If this is a "deal" I'm in trouble!

[morphasia]

Hi folks;

my girlfiriend and I are taking our 18 year old sons (I've got twins) to Playa Del Carmen and we want to stay at the Quetzal/Tucan.  We're not going til next winter, but I just was on a website (Travel TST.ca) that said $2,500 (Canadian) per person for a week was a DEAL for a five star all-inclusive in March.  It's the Bahia Principe Akumel near Playa Del Carmen.  I'm thinking, this is what I thought I'd be spending in December not MARCH.

Any ideas why so much even in March?  And any ideas on how much Canadian I'm really looking at from Saskatchewan, Canada to Playa in December for a week?

Any help much appreciated.

Lili

[CoralReef]

March is the absolute worst time for prices due to spring break. The whole Cancun/Rivera Maya area is an incredibly popular spring break destination.

December through February is also pretty high since so many people want to escape the cold. And it's especially bad this year, because so many Cancun hotel rooms are still closed due to hurricane damage, so tour operators are moving people down the coast. Prices may be better next winter, if the fall storm season takes it easier this year!

Don't panic, wait until late spring when next winter's prices come out, and I think you'll find better prices than you are currently seeing.

[blacker]

Morphasia, you ARE getting hosed !  Check out AirTransat Vacations,  their advertised price at the Grand Bahia Principe Akumal (junior suite) for a 1 week package anytime from Feb 1 - Apr 11/06  is $2299 ea based on double occupancy (BTW Signature's prices for the IB Toucan same dates is $2349 + dep taxes).  Add $100 ea to upgrade to Club Golden.  Taxes & fees out of Edmonton or Calgary are an additional $165.  Booking in advance usually gets you an additional early booking discount, although I don't believe that anyone will have a firm price yet this far in advance.  These are their advertised prices, your local TA's can work on these prices. Add a second week for about $1200 more for each.

Best bet I've found is to shop around & get several travel agents working for you, then take the best offer.  Make sure they know you're shopping around, that way they will give you their best price first & eliminate haggelling.  Travel agents really are the better bet for vacation travel; if something goes bad, at least you know where they are !  This is not the case for on-line deals !

If you really want to live dangerously, wait for last minute specials offered a week before departures.  My brother just did this last month & stayed 2 weeks at the Grand Bahia Principe Coba (5-star) for 2500 ea & flew first class !  Of course if you do opt for last minute deals you may miss out completely, hense the gamble.

[4wheeled]

hi Lili

I stayed at the tucan this past feb and it was great.     one of the best things about the hotels in playacar, is that you can walk into PDC in a half hour tops.      there is a sidewalk/path alongside a divided roadway and is very pleasant to walk along.  playacar is like a big subdivision of resorts, condos and private homes.  it's difficult to figure out by brochures exactly where resorts are in relation to certain things so i bought some maps online at www.cancunmap.com of the area.  they are Very detailed and have info ranging from number of rooms to dolphin swim pricing to margarita pricing.  $8US may seem like a lot but i think it's a good investment.   

paul   

[George]

Lili,

February & March is Spring Break time in US.
The vacation package prices usually are very high.

George

[Mofi]

True prices are high but that looks high. I would expect to pay about 2000-2200 depending on the resort. It would be much more if you stayed at  Royal hideway, but for Ib Tucan look for around 2000-2200 before taxes.

[blacker]

Wow Kelsi, you must get real good prices out of Vancouver, our prices in the prairies are quite a bit higher, but as I said, you can always find a TA that is willing to deal.

[Mofi]

Wow Kelsi, you must get real good prices out of Vancouver, our prices in the prairies are quite a bit higher, but as I said, you can always find a TA that is willing to deal.

No not really. Check itravel2000.com from Vancouver I can go to Iberstar Tucan on March 17th 2006 for 1 week. The price is $2014.59 before taxes. After taxes- $2267.14, based on double occupancy. Its roughly the same price ($15) more to go on the 18th or 19th.
This company as of so far as been extremely reliable as well.... most listed prices you find with signature ect. will be sometimes 200 more then that.

[morphasia]

Blacker; I'm not getting hosed, I just saw the $2,500 March deal on the website.  You're right, flying out of the prairies is a bit more expensive, I've noticed.

Thanks everyone for confirming $2,000 to $2,200 before taxes, since that's what our TA is telling us.  I forgot the March spring break thing.  And it just goes to show, you do need to shop around and cruise the web for the best deal.  My boss just got a deal on the internet for $900 cheaper, same hotel, same time, same everything.

I just read TXMaverick's post on his stay at the Iberostar Quetzal/Tucan and now I'm even more excited to go.  I learned my son who got a volleyball scholarship at our university will be going to Tampa, Florida for a week of volleyball with his team from December 27to to January 2nd, so that means we have to bump our PDC trip a week earlier.  Bummer.  We wanted to be there New Year's Eve.  Now we'll be there December 18-25th, but that's nothing to cry about.  Gotta fit the trip in university break, since I've got two in university.

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!

[sueandchuck]

hi,,,

my girlfriend and I just booked at the Tucan for April. I found an onsite group TNT Vacations, that was $500 less than any other site I found. We are paying $946 per person. Granted its a US site, but maybe you can do somthign with them. Othere sites were like $1400 - $1500. This is hotel only. We are using FF miles for air....

Have fun. We can't wait to go

Chuck

[morphasia]

Sue and Chuck YOU ARE SO LUCKY in the USA!!!!  We Canadians freezing our arses off in the prairies applaud your ancestors who had the wherewithall to not settle in unihabitalbe territory   

Hey, when the Indians lived here, they had the presence of mind to LEAVE in the winter, they were a nomadic people.  The white settlers came to Saskatchewan and said, duh, I think dis wud be good fer farmin'.  Okay, okay, I'll stop.  But honestly, is there no rich, good looking man who wants to rescue me from this deep freeze?  Okay, I'll really stop now.  ha ha ha

Chuck, you and Sue have a grand time in April!

[Mofi]

You don't have to move to the US to solve your problem....just move to Vancouver. My family said it was 14 degress on christmas day, and I can't remember that last time it was colder than -5

[gottcha]

I'm with Apple Vacations and I'll be at the Tucan from March 10th-17th and my total cost for my wife, daughter (10 years) and myself was 3700$ USD. Don't know if it makes a difference, but I booked back in June. I cant wait....