Here's Why You Need a Travel Agent

My agency's most popular Sun Destination is the Riviera Maya. If you look at our web site (and I really hope that you do!) you'll see that we claim to feature 3 or 4 different resort groups along this fabulous Mexican "sun coast".

Every one of them is 4-Star or better; and every one of them is very high quality. So, why do we "specialize" more than one? The answer is simple: Every client has a little different set of interests.

For example, our personal favorite has the very best cuisine and a fabulous spa. And, we love fine dining as well as nice spa facilities and service. But, we are not beach people! We prefer being around the resort's pools. This particular resort does not have a particularly great beach. In getting to know our client, we learn that they love walking the beach and playing in the ocean. Further, they are not spa people. So, for them, our favorite is not right for them. We recommend another resort that does have a gorgeous beach.

Another element: A client matching the desires noted above may have been to XYZ Resort seven years ago, loved the beautiful beach and want to go back. What was a beautiful beach before the last hurricane is now gone. We know that... but do they? Will that resort honestly point out that their beach is gone?

Now, if you look them up on-line, the pictures and descriptions are lovely. The price for each is about the same. But these nuances are not contained in the information.That's why you need a professional!

We've been there. And, we get constant feedback from the clients we've sent. Rely upon a good travel agent!!! I would hope you choose us, but there are many good ones out there!

(One final note: Many people think that reviews on TripAdvisor will guide them. But, it is becoming increasingly evident that many reviews are skewed. Resort owners and managers posing as past guests are making glowing comments AND people connected with competing resorts also posing... this time to unfairly criticize a resort. Beware!)

Cheers,

Dick

Grand Velas Resorts are Fabulous!

Last January we loved our stay at the Grand Velas Resort Riviera Nayarit near Puerto Vallarta. In fact, we liked it so much we thawed out at the Grand Velas Resort Riviera Maya near Cancun.


Now we're back in the freezing winter wonderland of Minnesota and the memories of our stay in Mexico last week are all we have to keep us warm!

We have always loved luxury cruises - most notably Silversea Cruises and Seabourn Cruises - largely because of the extraordinarily friendly and efficient service… and the fabulous food. The Grand Velas resorts are every bit as good as those two cruise lines - and that's saying a lot!!!!

Our travel company, Acendas/Gateway Express, recommends Grand Velas Resorts for the very finest in all-inclusive resorts!

If this sounds good to you, I would be happy to share more and perhaps give you some tips. Just email me.

Happy Landing,

Dick

Cruises for People who (think they) Hate Cruises

At our travel agency, when we ask people who say they won't consider a cruise vacation, the reason most commonly sited is that they don't like the "regimentation" that goes along with being two of 3,600 passengers. I couldn't agree more! It's unfortunate that these super tankers in the cruise industry get all the attention, thus distorting many people's image of cruising.

How about spending a week or more on a ship that carries fewer than 200 passengers and has a crew to passenger ratio of almost1-to-1?

We took our first-ever "expedition cruise" aboard Silversea Expeditions' 120 passenger Silver Explorer a few months ago… and absolutely loved it!  For more on our  "Jungles & Rain Forests of Panama and Costa Rica" adventure, scroll back to my post of December 31st.       

In addition to Expedition Cruising, there are two other "new" ways of seeing the world that are rapidly gaining popularity… River Cruising and Adventure Cruising.

 River Cruising is totally different from Ocean Cruising. The 5 leading river cruise lines have built over 130 new vessels just in the last 5 years - and their average size is about 140 passengers. This is the quintessential experience for people who hate cruises!!!!!  I talked about our first river cruise in this post.

 Adventure Cruising is lovingly referred to as the "Un-Cruise"! If you really want to get "close to nature" and see Alaska, Hawaii or the Sea of Cortez off the Baja Peninsula in a way very few have ever experienced these areas, this is an idea for you.  You'll love active adventures on Zodiacs combined with extraordinary comforts aboard 60-passenger ships. This is different than anything you've done before. Here are some details of a typical Alaska Adventure.

Any of these three adventure segments will change your view of "cruise vacations"!!!

Cheers,

Dick

I Love Mexico; I Hate Mexico

Proving again that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, we received post-trip comments from two people who were part of the same spring break group to the Riu Santa Fe in Cabo San Lucas.

• One had nothing good to say about the resort or the trip - nothing!
• The other loved it and is already planning to go back there next winter.

Not much more that I need to say!


Cheers,
Dick

Trust Your Travel Advisor!!!!

It happens very infrequently, but once in awhile a client of our agency returns from their vacation trip "less-than-thrilled". Yesterday, a good client returned from Cabo San Lucas and reported that, although there were a lot of good things, the experience was poor - and they won't go back to Mexico.

It turns out, they ignored almost everything we advised. First off, we urged them to book a resort that we have had great "happy traveler" results but they opted for a lesser (cheaper) property.
Then, because they were going during the very busy "high season" period, we urged them to book the premium section of the resort which would allow them special privileges including better access to the specialty restaurants. 
They "passed". 
Then, they did not heed our advice about eating at restaurants away from the resorts, staying in the mid-day sun too long, etc.

It's quite sad... their $2,500 vacation was largely ruined... and they have a negative view of a very nice sun destination.

Why don't people listen to us?

Journey Well,

Dick
P.S. Don't put all your faith in Trip Advisor and other similar forums. Many glowing reports are submitted by owners and managers of that resort - and poor reports are oftentimes posted by competing resorts in the area. When your travel advisor makes recommendations, they are based upon their own personal experience or those of the clients they have sent there previously.

Cabo San Lucas is Hot...

... in so many ways!
There are 3 "hot", sun destinations going these days.... Costa Rica, Punta Cana and Cabo San Lucas. (More on the first two another day.) We just returned from our 3rd trek to Cabo and enjoyed it even more than on previous visits. This place rocks!

Those of you who know me are aware that I'm not that big a Mexico fan. (Hawaii is my first love, second love and third love!) But, man cannot live on Hawaii alone!

Each time we go to Cabo, we find something new. This time it was the new Capella Resort which is situated "through" the mountain from downtown. Yup, I said through! The only access to this incredibly upscale resort is through a 1/4 mile tunnel that was drilled through the mountain that separates the town from the Pacific Coast.

Literally built into the beach-side of this very large rock, the Capella Resort gives you seclusion only 1/3 of a mile from nightlife of downtown - Cabo Wabo and such!

If you can't afford to stay at Capella, you at least should dine there- and be sure your credit card accounts have plenty of available credit. (But, a word of warning.... you won't get past the front gate without being on the resort or restaurant reservation list.)

I'm exaggerating a bit... it IS pricy, but well worth the splurge!

Cheers,

Dick

Cabo San Lucas, here we come!

It's time once again to "break out the Tumi" as we head for this very unique sun destination. Even though the 2012 version of Minnesota Winters has been a cake walk, it will be good to get to some REAL warm sunshine...  Basking by the Pool, Dining on a Veranda at sunset, Whale Watching and World Class Golf have me giddy!
If you want to come along, let me know!


Cheers,
Dick

Mexico: A Great Vacation Choice!

At my travel agency, we have been alarmed by the number of clients who are telling us that they don't want to consider a Mexican vacation because of the reports of violence.

There are many valid personal reasons for a specific client to not care for Mexico, but concern over the reports of violence should not be one of them - unless you're thinking of those wonderful vacation spots such as Juarez or Tijuana. The drug wars along the U.S. border are thousands of miles from the popular beach resort areas of Cancun, Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas. It's sort of like avoiding Vail or Big Sky because of border violence around Tucson or El Paso!

My agency, Gateway Express Travel, doesn't particularly "push" Mexico, but it is a fine option for beach vacations. Our two most popular destinations in Mexico (by far) are Cabo and the Riviera Maya. Both are at the tips of thousand mile long peninsulas - far from the crossroads of Mexico and even further from the U.S. border. Both present dozens of great resorts with outstanding service and dining. And the values are terrific! Your vacation dollar goes further in Mexico than any place else.

Actually, my personal favorite is, and will always be, Hawaii. But I often recommend Mexico to certain people depending upon their interests for a specific outing... It's a great value and, with a lot of non-stop flight options, it's easy to get to.

Happy Traveling,

Dick

Note: The owner of another travel agency reported that she had a client cancel a Puerto Vallarta vacation because of a recent incident there. Where did they go instead? Phoenix... one of the most troubled cities in the country because of the drug violence. Go figure!!!!

Vacation Tips: Why Won't They Listen?

A good client of our agency just returned from Mexico and reported that, although there were a lot of good things, the experience was poor - and they won't go back to Mexico.

Turns out, they ignored almost everything we advised. First off, we urged them to book a resort that we have had great "happy traveler" results but they opted for a lesser (cheaper) property. Then, because they were staying during the very, very busy spring break period, we urged them to book the premium section of the resort which would allow them special privileges including better access to the specialty restaurants. They "passed". Then, they did not heed our advice about eating at restaurants away from the resorts, staying in the mid-day sun too long, etc.

It's quite sad... their $2,800 vacation was largely ruined... and they have a negative view of a very nice sun destination.

Why don't people listen to us?

Journey Well,

Dick

Where to Go on Vacation

Just a quick follow-up to the last post...

Several people were surprised by my "where to go" thoughts. Many thought that knowing where they want to go is a no-brainer. But, it isn't!

Here's the problem: You see the TV ads; you see the beautiful beach depictions on the web sites. They leave one with the perception that tropical beach locations are just heavenly - and most are. But some are not. And, even with those that are wonderful, there are good areas and not-so-good areas. (TV ads can even make North Dakota look interesting!)

I remember several years back when a young couple asked specifically for a honeymoon on Waikiki Beach. They wanted a relaxing, romantic atmosphere. As you all know there is nothing relaxing or romantic about Waikiki Beach. We tried to talk them out of it.... to no avail.

Journey On!

Dick

Booking Your Vacation On-Line

Here's some free advice for those who enjoy combing the websites for their vacation package...

There are many perils to on-line booking unless you absolutely know the destination and the resort from from personal RECENT experience. So, if you are going to shop for yourself, here are some things be mindful of:

First, do you know WHERE you want to go? We've seen so many instances of people going to an absolutely wrong destination for their personal interests and lifestyle.

Second, (assuming you have chosen the right destination) different resorts (or cruise lines) may "look" similar on the websites but there are distinct differences in their ambiance, their quality and their clientele. These can make or break your vacation experience!

Third, trusting the pictures and information found on web sites can be a fatal mistake. Photoshopped pictures, very old pictures, bogus testimonials on Trip Advisor and other such sites and deceptive pricing are the major areas of concern.

For more detail, here is a paper I wrote on this subject.

Go ahead and have fun searching... but then, why not enlist a travel professional to review your selection before you hit the "Buy" button. 99% of the time, they will be able to book the very same vacation for you at the same price - and no additional charges. Some agencies now provide a "Trip Validation Service". For a nominal Advisory Fee (my agency charges $75), they will "validate" that you have made a correct choice - and that the price shown is valid (no tricks or hidden charges). With a professional opinion supporting your selection, you can go ahead and "Buy" with confidence.

Cheers,

Dick

Riviera Maya - Know Before You Go!

Sharing a Martini with a new acquaintance recently, the subject of vacations in Mexico came up. He had just come back from Mazatlan (not one of my favorites) and I asked if they had ever been to the Riviera Maya, south of Cancun.

He said they had been there once and didn't like it. "The Riv" is one of my travel company's most popular destinations so, needless to say, I was surprised!

They didn't like that they were in the middle of nowhere and couldn't do a thing without taking taxis. It turns out that they found a resort that "looked nice on-line" and booked it without giving any thought to details other than pictures, descriptions and prices.

We know the resort where they stayed - and it is a very nice resort that we have sent clients to for the 7 years since it was built. But, we would have never recommended it to these folks! They were interested in "seeing & doing". We would have recommended one of several great resorts within easy walking distance to downtown Playa del Carmen.

The place where they stayed is perfect for people (like us) who are going for "resort living"... to enjoy the pool, the beach, the spa, the fine dining and the cocktail lounges... and a couple books. But, it wasn't right for these people!

That's why a good travel counselor is worth their weight in gold! If you don't have one, find one! Dispelling the myth, a travel agent will usually save you money... and will always assure the right situation for you!

Cheers,

Dick

Destination Weddings on the Riviera Maya

Destination Weddings are the hottest trend in the country... and they now account for almost one fourth of all weddings! WOW!

My travel agency, Gateway Express Travel has almost accidentally become a leading resource for weddings on Mexico's Riviera Maya (among other beach destinations).

Here's a "free tip" for anyone planning such a project: NEVER go to a resort that doesn't specialize in weddings. Making everything run smoothly is not as easy as one might think. My further warning is that many resorts that CLAIM to be experts in weddings, are not!

If you know anyone so inclined, please warn them that this is not a do-it-yourself project! Find a good travel consultant (hopefully us!) that is experienced with this specialty. There are so many elements involved that even experienced travelers typically don't consider.

I will be happy to share more tips with anyone thinking of doing this... totally without any obligation to plan their event with my agency. Just email me: dick@gatewayexpress.com

Cheers,

Dick

Gateway Express Travel of Minnesota

Note: This post is an update of one posted about a year ago. The original post was among the most "liked" of any I've done.

My agency's most popular sun destination is Mexico's Riviera Maya. If you look at our web site (and I really hope that you do!) you'll see that we feature 3 or 4 different resort groups along this fabulous coast.

Every one of them is 4-Star or better; and every one of them is very high quality. So, why do we "specialize" more than one? The answer is simple: Every client has a little different set of interests.

For example, our personal favorite has the very best cuisine and a fabulous spa. And, we love fine dining as well as nice spa facilities and service. But, we are not beach people! We prefer being around the resort's pools. This particular resort does not have a particularly great beach. In getting to know our client, we learn that they love walking the beach and playing in the ocean. Further, they are not spa people. So, for them, our favorite is not right for them. We recommend another resort that does have a gorgeous beach.

Another element: A client matching the desires noted above may have been to XYZ Resort seven years ago, loved the beautiful beach and want to go back. What was a beautiful beach before the last hurricane is now gone. We know that... but do they? Will that resort honestly point out that their beach is gone?

Now, if you look them up on-line, the pictures and descriptions are lovely. The price for each is about the same. But these nuances are not contained in the information. That's why you need a professional!

We've been there. And, we get constant feedback from the clients we've sent. Rely upon a good travel agent!!! I would hope you choose Gateway Express Travel, but there are many good travel agencies out there!

(One final note: Many people think that reviews on TripAdvisor will guide them. But, it is becoming increasingly evident that many reviews are skewed. Resort owners and managers posing as past guests are making glowing comments AND people connected with competing resorts also posing... this time to unfairly criticize a resort. Beware!)

Cheers,

Dick

On-Line Travel Booking is FUN!

A speaker at an annual Travel Industry Conference in Las Vegas asked the room full of agency owners and managers why people book their trips on-line. We came up with several theories which all seemed to point back to a common theme: Because they think it's cheaper. We were all "close, but no cigar". At least according to this market research analyst.

He said their findings conclude that they do so because it's fun! Well, you could have heard a pin drop in the room! To travel professionals who spend 40 to 50 hours a week doing this for a living, it is anything but fun. I started to think through some of our experiences...

A close relative who buys everything on-line including meat and tropical fish called me a year ago as he was researching a cruise vacation for 2 couples. They settled upon a great deal on a given Princess sailing. We checked into it and found a price that was $172 per person lower for the very same cabins! In addition, through our affiliation with Vacation.com, each couple got a complimentary bottle of wine and two plush robes to take home.

Last week he emailed me again... this time because he had just discovered that airfares have risen considerably. Best he could find to Fort Myers or Tampa for a week at their timeshare in December was $537 per person. We found and booked them on an air & car package for $496 per person including a luxury class car for the week!

Maybe you can buy commodities such as tropical fish or DVD's cheaper online but travel is NOT cheaper on the net. The net is great for "kicking tires"... we all look around online. But, our mantra is "Look, but Don't Book"!!!!!!

Cheers,

Dick

Here's Why You Need a Travel Agent

My agency's most popular Sun Destination is the Riviera Maya. If you look at our web site (and I really hope that you do!) you'll see that we claim to feature 3 or 4 different resort groups along this fabulous Mexican "sun coast".

Every one of them is 4-Star or better; and every one of them is very high quality. So, why do we "specialize" more than one? The answer is simple: Every client has a little different set of interests.

For example, our personal favorite has the very best cuisine and a fabulous spa. And, we love fine dining as well as nice spa facilities and service. But, we are not beach people! We prefer being around the resort's pools. This particular resort does not have a particularly great beach. In getting to know our client, we learn that they love walking the beach and playing in the ocean. Further, they are not spa people. So, for them, our favorite is not right for them. We recommend another resort that does have a gorgeous beach.

Another element: A client matching the desires noted above may have been to XYZ Resort seven years ago, loved the beautiful beach and want to go back. What was a beautiful beach before the last hurricane is now gone. We know that... but do they? Will that resort honestly point out that their beach is gone?

Now, if you look them up on-line, the pictures and descriptions are lovely. The price for each is about the same. But these nuances are not contained in the information. That's why you need a professional!

We've been there. And, we get constant feedback from the clients we've sent. Rely upon a good travel agent!!! I would hope you choose us, but there are many good ones out there!

(One final note: Many people think that reviews on TripAdvisor will guide them. But, it is becoming increasingly evident that many reviews are skewed. Resort owners and managers posing as past guests are making glowing comments AND people connected with competing resorts also posing... this time to unfairly criticize a resort. Beware!)

Cheers,

Dick

El Dorado Resorts in Mexico set a New Standard!

Sometimes, at my travel agency, we just swerve into "a find". Our founding of Gateway Golf Vacations several years ago was unintended. A corporate traveler, knowing that one of our corporate agents was a golf fanatic, asked if she had any ideas for a golf trip for 4 guys. She did; they went; they loved it; within 6 weeks, he referred over a dozen other people to her. By the end of the winter season, she had booked over 60 people to this place.

It is the same scenario that led Gateway Express Travel to feature the three El Dorado Resorts on the Riviera Maya. We were aware of these resorts and decided to try one of them for our own winter escape. We were impressed well beyond our expectations and came back singing their praises to our clients. Just this season we have sent dozens of couples - including honeymooners - and a large destination wedding group. I won't bore you with all the reasons why our clients have loved these places and have referred others to us. If you do want to check this out, click the link above!

Do something REALLY special for your next sun vacation!

Cheers,

Dick

Follow Gateway Express on facebook!

El Dorado Resorts in Mexico set a New Standard!

OK, so it was back in April when I said I would blog about the three El Dorado Resorts along the Riviera Maya. So, I've been busy since the golf courses opened. (Hope my wife doesn't see this!)

As I said in my April 22 post, we had stayed at the RIU Tropical Bay in Negril just 5 days before visiting the El Dorado Resorts. Our clients love RIU resorts for family vacations... but for romantic, adult-only escapes, we passionately beg our clients to try the El Dorado Royale, El Dorado Maroma or El Dorado Sunset. Imagine an all-inclusive resort with no buffets, no wrist bands and no need to fight for limited reservations in the themed restaurants! Imagine a place where all restaurants are Gourmet!

Here's the trick, though... each of these properties presents a distinctly different style and ambience. (Which one will be right for you? You really need a good travel agent who has been there - and who knows your lifestyle and preferences... I can recommend one if you wish!)

We stayed at the El Dorado Royale, the largest of the three, about half way between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. The ambiance was romantic but somewhat lively and the Spa was drop-dead fabulous. Even within this one resort, there were two distinct atmospheres. The junior suite section and the casita section are quite different in several ways. (Hint: The Royale is large enough to host smaller corporate meeting groups.) It was hard to decide which restaurant we liked best - they were all fabulous. We visited the other two resorts and had a hard time picking a favorite. We agreed that it all would come down to what we would be looking for in a specific outing... not only in terms of the elements of the properties but also with regard to location. If you want to know what I mean by that, send a comment or email me at dick@gatewayexpress.com.

These resorts take all-inclusives to a new level. Here's a link to more details of the El Dorado Resorts!

Cheers,

Dick

Why You NEED a Travel Professional - part 3

OK, I'm going to get off this theme, but every day we hear another story of woe from someone who has returned from a "blown vacation". Actually this title should be "Why you Need to Listen to your Travel Professional".

My travel agency has a few favorite resort groups... one that we like for families with teens; one for families with young children; one for couples looking for a peaceful, romantic escape where other people's children are not part of your vacation. In each case, our favored group is not the only quality group in that category - they are simply the ones with which we've had the most success over the years. (And, over the years, they change as some get stale and new groups emerge.) 

A client who we have sent to various RIU Resorts in Mexico over the last 4 or 5 years decided to go for a change of pace (They really, like most of us these days, were trying to cut costs a bit.) They had heard of another resort group from friends. We actually send some clients to this company - but we're careful as to who we recommend it to. It was a no-brainer to us that, given their past experiences, they would find this to be disappointing. But, they insisted.

And we were right. They found the resort facilities to be excellent... "Beautiful Grounds; Great Rooms; very clean; nice uncrowded pool areas and great beach".  Service and quality of food was quite a different matter... "Far less service than RIU's;  Hotel staff was not interested in helping us; consistently at buffets, once they seated us, they disappeared. We had go find our own coffee refills; Bar service very poor. Understaffed... and the staff that was there was totally inattentive; specialty restaurants were very nice but food was just ok... service was a little better than described above but not great. Food quality at the buffets was poor."

Nuff said! If you are accustomed to 5-Star quality, 3-Star won't cut it! We all need to reduce our spending a bit, but this isn't the way to do it. We typically advise clients to shorten their trip rather than to go down in quality. You are always going to remember the experience (good or bad!) but you won't remember whether you were there 7 nights or 5 to 6 nights!

Cheers,

Dick

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You NEED a Travel Professional - part 2

If you flash back to my post of September 5, you'll see how easy it is to make a bad choice even in Paradise. We hear horror stories at our travel agency nearly every day. Here's the latest...

A young woman returned from her honeymoon in Naples, Italy in tears... booked a hotel on the internet and it was a dirty pit. We hear this again & again: "It looked really cute and the price was really good." (Ever hear of PhotoShop?) Not only would a GOOD travel counselor never put a client in such a hotel; they would have warned clients not to go to Naples which is one of the dirtiest cities in all of Europe. Amazingly, one of the most beautiful places in Europe is Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast - just 30 miles south of Naples!

Honestly, kids... I'm not shilling for my travel agency - in fact, I won't even reference my company here! My point is that you need a good agency. If you don't have one, check with the American Association of Travel Agents . There is no guarantee that every ASTA member agency is excellent but your odds are extremely good.

Cheers,

Dick

P.S. - If there ever was a time to travel now is it! The incentives being offered by resorts, cruise lines and vacation packagers are phenomenal. We just booked a client on a luxury European cruise in June for $2,798 per person. The same itinerary in 2008 - even with discounts at that time was $4,119. Brochure price is $4,876. 

A brand new 5-Star all-inclusive resort at Puerto Vallarta is now $1,279 including airfare, ground transportation, taxes, fees, etc! last year we were selling identical "sister properties" in Los Cabos and Playa del Carmen for around $1,600.