Archive for July, 2010

Why should you hire a professional travel agent?

Travel | Posted by admin
Jul 12 2010
travel

Why should you hire a professional travel agent?

Written by Marie Glodt Travel to Maui

 

In the age of the internet I am frequently asked “do people still use a travel agent?”

My response is “the smart ones do!” 

 

In my years in the travel industry I have found just because something looks good online doesn’t mean that it is going to actually look like that when you check in.

 

 I have noticed that the photos you see online are seldom what you can expect when you check in! 

Internet photos are frequently taken at “low tide” (when the beach looks empty of people and is at its largest point) or when the room has been recently renovated (but they don’t tell you that not all the rooms look like that, or that last renovation was 5 years ago).

 

As a travel professional I make it my job to actually tour, inspect and stay at every property we offer our clients.

 

Working with a travel expert who specializes in your destination will make your travel plans stress free and the vacation of a life time!

 

“Being a Hawaiian Destination Specialist, and a resident of  Maui, Hawaii allows me to know the best properties to fit your tastes and budget.”

 

“When creating your customized quote we work with the top rated discounted wholesalers to get you the best value on your travel package to Paradise.”

 

The extra benefit of working with a Hawaiian Travel agent would be our contacts with the management of the property you will be staying. We can also provide tours and excursions to complete your travel plans prior to your arrival in the islands.

 

 Still thinking of shopping online? Please check out these quotes below!

·        “The time an agency spends on your behalf may be worth any fees you’ll have to pay.” Frommer’s Hawaii  
·        “A competent agent takes the time to listen to what you want, and then makes recommendations based on your needs. In fact, good travel agents don’t consider themselves agents at all, but “specialists in a destination or travel type.” “They can get you information that can’t be found on the Web. They listen more than they speak and then wow you with the perfect trip!”   
·        “The right travel agent that will save you the most money will have a few distinct traits. First, the travel agent will ask you tons of questions about your plans, travel itinerary, preferences, and flexibility. The travel agent that asks these questions will have a better chance of finding you deals that you can work with!”
·        “Without a travel agent you are on your own!”  “Asta”

 

 

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Complete Bio For Eric Shuman Del Rey Travel

Travel | Posted by admin
Jul 09 2010
travel

Eric Shuman Talks About Del Rey Travel

Eric Shuman has devoted most of his life to making dream vacations affordable for everyone.

Having been in the Travel Business and Timeshare Industry for over 21 years, Eric’s expertise and passion for vacations is unsurpassed.

A native of Philadelphia, Eric grew up wanting to travel the world. Yet every time he shared this dream with others, he was told that “only rich people travel.” To which Eric would then say, “Then I guess I have to do something about that as well.” And he did.

Over the last 13 years, Eric has opened up Travel Club offices in over 20 different cities nationwide including Napa, CA., Fresno, CA., Las Vegas, NV., Miami Beach, FL., Austin, TX., Philadelphia PA. , San Francisco, CA., Scottsdale, AZ., and Valencia, CA..

Never heard of a Travel Club before? Well, don’t worry, it’s a fairly new concept, and yet has been around for over a decade. The reason most people never heard of Travel Clubs is that they don’t typically advertise in normal media, such as television, newspapers and magazines. Rather they’ll invite couples to be their guest at a 90 minute presentation and offer them some form of a “travel gift” as a way of compensation for their time and consideration.

Eric says, “We use the best gifts in the industry but they have restrictions. People don’t like that they’re not going to show up and just get two airline tickets to fly anywhere. But after 9/11, that’s just not going to happen. And we could give them a stack of movie tickets or a new television, but we’re looking to attract people who like to travel and take vacations.”

Unfortunately there have been a lot of unscrupulous companies that have given the travel industry a bad name. Eric’s goal is to try and change that reputation, and show everyone that it is possible to run a Travel Club that is both reputable and profitable. Eric says, “Even timeshare, at some of the best resorts, have left a bad taste with many consumers. I like to think we’re the next generation of timeshare. We’ve kept all the positive aspects of timeshare, and removed all the negatives.”

Eric Shuman’s Travel Club Destination Vacations International, Del Rey Travel has over 100,000 members. They get amazing discounts on any and all travel, with the exception of airfare. The airlines are so competitive that margins are small; there’s just not a lot of savings to get. “We’re a full service travel agent. We’ll do all the research, book you an amazing vacation, and save you a ton of money,” Eric says. “I like to think we’re old school. Remember when all the travel agents were in the malls? They were professionals we’d all look up to with respect. Now everyone thinks they can do it themselves, on the internet. Unfortunately, they end up with lousy vacations, spending way too much on their accommodations, and have no money left over to have fun, go out to nice restaurants, and buy something fun to remember their trip. But not our members, they’re spoiled, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Eric’s belief is that too many kids are growing up without ever going on a vacation. And with the economy, many people just can’t afford them. Eric went on to say, “Some of my best memories in life were going on vacation with my parents. I’ll never forget them as long as I live. And yet I hear too many people say that they just quit vacationing, that it’s a luxury that they just can’t afford. After I heard that, that’s when I said, I want to do something about it.”

To join a DVI travel club, you must pay an initial membership fee, a one- time registration fee, and then a nominal annual payment. After that, you get a full service travel agent booking all of your travel at cost. DVI provides assistance with hotels, cruises, all-inclusives, and just about anything and everything in the travel industry.

Eric smiles, “I sell fun. I think it’s important for families to have some quality time together. And I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like to vacation, do you?”
Del Rey Travel

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Traveling at the Right Time of Year Costs Less

Travel | Posted by admin
Jul 09 2010
travel

The best time to travel is in the holidays, right? Not if you want to make big savings on your traveling costs it’s not. If you travel in off peak (or low season) periods, or even in the shoulder season, you’ll find traveling costs a lot less.

 

Where are you traveling? Do you know the peak travel times for this destination? Summer and spring, no matter where you are, are generally considered the peak seasons to travel, unless you are a winter sports enthusiast. In that case, ski resorts will be having their peak season in winter. And what hemisphere are you thinking of visiting? The seasons differ depending on whether you are north or south. For example, the North America summer months are June, July, August but in Australia the summer months are December, January and February. You will need to research your destination to find out the low season times to visit.

 

First of all, what type of savings can you expect to make if you travel in the off-peak season? 

1. Air fares are much cheaper. There are less people wanting to fly so air carriers drop their prices to attract customers. Take advantage of these great savings. If you are traveling in the high season, see if you can book a flight mid-week. These flights are generally cheaper too.

2. Accommodation is cheaper and more readily available. In high season it can be difficult to find a place to stay in popular tourist destinations and when you do find somewhere it can be up to twice as much as when traveling in the off peak.

3. Eating in restaurants can be cheaper too. Owners will be trying to attract patrons so see what sort of deals you can find when eating out.

 

There are some other positives to traveling in the off peak season, other than saving money. There are fewer tourists for one, so visiting any cultural sight will be much more enjoyable. You can get more of an idea of what a destination is really like without the thousands of extra people. Experiencing the true culture is a real bonus. Did you know that opera season is in full swing in Europe in winter? Or that winter in Australia is often the best time to visit places in the north when the humidity and heat are bearable. Or how about visiting the best holiday markets in Germany in December? Do some research to find out what your chosen destination can offer in off peak, ones that you won’t experience in high season travel times.

 

So what are the negatives of traveling in the off peak? Well there are a few, but if you plan well you can overcome most drawbacks. Off peak usually means traveling in colder weather and that also means less daylight hours. Pack wisely and remember to dress in layers for the cold weather. Some tourist places close earlier or do not open at all in the off peak, so check up before you go so you are not disappointed. You will also find that in some areas the public transport system does not run as often as in peak tourist season. Find out what options you have to get to places and don’t be caught out missing the last bus home in the middle of winter, in the middle of nowhere! Some hotels and museums close down for the winter to re-furbish and get ready for the next high season influx of tourists. You can gamble and bargain your way to a great accommodation deal once you get to your destination, but all your bartering skills will be of no use if the hotels are all closed. It’s best to check what’s open before you go.

 

If traveling in the off-peak doesn’t sound attractive to you, then you might like to try the shoulder season and still get some travel price reductions. The shoulder season is considered the period leading up to and away from the high season. Usually in this time you’ll get decent weather, less crowds and lower travel costs – not the great bargains you’ll get in off peak, but lower costs nonetheless.

 

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

www.stuartstravel.com

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