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?'s about P.G. cruise and post or pre lodging, 2 week sale

Dunner

By Dunner,
in Paul Gauguin Cruises

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Dunner

Dunner

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More questions---It seems like you get a better deal if you go through a travel agent that will give you OBC or a discount of some sort instead of booking through P.G. Is that right? It was mentioned that some people book through P.G. and then have a travel agent take the file. So are they saying that a P.G. representative works with you and guides you with decisions post and pre cruise ideas etc. and then the travel agent scoops the file after all that pre work is done, but gets a commission. I am wondering if the person that spent all the time with you at P.G. would usually get a commission, but then looses it. If this is how it works, somehow for me, it doesn't feel quite right. Just trying to get clarification.-----why wouldn't they have just gone to the T. A. in the beginning? Was there some advantage?

 

Is there a particular company that people deal with or do you just grab a T.A. in your own area? What would be a reasonable OBC you should expect from a travel agent?

 

It has been mentioned that the flight from LAX in uncomfortable in coach. What is the price to upgrade your seat?

 

Thanks in advance for any and all responses.

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Emdee

Emdee

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I agree with you so I don't book directly with any cruise line.

 

I like an agent for OBC anything from $200 to $1000 depending on agent, cost of ticket etc.while the pg does have pre and post options I like an agent who can offer me other properties and customize the the experience. You can also get an OBC with AMEX platinum.

 

Please check with pg or our agent on cost of biz class. It could vary.

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Tikiintahiti

Tikiintahiti

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Though I know a few TA's that will give a good credit I too find it hard to consider having the file 'grabbed'. I've made it well known that I won't use a TA simply to get a OBC but I won't put my conditions for myself on anybody else, it just feels right for me.

 

I like to think of it as that better piece of filet they serve might be because they aren't giving up on commissions being sent out to TA's.

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MrsSmith91739

MrsSmith91739

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We live just outside of Los Angeles and stay at the Doubletree in El Segundo, it is less than 10 min from LAX. They have a great park and fly program there. You pay for one night and park free up to 14 days. They shuttle you to and from the airport. We stay there every time we leave out of LAX now. We have stayed at the Sheraton and yuck. We have done the park and fly probably 10-12 times and never had an issue there.

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FlightMedic555

FlightMedic555

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For Priceline they only guarantee a room that will sleep two. It is a gamble but I have called hotels after I "won" on Priceline and requested the beds I wanted. This has always worked but again there is no guarantee. Except for a Hampton Inn type of place where everyone gets what they call breakfast you will not get breakfast at the larger hotels. Obviously the amenities they have such as a pool are what they are. For simply a place to sleep Priceline has worked well.

 

Three years ago the cost to upgrade to business class was $3200 per person. A the time you could show up at the airport counter early and if seats were available you could pay about $750 each way o upgrade. Reportedly that has now gone up.l

 

Regarding an OBC the PG staff I don't think get a commission, they are salaried. I would work with a TA and upfront tell them that you have heard that many TA give an OBC. Mine gives $200 per cabin but I have heard that $400 is well within reason. This is with a booking for a lower level cabin. The more the cruise costs the more your OBC may be.

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Tikiintahiti

Tikiintahiti

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I'm always very careful about how to handle the TA question as everyone has their own favorite who is always the best. This can lead to tension on the forum.

 

My advice is to go to Tahiti's offical tourisum site. They have a good search engine to find qualified "French Polynesian Experts".

 

Here is the link to their TA search engine:

 

Tahiti Tourism

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FlightMedic555

FlightMedic555

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If you decide to work with a travel agent I would suggest you try to deal with one who is a Tahiti specialist. While any travel agent can 'sell" you the trip very few have first hand expertise in the region.

 

Tiki is spot on with his recommendation to check the Tahiti TA site. I would call a few, and perhaps one is close to you, and make sure they understand your needs and are willing to work with you.

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Dunner

Dunner

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I found a travel agent in a city about 2 hours away --they didn't list one for my city. I have a friend that is a T>A> but has never been to F.P. so I will have to tell her that it has been recommended that I choose an agent with experience with the ins and outs of F.P. since it is a more complicated trip.

 

Wow-I guess the upgrade is totally out of the question unless I win the lottery.

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FlightMedic555

FlightMedic555

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In June I have used miles for business class. At 6'4" the last trip in coach was so bad I would never do it again. I would either pay the $$ or not go. I know that sounds harsh but I literally stood in the aisle for most of the flight. Since a paid upgrade is not an option I will not chance that. Thankfully miles worked for me.

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MotuIslander

MotuIslander

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I found a travel agent in a city about 2 hours away --they didn't list one for my city. I have a friend that is a T>A> but has never been to F.P. so I will have to tell her that it has been recommended that I choose an agent with experience with the ins and outs of F.P. since it is a more complicated trip.

 

Wow-I guess the upgrade is totally out of the question unless I win the lottery.

 

MANY of us use TAs that are are the other side (or even outside) of our countries. I have a TA that I have worked with for more than a decade and I have never been to her office. Much more important to have good, rather than close, TA.

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Dunner

Dunner

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It ended that the travel agent that I thought I had doesn't have a toll free number so that won't work for me. So I will keep looking. Hope to find a good one. I will check again on that Tahiti site for another one.

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Tikiintahiti

Tikiintahiti

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Emdee ............ you might want to go check out the questions asked by Dunner. There are as many if not more questions asked about LAX hotels, ATN, Pre/Post stays .................. I didn't know being a PG expert made one more qualified than one who has made 18 trips in regards to many of the questions asked ;)

 

I'm probably one of the most balanced as I have stayed at many of the hotels ...... several times, toured all over many of the islands ......... several times, have ate at many of the restaurants on the islands ........ several times and have cruised ........ several times ........... on different ships ....

 

Dunner, feel free to email me privately. No doubt there are others here that have more experience on the PG but for the other questions feel free to email me ;)

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Tattoo boy

Tattoo boy

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Tiki,

Like you I stay at one of the hotels @ LAX before my flight.

You, still remain the expert on FP.

All I wanted to do is give him some questions to ask a TA to meet

his needs. When I use a TA all I do is tell her what I have in mind

and let her do the rest.( I'm lazy) So far I have had no problems.

I am sure Motu will agree with me that a good TA can be a god send.

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