Flights from Vancouver to the Dominican Republic offer some of the cheapest tickets for travellers planning a sunny destination trip this spring.
As Canadians opt out of trips south of the border amid political tensions, many are buying flights to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America. However, some tropical options have a hefty price tag, particularly in the southernmost Caribbean.
For example, trips to stunning Saint Lucia, with its striking, forested mountain ranges and picturesque coastlines, start at over $1,000 for a round-trip ticket from Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
Similarly, folks looking at return trips to Domicia from YVR can expect to pay over $800, while round-trip options to Grenada cost upwards of $862. Return trips to Saint Vincent start at over $827 from YVR.
Round-trip tickets to Punta Cana from Vancouver are half-price this spring
Return trips from Vancouver to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic start at roughly half the price of typical tickets in April and May. The destination is home to several sparkling white-sand beaches, pristine turquoise waters, and lush rainforests. Nearby Santo Domingo is the first European settlement in the Americas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Travellers can also choose from modestly priced accommodations to luxury resorts and everything in between.
A flight departing YVR on Monday, April 7 and returning from Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) on Tuesday, April 15, costs $449 directly through United Airlines. The itinerary includes an eight-hour overnight stop at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on the outbound trip and a 15-and-a-half-hour layover in Houston (IAH) on the return (see slide two).
This price is considered "low," or about $446 cheaper than usual, according to Google Flights. The price is also "unlikely" to drop lower (this is one of the lowest possible fares to Punta Cana from Vancouver) (see slide three).
Travellers not keen on overnighters can also find reasonably priced return trips with shorter layovers, although some require red-eye components (as many Caribbean options from YVR do).
For instance, a flight departing YVR on Friday, May 23 and returning from PUJ costs $617 through third-party supplier BudgetAir or $642 directly through WestJet. The itinerary includes a roughly three-hour stopover in Toronto in either direction (see slide four).
This price is considered more of a "deal" than the other ticket, simply because itineraries with short layovers (such as this one) typically cost significantly more than $1,000 from Vancouver. Google Flights notes that the price is roughly $848 cheaper than usual (see slide five).
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