Air Tran Flight Sale!

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Looking for an inexpensive spring getaway? AirTran might be able to help you out! Fares are very good with one way prices for Orlando starting at just $99, Bermuda at $129 and Aruba at $159. Check it out here  http://www.airtran.com/sale/BUF.aspx?saleID= Sale ends March 31st so get packing!
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Millennium Hotel Park and Fly Special

Right next door to the Walden Galleria Mall and just down the highway from the Buffalo Airport is the Millennium Hotel. Right now they have an offer running that is hard to beat. $89 will get you the hotel room overnight, breakfast for four and 15 days parking. There are blackout dates and this offer must be booked by Wednesday, March 30th. Check it out here http://www.travelzoo.com/hotels/boston/998031/?tz_cs=DNY

Hotwire is Hot! My Great Car Rental Bargain

I am off on a week long, well deserved rest in May and today I made my final reservation for this trip, the rental car. I had scoured the web searching matrix after matrix for the best price and was coming up with some pretty hefty quotes, the cheapest being $338 for a standard size car. Then I remembered http://www.hotwire.com/ sells car rentals. It was almost too easy. I plugged in my dates and up popped amazing rates! I ended up paying $158 for the same standard car all taxes and fees in. Keep in mind you are blind buying and will not know who the agency is until after you purchase but for me it was well worth saving almost 200 dollars.
Happy travels!

Atlantis Free Night AND Free Full Breakfast AND 2 Free Dolphin Swims

You can still take advantage of the amazing spring specials running at the incredible fantasy resort Atlantis in the Bahamas. Not only are there amazing water slides, casinos, gourmet cuisine and powdery white beaches but you can experience it all for less by flying from Buffalo.Plus for certain dates until late June, they are including 2 Dolphin Swim Experiences. Here is the link to the free night/free breakfast http://www.atlantis.com/specials.aspx but you need to book by March 31st 2011. Right now Jet Blue, Air Tran and Delta have spring flights from Buffalo to Nassau Bahamas from $214 per person. You can check pricing and avaliablity at http://www.travelocity.ca/ .

Jet Blue One Day Sale!

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Jet Blue is competing with a great sale today. Excellent fares as low as $54
one way from Buffalo to Boston or $89 one way from Buffalo to Orlando make this worth jumping on, but you have to act fast, fares are selling quickly and must be purchased today (03/22/2011) get more details here  http://jetblue.com/deals/spring-break/?intcmp=HPHero1Eng_SpringBreak    Happy travels!
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Spring to the Windy City

Southwest airlines is featuring some great packages from Buffalo to Chicago right now. The architecture, the magnificent mile, the waterfront, there is so much to see and do. 4 nights with flights from Buffalo staying at the Essex Inn start at just 109/per person/per night so what are you waiting for? Here is the link http://www.southwest.com/html/travel-extras/promotions/visit-chicago.html?int=HOMEHEROCHICAG110322

AirTran Sale

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AirTran has an awesome spring sale happening with some great prices from Buffalo. You can get to Houston, Atlanta, Orlando and other destinations for around $200 round trip. Here is the link to the Buffalo sale page-keep in mind the prices shown are one way and must be booked by March 24th  http://www.airtran.com/sale/BUF.aspx?saleID=
Happy travelling!
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They Took My Tangerines!

Many years back, I was crossing into the USA at the Detroit border and the guard asked if I had any meat or fruit. I did have a few lovely tangerines I had carefully chosen and purchased for this little road trip and I told him so. I never saw them again. The moral of the story is be aware of what you can and cannot bring into the USA. The general rule is pre-packed food items are ok but here is a link to the US homeland security website that gives you all you need to know about this http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/prohibited_restricted.xml#FoodProductsPrepared

3 hour+ Customs Backups at Toronto Pearson Airport-CBC Article

'It's entirely unacceptable for passengers, especially after a long flight, to arrive and then be expected to wait such a long time to get into the customs hall.'—Scott Armstrong, GTAA spokesman

As a former Pearson Customs Officer, I can tell you I lived through many of these situations. I would come in for my shift and have the lineups still be there when I left 8 hours later. Of course March Break and other big travel holiday times are busy but something is very wrong at the Toronto airport when it takes longer to get out of the airport than it does to fly home. CBC.ca has an in depth look at this here
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/03/17/pearson-airport-lines-customs548.html
Makes me happy I fly Buffalo!

Spring Get-a-way to NYC from Buffalo

Can it get any cheaper than this? Jet Blue has flights for $59 one way from Buffalo to New York City  http://www.jetblue.com/  Travel by May 25/2011. Need a place to stay while chomping on the Big Apple? Book-it has some excellent hotels up right now, including the Wellington Hotel near Times Square, the Beekman Tower in Mid-Town and the Bentley Hotel on the upper East Side. Check it out here  http://www.bookit.com/

Megabus it to the Buffalo Airport

Don't own a car but still want to take advantage of the great low prices at the Buffalo airport? No problem, hop on the Megabus. Fares are as low as $9 one way and the ride is quick and reliable. For more details check out the website http://us.megabus.com/

Shopping is Hopping in Buffalo

Most Canadians who live within driving distance of an American border crossing know the joys of shopping in the States. Different stores plus great pricing and selection on products we sometimes cannot even buy here in the great white north. Check out http://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/visitors/shop/ for some awesome tips and tricks for shopping in the Buffalo area. I love that the Walden Galleria and all the stores that satellite around it are just down the highway from the airport. You can literally exit the highway and turn right into the Target parking lot! Happy shopping...

Yes, you can afford to take your kids to Walt Disney World

                                                        Yes you can an afford to take your kids to Walt Disney World in Orlando if you fly out of Buffalo and take advantage of the special that WDW is running right now. For most dates April to October 2011, kids ages 3 to 9 stay and play free! Straight from the WDW website  http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers/   a great example is a 4 day magic your way package, which includes tickets to the parks, can cost as little as $503/per adult double occupancy staying in a WDW on site resort hotel. I priced flights from Buffalo and Toronto to give you an idea of how much you can save. A family of 4, travelling on Southwest airlines http://www.southwest.com/ out of Buffalo on May 10th 2011 returning May 17th 2011 non stop will cost $920.40 all taxes and fees included. If you were to book flights out of Toronto on the same day, you are looking at $1698.76 all taxes and fees on US Airways and this is with one stop. The difference of $778.36 is staggering and can certainly buy a lot of Mickey Mouse ears! The bottom line is you can book a Walt Disney World vacation for a family of four for $1926.40 USD. Disney offers a great service called Magical Express that will take you directly from the Orlando airport on air conditioned buses right to your resort so there is no need to rent a car. Check out the Walt Disney World website http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/  or call 407-WDISNEY to customize a vacation that is right for you.

Do you know about "biddingfortravel"?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$      OK, so you know how William Shatner works his magic as the Negotiator for www.Priceline.com and maybe you sing the www.hotwire.com jingle but do you know how to make the best use of these bidding sites? One of the all time best tips I ever got for saving money when booking online travel was www.betterbidding.com and www.biddingfortravel.com . These sites independently support Priceline and Hotwire by compiling winning bids and best guesses at the location or name of the hotel you are bidding on. There are NEVER any guarantees but I have been using them as guides for a few years now with amazing success. Just be sure to read though the information they provide and know the risks involved before you commit to buy.
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What the heck is a Y-up and why do I want one?

Y-up's are airline lingo for "discounted first class airline ticket". According to Anne Shatila's Hollywood Trend Report, the ripples of the recession in the USA are still being felt in the luxury travel industry and the result is a huge decline in first class travel. Of course airline would rather get some money for these seats rather than nothing at all so they will class them as "Y-up's".
You are probably thinking why does this concern me? Well, the Y-ups are available to regular coach passengers, you just need to ask and my motto is it never hurts to ask! So if you want your next flight from Buffalo to be a little more comfortable, check out all the details about Y-ups here    http://www.farecompare.com/articles/fly-first-class-at-walk-up-coach-prices/    Happy flying!

Southwest Buffalo to Vegas Deal

Southwest airlines Vacations is running an awesome sale for flights out of Buffalo into September. Not only are the prices amazing but they are throwing in 2 tickets   to one of the following shows

• Viva ELVIS^™ by Cirque du Soleil^® at ARIA
• KÀ^™ by Cirque du Soleil^® at MGM Grand
• Disney's THE LION KING at Mandalay Bay
• The Beatles^™ LOVE^™ by Cirque du Soleil^® at The Mirage
• Terry Fator: Ventriloquism in Concert at The Mirage
• Jabbawockeez at Monte Carlo
• Zumanity^™, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil^™ at New York - New York
• CRISS ANGEL^® Believe^™ from Cirque du Soleil^® at Luxor
• Tournament of Kings at Excalibur

I priced an example package for Sept 5th to 8th 2011 staying at the 4* New York-New York Hotel, airfare and the show tickets. The total price is $494.14 per person, all taxes and fees. Check it out at http://www.southwestvacations.com/specials/mgmshowticket.aspx?intcmp=SWA-TABHRO_MGM_030411&Referrer=S0821 Must book by March 15th 2011.

Gimme My Timmies! Buffalo Airport Tim Horton Locations

Tim Hortons has become a cornerstone in the daily lives of many a Canadian so it was with great pleasure I discovered a drive thru directly across from the Buffalo airport! Now, the first place I stop when coming home from a flight is 4301 Genesee Street. There are actually quite a few locations in and around Buffalo including one right inside the Walden Galleria Mall. Here is the link for the locations in the airport area http://www.timhortons.com/us/locator Be sure to type in Genesee Street, Buffalo in the search box.

How Much Can I Bring Back?

The last post on Duty Free got me thinking I should post the up-to-date limits of goods allowed for Canadians travelling into and out of the USA. This chart is a quick reference taken from http://www.beaware.gc.ca/english/questione.shtml  and is current as of today.

 Absence             Amount            Alcohol         Tobacco          

After 24 hours	$50 CDN per person	NONE	NONE
After 48 hours	$400 CDN per person	1.14 litres of liquor or 1.5 litres of wine	1 carton of cigarettes and 50 cigars and 200 grams of tobacco and 200 tobacco sticks
After 7 days	$750 CDN per person	Same as 48 hours	Same as 48 hours

Keep in mind there are restrictions regarding animals, weapons and other items so check the website link above if you have any questions regarding these issues

Duty Free Shopping

Duty free shopping is quick and easy at the border crossings. I usually stop in on my way home because I had rather not have to open up my suitcase to repack the items before I fly. Be aware of any limits the airlines impose before you do so and remember the restrictions for items inside carry on luggage. Here are links to duty free stores at all 3 major Niagara area border crossings loaded with information.
Peace Bridge/Fort Erie
www.dutyfree.ca
Rainbow Bridge/Niagara Falls
www.niagaradutyfree.com
Queenston Lewiston
www.dutytaxfree.com

Buffalo Airport Parking Coupon

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Save money by flying out of Buffalo instead of Toronto and then save more money with the coupon below!
                 http://www.buffaloairport.com/parking_coupon.asp

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Buffalo to New York City $59 One Way

Jet Blue has a limited time offer of $59 on one way travel from Buffalo to New York City. Purchase must be made before March 16 2011 and travel must be taken on a Tuesday or Wednesday and completed before May 18 2011. Taxes and fees extra, all details are at www.jetblue.com

Disneyland California Spring Sale

California, here I come! Disneyland in California is awesome and if you have never been, now is the perfect time as they are running an excellent spring special.

"Get 3 days of magic and memories for just $169. Park Hopper tickets let you enjoy rides and attractions at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park — you can even visit both parks on the same day! Offer good for arrivals from January 4 through April 14, 2011." Check out more details here http://disneyland.disney.go.com/special-offers/. Anaheim offers a wide variety of hotels for all budgets like the Anaheim Hilton just around the cornet from Disneyland starting at $86/night.You can find one to suit you at www.hotwire.com or www.expedia.ca.

All you need now is a great price on a flight out of Buffalo and American Airlines has them starting at $288/per person.

 

What will my baggage cost me?

                                                                                                                                                                             So you found an awesome price on a flight out of Buffalo and then you realize your baggage is going to cost almost as much to fly in the cargo area as you are paying to sit in the cabin! When it comes to comparing prices for flights we now have to take into consideration the fees for our luggage. Right now, the only airline that charges for carry on is Spirit. Here is a list of current prices as of todays date, all prices directly from the airline websites.Airlines that have an * indicate there are perks for frequent fliers regarding baggage fees or alternate price schedules for differing routes so be sure to check the website for specific policies before booking your flights.

Airline                       Fee Per Passenger, Standard 
                                             

Southwest                   No charge for 2 bags, 3-9 bags $50 each

Jet Blue                       1st bag free, $35 2^nd bag, 3+ $75 each

Air Tran                       $20 1^st bag, $25 2^nd bag, 3+ $50 each

Alaska Air*                  $20 first 3 bags each, 4+ $50 each

Continental*                $23 online/$25 airport 1^st bag, $32

                                      online/$35 airport 2^nd bag, 3+ check

                                      with airline website

Delta*                           $23 online/$25 airport 1^st bag, $32          

                                      online/$35 airport 2^nd bag, 3+ check

                                      with airline website

United*                         $23 online/$25 airport 1^st bag, $32

                                      online/$35 airport 2^nd bag, 3+ check        

                                      with airline website

US Airways*                $23 online/$25 airport 1^st bag, $32

                                      online/$35 airport 2^nd bag, 3+ $100 each

American                      $25 1^st bag, $35 to $50 2^nd bag, 3-5 bags                        

                                       $100 each, 6+ $150 each bag

Virgin                       $25 1^st bag, 3+ bags $25 each  

Buffalo to Atlantis, Nassau, Bahamas -dolphin deal is back!

IT's BAAACKK!!! The incredible fantasy resort "Atlantis" in the Bahamas has been running a few specials to entice families and this is a great one. Both Delta and Jet Blue are offering cheap flights starting at $212 per person from Buffalo so pair it up and maybe you and your kids will be swimming with the dolphins this spring. More details at http://www.atlantis.com/default.aspx and http://www.travelocity.ca/

Why fly from Buffalo instead of Toronto? I have been doing it for years as a way to make vacations affordable for our family of 4. For this, the first post in my new blog I have listed just a few reasons why I do it and you should too! Each day I will bring you airfare specials, information, local happenings and events, updates, bulletins and contests all pertaining to travel out of Buffalo for savy Canadians like you who want the most from their travel dollar. Feel free to post any tips, tricks, inside travel info or questions you have in the comments below.


1) Save big bucks!

• The Buffalo airport is ranked 8th in the U.S. for most affordable airfares (2009)
• Parking rates at the Buffalo airport are low (compared to other commercial airports)
• No international taxes or fees to fly to U.S. airports.
• Compare prices yourself. Sites like http://www.kayak.com/ or http://www.travelocity.ca/ shows pricing for both departure points. For example, a round trip flight from Buffalo to Orlando May 25th to June 1st 2011 will cost you 232.44 Canadian all taxes and fees included. A round trip flight from Toronto to Orlando on the same days will cost you 382.00 Canadian all taxes and fees included. The difference is approx 149.00 on one ticket or just under 600.00 for a family of four. You can pay for your Walt Disney World tickets with the savings!

2) Save time!

• The average wait time at the Buffalo Security checkpoint is only 12 minutes.
• No additional airport stop for Customs & Immigration (U.S. destinations) Right now the suggested time to be at Pearson Toronto Airport is 3 HOURS before your flight. You need to pass through Customs AND Security in one of the world's busiest airports before you can board your flight.
• The Buffalo airport is only 13 miles from the Peace Bridge and the QEW
• How many times have you boarded your plane at the Toronto airport only to find out you have wait in line for a departure runway-and you are 12th in line? Or land and wait for a previous flight to clear the docking gate.
• Unless you live minutes from the Toronto airport, you know you are going to spend almost as much time in traffic getting to the airport as it would take you to drive to Buffalo.

3) Cross border shop!

• Go a little early or stay a little later when you land and take advantage of the great shopping available in the Buffalo area. See my page with locations of all the major malls and stores, plus links to specials and coupons.