Atlas Travel Web.com Blog

I came across this article on CNN on the 9 reasons people will not be traveling next year. There are some good points, but I would like to suggest a different point of view.

We all agree that 2008 has brought about drastic economic changes in this country.  However, we find that consumers are still traveling.

Vacation budgets:  It’s hard to imagine setting aside money for a vacation, but small adjustments make it very possible to include a vacation in your budget. Cosmos tours recently launched a campaign called “A little change could go a long way.” Cut out just a few stops at the specialty coffee shops and you an enjoy a delectable taste of the real thing on the other side of the globe. 20 grand lattes = 1 grand day in Italy or a couple of days on a National Park tour. It’s that simple.

The article points out that people feel uncertain about the future. After 9/11 we as a country learned that life brings unexpected challenges, tragedies and fear, but these emotions in many cases bring people together, and makes families and individuals want to enjoy their lives more. Even as we were uncertain of the security in our country and what the the future would bring, there was a significant increase in pregnancies after the terrorist attacks. Logic would have suggested the opposite - why bring a child into an uncertain world? You could argue that uncertainty makes people realize the value of living a meaningful and fulfilling life, providing a constant source for inspiration to work hard towards these goals.

Staying at home and seeing local attractions can be monotonous, so people will want to venture away from home. Why not take a driving vacation through New England or the National Parks? Rafting trips in the Midwest are also very affordable. A good travel agent can help you think “out of the box” and find the right trip for your family.

The article mentions that deals are good, but consumers feel they could be lower. Cruises are going for as low as $99 for 3 days…we just  booked a client on a 3 day NCL cruise in March, balcony cabin for $306 pp and the promotion included a $40 ship board credit. Worried about onboard expenses? You can go on a cruise and spend little money out of pocket.  Read our blog for some great ways to save while on your next cruise!

Another point, was that people don’t feel like traveling right now. Each time a new ship came out this year we saw a spike in interest to experience them.  We were part of the Inaugural cruises for both the Celebrity Solstice and Ruby Princess, and consumer excitement in both of these ships was evident with the surge of bookings for these ships. The Oasis of the Sea is not sailing until November 2009, but consumers could not wait to begin booking the world’s largest cruise ship when reservations opened in September of this year.

Stress! Plunging markets. Shaky mortgages. Pricey bailouts. The financial crisis is taking a toll on budgets, but could also be affecting people’s health. Stress has been linked to overeating, heart disease, high blood pressure, depression and more. Relaxation is key, and what better way to relax than to take a short vacation?

Hiking, biking, river rafting, cooking and wine tours have all increased in popularity over the past several years. We also see increased bookings for family travel to the Galapagos, Alaska, Costa Rica, Canada, Hawaii and Europe as these itineraries ensure that there are plenty of activities for both adults and children. People are interested in travel, they just seem to be looking for new destinations and experiences.

The article also suggests that the travel industry is not offering enough incentives. Early payment discounts, payment plans and incentives are in place for several tour companies and cruise lines. For the month of January, many cruise lines have not only lowered fares,  but they are reducing the deposit required  by 50% to make a reservations. The airline industry should be dropping prices as they start to purchase new fuel contracts at lower rates, but there are plenty of vacation alternatives close to home if they don’t. Purchasing from a travel agency could also give you some added benefits such as savings on travel insurance, complimentary shore excursions, onboard credits and more at no additional cost to the consumer.

Last but not least, it seems that many consumers are planning their trips for 2010.  It’s okay to plan ahead, but keep in mind that as the economy recovers, the prices will start to go back up. With cruises, consumers can get a full refund of their deposit up to the time of final payment, so there is no risk in booking early to take advantage of these great promotions. Many insurance policies will offer coverage that allow travelers to cancel for any reason, (including work related issues.)  This is another advantage of booking with a travel agent, as booking direct may not always provide consumers the option to purchase the type of insurance coverage they need.

The article closes by stating that for those that do travel in 2009, even a small budget could offer a wonderful, and rewarding experience. You can read other great reasons to travel in 2009 in the article Thank you! 6 reasons we love to Travel Now.

We’d love to hear about your travel plans for 2009.

Cruises are an excellent value. Food, entertainment and many onboard activities are included in the price of the trip. Still, it is easy to overspend if you’re not careful.

Where can the spending add up? Watch the beverages, shore excursions, spa treatments and items ship sell onboard. Many are over priced.

Talk to your travel agent about the port you are visiting and read online blogs. In many islands you can just walk off the ship for shopping and beaches, where on others you will want to buy an excursion or take a cab.

Spa: Want a relaxing massage or facial? Regular prices are about 20 to 30% higher than you would pay at a local spa. The best time for a Spa treatment is the days you are in port, where they will run $20 to $60 off per treatment. Keep in mind even if you have an excursion planned for the day, the spa is open until 10 p.m. Try to avoid getting your hair & nails done onboard. They are expensive and usually do not offer any specials on these services. Also, they will try to sell you products at the end of your treatment. Ask questions and write the name of the items down but purchase it when you get home. You can usually find cheaper price on the internet. Elemis for example often offers 10% off on online purchases.

Consider purchasing packages, such as the soda, wine, beer, coffee or ice cream programs. I was recently on a 7 day cruise where it cost $29 per person. When you consider that each soda costs $3, and my husband usually drinks a minimum of 5 per day, he easily would have spent $80 or $90 on soda versus the $29.  Tea, coffee, milk & juice is free onboard, but name brand coffee such as Seattle Best or specialty coffee drinks, there is an additional charge. Ice cream can be ordered each night in the dining room with your choice of topping and whip cream, so perhaps pass on the $3.50 ice cream sundae and wait for dessert. You can always order 2 desserts if something else on the menu interest you. Chocolate cake with a side of vanilla ice cream perhaps?

Internet: Wifi connections are great on the newer ships, but again this can get expensive. Purchase a package prior to using the internet. Minutes can go for over .70 if you do not purchase a package, but drop down to .30 to .50 on average depending on usage if you buy one of their packages. Some ships run specials the first day of the cruise where you get 10 to 30 minutes free if you sign up for a package that day so check your cruise bulletin.

Specialty dining: In recent years ships have now offer restaurants that have a cover charge.  The food & service in these venues are usually top notch, but if you are on a budget, you can skip it without being cheated. It’s not that $20 or $25 is not worth it for Brazilian Lobster or Kobe beef, but depending on  the ship you are on, there is usually a great selection in the regular dining room without paying additional. The menu’s are posted early each day outside of the dining room, so take a look and see what interests you. If you don’t feel like dressing up, then the buffet usually has the same items being offered in the formal dining room.

Gratuities: Your bar bill include 15% tip each time you order. There is no need to tip additional money, unless you feel the service is “above and beyond.”

Watch the casino! Cruise lines are making it easier for you to spend your money. On many ships, In the slot machines, you just insert your room key and you can deduct the amount you’d like right from your account. It is harder to keep track of how much you are spending versus using cash, since no receipt prints out. Best bet is to have a budget in mind for each night, take cash and walk out when it’s gone.

Last but not least shopping. Although items onboard are duty free, chances are you can purchase the items cheaper in port. You can “negotiate” with local vendors most of the time to get the price down, where on the ship it is a fixed price.  Also be aware of the shopping allowance per person. When visiting the Caribbean, you are eligible for a $800 pp exemption. You may also bring back 1 liter of alcohol, up to 200 cigarettes and up to 100 non-Cuban cigars. You will be asked to complete a form prior to disembarking the ship that explains all of these exemptions.  Keep all of your receipts handy just in case you are questioned by customs.

Children can spend hours in the kids club, and adults can spend an entire cruise vacation, reading, watching movies, swimming, watching live entertainment and eating, at no additional cost.

Dry skin is a common complaint, especially for woman when flying. You may not know this, but the in-flight air is drier than any of the world’s deserts.  There are a few things you can do to help. The day you fly, do not wear foundation. Try just moisturizer and pressed powder. If you are looking for some coverage, then use a tinted moisturizer. Drink water. Have at least 8 ounces of water for each hour of your flight. Keeping hydrated will help your skin and also help prevent jet-lag.  For overseas flights, take moisturizer with you. The bottle has to be 3 ounces or less to keep it in your carry on luggage. Make sure and keep liquids in a clear zip lock bag for passing security. Bring a hydrating mist. Spray a couple of pumps onto your face for instant hydration. Evian and several other brands are readily available at local pharmacies and grocery stores. Last but not least, avoid alcohol, caffeine and carbonated beverages, as these can lead to dehydration. If you can’t pass it up, drink 2 -8 ounce glasses of water to each 8 ounce of alcohol or soda.

As if gas prices did not put enough of a strain on us during this past summer, rental car customers who decided not to prepay for fuel & don’t return their vehicles with a full tank, paid almost double the current cost of gas. A USA Today survey found that major rental car companies at 10 airports across the country charged gas at prices ranging from $6 to over $8 per gallon to refuel. At $8 per gallon, having the car rental company fill up a midsize car can add more than $145 to your final bill.

Many car rental companies do give an option to pre-pay gas when you pick up your vehicle which will save you money, but the most affordable solution is to fill up before returning the car.

I love my job! Everyday I strive to search for real deals, the hidden gems, the perfect vacations, tour or cruises, while still offering excellent value & service. We are your travel experts. We believe that travel should be a journey, not just a destination!

In order to be a good travel agent, you need education so that you can pass the information on to your clients. The Travel Institute has certifications that take about 6 years to complete, as you are not eligible to participate unless you have been in the business for a certain amount of time. Cruise Lines International has a 3 step certification process up to a ECC (Elite Cruise Counselor) You have to be in the business a minimum of 10 years to participate in the program as well as conducting various ship inspections. There are also various destination & product specialists programs, seminars, conventions & trade shows throughout the year.  Our office has speakers from various preferred partners come in at least twice a month, to ensure we are up to date with new products or changes.

So the next time you book your vacation, keep in mind that travel agents are trained professionals with your best interest in mind, and there is no additional cost to you to book through an agent. In fact, agents will always save you time (& time is money!) and also in many cases, get you a better price or added amenities.

There are over 8.8 million applicants for US passports each year.  For that reason, there are around 7,000 passport offices in the country. Generally it takes around 3 to 4 weeks to get a passport. But what if you need to travel soon? If you have 2 weeks, you can usually get an appointment at one of the 13 regional passport offices and get the passport sooner. Need it even faster? Perhaps “immediately” like one of our clients who arrived at the airport only to realize his passport had expired? You can use ItsEasypassport.com who can usually get you a passport the same day, or within 24 hours. They work in conjunction with US Passport offices in New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Houston and other major U.S. cities & even have an office at the JFK airport. The fee for same-day service for a new passport or renewal, is currently from $249 plus standard government passport fees.

A valid passport is required for all international travelers. Please check your passport’s expiration date well in advance of your travel plans as many foreign governments require that your passport be valid for six (6) months after the completion of your travel.

Many tourist visas and/or entry fees for U.S. citizens are valid for MORE than just one trip. For example, if you obtained a tourist visa for a prior trip to Brazil, and you go to Brazil again within 5 years your original visa is still good - you don’t have to buy another for $130. Another example: The $130 tourist entry fee to Chile is good for the life of your passport. So - be sure to check this out with your Atlas Travel specialist before applying (and paying for) new visas. Rules change frequently, so be sure to check when you are planning your trip.

Conributed By Lois Graf - Traveled to Brazil & Chile Sept 25th-Oct 3rd

Popular Food Network TV Chef Giada De Laurentiis, took her Oct. 2nd episode to the Napa/Sonoma regions. She experienced a balloon ride over the valley, olive oil tasting in St. Helena, wine tasting and biking along the country roads of Sonoma. No visit to the region is complete without going to COPIA: the American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts.

Want to experience a similar trip but don’t know where to start planning?  Consider Collette’s California Wine Country package which is 7 days from $1,999 per person. The package includes 10 meals, accommodations at the Westin in San Francisco & FountainGrove Inn in Santa Rosa as well as lots of sightseeing. Highlights include a visit to Muir Woods, sightseeing in San Francisco and 4 nights in the wine country region. Enjoy lunch aboard the Napa Valley Wine train, a visit to Korbel & Kendall Jackson Winter Center, walk around COPIA and enjoy free time

Globus offers a similar 8 day package San Francisco & the Wine Country.  Trip highlights include a San Francisco tour as well as a Bay cruise. In Sonoma  you visit Roche Winery, have a picnic at Viansa Winery & Italian marketplace, tour Sebastiani Vineyards, as well as food & wine pairing at Buena Vista Winery. In Napa have lunch aboard the wine train, visit Mumm, Envy Wine & COPIA. A farewell dinner is included at Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant…Prices from $1,989 per person.

“The discovery of a wine is of greater moment than the discovery of a constellation. The universe is too full of stars.”Benjamin Franklin

This certainly is a question that we are getting over and over again these days. Listen, you know your own financial situation. Most likely you have saved the money to go on this vacation so you would not be going into debt because of it. Now, if you have to take money away from paying your mortgage or car payment to go on this vacation then I would probably say it is a good idea to just hold off on it a bit. Just the fact that people are asking this question makes me think that perhaps they are responsible but just in case I would not advise draining your savings account to pay for this trip. Also, if you feel that your job may be in jeopardy I would also hold off just to see how things turn out.
So if you have the money already saved - WHY NOT GO ! Put some money in the economy and enjoy yourself ! Don’t let all the people who think the “sky is falling” stop you from going and bring you down !

Many of us travel to open our eyes to a world that is different from our own, inspiring us to tread gently as we explore new cultures and encounter new communities around the world. Travel may even encourage us to make a difference in the lives of those we meet.

Sustainable tourism is responsible tourism that seeks to make a low impact on the environment and local culture, while helping to generate income, employment and the preservation of local ecosystems. Through fund raising efforts and donations, several travel companies are making a difference.

Look for more posts on companies that are “getting involved and making a difference.”