Booking tips from Canadians 🇨🇦?

[Daisyjamaican]

We have decided we want to break our Hedo virginity in April 2017. We like to travel in April because for us the prices are typically lower.

For all you Canadians out there any advice at all is appreciated. Are there any travel agents out that that specialize in Hedo. When you do book how far ahead do you book? And when it comes to packages from Air Canada, West Jet etc who do you like? I see West Jet no longer had their price drop guarantee.

Thanks to all of you for you advice etc.

[foxxyandhound]

if we was to book with westjet or aircanada we would use WJ, don't like AC. but we use www.wildwomensvacations.com or www.tomstrips.com to book the Hedo part of the trip and we do westjet for the air part of the trip. but thats us... maybe someday we will try the westjet way for the whole trip...

[PNK]

I was pre-booking a trip just yesterday. Do a search through any of the regular chain Canadian travel agencies and you'll find almost exactly the same prices.

There are a few choices: Westjet Vacation, Sunwing, Sunquest, Signature, Air Canada Vacations). They all use either WJ, AC, AT or Sunwing flights. They all include air, hotel and transport between airport and resort (both ways). There are early morning, mid-morning, mid-afternoon and early evening flights.

They all offer a number of different rooms (nude, prude, ocean view, garden view etc.). You pick the day, the length of your visit, and pay the fee. Easy, simple, trouble free. And any travel agent can make the booking -- or you can do it on-line. If you use a T/A the price is the same, but you have someone to untangle any screw-ups.

Last year we got a full refund because of a non-disclosure by a tour operator. Can't do that on your own!

Once you have a booking most every 'group' will admit you to their activities if you ask. Just look for the sort of group that meets your style and needs.

Then head south for a week of indolent please for about $1700 pp in September. We'll be booked again in a few days. Just checking on groups.

PNK

[gsml]

If price is your main concern, then a Canadian travel agency is absolutely the best way to go (AC, WestJet, SW...), you pay in Can$ and your transfers are included.

Not sure where you are flying from but from Ottawa we can get a regular gardenview room (early April) for 2315pp Can$ with WJ, otherwise its 1526 US$ For the room + 140 transfer -- or 2190 Can$ + about 670$ for the flight... 2860$ Can pp.

Of course going with a group has advantages, but since they are mostly all US based you really got to weigh the benefits as you are talking over a 1000$ for two people.

Going third/fourth week of April will probably go for less but rates are not posted yet.

[jacknjill]

We booked the last time through Sunquest vacations and flew with west jet... Loved it we are going again this October with Sunquest ( west jet) offered a payment plan and we are joining a group this week.... Under 4000.00 for both

[Daisyjamaican]

Thanks everyone. Geez I think I'm obsessed with reading reviews etc now that we are pretty much decided that we are going to give it a go. Heck why not. Sounds like a lot of fun and we make our own fun, what we are comfortable with. Kind of disappointing though that only the $$ rooms seem to have a balcony.

[Cdn_cpl]

We always book direct with Westjet Vacations, we find their service is always the best and they include transfers. A good site to compare pricing (but I wouldn't book with them as their customer service is lacking) is Tripcentral.ca. They have a grid display that makes it easy to see pricing for multiple dates at the same time. As others have said you'll find the pricing for the same dates to be very similar wherever you look as long as you stick to a Canadian tour operator.

[we2are469]

We booked H2 last April (2016) through Flight Centre here in Vancouver. The wholesaler that they used was GoGo Travel, in Calgary. We booked Westjet flights separately. The problem we've had in the past with Westjet vacations packages, is they won't extend the return dates to accommodate the three free nights, we get every year. And yes, I have talked to them on numerous vacations about extending the return dates. However, that said, this years flight was the cheapest we've ever had to Jamaica. It was cheaper than any flights we've taken from Seattle too. Put it does suck to have to fly through Toronto. When we priced the Westjet vacations package for 14 days, it was quiet close to what we ended up paying, booking separately. We've had good success in the past booking through American TA, but with the the bad Canuck buck, it definitely isn't good these days.
We travel the last two weeks in April each year. Last April there were 4 groups there the last week, and at least two groups there the second last week of April.
Maybe we'll see you in April 2017.
Ray

[hedovirginomore]

We used AC for our trip from T.O it was flawless from the flight to the bus there and back no probem would definatley use them again

[k1lluaNcortana]

Booked ours through ysw for the first time, july is a great time for us to travel and it was really helpful to know there will be someone to guide us in the first couple days..

we had to book our flight separately, so we booked westjet as they had the best times and prices

[hotnshy]

I am a CTC, certified travel consultant, the best way to book and best price you can find is the following:
1- Go on any travel site, Trip central, westjet, sunwing, tripadvisor....etc.
2- the select the specific dates you are sure that is what you need
3- compare for the lowest fare
4- contact a CTC travel agent,they are bounded by rules and regulations and are insured for any mishaps, and tell them what you found and ask for any discounts.
5- be careful when booking air only, some airline do charge extra for checked baggage, and remember if you encounter any problems your travel agent will be able to resolve them for you. it does not cost any less when you do your own booking, as a matter of fact ,it could cost you a lot more
and remember you are on your own when you book on your own,

hope that helps, been there done that and see you in Sept . trip # 23

[Daisyjamaican]

Still early to book end of April. We fly out of Toronto. Years back we flew west jet to Jamaica and enjoyed it. Typically we go Air Canada. We have a price for room alone but the flights look like they are about 1400 total for the two of us return. By the time you add the transfers and baggage fee I am thinking a package is the way to go. So now we wait. I like booking early nap but always wonder if I had waited would I have gotten a better price. That's always the goal... To get a deal. Or at least to think you did. Lol. Thanks everyone.

[ShyinOntario]

get yourself a travel credit card... like the American express platinum travel or other similar promotions. many of them offer an introductory reward of like 50,000 points, some cost you nothing. even if you have to spend the 500$ for the privilege of having that card for the year, you'll have enough points for both of you to fly out to Hedo if you plan correctly... it's better than paying 1400$ for flights directly.

getting entire vacations with points isn't worth it (you get a bad exchange rate for the resort part of it). For resorts like Hedo, where the air and resort portions of the vacation are often not bundled together, getting the flights on points is a no-brainer.

I've done this a couple times on different cards (sometimes on multiple free cards at the same time). I have only paid the yearly fee once (because I liked the airport privileges that came with the card) and its always worked out for me.

[Cdn_cpl]

Still early to book end of April. We fly out of Toronto. Years back we flew west jet to Jamaica and enjoyed it. Typically we go Air Canada. We have a price for room alone but the flights look like they are about 1400 total for the two of us return. By the time you add the transfers and baggage fee I am thinking a package is the way to go. So now we wait. I like booking early nap but always wonder if I had waited would I have gotten a better price. That's always the goal... To get a deal. Or at least to think you did. Lol. Thanks everyone.

Yes I would agree it's probably too early to book for next April but I think you're definitely doing the right thing by booking a package. Keep you eye on prices and when you find one you like, book it, and then STOP LOOKING, lol, you can drive yourself crazy wondering if you paid too much.

[JandSwithanF]

Westjet doesn't have a contract signed with Hedo for 2017 yet so no westjet packages are available with them. I have always used westjet vacations for any all inclusive (still haven't been to hedo) and have nothing but great things to say and they tend to be cheaper as well.

Westjet flights alone tend to run around $1200-1400 no mater where you are flying from in Canada. Looking at the packages available for this year westjet packages are about $500 give or take cheaper than booking with a group and flight separate....I blame this on the exchange rate right now. The benefits you get from the groups is not having to pay full price up front and the extra perks that group offers and having a rep on site if there are any problems. Some 3rd party sites also offer the down payment option (as well as sunquest).

Tripcentral.ca by far has the best search for finding the best prices for different dates, just use their classic grid. travelnationcanada.com and itravel200.com are both Canadian companies that I have dealt with and offer different deals at different times such as price protection, down payment options, and even visa giftcards.

Honestly if I could find a company that accepts bitcoins that is exactly who we would book with, seems to be hard to find in Canada though.