Travelling to sunny locations in the middle of a frigid Toronto winter might be the fastest working medicine for winter blues, but travel costs might prevent many people from taking the leap.
There are, however, tricks and hacks to save money on flights this winter, according to travel agents and bloggers.
Here’s some tips to snag a deal when booking your next vacation.
FLIGHT BOOKING HACKS
According to Solmaz Khosrowshahian, a travel blogger known online as The Curious Creature, travel dates matter more than booking dates.
“For years, experts recommended booking flights on Tuesdays, but recent research shows that it doesn’t really make much of a difference,” she said. “Major travel platforms have found that the day you fly out matters more, so try travelling on a weekday and during the off-season if possible.”
She recommends booking four weeks in advance for trips down south.
“You can track prices on flight search engines like Skyscanner, Kayak and Google flights to monitor fluctuations,” she said.
In terms of airlines, she says discount airline Flair Airlines, is unbeatable.
“All of their flights are direct and they have great promos year round, especially if you’re in the Flair Flyers Club, free to join,” she said. “For all-inclusive packages, I’ve personally found the best deals on Air Canada Vacations. They currently have a ‘Bye-Bye Winter’ winter sale with up to 40 per cent off so run!”
Meanwhile, John Zeus Tokatlidis from Total Advantage Travel & Tours, Inc., suggests a “two-centre holiday” to visit more places in one trip.
“Tour operators like Air Canada Vacations and Transat now offer these packages, with incredible prices available for those experiences,” he said. “I encourage everyone to take the leap and explore a two-centre holiday. This type of holiday allows you to experience two different destinations in one trip, providing a more diverse and enriching travel experience. You can spend half the week in one location and then transfer to another destination, either within the same country or a new country.”
AFFORDABLE DESTINATIONS
If you’re looking to book a budget-friendly beach escape, there are a handful of destinations down south that offer Canadians great deals year after year. The Dominican Republic and Mexico are two of my personal favourites. And with new routes, like Flair Airlines Toronto to Guadalajara, you can explore different regions of these much-loved snowbird destinations without breaking the bank.
While various cities in Florida are often the go-to destinations for Canadians in the winter, travel experts have some other ideas.
Tokatlidis says many travellers are interested in visiting Martinique or Guadeloupe this year and are inquiring about travel packages, which often come with great deals.
The only caveat is that there are no direct flights from Toronto to either destination; and flights are only available out of Montreal.
“As a result, despite their interest in these packages, many travellers hesitate to book because they would need to take connecting flights, even if those connections are convenient. I just want to reiterate that there are some great offers for packages to these destinations out of Toronto all the time, with a connection,” he said.
He says that other locations with attractive price points in 2025 are Costa Rica, Panama, and Jamaica.
According to Google Flights, a direct flight with Air Canada from Toronto to Montego Bay in February costs around $580.
For flights to sunny destinations in the Caribbean or Mexico, Tokatlidis recommends flying Air Canada Vacations and Transat over WestJet or Sunwing.
HOW TO CUT COSTS WHIL AWAY FROM HOME
Khosrowshahian has some other cost-cutting tips while travelling as well, such as dining locally and opting for the lunch menus at fine dining restaurants.
“Explore off the beaten path destinations and neighbourhoods. Skip costly roaming fees and get an eSim for your phone. Leave your resort or hotel to shop like a local — not only will you support the local economy, but you’ll also score some unique finds,” she adds. “Lastly, sign up for loyalty programs like Aeroplan (free) and learn how to earn and redeem points to stretch your dollar further.”
Meanwhile, Tokatlidis says that a cost effective way to find the best flights is through a travel agent.
“Travel agents often collaborate with consolidators to secure better prices than those advertised online, providing a peace of mind that is often a trade-off when booking directly online,” he said. “Some travel agencies are members of consortiums that work with airlines, cruises and tour operators.”
He adds that other reasons to resort to a travel agent when planning a trip include getting help with cancelled flights and getting better deals, which agencies often have access and advanced notice about.
