Insider Tips on Tour Packages
July 6, 2008
If you are traveling this summer and don’t have your passport – apply now!
Because of the new requirements for passports to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Canada, there are a record number of travelers applying. It could take 10 weeks instead of the usual 6 to process routine applications. Expedited requests, which cost an extra $60 on top of the normal $97 fee, could take 4 weeks instead of 2. Don’t wait a day longer.
We Travel Consultant’s make mistakes that can greatly benefit you the Traveler. Here are a few things we have learned that can save you time and money.
When looking over ads, brochures, or fliers please keep these hints in mind. Give us a call to read the fine print before you sign any commitments.
Check the brochure’s pictures. Do the people in the photos fall into your age category? For many, that is important.
Understand the word “from.” It indicates the starting price of a package. There’s no guarantee that you will get it.
Calculate the trip’s pace. If breakfast, lunch and dinner are included each day, then the trip will be relatively slow-moving. If your accommodations change every night, you’re moving fast.
Find the cancellation point and read the fine print. Don’t have a magnifying glass? Then call us. Know the penalties involved and under what circumstances the company can cancel its trip.
The most common reason why trips are canceled is that not enough people sign on. On the other hand, if you should need to cancel, ask what the fee is. And, consider purchasing travel insurance if you or someone in your family is not well.
Use your credit card. For your deposit and the final balance due. Under the federal Fair Credit Billing Act, consumers have the right to refuse to pay for services not delivered.
If the company goes out of business, you can dispute the charges through your card company.
Count the nights. Most companies advertise the number of days you’ll be away from home. The number of nights, however, is a better way to evaluate a trip. Obviously nine days sounds like a longer trip than seven nights — but on a nine-day trip, two nights are very likely spent on a plane
or train.
Look for trade association membership. Tour operators and packagers belonging to TOP, a division of American Society of Travel Agents (www.astanet.com) have been in business for at least three years and adhere to a code of ethics. They also work with various consumer protection agencies to resolve problems.
The U.S. Tour Operators Association (www.ustoa.com) has even more stringent requirements for membership and offers consumers more tangible protection through its $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program.
Add up the minutes. A prompt telephone or e-mail response from a company indicates it is well-organized and tightly run. Ditto on polite reservations and staff.
Find a street address. Never do business with a firm that hides behind a post office box or web site.
How about a Cruise?
July 6, 2008
According to Cruise Lines International Association – less than 20% of the US population has gone on a cruise. Repeat cruisers make up the bulk of the business. However, the number of first timers is increasing rapidly and the cruise industry is busier than ever before. Most cruise lines are ordering new ships to meet the demand.
Why is cruising so popular?
Simple- it is easy, relaxed, and entertaining. All those things that every vacation use to be before the hassles of air travel plus endless security measures taken by tour operators and resorts. It has become a chore to go on vacation. You need a day or two to recover from vacation hangovers.
Cruising offers so many variations in style, age group, activity level and price that every client of mine, from every walk of life, gets asked the same question “how about a cruise”. I could write pages about how I have enjoyed every one of my 15 cruise adventures.
Here are some of the questions I´ve been asked by uninitiated cruisers. My answers will give you some idea about why I like to travel around the world onboard a ship.
Can you give me one good reason why I should go on a cruise?
You will wake up in a different city every morning and only have to unpack ONCE.
Won’t I get bored?
There is so much to do on a ship that the only way you would get bored is if you are a super Type A personality who doesn’t really want to be on a vacation. If that happens to be the case, there is a full service
business center to keep you at work 24/7. The midnight buffet will help you work through the night. Then go to your cabin, order free room service and take it back to work. You can do as little or as much as you want on a cruise.
I am bringing 3 good books. Is that enough?
If you are a first time cruiser and you manage to read one book of around 500 pages,- I will negotiate 10% off of your next cruise. I stopped bringing books on cruise number 2. When you want to read a magazine or browse around the stacks, you go to the well stocked library onboard. Most have DVDs, CDs, reference books, self help and novels. Lots of paperbacks from cruisers who didn’t want to carry them home.
I don’t want to be around a lot of old folks.
OK. Don’t go on the cruises they go on. There are plenty of ships geared for each age group from kids (Disney) to teens (Carnival) to eco 30’s (Regent) to avid 40’s (Holland America) to booming 50’s (Crystal). BTW- old folks prefer not to cruise with youngsters either.
Where should I cruise?
Go anywhere. Pick a destination that you have always wanted to go to, choose the number of days you want to be gone, think about what activities would make you feel relaxed and happy then contact a travel agent to suggest which ship would be right for you. Think outside the box – how about a cruise through the Panama Canal? Awesome!
by Jo Giraudo
Cruise News
July 6, 2008
by
Jo Giraudo, Travel Consultant
Sailing on the wide open seas is my favorite type of vacation. It offers so many ways to unwind and see the world. With our vacation dollar buying less these days, cruise vacations are a good value. Cruises to Europe are up 42% over last season.
Most every cruise line, no matter where in the world their ships sail, sell their tickets in dollars.
Our currency holds up well in this market. And Europeans are discovering they can get the same cabin for less by purchasing with dollars, through American travel agents.
If you are still on the fence about taking a cruise, let’s talk. I get so excited when sharing all my reasons for favoring cruise vacations. Hopefully my enthusiasm will convince you to booking your first.
If you have cruised before and want to explore other cruise lines or destinations, let’s talk. I’ve been cruising since my teens and have experienced most major cruise lines.
The main trend in the cruise industry these days it is to keep building new ships. Some cruise companies are building bigger ships to hold thousands of passengers. I like to avoid ships that hold many more than 1200 people. The largest ships, by Carnival and Royal Caribbean, are topping out at 4,000 passengers and are simply floating cities complete with rock climbing walls, ice skating rinks, boxing rings and dozens of restaurants.
Some cruise lines thinks there is a good market for these megaships and more are being built and scheduled for delivery over the next several years. Some companies are building smaller ships to increase the pamper factor for its guests. Smaller ships (for under 1,500 passengers) are being given make overs. Crystal spruced
up the Harmony and Regent has the new Voyager-with only outside cabins. Some are taking out cabins to make existing ones bigger, with amenities like walk in closets and separate garden tubs.
You can purchase a penthouse cabin on Crystal or Cunard and have more room than some people’s primary residence. Azamara (in the Carnival family) and Oceania’s fleet of three are trying to be the best of the smaller, deluxe ships. Not lavish but definitely luxurious. Longer cruises are selling out a year in advance. Longer meaning world cruises. One hundred twenty days and more if you like.
Why not just buy a cabin and live on the ocean full time. That is available too on the ResidenSea. For a minimum of half a million you can own your cabin and literally watch the world go by every day of the year. Some cruise addicts understand the positives of retiring on a ship. Your every need is met plus you
have a medical staff, round the clock prepared food, maid, butler, concierge and new people every few days. Ships are staying in port overnight more often.
Too many people want to see the sun set on the Italian or Greek coast. It is nice to try a local restaurant for dinner and experience the night life. This is going to become a widespread practice. Most ships like to do their travelling at night and be in ports during the day. This trend will adjust itineraries to include more flexibility. So the main stream wants the luxury market, the luxury ships open up to less exclusive multi generational activities.
The big want a piece of the small market and everyone has their opinion as to what experience sells the best. But there is always buzz in the cruise industry. And buzz sells lots of cabins.
