Traveling from Toronto? Leave from Buffalo Instead!

Canadian travel tip: If possible, hop across the border and fly out of Buffalo instead of Toronto. A story in today's Toronto Star by Iain Marlow reveals that many Torontonians already believe this, since 35 percent of all Buffalo airport travelers are Canadian. It's increased from 10 percent a few years ago, and Buffalo airport spokesman Doug Hartmayer believes it will rise even more.

"The rapid rise in the Canadian dollar and the growing ease of internet bargain hunting--especially for prime destinations such as New York, Las Vegas and Florida--have made Buffalo bargainville, especially compared to Toronto's Pearson, one of the most expensive airports in the world.

The story included a graph showing a savings of $585 for a trip to Alaska from Buffalo versus Pearson. Enough, the story joked, to buy copies of Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer and a good used .22 rifle, as well as bus tickets back home to Canada.

Las Vegas was an even bigger bargain. With the $763 in savings, a gambler could buy his Greyhound bus tickets home plus ride a Lincoln Town Car stretch limo to Buffalo and have hundreds left to spend on blackjack and Johnny Walker Green Label scotch.