A Weekend Getaway To Toronto From Saint John Is Cheaper Than You Think
SAINT JOHN – Canadians spend so much time planning for long vacations, we often neglect or haven’t mastered the art of “the weekend getaway.”
With so many people looking to get out to see Canada and the world again, a weekend getaway from New Brunswick to a world-class city is at your fingertips from your Saint John Airport, (YSJ).
For Yan Del Valle and his family, a recent family trip to Toronto became much more affordable thanks to ultra-low-cost flights from Saint John to Canada’s largest city.
“We vacation once or twice a year,” says Del Valle, who is used to taking weeks to see sites in the U.S. and Europe but was looking for something the family could enjoy over a few days, without the hassle of making flight connections, waiting on luggage and added fuel costs.
“How can you fly to Toronto with a family of five?” says Del Valle. “We always try to get a deal because it just decreases the cost of the vacation before you get there.”
He found Saint John Airport‘s ultra-low-cost flight options not only helped save on airfare, but it also allowed the Del Valles to use their savings to get the most out of Toronto and its surrounding area on their trip.
“With the cost of fuel and other rising costs — we were able to book a flight to Toronto for less than $600 for our whole family,” says Del Valle, who booked their travel to and from Toronto with the ultra-low-cost carrier, Swoop.
“If you have small budgets and you want to just go away for a weekend, you might otherwise go somewhere close,” continued Del Valle. “But you can save just as much money and go to Toronto and maybe connect to any other city because you’re taking advantage of these low-cost fares.”
A growing player among ultra-low-cost carriers
Swoop is now flying out of eight Canadian destinations and began flying from Saint John in May using 737 jets able to carry 200 passengers.
The airline offers low-cost base fares which then allow travellers to add only what they want.
With Swoop offering one-way fares as low as $69 from Saint John to Toronto, Del Valle says it wasn’t so much a planned holiday, but rather, a fresh thing to do over one weekend in June.
Instead of planning for the “Where do we go and how do we get there?” the conversation for the Del Valles became, “What are we going to do?”
“It’s something you don’t have to put on six months in advance, so it’s no problem,” he said. “Where you can go these days — and for those kinds of prices – you begin to get really creative.”
That meant seeing not just one baseball game, but two and still taking a day trip to nearby Niagara Falls.
“We were looking for a very affordable weekend, and we really enjoyed it, and in a big city like Toronto, you will always have a great time and enjoy yourself — and that’s exactly what we did.”
Del Valle’s family went to Canada’s Wonderland, Niagara Falls and caught a couple of baseball games–a great idea with the Blue Jays so hot this summer, but there are also places like the Royal Ontario Museum, a lively theatre scene, and many walkable city centre neighbourhoods with great restaurants, bars and galleries.
He knows New Brunswickers looking for that affordable weekend getaway have a choice when it comes to air travel and believes the level of service and personal attention for its passengers is what distinguishes YSJ from other options.
“That lasting experience in that any small airport is not complicated whatsoever. Everything is right there.”
Enhanced experience and safe travels
The airport authority has been hard at work reimagining its ticketing offices for both Swoop and Flair Airlines within the terminal building, creating more space in and around the existing departure lounge to double its capacity.
YSJ also offers convenient services for travellers, including free Hi-Speed Internet available throughout the airport.
HotSpot Parking is available in both short-term and long-term parking areas, so visitors can get a refund if they don’t use the maximum time on their parking session and can also get more time without leaving their seats.
Visitors to the airport driving an electric vehicle also have the convenience of an EV charging station, provided by FLO, in the short-term parking area.
The Saint John Airport is also proud to be one of the first airports in New Brunswick to receive global recognition for its health and safety measures, implemented in response to COVID-19, from the Airports Council International.
As for further travels this year, Del Valle says he and his family are already looking at where they can go next with Saint John at the beginning of that journey.
“We want to go back to Spain where our family came from originally, and so we’re seriously talking about it again, that’s our next place.”
This story was sponsored by the Saint John Airport (YSJ).