staffWriterThe 5 Best Websites for Vacation Packages from Edmonton
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by Ethan Cote
Are you looking for that perfect vacation package to the destination of your dreams? You’re in luck because we’ve put a list together to help you out!
We’ve put in the research and have compiled this selection of online agencies in Canada based on their all-inclusive vacation offers, prices, and customer reviews.
Now if you’re ready, let’s take a look at the best websites for vacation packages from Edmonton.
How Much Do Vacation Packages Cost from Edmonton?
To provide a baseline for our list of travel websites, we decided to use Mexico as our destination to compare prices. This is because most of the sites listed in this list had that in common amongst their available locations from Edmonton.
We also selected a mid-range hotel in order to provide you a general idea of the average costs for your all-inclusive vacation package. The prices below reflect a 7-day trip for a single adult travelling to Mexico in the first week of October.
| Site | Hotel | Base Price (w/o surcharges) |
| TripCentral | Secrets The Vine Cancun | $1,866 |
| Flight Centre | Secrets The Vine Cancun | $1,819 |
| Red Tag | Secrets The Vine Cancun | $2,062 |
| Escapes.ca | Dreams Vista Cancun Resort And Spa | $2,709 |
| AMA Travel | Dreams Huatulco Resort and Spa | $2,117 |
The rates of your vacation package will change depending on the dates you select and the room size you choose. Otherwise, the luxury packages above let us know that on average, an all-inclusive package to Mexico will cost around $2,000 for a single person flying in from Edmonton.
The Best Websites for Vacations Packages from Edmonton
Now that you know what to expect financially when booking your trip, we can now take a look at our picks for the top sites for vacation packages from Edmonton.
1. TripCentral
| SERVICES | Vacation Packages, Last Minute Vacations, Cheap Flights, Cruises, Tours, Hotels, Cars, Day Trips |
| WEBSITE | https://www.tripcentral.ca/vacations-from_edmonton.html |
| CONTACT DETAILS | 1-800-665-4981 [email protected] |
| OPERATING HOURS | Telephone Hours: Monday to Friday: 8:00am – 5:00pm Saturday: 10:00am – 4:00pm |
TripCentral’s was founded in 1989 by Richard Vanderlubbe, who would book and sell travel itineraries in a small traditional travel agency in Hamilton, Ontario. Today, the company remains Canadian-owned, with multiple locations and experienced agents ready to answer your calls via their hotline.
What makes their agency unique is that they invest in actually sending their travel agents out to different locations on vacation to better research the best deals for customers! For each destination that you browse on their site, you’ll see an “Agents Who’ve Been There” list that connects you directly to them.
What we like about TripCentral is that entering your airport of origin immediately brings up a list of several vacation packages for you to choose from. These selections are even categorized under several other subcategories to help you select exactly what you’re looking for.
Our favourite category is the choice between “Sun” and “North America”, with the former pointing you towards destinations with fantastic beaches such as the Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Mexico.
While their website may not look pretty and may even be intimidatingly text-heavy, it’s fairly comprehensive and features a multitude of choices. However, we do understand why some people may opt to deal with an agent directly on the phone instead of pouring over the long listings.
Regardless of the non-user-friendly site, TripCentral offers financing options for every all-inclusive package in their listings. This conveniently allows you to pay as little as $181 a month for a trip that costs more than $3,000, which earns them a top spot on our list!
Pros
- 24-hour trip assistance for “Sun” packages
- Agents available who have visited the destinations you choose
- Financing options available for monthly payments
Cons
- Charges agent planning fees for bookings
- Not a user-friendly website
Customer Reviews
TripCentral’s knowledgeable agents are their highlight feature, allowing them to assist clients with every possible need. Tom O’Neill, a customer, shares his story:
“We have been booking vacations with Wendy Harrington for over 20 years. She is extremely knowledgeable and very professional to deal with. We have been traveling for a long time and could easily do this on our own but very much appreciate the personal service she provides.”
Dianne Little, another regular customer, adds:
“We have used Tripcentral many times and find they almost always have the best prices and are very easy to work with. Will use them again.”
2. Escapes
| SERVICES | Packages, Hotels, Cruises, Tours, Weddings, 2 Week Vacation, Packages, 5 star Vacations, All Inclusive Vacations, All Inclusive Resorts, Europe Vacations, Las Vegas Deals, Last Minute Vacations, Vacation Styles, Adults Only Vacations, Adults Only Resorts, Golf Vacations, Honeymoon Vacations, Luxury All Inclusive Resorts, Singles Travel Deals, Destination Weddings |
| WEBSITE | https://www.escapes.ca |
| CONTACT DETAILS | Toll Free: 1-888-685-6888, option 1 E-mail: [email protected] |
| OPERATING HOURS | Telephone Hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00am – 5:00pm |
Escapes have a stellar reputation in their field, having won several awards which include the Best Ensemble Travel Group Top 10 Producer in Canada from 2010 to 2018, as well as several top wedding producer awards received by their agents.
Although specializing more in wedding packages, Escapes offers all-inclusive vacation packages that can rival its competitors. They currently offer Edmontonians three destinations to choose from which are Mexico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic.
Their all-inclusive package to beach destinations generally includes flights, meals, drinks, activities during the day, entertainment at night, and non-motorized water sports. All travel taxes are also already included in the fees that you’ll pay upfront.
Their mid-range package averages at around $1,800 per person and includes roundtrip airport transfers as well. No matter what the price of the package, you can opt for monthly payment options via financing partner Uplift, so you can take your vacation now and pay later!
If your budget is no greater than $1,000, Escapes has compiled a special selection of packages going to Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and the United States. These are great options for budget-conscious travellers who like to put a ceiling on their expenses to ensure they don’t overspend.
Pros
- Multiple travel partners offering various options
- Multi-awarded for its package deals and services
Cons
- Only three destination packages from Edmonton
- No flight-only options
Customer Reviews
Escapes has received awards with good reason, and it’s echoed in their customer feedback. Suzzane C., a client, shares her experience:
“I did speak with one of your consultants, Ryan, and she was very helpful and nice. I would definitely book another trip with her, she made every thing very easy and simple for me to understand. It was a pleasure dealing with her. Thank you Ryan!!!”
Colleen M. had a similar wonderful experience as she writes:
“Eric is our number one consultant – never a worry with him on your team, always goes above and beyond your requests. I would not travel if Eric and Escapes were not so awesome. Thanks!”
3. AMA Travel
| SERVICES | Vacation Packages, Travel Styles, Destination Weddings, Honeymoons, Mountains & Ski, Mountains Summer, Disney, Theme Parks, Group Travel, Flights, Hotels, Cars, Cruises |
| WEBSITE | https://www.amatravel.ca/vacation-packages |
| CONTACT DETAILS | Toll Free: 1-844-771-1522 Emergency Phone Assistance: (780) 989-8432 Email: [email protected] |
| OPERATING HOURS | Telephone Hours: Monday to Friday 8:00am – 8:00pm Saturday: 9:00am – 5:00pm |
AMA Travel’s roots run deep, dating back to 1917 with The Edmonton Automobile and Good Roads Association, the precursor to their travel agency today. They were officially incorporated in 1926 as the Alberta Motor Association and soon thereafter began their legacy by booking rooms for business travellers.
AMA Travel was also the first agency in Canada to use computers to book vacations! Today, they have over 980,000 members serving Albertans with their travel needs, helping them build the vacation of their dreams.
To start, we especially like the themed travel packages they offer that lets you choose from different forms of travel styles such as family vacations, solo travelling, culinary trips, and luxurious getaways, just to name a few. This way, you can build the vacation you want around the activities that interest you!
Now in terms of all-inclusive packages, AMA offers its clients flights to Mexico, Dominican Republic, the Caribbean, Las Vegas, Hawaii, California, and Florida. Depending on the hotel and destination, the prices of these deals range from $1,000 to $4,000.
We also like that AMA keeps your safety and stress levels in mind by giving you the chance to book travel insurance directly with AMA Travel for single trips, multiple trips, and to guard against cancellations.
They also provide an emergency hotline you can contact should you run into any problems while in a different country, which most people will appreciate.
Pros
- Themed travel packages according to interests
- Emergency assistance
- Can book insurance directly with AMA Travel
Cons
- Most all-inclusive packages travel to Mexico
- Site server has slow loading times
- Can only collect call emergency number during AMA operating hours
Customer Reviews
AMA Travel has used its over 90 years of experience to ensure the best customer care. Linda Godwin appreciates the attention to detail and great customer services as she writes:
“The staff were friendly and efficient. Got everything done quickly. So happy with this!”
Jade Allen, another client, has this to add:
“AMA is fantastic. They hire very friendly and helpful people. I love that I can buy gift cards to pay for things I normally buy and I get money back towards my membership!! It’s a one-stop shop for so many things!!”
4. Flight Centre
| SERVICES | Flights, Vacation Packages, By Destination, Cruises, Tours, Group Packages |
| WEBSITE | https://www.flightcentre.ca/vacations/packages-from-edmonton |
| CONTACT DETAILS | Toll Free: 1-877-967-5302 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Telephone Hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00am – 5:00pm |
Flight Centre first opened its doors in Canada in 1995, which was brought to the country from Australia. They now have over 150 physical agencies around Canada serving the country’s travelling needs.
We like Flight Centre because of the site’s ease of use and how it operates very similarly to booking a plane ticket online. Its user-friendly interface can easily be operated by those who are not tech-savvy or familiar with online booking.
Similar to other agencies, if you’re not sure where you want to go, you can choose your destination of choice as “All Countries”, and it will instantly bring up countless flight and hotel packages for you from around the world.
You can filter your results according to the hotel ratings and features, allowing you to select what’s important on your vacation. A special “Adults Only” tab is also available if you’d prefer a vacation without any children.
We like Flight Centre because you can select different flight options, unlike its competitors, making it convenient for you to plan your schedule and tailor it to your preference. You can even select meal plans from the hotel partners included in your package for even more customization!
From Edmonton, Flight Centre can take you on your all-inclusive vacation package to Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. While they may only offer three countries for their complete package deals, they are one of the few to provide a deal for Jamaica.
What we also like is that they have special Accessible Travel Specialists that can help coordinate the perfect all-inclusive package to accommodate those who require wheelchairs to get around. To avail of this special service, you have to call their hotline and speak to an agent before you book online.
Pros
- Offers all-inclusive package to Jamaica
- Site is easy to navigate and user-friendly
- Has mobile app
Cons
- Offers only three countries to choose from for package deals
- Can’t book vehicle rentals online
- Not BBB accredited
Customer Reviews
Dona Johnson comments on Flight Centre’s customer services as she shares:
“Had the privileged of consulting with Shannon Kinnane for our recent trip to Europe. She was extremely helpful and went out of her way to make our trip a beautiful one. She will definitely be our go to person for our next trip abroad. Thank you Shannon.”
Mr. Miller, another customer, also adds:
“The flight centre team…are fantastic! I couldn’t speak more highly of them…they are all a pleasure to work with and provide a level of customer service that goes above and beyond!”
5. RedTag.ca
| SERVICES | Vacations, Flight & Hotel, Flights Only, Hotels Only, Car Rentals, Last Minute Trips, Cruises, Las Vegas Packages, Group Packages |
| WEBSITE | https://www.redtag.ca |
| CONTACT DETAILS | Toll Free: 1-866-573-3824 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Telephone Hours: Monday to Friday: 10:00am – 8:00pm Saturday: 9:00am – 6:00pm |
Red Tag has earned its reputation for its cost-friendly group packages, serving as the official travel partner of several Canadian sports teams, the Canadian Football League, and Tennis Canada.
However, Red Tag is on our list because of their vacation packages, and we like them because they offer special vacation deals grouped by season, from summer to winter, making it easier for you to plan your getaway. They also have special holiday deals that can be viewed all year round if you want to book your trip months in advance.
Even if you’re not interested in one of their money-saving all-inclusive deals, you can book individual services such as flights, hotels, and car rentals. To make things even better, you can even book a cruise from Red Tag!
This agency offers all-inclusive packages from a diverse selection of countries you can fly to from YEG, which includes Cuba, Mexico, Hawaii, West Indies, and the United States. So whether you’re looking for some sun or want to go to Las Vegas, you’ll find amazing travel deals here.
Once you select your destination and dates of travel, you can select which tour operator you would like to go with and what sort of resort you would like to stay in. Unlike other sites, you can immediately jump to your preferred hotel without having to scroll through the main page’s entire selection.
Their rates for all-inclusive packages are a little expensive compared to other agencies, but you can pay in monthly installments via financing plans from Uplift. However, their deals include all meals, snacks, beverages, and airport transfers providing worry-free travel on your vacation.
Pros
- Offers special cruise deals
- Has monthly installment plans for all-inclusive packages
Cons
- Can’t choose flight details in all-inclusive packages
- Expensive compared to other agencies
Customer Reviews
Travel agencies are all about customer service, and RedTag.ca delivers. One customer, Jillian Hughes, comments:
“Sylvia was great to deal wiith. Would recommend her. Covered everything made us feel good about our booking.”
Susan Williams, another client, also shares:
“Victoria was helpful and very knowledgeable on numerous resorts and their services.”
FAQs about the Best Vacation Packages from Edmonton
This concludes our list of the best websites for vacation packages from Edmonton. We hope you were able to find that much-needed getaway you’re looking for!
Do you think we missed a few websites or agencies on our list? If so, drop us a line, and we’ll make sure to check it out.
Now, if you’ve booked your tickets and have an itinerary all planned out, don’t pack your bags just yet. You may want to check out our list of the best travel insurance in Edmonton before you go on your dream vacation.
