All in all, my trip included a round-trip flight, two nights in a villa at Fable Terrace Downs Resort, an Avis rental car, plus food and drinks.
If I’d booked all of these things independently, I estimated I would’ve paid about NZ$1,891. My trip package cost NZ$3,162, which feels like a pretty substantial markup.
Receiving the 50% media rate of NZ$1,581 made this a decent deal, but I wouldn’t say the same if I’d paid full price.
To be fair, my two-night midweek package was likely a bit marked up because it was more last-minute. It’s also hard to speak on the value of other packages since I’ve only experienced my own.
But even if I were to book this further in advance, I can’t see myself doing this again. Although the surprise element of this package was intriguing, I could’ve hired a travel agent to craft a similar itinerary for a fraction of the cost.
Plus, if I’d made the reservations myself, I could’ve had more flexibility and chosen the later flight I had wanted.
Despite a few hiccups, this experience was magical — but the price didn’t reflect its true value. Next time, I’ll plan my own luxury escape.
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