Booking hotels through third parties

[ohliz]

I booked a couple of times through beachdestinations.com - I got air plus 4 nights for less than I could get air alone at the time (And could make the flights span 10 days with my own booking the other 6 nights). And similar deals were available.

But I liked touching base with the hotel to make sure and the airline too, for peace of mind and to reserve specific seats.

I don't know if calling would have helped you luv with the two hotels with similar names situation. They'd probably answer the phone in such a way that you'd assume one was the other anyway.

[MoFromMonroe]

Always used 3rd party for AI trips to Negril. Now that we are doing non all inclusive we will only use negrilonestop.com They are the best. Derek is "at home" holding down the fort while Susan and Bob are in Negril. He does a great job too! We just booked April and November with Derek.

[irieworld]

I have actually gotten some great deals from 3rd party sites from NYC to Negril. The airline costs are about the same but the bigger reduction comes when you book room and air-- usually room costs are significantly less than what the resorts show on their websites. And then I often use a promo code which will take another 50 to 100$ off the package price. I have done this staying at Bar B Barn, NBCC (back when they did online bookings)Mariners and Samsara and got a much better deal than I could have booking myself. But I have also gotten below published rates for Bar B Barn, Whitesands, and NBCC booking myself. I stayed at Country Country and Seastar for their web rate and dealt with them no problem, and got the best rooms.

So I have had success both ways. I have never been bumped before-- but I usually travel off-peak season which helps with good rates and no one full enough to bump.

[Brianfrommass]

I use Expedia because they have a feature that lets you book a hotel for part of your stay. My last trip with my girlfriend 2 years ago, may of 2010, we booked 4 nights with airfare for 744pp at the grand platinum in lucee. We were on island for 8 nights, the other four we booked directly through blue cave castle. We are looking to book a trip around the same time this year, but we are looking at only booking one night through Expedia because we would like to explore some different properties this trip and decide down there where we're going to stay. Also usually when u book airfare and hotel together there is a savings. We wanna book soon, but we know what's it starts to slow down the price will drop. We hoping some properties will have good summer deals like they did last year. Seastar had $333pp for room, dinner and breakfast. I hope they offer something similar this year. Can't wait for the summer specials to be advertised, I mean I hope business is busy enough that properties don't have to drop price, but it's the slow season, it is what it is.

[ohliz]

Good to know Expedia does that, I used beachdestinations for that reason - their super cheap air/hotel packages and ability to stay longer with my own accommodation arrangements because I never want to use the hotels they offer for the whole time either. Did you have to do anything special? I had to call beachdest, couldn't book it online.

[gerryg123]

Back when I used to be regular at RIU Club, i often booked through Apple or Cheapcarribean and have enjoyed some great deals through the years .... Also, you can haggle with Apple and others just like you can with anyone else -- the art of the deal.

[Brianfrommass]

On Expedia, there is a box you can check, it says "I only need hotel for part of my trip". And Expedia has a quite a few options.

[Sparky]

if you are going in the summertime/off season you can get some nice deals just by walking up to the front desk. you can shop around a likkle once you have your base established for the first few days. the good people at catcha hooked me up last trip as a repeat visitor. i refuse to do it any other way now.