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Today's Travel News
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
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Safeguard Your Travel Money
With increasing numbers of Internet scams and tour operator bankruptcies and decreasing value of the dollar, you have to even more vigilant in watching how you spend and protect your travel budget. Below are five tips offered by the US Tour Operators Association (USTOA) that should help keep your travel dollars safe.
1. Buy from a reputable company. Before putting money down on a tour or vacation package, check out the company. Check to see if it’s a member in a professional organization such as the National Tour Association (NTA) or the USTOA. 2. Consider travel insurance. If you have to cancel or interrupt your trip because of your illness or that of a family member, as well as other reasons, travel insurance can reimburse you for non-refundable payments such as hotel and other travel arrangements. Some travel insurance policies also protect against tour operator and/or company default. Check the US Travel Insurance Association, www.ustia.org, for more information. 3. See a travel agent Travel agents make it their business to stay on top of what's happening in the travel industry. A good travel agent will help you select the best type of vacation for your dollars, and also direct you to reliable companies. 4. Use a credit card Credit cards will normally reimburse for undelivered services providing the services were paid for within a specified time period. In case a travel provider such as a hotel, tour operator, airline, etc., goes out of business and you have paid with a credit card, contact your credit card company. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of unsolicited emails and faxes, and check out the travel provider. Be careful if someone asks for the money up front, or pressures you for a credit card number. Check out the company before putting your money down. For more information on USTOA, phone 1-800-GO-USTOA (800-468-7862) or see www.ustoa.com.
Recent Articles
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Loyal Princess passengers who book early to reserve their favorite destination and accommodations can now receive extra savings with the line's new Princess Captain's Circle Launch Savings benefit. This new discount offers Circle Members up to $300 off when they make their cruise reservations shortly after new cruise schedules are announced. The program offers one of the industry's best past passenger values, as it can be combined with other promotional fares. ...More
For summer 2008, Crystal Cruises has expanded its Jewish Heritage programs in Northern Europe. The luxury line has set five excursions, including a new tour in Berlin that transports guests on a heartrending excursion to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Orianenburg, which served as a prototype for all the camps that followed. These thought-provoking and eye-opening excursions - which will prove fascinating to Jews and non-Jews alike - are also available in Dublin, St. Petersburg and Stockholm aboard virtually all of Crystal Symphony's Northern Europe itineraries from June through August. ...More
Travel Impressions, one of the country’s largest tour operators selling destinations worldwide, is offering a sixth night free-of-charge plus a $200 resort credit at the Fairmont Orchid, a AAA Four Diamond property, located on Hawaii’s Big Island, on reservations made now through Dec. 20, 2008 for travel the same time. ...More
Summer vacations spent in the mountains offer great variety and relaxation. You can go biking, hiking, horseback riding, rafting - even enjoy a local concert or two. With United Vacations travelers not only have the flexibility to book their flight and hotel together, they also add fun in-destination activities and rental cars to one itinerary. ...More
Branson, Missouri, wants people to have fun with their economic stimulus check by vacationing in “The Live Music Show Capital of the World.” A new, innovative Branson promotion offers visitors two free show tickets just for bringing a copy of their stimulus check, or proof of direct deposit, to Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. Since only a copy is required, the checks can still be cashed by some national stores to take advantage of their stimulus plan promotions; thus check recipients have two ways to “cash in” for each tax rebate check. ...More
Stephen Peters, Hotel Manager, the Pan Pacific Vancouver, is pleased to announce the appointment of Marie Rogers as the new Manager, Public Relations. ...More
Briefly
Delta Air Lines is offering passengers an American Express-branded prepaid card valued at $50* for select round-trip, flights between New York City and the West Coast purchased at delta.com with any American Express Card. This summer ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises is offering 19 diverse itineraries of 6 to 15 days, designed to reveal the quaint harbor towns, romantic countryside and grand historic ports of Northern Europe and the Baltic in the up-close, personal style only small ships can provide. Following the successful start of operations in Cape Town, Emirates Airline will advance its presence in South Africa with the introduction of daily flights to Durban, effective December 1st, 2008. With the U.S. dollar sinking to new all-time lows against the euro,* Tauck World Discovery is helping travelers stretch their dollars in Europe by holding prices on its 2008 European journeys despite unfavorable exchange rates and soaring fuel costs. The Turks & Caicos Islands, a burgeoning luxury Caribbean destination featuring world-class beaches, will host the Fourth Annual Underwater Photographic Competition June – September 2008, offering $25,000 in prizes. |
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