Hotel (downtown Vancouver)
Flying Air Canada for family of four
*Consider upgrading to a “comfort flight" for a full refund if you're unsure about cancelling due to COVID-19 in your family or other emergencies: add $420.30 to your family flight
Car rental
Meals out at restaurants
(The calculation is based on 7 breakfasts at $34 each, 7 lunches at $37 each, 7 dinners at $100 each)
Is it possible to vacation without spending a fortune?
With inflation causing prices to rise on everything from food to gas to hotels, summer holidays may start to look dangerously unaffordable for many people.
But there are several budget travel tips for taking a vacation with a bit less pain from inflation. Quebec and Ontario are even offering in-province "staycation" tax incentives for residents, who could expect an additional savings of $500 round-trip airfare or 20 percent, respectively.
Let's take a look at other provinces: how much can a family of four save on their seven-day adventure from Calgary to Vancouver? We compare the expenses they can expect on a normal vacation to a budget-minded inflation vacation.
The 'Normal' Vacation: what you'd pay
$493 per night/ $3,451 for the week
$673.04 (lowest cost option)
$938.04
$1,200
The 'Inflation' Vacation: what you'd save
Total expenses
$6,262.08
Savings of $3,451
Total cost of "inflation" vacation: From $2,532.90 to $5,034.04
Total savings from driving: $1,416.68
Savings from points: $673.04
Savings of $490
Savings over staying in a hotel: $2,022.50
Some people are considering renting out their homes to help pay for their vacations. Make sure you understand the risks if you're considering this option and have sufficient insurance in case of property damage.
Scour reward & loyalty points. Look to your credit card(s), hotel and flight loyalty programs. If you're spread thin with a number of programs, remember some offer partial point redemptions for flights and hotels plus cash. You may also be able to use them for rental cars, food and theatre. Plus, many rewards cards offer reciprocal deals, so ask at the time of booking.
Redeem any hotel points you have to lower the cost of your stay: 236,000 points.
Drive to Vancouver: cost of $194.40 (based on 972 km at a fuel efficiency of $10 per 100 km, based on current gas price of around $2 per litre.)
If you have more time than money, consider driving your family instead of flying. It will take you 14 hours and while gas prices are exorbitantly high right now, it still would cost less than flying you and your family. Plus, this family won't have to rent a car when they get to Vancouver (they're adventurous and public transit won't cut it for them)
Savings from not flying: $478.64
Savings from not renting a car: $938.04
Choose to fly but use Aeroplan points: 81,984
Look for Airbnb's with a kitchen to save on dining out. The average family of four will expect to spend at least $200 a day dining out and that doesn't include alcohol, snacks and tips. Groceries cost on average $60 a day for a family of four. You can reduce the cost of a week away by hundreds of dollars by booking a place with access to a kitchen.
Airbnb with a kitchen and cut restaurant dining in half
Would you be willing to vacation with another couple or family? If so, opting for a larger place and splitting the cost could still be less than the average hotel stay with your family alone. Plus, most home rentals are more roomy and have additional bathrooms and space to spread out.
Vacation with another couple in an Airbnb that sleeps 8: total cost of $2,857 (split by two couples - $1,428.50)
Call the hotel directly and negotiate. You might not be able to get a lower price per night if you call, but the hotel may have a "pay for two nights and get the third night free" offer that isn't advertised online. Also be open to asking for a suite upgrade, free club floor access (if available), hotel restaurant vouchers and free last minute tickets to sports, concerts and other events the concierge may have bought in bulk. You won't know if you don't ask.
Potential cost savings: extra hotel night with a three night stay, free breakfast, restaurant vouchers, suite upgrade
Total savings: A family can save anywhere from $490 based on simple tips to $3,451 with rewards.
$938.04
$493 per night/$3,451 for the week
$1,200
$673.04 (lowest cost option)