Sometimes it’s expensive to live in Canada, especially when it comes to travel.
Here’s a perfect example.
Currently the Bahamas Tourist Board has a special; book a minimum four night package at participating hotels by May 10 for travel ending no later that December 22, 2010 and receive one free companion flight.
There’s a large selection of hotels to choose from including Atlantis. I’d been to Atlantis before and loved it. It’s a wonderful place for both families and couples.
To sweeten the deal, Atlantis has a coinciding special of a fourth night free.
It gets better. Some packages give $650 in free add on activities which include two dolphin interactive programs, two free dinners, sunset martinis and more.
To get the free companion ticket, the whole package including flights needs to be booked through the hotel.
Victor, a friendly agent at Atlantis found me an great deal on a four day package in the Beach Tower section.
This is where it gets expensive for Canadians.
The cost for a family of two adults and two kids under 11, flying on Air Canada out of Toronto is $5935.90. HOWEVER if the same family were to fly out of Buffalo on US Air with the same package it would only cost $2,392.00. That’s less than half price.
Lesson learned: If you live close to the US border, always compare prices on flights from both the Canadian airport and the closest US one. The money saved could be worth the extra hour or two it takes to catch your flight.