Buyer beware
I want to document several inconsistencies and operational issues I encountered between Vacation Deal Hub and Monster Reservations Group, as they directly affect customer expectations and the accuracy of the vacation packages being sold.
1. Conflicting Information About the Relationship Between the Companies
Two different representatives from Monster Reservations Group gave me contradictory explanations about Vacation Deal Hub:
• One representative stated that Vacation Deal Hub is a subcontractor.
• Another representative stated that Vacation Deal Hub is part of their company.
This inconsistency creates confusion for customers trying to understand who is actually responsible for booking and fulfilling the vacations.
2. Inaccurate or Misleading Package Descriptions
The Vacation Deal Hub website advertises U.S. vacations as 5 days / 4 nights.
This is what initially led us to their homepage, specifically a package for Orange Beach, Alabama, staying at Palm Beach Resort.
When I spoke with a Vacation Deal Hub representative, I asked twice whether this vacation was available. He confirmed that it was, but said he could not book it himself and would need to transfer the reservation to Monster Bookings.
However, once transferred:
• Monster Bookings stated they do not offer any vacation to Orange Beach at all.
• Orange Beach is not listed anywhere in their system, despite being advertised on the Vacation Deal Hub website.
This is a major disconnect between what is advertised and what is actually available.
3. Inconsistent Length of Stay
Vacation Deal Hub claims all U.S. vacations are 5 days / 4 nights.
Monster Bookings contradicted this, stating:
• The number of nights depends on the location,
• Some locations are 3 days / 2 nights,
• And there is no standard length of stay.
For example:
• Destin, Florida was available, but it was not beachfront and only 3 days / 2 nights, despite the advertised 5 days / 4 nights.
This inconsistency makes it difficult for customers to understand what they are actually purchasing.
4. Lack of Transparency in the Booking System
Monster Bookings’ website does not allow customers to:
• Sort by number of days,
• Filter by length of stay,
• Or easily identify which resorts offer 5-day packages.
Even the Monster Bookings representative told me they have no way to see the length of stay without clicking each location individually.
This resulted in spending over an hour on the phone going through multiple locations before finally finding a 5‑day option.
5. Concerns About International Packages and Cruises
If the U.S. packages are inconsistent with what is advertised, it raises concerns about the accuracy of:
• The 8 days / 7 nights international packages,
• And the 7–10 day cruise packages.
The lack of alignment between the companies makes it unclear whether those durations are accurate.
6. Customer Service Issues
When I called Vacation Deal Hub again to explain the discrepancies and ask for clarification, the representative hung up on me.
This is unacceptable, especially for customers who have already paid.
7. Overall Assessment
For $549 for five vacations, the value can still be good, but only if customers:
• Book far in advance,
• Understand that availability is limited,
• Expect that the advertised 5 days / 4 nights may not apply,
• And prepare for potential inconsistencies between the two companies.
8. Recommendation
It appears that upper management needs to intervene to ensure:
• Both companies are aligned,
• Representatives are trained to provide consistent information,
• The advertised packages match what is actually available,
• And customers are not misled or frustrated after making payment.
Until these issues are resolved, customers should proceed with caution and be aware of the discrepancies.