This is the time of year that we all of sudden wish we had booked a week off from winter for some fun in the sun. And it's also close enough to the end of the holiday season that the cash flow may be a little tight. So are there deals to be had this winter? Absolutely.

The see-saw of supply and demand is working back in the traveller's favour again. After taking a hit in 2009, tour operators limited the amount of airlift in 2010 so not be left holding the bag again. However, in 2011 the economy has recovered and so has the supply of flights heading south. There is a lot of product in the market place and there are last minute deals to be had for those who are flexible on when and where they travel. The month of January in particular has some great pricing available. But remember as the winter progresses the prices tend to increase as you move into the higher demand weeks.

As always Cuba, Dominican Republic and Mexico have the most affordable all inclusive vacation packages. Favourites are definitely Punta Cana and the Mayan Riviera with so many of the newer, higher quality resorts at great pricing compared to some other regions such as Acapulco, Puerto Plata and Varadero. Mexico with its continual onslaught of negative publicity is taking a bit of a hit and as a result prices are pretty good. For departures from Toronto, you should be able to find prices around $200 per person per day.

For folks living on the West Coast, Travelocity.ca has reported strong interest in bookings for Hawaii, where you can book one-week flight and hotel packages in the mid-$800's. The strength of the Canadian dollar is helping.

Tour operators also have some good promotions on, like Sunquest Vacations with their No Fuel Surcharge program offering an additional savings of $90 off per passenger. Take note, it's only on until the end of the day!

Orlando has had some crazy cheap flights. My travel agent tells me he just quoted someone a flight for a week in March for $119 plus tax! A quick getaway to Orlando to hit the theme parks can be good fun and affordable.

As you hunt around for a good deal, remember it's not just about a cheap deal but about good value. Travellers should look at the cost of upgrades, often there are often better value deals at four- and five-star resorts.

Consider travel from alternative airports in and around your departure point and your destination. You may find that secondary airports are cheaper to fly to than the international airport and can also offer less crowds and better parking. US alternative airports are also worth looking into as it will save you doing US customs at the airports and the extra drive may be worth the savings i.e. if you're flying from Montreal, check out Plattsburgh NY or Burlington VT; Vancouver --Bellingham; Windsor -- Detroit; Ottawa & Kingston have various options i.e. Syracuse, Plattsburgh, Burlington, Albany; Toronto -- Buffalo or Syracuse.

Be flexible with your destinations. Select a second-tier city in a sunny clime. Be open to a cruise to anywhere in the Caribbean rather than just to Aruba.

A lot of cruise lines are putting on specials with on-board credits or cabin category upgrades. There is still space on winter cruises too but the flights are sometimes tougher to get at a reasonable price. See if you can fly in on a Friday and out on Monday; the money you save on the flights can offset the extra hotel costs.

To help in your quest for a great deal, check out the winter deals on Cheapflights.ca.

Travelocity also has great deals, plus they're running a "Win Your Trip" contest. Each day between January 1 and February 28 they are drawing from all bookings made that day and selecting one lucky winner to get their trip for free. ***up to a $2000 value.

If you prefer to use a travel agent, I love mine! Give him a call….

Carl Henderson, CTM

Personal Travel Consultant

e: chenderson@tpi.ca

p: 416.972.9688 or 1.877.972.2275