Oof, keeping up is hard to do!

Its not like I have daily subscribers to this thing looking for my opinion, but I did intend to keep this thing more regularly updated. If you are reading this in hopes of seeing something new, I apologize.

It is now high booking season for the European travel season. We sell mostly Europe and so its really busy and that is great for business. We are working right now with the planners. These are the vacationers who think far ahead about their travel plans, and they research their destinations and they get into planning their travel. These people are great, and we love to work with planners. Not because they are easy, but because they are excited about their upcoming trip and they ask questions. Also, they seek advise and act upon it. They review thier invoices and they pay on time. Planners rarely cancel trips except if they have circumstances beyond their control, which of course happens.

In another month or so, we will start to encounter the opposite of the planner; the last minute traveler. These are a bit harder because often these travelers have not thoroughly thought about what they want to do or how much it all might cost. They are often shocked to find out what air costs. It is true that we don't have any more cancellations by last minute travelers than by planners, but when we do we often have problems with the last minute people because they didn't really read the terms even though they have to do so to book our trips.

Why is it that we have come to believe that the best deals can be had at the last minute? I guess its the airlines fault. They have screwed people into thinking that deals can be had by waiting. This year is not the year to do that to Europe. Maybe that works where the big legacy carriers are getting killed in markets where discounters exist. But that isn't transatlantic.

Morale: plan ahead; enjoy the process, shop around, study, call, and ask questions. Get familiar with prices, terms, and the best deal you can get. If you are looking for an active vacation in Europe this summer, now is the time to be planning!

For our part, we will do whatever we can to help all those who come to us; but our hands are much less tied when we have advance time to get you exactly what you will most appreciate and remember.

L