Travel Advice and Information

It’s a great big world out there.  As a traveler, can you rely on yourself to adequately research a new or slightly known destination or way to travel for you on your own?  The internet you say?  It’s a great big internet out there as well.  Do you think the average travel agent knows everything about everywhere and every way of getting around?  If you thought NO, you are absolutely correct!!! ~ AS POTENTIAL TRAVELERS CONTINUE TO BE OVERWHELMED WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF INFORMATION ONLINE, THERE’S BEEN A STEADY INCREASE IN TRAVELERS TURNING TO TRAVEL AGENTS WHO CAN HELP THEM WADE THROUGH EVERYTHING AND ACT AS A TRUSTED AND EXPERT ADVISOR, AGENTS WHO SPECIALIZE IN SPECIFIC KINDS OF TRAVEL ~                         Excerpt from a recent Travel Weekly article As is the case in many professions, specialization makes sense.  Doctors, Lawyers, Architects, Chefs, Artists, Contractors, etc. etc., your viewpoint towards specialization should also apply to your travel planning; selecting a t

Destination information – How to Find Great Useful Information to Suit Your Travel Needs So you decided to vacation somewhere that has enchanted you and your partner / family, perhaps one of those extra special “bucket list” locations, like Switzerland or the Galapagos Islands, etc. etc.    You start looking into details, wanting to find out everything you can to make this trip extra special in every way; what are the “must see” attractions, when is the best time to travel there, do I need a visa, will my English be understood and perhaps more importantly will I encounter people who speak English to me, etc. etc.   Where do you get this information?   There is a plethora of info available at your fingertips through several forums such as the internet of course, along with your local library or bookstore, perhaps word of mouth from a friend who has been there, and the official tourism bureau.   However, finding concise, non-biased useful reliable current information without wading

Regent Mariner in Alaska  ~  Courtesy of Regent Seven Seas Cruises   Cruises are considered by many to be the best value in travel; the allure of sailing our oceans, seas and numerous scenic rivers with fine dining, entertainment, and stops at interesting ports along the way at an attractive price paid in advance has become ever so popular. There are two primary ways to secure fantastic cruise pricing while getting the best promotions & perks:       Tapping into pre-reserved “group blocks” of suites & cabins       "Last minute” discounted pricing GROUP BLOCK SPACE This is the terminology used by the travel industry for multiple suites / cabins that are pre-reserved without specific names of the travelers. It does NOT mean that you the cruiser needs to be a part of a group.   It does NOT mean that you will be herded around with other cruisers within that group block. It does NOT mean that you have an inferior suite / cabin, or less access to

As a consumer of goods & services one always wonders if they are getting the best deals, the best advice, the best service possible.  The best way to get expert advice and great deals is to check with a bona fide specialist with years of experience and certifications proving their expertise. This is the case across the board regardless of the profession; doctors, lawyers, interior design, etc. and is most certainly the case with travel agents. ~ It’s a great big world out there, be a bit skeptical of any agent who claims they know the entire world intimately.  Specialization is the key, find a certified specialist with years of experience and corresponding affiliations with travel industry associations ~ When you call a cruise line or tour operator you typically reach an entry level call center agent who has a very limited script to follow speaking of their products & services only, with management instructions on what to “push”.  They typically can only provide ve

What’s this all mean, the latest from our current administration regarding Cuba?  As this is a travel blog I will focus on the effect that the latest announcement has on travel into Cuba for U.S. citizens and stay away from politics, comparisons to policies with other countries, assertions of human rights violations, etc.  Will this impact travel drastically? Not too much legally / officially, and thankfully not immediately although the President did state “effective immediately”.   His new regulations are effective immediately, however he is giving the administration time to analyze his decree and implement new policies and procedures (perhaps after a lesson learned after a chaotic “effective immediately” travel ban not long ago).   I have seen reports stating “months” from now, also 90 days as to timeframe expected to make and implement any changes.   ~The biggie with the “effective immediately” is that all travel purchased prior to June 16 th 2017 will be permissib

The popularity of cruising continues to grow every year, with the global forecast for passengers carried by all cruise lines in 2013 just under 21 million.   Per the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) cruise growth continues to rise every year.   Back in 1984, the year CLIA achieved official status as a non-governmental consultative organization to the United Nations, I was taking my very first cruise as a professional Tour Director.   Back then only a few million travelers experienced the joy of cruising that year, as I did with my 2 dozen clients on board Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s very first ship; the M.S. Song of Norway. Since 1984 I have had the pleasure of going on a few dozen cruises of all kinds on a wide variety of cruise lines, both for personal vacation and as a professional Tour Director.   With the variety to choose from, there are many options.   It may come as a surprise to you that most cruisers are very loyal to their favorite brand, or perhaps

Americans securing hotel reservations in Cuba is still not as straightforward as one would hope by now, still mired down in the red tape of governmental bureaucracy. We have been anxiously awaiting for U.S. based travel providers who work with international hotels on a grand scale to become established in Cuba.  This process is happening very slowly, with minimal movement towards stronger relationships between U.S. based hotel booking providers and Cuban hotels.  ~This preferred provider relationship is favorable to clients as the strong relationship between a large travel provider and the hotels they work with frequently assists in many ways.~ When hotels see that a reservation is made from a preferred vendor that sends them a lot of business, they take extra care to reserve the guests into favorable room locations, mark them down for possible upgrades based on availability at the time of check in, and are very receptive to travel agents working with them to ensure all of