Temptation "best Rate Guarantee" - My Experience

Drat...I just wrote a long post and accidentally hit the Back button and lost it. This will be a more abbreviated version, which is probably better for you all to read anyway. If anyone has questions, feel free to PM me.

I posted on another thread that I have been trying to get a price match out of Temptation, based on the Best Rate Guarantee on their website, which says:

"We are committed to offering you the Best Available Rates when you book directly online through our property’s website. If you find a lower rate for our Resort, let us know and we will match it! *
And if that isn’t enough, don’t forget that when you book through our website you are eligible for one Giveaway of your choice."

This morning, after 5 days of emails and calls (and a call this morning where I raised my voice), the resort finally matched the price I found on one of their affiliate sites, couplestravel.uk for an 8-night stay in a Lush Tower suite April 18-26. Couplestravel.uk was quoting $1200 less than the TTR website.

I am still wrangling with TTR about the giveaway I say I am entitled to under the terms of the guarantee (above). I was told last week I can't have a giveaway on a price match. We shall see. I am a lawyer, so I am relentless when it comes to my rights, and I usually get my way eventually (ask my husband).

Comments and advice:

(1) Be prepared to be persistent and patient. I was told today that it is normal for it to take days to get these requests approved.

(2) Take a screenshot of the rate you found that includes your dates, and captures the current date on your computer screen. Paper your conversations by writing confirming emails.

(3) Unless the resort allows you to have one of their giveaways as part of the process, you might as well book on the site where you found the great price, and not put yourself thru the pain of requesting a price match. The only reason I persisted in seeking the price match was because couplestravel.uk has absolutely draconian terms and conditions that apply to bookings, and I was afraid I was going to get screwed by a dodgy company.

(4) Resort will only match a price on a site that quote in pesos or USD.

(5) Couplestravel.uk is an affiliate of TTR thru the affiliate program you can read about on the TTR website, so TTR could hardly refuse to match a price their affiliate is offering. I would not be surprised if the resort is more likely to refuse to match a price found on a non-affiliated site.

I do appreciate the resort matching the price, but I don't think it should take 5 days to do so, and I will post again once I get a final answer on whether I can enforce the "free giveaway" bonus that should apply to my booking.

Hope this is helpful.

P.S. April Addicts 2020 woo hoo!

 

Update: I lost the battle for the giveaway. The resort is calling the price match a "promo", and I'm only allowed 1 promo. I don't agree, but you can't win them all. I am happy regardless, as I now have change/cancellation terms that are reasonable, unlike those on the couplestravel.uk site. Can't put a price on piece of mind.

 

I will get you coffee one morning if we do cross paths on a future trip...not all bonuses will be lost!

 

You have a deal, Nik! I'll have to find some other menial task for Sean to do for me that morning.

 

I think you're going to lose the "free promo" it's not really free and even on their website there is a promo discount that it disqualifies.

For some reason it wouldn't let me search April. So I searched Mon, Nov 18, 2019- Mon, Nov 24, 2019 for a Bash Tower Room.

Without promo code the grand total with taxes was US$2246.40 (which includes an 'early booking bonus' of 209.56).

With promo code STRIP (provides a Strip Seduction Package fro 30 minutes-details below). The total comes out to be US$2496.00 (no early booking bonus, and higher taxes).

So that "free" package cost $249.60. Not worth it.

By comparison, couplestravel.uk is charging US$2143.00 for the same dates/room selection, but they also charge a 2.9% fee for credit card payments. For a total of US$2205.15.

Admittedly I did book with couplestravel.uk because our Feb trip had a bit more of a difference.


Strip Section details:
Dear Temptation guest, the “STRIP” promo code applies for stays of 4 nights or more, make sure you have covered this condition to get 30-minute, private pole dancing lesson.
In addition, to your free gift, you will receive: A $100 USD credit applicable to Albatros Sailing Tours, plus 2 X 1, Thursdays on the FOUR ELEMENTS Caribbean Night Dinner Tour.
Restrictions may apply.
[**One per stay** ]

 

Also, what do you mean by draconian T&Cs with couplestravel.uk?

 

On their website, couplestravel.uk call themselves "certified partners" of Original Resorts, and in their terms and conditions, it says "our ancillary sites Couples Travel, Journey Mexico, Temptation Cancun Resort". Who knows exactly what that all means, and it doesn't matter to me, but they have some sort of relationship with Original Resorts that goes beyond just offering Original's properties amongst a hundred other Cancun properties like bigger sites like Expedia do.

If Original Group does not want to price match with UK sites, they can change the terms of the price match guarantee to exclude them in the best rate guarantee terms.

I would note that prices were more expensive than TTR's on two other UK sites I checked, so there is a lot of variability out there. As people have said on other threads, you have to do your research and re-check prices often to hit a deal. AND make sure you read the fine print on the site, which can be challenging to find.

 

Hey @matchandherbetterhalf,

what are the T& C’s that are so terrible with Couples Travel?

Cancellation and changes ?

 

For Couples Travel...first time using for us but we know others whom have successfully...
Had to pay one night when booking, remaining half of what was owed today (May 7), and the other half on Aug 1 for Halloween trip Oct 26-Nov3.
Can cancel but do not know terms off the top of my head.
Also not always the cheapest but happened to be for this trip when booked.