Book ‘last-minute' deals in advance
The buy: Sunquest is promoting what it calls last-minute prices now for departures this fall and winter.
The savings: Up to 60 per cent.
The catch: It is for a limited time. Discounts are available from all Sunquest gateways nationwide but vary depending on the departure city and hotel. Offer is available at participating hotels only.
Why it's worth it: With this promotion, Casa Marina Beach, Puerto Plata, was $897, now $330 per person; Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya was $1,367, now $700; Melia Cozumel was $1,357, now $660; Villas Sol, Costa Rica, was $1,377, now $690; Ocean Breeze Nuevo Vallarta was $1,267, now $520; Sunset Beach Resort, Spa and Waterpark, Jamaica, was $1,217, now $700.
Book it: Visit www.sunquest.ca.
$500 off tours of southern Europe
The buy: Globus and its sister company Monograms have put their holidays in Italy, Spain and Portugal from January to October next year on sale. Included are escorted coach tours (Globus) and prepackaged independent vacations (Monograms).
The savings: $500 per person when you purchase a holiday including air from Canada. (Plus, thanks to the strong loonie, buying Globus Europe 2011 packages are, on average, 18-per-cent lower than this year's trips, and Monograms are 13-per-cent lower.)
The catch: You have to book by Oct. 12.
Why it's worth it: You can choose to tour on your own with Monograms, a weeklong holiday in Rome and Venice or Barcelona, plus Madrid, for instance, or one of Globus's 18 escorted tours in the region. Monograms clients receive all transportation between cities as well as accommodation, sightseeing and services of a local host.
Book it: Through a travel agent. For more information, visit www.globusjourneys.ca or www.monogramstravel.ca.
Get the same savings a travel agent enjoys
The buy: Signature Vacations is taking a page out of the automobile industry's playbook with its first ever employee-pricing event.
The savings: As much as 50 per cent on some dates.
The catch: You have to book by Oct. 12 for travel between Dec. 14 and March 31.
Why it's worth it: The sale is available from all of Signature's 29 departure cities across Canada, and with new improved frequency of flights, employee pricing applies to seven-night stays, short getaways and stays of 10 nights or more. Two weeks at the all-inclusive Riu Jalisco in Rivieria Nayarit sells for $1,495 in January.
Book it: Visit www.signaturevacations.com.
$300 off bookings at Bahamas resorts
The buy: WestJet Vacations is giving instant savings to those who book a minimum three-night package in Nassau, Paradise Island and Freeport.
The savings: $300 per person.
The catch: You must book by Oct. 13 and complete your travel by Feb. 16.
Why it's worth it: The discount is available at more than a dozen properties including Atlantis, Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort, Radisson Our Lucaya and Pelican Bay Hotel.
Book it: Visit www.westjetvacations.com, call 1-877-737-7001 or through a travel agent.
Special to The Globe and Mail
