Travel Web Sites Check these sites for some great deals but be aware of our travel warnings.
Do you want to travel?
Do you know about the scams and rip offs being done on the internet?
Do you need help finding the best value for your money?
Do you know where to buy real Tommy Bahama in Shanghai?
Is that Rolex real?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, the KBLI Studio have an answer for you. Come and talk to either Robert Normandie or Nancy McKenzie, both of whom are licensed travel agents, and Robert hosts the award winning TV Syndicated series 'Travel Tips and Rips" which is taped here. He also is a South Pacific specialist who knows where the best surfing is to be found. Nancy has simply been everywhere, from Egypt to China and can tell you the best shops for almost anything you would want to buy. She knows knock offs from originals. These are people who travel, ones who have been there, done that. These are the people you need, not someone who read a book and has no clue.
Caveat Emptor, many have asked about SkyAuctions.com
Sometimes a good deal really isn’t a good deal. Take SkyAuctions.com for example. They do have some of the best prices you may find but there is a lot of small print one needs to be aware of. On every auction there is usually a hidden fee which is in addition to your bid price. The joke is you may have thought you got a great deal but after the port fees, taxes, fuel surcharges are added in, you could have got the same cruise or flight for less money from a travel agent. I have seen bids to Mexico win at $400 for a 7-8 day trip but then add between $200-300 for Taxes/Service Charge. Add an additional $45-300 for dates you may want and then add several hundred more for an ocean view. Your $400 bid could easily run you a $1000 for an ocean view room and we could have sold it to you for $700, $550 for an inside room.
Something else one should be aware of and that is biding on an all inclusive vacation and thinking you can get the dates you want. We have seen people win 7 day vacations to Cancun and never get them. The reason is there is no availability on the dates they wanted. So you are at the mercy of SkyAuction as to when you can or when you can not travel to your destination.
One other caveat and that is flight tickets. I have seen tickets sale for more than if you went straight to the airline itself. For example if you want to go to Tahiti, try Air Tahiti Nui. Go to their web site and sign up for their email, http://www.flyatn.com/. Tickets which may cost you well over a $1000 on an auction you may get for $500-600 depending on the time of the year as Air Tahiti Nui always has deals sooner or later. (I should mention that a lot of airlines go to Tahiti, but I personally like Air Tahiti Nui best) Something else you should be aware of and that is Air Tahiti Nui as some fantastic trips (deals) to Tahiti. Imagine 7 days including air fare for about $1249 and up. Check SkyAuction prices because they make Air Tahiti Nui look real good.
Now ,I am not saying www.SkyAuction.com is a bad site,or has bad deals, actually I like it, but read the small print and knows what you are paying for. They do have deals to be found, you just have to find them.
For cruises try http://auctions.overstock.com which is Overstock.com This site has some fantastic cruise bargains and what I like best about it is when you book your cruise you can pick what cabin you what (depending on availability of course)
Another nice cruise site is http://www.vacationstogo.com/index.cfm which is Vacations to Go. Excellent site to get an idea on how much you should be paying for a cruise.
Both of these site can show if the SkyAuction price is a good deal or not because first; the price usually includes port charges (several hundred) and next the date you want to travel (beware of the SkyAuction travel date surcharges) An example of this is Princess’ Golden Princess (excellent ship) cruise to Mexico;
I have seen winners pay form $318 to over $400 for this cruise. So let us use that last winning price I saw which was $318. Now add to this Tax and port charges of $176.00 Now pick the date you want to go. If you go December 1, you will pay that amount for an inside room. If you want to leave December 22 or 29 add $725. January 5 add $95 or March 15 0r 22 add $325. If you want an ocean view add between $100 to 150 per person.
So if you bid $319 and go December 1, this trip will cost you $494 which is a good deal. But if you want to go say January 5, it would cost you $589 an OK deal since we can get it for $599 (good deal) now and $649 (great deal) for an ocean view.
As for Airlines; as you already know, travel agents do not get commissions from the airlines anymore so most do think to highly of any of them. But that does not mean they can not get you a good deal although you can do it yourself almost as easily. Go to the major site such as www.Orbitz.com , www.Expedia.com , www.priceline.com , or www.sidestep.com , and check the prices. It is very simple. Then go to the website of the airline you like and get on the email list. Why? Because they always are sending out specials which never make it to the other sites so you lose out by not doing you homework. And if you are going to Europe, stop by and see us for the names of air consolidators. Believe me in Europe we can save you a ton of money, and do not forget the Euro-Rail Pass. You buy it here to use over there.
If you have questions or think something is too good to be true come to use and let us check it out. We have a lot of friends in high places that can and do help us. Use your resources and you will win. (© 2012 McKenzie)