How to Save Money
Once you've decided the type of vacation you like, you have
options for how to book it.
Cruises
Most cruise line offers incentives for groups of 8 cabins
or more. Some cruise lines will offer on board incentives such as additional on
board credit for groups as small as 5 cabins. You can also lock in lower rates
if you book your group cabins at least a year in advance.
All
Inclusive Resorts
For all-inclusive resorts, you have the choice of a
contracted group or a flexible group in most cases.
Contracted
Group
Best for groups of at least 10 rooms where everyone is
committed and knows what type of room category they want.
A contracted group requires a signed contract guaranteeing
a certain number of rooms to get a guaranteed lower price. The upside is that
you get a lower price since you are committing to book at least 10 rooms. The
downside is that you need to know when you sign the contract which room
categories you are booking and how many rooms you are going to need. You also
have to sign a legal contract.
Flexible
Group
Under the flexible group model, your group is linked
together. You’ll likely receive a small promotional savings depending on the
resort you choose. The upside is that you still get to be recognized as a group
with some savings without having to sign a contract. The downside is the
savings you find is less than if you contracted the group. It also means that
some members of the group may pay more than others because you aren’t locking
in a rate for a particular type of room.
Regular
resorts
With regular resorts, you also have the option of securing
a contract. The minimum number of rooms required for a contracted rate depends
on the hotel.
Excursions
and Transfers
You can also achieve savings by booking your excursions and
transfers as a group. For instance, it may cost less to charter a catamaran for
your group than pay individual snorkel tour pricing. Private transfers from the
airport may cost less than booking a shared shuttle at a per person rate.