Winter Getaways: Where to Go and How to Save

Posted by Julia on Dec 19, 2011 in Travel

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If the weather outside is frightful, just bundle up in that warm, wooly parka, because even though it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you can’t still get out there and enjoy the winter weather. If you’re looking for a snowy getaway this holiday season, here are a few fun winter activities:

Go Dog Sledding in Yukon:
Escape the city and explore the hardcore Yukon wilderness. Yukon offers stunning scenery and pristine nature – perfect for an untamed adventure. You can ski, snowmobile, ice-fish but one of its most unique activities is dogsledding. Muktuk Adventures is just one of the many companies offering day-long dog sledding expeditions with a team of experienced Huskies. Embrace your inner musher and drive a dog team of your very own across the ice. If you’re thinking of a future trip, a good time to visit this part of our country is during Yukon Quest. It’s an annual 1000-mile dog sled race run in February, between Whitehorse and Fairbanks Alaska. The trail follows historic Gold Rush and Mail Delivery dog sled routes from the turn of the 20th Century. http://www.muktuk.com/

Join Outward Bound in Colorado:
Push beyond the boundaries of Colorado’s ski resorts with Outward Bound. Outward Bound is an international, non-profit organization that offers a series of great winter courses across the Americas. “Colorado Backcountry Ski and Ride,” is one trip that takes you beyond the ski slopes for a backcountry winter expedition in the Collegiate Peaks. It’s a chance to ride untracked snow in a remote area, all under the watchful eye of an experienced guide. Beyond the stunning scenery, the incredible powder and thrill of adventure, you’ll also learn avalanche training techniques, winter camping, expedition and survival skills. All courses involve camping, cooking your own meals and a low-impact “Leave No Trace” philosophy. With over 40 schools around the world, Outward Bound emphasizes personal growth through experience and challenge in the wilderness. It’s an awesome way to learn new skills while playing in winter backcountry. http://www.outwardbound.org/

Spot Polar Bear in Manitoba:
They call it the “Polar Bear Capital of the World.” Churchill, Manitoba is one of the world’s best places to spot and observe polar bears. There are several tours and ‘tundra safaris’ where you can see polar bears in their natural habitat. Hop aboard a specially designed tundra buggy – which looks a bit like a huge tractor – and head out onto the tundra to safely observe these cuddly yet dangerous bears. You could spot a polar bear with her cubs or maybe even a massive male snacking on an unlucky seal. Plan to come to Churchill in October or November, when the bears congregate along the coast in search of food, before the bay freezes-up. But go soon…. if the current warming trends continue, scientists predict that two-thirds of the world’s polar bear population could disappear by 2050. If you’re a wildlife enthusiast, this is your chance to see these majestic creatures up close and personal. Embrace the winter weather by honouring one its icons – the illusive polar bear. http://www.tundrabuggy.com/

Meet Santa in Finland:
For a festive spin on the typical Ho Ho holiday, visit Santa Claus Village in Finland’s Arctic Circle. While many of us believe Santa resides in the North Pole, the Finns believe he lives in the small Nordic town of Rovaniemi, a 10-hour drive from the capital of Helsinki. Here you’ll find a charming tourist village dedicated to all things Santa. It comes complete with an elves workshop and a post office where you can send postcards back home to friends and family. Let’s not forget Santa himself, whose lap is available to children of all ages. If you’re crazy about Christmas or just want to experience the all-day sunlight of the Arctic’s midnight sun, you’ll enjoy a visit to Rovaniemi, a magical winter wonderland in Finland’s Arctic Circle. www.santaclausvillage.info

But Wait….Here Are Some Helpful Money-Saving Tips For Your Winter Getaway:
Now that you’re armed with some cool new winter destinations options, the next step is to turn your fantasy trip into a reality. For most of us, budget is a concern, so here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re booking a winter getaway.

1. Book at off-peak times: If it’s possible, book your trip at times other than the holidays and Spring Break. Opt to travel after Christmas or after mid-March. This flexibility can often save you a bundle. Mid-week flights and accommodations are also significantly less expensive, so if the boss allows a Monday-Thursday vacay, you’ll save money and avoid crowds.

2. Use travel rewards to help offset the cost of travel: If you’re an American Express Gold Rewards Card member this is a chance to use TripFlex. You can book any travel on your Card, including flights, hotel rooms, packages or car rentals, and then call Amex to pay for the purchase with points. You can use points to pay for part or all of the purchase, including fees and taxes. You can also transfer your points to frequent flyer programs, including 1:1 to Aeroplan. Now’s the time to redeem those rewards points!

3. Scour for deals and discounts: If you’re planning a ski vacation, check out sites that will help you save on lift tickets at resorts around the country. A few popular options include: Check Discount Lift Tickets (www.discountlifttickets.net), Liftopia (www.liftopia.com), GetSkiTickets.com (www.getskitickets.com), and SkiCoupons.com (www.skicoupons.com).

4. Get social: Turn to social coupon sites for deals on activities, spa services and restaurants all across North America. While Groupon and LivingSocial are some of the most popular, my new favourite is www.yipit.com. It’s a site that filters daily deals from across multiple coupon sites and sends you the best in just one email.

-Most destinations have dedicated tourism association websites aimed at promoting all the cool activities, restaurants and tours their cities have to offer. These tourism sites have virtual tourist guides, packages and often contests that can help you save money on everything from lodging to day-trips. A few local examples include: Quebec City Tourism (http://www.quebecregion.com/en), Nova Scotia (http://www.novascotia.com)
Niagara Falls Tourism (http://www.niagarafallstourism.com/) and Tourism British Colombia. Often these sites will have a dedicated section called “Special Offers,” where they list current promotions, packages and last minute savings (http://www.hellobc.com/en-CA/SpecialOffers/British-Columbia.htm)

Have a wicked winter getaway and Happy Holidays!

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  • Thanks for sharing this post. Its really an informative post. You have manage & compiled really a uniuqe & real information.I like this post.Keep sharing with us in future too.
  • Thanks for helping us in deciding the nice winter getaways. Tips are really awesome. I will definitely plan my winter getaways according to your tips.



  • When winter comes, some of use really loves to stroll anywhere.
    We could still enjoy this season even at our place and with our family. This idea
    will help you to save from expenses.
  • These spots seems great for skiing purpose and specially I'll visit Finland for the next holiday season.
    villa majorca
  • Jake Sanderson
    I've been all over the internet finding reviews, deals and budget tips to come up with a vacation plan this ski season. I began from this article:http://www.mountainyahoos.com/... until I've stumbled upon this article.

    From what I've learned, Colorado ski resorts has the best snow, the best lifts and the best deals.
  • Whats the altitude of this place. It looks like its near some mountains.

    Enjoy a vacation safari in kenya
  • I agree. Plus Winter sledding is the best and thanks for writing about this.  video production san francisco events in the Bay Area.
  • Dog-sledding!  Now there's something a little different for a winter break.  Or spotting polar bears- both a couple of things I've not tried before.
  • Dog sledding and getting up close to polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba is definitely going to happen for us in 2012. Hoping to go swimming with Beluga whales as well. Never done the snow skiing thing, though!
  • that snow looks so inviting.


  • Admirable expose. I got this
    segment just before in my next winter vacation trip and I hope this topic
    mentioned view will be helpful for me. Thanks mate.
     

  • Perfect winter gateways, i really mean that. Tips are truly money savior, i must consider these things. Thanks for sharing this useful information.
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