Travel Advice and Information

As is the case with most companies, cruise lines try very hard to retain their clientele, doing everything they possibly can to get you to reserve your next cruise(s) with them again instead of going to the competition.  Michael's Club - Courtesy of Celebrity Like airlines, hotels, car rental agencies etc., cruise lines have their own “frequent client” programs, designed to entice cruisers to rebook with them, offering additional perks to reward their frequent clients.   These perks range from free or reduced costs on wifi, dry cleaning, spa treatments etc., to upgraded accommodations, invitation to sit with the captain at dinner one night, ability to reserve specialty dining and excursions before others, priority embarkation, free transfers, reduced pricing, access to special areas on board only for higher level loyalty club members or suite guests (such as Celebrity Cruise’s Michael's Club pictured here) and more.     ~ CRUISE LINE LOYALTY PROGRAMS AR...

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, Lawyer...

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 h...

For sightseeing and transportation there is perhaps no better way to do so then by combining the two components of travel - via train.  From luxurious journeys on board legendary rail services such as the Orient Express, Flying Scotsman, and the Alaskan Ultra-dome trains, to basic train service between two points; traveling via train has much to offer a traveler.  Europe in particular has taken this once basic form of transportation to new heights, along with some scenic areas of most other continents. ~ TRAIN TRAVEL OFFERS:    CONVENIENCE  -  COMFORT  -  COST EFFECTIVENESS - UNPARALLELED SIGHTSEEING ~ To elaborate further... CONVENIENCE due to the widespread network of railways in many areas, especially Europe. Numerous departures and NO need to by at the train station hours in advance like flying!    COMFORT with 2 or more classes of service typically, along with food & beverage service on most routes....

How do you know if you truly are getting the best value or best possible vacation experience if you don’t know much about the area you will be visiting?   A good travel agent can help you with this; providing professional guidance and knowledge from their experience to assure the best vacation experience possible. ~ IN 2012 TRAVEL RESERVATIONS MADE ONLINE INCREASED MORE THAN 10% FROM 2011~   Online travel services have expanded rapidly; providing a user friendly method of presenting travel products from all over the world to consumers directly.   For the savvy traveler with plenty of time to research this can be a somewhat effective tool.   How can a consumer separate the marketing hype and fluff from reality?   There are some online ways to do so as well, poring through reviews, etc. from sometimes like-minded travelers.   No matter how savvy you are this is a laborious time-consuming process, and still one can’t be sure what is truth and wh...

If you were one of the millions of travelers who spent some of the billions of $$$ on travel last year, read on for tips on how to spend your travel budget most wisely in the future. ~IN 2012 U.S. CONSUMERS CROSSED THE $100 BILLION TRAVEL SPENDING THRESHOLD~ It is no surprise that the majority of spending was through on-line travel agencies (OTA’s), particularly mega agencies such as Expedia, Orbitz and Priceline.   These large OTA’s do a good job of presenting information, and a user-friendly method of making reservations.   However, when a company presents virtually every hotel, airline, cruise line, etc in the world, how knowledgeable and helpful is the service staff when you call for assistance?   Do they have the best price?   Do you get the exact same room or cabin type upon check-in if you book through an OTA or through a smaller agency? ~IN AN ON-LINE SEARCH, THE SAME ROOM AT THE RITZ-CARLTON CHICAGO FOR THE SAME DATES WAS PRICED FROM $545 TO...