Buy Your Vacation from a Daily Deal Site
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Daily deal websites have come a long way since Groupon introduced the concept in late 2008.
Many of us buy them regularly to stretch our budgets with 50% off or more on entertainment, products, restaurants, and services. Some even overspend due to the lure of the deal!
While I have had good luck getting refunds when the retailer didn't honor a deal certificate, the risk is prepaying for a good deal is usually less than $100.
Now that risk has been kicked up a notch with vacation deals!
Getaways and Vacations from Daily Deal Sites
My sister recently bought a week-long stay at a Mexican all-inclusive resort from a group buying business.
It was a great deal but cost several hundred dollars for something they won't use for a few months.
She felt comfortable with the purchase because of previous experience with the site.
If you are always on the lookout to save money on travel plans, consider subscribing to a few travel deal sites.
You'll get a feel for the type of offerings at each site and figure out if you're up for this type of vacation purchase. Let's look at a few of the sites.
Groupon Getaways
The granddaddy of group buying has travel offerings ranging from hotel rooms to a safari for $3,600.
One of the features here is recommendations for things to do nearby a destination or hotel.
Groupon stands behind the purchase with their promise to refund the money if you're unable to book the stay you want.
Check them out here to find the latest deals!
Living Social Escapes
Living Social was close on the heels of Groupon and started in 2009.
Their travel deals are called Escapes and have a wide variety including hotels, rafting trips, and more. You have 30 days post-purchase to return your voucher, no questions asked.
Expedia ASAP
Although technically not a daily deal site, Expedia is offering what it calls “A Sudden Amazing Price” or ASAP. Every morning at 9 a.m. Pacific time a new deal is available for 12 hours only.
At most sites, the offers are available for several days to give you a chance to coordinate calendars before purchase.
Be sure to read the fine print to understand expiration dates, additional charges and other important details before completing the purchase.
Another option to daily deal sites is membership discount travel sites such as Jetsetter.com and Vacationist.com which both offer free memberships.
Don't forget your warehouse club or other membership organizations.
What do you think about buying your next vacation from a daily deal site?
There definitely look to be some good deals out there. It all depends on whether you’re in the market for a vacation, though. Rule number one is that if you take advantage of one of those deals, it should be because you were planning on spending on a vacation anyways. If you go on vacation because it’s a great deal when you weren’t planning otherwise, then it’s not a deal at all!
Great point. We plan to go a resort in Cancun in 2013 so I’ll be looking for a great deal that covers that timeframe next year. To buy it because it’s a great price is not smart.
If I were ein the market for a vacarion package I would sefinitely look into various deals. Why not, as long as it is a legitimate website.
I forgot to put in the article that Saveology also has travel offerings. They’re a more recent daily deal site.