CALGARY- Alberta snowbirds are feeling the costly effect of the loonie hitting its lowest level since 2003. Pat and Ed Nestorowicz from Lethbridge, left the Calgary International Airport enroute to their vacation home near Palm Springs, with much less spending money this time around.
“It’s a little disheartening,” Ed said. “It is what it is, just have to spend a little less down there.”
“It affects our taxes and homeowner association fees and when you go out for dinner,” said Pat, referring to the expensive exchange rate.
The Canadian dollar reached 71-cents Wednesday morning, the lowest in 12 years.
READ MORE: The loonie just crashed below 71 cents – with more pain to come
Travel Agents with Vision Travel Solutions said their corporate flights have decreased from thousands of bookings a month Canada-wide, to just hundreds.
The hardest hit includes flights to Fort McMurray.
Travelers can find value in countries outside the US, which are also facing a struggling currency.
“Brazil frankly in a bit of a financial crisis. South Africa… anyone going on a safari. There’s great beaches down there,” suggested Michael Broadhurst with Vision Travel Solutions.
American Jeff Lyons is enjoying the flipside. Traveling to our mountains was a bargain for him.
“I certainly noticed it, especially as drastic as it was from this time last year,” Lyons said. “I like to spend my money on your snow, but this was a real treat.”
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