How to plan a winter holiday for less

(NC) Are you already starting to feel the winter blues? Then you may be in need of a winter getaway. But, if you’re worried about being able to afford a holiday right now, here are four tips from Air Canada Vacations that can help you plan an affordable holiday.

Book early
Booking as early as possible has two key advantages. For one, you’ll have the best selection of destinations and travel options before the prime spots get booked up. Plus, the further in advance that you book your holiday, the better the deals you’ll likely find. Now, for example, is a great time to find deals for a European holiday in winter, spring and even beyond. Once your travel and accommodations are confirmed, look into pre-booking tickets for any bucket-list excursions to avoid disappointment.

Consider different options
It’s peak season for beach resorts and ski hills so unless you already have an early bird deal or get lucky with a last-minute booking, you may be priced out of those destinations. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get out of town for a bit. Consider more affordable temperate locations where you can shed your winter clothes while exploring the local cuisine, culture and attractions.

Comparison shop
Think about the type of consumer you are: do you like to choose things a la carte, or do you prefer package deals? You can play around with different flight times, the calibre of accommodations, and the excursions and attractions you’re interested in to find an itinerary that fits your budget. Or you can search through various curated self-guided or guided tour packages that take care of the planning for you. Pre-set packages often build in volume discounts so you can see and do more for less.

Use your points
Most of us have a variety of rewards cards or apps that we use for different purchases. With some, you can use the points to book everything from flights and hotels, to complete resort stays, including travel.

Find more tips on how to save on travel at aircanadavacations.com.