Travel Article
By Norman Morrison:
Your Vacation of A Lifetime
Hello
there!
So you're interested in traveling! It's a fine
thing, and you don't have to wait until you are an
old man or old lady to do it. You can begin right
now by saving a portion of your butter and egg money
and before you know it, you'll have enough to go on
that power vacation. It may take 2 or 3 years but
that's all there is to it, no kidding. You simply
must want to do it and plan for it.
Here are a few things you need to know to begin:
● You must obtain a passport. You can get the forms
at any larger US Post Office.
● Many countries require an "entry visa." For most,
you can visit their website online and take care of
that.
● Unless you plan to go really exotic, you shouldn't
have to worry with special vaccinations.
● You'll need plane
tickets. Cruise the internet travel sites to find
your best deal. By the time you are ready for the
big leap, you'll know what to do, if you have done
your homework well.
● You need a plan: If you are not up to it, have the
most expensive travel specialist you can find to
tell you where to go and what to do. Otherwise, do
your own research and decide what YOU want to do,
where, and when. At the very least, by doing your
own thinking, you can tell when the expensive travel
specialist is jerking you around. Something to think
about.
I believe planning for the Vacation of a Lifetime is
almost as exciting as doing the Vacation of a
Lifetime. Here is my argument for taking the ball
into your own hands...
If you are used to having other people do everything
for you, or must have instant gratification, a top
level cookie cutter travel agency is the way to go.
They have already thought everything out for you.
The downside is that this will cost more in more
ways than the obvious. That smiling service is not
free, my friend.
By the same token, an independent travel agency may
give you more bang for your buck, but they are
probably hooked up in subtle or not so subtle ways
with the big organizations anyway, so it really
boils down to the same thing.
Where you really shine is when you deal directly with
the local companies where you plan to go. It's not
as safe, secure, and dull as the other choices, but
by and large, again, if you do your homework, you'll
be able in most cases to see who is legit and who is
not. For example, most travel companies in other
countries are accredited by their country to be in
business. They are proud of this, since they are
paying handsomely for it and you'll be able to check
up on them.
Two examples of in-country agencies:
● Incoming Free Travel Brochure: This is a larger
in-country company that makes package tours with...
● Receptive Agencies: A local company in your choice
country that conducts local tours.
You want to hook up with an Incoming Operator or if you
are especially adventurous, deal directly with the
local receptive. In the end, it is the receptive
that makes your vacation work by providing local
tours, accommodations, and backup.
Here is how you get that bang for your buck...though
you may not necessarily save money. And, since it's
your Vacation of a Lifetime, money should not be
your first consideration anyway.
Ok, you decide to go with the "Very Large Vacation
Agency" here in the good old USA. They set up your
vacation through an Incoming Operator or directly
with the Receptive. The price for the ground portion
of your vacation, say, is $500. By the time
everybody gets their cut, something must go. Chances
are that you, being a beginner, and not very bright
in the process, won't even notice what you're
missing. In this scenario, what happens is that the
Receptive, who offers 10 tour options for say, $100,
reduces your tours to 5 when their cut is only $50.
Makes sense, doesn't it?
The point I'm making is that for the money, you can get
much more from that local receptive if you
deal directly with them. Cut out the middleman, as
they say. Pay the $100 directly and get it all.
Through diligent study of your chosen vacation spot,
you can get the most bang for your buck.
The keyword, "travel" is and has been the #1 search
term on the Internet since it began...by far the
largest. It's one area where the net really shines,
and by using the vast resources at your fingertips,
email and the like, you can take a hand in your
arrangements yourself and have all the fun doing
it...and learn something in the process. Your
vacation will be far far richer for your effort.
A final note. I made references to the helpless among
us. This isn't you, my friend, else you would not be
here reading along. You will do very well in your
travels. I'm sure of it!
Mr. Morrison
operated BrazilAmerica.com for four years which was
the internet portion of an incoming tour operator in
Brazil.
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