Many vacation companies, including Sears, are advertising a new service aimed at attracting vacationers on a budget. The new service is a variation on an old retail program and allows consumers to put a vacation on a layaway plan. With a layaway vacation, you select the vacation package you want and sign up for a plan that allows you to put a small deposit down and then pay the remainder of the cost in installments. Before the start of the vacation, the entire package is paid for up front.
If this concept sounds familiar to those used to booking vacations and cruises through a travel agency, it is of course, because it isn’t new. Escorted tour packages, cruise vacations and many other vacation packages have worked this way for years. The main difference is that traditionally, you would make a deposit at the time of booking and then pay the remainder of the price on or before a certain number of days before the trip. You could, however, make installment plans that fit your budget just like the ‘new’ layaway vacation plans.
The exact terms of both the ‘new’ layaway vacations and the traditional model vary from company to company. Even within a particular company, such as Sears, or a traditional travel agency, the details may vary depending on who is fulfilling the actual package. The deposit can range from as low as $25 pp, to as much as half of the trip. The final payment is then due anywhere form 45-60 days from the date of departure. An agent can help you sort through the deposit requirements and help you find the most cost effective trip. Also, often times, Sears and other layaway plans add in a “fee” to the cost of the vacation for each payment you make. A travel agent does not add on fees, so you have more to spend on your vacation.
Another way the traditional booking through a travel agency may be better and safer than the ‘new’ layaway system is the consumer is frequently protected against price fluctuations. In either case, you are protected if the price goes up, but a travel agent can often times keep an eye out for lower prices or other bonuses, such as a shipboard credit, and get you that deal, even after your deposit is made.
So how much do you need to get a trip booked? Well for a 3 day cruise for next August, you put down as little as $25 to $100 pp and then your final payment would be due next June. You could of course also make payments along the way if you wish. How about a trip to Europe? Let’s say you wanted to take an escorted Europe tour next August with a company like Cosmos, Globus or Trafalgar tours. All you need is $250 pp and then your final payment would be due in early July. Again in this case you could also make payments along the way that you arrange with your travel agent.
Regardless of ‘new’ deals being offered by the big box stores trying to break into the travel industry, a traditional travel agency knows the ropes and is still your best bet to finding the right vacation at the right price. And if you need to pay for your vacation in installments, a professional travel agent will work with you and help craft a plan that works for you.
