Short breaks: vacations for less than 25,000 points Aeroplan in 2025

As vacation days are often limited, especially with school constraints, short breaks are our best friends.

There’s a well-known trick: combine one or two days off with a public holiday to make a long weekend, and you’ve got your little getaway. But where do you go when you’ve only got 3, 4 or 5 days? How far can you really go?

To save on travel time and maximize exploration, you should limit yourself to direct flights from your departure airport. You can easily do this with Flight Connections and use Roame to find affordable flights with points.

In fact, you can use Roame‘s “SkyView” function, select the Aeroplan program and specify that you only want to see results under 25,000 points (12,500 points for a one-way trip if you want to find a round trip for under 25,000 points) or the maximum number of points you want to pay.

In this article, I’ve selected the best short-stay getaways I could find for under 25,000 points Aeroplan round trip (per person), so you can quickly visualize affordable places for that long weekend you have in mind. While there are many other attractive places for a short getaway, I’m focusing on trips that don’t require too many of your points.

Similarly, a simple credit card can do the trick if you don’t have the required points. In fact, the TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card offers an interesting bonus that can get you to any of the locations listed below; you can even bring along an extra person, thanks to their generous welcome offer!

Traveling with your gang? No problem! Each adult can sign up for a card, so your bank of family share points is sure to grow!

Toronto is an ideal urban destination for a short stay in Canada. Easily accessible from just 15,000 points Aeroplan, it offers a host of activities without the need for a car. If you can, use the YTZ airport instead of the city center – you’ll save time!

You can explore the CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium, or the Toronto Islands for a moment of relaxation. Neighborhoods like Kensington Market, Queen West or the Distillery District offer great shopping and dining options. Culture buffs will appreciate the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) and the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). It’s an easy-to-organize getaway, rich in options.

It’s also very affordable with points thanks to the TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card welcome bonus.

Halifax is a maritime destination that combines history, culture and gastronomy. Easily accessible from many Canadian cities, it can be discovered in just a few days during a short stay.

Highlights include the Citadel, the Maritime Museum, the Harbour Walk and the Seaport Farmers’ Market. In summer, the town is particularly lively with its festivals and terraces. You can also take a day trip to Peggy’s Cove or Lunenburg. The region is also renowned for its seafood, especially oysters and clam chowder (yum!).

With the TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card welcome bonus, you’ll have plenty of points for your Halifax getaway.

St. John’s is Canada’s most easterly city and an excellent option for discovering another facet of the country in a short stay. With its colorful houses and spectacular cliffs, it offers a unique setting, combining maritime heritage and coastal landscapes.

Recommended activities include a visit to Cape Spear (the most easterly point in North America), a hike along the East Coast Trail, or a stroll through the historic center. Learn more about local history at The Rooms museum. In summer, it’s also possible to watch whales and icebergs in the area.

Victoria is a pleasant city to visit for a short weekend getaway, especially in spring or summer. The capital of British Columbia, it is accessible by air or ferry from Vancouver.

Major attractions include the Inner Harbour, the Royal BC Museum, and the famous Butchart Gardens. The downtown area is compact and walkable, with many cafés, restaurants and stores. Outdoor enthusiasts can go kayaking or book an orca-watching tour. It’s a quiet destination, well suited to a short stay without too much travel.

Calgary is much more than a transit city to the Rockies: it’s worth the detour for a getaway that combines urban culture in the city and grandiose nature in the mountains. If you’re heading out in summer, rent a car for a road trip and head for Banff or Canmore, about 90 minutes away, for a hike or a photo session in front of the surreal blue lakes.

In winter, take advantage of nearby ski resorts such as Nakiska or Sunshine Village. In town, stroll through the Kensington district, explore the gourmet markets or visit the Glenbow Museum. And if you’re going on a summer’s day, don’t miss the famous Stampede: rodeo, concerts, rides and street food. Calgary is a versatile destination for a Western Canadian getaway, whatever the season.

If you have the TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card don’t forget that you also get the first bag free for you on Air Canada flights, and for up to 8 people on the same reservation!

Vancouver is a charming city in western Canada, known for its natural beauty and outdoor activities. You can start by strolling along the waterfront promenade, rent bikes to tour Stanley Park, and make stops to take photos and explore the area. The park is home to plenty of wildlife, such as Canadian geese, ducks, squirrels and raccoons, which is ideal when you have children to entertain. After visiting the park, you can walk to the pretty waterfront.

Another of Vancouver’s must-see attractions is Grouse Mountain, easily accessible by car. Although the weather isn’t always ideal, you can take a gondola ride to the summit and observe grizzly bears in captivity. It’s worth noting, however, that the gondola ride may not be worth it if the weather isn’t right; facilities at the summit may be closed. There’s plenty to do in Vancouver for a short stay; I consider it a perfect destination for just eating!

Liberia is an excellent gateway to northwest Costa Rica, especially the province of Guanacaste. I couldn’t find any dates within 25,000 points Aeroplan to San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital, for a short stay between now and the holiday season, but Liberia is a great starting point for exploring the national parks, volcanoes and beaches of the Pacific. It’s a six-hour flight to Liberia, which may seem like a long time for a short getaway, but personally, I find it’s just as good as a domestic road trip that takes the same amount of time! In fact, the whole of Central America and the Caribbean can theoretically be booked for the low, one-way price of 12,500 points Aeroplan.

Nearby Rincón de la Vieja National Park offers hiking trails, natural hot springs and the chance to observe local wildlife (monkeys, toucans, sloths). For beach lovers, Tamarindo and Playa Hermosa are just a short drive away. The region is also renowned for its eco-friendly accommodation, ideal for a nature-focused short break.

It’s interesting to see that an exotic destination like Costa Rica is easily accessible for a short stay, especially when the welcome bonus from the TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card welcome bonus alone is enough to get us there!

Punta Cana is renowned for its all-inclusive resorts, long sandy beaches and calm waters. It’s a destination well suited to short breaks, with simple logistics and good value for money. We went to the Royalton Punta Cana, An Autograph Collection Resort & Casino last autumn for just four days with our family, and it was the perfect way to unwind.

On-site activities include swimming, water sports, golf or simply relaxing by the sea. You can also take a day trip to Saona Island, Santo Domingo (the capital of the Dominican Republic) or the Caves of the Miradors. For travelers looking for a relaxing, uncomplicated getaway, Punta Cana is a practical and accessible option.

Nassau, capital of the Bahamas, is a sunny destination that lends itself well to short stays, thanks to its accessible beaches and numerous day trips. It’s a compact city that combines a relaxed atmosphere with a well-developed tourist offering. The Courtyard Nassau Downtown/Junkanoo Beach is usually within easy reach of Marriott Bonvoy points, and very well located for your short getaway.

Recommended activities include a visit to the historic center of Nassau, a boat trip to the coral reefs, the beach at Paradise Island, or a day trip to Blue Lagoon Island. Several tours also offer snorkeling or swimming with the pigs in the neighboring islands.

Cancun and Riviera Maya are one of Mexico’s most popular destinations, and can be reached with less than 25,000 points Aeroplan. Located in the Quintana Roo region, it offers easy access to white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and a host of all-inclusive resorts.

For a short stay, concentrate on the hotel zone with its many public beaches, restaurants and water sports options (snorkeling, jet skiing, paddle boarding). If you have time, a day trip to the ruins of Tulum or to a cenote is highly recommended. Cancun airport is well served, with direct flights from several Canadian cities.

Mexico City is a culturally rich metropolis, and the Día de los Muertos weekend (late October/early November) is one of the best times to visit. Celebrations include parades, colorful altars (ofrendas), street performances and traditional markets. I was surprised to find such good prices with Aeroplan for this beautiful experience, but it’s proof that there are still great gems to be found. The cash prizes for this weekend are around $1,000 at the time of writing, so you get great value for your points. Even better if they were points quickly accumulated thanks to the TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card.

Places to visit include the Zócalo, the Palace of Fine Arts, the Frida Kahlo Museum and the National Museum of Anthropology. The neighborhoods of Roma, Condesa and Coyoacán are ideal for strolling, eating and exploring the city on foot. Even for a short stay, you can see a lot, while enjoying a highlight of Mexican culture.

In this article, we’ve highlighted the best short-break getaway destinations that can be done in a long weekend on a budget of less than 25,000 points Aeroplan for a round trip (per person). These destinations are ideal for those who want to make the most of their limited vacation days and enjoy a short getaway.

We suggest you use a credit card like the TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card to make these trips more affordable, and maybe even take a companion along with you thanks to its generous welcome offer. Every adult can sign up for their own card and pool their points to travel with family and friends.

Have you managed to find any other nuggets under 25,000 points for incredible short breaks? If so, join us and share your discovery in our Facebook community!