Thank you for subscribing!
Got it! Thank you!

Increased Limits, Strong Dollar Make Canada a Keen Choice for Your Holiday Shopping

You may not have heard, but the feds doubled your shopping dollars in early November when they bumped up the maximum allowance for duty-free items to a stunning $800. With all those major holidays rapidly approaching, it's getting close to decision time on presents so why not choose the logical shopping locale--Canada? With the U.S. dollar still buying about 1.50 Canadian dollars and the newly relaxed U.S. Customs regulations, it's the right time to head north.

A few companies have created specials that should spur you to pack your bags (but lightly, please, you'll want to leave room for the presents you bring back!). You have to stay a minimum of 48 hours outside American borders to qualify for the $800 duty-free allowance, so most packages start with a minimum of two nights. Today we're going to look at hotel deals from Radisson.

The hotel chain is serving up a series of packages in its Canadian properties, most through the end of January, 2003. All prices are in U.S. dollars, and taxes are not included unless otherwise noted):

At Vancouver Airport, the Radisson President Hotel & Suites: $80 buys you a deluxe suite for two, including a GO gift pack (goodies and thermal mug), free hot/cold buffet breakfast for two; free shuttle to Richmond Centre Shopping Mall, free $5 gift coupon plus free coupon card to use for discounts at the mall.

Calgary Airport Radisson: $90 includes double room for one night, hot chocolate and cookies, free in-room movie, free gift wrapping.

At Regina's Radisson Plaza Hotel Saskatchewan, one night costs $65 and includes free parking, in-house movie, shopping bag, use of fitness center. The package is available Friday or Saturday.

$47 per night gets you a room in the IMAX Weekend Special at Winnipeg's Radisson Hotel Downtown, including a discount of CDN $6 per couple at the IMAX Theatre and an IMAX poster.

Out at the Winnipeg Airport Radisson Suite Hotel, $77 gets you the one-bedroom suite, breakfast for two, and a guide to shopping hot spots within a ten-minute drive.

In Toronto, you can stay at the Radisson Plaza Hotel Admiral on the Harbourfront using their Shop Toronto package, for about $84 for the room, which includes free underground overnight parking for one car, continental breakfast for two, and special offers from Queen's Quay Terminal and Harbourfront Antique Market.

At Radisson Hotel Toronto East, you get "Two Nights for One Great Price," that being $104 for two nights for up to two persons, and free parking. The hotel is a short drive from two major shopping centers (Fairview Mall with over 240 stores and Scarborough Town Centre with over 230 shops). The hotel has a pool and hot tub, too.

At the Radisson Markham, their GO package costs $77 and includes a room for one night with free upgrade to best room available, a second night for just $46, full breakfast for two, a GO gift package, a free "on availability" shuttle service to the Markville Mall, a Tourist Discount Card for Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto, map of malls and shopping areas near the hotel, free parking at hotel and late checkout (2 PM). This package is available Thursdays through Sundays from now to December 23, 2002.

In Windsor, the Radisson has a GO package costing about $84 for a standard room, $90 for a Riverview room, Sundays through Thursdays, about $14 more for Friday or Saturday nights, including breakfast for two, a VIP Discount Card for Windsor Crossing Premium Outlets Mall, and a GO gift package.

For more information or reservations, contact your travel agent, phone 800/333-3333 or visit www.radisson.com/shopcanada.

For details on U.S. Customs, including a limitation on the $800 exemption of one time each 30 days, visit www.customs.gov/travel/travel.htm.


advertisement