Years ago, when we first started travelling to all-inclusive resorts, we always heard from more experienced travellers to book the trip as close as you can to your departure date for best deals.
This sounded OK if you weren't set on a particular destination or were flexible with the departure date.
We kept looking for these last-minute deals each time we were booking a package, but our schedules didn't always allow for the flexibility.
The ideal situation is to block off the dates and choose a destination based on the price, value for the money and the departure/return dates that fit into that timetable.
Is it really worth it to wait until the last minute to book a vacation?
My husband and I have been setting aside the last week of August for the last few years as a "work" getaway to both buckle down and get caught up on work that was lagging behind from the socially-packed summer and to get ourselves in order for the busy fall season.
We pick a 5-star all-inclusive somewhere south, pack our laptops, notepads, books and beach attire and park ourselves at the resort for the entire week.
This August is a little trickier for timing. We have exactly 7 days from Sudbury to Sudbury - inclusive. We have a business event that we planned for the 26th and we have overnight guests arriving in the afternoon of the 7th day.
Since we also don't like going back to a resort that we have tried before (and since I like to review a new place each trip), it cancels out quite a few options.
So here is our plan and what I am shopping for...
- Departure date - Friday, August 26th. Preferably an early flight since we can arrive in Toronto by midnight the night before. Also an option - flight directly from Sudbury.
- Return date - Friday, September 2nd. Early morning departure to arrive in Toronto by noon OR early afternoon directly back to Sudbury.
- 5-star (may consider a 4 or 4.5 star depending on the value for money and/or room upgrade possibilities)
- all-inclusive
- adults only (hard to work quietly by the pool with kids splashing nearby)
- Not Jamaica (was just there last year, so may consider it again for next year)
- Not Cuba (The Americans are just starting to swarm the island so it will be very crowded - and possibly overpriced - everywhere.)
- Caribbean, Mexico, Central America are all on the table
As a price comparison, I am going to use one site to keep track of pricing over these next couple of weeks. Selloffvacations.com and tripcentral.ca are both owned by the same parent company now so pricing is the same. selloffvacations.com is simple to use, but tripcentral's "pricing grid" is handy when you need to compare vacations side by side.
As of today, the following list would still be considered "last minute" on most travel websites, but since we are planning to choose the best of the options two weeks prior, we are going to compare these again in a couple of weeks from now.
Based on the above criteria, here are the best prices and vacations as of July 25th at 2:01pm...
From Sudbury...Nothing but Jamaican and Cuban destinations...and only 7-night options.
From Toronto...all 6 nights and all 5-star - and coincidentally, all offered by Sunwing Vacations.
- GRAND OASIS SENS Cancun, Mexico. $785+432 taxes = $1217
- PLATINUM YUCATAN PRINCESS ALL SUITES AND SPA Riviera Maya, Mexico $1005 + 432 taxes = $1437
- SENSIMAR SEASIDE SUITES AND SPA Rivera Maya, Mexico $1075+432 taxes = $1507
- THE HIDEAWAY AT ROYALTON RIVIERA CANCUN Rivera Maya, Mexico $1145 + 432 taxes = $1577
- KARISMA SURPRISE (could be 1 of 4 El Dorado resorts) Rivera Maya, Mexico $1145 + 432 taxes = $1577
Flight times may be a deciding factor as well as general reviews of each of the resorts.
I will update the Top 5 choices again on August 11th (almost exactly 2 weeks prior to departure date) and we will see if waiting really makes any difference.
Update - August 11th
We had a small change to our plan which made our list of choices fewer than anticipated...our return date needs to be August 31st to be back in Sudbury early September 1st.
We are now at 5 nights instead of 6.
So, we put Cuba and Jamaica back into the ring, to see what would come out on top.
Here are the top 5 choices left online as of August 11th as per the same criteria listed above...with taxes included.
NOTE: The upgraded service packages are common with resort offerings now. Some are called Royal Service, some Privilege, Premium or other similar names. All usually include private check-in, possible late checkout, discounts on spa, golf or other add-ons,
- PARADISUS PRINCESA DEL MAR Varadero, Cuba $1347 ($1707 with upgraded service package)
- RIU REPLUBLICA Punta Cana, D.R. $1450
- CATALONIA BAVARO ROYAL Punta Cana, D.R. $1550 ($1690 with upgraded service package)
- CHIC PUNTA CANA Punta Cana, D.R. $1590
- SURPRISE ESCAPES (could be 1 of 5 Sunwing-owned resorts) Punta Cana, D.R. $1650
So...we took a day or so to ponder the drastic changes in our choices and decided to make a priority list...
- Nice big room that we can spread out in and work quietly, if need be. Terrace or balcony is a must.
- 5-star with good reviews and good wifi. (we both need to be online to work properly)
- Adults only
...but this last one made me pause!
How much different is the pricing for adults only versus with kids?
I re-set my search parameters.
Turns out that the destinations available were all still mostly in Punta Cana, and the pricing was similar...BUT for the same price as a "luxury double" in most Adults Only resorts, I can now get a MUCH bigger room in an "adults only" section in a family-style resort.
From what I have noticed, there are a handful of resorts in the Dominican that are all converting sections of their popular, high-end resorts to "adults only" to attract the baby boomers who are looking for a quiet holiday.
We are not quite baby boomers ourselves, but when we are going on a holiday to get some work done, it is always MUCH quieter without that many kids around.
So...here is where we booked - wish us luck!
SENSATORI RESORT PUNTA CANA
Uvero Alto, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
5-star, Adults-only Honeymoon Suite, 5-days
$1560 (incl. taxes)
We do know, however, that this new 5-star resort is attached to the Nickelodeon Family Resort and therefore shares some of the main restaurants and pool areas. I have read reviews that some were supposedly "duped" into thinking it was an adults-only resort.
We are also aware that one restaurant is 18+ as well as the nightclub and one of the pools and pool bars.
I have read everything and plan to take a chance that the D.R. will wow me with their sunshine and beach enough to make me forget all of those reviews.
In answer to the original question of this post?
No - not really.
A month or two is sufficient if you want a large selection of options. If you are specific on your priorities or needs, do not wait any longer than a month before your departure date.
I will add an aside here while I am at the resort and then a full review afterwards.
Wish us luck and a safe and happy holiday!
