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It was my first international trip, first time on a plane, and it was my first trip that was booked through Groupon Getaways! Mexico was an unbelievable trip that helped me realize my passion for travel. I kept using Groupon Getaways to fuel my love to travel throughout my college spring breaks because I kept finding cheap deals to amazing locations.
When you browse through the Groupon Getaway deals that are available, it is very easy to find what is included in the package. None of the links are affiliated or sponsored content. Mexico was the least expensive of the three Groupon Getaways since it was all-inclusive resort. They picked us up at the airport holding a sign with our names on it. They provided all the food, drinks, and entertainment that you would possibility need during your stay.
The only thing that we paid for was the expedition to see Chichen Itza and Cenote tour. Throughout the day, there are workers that entertain the guests by the pool and beach. There was also entertainment at night.
You give your voucher code. Have you used Groupon Getaways before? Mexico was the least expensive of the three Groupon Getaways since it was all-inclusive resort. Two of my greatest passions in life are travel and deal hunting. Low Interest. Groupon can be a fantastic way to save money on vacations—but you have to be willing to do a bit of research.
They would put on dancing shows or plays in their own theater. Afterwards, people would go to this outdoor bar where the entertainers would play fun drinking games with the guests. When it was time to home, the resort also organized our transportation to get back to the airport.
Both ways of transportation was on a very nice coach bus with air conditioning. The all-inclusive resorts are centered on tourist from the United States or Canada. I did have a great time at this resort, but will never go back to an all-inclusive vacation. This time, it was just my mom and I and we found more adventure than we expected. Mostly came from lack of planning. That is one of the catches with Groupon is it either has to be a spontaneous trip or a trip booked months in advanced. When you check out what Groupon has available for you, the dates will be very easy to find.
This trip had flights out of Chicago, accommodation included, and a rental car. It was also a manual car and would have cost additional money to get an automatic. I have seen countless Ireland deals that include a rental car which means you would have to be comfortable driving on the other side of the road. So those are three key details to think about when considering investing into a Groupon Getaway that includes a rental car.
At the car rental, the workers were extremely nice and gave us directions on how to get to La Fortuna — our first destination. It seemed like pretty simple directions and we had a GPS to help us get to our resort. We had to download the Costa Rican map onto it before we left home. Luckily, the car rental did give us a paper map and drew a line on how to get there.
Yes, you read that correctly. By this time, it was dark out and we were stuck in a town that was half way to La Fortuna. After that, there was an occasional sign saying La Fortuna with an arrow every half hour or so on this winding road. Stopping strangers on the street worked so well the first time, we tried it again. Four strangers later, we finally got solid directions to our hotel.
Download the countries map on Google Maps offline. Or bring an actual GPS with the countries maps downloaded onto it. The hotel that was included in the package was phenomenal! It was one of the most beautiful hotels that I have ever stayed at. This hotel was not all-inclusive like the resort in Mexico, but that was what made it so great in my eyes. The picture above was the view from a pool that had a water slide built into the hill.
The food there was a bit expensive on the property, but that means wandering to where the locals go. The hotel provided free breakfast which was okay at best. In their defense, it is hard to be amazing in every aspect.
While in La Fortuna, we decided to research how to drive in Costa Rica. We learned how to use Google Maps offline , and planned to leave early so we would arrive in the daylight. Lone behold, we made it to Jaco with no problems! Goes to show you that being prepared and doing research really takes the stress out of the trip. I had to purchase a separate flight to Houston from Chicago but are you seeing that price?? When I say some meals, I really mean most of them. A highlight of this particular Groupon Getaway deal is that the hotels we stayed at offered an extensive buffet breakfast each morning.
After all, I understand culture best through my stomach. China has got to be one of my favorite places to souvenir shop. Most places in China, even some indoor malls, allow and expect you to bargain, making shopping an affordable travel pasttime.
This particular deal supplied us with many days of group tours: Going to China without an understanding of the language or the culture, really made this an invaluable feature of this tour package. Almost nobody that I came into contact with in China spoke English—even in the big cities. Usually, trip packages like these on Groupon Getaways also offer affordable extension options to other nearby cities—definitely worth considering. This trip was honestly one of my favorites of all time and on this list of Groupon Getaways reviews.
Peru is such an enchanting place with interesting people, amazing food, lots of history, and best of all? They do this from time to time, often when there are great options available for the picking. The biggest takeaway you should from this Groupon Getaways review?
This deal was structured very similarly to the above China travel deal. It included roundtrip airfare, multiple flights within Peru, ground transportation, hotels, a tour guide and several included excursions, and some meals. Instead, consider these tips to grab the best deal:. And I will! I just have to decide on where to go next.
What questions do you have after reading my Groupon Getaways review?
Did you ever feel like you may get ripped off?! How often did you talk to the travel agency that sold the deal? Once you book with the travel agency upon purchasing the deal , you can have as much or little communication as possible! I feel like they make their money off the excursions and for your guides, when you tip them at the end of the trip.
My advice? The travel packages offered by Groupon Getaways are typically run by third-party travel agencies and tour operators. Before Shelby Williams traveled to Mexico on an all-inclusive Groupon Getaways tour, she had never flown on a plane or left the country. Photo courtesy of Shelby Williams. You can score great deals. Many of the packages on Groupon Getaways include airfare and top-notch accommodations for a relatively low price. Williams, who has now been on three Groupon Getaways, says her favorite trip was to Costa Rica with her mom.
The hotel they stayed at was luxurious, with a swim-up bar, hot springs and beautiful landscapes. How to choose a travel credit card. The guided tours can be helpful. Some of the travel packages sold on Groupon come with guided tours or excursions sometimes for an extra fee. For Maddy Osman, a travel blogger based in Denver, these guided tours were a huge plus — especially when she visited China.
The tour guide in China also took the travelers to the city of Suzhou, where he was from. Photo courtesy of Christian Portilla.
Her now-wife had booked the trip through Groupon Getaways as a surprise. When the couple hiked to the top of the Incan citadel, the view was breathtaking. Dates can be limited.