Travel Now . . . Things Only Go Up In Price

[bizaro86]

It looks like we could catch flights on West Jet from Seattle to Europe. The fares didn't look bad. Especially if we had a companion ticket. I wonder if Americans get a West Jet Mastercard ?

Bill

Unfortunately that's a "no" on both sides - you need to be a Canadian resident to get the card, and once you have it the companion fare is only good on flights originating in Canada anyway.

Westjet is definitely competitive to Europe anywhere in the Western USA they have one stop flights from price-wise, but they're not targeting their loyalty program to that traffic.

 

[marmite]

I have this card and use it. The big disadvantage is that they have added a bunch of non fare fees to the fares, especially to Europe. So that $400 is now often $400+$500+ taxes/fees.

Still a good deal for peak seasons/premium class, but not as good as it initially seems.

We have been flying in peak seasons and also premium so the savings have been substantial so far. The only thing that isn't great, is those WestJet dollars are only going to be valuable if they are offering a special fare that you must use WJ dollars to take advantage of. WJ dollars are purchased at a premium (even with the sale), so it's not as if you truly get an additional 35% off ANY fare. I can get a special WJ $ fare to Hawaii next year, but not to Europe.

 

[bizaro86]

We have been flying in peak seasons and also premium so the savings have been substantial so far. The only thing that isn't great, is those WestJet dollars are only going to be valuable if they are offering a special fare that you must use WJ dollars to take advantage of. WJ dollars are purchased at a premium (even with the sale), so it's not as if you truly get an additional 35% off ANY fare. I can get a special WJ $ fare to Hawaii next year, but not to Europe.

Yeah, we saved substantially on premium to Europe last summer, but for economy/off-peak it isn't that great.

I don't like buying westjet dollars using real dollars because of the premium (even when on sale). You might get a savings offset if you buy member exclusive fares, but cash is infinitely flexible so I like it better.

 

[marmite]

I don't like buying westjet dollars using real dollars because of the premium (even when on sale). You might get a savings offset if you buy member exclusive fares, but cash is infinitely flexible so I like it better.

Absolutely. When I actually have enough WJ dollars to do something with, buying some extra points is okay if it is a teeny tiny amount to get an exclusive fare. Cash is definitely best!

 

[melissy123]

I don’t blame him. I’m not a cruise person. I like being on land and sightseeing, not locked in a boat. ( I was on a cruise once)

As for germs or getting sick, well you can contract things in crowded airports, restaurants, nightclubs, hotel lobbies, a taxi cab, a store, yes a cruise ship, anywhere. Being on a plane is stifling enough never mind wearing a mask while in one.

There's an article by Anthony Fauci that the sickest he ever got in his life was being bit by a mosquito this summer, probably while he was in his backyard, that carried the West Nile virus.

 

[MamaBess]

I wondering what great travel tips others have found in their retirement. My sister has turned me on to cruising, and after just a couple trips with Royal Caribbean, we've scored matching casino offers that will have us doing a 7 night Boston2Canada for $227 each and a 5 night Tampa2Mexico for $114 each in the coming months. These are great travel deals, and I feel fortunate to have these opportunities.

What really got me thinking about this is all of the great travel I have done over the past 20 years or so. Trips that if taken today, would be at least twice or 3X's the cost. Some of my favorite examples are:
. . . 13 night safari in Kenya & Tanzania for roughly $5,000 (including business/first class airfare using miles on B/A)
. . . 10 nights in Cancun at an A/I resort for just $110/night for the 2 of us (DH & me)
. . . 6 day/5 night polar bear expedition in Churchill, Manitoba for $2,800 (avoided the single supplement by having them pair me up with a roommate . . . it was great!)
. . . and of course, too many timeshare trips to mention! I/we have especially enjoyed our trips (each for 2 weeks) to England/Scotland, Ireland and Scotland again, plus the 4 2-week trips in Alaska by RV made possible by bartering our Hawaii timeshare with a family in Fairbanks.

Now that I've retired and we'll soon own no timeshares, I'm really curious what others are doing to maximize their vacation dollars. I am especially interested to do as much travel sooner than later, because I do have the time and my health, but also limited money to enjoy travel in the coming few years.

Retirement offers us the opportunity to take midweek and shoulder season trips that save so much money. We just returned from a close to home week in the Berkshire mountains of Massachusetts. With that stay, we sat and figured out our per night cost of our HGVC ownership over the years. This included trade ins for Hilton Honors points and RCI. We purchased some time ago retail, upgraded once, paid in full both times, so no interest charges. We included all our MF, with increases, over the years in the cost. We also counted nights and weeks given to our sons as gifts or necessary trips. We have had some fantastic trips, one or two that were not so great, all for just under $100/night on average. We feel like we are definitely getting our money's worth from our purchase. We also have found cruising to be a very reasonable way to travel. I agree, the cost of traveling is getting out of reach for many. I am thankful for what we have, and enjoy sharing it with our adult sons. Retirement certainly has been fun, and we will keep going as long as we can.

 

[Timeshare Von]

Retirement offers us the opportunity to take midweek and shoulder season trips that save so much money. We just returned from a close to home week in the Berkshire mountains of Massachusetts. With that stay, we sat and figured out our per night cost of our HGVC ownership over the years. This included trade ins for Hilton Honors points and RCI. We purchased some time ago retail, upgraded once, paid in full both times, so no interest charges. We included all our MF, with increases, over the years in the cost. We also counted nights and weeks given to our sons as gifts or necessary trips. We have had some fantastic trips, one or two that were not so great, all for just under $100/night on average. We feel like we are definitely getting our money's worth from our purchase. We also have found cruising to be a very reasonable way to travel. I agree, the cost of traveling is getting out of reach for many. I am thankful for what we have, and enjoy sharing it with our adult sons. Retirement certainly has been fun, and we will keep going as long as we can.

That's great! And I'm glad you too found a great value in owning timeshares. $100/night on average is awesome when you consider all you get for that price.

P.S. I see you're a newer member here on the TUG Forums (well with just a few posts) . . . welcome

 

[Fredflintstone]

Years ago, I got rid of all my timeshare and maintenance fees and special assessments. I used to pay about 8k a year for 5 weeks of time. This was in 2017 so my guess is those fees would have popped up quite a bit higher. Now, I invest the money I spent in MF in good quality stocks with dividends and ETFs. Now, I have a bit over 250 k in investments yielding me 20 k a year in income which leaves a bit of income for growth. The income I receive is used for travel. Now, I can afford multiple trips a year costing me nothing (except the passive income I make) and still have the money in brokerage. I look for deals on airfare, rental cars, and airbnbs/timeshare rentals. Yes, I have noticed prices are up everywhere but there are always deals to be had. I am always keen to check out new places so when I see a deal, that’s my new adventure. My next adventure is going to be Costa Rica in a 4 star condo resort. Cost for two weeks is 2 k and food costs etc will be probably another 1 k.

Covid really helped build this fund since I couldn’t travel then. Its amazing to watch those Maintenance fee dollars grow instead of going to cover some resort always whining it’s not enough to operate.

in a sense, I’m a new owner by owning my money and investing it for trips.

 

[MamaBess]

That's great! And I'm glad you too found a great value in owning timeshares. $100/night on average is awesome when you consider all you get for that price.

P.S. I see you're a newer member here on the TUG Forums (well with just a few posts) . . . welcome

Thank you. I was a member of TUG years ago, let it lapse for some foolish reason and rejoined. This time for multiple years so I can stay up with it.

 

[Fredflintstone]

Thank you. I was a member of TUG years ago, let it lapse for some foolish reason and rejoined. This time for multiple years so I can stay up with it.

I’m kind of the same way. I still support TUG because of all the good tips one gets on travel. Sometimes there are great rental offers especially the last minute offers. Sometimes, I plan a trip around what’s available on the last minute deals and this saves money plus getting a great experience.

IMO, TUG membership is a wonderful resource for travel whether you own a timeshare or not.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Timeshare Von]

I’m kind of the same way. I still support TUG because of all the good tips one gets on travel. Sometimes there are great rental offers especially the last minute offers. Sometimes, I plan a trip around what’s available on the last minute deals and this saves money plus getting a great experience.

IMO, TUG membership is a wonderful resource for travel whether you own a timeshare or not.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I love TUG and our people! I will continue to be an active member even though I won't be owning any timeshares once the Wyndham has been exited later this year. I'm already looking forward to a rental I've got booked through a TUG member for Ireland in 2026

 

[jpsmit]

Loving this thread.

Mrs JP have mostly always been able to travel in shoulder season which has helped a lot. A couple of things that have saved us a lot over the years.

1. We never buy insurance. We have had to swallow three flights and 1 night in a hotel over 40 years.

2. Once you are in Europe you can fly enywhere really cheaply. So in 2018 when we finished walking the Camino de Santiago (itself a relatively inexpensive activity) we booked our return flight from Paris as it has the cheapest fares. This meant that if we had to swallow the ticket (we didn't) it would hurt less and we caught a local flight from Barcelona for peanuts.

3. We try to stay outside main cities. A few years ago we did our Doc Martin/ Midsomer Murders tour of southwest England - we saved a ton by staying in pubs at the edge of major centres (search hotel webites by map) - we do the same when we travel to Florida to Bonnet creek. And that time we flew out of Birmingham as it was cheaper (Oh and if you can catch a cheap flight to Iceland the Budget airlines will get you to Europe.

4. I look for hotels with breakfast and aim to eat 2 meals a day (plus a break)

The first post in this thread mentioned very inexpensive cruises - where did you find them?

 

[zentraveler]

Loving this thread.

Mrs JP have mostly always been able to travel in shoulder season which has helped a lot. A couple of things that have saved us a lot over the years.

1. We never buy insurance. We have had to swallow three flights and 1 night in a hotel over 40 years.

2. Once you are in Europe you can fly enywhere really cheaply. So in 2018 when we finished walking the Camino de Santiago (itself a relatively inexpensive activity) we booked our return flight from Paris as it has the cheapest fares. This meant that if we had to swallow the ticket (we didn't) it would hurt less and we caught a local flight from Barcelona for peanuts.

3. We try to stay outside main cities. A few years ago we did our Doc Martin/ Midsomer Murders tour of southwest England - we saved a ton by staying in pubs at the edge of major centres (search hotel webites by map) - we do the same when we travel to Florida to Bonnet creek. And that time we flew out of Birmingham as it was cheaper (Oh and if you can catch a cheap flight to Iceland the Budget airlines will get you to Europe.

4. I look for hotels with breakfast and aim to eat 2 meals a day (plus a break)ut

The first post in this thread mentioned very inexpensive cruises - where did you find them?

Not the OP but VacationsToGo has a "90 day Ticker" with deep discounts on cruises booking at 90 days out.

 

[Timeshare Von]

Loving this thread.
<<<SNIPPED>>>
The first post in this thread mentioned very inexpensive cruises - where did you find them?

Glad folks are sharing their stories and how to save money traveling!

As for the inexpensive cruises, the 2 I'm doing with my sister were thanks to casino offers from the cruise line (Royal Caribbean). Neither of us are big spenders in the casino . . . and for 1 of the 2 I've done with her, I actually left the 7 night trip ahead ~$1,000.

Cruising for "port fees + taxes" only is really a bargain, but we also still have to pay for gratuities (roughly $18-$20pp per day), either before the cruise or on account afterwards. Some people remove the auto-gratuities and pay the individuals who serve them at the end of the trip. It seems just easier to let them charge my ship account the gratuities at the end.

 

[pedro47]

We are trying to keep our timeshare cost now under $100.00 per night /day.
LOL. Twenty plus year’s ago we were trying to keep our daily costs under $40.00 per night/day.

 

[jp10558]

We are trying to keep our timeshare cost now under $100.00 per night /day.
LOL. Twenty plus year’s ago we were trying to keep our daily costs under $40.00 per night/day.

One question I have seeing this is - are you talking per bedroom, or just any timeshare stay? Cause I am comfortably under $100/night per bedroom, but because I tend to stay in 2-3 BR units, the overall cost is more than $100/night.

 

[pedro47]

One question I have seeing this is - are you talking per bedroom, or just any timeshare stay? Cause I am comfortably under $100/night per bedroom, but because I tend to stay in 2-3 BR units, the overall cost is more than $100/night.

We will normally book a Marriott’s two bedroom unit for two consecutive weeks.
Sometimes in HHI we will book a two bedroom Villa for the first week and a three bedroom Villa for second week. The Commander in Chief needs her space after a week. LOL

The actual cost per Villa, including food, restaurants costs, entertainment, gasoline and golf would be more than $100. 00 per day.