Tagged Pages Archive | Yyc
2011
11
May
Question from a reader: "Is this TeamBuy deal a good deal?"
11
May
Dennis writes...
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Hi Chris,
I have been following your blog for years.
My girlfriend had spotted a deal the other day on teambuy and I just wanted your opinion if it is a good deal or not.
The deal is 7 Day stay in Los Cabos
I was thinking about staying at the Barcelo Los Cabos Palace Deluxe in a Junior Suite.
From Sept 3 to Sept 10.
Costing 1079 with taxes.
Is it a good deal even during hurricane season?
The link is below:
http://www.teambuy.ca/calgary/referral/riqimvob/28131896/
Best Regards,
Dennis
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Hi Dennis,
Wow, has it been years since I first started the Calgary blog? Well, I guess technically it has. Just took a look and it says it's been active for 1 year, 3 months. Crazy. Thanks for checking it out!
The TeamBuy deal is interesting to me. Let's analyze it!
The true cost of buying the TeamBuy deal (once you've read the fine print) appears to be $699 + $280 taxes/person, or $979/person after tax.
And that gets you...
- the flight (direct from Calgary)
- 7 nights at Royal Solaris resort in Los Cabos, Mexico (all inclusive, with food & drink)
- departure must be in September
or, for $1079/person after tax, you can get the Barcelo Los Cabos Palace Deluxe instead, which is the one you're looking at.
So, how does that compare to what the Canadian tour operators are offering in September at the moment?
It looks like the cheapest packages for the Royal Solaris in September are going for $1124/person after tax (Sunwing is cheapest). So there does indeed seem to be about a 13% discount using TeamBuy. Not incredible, but hey, it does look to be a better deal than the Canadian tour operators.
And how about just booking it through, say, Expedia, Orbitz or Bookit? A search on there reveals it would cost you about $1057/person after tax. But the flights are likely worse (not direct).
So overall I would say the TeamBuy deal for the Royal Solaris is about 8% cheaper than you could buy it somewhere else.
But forget the Royal Solaris, for $100 more, the Barcelo Los Cabos is a *much* better deal. It gets significantly better reviews on TripAdvisor. For a hundred bucks you're basically going from an average resort to one that is in the realm of 'very nice'. Money well spent.
The cheapest from the Canadian tour operators is around $1364 for the Barcelo. And even more expensive on Expedia/Orbitz/Bookit.
So if you can get it for $1079/person after tax, I would say you're getting a true 20% discount off the cheapest price available.
As you've noted though, you *are* restricted to going in September, so just be aware of the statistical risk you're taking in regards to weather!
source: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastprofile.shtml#cp100
Overall though, while the deal may not be mind blowing, I would say it's as good or better than you'll find in September at the moment from anywhere else. (Emphasis on 'at the moment')
But you could just significantly reduce your weather risk and head south in say, June, and go to the Catalonia Playa Maroma or the Catalonia Yucatan on the Mayan side of Mexico for $888/person after tax. They are of similar resort quality (or slightly higher in regards to the Catalonia Yucatan) and $200/person cheaper than the TeamBuy deal.
2011
5
May
Yes, you can now be notified of YYC Deals by e-mail
5
May
I've had a fair number of requests over the last few months, especially from people that aren't on Facebook, asking if there was any way they could be notified by e-mail when I post a deal.
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2011
5
May
Glasgow, Scotland over May Long Weekend - $618 roundtrip after tax
5
May
2011
30
April
May Long Weekend In Mazatlan, Mexico Madness
30
April
Yeah, sometimes I get carried away with alliteration.
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2011
26
April
May Long Weekend All Inclusive Package: Royal Decameron - $677/person after tax
26
April
Update: 4/29 - Looks like June 9
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2011
25
April
Calgary to Paris - $799 roundtrip after tax
25
April
I'm still fascinated by the prices Condor is coming out with from Calgary to various cities in Europe because they're nearly half the cost of anyone else.
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2011
21
April
Calgary to London, and back from Zurich - $587 after tax in June
21
April
There's still some crazy Europe deals out there (mostly thanks to those Condor flights). Try this...
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2011
20
April
Another cheap last minuter to Chicago - $341 roundtrip after tax
20
April
UPDATE @ 8:05 AM - This AA price has now sold out, but interestingly enough, Delta has matched it, but into Chicago's other airport (MDW).
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2011
16
April
Calgary to Croatia - $771 roundtrip after tax
16
April
Update 4/20 - There's some in and out of Zagreb for as cheap as $706 in September. Try Sep 12-26 for example. Same goes for Warsaw, Poland. Various other European cities in the $800 and under range.
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2011
14
April
'Should I buy my flight now or wait?' - The question I get asked the most
14
April
No matter how many times I tell people that airfare prices can't be predicted, this question always comes up in some form or another, so I've decided to write an article that I can start referencing people to.
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