> Dining & Entertainment > Travel Matters > Secrets of Getting More for Your Vacation Dollar
Secrets of Getting More for Your Vacation DollarIn this era of fees for luggage and fuel surcharges, there are ways to still have a great vacation. Here are just 5 points (we have more):
Conditions Cost: The more flexible you are, the more opportunities to take advantage of the deals that we are finding out there. Travel out of Boston or New York where more non-stop charter flights to some of the islands are available.
Try Not to be Boxed in: If you can only travel on a specific week, and start and end on a specific date, then the choices are limited. If you can travel outside of the box, then we have more options to work with.
Plan Early for Popular Dates: Holiday and school vacation dates are so desired that those who book early get the best prices. We are selling all of 2009 and into early 2010 already for many cruise and land vacation vendors. All it takes is a deposit to hold your room and lock in the early booking prices. These prices will go up, and space sells out as we get closer to departure. Last year our summer vacation Europe group cruise increased in price over 2-1/2 times from early booking price to the "last minute" price.
Travel when others don't: Hurricane Season in September and October (excluding the holiday weekends) is a vacation bargain lover's dream. When you see prices "from" such and such, that is typically when the "from" date is. And if there is a storm, ships move, islands don't. Don't be surprised if your Eastern Caribbean cruise becomes a Western Caribbean cruise.
Search around, then call us: Don't think the rate online (and this is coming from an online agency) is always the best deal. Don't think because you are a member of a wholesale club, that they have the best deal. Some promotions are contractually not allowed to be advertised on the web. Share with us what you find and chances are you will become a Cruise Store customer, especially when it comes to Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Carnival, and some others.
A couple of recent examples include; finding a Hawaii package for $500 less by using a reliable wholesaler that doesn't work directly with the public; saving a Florida resident an additional $100 off the price of a cruise after they searched the internet, and we found a fare code promotion that was not published anywhere. We WANT your business, especially our local business.
Feel free to stop in at 55 Maple Street, East Longmeadow and say hi. Drop us an email at anderson@cruisestore.com or call us at 525-9001. Let us know what subjects you want covered in this column. Bon Voyage!
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