We have been saying it for years:

Don’t trust the hotel websites.

Don’t trust the brochures.

Don’t trust the reviews.

NBC’s TODAY Show confirms why you should use caution and that the travel agent is truly your best sourse of UNBIASED information.

And for something truly special:

Please join us tomorrow night when we give away 6 more Royal Caribbean cruises to well deserving cancer crusaders.

Click here for more info

I realize you are being told that it is easy to book your vacation online. Just trust the supplier to take care of everything and have your credit card within easy reach. Most telephone reservation agents who work for cruise lines, tour companies and hotels are commissioned salespeople with little knowledge of the industry. Their goal is simple: Try to get a direct booking, and let the company pocket the commission built into the price.

Since you can’t save any money this way, why gamble?
By all means: play around, surf the web, but why not email or call us for a second opinion – AT NO COST?

By booking direct, you are making a sucker bet that the person on the other end of the line has your best interests at heart (and would tell you if their competitor offers a better price or product), will look out for further discounts, apply them to your record and will be there for you in an emergency.

By the way, Excel Travel was open during the recent snow blizzard on 12/26-12/27/10. Continental Airlines and many other companies played recordings until 1/2/11 that they were “too busy” to answer the phones.  That much for customer service!

If a tour operator or cruise line did not give us pricing that was equal to or better than what they offer on their site, no reputable travel consultant would ever again sell their product. You can always count on the fact that our pricing will be as good or better than any tour or cruise prices you see on direct booking sites.

IF not (as we state so boldly on our homepage) we will pay for your vacation!
Time is our most precious commodity.  With every vacation it is our goal, to make sure that you will have great memories to last a lifetime!

Happy Traveling!

And talking about cleaners….

Sign found in a Bangkok Dry Cleaners:

Gruezi, Hola, Aloha, Ciao, Bonjour, Ni Hao, Yia Sou, Guten Tag, Hey!

Travel and bad weather don’t mix together.

This hasn’t been a kind time for travelers, with winter weather wreaking havoc on travel plans in Europe and the United States. But passengers can take steps to prepare for the worst.

Here’s how:

BOOK THE “RIGHT” FLIGHTS
Long haul flights and larger planes are less likely to get canceled, than smaller, half empty flights (it’s all about the money).

CONSIDER TRAVEL INSURANCE
BUT be sure you are familiar and understand all the fine print.  There is a lot of it!!!  Whenever possible, we recommend insurance that allows you to cancel out for ANY reason (NO fineprint, whatsoever!)

ASK FOR WAIVERS
Airlines have become a lot more proactive and if bad weather is predicted might allow you to change your travel plans for free (one less potential problem they have to deal with).

CHECK THE ARRIVAL OF THE INCOMING FLIGHT Rather than checking your flight departure, find out where the flight is coming from and check the arrival time. IF the flight is coming in late, it probably will depart late!

KNOW WHO’S RESPONSIBLE
Thanks to consumer-friendly “passenger’s rights” initiatives in the United States and Europe, airlines and airports do have some responsibilities to inconvenienced passengers. But weather-related disruptions almost always let carriers off the hook. And there’s a good reason for that: Government regulators never want to encourage airlines to operate unsafely in dicey weather. Besides, the ultimate responsibility for your travel plans and your on-the-road comfort is yours. After all, who’s got your best interests at heart? Only you.

GO EARLY, GO NONSTOP
Generally speaking, there’s also a best time to fly: early in the day Statistics repeatedly show that airlines and airports operate most efficiently in the morning hours, and there’s another benefit of early-morning flying: There are more chances to rebook during the day if there is a disruption.

HAVE A PLAN B – AND PLANS C AND D
Airlines have cut their support staffs to the bone in an effort to shore up profitability, so their ability to assist passengers during a weather-related crisis has been severely reduced. Airport-based agents are quickly overwhelmed and, when you can make your way through the lines, the service you get is naturally stressed and curtailed. Lightly staffed telephone reservation centers can no longer cope with regular call volumes, let alone the spikes that occur when weather intervenes. And airline and airport websites have been know to crash under the volume during “flight irregularities.”

The solution?  Research your alternatives before you fly. Print out (or forward to your smartphone) all of your logical flight options so you know what can be done. It’s better than hoping a frazzled and overworked airline employee can help you efficiently in a crisis situation.

GET TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE

Most of the madding crowds will be waiting in lines for airlines to find them alternate flights for free or complimentary accommodations.  Stay in the line, but also call the airline (good luck with that!), or better yet…
CALL US (24/7).

As dramatic as your situation might seem – we probably have seen worse and will do everything we can to bail you out – while you go relax and have a cup of coffee!

And most importantly:  DON’T THINK ABOUT THE PROBLEM YOU ARE HAVING (everybody else has problems too!) – THINK AHEAD TO THE SOLUTION and then CHARM THE RESERVATIONS AGENT (OR US!)  WITH YOUR WIT, KNOWLEDGE AND PATIENCE!

By rounding up a bunch of your friends to cruise together, you can earn a free cabin for yourself.

Cruising for free is easier that you might think – just ask Cindy Meyer of Oceanport, NJ.  After Cindy talked with us about her traveling preferences, we reserved a block of cabins on her favorite ship and emailed fliers with her group’s information to her family and friends. The goal was to entice enough friends and family to earn a free vacation for Cindy.
The result? Not only did she earn a free cruise but her husband did too, when when 26 other people joined the group.

Some groups start as a single booking, like the cruise we planned for an engaged couple. The bride chatted about her upcoming honeymoon cruise to friends and neighbors and within weeks, 34 other people signed on to set sail, and the newlyweds cruised for free!

All you need is a few friends or a family wanting to travel together on the same sailing, and an excuse to do it – be it for a family reunion, birthday, graduation, club outing, to celebrate a divorce (yes, that happens too!) or just for fun.

Defining a Cruise Group – The Magic of Numbers

Most of the major lines, generally define a “cruise group” as 16 people occupying 8 cabins (3rd and 4th passengers in a cabin don’t count toward the total). The 16th person earns the free fare – although port charges and taxes must still be paid.  With some companies, off-peak sailings or larger groups earn a free cruise for every 8th to 12th person.

Perks Galore For Group Travelers

Not only are cruise group rates sometimes lower (many times, substantially lower) than individual rates, but often, the free cruise can be applied to the group leader or be divided evenly among the group, saving everyone money.
Additionally, many of the major cruise lines frequently offer amenities available only to group cruisers. Examples include cabin upgrades, complimentary wine and chocolates in each stateroom, a cocktail party, free bathrobes, etc.

Other advantages are:
- The freedom to choose the cabin class (inside, oceanview, balcony) you can afford.
- Indulging in hassle-free family meals (minus the dishwashing duty that comes with a house rental), avoiding waits for the big table at a restaurant, and eliminating those squabbles over the check.
- Participating in many group activities.
- Enjoying the camaraderie of traveling with loved ones.
- Taking advantage of children’s programs, which enable adults to have a worry-free evening together.

Imagine: No planning, No cooking, No cleaning, No entertaining,
It’s all done for you!

Group cruises are great for:
- Family Reunions
- Weddings and Anniversaries
- Church Groups and any kind of clubs
- How about playing golf on five different islands in one week?
The possibilities are endless!

Please feel free to call/email us for further information. We’ll do all the work for you.  All you need to do is get the word out. We’ll even pay for your postage, design the fliers, make the bookings, etc.

So, as the cruise ads say, get out there and set sail with friends.

Ship Ahoy!

Well, we all spent a few days on the same cruise ship last week. I saw them, but I am not sure whether they saw me. And that’s okay. The true star was the ship: the brand new Allure of the Seas. Reportedly a few millimeters longer than her sister ship (Oasis of the Seas), which makes it the biggest ship in the world!

And YES, this is one big ship:
6360 is the maximum number of passengers plus 2160 crew members, BUT with 24 dining venues and 37 bars, we truly never had to wait in line.

Here are some other mind-boggling numbers:
The Central Park Neighborhood (on the ship) has 12,175 plants (93 different varieties) and 56 trees. 131 is the number of feet above sealevel of the four jacuzzis suspended high above the ocean on either side of the ship.

And just for fun:
-The Allure is 1187 feet long. The Empire State building measures 1050 feet up to the Observatory!!!
-The Allure weighs 225,000 tons. The Empire State Building weighs 365,000 tons.
-The Allure has 17,424,000 feet of electrical cable. The Empire State Building has 2,500,000 feet.

And it’s AFFORDABLE (if you can act quickly):
On 12/12 you could sail for one whole week for $719 per person plus port charges/taxes (based on double occupancy).  Prices for other dates are more in the $900-1500 range.  And the third and fourth person in the same cabin are substantially less expensive.

Here is a video of the, practically identical, sister ship, Oasis of the Seas.  The Aqua Show was phenomenal.

Royal Caribbean entered into an agreement with Dreamworks and Shrek, Fiona, Kung Fu Panda, characters from Madagaskar and so many more were on board to celebrate the occasion.  Al Pacino, Adam Sandler and Katie Holmes were onboard filming “Jack and Jill” (to be released next November).  You can catch me in the background … waving!  Or maybe not, I might not make the final cut.

Why not consider the Allure or Oasis for your next family reunion:
No cooking
No cleaning
No entertaining
It’s all done for you!  We’ll even send out fliers for you!

Ships Ahoy!
Ted

BTW, Spam Musubi is a very popular snack and lunch food in Hawaii!

A large cruise ship creates the image of a floating city, but it many ways, it’s a machine, like an airplane or a car. The possibility of mechanical problems can never be 100% eliminated.  The only place that’s completely safe is the grave, and then it doesn’t matter very much! Part of LIVING as opposed to just staying alive is balancing the relative risks vs benefits of any situation. On a cruise ship, that balance is tilted way way way way to the low-risk, high benefit side!  Considering that about 15 million vacationers cruise every year, the percentage of people that might have to endure a non-working bathroom, or not have proper air conditioning, or any kind of other problems is in the 1000s.  That puts the likelyhood of a less than perfect experience at about 0.05%.  I’ll take these odds any time – with or without spam!

And while we focus all of our attention on these people that had to go without proper plumbing for 1 ½ days (but got a full refund AND another FREE vacation – and possibly enjoyed a much needed weight loss in the process), let’s not forget that according to the CDC, over 3000 children die EVERY DAY from Malaria – a treatable and preventable disease!

Let’s also not forget that life is unpredictable, which is what makes it so exciting and worth living.

Keep that in mind when you click on the following link (and be sure to watch until the end)!

Beware of OPT-OUT FEES!

For those of you who still prefer to do your airlines, hotel, car reservations, etc. online, there are now many new fees, where you have to opt-out, (i.e. UN-check a box not to pay it)  These are not big amounts, and of course, their hope is that by the time you get your statement, you won’t double check a $25 fee.

United Airlines is even trying to sell you extra miles with each trip.  When checking in online (and at airport kiosks), this is an opt-out offer.  The program is called “Award Accelerator”, and it allows travelers to buy miles for 3 cents a mile.

Let’s do the math: You need 25’000 points/miles for a domestic ticket. Paying 3 cents a mile that would cost you $750. What a deal – for United Airlines!

The point of this email, though, is not whether the miles are worth it, it’s that the default shouldn’t be to buy them.  In fact, not only do you now have to make the effort to “skip and continue” when you are online, the system is even asking “Are you sure?”

Fees (including hidden ones) have been extremely profitable for airlines and are here to stay.  Here is the newest list.

Please feel free to call / email us with any questions.  A single fee is not a lot of money, but it can ad up to $100s for a family and several flight segments, pieces of luggage, etc. 

The friendly skies are not so friendly anymore.

First they did their own research using Expedia and similar online travel websites.  Then they contacted American Express, AAA, and Liberty Travel with the same request, and guess what, EACH TIME THE TRAVEL AGENTS BEAT THE ONLINE PRICES!

No surprise to US, but probably to some of the WSJ readers.

The link is at the end of this email.

Ladies and Gentlemen, THE TREND IS SHIFTING (can you see the grin on my face ?:

1) This year, 17% more people booked with a travel agent (compared to 2008), rather than going online.
2) Expedia and Orbitz recently announced that they are paying travel agents a commission for bookings made on their website.  These are the same companies that boldly predicted the “death of the travel agent” 10 years ago!
3) On our website there are links to 10 unbiased articles confirming that it just does NOT make sense to book a vacation online.  IF you don’t want to take my word for it, do your own research.  I announced 10 years ago, that I would pay $100 cash to anybody who can find an unbiased survey that confirms that the online agencies are less expensive.  The challenge still stands.  I still have the original $100 bill!

Yes, Expedia (and all the other online agencies) entice their clients with (up to) 50% off deals.  Important is how much you pay – not how much they discount it!  So, next time somebody claims they can get a lower price online, ask them how they really know and what proof they have.

On our homepage we guarantee that IF we can not beat the prices offered by Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, and Hotels.com, for vacation packages or cruises, WE WILL PAY FOR YOUR VACATION.
…it has yet to happen!

Even for just airline tickets, we can do better!

Here is the proof.

Please allow me to recap the advantages of working with a travel agent.  I know I am preaching to the choir, but also understand that you are constantly bombarded with friends that think they can do better, and ads that promise the impossible.

Adantages of Working with a travel agent:
* SAVE YOU TIME: We do all the research for you!
* GUARANTEE THE BEST PRICE: Because of our experience (23 years average per agent, we know how to shop around on your behalf!
* SHIFT THE RISK: IF you book yourself to Sydney, Canada instead of Sydney, Australia, or to the Bahamas in the winter (and then it’s too cold to swim), you have nobody to blame but yourself. IF we make a mistake, we are liable!
* AVAILABLE 24/7: Try to call an airline or Expedia, during the next snow storm or volcano eruption!)
* And most importantly: We have a vested interest, because we want you to book with us again and again and again.

Link to the Wall Street Journal Article |

IF you are still with me … THANK YOU for allowing me to toot my own horn.

And THANK you for your support.  With many of you it has been over 20 years!!!   What a ride it has been.  In one of my next newsletters, I will highlight the craziest trips we have had the pleasure of booking for you.

In the meantime, we are getting ready for our BIG MOVE! 
We purchased a 100 year old building across the street from us and are currently having it renovated.  No walls, no floor, no ceiling, but that will all change next week.  We look forward to our move and to sending you all over the place for many more years.

Happy Traveling!
We have satisfied clients leaving us daily!

Here are five things you may not know about your airline ticket and the ways in which they can have a major impact on your travels. Some of this might seem obvious at first glance, but the devil is in the details.

You Aren’t Guaranteed Travel.  Early on in Continental’s contract, one finds this disconcerting bit of text:
Rule 3: Schedules and Operations
Continental will use its best efforts to carry the passenger and baggage with reasonable dispatch. Times shown in timetables or elsewhere are not guaranteed and form no part of this contract. Continental may without notice substitute alternate carriers or aircraft, and may alter or omit stopping places shown on the ticket in case of necessity. Schedules are subject to change without notice. Continental is not responsible or liable for making connections, or for failing to operate any flight according to schedule, or for changing the schedule or any flight.

Taken at face value, this makes the so-called contract between you and Continental seem rather … not guaranteed.  Now, this comes early in the contract, and much that follows describes how Continental will (or will not) deal with many of the circumstances mentioned here.  Still, the basic gist of this paragraph is true, as most travelers can attest:  Don’t believe you’re going somewhere until you get there.  The takeaway is that you should always prepare for the worst, and make sure you have our emergency number (732-687-6663, answered 24/7), if your reservations could be disrupted by flight troubles.

You Aren’t Guaranteed a Seat.  One of the circumstances alluded to above is overbooking, that irritating industry practice of selling more tickets than there are available seats because, in Continental’s words, “passengers with confirmed reservations on a flight sometimes fail to show.”  At this point, it’s fair to wonder why it isn’t adequate to simply sell all the seats on a given flight, and why airlines are allowed to sell more seats than they have. But the unfortunate fact is that they can, and often do.  Can you imagine showing up to a baseball game with tickets in hand, only to be told the game was overbooked?

You Can Be Kicked Off a Plane.  There are several ways passengers can get themselves kicked off a plane.  Barefoot passengers, drunk and/or abusive passengers, foul-smelling passengers, or passengers who refuse to buckle their seat belt can all be removed from the plane.  Passengers who refuse to comply with security searches, whose border-crossing papers are inadequate, and who fail to provide identification may never make it on in the first place.
Most reasonable people won’t ever find themselves forced off a plane, but it does happen.  Every few months we hear about a mother with children or an overweight passenger who is escorted off a plane in a humiliating spectacle.  We’d all like to think it could never happen to us, but just in case, it’s useful to recognize the various boundaries that could, perhaps unwittingly, be crossed.

You Can Get a Refund, Sort of.   Basically, if an airline cancels your flight, or kicks you off for one of the reasons listed above, you’re eligible for a refund or some other form of compensation.  Force majeure events, cancellations due to mechanical issues, and schedule irregularities that result in canceled flights are all cases where airlines are required to provide a refund or credit toward travel at a later date.  Often the airline will encourage you to accept a flight credit rather than forfeit cash, but it’s generally up to the customer.  Changes in schedule can result in a refund as well, though in these cases you have less control over whether or not a refund is issued.  If the airline thinks it can reroute you in a reasonable manner, it will do so.  Of course, your idea of “reasonable” may be quite different, and in that case politely requesting a refund in lieu of a long, pointless flight might be wise.

Your Ticket is Not Transferable. Unlike those baseball tickets mentioned above, you can’t resell your airline ticket.  Why?  The industry says it’s for security reasons:  Who’s to say you’re not buying the ticket for someone on the no-fly list?  It could also be argued that the rule is all about forcing you to buy new tickets when you simply want to give a ticket you’ve bought to someone else.  Heck, even fixing a typo in the name on a ticket can be a tedious process, and will typically cost $100 or more.  But with all this non-transferability, you might assume that lost tickets aren’t that big of a deal. Say you leave your ticket behind at an airport bar—it’s not like anyone else can use it, right?  Unfortunately, airlines don’t really care if you lose your ticket, and if someone did try to use your lost ticket, the airline will just confiscate it and likely offer you nothing. With unused tickets, most airlines simply require you to purchase a new ticket to replace the lost one. Some, like Delta, will reissue a partially used ticket for a $100 fee.

By the way, coffee is still served at no cost.   Unlimited coffee!

Airline fees are nothing new, CLICK HERE to watch Carol Burnett’s idea of a NO FRILLS AIRLINE.

Kick Off Party and Huge Networking Event
All local Chambers of Commerce, MODC, Rotary, LeTip, BNI and more!

Tuesday, May 18th from 5:30pm-8:30pm at Branches Catering, 123 Monmouth Road, West Long Branch, NJ.

Here is WHY: 

Excel Travel offers the 1st Annual Kick Cancer Overboard Cruise to Bermuda.   Join cancer survivors, their families, friends and supporters on this unique and exciting celebration of life to Kick Cancer Overboard.  Prices start at $525 for a 5 night cruise.

On 5/18/2010 we will kick it off with presentations by Royal Caribbean International, Bermuda Department of Tourism, American Cancer Society and….well you’ll have to be there to find out more.

And oh YES, there will be live music and libations, beach balls and streamers.
And oh YES, you will get to watch videos, and even be your own star-in a brand new video!
And oh YES, there will prizes (how about a free stay in Bermuda?).

To help us Kick Cancer Overboard we ask for a small donation of $15 (cash/check please).  All other details are top secret until 5/18, but we have many surprises planned!

We expect a full house, so PLEASE RSVP ASAP to goaway@exceltravel.comor call (800) 392-3588…. and bring LOTS OF BUSINESS CARDS!

In 2007, Royal Caribbean named their newest ship LIBERTY OF THE SEAS, even though Carnival Cruise Lines already had a ship called LIBERTY. The year before, Carnival named their ship FREEDOM, right after Royal Caribbean named their newest ship FREEDOM OF THE SEAS – to make sure there was NO confusion. Please!
In the same year, Princess Cruises named their newest ship CROWN Princess, NOT to be confused with a ship by a competitor: the Norwegian CROWN

Then there is also:
The Norwegian STAR and the STAR Princess;  The SUN Princess and the Norwegian SUN.
The Norwegian SEA and the SEA Princess.
The DAWN Princess and the Norwegian DAWN.
And the Norway was the third France – if you know what I mean.
The word PRINCESS was used in the name of 27 different ships.
The word PRINCE only by 4 of them, and all are very small. Go figure.
The name Rotterdam has been used by six different cruiseships.
The name Nieuw Amsterdam 3x, and Amsterdam twice.
Cunard made it simple, they call them Queen Mary and Queen Mary 2. But they also have two Caronias and three Carinthias.
The Noordam was taken out of service, and then replaced by a much, much larger ship — named Noordam, again! Same name – different ship – different size! The same thing was done with the Westerdam – more than once!
Then there is the Island EXPLORER, the EXPLORER, the Pacific EXPLORER, and the EXPLORER of the Seas.
The Norwegian DREAM, the DREAM, the DREAM Princess and the Holiday DREAM.
The JEWEL of the Seas and the Norwegian JEWEL.
The Norwegian MAJESTY, the MAJESTY of the Seas and the Ocean MAJESTY.
The Seabourn LEGEND and the Carnival LEGEND.
Pay attention – take notes please.
The Seven Seas MARINER and the MARINER of the Seas.
The NAVIGATOR of the Seas and the Seven Seas NAVIGATOR.

Confused???   This explains why way too many people end up on the wrong ship every year.
Call us …
You have nothing to lose and the world to gain. Not only will we shop around on your behalf AT NOT COST TO YOU to make sure you get the best price – GUARANTEED, we will make sure that you will end up on the right ship or in the right hotel … and have a fantastic vacation!

1. “Airport luggage scales often lie.” It’s bad enough that the airlines charge a fee for overweight luggage, varying from $25 to $300 per bag industrywide. But it’s galling that they may also hit you with the fee by mistake. At JFK last November, New York City’s Department of Consumer Affairs found that 14 percent of the airport’s scales were not properly calibrated. At Boston’s Logan airport, 10 percent of the scales recently inspected gave incorrect readings. The South Florida Sun–Sentinel has discovered numerous busted scales at area airports. And the list goes on. What to do? Stand up for yourself, especially when a scale barely tips the balance into the “overweight” category. Brandon Macsata, executive editor of the D.C.-based lobbying group Association for Airline Passenger Rights advises passengers to weigh their bags at home first, and if the airport scale comes up with a different number, insist that your bags be weighed on a different scale. Yes, it’s come to that. 

2. “That nonstop flight you booked? We can add a layover to it—without explanation.”  Think you scored a sweet fare on that transcontinental flight?  Think again. You may be making a previously unscheduled layover.  Airlines can cancel your nonstop and rebook passengers onto flights with connections, which are obviously less desirable.  Advises Brett Snyder, author of The Cranky Flier and a former pricing analyst at America West: As soon as you find out that your nonstop flight has been canceled, check to see if there’s another nonstop option.  If there is, call the airline and ask—nicely—to be put on it.  But if nonstop service on the route has disappeared, threaten to switch to another carrier for the trip. Major airlines will typically agree to refund your money without any fees if you refuse to accept a new, multistop flight that will arrive at your destination more than two hours later than you were originally scheduled.

3.”When we let you pick your seat assignment, we were only joking.” As the airlines decrease the number of seats they fly in an attempt to eke out a profit, they’re swapping out larger planes for smaller ones more often. Whenever fliers are put on a new plane, seat assignments are scrambled. A traveler may end up in a middle seat he or she would never have selected. If it happens to you, there’s not much you can do—airlines aren’t obligated to honor any seat assignment. “Passengers are actually purchasing a fare and not a seat,” says Macsata of the Association for Airline Passenger Rights. Checking in online 24 hours prior to departure is often the best you can do to boost your chances of getting the seat assignment you want. Print your boarding pass with your seat assignment on it before you get to the airport as proof in case you need to argue with a gate agent over a last-minute switcheroo.

4. “Your ticket might not be with the airline you booked.” Two airlines may sell seats on the same flight, a sales strategy called code sharing. You may think you’ll be traveling on one airline, but you actually fly on another. The situation seems harmless enough but can cause major headaches for passengers. For example, most major airlines farm out their short, commuter flights to regional airlines. “By and large, you haven’t heard of Chautauqua or Republic, but you may be flying them when you click to buy a ticket on Continental,” explains Randy Petersen, publisher of InsideFlyer. “With two airlines involved, there’s a constant passing of the buck. Worse, many regional carriers operating on code shares are exempt from reporting their on-time statistics. And God forbid if you need to file a claim with them for lost baggage.” 

For all the above reasons, it is important that you reconfirm your flights 24 hours prior to departure and arrive at the airport no later than the requested check-in time. And remember: Getting there is half the fun (hopefully)!

And at least with Excel Travel you are assured that help is never more than a phone call away (24/7)!

And then, consider this: 
The airlines have raised their fees again, so I think the time is perfect to consider an alternative.  Why deal with the airlines, when UPS Ground and FedEx Ground offer better tracking, insurance and security, can be much cheaper in some scenarios, and will actually refund your shipping fee if there’s a delay or loss?  No waiting in line at the airport!  No pilferage!  No schlepping!

As you can see from this chart, depending on route and method, the cost savings achieved from shipping vs. schlepping range from little or nothing to dramatic.  Even if the costs are the same, airline vs. ground shipping, consider these advantages of shipping:

Better tracking:  You can track your shipment online step by step. Try that with an airline.
Safer: There’s less chance of something going missing or getting damaged.
Convenience: you can breeze through the airport without waiting in line to check bags.
Responsibility: If an airline loses or delays your bag, they’ll keep your fee and play the blame game. FedEx and UPS will at least refund your shipping fees. Plus, airlines refuse to take responsibility for losing or damaging anything they consider “valuable,” such as electronics or business items. You can insure these items with the shipping services for a small additional fee.
Less schlepping: True, you have to either drop off your shipment at a post office, UPS office or store, or FedEx or Kinko’s location (or you can arrange for pick up for a small fee in some cases), but let’s face it, fighting for overhead space is no fun, and lugging luggage through mile-long airport concourses is no fun either.

Even for international itineraries, shipping costs are surprisingly competitive with the airlines’ fees for checking bags on international routes.  And even if you’re the carry-on type, shipping on your next trip may reveal the joys of not fighting for overhead space and saving yourself a shoulder injury from hoisting a heavy bag into same. 
 
Give shipping vs. checking a try next time you fly.

AS YOUR TRAVEL AGENT…
I have advanced degrees in accounting, public relations, marketing, computer science, geography, psychology, history and Swahili.  I also can read minds and extend your credit line.  Of course, I still have the reservation you put on hold six months ago, even though you never came in to purchase it, you don’t have a confirmation number and you think it was made under a last name that begins with a T.  I know it’s my fault that the hotel does not have a helicopter landing pad and the stairwell from the third floor smells funny. 

I AM YOUR TRAVEL AGENT…
It is obvious to me that when you booked your flight for Friday, you really meant Saturday. I also realize you meant to book your reservation at the Hilton.  People always confuse it with the Galaxy Delight Hotel of Antarctica.  And yes, I can get you a cheaper rate, because you are almost, ALMOST 50.  And yes, I should have realized when I assigned seat 23D that there was a screaming child in the next seat.  Well heck, next time you want to sit next to a good-looking blonde or a hunk of a guy, just let me know.  I’ll see what I can do. 

I AM YOUR TRAVEL AGENT…
Yes, I am lying when I say that the $99 flight for tomorrow is sold out.  After all, you did hear it on the radio – and I am really not interested in making a sale anyway.  I am quite capable of checking ALL the flights in September to Fort Lauderdale or West Palm Beach, from Newark, LaGuardia, JFK, Philadelphia or Atlantic City, even though you are not even sure that you’ll be able to go – just for the fun of it.  At the same time, I will gladly find out why that cruise line won’t give you a refund even though YOU refused the insurance.  I always know which airline serves the best Vegetarian meal and I know exactly what to see and do in every city in 15 minutes without spending any money.  I take personal blame for airline delays, traffic jams, rental car flat tires, lost luggage, the soggy sandwich you get on the plane (if you are lucky) and the national economy.

I AM YOUR TRAVEL AGENT…
On your behalf, I shop around for the best price – for hours.  I don’t get frustrated when people still believe it will cost them more to work with a travel agency, not realizing that we have access to and check all the various internet websites for our clients.  If we cannot beat what you find on Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, Orbitz, etc. for your vacation package or cruise … WE WILL PAY FOR YOUR VACATION!  You really don’t know that you got the best deal, unless you call us for a comparison.  And I will gladly find out why your hotel bill from 3 years ago has a $4 phone call on it, because, of course, you shouldn’t have to pay for your phone calls.

I AM YOUR TRAVEL AGENT…
Yes, I can get you a special corporate rate at the Ritz, because you are affiliated with the North-Lawn Bowling Club.  And, I will gladly work through lunch for the pleasure of talking with you and then call you back in 5 minutes with an exact price, even though you will not be traveling until next year (maybe) and you don’t know for how many days, how many people, and when and where you want to go.  I am expected to smile, empathize, console, consult, perform, sing, dance, fix the printer, anticipate the next fare decrease, and mix a darn good Pina Colada.

I AM YOUR TRAVEL AGENT…
I don’t get upset if somebody thinks they can do a better job on their own.  They will find out, eventually, the value of a good travel agent!  Every one of our customers has my cell phone number and when people get stuck because of a hurricane or snow storm, they can get in touch with us and we will bail them out quickly.  Try to do that with an online agency or with an airline!  We love BAD weather – it’s great for our business!  In our office we have over 500 UNSOLICITED thank you notes and postcard from happy clients.  We have satisfied customers leaving us daily.  AND Rest assured, we will take great care of you too.
So Make Happy- Go Away!

I AM YOUR TRAVEL AGENT…
I am never offended when, two weeks before Christmas, I spend 10 hours researching a 12-day Europe itinerary only to hear you say that you decided to buy a new car instead.  I also won’t turn you down when you call me crying, because you booked your own trip to Las Vegas.  Unfortunately, you booked yourself to Las Vegas, New Mexico, instead of Las Vegas, Nevada.  And now you need an inexpensive rental car and–I will be glad to help.  No, it’s not a problem for me to quickly construct several more guest rooms at the sold out hotel you want in Las Vegas, and this time I will NOT forget the helicopter landing pad.

I AM YOUR TRAVEL AGENT…
I can assist you with travel arrangements all over the world. 
Castles in France
Renting a villa in the Caribbean
Chartering a yacht in French Polynesia
Driving a Harley through the Swiss Mountains
Cruises, Safaris, Family Reunions
Tickets to the Super Bowl, Indy 500, Wimbledon, The Masters.
You name it, anything but the Jersey Shore and the Moon.  Not yet, even though we can take your reservation to fly into space – for just $200,000!  I know all of this – because…
I AM YOUR TRAVEL AGENT.

Call us …
You have nothing to lose and the world to gain!  We will we shop around on your behalf, AT NOT COST TO YOU, to make sure you get the best price – GUARANTEED.  And despite what I just said, WE DO ENJOY OUR JOB… and look forward to assisting you too with your exciting travel plans.

The most unbiased reviews tend to be the paid services, like “StarService”, or specialized sites like “Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report”, which agents can subscribe to for hotel information.  These are the best, as they are truly unbiased, but even they can’t cover every hotel, especially in the lower price ranges or in smaller towns.  This means, as much as we might take the other sites with a grain of salt, sometimes it’s the only information out there. The difficulty is sifting through the various reviews when anyone can post.  In general, most travelers post when they had a particularly good or bad experience.  And people’s standards vary considerably.

Another elephant in the room is the fact that some establishments solicit reviews, and offer discounts or free extras for those who write them.  We are aware of two resorts in the Caribbean that offer guests a free spa treatment after they write a very positive review.

But a new site from “Online Travel Media, Ltd,” called BookingAdvisor.com, is taking this to a whole new level.  And unfortunately, we’re not talking about a high level.  They are advertising for people to review hotels who have never been there.  The job posting offers to pay reviewers $10 a day for 30 reviews a month.  (Apparently the site only accepts one review a day per person!)

And the following is a direct quote:

“Basically, what you will have to do is write a review for some of the hotels listed on our website on a daily basis (one post/hotel review per day).  The review must be a combination of what other people are saying about the hotel on other websites and from the description of the hotel.  It doesn’t have to be too long, no more then 500-600 words.”

In other words, read a bunch of reviews and the hotel’s own promotion information, then put it together to make it sound good.  No need to go within a thousand miles of the place.

And just in case you can’t believe it (I couldn’t at first), here is the link to the posting:

Problogger.com

Now admittedly the information given out by most hotels themselves sites isn’t unbiased either. Go to the any major hotel chain website and the property descriptions will include words like “deluxe, spacious rooms, newly renovated, luxurious,” etc. Hotel locations are always “convenient, near major attractions, or scenic.”  No hotel says things like, “Low prices because our rooms are old,” or, “You really don?t want to be outside on your own at night.”

Review sites in theory, however, are supposed to be unbiased and give travelers more information.  Unfortunately, when many sites have no way of policing their reviews, there are a lot of fake and misleading reviews out there.

This is nothing new, and too many people learned the hard way.

Read an article posted in the NY Times FOUR years ago, titled “Hotel Reviews Online: In Bed With Hope, Half-Truths and Hype”:

NY Times Article

Remember, nobody checks the internet for accuracy, so why take a chance with your vacation, when you can get a FREE second opinion form us?  Keep in mind that every single time we make a recommendation or give our opinion, our reputation is on the line.

We have a vested interest in making sure that your vacation will live up to YOUR expectations!　

And you can’t really trust the photos anymore either:

http://www.oyster.com/hotels/photo-fakeouts/dc-hyatt/

Here is something to make you go mmmhmhm….

If we could shrink the Earth’s population to a village of precisely 100 people … with all the existing human ratios remaining the same, it would look like this:

There would be 61 Asians, 12 Europeans, 13 Africans, 9 from South America (and the Caribbean) and 5 from North America.
80 would live in substandard housing
75 would be non-white, 25 would be white
70 would be non-Christian, 30 would be Christian
60 have never heard a dial tone
50% of the entire world’s wealth would be in the hands of only 6 people, and all 6 would be citizens of the United States
50 would suffer from malnutrition
48 would live on less than $2 a day
20 would live on less than $1 a day
16 would be unable to read and write
2 would own a computer
1 would have a college education

(Compiled by Dr. Brian Spitzberg, School of Communication, San Diego University, and One World – Nations Online.)

By the way, according to the World Factbook, the unemployment rate in Kenya is 40%, it is 60% in Mozambique, and 90% in Zimbabwe.

So, instead of complaining about 10% unemployment, we should be celebrating 90% employment and move forward with a more positive attitude. *

THINK ABOUT IT!

Ted and your Excel Travel Team
Make Us Happy – Go Away  

* Remember the Jimmy Buffet song “Changes in Latitudes, changes in Attitudes”?  Pun intended!

Ted and your Excel Travel team

This is a light-hearted look at travel brochures. Please keep in mind that brochures (along with websites) are a form of advertising and learn to look for the not-so-obvious:

• An “oceanview” room might be miles away from the ocean. The description does not guarantee that you are near the ocean, nor that you will be have an unobstructed view of it!
• A “direct” flight is NOT nonstop (but shows the same flight number for the entire multiple stop itinerary).
• ”All-inclusive” doesn’t necessarily mean every thing is included.”
• ”Adjacent” or “adjoining” rooms don’t guarantee a connecting door. You need to ask for “connecting” rooms!

Don’t take any chances with your vacation time (or money)!

Ted and your Excel Travel Team
Make Us Happy – Go Away!

And talking about misunderstandings:
This is a sign found outside a secondhand shop in Berlin:

We exchange anything – Bicycles, Washing Machines, etc…
Please bring your wife along and get a wonderful bargain!

TOP 15 CRAZIEST TRAVEL QUESTIONS
********************************************

15. When did Amtrak stop going to Hawaii?

14. Do these stairs go up or down?

13. How will I know the photographs (taken by staff photographers and displayed at the photo gallery on the ship) are mine?

12. (Said by a client whose ship had not left the first port): I paid for an ocean view and all I see is a parking lot?

11. Will I get wet if I go snorkeling?

10. On a cruise ship: How far are we above sea level?

9. Does the ship manufacture its own electricity? (No, they run an extension cord ashore!)

8. Does the water go all the way around this island?

7. Do you know what time the midnight buffet starts?

6. If I convert $1000 to the local currency, how much is that in USD?

5. Where is the best spot to watch the fireworks in London on the 4th of July?

4. Will the 24 hour café be open at 6am?

3. Does the ship’s crew sleep on board? (No, they swim to the shore every night)

2. What do they do with the ice carvings after they melt?

1. Will I need to declare to customs all the liquor we drank on board?

Of course, we answered EVERY question with a straight face! We are indeed professionals!

And please keep in mind, we are always happy to answer ANY of your questions, or refer you to unbiased resources so you can make an educated decision. Ask us about travel clubs, mileage tickets, becoming a travel agent, condo rentals, family reunions, destination weddings – even outer-space travel!

Ted and your Excel Travel Team
Make Us Happy – Go Away!

http://www.eturbonews.com/6201/cruise-travel-agency-folds-customers-left-lurch

What occurred with Cruise Value Center will NOT happen with Excel Travel, and here is why:

• As soon as your reservation is confirmed you will receive a confirmation not only from Excel Travel, but also from the cruise line (or resort, tour operator, etc), that proves we forwarded your money to them.
• We don’t use YOUR deposits to pay OUR bills!

We are DIFFERENT in many other aspects as well:

On our website:

• it clearly states who owns Excel Travel (try that with other agencies!)
• there are NO MISLEADING PRICES
• there is NO ADVERTISING
• we GUARANTEE the BEST PRICES
• you will get the owner’s cell phone number

Unfortunately, the travel industry is very unregulated, and anybody can call him or herself a travel agent/consultant!  Everybody at Excel Travel has at least 20 years of experience, and our over 500 unsolicited thank you letters (on display in our office) speak for themselves!

For almost a decade now, Dubai has been in the midst of a major building boom, and about 25% of the 125’000 construction cranes currently operating in the world are located in Dubai. Here is what they are working on:

DUBAILAND
An amusement park similar to Disney World, except it is the SIZE OF ORLANDO and features many different  “worlds”: Legoland, Marvel Superheroes, Universal Studios, Six Flags, Dreamworks, Thomas the Tank Engine, Bob the Builder, Jurassic Park, and a Formula 1 race track. There will be a life-size replica of the Eiffel Tower, the largest Pyramids in the world, the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, and of course, BEAUTY LAND, which is the largest wellness resort and health farm … and the golf course was designed by Tiger Woods himself.

SKI DUBAI 
This is the largest INDOOR snow park in the world. There are green, blue, red and black slopes for skiers but also tobogganing, icy bobsleigh runs and a ski school. The longest run is ¼ mile, which is longer than many of the runs at the ski resorts in this area!

BURJ AL ARAB
The world’s first SEVEN STAR hotel, built on an artificial island.  It’s the tallest hotel in the world and the marketing technique of self-declaring the 7 star title has worked very well. Celebrities appear daily at this hotel. Andre Agassi had a tennis game with Roger Federer on the roof-top helipad (yes, it doubles as a tennis court!). 

BURJ DUBAI
Which when completed later on this year will be about twice the height of the Empire State Building, and the tallest building anywhere!

NAKHEEL TOWER (not completed yet)
With over 220 floors it will be even taller then Burj Dubai. The temperature at the top of this tower will be about 30 degrees cooler than at the bottom.  Planned high-speed elevators (150 of them!) will allow people to see the sunset twice – first from the bottom and then again from the top of the building!

 ROTATING TOWER (not completed yet)
This skyscraper’s floors are capable of rotating around a central axis. It will be continuously in motion, changing its shape and giving residents the ability to choose a new view at the touch of a button. Each floor, made up of 12 individual units, complete with plumbing, electric connections, air conditioning, etc., will be fabricated in a factory. These modular units will then be fitted on the concrete core of the building, which will be powered entirely by sun and wind energy. Wind turbines and solar panels will generate 10 times more energy than required to power the building.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq-QUkE1DGM

DUBAI MALL
The over 5-million–square-foot shopping center with over 1000 stores is the largest in the world.

HYDROPOLIS (not completed yet)
This largest underwater resort hotel is located 55 feet beneath the Persian Golf, and spans an area of 650 acres (Central Park is 843 acres). So, imagine ¾ of Central Park … under water!

PALM ISLAND 
A set of man-made resort islands shaped to look like a palm tree (if viewed from outer space).

THE WORLD 
A series of manufactured, small residential islands that, when seen from above, resemble smaller versions of the seven continents.

TIME RESIDENCES
This apartment tower will turn a full 360 degrees over the course of a week, utilizing solar energy to power the turning mechanism (at 1/8 inch/second).

I am always amazed at what we can build, and while I understand that man’s desire to build fantastic objects has lead to all sorts of breakthroughs in technology, I do think some things just don’t need to be built. On the other hand, Dubai’s Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, makes a valid point. He has set a national goal of attracting 15 million tourists in 2010. Interestingly that is the same year that Dubai’s known oil reserves will most likely be tapped out. Already, 90% of Dubai’s diversified economy is fueled by non-oil sectors.

They are building all of this, because they KNOW oil is not the energy source of the future. They are focusing on tourism, banking, dropping taxes, etc to lure investors and residents alike, among other forward thinking moves.

There are no taxes on income and there are no personal taxes either, which might explain why Dubai is the fastest growing city in the world.

They are not counting on American tourists, but are targeting the 1.8 billion people that live within a five hour flying radius from Dubai. 

IF you would like to experience some of these TALLEST, FIRST, BIGGEST, MOST EXPENSIVE, etc for yourself, you will be happy to know that there are two nonstop flight daily from JFK on Emirates Airlines, voted the best airline in the world (of course!).

And YES, of course, we will gladly book it for you, possibly with a few days at a spa resort in the desert, and then a short getaway to the Maledives, to stay in an over-water bungalow.

Any takers?

Ted and your Excel Travel Team

For more information, click here.

Gruezi, Hola, Aloha, Bonjour, Ciao, Ni hao, Yia sou, Guten Tag, Hey!

This just in … from Fly High Airlines’ headquarters:

“STAND-UP” TICKETS at extra low fares!

Here is how it works:
Passengers will be permitted to sit at NO charge during take off and landings, and during turbulence, in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration safety requirements. However, when the seatbelt sign is not illuminated, passengers must stand in front of the seat they elected not to purchase. Special signs and bells will be installed to indicate when “standing room only” passengers must vacate their seats. Nylon loops will hang from overhead compartments for passengers to take hold of.

“One of the industry’s biggest historical flaws has been our excessive generosity,” an airline source explained. “Consequently too much has been taken for granted. Our job is getting people from point A to point B. That’s it. People ride buses every day and don’t just assume they’ll get a seat.

In addition to seating, airlines will begin charging for previously free amenities, including toilets. Starting with holidays in December, passengers will need a credit card to open the restroom doors. The new program is called “SWIPE ‘N’ WIPE”.

In-flight magazines will continue to be free, but air sickness bags will be provided on request only at a cost of $1. “Most people use them to throw gum away,” the source said. “People who needed them for their intended purpose were often unable to get them open.”

The carriers are further considering charges for people whose body mass index, or BMI, exceeds 27, the cutoff for overweightness. Analysts estimate the cost of full-bodied passengers costs airliners 20% of additional fuel compared with a load of people who are not overweight.
Passengers will be asked to stand on the scales currently used to weigh baggage.

“In our society, we expect people to ‘carry their own weight,’” the source said. “This policy would essentially bring into line what people pay with the resources they actually use.”

“We believe the non-overweight public will embrace the move,” the airline source said, but a spokesperson for the Association of Healthy Appetites, an advocacy group for the overweight, called the idea “preposterous and discriminatory” and said the AHA would resist the airlines’ effort to lard fares.

Reaction was warmer on Wall Street, where analysts said the new seating policy could net airlines as much as $5 billion a year.

The toilet pricing is expected to contribute heavily toward a more flush bottom line, especially on long-haul flights. To encourage customers to use Swipe ‘n’ Wipe, the airlines intend to increase the frequency of food and beverage services (the drinking of water, coffee, tea and beer is widely encouraged), and are considering to bill passengers based on the number of minutes spent inside the restroom.

Beware, hotels and cruise lines have their own hidden fees, that allow them to advertise lower prices and then catch you off guard when you least expect it!

It’s amazing how they can get people to pay for things they don’t use, but that’s another story in itself.

For now…enjoy your next flight, and bring plenty of change!

Sincerely,

Ted and your Excel Travel team
Make Us Happy – Go Away!

Join in the fun and mystery with Sara Karloff, daughter of the legendary actor Boris Karloff, as she hides from a stalker.

The adventure will set sail out of Bayonne, N.J. October 23th on a 5-night cruise to Bermuda aboard the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s EXPLORER OF THE SEAS!

Enjoy one-of-a-kind features like an ice-skating rink, the Royal Promenade (open 24 hours) and a rock-climbing wall. Let’s not forget, there is also the Casino Royale, golf simulators, a miniature golf course, a full size basketball court, and inline skating. With all these activities available, the Spa will offer the perfect and luxurious getaway from it all. By the way, this cruise ship is so high-tech, it even features the University of Miami Ocean Lab, a state-of-the-art oceanographic and atmospheric science lab.

This mystery cruise is full of surprises, masterminded and hosted by Chief Inspector Dwight Kemper. You might be a victim, you might be a suspect, you might have to … find out for yourself!

See the flyer below for more details or call Chris Costello at Excel Travel (818)  842-9604, or email her at chrisco815@aol.com.

Hurry to make sure you don’t get left behind!

An informal meet-and-greet will take place at Dizzy’s in the Viking Crown Lounge, October 25th at 
5PM. A great opportunity to meet Abbott and Costello family members – Paddy and Chris Costello, daughters of Lou, Betty Abbott Griffin, niece of Bud Abbott (one of the film industry’s renowned script supervisors) and a host of other family members and friends. 

A special screening of the duo’s classic film, “Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein,” will be shown on October 28th, followed by a Q&A with family and special guest Julie Reams, whose uncle is the late Glenn Strange who played “Frankenstein.” Betty Abbott, who began her career as a script girl on the film, will lend some fascinating behind-the-scenes stories, as will Paddy Costello who recalls all too well her first initial encounter with the “monsters.” Although Chris Costello was far too young to remember her set visit, she co-authored the book on her father, “Lou’s On First” and will be bringing some A&C items to be raffled off.

For pricing and additional information, please visit Excel Travel’s website at http://www.exceltravel.com