Val's Travel Blog
- Four Seasons Travel
'Go Pink' Cruise
7/28/20101:33:21 PM Link | | Add comment
Our 1st Annual "Go Pink" cruise will set sail on April 10, 2011. This is a 7-day Royal Caribbean cruise on the beautiful Voyager of the Seas sailing from Galveston.
This cruise will focus on the accomplishments that have been made in the fight against Breast Cancer and celebrate our survivors.
There will be a different theme every night in the formal dining room from Mardi Gras night, Texas theme night to Rock and Roll night! There will be 2 parties during the cruise with games, fun prizes and more.
Everyone is invited to participate in this first time event. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to The Mermaid Project. This program funds breast cancer screening and treatment services to men and women throughout our area.
AIRLINES AND NATURAL DISASTERS
4/23/20102:56:26 PM Link | | Add comment
Most of you have heard that air travel to/from and within Europe was partly shutdown due to the ash cloud caused by the erupting volcano in Iceland. (I will not attempt to spell or pronounce the name of it.)
If your flight was cancelled most airlines will allow a full refund. If your flight was not cancelled but you do not want to travel right now because of uncertainty, most airlines are allowing one date change without penalty.
It may be just me but it seems like there are more natural disasters occuring now than ever before.
Always protect yourself with cancellation and "during" travel insurance. If you do not book with us we can still book travel insurance for you.
THE FINE PRINT
4/1/20102:40:12 PM Link | | Add comment
Have you ever wondered why an advertised price NEVER ends up being that price? OR, why a special "deal" is NEVER valid for when you want to travel?
Cruise lines, airlines and vacation package companies often advertise extremely cheap deals that are usually only valid for "off peak" travel AND there are only a very few numbers of cabins, seats or packages they actually sell at those prices. How can they do this? It is all in the fine print!
For example: A cruise line offers an incredible price of $329 per person for an inside cabin. You are smart and check the dates and your dates are valid for this price. However, when you book it the total prices comes to $360.00. This is because the government fees and taxes are not included in the advertised price. That information is located in the very fine print at the bottom of the ad.
A more extreme example is an airline offering airfare to Cancun for $349.00. When you book it the total comes out the $793.00! This is because the "fine print" says the fare is EACH WAY, based on round trip and does not include the government taxes and fees. The breakdown is $349.00 each way, total $698.00 round trip. Taxes and fees total $95.83 making you airfare $793.00.
I could go on and on about how confusing the fine print can be to decifer but I will leave that for another day.
MYTH'S ABOUT LAST MINUTE CRUISE BOOKINGS
3/4/20103:24:46 PM Link | | Add comment
I am frequently asked if booking a cruise at the last minute would be a better deal or cheaper.
The answer is absolutely NOT. Cruising these days is more popular than ever. The ships fill up and the cruise lines do not have to discount them at the last minute. Not to mention all the best cabins are booked early.
Cruise lines offer the best deals to book early.
Carnival has told me that they will have 5 ships sailing out of various ports in the state of Texas within the next 5 years. That tells me that the cruises out of Galveston are staying full.
Give us a call for the latest promotions and best early booking "deals".
1/15/20103:13:44 PM Link | | Add comment
Most major airlines have increaded their baggage fees.
Here is an updated list of some of them...
Alaska Airlines: $15.00 for 1st bag. $25.00 for 2nd bag.
American Airlines: $20.00 for 1st bag. $30.00 for 2nd bag.
Continental Airlines: $23.00 for 1st bag. $32.00 for 2nd bag.
Delta Airlines: $23.00 for 1st bag. $32.00 for 2nd bag.
Jet Blue Airlines: 1st bag free. $30.00 for 2nd bag.
Northwest Airlines: 1st bag $23.00. $32.00 for 2nd bag.
United Airlines: $15.00 for 1st bag. $25.00 for 2nd bag.
(When fees paid online)
Virgin America: $20.00 for 1st bag. $20.00 for 2nd bag.
Southwest Airlines: 2 bags are still free.
DEALS, DEALS, DEALS
1/7/201010:24:35 AM Link | | Add comment
In an effort to boost 2010 travel sales many vendors are offering some really great deals this year!
Princess Cruises is extending their balcony offer. Get a balcony cabin for the price of an oceanview on almost all sailings including Europe and Alaska!
Funjet and Southwest Vacations are offering free nights and free upgrades to most destinations.
Disney has brought back their free days on Park Hopper passes. Pay for 5 days and get 3 free!
These are only a few of the great deals out there. Give us a call or send us an email and we will get you a quote with the best deals available!
Remember you can put your vacation on layaway!
FOUR SEASONS GROUP TRIPS
1/6/20102:52:28 PM Link | | Add comment
JAN 15 - COUSHATTA DAY
JAN 15 – COUSHATTA DAY TRIP $15.00 PP
JAN 28TH – 5TH ANNUAL GIRLFRIEND’S CRUISECARNIVAL 4 DAY FROM GALVESTONFrom $391.00 pp doubleFEB PARAGON CASINO – MARKSVILLE, LAOVERNIGHT TRIP - $75.00 PP DOUBLE(Includes driver tips and $20.00 in cash perks)APR 11TH GREAT ESCAPE CRUISE – ROYAL CARIBBEAN7 DAY VOYAGER OF THE SEAS FROM GALVESTONFrom $699.00 pp doubleMAY 13TH L’AUBERGE DAY TRIP - $45.00 PP($10.00 cash voucher or $20.00 food voucher)JUN 25TH COUSHATTA DAY TRIP - $15.00 PPJUN 26TH SCHOOL’S OUT CRUISE – CARNIVAL ECSTASY5 DAYS FROM GALVESTON From $656.00 pp
