Booking Questions

[soon2bePowers]

Hello,

I am seeking answers to a few questions.

1. How far in advance did you book your trip and secure wedding date.

2. How far in advance did your guest begin to book. What typically happens if better prices come up after some guests have booked?

3. Does your TA converse with the wedding planner at the resort, do you do all of this, or do you both do some?

Thanks so much for your help.

Ashley

[Ryan's girl]

Hi Ashley,

1. We booked as soon as our travel agent was able to get our group rate. It all happened very quickly...our agent got our rates and told us we needed 10 deposits to secure the rate. We started working on getting rates from airline carriers back in late March and secured a rate in April.

2. Our guests started booking for our wedding (which is on April 1, 2009) in May. Most of our guests have booked because they wanted to get in on the secured group rate, but some are waiting hoping to get in on a last minute deal.

I can only speak for our travel agent with regards to better prices because I'm not sure what others do-but ours told us she'd match a lower price only 1 time. My sister found a lower price for us...and our agent matched it for all of our guests.

3. It depends on you/your TA. My TA offered to be in contact with the WC at the resort but I decided that I would be in contact with her myself. I know some people who let their TA do most of contact and some who 'share' the duties. I personally thought it would be easier if I was the only one in contact with the WC (it was nothing against my TA!).

Hopefully this helps you out a bit. Feel free to ask any more questions! I'll try my best to answer them.

[Jennifer Davis]

My wedding is not until December 2009 but here is where I am with everything....

1. I decided not to hire a TA. I suggested that people use Travelocity, Orbitz or Expedia. I do not have enough people flying out from the same place to use a TA nor are people staying for the same amount of time - some 7 days, some 5 days, etc.

I secured my wedding date last winter. I knew where I wanted to have my wedding before I was even engaged. I got my date right away to ensure that I could get the resort.

2. I have 6 people booked at the hotel already. Flights are not available yet, though. The resort we booked at has a cancellation policy which allows you to cancel free of charge up to 48 hours before arrival. If my guests find another rate later somewhere else, they can cancel the reservation or ask the resort to match the price. Most travel companies and resorts have price matching which allows you to get the best deal you can find without going through the hassle of cancelling and rebooking your trip.

3. I can't answer this one since I am not using a TA.

[caporrone]

Our travel agent is not charging us a fee - the resort pays him. We secured a very good group rate at the Grand Lido - 169 per nihgt per person. Every 19 people booked the 20th is free.
As far as airfair - you can't see anything until 340 days prior to when you are looking to fly. For example our wedding is 10-10-09 we won't be able to look at rate until late November.

Most reorts require one person to be the point person and payee for the Group - so therefore, if you don't use a TA - you and your fiance will have to front the money - then collect it from your guests on time to make the payment to the resort to secure your rooms and rates.

Hope this helps

[~*petals*~]

Originally Posted by soon2bePowers

Hello,

I am seeking answers to a few questions.

1. How far in advance did you book your trip and secure wedding date.

I reserved the date at my original venue 11 months in advance. Had my site visit to Jamaica and changed wedding locations 8 months in advance.

Originally Posted by soon2bePowers

2. How far in advance did your guest begin to book. What typically happens if better prices come up after some guests have booked?

My family started booking right away (it's a new resort so I warned everybody that the "grand opening" prices wouldn't last for long). I've been telling guests to book asap or at least put down a deposit to hold the rooms at this price if they're going.

I gave them the option of booking their own trip online (which most of the younger guests are doing) and the option of booking through our travel agent (which is preferred by the older guests). We didn't do a room block (the rates are only $107 per person per night all-inclusive!) There's no group-rate (didn't want to have to be in charge of collecting payments from the guests), so it's up to them to book however they want.

Originally Posted by soon2bePowers

3. Does your TA converse with the wedding planner at the resort, do you do all of this, or do you both do some?

Thanks so much for your help.

Ashley

My TA wasn't involved with the wedding coordinator at all. She's just handling all the guest bookings (and ours too).

[Kelly C]

You can only do a group rate or a block of rooms if EVERYONE is coming the same amount of time and coming out of the same departure city. Since you live in STL we have some great packages thru funjet, worryfree, and apple vacation for package deals and people can go for as many nights as they want.
I booked mine 6 months out and didn't get the exact date I wanted, but it was no big deal.
My TA was the initial contact for the resort for me. To let them know that I was booked and ready to go, since then I have been the contact.

[Tammy Host]

Originally Posted by Kelly C

You can only do a group rate or a block of rooms if EVERYONE is coming the same amount of time and coming out of the same departure city.

this is not true for room blocks, only for packages that include air or group air rates.