We just go with the best rate wherever we stay, sometimes the resort has a promo not shared with TA’s. We join free loyalty programs whether we book through a resort or not. But you can also get great perks from TA’sso just do your research before booking anywhere...

The vast majority of vacation packages, whether through the resort site or a TA, include transfers, and that cost is included in your package price. We’ve rarely booked this way as we can find less expensive, independent transfers on our own. And private is not much more $ (if any) than shared, and no stops to drop others on the way to and from your resort...

As a first time visitor I would suggest you rely on the transfer driver. You can always negotiate a later pick-up time, just use common sense...they will have your return flight info anyway...Shared transfers will probably require an earlier pick-up time...