Transat introduces its 2018-2019 winter program for the perfect Sun getaway

Montreal, June 13, 2018 — Transat, Canada’s leader in holiday travel, is pleased to unveil its enriched winter 2018-2019 Sun program. By adding Portugal and Spain to its 34 destinations in Mexico, South America, Central America, Florida and the Caribbean, the tour operator is integrating its entire Sun program into a single brochure. Moreover, Transat presents four collections especially designed to meet the needs of all travellers, whatever their preferences or budgets.

“In addition to constantly improving its program and providing Canadians with a vast range of vacation options, Transat offers new ways for travellers to create their dream getaways. That’s why we have added all sorts of new, exclusive benefits to our collections this year,” explained Annick Guérard, Chief Operating Officer at Transat. “In the coming years, there will also be a marked emphasis on development, with our new fleet of Airbus A321neo LR in 2019, and the opening of our own hotel chain in our key destinations, including Mexico and the Dominican Republic, in the next five years.”

A Sun vacation with Transat means a selection of some 635 hotels—mostly all-inclusive, with about 40 of those hotels exclusive to Transat. Also featured are the Luxury, Distinction, Family and Solo collections, each with its own array of benefits and list of hotels adapted to travellers’ needs. Transat offers all types of Sun getaways, with its numerous accommodation and holiday options, from house and apartment rentals to à la carte hotels, to guided tours and Duo packages combining two destinations in one trip.

New advantages for families

Transat is proud to introduce its new and improved Family Collection, with certain hotels that offer extras for families: kids’ clubs with extended hours so children can have a ball while parents enjoy a romantic dinner, free meals and stays for kids, free WiFi and a free excursion for the little ones. The solo parent promotion offers moms or dads travelling alone with children under 13 reduced rates and, even, free stays for their kids. As ever, families looking for accommodations that best suit their needs will find them easily, thanks to a guide for families highlighting the top hotels for children by age, for larger families, for solo parents and for those who love water parks.

Absolute comfort with the Luxury Collection

It’s easy to imagine a vacation where comfort reigns supreme, with perks ranging from butler service to pillow menus… and that’s what travellers get with Transat’s Luxury Collection, with its 40 or so hotels in 10 Sun destinations. Transat customers enjoy exclusive benefits, such as free access to VIP airport lounges, Option Plus upgrades on Air Transat and private roundtrip transfers between the airport and hotel. There are also a host of other benefits, such as free WiFi, unlimited gourmet à la carte dining and round‑the‑clock room service.

Costa Rica, a rising star 

In recent years, Costa Rica has been emerging as the destination of choice for those looking to explore nature off the beaten path as well as lounge on beautiful beaches. Transat is meeting the growing demand with more direct flights from Toronto to San Jose and Liberia, and by adding four new guided tours for travellers who love to explore.

Winter in Europe: Things to do and discover

Also popular with people seeking warmth in the winter are Malaga in Costa del Sol, Spain, and Lisbon, Porto and Algarve, Portugal, all perfect for nuptials in the sun, relaxation and discovery. Transat also has packages available year-round for golf enthusiasts, in the seaside regions of Cascais and Estoril, about 30 minutes from Lisbon.

For cultural immersion, Transat has a selection of packages that include flights, hotels at reduced rates, transfers, excursions and more.  

Transat’s cruise packages: Something new under the sun

As of winter 2018-2019, Transat will be offering an all-new cruise package departing from Cartagena, Colombia, and a return to the popular port of embarkation of San Juan, Puerto Rico. A Transat cruise package is the ideal solution for peace of mind and the opportunity to visit multiple destinations in one trip. Packages include roundtrip flights with Air Transat, transfers and the cruise itself, and can be booked quickly and easily at a travel agency or on Transat’s website, the same as with an all-inclusive package. And thanks to Flight Protection, travellers are sure to get to their port in case of a delay.

With Transat, vacationers can also make the fun last by adding a hotel stay to their adventure at sea. They can extend their trip up to 14 days before or after their cruise, with no extra cost for the change in travel dates. A wide selection of hotels is offered at various ports in Florida and the Caribbean.

More flights with Air Transat

Next winter, Air Transat will be offering direct flights to 34 South destinations. The airline is also pleased to announce the return of its flights to St. Maarten and San Juan (Puerto Rico), departing from Montreal and Toronto.

Air Transat will be enhancing its winter domestic flight program by linking several major Canadian cities. These markets will enjoy a greater selection of Sun and transatlantic destinations, thanks to connecting flights via Montreal and Toronto.

It’s worth noting that Air Transat flies to Europe year-round. That includes direct flights to Lisbon, Portugal, from Toronto and Montreal, flights between Toronto and Faro, Portugal (from January to April) and between Montreal and Malaga, Spain (all winter long, starting in January). Finally, Air Transat flies to other European cities year-round as well, including Paris, London, Glasgow and Manchester.

About Transat

Transat A.T. Inc. is a leading integrated international tourism company specializing in holiday travel. It offers vacation packages, hotel stays and air travel under the Transat and Air Transat brands to some 60 destinations in 26 countries in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. Based in Montreal, the company has 5,000 employees. Transat is firmly committed to sustainable tourism development, as reflected in its multiple corporate responsibility initiatives over the past 10 years, and was awarded Travelife Partner status in 2016 (TSX: TRZ).

Recent distinctions and awards (2017-2018)

  • Named North America’s best leisure airline at the Skytrax World Airline Awards
  • Ranked by Atmosfair among the world’s top 20 airlines for energy efficiency
  • Voted Best Leisure/Charter Airline and Best Tour Operator at the Agents’ Choice Awards presented by Baxter Travel Media
  • Voted Best Airline and Best Tour Operator at the Trophées Uni-Vers awards organized by the Association des Agents de Voyages du Québec
  • Ranked among Canada’s Best Employers and second-best airline on Forbes magazine’s 2017 ranking
  • Named one of the Best Corporate Citizens in Canada by Corporate Knights

Contact: Marie-Annick Lalande, Public Relations and Marketing Advisor, Transat Tours Canada - 514-987-1616, ext. 4076