HotelChatter

Step Outside The Box
Been there, done that? Patterson tells us that JetSetter has also cultivated some other exotic hotel sales in Thailand, Bali, Istanbul and Jordan like the Evason and Ma'In and Six Senses Spa just outside of Amman. (That sale ends on Friday.)

And of course, all snowbirds flock to South Florida in the winter and Miami is well-represented. (Remember 1 Bal Harbour?)

It's Ok. Plan Ahead.
While the flash sales only last a few days (if that), you can book a reservation as far as six months ahead and maybe longer depending on the hotel, Patterson says. Jetsetter enables this with a calendar that shows availability and the rates for your desired dates. .

When we did our comparison shopping for Miami the other week, we found that Jetsetter was giving off the best deals but it is always best to shop around, no matter what.

When Things Go Wrong
As far as customer service, Patterson tells us they have had one incident where a hotel had oversold but this is atypical. Jetsetter is guaranteed the hotel's inventory for the duration of the sale. So no other site or agency can sell those rooms and that way, Jetsetter knows that none of their customers will be bumped.

Also, Patterson says Jetsetter stresses to their partners that their customers should be treated just as well as guests who book directly through the website, i.e. no crappy rooms near the exit.

We are explicit with hotels about that. We are really trying to introduce guests to the property and have the hotels think about building a relationship with these guests over time.

But should something happen, Jetsetter maintains a customer service hotline at standard business hours and email is answered around the clock. Yet considering these are all higher-end hotels offered on Jetsetter, the hotel should be able to resolve your issue if Jetsetter can't.

Will Your Friends Be Jealous?
Still can't decide where to go? Consider Patterson's philosophy for selecting hotels to feature on Jetsetter:

The most fundamental test we have is: Is this the kind of thing you will brag about to your friends when you return from vacation?

If it has that kind of sex appeal, book it. Otherwise, sit tight for the next flash sale.