Posts made in July, 2010
Travel Agent Resources and Secrets Revealed! How Can You Benefit?
In these past 30 years in the Travel Industry, I have done just about everything there is to do. I have been a Travel Agent for many Celebrities like Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Kool and The Gang etc. I have built Travel Agencies, I have owned and managed them. I have trained countless Travel agents, Independent Travel Agents etc. I am not trying to impress you but rather to make you aware that I have an in-depth knowledge of how a Travel Agency operates and makes money.
You have to understand that a Travel Agent is an agent of the Airline. Therefore, the agency is governed by the rules and regulation of the Airlines (IATA). They set the rules on the fares and the restrictions. Having said that, they also give some agencies, that produce revenues for them, a special privilege. They might give them special fares (cheaper), maybe with less restrictions. They might give them special waivers to waive the penalties for cancellation or change fees. They might give them free airline tickets and hotel accommodations etc.
There are many such perks. The agencies use these to make money. For example, You bought a non-refundable ticket for $2000.00 to Europe and had to cancel for some reason. You have lost that $2000.00. However, what the agency does is that they use that waiver that the airline has given them, and tell you that they can save you about $500.00 if you want to book another date. You, of course, are thankful to them and rebook, paying another $1500.00. What the agency does is that they actually pocket this money ($1500.00) because they have used the waiver and they do not owe the airline any cancellation penalty!
This is just one of countless secrets that you should know. I will show you how you can save money on airfares, hotels, how you can get free upgrades etc. I recently came upon an incredible article, quite by accident, and I was absolutely amazed at the revelations. Having been in the industry for 30 years, I can tell you that this article is incredible! It will show you how to Fly First class without paying for it and countless other ‘Perks’ that the Travel Agent gets, you simply must read this. I thoroughly recommend it. You will learn and enjoy every minute of it. I have provided a link for you.
Do Not Travel without reading this! Here is my invitation to you – http://www.squidoo.com/travelagentresources.
Help From Travel Agent To Book A First Class Airfare
When it comes to traveling, all of us want to crack the best first class airfare deals. Be it a business trip or a vacation we all expect a safe and memorable journey. The entire venture of booking your first class airfare can make or break your vacation, hence prefer carrying out this step with utmost care.
A travel agent indeed plays a viable role if you wish to go for a first class travel. A good agent is one who explains to you explicitly the provisions that you would receive by opting for a first class travel. One thing is for sure, a good travel agent is one who has a sound knowledge about a first class travel and by hiring his service you won’t be running at a loss. Another reason behind hiring the services of a travel agent is that he would help you with the booking arrangement which isn’t always possible to conduct solely on your part. For instance, there are a couple of airline that have only a restricted number of first class seats and it is only your travel agent who would help you out with those seats.
The best rates are set aside for the travel agents. To be more specific if you book a first class ticket all by yourself then you would have to pay much more as compared to what the travel agent pays for the same ticket. In a nutshell, a travel agent is defined as the best bet for first class tickets. They will help you to find what you’re exactly looking for when it comes to first class travel.
Are you looking for the best deals on first class airfare? Visit http://www.cheapbusinessclassairfare.org/ today for more information!
Questions to Ask Your Singapore Travel Agent
There are many people in Singapore who book their vacation through a travel agency. Although the travel agents are certified with a license, the standard of service varies. Some travellers get very good experiences while others get frustrations. In order not to lose out, be sure to ask these questions the next time you book through them.
1. Are there alternative travel dates where I can get cheaper rates?
A good Singapore travel agent will proactively suggest alternate travel dates where you can get a better deal. If you have flexible vacation days, you can save quite a bit. For example, you can usually get cheaper fares on your flights if you fly on off-peak days like Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. For hotels too, you can get different rates on weekends and weekdays. Tourist attractions too may have lower rates during weekdays as compared to weekends.
2. What are the extra charges?
Almost every travel agency in Singapore will not show the extra charges in their ads. So it is very important to find out the final price after all the taxes, surcharges, etc. You should also find out from the travel agent if there are any fees you need to pay yourself at the destination, for example, airport tax. By checking this out fully, you can then see for yourself if the value of the tour is worth the price.
3. Are the deposit and tickets refundable?
When you book through a travel agent, you usually have to pay a deposit at the time of booking. This could be months in advance of your travel dates. You would have to pay the full price for your tour package at a later date. Your circumstances can change during this time, but the price you paid are typically non-refundable. Exceptions do exist, however. These could be events of natural disasters or security or health threats. Check with your travel agent if refunds are covered under such situations.
4. Do you have more information on the destination?
A travel agency in Singapore would have a wealth of information in the form of booklets or brochures. Check with them and get a copy. You can also ask about shopping and local food tips.
A good travel agent will be able to help you with the above questions. It is part of their service. Happy vacation!
Cynthia Lee is an avid writer and traveler. For reviews of travel agencies and tour deals from Singapore, check out Travel Agency Singapore.
Luxury Holidays – Travel Agents, Timeshare Or Vacation Clubs
The travel industry is a now a $7 trillion global annual market, one of the biggest and most important markets available. Everybody loves holidays and as more money is generated in the emerging markets then the travel industry is going to grow and grow. How do you best take advantage of this burgeoning holiday market? Well, there are a number of options available including using travel agents, buying a timeshare or joining a vacations club and in this article I will try and explain the differences and compare the three modes.
Travel Agents:
Travel agents have been around a long time and can look after your holiday requirements from flight only, hotel / condominiums, package holidays, car rentals in fact just about any holiday requirement you may have. Travel agents are commission based so they make their profit from the difference between the cost of the holiday to them and what they sell the holiday on to you for. Travel agents offer a one stop option for all your holiday requirements, however many of them are tied to large travel organisations who will try to push their own offerings and through this increase their profitability which may mean increased costs for the travelling public.
Timeshare:
Timeshare goes back many years where companies bought or built high quality holiday complexes and then sold weeks to the travelling public. These companies mushroomed and timeshare became a major force in the industry. Their appeal increased as timeshare owners were able to join timeshare exchange clubs and swap their weeks at a complex in one country to a complex in anther country. Timeshare developed a number of drawbacks. Firstly they were expensive to join however the value of your timeshare dropped dramatically after your purchase making it difficult to sell your timeshare if you wanted to. In addition with timeshare you bought weeks at different levels, red usually being the most expensive as this was for a week in peak season. When you swapped your timeshare in one of the exchange clubs you could only swap for weeks at a similar season or lower. The other major drawback that came with timeshare is the weekly maintenance costs. Whether you use the timeshare week or not you are still liable for the weekly maintenance cost.
Vacation Clubs
Vacation clubs were brought into being to give their members access to travel and holidays without the drawbacks of timeshare and without the high profits required by the Travel Agents. Vacation clubs buy holidays at heavily discounted prices and then sell these to their members, usually with last minute deals where the greatest discounts are found. There are no ongoing costs with vacation clubs however there can be a high initial one off cost to join, although new entrants are tending to drive this one off cost down the way. Vacation Clubs do not have seasons, once you are a member you can purchase holidays anywhere and at any time and if you do not use the club there are no ongoing charges. One of the benefits of vacation clubs is the opportunity to sell club memberships to others which effectively means that by selling a few memberships you can recoup your initial investment. Again you have to be sure in joining a club that they can offer you the locations and resorts that you will want to holiday in and that you can take advantage of the Club multiple times a year.
In conclusion, there are benefits and drawbacks to all three options. Travel agents are a good one stop shop for either multiple or one off holidays but you do pick up the cost of the profits for the travel company. Timeshares are a good option if you like to holiday at specific times of the year and you enjoy the complex and location where you have bought your weeks. You do need to take into account ongoing maintenance costs and your ability to easily swap your weeks for stays in different locations. Vacation Clubs can be great value but you do need to realise that you are picking up the upfront cost to join. If you like to take multiple holidays a year to different locations then a Vacation Club could be the option for you. In addition if you like the idea of using this as a home business and get the value of low cost holidays then this may be another attraction for you. You do need to do your research and ensure that your Vacation Club has the variety to look after all your holiday requirements and not just one niche.
The internet has obviously had a dramatic affect on the travel industry. This has given the general public the opportunity to easily buy flights, rental cars and hotels over the internet and has certainly brought prices down. There are drawbacks in that if you are trying buy a complete holiday you can be jumping form site to site and try and pull the whole package together. You also have to be careful with buying directly over the Internet as your legal rights are different from other purchase options. Certainly, for flights only, it is very hard to see past the internet but you need to be aware what travel protection you are covered by.
Brian E McClelland
http://www.whoisbrianemcclelland.biz
The author has over 25 years experience in industry. He has held directorships in the Travel Industry for a number of companies and today still lets holiday properties that he owns. He is also involved in an Internet Marketing Vacations Club. For further information please visit http://www.myprimoholidays.com
India Travel Agent ? Why Explore India With Us
India is the country of wonderful surprises, is recognized all over the world for its rich, unique and diverse culture and civilization. Every nook and corner of the land is steeped in history. India Travel Agent delivered novelty in various categories of tourism like history tourism, adventure tourism, medical tourism like Ayurveda and other forms of Indian medications, spiritual tourism, business travels, holiday seekers, beach tourism, etc.
Besides its matchless elegance, India also houses a rich and diverse wildlife accompanied by an equally diverse variety of flora and fauna. If you a real enthusiast who would rather love to shoot a tiger, but with your camera lens, India is sure to offer you a memorable time filled with adventure and excitement. During your India Tours you will see several timeless and magnificent forts & palaces and offers you a royal experience. Beach lover tourists must indulge themselves in the exotic beaches of Goa and breathtakingly beautiful beaches of Kerala.
Travel Agent of India also offer you a glimpse to the prosperity of tour in India with information on all the major tourist destinations of India and tourism services of India that will take care of all your problems while your tour in India. The tour makes it possible for you to come in close contact with the real people of India on a daily basis and though you still do the famous sites and stay in lovely and comfortable hotels you still get to see the real India.
India Travel agent also has tailored tours packages with the intention of creating surprising vacation experiences for travelers around the world. Kerala, Goa, Rajasthan, Agra packages are designed to exploit the tourism potential of India and cover length and breadth of India to provide insights into natural beauty and cultural heritage of India. We also have outstanding Ayurveda packages to offer. India Travel Agent organizes all your India travel details so you can just leave the hard work to us and enjoy your time in India. If you’re looking for a convenient vacation and a memorable trip to India with a reasonable cost, you’re in the right place. For more on India Travel agent please click on links mentioned below:
India Travel Agent, Travel Agent of India
Raj has been a professional in article writing for over 3 years. His experience is extensive and he provides professional travel consulting and booking services at India Travel, India Tours