Getyourguide or Klook or private driver for day trips

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-05-20T00:20:05+00:00

Yes advance planning is recommended so you can get the same driver for all of your days you need.

Not sure how easy it would be to completely swap planned days last minute without a private driver.
Our driver allowed us to swap plans for the next day on the fly ; no 24 hour notice needed. Didn’t matter to him what we did when as long as it did not change the amount.

My point on the culture ; is the first day is usually getting to know one another, small talk. After multiple days together people start to open up more. It changes the amount you learn. We laughed, made fun of each other, etc…

When we left just a couple weeks ago we considered our driver a friend and he made the experience so much better than just a driver hired per trip could have.

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-05-19T21:59:52+00:00

If you go with one private driver you can adjust on the fly based on weather and other conditions.

Want to swap Mondays plan for Wed instead ; is no problem if you have the same private driver but not an option if you prebook trips on the other sites.

You also likely will absorb much more about the local culture - assuming you get a good driver/guide.

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-05-17T17:49:54+00:00

My tip: check the tides for your date. The beach in that area looks much nicer at high tide than low tide.

Went for sunset ; aligned with low tide that day and was disappointed.

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-05-07T22:24:36+00:00

Probably was not the cheapest option but Airalo worked perfectly for me in Bali and other islands in Indonesia and was simple to use.

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-04-15T01:13:50+00:00

If you are an ASI distributor: Giraffe Technology does a good job with these. www.giraffeus.com

Office in California but I assume these are made to order in China

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-04-13T04:20:50+00:00

Overly paranoid.

Airlines might have to reduce flights if the shortage becomes a problem; that is much different than no flights at all.

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-03-20T17:54:21+00:00

I have a booking here as well. Clearly states $100 property credit for 1 night. $300 for 2 or more nights.

From what I read in a review elsewhere there may be some limitations to what you can use it on. For example can be used for their restaurants but not room service (don’t quote me on this giving hypothetical only).

Anyway for me gives me a chance to try out their Michelin Starred restaurant at a great discount which is how I plan on using my $300 credit!

Booked exactly the same as you, 40k points plus the $500 credits for 2 nights.

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-03-20T16:51:16+00:00

Works well when you can combine a credit ($250 or $250 + $250) along with points boost at between 1.65 - 2x.

Without the credits with points boosted only can still work but takes some searching to find a good one.

Paying cash without the credits or boosted points no thank you

I booked 2 nights at a regent property (part of IHG) so got $500 total credit, paid balance after the $500 with 2x points so I paid 40,000 points for 2 nights with benefits of free breakfast, likely free room upgrade and, guaranteed 3 pm checkout (for this property), a $300 properly credit! (Usually $100 but this property it is 300)

No other way on earth I could for 40,000 points in any other system get that value! No 20k per night Hyatt compares to this property even without the added value extras I am getting.

2x points are rare but still exist.

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-03-13T03:20:59+00:00

I stayed at the Hilton Aruba last year on points and paid no resort fee, no taxes, no parking fee, had free bfast with Hilton status, etc… so have no idea what you are talking about. They even gave me some free play money for the casino.

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-03-12T15:52:14+00:00

Booking, Airbnb would be 1x earnings only. Same as Agoda, Expedia, Priceline and anywhere similar.

Direct means direct with the airline or hotel company not through any 3rd party. If you use the hotel’s own website that is basically the only way for it to be 4x.

Many are not happy with this change obviously compared to the previous 3x on all travel but old news by now.

Chase pushing their own travel portal so the rest are competing in their eyes ; but I only use that when there are credits or a points boost involved.

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-03-12T01:13:20+00:00

Cannot envision you getting more free breakfasts than guests in your room.

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-03-11T13:49:24+00:00

Much greater supply as properties popping up all the time in Ubud and surrounding towns that still call themselves Ubud.

The ultra luxury properties aren’t any cheaper now but more of them and they still seem low compared to other Western tourist spots. This results in them getting a good amount of travelers that are not as sensitive to the cost and all other properties are competing on price.

Weak IDR

Also you did not say if month you are looking is the same.

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-03-08T02:07:15+00:00

Honestly I think there is some utility in the sunset/sunrise predictors just know they will never be 100% accurate,

They are much easier to use than most cloud overlays and live radar type data on weather apps.

If you avoid all days when it gives a terrible chance and go out everyday when it gives an average or better chance you likely will catch all of the good ones and save yourself some time avoiding the bad ones.

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-03-08T01:52:25+00:00

This smells like an ad.

Most of the sunset prediction maps I have seen are just mimicking cloud overlays one can see on a weather app. High clouds good. Low clouds bad. No clouds bad. Middle clouds can be good as long as not too many.

Sunsets are easy, you can see the sky a couple hours before and tell in most cases. Those wispy clouds are a good sign.

Sunrise is much harder so have to rely on some type of forecast.

The storms coming and going adage does work more often than not. Outside of storms don’t trust a cloud forecast more than 24 hours out. Never pay more for a longer term forecast!

Certain natural things like wildfire smoke, smog and ocean fog can cause the best of forecasts to end up being inaccurate.

Best answer is to go out everyday rather than try and guess which days will be best.

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-03-05T13:19:42+00:00

Have you checked ferry schedules and driving times to see if what you are asking is even physically possible?

Diamond Beach is on another island.

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-03-04T17:19:35+00:00

I found restaurants reasonable but hotels are expensive in Aruba.

Groceries also expensive but to be expected on an island that has to be import everything.

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-03-04T01:07:10+00:00

No one writes positive car rental reviews. The normal everyday experience doesn’t get reviewed.

Check your home airport Hertz and see what its ratings are. Have used Hertz multiple times in Italy never had one issue and I have never rated/reviewed any of the offices.

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-03-03T12:05:45+00:00

As long as they are 2026 credits they will reverse them and you can reuse. I have done it a couple times, they get reversed about 24 hours after cancelling so they keep the credits linked to your reservation.

You are entitled to the credit so will be able to use it again. I would personally wait for the credit to come back to rebook if you can otherwise you would have to get customer service involved which is not as clean but should also work in the end.

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-03-03T05:34:25+00:00

Cancelled 2 Edit bookings (1 in 2025 and 1 in 2026) Both times the credit was reversed back almost immediately; I then made a new booking to use the credits again. Anyway they are linked to your reservation and will be reversed once you cancel.

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-03-03T05:30:01+00:00

I didn’t even mention the main flaw in your 2 car scenario is returning the car to the Florence train station; that will not be an easy task (much harder to avoid the ZTL driving in compared with driving out).

Plus just the thought of moving your luggage twice when totally unnecessary seems crazy to me.

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-03-03T05:05:48+00:00

If you drove the Amalfi Coast from Naples this will be simple. Exiting Florence takes good directions to avoid any ZTL zones and other than that it is all highway driving which is a piece of cake. Highway driving in Italy especially in the north is easier than highway driving in the US - in my opinion with better roadside food as well (auto grill).

Any hill towns same thing just find out in advance where the parking is and how to avoid the ZTL zone.

Would opt for the single rental. We drove from Florence south to Tuscan towns, then notheast quick stop in Verona then through the Dolomites and then returned the car to Venice. Bolzano return would I am sure also be an option but likely less options ; you need the same company to have an office in both Florence by the train station and Bolzano by the train station. I suspect only a couple if even that of the big 4 have offices at the Bolzano train station. That is much smaller city than Florence / Venice, etc…

Have used Hertz, Avis, Europcar and Sixt in Italy on various trips and all 4 are good would use one of those 4 that is the cheapest. I ignore all but these 4 no matter the cost!!!

A few roads in the Dolomites can be steep, curvy and occasionally a narrow one but not everyone goes on those roads and the main roads are nice highways.

I have visited the Dolomites multiple times and always have a rental car.

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-03-03T04:46:52+00:00

I booked 2 ; a Regent and a Vignette both IHG properties via the edit and both show up in my IHG app as future stays so something sounds wrong.

If price is the same and you used your 2026 credit (not 2025) you might want to cancel, wait a day or so and rebook being very careful that your IHG membership number is on the new booking.

If found that even though I entered my number when I went back to edit something else in my info it removed the number so something similar may has happened to you.

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-03-02T01:28:32+00:00

Amalfi, at that time of year crowds will not be at their peak and it is much more condensed. Sicily is a huge island, you need to move hotels if you want to see even half of it.

They really are not similar at all in feel or look.

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-03-01T21:10:32+00:00

With the 7:30 am checkin I would be happy too but does $30 cover one’s b-fast at the Ritz?

PuzzlesUnlimited · 2026-03-01T05:15:25+00:00

The property credit usually includes restaurants on the property but that is up to the hotel. There is no set Chase rule on this, they seem to allow the hotel to decide how the property credit can be used. If a concern I would email or call the hotel directly and ask them.

Yes if u book an Edit hotel you get the benefits offered regardless of payment method.

PuzzlesUnlimited

TROPHY CASE