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I'd apprecite some input on a delicate subject/question...
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needmesomesun
- Posts: 236
- Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 3:51 pm
- Location: Unfortunately, not on St. John
I'd apprecite some input on a delicate subject/question...
I am seriously considering a trip to St. John in September. It won't be my first trip, but will be my first in September. I am concerned about the weather, but will be purchasing trip insurance. I feel like September is such a gamble!
This will be a very last minute trip. I'll more than likely be booking 1 week or less out and will be spending somewhere between 1 and 2 weeks. My question is regarding villa discounts. I see some agencies and owners offering discounts. I understand that it can't hurt to ask and that they have the prerogative to say no, and it won't bother or upset me. I am just trying to figure out how to go about what to offer. Would those of you who have asked for, and received, discounts mind sharing what the original price of the rental was, and what percentage, or dollar amount the villa was discounted? Was it posted as a discount, or was it a full priced offering and you asked?
I'm not sure whether it is appropriate to make an offer, or just ask what the best they can do is.
If you don't mind sharing numbers, but not the name of the villa or agency (I'm sure they wouldn't appreciate that) it would be a great help.
If you would prefer to PM me with specifics, due to the delicate subject matter, that is fine too.
Thanks in advance.
I must have made a mistake in the poll options, one was missing. Hence my having to redo the whole post... Sorry bout that.
This will be a very last minute trip. I'll more than likely be booking 1 week or less out and will be spending somewhere between 1 and 2 weeks. My question is regarding villa discounts. I see some agencies and owners offering discounts. I understand that it can't hurt to ask and that they have the prerogative to say no, and it won't bother or upset me. I am just trying to figure out how to go about what to offer. Would those of you who have asked for, and received, discounts mind sharing what the original price of the rental was, and what percentage, or dollar amount the villa was discounted? Was it posted as a discount, or was it a full priced offering and you asked?
I'm not sure whether it is appropriate to make an offer, or just ask what the best they can do is.
If you don't mind sharing numbers, but not the name of the villa or agency (I'm sure they wouldn't appreciate that) it would be a great help.
If you would prefer to PM me with specifics, due to the delicate subject matter, that is fine too.
Thanks in advance.
I must have made a mistake in the poll options, one was missing. Hence my having to redo the whole post... Sorry bout that.
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Xislandgirl
- Posts: 4163
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:03 pm
- Location: Slightly left of center
I asked for the 4 person rate for a party of 6 and got it.
That being said...
This villa had a wide open calendar. It was not a popular villa at all. I think if you were to look at the most popular villas with almost fully booked calendars, you will have less luck.
I also think that if you offer a very low offer, you are insulting.
If a house rents for $3000 in the off season and you offer $1500, I can almost guarantee that you will get a big fat no. I think that 20% to 25% is a good area, if you look at Caribbean Villas last minute specials, that should give you a good base to go from.
I think I replied to you on another forum, but September is a tricky month. If the villa has no bookings, the management company is likely to get it all prepped,just in case a storm comes. They are less likely to open it up for a discounted week.
That being said...
This villa had a wide open calendar. It was not a popular villa at all. I think if you were to look at the most popular villas with almost fully booked calendars, you will have less luck.
I also think that if you offer a very low offer, you are insulting.
If a house rents for $3000 in the off season and you offer $1500, I can almost guarantee that you will get a big fat no. I think that 20% to 25% is a good area, if you look at Caribbean Villas last minute specials, that should give you a good base to go from.
I think I replied to you on another forum, but September is a tricky month. If the villa has no bookings, the management company is likely to get it all prepped,just in case a storm comes. They are less likely to open it up for a discounted week.
one of the villas we rented was running a "special" at the time I was ready to book (I was booking some months in advance). I inquired if the special could be extended to my booking and while that wasn't accepted I was offered the off season rate even though about half my rental was in season. That worked for me and we went ahead with the booking.
The only way you'll find out is to ask. Our group has had fairly good luck with negotiating discounts - especially after using the same agency several times. There have been some substantial discounts advertised the last couple years also. I would think that in September you'd have an excellent chance of getting a discount if you choose a villa that hasn't had many days booked yet. Destination St. John has been excellent to work with - you could call and talk to them and see what they can do for you.
Destination St. John offering 20% off for new bookings.
http://destinationstjohn.com/specialoffers.php
I would absolutely ask. You are going during the lowest of seasons (as are we - but with no trip insurance), so many places will offer you discounts. If they don't - c'est la vie. Someone else will.
PS - your question isn't delicate. Villa rentals are a business. In business, there's negotiation based on supply and demand.
http://destinationstjohn.com/specialoffers.php
I would absolutely ask. You are going during the lowest of seasons (as are we - but with no trip insurance), so many places will offer you discounts. If they don't - c'est la vie. Someone else will.
PS - your question isn't delicate. Villa rentals are a business. In business, there's negotiation based on supply and demand.
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leslieeliz
- Posts: 54
- Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:27 pm
- Location: North Carolina
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piscesgirl0314
- Posts: 598
- Joined: Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:31 pm
- Location: Chesapeake, VA
alw1977 wrote:Destination St. John offering 20% off for new bookings.
http://destinationstjohn.com/specialoffers.php
I would absolutely ask. You are going during the lowest of seasons (as are we - but with no trip insurance), so many places will offer you discounts. If they don't - c'est la vie. Someone else will.
PS - your question isn't delicate. Villa rentals are a business. In business, there's negotiation based on supply and demand.
I totally agree...also we are almost in to September and there is nothing going on in the Atlantic as far as hurricanes...I think you'll be fine to travel...
Definitely ask. It's a very tough economy out there right now and some owners will offer discounts.
When we were looking last year we asked for discounts at every house (5 in total). Only one did not discount their villa and that is because it was brand new and I think they were thinking they'd get their price without a problem. We moved on and found a great place and the owner worked with us and it sure helped.
We got about a 15% discount and then later on added 2 more days and got a 50% discount on those additional days.
When we were looking last year we asked for discounts at every house (5 in total). Only one did not discount their villa and that is because it was brand new and I think they were thinking they'd get their price without a problem. We moved on and found a great place and the owner worked with us and it sure helped.
We got about a 15% discount and then later on added 2 more days and got a 50% discount on those additional days.
John and I always ask. They can say no if they don't want to offer a discount, and then we either pay the full amount or choose another house/agency.
We tend to book fairly close to our arrival date, are not usually fixated on any particular house, and generally travel off season, so we've been fairly successful in negotiating a discounted rate.
Truthfully though, we usually end up spending the same amount of money even with the discounts--we have a set budget for what we want to spend, and we tend to upgrade the villa we choose up to our budget cap. So if we are offered a discount we just end up choosing a nicer house for the same amount of money we had originally planned for!
We tend to book fairly close to our arrival date, are not usually fixated on any particular house, and generally travel off season, so we've been fairly successful in negotiating a discounted rate.
Truthfully though, we usually end up spending the same amount of money even with the discounts--we have a set budget for what we want to spend, and we tend to upgrade the villa we choose up to our budget cap. So if we are offered a discount we just end up choosing a nicer house for the same amount of money we had originally planned for!
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
Hello, for the past 4 years or so I always ask. Usually we are staying more than a week. Traveling last minute usually increases your chances of a discount and also the amount of the discount. For our upcoming November Trip I checked out several villas that were OPEN during our timeframe (we are staying two weeks)and out of over 7 villas checked, only 1 refused until 30 days out (of offering a discount). I have checked back on that particular villa's availability, and although a few of the days (3 of the 14 I was looking at) have been booked, the others haven't. I wonder if they wish they had been a little more receptive to my request? 
Good luck with your search!
Good luck with your search!