Full view||Back to messagesParadisus Palma Real Resort- trying to get a good travel quote!�

[maplesuger]

Hey ladies!

 

I am trying to work with various Travel Agents to get a group quote from Ottawa (Canada) to the Paradisus Palma Real in the DR in November 2011. I think my group will be about 35 people or so. The issue is the quotes I'm getting back from the travel agents are around $2200-2600, when I can find quotes on expedia for as low as $1650. I have no idea why no travel agents can match this!!!

 

I totally fell in love with this resort and really want to go here, but I cant see my guests paying $2200-2600 to go down south for my wedding. I was thinking it would be awesome to go through a travel agent so that my guests can book directly... Any suggestions on what I should do?!?! I'm really stressing out!

 

Much appreciated!!!

Jenny

[fmichelle]

Hi Jenny, I totally understand your stress.  My wedding is in the DR in April and I too went through a bunch of travel agents that all said they could match any price, but then when it came down to it, no one could match the prices I was finding on my own.  Although your group is larger than mine, I would recommend doing a wedding website (there are a ton of free ones out there) and just post all the wedding information on there including where to book (what website) prices you're seeing, and all the other info you've found.  Some of my guests even had me book for them just to make it easier. My guests are coming from around the country, so I'm continually searching out deals from three different origins, but if that's what it takes to get my guests the best deal, so be it.  Good luck!

[MissNatalie18]

Hi maplesugar!

 

I am going there in April from Toronto and I got 1800 per person, and you had to book a min. of 5 rooms to get that rate.  You see it lower on website because it is based on whatever seats are left on a flight, so the rates will continue to increase closer to the wedding.  If all your guests wanted to book today for your wedding in Nov. they could, but the costs you are seeing on websites are not neccessarily going to have 30 seats on the plane at that price.  As ppl start booking tickets on websites, the price start adjusting, that is why prices can change from minute to minute.  What a travel agent can do is ensure a fair rate for all your guests that will never go up.  You simply have to put a deposit down and then you have to pay in full closer to the wedding date.  For example, I put my deposits down in October, and my guests must book by Jan 10th to get the group rate.  Currently on-line because it is getting closer to the wedding date the cheapest week flight to PPr is 1950, so $150 more per person.  I also got a waive on all departure taxes, we get premium seating and also get to go to the VIP section at the airport. 

 

I hope this helps!

[TA Becky]

Hi Maplesugar,

 

Congratulations on your engagement!!

 

I completly understand your fustrations with this situation. A lot of the internet websites make it very deceiving for Brides when they pick a property.  What MissNatalie 18 said is true, they are usually selling off a few seats at that price but the likelyhood of you getting an entire group at that rate is next to nothing.

 

If you were only expecting 10 guests maximum you MIGHT be able to get away with everyone booking online. I really don't want to see you leave it to your guests to book themselves and hope to get that rate because you could be left with a lot of disapointed people...

 

I'm the Canadian Travel agent for BDW, so perhaps I could take a look and see if I can find anything better for you. Were you offered any promotions that would bring the cost/person down (such as free rooms)?

 

Email me or PM me if you have any questions

 

Becky

[maplesuger]

Thanks everyone for your tips!!!  The search for a fair quote still continues!   Hopefully I'll find something soon!  I think I will take your advice and have a travel agent quote available to my guests and leave it up to their discretion how they end up booking.

[Destinations7]

Congratulations on your engagement.

 

Planning something big is usually stressful, but I just had a friend who did her wedding/honeymoon in Dominican Republic for a group of 50.  She told me she was very happy with the way they welcomed her wedding group.  She felt like she was a "queen" for the day during her beach wedding in DR.  Her groups was very pleased with the pricing as well as everything else.  You may want to check this out as well to see if this is something you would like to look into. 

 

Congrats once again and enjoy planning your own unique wedding destination holiday!

[meBonidie2be]

How are things working out for you?