2010 prices/ best deal?

[pinklori]

I'm getting married in Varadero, February 2010, and I am also still waiting on rates. I've spoken with a couple different TA's that said companies such as Air Transat and Air Canada Vacations are still in negotiations with many resorts, that are taking much longer than normal right now, and rates with early booking bonus's won't be out until sometime in May! So frustrating!!!!

[K'osh]

I've spoken to a few travel agents and I get the same answer...prices are not out yet. Mind you my wedding isn't until May 2010. They can give me prices but they can't guarantee a departure date/time. I was told by one company that the rates won't come out until July...but so far it looks like it will cost us $1300 to Playa Pesquero and we have 40 people coming with us.

[Amarillis]

From my planning experience - here is the #1 question to ask your potential TA...

 

HAVE THE RATES BEEN CONTRACTED

 

Otherwise, they are estimating price. Once the contracted rates were available I liked the #'s even better!

 

On the aside regarding rates:

 

Last year our group had the benefit of booking when the CAD$ was low. This year, although we are in "an economic downturn" many people will expect prices to drop. I have been told that this is not the case for two reasons,

 

a) the CAD$ is not as strong

 

the tour operators contract in US$ therefore we are seeing up to a 22-25% increase over last year in rates.

 

 

Good Luck! Happy Planning Cuban Brides!

[katnip]

Hi all,

We are getting married at the Tryp Peninsula in Jan 2010. We were able to get our rates from our TA in April/May...invites are out just waiting for replies now. If anyone needs an excellent TA specializing in destination wedding let me know, she is in guelph

[Sita&Nate]

Yep, its June now and it still seems like I cannot get a contracted rate from any TAs... I received an estimate of 1920+280 in taxes to get to Dreams Cabos x1 week from Vancouver from 1 TA whom I am not that thrilled about working with. I can't wait til the contracted rates come out..........

[Crystalballl]

All the rates I'm getting for Playa Pesquero are tentative too. Can't wait for them to get all the contracted rates so we can go ahead with the booking

[pinklori]

I was told contracted rates for Cuba won't be out now until August!!!! I was given rates last month but they are still WAY higher than I would like my guests to have to pay, especially those travelling from Vancouver! Anyone else have rates yet?

[Butterflyf369]

Hi Ladies,

 

I found booking the most confusing and stressful part of my wedding planning. I ended up going with Travel Masters. The reasons were:

 

A- Agent was really attentive to my needs and responded very quickly to my questions

B- They matched prices and when still undecided, they did some comparison shopping for me.

C- Best child rate

 

Overall, all agents seem to match prices. The part that I got stressed out on is that you have to put down a deposit for your group rate. You can either have the guest put down the deposit ($150/per person) or put down yourself and get back from attendees. We went with the latter as our invitations weren't even sent out. I estimated and did a deposit for 20 people. Any deposit over 14 you can do +- 25% in case people join or drop off. Ours came with a payment date of August 1, 2009.

 

As to the 2010 rates, they aren't out for our resort but since the rates don't generally change that much, I decided to book now. Besides, I was nervous that I wouldn't be able to secure my wedding date and location.

 

Here is the travel agents information if you have any questions. I'm sure she'd be happy to respond to questions:

Travel Masters Niagara

Call Us… We’ve Been There

 

4300 Drummond Road

Niagara Falls, ON

L2E 6C3

Telephone: (905) 374 2801

Fax: 905 374 8622

Email: [email protected]

My agent's name is:Ronnie

 

Best of luck!

[PaulsGirl]

We booked our wedding about 3-4 weeks ago for our wedding in Varadero, Cuba in May 2010.

 

We were given an all-inclusive price of $1022.50 + taxes for a grand total of $1253.50 per person leaving from Toronto to Cuba on May 1st and returning on May 8, 2010. We are staying at the Iberostar Laguna Azul.

 

Once a person puts down their $200 deposit, their rate is secured. We put down the initial deposit of $2000 ($200 each for 10 people) to secure our group rate. Once a person puts down their deposit, the rate will not change. In our case, people who are not putting down deposits right now (some waiting a few months) will be subject to any price changes made.

 

We have our trip booked, wedding date secured with the resort and we have also just received tentative flight times.

 

We used Breakaway Travel in Oshawa, Ontario.

[Crystalballl]

That's awesome! I haven't gotten around to phoning there. Hopefully this week I will give them a shot