As an Online Travel Agent I have decided that flexibility is the way to go when planning your vacation. Now, it’s cheaper if I can grab a bargain when it becomes available. When I spot something, two weeks out, I start making my vacation plans.
Of course, flexibility has always been important when working with deal-seeking travelers, but recently, it’s mandatory. With the economy the way it is currently, fewer, and fewer people make plans in advance. Travel companies are offering last-minute deals as a way of doing business, and new technologies are marketing bargain vacations that are here today and gone tomorrow.
Strategies vary, but depending on where you want to go and what you want to do, there are plenty of ways to stretch your travel dollars. Here are few:
Air Travel
United Airlines announced its first Twitter-based fare sale in May — time-sensitive seating. $63 o/w Chicago to DC. + taxes…” — that pricing rate was over in 59 minutes. Twitter is becoming another channel for airlines to create a lot of buzz and sell tickets to a lucky few.
Receiving "Tweets" from every airline from Alaska Air to Virgin America would would really make your cell phone an annoying little tool, and would really eat up your time. Instead, consider following our prices. You can always compare them with the airfare followers, such as AirfareWatchdog.com and FareCompare.com. Each have Twitter accounts that you can follow. FareCompare.com recently launched individual Twitter accounts for 100 cities. that will allow you to get Tweets by a specific location. However, "If You Snooze, You Lose!" Prices quoted on Twitter are not available for long.
Cruises
Cruise lines are continuing to launch new ships and ports in the teeth of the recession, the industry finds itself with too many ships, too few passengers and some of the lowest prices in recent memory. “There have been prices as low as $399 per person for seven-night Cruise. Or member cruises are as low as $250 per person.
Tours and Packages
According to a recent survey by the U.S. Tour Operators Association, average tour prices this year are 20 percent lower than last year. Domestic tours appeal to travelers who don’t want to stay away as long or go as far. “Domestic programs are doing very well this year, ”Napa Valley, Las Vegas, the national parks, there is also a lot of interest in New England, and Disney.
As far as non-tour packages go , some of the best deals right now are for Mexico, where the resorts were affected by the swine-flu alert. (now lifted) I see prices being offered for three nights’ lodging and roundtrip air from select U.S. cities for $400 or less.
Hotels
Looking for a good deal on a hotel room this summer? “In the past, the rule of thumb was that asking for a lower rate was successful about one-third of the time,” now it is becoming increasingly more popular.
At the Mayfair Hotel & Spa in Coconut Grove, Fla., potential guests are encouraged to bargain for better rates. Under the hotel’s Let’s Make a Deal program, you can call reservations and make an offer! The hotel will either accept your offer or present you with a counteroffer. It depends on hotel occupancy. You can save 15–30 percent or more on your stay. Sounds like a William Shatner ad.
Still the best way to receive a travel discount is to present the operator with your Travel Agent ID.
How do Travel Agents get a Discount for a Hotel Room?
For Example: You are planning to go to San Antonio, TX on October 10th. You call 1-800-Holidays and tell them that you’re an agent and ask which hotels in the city are offering agent discounts. They will give you several with different locations. They will ask for your IATAN number, which you receive when you become an agent, and they give you a price quote.
They have 1 hotel on the river walk for $89.00 agent rate, normal rate is $225.00, by the airport for $59.00, normal rate is $145.00, and one by Fiesta Texas for $59.00 normal rate is $175.00. They quote you the rate for the hotels and you can make your decisions from there. "Piece of Cake!"
How About Discount Agent Cruises?
Many cruise lines offer Agent Rates for most sail dates but usually only offer “VIP” rates 2 weeks to 10 days out. A “VIP” rate means your cruise portion is free but you will pay the port charges and taxes. Cruise ships only have a limited number of rooms available at agent discounts. 100 agents cannot get an agent rate on a cruise ship all together.
And that's just the tip of Agent travel benefit iceberg. There are discounts to Theme Parks, Upgrades on Car Rentals, Airline Discounts, Trade Shows, Free Trips, Fam Trips (A Fam trip is when hotels invite you to inspect their resort), oh yeah you can also get paid.
But is being a Travel Agent right for you? Let's find out. Sign up on the next page and I will give you more information. If it's not for you, then you can opt-out at anytime. Click Here For More Information!
by: Arthur Williams Travel Agent
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