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redtag.ca's Christmas in July Returns with Major Travel Deals for Canadians Français

redtag.ca's Christmas in July Returns with Major Travel Deals for Canadians Français

Cision Canada19 hours ago
An annual favourite among Canadian travellers, featuring early booking bonuses and unbeatable savings on fall & winter escapes.
TORONTO, July 2, 2025 /CNW/ - redtag.ca has officially unwrapped one of its most anticipated promotions of the year: Christmas in July - the annual travel event Canadians look forward to, offering exclusive early booking bonuses and savings on fall and winter travel.
More than just a sale, Christmas in July is one of the smartest ways for travellers to plan ahead and lock in the best value before the seasonal rush. Whether you're dreaming of a sunny all-inclusive escape, a visit to reconnect with family, or a long-awaited cruise adventure, this campaign delivers real savings on the experiences that matter most.
Featuring top tour operators like Air Canada Vacations, Sunwing, Transat, and more, this year's offers span the most sought-after sun destinations, including Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Los Cabos, and beyond.
"Canadians don't need a snowstorm to start dreaming of the beach," says Sam Youssef, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Partnerships at redtag.ca. "Christmas in July is our way of helping travellers lock in great value early, so they can skip the stress and start counting down to their next sun-filled escape. It's smart, it's easy, and it's our favourite tradition of the season."
With exclusive savings across all travel categories – from vacation packages to flights, hotels, car rentals, and cruises, Christmas in July includes:
Up to $300 off vacation packages and flight & hotel bundles*
$25 Amazon.ca eGift Card with flight bookings, PLUS a chance to win back your flight up to $1,000*
$50 onboard credit on cruise bookings*
5% off hotels*
$25 off car rentals*
This limited-time event is the perfect opportunity for travellers to book early, save big, and look forward to their next escape before winter even begins.
For full details and to take advantage of these exclusive deals, visit redtag.ca. Offer ends July 31, 2025
*Per booking. Certain restrictions apply. For complete terms and conditions, visit www.redtag.ca between July 2-31, 2025, while supplies last.
About redtag.ca
redtag.ca is one of Canada's top travel companies, specializing in personalized travel solutions for every type of traveller. As part of the H.I.S Canada Travel Inc./TravelBrands family, redtag.ca offers an extensive selection of vacation packages, flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and even travel to the edge of space – making it easier than ever to plan and book unforgettable travel experiences. Known for its innovative approach and exceptional customer service, redtag.ca has earned the trust of travellers seeking great value, simplicity, and convenience. With competitive pricing and exclusive perks, redtag.ca ensures customers always get the best value for their travel investment. With over 20 years of experience, redtag.ca is committed to helping travellers create their dream vacations, powered by cutting-edge technology and a passionate team of travel professionals. Discover travel made easy™ at www.redtag.ca.
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‘Nothing we can do': Air-traffic staffing crisis hits Vancouver airport hard during Canada Day long weekend
‘Nothing we can do': Air-traffic staffing crisis hits Vancouver airport hard during Canada Day long weekend

Vancouver Sun

time8 hours ago

  • Vancouver Sun

‘Nothing we can do': Air-traffic staffing crisis hits Vancouver airport hard during Canada Day long weekend

Long waits, missed connections and widespread frustration disrupted the Canada Day long weekend at Vancouver International Airport, where more than 200 flights were delayed due to an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers at Nav Canada, the private company responsible for managing the country's airspace. 'Nav Canada let us know at about 1:30 p.m. on Saturday that this was about to happen at 3 p.m.,' said Stephen Smart, a spokesperson for YVR. The staffing shortfall at Nav Canada reduced the number of flights that could be handled in the area around YVR and cutting flight volumes to maintain safety. Between Saturday and Sunday, the airport experienced 219 flight delays and 23 cancellations. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. While flight operations at YVR were mostly back to normal by Monday, both the airport and airline officials say the weekend's disruptions exposed a chronic staffing problem that has worsened significantly since April, with no end in sight. 'It's been during peak travel periods that (YVR) has seen these staffing disruptions hit the hardest,' explained Smart. To help ease the delays, U.S. and Canadian customs agents agreed to extend their operations until 2 a.m. Sunday to process passengers. Food and beverage outlets stayed open late, and additional YVR staff were deployed to assist travellers. 'Anytime you are asking employees to stay longer or businesses to stay open later, there are lots of costs associated with that,' Smart said. 'It goes beyond hotel rooms for impacted passengers or crew that weren't able to make it back for their next flight.' The staffing shortage has more significant impacts on regional airports, said Smart, as they typically receive the lowest priority for available airspace. On Sunday, flights within B.C. accounted for 49 per cent of all delays at YVR, with a route to Calgary among the most affected. As summer travel ramps up, both the airport and airlines are speaking out about growing flight disruptions affecting passengers and flight crews across the province. Teara Fraser, CEO of Indigenous-owned Iskwew Air, says the ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers is threatening the survival of her small, local carriers. 'It's not a new problem, but it's the worst I've ever seen it,' said Fraser, whose airline operates short flights between Vancouver International Airport and Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island. 'Because of a lack of awareness about the situation, airlines often get blamed for everything that goes wrong. But there's nothing we can do.' Fraser said delays of 30 minutes to two hours are now a regular occurrence for her airline. The Canada Day long weekend was no different. 'Nav Canada has warned me to expect delays like these through this summer.' The CEO explained that since their pilots are bound by strict flight duty times, delays that exceed those limits require a new crew, creating further costs for both the company and its passengers. 'Because our flights are so short, the impact of these delays is substantial,' said Fraser. 'They've led to cancellations, which are stressful for passengers who are counting on a seamless connecting flight.' Tim Perry, president of the Air Line Pilots Association International Canada, said the shortage of air traffic controllers is a systemic issue the union has raised concerns about in recent years. 'Unfortunately, we've been commenting about this issue long before COVID,' said Perry. 'Nav Canada laid off every single trainee during the pandemic, and now we're seeing the consequences.' Perry said there is little that can be done to alleviate the shortage this summer, and the operational fallout is affecting not only passengers but pilots as well. 'If there's a delay for a passenger, there's a delay for a pilot. Days get longer, and cancellations can start to cascade,' he said. While Nav Canada acknowledged the issue, it warned that training and recruitment take time. The company says it is actively hiring and has brought on over 450 new staff since September 2023, including 230 air traffic controllers, with more than 500 trainees currently in the system. The company apologized in a statement over the weekend for the delays and said safety remains the top priority. 'Staffing progress is being made across the Canadian system, and we're seeing encouraging signs in many areas,' the company said. 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If a flight is delayed more than three hours and the airline is responsible, he said travellers may be eligible for $400 or more in compensation. 'You can file a claim with the airline. If they say no, you can take it to the B.C. Civil Resolution Tribunal,' said Lukacs. 'There's no way to prevent this from happening as a passenger, but you can still hold airlines accountable.' sgrochowski@

Casa de Campo's Dye Fore course is ready to shine ... and ready for Canadians
Casa de Campo's Dye Fore course is ready to shine ... and ready for Canadians

Vancouver Sun

time10 hours ago

  • Vancouver Sun

Casa de Campo's Dye Fore course is ready to shine ... and ready for Canadians

Standing on the first green high atop cliffs looking down into the serpentine Chavon River from the 27-hole Dye Fore golf course, you feel a world away from the trademark tropical paradise of Casa de Campo. Variety and vastness might be the secret of this 7,000-acre golf resort that started it all in the Dominican Republic. I frequently get asked about my favourite spots in the world of golf, and I usually break my answer up into sun destinations or, well, rain destinations (because Old World links golf is just different), and Pete Dye's Casa de Campo has for years been at the top of my sunshine list. Last year, Casa de Campo celebrated its 50th anniversary, and the resort just keeps getting better. Since 2023, as part of a $90-million expansion, it has added an absolutely world-class 18,000 square-foot spa and wellness centre that is already winning awards, as well as a new Premier Club complete with 58 new suites and a dedicated reception building with exclusive bar and lounge areas. Plan your next getaway with Travel Time, featuring travel deals, destinations and gear. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Travel Time will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'Every great thing requires care and upkeep,' Director of Golf Robert Birtel said. But for all that is new, sometimes you just have to take something away to see it in a different light. The elephant in the room for 2025 at Casa de Campo is that the world-famous Teeth of the Dog course is closed for restoration, and we'll get to that in a minute. But what it means for the golfers is that this finally should be the year that the resort's tremendous Dye Fore course gets its due. Meanwhile, the elephant in the room for some Canadian golfers is that they are looking for somewhere other than the U.S. to travel this year. That's a personal decision for everyone, but if that's you, checking out Casa de Campo is a great idea. And there are special rates for golfers this year with Teeth of the Dog closed. Dye Fore's Chavon-Marina combo (the third nine is called Lagos) was the 18-hole mix for our first round, and it's an absolute stunner. With five-cliffside holes featuring 300-foot drops to the river, more than one PGA pro at the resort has told me that the Chavon nine is their favourite stretch of golf onsite, and that includes Teeth of the Dog. The wide, rolling fairways and dramatic landscape of Dye Fore's Chavon nine have a Kapalua vibe, although the river below adds some intrigue and mystery which makes sense considering it was the scene for the famous helicopter raid in the Francis Ford Coppola classic, Apocalypse Now. During the Teeth of the Dog restoration, Casa de Campo still boasts the 27-hole Dye Fore course as well as the 18-hole Links course, and a 21-acre learning and instruction facility. I'm currently reaping the benefits from an excellent lesson with swing coach Jose Junquera. The Links course doesn't boast the same dramatic views as Dye Fore or Teeth of the Dog but it's wonderfully designed by Pete Dye and provides the stiffest challenge of the bunch. Much like the variety of golf courses, the variety of leisure and dining options available at the sprawling resort are incredible. Between the main resort and pool area, the Marina and Yacht Club, the Beach Club, and the incredibly stunning replica of a 16th century Mediterranean village Altos de Chavon, there are so many large and distinct areas across the 7,000 acres that each could be a standalone resort. You could spend an entire vacation at Casa de Campo and only see half of them. Although, once you're on-site you are handed the keys to a personal golf cart so the entire resort is yours to explore. As for Teeth of the Dog, I was able to tour the restoration project led by Jerry Pate Design, and can report that it's extensive and that the famous course will be better than ever upon its re-opening which is scheduled for December. The course is undergoing a full re-grassing with Dynasty Paspalum, there are some added tees giving more options on several holes, and almost every bunker on the course is being worked on. 'We intentionally didn't change the rough,' Birtel said. 'Pete loved this rough, which is basically just this native what we call Torpedo grass, which is almost like St. Augustine broad-leafed grass and you just don't know how the ball is going to react.' Sounds like something Pete Dye would like. One of upgrades that golfers will (or perhaps won't) notice are many cart paths moved out of sightlines from tees, as well as new native grasses planted to frame many holes. This might seem small but from what I saw it will further enhance the visuals and add to incredibly immersive feel of one of the most awe-inspiring seaside courses in golf. I often tell people that plenty of golf courses are on the ocean, but Teeth of the Dog is basically in the ocean. Speaking of which, some of the coolest work being done is on the seaside holes such as the stunning par-3 fifth hole, where they have re-constructed and solidified some of the bunkering by the water. Incredibly, they also built a temporary road out to the sea with an excavator and moved hundreds of huge rocks to help with the wave breaks. The finished result looks incredibly natural and almost like a reef, and it will make some of the most iconic holes on the course look and play even better. Dye passed away in 2020, but it's wonderful to see one of his formative achievements continue to grow and improve and to know that it will continue to thrill and torment golfers for generations to come. The great course designer's ashes were spread at Teeth of the Dog. Fifty-plus years later, Casa de Campo is still the shining example of the best of Caribbean golf. 1 of 6 Full Screen is not supported on this browser version. You may use a different browser or device to view this in full screen.

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