Why the Same Vacation Package Is Priced Differently Across Travel Sites
Travel sites sell largely the same resorts and flights, so price is one of the few ways to win a booking. That competition is good for travellers, but it makes the lowest price hard to find. Four things are at work.
Sales and limited-time offers
Sites run sales around holidays, seasons and slow periods. A site with seats to fill may drop a price for a few days. The timing and the sites change, so the cheapest site this week may not be next week.
Promo codes and member offers
Some sites offer promo codes, newsletter discounts or member prices that cut the total at checkout. The base price you see may not include them, and not every site offers them.
Each site manages its own inventory
Each site decides how to price based on what it has left to sell and how fast it is selling. Two sites can price the same resort differently on the same day for that reason.
Prices change often
Prices can move more than once a day. A price that looks good in the morning may be different by evening, which is why one quick check on one site can miss the best deal.
The Canadian Travel Sites TripRadr Compares
TripRadr treats every site alike and shows the same trip priced across all of them. Here are the sites we compare, and what each is. Prices and offers change, so search your dates to see today's numbers.
Best for: Travellers looking for all-inclusive and resort packages to sun destinations
Pros
- A Canadian tour operator that sells all-inclusive and resort packages
- Flights on WestJet
- Sun destinations across Mexico and the Caribbean
Things to know
Compare it against other sites for the same resort and dates.
Best for: Travellers who want vacation packages, hotels and last-minute deals from a Canadian-owned site
Pros
- Canadian-owned online travel retailer
- Vacation packages and hotels
- Last-minute deals
Things to know
A newer site. TripRadr treats it like every other site.
Best for: Travellers who want a flight-and-hotel package on WestJet flights
Pros
- The vacation package brand of WestJet
- Flights on WestJet
- WestJet Rewards
Things to know
Packages are built around WestJet flights.
Best for: Travellers who want packages built around Air Transat flights
Pros
- A Montreal-based travel company and airline group
- Sun, Europe and Florida destinations
- Hotels and excursions
Things to know
Packages are built around Air Transat flights.
Best for: Travellers who want Air Canada flights and Aeroplan points
Pros
- Packages with Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights
- Aeroplan earn and redeem
- Flights, hotels and cruises
Things to know
Packages are built around Air Canada flights.
Best for: Travellers who want flights, hotels and packages from many airlines and hotels in one place
Pros
- A global online travel agency with a Canadian site
- Car rentals, cruises and activities
- Part of Expedia Group
Things to know
Confirm that prices show in Canadian dollars.
Best for: Travellers who like to book online or by phone
Pros
- A Canadian-owned travel agency based in Vancouver
- Vacation packages, flights, hotels and cruises
- Sold online and by phone
Things to know
Offers a best-price guarantee, with terms. Read them before relying on it.
Best for: Travellers who want packages, flights and last-minute deals from a Canadian retailer
Pros
- A Canadian online travel retailer
- Vacation packages, flights, hotels and cruises
- Last-minute deals
Things to know
Sells packages from Transat and Nolitours, among others.
What to Check When You Compare Prices Across Travel Sites
A low price is only a deal if the trip behind it is the same. Check these before you choose.
Whether a sale is time-limited
A sale price may end soon. If it fits your budget and dates, decide before it changes.
Whether a promo code applies
Check if the site offers a code or member price, and whether it applies to your booking.
The final total, in CAD
Compare the price after taxes and fees. Read our guide to what a package price includes.
The same flight, room and terms
Make sure the resort, room type, flight and cancellation terms match before you compare.
When you are looking
Prices change. Check again closer to your booking, or set an alert for your dates.
FIND THE LOWEST PRICE
Let the Travel Sites Compete for You
Search once and TripRadr shows the same trip priced across the Canadian travel sites it compares, so you can book on the one with the lowest price.
How to Get the Lowest Price on a Vacation Package
Compare at the same time
Prices change daily, so compare all the sites together. Compare vacation packages in one search.
Search the same resort, dates and airport
Use identical details so the totals are comparable.
Look at the final total
Compare after taxes and fees. See what is included in a package price.
Watch for promo codes and member prices
Check each site for codes or offers before you pay.
Set a price alert
If you are not ready to book, an alert tells you when the price changes.
Book at the right time
Read how far ahead to book. See Christmas and March Break timing and the cheapest time to book.
Book on the site with the lowest price
TripRadr sends you to that site. You book and pay there, and TripRadr takes no booking.
Travel Site Pricing FAQ
Why is the same vacation package a different price on different sites?
Each travel site sets its own prices, runs its own sales and manages its own inventory. The flight, room type and what is included can also differ. The same resort and dates can therefore cost different amounts on different sites, and the gap can change from day to day.
Do Canadian travel sites run sales and promo codes?
Many do, in the form of limited-time sales, promo codes, newsletter offers and member prices. What is offered, and when, changes often and differs by site. Check each site, or compare them all at once, to see what applies to your trip.
Is there a best day of the week to book a vacation package?
There is no single day that is cheapest on every site. Prices and promotions change often, so the lowest price can appear on any day. Comparing the sites at the time you are ready to book is more reliable than waiting for a particular day.
How does TripRadr find the lowest price?
You search a resort, a departure airport, dates and the number of nights, and TripRadr shows the same trip priced across the Canadian travel sites it compares. You can then choose the lowest price and book on that site. See how TripRadr works.
Does TripRadr sell vacation packages?
No. TripRadr is an independent comparison site and does not sell or book trips. When you choose a price, you are sent to the travel site that offers it, and you book and pay there. Read how we make money.
Which travel sites does TripRadr compare?
TripRadr compares Sunwing Vacations, ShopTravel, WestJet Vacations, Transat, Air Canada Vacations, Expedia, Escapes.ca and TripCentral, and treats each one alike. See the full list on the travel brands page.