May 2008  866-329-7157 www.wildtraveldeals.com www.legacytravel.com www.cathibanks.com |
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Travel Talk: |
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Lindsey just returned from her first trip to Cozumel. Her comments: "Ok - no doubt about it, the Aura stood out... great atmosphere, beach, pool, rooms. All the beaches I saw looked great. The landscaping at Occidental and Iberostar are great - it feels like you're in a jungle." Terrah just returned from an extensive trip several of the Hawaiian Islands. She reports: "The Four Seasons Lanai was amazing. From their large, luxurious rooms to their beautiful beach with excellent cabana boys... practically perfect in every way. The island of Lanai has a little population of 3000 people and is a perfect getaway for those who don't want a touristy type of atmosphere. The second thing that stood out was the Maui Ocean Center. WOW! The staff, enormous sea turtles, and the shark tunnel made the trip to the Maui Ocean Center a perfect stop. The gift shop there was my favorite shopping spot as well. I also have to mention the Old Lahaina Luau! One thing that makes Hawaii stand apart from other vacation spots is the CULTURE. There is not a better way for a traveler to get to know the history and culture of the island better than the Old Lahaina Luau. It is voted the best luau in the entire state of Hawaii and I would have to agree. It fills up quickly so be sure and book it early. Philip went on a Cancun/Riviera Maya familiarization trip. Read all about it in this newsletter. Marty also went on a training trip to El Dorado Resorts and Azul Hotels. El Dorado Maroma's size and location blew him away. He was also very impressed with the Wednesday night tasting dinner in Fuentes restaurant at the El Dorado Royale. Cathi just returned from another taping trip where she filmed the El El Dorado Royale, the El Dorado Seaside Suites and the Grand Cocobay Leah went on a El Dorado Spa Resorts and Azul Hotels Fam in Riviera Maya. She said, El Dorado Royale was amazing! She was also impressed with the view at the Azul Sensatori Hotel and the food at El Dorado Maroma. |
What Really Happens?Author: Philip Banks
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When Travel Agents Travel?Author: Philip Banks
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Inside InformationOverwater Bungalows in JamaicaA friend of ours from the Excellence Resorts says that Excellence Oyster Bay in Jamaica will have over water bungalows (just like the ones in Tahiti) when it opens in 2009. . Two Bedroom Suites Coming to Maroma A source close to management (ok it was the owner) told Philip that El Dorado Maroma will be adding a few two-bedroom suites by the Infinity side of the property. The Next Big Thing in Mexico Tourism: Keep your eyes and ears open over the next several years and you will certainly be hearing more about Panelque, Chiapas. From the Mexico Tourism website: Located in the southern state of Chiapas, about 290 km (180 mi) northeast of state capital Tuxtla Gutierrez and 220 km (136 mi) from San Cristobal de las Casas, Palenque is one of the most important Mayan archaeological zones. Simply put, it's a must-see destination on your next visit to Mexico's southern region. What's the deal with Fuel Surcharges? Airlines are feeling the pain of rising prices at the pump just like everyone else. Can you imagine pulling up to the pump and pumping 6875 gallons into your minivan? That's how many gallons a Boeing 737-600 holds. Although many bulk and charter airfares allow for a small deposit with final payment due 45 days prior to departure, until the air portion is ticketed you could still be subject to fuel surcharges implemented by the carrier. If you are able to pay your air portion in full, you could save money by doing so. |
When I tell people that I work for a travel agency, they usually comment that it must be great to be able to visit so many great vacation destinations. Travel is a wonderful perk of my profession. While we do get discounted and sometimes free vacations, Fam Trips are another travel perk we get. Cruise lines, tour companies, and convention and visitors bureaus sponsor these Fams, short for Familiarization Trips. A typical Fam will have 10-30 agents on it with one representative (leader) from the sponsor. On a three-night trip we will complete 10 –20 site inspections (aka resort inspection). The second article in this newsletter is a detailed diary of what happened on a Cancun Fam I attended 4/30 to 5/3. 
On April 30th Philip Banks went on a three-night familiarization ("Fam") trip to Cancun/Riviera Maya. Here is an inside look into what happens on these trips. The names have been changed to protect the innocent (and the not so innocent).