Cruise & Family Travel Planning

Why You Still Need A Travel Agent

2011-08-05T10:38:00.002-04:00

Last year, a good friend took an international trip with a two-stop flight itinerary. Afterwards, he reflected on how beat up he felt when it was over: "Adding that third airport into the mix seemed to add a ton of extra travel this year; it was rough."

I asked how he booked the flights. He said that he'd used one of the big travel booking sites, and that the itinerary he purchased was the best combination of duration, flight times and price he could find. My response: "Next time, call my travel agent first. You'll feel a lot better when it's all over."

The following year, he did just that, and the agent came up with options that he could never have found himself using a single booking site -- specifically, a short and affordable Southwest flight that put him in an airport with countless options for direct flights to his final destination. What would have been another expensive, six-flight endurance test was replaced by a far less demanding trip.

Many travelers are discovering the following:

· In offering more options and amenities, online travel sites have actually made it more confusing to figure out what they are selling, not less so.

· The explosion of restrictions and fees -- many of which are not obvious to the casual travel buyer -- further muddies understanding of the bottom line on any itinerary.

· The absence of a number of popular airlines from major booking engines -- the juggernaut Southwest being the most glaring -- eliminates what could well turn out to be a specific traveler's absolute best itinerary.

· The big online travel sites got too smart for their own good; by tidying up and repackaging all the data each according to their own assumptions about travel purchasing, they show us what they think we want to see, but not always what we really want to see. That is, by becoming "online travel agents," rather than mere booking sites, they end up in competition with real travel agents, who can usually do the work better than computers can.

· Despite being "smarter" and more comprehensive than ever, the typical travel booking experience has way too many dead ends. Whether it be the inability to get seats together, or disappearing fare sales, or the inability to lock in a fare for a short time, booking online is like being trapped inside a bad video game with countless trapdoors and false exits.

Choosing a Travel Agent
To deserve your loyalty and money, a travel agent must provide a service that is better, faster and more affordable than you can do yourself -- or naturally you would, in fact, do it yourself. When searching for a travel agent, I suggest asking the following questions:

· What are the fees? This will help you figure out for which types of travel you might need help, and for which it will be worth the investment of time to do it yourself. See below for more on fees.

· Is the agent comfortable working entirely by e-mail? Part of the point of having a travel agent book your trip is that you are freed up to do other things while the itinerary research is taking place. As such, you need a travel agent with whom you will not have to sit on the phone while she's researching your trip, or to have to make multiple phone calls to nail down the flights or hotel that you prefer. She should be able to do all of this by e-mail, with response times measured in minutes or hours, not days. My own travel agent has come to expect nearly instantaneous e-mail replies from me in return.

Choosing the Right Travel Agent

· Is the travel agent open to suggestions from you, the customer? For example, if you go out and find a decent fare and flight combination, but for whatever reason want some of the services a travel agent can provide, does he check into the flight you suggested or simply ignore your input?

· Is there a 24-hour solution line you can call if you get in a jam? For example, say you're flying on a Sunday night red-eye from west to east, and your flight is delayed or canceled. Is there someone you can call at 10:30 p.m. to try to get you on the best next flight, or at the very least into a convenient and affordable hotel? Note: Not all travel agents provide this service, so if you find one, consider yourself lucky.

Then as you go along, watch out for the following:

· Does she always lead off with a very expensive itinerary? If this describes your agent, does she have a good reason, which might be the absence of upgradeable seats, aisle seats or a too-tight connection? If not, she's not really meeting our primary criteria of doing the job better, faster and more affordably than you can do it yourself.

Before I call my travel agent, I almost always check fares myself very quickly on the Web. This way I can figure out if there is a flight or hotel I can book easily myself. It also gives me an idea of the going price on the route. I briefly worked with an agent who always quoted me a very expensive fare, as if money were no object for someone who could afford to use a travel agent. The truth is that now and then I can't afford not to -- and I would appreciate it if my agent was on the same page.

· Does the travel agent suggest truly awful itineraries? For example, I once tried to work with a travel agent who insisted on showing me international connections that required an overnight stay at the connecting airport. This would require me to collect my bags, clear customs, go to a hotel, get back to the airport, check in and check bags again, pass through security again, and then repeat the customs and bag collection again at my final destination airport.
When I objected, I was told "it's really not that bad." Multiple check-ins and customs lines are not that bad -- really? It sounded like the agent had never been to an airport -- or worse, assumed I had not, and thought he could get away with selling me a nightmare. If you are being shown too many ridiculously complicated itineraries, it's probably time to find a new agent, or book the trip yourself.

Many of us do not charge a fee because we earn our money from the travel providers - look for a good one, I'd like to recommend us, but even if you don't use us, shop wisely.

Remember two things:

First, if you book on your own on the web, you are on your own - there is no one to call when you have a problem.

Second, your best friend may not be a travel agent, BUT, a Travel Agent can be your best friend!

WHY FOLKS ARE RETURNING TO TRAVEL AGENTS

2010-11-18T09:32:00.001-05:00

Families and Vacation Seekers who work with MELODYFARMS TRAVEL book their travel the old-fashioned way. They tell us where they want to go and what they need when they arrive, and leave it to us to make it happen.

Travel Agent’s business has been booming recently, in part because some people who've been booking their own trips on the Internet are returning to talking to Agents. Folks would just push their enter buttons on some of the websites and that is it – it’s final!! There is no one to question, no one to ask for help, and when it comes to spending money, people are starting to turn back to Travel Agents because people care – a computer website does not!

For some travelers, do-it-yourself booking is losing its luster. A study by Forrester Research found that in the first three months of this year, 28% of leisure travelers in the U.S. who booked their trips online said they'd be interested in going to a good traditional travel agent. That's up from 23% in 2008. Another Forrester report finds that the number of leisure travelers who enjoyed using the Web to plan and book their vacations dropped to 46% last year, down from 53% in 2007.

The findings reflect a growing frustration with websites that fail to simplify an increasingly complicated travel process or to meet a vacationer's specific needs, some analysts and travelers argue.

"We believe it's a function of consumers' increasing desire to get the best value as well as the increasing amount of complexity associated with planning and booking a trip," says Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst for Forrester Research. "Planning and booking a vacation should be fun. Instead, most travel websites deliver a very clinical experience and a very intimidating experience, and one that is about as much fun as walking through quicksand. It's just not where it should be."

In addition to getting clients special rates, upgrades and perks, a traditional travel agent can help passengers avoid the headache of figuring out varying rates and restrictions on their own. Plus they can take action when a trip goes wrong, be it an oversold hotel or a natural disaster such as the volcanic eruption in Iceland that spewed an ash cloud that left thousands of fliers stranded throughout Europe in April.

"A lot of people are finding that travel has become more complicated than ever and that they need ... the assistance of professionals that are going to understand," says Paul Ruden, senior vice president for legal and industry affairs for the American Society of Travel Agents.

Websites are experiencing great business – but lack any personal interchange!

Travel websites are doing quite well. Online booking of leisure travel in the U.S. is projected to rise from $80 billion this year to $86.6 billion in 2011 and to $110.7 billion by 2014, with everything from tours to summer rentals becoming available for purchase on the Web, according to Forrester Research.

Harteveldt says there are numerous advantages to booking online. "It's open 24/7," he says. "You have access to an almost unlimited amount of information. If you have the time, if you know what you want, or even if you don't, you can explore to your heart's content. ... So it's not that the Internet is all bad."

However, he says, such sites may not match other Web-based areas of business in ease of use. "There's a lot of risk if you make a mistake," he says. "You could have purchased a non-refundable ticket and, depending on when you discover that mistake, you may be out money."

When do-it-yourself won't do

Traveler Ken Kushnir, 62, says he conducts many transactions online, but booking a vacation is no longer one of them.

He veered away from traditional travel agents for a short while, "but then after maneuvering around the Internet trying to get some stuff done, I figured it just wasn't worth it for any of our vacations or trips that were a little bit more complicated than just buzzing down to Los Angeles."

Kushnir, who lives in Healdsburg, Calif., and works in telecommunications, says that he has dealt with broken links, pages that don't load correctly and travel sites that don't accommodate specific needs, like bringing along a pet or making sure he gets a hotel room on the ground floor when he's had back problems.

Still, traditional travel agents have been disappearing. At the end of October, there were 15,087 travel agencies, including corporate travel departments and some online travel agencies, selling air travel through ARC, an airline-owned firm that provides financial services to the travel industry. That's down from 27,719 in December 2001.

"Certainly the Internet ability to book your airplane tickets and hotels contributed to it, but the economy certainly was a factor," Ruden says. And he says that an end to the commissions paid to travel agents by airlines in 2002 was a significant reason for many travel agents shutting their doors.

Travel agents have clout

Many travelers do prefer to book online.

"I enjoy doing the research, and unless the travel agent is top notch, they don't know a lot about the location, hotels, etc.," says Scott Hudson, who works in financial services and lives in Providence "I don't want to pay someone to read me a hotel description from a website."

Others switch back and forth, making their own reservations for shorter jaunts or business trips but using traditional travel agents for cruises or longer, more complicated journeys.

Two weeks ago, one travel agent got an e-mail from a client who was on her honeymoon in Costa Rica.

"They'd paid for the royal service with the butler, and when they got to the hotel it was oversold and they put them into a standard king room," she says. Burr immediately called the tour operator, and word eventually reached the hotel's manager.

"By the end of the evening they were in the top-of-the-line room, even more than what they paid for, and that would have never happened if they were on their own or booking on the web."

We recently published a story that was on CNN to which a honeymoon couple arrived in Jamaica to begin their new life only to find that the online booking engine made a mistake and they didn’t have a room. The worst part was there were no rooms available at any of the decent resorts in the area – they have to stay in a real low class motel. The real irony was that they arrived on a Saturday evening, having booked their honeymoon on Travelocity. When they called Travelocity from the resort on Saturday evening, they were told that they had to call back Monday between 8 am – 5 pm to talk with customer service - - -

If they would have booked with me, the mistake would probably not have happened, and I would have resolved it for them that evening. So, folks, the end result is we are there for you if and when you might have a problem that needs a HUMAN to help fix it right then.

See Our New Family Fun Blog

2010-08-19T13:36:00.000-04:00

Hello Family Travelers,
We have a brand new FAMILY FUN Blog website that has recipes, crafts for children, family games, road trip games and much more. We also just included a Vacation Travel Checklist to help you remember everything you need for your vacation planning. Hope you will visit our new site, go to http://foryourfamily.wordpress.com. Hope to see you there!

Most Americans Would Consider Using Travel Agents

2010-08-05T21:20:00.000-04:00

Despite a wealth of online resources, travel agents remain an important and valued resource for travel planning. That's according to a recent survey from global travel insurance and assistance provider Mondial Assistance USA, which is known in the industry for its Access America brand of travel insurance. The survey found that most Americans (70 percent) say they would consider using a travel agent to plan important trips and special vacations.

Nearly one-half of respondents (45 percent) say that they would consider using a travel agent for an unfamiliar or exotic destination, while a similar proportion (40 percent) would consider using a travel agent for a longer or more complicated itinerary (i.e. multiple destinations). Others say they would consider using a travel agent for finding a great deal or best price (38 percent), for tours (33 percent), in order to save time by not having to plan on their own trip (29 percent) or for some other reason (7 percent). Just three in ten (29 percent) say that they would not consider using a travel agent when planning a trip.

While just 6 percent of respondents say that they get most of their trip planning information from travel agents, that proportion is slightly higher than those who get that information through other means including TV or radio (4 percent), newspapers or magazines (4 percent) or direct mail and brochures (3 percent).

Almost two in 10 (17 perceWritten by George Dooley, Aug 3, 2010nt) say that using a travel agent for planning travel is more important than in the past, and another 8 percent say their importance has stayed the same. Interestingly, retired individuals are most likely (22 percent) to say that travel agents are now more important than ever, as are lower-income (household income less than $25,000 a year) Americans (22 percent).

Written by George Dooley, Aug 3, 2010

Best Hawaii Wedding Locations

2010-07-14T09:02:00.000-04:00

Island weddings: Best spots for tying the knot in Hawaii

By JEANNE COOPER
SAN FRANSISCO CHRONICLE

Every season is wedding season in Hawai'i, thanks to its romantic venues, year-round warm weather and instant-honeymoon appeal. (And the same allure applies to same-sex commitment ceremonies in the islands, where legislation to allow civil unions was pending at press time.) For those who are "making it legal," a same-day marriage license costs just $60, with no blood tests or U.S. citizenship required.

While sandy settings remain popular -- so much so that most beaches now require permits for nuptials -- couples can choose from many other scenic sites, as independent wedding planners and hotel coordinators are happy to tell you. Here are five options that may be familiar to local lovers but not to the Mainland's marriage-minded, as well as some new twists on tying the knot in Hawai'i:

1. Shipshape ceremonies

The ordained captain of the 1,500-passenger Star of Honolulu performs legal weddings (and commitment cerimonies) on its 60-foot-high observation deck just before embarking on a sightseeing cruise from the Aloha Tower Marketplace. The basic captain's wedding package starts at $500 per couple, including a lei cake with souvenir server, reserved window seating, a toast and two glasses of sparkling wine, and commemorative photo, with cruise choices running from a lunch buffet with seasonal whale watching to three- , five- and seven-course dinner shows at sunset (the last with live jazz.) Private reception lounges are available for an additional fee if lots of guests are coming aboard.

Latest twist: Star of Honolulu's Rolls Royce Wedding includes the captain's wedding amenities, but adds a round-trip transfer from Waikiki hotels in a Rolls Royce and includes the two-hour sunset jazz cruise with seven-course French dinner and premium drinks. The package costs $1,655 per couple, with upgrades (bigger wedding cake, etc.) available.

2. Royal romance

Called the "Westminster Abbey of Hawai'i," Kawaiaha'o Church was the first church to be built in O'ahu, made of 1,000-pound coral slabs hand-quarried underwater and carried by canoes to shore. King Kamehameha III attended its opening services in 1842, an association with the Hawaiian monarchy that continues today: The royal pews are marked with kāhili (feather staffs), special Ali'i Sunday services honor eight royals on the Sundays closest to their birthdays, and 21 portraits of the ali'i hang on the sanctuary's upper walls.

Bridal parties who aren't church members may still walk in regal footsteps -- with a mandatory premarital counseling session, marriage license and approved minister -- by renting the historic sanctuary. The cost begins at $1,500, with decorations and minister's honorarium starting at $150 each and musicians at $75 per person; check the church's Wedding Center Web page for details.

Ultra-luxury twist: If exchanging vows in blue-blood surroundings is appealing, and your budget is well in the black, think pink. The rose-colored Royal Hawaiian Hotel, reopened in 2009 after a major makeover, offers distinctive wedding packages (also available as commitment ceremonies) in the royal coconut grove of Helumoa, a peaceful enclave off the now open-air lobby, and other picturesque sites. For the one-hour wedding packages, hosted in the coconut grove, the base price of $4,300 includes an officiant, a music duo, floral arch, bridal bouquet and groom's boutonniere, bottle of sparkling wine, two-tiered wedding cake, certificate and up to 50 chairs for guests, along with a wedding-day coordinator.

For those who'd also like a touch of Hollywood nobility on their big day, the "Pink Palace of the Pacific" recently announced new wedding packages created by event planner David Beahm, who designed the nuptials of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas. The overnight packages, named for Hawaiian royalty, include chauffeur service from the airport, welcome leis, lomilomi massages at theAbhasa Spa, dinner at Azure or in a private cabana, a suite with breakfast in bed, wedding-day leis and bridal bouquet, and an hourlong photograph session, among other amenities; prices begin at $9,500 plus tax. (As with most hotel packages, wedding party members also receive discounts on room rates and spa treatments.)

3. Waterfall weddings

While Hawai'i has no cataract known as Bridalveil Falls, à la Yosemite, some cascades could earn the nickname as a photo backdrop. Wedding coordinators such as Merry Maui Weddings and Aloha Maui Gay Weddings can arrange nuptials at a private estate in Ha'ikū, on Maui's North Shore, where a waterfall tumbles dramatically down a steep cliff into the ocean. The approximate cost to use the unique cliffside perch begins at $1,650 for two hours, with additional fees to host a reception. For a location closer to the Valley Isle's resorts, photographer Vincent Salamander of Merry Maui Weddings also recommends the Tropical Gardens of Maui in 'Īao Valley. The intimate venue includes a koi pond with three-tiered waterfall, labeled botanical gardens and a Victorian-style wedding gazebo; the rental fee starts at $475, with a maximum of 20 guests.

On O'ahu, Captain Howie performs weddings and same-sex commitment ceremonies in Pukalani Falls Hawai'i Wedding Garden, his tropical oasis across from Waimānalo Beach; couples can get exchange vows in one location and shoot photos in the other. In addition to the natural-looking waterfall, the garden site includes a koi pond fed by two brooks and several parrots that will pose with the happy couple. The base rate, which includes consultation, an audio CD recording, conch shell blowing and toast with sparkling apple cider, starts at $225, with many other services available.

Rugged twist: Thanks to Ride the Rim Outfitters and Kona Weddings, adventurous couples can drive an ATV or ride in an open-air Kawasaki Mule to the rim of the Big Island's Waipi'o Valley, where a two-tiered, 60-foot waterfall flows into pools fringed by banana trees and wild ginger. After the ceremony, the wedding party can take a dip in the pools; the ride back includes magnificent views of other waterfalls across the 3-mile wide valley, which lies almost 2,000 feet below. The site fee is $1,500, with separate charges for other necessities arranged by Kona Weddings. Fastidious folks have the option of a van ride -- or just their wedding outfits, to keep them pristine -- to the waterfall.

4. Groomed gardens

Why pay for a lot of tropical flowers at your ceremony when you can have them growing on site? That's one of the appeals of botanical gardens and other lavishly landscaped sites. On Maui, Vincent Salamander recommends the 8-acre Kula Botanical Garden -- especially since its up-country location avoids the potential heat, noise, bugs and sunbathers down at the beach -- or the more centrally located Maui Tropical Plantation in Wailuku, which boasts a gazebo overlooking a lagoon and a restaurant capable of hosting 500 guests. Site fees at the Kula garden start at just $10 per person, plus $100 for a ceremony and reception; at the Wailuku plantation, the fee starts at $450 for two hours at its gazebo.

Other blooming ideas for garden bowers include Na Āina Kai Botanical Gardens in Kilauea, Kaua'i, which includes a poinciana maze, lagoon, koi pond and Japanese teahouse; the lush valley of native plants and sacred stones at the elegant but eco-friendly Hawai'i Island Retreat in the Big Island's North Kohala district; and, on O'ahu, Senator Fong's Plantation & Gardens in Kāne'ohe, which provides sweeping views of the Windward Side's mountains and shoreline and rents out its visitor center for receptions.

Succulent twist: Planted in the 1930s on what became the grounds of Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation near Po'ipu Beach, Kaua'i, Moir Gardens' unusual collection of cacti, succulents and bromeliads stands out among the more expected orchids and water lilies. The adjacent Plantation Gardens restaurant is the logical site for a reception after a ceremony in the gardens, which are free to visit.

5. Cost-conscious couples

Even though weddings are essentially "recession-proof," as one Hawai'i travel expert noted, more hotels are marketing the relative affordability of their nuptial options as well as their romance. At the newly renovated King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel on the Big Island, a "Plumeria package" ceremony overlooking Kailua Bay starts at $500, including a wedding officiator and coordinator, a pair of leis and a bottle of bubbly.

Even luxury properties are cutting costs, in their fashion: Book a room for at least three nights at The Kahala Hotel & Resort -- O'ahu's hangout for discreet celebrities and well-heeled travelers looking for respite from busy Waikīkī -- and the "Weddingmoon" package will allow an oceanfront ceremony with nondenominational minister and use of the resort for wedding photography for an additional $2,800 (I did mention how posh this place is, right?)

Ultra-bargain twist: Get married at home and enjoy a vow-renewal ceremony for free in Hawai'i. Legally married guests of Outrigger properties on O'ahu can participate in a ritual with chant, hula and a sprinkling of sea water held twice weekly at 8 a.m. in front of the Outrigger Reef. On Kaua'i, a similar ceremony is held for Outrigger guests every other Thursday (through Dec. 21, 2010) in Moir Gardens. The nondenominational ritual includes complimentary lei, slack-key guitar music, a chant by a Hawaiian kahu (minister), a vow exchange and a commemorative certificate; reservations are required, with a limit of six couples per ceremony.

A Must See: Hawaii's Volcanoes At Night

2010-07-14T08:50:00.002-04:00

Taking a hike around the volcanoes at Hawaii are thrilling, but see them at night and it's even more spectacular. For a unique way to see these awe-inspiring displays of nature, Hawaii Forest & Trail is offering a new Twilight Volcano Adventure— a full-day exploration of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park that really comes into the best beauty at sunset where lava meets the sea on the coast of Kalapana, Hawaii.

The new Twilight Volcano Adventure departs the Kona-Kohala Coast in a comfortable customized 12 passenger van and traverses the saddle between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa—two of the world's largest mountains which are inhabited by some of the rarest plants and animals on earth; a real thrill for the nature lovers.

Upon arrival at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii Forest & Trail's Interpretive Guide will lead nature lovers to the must-see spots and hidden treasures of this World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Preserve. The afternoon includes a short flashlight exploration through Kaumana Cave and an up-close view of the current billowing eruption at Halemaumau Crater, legendary home of the fire goddess Madame Pele.

As sunset approaches, the tour heads north to Kalapana to view the flow at twilight, when lava glows red against the blued backdrop of dusk. The journey concludes with a sit-down dinner in the rustic old plantation town of Pahoabefore returning to the Kona-Kohala Coast. Tour itineraries may vary due to any unexpected volcanic activity during the day.

Why A Cruise is a Great Vacation

2010-07-13T11:38:00.000-04:00

If you haven't ever considered taking a cruise, you really should. It is a great vacation that affords visits to places you may not have never seen and offers so many benefits to relax and enjoy a vacation. If you really haven’t made up your mind and you’ve never taken a cruise before consider the benefits of taking a cruise vacation.

First of all, Cruising Gives You a Vacation on your way to a beautiful vacation spot! Even though flying to a vacation or resort is the fastest way to get where you want to go, consider that at a resort, you are really only at one location only. A cruise offers you the benefit of having non-stop fun while you are en route to your vacation destination spots. There are several different types of on-deck activities for you to choose from or if you prefer to do absolutely nothing you can do that too by kicking back at the pool or working on that tan while relaxing on deck and while you are able to take in the wide expanse of ocean and the generous sun rays.

Cruises are All-Inclusive to include your room and all the food you can eat all day and all night. When you cruise you don’t have the hassle of budgeting for meals and other necessities. The price of your cruise covers all your food, non-alcoholic beverages and even your activities and entertainment to include many great shows and in some cases, learning activities.
On a Cruise you only have to unpack once, even though you are visiting multiple locations. If you want to have the trill of visiting more than one place, but you can’t imagine lugging around your bags and then packing and unpacking everywhere you go, a cruise is just the thing for you. Your chosen cruise stateroom is your home base. You get onboard, unpack and then you leave all your clothing and other items on the ship while you explore the latest port of call to shop, snorkel, dive, visit a scenic spot or whatever you would like to do. Then, when you are ready, you just come back on board for the night to rest and relax.

A Cruise offers so many exciting places of interest and ports of call - you might even find a new place to vacation at for your next vacation. Why should you pick just one resort or a single place to visit? A cruise is a great option if you are not sure where you want to go. You can choose a region and then narrow it down to one that stops at a few places you may be curious about while having a small taste of the region as a whole rather than being confined only to one country. After you have sailed through the area you might decide to take a second look on a more detailed visit but a cruise can certainly be a great eye-opener. My wife and I have discovered that we just love visiting the Mayan Ruins and Pyramids, we have learned so much about the Mayan culture, and have visited many beautiful rain forests.
There are so many reasons and benefits to taking a cruise for a honeymoon (or wedding), anniversary, family vacation travel, quick getaway - you name it - the only question there is - "WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO?"

If you need help picking out a great cruise to Alaska, Europe, Hawaii, The Caribbean or anywhere you would like travel - give us a call, we can help you plan it. Melodyfarms Travel - 866-526-2929.

Carnival Valor vs. Celebrity Solstice: A Comparison

2010-07-13T07:21:00.002-04:00

Introduction

As a travel agent, I have to tell you that to me, cruising is a lot of fun regardless of which cruise line you are traveling on. It’s pretty much all what you make it. If you look for all the positives or negatives, you can find pro and con on any cruise line. The main thing that you should get out of a cruise is the fun and the education of new places to visit. There is something to do for everyone on any cruise line, older, younger, family, anniversary, vacation, wedding, honeymoon – you name it, there is something for you on any cruise line. There are lots of activities on each cruise ship all designed to either educate you, offer new or familiar activities, provide relaxation in the sun, have dancing and night life, and the list goes on.

For me, the best part is the travel to places that you might have not been to, or to gather ideas for your next vacation. For example, a few years ago, we visited St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands and fell in love with it; we liked it so much that the following year we went back and stayed on St. Thomas for one week, also visiting St. John’s Island nearby. The beaches are just gorgeous and there were so many to choose from on each island, we visited a different one every day while there.

If you are into cultural history, as we are, we love to visit Mexico and Central America to see all the Mayan Pyramids and Mayan Ruins. In May, we went aboard the Carnival Valor to see the pyramids Altun Ha in Belize – very beautiful site. This month, we left on July 4^th aboard the Celebrity Solstice and will get a chance to see some new pyramids in Costa Maya. Do we have fun on the cruise ships? You bet, each offers something different and I’m going to do my personal comparative analysis of the Carnival Valor and the Celebrity Solstice.

CHECK-IN & BOARDING

CARNIVAL – Miami, Florida

We arrived a little early, at 11:30 AM since we stayed at a hotel that provided a shuttle service to the port. We were able to check-in pretty quick, but then we sat in a VERY crowded waiting room until 1:15PM waiting to be able to board the ship so I don’t recommend arriving real early. It makes no difference other than getting checked in before the crowd arrives. However, their waiting area was very congested and we were among the first groups to be able to board the ship. While upstairs on the boat eating our lunch, we looked down and noticed that it was still very crowded in their small waiting area with not too many places to sit while awaiting your time to board. Check-in and boarding was a little cumbersome but not nearly as bad as the cumbersome method at Norwegian cruise lines. Despite the fact we were allowed to board, we could not go to our cabins until after 2:30 PM to drop off our personal carry on items, so we had to drag those with us while getting our lunch.

CELEBRITY – Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Really great! We arrived at 1PM, walked right in with our carry-on luggage, went thru the initial screening within minutes and was met with a guide who had us get in line and within a few minutes was checking in at the desk. As soon as we finished our check-in process and got our room keys, we were able to board the ship and go straight to our room to drop off our carryon luggage. What a plus! We were able to drop our things in our room and go right to the dining area to eat. The really great reception area had lots of seats upstairs to accommodate four or five hundred guests with no problem, so even if you had to wait to board the ship, you had a comfortable sitting area while waiting. The check-in process and boarding the ship was much better on Celebrity.

WINNER FOR CHECK-IN AND BOARDING – CELEBRITY CRUISE LINES

Scoreboard: Carnival - 0

Celebrity - 1

DINING FACILITIES & MENU

CARNIVAL VALOR

Carnival Valor had two main evening dining rooms, both very nicely decorated and the service was fantastic. As soon as you arrive at your table, your personal wait staff was there to greet you and immediately took care of you. Every evening there is a different menu with a few choices for your appetizer, soup/salad, and main entrée. The food was excellent with many good choices to also include a vegetarian choice as well. Each night was a different venue and overall, there were a myriad of choices over the course of a week. The buffet style dining areas offered a variety of choices daily also for breakfast, lunch and dinner if you didn’t want to eat in the fine dining areas. There are also a hamburger & fries grill, deli, bistro, pizza, ice cream station and a variety of eating choices all day long, a little more limited after midnight, but there are choices for you if you are hungry late night. The food for late night aboard the Valor is good and the 24/7 ice cream station is a plus for kids. Of course, there is room service. Being a frequent coffee drinker, I have to say; the coffee aboard the Valor was not that good unless you went to the specialty coffee areas where it costs you out -of-pocket. Some say they didn’t care for the food on Carnival, however, I have heard the same on Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, so I guess it depends on what you are used to or what your expectations are. For us, the food was good and we had a lot of choices, so we never went hungry. While the coffee on the Carnival Valor is not very tasty and actually the Celebrity Solstice has much better coffee, I have to say that food taste overall goes to Carnival Valor, they have definitely got a better tasting assortment of foods. I spoke with a couple guests on the Solstice and asked them if they have cruised on Carnival before, and they both agreed that Carnival has the better tasting food than the Solstice does, thus Carnival Valor wins the main dining category.

CELEBRITY SOLSTICE

Celebrity Solstice has one main evening dining room that is also very attractive, but the feature that this is really prominent about their dining is they have two main menus. To the left side is the Classic Menu that is available every single day, so if you have a favorite you can find it on another evening if you so like, or if nothing appeals to you on the menu to the right. To the right side is the day’s specialty menu which changes every single day with different appetizers, soups/salads, main entrees. Same as Carnival, there are a variety of choices and everyday a rotating menu so that you almost never eat the same thing twice. However, there is something about the taste of the Solstice food that leaves you lingering, overall their dishes are somewhat bland. There are dishes that come from around the world so you get an opportunity to experience something that perhaps you have not had before. Same as on Carnival, there are vegetarian choices and both Cruise Lines are attentive to special needs or special dietary requirements. However,

For the buffet style dining, I particularly enjoyed the Celebrity layout because they broke out a variety of different food layouts so that you could choose something that interested your palate. For instance, this morning they had Mexican Eggs Benedict, and German Eggs Benedict – being a German, I naturally went for that. They had hard boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, omelet station, bacon, sausage, potatoes, and corned beef hash – pretty much same as Carnival, although I never found Eggs Benedict or Hard boiled eggs on the Carnival Valor. Therefore, as for buffet style dining, it’s a tough call – I would say each has their own themes for the “look and feel” of the dining ambiance, and therefore both are very accommodating and somewhat comfortable for dining. Regardless, with the buffet style of eating on Carnival and Celebrity, you still feel like you are eating in a cafeteria on both ships. The great note about the Celebrity buffet style dining is that there are signs on the ceiling that told you what each dining island had to offer so you did not have to roam around to discover like you did on the Carnival Valor. I think the only ship I have been on where I really enjoyed the eating in the buffet style dining areas was the Carnival Imagination as it still felt like a dining room to me and not a cafeteria.

Of particular interest on the Celebrity Solstice was their crepes and pastry Shoppe of which I immediately fell in love with. Both Carnival and Celebrity offer a Sushi restaurant bar, but unless I missed it, I never saw a pastry and crepe shop on the Carnival Valor.

For menu choices in the evening dining room, Celebrity wins hands down with more choices and selections over Carnival, yet the food tastes so much better on Carnival, so Carnival wins the Evening Dining Experience. However, for the general buffet style dining, I can’t say either cruise line wins as they both offer the same variety for breakfast and lunch, so in this case for buffet style dining, it is a definite tie! There is one noteworthy additional comment, the late night dining on the Carnival Valor has more to offer than Celebrity Solstice; I was very disappointed on the choices for late night which included leftover desserts from dinner, lunch meats and cheese that looked like it sat out there a long time, and burnt crust-bottom pizza. Solstice needs some help on their late night menu and food care.

WINNER FOR DINING FACILITIES & MENU – EVENING DINING – CARNIVAL WINS

BUFFET STYLE DINING & LATE NIGHT – CARNIVAL WINS

Scoreboard: Carnival – 2
Celebrity – 1

GIFT SHOPS & DUTY-FREE SHOPPING

This is a personal call, however, I think Carnival has more of a “general variety” of shopping for passengers whereas the selection ranges for different tastes and spending abilities. Carnival has a larger selection of alcohol and general goods to purchase. Each has their own jewelry shops with various price ranges depending upon what you are looking for, however, Carnival seems to make shopping more fun with many prize drawings and offerings. Celebrity seems to be geared toward the more upscale passengers with all their fancy brands, and while Celebrity offers more high-end shopping with brand name clothing and designer clothing, unless you are in the upper income bracket, you will find that Celebrity is higher priced than Carnival. Therefore, if you have more disposable income, and you are looking for the upscale brands, then Celebrity shopping is definitely for you. If you are more of a family style and budget conscious spender, than Carnival is the winner. Considering I am writing this more for the family shopper with average incomes, I have to declare Carnival the winner.

WINNER FOR BEST OVERALL SHOPPING VENUE FOR AVERAGE FAMILY SPENDING – CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES

Scoreboard: Carnival – 3

Celebrity – 1

CRUISE DIRECTORS

Here is where I get a little critical, I don’t know how other folks feel about cruising, but I have to tell you that the cruise directors on ships can either be wonderful and informative, or corny and almost obnoxious. I find that the cruise director on the Celebrity Solstice, Paul, is a delightful personality who does his best to inform and be a guide to your cruise experience. His presence is not over-bearing, his demeanor is polite, social and informative. However, I have been on several Carnival cruises and I find that these people think they tend to be the star of the show. For example, Big Tex on Carnival Valor is a ham who likes to be in the limelight a little too much, so in my opinion, Big Tex is over-bearing and looking for the spotlight as much as possible. There are lots of activities on each cruise ship all aimed at young, old, and for mixed content.

On the Celebrity Solstice we went to a show the second night out performed by the crew of the ship and it was amazing! It was like Cirque du Soleil with circus acts that were nothing but superb and closely paralleled the Cirque shows, thus, I called this Cirque du Solstice. It was extremely fascinating to watch the talent from the crew members who had skills that you didn’t think possible. I have never seen any show like this on any other ship that was not a professional venue. Carnival had some fairly good shows with magic acts, comedy shows and so forth; thus, both cruise lines are very entertaining with night life, but I had to comment on the Cirque show from Solstice. In all the cruises that we have taken, I have never witnessed one as fabulous as this show was, it is a MUST SEE!

WINNER FOR BEST CRUISE DIRECTORS AND EVENING SHOWS – CELEBRITY SOLSTICE

Scoreboard: Carnival – 3

Celebrity – 2

BEVERAGE PACK OFFERINGS

Carnival Cruise Line does NOT offer any beverage packages – you have to pay for each and every soft drink, beer, wine, cocktail or anything out of the ordinary juice, regular coffee and water.

Celebrity Cruise Line, on the other hand, offers soft drink packages to include a thermal insulated souvenir cup to keep your beverages cold/hot as you like. You can get the soft drink package, the specialty juice/water/coffee package, the wine package, the cocktail package or even have a bar set-up in your room. This is priced a bit more economical so that you can feel like you have an all-inclusive package aboard ship.

WINNER FOR GUEST CONVENIENCE BEVERAGE PACKAGES – CELEBRITY SOLSTICE

Scoreboard: Carnival – 3

Celebrity – 3

EXITING FOR SHORE EXCURIONS

Carnival seems to have an overall air of confusion when it comes to disembarkation for port calls. If you have a shore excursion, they do give you priority, but you have to listen carefully as even their staff seems to be confused as to who leaves first and when. When we are on the Carnival Valor, we were all herded into a huge room and given numbers, but the staff seemed a bit confused as to who leaves when and first. On the Celebrity Solstice you come down and obtain a tender number that defines when you get off the boat and they call those numbers over the loud speaker so that everyone is not uncomfortably herded (like cattle) into a big room and then you have the shoving and people trying to get off ahead of you. With the Celebrity crew, it was much more organized and effective, thus the winner of this category again goes to the Celebrity Solstice. Their disembarkation for port calls is so much more organized.

WINNER FOR BEST DISEMBARKATION AT PORT CALLS – CELEBRITY SOLSTICE

Scoreboard: Carnival – 3

Celebrity – 4

BEST CABIN ARRANGEMENT, DÉCOR & SPACING

By far, Celebrity Solstice has the best cabin décor, ambiance, furniture, storage and overall arrangement of cabins. Carnival feels a little cluttered and closed in and the layouts are not that effective. The Solstice gives you the feel of having more room because they make use of their cabin space more effectively, and the overall décor of the cabin is much better.

WINNER FOR BEST CABIN ARRANGEMENT & DÉCOR – CELEBRITY SOLSTICE

Scoreboard: Carnival – 3

Celebrity – 5

POOLS & SWIMMING AREAS:

Carnival pools are pretty much sea water (salty) whereas Celebrity Solstice uses fresh water in their pools with a little chlorine to keep it clean and germ free. On the Celebrity Solstice there are two pools outdoors, one is strictly an adult pool and one is a family pool; the adult pool is deeper – around 6 feet. Carnival on the other hand does have the sliders for the pool and has a couple pools also, one geared more to small children. The Celebrity Solstice also has one big indoor pool and this is strictly an adult pool area. There are several hot tubs inside with cabanas and lounge chairs and very nice and quiet for those who want to relax. Unfortunately, Celebrity does not really enforce their policies as I have seen little children in the adult only area indoors, and worse yet, on the main deck, Celebrity kids club violated their own policy. There were several older adults in the adult only pool when along came the kids club led by the director who immediately put about 15 children in the pool with us. We mentioned that this was an adults only pool, and the pool butler stated, “well the kids pool is rather busy right now, so we had to put them in here.” Well, folks, that sent a message to everyone else that if they can violate their own policies, so could everyone else.

As far as pool availability, Celebrity Solstice wins hands down, they offer more facilities on the main deck, and on the next lower deck down for folks to enjoy. However, as far as monitoring their rules, Carnival has a little more enforcement. On the Carnival Valor, kids are not allowed in the adult only pool, and their pool butlers inform families that the family swimming area is the next deck down.

WINNER FOR THE BEST POOLS AND SWIMMING AREAS – CELEBRITY SOLSTICE

Scoreboard: Carnival – 3

Celebrity – 6

WINNER FOR ENFORCING SHIP POLICIES – CARNIVAL VALOR

Scoreboard: Carnival – 4

Celebrity – 6

PUBLIC RESTROOMS:

This is a short note, but a valid point. Carnival Valor had plenty of public restrooms that were easy to find and well marked throughout the ship, I have to say finding a public restroom aboard the Celebrity Solstice was a bit of a challenge, so on that note, Carnival Valor wins the award for the most and easiest to find public restrooms aboard the ship.

WINNER FOR MOST AVAILABLE & EASIEST TO FIND PUBLIC RESTROOMS – CARNIVAL VALOR

Scoreboard: Carnival – 5

Celebrity – 6

OVERALL CONCLUSION

As you can see, Carnival Valor has better food, and in many ways is best suitable for family cruise vacations. However, if you are a couple looking to enjoy a more upscale cruise line, then Celebrity is definitely for you. From my perspective, Carnival is a more fun ship for family enjoyment; Celebrity is more for the honeymoon, anniversary and adult couples cruising. They both have some strong points, and they both have some areas for improvement. I hope you have enjoyed this comparison and I welcome your comments.

Have A Beautiful Wedding in Mexico!

2010-07-02T07:46:00.003-04:00

Whether you want to have a festive destination wedding or a secluded honeymoon escape, Mexico has everything you want and need. From a practical standpoint, Mexico offers myriad options that combine the wedding ceremony and honeymoon, in some cases at a fraction of the cost of a traditional wedding. All-inclusives abound, making it more affordable for you and your guests. Here are some of the best locations to consider for your wedding or honeymoon.

Riviera Nayarit
Mexico’s newest resort destination is continuing to grow by leaps and bounds, and the wedding and honeymoon packages are extraordinary. The region extends along the entire coast of the Pacific state of Nayarit including the resorts of Nuevo Vallarta, the historic colonial town of San Blas, exclusive Punta Mita, picturesque fishing villages, miles of serene beaches and spectacular Banderas Bay. With 100 miles of golden sand beaches just north of the Puerto Vallarta airport on the Pacific coast of Mexico, Riviera Nayarit offers couples a beach getaway with endless activities and entertainment. There is something for everyone—nature, adventure, culture, history, spas, dining, entertainment, shopping, beaches and plenty of sun. Construction on new hotels is underway including top brands such as Park Hyatt,Capella, Grupo Vidanta, Iberostar and Grand Hyatt over the next two years.

Cancun
Planning a wedding or honeymoon may only be a few years removed from their own spring break adventures in Cancun, but be assured that this destination has plenty to offer for couples. In fact, each year nearly 5,000 couples head to Cancun to have a destination wedding. Located on the northeastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula and bordered by the Caribbean Sea and tranquil Nichupte Lagoon, Cancun boasts a 16-mile stretch of beach filled with numerous hotels, from four-star luxury to group-friendly all-inclusives. As everyone knows, when the sun goes down, Cancun lights up. Rock, jazz, Latin, salsa and reggae seep from numerous clubs and discos. For a quieter scene, the newly married couple may prefer to check out the more sophisticated lobby bars of hotels for flamenco and jazz. Another good option is dinner cruises offering music and dancing on the waves.

Riviera Maya
Close to Cancún, this 81-mile-long stretch of powdery white beaches on Mexico’s Caribbean coast still feels enchantingly remote and is a good choice for young couples who may be weaning themselves off the Cancun club scene. (Should they get the urge, however, Cancun is only an hour away.) Plus, Riviera Maya’s own Playa del Carmen has plenty of restaurants, cafés and bars to keep you occupied when you feel like being part of the crowd. However, for wedding and honeymoon couples, low-key pleasures are this destination’s big selling point. In Playacar, just minutes from Playa del Carmen, couples find the perfect combination of the leisure and romance of a private hotel zone with 12 different hotel options to enjoy a wedding and honeymoon on the beach. Each resort here has its own unique tropical style and amenities. Other options include the quieter, more nature-oriented Tulum or Punta Maroma, where smaller, luxe resorts and spas offer more personalized service and amenities.

Los Cabos
Here in this Pacific Coast resort area, you can have your ceremony on the beach, on a yacht, in a private villa or a golf clubhouse, even while scuba diving. For the more traditional couples, several resorts have wedding chapels. Los Cabos comprises two very different, very picturesque towns surrounded by desert and sea: to the northeast, San Jose del Cabo, a mission town established in the 18th century and still charming; and at the southern tip, Cabo San Lucas, whose shops, restaurants and nightclubs rock around the clock. Its most notable landmark—and the perfect background for photos—is El Arco, a rock arch at the tip of Land’s End, where thePacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortes.

Puerto Vallarta
Nestled between the lush jungles of the Sierra MadreMountains and one of the most alluring stretches of the Mexican Pacific coast, Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico’s top wedding destinations renowned for its white sand beaches, warm blue waters and stunning sunsets. Whether a couple is looking for an intimate romantic seaside wedding, or a weekend-long fiesta, Vallarta is a good bet. There is also a sense of Mexican culture that may be missing from some of the other resort areas. Puerto Vallarta, despite recent growth, retains its distinct small-town pueblo feel with cobblestone streets, friendly faces and its bustling Malecón (ocean walk), which continues to be a center of social activity for the locals. Traditional mariachi music is often an intrinsic element of a wedding in Vallarta, be it on a beach, in a chapel, or on the edge of the sea.

Romantic Settings
With properties in all of Mexico’s top resort destinations, the Unlimited-Luxury Dreams Resorts & Spas provide the perfect seaside settings to tie the knot in paradise. Each luxurious getaway offers guests pristine beaches, superior service and lavish accommodations. The onsite professional wedding coordinators assure that every detail is simply perfect. And here’s a bonus: Currently, couples who reserve at least seven nights in the required room category at the Dreams Resort & Spa of their choosing will receive a complimentary Wedding in Paradise or Eternity HoneymoonPackage. Both of these packages include the chance to earn free nights toward a return stay over their first anniversary.

Couples planning ahead may be interested to learn more about two upcoming impressive properties on the Riviera Maya. Sol Melia’s Paradisus Playa del Carmen andParadisus Xaman, a name inspired by the indigenous Mayan word for the area, will be located in Riviera Maya’s Playa del Carmen enclave on Mexico’s eastern shore. Facilities and amenities for Paradisus Playa del Carmen include 534 suites, 122 of which are Royal Service and two Presidential; six restaurants, five bars and a signature Gabi Beach Club. The Paradisus Xaman will feature 325 suites including two Presidential suites—most notably 120 Family Concierge suites which allow for two & three bedroom suite configurations (perfect for bridal parties and family members). For those couples looking to celebrate their special day nearer in the future, Sol Melia also has eight other resort properties currently in operation in Mexico, many of which are all-inclusive.

Because of the natural beauty of Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso’s surroundings, it’s the perfect place for couples to pledge their love. The decor, the beach, the food, all make this Riviera Maya resort the ideal place to get married. A wedding coordinator will take care of everything from the bride’s bouquet and the groom’s boutonnière, to the cake, and even reservations to an a la carte restaurant. This adults-only, superior all-inclusive is just one of 10 Iberostar properties in Mexico where your clients can have an unforgettable wedding and/or honeymoon.

Rules & Regulations
Most Mexican resorts can handle all wedding arrangements, from paperwork to details like flowers and photography. In Mexico, only civil wedding ceremonies are legal; these are officiated by a Justice of the Peace.

For the ceremony, the couple will both need certified copies of their birth certificates that have been previously legalized by theConsulate of Mexico with jurisdiction over the country of birth.

Couples also must bring identification cards or passports and tourist cards. A blood test is also required.

The couple must also have two witnesses over age 18 who will need to bring ID as well as copies of the ID. It is also recommended that couples bring two copies of all their documentation.

Also, they should plan to be in the country five days before the ceremony to take care of translation of documents. Be sure to check with the hotel’s wedding coordinator before the wedding as regulations are subject to change.

As with the U.S., each state in Mexico has its own marriage laws so some regulations may vary from state to state.

101 Reasons to Use A Travel Agent

2010-06-13T12:50:00.001-04:00

1. Convenient One-Stop Shopping - Travel agents can handle every aspect of your trip from airline tickets to lodging, ground transportation, activities, tours and more.

2. Consumer Advocate - If you should have a problem during your trip, travel agents can act on your behalf to see that proper restitutions are made.

3. Expert Guidance -Travel agents are experts in helping travelers get where they need to go and in helping to create possibilities most people never would have dreamed were possible.

4. Save Time - Avoid the headaches and let the travel agents call around and do all the time consuming work of planning a complex itinerary.

5. Choice - Travel agents offer you an array of options and price quotes from a variety of travel suppliers, giving you the upper hand when making your final travel decisions.

6. Less Stress - Planning a trip can be stressful. There are so many options and details to worry about. Travel agents do the work, resulting in less stress for you.

7. Updated Information - Travel agents are constantly communicating with the travel community, thus giving you the most up to date info on airlines, hotels, car rental agencies, travel visas, and other travel services to consider as you plan your trip.

8. Customer Service - Travel agents offer that “personal touch” to your travel planning experience- Offering help and advice that a website cannot provide.

9. Travel Documentation - Travel agents can help you to prepare and organize any necessary documents that you may need in order to travel outside of the country. They can direct you to your local passport office, and they know where you need a visa, as well as any other documentation that you might need along the way.

10. Travel Expertise - Many travel agents are considered experts in the area you are traveling to and have probably already been to your chosen destination.

11. Best Value for Your Money Spent - Travel agents can help you to make your dollars go farther while you are away. They have access to finding all sorts of deals ranging from flights to hotels to dinner recommendations.

12. Location, Location, Location!!!! - Travel Specialists can help you to find a place to stay pretty much anywhere you desire. If it’s a hotel with a view of the ocean in Hawaii or a jungle hut in the Nilgiri foothills, a travel agent can help you make it happen.

13. Knowledge of All the Ins and Outs - Travel specialists can help bring you up to speed on the local laws and regulations of wherever your travels take you.

14. Credentials - Travel agents attend all sorts of seminars and classes to prepare themselves for trip requests like yours.

15. Tourist Attractions -Travel agents can give you a list of all the not-to-miss spots: such as amusement parks, museums, nature preserves, and historical locations.

16. Avoid International Flight Confusion - Travel specialists can help organize those confusing international flights that internet search engines don’t cover.

17. Where to Go With Kids - Travel agents can help you to find great locations that are kid- friendly.

18. Trip Cancellation - Something has come up and you need to cancel your trip? If you have used a travel agent they are the only person you need to call.

19. Travel Insurance - With all the countless options for travel insurance these days, it can become confusing. A travel agent can help you pick which package works best for your needs.

20. Personalized Trips - A travel agent can prepare you a personalized trip based on where you want to go and what you want to do.

21. Where to Go to Avoid Kids - Want to go somewhere without children running all over the place? A travel agent can help you to find excellent retreats that are open to adults only.

22. Good Senior Trips - Need a trip with a good balance of sight-seeing, rest and relaxation? Travel agents can help lucky retirees plan great extended trips that are senior-friendly.

23. Student Discounts - Some travel agents are an excellent go- to source for students looking to go on discounted trips.

24. Exotic Adventures - Travel experts can help to recommend great once in a lifetime experiences. They can help you to find the best/safest shark cages to dive into and the highest free-fall bungees to jump off.

25. Great Deals without Sitting at a Time Share Presentation - Want an affordable trip to Florida without having to sit through a timeshare presentation? A travel agent can help you to exceptional deals without the stipulations.

26. What to Eat - Where are all the top chefs at your destination? Travel specialists give great advice on the best restaurants to hit on your trip.

27. What Not to Eat - Leaving your home country and not familiar with the new language? Travel agents can help give you some forewarnings so you don’t accidently order the local delicacy (which may or may not be specially prepared bugs) without meaning to.

28. Local Traditions - Travel specialists can update you on all local traditions and customs of places you are visiting, so you make a good impression. For example, in Japan many people expect their visitors to take their shoes off before entering their homes.

29. Local Laws - Many countries have laws that are very different from your own. Travel agents can help give you a quick rundown of what you need to be aware of before you go.

30. Busiest Travel Times to Avoid - If you want a quiet trip, travel experts know what dates you should avoid and can help you plan your trip accordingly.

31. Avoid Unexpected Expenses -Travel agents will be able to inform you about expenses you will incur on your trip, even ones you might never expect.

32. Exchange Rate Knowledge - Travel agents are knowledgeable of the countries where your dollar can go further.

33. Useful Travel Books to Have with You - A travel expert can give you advice on what travel books are the most useful to have with you. Some of these books list restaurants, customs, and small amounts of the local language.

34. List of Not- to- Miss Places - Travel specialists can give you a great list of not- to- miss hikes, waterfalls, and cliffs that may or may not be published elsewhere.

35. What to Wear - Many restaurants have different types of dress codes. If you are interested in dining at specific places on your trip, your travel expert can advise you on appropriate dress wear for the occasion.

36. What Not to Wear - Travel agents can help you to be in the know of local dress code restrictions. So if a thong is part of your favorite beachwear, you should know that they are illegal in places like the Isle of Palms.

37. Crime Rates - Travel experts are great at informing you about questionable parts of town that you may be heading to and can give you tips on what to look out for.

38. Someone to Call if Having a Problem During Your Trip - An online travel agency is not going to answer the phone when you call with any complications during your trip. A travel agent continues to give you that personal support even while you are away.

39. When You Shouldn’t Drink the Water - We are always told when you travel be careful of the water. Travel agents can advise you on when it is safe and when it’s not safe to drink the water.

40. Small Intercontinental Flights Delayed – What to do? - Travel agents can help you find somewhere to stay when you are left helpless at an airport overnight due to flight delays.

41. Saves You Precious Time on Your Trip - To avoid 36 hours in the airport, your travel expert can help plan your trip so your time spent getting to where you want to go is the shortest it can be.

42. Anticipating Trouble - Travel agents are extremely useful if you are planning a trip to a known weather troubled area such as the hurricane plagued Caribbean islands. In the event of a natural disaster, your travel agent can work to immediately reschedule or cancel your trip so there are no worries for you.

43. Complicated Itineraries Made Simple - Travel experts can take care of all the details for those complicated around the world itineraries and all the extra headaches that go with them, such as hotel and transportation along the way.

44. Special Needs Travelers -Travel specialists can prearrange any wheelchair or special need that someone in your travel party may have. They can also take the time to make sure your reserved accommodations are safe and easily accessible for the special needs traveler.

45. What to Pack - Some activities you choose to partake in may require different layers of clothing throughout the day. Your travel agent can advise you on what to bring. A bike trip down an extinct volcano in Hawaii for example, may require you to start out with jackets and wool socks, but when you get to the bottom you may be down to shorts and a tank top.

46. Let Them Wait on Hold - By using a travel agent you no longer have to wait on hold and talk to automated systems while trying to book different parts of your trip.

47. Business Concerns - If the airline you are scheduled to use goes on strike or bankrupt while you are traveling, your travel agent can work to find you alternate travel means while you continue to relax at the hotel.

48. Transportation in Smaller Countries - Travel agents can arrange all your transportation and travel needs, especially in those smaller countries where you may not know if cabs or van services are safe.

49. Group Hotel Reservations - Travel agents can help to keep everyone in your group on the same floor at a hotel.

50. Charter Private Boating Trips - Travel specialists can help you to avoid paying top dollar for chartered snorkeling or fishing trips for large groups. They can often find great deals for large groups who want to do personalized tours.

51. Immunizations That May Be Needed - To enter certain countries you may be required to obtain certain immunizations first. Your travel expert can advise you on the steps you need to take.

52. Special Deals Worked Out in Advance - Travel agents may have a relationship with certain tour operators and could be able to get you a special price that might not otherwise be available.

53. Make Travel Meaningful for Children - Travel agents can offer information about kid-friendly activities on your trip to make the experience exciting and meaningful for everyone.

54. Where to Shop - Travel agents can offer excellent advice on great shopping neighborhoods in your destination city.

55. Avoid Scams - Not all 5 star hotels are treated equally. Many times photos are outdated and information about the hotel you are considering may not be true. Travel agents can make sure that what you are seeing beforehand is what you get.

56. What You Can Buy Later - New airline restrictions make packing for long trips hard. Travel experts can give you advice on what you might be able to purchase while you are on your trip to avoid having excess weight in your luggage beforehand.

57. Advice on Where to Go if You Get Sick - If you happen to be unfortunate enough to get hurt or fall ill while on your trip, your travel agent can help you find somewhere clean and safe for medical attention.

58. Trust - If you should have any questions after booking your trip, you know how to reach your travel agent and can avoid the confusing FAQ section on a website.

59. You Know How to Reach Them When You Need Them - Problems at the airport? Reservation issues at the hotel? Your travel agent is a phone call away from getting your problem solved.

60. Tips and Tricks - How early do you really need to be at the airport? What are the quickest ways to get through security? Your travel expert can advise you of the airport security levels the day of your trip and any new security checkpoints you may have to worry about.

61. Is the Upgrade Worth It? - Your travel expert can help you save money by helping you decide if certain upgrades at hotels are really worth the extra money.

62. Difference in Days to Save Money - Instead of playing around with dates on the internet for hours, your travel agent can advise you on any changes to your travel dates that might save you hundreds of dollars.

63. Staying In-the-Know of Daily Promotions - Travel agents get emails and faxes of daily money saving promotions.

64. Enhancing the Trip with Extra Amenities -Your travel specialist may be able to arrange for those little extras- like a bottle of champagne to be waiting in your room when you arrive.

65. Using Clout in Impossible Situations - Whether it is airline seats, cruise reservations, or overbooked activities travel experts have more buying power than the average consumer.

64. Clarifying the Fine Print -Your travel agent can advise you of all the cancelation penalties and restrictions hidden in the fine print of your travel documents.

65. Detailed Itineraries -Your travel expert can help you plan out your trip day- by -day to give you a good mix of fun and relaxation.

66. Advice on Activities to Book Beforehand - A travel expert can forewarn you of any activities that tend to sell out early so there are no unexpected disappointments when you are there. For example, character dining in Disney sells out months in advance.

67. General Ideas on Where to Go - A travel expert can offer excellent trip advice based on the details of what type of trip you want to take. Internet booking sites tend to require a destination up front.

68. A Trip to Nowhere…Sort of - Want to get away to somewhere that is not normally a vacation hot spot? Your travel specialist can help you find that perfect place.

69. Great Singles Trips - A travel agent can help find you exciting singles trips and cruises.

70. What to Pack - Your travel expert can give you great advice on what to pack to those exotic destinations.

71. Plan a Trip Where you Bring the Kids but Can Still Get Some Alone Time - Many cruises and resorts now offer activities throughout the day for young children that make the day fun for them and give you some time to yourself. Travel experts can help you find great family destination options such as these.

72. Higher Productivity Benefits - You have your trip planned while you are hard at work in the office.

73. You Get to be the Boss - You get to tell someone what to do for a change.

74. Great Group Trips - Trying to organize a trip for big group of people? A travel expert can help get all the details finalized and update everyone in the group.

75. Someone to Complain to - If that slim chance were to occur that you do not get what you were promised, you have a real person to go back and complain to. Travel agents will work hard to rectify the matter.

76. They Are Considered Travel Experts and Specialists - Wouldn’t you rather have a travel expert plan your trip rather than a preprogrammed website?

77. Best Pre-Seat Assignments Possible - Travel agents can talk directly with the airline to arrange for you to get the seats with the most leg room, seats that might not otherwise be released until the day of the flight.

78. Mapping Routes Out Ahead of Time - Not really good at reading maps? A good travel expert can help you to map out any basic directions you might need on your trip ahead of time.

79. Family with 3 Small Children and Only Want 1 Room? - A travel expert might be able to find a way to help a family with small children get around the hotel policies of only 4 to a room.

80. Help, I’m Lost!!!!!! - If you should get lost somewhere along the way, your travel agent could be a good outlet for help.

81. It just Makes Sense to Use a Travel Agent.

82. They’re Out There… Use Them - Why do the work if someone else like a travel specialist can.

83. Possibility of a Free Gift - Some travel agents offer free incentives. Who doesn’t like the possibility of free presents?

84. Even if the Internet Goes Down Your Trip Can Still Be Planned - Your travel agent is still getting your trip planned even if your internet at home or at the office is not working.

85. Back-up Distributor of Documents - You can give your travel agent a copy of all your travel documents so if anything were to get lost you have someone to call that can send copies.

86. Because We Said So - Our business is to help you find a qualified travel specialist.

87. What to Expect on the Flight - Your travel expert can give you helpful answers on what to expect long flights to be like, and maybe some interesting activities to do while flying.

88. It is Their Job - Travel agents actually work to get different accreditations to increase their qualifications as a travel expert.

89. Lost Baggage - If the airline should lose your baggage, your travel agent can get on the phone and make sure the airline works as quickly as they can to solve the problem allowing you to at least go relax at the hotel.

90. Travel Agents Must Be Doing Something Right. They Sure Have a lot of Business - Travel agents still sell 51 percent of all airline tickets, 87 percent of all cruises, 81 percent of all tours and packages, 45 percent of all car rentals and about 47 percent of all hotels. *

91. Don’t Like Letter Writing? - A good travel agent will send a letter to the airline or hotel for you if you should have a bad flight or poor service at a hotel.

92. Sound Important When Talking About Your Trip - After a bragging about a great trip to coworkers or the neighbors, and they ask how you got all those details organized you can say, “My agent did it.”

93. Forbidden Fruit - Your travel agent can forewarn you of items not allowed to be brought back into the United States. –Yes, you have to smoke those Cuban cigars before you leave to come home and you can’t bring that “rattling rose apple” back with you from India!

94. Financial Planning - Travel experts can help you to create a budget to stick to while you are on your trip, so you can have a good time and not break the bank.

95. Good Babysitters - Travel experts might be able to help you find a local babysitter in the area you are traveling to if you want to plan a night out alone.

96. Good Lounge Recommendations - Travel specialists can help you decide if purchasing access to an airline lounge is worth it or not.

97. Good Airport Hangouts - Travel agents travel a lot. They can probably help you figure out what to do with that extra time you have in an airport after getting through security.

98. Where to Watch Your Wallet More Carefully - Although you should always take extra care to hold onto your wallet when traveling, travel agents can warn you if pick-pocketing is common at your future destination.

99. What to Put in the Hotel Safe - Travel agents can give you good advice on what you should be keeping in that hotel safe while you are out exploring the sites so there is nothing important missing when you return.

100. Altering Your Travel Arrangements - If you have already booked your trip but want to change some details your travel agency can help get all the necessary steps done, leaving you without the headache and confusion.

101. It Makes Traveling Easy - Once you find a good travel agent, your dream vacation is just a phone call away.

*Source: American Society of Travel Agents

10 Myths About Travel Agents

2010-06-13T10:52:00.003-04:00

1. Myth: All Travel Agents and Agencies are the Same
Fact: Every travel agent is different and has a different area that they specialize in. So, depending on what type of trip you are looking to take one travel agent will suit you better than another. That’s why it is important when planning a trip to find a travel agent that specializes in where you want to go.

2. Myth: No One Uses Travel Agents Anymore
Fact: Travel agents still sell 51 percent of all airline tickets, 87 percent of all cruises, 81 percent of all tours and packages, 45 percent of all car rentals and about 47 percent of all hotels.

3. Myth: Travel Agents are Trying to Cheat Me if They Don’t Quote Me the Cheapest Price
Fact: Travel agents know the ins and outs of different itineraries. While you might find one that is a little bit cheaper, that cheaper itinerary might involve a whole slew of headaches. For example, longer waits at the airport and odd travel times. A travel agent will be looking to get you the best value for you money spent which should include the most direct and time friendly itinerary they can find. – Unless you have told them you would prefer to have the cheaper options presented as well expect value to be a factor included in the trip they plan.

4. Myth: It is Expensive to Use a Travel Agent
Fact: The fee a travel agent charges really depends upon the agent. While some of the more luxury agencies have higher fees, the average fee is quite marginal. Some travel agents will even drop the fee or offer a discount once you have finalized your trip with them. Plus, you can always ask an agent upfront what their fees are and decide for yourself if it’s worth it. Also, it is important to remember that a lot of online booking sites, such as Orbitz and Expedia, charge a booking fee as well.

5. Myth: I Can Easily Book the Same Trip on My Own Without Using A Travel Agent.
Fact: Although travel agents have access to all of the same outlets you would use when looking to book travel, they also have access to exclusive pricing and package deals that are most times not available to the public. Your travel agent also has more leverage in helping out in situations such as hotels claiming to be booked, when in fact they may still have rooms available that are on hold for travel agents reservations. So when everyone else is telling you “No” your travel agent can help turn that to a “Yes.”

6. Myth: Travel Agents Don’t Have Information as Updated as the Internet
Fact: Travel agents obtain some of their information from the same sources as online booking sites such as Orbitz and Travelocity. They also receive daily emails and faxes with new specials from resorts and hotels that may not be published on the internet. Travel agents can also call a place directly to see if they can work out other kinds of special deals for you, something an online site can’t do.

7. Myth: Travel Agents Are a Waste of Time
Fact: Although you can find much of the same information that the travel agent provides for you on your own, you are going to spend a lot of valuable time doing so. A travel agent can actually save you from hours of painful research and price comparison shopping. They have up to date prices, hotel conditions, and interesting new activities. Their prior knowledge and experience gives them the upper hand in trip planning.

8. Myth: Travel Agents Have Lost Their Clout
Fact: Travel agents book hotels, cruises, and activities every day. The companies that provide these services know that and want their business and will work to keep that business coming back. So while a place might be telling you “Sorry we are booked,” for your one time trip, they are more likely to make an acceptation for the travel agent to insure that the agent sends them more business in the future.

9. Myth: Good Travel Agents are Hard to Find
Fact: While there are some below par travel agents out there, sources such as Tripology are great outlets to go to find reliable specialized travel agents that will match your needs.

10. Myth: Travel Agents Can Only Book My Flight and Hotel
Fact: Travel agents can arrange car service, personalized tours and activities, in addition to all the basic travel services they provide. They are also excellent sources of information concerning good restaurants, good sites to see, and tips on what to pack.

*Source: American Society of Travel Agents

Why You Should Use A Travel Agent Instead of the Web!

2010-06-06T12:48:00.002-04:00

The common reason many folks don't call Travel Agents today is they believe they save money by doing it themselves on the web - NOT TRUE!

You pay a commission to Travelocity, Hotwire and Expedia within the price they quote you. You don't pay any commission to Travel Agents, AND Travel Agents are often able to get you BETTER DEALS because of the special arrangements we have with travel consolidators.

PLUS, you get PERSONAL SERVICE - SOMEONE TO TALK TO! We can tailor your vacation, your trip, your special event, your group booking - ALL TO YOUR PERSONAL NEEDS! We listen to you and help make your travel dreams a reality.

A Personal Web Agency Horror Tale!

A few years ago, we booked our own trip on the travel web site Travelocity. We arrived in Cancun at 10 PM on a Saturday Evening to find the resort was NOT on the beach as promised, the pool was closed and had green water, the room was full of bugs, the door wouldn't lock and overall it was not even a One-star resort, it was a dump! We called TRAVELOCITY to be told we had to call back Monday between 8am and 5pm to speak with someone. It was very disappointing and ruined our vacation! It was then that we decided, as much as we travel, we were going to open our own travel agency to help others enjoy their vacations, and stay in great family resorts, so that they don't experience what we did!

A Honeymoon ruined by Travelocity - Click on this MSNBC Story: Travelocity Goof-up!

OUR GOAL: We want to help arrange your stay in GREAT RESORTS AFFORDABLY - Giving you the BEST VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY, and, so you don't make all the mistakes that we made! We want you to have a memorably vacation at a price you can afford within your budget! Let us help you plan an exciting family vacation . . . AND. . once you have a great vacation, we want you to please tell all your friends and family - that's how we will grow!

The most important point is - WE ARE HERE FOR YOU if you have a problem! If you are on your trip and need help, we are there for you 24/7. We don't tell you to call us back between Mon-Fri during office hours. We help you arrange side strips, tours, and points of interest you didn't know existed. Having a Family Reunion? We can arrange a memorable Vacation Resort or Cruise package personally tailored to your interests. Let us help turn your vacation dreams into memorable vacation experiences!

We hope you will choose MELODYFARMS TRAVEL - however, no matter what, talk with a travel agent BEFORE YOU BOOK ON THE WEB!

Visit us at http://www.melodyfarmstravel.com/ for more details on how we work for you.

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