Every Winter for the past few years, I always try to take a vacation. (I’ve become less tolerant of Old Man Winter!) However, due to the unusually warm Fall that we’ve been experiencing in Ontario, I haven’t really felt pressured to buckle down and actually think of WHERE to go!
I’ve gone to Varadero a couple of times and Punta Cana once. And I would like to take a more “discovery” type vacation in preferably warmer weather than here – unless this weather keeps up!
With my cats frequenting the vet more in the recent months, my vacay budget is a bit tighter. 🙁 (Btw, I really need to befriend a vet!)
So to get my brainstorm underway, will you (&/or your family) will be making an escape this Winter? If so, where will you be going?
Jamaica in December and Florida in March for me.
nope.not rich.wish i could..
Barbados in 5 weeks! Wooooo!
Carribean cruise in January!
I’ve never had the pleasure of going anywhere during vacation time. In fact, this year we’re traveling to the magical hometown of Miramichi, NB during our 2 week vacation. Though, this is for our long overdue wedding, lol.
I am going to Mexico, got the best deal from American airlines leaving out of Canada.
Nope, never been able to have a vacation away, didn’t even have a honeymoon trip!
Puerto Rico is a domestic flight from Buffalo. Got a ticket a few years back for 99 dollars each way. Stayed at a surf school for 80 a night split between 3 guys. Ended up being one week in the sun surfing for just over $350. That was a great budget trip. You could just stay at the beach if you don’t surf.
DR, Mexico or Jamaica in March – did Cuba last 2 years and not impressed with the food and as I don’t drink rum and coke and they make the most god awful pina coladas wont be rushing back unless a real awesome price.
15 days at the Ocean Sand Punta Cana and we are going privlige which we went last year and they litterly treat you like royalty. I want to add that my vacation budget has soley been made up of the money I save couponing. We booked the trip through itravel2000 so got enough petroe points for a $25 gas card and my CAA membership for next year. Just one of the perks. I used to spend $300 per week or $15600 per year on groceries,toiletries and cosmetics. Now I spend $6240 per year a savings of $9360.00 Our trip for the 2 weeks Allinclusive is only $7377.50 for all 3 of us. Last year we had saved enough for 1 week in Punta Cana and 3 trips to Great Wolf lodge. This year we have already done Great Wolf twice and heading again for Nov 11-13 then Punta Cana Jan 11-25.Plus forgot just on airmiles I also get 3 free flight a year to my Moms in B.C.The airmiles I have done for years and counted myself lucky to get that holiday now I look back and think wow so much time wasted : )
We go to Jamaica every January, and I highly recommend Holiday Inn Sunspree for those with kids. kids 12 and under stay free!
Its an all inclusive so all you can eat, drink, play – its all included. We went last year for 17 days, at just over $5,000, including flights, hotel, food, drink, kids club, watersports, etc.
Definitely going away….not sure where…
last couple trips were to Punta Cana, DR and I’m NOT going back there again. Hoping for a last minute deal to Jamaica this time 🙂
We’re doing a honeymoon trip in late November/early December to Cuba! It was originally Croatia but our budget had to be a little downgraded so we can take a trip to Whitehorse this Summer. I’m a little disappointed, but I’ve never been to Cuba so hopefully it’s a lot of fun and a nice relaxing treat after the wedding!
We used to put away $50 every week to save up for bigger trips, it made things a LOT easier on the wallet, but with everything else going on now that money tends to go into regular savings. I can’t wait to have a vacation fund again…there’s so many places I want to go!
Just got back from Sandals Grande Riveria in Ocho Rios, Jamaica! Absolutely fabulous. Staff are incredible, food is great, resort is beautiful! Definitely will be travelling back there soon 🙂
I’m heading to Las Vegas next month and then either Jamaica or Mexico in January……The older I get, the less tolerant I am of our winters here 🙂
Cruise to Southern Caribbean in December! 🙂
Cuba – Mediocre food (b/c they don’t really have all the resources), but staff/people are quite friendly, depending on where you stay. 4-5* only! Pretty “budget” trip for all-inclusive.
Punta Cana, DR – I wasn’t that impressed. Food was better than Cuba, but staff seemed to ignore…unless you flash them a dinero!
I’m hesitant with Mexico/Jamaica just because it’s not safe, especially outside the resort. And I don’t feel safe supporting these countries when I know they’re corrupt. Especially with all the stories coming out of Mexico, I’ll say no!
I did look into Costa Rica, but it’s $$$. The flight alone is 11hrs!
@ stephania look for more info costa rica is before is central america !1 toronto to bogota colombia is like 6 hours flight so costa rica must be less good luck!!
Stephania, Jamaica is very safe, and if you do go, then please adventure outside of your all inclusive ‘safe’ resort. The scenery in Jamaica is 2nd to none, and Jamaican people are the friendliest, happiest people I’ve ever met. Children are treated like treasures. Food is fresh & delicious. For me, Jamaica is the most beautiful country on earth.
Maybe I confused the flight time of Costa Rica with Panama. Alls I know is that 11hrs is waaay too long that I’d like to spend getting to my destination.
Jamaica – My impression is mainly from a friend who lives there for many years. She’s not Jamaican and said that she never felt safe. Obviously, she didn’t live on a resort, but she did live in a gated compound.
I have never had the pleasure of going on vacation, I havent been on a plane or even out of Canada. My family could never afford taking a luxiourious trip. Hopefully after all my college and with my couponing I will have saved up enough money to go on a nice trip. But since my career will involve alot of traveling anyways im in no hurry to go on a trip, cause when I get a job all my trips will be paid for XD!
we head to disney in a few weeks. Our vacation budget has already been spent this year but with $51 flights (return, inc taxes) with spirit airlines, we decided we couldn’t refuse. Our kids have been asking to go constantly since my eldest daughter went to disney on dreams take flight back in may. Only going to spend one day at disney though, tickets cost too much for a family of 6 to do any more days.
I’m just curious as to some people afford southern vacations every year. We make a pretty good living but can only afford a major trip every 3 years or so. We like to spend only what we can afford ($ on hand) rather than credit, and have kids to put through school and a retirement to save for. How do some of you do it?
We leave for Disneyland in a few weeks – going to spend a few days in Cali then go to Arizona because the in-laws have a place there.
Stephania
I went to Costa Rica a year ago this week. I flew out of Toronto. The flight times was 4hrs and 53min. ..
FYI.. all the American’s I met there did not have a direct flight and had to fly to Atlanta, Miami, or Houston, then connect to Liberia..
I paid 1250 CDN for an all inclusive for a week. The only extra’s i had were 2 days trips to an active volcano, horse back riding. zip lining.. ETC
@iwannadeal – You just have to make it a priority. I used to think that Winter vacations were a “waste of money”, but I realised that it really makes my Winter feel shorter and more tolerable if I had something to look fwd to.
As the years pass, I dislike Winter weather and all the stuff that comes with it, shoveling, de-icing my windshield, warming up the car, etc. etc.
I find it really difficult to save in this country, but I do sell stuff on eBay supplement my income. My eBay fund has come in handy for emergencies and vacation!
we usually spend at least $10,000 on major vacations, so we keep that to once every 2-3 years.
mini vacations in between to vancouver, but limit that to the summer so i can enjoy the perfect weather there, and leave the hell of toronto’s weather
Bali is nice and cheap, you can do that for under $5000 at a 5-star resort. thailand and japan are nice too. japan is pretty affordable.
i’ve never vacationed in mexico, it just sounds far too dirty.
Not this winter (which may kill me, and i skipped last year too because of new job/no vacation time yet.) However, we did just get back a week ago from Cape Cod & Martha’s Vineyard. The big reason we are skipping is we have to pay for our wedding next summer! so, yeah, vacay is out this time.
going to Panama in 5 weeks. $1500 for the two of us all inclusive and we’ve never been there. Took 6 ofus to Puerta Plata last year (to celebrate my 15 yearold sons successful brain surgery) and it was $5000.for all 6 of us, all inclusive from Toronto. Would recommend Riu Bachata resorts if you are thinking of Puerta Plata!
No big holidays planned for quite a few years since the kids are little and we have lots of projects around the house we want to do first (not to mention that I’m on maternity leave now so money is tighter). We’re going to go to BC with my husband’s parents next summer. I love traveling though. My very first time on a plane was after graduating from university to go to Mexico. Since then I’ve been on a road trip to Disneyland and surrounding areas, on a tour in Europe for my honeymoon, on a cruise from New York to the Caribbean with some friends, and on a tour of Japan. When the kids are old enough we’d like to go to Disneyland or Disneyworld and we might do a weekend get-away to San Fransisco or something without them before then. Our big dreams are Australia and Newfoundland. It seems that everyone I know is going on a trip…I’m so jealous! Trips can cost a lot and sometimes I think of all the money we spent that could have gone to the mortgage instead…but I decided that some of the money we save from hard work and being frugal should be going to enjoying life and experiencing new things!
I just came came back from the UK to visit family. Going to Thailand in December, Mexico in March then South Africa in May. 🙂
Stephania–I never thought winter vacations are a waste of money. I love to travel! In fact I’m always dying for one round about Feb since I hate winter. But often the money just isn’t there. University tuition and other expenses are a reality. So do people always have the money or do they use credit cards/line of credit etc. is what I’m wondering. L6941–Omg Thailand, Mexico, S Africa all within 6 months I can’t imagine.
I make sure I maximize all savings. This year we went to cuba in feb, myrtle beach in may, rented a cottage for a week in july, went to mexico for 10 days in august. That used up our travel budget of $5000 for the year for our family of 6 but we are now doing a trip to disney because I got $51 return flights to florida(inc tax), never been there before. In most cases it depends on your priorities and where you live too. I won’t even buy a tim horton’s coffee for myself so that I can put the money towards travel. I won’t say its possible for everyone because I don’t know your situation and as well it is cheaper for us being in the GTA, but I think for most it is fairly easy to do if it is a priority for you. My family of 6 went to cuba all inclusive for $2000 in february. That is only $38.50 a week to put aside and you have a trip(and most people have a smaller family than 6).
I work in travel, so all i do is travel, lol.
I just got back from Cartagena, Columbia if your lookign for something different i recommend it.
Just got back from a 5 day Disney cruise then 5 days in Disneyland, heading to San Antonio in March then Mexico for a wedding in April. If you look long enough for deals, you will eventually find them.
We travel alot, and would like to say that we are taking this winter to stay home, and enjoy our hometown, but I know once that snow and -20 temperatures hit, I’ll be looking for sell offs. Don’t know where yet, but it’ll happen.
I am from Colombia, and strongly recommend Cartagena. It is beautifull and affordable. It is safer now that the goverment protects and was to increase Turism. It is very romantic too. I am going in December 🙂
Come stay with us! We have a rental villa right next door to our home between two small fishing villages in the Yucatan (the safe part of Mexico). Here’s a link: http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p393273
Fly into Cancun or Merida, visit ruins, experience Mexican culture, sunbathe or just relax.
Perhaps it would be safe to say that the economic downturn and increasing household debt are just a nasty rumour!
Honestly, my winter vacation is probably going to be spent at the outdoor rink across the street from my house. I am just so happy to be working in a job where I get paid vacation time (first time ever in my 11 years of working). I’m taking the week off after Christmas. My husband is currently not working, so I don’t even know if we can afford the gas to travel from NB to NS to visit our parents :(. We are hoping relatives will come an visit us. I will still be taking a week off, I know, people don’t understand taking time off and not going somewhere, but I am very excited about having a week to relax, and get to skate. I just hope for cold weather for a nice rink :). Silly I know, but that is reality for me.
Antigua in November, Hawaii in March/April, and somewhere else (Cuba, Panama or Jamaica) in Jan/Feb. I live to travel!!
Grand Cayman in November!!! Thanks to a free flight (paid by my parents) and my boyfriend has family that lives on the beach, all I need is spending money! Talk about a deal! Cannot wait <3
Just got back from Vegas and now Fairmont Hot springs at xmas then Disneyworld at spring break. My fav vacation is a cruise though! Kids are tired of cruising though. Can you spell “SPOILED”!!!
I go away 5 times a year. I work in the travel business and am having a one day sale next Wed. Major discounts on various trips south. Seeing as this is a “money saving forum” Thought I’d share my One Day Sale. Email me for details [email protected]
“Beaches Negril” in Jamaica on Jan. 1st for a friends wedding then 5 days at “Couples Negril” Jan. 8th. Third year in a row. Our home away from home.Ya Mon. Ere de fun don done!
We`re sooo excited.