Spire.com is the newest kid on the block with travel flash-sales
I can’t get enough of flash-sale travel sites. In fact, about 75% of my most recent travels have been, in part, due to these darn sites knowing just how to tickle my fancy and get me to bite! They offer amazing deals that cannot be booked elsewhere. (Yes, that includes Expedia, Orbitz, Kayak… etc)
From Jetsetter, to Snique Away , Vacationist , and VoyagePrive (who btw is now partnering with one of my favorite fashion flash-sale sites, ideeli), a new kid is now on the block…..Spire.
Spire just launched on Tuesday and promises to offer deals on luxury hotels that are at least 30 percent off the lowest rates found anywhere else! Seriously, how can you refuse?!
For those that are unfamiliar, perhaps a bit hesitant to jump into this new way of booking travel, I’ll explain a bit as to how it works.
Most sites offer a small variety of travel sales on hotels, cruises, or full vacation packages for only a few days at a time. Once the deal has passed, it’s gone, and you lost your chance at a great savings. Typically, these sales are restricted to members only and often you have to be invited by another member to join in the fun and savings. (Interested in joining? Use the links above and/or on the side of the page for travel sample sale sites).
Spire is offering something very needed, the chance to cancel or change your reservation with 72 hours after booking, something many of the other sites do not allow. Yes, sometimes there is a catch with these flash sites (albeit a very small one in my humble opinion). You will get charged a $29 fee, but no biggie if it means you get the rest of your money back!
The competition is getting fierce in this industry, and that makes me one happy girl. Competition hopefully equals even better travel deals. Fingers crossed!
Spire also offers a best-deal guarantee, which works in conjunction with their 30%-lower price guarantee. “If you purchase something on our site for $1,000 and find the same offer somewhere else for $1,200, we’ll still give you $100 in Spire credits because we weren’t 30 percent lower,” said Jennifer Gaines, the company’s senior travel editor.
Like I mentioned before, they are up to some fierce competition, many of whom are upping their game at a seemingly rapid rate. Who will hail as the best? I think it’s still up in the air.
Be on the lookout soon for Groupon Getaways, a proposed joint offering between Groupon and Expedia. Expected to launch in the coming weeks, they plan to offer up to 50% hotels in both the US and Canada, eventually including deals on airfare, cruises, and vacation packages. I’ll be waiting to see how this turns out.
What do you think of all these sites? Have you tried them out yet? Are you a huge fan like me? Tell us your thoughts below by leaving a comment!
Love, K.
