- Only one quarter of B.C. residents are using travel rewards according to the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card Survey -

VANCOUVER, March 1 /CNW/ - Despite the allure of a cheaper vacation bill, only one quarter of British Columbia residents (27%) have redeemed their credit card travel rewards points during the past year, according to the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card Survey. If you're looking to reduce some of your vacation costs this spring break but not sure where to start, consider reviewing and redeeming your travel rewards points.

"So often, travel rewards cardholders are disappointed that their rewards programs don't allow them to redeem points the way they want." says Stacie Pearson, Associate Vice President, TD Canada Trust Credit Cards. "Many travel rewards programs do not allow redemption for taxes and airport fees, or require high point balance tiers to be achieved before travelling or change the value of the points depending on when you travel and how you travel, i.e. air-only vs cruises. Opt for the flexibility and the convenience to use your points towards the entire price of your get-away (taxes and all) or towards part of the price to simply lower the cost to a more affordable price." 

Travelling this spring break

With 75% of B.C. credit cardholders planning on staying close to home, the upcoming spring break will likely be a time of relaxation. More than one third (37%) say they want to relax at home, but one in five (18%) are looking forward to spending their time with family and friends.

Whether you're travelling to the beach or staying close to home, there are many things you can do to keep yourself busy this spring break while staying on budget.

Be a tourist in your own town

Get out of the house and see your city through the eyes of a tourist. Find an area of attraction that you haven't been to for years such as the museum, zoo or even hiking and enjoy rediscovering your hometown. If you have a TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card, your points are redeemable for entry fees to these attractions.

Go skiing!

Take a road trip to a local ski hill with the kids in tow. Consider renting a cabin while you're there and get cozy around the fireplace. If the kids haven't been skiing before, don't worry: most ski areas have hills that suit everyone from beginners to experts. 

"Even if you're staying close to home this Spring break, consider using travel rewards points for ski passes, train tickets or a night away at a local hotel," says Pearson. "With the right travel rewards card, you'll have the flexibility to redeem points to help cover the costs of whatever activity you have planned."

B.C. residents' top travel frustration

While many are staying close to home, some are still planning a getaway far from home. However, there are some issues to be ready for that can impact the relaxation component. The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card Survey asked B.C. residents about their top travel frustrations - three in ten (30%) say lost or delayed luggage is a situation that would likely ruin their vacation, making it the province's top travel frustration.

"There may be frustrations in your travels along the way, such as a lost suitcase, but it shouldn't ruin your vacation," says Stacie Pearson, Associate Vice President, TD Canada Trust Credit Cards. "Look for a travel rewards credit card that will cover you for lost or delayed luggage, and other travel headaches. Because airports tend to get chaotic, try to book an early flight to limit the chance of delays, long lines and lost luggage."

Delayed and Lost Baggage Insurance on the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card can give you peace of mind when travelling. If your checked baggage is lost or delayed by more than six hours from the time of arrival at your final away from home destination, you, your spouse and eligible dependent children can be reimbursed up to $1,000 each when you charge the full cost of your fare on the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card.  Each cardholder receives a certificate of insurance that has all the details of how this works.

Factor in all the costs of your vacation

It's hard to really relax on vacation if you don't know what it's going to cost. Canadians are budgeting for their vacations, but they are not doing so in detail. Six in ten B.C. residents (61%) generally create a budget for their spring break travels, however, only 8% say their budgets are detailed and itemized.

"Creating an itemized vacation budget will not only help you avoid an unexpected bill at the end, it is also a great way to help you plan for all the little costs that can add up, like airport transportation and souvenirs," says Pearson.

About the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card:

The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card gives cardholders the flexibility to get the travel deal they want and use their TD Points earned to pay for it. Whether that travel is booked through their favourite travel agent, online website, a last-minute deal, or through the TD Travel Rewards Centre, you can use your TD Points to pay for it. With no blackout periods or restrictions on airlines, earning and redeeming points on your TD First Class Travel Card is even more rewarding. It goes beyond any seat or any airline, it's any travel. And, while many competitor programs require their cardholders to reach point tiers to travel to specified destinations or limit the number of seats available, with the TD First Class Travel Card, redeeming points is simple and easy to understand. For every $1.00 in purchases made using the card, cardholders earn three (3) TD Points which can be redeemed with as little as 10,000 TD Points.  That's the equivalent to $50 in travel value, redeemable towards any travel, anytime to anywhere.    

For more information about the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card visit: http://www.tdfirstclasstravel.com

About the TD First Class Travel Visa Survey:

From February 4 to February 6, 2011, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 870 randomly selected Canadian adults with credit cards who are Angus Reid Forum panellists, including 112 from British Columbia.

About TD Canada Trust
TD Canada Trust offers personal and business banking to more than 11.5 million customers. We provide a wide range of products and services from chequing and savings accounts, to credit cards, mortgages and business banking, to credit protection and travel medical insurance, as well as advice on managing everyday finances. TD Canada Trust makes banking comfortable with award-winning service and convenience through 24/7 mobile, internet, telephone and ATM banking, as well as in over 1,100 branches - most open 8 'til late and many now open Sunday. For more information, please visit: www.tdcanadatrust.com. TD Canada Trust is the Canadian retail bank of TD Bank Group, the sixth largest bank in North America.