Let’s Make A Deal…
In all the years I’ve been cruising, I have never seen prices better than they are right now. What’s even more amazing is that when fuel surcharges hit about 9 months ago, prices were never higher. So why the HUGE drop?
Simple…supply and demand.
I’ve known for years, (even before I ever got involved with YTB) that there are certain times of the year that prices are better than other times of the year. For example, starting in August, through November you can find by far the best fares going to the Caribbean. A couple things happen starting in August that cause sales to slump. One is the school year starts, and most families have already taken their summer vacation, but more importantly for the Caribbean is hurricanes and the fear of being stuck in one during a cruise.
What most people don’t realize when it comes to hurricanes and cruise ships is that Lines keep a very close eye on what’s going on, (they do have all the modern amenities to track weather patterns) and can steer clear of any danger. We were in the Caribbean during Hurricane Lenny in 2000, and again during Hurricane Francis in 2004. Both times, we were diverted away from harm, and during Francis, we ended up out at sea for a couple extra days before is was safe to come back in.
Can you imagine? Stuck on a luxury cruise liner for 6 days with nothing to do but eat, sun, swim, massage, and gamble at the craps table? I use this video all the time for anyone who thinks their going to be rocking uncontrollably out at sea during a hurricane. People just don’t realize that the likelihood of being stuck in one are slim to none.
Today, just in case you haven’t heard, the media has been screaming for some time on how bad the economy is. Again there is fear that is keeping people at home instead of going out and enjoying a vacation. But because people are staying home, cruise lines, resorts, and hotel rooms are empty. I have team members in Vegas, and I was also listening to the radio a couple days ago. The airport is barren, with a small fraction of the traffic flying in and out of there than there was even 6 months ago. Las Vegas, rates are down in some cases more than 50 percent. Some of those four-star Las Vegas hotels that used to go for $200 to $250 are in the $80 to $120 range.
I was putting my newsletter together this weekend and wrote about Trafalgar who is offering 2009 Europe vacations at unbeatable round trip airfares to Europe starting as low as $459 per person (plus tax) for 56% savings!
Even Disney is offering gift cards or they throw in 3 extra nights with the purchase a 4 night stay. DISNEY!
The entire industry is offering deals in an attempt to intice people to come out of thier homes, and I’ve got to say, the smart ones are starting to take notice of the value that is out there right now. Vacations and trips that were totally out of reach a year ago are starting to fit into budgets and some (not all) are starting to pull the trigger.
Some deals are just too good to pass up, and I’ve been able to talk to clients who are starting to plan, at times more than a year from now to take some trips that are within reach financially. Other times, like my neighbor who asked about Disney just 4 months ago and found it too expensive, is now looking at the 7 night package for the price of 4 with her family. (It pays to have client profiles on file folks!)
I’m even looking at packages for desinations that were always places we wanted to go, but with prices so low right now, the timing couldn’t be better to start putting them on the books and saving thousands.
Opportunities never go away, they simply go to those who are smart enough to take advantage of them. For those of us in the Travel Industry right now, you’ve got some of the best deals out there right now.
With this hurricane concerning the ecomomy out there in the media, it’s your job to help clients understand the reality of the situtation. What thier being told isn’t nessasarily true, and the timing couldn’t be better to take that dream vacation and save thousands in the process.
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Doug & Ronda Bauknight AKA: TravelPro Travel Agent / Networker Phone: 678.458.5812 |
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Tags: Carnival, Las Vagas, Trafalgar, Travel Agent Commission, Travel Agent Issues
January 26th, 2009 at 9:37 am
I watched that video before. The beginning was Hil-ar-rious!! Great post dude. Some of these travel packages would never budge to much on pricing before especially Disney but now is the time to take advantage.