

Just wondered if you would consider staying in the same hotel chain for each city you're going to visit? Call up corp head office and explain to them what you're looking for - discounts, deep discounts b/c you plan on staying in their hotel for each city blah blah blah and see what you can get out of them.

Do you belong to CAA or any other type of club that offers a discount for its members? Have you googled for hotel discount promo codes for when booking online? Checked out travelocity.ca/expedia.ca at various times to see if the rates have dropped? Theres also hotwire.com which is a US site so you may be charged in USD but it could be lower then the posted Cdn rate - not sure if you can with your health limitations. They don't tell you the name of the hotel just the # of stars & amenities avail in the city you're searching for.

I know my gf travels down to see us and the city a few times/year with her hubby and 2 kids...she does the hotel chain points club thing and as a bonus that gives her access to better rates when she books online. She's staying at the Hilton for a weekend this summer for $88/night - 2 dbl beds, non smoking.

Also, each location may have a special local promo. The one Hilton my friend booked last year was discounted rate of $120/night (2dbl beds, non smoking) and if she brought in 1 can of a non perishable food item for the local food bank, the room rate dropped to $99/night.

One last thing - if you see your exact flight (which I'm assuming you've already booked) is now discounted b/c its on promo/seat sale...you can call up customer service to 'note' it to them and see if you can get the difference refunded. I remember buying plane tix early and then 3 seat sales came up and my destination was one in the promotion...I got my price 'adjusted' 3 times. It became a game to see how many more times they were going to offer my exact flight for a promo.

Hope you enjoy your time out east

**peanut** · 06-09-2011, 10:37 PM

No Libby, not gone yet. But we have booked everything. We are going to smaller centres with one big center. We're getting a discount from $150/night to $120, so we can't complain really. The other places we're staying range from $85 - 120/night.

We already changed our flights and ended up with some credit for our next flight. Apparently they don't give money back. They just credit your account with them, and you spend it on the next flight you take with them. Canadian airlines are a ripoff.

We don't belong to CAA or any such. DH thinks they're a waste of money. We tried to do Priority Club with Holiday Inn, but they are so bad in how they run it, we have no idea how to get points put on our card. I'm about to chuck it. They say if you book with your card they'll give you all kinds of discounts. My guess is you must have to phone them, because trying to do it on-line is a nightmare!

Thanks for all the ideas. I'll certainly look into them for next time!

**Libby** · 06-10-2011, 02:06 PM

I hope your trip isn't affected by the potential Air Canada strike on staring next week

**peanut** · 06-10-2011, 06:08 PM

Nope. We're flying West Jet.

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 06-12-2011, 08:38 PM

We are taking a vacation this summer too and I am worried about the expense. It is a very long drive (24 hrs if you don't stop) but when we are there we will stay with family the whole time. I have already told them we are looking for FREE activities, but they keep coming up with other ideas. Ugh! Have fun anyway and worry about the kitchen when you come back.

**mauimagic** · 06-12-2011, 08:54 PM

Love all this vacation talk - even if I'm not planning one!! I vote for flying them in next summer and redoing the kitchen!! Plus I want to hear all about your vacation!!

**peanut** · 06-12-2011, 11:17 PM

MM you're great! I'll be blogging about my trip as I go. DH and I are thinking of cheap and free things to do. He doesn't believe me when I tell him I don't have any shopping to do. Well, I could. But I plan on spending my own money this trip. He gets nervous when I spend 'family' money. And is no fun at all... Honestly though, I really don't have much interest in collecting more stuff for the house. And with the airlines reducing the number of bags allowed, I am just not going to have room to bring a lot home anyway. So that's that! Guess I better take my camera and sketchbook.

We've also been talking about an idea that surfaced on ForHisGlory's retirement thread in General Chat. Someone mentioned living off their retirement income the year before retiring. DH and I discussed doing it starting this year...as soon as we get his pension statement. He's got two years to retirement. That might free up more cash for renovations. As is we save about $1500/mth. for renos. We could work on saving more I suppose. We'll have to see...

**bkarger** · 06-17-2011, 11:27 AM

It's true, sometimes we need to spend a bit.

We have to measure the costs/benefits, & do it CONSTANTLY.

Right now, 'staycations' are popular.

Last summer I did research on free frugal 'swap' vacations - two frugal families agree to trade use of their homes/cars/boats/whatever agreed upon, for an agreed upon time period. Doesn't even have to be switching homes: you can just borrow one family's trampoline for the other family's cornhole game set ... or whatever. The idea is that you are trading something of yours for something of theirs that you don't have, and both families enjoy a new change of pace/scenery/lifestyle.

**peanut** · 06-17-2011, 04:40 PM

cool idea! I'd do a staycation but DH wouldn't be able to stay away from work. People would be calling him or dropping by all the time. He'd be going in for meetings. That's not much of a vacation. The best I can do is get him as far away from here as we can afford...preferably to visit relatives so it's cheaper...and definitely for more than two weeks. Takes him that long to unwind.

**peanut** · 06-19-2011, 11:27 PM

Things are panning out here. I've been contacting relatives and friends to visit. That will be cheaper than going out for the evening to entertainment. We've already had an invite to supper, balanced by our inviting someone to dinner. Plus a couple of invites to tea/coffee. Sounds like fun!

Had the young man looking after our house over today to give him keys to house and car, and tell him how to contact us. I think he was surprised we were going to let him use the car while we were gone. But it's better that than it sits here unused for the entire time.