Canadian booking question

[Winnpegcouple]

Wondering where other Canadians go to book a week at Hedo. We have a VERY limited travel window and are looking to book a specific week next winter and are not flexible on the dates due to work reasons. Wondering what is the best and most economical way for a Canadian couple to secure a room. Go straight through the resort website, find a local travel agent, or an online agent. This will be our first time, so we need help with almost all the arrangements, from booking the room to flights as well as transportation to and from the airport in n Jamaica. Any suggestions, we have over a year to plan, but can’t wait until the last minute. Thanks.

[D and C]

We are from Canada and have been to Hedo many times, We try all the travel sites and the resort site to find the best prices as there is no hard and fast rule on who has the best prices. This year, we were able to get a Canadian special price of almost 100 US (284 per night for two) less per night than the resort site but that special seems to be over currently. It was through an American travel agent Topless travel . Whoever you book through, ask for a Canadian rate and try calling the hotel directly to see if a Canadian rate if it is available for your dates.
We always book air and hotel seperately. we have used ROCKY'S for our transfers ( private car) almost 20 times and have always had good service but there are many other drivers proving a car to the resort from MOBAY. It should be 120-140 return for private transfers. We usually get the cheapest room as you are just in you room to sleep. PM me if you have any question for a fellow Canadian

[we2are469]

Wondering where other Canadians go to book a week at Hedo. We have a VERY limited travel window and are looking to book a specific week next winter and are not flexible on the dates due to work reasons. Wondering what is the best and most economical way for a Canadian couple to secure a room. Go straight through the resort website, find a local travel agent, or an online agent. This will be our first time, so we need help with almost all the arrangements, from booking the room to flights as well as transportation to and from the airport in n Jamaica. Any suggestions, we have over a year to plan, but can’t wait until the last minute. Thanks.

Have to agree with what D and C said. We use a local bricks and mortar Flight Center, TA, that is herself, a frequent visitor to H2. She does all the leg work that D and C does, and finds us the best deal. This year the supplier is the resort, no less. I have done the independant price requests myself and have yet to beat her prices. She also has access to travel wholesalers.
Again besure and ask for the Canadian price (Europeans get a price break too) from whoever you choose.
We gave up on the Sun tours and JTL shuttles for transfers some years ago. The rolling stock didn't impress us, from stacking the luggage on the back bench seat (with no cargo net tie downs) to non working seat belts (tried three different seats before we found two that worked), to not working speedometers, and never might the long waits in the airport parking lots waiting for the bus to fill up. Oh did I mention the NOT wanted stops along the way to hawk beer.
We use Rocky's now (https://www.rockystaxiandtourservice.com/), but as D and C said, there are others just as reliable. If you do want to stop on the way to the resort the driver will gladly do that for you, but the choice is your's. Some folks like to pick up "Supplies" on the 90 odd minute drive from MBJ to H2.

Don't over look both Westjet Vacations and Air Canada Vacations. They both have package deals that include air, transfers, and resort. I think Sunwing may offer the same.
The resort currently has a promotion that gives you $700.00USD credit if you stay so many days. Our deal was something like pay for 12 get 2 free days. Now you won't get that deal through Westjet or AC package deals, only through one of the TA that deals specifically with Hedo, or directly through the resort.

Also you may want to consider Club Mobay. Basically a lounge at the airport (http://www.vipattractions.com/service). Incoming they met you at the gate and walk you through Customs and Immigration to your luggage, then you get to relax in their lounge while they secure your transfer. Out going they have a different lounge with free food and drink where you can wait for your departing flight. Incoming to Jamaica mid day Saturaday and Sunday can be busy and some people swear by Club Mobay. It all depends on the number of arriving flights as to how busy Customs and Imigration is. Jamaicia now has electronic customs and immigration forms you can fill out before you leave home, or you can still use the old fashion paper ones given out on the plane.
Outgoing, you will be picked up at the resort about 4 hours before flight time, again a 90 odd minute drive, then depending on the day and time, checkin and security can be time consuming. There is a special line for Club Mobay guest for security screening, which is mostly much faster than the regular line. Outgoing Club Mobay is about $70.00USD per person. We have never used Club Mobay incoming, and have never wished we had it. Out going is nice to be able to relax and chill, with the people you just finished parting with, before the flight home.

FAQ about Hedo:http://www.hedonismii.co/faq.php
Loyalty Rewards program:https://clubhedo.com/
Here's an option if booking through the resort:https://www.hedonism.com/laid-away
Here's a link to the groups that are in house, and their dates. Contact them directly for booking info:https://www.hedonism.com/events-entertainment/events/

Sorry couldn't find anything on that booking promo I mentioned earlier, BUT, ask for it from whomever you book with.

And if you still have more questions, please feel free to ask here or PM me.
Ray

[PNK]

We ALWAYS book through a local TA, associated with a big travel company. We let her know when we want to travel and she books it. She has managed free night certificates etc. We much prefer the early afternoon WestJet flights. They miss all the crowds so absolutely no need to use Club Mobay to bypass them. Package vacation always includes to minibus to the resort. So no added costs.

Heading home we take the late afternoon/early evening flight. All morning on the beach, a proper resort lunch, and we pack something to eat on the flight home. Have access to Club Moday outbound using my AmEx card, so that works well. Back in Toronto before midnight, so an easy drive home.

Any good TA can make it happen. Go to any of the Canadian travel sites to see what's on offer -- then ask your TA to natch or better the offer.

Easy and done in an hour.

Go enjoy

PNK

[Texas_size_fun]

FWIW we are not in Canada but we generally book the Hotel and transfers with DennyP, good prices and service. We book air directly with the airline. We also used club Mobay on the return trip. It’s nice to have a quiet (and cool) place to relax after the bus ride and have a couple drinks before getting on the plane. The express lane through security and customs is also great and can avoid a long time in the line during peak times.

[D and C]

We ALWAYS book through a local TA, associated with a big travel company. We let her know when we want to travel and she books it. She has managed free night certificates etc. We much prefer the early afternoon WestJet flights. They miss all the crowds so absolutely no need to use Club Mobay to bypass them. Package vacation always includes to minibus to the resort. So no added costs.

Heading home we take the late afternoon/early evening flight. All morning on the beach, a proper resort lunch, and we pack something to eat on the flight home. Have access to Club Moday outbound using my AmEx card, so that works well. Back in Toronto before midnight, so an easy drive home.

Any good TA can make it happen. Go to any of the Canadian travel sites to see what's on offer -- then ask your TA to natch or better the offer.

Easy and done in an hour.

Go enjoy

PNK

Wish we were in Toronto for the easy flights. now it requires 3 flights to get to Mobay from Saskatoon UGH.

[Goldorak]

I agree with we2are469 about club mobay. We have used it for both inbound and outbound, but for inbound, we arrive before most other flights so no lineups anywhere. For us, inbound is probably overkill. Nice to have for outbound to at least skip some lines to security.

As for the airline, price is important, but I don't see a huge price difference leaving from Montreal. I've flown hundreds of times for work and I don't mind paying a bit more for a direct flight. We fly down with Air Transat because the flight times are so good. We leave Montreal early on the Saturday, arrive in Montego Bay at about 10 am local time. That gets us to Hedo at about lunch. It's almost like getting an extra day.

[ShyinOntario]

As a fellow Canadian, I can tell you it's complicated. The best price depends on the US exchange rate, the week you're booking, the airport you want to fly out of, and a couple other dart board type factors.

Booking with the resort directly is nearly always the most expensive (or close). Packages through SunWing, Air Canada Vacations, WestJet Vacations are usually very good. Places like Expedia can seemingly have a better deal, but they can be very difficult to deal with if you have an issue I would question if a few hundred dollars is worth the pain they can provide, also pay attention to things like luggage fees and transfers as this can make a difference.

We've often booked the resort portion with one of the groups... nearly all of them are based in the US, so you pay in USD, but ultimately no matter where you buy from they've converted through USD anyway. Traveling with a group is an advantage for many, but it's not worth a premium price... maybe a couple hundred dollars, but not $400-500. When we do this, we buy the flight portion separately instead of a vacation package. This allows us to use points for the flight or select whatever carrier we want. The flight is the major thing that changes price throughout the year or during peak season like March break... the resort price stays very stable and only has minor changes between off-peak and the rest of the year.

You can find out which groups are there during your week by going to the Hedonism website and looking in the events section... it shows by week what groups are there.

Point is... shop around and spend probably 4-6 hours on line looking for the best deal. Just remember, regardless of who you buy your tickets from or if you package the vacation or buy things separately... you all get the exact same room at the exact same resort and get treated exactly the same once there (not including opting for an upgraded room like a hot tub room).

[LnD_Fun]

Tripcentral.ca is good. Once you enter the basic search criteria, it gives you a decent grid where you can quickly compare traveldates/resorts/whatever.

[BBBBBBB]

We have used Tripcentral.ca once but that particular year, it really worked out to be about the same as booking thru another source. Be patient, search, see what works for you. We usually book thru the group for the resort, and book our own flights.

[Cdn_cpl]

Wish we were in Toronto for the easy flights. now it requires 3 flights to get to Mobay from Saskatoon UGH.

There are direct flights to MoBay from Winnipeg which could cut out one connection for you.

[Cdn_cpl]

Tripcentral.ca is good. Once you enter the basic search criteria, it gives you a decent grid where you can quickly compare traveldates/resorts/whatever.

The tripcentral grid is great for researching pricing but I would highly advise against booking with them. We had a lot of trouble getting travel documents from them, right down to a couple of days before our trip.

[auroracpl]

we use points for flights and look for groups to get their discount rate which is cheaper than rate at hedo. The group we booked with this year also had a canadian rate which was a bit cheaper that the american rate by $50 night per cpl which helps offset exchange rate.

[we2are469]

Wondering where other Canadians go to book a week at Hedo. We have a VERY limited travel window and are looking to book a specific week next winter and are not flexible on the dates due to work reasons. Wondering what is the best and most economical way for a Canadian couple to secure a room. Go straight through the resort website, find a local travel agent, or an online agent. This will be our first time, so we need help with almost all the arrangements, from booking the room to flights as well as transportation to and from the airport in n Jamaica. Any suggestions, we have over a year to plan, but can’t wait until the last minute. Thanks.

Curious which way you went with the bookings?

[Winnpegcouple]

Curious which way you went with the bookings?

We are still over a year out from travel so most sites, the resort included, don’t even have pricing. I am going to hit up an agency when we get to within a year. Hoping to book flights and trip separate as we have the points to fly direct, it is just getting the time we need at a good deal for the resort.