2009 Travel Plans

It is hard to believe we are about to step into the next year already, where are you going in 2009? I hope somewhere intriguing and inspiring.

Now is the time to start your planing, best rates are available when you book your cruise with a Early Booking Discount and your return passenger discounts. Don't book you air yet, let's try to hold off and see what is happening with the crazy costs of fuel. You know as well as I do, that the chances of the costs going down are most likely not going to happen. Airlines are trying to repair the damage caused by poor customer service and lack of concern, but they have a long way to go. Cruise lines are offering guaranteed airfare only if you prepay the entire cost of your future vacation at time of booking, now this might seem great up front, but think about it? The cruise line keeps your money for the next 6 to 14 months because you don't want your airfare to change. Seems to me we can watch for sales and book on our own at a better price. Will the cruise line refund you for airfares that actually go down? Well that isn't likely either, so we must be careful to secure the best cruise price, take any air credits they may give and secure you cruise or cruise tour only, skipping the air portion.

If it were me traveling of course a domestic port of call departure is the best, but not always! I have seen negotiated airfares to Asia and Europe in both coach class and business class at rates that are actually very reasonable. I have sold tickets to Europe recently in First Class from Seattle to Venice for under $3500.00 each when I checked on the current published fares closer to the departure dates, the fares exceeded $6000.00 each - so planning grabbing the tickets when your travel agents says "this is a great offer let's book" - then do it!

I've booked round trip multi city tickets to and from Asia at under $1000.00 coach with a major carrier that offers great cabin space and comforts. So it is up to your travel agent, is he or she trained or do they have the tools to search out these fantastic rates. We do and we assign seats at time of hold, then re-confirm your seat selection at time of purchase and 72 hours prior to your departure. This is important in today's market, when a flight can be changed and your agent may not have entered the correct contact information or a typo has stopped the airlines from contacting you about the flight number or departure times.

I just received a change from Delta last night on a flight from the West to the East, it was a very big change, my departure from Baltimore was originally scheduled for 6:45 p.m. it is now at 2:30 pm. - now that is important in many ways, avoiding the missed flight is one, but what about my scheduled meetings on the departure day? Hmmm, glad I had the right contact info in my travelers profile.

Let' try some all inclusive cruise options in 2009 - I am building some great group packages with our cruise line partners, mostly domestic! These groups will offer great departure ports, short air transfer times, and most of all some special activities designed for our groups only! Have you ever had a Sushi Class at Sea, or learned how to bake the perfect pie? I have and you will too, also we are offering group pictures and ship board credits for all our group passengers.

Call or better yet, email me with your questions on a great vacation for 2009 and let's get the best price today.

Happy Travels, your advocate and servant
Michael