Canadians Booking Hedo 2??

**NLHottie** · 11-25-2010, 04:05 PM

We are a east coast Canadian cpl planning our first Hedo trip, hopefully with the Amigos/WW at the end of March 2011. Appreciate any advice from other Canadians about best way to book our trip. I assume we book the resort through a travel agent and air directly with Air Canada or WestJet?? Appreciate any tips and suggestions, do's and don'ts, etc. to ensure we get best available rates and have no hiccups. Also, suggestions on booking at same time as the Amigos would be helpful! We hear that booking through Wild Women Vacations is recommend??

xox

**Face Down** · 11-25-2010, 04:45 PM

Give Robert a call and see what he can do for you, he books many Amigos that come from Canada. Hope we get to meet you!

**feetdown** · 11-25-2010, 04:51 PM

We have booked 2 trips through castaway travel and never had a problem.

**Lewis&Alice** · 11-25-2010, 05:30 PM

Try Dennyp.com always has great prices.

**sabinaandscott** · 11-25-2010, 06:28 PM

As a Canadian ourselves...near Toronto...we booked our first ever trip (7 ago now) with a local "discount" travel agent as a "package" deal...flight and resort....When we got to the resort and started talking to people, we found out we'd overpaid by about $1000. Next trip we booked a room with DennyP and flight seperate...compared prices to local suppliers as a package and found the $1000 savings to be the same as expected so we booked that way. Since our group formed we've been using Castaways Travel in Texas for hotel (Denny wasn't interested at the time in handeling our group) and finding our best deal on flight ourselves. This year we actually found it cheapest to book two one way fares (go figure) so we're going down with Air Canada and returning with WestJet.

Things have changed a bit recently though with the tough economy...we still book hotel through a US Agent, but some of the deals the local package suppliers have are just as good. So I'd shop around for the best rate comparing our packages to the price of flight and hotel seperate (bear in mind any exchange).

\Last suggestion though, is that if you want to travel and be involved with a specific group there are alot of advantages to booking through them and recommend booking with the group you want to party with. Most groups are similar in that they have a forum to meet and chat with group specific members and get to know them a bit before the trip. I'd say Most groups also try to be inclusive of everyone, however; and I don;t think ours is much different than the norm...there are some events that will be just for group members and usually there is some sort of swag given out to those that booked through them as well....Just our 2 cents....

**NLHottie** · 11-25-2010, 07:04 PM

Thanks Sabina and Scott...very helpful! How can insurance?? I guess if we book hotel and air separately we should definitely take separate insurance for both in case we had to cancel for some reason.

**HedoIIIlover** · 11-25-2010, 09:43 PM

Hi, I see you are thinking about coming at the same time as the Amigos and WW. We are also going to be there at that time with the Amigos. We let Robert at Wild Women take care of the booking for the resort. The room deal is good, the fact that WW will be on site and if there are any issues they will take care of them so we do not have any worries when there at all. Add to that the fun extras they have planed that you can only get in on if you book with them it is a no brainer.
Air, deals on air fair moves up and down day by day so check often with the air lines you can use and take the best deal you can find with them. If you have a choice of airports to fly out of make sure you check all of the flights from them. Looks like we will be driving 2 1/2 hours to safe a few hundred dollars.

**we2are469** · 11-25-2010, 11:47 PM

Hi NLHottie

Good advice from the previous posters.
Some on-line travel sites like Orbitz.com, do have great prices for Air and resort combos. Beat out Dennyp by $200.00 for our trip. However, I suspect I'd get more help from Denny if there is a problem than from Orbitz.
Being from Vancouver there are no direct flights to Jamaica for us when we want to go, we usually end up going through Toronto. No doubt you'll be connecting too, either through Toronto or Montreal.
We usually fly with Westjet. They have a policy that if the price drops on your booked flight, for a fee, they will re book you at the lower price. We then used that credit the next year when we flew to Jamaica again. Keep checking with the AC and Westjet website to see which has the best prices.
Some sites, like TripAdvisor will let you set up a monitor routine that will watch for the lowest airfares, then send you an e-mail
Booking with a group is probably the best way to go, but it may not be the cheapest. There are advantages to going with a group. And there are advantages to using a TA with experience at this type of resort. But if cost is the main issue, then shop around, there are good deals to be had with travel discounters.
Ray

**NLHottie** · 11-26-2010, 07:14 AM

Thanks for all the info. We have a few more questions...

1. It seems that a couple of TA's that specialize in Hedo and group trips offer a 'no bump' guarantee, eg. the Amigos recommend Wild Women Vacations for booking and WWV promises no bump. Can someone fill us in what exactly this means. Is this to say that if we book with a TA that doesn't guarantee no bump we could end up spending our days at Hedo and at least a few nights at another nearby resort and then have to move everything over to Hedo once a room is available? That would really suck.

2. When flying from Canada and watching air prices, what is our destination airport? Is it only the Montego Bay airport or should we also be watching fares to other airports as well, and if so, which ones?

3. What room type is most recommended and what would be considered a good price range? Prices advertised online for late March seem to be about $150-$175 per person per night depending on the room type. Are these prices typical or should we expect to find something better? We're just starting to contact TAs to see what they quote.

4. Best arrival/departure days??? Does it make a difference? Amigos week is Sat, Mar 26 - Sat, Apr 2, so we thought it would make sense to arrive the day before, Fri, Mar 25 and leave the day after, Sun, Apr 3. Does this make sense? This would have us there for 9 nights.

5. What about cancellation insurance? Guess we would need to buy insurance on both our air and on the resort booking?

6. Ground transport. How do we get from the airport to the resort. Does Hedo have a shuttle and is this included with the booking?

7. Westjet vs Air Canada. We notice that Westjet prices look at little better than AC right now, but Westjet requires an overnight stay in Toronto on the return trip, so AC is probably the better deal - or else, we could go down on Westjet and return on AC.

Thanks again Canadian friends for all the advice and info!

**lauraff7** · 11-26-2010, 07:57 AM

I have been checking in at Hedo and have seen other people being "bumped" to another nearby Superclubs resort because of over booking. This can be an issue the week we Amigos are going- another good reason to book with WWV, as they have a "no bump" guarantee.

It would certainly be a complete vacation wrecker to get bumped!

**Face Down** · 11-26-2010, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by NLHottie

Thanks for all the info. We have a few more questions...

1. It seems that a couple of TA's that specialize in Hedo and group trips offer a 'no bump' guarantee, eg. the Amigos recommend Wild Women Vacations for booking and WWV promises no bump. Can someone fill us in what exactly this means. Is this to say that if we book with a TA that doesn't guarantee no bump we could end up spending our days at Hedo and at least a few nights at another nearby resort and then have to move everything over to Hedo once a room is available? That would really suck.

2. When flying from Canada and watching air prices, what is our destination airport? Is it only the Montego Bay airport or should we also be watching fares to other airports as well, and if so, which ones?

3. What room type is most recommended and what would be considered a good price range? Prices advertised online for late March seem to be about $150-$175 per person per night depending on the room type. Are these prices typical or should we expect to find something better? We're just starting to contact TAs to see what they quote.

4. Best arrival/departure days??? Does it make a difference? Amigos week is Sat, Mar 26 - Sat, Apr 2, so we thought it would make sense to arrive the day before, Fri, Mar 25 and leave the day after, Sun, Apr 3. Does this make sense? This would have us there for 9 nights.

5. What about cancellation insurance? Guess we would need to buy insurance on both our air and on the resort booking?

6. Ground transport. How do we get from the airport to the resort. Does Hedo have a shuttle and is this included with the booking?

7. Westjet vs Air Canada. We notice that Westjet prices look at little better than AC right now, but Westjet requires an overnight stay in Toronto on the return trip, so AC is probably the better deal - or else, we could go down on Westjet and return on AC.

Thanks again Canadian friends for all the advice and info!

1. Yes over booking can happen but they are rare. I have no idea what the Amigo/WW week will be like in 2011 as the economy is still down and we are at a new venue...but we are at higher numbers in Nov 4 months from the trip than we have ever been. 2008 & 2009 some of the nights for Amigos/WW were at 100% and people were moved to other resorts. WW does have a bump guarantee so in the event that H2 is at 100% you will not be relocated.

2. Montego Bay is the only one you will need to watch.

3. Those prices are typical +/- $5 per night per person. You might find a little cheaper than WW for that week, but if you are going that week you should book with them for all the extras you will be getting. All the rooms are the same at H2, the only difference is location.

4. Arrival/Departure days are totally up to you and work with your schedule. The only difference would be in airline cost as it is generally cheaper to fly Tue, Wed or Thur.

5. Again up to you and your situation. We have bought trip insurance in the past and never had to use it...thank god! Make sure to read the fine print, they do not always cover everything.

6. Yep it is included and part of the vacation...party starts on the bus!!!

7. Can not help you there.

**PNK** · 11-26-2010, 12:00 PM

Sunwing, AirTransat, Air Canada vacations (and others) all have Packages to Hedo II. We usually manage WAY lower costs than our US friends. Last trip a few weeks back was about $800 each, all inclusive, out of Toronto. Current prices (today) about C$1000 per. Your local TA can book for you (then if there's a snag, they fix it!) Never had a bumping problem with a package. Also there's a local rep in MoBay if there's a problem.

Going through a US TA can add problems (like a lack of Canadian guarantees). Also the package price usually has way lower airfares than booking resort and air separately.

Keep it simple and travel Canadian!

PNK

**Curvygirl** · 11-26-2010, 01:36 PM

Selloff Vacations/ Thelastminuteclub / Nolitours... all can be booked on line for decent rates. Check with your credit card company... some have cancellation insurance built in if you book with your card. Most packages should include your transfer to and from the airport... good to check though before confirming. Superclubs has a lounge in the Montego Bay airport where you go once your through customs. They'll sign you in, have you fill out your hotel paperwork there with a fresh bottle of cold water. Then they'll take you out to the appropriate van/bus when it's time, so you don't have to wander about the airport parking lot looking for your bus. They seem to be quite organized... Have fun!

**Allan_Elizabeth** · 11-27-2010, 01:59 PM

WE always use WestJet from Toronto. Our travel days are usually Thursday to the following Sat, Sun or Monday depending on the return fares.

As far as travel agents, we Having been going for the past 5 years same time every Fefruary and book through Jon of www.fluffernutters.com. His rates have always been competitive and he thows the best party

. We even purchase Full cancellation insurance through him and the price has always been very competitive. we have taken one of the charters ONCE....couldn't stand the tight planes and the non flexable flight schedules. Jon aslo gives a discount to Canadians because of the exchange rate. BTW WestJet has been great on every trip. A couple of years ago they had trouble getting the plane to Toronto due to weather (beyond their control) and they switched our sale price tickets to a different return date at no charge.

Good luck with your plans.......We will be there in 82Days

**marcncleo69** · 12-04-2010, 12:18 PM

We are from Halifax and have booked Signature Vacations via the Travelstore for April. Non stop from Halifax with Sunwing airlines at a very attractive price. Saved 1000 bucks over our Hedo III trip last April. Of course hats off to our travel agent who is wonderful as well.