With international travel severely disrupted due to this global Covid pandemic, many people are planning road trip vacations this year. Our friends at Bankrate have put together a guide to help people plan their upcoming road trips this Summer, breaking down the most important things to consider, including:
Are you already planning your Summer vacation? At Travel Consulting Hub, we help you to turn this helpful guide into a reality! The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the world as we used to know it, and severely disrupted the travel industry in particular. Countries in lockdown, stranded passengers away from home, closed airports and – most important of all – an unimaginable death toll across the world.
On top of this, a countless number of passengers were affected by flight cancellations across the world, and in many cases, a total loss of their money. However, there’s another side of the story. As with all crisis throughout the History, this pandemic is driving innovation, and that might translate into good news. In this post, we’ll break down all the innovations that will drive the future of the industry. Let’s take a look. Although we’re still living this disruptive COVID-19 pandemic, we’re not standing still. Today, we announce a new partnership with Flight Slash.
Flight Slash provides heavily discounted airfares, cheap first class tickets by using deep travel hacking techniques. They also offer a subscription service where users can take advantage of secret deals and mistake fares from their chosen airport. Travel Consulting Hub and Flight Slash will also cooperate on blog content across platforms to provide greater benefits for both audiences. If you’re already planning your next flight or just looking how to find discounted flights due to covid, visit Flight Slash! The COVID-19 situation has disrupted the whole world, and the travel industry in particular.
It has been some difficult times for all, and the world is now slowly starting to reopen and readjust to what is called “the new normal”. At Travel Consulting Hub, we’d like to take this opportunity to share what we're doing to help travelers, and the steps you can take to stay safe. As for all our clients, we want to give you confidence and clarity. Confidence is achieved with the high standards we put into our service so you know that all our travel planning is based on the most recent recommended sanitary measures. As for clarity, we’ll strive for giving all necessary information regarding your travel plans, what you can and can’t do, to provide the most accurate data, and provide 24/7 support if you need to change the dates of your trip. We have also implemented a new feature on all our travel planning regarding travel insurance so you can feel safe while traveling. At Travel Consulting Hub, your safety and well-being is our priority. You can – and should – start to dream about your next trip. We’re here to help you out in everything we can. In the meantime, stay safe!
By Jesse Clark, from Soulful Travel
Image via Unsplash
For many people, traveling can be a fulfilling experience. Getting to see the world and explore new places is thrilling, though it is sometimes costly. According to research, the average four-night domestic trip costs $581, and a 12-night international trip costs $3,251. Almost half of those costs come from travel expenses. Thankfully, there are ways you can save money on traveling while getting the most out of your trip. Keeping the Flights Costs Down
The cost of plane tickets can take up a large chunk of your travel costs. If you have the travel bug, it may be worthwhile to take part in a frequent flyer program. Airline cards can help you save money on flights, luggage, and hotel costs. You can earn frequent flyer miles not only through purchases from the airline but also through everyday purchases.
Believe it or not, some days are cheaper to fly than others. If you're looking to save money, you'll want to avoid traveling around major holidays such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Years. Additionally, spring break tickets are also expensive. The cheapest days to fly are often Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Before booking your tickets, use a flight price calculator to experiment with different dates and times to see when you can get the best price. Be Wise About Accommodations
A hotel stay is another area where your expenses can add up quickly. To keep costs down, use reward programs. Earning points can net you a free night in the hotel. You can also save money by being flexible about when you book. Friday or Saturday are the best days to book a hotel. When booking, choosing a Sunday check-in and a Friday check-out can also save you money.
If you're looking for a cheaper option than a hotel, you may want to try staying in a hostel instead. Hostels offer inexpensive lodging for travelers through shared dormitories and common areas. This option also gives you a chance to meet other travelers and learn their tips for saving money. Wherever you choose to stay, look for places that offer a complimentary breakfast to save on the cost of eating out for each meal. Cooking your own meals can also save you money, so find accommodations with a kitchen. Another budget-friendly option is to stay local and rent a vacation home in Sarasota. You will save on transportation expenses and have roomier accommodations, and having your own kitchen means you won't have to spend as much dining out. Search for homes near the activities you enjoy the most. According to Turnkey, if long, relaxing days at the beach are how you would like to unwind, you can book a home at Siesta Key for access to Crescent or Turtle Beach. If you would prefer to enjoy the city's shopping, restaurants, and nightlife, look to stay in or near Downtown Saratoga. Learn About The Area
Take time to learn about the place you are visiting. Since food costs at tourist locations can be high, learn from the locals about the places that they like to eat. Shop at a local grocery store or farmers market, and learn about local food. You may be able to find a food tour that will let you try the local cuisine, and some restaurants offer discounts to people who take the tour.
Even though you're already at your destination, travel costs can still add up. Instead of renting a car, try renting a bike or walking wherever you can. You may also be able to take low-cost rides on trolleys to get around. Research the locations you want to visit. Oftentimes, places such as museums have discounted or free days that you can take advantage of. Look for free or low-cost events that you can add to your itinerary as well. While traveling will cost you money, it doesn't have to break the bank. Being flexible about your flights and accommodations can bring your costs down, and getting to know the area you're staying in can help you find ways to save. Challenge yourself to reduce your costs. You may end up being able to spend an extra night or treat yourself to an extra activity on your trip. How the industry is creating better travel experiences for the modern travelerThe Internet has brought accessibility to the regular customer, but also to the travel industry itself. So easy, in fact, that the perception is that traditional travel agents have almost been rendered unnecessary. With just a few clicks, you can find hundreds of deals for your chosen destination, hotels, flight connections and price quotes, activities, vacation packages, you name it. The travel industry became a big shopping market for everyone and travel agents quickly became a rare species, as they don’t add too much value anymore to the regular traveler. If you have a computer and internet connection, you can find better deals that the ones offered by a brick-and-mortar travel agency within minutes at the comfort of your home, it’s a fact. However, a new trend is taking shape in the industry. At Travel Consulting Hub, we have already talked about the value and importance of a travel consultant before. Rather than just trying to sell you a travel package from a standard brochure, travel consultants started to emerge as the 21st century service providers, as we can customize your trip to meet your own needs and wishes. Travel consultants are a valuable resource in the travel industry as we can offer the best trade-off between price, experience and convenience. Demand for made-to-measure trips is rising every single year![]() According to a recent article by Travel+Leisure, requests for customized and personalized vacations are rising sharply. In today’s world travel industry, one size no longer fits all. Personalization and trip customization IS the new trend! If you buy a tilored suit/dress, why not apply that same concept to your travel needs?! Take the flight booking experience, for exemple. Choosing a flight is no longer just a matter of price, or going from point “A” to “B”. It's much more than that, in fact. Traveles are starting to better perceive the value of flight recommendations based on their shopping purpose - leisure or business trip, family vacation or group travel and even which city they come from. You’re not looking just for the cheapest price anymore, but also for (smooth) connections, airline aliances, air miles, inflight entertainment and even the seat features itself! Moreover, according to Amadeus – a leading travel services provider and one of the biggest global distribution systems for the airline aindustry - 40% of European travelers do not have a destination in mind when they start planning their trip. This means that people still need – and are actively looking for – help to plan their journeys. The only difference is that you no longer want a “standard travel package”. In today’s world, travelers want to travel the world in just one way – their own way. “The global travel industry, and the way in which consumers experience it, is changing so dramatically that it requires a fundamental change to the way in which travel is sold and how the traveller is served”, says Luis Maroto, Chief Executive Officer and President of Amadeus. Bottom line, people need help when choosing and booking travel. However, they are looking for solutions that better fits their needs, rather than the simple results from web pages and online travel agencies (OTA’s). The advent of mobile travel services (optimized web pages, travel apps and available services) is no longer a trend in the travel industry, it’s now an industry-feature. The key to success from now on is how to combine innovative solutions and technology with customized services and personalization. In fact, the requests for customized vacations packages are rising sharply and will continue to grow. That’s another reason why travel consultants are now on high demand. "Because there are so many people who have money, the new currency is how unusual and rare the experience is" says Keith Waldon, a spokesman for Virtuoso. The relevance of recommendations and the way that consultants connect with their clients makes all difference today! By shaping the offers to match client’s needs, travel consultants are differentiating from all the competition. That’s what we do at Travel Consulting Hub. We combine our personal travel knowledge and expertise with customizable itineraries and services for the modern traveler in order to provide better and unique travel experiences. The whole journey - and the lifetime memories you get – is the destination! Do you also think customization is the new trend in travel?! Are you planning to use custom-made travel services in 2018?! Share your thoughts and ideas with us. We’d love to hear them! |
Bottom line, if you are seeking a travel package, then a TA may be the easiest choice. On the other hand, if you seek a customized travel experience, if you care about the value consultants can bring to the table, if you want a personalized plan based on your needs/wishes and ultimately if you believe that a journey is not only about the destination but a whole experience, than you need a travel consultant. We can create value, save you time, money and provide you some unimaginable perks…! |