Late 2023, I received a text message from Easton Vacations saying I’ve won a “Bahama Vacation for 2 for Free” – Viva Wyndham All-Inclusive. My first reaction was disbelief, then shock. I’ve read and heard about vacation scams, so I couldn’t help but wonder if this was one of such?
Fortunately, I did some investigations online, and concluded Easton Vacations isn’t a scam as I had feared. But is the free vacation really free or genuine? Here’s my review.
My Experience
First of all, it isn’t free as claimed. It costs more to book through Easton Vacations than it does through the cruise line and resort directly. (I didn’t research this enough before agreeing to terms). They are not fully transparent about the costs in the beginning. After the the first couple payments are explained and processed, the remaining cost come as Easton is able to lock in cruise dates and hotel/resort dates. They make it very confusing if you decide to cancel.
They sent us to a Wyndham Fortuna Resort that is less than desirable! AC is ONLY in our stateroom! Imagine eating delicious fruit, vegetables, 4 star meals in a dining room without AC when it’s 90 degrees outside and in!
The food was very average. The alcohol was a step above college spring break liquor. We were only allowed one reservation out of the 3 restaurants at the resort. This is information I wasn’t made aware when booking. We chose the Mexican restaurant and it was the 2nd best food we ate on the trip. Rooms were pretty clean, however, there are a lot of rooms that are joined by a locked door that sound passes clearly through, so that’s pretty weird.
Breakdown of Expenses and Fees
- Viva Wyndham Cost including transportation to and from the cruise = $1,000
- Cruise price for 1 room: $700
- Drink Package: $100
- 2 Days of Wifi: $60
- Hidden taxes and fees: $110
- Drinks cost $14 after tax without the drink package.
Legitimacy Concerns:
If you’re wondering if it’s a scam, it certainly isn’t. However, it’s one hell of a sales tactic. The Bahamas cruise vacation package is not free perse. You’d be made to pay booking fee, Bahama entry fee, resort fee, and other travel expenses. In the end, it costs same price as every other resort vacation package.
Pros
- There was a travel representative to answer questions
Cons
- It cost almost the same amount if I had booked it through Margarita at sea
- Lacks transparency
The Best Month To Travel To The Bahamas To Save Costs
The best time to travel to Bahamas to save costs is from the end week of April to the second week of December. This is because, there are a few months in which Bahamas experiences visitors much more than the average. As a result, prices of everything increase by a large scale. The off season is between end of April to second week of December. So, to cut down your expenses there, you can plan going to Bahamas in the off season.