Looking for The Bargain

Now more than anytime in my travel professional life, people are looking for the “hot” deal. Whether an airline ticket, hotel stay, cruise, resort vacation, or combination of the above.

For many years I have preached about the woes of booking online. But some still want to go that route. So now, I have a vehicle for you to do that and earn a commission for yourself as well as finding that “bargain” you have always wanted.

The online site is called Blastoff. This is a giant online shopping mall with over 400 stores and services. The Travel section of the Mall has every online booking company you can imagine. As well as car rentals, luggage, hotels, etc. Here is the address to access this site:
ppl.blastoffnetwork.com/sharoncemerson53

Put that into your browser, watch the videos explaining the site and sign up for FREE!!

When you get your login that will be similar to mine except with your name after the /, send emails to everyone to you know and have them sign up on your site. Now you are making money from your purchases and their purchases, as well.

Why waste your gas, your time, and get all frustrated when you can shop in your PJ’s? So grab that cup of coffee and go shopping – online!!!

But never forget, sometimes you may need a Certified Travel Agent for guidance, and you can call me.
866-367-7657

Happy Shopping and Traveling.

I Can Do It Myself!!! Thanks, anyway.

No matter what I say, some people just want to “do it themselves”. I think that is where the lumber yards and hardware store came up with the “Do it yourself” slogan. It is almost like a 2 year old wanting to dress themselves!! Just in our nature to be independent.
If that is you and you like to book your own travel, well go right ahead. But know this, if you are on your own, it can can expensive and uncomfortable.

Here is a new site to book on. Go to ppl.blastoffnetwork.com/sharoncemerson53.
Sign up, it is FREE, really FREE. Book your travel there and get a commission as well as deeper discounts than you get on the 1,000# Gorillas. Check it out. Then give your login in, which is like mine except for your name and number, to everyone you know and have them do the same. The more people you sign up, the more commissions you make, the more you can travel!!!
A win win for everyone.

Check it out.

What is a Travel Agent?

Having just completed ANOTHER training seminar, the thought crossed my mind, that the public has no idea what a travel agent is or does or doesn’t do.  So here is a list for starters:

• I have advanced degrees in accounting, public relations, marketing, business building, computer science, civil engineering and all languages of the world.
• Of course I remember the reservation you booked 6 years ago, even though you don’t have a confirmation number and you think it was made under a last name that begins with a T.
• It is no problem for me to give you 7 connecting non-smoking poolside suites with 2 king beds and 4 rollaways in each.  And yes, it is my fault the hotel does not have a helicopter pad.
• I speak all languages and have visited every destination
• It is obvious to me when you book your reservation for Friday, you really mean Saturday.
• I have been entrusted with your financial information and yet I can’t tell you why your hotel bill for March had a 50 cent phone call because, of course, you shouldn’t have to pay for calls.
• I do understand that Joe Blow, Inc is a vast empire and will make or break my agency
• Yes, I am lying when I say there are no seats left on the airplane at the lowest price.
• No, it is not a problem for me to quickly construct several more gueest rooms at the hotel you want and this time I will not forget the helicopter landing pad.
• I am capable of checking fares for 3 people, taking 5 reservations and answering 15 calls simultaneously.
• I do know exactly what to do in all cities without spending money.
• I take full responsibility for airline food (or lack thereof), traffic jams, rental car flat tires, weather, hotel locations and the national economy.
• Of course I can fit you into the hotel at the special corporate rate because you are affiliated with the Blackburn North Lawn Bowling Club.
• I am never offended when I spend 10 hours researching a 12 day European itinerary only to hear you say you “booked it yourself over the internet and saved $30!!”  I also never gloat when you call back to say the rate was sold out or that you are stuck in the middle of Nowhere since they cancelled your flight and you cannot “call” your internet company to be reprotected on another flight.
• I love when people walk up to me at parties and out of the blue expect me to know the latest airfares from Melbourne to Ibiza via Bryon Bay, the Maldives and Nairobi off the top of my head.
• I love that everyone assumes I get to travel everywhere for free and when I do get to take advance of a perk, people act like it is a sin.  If you ask me to get you the rate at my “travel agent discount”, you would not be able to afford to go.
• Don’t bother telling me any dates or cities since I am a mind reader and already have the reservation in my crystal ball before me.
• I smiles, empathize, sympathize, console, cajole, up-sell, down-sell, cross-sell, perform, sing, dance, make coffee and fix the printer.
• In addition, I do not get any breaks during the day, start early, work late, stay awake all night worrying about your trip when you booked it yourself online.
• Sitting in hard chairs for hours learning about what hotels are remodeled, what new cruise ships are coming and old ones are going, and what each new destination in the world is offering visitors is my idea of a great day!  But I do it for YOU.

But, not to worry.  I love my business, I love my clients, I love to travel, and I love to teach about the best way to see the world before you leave it.  Please take a moment visit my web site and listen to my video.  It is an inexpensive way to travel.  www.cruiseandtourplanners.com

The Shake Out Has Begun

For several years now I have been preaching about the problems of booking travel online.  My regular clients have listened.  What I want to reach are the other travelers who think this is the only way to book travel.  The misconception is that using a travel professional costs a lot more.  Many of us do charge fees, but with that you are getting many years of knowledge and experience.

Now we are seeing cracks starting to happen with the online booking companies.  Last November 2 of the biggest cruise  booking companies went out of business.  Thousands of people were stuck with no travel and no refunds.  I didn’t see much in the news about this, but it should have been front page news.

Now this week I am reading about the online airline booking companies.  They also book cars, hotels and cruises.  Here is the information on the 1,000# Gorillas in the online booking business:

Expedia has been downgraded to neutral.  Their stock is now in single digits. Wall Street is predicting annual losses for Orbitz.  Travelzoo has posed a loss during last years 4th quarter. 

In the travel industry I have watched companies go bankrupt many times.  When we see things start to head down, we don’t book with that company any more.  Why would you entrust your travel dollars to someone who may not be around when you take your trip?

You should be buying tavel insurance agains default.  However, you need to buy it BEFORE the company is in bankruptcy.  Be very careful who you book travel with.  Use a travel professional who can “sniff” out the problems.  Someone who has been in the business longer than 5 years is the best.  I am very concerned that there may be many companies going out of business in the next few months.  I don’t have a crystal ball, but I do know signs to watch for.

Call me to help you as best I can so your dreams don’t turn into nightmares.

FACT OR FICTION BUYING TRAVEL?

From time to time I like to check travel blogs and particularly cruise blogs to see what is being said about my industry.  Statements of fact, are not always true.  Take for instance:

• “Travel agents don’t charge fees.”  True or false?  For many years this was true.  But when the airlines chopped off our commissions, those travel agencies who were still in business, began to charge fees to run airline tickets.  Now the cruise lines are beginning to chop off our commissions.  In order to stay in business, most of us are now charging fees for booking cruises.  The majority of hotels in other countries do not pay commissions, so now we are charging fees to do those bookings.  Researching these hotels takes many hours and many emails, faxes and phone calls.  We can no longer work for “the fun of it”. 
• “If you wait till the last minute, prices will go down.”  Fact or fiction?  This used to be true but no longer.  Start with the airlines,  If you can even get a seat waiting till the last minute, you will pay way more than if you booked at least 21 days in advance.  With the cruise lines, you may not even get on the ship.  The fewer cabins, the higher the price.  Depending on the season, resorts may not have space.  Waiting till the last minute, does NOT mean lower prices.
• “Booking your travel online will save you money.”  Fact or fiction?  In many cases you have no idea what you are doing.  A travel professional can give you advise on that airline, cruise line, and tour operator.  Perhaps they just filed bankruptcy or have cancelled routes.  With hotels the big issue is location, location, location.  The price has a definite relation to the location.  Some areas are down right dangerous.  Pay the fee and get good advise.
• “Always pay with a credit card so you can get a refund“.  Fact or fiction?  You best check your own credit card company.  Some give you 3 months to dispute a charge.  Some more some less.  Never expect the credit card company to ALWAYS give you a refund.  If you signed a credit card slip, you may not get your money back.  Check your credit card statement and be sure that the charge is from the supplier of travel, not the travel agency.  If it is the agency taking your credit card, a red flag should go up.  The agency may not be sending your money to the supplier. 
• “Travel agents only sell what they get bigger commissions on“.  Fact or fiction?   I can only speak for myself and my collegues that I know personally – FICTION.  We qualify our clients and sell them the travel plan that fits them.  This requires us to know about all kinds of ways to see the world.  We are experienced travelers and have proper certifications.  I am sure that there are agents out there who put commissions above what is best for their clients.  Talk to me for the best service.

When I was in Jr. High School, I had a teacher who had never married.  She seemed very old to us at that time.  She taught my Home Economics class.  She has lots of advise on being married and having children!!!  This is exactly what is happening with some of these travel bloggers.  They have never sold one trip and wouldn’t have a clue how.  It takes many years to become truly professional selling travel the right way.  A true professional lays awake nights praying the hurricane away, figuring how to get clients out of a dangerous city when fighting has broken out, gets up at 5 AM to call about a client’s travel problems and on and on.  Don’t think this is easy.  Call me, a professional and don’t believe most of what you read.

I Hate to Say I Told You So!!!

Didn’t you just hate it when your Mom or Dad said “I told you so”!!!  Well, now I get to say it.  If you have been reading my blogs or been around me for even a short time, you have heard me “preaching” about NOT BOOKING ONLINE.  Now I will tell you why.

The first of November a major cruise online travel agency ceased operation leaving customers in the dark.  The web site is gone and the phone is cut off.  The company – Cruise Value Center was a 14 year old company based in New Jersey.  It was a top internet seller of cruises.  Some of you who know me, had done research on their web site and asked me “what can you do”.  Well, now I have an answer for you.  I am here and doing well.

Closing the doors for a travel agency happens all the time.  In the last 10 years hundreds and maybe thousands have closed because of the airline commission cuts.  But they closed the doors honorably.  It has now come out that final payments may not have been passed along to the cruise lines leaving $2-$3 million dollars in the pockets of Cruise Value Center new owners and not paid to the cruise lines.   When a client gives me a payment, that is immediately called into the travel supplier.  I NEVER keep any money in my office.  According to law, you must get an invoice from me within 3 working days.  I have faithfully done this for 15 years.  Now, instead of mailing them, when I can, I am sending invoices by pdf files so you have them quicker.

In addition, if those customers bought insurance from the cruise lines, the passengers are not covered either.  If those final payments were made by a credit card, their companies MAY refund their money.  It depends on the policy of the credit card company.  But if they paid with cash or check, they are out. 

The story that is coming out is that this company sold a little over a year ago.  Before that it was a very solid company.  Instead of the economy, it was bad management that has caused its death.

So once again I mount my soap box to tell you all, don’t buy travel online.  You have no idea who you are giving your credit card to.  You need a real live person who has certifications in the travel industry.  There are many “order takers” who may not have ever even traveled, let alone know how to qualify you about what ship or travel experience is right for you.  Call me to get the personal service you deserve.

P.S.  I have a web site where you can do some bookings: airline tickets, car rentals, hotels, some cruises, some adventure travel and some tours.  But every booking gets run through my office and I personally see every one.  Book there with confidence.

OH NO!!! A Storm is Coming!!!

Where is your cruise ship?  What about my airline ticket?  What do I do now?

The first and most important question is “How did you book your travel?”  A knowledgeable travel professional could have saved you stress and perhaps a lot of money.  Without one, you are on your own and that can be very uncomfortable and expensive.

Once again we see a storm disrupt travel in the south.  Every year we see this happen and still people book their own travel online.  As a travel professional, I am equipped to advise my clients on all possibilities with travel during this time of the year.  I know where the ships are.  I know what the airlines are offering.  I know how to find a hotel or rental car.  I know the resorts and what they offer incase of a storm.

Cruise ships never fail to go out.  They may change course, stay longer or shorter, go into or out of a different port.  But they ALWAYS GO!!!  If you are booking online, you don’t know those things.  Once you book online, that is the only way you can make any changes.  Have you talked to a computer lately?  Don’t cry to the cruise line and ask for a refund.  It is up to you or your agent to keep up with the weather and the cruise line.

If your ship has to embark or disembark in a different port, how do you find flights home?  I know how to do that.  You may need a hotel in that different port until you can get a flight out.  How will you find a hotel?  I know how to do that.

My question to you is this, “Why do you book any travel online?”  With the exception of a flight, maybe 1 night hotel and a rental car for a day or so, you need a travel professional to help you.  We know weather and seasons and what to advise you. 

Call me to save you this ruined vacation.

And lastly, did you buy travel insurance?  See my blog “Don’t Leave Your Home Without It”.