Canadian Travellers: Should You Stay or Should You Go?

Canadian Travellers: Should You Stay or Should You Go?

Events around the world are tempting, but there's plenty to see at home too

TORONTO, June 14, 2016 /CNW/ - Whether it is travelling to meet your celebrity crush at a film festival, cheering on your favourite sports team at a tournament or grooving to the hottest live bands at a music festival, there are many events around the world this summer for Canadians to enjoy. Since travelling out of the country can stretch your travel budget beyond comfort and takes more advanced planning, the travel experts at Hotels.com(TM) have shared a list of exciting global events and how Canadian travellers can get the most bang for their buck by enjoying similar events at home.

"Celebrating milestones or festivals abroad can be such an exciting and memorable experience," said Taylor L. Cole, APR, travel expert at Hotels.com. "Many of the largest festivals have smaller equivalents so we've suggested some alternative events and outlined the hotel costs to help you budget your travel or staycation dollars."


-- Euro Cup, France (June 10 - July 7, 2016)The next best thing to the
World Cup, France will play host to the European Cup this summer. The
usual 16-team format of the quadrennial football championship has been
expanded to 24 teams. Europe's best national teams will compete in
Paris, Marseille, Saint Etienne and Toulouse as well as in newly
constructed stadiums in Lille, Lyon, Nice and Bordeaux. In Paris, a fan
zone will be set up on the Champ de Mars lawns under the Eiffel Tower
and in Saint-Denis, giant screens will be placed near the Saint-Denis
Basilica. Average hotel prices in Paris: $213*.Alternative: Amway
Canadian Championship (June 2016) Canada's five professional soccer
teams, three in the MLS and two in the NASL, compete for the national
club championship, the Voyageurs Cup. The two-leg finals are held in the
last two weeks of June in the cities of the finalists. Last year's
champion was Vancouver where average hotel prices were $169*.







-- Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom (June 22 - 24, 2016) Just about any
major popular music act you can name has played the famed Glastonbury
Festival in England's southwest. This year's edition features everyone
from Adele to ZZ Top. With a perimeter of nearly 14 kilometres and as
many as 1750,000 spectators enjoying music on multiple stages,
Glastonbury is one of the world's biggest outdoor music festivals.
Chances of scoring a ticket are remote as they typically sell out in
less than 24 hours, but you can always try the secondary market. Average
hotel price in London: $276*.Alternative: Osheaga Arts and Music
Festival, Montreal (July 29 - 31, 2016)Now in its 10th year, this
popular music festival on île Sainte-Hélène, site of Expo 67,
continues to attract big-name acts year after year. This year's
headliners Radiohead and Lana del Rey are joined by dozens of other of
the world's hottest musicians for a weekend of sun and fun. Average
hotel price in Montreal: $160*.






-- Calgary Stampede (July 8 - 17, 2016)The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth
has been Calgary's defining event for more than a century. While rodeo
competitions of such events as calf-roping and chuck-wagon racing are
its biggest draw, the festival has grown to include a series of popular
outdoor concerts and other community happenings, like the ever-popular
pancake breakfasts. Be sure to wear a cowboy hat while you're there so
you will fit in! Average hotel price in Calgary: $150*.Alternative:
Festival Western de Sainte-Tite (Sept. 9 - 18, 2016). Would it surprise
you to learn that the second largest rodeo in Canada is held in Quebec?
Every September, the tiny town of Saint-Tite shuts down for two weeks to
host one of the most popular rodeos on the eastern circuit. Hundreds of
thousands of visitors come to watch top rodeo stars compete for big
money prizes. How do you say yee-haw in French? Average hotel prices in
Trois-Rivières: $124*.






-- San Diego Comic-Con (July 21 - 24, 2016)Every year, this California city
becomes the center of the "nerd" universe as fans of comic books,
supehero movies and cult TV shows converge to meet their idols and
celebrate their love for genre media. Scoring tickets to this annual
event requires a lot of advance planning and accommodations need to be
reserved far in advance. Average hotel price in San Diego:
$182*.Alternative: Central Canada Comic-Con (Oct. 28 - 30, 2016). Canada
has its share of comic-book conventions with notable ones being held in
Toronto and Vancouver, but Winnipeg's C4 punches above its weight and
draws fans from all over the country. One of this year's notable guests
is Canada's own William Shatner, the living legend best known for his
role as Star Trek's Capt. Kirk. Average hotel price in Winnipeg: $136*.






-- EuroPride, Amsterdam, Netherlands (July 23 - Aug. 7, 2016) World Pride
happens next year in Madrid, but until then the world's biggest gay
pride event takes place in Amsterdam. The festival kicks off with Pink
Saturday, a series of parties and activities that will be held
throughout the city. The highlight of the two-week event will be the
Canal Parade, a floating procession of boats that will travel a
6-kilometre route along the city's famous canals. Average hotel prices
in Amsterdam: $214*.Alternative: Pride Toronto (June 24 - July 3, 2016).
This annual Canadian pride celebration is one of the biggest in the
world, attracting more than 1.2 million attendees from Toronto and
beyond and includes multiple parades and marches in support of various
LGBTQ groups. Average hotel price in Toronto: $155*.




-- Summer Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Aug. 5 - 21, 2016)Every four
years, the entire world is captivated by the globe's finest athletes
competing in sports that normally get little attention, but for two
glorious weeks every four summers we cheer on our favourites. Watching
on television is great, but nothing compares to being there in person.
The only problem is obtaining tickets for the most coveted events is a
sport in itself. Average hotel price in Rio de Janeiro:
$195*.Alternative: Vancouver 2010 winter games venues: Revisit the city
that most recently hosted an Olympic Games in Canada with a tour of the
venues of the 2010 event. Start in downtown Vancouver to pose with the
famous torch then end your tour in Whistler and its mountain venues
which are as spectacular in the summer as they are in the winter.
Average hotel price in Vancouver: $169*.


Everyone knows that big events boost demand for hotel rooms, which means prices go up. One way to score the best deals is to join the Hotels.com Rewards(TM) program. Not only will the free program net you a free** night for every 10 you stay, but members have access to Secret Prices***, lower rates on selected hotels in popular destinations. These are rates that aren't available to everyone and won't be found on hotel comparison sites.

*Average price paid per night including taxes and fees by Canadian travellers in 2015.

**Free night does not include taxes and fees and is subject to terms and conditions of Hotels.com Rewards.

*** Secret Prices are available to Hotels.com app users, Hotels.com Rewards members and individuals who unlock Secret Prices on the website by subscribing to Hotels.com by email. Secret Prices will be shown where the "Your Secret Price" banner is displayed on your search results. Available on selected hotels and selected dates only. Subject to full terms and conditions.

About Hotels.com

Hotels.com, L.P. operates Hotels.com (also known in Canada as Hotels.ca), a leading online accommodation booking website with properties ranging from international chains and all-inclusive resorts to local favourites and bed & breakfasts, together with all the information needed to book the perfect stay. Special apps for mobile phones and tablets can also be downloaded enabling customers to book on the go with access to 20,000 last minute deals.

© 2016 Hotels.com, LP. Hotels.com, The Obvious Choice, Hotels.com Rewards and the Hotels.com logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Hotels.com, LP in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Hotels.com

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Hotels.com

CONTACT: Press Contacts: Somya Anand, energiPR for Hotels.com in Canada, Phone: (416) 425-9143 x 19, Email: somya.anand@energipr.com; Emily Zazado, Hotels.com brand in Canada, Phone: (469) 335-1131, Email: emzazado@hotels.com


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