What are the best booking sites for an all-inclusive trip to Jamaica?

Question

I am trying to find a good deal to Starfish Trelawny for February 2009. I love bookit.com but since they upgraded their site I have so many problems on it. Are there any other good sites?

Answer 1

Re BookIt.com, a MAJOR upgrade was just completed two days ago. (FROM Technology). As always, there were some bumps in the road. A MAJOR correction happened yesterday. Should be good to go............

Answer 2

We have used www.applevacations.com

Once for Mexico and Jamaica. I know that Starfish is on there. They do seem to have the cheapest flights and they have transfers included from the airport to the hotel. Any other questions for Jamaica feel free to ask! Just booked our 5th trip for December/Jan 09. We have gotten away from the all  inclusive vacations but they are great for first timers.

Answer 3

Expedia.com

Answer 4

www.expedia.com

Answer 5

May I ask why the intent for you to book only via an internet booking site?  Have you considered finding a professional honest travel agent in your area?  I know with my company here at AAA Travel we only charge $15 dollar total service fee for members & $25 dollar total service fee for non-members.  Which isn’t very expensive!  Now fees of course do vary.

The reason I say this is often times agents can get same, sometimes even lower rates.  So many people have it in there head that "online prices are always lower" and online sites know this and are starting to take advantage of it.  They know there are several consumers who no longer even look with a professional travel agent.  

AAA as well as other companies has done studies and it has shown a decline in online travel bookings especially for cruises & tours (land packages like what it is you are looking for).  People are realizing that it really isn't all it's cracked up to be.

With an agent you can get an honest opinions as well as expertise that one is just unable to find online.  Like many occupations there are good & bad agents.  I suggest finding one you like and sticking with them!  

I have a client who has been booking her Hawaii trips online and then she was 2 years ago referred to me by my hair stylist.  She has booked her last 2 Hawaii trips with me and has said I saved her almost $2,000 over what she found!  Granted her total package was about $17,000 so that type of savings varies depending on the trip.  But even just to give an idea about how an agent really is the way to go!

Another reason is if you have issues, questions or changes to be made.  You are dealing with an online site or an 800 # with never getting the same person twice usually.  With an agent, even if that agent is out of the office say a day you call in.  The other agents always have access to your file and if it needs attention the same day, they are able to help you.

Often times to, in looking at say hotels online it seems that so many never give themselves less than a 4 or 5 star rating, however it all to often isn't the true rating they should receive.  I have had people call and say they found some hotel online and if I know it to not be a very nice place.  I indicate this, only because I really do all in my power to be sure that a client goes on a vacation and comes back with happy memories, not rather forget memories!  If someone still chooses to go against a recommendation, at least I tried to forewarn a person.  If someone comes back unhappy they are MUCH less likely to return to me for there travel needs.  That is what I mean by you don't want a "yes agent" to everything you might say.

With online you have no recourse as you do with an agency.  In fact we have heard of course more horror stories than most because people will share them once they have had a bad online experience.  Some of what I have heard is someone arriving at a hotel and they don’t have a room reservation.  I have heard of some hotels being kind enough to honor the rate you show in your documents, but remember your credit card has already been charged so now you have to go back in hopes of getting your already paid money returned to you.  Another example is online will sometimes book you with airlines together that don’t have what’s called a ticketing agreement.  Such as Sun Country & Northwest don’t have a ticketing agreement.  Online fails often to explain the details surrounding cancellation penalties.  Online won’t go over the benefits that Travel Insurance can provide to you.  Often times International travel you aren’t covered medically, but this varies depending on your insurance company.  After that 2 day hurricane 2-3 years ago in Cancun (unsure of the name) I had a girl come in and said she was done booking online because she booked a trip on www.orbitz.com and she arrived in Cancun only to see that her 5 star Marriott hotel she booked wasn’t even open, hadn’t even started there renovations!!  They tried then putting her up in what she said was a 2 star and when I spoke with her it was coming up to almost a year of still fighting to try and receive her money back!  

There are several other reasons & benefits to go through a reputable travel agency vs. booking it yourself online, but this gives the gist of it!  

I implore you to at least give an agency the opportunity to help you with your travels, find the right person and I promise you won't regret it!!  Please though a good agent will work hard to put together the vacation that you are looking for so I urge people to please not use an agents advice & expertise only to then try and book online separate to avoid such a nominal service fee.

Answer 6

www.expedia.com

www.viator.com for activities

Answer 7

I would try orbitz.com or travelocity.com

Answer 8

bookit.com or cheapcaribbean.  you have time, so shop the deals every week on these sites.  i do agree with you on the upgraded bookit site.  it doesn't look like you can book hotel only anymore.  we usually do hotel only because we fly family to meet us from nashville and detroit.  i have also heard all inclusive outlet.com is good.