Posted by David Porter on January 29, 2021 · Leave a Comment
Travel Advisors: Invaluable and Irreplaceable
As travel advisors, we often hear from our clients that we are invaluable and irreplaceable.
One of the oft-made mistakes we find in talking to hundreds of people each month is that a few folks are looking for nothing but the best deal.
Folks, booking travel is not like buying a tube of toothpaste.
If you’re looking for a tube of Crest Whitening Toothpaste, it makes sense to look for the best deal.
However, travel is a service and not a durable good.
If you’re going to spend thousands of dollars for a travel experience, it is in your best interests to find a professional who can give you expert advice, fabulous service, and help you out if something goes wrong.
If you book travel with one of the Internet travel companies, with a room full of 25-year-olds stuffed in cubicles, then you are asking for trouble.
You don’t know what you don’t know, you’ll never get the same person if you call back with questions, and if something goes amiss, they’ll likely tell you to call the travel brand and figure it out on your own.
I was reading an article on PhocusWire, and they were driving this point home in their Travel Trends for 2021.
Here is a quote from the article:
Travel Advisors: Don’t Leave Home Without One
“The pandemic only served to highlight the critical role of travel advisors – anyone who didn’t have one in 2020 probably regretted it.
As a result, 2021 will see travel advisors become the fountains of all knowledge: want some great travel inspiration? Check. Looking for the best deals? They have you covered. Need an update on the latest health and safety standards? Done.
Looking for the latest news on health policies all over the world, from Timbuktu to Torino? You got it. Need help rebooking after a disruption? They’ll have it booked before you ask.
If you’ve had to change a trip or manage a big travel disruption on your own, you probably understand why it’s helpful to have a travel advisor in your corner.
So it’s no surprise that we found that 40% of global travelers expect their travel advisors to be on hand to problem solve and provide more recommendations. With a considerable amount of uncertainty and quarantine rules changing weekly, opportunities for travel advisors to become invaluable and irreplaceable sources of information abound.”
The Best Way to Book Travel
Friends, we understand that it is tempting to look for the best deal when considering a travel experience.
However, if you had a life-threatening health situation, would you be looking for the lowest priced physician? If you were wrongfully accused of murder, would you be looking for the best deal on an attorney?
Sure, travel is not life or death. However, booking travel with an expert travel advisor is the same price as booking directly with the travel vendor. And, the “best deal” is only touted by those travel sweatshops on the Internet.
I have one piece of advice: buyer beware.
And thankfully, you don’t have to take my word for it, click this link to read hundreds of reviews from our clients.
For more information, please call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we’ll reach out to you.
Additional Reading:
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Posted by David Porter on January 28, 2021 · Leave a Comment
American Queen Steamboat: U.S. River Cruises
The American Queen Steamboat Company offers U.S. river cruises on America’s greatest rivers.
And when you book with Roaming Boomers Travel Services by February 28, 2021, we’ll help you save up to $3,000 per stateroom.
American Queen Steamboat has positioned itself to be one of the first travel brands out of the gate after our long travel pause from COVID-19.
Travel Close to Home in 2021 – Save up to $3,000
CLICK TO VIEW 2021 CATALOG
Further, with vaccine inoculations currently underway, American travelers are itching to resume travel. And the first destinations visited will be “close-to-home” travel.
Carol and I sailed the Mississippi River with American Queen in December of 2019 and loved the experience.
You can read about our experience here: Review: American Queen Steamboat Company.
Furthermore, Carol and I are excited to share that we will be enjoying another U.S. river cruise when we sail with American Queen this summer.
We will be sailing the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers from Memphis to Louisville on a special Bourbon Cruise.
We can’t wait!
And during the pause from the pandemic, American Queen is coming back even more inclusive. Take a look at what is included with your cruise fare:
American Queen Steamboat Company: It’s All-Inclusive
Here is what is included with your cruise fare:
- Pre-cruise hotel stay
- Open bars and lounges throughout the day
- Shore excursions
- Internet Service
- 24-hour room service
How to Book American Queen and Get Our Exclusive Perks
The American Queen Steamboat Company is a part of our Virtuoso Voyages program. This means that when you book an American Queen sailing through Roaming Boomers Travel Services, you will receive exclusive complimentary amenities that you wouldn’t get by booking directly with the company.
Additionally, you will also enjoy our expert hands-on service and care for your booking. And, the price is the same booking with us or booking with the company.
For more information or to book an American Queen Steamboat Company river cruise, please call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here), and we’ll reach out to you.
Additional Reading: American Queen flyer for this sale.
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Posted by David Porter on January 21, 2021 · 2 Comments
Luxury Travel Trends Survey 2021
A luxury travel trends survey for 2021 reveals a comeback driven by vaccines and pent-up demand.
Strategic Vision’s 2021 Pulse of the Industry Survey measures the post-pandemic travel outlook of luxury travelers and travel advisors.
The affluent consumers in the survey, conducted by Strategic Vision, a consultancy specializing in the luxury travel and lifestyle industries, are intently focused on how they can get back on the road and when and where. And they have retained their interest in travel, with 70% of them reported having taken a trip since lockdowns began in March of last year.
2021 Travel Trends: Safaris, European Vacations, Far-Flung Destinations
“The pandemic has constrained affluent travelers, and they’re intent on fulfilling their travel dreams as soon as they’re able,” said Peter J. Bates, President and Founder of Strategic Vision.
“Our research shows this pent-up demand is generating keen interest in safaris, European vacations, and far-flung destinations — if not in the immediate term, then soon. At the same time, luxury travelers are being careful and following the science on vaccines, testing, and therapeutics.”
While we can gain interesting information from this survey, it is important to note that this survey was conducted before the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Therefore, we are finding optimism beyond what this mid-November and early December 2020 survey concludes.
Nonetheless, let’s take a peek at some of the findings:
MORE BULLS THAN BEARS AMONG LUXURY TRAVELERS
“Slightly less than half of the consumers surveyed (48%) said they feel somewhat or very positive about their leisure travel outlook in 2021, while 44% said they feel somewhat or very negative. Those with an optimistic outlook feel that sentiment more intensely than the pessimists: 14% identified as “very positive” and indicated they would definitely be traveling in 2021, whereas only 4% said they felt “very negative” and don’t plan to travel at all.
Further, a slight majority of travelers (53%) said they had already booked a trip for 2021, with another 41% saying they’re likely to do so. More of these 2021 travelers are planning trips for the second half of the year than the first. Two-thirds of respondents signaled their intention to book a trip for 2022 or beyond.
“While the results were closely divided, we were pleasantly surprised to see that more consumers felt positive momentum going into 2021. And this was before any vaccines were approved or administered,” said Bates. “It bodes well for a year of recovery that will start slowly but pick up steam in the second half.”
Indeed, most travel advisors surveyed said their clients expect to be traveling in 2021 (96% anticipating domestic trips, 63% international). Many of these forward bookings are likely to be placeholder reservations, made hoping that travel will resume, not guaranteeing the trip will happen. But of those travelers who have booked a trip in 2021, 65% are cautiously optimistic that the trip will actually take place, versus 25% who are not as confident.”
2021 is Filling up Fast
We talk to scores of travelers each week.
One of the common responses of those who want to book or re-book travel in the latter half of 2021 is shock at how quickly everything is filling up.
This is especially true of the most sought-after destinations.
I talked with one client today about booking a river cruise on the Douro in Portugal in October of 2021. He was blown away that nearly every stateroom was sold out for the entire month. Fortunately, we were able to grab a stateroom for them.
So dear friends, listen to me when I say, if you want to travel in the latter part of 2021, you’d better hop to it. 2021 is filling up fast!
For more information about booking your next travel adventure, please call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here), and we’ll reach out to you.
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Posted by David Porter on January 15, 2021 · 2 Comments
Travel’s Messy 2021 Comeback
Travel’s comeback in 2021 seems assured, but it might be messy.
I watched CNBC’s Jim Cramer this morning, and he was all excited because he just got his first dose of vaccine today.
He said that the first thing he will do is go to a bar (he owns a bar in NYC). And the second thing he will do is travel.
Similarly, I was getting my steps walking around “da hood last night, and I ran across neighbors (who are also clients) who were all excited about getting their jab as well. “We can’t wait to get back to traveling,” they said.
Believe me, Carol and I are excited about getting back to travel as well.
So while we fully expect to see travel resume in late spring or early summer, we also expect it to be a little messy getting there.
So let’s grab a few disinfectant hand wipes and explore some of the hurdles in our path.
The Path to a Travel Restart
- Needless to say, we need to get this virus under control in our country and around the world.
- The pathway to making that happen is a COVID-19 vaccination in everyone’s arm. And while the rollout has been slow, we see massive infrastructure being built in many states to make this happen.
- Many countries, including our own, are now requiring a negative COVID-19 test, no older than three days old, before being granted entry. To make this happen routinely, we need access to the rapid-tests we keep reading about.
- While I don’t know this for sure, I fully expect that once everyone in our country has had the opportunity to get a COVID-19 vaccination, travel brands may well require a vaccination. Be on the lookout for this in perhaps the third quarter.
- Passport Issues. Check your passport right now. To enter many foreign countries, your passport must be greater than six months from expiration. The State Department has a massive backlog of passport applications to dig through. If your passport expires this year, get it renewed now.
- Travel Insurance. Countries with socialized medicine have been footing the bill for Americans who need medical attention while traveling in their countries. They are tired of doing that. As a result, we expect countries to begin requiring proof of travel insurance with medical coverage before they let you through the border.
- For ocean cruises to begin sailing out of U.S. ports, we need the CDC to act on the health and safety protocols submitted by the cruise lines months ago.
- And last but not least, we need the traveling public to feel safe.
Therefore, dear friends, remain diligent with your COVID-19 precautions, get your vaccination at your earliest convenience, and let’s get this party started.
Additional Reading: State Department Warns: Passport Delays
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Posted by David Porter on January 14, 2021 · 2 Comments
FAA: Unruly Passenger Policy
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has just adopted a stricter unruly passenger policy.
It would seem that the FAA is finally fed up with unruly passengers on our nation’s airlines.
There have been several assaults on planes between those who will not wear face masks and those offended by that behavior.
So yesterday, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson today signed an order (PDF) directing a stricter legal enforcement policy against unruly airline passengers in the wake of recent, troubling incidents.
Here is a copy of the press release:
“The FAA has seen a disturbing increase in incidents where airline passengers have disrupted flights with threatening or violent behavior. These incidents have stemmed both from passengers’ refusals to wear masks and from recent violence at the U.S. Capitol.
“Flying is the safest mode of transportation, and I signed this order to keep it that way,” Administrator Dickson said.
Historically, the agency has addressed unruly-passenger incidents using a variety of methods ranging from warnings and counseling to civil penalties. Effective immediately, however, the FAA will not address these cases with warnings or counseling. The agency will pursue legal enforcement action against any passenger who assaults, threatens, intimidates, or interferes with airline crew members. This policy will be in effect through March 30, 2021.
Passengers who interfere with, physically assault, or threaten to physically assault aircraft crew or anyone else on an aircraft face stiff penalties, including fines of up to $35,000 and imprisonment. This dangerous behavior can distract, disrupt, and threaten crewmembers’ safety functions.
The FAA has initiated more than 1,300 enforcement actions against unruly passengers during the past 10 years, including recent cases for allegedly interfering with and assaulting flight attendants who instructed them to wear masks.
While the FAA does not have regulatory authority over aviation security or no-fly lists, the agency works closely with federal law enforcement and national security partners on any reported security threats that may impact aviation safety.”
We are thrilled to see our federal government clamping down on those who inflict violence on the public. And in our opinion, a second offense should land them on the no-fly list.
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Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40