Suggestions on Sites to Purchase Discounted GC's & Services

[Sugarcubesea]

I'm getting really excited for our upcoming trip to Maui, I'm trying to see if I can pre-purchase discounted GC's for restaurants or ways that I can save some money on restaurants, activities, etc.:whoopie:

 

[Southerngirl528]

Be sure to pick up a lot of the tourist magazines, etc., in the Baggage Claim area at OGG and look through them. Often there are some good coupons. I think you are already planning on looking at Costco once in Kahului, which is a great place to look. I have the "Maui Dining" app downloaded on my phone and it has some deals.

We love to take advantage of Aloha/Happy Hours to often get some lower priced pupu's and call that dinner. Poke from Foodland grocery or Tamura's is a yummy low priced option too. And don't forget how great a simple breakfast or lunch can taste on your own lanai.

 

[Sugarcubesea]

Be sure to pick up a lot of the tourist magazines, etc., in the Baggage Claim area at OGG and look through them. Often there are some good coupons. I think you are already planning on looking at Costco once in Kahului, which is a great place to look. I have the "Maui Dining" app downloaded on my phone and it has some deals.

We love to take advantage of Aloha/Happy Hours to often get some lower priced pupu's and call that dinner. Poke from Foodland grocery or Tamura's is a yummy low priced option too. And don't forget how great a simple breakfast or lunch can taste on your own lanai.

Wow, thanks for the tip on the tourist magazines at the Baggage Claim area at OGG, I would have never thought to look there... We are planning on eating many of our meals in the condo, but I do want to do the occasional meal out.

 

[dioxide45]

Several credit card programs offer discounted gift cards. City Easy Deals is one such program. The only thing is that any discounted gift cards are for major chain restaurants.

 

[Luanne]

Probably too late at this point, but if you use Open Table to make reservations you earn points. After you get to a certain level you can redeem them for gift certificates good at any Open Table restaurant. We have enough that we can get one $100 or two $50 certificates. We plan on using them at Kileaua Lodge at our dinners this trip.

 

[Luanne]

Also check restaurant.com.

 

[Sugarcubesea]

Also check restaurant.com.

Thank you, I have not used this site before, so thanks for letting me know about it...

 

[dioxide45]

Thank you, I have not used this site before, so thanks for letting me know about it...

If you do purchase certificates from Restaurant.com, be sure to Google discount codes. They almost always have something out there, usually for about 50% off the already "discounted" rates. Check out the Flyer Talk thread, they often always post current codes.

I do recommend reading independent reviews before buying any certificates on Restaurant.com. We have found some good restaurants, but some others have been real duds.

 

[Luanne]

I do recommend reading independent reviews before buying any certificates on Restaurant.com. We have found some good restaurants, but some others have been real duds.

I agree. I have several $25 coupons that I bought a long time ago for $4 each. I haven't redeemed any as I couldn't find anyplace that sounded good. I did recently redeem one in Kansas City, MO. It was someplace we were already planning to go to and had good reviews so I was pleased. Meal was very good.

 

[dioxide45]

I agree. I have several $25 coupons that I bought a long time ago for $4 each. I haven't redeemed any as I couldn't find anyplace that sounded good. I did recently redeem one in Kansas City, MO. It was someplace we were already planning to go to and had good reviews so I was pleased. Meal was very good.

We have about $500 in restaurant.com certificates, back from when they still offered 90% off discount codes. I think we ended up with $100 certs for $4. Those days are long gone though. We will probably never use all the certs in our lifetime.

 

[Sugarcubesea]

We have about $500 in restaurant.com certificates, back from when they still offered 90% off discount codes. I think we ended up with $100 certs for $4. Those days are long gone though. We will probably never use all the certs in our lifetime.

Do these cert's expire like those at Groupon/Living Social?

 

[MSchleicher]

Caution

Used Gift Card for Resale
If you happen to find a website that allows you to purchase gift cards for a discounted price, I would avoid doing so. There are some websites allow you to buy a used gift card at a steeply discounted rate. I've done it before and it worked out well, but there is usually little security in being able to ensure that the amount promised is available at use. Some websites that do have money back guarantees may be time-sensitive, and their guarantee may expire before your trip.

Restaurant.com
This is a great option. Just be aware of their minimum purchase amounts. You can usually buy $40 off of an $80+ purchase. The $40 off may only cost you $10 or $20 so it saves you money, but can be costly it it forces you to spent more than you would have originally.

 

[dioxide45]

Do these cert's expire like those at Groupon/Living Social?

They don't expire, we bought the eGift cards and then only convert those to actual restaurant specific certificates when we find a place we will be going. I was on their website earlier and saw a special where you could buy $200 in eGift cards for $40. That is 50% off their regular price. I was checking to see if I could find promo code to use against those and the only one I could find expired yesterday.

You will find at times after you buy or convert to a restaurant specific certificate, that the restaurant will stop participating. Restaurant.com makes it very easy to convert that certificate back to an eGift card right on their website.

 

[dioxide45]

Used Gift Card for Resale
If you happen to find a website that allows you to purchase gift cards for a discounted price, I would avoid doing so. There are some websites allow you to buy a used gift card at a steeply discounted rate. I've done it before and it worked out well, but there is usually little security in being able to ensure that the amount promised is available at use. Some websites that do have money back guarantees may be time-sensitive, and their guarantee may expire before your trip.

Restaurant.com
This is a great option. Just be aware of their minimum purchase amounts. You can usually buy $40 off of an $80+ purchase. The $40 off may only cost you $10 or $20 so it saves you money, but can be costly it it forces you to spent more than you would have originally.

Good point on the restaurant.com certificates. They are NOT gift cards, but rather coupons that give you $x off when you buy $x in food and beverage.