I’M GUILTY.

I’ve been getting too caught up with just miles and points and not paying attention to some pretty incredible travel deals out there.

Specifically, I saw a Facebook post where someone purchased a 7 night stay at a Maldives resort for $1610 at Travelzoo.com.

Reethi Faru Maldives

Yes, that’s the actual resort in the photo above!  After digging into the details, I was shocked at what was included:

• 7 nights in an overwater villa (there were also beach villas also available for only $875)
• daily breakfast and dinner
• one way airport transfer (domestic flight + speedboat)
• a sunset cruise, photo shoot, and 15 minute massage per person

I was sure there has to be some ‘gotchas’ with this deal and read through all the fine print and pulled up reviews, here’s what I found:

The resort must be a dump right?  Reethi Faru Resort reviews on tripadvisor are pretty darn good.

I’m not sure when I will be able to go.   No problem, most of these deals including this was are FULLY refundable and good well into 2021 & even 2022 (this deal is good until 12/24/2022).  Here’s the cancellation policy:

It’s probably hard to book.   Not sure as I haven’t booked yet, there are a few blackout dates – mainly just Christmas week in 2020 & 2021 and February 10-17 in 2021.  I actually booked a couple other Travelzoo details (discussed below) which were very easy to reserve.

There’s probably a bunch of taxes and fees.   The only fee and tax not included is a mandatory green tax of $6 per person per day.

The transfers to the resort aren’t included.   Actually the transfer to the resort IS included as a domestic flight and speedboat.  The fine print does say the return trip is $175 per person (which isn’t terrible but something you should factor in).  I actually bought two vouchers, I wonder if I used the vouchers back to back, they would include the return trip?

Fairmont Sanur Beach Bali

About the same time I snagged the Maldives deal above, there was also a deal to Bali going on.  Bali is on my bucket list and since it was fully refundable, I snagged it too.

The deal was for 5 nights at the Fairmont Sanur Beach Bali for $675 an included a deluxe suite garden view room, daily breakfast, one dinner, one cocktail, and one 60 minute massage per person.

The only ‘gotcha’ with this deal was there is a $30 per day surcharge if you use July 15-August 31 or Christmas week.

To see how good of a deal this is, I went to Fairmont’s website to book a room.  For a 5-night stay next summer in the cheapest room (garden) with the cheapest rate (15% early bird promotion that is non cancellable) and no breakfast included, Fairmont is quoting $1138.

Once you factor in daily breakfast, massage, & dinner, this is about a 50% savings!

Alila Ubud

Wouldn’t you know, just a couple days ago another Bali resort popped up on the Travelzoo’s Top 20.  This one is Alila Ubud – now part of Hyatt.  Looks like I’m going to Bali and combining both of these deals.

I snagged this deal too – $875 for 7 nights in a Deluxe room or $1199 in a Villa which is still going on!  It includes daily breakfast, welcome martini, daily afternoon tea, roundtrip airport transfer, tour of rice paddies, and 60 minute massage with Villa stays.

I ended up booking the Villa deal since the Villas are double the size of the standard rooms.  As a comparison, on Hyatt’s site, booking a villa for 7 nights next summer at the cheapest advance purchase member rate without breakfast, airport transfer, massage, etc, Hyatt is quoting almost $3500.  This deal is at least 1/3rd the cost of booking directly with Hyatt.

I could have also 84,000 Hyatt points to book a 7 night stay in a standard room – but this such a great deal, I’m saving my Hyatt points.

Travelzoo Top 20

So it’s safe to say I’ve become a Travelzoo junky the past few weeks.  Here are a few of the latest deals that caught my attention (and just about all are FULLY REFUNDABLE):

• $109 – Santorini Sea Views – 4 star suite
• $129 – Westin Oceanview Room in Fort Lauderdale
• $299 – 4 nights -Puerto Vallarta for 2 – through October 2021
• $339 – Florida Keys 2 Night Escape – through March 2021
• $115 Venice on Murano Island – through June 2021
• $179 – 3 Nights in Belize for 2 – through November 2021
• $779 – 7 Nights in Thailand at the Beach – through October 2022
• $599 – 3 Nights in Mexico – through September 2021
• $875 – 7 Nights in Bali Rainforest (the one I booked!)
• $189 – 5-Star Andaz Hotel in London with Breakfast

So what are sites should I be checking for travel deals?

Tell me the best travel deal you booked without miles or points!