Tag: #DealorNoDeal

I have been reading a lot of negative reviews lately on TripAdvisor, Travel Guide, Oyster, etc.  I am finding that a lot of people who leave negative reviews on these websites is because the hotel or resort they booked was not what they thought they were going to get with their “deal.”  I have to laugh a bit because as much as everyone likes a “deal”, why would you want a “deal” for your vacation?  Most Americans only take 2 to 3 weeks off per year so that means they are working 49 to 50 weeks a year.  I would hate to work so many weeks and then when I take my vacation to be staying at a “deal” hotel or a “deal” resort and be completely disappointed or worse, miserable the entire time.

There are amazing deals around us all the time.  I go to Target and get stuff on clearance at the end of the season for my kids and they love it, i.e. princess dresses for those of you who know my oldest daughter.  This is a great deal for me because when they are regularly priced they can be expensive and since she wears them every day, they wear out quickly!  Now when we go to Disney in a couple of weeks I will buy her princess dresses there but I know in advance that I am going to have to pay full price and I am hoping that they are better quality.  I know that I am not going to get a “deal” but I am hoping that I am going to get good “value.”  For weeks now, I have been putting aside princess dress money so I can get a better value dress or dresses for her. 

Now when someone finds out that I am a travel consultant they instantly tell me about their worst vacation ever.  I politely listen and when they are finished I asked them if they booked with a travel agency or travel agent/consultant.  Probably 90% of the time they tell me they found a “deal” on the internet when they did their own research.  I ask them where they did their research and they tell me TripAdvisor or the resorts webpage.  Well, the resort will not post bad reviews of its hotel, and TripAdvisor likes to post the good reviews first.  I ask them if they felt like they wasted their money and their time.  Most of the time I hear an unquestionable Yes!  So if you feel like you wasted your time and money then was it a good “deal?”

I also hear that people are disappointed because they didn’t receive the same treatment their friends did when they had stayed there.  When doing your own online research, make sure that you are comparing apples to apples.  A lot of times I hear an apples to oranges comparison, and that is why the same services were not provided.  Resorts and hotels change specials frequently, sometimes weekly, so when you are looking for that same “deal” it may no longer be available.  When doing your own online research, if you feel like you just aren’t finding what fits your needs, it may not be out there.  However, a travel consultant may be able to find it in a few minutes because they know where to look. 

To avoid becoming disappointed on your next vacation, and possibly leaving a bad review online, try to make your next vacation a “value.”  You should come back from your vacation feeling happy and proud because of the star treatment you received.  You shouldn’t even realize the amount of money you spent.  You should have indulged in fine food and drinks, splurged on souvenirs, and taken private tours where you were the only ones behind the scenes.  These experiences are unforgettable and is what you will be talking about with your friends and family at your next gathering.  People love to hear these types of travel stories, I love hearing about these travel stories too!

So when planning your next vacation make sure to catch yourself every time you say “That sounds like a good deal.”  Steer clear and try to catch yourself saying: “That sounds like a lot of fun and something I would not have done on my last vacation.”

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