Comments about our websites

I would like you to take a look at all three of our websites:
www.posthastetravel.com
www.forevercruising.com
www.ebonyheritagetravel.com

I'm looking for comments on user-friendliness, content, and design. Any other comments are also welcomed. You can comment here on the blog, on Twitter, @gdevita or @posthastetravel, or email me at grace@posthastetravel.com.

Thank you in advance for your input.

Twitter Thursday Special Offer

On Thursday, March 26th, 2009, Post Haste Travel and Forever Cruising will not charge a fee for any travel arrangements made that day, 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. Please call 800-881-7690 for Post Haste Travel, and 800-338-8005 for Forever Cruising. Visit both websites to see special offers. http://www.posthastetravel.com/, and http://www.forevercruising.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.

A tribute to my father, world traveler

My father, Robert Berman, passed away March 11th. While it was not unexpected, you are never prepared for the reality of that final day. His suffering is over. And he has left many memories for all who knew him. My father was a world traveler. He and my mother married very young, but that didn't stop them from vacationing, even with 4 kids. They would go to Paris for dinner, New York for theater. There were the ubiquitious fishing trips all over the world; Costa Rica, East and South Africa, Baja, and always the Florida Keys. My father went to China with a business delegation from the Nixon Administration. My parents took me to South America for a month in my senior year of high school. They owned a home in the country of Panama and visited often, along with many friends. Friends were always invited to join in traveling. They cruised on almost every cruiseline, to almost every port in the world. My father loved to drive. He would just get in a car and go. Sometimes following maps and a schedule, sometimes turning wherever looked interesting. Anywhere in the world. My parents visited Europe many, many times. Then the Africa bug took hold. First East Africa, Kenya and Tanzania, then South Africa. He made sure all 9 of his grandchildren were able to visit Africa. All told they have been 28 times. He collected art from all the places he had been, and that artwork is a legacy in his home. He had great taste. When he retired from his own business, he became more involved with the travel agency and never missed an opportunity to attend the many conferences and seminars required in todays travel business. His last trip was to Virtuoso's TravelMart in August of 2008. His last cruise was on one of the first Azamara cruises to South America. At his funeral we weren't surprised at the number of suppliers and vendor representatives that came. It was an honor. His advice will be missed. But his memory will remain. I love you ,dad, and thank you for the opportunities to travel with you.

A Travel Blog about Travel Blogs...thank you Jerry Seinfeld

If you Google "travel blog" you will get 113,000,000 hits. That's a whole lot of information out there. There is a travel blog for every type of travel, for every type of traveler, and for all things in between. Travelers of all kinds from all over the world put their experiences and images on the web for anyone to access. It's a wonderful thing. No matter what your interest, you can find someone who has been there, done that, and wants to tell you all about it. There are blogs from critics, there are blogs from novices, photographers, wanderers, sailors, skiiers, just anything you want to know. It doesn't really matter how much experience someone has; it matters that they are willing to share it. You can always get great advice from seasoned travel advisors, but they sometimes can't share the "local color" that a strangers vision can impart. It's so much fun to search the web. Travel vicariously through other eyes. And now there is "Twitter", and so many travel "tweets" that you can't count them. I am "following" a traveler, @Everywheretrip , on Twitter, that sold his house and is traveling the world. He's got a web page, http://everything-everywhere.com/, that I have linked to my Google home page, and I can see his photos as soon as he can post them. His experiences are wonderful to follow. And what a great thing to be able to share them so instantaneously.
Be a good traveler and share your own experiences. Or maybe only the good ones. Save the bad ones for the critics.

Virtuoso Life magazine

Todays' blog is straight from this issue of Virtuoso Life Magazine. Here are ten questions to ask yourself about your next dream vacation. Get advice from your Virtuoso travel agent.

1. What's the dream destination at the top of your wish list?
2. Which island escape allures you?
3. What the most enticing cruise itinerary you'd set sail for?
4. What's your perfect family vacation destination?
5. What's the most romantic city to explore with someone you love?
6. In which gourmet city do you most want to linger over a meal?
7. Which wine region do you most want to toast?
8. What's your idea of a great outdoor adventure?
9. Where would you go to expand your horizons?
10. Can you imagine your trip of a lifetime?
    

Call us at Post Haste Travel for details to arrange your trip of a lifetime, no matter the budget. 800-881-7690 or email Sylvia@posthastetravel.com

Mistakes to avoid when planning your vacation

There a many little things that can cause problems when planning your vacation. You've decided that you're ready to go, somewhere, and start thinking about where you'd like to visit.

• Make sure you have an honest budget. Decide how much you are willing to spend, but be prepared for the extra incidentals. The cost of a cruise does not always include food and drinks on board, or shore excursions, flights, and transfers. Make sure you allow for souvenirs and gifts. Vacations at resorts may mean paying additional fees for diving or fishing trips or other activities.


• Be prepared for the amount of time it may take you to get to your destination. Long flights are physically stressful, and jet lag can eat into your travel days.


• Be flexible while making your plans. You may be able to get better pricing if you can fly at night, or change your dates by a day or two. Planning for pre or post cruise dates can give you extra time in case of flight delays or other unexpected problems.


• Buy Cancellation insurance. You never know when an illness or job loss may force you to cancel your travel plans. Having insurance will guarantee that you don't lose your investment.


• Don't over pack. Take 1/2 of what you think you're going to need. Especially with today's luggage restrictions. And you want to leave room to bring home items you may purchase.


• Pay attention to the details. Make sure you check the dates on your passport to make sure it is valid for at least 6 months after your return. Check if you need visas. Read all your travel documents when your receive them. Waiting to check your documents until the last minute can cause serious problems if there are mistakes in spelling, or dates, or flights.


• Use a qualified travel consultant. A travel consultant can help you plan for all the details and make sure you are using reputable tour operators, or rental car companies, or help choose the cruise line that is the right one for your needs, and will know if there are problems with a hotel or resort property. Travel consultants are able to check for the best prices, new offers, and make suggestions you may not have thought of, and can keep your vacation on budget.

One quick tip...when traveling in Europe, do not tip more than 10%. That is all that is expected, and Americans tend to tip 15-20%. You don't have to.

Much thanks to @GMarketingGuy for todays blog idea!

Use caution when traveling

http://tinyurl.com/28txe2- Link to US Department of State Travel Warning to Mexico.

I was thinking of the above warning the State Department has issued for travel to Mexico, and realized that it's almost unfair to issue this particular warning. Most of Mexico is safe. And beautiful, and relaxing. There are small pockets that are dangerous, and just as in any US city, you wouldn't want to go there. But the government must issue these warnings. Just as they have for Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Mauritius and other destinations. We at Post Haste Travel have clients visiting all these places right now. Yes, including Iran and Iraq. They are a very adventurous group, and make a point of seeing all of the world, good and bad. Now, you may not be that brave, but it does make the point that if you are careful, and have good tour guides and good tour companies smoothing the way, that you really can go anywhere. So think about how badly you want to see the world and what you are willing to do for that opportunity. Remember to avoid dangerous locations, no matter where they are. There are parts of Miami I wouldn't venture into. Use the internet to plan your visit, or call us for suggestions and reservations with top rate, secure travel suppliers. Happy trails!