“Using a travel agent to book your all-inclusive resort vacation is like using a travel matchmaker,” said Vicky Garcia, COO and co-owner of Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel representative.
Coral Springs, Fla. (PRWEB) June 10, 2014
Cruise Planners is seeing a trend this year of more travelers taking land-based vacations, as its total land tour sales from 2014 already surpassed the previous year’s. According to Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel representative, families are especially seeing the value in all-inclusive hotel vacations. At all-inclusive properties, travelers pay one price and don’t have to worry about a large bill at the end of the trip; instead it’s all paid up front, so there are no hidden costs.
“Using a travel agent to book your all-inclusive resort vacation is like using a travel matchmaker,” said Vicky Garcia, COO and co-owner of Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel representative. “Agents are experts at finding the perfect destination to meet travelers’ needs and can customize the perfect trip for everyone.”
In today’s fast-paced world, families spend a lot of time apart in their daily routine, so it’s important to spend time together and create new memories on vacations while still having entertainment options for everyone. Below is a list of land-based travel options from Cruise Planners, a network of travel agents helping travelers plan more than just cruises.
Escorted Tours
Escorted tours include food, admission to parks/museum and all accommodations. Travelers can skip long lines, see more of the country side, towns and villages. Also, to experience the authentic local culture, travelers can interact with locals by visiting them in their daily routine or even their homes.
Plentiful Restaurant Options
Food in regions such as the Caribbean can get expensive, but when resorts are able to bundle it all together, it’s more reasonable for consumers. Cruise Planners suggests that travelers consider the number of restaurants available and find food that the whole family will enjoy. Some all-inclusive resorts offer gourmet steak houses, Asian grills, Italian cuisine, 24-hour pizza bars and more. When traveling abroad, travelers may also want to experience the local fare native to the region.
Location is Key
If traveling with a young family, it’s convenient to be close to the airport. Once flights arrive, it’s less stressful to stay at a resort within an hour of the airport. Many all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and various Caribbean isles have resorts that are easily accessible once travelers land.
Deals for Kids
Many resorts are offering kids-stay-free promotions and other incentives for travelers. It’s important to work with a travel agent to match up the best promotions for families. Parents should look for properties that have strong children’s programs, multi-generational activities to keep everyone entertained and a variety of restaurants with different food and drink options.
Children’s Passports
Passports are necessary to leave the country, and both parents need to be part of the process for children. Find out more here: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/apply.html. Note, children’s passports need to be renewed every five years, unlike adults’ passports, which are every 10 years.
Travel Safety
Most tourist destinations offer security, and locals in these areas understand how vital tourism is to the local economy. As always, no matter where people travel, it’s important to be aware of their surroundings, secure travel documents in the in-room safe, and use reputable transportation and tour operators.
Add-ons and Excursions
Book excursions and events beforehand to get the best seats and value to be sure they are not sold out. Add-ons may include golf tee times, spa treatments, island tours, adventure excursions, romantic trips and more. Cruise Planners travel agents now offer tickets for sports, concert and theater events worldwide, so travelers can always guarantee their vacation includes everything they want, all in one place.
Themed Travel
It’s easy to get excited about a sports team, and loyal fans will pay a premium to see their team win while on the road. For those who want to experience the World Cup, Super Bowl, or even a local baseball game, they can cheer their team on by securing advanced purchase college and professional sports game tickets.
Travel Advisor Benefits
Using a travel agent offers the best value, added convenience and less stress when planning. Travelers can still be part of the planning process and enjoy a customized experience at no additional cost. Travelers do not pay travel agents, yet the agent is always working for the best interest of the travelers. Travel agents can secure added amenities, great prices and added values not readily available to consumers.
About Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative
Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, is the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the travel industry. Cruise Planners operates a franchise network of more than 900 experienced travel professionals who independently book amazing vacation and travel experiences for their clients. The Florida-based Home Office team positions franchise owners for success by providing them with innovative marketing, booking and lead-generating tools as well as professional development and hands-on training with the industry’s top executives. The company continues to be lauded and was named No.1 Cruise Tour / Travel Agency by Entrepreneur for 11 consecutive years and was recently featured in Entrepreneur as one of the top 30 franchise innovators in technology.
Headquartered in Coral Springs, Fla. for 20 years, Cruise Planners has achieved top producer status with every major cruise line. Accolades include a record 11 Magellan Awards from Travel Weekly in 2013, Special Needs Group Accessible Travel Advocate Power Partners™ for 2012, American Express Travel Representative Excellence Award for eight years in a row (2004 – 2011), American Express Agency of the Year (2010), Royal Caribbean International Home-Based Partner of the Year (2007 – 2013), Royal Caribbean International President’s Award for Overall Achievement for 2012, Norwegian Cruise Line Franchise Agency of the Year (2011-2013) and Home-Based Agency of the Year (2010), Celebrity Cruises Home-Based Account of the Year (2013) and Southeast Region Travel Agent Partner of the Year (2010), American Express Vacations Globe Award (2008 – 2012), Globus Family of Brands Premier Agency Partner (2009- 2012), Platinum Circle Member with Viking River Cruises (2009-2012) and Regent Seven Seas Cruises Top Producer. Cruise Planners is one of the Top 50 franchises for Veterans according to GI magazine, has been named one of the Top 25 franchises for African-Americans by Black Enterprise magazine and is a member of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association. For information, visit http://www.cruiseplanners.com.
Stay in Touch: Media can stay up-to-date with Cruise Planners by visiting our media room, following us on Twitter @Cruisitude or on Facebook. For additional information or to make reservations, vacationers should locate a travel advisor near them. For those interested in becoming a franchise owner, please visit our franchise site.
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