Wes, I really love Luxury Link (heard about it from my daughter's friend and look all the time). Only thing is, Ngaire as a professional would be sticking her neck out not to reserve the number of rooms we need at the same hotel on the same days in the hopes that Luxury Link would offer availability in the future at the same exact days we need them. Luxury Link does not book this far ahead that I know of. I've heard on the Fodor's Board that Twelve Apostles is great. When we were in the research phase, we had to come up with a "package deal bid request" and offer it out to different companies with specific properties we had chosen. This is where Ngaire came in. So in essence, because they are getting the whole "land cruise" they come up with a price, but we are committed to those properties we asked for in the beginning. Ngaire, not us, is the one who negotiates with Ker& Downey. While she would rather negotiate with the properties direct, this is not possible, because that would "splinter" our trip so to speak. Ngaire, if I am totally off base, please come on and blow my theory of how it works.