Web Sites that Can Help You Pay Less for Luxury Lodging

My husband Bill and I have done our fair share of traveling on a shoestring. Now that we're older and somewhat more affluent than we used to be, we like to spoil ourselves when we take trips. But even though we prefer cushy hotels to cheap dives, we still like to save money whenever possible. That's why I was very intrigued when I ran across an article on CNN a few months ago about getting the best prices on luxury digs.

The article, which was written by Tas Anjarwalla, introduced me to three travel sites that offer great deals to savvy travelers. The CNN article focused on the Web sites for Jetsetter, Tablet Hotels, and Luxury Link and after I learned of their existence, I was quick to join them. But as I started searching those three sites, I became aware of others affiliated with them that offered even more deals on swanky lodging. I used to be a dedicated Expedia.com user, but now that I've found these sites, Expedia's got some competition!

Jetsetter.com

Of all the sites I discovered through Anjarwalla's article on CNN, I think Jetsetter.com might be my favorite so far. Membership is by invitation; that is, the easiest way to join is to get a referral from someone who is already a member. But if you don't have any friends who are members of Jetsetter.com, you can still join; it just might take a few days before you'll get access to the site. I joined Jetsetter without a referral and was placed on the "waiting list". A few days later, I got an email letting me know a "spot" had opened up and I became a full-fledged member.

Unlike mainstream travel booking sites like Expedia and Travelocity, Jetsetter.com only offers bookings on a few properties at a time. Quantities are limited and the properties usually stay on sale for less than a week. After the sale is over, the properties aren't available to book through Jetsetter, until and unless they go on sale again.

Every day at about 3:00pm Eastern time, I get an email from Jetsetter.com, letting me know about the latest properties to go on sale. The latest properties join the others that have already been on sale. Jetsetter offers detailed descriptions of each property as well as beautiful pictures. Each property is vetted and reviewed by a Jetsetter staffer, which ensures that it meets Jetsetter's standards for luxury lodging.

See something you like? In the top right corner of the description for each property is a calendar. Check the calendar for the dates you'd like to book. Bear in mind that the lowest price may be substantially lower than what you would pay if you booked directly or used another booking site, but that price may only apply to certain dates. When you book, make sure you pay attention to whether your dates are peak nights. If they are, you might want to check other sites to be certain you really are getting the best price.

If you decide to book, you must pay in full. Payment is by credit card and once you've booked, you can't change your dates or get a refund. Jetsetter's booking rules are rigid, but if you play your cards right, you can get an excellent deal. Last month, Bill and I went to Miami and stayed in the EPIC Hotel, which normally has a rack rate of about $300 a night. Expedia had a rate of $249, while Jetsetter happened to have rooms selling for $170. With taxes, we paid $193 for our night at the EPIC and saved significantly.

One other thing to remember is that sometimes Jetsetter doesn't offer all of the available room types or packages offered at a property. Say you want to include breakfast or parking in your rate. You might be able to do that on another booking site, but chances are you won't be able to do that on Jetsetter. Always check the other sites first to make sure you get what you want or need.

At this writing, Jetsetter is only offering hotel bookings and tours. The bookings and tours are for properties worldwide and some are quite exotic. I look forward to getting emails from Jetsetter if only so I can dream of planning future trips somewhere very cool.

Tablet Hotels

Like Jetsetter, the Tablet Hotels site offers bookings for luxury properties worldwide. Tablet Hotels differs in that it runs more like a traditional booking site. Anyone can join Tablet Hotels' site, but to get the best deals, you have to make at least one booking. The Tablet Hotels site also offers members the opportunity to join Tablet Plus. For $195 a year, you get special benefits and amenities that regular members don't, like free cocktails at check-in, continental breakfasts for two, complimentary upgrades, spa credits, and late check-outs. You also get first crack at Tablet Hotels' private sales.

Tablet Hotels' booking site is a good choice for people who like boutique lodging and enjoy Web sites that offer a community. Once you've booked through Tablet Hotels' site once, you become what they call a Global Nomad, which puts you in touch with other Tablet users, who might be able to offer advice. This site even offers Tablet Tunes, which are playlists inspired by certain travel destinations. You can preview the tunes and download them on iTunes.

I haven't yet had the chance to book through Tablet Hotels yet, but our anniversary is fast approaching. You can bet I'll be keeping an eye out for a good deal on this site.

Luxury Link

Luxury Link allows anyone and everyone to join and from what I can tell, it specializes in selling packages. Luxury Link offers a lot of all inclusive resort packages, but it also offers cruises and tours, as well as auctions. In order to book through Luxury Link, you must pay a $40 handling fee. However, even though you have to pay a fee to book, you're very likely to score a fantastic deal on travel through Luxury Link.

Bill and I have recently started taking cruises. Having experienced a mass cruise line once, we decided that we prefer all inclusive luxury cruises, which are typically very expensive. Not long ago, I spotted a very tempting cruise being offered on Luxury Link. Travel Dynamics International is a luxury cruise line that is known for exotic ports and excellent enrichment programs. However, their fares are typically very expensive, starting at several thousand dollars per person. Luxury Link was offering a package for two at an unbelievable savings. It basically amounted to a two for one deal-- two people cruising for the price of one. It was a deal I had never seen offered through Travel Dynamics Internationals' Web site or any other booking site.

Cruises aren't your thing? Not to worry. Luxury Link offers all kinds of property types, everything from dude ranches to golf vacations. The thing to remember about Luxury Link is that it's the place to go when you want to book a package. You're typically purchasing three, four, or five nights at a certain property with certain amenities added, like a bottle of wine, spa credits, or dinner for two. Keep that in mind when you compare Luxury Link's prices with those on other booking sites.

A lot of the trips Luxury Link offers are being auctioned to the highest bidder, but you can also choose to pay more and "buy it now". If you're an adventurous type, check out Luxury Link's mystery auctions. Every week, Luxury Link offers two mystery properties for auction. Bidding starts at one dollar with one dollar increments. Luxury Link only reveals the name of the property to the winning bidder, but hints are posted in Luxury Link's community forums. You could end up paying a little for a great vacation!

For best results be sure to watch Luxury Link's short video on how to use the site. Also, if you join Luxury Link, check out their sister sites, Vacationist.com and FamilyGetaway.com. Vacationist.com operates a lot like Jetsetter.com does, while FamilyGetaway is a site dedicated to family friendly trips.

Voyage Privé

Voyage Privé is another site that operates a lot like Jetsetter.com. Membership is through invitation, although I don't remember having to wait when I joined by submitting my email address. This site offers time limited flash sales at properties worldwide. Each property has a brochure, that can be viewed before the property goes on sale. During sale periods, you can view the prices and the descriptions of the property. There are plenty of pictures to look at and detailed descriptions. I haven't used this site yet; it seems to be geared more toward travel in Europe. However, as I happen to love European travel, I'm sure it won't be long before I take the plunge!

Final thoughts

While these sites do offer some outstanding prices, keep in mind that you may also need to factor in other costs like air fare or rental cars. If you prefer to book everything on one site, these luxury sites may not be for you. They may also be a poor choice for those who require the ability to cancel or change their reservations or prefer not to have to pay upfront.

On the other hand, you don't have to spend a mint to take a nice trip. These travel sites offer some great deals for the savvy traveler. Just be sure you read the fine print and take a moment to compare prices before you book. Beyond that, have a great time traveling like a rock star for less!

Sources

Anjarwalla, Tas (June 17, 2010). "Specialty travel sites offer luxury for less" Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/06/17/luxury.travel.sites/index.html.

www.expedia.com

www.familygetaway.com

www.jetsetter.com

www.luxurylink.com

www.orbitz.com

www.tablethotels.com

www.travelocity.com

www.vacationist.com

www.voyageprive.com

Personal experience