Beahces Turks and Caicos?

[mtmbyck]

Ok, so we need a Disney break and I have been looking at Beahces Turks and Caicos for winter 2010 and it looks awesome. It gets great reviews and has all kinds of amenities. And, quite frankly, I think the price will be pretty close to what we just dropped at Disney a few weeks ago!

Has anyone been to this Beaches property or other Beaches properties. I'd love to pick your brain?

 

[FayeW]

I haven't been there, but I have reserved Beaches Sandy Bay in Jamaica for next March break. If you reserve through the Beaches website, they have a special on until tomorrow night. It was 60% off. I don't know what the discount is for Turks & Caicos, but you should reserve now to take advantage of the sale. You can cancel for a full refund up to 45 days out from check in if you change your mind.

 

[mtmbyck]

I womdered if it really is as good a deal as they say or if these deals will still be around. Won't it be cheaper for you to book a package through a canadian carrier like Air Canada Vacations? This is what is worrying me? I can get a full refund? Did you book your flight with them?

 

[FayeW]

I booked it directly with the resort because of the 60% off. I wondered if it was really a good deal as well, or if I was bamboozled. A co-worker just came back from Beaches Negril. I asked her if I was getting a good deal or if they were just pulling my leg (you know, increasing the prices only to discount them to make it look like a better deal). Her jaw dropped when I told her our price. She paid $11K+ for her family of 3 including flights from Ottawa. Our cost is $3779 US for the 4 of us, plus flights and exchange so I expect it will come out somewhere around $6K.

I can't think of any reason to give a travel agent $5K for booking my trip for me, when I can book it myself.

I think for some trips you will get a great deal from a travel agent on a charter or a last minute special, but you are not going to get a last minute special to a Beaches resort for March Break!

I did check the Turks and Caicos resort for the same time frame, and they are also 60% off.

 

[candielips]

We were booked at this resort last fall but the hurricanes hit and shut the resort down so we decided to visit another resort instead of waiting. We were booked in at the rate $1500 pp plus tax w/ Air Canada Vacations so it also included our flight.
So good deals are out there, you just need to check online travel sites frequently as prices are always changing.

 

[Susan2771]

You and your family are going to love it. It's a gorgeous property and they just opened up a new section of family suites. There is a beautiful room for mom and dad and the kids room sleeps 3. Very nice. Great amenities and the Turks and Caicos has some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. If you love water sports especially snorkelling, it's a perfect destination.
My cousins went with their 3 kids and for March Break and absolutely loved it. The kids had a blast and so did the parents. It was less expensive for them to go to Beaches than to DisneyWorld which they also looked into. For the 5 of them it was around $7000 Canadian for a package and they did book with a travel agent. They flew out of Toronto. They decided on Turks and Caicos because they wanted a destination where they could go off the resort and enjoy the rest of the island with the children.

 

[mtmbyck]

For $7K Cdn that couldn't have included flights?? Right now for the 4 of us, the cheapest room only rate is $5100 and then flights are coming in at around $500 US each. So it is going to be at least $8K and that is for a basic room. The family suites start at $9K and that is with the discount!! Turks and Caicos is quite a bit more than the other Beaches properties - but I like that it is 15 minutes from the airport as opposed to 1.5 - 2 hours in Jamaica!!.

I am thinking that it might be better to book a package through Air Canada. They will give you a deal on flights to get your package.

We are travelling in January which should be cheaper. An earlier post talked about her rate in hurricane season - rates drop dramatically then - basically Aug - Nov.

I did find out that for $400 they will hold tghe reservation until 45 days out and you can cancel for a full refund so I think I may book it and then look for other deals. I JUST NEED TO PLAN SOMETHING AND START MY COUNTDOWN CLOCK AGAIN!

 

[tmli]

JUst an FYI....if Beaches is offering 60% off, the same deal will almost always be available through a canadian tour operator. Provided they have space left at the offer.

If you want to use a TA, they can book direct with Beaches or a tour operator. The price should not be cheaper booking direct.

I assure you, the tour operator sets the prices....not the TA. Therefore if their is a difference in price, the TA or agency is not pocketing the difference.

 

[princess pooh]

Wow, we were just talking about going to Beaches Turks and Caicos a few days ago and now there's a sale! I'm going to call my travel agent to see what she can do. I bet my son will love seeing Elmo!

 

[Susan2771]

Yes it did include the flights. It was one week with flights. It was a vacation package. I don't know what tour operator they went with.

 

[laura001]

JUst an FYI....if Beaches is offering 60% off, the same deal will almost always be available through a canadian tour operator. Provided they have space left at the offer.

If you want to use a TA, they can book direct with Beaches or a tour operator. The price should not be cheaper booking direct.

I assure you, the tour operator sets the prices....not the TA. Therefore if their is a difference in price, the TA or agency is not pocketing the difference.

Totally agree with you!!! The price is not less booking on your own, your TA can almost always (saying that because of availability) get you the same price and a lot of times can do better because they can access group rates etc., that you cannot find online. Also, most tour companies will price match!