Just Say "No" to Timeshare Reps

A growing annoyance that we're seeing for our clients has been the sometimes relentless attempts by time share reps to get our clients to attend the time share or "Vacation Club" presentation. These time share reps scour the very same resorts that we send many of our clients to. They are compensated based on their numbers and sales, so they are often very persistent, and they frequently offer incentives for guests to sit in on a presentation.

I'd love to be able to tell the resorts not to bother my clients, but since I can't, I'll offer a few things to think about before you agree to attend a time share presentation. Many of these cautions apply to the resort onsite re-booking programs as well.

• Attendance is optional. They may offer all sorts of incentives for your attendance - perks, free excursions, etc. You need to decide whether this is a good use of 3 to 5 hours of your hard-earned and well-deserved vacation time.
• If you do go, don't succumb to the pressure to sign on the dotted line to get some special offer. Once you return from your vacation, I can almost guarantee that if you decide it is something you want, you'll be able to negotiate a better deal on the resale market.
• They do not disclose everything in these presentations. Hard to believe, right? They rarely mention that you will be required to pay anywhere between $120-$200 per person/per night at check-in to cover the all-inclusive amenities (meals, drinks, etc). This is on top of what you're already paying for the reserved resort time, any maintenance fees, and the high upfront purchase cost.
• We spent quite a bit of time choosing just the right destination and resort for this trip. Who knows what your needs will be over the next 10 years or so? Do you really want to be locked into a single experience?
• The prices they show you to use for comparison (and to make you think you paid too much) are called "rack rates" - rates that are rarely used. These same resorts routinely offer 40-65% off with no strings attached. There are "early booking rates", "limited time offers", "resort credit offers" and many others used to entice vacationers to their properties. We stay on top of all of these offers to make sure that you're getting a fair price for your trip.
• Consider that once you're working with a resort directly, you will not be able to get the security and service provided to you at no additional cost from the specialists at Fun ‘n Sun Travel.
  
• Lastly, if you sign a contract outside of the U.S. for a timeshare or vacation plan in another
  country, you are not protected by U.S. Contract Laws. More tips about Timeshare ownership from the Federal Trade Commission can be found here. 

On your next trip, simply tell the timeshare reps that you're not interested and to please not bother you again.  And if they persist, tell them you're a travel agent. That should do the trick!

Fun 'n Sun Travel & Cruise provides friendly, personal, professional service in order to plan each and every client's dream vacation, destination wedding, or honeymoon at one of the best prices available. Call us at 1-855-557-5588, or visit us on the web for more information.

Overcoming the Challenges of Winter Travel

Winter can be a challenging time  to travel. Flights are cancelled or delayed frequently, and those cancelled flights are leaving travelers either at their origination (wondering how to get to their destination) or at their destination (wondering how to get home). The airline will do their best to get you on the next available flight, but, with most flights fully booked, that could mean a back-log of days.

The next time you are planning a winter trip, keep these tips in mind:

1) Purchase travel protection. Many people seem to think that travel protection is an expense to be avoided, but most travel protection plans provide valuable coverage for cancelled or delayed flights. Call your provider as soon as your flight is cancelled or delayed, and have your policy number handy. They will assist with getting your trip back on track and cover your expenses (up to the limit specified in your coverage). Be sure to save all of your receipts. (Note that coverage varies by provider and policy. Read your coverage details carefully.)

2) Provide your "day of travel" contact information to the airline. Virtually every airline provides the opportunity for passengers to provide an email address and a cell phone number so that they can contact you if your flight is cancelled or delayed. Enter this information online when you are viewing your reservation or completing your online check-in. They can't contact you if you don't provide this information.

3) Book your airfare as part of your travel package with your travel agent. This puts many more resources at work to resolve any situation that may occur. Your travel agent and your tour operator will provide assistance in getting your flights rescheduled, making alternate hotel arrangements, rescheduling your transfers, etc. Without a travel agent, you're on your own.

4) Consider your options. Sure your flight from Boston may have been cancelled, but maybe if you drove to New York or Philadelphia, you could still be on your way. In storm situations, as long as there is availability, many of the airlines will waive your change fees and any difference in fare.

5) Plan your trip to arrive early. Arrive at least a day in advance of when you absolutely, positively must be there. If your cruise ship is scheduled to depart on Saturday, arrive on Friday and spend the night near the pier. This eliminates so many potential problems, and the odds of you being on time to board your ship are so much better.

Sugar Beach Resort in St. Lucia

6) Roll with it. Stuff happens - don't let it ruin your trip. If you arrive a day later or get stranded for an extra day or two at your destination, take it in stride. There are worse things than being stranded at the beach for an extra couple of days of vacation, right?

7) Ask for a "distressed passenger" rate. If you are at your destination and unable to return home, ask at the front desk about a "distressed passenger" rate. Many hotels will provide a lower rate for a night or two while you are trying to get back home. This will minimize your out-of-pocket expenses.

8) Pack a few necessities in your carry-on bag. That way if you are separated from your checked bag for any length of time, you can still make do with what you have in your carry-on.

9) Download a VoIP app, such as Skype or Viber, to your smartphone. If you need to make calls to reschedule your flights or alert your family of your new travel itinerary, these apps allow you to connect (using any available internet connection) without paying outrageous international roaming fees. Be sure to download it before you leave home, as it may not be available for download while at your destination.

With a little advanced planning, some creative thinking, and the right frame of mind, your next winter trip will be better than ever!

Fun 'n Sun Travel & Cruise provides friendly, personal, professional service in order to plan each and every client's dream vacation, destination wedding, or honeymoon at one of the best prices available. Call us at 1-855-557-5588, visit us on the web at fnstravel.com, or email us at info@fnstravel.com.

Fundraising for Non-Profits Using Travel

We often get questions from non-profit organizations regarding using travel packages as a fundraiser for their annual auction. While we are unaware of any suppliers that give away complete travel packages to be used as a fundraising item, there are still many different way that travel can be successfully used to raise funds for non-profits. Here are a few "words of wisdom"  that we've garnered over the years:

1) It's virtually impossible to find a travel supplier to donate a complete package for a charity auction. Many organizations have had some luck with getting various hotels or recreational properties to donate pieces or parts of a trip (a few nights in hotel X, or family tickets to amusement park Y). 

2) Nobody gives away airfare. Airfare is precious, and I've never seen anyone include it. Airlines certainly don't give away free tickets. Non-profit organizations may have better luck with getting supporters who are frequent fliers to donate their mileage points.

3) Some cruise lines will let you, as a non-profit, purchase a voucher for auction. These vouchers do have significant restrictions. Many cruiselines either no longer have a program or only allow non-profits with certain goals to participate in their program.  

Several cruiselines DO offer fundraising options for group cruises (e.g. if you have 5 or more staterooms booked, they will donate $100 per stateroom to your non-profit organization). Put together a group and let everyone know that their participation on the cruise helps to raise funds for a cause they believe in.

4) There are some South African lodges that will split the proceeds of an auction 50-50 with you, but it's really just the lodging that's included, and the out-of-pocket expenses associated with redeeming the "prize" are significant.  Be aware that there is no consumer protection involved with any of these packages.

Obtaining an attorney's advice on anything relating to dealing with foreign providers would be prudent, as US consumer protection laws would not apply.

5) If the organization is fortunate enough to have some supporters who own property in other locations, ask them to donate a week at their place (1 week at our fully furnished ski lodge, or 1 week in our Paris apartment). Those prizes often receive the highest bids in auctions. You might also ask people to donate their Marriott or Hilton loyalty points (although bids may fall short of the actual value of the points).

6) Non-profits can arrange to purchase a package with a high perceived value from a travel agency, establish a minimum opening bid, and keep whatever amount was raised that was above and beyond the purchase price. Some alumni organizations have had great success with this strategy.

We wish you well in your fundraising endeavors and encourage you to feel free to call or email us to discuss your organization's goals further.

Fun 'n Sun Travel & Cruise provides friendly, personal, professional service in order to plan each and every client's dream vacation, destination wedding, or honeymoon at one of the best prices available. Call us at 1-855-557-5588, visit us on the web at fnstravel.com, or email us at info@fnstravel.com