Canadians rebooking vacation travel face sticker shock
First we couldn’t go, now we may not be able to afford to go.
There is disappointment in the air for Canadians looking to get on a plane and disappear to far away international destinations. Many who had previously booked vacation packages and had them cancelled and refunded because of the pandemic are facing sticker shock as they try to rebook.
Just ask Jennifer Bowden from Port Moody who had hoped to rebook her honeymoon vacation package in Cancun, Mexico.
“I was just waiting until things opened again,” Bowden told CTV News.
And when things did open up again booking that same trip would cost her and her husband an extra $2,500 or about 50 per cent more.
They had booked and paid for a nine-day, VIP vacation package through Transat - an all-inclusive with a beautiful junior suite and swim out at the Breathless Riviera Cancun Resort and Spa but their April 2020 was cancelled and later refunded.
When they tried to rebook for around the same time in 2022, the price had gone from $5,418 to $7,959.
“It’s just not feasible for us,” said Bowden.
Even booking a lower grade room and package would still cost more.
“Well travel is all about supply and demand,” said Allison Wallace, VP Flight Centre Travel Group.
There is a lot of pent up demand after nearly a year and a half of restricted international travel.
Domestically, Wallace says accommodation prices have increased for the summer in Canada as well as in the most popular winter vacation spots like Mexico and Hawaii. If you took a chance and booked before COVID-19 infections rates started to calm down, you may have gotten a deal but if you are looking to travel during peak times, you may be out of luck.
Because of the pandemic, the Mexican government is restricting hotel capacity to create less density. That means there are fewer rooms for hotels to rent and as demand increases so do prices.
Many rental car companies that sold off some of their fleet to survive the pandemic are now struggling to supply enough vehicles in some locations.
“You’re going to see pricing for rental cars that are absolutely through the roof,” said Wallace.
The airlines are also facing added staffing pressures and pilot shortages. Pilots and crews were laid off, furloughed or retired and those returning to work will need retraining. Until more planes are back in service to meet the demand, you may see prices start to rise.
In addition, as the airlines shuffle things around, you may experience cancellations and re-scheduling that may alter your departure and return dates, add more connections and increase the travel time to your planned destination.
However, if you are willing to travel in off peak times or to places that are less frequented, you may be able to find some deals.
For example, Flight Centre says business travel has not come back yet and you can find some five star deals in big cities like San Francisco and New York.
“There are some incredible deals at five star hotels in big cities like San Francisco and New York and pricing that we haven’t seen for years,” said Wallace.
Bowden understands the pressures facing the travel industry but still feels cheated out of her dream honeymoon vacation.
“It’s not fair for anybody really, it’s not fair for us as the travellers, and it’s not fair for the hotels or the airlines though. The whole situation actually kind of sucks but hoping I can still get my trip back after all of this,” she said. “We’re open to go whenever we can go really. Just wanting to make sure that COVID is definitely over and I’m not risking losing a trip again.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Israel closes Gaza crossing after Hamas attack and vows military operation 'in the very near future'
Israel closed its main crossing point for delivering badly needed humanitarian aid for Gaza on Sunday after Hamas militants attacked it, reportedly wounding several Israelis, while the defense minister warned of "a powerful operation in the very near future in Rafah and other places across all of Gaza."
Denial and uncertainty are looming over a Biden-Trump rematch 6 months out from U.S. Election Day
Exactly six months before Election Day, Biden and Trump are locked in the first contest in 112 years with a current and former president competing for the White House. It's a race that is at once deeply entrenched and highly in flux as many voters are only just beginning to embrace the reality of the 2024 campaign.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Chemical spill could be cause of stinky water in Puslinch, Ont., new report says
People living in Puslinch, Ont. may have the answer to why their water smelled so bad last year.
opinion You don't need to be an influencer to earn income from social media
How legitimate are claims by some content creators that the average person can earn passive income from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram? Personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says it's quite possible, if you're willing to put in the initial time and effort.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
Should you save or splurge on makeup this summer?
If you're wondering whether you should splurge or save when it comes to buying skincare products and makeup this summer, we got some answers for you.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.