Get ready to add another bookmark to your list of websites you can’t live without (hopefully we’re already on there).
I can best describe it as eBay or Priceline for upscale vacation packages (including golf vacations) at four- and five-star properties. And because bids are regularly accepted at savings of 50-65 percent off regular prices, many of the world’s savviest travelers swear by it.
It’s called LuxuryLink.com, and it’s been racking up glowing reviews from publications such as Travel & Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, and The Wall Street Journal.
Besides being able to score luxury golf vacations at bargain prices, here’s what I like about it:
Number one, the site is very easy on the eyes and very easy to use. I especially like how you can browse the vacation package auctions by destination, by interest (golf, beach, ski, etc.), by property type (hotels, inns, villas, cruises, etc.) and by price (packages under $1,500, for example).
Number two, most, if not all of the packages offered come directly from the hotels and resorts themselves, not middlemen or resellers. The reassurance of this direct “link” is important to me when it comes to investing in upscale golf vacations.
Number three, um, did I mention how deep the discounts are?
Here is an example of a golf vacation package that’s currently on the site. It’s for the world famous Miraval resort (miravalresort.com) in Tucson, Arizona:
- 4 nights in a Deluxe Room with private patio
- Gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner for two each day, plus unlimited snacks and evening hors d’oeuvres
- 3 rounds of golf or 3 spa treatments per person
- Roundtrip transfers between Tucson Airport (TUS) and the resort
- All nonalcoholic beverages for two each day
- Participation in scheduled wellness programs and activities, exercise classes and tennis
- Unlimited access to fitness center, swimming pools, whirlpools and sauna
- All taxes & service charges
- Valid for travel from October 15, 2009 – December 20, 2009 and May 14, 2010 – October 14, 2010.
- Retail Value: $6,749 Minimum Bid: $3,049 Buy Now: $4,725
As you can see, in addition to placing a bid, there’s a “buy now” option. You’ll usually wind up paying a bit more if you go this route, but it’s worth it if your dates aren’t flexible. Note that the price is still 30 percent below retail.
Another package I found knocked approximately $500 off a two-night stay at the Lodge at Pebble Beach, including rounds on Pebble Beach Golf Links and the Links at Spanish Bay.
Frankly, the timing couldn’t be better for a site like LuxuryLink.com given that upscale hotels and resorts need an outlet to offload their unsold inventory.
Back in February, travel guru Wendy Perrin wrote about LuxuryLink.com in her Perrin Post blog, saying: “The site’s president and co-founder, Diane McDavitt, was in my office last week telling me that there are currently 36 percent more deals on Luxury Link than there were at this time last year. And more and more of the deals have few or no blackout dates.”
Said one commenter on this article: Honestly, [other websites] will have to really develop some extremely “over the top” deals to pry me away from LuxuryLink.com. I have been top bidder with them for a number of great European destinations as well as Mexico, Central and South America. Somehow, they come up with packages at Orient-Express-type properties for Motel 6 prices. We love them!
I’m not sure what you’re doing this weekend, but I’m going to take some time and browse the golf vacation packages on LuxuryLink.com. Clearly, some of the courses and resorts that I thought were out of reach are now downright affordable.
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