We are planning our honeymoon in Cancun for Jan 2005. Unfortunately we can't book anything yet. Does anyone know approximately when we would be able to book? We are looking at booking through Funjet because they seem to have the best deal- flight from Chicago, 7 nights all inclusive at Oasis Cancun, day trip to Chichen Itza, airport transfers, and dolphin swim on Isla Mujeres for $2475.02 (I had to use a quote from Dec 2004, however...I used the same day of the week and made it before the holidays, so the quote is probably not quite accurate). Does anyone have any other places I could check for better deals? Apple Vacations' site will NOT work on my computer! After I fill in the "from" and "to" boxes, the popup window that comes up never fully loads. Anyway, any help regarding good deals/early booking is appreciated!

I am assuming that this $2475.oois for two people.!?

Is this your first trip to Cancun?
You have lots of time to look for good deal...see your Travel Agent and tell her/him to let you know when a good deal comes along, because they get these "flashes " that come across their desk now and then and you want to be able to book it , when the decent price comes up.
I stayed at the Grand Oasis, which is the place you mentioned.
Also took the all day trip to Chichen Itza.
Happy hunting..at least you have lots of time to look.
Percy

Yes, the 2475 is for two people and it is not my first trip to Cancun. I know we have awhile to book but we want to do it as soon as possible so we know how to readjust our wedding budget accordingly. We don't plan to use a travel agent- we'd much rather do it ourselves. Are there lots of advantages to using a travel agent? Would it cost more to use one?

You have to use a travel agent to book Apple Vacations even though it appears on the screen that you can book online. At least that was the case a few months ago.

I think January is high season, if you travel before the holidays it is usually a lower cost vacation. So you may not be getting accurate quotes and it's too far out to really tell.

We were just in PDC, I found that booking excursions outside of the resort was about 1/2 the cost of Funjet/Apple/hotel prices and it was the same tour. We paid $42 per person to go to Chichen Itza, the hotel wanted $75 for the same trip. So you might hold off on booking the excursions if they are higher priced. Apple and Funjet both have representatives at the properties who are happy to sell you the same excursions.

I don't use travel agents for much anymore but I do use them for beach vacations as they are all package deals and they always seem to cost the same whether I book through the agent or not. And last time I think I even saved $100 per person as they knew about a special booking promotion that wasn't on the website.

Although I understand your concerns about your budget, I'd caution against trying to book this early, among other things you might change your mind about where you want to go and I just don't think you get a good deal booking a year in advance.

Also, check tripadvisor.com and of course this site for hotel reviews before you book so that you don't book a hotel that you won't like...