How to Save Money When Booking a Vacation Through Your Travel Agency

With an uncertain economy and, for many, an uncertain future, some people are opting to put off vacations. Despite the potential problems on the horizon, that does not have to be the case. When you work with a travel agency, you can save a lot of money. Almost anyone can afford to travel if they follow these six tips when booking a vacation through a travel agency:

Tip #1: Be clear that you’re on a very tight budget.

If you want to save money when you vacation, your best bet is to tell your travel agent that from the start. There is little to be gained by hiding the fact that you want to travel on a shoestring budget. Furthermore, be really clear about what that budget is, since “inexpensive” to one person is not cheap to another. The clearer you are about your price range, the better. That way, your travel agent can put together a vacation package that you can afford, not work for a long time on something that doesn’t even come close to your budget.

Tip #2: Have flexible travel dates and times.

The more options you give your travel agent when it comes to your vacation dates, the better. Flights tend to change prices drastically over the weekend, so moving your vacation just two or three days could save you hundreds of dollars. Avoiding holidays is also good. When you’re flexible, your travel agent can also barter for hotel rooms, show tickets, and so forth with other companies in the travel industry. For example, if your travel agent knows that another agent is trying to fill rooms he or she bought in a chunk for a discounted price, you can get a better deal on one of those rooms. Give your travel agent a bit of wiggle room to negotiate. Likewise, if you are willing to travel at undesirable times, like in the early morning hours or overnight, you may be able to get a cheaper deal, at least on the transportation costs.

Tip #3: Ask for a cheaper version of your dream vacation.

During your initial meeting with your travel agent, have an open mind when it comes to destination. Talk about your dream vacation spot, but then hear out your agent on places that are similar but not as expensive. For example, say you want to visit Aspen for a gorgeous ski vacation. It might be less expensive (but just as fun) to go skiing at one of the resorts in Vermont. You might feel like your compromising too much, but think about your destination choices long and hard. If it is just the name holding you back, you might want to just let go and take a risk on the less expensive location. You might have just as much fun if you stay open-minded

Tip #4: Stay in the United States.

Work with a travel agent who books domestic trips so that you can stay in the United States. In most cases, you should save money on transportation since you will not have to travel as far. You may also be able to travel without documentation, as long as you have a picture ID. When you travel out of the country, you need a passport at the very least, and you may need a visa, certain vaccinations, or other travel documents as well. When you stay in the United States, you should also not have to worry about added cell phone expenses to make calls, losing money on the exchange rate, or paying top dollar to take your luggage with you.

Tip #5: Be willing to do some of the planning yourself.

The whole reason you use a travel agent is to avoid having to do the planning work yourself, but if you compromise on that a bit, you may be able to save money. Instead of working with a travel agent who plans every last detail, get someone that is a little less expensive and just book your flight and hotel through the agent. When it comes to the other stuff, like getting tickets to an event or making restaurant reservations, you can do the work yourself.

Tip #6: Organize a group tour.

A great way to save money on your vacation is to organize a tour through your travel agency. Group rates will apply, but more importantly, the person who organized the vacation typically gets to travel for free. The down side of that is that you have to commit to finding a certain number of people who will go on vacation with you, which can be hard. You are also responsible for them if they do not pay, and you have to, essentially, share you vacation. However, this is a great way to save money and make sure that you can still travel, even if you are on a budget.

Tips for Finding Cheap Flights from an Online Travel Agency

If you need to book a flight, working with an online travel agency might be the best way to find the lowest price. Agents often get better deals as a professional courtesy from airlines, and they may get even cheaper prices for booking a certain number of flights in a single month. As an added bonus, an online travel agent knows the industry secrets to finding inexpensive flights, so if you mention that you are on a tight budget, he or she can try to bring down the price as far as possible. Here are some great tips for finding the cheapest flights possible through your online travel agent:

Tip #1: Keep your dates and times of travel flexible.

Flight prices change from day to day, not just from season to season. If you want to find the cheapest flight possible, give your online travel agency options. In general, you will be able to find the least expensive flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with the most expensive flights on Saturdays and Sundays. Time also makes a difference. People generally want to fly during normal business hours. If you are willing to take and early morning flight, you could save money. Even better, if you fill a seat on a red eye flight (an overnight flight), you’ll save even more money. The more flexible you can be with your dates and times, the better.

Tip #2: Be willing to have layovers.

Layovers add hours onto your travel, but if you are willing to deal with them, you could save a lot of money. If you would be willing to fly out of a smaller airport, such as Newark on the East coast and Orange County on the West coast, you would likely have to have at least one layover, since each airline will only fly a very limited number of places.

Even if you are leaving from and going to major airports, if you are OK with layovers instead of a straight flight to your destination, you can find cheaper prices. Be carefully to plan at least an hour for each layover in case your flight is late or you need to navigate your way through a very large airport to another gate. Remember, most airports today have Internet access, and in many cases, it is free, so you can take your laptop and log online to pass the time between flights.

Tip #3: Stay open-minded about your destination.

One of the biggest ways to save money on your flight is to let your travel agent know that you and your family would consider alternative destinations. Sometimes, utilizing alternative destinations can be as simple and as easy as flying to a nearby airport and taking public transportation to your hotel.

You may want to consider changing your destination altogether. For example, if you are interested in a warm-weather retreat, why not fly to Florida instead of a Caribbean island? Or, if you want to vacation in the mountains, Aspen might be a less expensive choice than the French Alps. In general, keep your mind open about exactly where you would like to go. This might not always be an option, especially if you are flying for business reasons, but your online travel agent may be able to make recommendations for places that are just as beautiful but not as expensive.

Tip #4: Purchase an entire package from your agent.

Travel agents are not in business to book flights. They plan entire vacations, and by purchasing a complete package from them, you might be able to save money. If price is your main concern, do your homework first by researching hotel prices, flight costs, and other fees you’ll be paying to travel if you book the whole thing yourself. Then, ask an online travel agency to review your vacation needs and quote you a price for a package deal. Sometimes you are better off booking the vacation yourself, while other times, you could save money by going through the agent.

Tip #5: Start with a clear budget in mind.

Some common mistakes that you should avoid when working with an online travel agent is not giving him or her the dollar amount of what you hope to spend on the trip. You need to be honest from the start with your travel agent about what you can and cannot afford. Your travel agent may not look for the cheapest price for long because they think you’ll simply be happy with whatever price they find the quickest. If you do not have an unlimited amount of money to work with, make it very clear that you need to stick to a specific budget range. This way you and your travel agent can work together to find you a great vacation at a price you can afford.

Thinking About Traveling?

Warmer weather and long school vacations are ahead. This is the time when everyone’s thoughts turn to holidays, if not abroad, then definitely closer to home. However, two new threats to your travel plans are creating consternation worldwide. They are, of course, the recession and swine flu. How real are these threats and how long will they last?Looking at the recession first, leaders in the travel industry are already seeing reduced numbers of people moving around the world.Giovanni Bisgnani, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) says: “Like the rest of the economy, recovery in the air transport sector rests on a rise in consumer confidence and consumer spending. Shedding debt will be a major headwind. US households, for example, are leveraged at 130 percent of annual income. Even bringing this down by five percent erases $500 billion in consumer spending. The challenge for governments is to turn stimulus funds into spending that fuels trade.”Recovery also depends on putting people into seats of planes, coaches and trains. To that end, there are some great deals to be had if you want to travel and know where to look. For example, Vacationstogo (vacationstogo.com) is currently offering 75 per cent off some Alaskan cruises, with special deals for those aged 55 and over, firefighters, police, military – even teachers. This may be a great time to consider visiting those snow-capped mountains, enormous glaciers, bottomless fjords and wildlife like whales, bears, eagles, and seals.There are some good deals about in accommodation as well. Orbitz (orbitz.com) will find deals in large hotels internationally. EuroCheapo (eurocheapo.com) is a good site to look for accommodation if you are planning to travel in Europe. Check out their budget specials and don’t forget to look at the online recommendations of people who have actually stayed in the places you are considering. Remember too that many places will be happy to do a deal if you suggest one (seven nights for the price of six, for example).The threat of contracting swine flu may mean you are rethinking travel plans. Certainly, Mexico would seem a place to avoid just now, but the World Health Organization has not suggested travel restrictions to any country – including Mexico. Keiji Fukuda MD, who is assistant director-general for health security and environment at the WHO, says countries can set their own policies, but general travel restrictions would not be any use in stopping the spread of the virus.Unless you are elderly, already unwell, or suffer from conditions like diabetes, heart or lung disease, general advice is that it’s okay to travel so long as you carry out normal everyday health precautions like handwashing. And it may be a good idea to pop that packet of Tamiflu into your hand luggage as well.Travel companies are tending to stay away from worst hit areas: Carnival Cruises has already cancelled stops at Mexican ports for three ships and Transat AT, a tour operator from Canada, has postponed flights to Mexico for the next month.This may just be a time to wait and see. Oil companies’ share prices, closely linked to the travel industry, have taken a tumble. When they start to move up again, we will know the world economy – and people’s health – are also trending upwards.

Use a Travel Agency to Book Your Spring Break Vacation

Instead of deal directly with the airlines, has it ever occurred to you to use a good travel agency to book your spring break vacation? Airlines will quote you fares and book your flights, but that’s as far as they go. A travel agency can offer discounted fares, advice on spring break destinations, and may have a great deal or two for you and your friends. Spring break is barely two months away, so now is the ideal time to start looking for a travel agency.

If airlines are offering huge discounts to lure money-weary individuals into traveling, imagine the larger discounts that a travel agency can offer. Since travel agents purchase blocks of seats, they can pass on the savings to their customers.

There are numerous travel agencies, but there is only a fraction of those agencies that cater to the special needs of the student travel industry. Although you can use any travel agency to book your spring break vacation, why not choose a travel agency that specializes in student tours and spring break vacations?

Looking for the Right Travel Agency: Tips

Before you book your next spring break vacation, the travel agency must satisfy certain requirements. You may want to look into the following criteria:

· Full Description of Services – Does the travel agency introduce itself adequately to potential customers? Do they have contact numbers, student packages, discount programs, and do they explain the procedures for their spring break packages as well as clearly state their refund policy?

· Variety – Does the travel agency have a wide range of destination choices and do they have hotel categories that meet all budgets? Some travel agencies like to specialize in a certain number of destinations – USA, Canada, or Mexico; some cover the world! When travel agencies can book spring break vacations almost anywhere in the world, that means that they’ve been in the student travel industry long enough and are confident that they can offer far away and exotic destinations without any problems because they belong to a large network of travel professionals;

· Discounts and Deals – Does the travel agency extend discounts for group travel or do they have frequent hot deals to offer? The capability to offer great deals can mean any number of things: they have good relationships with major airlines, hotels and tourist organizations, they receive discounted rates from suppliers and they in turn offer these to student travelers, or they are booking so many flights and vacation packages that they earn free points or free miles. You could be offered a deal to the Bahamas, your destination of choice, because the travel agency happened to receive a deal from a Bahamas tour operator at the time you booked!

· Photographs – Wouldn’t it be nice to see what you are getting into? If you are going to a spring break destination for the first time, you would want to know what kind of hotel you’re staying at, wouldn’t you? It isn’t enough for the travel agency to say, “You’re booked at a 4-star hotel”. You’ll want to know the name and location of that hotel so you can look it up on the Internet or ask people about it, plus you’ll want to see the rooms, dining facilities, and recreational facilities. Some travelers have been dismayed to find out that the hotel had only one treadmill, as opposed to what the travel agency described as a “full operating gym”. Or that the travel agency said 12 tennis courts, when in fact the hotel did not have any, referring travelers instead to a sports center a mile away!

· Interactive web site –Instead of spending precious minutes on the phone asking the travel agent about destinations, packages and vacation amenities, it would be simpler to do the search yourself on their web site by giving you the option to select a city and a package. When you’ve found what you’re looking for, that is when you call and ask for details that weren’t covered on their web site.

· Flexibility – some travel agents require you to pay for their packaged vacations to be able to receive discounts, but some travel agents are flexible in that they allow you to choose only air, or only hotel, or both.

A good travel agency is well organized. This important trait is evident in the way they present travel information. For example, there are websites that are designed to specifically cater to students. They list the cities they serve with a brief article about popular attractions and then you click on a link and the screen displays what their package covers plus costs for the city you selected.

So if you’re using a travel agency to book your spring break vacation, look for an agency that’s efficient, organized and capable of offing some fantastic deals.

Top 5 Reasons an Online Travel Agency can Save You Money

There are more than five reasons an online travel agency can save you money but the top five is a great start. Global statistics are pointing to the trend that online shopping for travel deals is way ahead of online shopping for books, electronics and clothing. For example, in Canada, about 45% of Canadians in 2007 looked for an online travel agency to book their travel, that’s a 9% increase from 2005 reports.

Here are the top five reasons why an online travel agency can save you money:

1. No overhead – many online travel agencies don’t have a physical location where they have to purchase furniture, supplies, and hire staff. In fact, many online travel agents operate from the comfort of their homes. All they need is a high speed Internet connection and access to global reservations systems. So the money they save on rent, utilities, personnel and other logistics constitute savings they can pass on to their customers. By booking online, you also save on trips to and from a travel agency in your area. You not only save money, you save precious time and gas.

2. Comparison shopping – by searching for travel deals online, you have the luxury of comparing prices provided by various online travel agencies. The idea is to read the fine print. You can compare them on the basis of:

· Actual fares and discounts

· Package deals

· Coupons and freebies

· Travel insurance

· Group discounts

· Last minute bookings

· Variety of travel deals (do they specialize in a particular country or to a particular age group?)

· Senior citizens’ deals

· Hotels and meals and transportation

· Tour guides

· Penalties for cancellations

That’s the beauty of online shopping. You’re not scampering from one travel office to another just to get an idea on prices. You can compare online deals and then narrow down your choices to three, ten or fifteen. If you have time on your hands, you can really save yourself some money by doing diligent research.

3. Ticket consolidation – many online travel agencies have access to a database of discounted tickets. Sometimes when they have excess inventory, they are forced to get rid of as many tickets to make way for the next travel season where they can purchase in bulk. Travel agents usually share information on discount tickets that are still available for sale, and prices are reduced on these tickets for “selloff.”

Air travel consolidators allow customers to compare airfares from as many airlines as possible for a specific route and for a specific time period. Not only can you save money on your ticket, but you can also find the best flight that suits your schedule best.

4. Wide network of travel-related services – online travel agents, through frequent bookings and constant research have a wealth of information that some travel agents with no online presence don’t have. Because of their ability to network rapidly with various people who work in hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, railway and restaurants, online travel agents are able to find the best deals for you.

The name of the game is called “relationship building.” Through frequent contact, online travel agents can squeeze out more discounts and free coupons from tour operators and hospitality establishments like hotels and restaurants. Instead of spending $10.00 for your lunch while travelling, your agent can offer you a meal ticket in exchange for your business, not to mention the fare discounts they are also able to offer.

5. One-stop shopping – travel writers know about the “clout” of travel agents. When it comes to flight arrangements, rental cars, tour excursions, cruise information and accommodation, and hotels, travel agents have a lot of clout. They can provide a complete travel package, including shuttle service to and from the airport and even the services of a personal tour guide if requested. By doing all your travel and travel-related shopping with a reputable online travel agency, there is no telling how much you can get done within a short amount of time.

Note that your online travel agent has more buying power than individual passengers when it comes to airline seats, hotel accommodation or cabin space in the yacht.

Visit Your â??sister Cityâ?? for Economical Traveling

What is a â??sister cityâ?? and how can you travel to one on a budget? 

 

A number of cities all over the globe have adopted a sister city in another part of the world to promote greater understanding, among other things, between the two cities and their nations. The sister city â??movementâ?? began at the end of World War II and was instigated by America.

 

Participating cities aim to develop friendships and foster relationships between their chosen sister cities (some cities have more than one sister) and to encourage peace and understanding between nations. This is done in a number of ways â?? encouraging business and economic relationships through trade and technology, stimulate cultural and creative networks, develop partnerships between cities and countries and to provide the opportunity for sister city citizens to experience other cultures through travel.

 

Traveling to your sister city may be something you wish to do and it can be done at relatively low cost if you are able to become part of an exchange program. Cultural exchanges between sister cities are generally paid for by your home town. Some cities select students to travel to their sister city for a period of time, (it could be weeks or months) and pay all expenses. If you are a student, investigate what opportunities are available for this type of travel.

 

Traveling to a sister city is not only for students. Other residents may participate in the program as well. You may be selected as an ambassador of your town to travel to the sister city and take part in projects fostered by the sister cities. You will then likely to be asked to host visitors from the sister city when they travel to your country. If you are able to get on one of these exchange programs you can expect accommodation and food to be taken care of (you will probably be living with a sister city family) but you may have to get involved in fundraising for your trip.

 

If you think this sounds like a fun (and cheap) way to travel, visit your townâ??s web site and find out about their sister city program. Youâ??ll need to become a member and join in the volunteer program to help with fundraising. You could be asked to host visitors from your sister city and you may get the opportunity to travel. Becoming involved in the sister city program means becoming a part of creating community links and learning about other cultures â?? exactly what traveling is all about. You may even have ideas for your communityâ??s sister city program and how it can further foster its global sistersâ?? relationships.

 

This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel â?? Your Online Travel Guru

www.stuartstravel.com

Tips for Backpackers â?? What Stays and What Goes?

You have lots of stuff to pack for your trip. How do you decide what stays and what goes? How are you going to fit it all in your pack and how are you going to carry it? Here are some tips to consider when packing for your backpacker trip:

 

1. Buy a good backpack. Investigate the right kind of backpack for your trip and you will make your packing easier before you go and when on the road. 

2. Put your sleeping bag in first. 

3. If you are going to be camping get a tent that is lightweight and durable and pack it in the tent compartment in your backpack.

4. Clothes â?? what are you going to take? Lay everything out on the bed. Now cut it down to half. If youâ??ve got something thatâ??ll youâ??ll only wear a couple of times, leave it behind. Youâ??re backpacking on a budget so itâ??s unlikely youâ??ll be going to any balls or ritzy restaurants. Pack your rain gear where you can reach it quickly. Make sure you have enough layers if you are going to colder areas. Donâ??t forget your gloves and hat.

5. Cooking utensils should be packed where they wonâ??t rub on your other gear and you want to make sure the hard edges donâ??t stick into your back.

6. Food should be packed in outside compartments; you donâ??t want any crumbs getting into your other gear. Carry enough food for a day, just in case. Make sure you have at least one water bottle packed on the outside. And pack water purifying tablets if you are traveling to under-developed countries.

7. Your mattress (if youâ??re taking one) should be strapped to the outside of your pack unless itâ??s small enough to fit on the inside.

8. Camera!

9. Have you got your map? What about a compass if you intend going off road on a hike?

10. Donâ??t forget your matches, first aid kit, army knife, flashlight, batteries, sun screen and sunglasses. A whistle and insect repellant are good items to pack, especially if you plan on doing a lot of hiking. And toilet tissue. Just in case.

11. Have you packed a decent pair of walking/hiking boots? These are essential because any backpacker will be doing a lot of walking.

12. Put in a daypack. This will make day hikes and sightseeing much easier if you can have a smaller pack to use on shorter trips.

13. Money, money belt, travelerâ??s checks and credit card. Along with your passport and necessary visas. Donâ??t take large amounts of cash and keep it safe while traveling.

 

And there are other things you need to consider before you set out. Keep in mind the following:

 

* Take out travel insurance.

* Are you taking your mobile phone? If so make sure you have global roaming set up. 

* Give someone at home a copy of you itinerary and passport. 

* Get to the airport in plenty of time to enable a smooth check in and time to say goodbye to your loved ones.

 

Pack well and have a good trip!

 

This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel â?? Your Online Travel Guru

www.stuartstravel.com

Adventure Tours Throughout the United States and Canada

Some vacations just do not cut it with a certain type of traveler; they seek more from their vacation plans. They want to be able to live on the edge, seeing the sights while breaking away from the same types of vacation tours that everyone else is taking. It is for people such as these that adventure tours were created. They combine the tour packages of the past with the thrill-seeking mentality of the modern generation. There are a number of adventure tour destinations available in North America and they are currently rising in popularity. If you think you may be interested in taking one of these tours, then here are some of the most popular options available.

One destination that has always been popular is the Grand Canyon. Unlike the tours that provide you with a view of the beauty and majesty of the canyon from above, however, an adventure tour of the Grand Canyon takes you through the rapids of the Colorado River along the entire length of the canyon. Though the lengths of these tours may vary, a rafting tour of the entire canyon is generally an 8 to 10 day excursion.

Another popular adventure tour destination is Alaska. From ice fishing in northern Alaska to sea kayaking along the coast, there are a number of different adventure options available. Visitors on an adventure tour can view wild bears, take hikes through the Alaskan wilderness, raft a variety of rivers, and camp in some of the most rugged wilderness locations in North America. The length of Alaskan adventure tours can vary greatly depending on the activities involved, with some tours lasting for as few as 3 days to as many as 12.

Given the adventurous history of the American west, it should come as no surprise that there are a number of western-themed adventure tours to choose. Some of these involve visiting a number of historical Wild West locations while others focus on the western deserts and hiking through some of the amazing national parks in Arizona and Nevada. Other western tours actually manage to incorporate adventure locations in several states, letting you visit some of the most majestic locations in the west to see their beauty firsthand. The length of the western adventure tours depend largely on the area that they cover, with some lasting only 2 or 3 days while others can last for 1 to 2 weeks.

For those who are seeking a more modern adventure, there are adventure tours which can allow you to explore cities Las Vegas, Reno, and other similar hotspots. The focus of these adventure tours is not only on the sights and sounds of the main cities themselves, but also on the history and majesty of the surrounding land. Most adventure tours to Las Vegas and Reno last from 3 to 7 days and generally include trips to the most popular casinos and shows in addition to hiking in the surrounding desert. This allows one to gain a better appreciation for the cities, which appear as jewels upon the desert.

A number of different California adventures are available as well, helping visitors to see exactly how diverse the state really is. Adventures in the major cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco allow the opportunity to explore the forests and vineyards in the northern portion of the state. Most visitors are amazed at exactly what California has to offer in the way of adventure opportunities. A number of hiking tours can be found that allow you to visit some of the most majestic California locations on foot, letting you camp under the open sky while on your way to your final destination. California adventure tours can last for as few as 3 days to as many as 14 depending on the area being covered by the tour.

Of course, not all adventure tours involve hiking, rafting, or spending time traversing the natural lands of North America; a number of adventure tour companies also offer RV rental so that you can take a driving tour of some of the classic roadways in America and Canada. This allows you to travel in comfort while taking in some amazing sights and visiting places that you otherwise may not have known existed. RV adventure tours generally last for as long as you want to rent the RV. The average length of an RV tour is typically between 5 to 14 days.

There are many benefits to planning an adventure vacation. If you enjoy the thrill of adventure, this vacation may be right for you. Available activities range from hiking and kayaking to exploring cities such as Las Vegas and California, but this type of trip may require renting an RV. If you are interested in extreme sports, you may enjoy a vacation, which consists of hiking and kayaking. Those adventures provide the opportunity to experience a once in a lifetime moment, that can be remembered for many years.