The Travel Professor

Sweet thoughts on Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T12:45:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the official state tree, Ohio is known as theBuckeye State and the famed Ohio State athletic teams’ battle as the Buckeyes.So it should come as no surprise that the favored regional sweet has the samemoniker as the tree's shiny nut. Buckeyes (which, like the nut, are named aftertheir resemblance to the eyes of a white-tailed deer) are a peanut buttermixture dipped into chocolate. Just don't mistake it for the real thing; thelatter is toxic (and markedly less delicious).

Stop in at Schmidt'sFudge Haus in the German Village, a Columbus OH neighborhood, and watch the“buckeyes” being hand made.

When you’re in the village you may want to check out Schmidt’s Sausage Haus too!

More thoughts on Valentine Day!

2012-02-10T17:43:00.002-05:00

The Travel Prof needsto know:

Where is the most romantic beach that you’ve beenkissed on?
What is the most romantic hotel that you’vestayed in?
Where is the romantic restaurant you’ve dinedat?
Where in the world would your most romantic dreamtrip take you to?

Forget the flowers, chocolates and a card….give your sweetiea romantic getaway this year.

Contact me or your travel consultant for ideas!

Thoughts for Valentine's Day

2012-02-10T17:40:00.000-05:00

Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching and the TravelProfessor suggests that you forget the flowers, chocolates and a card!

Give your sweetie aromantic getaway this year!

Why not Hawaii, the Caribbean, Mexico, Paris or a cruise?

How about the Biltmore Estate in late April? Spring flowersand romance will be in the air! The Ironton in Bloom crew has a romantic weekendgetaway scheduled for April 28^th & 29^th.

Contact me for moredetails!

2012-02-09T05:30:00.000-05:00

According to RoyalCaribbean Cruise Line in order to help prevent illness travelers/general public should:

Wash their hands- especially before eating orpreparing food and after using the bathroom
Avoid shaking hands during an outbreak
Avoid preparing food for others for up to threedays after falling ill
Wash laundry that may be contaminated with stoolor vomit

I’ve been on board cruise ships where they had staff presentat dining room entrances and they made you sanitize your hands.

These days you can’t be too careful!

Finding cruise values

2012-02-07T06:02:00.000-05:00

Most cruises departing between now and the end of March havebeen marked down to the lowest rate that will be available, so if you areplanning to cruise during this period, it's time to shop and give your travel planner a call.

If you're planning to cruise after the first quarter of theyear, you may want to wait to see if deeper discounts develop before booking.There are, of course, a few notable exceptions. Here they are some thoughts.

Families hoping to travel during the peak June-Augustperiod and needing one stateroom that accommodates more than 4 people (oftencalled a "family suite") or two staterooms with a private connectingdoor should book now. Such staterooms are few in number and will book far inadvance of departure because of the soaring demand for cruises among families.Keep in mind that two staterooms may cost less than a family suite.

Don't miss the boat! Contact your travel planner today!

Super thoughts

2012-02-06T00:30:00.000-05:00

When will the American public wake up & recognize the negativereporting tactics of main stream media?

“Breaking news….100 people have a stomach virus while on acruise ship! It’s the next pandemic! More to follow at 6pm!”

It’s flu & cold season in the country. On any given dayhow many people are out of work or school?

Is it in the 20-30-40%range? Absolutely!

Sure but no big deal! It’s expected.

Get real folks! It’s not news just a part of nature.

How many people will have flu like symptoms after today’sSuper Bowl? Is it a “super” bug or justway too “super” partying?

I know the answer but many folks will have to the anchor on tomorrow’snews to enlighten them!

More on cruisie savings

2012-02-05T05:59:00.000-05:00

Another cruise savings recommendation is that when you finda cruise quote that falls into your pricing threshold reserve and deposit thespace. Many companies have a price guarantee that if you’ve booked into aqualifying cabin and the price of cabin drops they will apply the lower rate toyour sailing.

A word of caution here is that all rates do not apply tothis price protection. You have to ask when you’re making your reservation.

Februaryis “Wave” month! This is a time when cruise lines generally offer their bestdeals and promotions. Don't wait too long holding out for an additionaldiscount or the ship may sail without you!

Cruise bargains

2012-02-03T05:30:00.002-05:00

I regularly receive emails from readers asking when theyshould book to ensure that they get the very best price for their cruise. Honestlyit is almost impossible to predict “when” but there are some guidelines thatyou can apply that will help you in finding a cruise value.

A current cruise line price tactic is to offer an earlybooking non refundable fare. They are telling me that this is the rock bottomprice for the specific sailing and any further discounting will not occur. Timewill tell if this is true especially when cruise line revenue management folksstart looking at soft bookings 60 days or less prior to sailing.

Check back soon for more tips on locating value priced cruise vacations.

Be kind to your travel agent & get out of town!

Play Ball in Cooperstown NY!

2012-01-29T22:00:00.001-05:00

The Cincinnati Reds pre season caravan just rolled throughtown and now there’s another Major League Baseball milestone to chat about.

On January 29, 1936, the U.S. Baseball Hall of Fame electsits first members in Cooperstown, New York

They were Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, ChristyMatthewson and Walter Johnson. The bar was sent fairly high but many moregreats have followed. And so has controversy.

Great names like Shoeless Joe Jackson and Pete Rose are notin the hall. We’re moving into baseball’s steroid era so there plenty of speculationabout who gets in.

This is the only major sports HOF that I’ve never visited butis on my radar for this summer. I’mworking on a road trip that takes in some New York–Penn minor leagues games.Then we might jump north of toe border and catch a few games in Toronto.

I'm working on a circle tour and will post my itinerary thoughts as they develop.

This is the year for Reds fans to journey to Cooperstown asBarry Larkin gets inducted into the HOF.

New airfare ad rules

2012-01-24T14:09:00.000-05:00

Have you heard about the new DOT price advertisingregulations?

The Department of Transportation has created a new federalregulation which goes into effect this week that all airline and travel packageprices will include the total price including all airline and government relatedtaxes and fuel surcharges.

Optional fees such as baggage fees, meals and entertainmentare not included in the fare as they are at the discretion of the traveler.

Consumers should be aware that fares have not increased;they simply reflect a difference in how pricing is displayed.

The new full fare advertising is meant to better assistconsumers with comparison shopping.

I agree. This removes all the adds on that many people miss.

Columbus OH travel show

2012-01-20T15:04:00.003-05:00

Columbus OH is home this weekend to the AAA GreatVacations EXPO. It’s a one‐stop shop for everything related to travel. Offeringrich sources of travel information, guests will have exclusive access toEXPO‐only deals for the very best values on everything from cruises andEuropean vacations, to affordable escapes that are close to home. Thus,visitors are encouraged to come armed with a calendar and favorite form ofpayment, ready to book travel at the show. Only EXPO guests will have access tothis unheard‐of pricing and wide selection of travel offerings.

With more than 250 exhibits, attractions and events,there’s something for every traveler’s interest.

The AAA Great Vacations EXPO opened Friday, January 20 andruns through Sunday, January 22, at Franklin County Veterans Memorial indowntown Columbus. Show hours are Friday 12 p.m. ‐ 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 8p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tickets are available at the door or at anyAAA Ohio Auto Club store, beginning December 1, for $9 or $6 for any AAAmember. Children ages 16 and under are admitted at no charge. For additional eventdetails or to purchase tickets in advance, visit www.AAAGreatVacations.com.

Maybe I'll see you there on Saturday!

New USA Travel & Tourism policies

2012-01-19T23:07:00.000-05:00

I’ve posted previously about how our country can benefiteconomically from increased inbound international tourism and our government listened.

The President has just announced some new travel & tourism job & visachange initiatives but I question the location of his speech.

How much of Walt Disney World and/or CentralFlorida was shut down and impacted by this event?

Great move on the issues butmaybe wrong venue?

How many tourists were displaced by his visit?

But let's remember the rewards!

Princess Spring Clearance Cruise Sail!

2012-01-19T05:00:00.000-05:00

During Princess Cruise Lines Spring Clearance Sale you canon sail 5 warm weather itineraries available for as little as $75 per day* plusup to $100 on board credit per stateroom!*

These low fares apply on a fantastic selection of Caribbean,Hawaii, Panama Canal, and California Coastal sailings.

This 5 day only sail starts Jan 19 2012 & is validthrough Jan 23 2012.

Contact your cruise travel specialist today!

*Fares are based on selectdate(s). Fares for other dates mayvary. Government fees and taxes from $75–$85 are additional and subject tochange. Additional terms and conditions apply.

Some Thoughts on Cruising

2012-01-18T05:44:00.000-05:00

A veteran deep water and inland river cruiser I am not readyto abandon ship. I have a couple of group and personal cruises booked and I am stayingthe course with a steady hand on the wheel. Of course I will be paying veryclose attention as industry events unfold.

As tragic as last weekend’s European cruise liner disasterwas the passenger cruise industry as a whole has a remarkable safety record.

According to statistics provided by the Cruise LinesMarketing Association (CLIA) since 2005 more than 100 million people have takencruises worldwide. There have been just 16 deaths from accidents in thatperiod.

Honestly I’ve felt safer at sea when compared to recently motoringdown US 52 on a chilly winter morning. You’ve been there-limited visibility;roads are snow covered and icy then the speed demons blaze by with totaldisregard for the elements and surface conditions.

As the facts unfold I believe that human error and poorjudgment will most likely be the cause of this accident. Just like the poorjudgment of the above mentioned parties flying down the highway at 70 plusmiles per hours and not adjusting to the road conditions.

I will choose to cruise but will take those lifeboat safetydrills much more seriously in the future. I hope that you will too!

What not to do when shopping for airfares/vacations

2012-01-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

Don’t go into major debt when planning a vacation. If you're looking totravel this year, but just do not have the time or funds, why not take avacation closer to home? While the word 'staycation' might turn some peopleoff, you can actually make the most out of travel without going far away. Twoways to get a break from everyday life without going into major debt are tolook for deals under $199 for a weekend getaway to a nearby state or stay at ahotel in your own city.

1st Super Bowl

2012-01-15T08:46:00.001-05:00

On this day in 1967, at the not sold out Los Angeles Coliseum, theGreen Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the first-ever worldchampionship game of American football

Today it’s an unofficial holiday withparties, feasts, betting and much more!

It also has become a major travel event with Super Bowl parties at sea, in Vegas and other resort destinations!

It's also one of the tougher tickets to get!

One of these days we might even get to seethe Cleveland Browns play in one!

Cruise line safety

2012-01-14T17:11:00.005-05:00

Costa Cruise Lines experienced a major catastrophe today as oneof its ships ran aground and there were some fatalities

I still feel thatcruising is a great experience but we need to take the life boat drillsseriously

Both passengers & crew alike!

I’ve been lax in the past but I’llbe much more diligent on future cruises!

Pay attention mate you’re safety isinvolved!

What not to do when shopping for airfares

2012-01-14T06:30:00.000-05:00

Don’t only go to an airline directly, as it will limit what you see to justthat airline. Always be flexible with your search, as it has been proven thatpeople who can leave a day earlier or later wind up saving big bucks in theend. Searching across multiple airlines provides you the best opportunity toget the best fare available.

Airfare planning tips part 2

2012-01-12T00:30:00.000-05:00

Airfares----Know when the best time of day to book travel deals. The day and even thetime you book could save you big cash. Always check airline tickets on Tuesday,Wednesday and Thursday overnight. Airlines will update their fares through whatis called a Global Distribution System (GDS) during this time and that couldmake a big difference on your wallet in the end

Locating air fare specials

2012-01-09T06:41:00.003-05:00

There are many tools that I use when shopping for flights.Call it conducting market analysis but you still have to do your research! Whenthe price falls into my comfort zone I reserve the space and pay for itimmediately. I’ve seen more fares increases than decreases so I always suggestbuying when the rate is in your price window.

One tool that I use when searching for the best air fare isto register directly on the travel providers web pages and social media sites.By going direct to the source you get fast accurate data. Today more carriersare attempting to manage their inventory directly rather than throughintermediaries like travel agents & OTAs (online travel agencies) so theyare posting specials on their pages first.

Another tool that I use is to establish separate emailaccounts for my different searches. I have one email address for domestic air faresand another one to track international flight rates. Not only does this helpkeep my search more organized it keeps these messages out of my primary emailinbox. With all of the free email services available it’s easy to establishmultiple accounts.

Check back later this for more tips on locating air farebargains.

Airfare planning tips

2012-01-05T14:18:00.004-05:00

While travel rates and fares are not as low as they used tobe, there are still many more affordable deals right now than in recenthistory, especially going into the New Year and one of the slowest periods ofthe year for tourism. I’ll share some travel planning tips with you in upcomingposts.

Check back frequently!

Cruise Lines Enhancing Dining at Sea

2012-01-03T18:54:00.003-05:00

Cruise lines are redefining shipboard dining, shatteringmyths along the way, and the 16 million vacationers who are expected to havecruised in 2011 would not have it any other way. Research by Cruise LinesInternational Association (CLIA) suggests that the latest trends in shipboardrestaurants and menus, the expanding choice in dining venues, exciting brandpartnerships, healthy options, food-related enrichment programs and culinarythemed voyages are exactly what the public craves.

Check back often as I’ll report onthe new cruise dining happenings for 2012.

Hawaiian Happy New Year

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

“Hau'oli Makahiki Hou” or Happy New Year!

The westernconcepts of Christmas and New Year fell during this same time of the year thatthe Hawaiians traditionally honored the earth for giving them plenty to eat.This period of resting and feasting was called Makahiki (mah-kah-HEE- kee). Itlasted for 4 months, and no wars or conflicts were allowed during this time.Because makahiki also means "year", the Hawaiian phrase for"Happy New Year" became "Hau'oli (happy) Makahiki (year) Hou(new)"(how-OH-lee mah-kah-hee-kee ho).

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou from the Travel Professor!

Record year for spending by tourists visiting America!

2011-12-29T19:19:00.000-05:00

Spending by foreign visitors to the U.S. totaled $127billion in the first 10 months of 2011 and is on pace to break the $141 billionrecord set in 2008, the U.S. tourism agency says. The figure is expected to top$152 billion for 2011, the U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries reports

That's great news as tourism spending creates jobs!

I’ve mentioned in past posts that enlightened US visapolicies will help grow this revenue & I’m hearing positive yes positivereports from Washington that Congress is moving towards the recommendedchanges!

December Survey Reveals 2012 International Travel Hotspots!

2011-12-28T07:30:00.000-05:00

Travel Leaders, a travel agency consortium group,just unveiled the 2012 results of their authoritative annual Travel TrendsSurvey.

The results indicate that that Americans areready to travel farther from home than in recent years. Travelers are also willingto spend what is necessary for their desired vacation- over 91% of TravelLeaders surveyed say clients will spend the same or more on travel in 2012 ascompared to last year.

The survey was conducted November 21 -December 16, 2011and is based on actual booking data. The 2012 Travel TrendsSurvey includes responses from 640 Travel Leaders owners, managers andfrontline travel experts throughout the United States.

The top 2012 international destinations are:

1. Caribbeancruise

2. Cancun,Mexico

3. Playadel Carmen, Mexico

4. EuropeanMediterranean cruise

5. Rome,Italy

6. London,England

7. PuntaCana, Dominican Republic

8. Paris,France

9. MontegoBay, Jamaica

10. Negril,Jamaica

Be kind to your travel agent & let them your out of the country vacation!

2012 Domestic Travel Hotspots!

2011-12-26T16:18:00.000-05:00

Travel Leaders, a travel agency consortium group,just unveiled the 2012 results of their authoritative annual Travel TrendsSurvey.

The 2012 Top Domestic Destinations are:

1. LasVegas, NV

2. Orlando,FL

3. Maui,HI

4. Alaskancruise (with land tour options)

5. NewYork City, NY

6. Honolulu,HI

7. Washington,D.C.

8. Chicago,IL

9. LosAngeles, CA

10. Phoenix/Scottsdale,AZ

Be kind to your travel agent & get out of town!