Social Media alert!

I recently read an article about a couple that used social media such as Facebook, twitter, etc. They were making posts about their travels and it just so happened that their house was robbed during that time. Lesson learned....social media is a great tool, but beware. People are able to really track your whereabouts. See the below article.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20090608/ap_tr_ge/travel_cybertrips_vacation_messages;_ylt=Arof45MWBoE6mbp8ZI9rSvg8sM0F;_ylu=X3oDMTNiMG41Z2lpBGFzc2V0A2FwX3RyYXZlbC8yMDA5MDYwOC90cmF2ZWxfY3liZXJ0cmlwc192YWNhdGlvbl9tZXNzYWdlcwRjcG9zAzEEcG9zAzMEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDZnVsbG5ic3BzdG9y

Jamaica.....

These are package prices for two and include airfare from Austin, 5 nights accommodations, all food and beverage, transfers to and from hotel, and all taxes.
Travel time is fall. Great rates!


Here are options:


Riu Ochos Rios 4* oceanview room $1976

Gran Bahia Principe 4 ½* junior suite $1976

Riu Montego Bay 4* $1976

Breezes Runaway Bay 4* $2076

Iberostar Rose Hall 4* $2146

Grand Palladium Lady 4* junior suite $2416

Hamilton

Grand Palladium 4* junior suite $2416

Great article in Travel and Leisure......

Better Airplane Etiquette


Much has been made in recent years of the lack of civility when it comes to flying, with the term air rage now part of the daily lexicon. Fuller flights with smaller staffs; increased airfares, even as airlines charge for food, pillows, and checked luggage; and a spike in flight delays, are all a recipe for disaster. Eighteen-month-old Virgin America, a winner of Travel + Leisure’s 2008 World’s Best Awards, has sought to combat this phenomenon with a two-day-long training session to educate all its employees on theories of empathy and stress management. The airline hopes this extra training will help its employees to respond intuitively, intelligently, and compassionately in an era when passengers are acting increasingly irrational. Though some people, it seems, will never behave.

http://www.travelandleisure.com/slideshows/2009-travel-trends/10

Quote for the day.....

Try not to become a man of success but a man of value.
Albert Einstein

I love this quote, but can you believe that we quote this man?

Albert Einstein (March 14, 1879 - April 18, 1955) was a theoretical physicist who is widely regarded as the greatest scientist of the 20th century. He proposed the theory of relativity and also made major contributions to the development of quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology. He was awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize for Physics for his explanation of the photoelectric effect and "for his services to Theoretical Physics".

Recent itinerary I did for a client....

Great price. Wonderful package for the adventurous. Costa Rica!
6 nights with airfare from Houston staying at the Tamarindo Diria.

TOTAL PER PERSON: $1166.58 - includes airfare from Houston, accommodations at the above hotel for 6 nights, and transportation to and from the airport in Liberia.
In addition, breakfast daily is included, and a $50 credit towards food and beverage per night.

Read an article about waiting until the last minute to get the best deals.....

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123854405756676003.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

See the above link to the article. While I think this can work sometimes.....it doesn't work all the time. I think having a knowledgeable travel professional can be your biggest ally. We can't see the future, but we can often give advice based on the market that you are looking at. For istance, Four Seasons has a "price integrity" policy, so they are not one to offer last minute deals. That being said, the same goes for airline tickets. Certain markets remain more constant because they have less flights per day and they stay relatively full. I don't want to contradict the above, but I do recommend using an agent so they can assist and give sound advice. Keep traveling!

Silverado.....Napa Valley

Want a romantic easy to get to destination at a fraction of the normal cost? The Silverado Resort in Napa has rates starting at $200 per night in peak season. Go enjoy some wine tasting and a great resort. Call me to book! I can find great fares, and you can't beat this rate. Cheers!

Inspiring words....

"If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it."
William Arthur Ward

The Power of Positive Thinking.....

"Are you tired of watching news reports that find something wrong with the economy every day?" I read this line on a blog I follow today, and my response is "YES". Times are tough, but let's not dwell on it. Some people feel the need to discuss how bad things are, but I am going to work real hard to not be one of them!

GOAL: Stay away from negative people. Stay healthy. Continue to exercise, eat healthy, get enough sleep, and look for ways to improve business.

BECOME THE ETERNAL OPTOMIST!

Words of wisdom for wedding parties.....

We are finding that wedding parties that have blocked space are finding lower rates today. If this happens, we are contacting the hotel and requesting that the block be canceled for refund or that they match the current published rates. If you are getting married, I recommend this.

With the economy, we are in unchartered waters.....rates typically rise not fall. We will work hard to make sure our guests get the best rates!

Eco Friendly Vacations on a Budget

I watched a great clip on Good Morning America this morning.....Eco Friendly Vacations on a budget. Great for families!

See clip:
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6989108

In particular, the were talking about the Good Hotel in San Francisco. Great value. Rates during the week starting at $89 per night. In addition to the great rates, they have a program for giving back with volunteering. You can actually contact the concierge upon arrival and get a list of ways to volunteer as a family. I just think this is a great lesson for families, and you still get a vacation on a budget!

Great specials at the Four Seasons Bora Bora!

Some of the value you will see in 2009

*Breakfast complimentary on reservations with a 3-night minimum stay.
*Breakfast complimentary on ALL "5th Night FREE" packages extended through "peak season".
*The popular "Family Plan" (2nd room at 50% off for children) package will be available in 2009 added and extended through peak season.


For complete details, pleaser refer to the attached handout.
Should you have any questions regarding our resort or destination do not hesitate to let me know.

Looking forward to working with you in 2009 and to welcoming you and your clients to our newest Polynesian property at the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora.

Wonderful as always......

I am a bit tardy in my review, but I am finally getting to it. The Crescent in Dallas was wonderful as always. The rooms are small but so comfortable, and the details and service make it a wonderful option. Nobu was better than I have ever had there. In fact, I had the chef prepare sashimi.....I didn't request anything specifc, and the feast was amazing. The martinis always help too! Breakfast in the main dining room was fabulous. I never made it to Stanley Korschak, but that was the only downside to this trip.

Off to the Crescent.....

I have stayed at the Crescent many times. We head to a trade show in Dallas every year....promotional products. This is our preferred hotel when we go. It is a great Rosewood property in Dallas. I prefer it to the Mansion at Turtle Creek (also a Rosewood property). The Mansion is usually written up as one of the top hotels in the country. However, I think the Crescent is a little more sleek, not so stuffy. Nobu has a relatively new restaurant there....not quite New York's Nobu, but good. And of course, Stanley Korschak is next door. The best! I will give my latest opinion on my return, but I am always excited to stay there! Stay tuned.....

www.rosewoodhotels.com

2006 award - Travel and Leisure

Since this is a new blog, I have never posted this. Not to toot my own horn, but see below. I was listed as one of the five to watch. Quite an honor!

A-List All-Stars by Travel and Leisure
Five To Watch
The Power Brokers
They're just starting out as travel agents, but these up-and-coming specialists have the expertise that, we predict, will propel them to the top of their industry.

Matt Tadvick
Bob Berghaier
Amy Skudlarczyk
Ginny Mabry
Rachel Gefler

The following three are the power brokers of the travel industry, working with celebrities and Fortune 500 CEO's. Unless you fit into this category, look for their employees throughout the A-List, or call the numbers below and ask for one of the many qualified agents they've trained.

Priscilla Alexander
Barbara A. Gallay
Valerie Wilson

Conde Nast's best rated cruise ships!

Top-rated cruise ships!

Conde Nast Traveler polled 11,000 readers on their favorite cruise ships. Top-rated large ships were Disney Wonder, Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Summit, Disney Magic and Princess Cruises' Coral Princess. Among medium-size ships, the top five were Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony; Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner, both of which are Regent Seven Seas Cruises ships; and Viking Line's Viking XPRS.

I have noticed cruise prices dropping. If you have never taken that cruise you always wanted to take, call me and let me price for you! Now is the time to take advantage of great specials.

Travel Costs are Dropping.....

I read the following article today, and I concur. I have seen some great rates out there. For instance, the Silverado Resort in Napa is advertising rates starting at $150 per night for various times. This is an amazing rate for a 5 star resort. So, if you haven't been to Napa, this could be the time to go!

Travel costs dropping as economy squeezes spending
By VICKI LEE PARKER - McClatchy-Tribune News Service

If you are planning on taking your family on a vacation this year, think big. In fact, think about finally going on that dream vacation that you have long wished for. Chances are you will be able to afford it.

I talked with several travel agents who say they are seeing travel discounts and perks in record amounts. The deals include the high-end packages such as luxury Mexican resorts, European vacations and Alaskan cruises.

"For people who feel secure in their jobs and can afford it, there are some great deals throughout the summer time," says Stuart Carroll, owner of Carroll Travel in Washington, D.C.

Tom Crosby, a spokesman for AAA Carolinas, says the economy has hurt some popular tourist spots. A number of the bigger resorts are no longer getting the same volume of convention business, so they have extra beds to fill, he says.

Crosby says he is seeing discounts across the board. "You can save 25 percent to 40 percent on cruises, 10 percent to 15 percent on hotels and 10 to 25 percent on package tours," he says.

Darcy Grimes, manager for travel marketing for AAA Carolinas, says that in 2007 she was booking seven-night Alaska cruises on Holland America Line from $799 per person. Now she's booking the same cruise for as low as $499.

Similarly, in 2007 a five-night Western Caribbean cruise rate was $599 per person. Grimes found the same cruise last week starting at $249 per person.

In addition to the lower rates, Grimes says that cruise lines are offering additional bonuses to help stimulate sales.

"Most have cut out the fuel supplement charge, and others are offering reduced deposits or onboard credits if consumers book by a certain date.

Grimes is finding similar deals for European trips. Because the dollar has strengthened against the euro, she is seeing up to a 100 percent savings on hotel stays.

"If the room cost you $200 a night last year, it will probably cost $100 this year," she says.

Carroll of Carroll Travel says he has booked people at The Royal in Cancun for as little as $800 a week. That's about a 50 percent savings, he says.

"Hotel rooms are a perishable thing," Carroll notes. "Once the night goes, they can never sell it again."

To fill those rooms, hotels are also offering other specials. Some are waiving the minimum night requirement. Others are offering an extra free night if you stay a certain number of nights.

Some resorts are lowering the down payment and offering air credits and meal credits.

There is one caveat though: Finding a flight to your dream vacation site may be challenging. A number of airlines, in an effort to reduce expenses, have decreased the number of flights they are offering to certain areas. So book early.

Here are some other tips to help secure great vacation deals:

- Use a travel agent. Agents can check several deals at once and it doesn't cost you anything.

- Check cruise lines two weeks before departure date. Some cruises will offer last-minute deals.

- Ask about travel insurance. This will protect you in case there are changes in your travel plans or your financial circumstances.

Orbits cuts costs.....what does this mean for agents?

I read the below article. With companies like expedia and orbitz cutting expenses, does this mean service will continue to decline? I think the online research tools are great, and should be used. However, I still believe if you want service, you need to use an agent that you can trust and depend on. We can be a big help when problems arise. We can provide great service and knowledge, and we can be reached easily!....a real live person. LOL.

Happy Travels, Amy

TECHNOLOGY JANUARY 7, 2009, 8:02 A.M. ET Orbitz Names Harford CEO, Plans More Cost Cuts Article

Orbitz Worldwide Inc. appointed Barney Harford president and chief executive, replacing Steve Barnhart, who retired to pursue other interests.

The online travel agent on Wednesday also said it would cut another $20 million to $25 million in annual costs, on top of the $20 million announced in November, but didn't provide further details.

November's announcement included a 10% work force reduction as Orbitz saw results falling short of long-term targets because of a global travel slowdown.

Mr. Harford worked at rival online travel company Expedia Inc. from 1999 to 2006, developing the company's air, car, private label and telesales businesses, and most recently led the company's entry into the Asian-Pacific region, Chairman Jeff Clarke said. For the past two years he has served on boards and as an adviser to Internet companies in the travel industry and other markets.

Mr. Barnhart joined Orbitz in 2003 and was part of the team that took the company public later that year. Orbitz was subsequently acquired and again became a publicly traded entity in 2007 after being acquired a second time. Mr. Barnhart became Orbitz's president in late 2006 and CEO in 2007.

Travel firms have seen slumping demand the past several months as consumer confidence hit record lows and discretionary spending falls.

Orbitz's shares closed Tuesday at $4.12 and haven't traded premarket. The stock is up 32% in the last month but is still down 46% for the past year.

Saving Money on Travel - 5 ways

The travel agency Travel Leaders (formerly CarsonWaglit) has come out with its annual travel agent survey of trends.

The top ways leisure travelers are saving money:

1. Flexible with dates 75.7%
Availability can make fares change significantly. Always let us know if the dates are flexible.

2. Staying at all-inclusives 71.0%
Some are great. I used to not be a fan, but they have significantly improved over the years, and there are some really high end ones. Great when you have kids!


3. Using frequent flyers miles 63.5%
Let us see if your miles will work. Then, you are just paying for transportation, food, and hotel. Aifare can be a major portion of the overall cost.

4. Taking a cruise 56.3%
Not a cruiser, but great value for themoney.

5. Booking only if promotion/deal 50.9%
The promotions are out there. Ask me, I will find them!

Happy Travels!