Catch the wave!

In the travel industry, we are now in the Wave Season. What does that mean?

The holidays are over and many people want to get a vacation nailed down so they have something to look forward to during the long winter months. Companies encourage their employees to schedule their vacations as early as possible. Employees know, if they don’t book their vacation time now, they may not get their choice of vacation dates. That can be problematic if they have limited travel dates due to school schedules or other restraints.

What this all leads to a is a “wave” of vacation inquiries and planning that happens in this first quarter. If you don’t jump in now, you may not get that cabin on your dream cruise, or that special safari camp that only has 10 spots, or your Inca Trail pass, or the reservation at that Michelin Star restaurant, in the charming little village.

What’s on your Bucket List for 2019?

Need some ideas? Here are the destinations Conde Nast Traveler thinks are the not to be missed for 2019.

Here’s the overall list of the 19 best places for 2019:

Is wine your interest? How about these wine regions to taste your way through?

Are you a city person? Then this is your list; the 50 most beautiful cities. I’ve been to 32 of these cities. I guess I have some traveling to do. 😊

A picture is worth a 1000 words. These photos will make you want to pack your bag and see the world.

You dream it and we’ll make it happen. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to refresh, reconnect and reinvigorate.

Travel is the way to a happier and more productive life.

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Call me, let's talk! 415 931-1945.
Prefer to email? info@WeMakeTravelEasy.com

Taking My Own Advice

We all have thought “Gee I just can’t take any time off now because_________”. You fill in the blank.

However, Dr. Bruce Weinstein, The Ethics Guy would disagree and say you have a moral obligation to take a vacation. In an article he wrote for the Dow Jones Market Watch, this is what he says: Taking a vacation regularly is not only acceptable; it is our ethical obligation.

Consider how you feel after working for a long time without a break, and how you feel during and after some restorative time at the beach. Can you really be at your best when you're running on empty? Aren't you more likely to do a good job when your batteries are recharged?

Leaving work behind from time to time to relax enables you to be of service to others to the best of your ability, and this is one reason why we ought to take vacations. Another reason is because we simply owe it to ourselves to rest. The ethical obligation to be compassionate applies not just to how we treat others, but how we treat ourselves, too. Going on vacation is a great way to meet this obligation.

Some of the most common reasons for not taking time off, and how to respond effectively to these challenges:

1. "I work for myself. My employer doesn't provide paid vacations. I've been laid off, and I need to work."

The reluctance to give up some future revenue is understandable, particularly in our current economy. But how often is an excuse, rather than an accurate reflection of one's financial situation? A vacation need not break the bank. We budget for meals, clothing, and transportation. Shouldn't we also budget for a vacation? Yes, there ought to be a law mandating paid vacations, as is the case in many countries, but until that comes to pass; we'll have to find creative ways on our own to take time off.

2. "I love my work, and I'm miserable when I'm away from it."

Maybe it's time to get a hobby. It's wonderful to be jazzed about one's job, but a rich, meaningful life involves things beyond work.

3. "Most of the people I work with aren't taking vacations, so I don't want to burden them with the extra work they'd have if I left for a while."

It's praiseworthy to want to avoiding causing undue stress on your colleagues, but you and they are entitled (ethically, if not legally) to some time off. Ultimately, the fair distribution of labor is a management issue, and employees shouldn't have to worry that a justifiable absence will result in an undue burden on the team.

4. "I'm the only one at work who can do my job. The company, and my clients, can't afford for me to be away."

It's nice to feel wanted or needed, but few of us are truly indispensable, as much as we may hate to admit it. The idea that you, and only you, can do your job is a delusion of grandeur rather than a reflection of reality.

5. "I feel guilty when I take vacations."

If you're not yet convinced that it's ethical to take time off, perhaps it's time to talk with a trusted adviser about why you feel you aren't worthy of a trip to the mountains or the shore, or even just some time to yourself. You have every reason to feel good about treating yourself right, and vacations, however you choose to spend them, are self-indulgent in the best possible way.

Checking e-mail, taking work-related phone calls, and reading material related to one's job are not the elements of a true vacation. A working vacation makes about as much sense as showing up for a corporate job in shorts and a tank top with a margarita in your hand.

Take a break, a real one.

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Call me, let's talk! 415 931-1945.
Prefer to email? info@WeMakeTravelEasy.com

Are you your own worst enemy?

Travel writer, Christopher Elliott, started his own consumer advocacy website in 1997. On a daily basis, Elliott receives dozens of emails that have added up to tens of thousands over the years. If you want help from his team of advocates, one is asked to fill out a long form that helps them evaluate the problem and work through the issues that have the traveler feeling wronged.

Elliot and his team, have divided complaints into those that can be handled on their own, with his guidelines, as either resolve on their own or avoid the problem completely. More complicated ones can use his advocacy services.

Over the years, Elliot says, he has become a “very careful traveler. When I read nothing but horror stories all day long, you get this sense, you’re glad that it wasn’t you.”. “When my people read about the horrible things that happen, inevitably we get to the point where we realize they could have avoided it by using a travel agent.”

Here are Elliot’s top 6 to do's, to avoid, stress and trouble and have a happy, before, during and after vacation.

1. Take the time to fully understand what you are booking

“Just because you can look up a fare and book it, that doesn’t mean you understand the airlines’ complex fare rules. The travel industry has its own rules and sense of logic, and most people don’t understand it,” he said, noting airline ticketing and refund rules and hotel prepay restrictions. “It’s all illogical and even airline customer service departments have a hard time explaining it.” A common problem is “’the airline spelled my name wrong on my tickets.’ Airline websites only print out what you, the consumer, put in. In most cases, if you catch your mistake within 24 hours, you can get it corrected with no charge. It’s amazing how many people do not review their confirmations.

2. Purchase travel insurance

“Even just thinking about travel insurance isn’t common,” said Elliott, who believes half the complaints he and his staff review could have been avoided if the consumer simply had purchased travel insurance. “Everyone thinks, ‘My vacation is going to be fine. My connections will be fine.’ And then they end up losing everything and contact me to get help. They send threatening letters to the local newspaper, or ‘7 On Your Side,’ and that can sometimes work. But it would be so much easier if they just purchased travel insurance,”

3. Do your due diligence

“Read the fine print before you purchase. Read it twice, and click once,” Elliott said. “If you had taken the time to read everything, you might not even have purchased the product.”

4. Plan for the unexpected

“People are overly optimistic when it comes to travel. “They think planes take off on time and that hotel rooms will be ready when they arrive. All of their dinner reservations will go flawlessly,” he said. “The people who contact me for help thought nothing extraordinary would happen, but of course, something did. Travelers need to hope for the best, but plan for the worst.”

5. Pack your manners with everything else

“Often you will find people are their own worst enemy. When something goes wrong, they make it worse by their rudeness. A customer service representative is a human being, and if you treat that person, who probably isn’t happy about the events surrounding your misfortune either, politely, you may never need to contact me,” he said. “But so many people have an event on the first day of their trip, they get really bent out of shape trying to fix the problem, and they end up ruining the rest of their vacation. If they had packed their manners, they likely would have had a much better trip.”

6. Book through a travel agent

“Most of the people who contact me think they can DIY their way through their vacation,” he said. “I tell them, next time, find yourself a good travel agent, not just any agent. You’ll keep yourself out of trouble that way. A good travel advisor tells the clients everything I do, so the consumer can make an educated decision and protect themselves.”

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Call me, let's talk! 415 931-1945.
Prefer to email? info@WeMakeTravelEasy.com

How to Save Money on Travel for 2018

The quick answer is book now before the rates go up!

The quick answer is book now before the rates go up!Many suppliers will offer an early bird booking discount or may be able to hold to 2017 rates for 2018 travel, if booked soon. Jump on those flash airfare sales. Otherwise you may have to budget more than you anticipated for your trip or you may have to eliminate something from your itinerary.

Here’s the scoop on what is anticipated for travel costs in 2018:

Carlson Wagonlit Travel and the GBTA Foundation (the education and research arm of the Global Business Travel Association) just released their  fourth annual report. Airfares worldwide are projected to rise 3.5 percent in 2018, and hotel prices are expected to rise slightly more, at 3.7 percent. Ground transportation—like taxis, trains, and buses—will rise only .6 percent. A stronger global economy, an increase in demand, inflation and a rise in oil costs are contributing to price increases.

Airfares are expected to rise all over the world, yet vary by regions. In Asia Pacific, prices are anticipated to rise the most in India and China, due to increasing domestic demand (We are talking about billions of people, so even a small percentage of travelers is a huge number). Prices in Eastern Europe will increase more than in Western Europe (7.1 versus 5.5 percent), which the report suggests is related to the 2018 World Cup in Russia next summer. I have been advocating travel to Eastern and Central Europe for years now.  They have been the best kept secrets and the best buys for European travel.  That may be coming to an end. The World Cup may do for Eastern Europe what the Olympics did for Barcelona in 1992. Prices will rise less drastically in North America (2.3 percent). Tighter travel restrictions are already suggesting a decrease in flights to the U.S.

Regionally, hotel prices in Asia are expected to rise by 3.5 percent. However prices in Japan may fall 4.1 percent and in New Zealand rise 9.8 percent. Prices are expected to rise around 6 percent in both Eastern and Western Europe, but increase by 11.9 percent in Russia (once again, the World Cup). For the U.S., the report predicts prices will increase by 2.9 percent, slightly less than the global average.

Prices might be on the rise, but so is the value you will receive. Hotels are investing more in in-room entertainment and technologies, as well as mobile apps to make checking in and out easier. Airlines, too, are expected to offer even more services to benefit customers. Could we see lie-flat seats coming to economy class? That’s not so far-fetched. "Sky Couches" can already be found on Air New Zealand’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777 wide body jets.

Want to save 15% on your next vacation? G-Adventures has extended a generous offer to our clients applicable to many of their very exciting itineraries. You must book with us by August 15th and travel by May 31, 2018.

Call Me - Let's Talk ! 415-931-1945
Prefer to Email? info@WeMakeTravelEasy.Com

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