roveracre
Reged: 02/08/03
Posts: 85
Loc: Arkansas
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Have been to Barts 11 times now and have loved every trip. My wife and I are going for three weeks at the end of October and early November to try to get some island therapy from our last daughter leaving for college. Given the time of year (low season) and the extended stay (three weeks) as anyone tried "dealing" with the villa agencies or owners to get a discounted price? This may be laughable given that it IS St. Barts, but was just wondering.
-------------------- Bob
Want what you got.
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KevinS
Reged: 07/23/03
Posts: 3415
Loc: Boston
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Some villas on WIMCO's website have the following infomation posted:
SPECIAL: Stay 7 nights/Pay for 6 nights for travel July 1-July 31, 2008 and October 1 - November 15, 2008. Please call and speak w/ a Reservations Specialist . Valid on reservations booked after June 24, 2008.
A few also include a rental car.
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pbj
Reged: 03/05/05
Posts: 2208
Loc: CT
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When booking a few years ago St Barths Properties had a villa listed that we were told, per owners request, that a ten percent discount was being offered. We asked if the owner of another villa we were looking at was offering such a discount. I assume to keep us at that villa for another year the owner obliged. You just have to ask. Some maybe, others maybe not.
-------------------- If it's stupid but works, it isn't stupid.
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WishIWereThere
Reged: 11/04/04
Posts: 268
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I have asked (both agencies and owners directly) and always received a discount of some kind for an extended stay like yours. Let's face it, it's guaranteed money in low season and there only has to be one final clean up instead of 3. Go for it!
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RoyandDee
Reged: 04/20/04
Posts: 123
Loc: Alabama
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just a suggestion (it worked for me) Go to: VRBO , find a villa with no rental for your dates, contact the owner, and ask for a discounted rate for your dates. as my momma used to say: it don't hurt to ask.
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georgedp
Reged: 06/22/04
Posts: 2779
Loc: Beautiful hunterdon county new...
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We've never done villas but I can tell you that in low season 9 times out of 10 it works at hotels on sbh. Our usual stay was 2 weeks and I would e-mail several hotels and ask for their proposal for 2 weeks including vehicle and breakfast and we always received a proposal that was way better than their published rates.
The one time out of ten that it did not work was with a Votel on St. Jean that had not updated their website rates. They came back with rates that were considerably higher than their published rates. When I brought to their attention that their proposal was higher than their published rates, they replied that their rates had changed a few months ago and then they said "we're sorry for your mistake." What gall.
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fins85258
Reged: 05/02/05
Posts: 1091
Loc: Scottsdale, Az
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Knowledge often times is the best means to negotiation. If you have a favorite villa or anumber of them that you like, I suggest you make use of the St Barths Properties Villa Availability section. It shows you the activity on villas throughout the year and can give you information concerning a villas occupancy rate. This could lead you in a direction that may have a favorable outcome if you choose to try and negotiate a better deal.
I highly recommend Mr Cohens book.
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