As the Canadian dollar tanks, there’s lots of buzz about taking your winter vacation in Canada rather than going down south to the U.S., where our dollar’s worth only about 70 cents now (ouch!). And plenty of us are trying to romanticize icy skiing vacations in New Brunswick and polar dips at the beach. But if you’re a winter wuss like me, you’ll be happy to hear that U.S. hotels are offering discounts specifically to Canadians.
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Arizona’s Scottsdale, South Carolina’s Myrtle Beach and Kissimmee, Florida, have all launched campaigns aimed at attracting Canadians.
“The Loonie Love in Scottsdale campaign was inspired by a staff member’s visit to Vancouver this past fall,” Stephanie Pressler, community affairs manager at the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, tells SheKnows. “During her trip, she heard plenty of murmurings about the weak Canadian dollar impacting travel to the U.S. We saw a need for promotions and discounts, and with Canadians being such important visitors for Scottsdale, we wanted to show them some appreciation and love.”
And Canadians could use a little extra love given our hurting economy. Here’s a roundup of 15 of the best deals right now:
1. Hotel Valley Ho / Scottsdale, Arizona
Hotel Valley Ho’s general manager Andrew Chippendale tells SheKnows, “With the current exchange rate, we wanted to make it easier for our Canadian friends to come and stay at the hotel.” Canadians can snag 15 per cent off rates at the iconic downtown hotel. Ask for the Canadian rate, which is valid through December 2016.
2. Scottsdale Resort & Athletic Club / Scottsdale, Arizona
This family-owned and operated boutique resort will upgrade your room if you’re a Canadian. Book two nights or more in one of its standard guest rooms (about $179 USD per night), and they’ll give you a suite or villa. If you want a little more luxury and/or space, book a couple of nights in a suite or villa (starts at $206 USD per night), and they’ll upgrade you to a “Deluxe Villa” or “2-bedroom Villa.”
3. Alexander Holiday Homes / Kissimmee, Florida
“We appreciate that our Canadian clients need a vacation from the cold long winter and spring weeks,” writes the vacation home rental business Alexander Holiday Homes in its offer.
You’ll get up to 30 per cent off select vacation units if you book online for a vacation between May 1 and June 17, 2016. That pretty much accounts for the difference between the U.S. and Canadian dollars right now.
4. Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa / Scottsdale, Arizona
“Our Canadian friends will enjoy a visit to this unique desert resort,” writes the Scottsdale resort in its promotion. If you book in advance, you’ll get 10 – 20 per cent off rates. This means a $605 USD room would be around $545 USD. So it’s definitely not cheap, but if you’re going to splurge, you might as well save a little.
5. Comfort Suites / Kissimmee, Florida
If a budget vacation for the whole family is your plan, you may want to take advantage of the Canadian rates at the Comfort Suites in Kissimmee. Guest rooms start at around $149 USD, and you can save 15 per cent on your room if you just present a Canadian ID at check-in.
6. Talking Stick Resort / Scottsdale, Arizona
Talking Stick hopes to lure you down to stay at its resort and casino by offering you a room upgrade for only two bucks. Its promotion states: “Leave your TOQUES and KNAPSACKS up north and enjoy an upgrade to one of our uniquely appointed Scenic Deluxe accommodations for just $2.00 when you prepay for your stay.” Snag the upgrade by using the offer code “TOONIE” when you book your reservation.
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7. Star Island Resort & Club / Kissimmee, Florida
Canadians get 5 – 10 per cent off the best available rates at the Star Island Resort and Club in Kissimmee, Florida. You just call and ask for “the Canadian Special.”
8. Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa / Scottsdale, Arizona
Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa has an exclusive offer for Canadians: $200 of resort credit that can be used toward food and drink or Asian-inspired spa services, and 10 per cent off rates if you stay three nights or more. Rooms start at about $599 USD a night.
9. Oceana Resorts / Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Get 25 per cent off select rooms at the eight Oceana Resorts taking part in this special promo for Canadians. With resorts across central, downtown, north and southern Myrtle Beach, discount-hungry Canadians have plenty of options to choose from. But read the fine print! The offer only kicks in for people booking four-night stays or longer and is valid only until April 30, 2016, with certain dates in between excluded.
10. W Hotel / Scottsdale, Arizona
Stay at the W Hotel, and take advantage of its “Canadian Leisure” deal. If you stay two nights and you’re a Canadian, you can get the third night free! Room rates start around $389 USD.
11. Seaside Resort / Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Canadians can save 25 per cent when they book via phone at Myrtle Beach’s Seaside Resort (before April 30, 2016, and excluding certain holidays and special events). Rooms start as low as $83 USD.
12. The Phoenician / Scottsdale, Arizona
If you stay three nights at The Phoenician, you can get a complimentary fourth night with this offer, plus $100 food and drink credit. Room rates start at around $364 USD.
13. Avista Resort, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Canadians save 25 per cent until April 30, 2016, on most room rates at Avista Resort. The Canadian deals won’t be available during certain holidays and special events, so read the fine print.
14. Beach Cove Resort / Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Get 55 per cent off at Beach Cove Resort in South Carolina if you stay a week or longer (valid until May 1, 2016, and not valid during holidays and events). Rates start as low as $91 USD.
15. Tuscana Resort / Kissimmee, Florida
Tuscana Resort tells Canadians to not “freeze up there in the North” and come down and stay at its resort. “We love our Canadian neighbors and offer special rates on our two- and three-bedroom condominiums,” writes Tuscana in its promotion. Its rates vary, so you have to use the promo code CANADA when booking a room to find out what they are (I found a room for $119 USD).
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