AMA Travel Website & Deals

So just today AMA Travel requested feedback on their website.  Having used it before and being the wonderful force-my-opinion-on-people person that I am, I figured it was time for a little review.  ;)

Now I’m going to stick to reviewing what I know which is linking to “deals” through Facebook or Twitter.  I love that they put specials on this way as it’s not like I’d be regularly checking their website for deals – ever.  However, there’s a couple of annoying things I’ve noticed about the links they provide (and some good things too).  Here goes:

1)      Sometimes I’m confused as to if I’m looking at just a flight deal or an all inclusive package.  This needs to be clear!

2)      Wherever possible I want to see AFTER-tax prices first.

3)      They have a wicked deal Wednesday but depending on when I’m on Facebook/Twitter during THE Wednesday and how much I’ve seriously thought about when/where I want to vacation, showing me a one-day-deal is too much deciding pressure.  Give me a hint on Monday regarding location, Tuesday on dates, or even just a couple reminders that the big Wednesday Deal is coming! I’ll be that much more likely to look for it and seriously consider it.  

4)      Although the prices for many of these deals seem cheap, when you look at the deal it seems to me it’s often cheap because it’s a low star hotel and it isn’t even that big of a discount from the regular price.  30 bucks off, 50 bucks off?  The current discount from Edmonton to Varadero is wait for it… $15.50 cheaper.  Is that a sale?  I want 150 bucks cheaper.  I realize I’m asking a lot here but I need a more substantial discount.  You might be better off offering an expensive package with a cheaper discount than a cheap package with a teeny tiny discount.

5)      As AMA is meant for Albertan’s I think for every deal offered in Edmonton there needs to be a Calgary counterpart and vice versa.  It doesn’t even have to be the same location, just give me something to look at for my city.

6)      Going through the booking process was easy and I appreciated that.  Though, the optional service to get a travel specialist to call with additional info about your destination was a joke.  If I’m booking online I can get the info myself and I’ll save my 50 bucks. Thanks.  Instead just provide a few links on the destination’s main attractions would be a nice free addition.

7)      Travel insurance stuff was easy to understand and provided totals for all passengers so you don’t have to do one for each person – nice.

So overall, I like AMA Travel because it provides me with up-to-date deals through Facebook and Twitter but I need to see bigger discounts before I’m prepared to book with them.  In my mind when I’m vacation shopping it’s all relative.  If there’s deals for similar 4 star resorts, one for $1,000 that’s $200 off and for $800 that’s $30 dollars off, which seems better?  Obviously you “feel” like you’re getting more with the heavily discounted one despite how similar the resorts seem.  (Haha, there’s a little behavioral economics for you – my other interest that may get woven into reviews here and there.)