Airline Ticket Buying Hints

Here are a couple of hints that should help you with booking airline tickets.  I will never waiver from the idea of booking as early as possible.  When dealing with overseas flights this is especially important.  $950.00 booking 6 mos. in advance versus $1550.00 booking 6 weeks in advance.  This is Kansas City to Paris.  Here is what you look for.  Book with a tour company that does not require 100% airfare paid when you book, just a reasonable deposit.  I work with one such company.

 

If you want a package deal in the US, Las Vegas for example, they are there for early booking.  The problem is that you pay your air in full when you book.  This results in a large deposit that you may not be ready to pay.  The decision you must make is whether to wait until you have the money in hand and hope the package price has not gone up that much or let the tour company and airline have your money for a longer period of time.  If you wait too late, you pay full price at the time of booking for the package price.

 

If I can help you clarify any of this, don’t forget, I’m just a phone call away.

What I Do

There are a lot of travel agents out there.  Many try to be all things to all people.  For me I have found that is virtually impossible.  I will do my best to get you where you want to go to have that wow experience and give you my opinions on what I think is good or bad.  If your request is more complicated than I can handle, I will refer you to a travel agent who can.  I won’t take the chance of sending you to a place that I know nothing about.

 

Over the last few months, I have become a Certified Sandals & Beaches Resorts Specialist.  These are top award winning all inclusive adult and family friendly resorts throughout the Caribbean.  Last summer, I had the opportunity to visit most of their resorts.  I now can give you that first-hand knowledge that can only be obtained by going there.  I can definitely say you will have that wow experience.  Go to my website www.rdtravellimited.com click on Sandals, all adult, or Beaches, family friendly, to take a look.

 

My other passion involves California’s Wine Country, Napa and Sonoma Counties, just a little north of San Francisco.  If you are a wine and food person, the area is a must visit.  No matter what you want to do in Wine Country, I can arrange it.  From private or group wine tours, small weddings, honeymoons, family and business retreats to lodging, rental cars and airfare, I do it all.  Just give me a call and tell me when you want to travel.  It’s just that simple.

Vacation Booking Tips

 

I have had lots of people call me for last minute trips.  Then, when we talk airfare, it almost negates any savings.  As for the holidays, high season rates begin a week to 10 days before Christmas and last until mid-April.  The only way to avoid this is to book early

Here is my suggested time frame to book vacations for next year.  The best advice is book as early as you can.  If your choice is late spring, summer and fall, book in January and February.  These are the two best months for pricing cruises, any location and airfare.  There are great rates in the fall.  Just remember August through October is hurricane season.  If you are thinking of the holidays for a vacation which I don’t recommend, you want to book mid-July through early September.  For the get out of the cold January and February months, book in August and September.  Spring break is another non-recommended vacation time.  If you must travel then, book September and October for the best prices.  October is also a great month to book cruises for the next year. The longer you wait, the more expensive everything gets.

I hope this helps plan your vacation.  For any kind of assistance, I am an email or phone call away.  Happy Holidays.

 

A Bit of Belize

Shared From Caye Caulker 

After so long in the Spanish speaking world, Belize came as a bit of a shock – a small English speaking enclave on the shores of the Caribbean!! The language comes from the country's pre-independence history as British Honduras and the fact that apparently a good proportion of its population are descended from the pirates and buccaneers that used to frequent these parts!!

I say that the language spoken is English – but not quite as we know it!! When the locals are speaking with native English speakers they have an amazing Caribbean lilt that makes you want to break out into a big grin just on hearing it. But when they embark on a conversation amongst themselves the creole becomes a familiar yet indecipherable stream of words that you think might be English, but you're never quite sure! (read more...)

My New Blog

First of all, thank you for actually spending time taking a look at a blog post titled: "My New Blog".  I figured I had to start somewhere and this is what I came up with.

Boeing 787 "Dreamliner"

So, what will I be posting to this blog?  The answer: anything travel related!  This will not be a place to find deals or be sold on special packages, but rather a collection of interesting articles about places you may never have considered visiting, stories related to travel whether it be information about the 787 Dreamliner battery issues, the Carnival Triumph's power failure or the island of St. Lucia, recently named one of the most beautiful places on earth due to it's volcanic land formations, lush green vegetation and turquoise blue waters...

I'm looking forward to sharing my random thoughts and interests related to the world of travel, I invite you to comment with the first thing that comes to mind.  Share your expediences, contribute a tip, disagree with me (but then you must tell us why) or start a new topic.  I'm anxious to see this blog fill with real life stories, so write often and feel free to ramble!

If you're in Kansas City or the Midwest, you know today was a pretty good snow day - 10 inches! (or pretty bad, depending on how you feel about snow)  I am a skier so I tend to look at a day like today with excitement and a positive attitude.  That said, it's shoveling time...  Be Back soon!