Cheap Travel Does Not Mean You're Giving Up Comfort or Luxury! ® 2009

                      CRUISES,  RESORT GETAWAYS, AIRFARES, & VACATIONS


Did you know that almost everyone on the plane, hotel or cruise ship is paying a different fare?  More often than not, the price difference can be astounding!  It doesn't matter if they're in coach, business, or first class, they're all paying a different price for the SAME accommodations, SAME food, or anything else that's included in the package or ticket price.  The exception would be if it's a couple traveling together, and they purchased their fare/tickets at the same time from the same company. 

Think you can't travel in a bad economy?  Or think you can't maintain the same luxurious hotel standards, and you would wind up in  a roach-infested flea bag? 

For years people have used coupons for grocery shopping.  There are even websites and "coupon gurus" that teach you how to buy groceries with coupons and spend only a few dollars for a weeks groceries.  Grocery coupons have become much more popular in the bad economy, but I predict "coupon shoppers" will still be coupon shoppers even when the economy turns around.  In a good or bad economy why spend unnecessary money on travel.

Consolidators:  These companies purchase blocks of airline seats, cruise accommodations, hotel rooms etc. for a fixed cheap price.  They're hoping to re-sell these seats/accommodations for a much higher price.  They're in a position to set the price as high or low as they wish or they can negotiate the spaces.  If the tickets don't sell, the consolidators are stuck with them...but that seldom happens.

The ticket or space you purchase is good only to travel on a specified date. Usually you cannot cancel or change your date without a heavy penalty or a strict no-refund policy.  This is why many people purchase "trip insurance".  If a medical emergency or something happens and you cannot travel on the date you have scheduled, you will receive a partial or total refund.

Cruise Lines:  You may get a big reduction or up-grade in your accommodations by being one of the first to book your cruise before the sail date.  You may also get an up-grade or big price reduction by booking at the last minute.  Again, if something happens, you'll probably lose all or a partial of the money you paid without trip insurance.

Certificates: Issued by cruise lines, hotels/resorts, airlines, theme parks, gas companies, etc. You may have seen or used these certificates/coupons/vouchers.  They come "piggy-backed"...or "ride-along" with your credit card statements, utility bills or other mailings.  They are "so named" because it costs nothing extra to add them to the envelopes that are already being mailed to customers. A major advantage to certificates/coupons/vouchers is that the issuer grants a longer time to use them.  Depending on the company issuing them, you usually have one or two years...sometimes longer to use them.  Having NO set travel date on them, makes them a wonderful gift!  Everyone loves to travel, so the person receiving the gift can choose their own travel date.  Also since you have no set date required to use them, you may schedule and reschedule your vacation (if something happens -and you can't go) instead of losing your money.  NO travel insurance needed.

 Quite simply- Certificates are  Unsold Space, Unsold Cabins, Unsold seats etc.  Example:  If you owned a cruise line,  would you rather have all of the cabins booked before you sail?  After all, when the  ship pulls away from the dock, they're not going to fill the rest of their cabins.  The fare of the cruise ship is not the only consideration.  People spend millions of dollars on extra things on the ship that are not included in the basic fare.   Such as gambling, the hair salon, alcohol, souvenirs etc.  And remember- the cruise line still has to pay all of the employees aboard ship whether or not the ship is full.

The same thing goes for hotels and resorts.  Most hotels and resorts have a 30% vacancy rate even in good times-barring conventions.  With a certificate you often get to stay FREE or for a greatly reduced rate (60% off).  What could the hotel owner possibly gain by giving away free or almost free accommodations?  Well, the maids, bus boys, cooks and other hotel employees must still be paid whether the resort is full or empty.  The management is hoping you'll spend money in the dining room, at the bar, and other concessions.  They also hope you'll enjoy yourself so much that you'll come back another time as a "paying" guest.

The majority of the hotels, cruise lines,  and resorts we're referring to are Nationwide brands 3 and 4 star, and even luxury 5 star accommodations.

The only drawback (most people don't find any drawback) to these certificates is...if you have a solid date that's coming up right away, certificates may  NOT be for you.  Certificates are not for last minute booking.  Certificates are for people who can be reasonably flexible.  If you can book far enough in advance,  you'll probably get your specified, exact date.  If not, there may be 2-3 days difference in the date you requested.  So no matter how any of the above works...consolidators, cruise lines, hotels/resorts, certificates, it's just plain Good Business on the part of the companies who issue the certificates!

Certificates/vouchers are valid for 1-2 years.  Having NO set travel date on them, makes them a wonderful gift!  Everyone loves to travel, so the person receiving the gift can choose their own travel date.

Some of these certificates are used to promote "time share" projects or other promotions.   We personally do not; however, we often receive phone calls asking if we have "a time share getaway".  Some people don't mind sitting through a presentation to get a free 'whatever' they're offering.  That's fine if that's what you want.  It just isn't for us.

                                         Things Are Changing Around Here!

We're going to try a different method for a few days to see how the public responds to it.  If you don't respond positively,  we'll return to our regular prices (still cheaper than anyone else), and our usual packaging & shipping method.

Over the past few years, we have packaged our certificates in colorful, "fancy" folders and sent them out either  by FedEx or the U S Postal service.  You received your "travel documents" package in a couple of days, plus there was a shipping fee. All this packaging and shipping involved a higher cost to you.   Our "new" method will save us a lot of time and expense; therefore, we'll pass the savings along to you!

We have greatly reduced most of  our prices (not all of them) and we're going to have them available for immediate down-load on our website-your computer.  As soon as PayPal notifies us of your payment (usually about 10-15 minutes,  we will email your certificate to you, and you can print it out yourself.  You can  redeem your certificate immediately (if you wish) or redeem it later.  You may redeem it on-line, by FAX or mail it in.  We take ALL of the major credit cards.  Visa, Master, Discovery, American Express, and PayPal.  It matters not if it is a charge or debit card.  Some people have even used Prepaid Gift Cards.  If you wish to send a money order, we will still have to take your order by phone, and we will ship your package our usual old way.  We trust that we will be able to accommodate everyone!

We hope this new system is cheaper, faster and easier for you.