Midwest Night Travel

These days, many families have their put their vacation plans toward the bottom of their list of priorities. During tougher times, a vacation can seem to simply cost too much money. However, if you are thinking about going on a vacation, you might want to look into working with a travel agent to save money on vacation expenses. Working with a travel agent to plan your vacation means you might be able to afford the trip you thought you would have to put off until next year. For this reason alone it is definitely worth exploring the possibility. So how can working with a travel agent save you money?

Your travel agent will help you get the most out of your budget

Whether your travel budget is $500 or $5,000, working with a travel agent is probably the best way to make the most of your money. Especially if you’re traveling on a tight budget, the skills, knowledge, and experience of a travel agent can be invaluable.

Just make sure when you’re discussing travel plans with your agent, you are absolutely clear about how much money you have to spend. If you want to travel as cheaply as possible, make sure your travel agent understands this so that they have a good idea of the types of travel and accommodation they should be finding for you.

Your travel agent can quickly access a number of providers

Travel agents typically have access to a large network of travel, accommodation, and activity providers. With computer systems that provide access to travel agents all over the world, they can quickly locate details of discount travel providers in many countries. This is one of the main reasons why working with a travel agent is a good idea when you’re on a strict budget. They have access to a large number of different resources, software, and industry contacts, all of which they can use when hunting down the best bargains.

Your travel agent knows the cheapest times to travel

Some days are less expensive to travel on than other days. Red-eye flights and stand-by flights can be less expensive, but direct flights can cost more than taking a circuitous route that involves several different connections. Your travel agent should be very knowledgeable on the process of all this and knows that flights booked on Friday, Sunday, and Monday are generally more expensive. You stand a better chance of saving money on flights if you’re flexible about your travel dates.

In addition, your travel agent can quickly tell you if your vacation plans fall within a peak season during which flights to your destination are significantly more expensive. This means that you can modify your travel plans if you wish. Changing plans may include a cheaper destination or traveling during the offseason to save money on your flight.

Advanced booking is another factor that your travel agent can use to help you get cheaper flights. You should be booking at least six months ahead to get the most affordable tickets. Your agent should tell you that the holiday season is always a relatively expensive time to travel, no matter how far in advance you book.

Your travel agent has access to bulk discounts and consolidated tickets

If you’re willing to travel as part of an organized tour, your travel agent can help you access travel and accommodation. There are also specials for activities that are significantly cheaper than what you would spend if you did the same activities alone. This is because as part of a tour you can take advantage of bulk discounts. You can even organize your own tour through your travel agent, and the organizer might get to travel for free!

Consolidated tickets provide you with the chance to save on your air travel costs. A consolidated ticket is simply a ticket which was purchased by the agent as part of a large group of tickets sold by the same airline. The agent gets a bulk discount on the tickets and can pass that discount on to their clients.

Your travel agent has industry contacts and experience

This translates into money being put back into your pocket. Your travel agent may be in regular contact with many industry professionals, and might be able to get you a great deal on a tour being planned by another agent. If you’re flexible with travel times, your agent may advise you to adjust your trip dates to travel during a cheaper part of the week, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars in travel costs. An experienced agent should have expert knowledge of your travel destination and can provide advice on budget accommodation and activities. The agent may often be able to provide discount coupons, free passes, and other incentives.

Best of all, none of these advantages come at a price! You can take full advantage of the wealth of knowledge and experience that your travel agent provides, and can potentially save a great deal of money in the process.

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Utilizing the services of a travel agent to plan your next vacation is something that you might want to consider. It is usually a good idea to proceed with caution when dealing with money. However, when planning out a vacation, which has many different variables which can impact the amount you spend, you do not want to leave anything to chance. Here are some reasons why working with a travel agent to plan your vacation is a good idea.

Reason #1: Your travel agent has extensive knowledge about trip planning

When you’re planning a vacation, the process can become pretty stressful. In many cases, you are not sure what the weather conditions will be like when you arrive at your destination, and it can be difficult to find your way around if you are not familiar with your surroundings. Also, in many cases, once you have finally settled, you are not sure which activities and sights to experience! A travel agent can help you navigate through all of these obstacles.

If you’re the type of person who enjoys simply choosing a destination, getting there, and letting the rest take care of itself, then planning your trip isn’t necessarily difficult. But if you prefer to have your itinerary carefully laid out before you head off, then a good travel agent can really save you some time and unnecessary frustration.

Your travel agent can help you choose when to fly, find a comfortable hotel within your budget, plan your itinerary for you, and provide you with up-to-date information about travel documents, vaccinations, and anything else you might need to travel to your chosen destination. With the help of your travel agent, planning your trip should be much easier and less stressful, leaving you free to enjoy yourself that much more.

Reason #2: Your travel agent can help you save money

Typically, working with a travel agent won’t cost you any more than if you had planned the trip yourself. In fact, you are more likely to save money than to spend more money. Typically, travel agents have access to cheaper flights, lower hotel prices, and more, because they deal in bulk, rather than just booking one trip (as you would do if you booked the trip yourself). They have access to bulk discounts, which means that even with their commission added on you will rarely pay any more than if you had booked the trip yourself. You will also save yourself the hassle of planning and booking the trip alone.

A good travel agent can help you save money. They know when the cheapest times to fly are, when hotel off-peak seasons start, how to get bulk flight deals, and other tricks of the trade that can help you get more for your money.

Reason #3: Your travel agent is familiar with your destination

If you are traveling to an exotic or obscure location which you have never visited before, then working with a knowledgeable and experienced travel agent is a must. Your travel agent can help you find accommodations, events and activities, and provide you with tips on traveling safely. If you manage to hit the jackpot and find a travel agent who has actually visited your destination, they might also be able to tell you about those little bonuses that most people won’t know about. Places such as the weekend markets, where to find authentic souvenirs, and the best restaurants, all the things that will make your trip even more enjoyable.

Reason #4: Your travel agent can help you get the vacation you really want

From rock-climbing in the Swiss Alps to a relaxing beach vacation in Spain, there are vacations to suit every requirement and personality type. With so many choices available in terms of destinations and activities, it’s not always easy to know what you want.

What do you want out of your vacation, and do you know how to achieve it? Your travel agent definitely does, and can use his or her experience and knowledge to make sure you get the trip you really want. A good travel agent will quickly find out exactly what you want out of your trip, and will go the extra mile to make sure everything, from flights, hotels, and activities, meets your needs.

Reason #5: It just makes sense

Working with a travel agent won’t cost you any more than booking the trip yourself, and you may even save money. Also, a travel agent can save you a lot of time and headaches, and you may even find that a knowledgeable agent will be able to help you access some of the best and most exclusive events and activities at your destination, which you might not have known about without the help of your travel agent.

Really, it just makes good sense to plan your vacation with the help of a travel agent. With all of these important factors coming into play when you book your next trip, there’s definitely no good reason not to use a travel agent!

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There are more than five reasons an online travel agency can save you money but the top five is a great start. Global statistics are pointing to the trend that online shopping for travel deals is way ahead of online shopping for books, electronics and clothing. For example, in Canada, about 45% of Canadians in 2007 looked for an online travel agency to book their travel, that’s a 9% increase from 2005 reports.

Here are the top five reasons why an online travel agency can save you money:

1. No overhead – many online travel agencies don’t have a physical location where they have to purchase furniture, supplies, and hire staff. In fact, many online travel agents operate from the comfort of their homes. All they need is a high speed Internet connection and access to global reservations systems. So the money they save on rent, utilities, personnel and other logistics constitute savings they can pass on to their customers. By booking online, you also save on trips to and from a travel agency in your area. You not only save money, you save precious time and gas.

2. Comparison shopping – by searching for travel deals online, you have the luxury of comparing prices provided by various online travel agencies. The idea is to read the fine print. You can compare them on the basis of:

· Actual fares and discounts

· Package deals

· Coupons and freebies

· Travel insurance

· Group discounts

· Last minute bookings

· Variety of travel deals (do they specialize in a particular country or to a particular age group?)

· Senior citizens’ deals

· Hotels and meals and transportation

· Tour guides

· Penalties for cancellations

That’s the beauty of online shopping. You’re not scampering from one travel office to another just to get an idea on prices. You can compare online deals and then narrow down your choices to three, ten or fifteen. If you have time on your hands, you can really save yourself some money by doing diligent research.

3. Ticket consolidation – many online travel agencies have access to a database of discounted tickets. Sometimes when they have excess inventory, they are forced to get rid of as many tickets to make way for the next travel season where they can purchase in bulk. Travel agents usually share information on discount tickets that are still available for sale, and prices are reduced on these tickets for “selloff. ”

Air travel consolidators allow customers to compare airfares from as many airlines as possible for a specific route and for a specific time period. Not only can you save money on your ticket, but you can also find the best flight that suits your schedule best.

4. Wide network of travel-related services – online travel agents, through frequent bookings and constant research have a wealth of information that some travel agents with no online presence don’t have. Because of their ability to network rapidly with various people who work in hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, railway and restaurants, online travel agents are able to find the best deals for you.

The name of the game is called “relationship building. ” Through frequent contact, online travel agents can squeeze out more discounts and free coupons from tour operators and hospitality establishments like hotels and restaurants. Instead of spending $10. 00 for your lunch while travelling, your agent can offer you a meal ticket in exchange for your business, not to mention the fare discounts they are also able to offer.

5. One-stop shopping – travel writers know about the “clout” of travel agents. When it comes to flight arrangements, rental cars, tour excursions, cruise information and accommodation, and hotels, travel agents have a lot of clout. They can provide a complete travel package, including shuttle service to and from the airport and even the services of a personal tour guide if requested. By doing all your travel and travel-related shopping with a reputable online travel agency, there is no telling how much you can get done within a short amount of time.

Note that your online travel agent has more buying power than individual passengers when it comes to airline seats, hotel accommodation or cabin space in the yacht.

It used to be that travelling last minute was expensive. Not anymore with online travel agents! In many cases, unsold seats on flights or unsold rooms in hotels are offered to travel agents a few weeks before departure date at considerably discounted rates so they can be sold immediately. If you are travelling last minute, ask your online travel agent for last minute budget deals. Chances are you might get what you want, provided your travel dates don’t fall within peak travel times. But you have to ask, not assume that it will be offered automatically!

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The use of travel software in a tour operator’s office

Travel… the one modern day activity that has its origins in times going back eons of years. If early man traveled out of sheer necessity then modern day man travels for pleasure, profit, business and bonding. For some life depends on traveling, for others travel is what one does on holiday. But whatever the reason and whatever the nature of travel, the one thing common in all this is the irrefutable fact that today if you want to travel then you need to book tickets, make reservations and plan well, really well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Savvy business persons caught on to this travel bug many years ago and today travel and tourism agencies are aplenty. Each offers the best bargain, the best deals, and the best in every possible travel requirement. Agencies are fully automated and computerized and the advent of the internet made life so much easier for these enterprising business persons. travel software is one very integral part of all this high tech computerization and automation.

Today computers are the way to do any business…big or small. Everyone has something to offer in every field possible and travel is no exception. Today, sitting in one office bookings can be made to anywhere in the world and by any mode of travel or all modes of travel. Travel software is the magical software that helps get it all together.

There are a lot of advantages to using travel travel agency software software. There are lots of global distribution systems operating in tandem in the world of travel bookings today. Since people have very individual travel booking requirements this travel software helps keep it all in place and it can integrate the specific details to suit the person requirements.

There are lots of options for travel software in the market today. Some travel software comes with integrated financial tools that are task specific. Efficient and well integrated travel software can make bookings and reservations a lot easier than you think. Today it is possible to use travel software that not only is Global Distribution System or GDS compatible but also linked with private charters, specials and other business oriented connections. Customer satisfaction is assured when you have travel software where all your records and data etc is kept indexed on your computer and you can get results in seconds.

Here is one software solution where small companies benefit because the travel software aids client base expansion and saves time and money as you are using one fully integrated program. Large companies also save on money and time and effort as all their small assorted programs now get compressed in to one fully automated travel management software which ensures that work is done quickly and efficiently. Sometimes bookings require different currency calculations; availability is a very important factor while making reservations, bookings done using credit cards etc require secure sites where there is no fear of data stealing, these are just some aspects of why travel software is a good decision.

With travel software bookings can be done form anywhere to anywhere, and in any currency. Travel software will take care of enquires availability, administration issues and text and email notification to inform you about your bookings. Payments can be made via secure gateways and all credit cards and other important data remains confidential. There is no cost of installation and execution and one can cancel a booking at anytime also.

The travel software is just right for companies looking for a proficient and flexible online booking system. People have varied travel and booking requirements and a good company is one which can meet these conditions successfully. Travel software is available today in many versions which are feature rich and task specific to suit all types of companies and travel related details. Travel software ensures that bookings are confirmed are authentic, not in danger of being double booked and it ensures that wherever possible seat numbers are also supplied to avoid fraudulent entries.

So if you are in the travel business then this is one software that you should install on your computers so you can expand your clientele and data base and give your business the boost it requires. Surf the net for one of the many variants available and you should be able to come up with the perfect travel software to meet all your demands.

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Available are overseas health and foreign travel insurance with worldwide coverage. Provides international health and life insurance products designed to meet the needs of those that travel or live outside their country of citizenship. Check your health insurance policy if you plan to travel in a foreign country. Having Health and Travel Insurance is a condition of enrolment and this premium will automatically be charged to your student fees account. Mondial product range has now expanded to include automotive assistance, travel insurance, medical assistance and overseas student health cover. These days, when you are traveling internationally on a vacation or for business travel, you need international travel health insurance. With international health insurance and travel insurance – you can go with confidence.

International travel medical and health insurance, featuring trip cancellation travel insurance online. In addition, while many travelers have health insurance, it sometimes does not cover them outside of their network or outside of the United States. international travel insurance, immigrant, nanny, J visa, health insurance. citizens. BuyHealthPlan. com – Portal for international life and health insurance for expatriates and travellers. If you won’t have any health coverage while you’re traveling, you might want to look for a travel insurance policy that includes medical coverage. BenefitHouse. com provides a free quoting service for affordable travel insurance, international health insurance trip cancellation insurance and annual travel insurance. Also known as holiday insurance, travel medical insurance and travel health insurance. TFG Global Travel Insurance can even supply online international health insurance for expatriates and some local nationals where conditions permit.

These forms must be completed before you travel in order to be covered by the insurance policy. In some cases, it might be your best option to purchase a trip cancellation waiver and a third party travel insurance policy. Finally, if you and/or your family travel often, ask your insurance company about an annual policy. Click here to view a specimen of the travel insurance policy. At InsureMyTrip. com, you can compare each policy and get the information you need to purchase travel insurance with confidence. At InsureMyTrip. ca, you can compare each policy and get the information you need to purchase travel insurance with confidence. It is advisable to always ensure you have a comprehensive travel insurance policy which covers you for repatriation to your home country.

You can compare each policy giving you the information you need to make an informed decision about your travel insurance needs. He permitted his 12-month travel insurance policy to expire just a few days before his departure for home. Travel insurance policies may be purchased for individual trips or as an annual policy for all trips taken in the year of insurance. At the very least, you will probably discover that specialist travel insurance is better value than topping up a standard policy with extra cover. The cost of travel insurance varies from company and policy to policy. If you think your travel plans can change, then consider a travel insurance policy that meets your needs.

Again, most standard accident, disability or life insurance policies cover these accidents, which rarely happen during travel. Make sure you get travel insurance that can cover you for all your gap year adventures. When you’re traveling, after all, it helps to cover yourself with some worldwide travel insurance. Choose from individual, individual & partner or family holiday travel insurance cover. Most travel insurance plans include emergency evacuation, assistance, baggage, trip interruption coverage, optional hazardous sports cover and much more.

Tell me about the Worldcare travel cover Travel insurance provides you with security and protection whilst you are travelling domestically or internationally. Always check the details of the insurance cover before you travel. Watch out for travel insurance companies that include non-essential benefits as part of their cover – for example, a travel advice line. You can buy supplemental medical insurance, baggage insurance and policies that cover money lost if a travel vendor defaults. Quality cover at amazing pricesSecure and easy to use online travel insurance cover. Instant quote and cover for single trip, backpacker and annual travel insurance policies.

If you are willing to assume a financial risk (the cost of your trip), you can probably forego insurance for your domestic travel. Annual travel insurance Multi trip insurance for every holiday you plan over the next 12 months. You can buy the best in single and multi-trip travel medical insurance, trip cancellation and vacation insurance online. It dynamically changes the order of plans based on comparison of your trip insurance needs with the needs of thousands of other travelers. Whether searching for single trip, annual or specialist cheap travel insurance UK, all needs are catered for. Travel InsuranceSingle trip travel insurance, annual travel insurance and winter sports travel insurance – available to buy online now. Enjoy peace of mind on your vacation with budget single trip or cheap annual travel insurance! Arranging comprehensive travel insurance is an essential element in the planning of your trip. Since 9/11, many are looking to travel insurance to safeguard their trip against any unforeseen terrorist attacks at their destination. http://www. insurance-health-quote. com/travel-insurance/

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When planning a trip to Europe, there are a ton of available resources for travelers. With this is mind, it is often time-consuming to wade through all of the websites to find really valuable information.

Here is a list of some of the top travel resources for planning a trip to Europe.

1) Wikitravel

This is one of the best sites for travel available. It is open source, so it is constantly updated; further, it is usually locals or people who have direct, experience with an area who contribute information. Thus you get localized information you might not have gotten elsewhere.

2) World Travel Tips

This is a huge, comprehensive resource for world travel. It includes forums, articles, links, free membership and much more for every continent. Their European section covers every European Country and offer in-depth information about each one.

3) About. com: Europe for Visitors

This is a great site dedicated to travel in Europe from About. com. Geared towards everyone from first time to experienced travelers, it is a goldmine of European travel and planning information.

4) Virtual Tourist

This is a great travel guide. Their motto is ‘real travelers – real info. ” This seems consistent with the site, which has everything from transportation reviews to the best travel deal and trip planners. The site also includes forums where you can read about other people’s adventures in Europe.

5) Travel Europe

This is an swicki (cross between a search engine and wikipedia) where community users can add, remove and improve the results. This particular swicki is geared towards travel in Europe and is a great resource fro planning a trip to or in Europe.

6) Visiteurope. com

This is the European travel commission’s guide to Europe and is packed with tons of useful information, articles, advice and much much more.

7) Europe for Visitors

This is a site that offer European news, general advice, specific country advice, hotels, links to city guides, tourist offices and much, much more.

8. ) Europecities. com

This is a comprehensive portal site that offers European city reviews and guides to hundreds of European cities and over 40 European countries.

9) Travel Library

Travel Library is an impartial resource for travelers and offers a plethora of resources that offer in-depth travel information, from hotel and hostel ideas to travelogues and most popular locations.

10) Europa: Traveling in Europe

A huge site that offers tools and information for over 30 European Countries. Each country has their own site dedicated to travel resources, information news and more from that country. Categories for visitors include: documents you will need, choosing a time to travel, getting there, staying healthy, money, shopping, communicating, pets, and if things go wrong.

11) Europa: Your Europe

While this site is geared towards European citizens, it still offers tons of great information for visitors outside of Europe. Information categories include: working in Europe, education and study, living in Europe, traveling in Europe, consumer protection, European citizenship and diplomatic protection.

12) European Union Website

This is the official website of the European Union. It offers news, educational resources and tons of links to information about what’s going on in Europe and well as youth travel portals, travel guides, transportation information and much, much more.

13) Yahoo Answers

This is a great place to ask questions and get answers about anything Europe related. You ask the question and get a number of answers, then choose the answer that fits your question best. This site is great because it gives you several points of view to read and learn from and is focused on sharing knowledge.

14) Travels Wise

This site offers tons of information about travel in Europe and countries including Belarus, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, Iceland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, and the Ukraine.

15) Rick Steves’ Travel Tips

This site is a large portal site that offers tips and advice for exploring Europe safely, effectively and confidently. From packing tips and safety to accommodations and communications, you will find what you’re looking for.

16) Travel Punk

This site offers travel tips and advice targeted at backpackers, budget travelers and tourists. Offers tons of great information as well as travel tools and resources for finding cheap flights and accommodations.

17) TERC Europe Travel Tips

Offers tips on traveling in Europe and categories run the gamut from packing tips and staying healthy and safe to money matters, budget planning, food and accommodations and much more. It is a huge site that is well worth visiting for any Europe travel-related needs.

18) Accessible Journeys

This is an awesome travel site that offers a wealth of information, tips and travel advice about accessibility and traveling in a wheelchair. With information on everything from traveling with your wheelchair or scooter to equipment rentals, handicapped parking permits in Europe and accessible ways to travel, it is a great resource.

19) Europe Travel Tips

A large portal with tons of travel tools, articles and information about travel in 40 European countries, from Austria to the United Kingdom.

20) Independent Traveler

Great site offering lots of travel tips and advice to independent travelers.

21) Travel-and-transport. com

This is a highly useful portal that offers basic and necessary transportation information for Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway and Sweden. New to the site is a route planner that is especially handy.

22) Travel Notes: Europe

Comprehensive travel notes and advice for traveling throughout Europe. Lots of links, resources and tools for travelers.

23) Open Travel Info

Great travel site with a large amount of travel and Europe related information. The forums and articles are especially useful.

24) Discover Europe

Another excellent portal site that offers a wealth of tools, resources and links for travelers to learn about different European countries and plan their trips effectively and efficiently.

25) World 66: Europe

This is a great wiki site that allows members (free) to change and information. It has a great travel guide, maps, and resources for getting to Europe and getting around it. Members can also post photos and there is a cool photo gallery of different places in Europe. Well worth checking out.

26) Backpacker. net

Geared towards backpackers, this is one of the better sites for information, advice and travel planning for backpackers. Users can submit and read recommendations for hostels, tours, bars, beers and much more.

27) WorldWideBackpackers. com

This site is another excellent resource for backpackers and other travelers. While it is geared towards backpackers, there is a wealth of rich information for all travelers, so you should definitely pay them a visit.

28) Gate 1 Travel

This is a travel site for Central Europe. there is a wealth of information that is super handy; they offer info from climate and clothing advice to packing, required travel documents, travel insurance, transportation, communication and much more.

29) Backpackeurope. com

This is another site that is geared towards backpackers in Europe but is highly useful for all travelers. Has Europe travel tips, advice on packing, hostels and hotels, transportation and links to other travel resources.

30) Gemut. com

This is a great travel site that offers visitors advice on everything from car rental and rail travel to hotel reservations, money matters and much more.

31) Travels With Friends: Travel Tips for Europe

Travel tips and advice from planning your trip to executing it. The site’s creators travel Europe and research sites, accommodations, destinations and much more, so there is great, first-hand information available on all aspects of travel in Europe.

32) Suite 101: Eastern Europe & Russia Travel

Travel, culture and trip planning and advice. This is an excellent resource for finding out more about Eastern Europe and its cultures.

33) Traveler’s Point

Europe advice, tips and travel help for all European countries.

34) Budget Travel Online

Great site offering ideas, how-tos, advice and tips for travelers.

35) Yahoo Travel

Yahoo’s comprehensive travel site offers a wealth of information on all European Countries and many of its countries. Another great resource to check out.

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A travel agent engages in purchase and sales of tour and related services of travel. Travel agents can be employees or they can do business independently. In the tourism industry if travel is considered as the leg for the industry, then the travel agents are the very important backbone of the whole system.

Even though the Internet has created revolutionary changes in the tourism industry, travel agency cannot be replaced. You are using the Internet as a travel agent for arranging your travel services. Websites of travel agents and travel suppliers are providing you their services depending totally on your needs.

As the travel industry is very competitive, being a travel agent is not an easy one. Travel agencies are under constant pressure like facing stiff competition among them and also with online portals and they have to survive with lower profit margin. There are travel agencies specializing on packages like honeymoon, health, water sports etc.

In the past, the travel suppliers used to sell their packages to the public through travel agencies. Nowadays, the usage of Internet for travel service by travel consumers has been increasing and so all the travel suppliers are opting for online travel agencies. The Travel Industry Trade Associations are linked with many Travel suppliers, Travel Wholesalers and Consolidators, though the travel suppliers have web sites on their own. The Outside Sales Support Network (OSSN) supports travel agents like home based, Independent contractors and outside sales agents with 100,000 members in it.

Being a travel consumer you can access the catalog e-vacation that includes reading of needed information and watching online videos of the destination you want to travel without any verbal communication with the travel agent. Some travel agents offer packages or services with mark up price and there are others who offer the product for the same price charged by the supplier and there is always a debate of these travel deals offered.

The United States State Department encourages group travel of US citizens while traveling abroad. The travel agencies understand this silent push and they offer services that are affordable to everyone at unbelievable price. Being a holidaymaker, there are stories revolving around them for bad services and rip-off stories. You must be wondering how to find a creditable agent for your travel services. Here are some ways by which you can find many travel agents who offer good travel services for you.

First, be clear with your travel objectives and look for travel agents offering all types of packages and travel services. Flexibility in the price offered for your travel service will make you feel comfortable with the travel agent and so a good agent must be ready for negotiation of prices with a customer. Get recommendation from other customers who have used the travel agency for their needs and always feed back is very powerful. Your network of contact will help you a lot and will give an idea of the travel agents’ competency.

Always choose agencies that wish to sustain good relationship with customers. These agents will give you the utmost benefits on the services provided by them because of expecting repeat business and for having long-term association with you. If you have found an agent who keeps his word and has offered you his best services, then you stick to him for all your travel needs.

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Title: Travel: Pre and Post Internet.

By: The Nomad

Travel Pre Internet:

I’ve been travelling for over 40 years – by thumb in my early days, by boots in the Scouts, a Lambretta came next and then my first old banger followed by newer old bangers to the beaches of the Costa Brava.

My thumb, boots, bikes and bangers took me all over Europe and the UK before finding that a charter flight to Spain on an old ‘Connie’ could get me to the beaches and bars a lot quicker and allow more time to enjoy the local travel opportunities by horse and cart and the occasional bus and train.

‘Go West and Prosper’ seemed to be a good idea so instead of taking an 8 hour flight I took an 8 day transatlantic crossing from Tilbury to Montreal on the Stephan Batory of Polish Ocean Lines ensuring that jet lag did not trouble my travel plans. Some years later I crossed the pond again on a ship but this time it was 5 times bigger and I travelled in style on the QE2 and dined in the Queen’s Grill somewhat removed from my earlier experience. I highly recommend ocean voyages but cannot see myself on one of the modern cruise ships going from port to port with constant line-ups to get on and off to buy t-shirts. However, I have done 10 Windjammers and a Star Clipper cruise in the Caribbean which were all memorable (let’s hope Windjammer Barefoot Cruises recover from their woes). But I digress.

I had read that Canada is a spectacular country, from sea to shining sea, and my entrance into the St. Lawrence River to Montreal and then heading west in an old Econoline van from the Great Lakes, across the Prairies to the Rocky Mountains before ending up whale watching off of the Pacific Coast of Vancouver Island was a trip of wonder to a bloke from London. Today the scenery is still spectacular and the best way to go is still by road so rent or buy a car, motorhome or motorbike, take the train or tour bus but remember the maps, a fly rod, good boots and take your time.

My favorite part of Canada / USA for adventure travel has to be Northern BC / Alaska, to hike the Chilkoot Trail in the steps of the goldseekers of 1898. The Northwest Territories to canoe the Nahannie River and the Yukon to drive from Dawson City to Chicken, Alaska. If you like the outdoors and can put up with a few bugs, cast a fly and scale a few hills or drive on endless dirt roads sharing the space with moose, caribou, elk, bears and eagles, then these are the places to put on your list. The pleasures and experiences in driving to Inuvik on the Dempster Highway or to Prudhoe Bay on the Dalton Highway or even the Canol Road can only be felt by doing them. I would have mentioned the Alaska Highway but now it is an easy drive unlike the aforementioned.

Today the costs of driving these distances may mean that sharing the journey with others is required, but RVing or simply vanning and camping is a great way to see beyond the horizon. Some enroute adventures now need to be booked in advance whereas when I hiked Denali and the Chilkoot Pass it was just a case of turning up, registering with the local ranger office and heading on out. A little more forward planning is needed for today’s traveller and cost considerations of lengthy flights or drives have to somehow be countered with more careful planning. In the days of reasonable gas prices I would not even consider the driving or flying costs and have driven to Key West from the northwest coast, down the west coast to the Baja and to the west coast from New York. I once even flew my 1946 Fleet taildragger from the Pacific to the Atlantic and back using around 5 gallons an hour of avgas. Before the oil and credit crisis I drove from Rio de Janeiro to Lima, down to Tierra del Fuego and back to Rio covering over 15,000 miles of spectacular scenery and with no consideration about the cost of gas. South America should be on your itinerary too! Some other memorable drives that may now require a mortgage with the gas companies include London to The Nordkapp, Norway, Skippers Canyon in New Zealand and the loneliness of the far north of Australia and the amazing coast of Western Australia stopping by at Monkey Mia and Wave Rock.

We tend to forget that the real cost of travelling is often less today than over the 40 years of my travels. In 1977 my round-trip airfare from Canada to Australia cost over $1700 in 1977 dollars so today it is far cheaper to fly, even with the airlines gouging for fuel, extra baggage, no service and no pleasure. The ‘Big Mac’ method of price comparison as developed by The Economist newspaper gives us a good gauge for most expenditures of today compared to yesterday but my $1500 cost to get a private pilots licence in the 1970′s seems cheap by comparison to today, but obviously not when using this Big Mac principle. Other travel costs are also far cheaper today but this should not mean that travellers should disregard the many methods of saving costs that can then be put to extended or improved travel experiences

Travel Post-Internet:

In my 40 years of travel I have had to use travel agents to make even the simplest of reservations and buy tickets, not even thinking to ask them if they had “been there, done that?” It was just a case of there being no other options to buying travel. Now we have unlimited choices and can seek out better travel agents, better prices, better selections and information about anywhere in the world for our travels – without even leaving home.

The Internet now gives travellers ideas and options of Where to go, When to go, Why to go, What to do, Who to book with and How to save money and offset costs. We can search and find experts for every travel option. If we are comfortable with the Internet we no longer have to go to a travel agent to make reservations and buy tickets except to book with some of the larger travel companies that still produce glossy brochures and offer all inclusive packages or tours that only sell through the agency system. The Internet also allows those of us who are smart enough to know when to seek out a top travel agent with knowledge, experience and expertise (KEE skills) of destinations and activities about where to find them. There is no longer any need to only use our local agents when we can find one somewhere else in the world. When we do not need ‘the knowledge’ and can do it ourselves we simply surf the web so that we can book directly with tour and travel operators wherever we have decided to go.

Some travel agents operate their own tours, some are both wholesale and retail, some limit consumer selection by only selling their ‘preferred’ suppliers and some have professional consultants with years of experience invested in gaining knowledge, experience and expertise and are worth their weight in gold to the savvy traveller. Beware though, as some are also called destination specialists and some of these designations merely require the agent to take a rudimentary test offered by tourism offices, destination marketing groups or even tour operators and in my opinion can harm the reputation of the travel industry. A specialist is not necessarily an expert.

Travel is probably the most used commercial aspect of the Internet and if retail agents want to harness this exciting medium to offer ‘the knowledge’ and their ‘kee’ skills to a global audience, not just their local community, they must embrace the changes that are happening. Travellers now have the ability to seek answers to the 5 W’s of travel and the important ‘How to’ save money and offset costs by having information just a click away.

And then it occurred to me that even internet travel prices often include a commission element even when sold directly to the consumer. If we book directly with operators we should not have to pay full retail prices as we are doing for ourselves what a retail agent would normally do for us. A dilemma for the operator is that to show a both a retail and a cost price option could deter many agents from selling the services as travellers could use an agent for free advice and book directly with the operator to get a ‘net of commission’ price. Obviously this two tier pricing is not often available but travellers who do not need advice should also not be penalized by retail pricing. A new way had to be found and I think I have found it!

The need for fairer fare prices is why I developed the Top Travel Voucher program at The Top Travel Club and I even found a dot com for it. All travel selections on the site are at ‘net of commission’ prices for members who handle there own travel arrangements directly with the operators linked on the club website using our voucher program.

I am inviting travel operators from around the world to join this program, from B&B’s, Motels, Hotels, Luxury Lodges, Eco Resorts, Beach Resorts and Tour and Adventure Operators who want to promote their products and services to travellers who are comfortable with direct bookings and reservations.

I am also inviting Travel Agents with knowledge, experience and expertise of destinations and activities to showcase their skills to a global audience of travellers and to the members of this new travel club. I am leery of ‘specialist agents’ and only want experts to showcase their services.

This opportunity is available to the travel trade at no cost except for them to offer net, wholesale or outlet prices to club members and visitors to the website using top travel vouchers. I believe this program offers fairer fare prices to direct-booking travellers. The operator would normally be paying commission anyway but now travellers get the savings because they make their own arrangements.

The Top Travel Club opened in mid-April 2008 offering thousands of top travel vouchers for travel in over 70 countries with around 150 travel operators onboard. Every week we add more travel operators with more choices for members. Currently you can get savings on accommodations, adventure travel, boat charters, culinary tours, hike, bike and dive tours, auto and RV rentals fishing lodges and guides, safaris, vacation rentals, single travel, women only and dude ranches. Members get the vouchers free of charge by paying an annual membership fee and non-members can buy the vouchers on the internet at Top Travel Sites at deeply discounted prices to the face-value. The future growth will include restaurants, travel clothing, travel insurance and the opportunity to access air ticket consolidators who want to deal directly with consumers.

The way I have travelled and the way I see travel is that consumers should have unlimited access to every travel opportunity with the ability to do their own due diligence or to find a professional who can offer quality advice and services at fair prices, and to find all of this without needing endless hours of searching.

To find out more about the new way of cost offsets for travel please go to The Top Travel Club and my apologies for some of the spelling (traveller / traveler) but that is what I was taught. As long as we all understand the meaning, vive le difference!

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Think about it for a minute.   Are there really Online Travel Business Opportunities?  Well, the answer is yes, absolutely.   The hardest question to answer for most people is who, what, where and why ? 

These are exactly the same questions we had here, and so we decided to search out the answers.   We looked at numerous online travel business opportunities.   Some were not opportunities at all, some were over exaggerated opportunities, and one stood out above the rest.  The criteria we used on reviewing online travel business opportunities were simple. We wanted a company with a proven track record, a real future, an easy to use system, extensive connections in the travel industry, a strong management team, and very importantly a company we could make money with and grow with.   As travelers we wanted to be able to book our own travel and earn a commission.   Basically we wanted to get paid to cruise and travel.   But we also wanted to be able to grow our online travel business and keep traveling.   We also wanted to present the opportunity to others as we traveled.   Sounds impossible, but it is not.   It is being done right now.

Ok , so who is the company.   The company that we feel is the best online travel business is YTB   Online Travel.  

What is YTB Online Travel?   YTB Online Travel Business brings you the perfect opportunity to transform your life through combining the fun of travel with the speed of the Internet, multiplied by the power of referral marketing to provide you with the ultimate home-based business solution. YTB Online Travel Business is taking the industry by storm!!  By combining an advantage-rich, home-based business (built around the Internet) with an extremely lucrative (and copyrighted) compensation plan, YTB Online Travel Business has become “The Choice” for thousands of opportunity seekers. In today’s marketplace, myriads of companies seek your time and attention, each claiming that their opportunity is the best.   By combining the powerful information handling capability of the Internet with the world’s most dynamic product (TRAVEL) and the personal touch of independent, home-based business people, YTB Online Travel Business has joined these three trends together in a flawless combination. The Internet is opening the doors to the riches of travel as never before. By utilizing the YTB Online Travel Business simple strategies and proven techniques you will learn how to leverage your time to generate a residual income 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  YTB Online Travel Business leaders work with you from the very beginning to set up and promote  your online travel business.   They  are experts in online marketing.   They teach you the secrets to success.   

Where is YTB Online Travel?  YourTravelBiz. com (YTB), is a wholly owned subsidiary of publicly traded YTB International Inc. , and located in Wood River, IL.   Each YTB Online Travel Business has their own travelsite, maintained and updated for them by YTB.   Reps work from home, everything is completely internet based.   It’s better and easier than “plug and play” hardware.   No computer geeks here and we did it with no problems.   Setup takes only a few minutes.   And YTB Online Travel Business experts do this for you.   YTB International Inc is celebrating their 7th. year in business.   Subsidiary YTB Travel Network is the fastest growing travel company in America and are building for the long run.  

Why YTB Online Travel?  YTB is a top 35 US travel seller, and based on current rate of growth is set to sell $1 BILLION of travel in 2008.   YTB has proven their stability and paid out several million dollar bonuses to its top Directors, which may set a network marketing industry record.   YTB Online Travel Business has grown impressively over the years.     The company is 7 years old and has just entered exponential growth. They’ve grown from 3,209  reps in 2003 to 8,348 reps in 2004, 21,399 reps in 2005, 60,063 reps in 2006 and 132,700 plus reps in 2007.   At present they are well over 140,000 reps.  

YTBI has five times more retail customers the RTAs purchasing their travel.   This is one of the highest customer to RTA ratios in the direct sales industry.   This fact alone makes it hard for anyone or any authority to not recognize the YTB Online Travel Business as a legitimate retailer of travel no matter how the network marketer model is structured.

YTB Online Travel Business is in its seventh year  and the majority of all RTA’s that have ever been with YTB are still active.  That is, every RTA including all six previous years according to YTB Online Travel Business.   That is a phenomenal record in direct sales.  

Although you can start earning fast in the YTB Online Travel Business and earn bonuses up to a million dollars as many Directors have, over and above the commission structure, YTB Online Travel Business wants to be known as the large, long term residual company.   It already has more than 100 Reps earning six figures annually with many earning $50,000. 00 a month or more.     In fact, six are earning six figures a month.   That’s right, per month, not just in a year. Of course the phenomenal RTA retention rate contributes to the ease of creating a large, long term residential income.   The above incomes are extra ordinary and being made by a small number of established Directors of YTB Online Travel Businesses and are not indicative or guaranteed as to what you will make.   However the YTB Online Travel Business is still a great opportunity for anyone who likes to travel,  wants to get paid to cruise and travel, wants to earn additional income (YTB has a program that guarantees $6,000. 00 first year income)  from an internet home based business, and would like to share this opportunity with others.  

In the nearly ten years that we have been researching MLM or network marketing we have never found any company willing to guarantee “BOTH” the first year profitability and the residual income derived from ones efforts.

In fact, much to the industries detriment, companies all too often made outrageous income and life style claims to lure the unsuspecting into programs where true success was all but impossible except for a select few. These few would be paraded across the stage, given huge bonus checks to perpetuate the dream, or more aptly put, the myth of a success full home based business.

The blame was always assigned to the individual. The most egregious of companies were closed and or failed but the industry as a whole supported, promoted, and taught the flawed approach of “through enough against the wall and some will stick” or “if they fog a mirror sponsor them”. With very few exceptions the industry has never focused on insuring success with a valid business plan nor have they promoted retention by guarantying that the average person would have a chance to leverage their success through duplication.

Sadly, until now, most companies actions showed they cared little for the individual once their application fee had cleared.

Well, we’ve succeeded in making a short story long. We’ve made our point. This is the first instance we’ve found where a company has addressed the above mentioned problems. In our estimation they’ve found a solution. Their product, “travel”, may not be a uniquely differentiated but it can be marketed to every single niche market without exception.

The company is 7 years old and has just entered exponential growth. They’ve grown from 3209  reps in 2003 to 8348 reps in 2004, 21399 reps in 2005, 60063 reps in 2006 and 132700 plus reps in 2007.  

Simply put, this is the easiest opportunity we have ever found to market. One that we can finally say, with full confidence, that any person joining can make a profit without any reservations.

YTB Online Travel Business looks at every RTA who joins the travel company as a group waiting to happen.   Each RTA is a center of influence and brings a warm market to YTB.   The company has an infrastructure in place to help them with family reunions, church groups, fundraising trips, etc.   Over 60 percent of YTB’s cruise business are groups and YTB Travel is working on tools to help its RTA’s with land group sales also.     

For more information on the YTB Online Travel Business Opportunity go to 

www. travelveracity. biz         

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Let me start by saying YTB Travel and Travel FHTM are both great home based opportunities. We are former YTB Power Team Leaders and we enjoyed our time with YTB. However; we chose to leave YTB because of all the negative news, blog postings, scam reports etc.

YTB Travel is a legitimate business opportunity that is powered by one of the leading travel booking engines, Travelocity. The problem with YTB Travel or ANY business that has received such a blow to its reputation, business or sales will suffer as a result.

Travelocity is a leading travel booking engine that offers many Features and Benefits to any home based travel agency such as:

Partnership with a strong brand like Travelocity

Tools, data feeds, and products to help you succeed

Reporting and tracking

Competitive commissions with increases for high producers

Merchandising and marketing support

Dedicated team to support your business

Travelocity award-winning customer support

Travel FHTM offers 24/7 customer support, something not offered by similar online travel booking engines, so you can rest assured that you guests will have a worry free vacation with Travel FHTM.

Travel FHTM is a travel website being offered through the Travelocity Partner Network. Through an FHTM Independent Representative’s travel site, you can book travel on 60+ airlines, stay in one of over 55,000 hotels and resorts and rent cars from over 28 rental companies.

Travel FHTM, also a Travelocity partner guarantees that everything about your booking will be right, or we will work with our partners to make it right, right away. The Travel FHTM 24/7 customer support and booking guarantee are two of the reasons we chose to leave YTB Travel for Travel FHT.

Other reasons to compare YTB Travel and Travel FHTM are price comparison. YTB Travel costs $449. 00 to join and $49. 00 per month vs. Travel FHTM at $299. 00 to join and $49. 95 per month. By joining Travel FHTM, you save $150. 00, so in this rough economic times, cost was an important reason to switch to Travel FHTM.

YTB Travel offers the ability to get the travel booking engine for free, once you recruited and maintained 5 YTB RTA’s, but MOST YTB RTA’s were not able to get the free site because of the initial start up costs.

Travel FHTM does not offer a free travel booking option, but you will earn customer points and earn commissions on your monthly fee, weather you have no reps under you or 100 reps under you.

When you join YTB, you get one product to sell, that’s travel! When you join Fortune Hi Tech Marketing, you currently have 20 ADDITIONAL products and services to sell and each pays a monthly residual income.

Yes, you heard me correctly, 20 ADDITIONAL products and services from Fortune 500 companies, such as Dish Network, Sprint/Nextel, Verizon Wireless, GE Home Security just to name a few. So, for $150. 00 less to join Fortune Hi Tech Marketing, you get 20 Additional products and services to sell and earn additional monthly residuals.

Overall, YTB Travel and Travel FHTM are both powered by Travelocity, both offer travel commissions to 70% and all the same great travel trips, destinations, travel providers and weekly travel deals emailed to your prospects, etc.

Both companies offer travel training, but the travel training at YTB will cost you money, travel training at Fortune Hi Tech Marketing is free.

In conclusion, when you compare YTB Travel to Travel FHTM the benefits are clear. With Travel FHTM, you join a company with a positive reputation, you save $150. 00 upon signing up, you have Travel FHTM’s 24/7 customer support and travel guarantee, and you have 20 ADDITIONAL products from Fortune 500 companies which to sell and earn residual commissions from, in addition to building business of independent marketing representatives.

To learn more about the benefits of joining Fortune Hi Tech Marketing, vs. YTB Travel visit Fortune Hi Tech Marketing or Call Brent Vanderstelt at 231-206-5333 or Sherri Russell at 616-638-9384. We are Fortune Hi Tech Marketing approved trainers and internet marketing experts and will help you succeed in building a successful home based business.

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