To Go or Not To Go…that is the question

Another hit for the travel industry:  Swine flu

If you follow the news, you are probably paralyzed and won’t even leave your house.  Today I received more and more travel information about what airlines are offering, what cruise lines are doing, what resorts are offering and on and on.  Hysteria has hit the travel community.

Now, I am not down playing the fact that there is a sickness out there.  I went to the government web site to get the truth.  That is the most up to date CORRECT information out there.  Here is what they are saying about how to protect yourself:

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
• If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

But isn’t this what you should do around anyone with any kind of illness?  I remember the SARS scare a few years ago.  I had a group of people going to China.  They decided to go anyway.  They had the whole country to themselves.  Another one is the Norovirus that we hear about on cruise ships.  Truth of the matter is that that virus is everywhere all the time.  We just don’t hear about it because cruise ships are registered in foreign countries and have to report when they dock. 

The main reason some of these international diseases spread is that people don’t buy travel insurance and have to take the trip because they can’t afford to loose the money. Here is my advise, for what it is worth.  Buy travel insurance at the time you book your travel.  Buy 3rd party insurance.  Then, if you get sick before the trip or while traveling, you have Medical coverage and even Medivacing, if you should need it.  Then follow the information above and go have fun.  We tend to get so paralyzed that we can’t move.  Unless a country is closed to travel, which none of them are now, go anyway.  Prices are great and you can be by yourselves while everyone else is frozen in their livingrooms watching CNN!!!

U.S. Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection
(As of April 29, 2009, 11:00 AM ET)

States	# of laboratory confirmed cases	Deaths
Arizona	1
California	14
Indiana	1
Kansas	2
Massachusetts	2
Michigan	2
Nevada	1
New York City	51
Ohio	1
Texas	16	1
TOTAL COUNTS	91 cases	1 death

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you really want to know about the diseases in the world check out www.cdc.gov and you might opt to vacation in your backyard.  Now we have a new outbreak of Yellow fever in Brazil, Pertussis in Australia,  Cholera in Zimbabwe, Avian flu in US, and on and on.  You will always have sickness in the world as well as bed bugs in the bed.  But go anyway and fulfill your dreams.

Call a travel professional like myself who has traveled in the good and the bad.

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.

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”.

Don’t Leave Your Home Until….

Are you positive you have taken care of everything for your trip?  

At the top of your list, right after booking the air, should have been “travel insurance”.  But, you say, “I am healthy” or “I am young” or “I have never bought it before” or the big one “I am covered by my insurance”.  Let’s think about this.

There are many companies selling travel insurance and/or medical travel insurance.  I use only 2 and mostly 1 – Access America.  Why?  Because they take good care of my clients when a need arises.  This is the reason for buying insurance.  It isn’t for me, it IS for YOU.  Any insurance you have may or may not work where you are going.  You need to call and see what your coverage is when you are away from home and compare it to the following.   Never, Never, Never (did I say never?) buy insurance from the cruise line or tour company.  Always, Always, Always buy from an outside source.  Why?  Because if the company (cruise line, tour operator, etc) should have financial problems, you are not covered.  Besides, their insurance generally has less coverage benefits.  Again, talk to myself or a travel professional (if they know what you are talking about).

 

The medical is only one part of the coverage.  Here are the basic coverages:

• Trip Cost Protection:  Cancellation, Interruption, Missed connection and Travel delay.  There is also a BizPack for cancellation for business-related reasons.  There are different levels of protection for each of these.  If your trip is to a remote place, you will need the highest protection you can get.  However, if it is an easy trip to a basic destination such as Europe, probably the least expensive will work.
• Medical Protection:  Emergency Medical and Dental and Emergency Medical Transportation and Travel Accident.  In the last 5 years, my clients have had to use this a lot.  There are so many strange diseases out there and the air quality in airplanes is horrible.  
• Baggage Protection:  Baggage Loss/Damage and Baggage Delay and Electronics/Sporting Goods.   For some reason, bags tend to go their own way at airports and you may or may not ever see them again.  Many cruise passengers wind up the whole trip without their luggage.  This can be devistating or you can roll with it and have a good time anyway.  Always pack a change of clothes in your carryon in case this happens. 
• In addition there is Rental Car Protection, 24 Hour Hotline Help, Cruise Only coverage, Group Travel Assurance and Concierge Service and an International Destination Website

A travel professional can recommend the best plan for your travel.  You can also book insurance on my web site www.cruiseandtourplanners.com. 

Should you be on your trip and need to report an incident, here is what you need before making the call:

• Your policy number
• Names of people needing assistance
• Where you are calling from
• Time Zone where you are
• Who you are talking to
• What time it is where you are calling to
• What the problem is
• Detailed information that the insurance company person tells you.  You might need to call back a 2nd time just to make sure you understand correctly.  Every call is recorded and should you need to prove your side, you need all this information.

The main thing is to not think you don’t need insurance.  I have way too many stories of families and friends trying to raise money to get people home after an accident.  Don’t become another “story”.  Travel with peace of mind having your trip covered.

No Hospital Tour

Remember when you were young or your children were young and they always had to go “potty” everywhere you went?  Basically they wanted to see the bathrooms!!!  I got pretty good figuring out which corner of the store they were in.

When you travel, you don’t need to be checking out the hospitals or clinics all over the world.  Seen one, seen them all, and most are not as nice as at home.  And trying to find a doctor who speaks English can be challenging.  Staying healthy when you travel is #1 to having a good vacation.  My husband doesn’t have a spleen and can go into pneumonia at the drop of a hat.  So, here are some tips that I have found to work. 

• Brookstone has this little filter that you wear around your neck or in your pocket.  I know it works because since we have been using it on planes, we haven’t gotten sick.  Proof enough.
• Spray your nose with nasal spray before boarding the plane.  Acts as a block to germs.
• Take hand wipes to wipe down the food tray.  Must be the dirtiest thing on the plane.
• Take hand sanitizer and use it frequestly.  The one that does the most good is Soapopular.  Doesn’t dry out your skin or have an offensive odor. Take your own pillow for sleeping on red eye flights.  I cut an old down pillow in half and roll it up into a plastic vacuum bag putting it in my carryon.
• Wash your hands in warm soap and water often.
• When going to 3rd World Countries, take your own syringes incase you need to get a shot.  Carry them in a paper towel tube with the ends taped shut.
• Get as much rest as you possibly can.   When you are tired you pick up stuff more easily.
• I wouldn’t even have a problem wearing a mask if I am in a motorcoach and people are coughing and sneezing.  That can spread very fast.

Now to address the Norovirus.  There is a lot in the papers about this on cruise ships.  Well, it has to be reported because those ships are registered in foreign ports and the cruise lines have to report sicknesses when they come into the US.  HOWEVER, it is not just on ships.  It is in hotels, schools and any public places.  I have had clients get it BEFORE they even got to the cruise.  Sometimes people are sick when they board and they think they will get well in a day or so and in the meantime they have infected 50 people.  The cruise lines are watching people very close and if they suspect the passengers are sick, they will quarantine them. 

My last point is the MOST IMPORTANT.  BUY TRAVEL INSURANCE!!!.  The cost is small, but the benefits are HUGE.  Buy it on my web site www.cruiseandtourplanners.com or call me.  Just this past week we heard of a lady who fell down in Italy and cracked her head.  Her family is trying to raise $100,000 to bring her home.  How sad.  I have another client who has cancelled 3 trips because of medical issues and got her money back – she is young.  Then there is the young college studen surfing in Costa Rica who broke his neck and needed $500,000 to come home.  Age has nothing to do with it.  I could tell lots of stories.  DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT INSURANCE!!!

I’m Dreaming Part II

I HAVE A DREAM VACATION.  HOW DO I MAKE IT HAPPEN?  Part 2

 

 

WHERE??

 

Get a nice big map of the world.  Try to visualize the distances you are considering.  If this is a new destination for you, make a plan to take small bites, thinking you may not come back again.  Then do a thorough tour of the area.  Or do you just want “notches in your belt” for having stopped in a city or destination and the sites are not important, in which case you can go as far as your time and money permits.

 

v     Family trip?  Consider the ages and how much information they can handle.  A vacation at a beach is easier on younger people than a tour of a country.

v     Group trip?  Church, organization or club trip needing a tour bus and guide.

v     Couple trip?  Sun, sand and surf or skiing.

v     Heritage research?  Where are your ancestors from and how did they come to your country?

 

HOW??

 

Whether you think so or not, you DO need some professional assistance.  Even the simplest of trips need someone who knows and understands the travel process.  Without a travel professional, you are on your own and that can be very expensive and uncomfortable.  When you reach a destination, how do you plan to tour it?  Have you read up on the history and know what you will be looking at?  Going to a foreign place gives you a chance to learn about this history of the people and places.  A tour guide for a day or for the whole trip is worth every penny.  You can find them at Information Offices all over the world.  Some cities/countries require special documentation for visiting. 

 

v     Are you backpacking?  You probably need an airline ticket and perhaps a hotel for the first and last night.  Maybe you need a train ticket and some tips on the countries or cities you want to visit. 

v     Group tour?  This is so comfortable and a great way to learn a lot.  No worries about what hotel or what restaurant.  Someone to hold your hand from start to finish

v     On Your Own?  You may need a car rental, train ticket, a tour guide for 1 hour or 1 day.  Maybe knowledge about driving in certain areas and what kind of license or insurance is needed.

 

Your own research is part of the adventure.  A travel professional may have been there, done that, but that person doesn’t have the very same likes and dislikes you do.  Give us some ideas and we can fill in the blanks.