Southern African Safari 2010

Picture yourself watching a pride of lion as they wake, to head off on the hunt. Find leopard sleeping in a tree. Enjoy sundown from you Land Rover as elephant have their last drink of the day in front of you. Listen to the calls of hippo from your elegant tent on the Zambezi River.

Join Africa Expert, Sylvia Berman, on her annual trip to Southern Africa. September 22 - October 9, 2010. 18 days, 15 nights. Only 8 guests may join in this exciting safari experience.

The trip includes a day with historian Robin Binckes in Johannesburg. Two nights in Johannesburg at the Melrose Arch Hotel. Three nights in the Northern Kruger at King's Camp. Three nights in the Sabi Sand at Mala Mala main camp. Two nights at Toka Leya tented camp in Victoria Falls, Zambia. Five nights at the Cape Grace Hotel in Cape Town. A sundown cruise on the Zambezi River, a tour of Victoria Falls, and elephant encounter, Cape Point, Boulders and the African penguins, Robben Island, Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Gardens, and the famous Wine Lands. The land price of $9039.00, double occupancy includes: Accomodations and touring as listed above, all transfers, chartered intra-Africa flights, all game drives, 15 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 8 dinners. Call for a complete itinerary. 954-966-7690 or 800-881-7690.

Crystal Cruise – Serenity – Athens to Venice – 12 days with overnight in Alexandra. It had been awhile since I had sailed and was looking forward to a getting away with a girlfriend. Many questions concerned us. Would we be the only couple of younger girls? Would there be enough to keep us busy? How could 2 ladies share one bathroom? Our questions were answered the moment we boarded. We were welcomed and felt we were home for 12 days. Tammi and I found it very easy to make friends, and enjoy life on board the ship. I do not know what they put into the employee's water; Service was consistently out-of-this-world! When we arrived at breakfast the next morning, everyone knew our names. Always smiling, vigorously inquiring what they could do for us. Crystal has the well-deserved reputation for dining, service and big-ship options, Crystal Cruises is particularly known for signature features that include onboard specialty restaurants Nobu, and Prego, huge wine cellars, paddle tennis, expansive Computer University@Sea labs and one of the best enrichment programs in cruising. Wait I forgot to mention the Mozart Tea, the Asian themed buffet, the Grand buffet, and the spa I wanted to move into. Crystal Cruises still preserves a traditional, two-seating dining pattern in its main restaurant and does formal nights. We were thrilled to have Dr. Jeffry and Mrs. Meryl Perkins, and Mr. Seth and Mrs. Ellyn Lehr (my clients) as dinning companions. Tammi and I have a rolodex of new friends. There were many single lads, and the on- board hosts were always there to make sure we were dancing and having a wonderful time. Our time on board lead to discussions of World Events, Sports, Music, to why doesn't the gift shop carry more items for us to purchase for grandchildren. Life on board the Serenity is just what you planed. You will not be disappointed and very pleasantly surprised at finding yourself thinking perhaps I should take back to back cruises. The cabins are small, but the bathroom does have double sinks, and a bathtub. We were able to both get dressed at the same time, and there was plenty of storage space. Our itinerary was wonderful Athens, Santorini, Rhodes, Jerusalem (Ashod) Alexandria, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Venice. Each port offered unique opportunities and wonderful memories. Tammi and I had the opportunity to overnight in Venice before we parted for home. Ask me about the wonderful walk from San Marcos Square back to the cruise ship. I flew from Venice to Paris for additional 4 nights. (More about this trip in the next news letter.) My flight was considered domestic. The weight of my baggage: way over the allocated 30kg. Something everyone should keep in mind. Contact me to avoid the penalty that could be very hefty.
Happy Sailing: Arlene Feen

Oasis of the Seas photos

Oasis of the Seas

Oasis of the Seas...Friday November 27th: We arrived at the new cruise terminal around 2 PM. The terminal has it's own parking lot that holds 1,000 cars. It's easy to access and the terminal check in was quick and efficient. As we boarded the ship, we were really unprepared for what was to come. Entering on deck 5, which is the Royal Promenade, we were surprised that we were in a shopping area...mall is more like it. The Royal Promenade is vast, and beautifully designed. The space is huge...many stories high, so you feel almost like you are outside...the space made me feel like I was in a subtle version of Las Vegas...There are restaurants, gift shops, bars, Guest services, coffee shops...and it is so wide! To get to our cabins we turned towards the elevators, which have glass doors so you can see through them, and saw a flat panel image on the wall of the ship...it's touch screen and you can enter your cabin number to get directions, or choose multiple other items to find on the ship. We were on deck 14, (the kids neighborhood is on this deck, yet it is separated and unobtrusive) so we went to our cabin and unpacked. We decided to start at the top of the ship and work our way down, so we headed to deck 17. The first impression I got of the Oasis was how really big she is. Even though there were over 3,000 people on board for our 2 night cruise, it didn't feel anywhere near crowded. The Oasis can hold up to 6300 passengers, with a crew of 2200 (approx.) The ship is extremely well designed, and very easy to find your way around. From the very beginning, I had no problem orienting myself, or finding anything on the ship. In the middle of the ship on deck 15 there are 4 pools...plus hot tubs...each pool has a different theme. There are whirlpools for adults on the sides, overhanging the ship. We headed towards the stern, where the Zip Line, wave riders, and miniature golf are located. There was already a long line of people signing up for the Zip line. Demonstrations of the wave riders were great. The Zip Line travels over the Boardwalk underneath, 8 decks (I think) down. There are inside balcony cabins that overlook the Boardwalk area, and many passengers were on their balconies watching the Zip line riders. The Boardwalk area is a great neighborhood, where the carousel is located, along with the 2 rock climbing walls, 2 movie screens and the pool for the water show. There are restaurants, coffee and donut shops, and it's an altogether great meeting place for lunch and people watching. The artwork leading up to the carousel is wonderful, life size wood sculptures showing how the carousel horses are carved. There are 6 suites overlooking the Boardwalk, with very large balconies. You could spend a better part of your day on the balcony of one of these suites and be completely entertained. Then to Central Park. What a beautiful concept! Central Park is the location of many specialty restaurants and bars. The winding path through the live garden area is peaceful and quiet. There are plenty of seating areas. Balcony cabins also overlook this area. Again, this is a very high, open area and you do get the feeling that you are outside. It was getting close to leaving port and I found a spot on the port side of deck 16, along with many hundreds of other guests...but it still wasn't crowded. As the ship pulled out of port I really got a sense of how massive this ship is...there was another cruise ship across from us, and we just overshadowed the ship. The folks that live along the channel out of the port were out in force, waving at us, with bull horns and banners...we were as high as the top of some of the condos along the channel. We got a quick bite to eat, and headed back to our cabins for an early night.
First thing Saturday morning, we searched around for a cup of coffee, and some breakfast, then started out again on our self guided tour. We found the Casino and were truly amazed at the size of it. Beautifully decorated, well laid out...then to the theater for a quick peek. There is a Comedy club and a night club on the same deck as the Casino. The Library is quite small for a ship this large, but I don't think too many people will be sitting inside it reading. We had a Q&A meeting with Royal Caribbean executives, located in the Ice Skating arena. Many great questions asked and answered. Lunch was on the Boardwalk, and I must say, it's a really great area to hang out and watch all the activity around you. After lunch we began our cabin inspections, which took over 2 hours, since there are so many categories of cabins. This is going to be a great ship for families and groups of friends to cruise on. Bunk beds are available for kids, couches turn into beds, you can fit up to 16 people in one of the suites, and many other combinations are used. I took some time off and got into one of the adult whirlpools overlooking the ocean. Then off to see the musical "Hairspray". It was a fabulous production. All this time I really felt comfortable on the ship. I never felt disoriented or turned around, never felt crowded...the crews service was wonderful and efficient, and for the most part they crew was a happy, smiling bunch. The ship is always being cleaned. I have probably left out something, oh wait, the Spa! The Spa area and Fitness Center could be located in any mall in America. Spacious, almost elegant, (the spa), we were truly impressed by both. There is a jogging track that circles deck 5...12 laps equals 5 miles. Amazing. Anyway, I'm sure I'm forgetting something, so please just ask...I would recommend Oasis of the Seas to anyone that wants plenty or entertainment and fun, with options galor. This will be a great ship for kids (who, by the way, get a GPS armband so they can be found anywhere on board), great ship for parents and grandparents, great cruising for any group of friends, and couples who want alot to do on board. If you do have any questions, please feel free to contact me, either by phone at 954-966-7690, or email grace@posthastetravel.com .

Busy week with cruise ships

This has been a busy week for me and cruise ships. Monday Jamie and I flew to New York to spend the night on the Crystal Symphony. It was my first time on a Crystal Cruises ship. The Symphony holds 940 passengers (if my memory serves me right) but has a very intimate feeling. The ship was recently refurbished, and the new elegance shows. All the staterooms and suites were upgraded, and although a bit small, the appointments were lovely. Great colors, comfortable bedding, a huge bathroom, (big enough for 2 to fit comfortably) with tub and shower...the Nobu specialty restaurant is artfully done, with a vary calming, oriental influence, and Prego is an intimate, subtly fun room. The food was absolutely wonderful, as was the service. Even though we were only on board for the one night (and we didn't leave the dock) it seemed as if the staff already knew us and our preferences. The only thing that struck me as odd, was the choice of a pink carpet for one of the decks...I couldn't imagine having to walk to the end of a pink hallway to get to my cabin. We flew home Tuesday afternoon, having listened to a great sales and marketing presentation by the President and Sales and Marketing Manager. Crystal has some great itineraries for 2010 and 2011 and is definitely worth sailing with.

Thursday afternoon, Sylvia Berman, President of Post Haste Travel, (and my mother) were off to spend one night on the Seabourn Odyssey. This is the first time the Odyssey has been in Fort Lauderdale, and although larger than her sister ships, at 400 guests, she is still intimate and elegant. The Odyssey is so well designed and thought out. The public areas seem cozy and intimate while at the same time being bright and open. The low profile seating keeps the view from being blocked from any location, and the seating arrangements allow for privacy or friendly interaction, whichever you choose. There are nooks and crannies all throughout the ship. The pool area is very well laid out and comfortable. The cabins are large, roomy and almost all have balconies. The Weingarden (sp?) Suite was amazing! A special spa tub on the veranda, separate from the rest of the balcony...dinner was marvelous. Multiple small courses, and lobster done just right. I think the staff could use a bit more training, but all in all, they were very friendly and attentive. This beautiful ship is a must for the discerning cruiser who is looking to visit the smaller ports and wants comfortable elegance.

And to top it all off, this morning we watched the Oasis of the Seas enter Fort Lauderdale from the deck of the Odyssey. I was at the rail about 6:30 AM and saw the Oasis appear from the clouds on the horizon...very eery...it's a behemoth of a ship. After watching the Oasis wait until it was the right time to enter Port Everglades, she finally approached the port, and what a sight! Bigger and bigger as she got nearer. There are condo's right at the edge of the entrance to the Port, and the Oasis completely covered them...and she just kept coming! How the pilot got her so easily into her dock is beyond comprehension. Sylvia and I will be on board the Oasis November 27th and 28th for a travel agent preview. I will be sure to tell you all about this amazing ship. This is one week I will remember for a long time.

When does it pay to buy travel insurance?

When Does It Pay to Buy Travel Insurance?
October 20, 2009 Posted in Practical Travel Tips


I have seen travel insurance described as everything from a Ponzi scheme to an essential travel tool. It seems that people who don't like travel insurance are often those who find out that their insurance doesn't cover them for the problem that they face. Conversely, those that swear by the policies are often the ones who have been reimbursed by their insurer. My mother's friend is in the latter camp. She fractured her hip during a bad fall on the last night of her Alaska cruise, and several weeks and 1 operation later she had to be taken back home in a wheelchair. Her travel insurance covered everything all the costs that Medicare didn't, including her first-class plane ticket.
I'm squarely behind the idea of travel insurance. Not everyone agrees with me, but I think on the whole there are many more positive stories than negative ones about how travel insurance has come in to save someone from financial ruin. But for the doubters, especially those who don't regularly buy insurance, here are some things to think about next time you consider whether or not to buy a policy.
Has travel insurance ever come in handy for you?

5 Simple (and Important) Things to Remember about Travel Insurance

1. Understand what your policy covers
Like all insurers, travel insurance companies live and die by the fine print in their policies. It bears remembering that you should read that fine print before buying a policy to make sure you're covered for the problems you anticipate (or perhaps even for those that you don't). Are you concerned you might have to cancel your trip because your Great-Aunt Sue is in the hospital? Make sure a great-aunt is one of the close relatives for which you can cancel a trip. Do you have hurricane phobia? Make sure you can cancel easily if a hurricane warning is issued for your destination, not just when all travel there is suspended because of an imminent storm (in some cases a day or two difference either way determines whether or not you will be reimbursed for your cancellation).

2. Documentation is key
I read a sad story recently of someone who bought insurance and canceled a trip because of an illness, expecting to be reimbursed for the cost. Unfortunately, the person didn't bother to see a doctor because this was a long-standing medical condition that the person experienced from time to time. Sad to say, there was no reimbursement forthcoming because there was no doctor's record that the individual was sick. Fair? Well, why should an insurance company simply take your word that an illness has prevented you from traveling? If you're sick, you should see a doctor and get a note. If you have a car accident, you need to take pictures of the damage. If something is stolen from you, you must file a police report. Having this documentation may be the difference between a welcome reimbursement or a very unwelcome refusal from the insurer.

3. Don't pay for coverage you don't need (but do pay for coverage that you do need)
High reimbursement numbers may give you a feeling of security, but do you need $1 million in emergency evacuation coverage? Probably not, unless you're going to some remote jungle in the middle of nowhere. Do you really need a policy that allows you to cancel for any reason? Probably not, though you'll pay almost double for that privilege. And what about health care coverage? Someone asked in our forums recently whether it was worthwhile to pay extra to have a travel medical policy that acted as a primary health insurer rather than as a secondary insurer (the person already had health insurance). While this might be a valid question for a car-rental collision-damage waiver policy, it's not really relevant for health insurance. Travel health insurance pays for what your regular insurance doesn't, and your regular insurance doesn't go up just because you make a claim (unlike auto insurance). So there is no benefit in paying extra just to get "primary" coverage.
As with the case of the policy offering "primary" health insurance, be aware of things that sound as if they are a great benefit but actually add little value to your policy. A policy isn't better simply because it is labeled "gold" or "platinum." Instead, read the fine print to make sure the coverage levels are what you need. Don't pay extra for a car-rental policy that covers "exotic" vehicles such as $80,000 Mercedes convertibles and Cadillac Escalade SUVs unless you plan to rent one. Don't pay extra for a policy covering extreme sports activities such as bungee jumping or mountain climbing unless you plan to participate in these activities. But always get the narrowest policy that covers you adequately for the activities you plan to partake in; not all policies will cover you for injuries in white-water rafting, for instance, unless you buy a higher level of coverage.

4. Insure yourself when you put down a nonrefundable deposit far in advance—and when you do buy insurance for these trips, buy it immediately
The one time I tell people that travel insurance is an absolute must is when they are booking a nonrefundable trip far in advance. Who knows what may happen 6 to 12 months down the line? Will you be laid off from your job? Will your parents become incapacitated by an unexpected illness? Will you trip and fall down the stairs the week before you're expected to leave and have your ankle in a cast for 8 to 12 weeks? Will you injure yourself in the gym two days before your departure? Will your tour operator go bankrupt and be unable to refund your deposit? The future is unknowable, and the purpose of insurance is to give you peace of mind when you have to face the unexpected and unpleasant. It's certainly worth while to spend an extra 5% of your trip cost to buy insurance that will reimburse you for 95% to 100% of your out-of-pocket expenses in the case of an unforeseen occurrence.
Moreover, most travel insurance policies offer much broader coverage if you buy a policy within a few days of putting down your initial deposit. You may only be covered for pre-existing medical conditions in such a case. And you will certainly not be covered if your tour company goes out of business unless you have purchased a policy before the company declares that it's in financial dire straits. So-called "Cancel for any Reason" policies must usually be purchased within a few days of your initial trip deposit in order for you to receive the full benefits. I could go on, but the basic issue is this: you must purchase your travel insurance policy before something goes wrong, so the longer you wait, the more risk you must incur yourself.

5. Always buy medical coverage when you travel overseas, especially if you are a senior
If you are a senior on Medicare, your medical bills will not be covered if you get sick outside of the U.S. except in Mexico and Canada (and that includes any time you spend aboard a cruise ship, even if it leaves from a U.S. port). A Medi-Gap policy may also not cover your out-of-pocket costs if you are not covered by Medicare, so make sure you understand what your policy does and does not cover before you travel. Some HMOs have similar provisions, failing to cover you outside of the U.S. While medical care outside of the U.S. is often just as good as at home (and often quite a bit cheaper), it's still not free.
And if you trip on a quaint cobblestone street in Venice or slip on the stairs at Wat Po or have a car accident in Bolivia, you might sustain serious injuries that could require extensive care and rehabilitation; you might even have to end your trip suddenly and be brought home in a specially chartered plane. Regardless of how careful you are and how carefully you avoid germs, you might have appendicitis in Tanzania or suffer altitude sickness in the Swiss Alps. While quick care may save your life, it won't be free, and you might need to be moved to the nearest large hospital for surgery or immediate treatment, and that cost can be considerable.
And here's a sixth, "bonus" tip: A collision-damage waiver is almost always cheaper when you buy it from a travel insurance company rather than from the car-rental company. You'll pay about $9 per day as opposed to $14 to $25 per day.
Travel Insurance Resources

Compare costs of several plans
Several Web sites will allow you to compare the costs and fine print of similar policies (for similar coverage).
Comprehensive Travel Insurance
There are several companies that offer comprehensive travel insurance, including (but not limited to) Allianz,   Travelex Insurance,  and Travel Guard International, to name a few. These companies offer coverage for many different kinds of events, and most offer a "cancel for any reason" option (though you'll pay dearly for it). Otherwise, expect the cost of a comprehensive policy to be between 5% and 12% of the cost of your total trip (depending on your age).
If you want to purchase only medical coverage from a comprehensive travel insurer, enter a trip cost of $0; you won't be covered if you have to cancel your trip, but you will be covered for hospital and doctor's costs and for medical evacuation if you become ill along the way.
International Medical Plans

There are several companies that offer only international medical plans. While these are primarily useful if you are doing an extensive trip, these plans might be useful to you if you travel a lot (most are aimed at frequent international travelers). One other company that can be helpful is not really an insurance company; MedjetAssist is a members-only medical evacuation company. When you pay to become a member, you are entitled to medical evacuation to your hospital of choice from anywhere in the world regardless of the reason for your hospitalization

October 4, 2009

Practical Traveler

For Americans, Plastic Buys Less

By MICHELLE HIGGINS

BETTER pack some cash on your next trip abroad. Americans are finding that their credit and bank cards aren’t as convenient as they once were while traveling overseas.

The problem: American cards lack a special chip, now commonly used in many foreign countries, causing the cards to be rejected by some merchants and kiosks.

That’s what Nancy Elkind, a lawyer from Denver, discovered in Paris when she wanted to use the popular Vélib’ bicycle rental system on a weeklong vacation with her husband last spring. They tried to swipe various cards at the rental kiosk, which doesn’t take cash, and all the cards were rejected.

Then, thinking the problem might be with the kiosk and not their cards, they tried other Vélib’ locations around the city. But each time, their cards were not accepted.

“We gave up, and kept walking around Paris, commenting occasionally on how much fun it would be to do some exploring by bike,” Ms. Elkind said.

The couple’s cards, which rely on magnetic-stripe technology for transactions, lacked an embedded microprocessor chip, which stores and processes data and is now commonly used in Europe. Such chip-based cards — commonly referred to as chip-and-PIN cards because users punch in a personal identification number instead of signing for the purchase — offer an extra layer of protection against the theft of cardholder data and counterfeiting, and they are designed to replace magnetic stripe technology and signature payments.

The chip-and-PIN technology usually isn’t much of an issue when making purchases at a store, or paying for a meal in a restaurant, as most of those merchants still have credit card terminals that can read the magnetic stripes. Likewise, A.T.M.’s typically recognize and accept many cards whether they have a chip or a magnetic stripe.

But American cardholders have had their cards rejected by automated ticket kiosks at train stations, gas pumps, parking garages and other places where there are no cashiers.

The alternatives aren’t ideal. Carrying around a wad of cash is a throwback, not to mention a security concern, for many travelers trained over the years to use plastic for purchases abroad.

And as more countries around the world move to chip-and-PIN cards, it’s inevitable that Americans will encounter more difficulties paying for things abroad.

Twenty-two countries, including much of Europe, Mexico, Brazil and Japan, have adopted the technology, according to the Smart Card Alliance, a nonprofit association that promotes chip cards. About 50 other countries are in various stages of migrating to the technology in the next two years, including China, India and most of Latin America, according to the association.

In the last year, Canada began rolling out chip-and-PIN cards and plans to stop accepting magnetic stripe debit cards at A.T.M.’s after 2012 and at point-of-sale terminals after 2015.

These governments like the cards because they reduce fraud. With an embedded microcontroller, large amounts of data can be stored on the card itself rather than in a central database, and counterfeiting such a card is difficult.

But the United States banking industry has no immediate plans to adopt the technology. Part of the reason, experts say, is that fraud issues haven’t been as prevalent here as in other countries.

The expense of converting the country to chip-and-PIN technology is also a deterrent. Javelin Strategy and Research, a consulting company for the financial services industry, has estimated the cost for the United States’ to migrate to the technology at $5.5 billion, mainly for new payment terminals — an expense that neither retailers nor banks want to shoulder.

Doug Johnson, vice president for risk management policy at the American Bankers Association, said that American banks were concerned about security but that there were no plans to move to chip-and-PIN cards. “There are a lot of hurdles,” he said, “both from a cost standpoint as well as a network standpoint, we need to broach.”

It should be noted that chip-and-PIN cards are different from the radio frequency chip that some American credit cards now have, which allows customers to wave their card at a check-out scanner, instead of physically swiping it. Visa’s payWave cards and Expresspay cards from American Express are two examples.

But regardless of the technology used, merchants have a certain amount of control over what kinds of cards they accept. Vélib’, for example, accepts American Express cards whether they have chip-and-PIN technology or not. But it doesn’t accept Visa or MasterCards unless they have the chip-and-PIN technology.

CREDIT card issuers acknowledge the problems but offer few solutions at the moment. Randa N. Ghnaim, a spokeswoman for Visa, said the company was working with banks and merchants across Europe to ensure that they accept magnetic stripe cards in addition to chip-and-PINs.

“We have heard of limited instances where merchants have refused to accept Visa magnetic stripe cards, but by and large, the majority of Visa cards are seamlessly accepted internationally,” she said. “It’s usually a lack of understanding that could lead to any issues rather than any issue related to the type of card a consumer may carry.”

And at least one company, Travelex, the global payment services company, says it is working on a chip-and-PIN card for Americans that could be loaded with up to 6,000 euros or £4,500 — about $9,000 or $7,400 at recent exchange rates. But that solution is still at least a year away.

“It’s definitely something we’ve been hearing more and more of,” said Tracy Hammock, a senior vice president at Travelex.

For now, though, there is little an American traveler can do besides insisting, if a cashier refuses your card, that the merchant swipe it anyway. Despite what the cashier thinks, the terminal may be able to read the magnetic strip and approve the purchase.

But realistically, it’s not a huge problem, and there are ways to work around it. You can still buy things like train tickets and subway cards online ahead of time, carry traveler’s checks or simply pack a lot of cash.

That’s what Hope Einstein, a retired financial analyst from Stamford, Conn., decided to do on a trip to Great Missenden, England, last month, after she encountered chip-and-PIN issues two years ago. Lucky she did. Ms. Einstein still wasn’t able to withdraw money from A.T.M.’s. But this time, she wisely exchanged some dollars for pounds before leaving the United States.

Recalling her first visit, she said, “It’s humbling to be walking around London with five bucks in your pocket.”

Travel Mart

We are all getting ready to attend this years Virtuoso mega meeting, Travel Mart, at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas. In addition to the many training meetings, we will be meeting with all the top suppliers of luxury travel, from the world over. We have a few tables to tend, and the suppliers each have 4 minutes to present their product to us...we will see approximately 1500 different suppliers over 4 days, in 4 minute intervals. This includes cruise lines, tour companies, hotel and resort properties, private jets, private car companies, and all the myriad suppliers to the luxury travel industry. Breakfast meetings start at 6:45 AM- supplier meetings are from 8-12, then 2-5, with a business meeting lunch in between. Cocktails start at 6 PM, then formal dinners from 8-10. Sleep is a precious commodity.
The amount of information we get is overwhelming, but fortunately, Virtuoso posts spec sheets from each supplier on a private website so we can have access to all the information we will need in the future to be able to make well informed recommendations to all our clients. This is a real opportunity to meet some of our suppliers face to face. So much of the time they are just a voice on an international phone call.
Personally, I go to bed each night at 8:30 PM, so I miss a lot of the dinner extravaganza's, and I never get to go to any of the Vegas shows, but I trade that for feeling decent in the morning. I will be sure to post info on any spectacular or new travel opportunities we learn about.
In the meantime, we will be operating with a skeleton crew in the office this week. Be patient with us...we'll come back with great recommendations for your holiday travel plans!

Sixth Star Travel and Post Haste Travel

Sixth Star Travel, a Virtuoso travel agency, is now part of the Post Haste Travel family. Sixth Star, which specialized in high end luxury travel, merged with Post Haste as of August 1, 2009. We are very excited to have the talent of Jean Sauleau, Jan Hammond, Lynva Bridges, and Monika Dysart as part of our team. All of these experienced travel consultants have a long a varied background in the travel industry. Jean Sauleau started Sixth Star, after a long career in the travel industry, in St. Louis, and moved to S FL in 2002. She has been very active in Virtuoso, has many accolades, and is a certified seller of travel for Virgin Galactic's space travel. Monika Dysart is still in St. Louis and will represent Post Haste as an independent consultant. Jan Hammond has been in the S FL travel industry for many years, being very active with various industry organizations. Lynva Bridges also has many years experience in travel, coming from the cruise supplier side, (and Wales) and brings great experience to our efforts.
Post Haste Travel now has 6 inside travel consultants, 26 independent consultants, and a great supporting staff. Our combined travel experiences cover all of the world, many times over, from cruises, tours, independent travel, family travel, heritage tours, adventure travel and more. Our travel consultants have specialty training and we share our mutual knowledge to the benefit of all our clients. We are thrilled to have such experienced consultants join us in our pursuit of unequaled customer service.

Tips for taking great travel photos

From the Seattle Times......

SHOOT STEADY. A lack of sharpness due to camera shake or blur is a common mistake, says Schaub. "Avoid holding the camera out. It's probably the least steady posture for taking a picture."
LEARN TO LOOK AT LIGHT. Daylight is best during the first and last hours, says Holmes. "Get up early and stay out late. There's no secret to great landscapes, you just have to be in the right place at the right time. Make sure you know what time that is."
ANTICIPATE THE SHOT. With point-and-shoot cameras, it's easy to miss the picture because of shutter lag, the "delay between when you think you're taking a picture and when the camera actually takes the picture," Schaub says. Engage the shutter halfway and allow the camera to focus, then press the rest of the way slightly early.
DON'T TURN THE SUBJECT INTO SCENERY. We've all taken the picture of a loved one — 30 feet away — standing in front of some monument or cathedral. What's the point if you can't make out the person's face? Fill a third of your frame (left side or right) with the person standing 3 to 5 feet away, then fill the remaining two-thirds with your scenery. Shoot from a lower angle if necessary.
GET CLOSER. Most photographs can be improved if the photographer moves closer to the subject.
OUTFLANK YOUR SUBJECT. Instead of shooting buildings head-on from the front, move to one side or the other (depending on the light) and shoot across the front. You get more of the building without a wider lens and the picture shows depth.
KEEP IT SIMPLE. "Don't get hung up on equipment," says Holmes. "Learning to see is the important part of photography, not the amount of equipment you have."
ALWAYS BE AWARE OF WHAT'S IN YOUR FRAME. You are responsible for everything that appears in the final photograph. Learn to see like the camera and you won't get nasty surprises.
LOOK CAREFULLY FOR GESTURES. When taking pictures of people, a simple hand gesture can make or break a shot. Be preoccupied with detail.
EXPLORE THE SCENE MODES. "Introduce yourself to image effects," says Schaub. "You should understand what those things do so you can translate it when you get a little more savvy."
SIT A SPELL. People make better subjects when they're comfortable, so spend a little time and get the shot when they relax.
LOOK TO THE SKIES. Stormy weather combined with dawn light is a winning combination for landscape, says Holmes.
SHOOT A LOT. Digital-camera memory is cheap, much cheaper than film ever was. Shoot intelligently, but don't be afraid to keep shooting until you have the shot you feel expresses what you want to say.
About preparation, back up your files as soon as possible, and carry spares of everything essential to shooting, including batteries, cables and even a spare camera. Probably the most important tip may be the easiest: Just have fun.

What to do when you lose your passport, credit cards and money while traveling

From Fodor's Travel, by Doug Stallings

1. Make copies of everything. When traveling, make color copies of your passport, all credit cards and ATM card (both front and back), and driver's license. Print out a copy to take with you and email a copy to yourself and someone else. If you lose any of your cards or passport, it's much easier to get them replaced if you have a good copy.
2. Know your bank's policies. Can your bank mail you a replacement credit or ATM card immediately? Does it have branches or offices in the country where you'll be traveling? How about a local contact number? If not, how do you reach them? Always do a little research before you leave, either on your bank's web site or by asking when you alert the bank that you'll be traveling abroad. If you bank at a small credit union, you may have more difficulties getting a replacement card abroad than if you bank with Citibank or HSBC, which actually have many branch offices throughout the world. But all banks will allow you to call collect from abroad and will provide a replacement card for you if yours is lost or stolen, though this may take 2 or 3 days. Some banks will require you to file a police report if your card is stolen; ask about that when you call about the theft. And if your bank has a branch in the city you're in, you might be able to walk in and get a replacement ATM card on the spot, or at least some cash if you know your account number.
3. Know the number and location of the nearest U.S. consulate. If you are traveling abroad, you should always have the telephone number and location of the nearest U.S. consulate, which you will have to visit in person to get an temporary replacement passport in the event that yours is lost or stolen. There will usually be an emergency number that is answered after hours, even on weekends and holidays; write that down too. Otherwise, you can call during business hours and make an appointment. Replacing a stolen passport is generally considered an emergency, especially if your departure from the country is imminent. However, you must apply for a passport in person, and some countries have only one U.S. consulate that can process emergency passport applications. You'll need a copy of your passport or some other kind of identification, but if you have nothing, you can also have someone vouch for you. It's usually possible to get an emergency passport within 24 hours.
4. Know about the American Citizens Services. The ACS is the part of the U.S. Department of State that helps U.S. citizens traveling abroad. Every consulate has an ACS department, which can do much more than replace a lost or stolen passport. The ACS can help you reach someone back home in an emergency and even act as a conduit so you can have money wired to you by someone back home if you lose all your cash. People back home can also use the ACS to help contact you by calling the agency at 202/647-5225.
5. Know that Western Union is almost everywhere. You can have a friend or relative at home send you money by Western Union in about an hour to virtually any destination on earth. All they need is a credit or debit card, and they can do the transaction online or over the phone. This is a reliable service and, while somewhat expensive (it's considered a cash advance by some credit cards, so there's a higher fee and interest beyond that charged by Western Union), it can be a godsend in a genuine emergency.
6. Get travel insurance. Travel Guard offers a 24-hour live help line for any client who buys their insurance. They can help you with an emergency cash transfer or can find the nearest consulate or an English-speaking doctor; the company will even help you rebook flights if you miss a connection. Other travel insurance companies and some credit cards offer similar services.
7.Have a secret stash always on hand. When traveling, always keep a $100 bill or $100 traveler's check hidden in your carry-on bag separate from other money just in case of an emergency. I've never had to use it, but having some emergency money set aside helps me sleep better at night.

Merecedes Benz showcase event

PRESS RELEASE

July 9, 2009

Post Haste Travel was invited to attend the unveiling of 2 new Mercedes Benz
automobiles at a Mercedes Benz of Fort Lauderdale extravaganza event,

from 6-9 PM, on June 25th, 2009.

Along with Saks Fifth Avenue, The Ritz Carlton, Fort Lauderdale, Harley-Davidson,

Merrill Lynch and other local upscale businesses, Post Haste Travel was given

display space to offer services to the more than 750 attendees at the gala event.

As part of our Africa travel themed presentation, Sylvia Berman, President, Grace DeVita, marketing manager, Arlene Feen, consultant, Regent Seven Seas Cruises local business development representative Phil Devillier, Mark Conroy, Regent President, (offering Regents African cruises), and James Currie, from &Beyond, (showcasing safari camps and expedition services), were all at our table.

The event was a huge success both for vendors and Mercedes Benz. All attending vendors supplied gifts for a raffle, and we received a mailing list of attendees that registered for the raffle. After running the list through the Virtuoso database, Post Haste Travel will be able to market to this very elite list of prospective clients.

Mercedes Benz general manager Tony Giordano sent his thanks:
“On behalf of myself and our Team, we would like to thank you for being a part of a very exiting evening at Mercedes-Benz of Fort Lauderdale. We could not have been able to pull this off without the attentiveness of your staff that allowed us the opportunity to provide our Customers with "A World Class Experience".

We look forward to a continued partnership with Mercedes Benz of Fort Lauderdale, which started in October 2008 when Post Haste Travel hosted an Africa themed event at the dealership. Plans are in the works for another presentation from Post Haste Travel to the clients of Mercedes Benz.

Wednesday-last day of vacation

I think everyone should make sure to take a day or two at home to rest and regroup after your vacation. It gives you time to clean everything that needs cleaning, get your house back in order along with your mind. I was lucky enough to have a wonderful, stormy day yesterday, and made a big pot of bean soup with cornbread. In my pajamas! All day! I'll finish all my errands today, pay my bills, and I'll be really ready to go back to work tomorrow. Then just 2 days and it's the weekend again. I finally got my cat back home this morning, (he went missing from my mothers for 2 days). This is the perfect end to some real rest.

Make sure to use your vacation time to separate yourself from your day to day life. The memories I have of the mountains in N GA will get me through the worst part of this FL summer. I do miss hearing the songbirds already though.

My next trip will be business, in Las Vegas, in August. More heat. Uh.

I'll be back to writing my regular blog by the beginning of next week. Until then.....

Photos from road trip

A few photos from our road trip....I haven't figured out how to maximize the space in the blog yet....

Monday back at home

It's Monday morning, and we are back at home. We had to cut the road trip short, due to an electrical problem with the old Mercedes, but I am still on vacation. We did get a chance to visit with Jamie's dad, and it was a wonderful few hours. On our way to North Florida, we decided to get a hotel room instead of trying to get to our campsite late in the day. Also, it was 100 degrees out. We got to Ichitucknee Springs at 8 AM Sunday morning, and it was packed with Fathers Day crowds. People with inner tubes and canoes were all over the place. A little too crowded for us. So we took a few minutes and swam in the springs, and decided to head home. Lou wasn't allowed near the water, (new rules to protect the springs are actually good, considering how many people use them) so we really didn't have a good reason to spend the night camping. The drive home took longer than I remembered, and although the car had been running fine, for some reason when we stopped at a rest area, she didn't start, again, and we needed a jump.
This morning we are going to Fort Lauderdale beach. It's going to be hot, but hey, a beach day is just the way to end this vacation. I'll be back at work Wednesday or Thursday...I haven't decided yet. Photos will follow soon. Until next time....

Saturday morning Woodlands Inn

Dinner last night was a marvel. We opted not to eat from the prix fixe menu, but to order a la carte. We receive an "amuse" (sp?) as an opener...a spoonful of some fizzy powder with a piece of strawberry and cream as a palate freshener. What a surprise taste in your mouth! Then beautiful plates of shrimp, for Jamie, and asparagus with morels for me. The bread was served with 2 types of butter and 2 types of salt, and was delicious and fresh. I had a bowl of fragrant pasta, and we were already full. Then off to the most luscious, cozy 4 poster bed. soft pillows, perfect comforters, chocolates on the bed in a crystal bowl. Lou was given an organic dog bone, and loved it. We slept like babies.
I was up at 6 AM, and since this is a non smoking property, went out for a smoke and a walk for Lou. The temperature was warm, the humidity not too bad, yet. Coffee is served with 2 types of cubed sugar, brown and white, and was rich and fragrant. I just had a peaceful swim in the pool surrounded by crepe myrtles and magnolias. We're going to read a little this morning, then hit the road again around noon. Tonight,perhaps, we'll be in our tent at Ichitucknee Springs. If there is wi-fi, I'll report again.

Friday night 4th night of road trip

We are in Summerville, SC, at the 5 star resort, Woodlands Inn, finally. I haven't been able to write in my blog the past 4 nights, since up in the mountains of North Georgia, we didn't have a wi-fi signal. Or any access to the Internet. Which was actually, wonderful. Let me back up some, and start with the beginning of the road trip.
We left Fort Lauderdale Monday night, 6 PM, and made it to Ocala by 10 PM. got a room at a Days Inn for the night, and were up early Tuesday morning, and on the road by 5:30 AM. We stopped in a rest area about 80 miles into Georgia, and the car wouldn't start. Got a jump from a friendly traveler, and were on our way again. When we got into North Georgia, the battery went again, and we called AAA, and found out we needed a new battery, so we went to a local Wal-Mart, bought a battery, and finally made it into Dahlonega, and Forrest Hills Resort, by 4 PM.
What a beautiful, secluded, rustic place! There are about 30 individual cabins, all in the woods, with kitchenettes, wrap around porches with swings, fireplaces, and ours had a full sized hot tub with a deck inside. There is horseback riding, a pool, and plenty of walking trails. It was so quiet. The birds were all we could hear. No car traffic, no electrical hum in the background, no noise whatsoever, except nature.
Breakfast was in a quaint restaurant called the Secret Garden. Dark and cozy, with picture windows overlooking a real secret garden, with classical music in the background. The buffet breakfast food was fabulous. Real country cooking with a very light touch. Outside the restaurant are formal rose gardens, with a couple of cats having a very loud argument. I took Lou for a wonderful walk through the woods, along groomed, paved, walking trails, with wildflowers growing everywhere.. I actually did this walk numerous times. I will post photos on my Facebook page, and in our newsletter. We spent the afternoon and evening with close friends, at Amicalola Falls, and went to bed early. The hot tub was a wonderful perk to have before bedtime. I saw my horse, and cried a bit when I had to leave him. Lou was having a wonderful time walking through the undergrowth around the cabin, looking for rabbits and smelling for deer. I walked alot. My unused calf muscles remembered how hills worked. We could have stayed there 2 or 3 more days. Forrest Hills, is remote, and secluded, and quiet and peaceful, and I recommend it for couples and families who want some real together time.
It's our first few hours here at Woodlands Inn, and I have to say, this is a real, elegant , Old South inn. European elegance. Gravel trails, beautiful, manicured grounds, and free wi-fi! It's a real comfort after our 7 hour drive down from the mountains. Oh, by the way, we stayed off the interstates, and traveled through all the small towns on Highway 78 from Georgia through South Carolina. It was the most direct route, and although we never drove faster than 65 mph, it was an easy drive. I'll have more to tell tomorrow, after dinner and swimming tonight.
Give yourself the chance to take a road trip. Even thought we've had to cut off the Maryland portion of the trip due to car trouble, this has been fantastic! Sweet dreams!

Top 10 reasons to use a travel agent

From Travel Agent Central......
1. You've Googled "Mexico vacation," and come up with 17.8 million responses. Need a little help editing those choices?
2. Remember when you used that obscure website to book your hotel, and when you got there you spent your beach vacation overlooking a parking lot?
3. How many hours were you on hold with the airline when your flight was canceled because of a snowstorm?
4. Did you really mean to spend your honeymoon at that resort whose one tiny pool was filled all day with 12 screaming children?
5. Who knew that when you booked that "villa" in Tuscany, it would be a small room with a kitchenette and no air conditioning? Funny, it looked much better on your computer screen.
6. No one explained to you that in July, it's winter time in Rio, and so you showed up there with nothing but five Hawaiian shirts and three pairs of swimming trunks.
7. How about the time you really needed a restful vacation, and you ended up in New Orleans during Mardi Gras and someone threw up on your shoes?
8. Yes, I guess that hotel must have used a telephoto lens when they took a picture of those guest rooms that you saw on their website.
9. I suppose contacting the Attorney General to resolve the fact that that Internet site has billed your credit card three times instead of once is the only route to take at this point.
10. It was definitely odd that there were no cab drivers at the airport at 3 o'clock in the morning when you finally landed in Costa Rica, but booking a transfer to your very remote hotel would have been a good thing to remember when you purchased your airline ticket and hotel online.
Now give us a call and let us take away all the confusion and information overload!
800-881-7690

Roadtrip finalized!

I got all the plans together for our road trip. After leaving the 5 star Woodlands Inn Resort in Summerville SC Tuesday morning, the 23rd, we'll be stopping in Estill, SC for a short family visit, then driving to North Florida, between Lake City and Alachua, to Ichitucknee Springs. Ichitucknee Springs is a crystal clear cavern spring and river filled with wildlife and surrounded by forest. We'll set up camp, yes, tents and sleeping bags, and spend our last night out in the open. The campgrounds are beautiful, there's a small tavern in the park, and we'll have access to other facilities. I hope the bugs aren't too bad. I know that Lou, the dog, will love it. Wednesday morning we'll spend our time swimming and canoeing the river. It should be a great way to end the road trip. Then a 6 hour drive back to Fort Lauderdale. I will be blogging and "Tweeting" from the road, so be sure to follow our progress. Pictures too!

"On the road again......"

Help me decide on my last day of my roadtrip

How fast should I try to get home from my roadtrip? Should I just take an extra day and find some out of the way place to stay? Or should I end the trip in a fancy hotel? You decide....

My Summer Road trip-making arrangements

I'm well into making my arrangements for my summer road trip. We've had to change our start date to June 16th due to a doctors appointment, but fortunately, that's a benefit to a road trip...you can make last minute changes. We'll head north towards Atlanta and have a long drive our first day, 11 hours. I'm still waiting for the confirmation for staying at Forrest Hills Resort outside of Dahlonega, GA. They have a single cabin in the woods, with a fireplace and hot tub, and are pet friendly. That's where we want to make our home base for the 3 days we'll be in the N. GA area. We've got lot's of friends to visit with, and I need to see my horse. I know we'll take one day and just hike in the woods and maybe tube down the Chattahoochee River out of Helen, GA. From there, we're heading to Maryland to stay with some friends for 3 nights. They have 10 acres, so it will still feel like we're in the country, and Lou, my dog, will be able to roam around and chase rabbits. Jamie and I will go into Washington DC on Saturday the 20th to visit the Native American Museum and we'll be able to leave Lou at the farm. Monday morning we're going to South Carolina and staying at the Woodlands Inn, in Summerville, near Charleston. The Woodlands Inn is a Virtuoso property, rated 5 stars, and is pet friendly. It sits on 43 acres and I can't wait to visit. Tuesday we'll spend some time in Charleston, one of my favorite cities, and one that Jamie is very familiar with, since he helped care for many of the formal gardens in the downtown estates...then off to Estill, SC to visit with Jamie's father. That's about as far as I have gotten. I know we have to head back to Florida, but I'm not sure if we'll got to Savannah for a night, or maybe head into North Florida right away, or what. We will stay somewhere in N FL for a night so we can spend a day canoeing or tubing down some of the crystal clear rivers that flow through this part of the state. I'll let you know more as soon as I do! I love the freedom of making these kind of travel plans. And of course, I can always change my mind!

My summer road trip

I have decided to take some time off early this summer, pack my bags, boyfriend and dog and hit the road for a week or so. Just an old fashioned American road trip. A few choice destinations, then where ever the road leads. We are first stopping somewhere in the North Georgia mountains. I found a pet friendly resort where we hope to rent a cabin for 3 nights, visit old friends in Atlanta, and hike around the woods near Dahlonega and Helen. Just sitting on the wrap around porch at night, in the woods, will be absolutely refreshing! Then we'll head north, maybe stop in Charlotte, again visiting friends, before heading up towards Washington DC and Maryland. We both have wanted to see the Native American Museum, and will leave my dog Lou with friends that have 10 acres just north of DC. I don't think we'll spend much more time in DC, we both have already seen most of the sights there. From there, we'll head south down I-95 to South Carolina. I'm trying to get one night at a Virtuoso resort property so we'll at least have one luxurious evening. Then a visit with some family and maybe a day along the South Carolina beach coast. And of course we won't miss Charleston. We may stop at South of the Border in South Carolina, on US 301...if anyone remembers stopping there with their folks when you were young, you'll remember what a treat that was. I hope it's still there. On our way back to South Florida, we'll stop in north Florida, staying in an area of crystal rivers, tubing or canoeing a day away. If we see anything anywhere along the way, I'll be sure to stop for a look see. Some think a road trip takes too much time and is too much trouble, but I see it as a relaxing way to actually see where I'm going. My own time table. No airline mess, no crowds. I'll let you know how it turns out!

Updating your travel preferences

We have recently sent out an email survey, asking clients to updates their travel preferences. We keep a detailed database on all clients wants and desires for their travel experiences, including budgets, number of times per year they travel,who they travel with, (i.e. spouse, single, grandchildren, etc.) what type of travel they enjoy, whether cruise, tour, adventure, among others, and favorite destinations. Everyone's choices change over time, and updating this information helps us make sure that we only send the travel information that is relevant and wanted. We actively market to those of our clients that want to receive travel information, and are very careful not to send marketing to those not interested in receiving updates. Also, we want to make sure that no one misses out on some of the great travel deals available now. Cruises are unbelievably affordable, and many of our clients have been able to move up to to a move luxurious level of cruising for the same money as they've paid on other cruise lines. Hotel properties around the world are offering great amenities, including extra nights at no cost, spa credits, and of course, including our Virtuoso amenities. We have safaris to Africa coming up later this year, and many cruises with space reserved.
It's important to us to know where you're thinking of going on your next vacation, whether it's in the next few weeks or next year. This gives us the time to look at all the offers available and make you aware of them at the right time.
So when you receive your survey, please take the time to complete it. Our database will be updated automatically, and we can then follow up and make sure your needs are being met. If you haven't received an email survey, visit our websites and fill in a basic survey from there. Please make sure we have your up to date contact information too! New phone numbers and email addresses are very important. The TSA is also requiring we have your full name, (same as on your government issued ID) and date of birth of all travelers. We will be contacting you for this information soon.
Feel free to contact us by phone, 800-881-7690, or email, grace@posthasteatarvel.com, with any questions. We want to provide the best service possible to make sure you don't miss out on spectacular deals, exciting destinations, and all the extras a Virtuoso agency can provide. Be part of your own travel destiny. Thanks you for your help in making us the best travel advisers we can be.

Cruise space availability

I promised I would list some of the cruise group space we have reserved for the foreseeable future. All of these cruises have varying amenities and special offers available. Some are Virtuoso cruises, some are hosted. Please contact us for prices and accommodation information. Post Haste Travel -800-881-7690.

NCL- Roundtrip New York-to Bermuda August 2, 2009

Oceania- Barcelona to Istanbul -14 days-August 9-23, 2009

Oceania-Istanbul to Athens-12 days- August 23-September 5,2009

Princess-London to Rome-14 days - September 5-19, 2009

NCL-Athens to Istanbul- 10 days-September 29 -October 9, 2009

Holland America- Transatlantic-36 days-October 24- November 29, 2009

NCL-Roundtrip Barcelona-7 days-November 1-8, 2009

Princess-Transatlantic, Rome to Fort Lauderdale, 21 days-November 30 -December 21, 2009

Celebrity-Eastern Caribbean, Roundtrip Fort Lauderdale-7 days-December 20-27, 2009

Royal Caribbean-Eastern Caribbean-RT Fort Lauderdale-8 days-December 26 - January 3, 2010

Princess-Panama Canal, RT Fort Lauderdale-10 days-February 8-18, 2010

These are just a few of the cruises that Post Haste Travel has reserved space. We also have space on cruises from Singapore to Shanghai, and an Amazon River cruise.

Please give us a call. The offers are great and there is no better time to cruise than now!

Post Haste Travel 800-881-7690

Check our website for other travel offers. www.posthastetravel.com

Post Haste Travel newsletter article from my mother, the boss

From Sylvia Berman's " The Presidents Desk" column in the Post Haste Travel newsletter...
This is the first article I will write as "I", and not as "we". After 53 years I will be traveling alone, as my husband, Bob, passed away in March. The change is barely noticeable, as my daily routine is the same. The evenings are when life is quiet, and that is overcome with the myriad of work that I am able to bring home. Where do I go from here? Onward and upward. I will continue to travel to the countries that we both love in Africa, only now my companions will be other travelers who wish to learn what I can teach. To find the excitement in new places, new faces, new experiences. Africa is its people, as well as its animals, and it is never the same.
I will continue to take the easiest of all vacations, the cruise. I will cruise to locations that whet one’s appetite, to taste the unusual, and the unexplored. New ports are opening up to travelers that were closed a recently as last year. New parts of the world fulfill different needs for different people and for me, it means the ability to visit other cultures, other lands, where things are not the same as they are at home. Today that becomes easier and easier and so I will seek out the cruise lines that offer these new cities.
I guess that’s why Bob and I found Africa, the place we returned to year after year, so enticing. We never tired of having a lion trot next to our vehicle, or watch families of elephant parade in front of us, to see cheetah cubs frolicking with their mother, to push through the brush as we followed a rhino after its mate. Never the same, only now you can join me. Call and talk to me about my trip to South Africa this October. Become part of this learning experience.

Client Relationship management

I'm heading to Las Vegas this morning for a weeklong conference on client relationship management. The travel industry has it's own industry specific CRM tools. Trams, or ClientBase, is a very deep, detailed program that helps travel agents and agencies compile a detailed list of clients data, desires,marketing info, destination info, family members, financial info, passport info, and tons of other information neccessary to make sure that each client is taken care of and that all marketing is done correctly. This conference will get us up to date on the addtional updates to the program, which means we will be able to collect even more information! Having this info is a great timesaver, and helps us connect to our clients all the better. We can notify them when their passports are about to expire. We can search their travel history and see what their preferences are, or notify them about great new deals on their favorite cruise lines. We can follow their family members birthdays and anniversaries, and make sure we know when big events are upcoming. All this helps us plan the best vacations for all our clients.

The conference is very intense for 4 days...7:30 AM - 8PM, then parties into the night. I'm an early to bed, early to rise person, so I usually miss the late nights. And the time changes does me no good either. By the time I get back Friday morning, after taking the red eye Thursday night, I'm exhausted. But I will have a ton of new information to share with our agents on all the new ways they can keep up with their clients in order to provide the best travel experiences possible.

Continuing your education in any field is ultimately important these days. With all the new software available, it's impossible to know everything, but important to keep up with as much as you can. That's my job, and I'm sticking to it!

Economic downturn changing the way people travel

This information is from the HotelMarketing.com website.

From bargain hunting for accommodations to hopping in a car instead of on a plane, many individuals and companies are responding to the uncertain economic climate by adjusting their travel behaviors in 2009 to find more affordable ways to travel, but many aren’t eliminating travel plans altogether.
In a recent poll conducted by Harris Interactive®, 48% of U.S. adults say their financial situation is worse now than it was one year ago. For some that is translating into plans for fewer vacations and fewer dollars spent on leisure travel in 2009.
While almost half plan to travel just as much or more in 2009 as they did in 2008, two-fifths (38%) anticipate that the economy will have no impact on their travel plans, and 8% plan to travel more in the next 12 months than they did in 2008, nearly two-fifths (37%) of consumers say they are less likely to travel within the next 12 months due to economic conditions.
Other findings from the study include:
- Over one-fourth (27%) will decrease the duration of their leisure trips.
- Four in ten (40%) will reduce the amount of money they spend on leisure trips. Among these consumers looking to cut costs: Roughly three-fifths will find less expensive accommodations (62%), less expensive meal options (61%), or will look for less expensive activities (58%). Nearly half will reduce travel expenses by vacationing closer to home (48%), staying with friends/family instead of a hotel (46%), or reduce expenses by driving rather than flying (45%). One-third (34%) will stretch their vacation dollars by going on a “staycation” close to home or by sharing travel costs with friends or other families.
Companies are also changing their travel spending habits in 2009. Three in five (61%) people surveyed said their companies had changed their travel policies in last 12 months, and one in five (21%) said they were less likely to travel for business in 2009 than they were in 2008.
Reducing or eliminating nonessential travel was the most frequently reported method of cutting business travel expenses. Three in ten people (30%) reported that their companies had reduced or eliminated all nonessential travel, and 21% said their companies were using technology to reduce or eliminate travel costs. Other reported changes to company travel policies include encouraging day trips (13%), booking with hotels and airlines that provide preferred rates (12%), and enforcing per diem allowances (10%).
According to Allison Powell, Research Director of Harris Interactive’s Travel and Tourism practice, “The recent economic conditions of a declining U.S. dollar, mortgage foreclosures, and job losses are giving many consumers reason to reevaluate their vacation plans. The good news is that travelers are still taking vacations; however, the nature of their vacations has changed. From finding less expensive accommodations to taking a road trip rather than flying, consumers are finding ways to continue taking vacations. The question remains – how long will this trend last?”

Mexico travel promotion

If there is a bright side to the swine flu problem we are currently monitoring, it will be that travel to Mexico will eventually become an even better deal than it is right now. Hotels and resorts will do everything in their power to make sure you can get great prices, extra value added amenities, and many other specials not thought of yet. We do recommend you also purchase "Cancel for any reason" travel insurance, just in case. For our Twitter Travel Tuesday Special,On Tuesday, April 28th, Post Haste Travel will not charge a fee for any travel arrangements to Mexico, made today, for travel valued at $5000 or less. This offer is only available to Twitterers, for one day only, and has a value of from $25-$150. We will also make sure that you receive all available Virtuoso amenities, including room upgrades at time of booking or check-in, breakfasts included, and a nice gift or resort credit as available. Please call 800-881-7690 for Post Haste Travel. Visit our website to see other special offers. http://www.posthastetravel.com/ . Office hours are from 8:30 AM - 6 PM EST. Make sure to mention you saw this offer on Twitter. This offer is good for US citizens only.

And, for bookings on any Oceania Cruise made today you will receive an additional $100 shipboard credit. Please call the number above.