Plan now for best Winter Olympics deals

By Clara Bosonetto Maerz

For ajc.com

The 21st Winter Olympic Games are around the corner, but it is still ppossible to get event tickets and a place to lay your head.

Vancouver, British Columbia, is the host city for the Games, Feb. 12-28 2010, and airfare to Vancouver is fairly reasonable this winter.

For instance, USAirways offers the lowest one-way rate of $270.80, including all taxes and fees. The rate is valid from Jan. 15-Feb. 28.

Delta/Northwest come in next at $285.80 for a one-way ticket. That rate is valid through Sept. 1, 2010, with a two-week advance notice of travel.

Air Canada, Continental and United are pricing one-way rates through Sept. 1, 2010, at $305.80.

If you can't find seats during the Games, visit just before the event to catch the excitement of a sparkling city that awaits its guests from across the world.

To keep to a budget during the Games, consider renting a house, condominium or apartment in Metro Vancouver online from one of the two approved property rental agencies.

Tickets are harder to come by, although all venue box offices will open on the first day of competition at each venue.

Also, watch the Vancouver Organizing Committee web site closer to opening day. It is likely that they will be operating an online ticket resale program where visitors could purchase tickets at face value that others were not able to use.