Best deal?

[broncrider]

I was just curious how most of you guys book trips. Do you seem to get better deals with a travel agent or maybe something like travelocity.com or maybe booking directly with the hotel. Any advice would be appreciated. I am looking to book a trip in aug or sep for cozumel.

 

[parrotheaddiver]

I never use a TA...too many deals via the internet...try funjet or applevacations they have pretty good rates sometimes....I usually just book direct w/airline for Cozumel and then book my hotel and dive op...some dive ops give good rates if you get a dive pkg and room combo or hotels sometimes have the dive op in with the room pkg...I would rather pick my own dive op though...rates are usually pretty good in Aug and Sept to Cozumel...

you may want to post your question in the coz forum...or maybe one of the nice mods will move this one over there

 

[broncrider]

Thanks for the input. I found a website called bookit.com and it seems to be pretty reasonable with hotel and airfare.

 

[diver 85]

I was just curious how most of you guys book trips. Do you seem to get better deals with a travel agent or maybe something like travelocity.com or maybe booking directly with the hotel. Any advice would be appreciated. I am looking to book a trip in aug or sep for cozumel.

The 'best' deals are not always the 'best'---for CZM, we always buy our air txs as cheap as possibe ie kayak.com etc ---Then, there is only ONE place to stay(Villa Dora) & ONE dive op. to dive with... Aldora.com will give you both places....(@ least that's the way we've done it the last 7 times there since '07)

some shots from 2 weeks ago there:
CZMFeb10 pictures by GEAUXtiger - Photobucket

and a few from a past Villa stay(notice how close you're sleeping to the water, lol):
http://s176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GEAUXtiger/CZMtopsideNov07/

 

[ReefHound]

I either book direct or use a discount site like Expedia or Continental Vacations. Sometimes those sites will have specials the hotel doesn't offer direct (some hotels offer their best rates direct and want you to book direct while others seem to be "protecting" their agents by holding back the best rates direct). Be careful with Bookit. They offer tantalizing rates on the initial results screen but when you start the booking process you'll find fees and taxes added on that often/usually make them higher. Be sure to compare final driveout price.

Also compare cancellation policies if you skip the trip insurance. They vary wildly and one advantage of booking direct is your cancellation policies seem to be more favorable. Discount air tickets can be rescheduled up to departure for a fee, like $100 to $150 per ticket. Hotels can usually be canceled up to 48 hours prior for minimal or no fee. Even up to arrival time for first night's rate.

 

[robint]

I have used both, depending on where I am going. Sometimes it is easier to use the Travel agency and sometimes it is just as good to do it all yourself, especially if you already know where you want to stay. Sometimes agencies have special deals that you can't get going direct. Also, some hotels deal only through agencies for their booking. Cocoview Resort is one.
Caradonna Dive Adventures - Dive Travel and Vacations
Island Dreams Travel scuba diving vacations, cozumel scuba diving, dive travel, dive resorts, diving trips
Bay Adventures :: Dive Adventures and Island Vacations :: 888.599.3483
Ultimate Dive Travel - Scuba Diving Tours - Scuba Dive Vacation

all dive travel agencies I trust.

~~example of how an agency can get a better deal sometimes - we booked our liveaboard to Palau through Ultimate dive travel. When we got on the boat in Palau there was another couple on their second trip on that boat. They told us about how they got a price from travel agent but figured they could get it cheaper by calling the company directly, nope, they got quoted a price about $450pp more. They said they threw a fit and the lady only came down half that, so they ended up paying more by doing that, but they did get her to give them an upgraded room.

As far as booking airfare, I almost always book it myself through Expedia or on Southwest if inside US.

robin