In this day of age it’s easy for anyone of us to jump on the computer and find the best deals and book our own travel. Thanks to companies such as Hotwire, Priceline, and Orbitz, we really have little need to contact a travel agent to get ideas for our next vacation and purchase our airline tickets.

So why do travel agents still exist? Believe it or not there are still some old fashioned people out there that book all their travel through a travel agent. Are they really saving any money? Probably not- but they are saving the time and hassle of looking for the best deals and some travel agents do get better deals on certain packages. They have created relationships with their vendors to be able to do so.

Some travel agents specialize in certain areas. For example, my work uses a travel agency to book all of our business travel. With so many people traveling so much of the time, it just saves the agency so much money to contract out travel arranging. Other travel agents specialize in setting up complex group tours, such as cruise packages for a club or alumni group. Others just specialize and know so much about specific destinations that they are a great source of knowledge. It would be like going to your friend who has been on an African Safari and asking them for advice on places to stay and things to avoid.

Read the rest of this entry »

Rosas View San Ignacio

Last year I traveled through the small country of Belize. The country is so small, that it is in fact a smaller than my home state of Utah!  Honestly, not until I returned from my trip to Belize did I fully understand where I had been and the beautiful sceneries I was able to see, the dangerous situations I had put myself in, and the adventures I would be able to tell my kids about (hypothetical children).

It all started last March when a couple that my boyfriend and I knew invited us to go on vacation with them to the country of Belize and stay for FREE in their boss’s hut right next to the beach in Placencia (the southern tip of the Belizean peninsula).

Carelessly we agreed, started a bit of light planning, and booked the flight (as a way to cut costs we decided to fly into Cancun, Mexico and take public buses into Belize – you can opt to fly into Belize City, but make sure to fly in during the day, the city can be rough at night). We were all excited about the trip and were especially grateful to be backpacking in a country that’s official language was and is English (Belize was established by British colonies).

Read the rest of this entry »

U.S./Canada
A–B
Abilene, Texas: ABI
Akron/Canton, Ohio: CAK
Albany, New York: ALB
Albuquerque, New Mexico: ABQ
Allentown, Pennsylvania: ABE
Amarillo, Texas: AMA
Anchorage, Alaska: ANC
Appleton, Wisconsin: ATW
Atlanta, Georgia: ATL
Austin, Texas: AUS
Bakersfield, California: BFL
Baltimore, Maryland: BWI
Bangor, Maine: BGR
Baton Rouge, Louisiana: BTR
Beaumont/Port Arthur, Texas: BPT
Billings, Montana: BIL
Birmingham, Alabama: BHM
Bloomington, Illinois: BMI
Boise, Idaho: BOI
Boston, Massachusetts: BOS
Buffalo, New York: BUF
Burbank, California: BUR
Burlington, Vermont: BTV

Read the rest of this entry »

Honeymoons are one of the most romantic vacations you will ever take in your life (at least it should be). A honeymoon is meant to be a time where you and your new spouse can get away from family and the stresses of planning your wedding and enjoy being together. It is the start of your new life.
 
Honeymoons can be an added stress if you are not careful, as many times they can be quite costly. This post will be my first of ten to help give ideas of luxurious and adventurous vacations for new couples that would be great honeymoons and still keep some green in your pocket.
 
Why the Bahamas? Gorgeous beaches, exquisite shopping and dining, and not to far off the mainland- it’s only an hour flight from Miami. You’ll love it here. On average the temperature is around 70-80 degrees all year round. For just $1.25 you can take a bus into town and go shopping, tour the pirate museum, walk around the city, or go on a variety of different tours and excursions.
  Read the rest of this entry »

What used to be about getting from point A to point B has evolved into one of the most exciting and sought after vacation opportunities in the country. According to CLIA (Cruise Line Industry Association) 9.57 million Americans set sail on a cruise vacation in 2007. Now I know why! What better way to relax, experience new things, places, and foods then on a floating resort! Cruises are relatively inexpensive too! For a fraction of the cost of what the airfare/hotels/and meals would cost to visit all the locations on your cruise, you’re able to do so and not have any worries. All you have to do is share the memories with your loved ones.

 However, a lot of people fear the unknown when when it comes to cruising. Do you ever wonder why most people who have been on cruises continue to go on cruises year after year- while others don’t even give cruising a chance? All the good you have heard about cruising is true. I experienced it first handedly and will share some of my recently found knowledge with you. Things that I wish I had known before cruising for the first time. I also had the chance to sit down with the Hotel Director on the Norwegian Sky to get tips from a seasoned professional.

 Fillipo Bertuzzi (originally from Italy but transplanted to Spain when he was young) has been with Norwegian Cruise Line for seven years. He is head over the hotel division of the boat which includes guest services, housekeeping, food and beverage, entertainment, and all the crew. When asked the most important tip for first time cruisers he stated that it is all about the attitude you bring on board. If you come in relaxed and looking to have a good time you will have an enjoyable and memorable vacation. Choose people you’ll have fun with to join you on your cruise. If you bring someone you have problems with outside of the ship aboard and hope the problems will disappear on your trip, they most likely will not because now you are in a small confined space and problems seem to magnify. You owe it to yourself to have a good time, especially after all the time you spent saving for your vacation. I just have to add that this is completely true and true with everything in life- the experience is what you make it. So make it memorable.

Read the rest of this entry »