Free trip for every 16 people - what to do?!?!

[JayKay]

We also qualified for a free trip because we had 16 people book.  Our TA said most of the time it gets split between all the guests.  At first we were going to do that, but then we got thinking.  All the people booked were aware of the price and had payed their deposit.  We also talked with my parents and my FIs parents to see if they would be upset if we didn't spread it out and they said it was our wedding and to chose what we wanted to do.  We are both University students and paying for the wedding ourselves, so we have chosen to use the free trip for ourselves.  I guess its personal preferance, I dont think people would be mad if you got a free trip, its your group booking anyways and as the bride and groom you deserve some perks:)

[X-Chan]

I started another thread with this question but thought I'd post here since I didn't get any answers..

 

Were there any special conditions before you girls were able to claim the free package? My original quote said that I'd get 1 free per every 20 booked. That's great.. I have 46 booked, so I emailed my TA to see if I would get 2 free packages. She said no, the 20 have to be from the same departure city and for the same room package. I said ok.. I have 33 going from Toronto and about 23 of those are booked for ocean view rooms, can I at least get 1 free? Now she says it has to be 20 booked for the cheapest rooms, not ocean-view. Thing is, the standard rooms were sold out even before we submitted our original deposits so many people had to book ocean view 8 months before the date. I don't get why I can't get 1 standard package free for having 20 ocean views booked.. I'm just so bummed, I was really hoping to use this as we're paying for two packages on top of FI and I's. 

[clgriffi7]

That seems ridiculous!  I can see the same departure city restriction (though that should have been made clear up front), but it shouldn't matter what room category you booked.  As long as the "free" is for the lowest category, then that category and higher should all count.  Are any of these restrictions spelled out in the contract you signed with the travel agent?

 

Originally Posted by X-Chan 

I started another thread with this question but thought I'd post here since I didn't get any answers..

 

Were there any special conditions before you girls were able to claim the free package? My original quote said that I'd get 1 free per every 20 booked. That's great.. I have 46 booked, so I emailed my TA to see if I would get 2 free packages. She said no, the 20 have to be from the same departure city and for the same room package. I said ok.. I have 33 going from Toronto and about 23 of those are booked for ocean view rooms, can I at least get 1 free? Now she says it has to be 20 booked for the cheapest rooms, not ocean-view. Thing is, the standard rooms were sold out even before we submitted our original deposits so many people had to book ocean view 8 months before the date. I don't get why I can't get 1 standard package free for having 20 ocean views booked.. I'm just so bummed, I was really hoping to use this as we're paying for two packages on top of FI and I's. 

 

[X-Chan]

Here is what it said word for word.

 

"One complimentary adult for every 20 adults booked (21th adult is complimentary) at BLAU VARADERO - ALL ROOM TYPE AI for the same package, dates and duration, lowest room category, excluding taxes."

 

She keeps recopying this to me saying it is what it is. But I don't think it's clear at all?? I mean, it says "ALL ROOM TYPE AI" so I though that would mean as you said, it doesn't matter what room category is booked as long as the free one is a standard room. ughh >.<
 

Originally Posted by clgriffi7 

That seems ridiculous!  I can see the same departure city restriction (though that should have been made clear up front), but it shouldn't matter what room category you booked.  As long as the "free" is for the lowest category, then that category and higher should all count.  Are any of these restrictions spelled out in the contract you signed with the travel agent?

 

 

 

[celticgirl]

I had the same problem, it also says "lowest room category" meaning, not the ocean view rooms! It sucks, I have 60+ people book, and I got 2 free rooms when it was supposed to be one free for every 15 (4 free rooms), but, we arent all booked in the same room catagory so I got the short end of the straw.

 

 

 

In response to the main question, TAKE IT AND RUN- I did! and I would again! and again! and again! its YOUR day, it might be costing them 1500 or so to come, but its costing you 10-20 grand to HAVE a wedding.... it was their choice to come (they could have said no) and they were fully aware of the price when booking.... 40 bucks off their trip would have meant nothing compared to you getting free trips!
 

Originally Posted by X-Chan 

Here is what it said word for word.

 

"One complimentary adult for every 20 adults booked (21th adult is complimentary) at BLAU VARADERO - ALL ROOM TYPE AI for the same package, dates and duration, lowest room category, excluding taxes."

 

She keeps recopying this to me saying it is what it is. But I don't think it's clear at all?? I mean, it says "ALL ROOM TYPE AI" so I though that would mean as you said, it doesn't matter what room category is booked as long as the free one is a standard room. ughh >.<
 

 

 

[anichols8]

That really does suck.  I guess she is trying to say that "same package" implies same departure city but it is definitely ambiguous and with contracts, ambiguity should always be construed in favor of the person signing the contract.  Sighs...

[JayKay]

Thats really weird.  We are getting one free for every 16 people booked in our group, no matter what the departure city, or the room category.  I guess each company is a little different.   
 

Originally Posted by celticgirl 

I had the same problem, it also says "lowest room category" meaning, not the ocean view rooms! It sucks, I have 60+ people book, and I got 2 free rooms when it was supposed to be one free for every 15 (4 free rooms), but, we arent all booked in the same room catagory so I got the short end of the straw.

 

 

 

In response to the main question, TAKE IT AND RUN- I did! and I would again! and again! and again! its YOUR day, it might be costing them 1500 or so to come, but its costing you 10-20 grand to HAVE a wedding.... it was their choice to come (they could have said no) and they were fully aware of the price when booking.... 40 bucks off their trip would have meant nothing compared to you getting free trips!
 

 

 

[Laurelyn]

I would say take it and do as you please!  I don't plan to tell anyone about it and we get it for every 11th person booked so we will get 3 to 4 people free.  I am not going to count on it though because I have heard stories of brides putting it in there budget and then last minute having people back out so they don't get it and they have spent money that they don't actually have.  If we do by chance get it we might pay for our niece to come so that way we have a flower girl. As well we are thinking of giving each person in our bridal party like $150 to $200 off just to say thank you.

[IslandBride201x]

That really stinks for you!!!  Our language is very similar in our contract, 1 free for every 20 booked.  Our TA clarified it that people can book for any duration and we would get the average value of the 20 trips.  I would even just take the 3 night value.  We are going for 9 nights, so the free trip is not going to cover 1 of us, but it is at least some money towards our trip to reduce costs.    That is shady business practice in my opinion that they are hiding behind a poorly worded sentence.  Good luck trying to negotiate something from them!

[luvmoo]

Wow!! i wish we got deals like this!! hahaha the one perk we got was, that the bride and groom got a Free upgrade to first class, and then once 20 people book, one more couple gets a free upgrade to first class on the plane, both ways! which is pretty cool, cause normally thats a 600 upgrade for a couple. ( we gave that upgrade to my Mom and Dad as they are doing so much for us with the wedding etc... it is nice to be able to give them that little perk)