Book now or wait?

[Bexx]

I really want to go to DLP during the Christmas season (and it's also DH's 50th this December) Currently they are offering 15% off the dates I want thanks for the Early Booker offer which finishes tomorrow.

So should I get on the phone tomorrow and get it sorted, or is there very likely to be a better discount coming along?

 

[ROBEAR84]

If it's a price you're happy and able to pay then I'd get it booked now.

If a better offer comes along then you should be able to change it anyway by upgrading/adding some extras on.

We booked in September and it stated 15% off but I thought it seemed very cheap and sure enough when the same dates had 30% off it was more expensive! I sometimes wonder if they just make their prices up as they go along!! I was so glad I booked it when I did!

 

[aliscrapper]

If it's a price you're happy and able to pay then I'd get it booked now.

If a better offer comes along then you should be able to change it anyway by upgrading/adding some extras on.

We booked in September and it stated 15% off but I thought it seemed very cheap and sure enough when the same dates had 30% off it was more expensive! I sometimes wonder if they just make their prices up as they go along!! I was so glad I booked it when I did!

Couldn't agree with this more. We booked our stay for 5-8 June in September last year for £418 with 15% off and the same period of time then went up to £700 ish with 25% off earlier this year!

I definitely agree that they do seem to make the prices up as they go along! I'm forever quoting up stays at DLP; just so that I get a rough guide of what money I should expect to pay.

 

[jothp]

If it's a price you're happy and able to pay then I'd get it booked now.

If a better offer comes along then you should be able to change it anyway by upgrading/adding some extras on.

We booked in September and it stated 15% off but I thought it seemed very cheap and sure enough when the same dates had 30% off it was more expensive! I sometimes wonder if they just make their prices up as they go along!! I was so glad I booked it when I did!

Couldn't agree with this more. We booked our stay for 5-8 June in September last year for £418 with 15% off and the same period of time then went up to £700 ish with 25% off earlier this year!

I definitely agree that they do seem to make the prices up as they go along! I'm forever quoting up stays at DLP; just so that I get a rough guide of what money I should expect to pay.

This is because the price they were taking the percentages off had changed. Last September they were offering an early booker discount of 15% for summer dates but off the standard winter brochure prices. (The summer brochure prices hadn't been released). If you compare the prices in the winter brochure to the summer brochure the prices for the same colour band are always cheaper during the winter.

Eg for 3 nights 4 days in the sequoia lodge in a standard room the prices for winter 2011/2012 and summer 2012 for each band were:

---------Winter ----------------Summer

Green: 327 --------------------------- 423
Lilac: 398 ---------------------------- 496
blue: 507 ----------------------------- 598
orange: 597 ---------------------------- 606

So by booking with the early booking discount they were giving you a smaller percentage off but it was being taken off an amount which was much smaller to start with so the total ends up less. So in reality early booking for summer dates at winter brochure prices with a discount was a really good deal.

I have looked at several pairs of winter and summer brochures over the years and the summer green prices are always similar to the lilac winter prices from the season before and the summer lilac prices similar to the blue winter prices etc.

 

[jothp]

Sorry meant to say to OP booking winter dates at summer prices in theory is not a good deal because as I said above historically winter prices for each pricing band are lower and therefore even if they offer no discount (which is unlikely!!) it would probably cost not much more. However there are certainly no guarantees that it will happen again for this winter but if it was my money I would be waiting until the winter prices are officially released and waiting until they had an offer on those prices.

 

[aliscrapper]

Sorry meant to say to OP booking winter dates at summer prices in theory is not a good deal because as I said above historically winter prices for each pricing band are lower and therefore even if they offer no discount (which is unlikely!!) it would probably cost not much more. However there are certainly no guarantees that it will happen again for this winter but if it was my money I would be waiting until the winter prices are officially released and waiting until they had an offer on those prices.

Thanks. That makes a lot of sense - I've never compared winter and summer prices before; so definitely worth taking into consideration when doing our next booking!

 

[Bexx]

Thanks for all the replies

Sorry meant to say to OP booking winter dates at summer prices in theory is not a good deal because as I said above historically winter prices for each pricing band are lower and therefore even if they offer no discount (which is unlikely!!) it would probably cost not much more. However there are certainly no guarantees that it will happen again for this winter but if it was my money I would be waiting until the winter prices are officially released and waiting until they had an offer on those prices.

I think you have a good point here. Anyway I haven't booked yet - I will see what happens when the winter prices come out. If it doesn't work out, then on your head be it... I mean no worries, it was worth a try!!

 

[DLPDreams]

We are going end November for Christmas season (our first time at this time of year and I can't wait!) . But, we haven't booked the hotel yet, we are hanging off for a bit longer, I didn't think the early booking offer was anything to write home about really.

When I spoke to a lovely CM (when booking our June trip), he suggested that early June would be a good time to ring back for price quotes for Christmas . Brochure comes out end May I believe.

 

[jothp]

Thanks for all the replies



I think you have a good point here. Anyway I haven't booked yet - I will see what happens when the winter prices come out. If it doesn't work out, then on your head be it... I mean no worries, it was worth a try!!

Another point is that currently the exchange rate is much better for us than it has been for ages so if the new winter brochure prices are set at a better exchange rate they will be even cheaper.

 

[princessjodiebo]

we want to go jan/feb time and as my mum works in a travel agent i have had her checking all the time lol

apparently there are changes to deposits as of 22nd may for all winter bookings so my guess is thats when it goes on sale !

we are also waiting til june to book unless a flash sale comes up in which case the kids wont be eating for a week or 2

 

[Bexx]

Another point is that currently the exchange rate is much better for us than it has been for ages so if the new winter brochure prices are set at a better exchange rate they will be even cheaper.

And another good point - thanks again

When I spoke to a lovely CM (when booking our June trip), he suggested that early June would be a good time to ring back for price quotes for Christmas . Brochure comes out end May I believe.

we want to go jan/feb time and as my mum works in a travel agent i have had her checking all the time lol

apparently there are changes to deposits as of 22nd may for all winter bookings so my guess is thats when it goes on sale !

we are also waiting til june to book unless a flash sale comes up in which case the kids wont be eating for a week or 2

Thanks for the heads up If it comes to it, princessjodiebo, I'm sure your kids will find a that few weeks of beans on toast is a fair deal for a trip to DLP!!

 

[ROBEAR84]

This is because the price they were taking the percentages off had changed. Last September they were offering an early booker discount of 15% for summer dates but off the standard winter brochure prices. (The summer brochure prices hadn't been released). If you compare the prices in the winter brochure to the summer brochure the prices for the same colour band are always cheaper during the winter.

Eg for 3 nights 4 days in the sequoia lodge in a standard room the prices for winter 2011/2012 and summer 2012 for each band were:

---------Winter ----------------Summer

Green: 327 --------------------------- 423
Lilac: 398 ---------------------------- 496
blue: 507 ----------------------------- 598
orange: 597 ---------------------------- 606

So by booking with the early booking discount they were giving you a smaller percentage off but it was being taken off an amount which was much smaller to start with so the total ends up less. So in reality early booking for summer dates at winter brochure prices with a discount was a really good deal.

I have looked at several pairs of winter and summer brochures over the years and the summer green prices are always similar to the lilac winter prices from the season before and the summer lilac prices similar to the blue winter prices etc.

Ok so I did have to read this through several times but it does actually make sense to me now so thank you for explaining!

I'll keep an eye on the early booking offers in september again is year then!

 

[jothp]

Ok so I did have to read this through several times but it does actually make sense to me now so thank you for explaining!

I'll keep an eye on the early booking offers in september again is year then!

Sorry I did try my best to explain it clearly but it is a bit complicated.

 

[ROBEAR84]

Sorry I did try my best to explain it clearly but it is a bit complicated.

Lol, no it wasn't your fault, it was very well explained. My frazzled mummy brain just doesn't do complicated!

 

[TLHB70]

we want to go jan/feb time and as my mum works in a travel agent i have had her checking all the time lol

apparently there are changes to deposits as of 22nd may for all winter bookings so my guess is thats when it goes on sale !

we are also waiting til june to book unless a flash sale comes up in which case the kids wont be eating for a week or 2

We are also going in January. I am watching and waiting with you.

 

[princessjodiebo]

I did get ridiculously excited earlier as when i went on to see how far they were booking up to on the website not only did it let meput my dates in but then instead of saying no it let me go on to choose a hotel

however after a bit of tinkerbell flying it came up with nothing

still its one step closer than yesterday

i actually think i may self combust when its time to book i am sooooo excited !!!!