TARP is a cash rewards program for anyone who sends clients our way.  The higher the dollar value of the trip, the more we reward the referring party.  TARP participants can earn up to $500 per referral.  The amount of the cash reward is tied to the commissionable value of the trip.  For example, a trip with a commissionable value between $5000 and $7499, earns the referring party $50.  The reward is given to the referring party by check within 60 days after completion of travel.  The more referrals that result in booked and competed travel, the more one can earn.  There is no limit!

We think this is a great way of giving back to our clients!  And perhaps the best part is, new clients can “refer themselves” and earn the reward.  So, what are you waiting for!  Become a Daydream Travel TARP member today!

Happy Traveling!

Greg Duggan, Travel Counselor

Daydream Travel

Denver, Colorado

We Make Dreams Come True!

www.daydreamtravelsite.com

After spending several months thinking about this issue, I decided to prepare a free report on the mistakes people make when choosing a travel consultant.  I was surprised at how many mistakes I could come up with.  I have entitled the report “Seventeen Critical Mistakes People Make When Choosing a Travel Consultant and How to Avoid Them.”    If you would like a free copy, email me at greg@daydreamtravelsite.com or go to our website www.daydreamtravelsite.com.  Of course, we hope that we may be able to help with your travel plans but we are providing the report as a free service to everyone.

In this article, I highlight a few of the most pertinent points included in the report.  A qualified travel consultant can be an invaluable asset to you in planning your next vacation.  The agent can, and should, do most of the leg work for you, get you the best value, be there for you when you need them, and generally act as “your” advocate.  Here are a few of the 17 mistakes.

#1.  Believing that Travel Agents are Obsolete 

     Many people are of the mistaken belief that in this day of the internet where you can get “anything” online, the days of the travel agent is either dead or their days are numbered.  My answer to this is a four word phrase…. “Don’t You Believe It!” True, you can book your next vacation on the internet and maybe even get an excellent price.  But that’s only half the story…or less!  Statistics show that the travel agent is making a comeback, and for very good reasons.  A truly good travel consultant with whom you establish a relationship will be your advocate for life.  They will do the research for you saving you time (and after all, time is money right?).  Many times they can get the same price or better than the internet price through suppliers that will price match.  They will take the time to explain things to you in terms you can understand (by the way, ever tried to talk with someone in a call center half way around the world that doesn’t speak good English?  And that’s after you have been placed on hold for a half hour or more!).  They will be there for you before, during and after your trip should problems occur (and they do from time to time).  They will provide value added services like tips for traveling abroad or what you need to know about passports (Did you know that most countries now require your passport to be valid for at least six months beyond your expected departure date from their country?)  And, I’ve just scratched the surface…Don’t get me going here!  So you see, there are a whole host of things that a good and knowledgeable travel consultant can do for you.

#3.  Thinking the Mega-Agency will Always Result in the Best Deal. 

     Some people think “bigger” is always “better”.  Not necessarily true!  Many of the larger “mega-agencies” are extremely busy with thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of clients.  You may become just a number in their system.  As a result, you may become the victim of shoddy service.  Sometimes, great things come in small packages.  The one or two person “mom and pop” shop can provide you with great value if you find the right fit.  A good, small sized, agency will seek to establish a relationship of trust with you.  Why?  Because their livelihood depends on it.  They need you!  They will do EVERYTHING they can to satisfy you because they want you to become a repeat customer.  Not only that, they want you to be so thrilled with the value of the services that you will refer your friends, relatives, co-workers and even the mail man. 

The smart travel consultant realizes what YOU mean to THEM!

#4.  Thinking that Booking on the Internet Will Always Result in the Best Deal. 

There is little question that the internet is a great resource today to everyone including the traveler.  And yes, you can sometimes find great deals on travel on the web.  Travel consultants use the web too!  But many people have the mistaken impression that they will always get the best deal by booking online.  This is just not true from a total value point of view!  Have you ever tried to get telephone assistance from an online service if you have a problem with a reservation or need to make changes?  How long have you been placed on hold?  If and when you get connected, can you understand the person on the other end of the line? Are you able to wade through all the fine print at the bottom of a quote online?  Our advice is sure, go ahead and use the internet as a research tool if you wish.  But many travel consultants will work with you to take the research you have done and get….not just the best price….but the best overall value for you.

#8.   Failing to Check the Reputation of the Travel Consultant .    

     Most travel consultants (this one included) in this day and agemake use of a fancy website to attract and inform prospects about their products and services.  If they are smart, they have an area of the website dedicated to reviews of their services, sometimes referred to as testimonials.  This is a good starting place for you, the consumer, to learn something about the agent.  But beware!  Don’t stop here!  How do you know that those website testimonials are not just made up by the agent?  Call the consultant and ask for references.  If the agent balks at this, run the other way as fast as you can.  Now, having said this, sometimes it can be difficult for the agent to get permission from his or her clients to talk with you (e.g., the client may be concerned about their privacy).  But usually, they will be able to get at least one of their clients to be willing to do so. 

#9.   Working with a Travel Agency who Keeps Strict Hours and Isn’t Available When You Need Them the Most. 

     This is a really critical mistake!  If you work with an agent who keeps 9-5 hours, you might as well book through an online agency.  Make sure your agent is delivering the value you expect from them.  If they are not available to handle problems and emergencies, what good are they?  When you are on vacation and the airline does a schedule change that affects your return flight, the last thing you want is to call your agency and hear…”our office is currently closed, please call back on Monday after 9am.” 

#12.  Choosing an Agency That Won’t Go the Extra Mile to Find       the Best Value for You. 

     Again, if you choose an agency that won’t work hard on your behalf, you might as well just book through one of the online travel companies.  You want an agent who is committed to being your advocate!  Make sure you check the agent’s references.  Is he or she known for searching for the best value for their clients?  Do they take care of their clients from the beginning of the travel experience to the end, and beyond?  This is what you want!

#15.  Choosing an Agent Who Doesn’t Endeavor to Understand       You and Your Needs. 

     You and your agent should seek to establish a relationship of trust and understanding.  The more an agent knows about you, your likes and dislikes and the activities you like to engage in, the better they can serve you.  You should expect a prospective agent to ask numerous questions to establish a profile for you.  If they don’t, it may be a sign that they are more interest in a quick sale than a long term relationship.

So, I think it is fair to say that travel consultants are here to stay.  Of course they are not for everyone in every circumstance.  But they can and do provide great value if you find the right one to work with.

Happy Travels!

Greg Duggan

Daydream Travel

Denver, Colorado

We Make Dreams Come True!

www.daydreamtravelsite.com

Email:  greg@daydreamtravelsite.com

Office:  (303) 728-9657

Toll Free: 1-888-574-8747

We found a long list of things to brag about at Beaches, T&C but the one that stands out in our minds is the variety of things to do for all ages.  From babies and toddlers, kids, tweens and teens, Beaches has it covered for the children in the family.  Beaches “Kids Camp” provides supervised entertainment and education for infants, toddlers and pre-teens with an array of activities appropriate for each age group. Babies and toddlers can have fun at Kids Camp with certified nannies, including activities with the Elmo and the other Sesame characters.  Toddlers will enjoy their own set of activities including toddler pools, shell collecting, face painting, treasure hunts, puppets, costume time, magic shows, sand castle building and so much more.  Pre-teens will enjoy sailing, snorkeling, swimming, beach volleyball, beach soccer, scavenger hunts, glass bottom boat rides, pizza making, reggae jam sessions and on and on!   And from pizza bars to soda bars, to their own “nightclub” with karaoke, Beaches gives teens and tweens their own scene all day and places to hang each evening.  All ages, including adults, will enjoy the Pirate’s Island water park with the new surf-simulator.  The state-of-the-art Xbox 360^® Game Garage features Xbox 360^® video game systems exclusively and provides the best games for everyone in the entire family to play.  Teens release their inner DJ with the world famous Scratch DJ Academy^®.  The best part is, most of these activities are included in your “all-inclusive” experience*.

Beaches, T&C http://tinyurl.com/sandalsandbeaches
 is also a wonderful place for a destination wedding and/or honeymoon.  The nice thing is that the whole family can be there to take part in the ceremony.  Many other resorts that are “adults only” prohibit children from even attending the ceremony much less staying at the hotel.  This can be an important consideration for a couple planning a destination wedding.

The resort itself is massive!  It is divided into three separate “villages” including French, Caribbean, and the “new” Italian.  Each area has lodging and restaurants exhibiting the flavor of the regional culture.  The new Italian area is spectacular!  One of the things we found very cool is in the Italian restaurant where they have a “fine dining” area set aside for the kids with miniature tables and chairs.  So, the kids can have a sophisticated dining experience just like mom and dad.

Beaches, Turks and Caicos is near the town of Providenciales, Provo for short. The Turks and Caicos islands are situated north of the Dominican Republic and Haiti and approximately 400 miles southeast of Nassau in the Bahamas.  We found the people at the resort to be extremely friendly and accomodating.  Turks and Caicos is one of the top destinations in the world for scuba diving (Provo is ranked #7 in the world by the PADI network).  The resort has a dive shop on the premises.  Provo is not too shabby for snorkeling either. 

There is so much more to tell about the Beaches, Turks and Caicos resort.  But suffice it to say, it is a great destination for families to enjoy one another’s company.

For more information on Beaches Turks and Caicos, visit http://tinyurl.com/sandalsandbeaches

*  Some activities require a small surcharge.

Greg Duggan

Daydream Travel

Denver, Colorado

303-728-9657

Toll Free: 1-888-574-TRIP (8747)

www.daydreamtravelsite.com

greg@etravelunlimited.com

Until now, U.S. citizens wishing to travel to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean could do so without a passport.  All that was required was a birth certificate and some form of positive identification.  But starting June 2, 2009, everyone wishing to travel outside the U.S. will need a valid passport to do so.  

About three years ago as a response to 911, the U.S. Department of State initiated a program known as the North American Initiative.  The North American Initiative requires anyone traveling anywhere outside the U.S. to have a valid passport.  However, the State Department was not prepared for the backlash from people wanting to travel and so they have not yet fully implemented the program.  That will all change on June 2, 2009 and a passport will be required. 

It currently takes about 4-6 weeks to process the application for a new (first time) passport.  Renewals take a bit longer, perhaps a week.  It seems odd that renewals would take longer but that’s the way it is (due to the processing mechanism).  Renewing one’s passport early is important because many countries now require that a visiting traveler’s passport be valid for a length of time beyond the anticipated departure from the country.  So let’s say you plan to arrive in Canada on June 1, 2009 and plan to depart back to the U.S. on June 15, 2009 but your passport expires July 1, 2009.  In this case you would not be good to go because Canada requires that a passport be valid for 6 months after the planned date of departure.  So it is very important to pay attention to the expiration date of your passport.   

To get a passport in the first place, two things are required.  One is to prove that you are a U.S. citizen and the second is to prove who you are, i.e. your identity.  Proving that you are a U.S. citizen requires a certified copy of your birth certificate issued by the state, county or city of birth.  Proving that you are who you say you are requires a positive form of identification such as a driver’s license.   

Another issue to know about is visas.  Here, we are not talking about your credit card but a requirement of some countries such as China which require advanced permission to enter the country.  A visa is a stamp which goes in a page on your passport when you enter the country you are visiting. 

There are many other nuances of the passport process for travelers to be aware of.  For example, did you know that it is possible to add pages to a passport if you are a frequent traveler?  The U.S. State Department will do this for free.  Also, it is possible to expedite the passport issuance process for a fee.  International Passport Visas, Inc. (www.passportvisa.net)  can assist you with the expediting process. 

A great resource for everything passports and visas is www.travel.state.gov. 

Happy traveling! 

Greg Duggan, Travel Counselor 

 Daydream Travel 

Denver, Colorado 

We Make Dreams Come True 

303-728-9657 

www.daydreamtravelsite.com 

greg@daydreamtravelsite.com

Today, I want to discuss the tremendous bargains in travel that abound in the global recessionary economy we are all experiencing. If you are fortunate enough to have the time and money to travel right now, there has never been a better time! Hotels, airlines, cruise lines, rental car agencies…they are all struggling right now. That means great deals for you, the traveler!

To illustrate, let me cite an example from my own personal experience. I have always wanted to travel to Ireland, land of my ancestors. I knew that I needed to go sometime but I wasn’t sure when I would be able to swing it. But I recently came across a deal that was, well frankly, just impossible to pass up. My wife and I will be going to Ireland next month! Our package includes round trip air from Denver, CO, to Shannon, Ireland (via Newark, NJ), 7 nights accommodations (5 nights in B&Bs of our choosing, 1 night in the Limerick Strand hotel, and 1 night in a five star country manor house), an automatic rental car with a GPS, and a full Irish breakfast each day. All of this for a total of $2317 USD taxes and fees included for 2 people. Wow! How could we possibly say no!

We see deals similar to the above cross our desks every day and to just about everywhere in the world. Now you know this won’t last forever! Once the economy begins to pick up (and it will), the travel bargains will begin to diminish. I wish I had more time and money to devote to travel this year. I would definitely take advantage of the opportunity.

Next Blog – Passport Requirements

In my next blog, I intend to provide an informative article on what every traveler needs to know about passports. There have recently been some major changes to the requirements that everyone needs to be aware of. Please check back soon for this important information.

And thanks for reading the Daydream Travel Blog!

Greg Duggan, Travel Consultant

About Daydream Travel

Daydream Travel is owned by Greg and Sharon Duggan. We are independent agents of ETravel Unlimited, Centennial, CO. We specialize in honeymoons/destination weddings, cruises, golf travel, family reunions, and group travel. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.daydreamtravelsite.com/ or email us at greg@etravelunlimited.com.

But for first timers, perhaps the best way to visit Alaska is by cruise ship.  There are many cruise lines that sail the inside passage to Alaska and many options such as cruise only or cruise/land tours.  For many folks, seeing the magnificent glaciers is an excellent wetting of the appetite for future explorations. 

The season for visiting Alaska by cruise ship is relatively short, generally May through September.  The peak warmest temperatures are in July, generally reaching the mid 60′s F.  Rainfall is usually greatest in August and September.  Days are long in the summer.  At the summer solstice, June 21, there are approximately 18 hours of daylight in Ketchikan and higher further north.  But whatever the time you go, be prepared for changeable weather.

My wife and I will be leading a group sailing to Glacier Bay this summer, July 19-26, 2009 on Holland America Line, the ms Westerdam.  The ship is set to sail round trip from Seattle, WA, with port calls in Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria, B.C. Canada.  To join us or for more information, call 208-390-2661 or visit our website at http://www.daydreamtravelsite.com.