Travel Guru Guide to Majorca Holidays

Travel Guru asked:

Guide to Majorca Holidays

Location of Majorca

The Spanish Island of Majorca in the Mediterranean has been inhabited for many millennia, with inhabitations evident from as early as between 6000-4000 BC. The island was occupied by the Romans in 123 BC, and though hotly disputed by many countries in the intervening years, eventually came to Aragonian (Spanish) rule in the 11th Century, where it has mostly remained for almost 800 years.

Island History

Because of the rich history of the island, there are many historical attractions on Majorca, such as Bellver Castle, Santueri Castle, Palma Cathedral, and El Diablo Castle, each with their own history and their own place in the stories that make up the past of the Island of Majorca. Not all of these castles are places of historical importance with a lack of modern perspective, however. The Spanish Royal Family has a summer palace on the island, and it is not unusual for them to spend their summer holidays in Majorca.

Flying To Majorca

The main tourist airport on the island is Son Sant Joan, and it is a very modern airport on the southern side of the island near the capital city of Palma. Flying in, you can even see the incredible Palma Cathedral from the air, which is a sight that is not to be missed! The Island of Majorca is full of incredible sights and lots of great things to do, and has been one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world since the 1960’s because of the wonderful climate and the many attractions to suit all kinds of people.

Attractions & Activities

There are all kinds of things for all kinds of people to do on a Majorca holiday, so if you are looking for lively and active adventures, check out the south coast of the island, where there is a hot nightlife and plenty of things for young people to become engaged in. Families might prefer venues like the Marineland dolphin and sea lion shows and the children’s beach.

Beach lovers will adore Majorca, as there are plenty of places to boat, surf, or just sunbathe all over the island. Get from place to place in cars or bikes, or check out the antiquated train that runs still from Palma to Soller and back again. There is no lack of historical interest on the island, either, and those who are interested can spend their entire vacation in museums and at historical points of interest. Majorca is a wonderful destination for people of all types.

Compare Ytb Travel and Travel Fhtm

Brent Vanderstelt asked:

Let me start by saying YTB Travel and Travel FHTM are both great home based opportunities. We are former YTB Power Team Leaders and we enjoyed our time with YTB. However; we chose to leave YTB because of all the negative news, blog postings, scam reports etc.

YTB Travel is a legitimate business opportunity that is powered by one of the leading travel booking engines, Travelocity. The problem with YTB Travel or ANY business that has received such a blow to its reputation, business or sales will suffer as a result.

Travelocity is a leading travel booking engine that offers many Features and Benefits to any home based travel agency such as:

Partnership with a strong brand like Travelocity

Tools, data feeds, and products to help you succeed

Reporting and tracking

Competitive commissions with increases for high producers

Merchandising and marketing support

Dedicated team to support your business

Travelocity award-winning customer support

Travel FHTM offers 24/7 customer support, something not offered by similar online travel booking engines, so you can rest assured that you guests will have a worry free vacation with Travel FHTM.

Travel FHTM is a travel website being offered through the Travelocity Partner Network. Through an FHTM Independent Representative’s travel site, you can book travel on 60+ airlines, stay in one of over 55,000 hotels and resorts and rent cars from over 28 rental companies.

Travel FHTM, also a Travelocity partner guarantees that everything about your booking will be right, or we will work with our partners to make it right, right away. The Travel FHTM 24/7 customer support and booking guarantee are two of the reasons we chose to leave YTB Travel for Travel FHT.

Other reasons to compare YTB Travel and Travel FHTM are price comparison. YTB Travel costs $449.00 to join and $49.00 per month vs. Travel FHTM at $299.00 to join and $49.95 per month. By joining Travel FHTM, you save $150.00, so in this rough economic times, cost was an important reason to switch to Travel FHTM.

YTB Travel offers the ability to get the travel booking engine for free, once you recruited and maintained 5 YTB RTA’s, but MOST YTB RTA’s were not able to get the free site because of the initial start up costs.

Travel FHTM does not offer a free travel booking option, but you will earn customer points and earn commissions on your monthly fee, weather you have no reps under you or 100 reps under you.

When you join YTB, you get one product to sell, that’s travel! When you join Fortune Hi Tech Marketing, you currently have 20 ADDITIONAL products and services to sell and each pays a monthly residual income.

Yes, you heard me correctly, 20 ADDITIONAL products and services from Fortune 500 companies, such as Dish Network, Sprint/Nextel, Verizon Wireless, GE Home Security just to name a few. So, for $150.00 less to join Fortune Hi Tech Marketing, you get 20 Additional products and services to sell and earn additional monthly residuals.

Overall, YTB Travel and Travel FHTM are both powered by Travelocity, both offer travel commissions to 70% and all the same great travel trips, destinations, travel providers and weekly travel deals emailed to your prospects, etc.

Both companies offer travel training, but the travel training at YTB will cost you money, travel training at Fortune Hi Tech Marketing is free.

In conclusion, when you compare YTB Travel to Travel FHTM the benefits are clear. With Travel FHTM, you join a company with a positive reputation, you save $150.00 upon signing up, you have Travel FHTM’s 24/7 customer support and travel guarantee, and you have 20 ADDITIONAL products from Fortune 500 companies which to sell and earn residual commissions from, in addition to building business of independent marketing representatives.

To learn more about the benefits of joining Fortune Hi Tech Marketing, vs. YTB Travel visit Fortune Hi Tech Marketing or Call Brent Vanderstelt at 231-206-5333 or Sherri Russell at 616-638-9384. We are Fortune Hi Tech Marketing approved trainers and internet marketing experts and will help you succeed in building a successful home based business.

Benefits of Choosing a Travel Agency for Your Next Vacation

Suzanne Bradley asked:

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Choosing a travel agency to handle your next vacation as opposed to dealing directly with an airline presents numerous benefits. Here are a few of the benefits you enjoy:

Wealth of information

Because of their experience and wide connections with people in the hospitality industry, travel agencies are in the best position to provide sound advice when it comes to the following points: off peak and peak travel times, budget travel, hotel and meal deals, excursions, shopping bargains, and other tourism-related topics. Much will depend on your preferences. For instance, are you interested in a golf holiday, a fishing trip, a museum jaunt or a spa type of vacation?

Discounted fares

Travel agencies and online travel agencies are great for bargain hunting and usually get the best deals from their network of contacts. They also purchase air tickets on volume, consolidated tickets, enabling them to buy air tickets at considerably higher discounts.

Extended network of suppliers and providers

Given that travel agents deal every day with hotel managers, restaurant owners and managers, bed and breakfast supervisors, tour operators, limousine companies, and other people who offer a specialized service, they know who and what are offering better prices and when. So travel agents have a wealth of information on just about anything related to travel, and because they network with other travel agents, they get to exchange valuable tips. Consider yourself fortunate if you happen to be dealing with a travel agent who seems to know “just about everyone” in the travel industry and who can offer you the discounts that she reserves for preferred clients.

Group discounts

If you tell your travel agent that you and your friends want to travel together or that you’re taking your family of four on a Kenyan safari, he or she might be able to slash off more dollars from your air tickets because you will be travelling in a group. Sometimes, when you buy three adult tickets, travel agents will let your four-year-old travel for free or at a much lower price. Travel agents can, at their discretion, extend courtesy discounts to groups. The more seats are bought and the more rooms are booked, the higher the discounts they receive.

Perks

Travel agents also have access to suppliers and service providers who hand out “bonuses” or perks. These are the nice extra incentives that say, hotel managers would give to agents so that the next time the travel agency has a large group of travelers, they choose the same hotel. Meal vouchers are another example that travel agencies have a constant supply of to give to loyal customers. For example, if you and your friends like to visit Las Vegas a lot, your travel agency may give you slot chips worth $50.00 to use on machines, or free passes to a stage show or concert. So you see, it does pay to develop good relationships with travel agencies especially if you’re a frequent traveler.

Specialization

Some travel agencies specialize in certain types of travel and cater to a certain age group or specific professional groups. Some travel agencies have more strengths and capabilities than other travel agencies. One travel agency may know the ins and outs of Eastern Europe or may know what the best budget restaurants in Tokyo are. Other travel agencies may cater specifically to retirees, students or government officials.

When a travel agency handles a large account like a mid-size company whose executives travel weekly, you can be sure that travel agency is in a position to offer significant savings on plane tickets or hotel reservations. If you have a friend who works for a large company and his company uses one travel agency, you could ask him to request the travel agency for special deals. Because travel agents are grateful for the continuing patronage of their company clients, they will most likely share tips on how to travel on a shoestring budget for the executives’ children.

Don’t let one unfortunate experience with a travel agency discourage you. Find another. If you deal with the airlines directly, you’re just another caller to them, whereas if a travel agent calls the airline on your behalf, the airline will recognize the travel agency as a regular customer and hence would be more inclined to extend courtesies.

What you need to do before calling a travel agency is to decide:

· Specific travel dates

· Where you want to go, where you want to stay and whether you’ll need a car or rail passes

· If you’re willing to travel on a restricted ticket or as a standby passenger

· What activities you’d like to do once you arrive in your destination

By giving your travel agency complete information, she can be more efficient in helping you plan your next vacation.

Top Questions to Ask Your Travel Agent When Booking a Trip

Suzanne Bradley asked:

If you have never worked with a travel agent before, you might be a little out of your element when it comes to talking about your travel needs. At your initial meeting, it is important not to get steamrolled into buying a vacation package that you do not really want or leaving without a sense of exactly what you need to do to prepare for travel. Here are the top questions you need to ask your travel agent before you book your trip:

Question #1: What are the best times of year to travel to my location?

Every location will be different when it comes to peak tourist season. For example, cruises to Alaska are more common during the summer months. On the other hand, Aspen vacations are more popular during the winter. Keep in mind that “best” for you might not mean that peak season. While tourists flock to these areas during certain times of the year for a reason, such as the great weather or a special event in the areas, that’s also when travel will be most expensive. You can save some money by booking your trip during the off-season.

Question #2: Are there cheaper alternatives to the choices you’re making for my trip?

Sometimes, the price of a vacation package can be drastically altered with just a few changes to the default choices. Usually, travel agents automatically book “middle of the road” accommodations, flights, and so forth. In other words, they don’t choose luxury or economy – they choose something in the middle. If you are purchasing a vacation package, ask about each part of the trip. Can you shave money off by flying at different hours of the day or choosing a room at a cheap hotel? Can you swap out the expensive show tickets and instead spend the day shopping? Little changes can combine to equal big savings, and when you look at an itemized list of what you’re getting by default, you might want to upgrade some things as well.

Question #3: What travel documents do I need to carry with me?

If you leave the United States, you absolutely need passports, even if you are just traveling to Mexico or Canada. The other rules for travel documents, however, vary according to where you are traveling and the length of your stay. You might need certain vaccinations if you intend to visit certain parts of the world, for example. If you are traveling with pets, make sure that they have the proper documentation as well, especially for re-entering the United States.

Question #4: Do you offer travel insurance or refunds if my trip is canceled?

Travel insurance is a great way to ensure that you get your money back in case something goes wrong. Most travel agencies offer refunds if they have to cancel the trip, for whatever reason, but some don’t give you any flexibility in changing your dates, even if you have a personal emergency. Travel insurance can solve this problem, and it also helps you if you have airline, luggage, medical, or other problems when you are away from home.

Question #5: Do you offer referral discounts if friends of mine book trips through you?

It doesn’t hurt to ask! Many travel agencies offer a referral program so that if you tell a friend about them you get money off your trip. You may also be entitled to discounts if you organize a group tour, book repeat trips within a certain time frame, or pay for your entire vacation upfront.

Question #6: What days of the week are least expensive for travel and touring?

Most commonly, you should try to travel on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday if you want to save the most money, but that is not always the case. If you have some flexibility as far as your travel dates go, make sure you tell your travel agent and attempt to get the cheapest prices. Sometimes, moving your vacation by just a single day can save you hundreds of dollars; this is especially true during the holidays and other days of high travel.

Question #7: What activities can you recommend while I’m on vacation?

Make sure to grill your travel agent about hot spots at your location so that you have plenty of insider tips while you’re away. Chances are good that your travel agent has been to your destination or has a colleague that has been. They might even have some connections so you can get a good deal on gift certificates or discounted tickets. It is in your best interest to find a travel agent who is very familiar with your destination. The more knowledge your travel agent is about the destination of your trip, the more prepared you will be to maximize your time away from home.

Common Questions to ask your Travel Agent

Ryan Anderson asked:

Your travel agent can be an integral part of planning your vacation, especially when used wisely. A travel agent is an invaluable resource when you have decided to plan a trip. They can help prevent travel complications while at the same time getting you the best value. However, it is important to remember that each travel agent is different. So, to ensure that your travel agent is a good match for your needs, here are some common questions to ask.

Question 1 – What is your specialty?

It is important to know what your travel agent’s specialty is. He or she may specialize in certain destinations or products, such as cruises or adventure tours. You will also want to ask what types of travel your agent specializes in. For example, you would not want to book a trip for a large group with an agent who is not experienced in such services.

Question 2 – What are your fees?

Obviously, you know that you will be compensating your travel agent for his or her time, planning expertise, work, and advice, but knowing the fees upfront is always a good idea. Some travel agents work on commission, some charge a flat rate, and some charge per service. It is also best to be upfront about your travel budget and be clear that your total budget includes travel agent fees.

Question 3 – What are your hours of operation?

You will need to know when your travel agency or agent operates. Be sure to get the toll-free number in case of an emergency as well as an alternate number for after-hours necessities. If your travel agent has email or a website, you will also want to note that information as well.

Question 4 – What happens if something goes wrong?

Sometimes, it is impossible to avoid inconveniences while traveling. Such inconveniences may include a delayed or cancelled flight because of poor weather. Discuss with your travel agent what happens in such circumstances and how he or she responds to these problems. Always be clear on your travel agent’s policies.

Question 5 – Are tickets refundable?

If you’re working with a travel agent, it is likely that you are planning this trip well in advance. In addition to last minute inconveniences that may occur, such as poor weather cancelling a flight, things in your life may change as well. Find out if your trip is refundable, partially refundable, or if a cancellation fee applies. It is also a good idea to check if reservations can be exchanged.

Question 6 – Do you have special relationships with travel suppliers?

Many times, your travel agent will be able to get you a great deal, which may not be available to the general public. Cruise lines, tour companies, and hotels often offer perks such as upgrades, free parking, and other deals to travel agents who have worked with them before. If your agent has this type of influence, take advantage of it!

Question 7 – Have you traveled to my destination?

There is nothing like first-hand knowledge. If your travel agent has traveled to your destination, he or she will be able to speak from experience. A well-traveled agent will be able to make informed recommendations and provide sound advice as opposed to one who has not visited the areas you are considering.

Question 8 – Can I get a better deal if I travel on a different day?

This question is integral to establishing a better deal if your travel dates are somewhat flexible. Remember, even when working with a travel agent, peak travel times and seasons still apply. Let your travel agent know that while your original itinerary is ideal, if there is a better deal to be had, you may consider traveling at a later date.

Question 9 – Where can I learn more about my destination?

In many cases, travel agents will provide customers with information, such as brochures, about your destination. If the brochures are not sufficient enough for you, ask your travel agent where you could do a little more research. He or she should be able to easily point you in the right direction.

Question 10 – Will I need a passport or visa?

If you are not sure if you will need a passport or special visa to travel to your destination, ask your travel agent. If you do need a passport or visa, he or she will also be able to instruct you on how to obtain one.

Question 11 – What questions do you have for me?

Always ask your travel agent if he or she has any questions for you. Travel agents should always ask you a few questions about what you are looking for in a vacation. This is necessary so that they will be able to come up with the best itinerary for your interests and budget.

The best travel agent for the job is one who is willing to work with you, has extensive knowledge, and is receptive to your priorities as a traveler. However, you will need to ask the questions outlined above to get started. Remember, your agent should be more than willing to answer any of these questions, or any others that you may have.

Travel Insurance

apollodkv asked:

The very phraseology ‘travel insurance‘ may not seem to be a familiar concept for many an individual, especially travelers. Today, this term has been gaining much ground with increased traveling around the world. Travel health insurance does hold ground for the business traveler who travel frequently to overseas destinations or the leisure traveler who travels often to holiday destinations individually or family. Trustworthy companies have cropped up at the national international level offering top notch travel health insurance plans.

Making your journey as well as your family’s journey a safe and hassle free one is the aim behind every travel health insurance policy offered. The travel insurance will benefit you in many aspects, especially guarding you and your family you against any ailments, hospitalization, thefts or other unexpected inconveniences that may occur while traveling or till you reach back your destination.

There may be certain hindrances that may affect or impact your travel plans. A travel health insurance covers you and your family members, letting you avail a number of benefits while on travel or while on a foreign land. This may include emergency cash, family transportation, doctor referrals, transport of imported medicines, doctor referrals, etc. Other than having access to the up-to-the-minute travel and health-related information, with the travel health insurance, you also stay at the competitive edge by taking medical advice on telephone while on travel, interpreter referral, embassy referral, lost luggage assistance, lost passport assistance, and many more.

Many travel health insurance plans come in the form of individual plan, family plan, senior citizen plan, annual multi trip plan or more and the plans vary from company to company. At the most for most companies, they cover from the age group of 6 months to 70 years. The validity for travel health insurance policy for depends on the type of policy taken, which varies from 180 days to 1 or 2 years or more.

One renowned travel insurance provider, covers under its travel health insurance policy for family, the individual and spouse up to 70 years including 4 children up to 21 years. Policy for senior citizens cover the age group of 71-80 years, and annual multi trip plan for availing that extra protection for multiple trips round the year which also includes reimbursements of unexpected costs, such as flight delays, cancellations etc.

Travel health insurance plans may be long term or short term, which again depends on the type of policy taken. Most travel health insurance plans are tailor made to cover a wide range of travel emergencies for the benefit of the users.

Smart and safe travel comes with travel Insurance. So stay insured and live and travel the smarter and safer way!

Top 35 Free Sites for Europe Travel Tips Everybody Ought to Know About

Aurora Brown asked:

When planning a trip to Europe, there are a ton of available resources for travelers. With this is mind, it is often time-consuming to wade through all of the websites to find really valuable information.

Here is a list of some of the top travel resources for planning a trip to Europe.

1) Wikitravel

This is one of the best sites for travel available. It is open source, so it is constantly updated; further, it is usually locals or people who have direct, experience with an area who contribute information. Thus you get localized information you might not have gotten elsewhere.

2) World Travel Tips

This is a huge, comprehensive resource for world travel. It includes forums, articles, links, free membership and much more for every continent. Their European section covers every European Country and offer in-depth information about each one.

3) About.com: Europe for Visitors

This is a great site dedicated to travel in Europe from About.com. Geared towards everyone from first time to experienced travelers, it is a goldmine of European travel and planning information.

4) Virtual Tourist

This is a great travel guide. Their motto is ‘real travelers – real info.” This seems consistent with the site, which has everything from transportation reviews to the best travel deal and trip planners. The site also includes forums where you can read about other people’s adventures in Europe.

5) Travel Europe

This is an swicki (cross between a search engine and wikipedia) where community users can add, remove and improve the results. This particular swicki is geared towards travel in Europe and is a great resource fro planning a trip to or in Europe.

6) Visiteurope.com

This is the European travel commission’s guide to Europe and is packed with tons of useful information, articles, advice and much much more.

7) Europe for Visitors

This is a site that offer European news, general advice, specific country advice, hotels, links to city guides, tourist offices and much, much more.

8.) Europecities.com

This is a comprehensive portal site that offers European city reviews and guides to hundreds of European cities and over 40 European countries.

9) Travel Library

Travel Library is an impartial resource for travelers and offers a plethora of resources that offer in-depth travel information, from hotel and hostel ideas to travelogues and most popular locations.

10) Europa: Traveling in Europe

A huge site that offers tools and information for over 30 European Countries. Each country has their own site dedicated to travel resources, information news and more from that country. Categories for visitors include: documents you will need, choosing a time to travel, getting there, staying healthy, money, shopping, communicating, pets, and if things go wrong.

11) Europa: Your Europe

While this site is geared towards European citizens, it still offers tons of great information for visitors outside of Europe. Information categories include: working in Europe, education and study, living in Europe, traveling in Europe, consumer protection, European citizenship and diplomatic protection.

12) European Union Website

This is the official website of the European Union. It offers news, educational resources and tons of links to information about what’s going on in Europe and well as youth travel portals, travel guides, transportation information and much, much more.

13) Yahoo Answers

This is a great place to ask questions and get answers about anything Europe related. You ask the question and get a number of answers, then choose the answer that fits your question best. This site is great because it gives you several points of view to read and learn from and is focused on sharing knowledge.

14) Travels Wise

This site offers tons of information about travel in Europe and countries including Belarus, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, Iceland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, and the Ukraine.

15) Rick Steves’ Travel Tips

This site is a large portal site that offers tips and advice for exploring Europe safely, effectively and confidently. From packing tips and safety to accommodations and communications, you will find what you’re looking for.

16) Travel Punk

This site offers travel tips and advice targeted at backpackers, budget travelers and tourists. Offers tons of great information as well as travel tools and resources for finding cheap flights and accommodations.

17) TERC Europe Travel Tips

Offers tips on traveling in Europe and categories run the gamut from packing tips and staying healthy and safe to money matters, budget planning, food and accommodations and much more. It is a huge site that is well worth visiting for any Europe travel-related needs.

18) Accessible Journeys

This is an awesome travel site that offers a wealth of information, tips and travel advice about accessibility and traveling in a wheelchair. With information on everything from traveling with your wheelchair or scooter to equipment rentals, handicapped parking permits in Europe and accessible ways to travel, it is a great resource.

19) Europe Travel Tips

A large portal with tons of travel tools, articles and information about travel in 40 European countries, from Austria to the United Kingdom.

20) Independent Traveler

Great site offering lots of travel tips and advice to independent travelers.

21) Travel-and-transport.com

This is a highly useful portal that offers basic and necessary transportation information for Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway and Sweden. New to the site is a route planner that is especially handy.

22) Travel Notes: Europe

Comprehensive travel notes and advice for traveling throughout Europe. Lots of links, resources and tools for travelers.

23) Open Travel Info

Great travel site with a large amount of travel and Europe related information. The forums and articles are especially useful.

24) Discover Europe

Another excellent portal site that offers a wealth of tools, resources and links for travelers to learn about different European countries and plan their trips effectively and efficiently.

25) World 66: Europe

This is a great wiki site that allows members (free) to change and information. It has a great travel guide, maps, and resources for getting to Europe and getting around it. Members can also post photos and there is a cool photo gallery of different places in Europe. Well worth checking out.

26) Backpacker.net

Geared towards backpackers, this is one of the better sites for information, advice and travel planning for backpackers. Users can submit and read recommendations for hostels, tours, bars, beers and much more.

27) WorldWideBackpackers.com

This site is another excellent resource for backpackers and other travelers. While it is geared towards backpackers, there is a wealth of rich information for all travelers, so you should definitely pay them a visit.

28) Gate 1 Travel

This is a travel site for Central Europe. there is a wealth of information that is super handy; they offer info from climate and clothing advice to packing, required travel documents, travel insurance, transportation, communication and much more.

29) Backpackeurope.com

This is another site that is geared towards backpackers in Europe but is highly useful for all travelers. Has Europe travel tips, advice on packing, hostels and hotels, transportation and links to other travel resources.

30) Gemut.com

This is a great travel site that offers visitors advice on everything from car rental and rail travel to hotel reservations, money matters and much more.

31) Travels With Friends: Travel Tips for Europe

Travel tips and advice from planning your trip to executing it. The site’s creators travel Europe and research sites, accommodations, destinations and much more, so there is great, first-hand information available on all aspects of travel in Europe.

32) Suite 101: Eastern Europe & Russia Travel

Travel, culture and trip planning and advice. This is an excellent resource for finding out more about Eastern Europe and its cultures.

33) Traveler’s Point

Europe advice, tips and travel help for all European countries.

34) Budget Travel Online

Great site offering ideas, how-tos, advice and tips for travelers.

35) Yahoo Travel

Yahoo’s comprehensive travel site offers a wealth of information on all European Countries and many of its countries. Another great resource to check out.

Online Travel Business Opportunities

Iffpf Inc Media asked:

Think about it for a minute.  Are there really Online Travel Business Opportunities?  Well, the answer is yes, absolutely.  The hardest question to answer for most people is who, what, where and why ?

These are exactly the same questions we had here, and so we decided to search out the answers.  We looked at numerous online travel business opportunities.  Some were not opportunities at all, some were over exaggerated opportunities, and one stood out above the rest.  The criteria we used on reviewing online travel business opportunities were simple. We wanted a company with a proven track record, a real future, an easy to use system, extensive connections in the travel industry, a strong management team, and very importantly a company we could make money with and grow with.  As travelers we wanted to be able to book our own travel and earn a commission.  Basically we wanted to get paid to cruise and travel.  But we also wanted to be able to grow our online travel business and keep traveling.  We also wanted to present the opportunity to others as we traveled.  Sounds impossible, but it is not.  It is being done right now.

Ok , so who is the company.  The company that we feel is the best online travel business is YTB   Online Travel.

What is YTB Online Travel?   YTB Online Travel Business brings you the perfect opportunity to transform your life through combining the fun of travel with the speed of the Internet, multiplied by the power of referral marketing to provide you with the ultimate home-based business solution. YTB Online Travel Business is taking the industry by storm!!  By combining an advantage-rich, home-based business (built around the Internet) with an extremely lucrative (and copyrighted) compensation plan, YTB Online Travel Business has become “The Choice” for thousands of opportunity seekers. In today’s marketplace, myriads of companies seek your time and attention, each claiming that their opportunity is the best.  By combining the powerful information handling capability of the Internet with the world’s most dynamic product (TRAVEL) and the personal touch of independent, home-based business people, YTB Online Travel Business has joined these three trends together in a flawless combination. The Internet is opening the doors to the riches of travel as never before. By utilizing the YTB Online Travel Business simple strategies and proven techniques you will learn how to leverage your time to generate a residual income 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  YTB Online Travel Business leaders work with you from the very beginning to set up and promote  your online travel business.  They  are experts in online marketing.  They teach you the secrets to success.

Where is YTB Online Travel?  YourTravelBiz.com (YTB), is a wholly owned subsidiary of publicly traded YTB International Inc., and located in Wood River, IL.  Each YTB Online Travel Business has their own travelsite, maintained and updated for them by YTB.  Reps work from home, everything is completely internet based.  It’s better and easier than “plug and play” hardware.  No computer geeks here and we did it with no problems.  Setup takes only a few minutes.  And YTB Online Travel Business experts do this for you.  YTB International Inc is celebrating their 7th. year in business.  Subsidiary YTB Travel Network is the fastest growing travel company in America and are building for the long run.

Why YTB Online Travel?  YTB is a top 35 US travel seller, and based on current rate of growth is set to sell $1 BILLION of travel in 2008.  YTB has proven their stability and paid out several million dollar bonuses to its top Directors, which may set a network marketing industry record.  YTB Online Travel Business has grown impressively over the years.    The company is 7 years old and has just entered exponential growth. They’ve grown from 3,209  reps in 2003 to 8,348 reps in 2004, 21,399 reps in 2005, 60,063 reps in 2006 and 132,700 plus reps in 2007.  At present they are well over 140,000 reps.

YTBI has five times more retail customers the RTAs purchasing their travel.  This is one of the highest customer to RTA ratios in the direct sales industry.  This fact alone makes it hard for anyone or any authority to not recognize the YTB Online Travel Business as a legitimate retailer of travel no matter how the network marketer model is structured.

YTB Online Travel Business is in its seventh year  and the majority of all RTA’s that have ever been with YTB are still active.  That is, every RTA including all six previous years according to YTB Online Travel Business.  That is a phenomenal record in direct sales.

Although you can start earning fast in the YTB Online Travel Business and earn bonuses up to a million dollars as many Directors have, over and above the commission structure, YTB Online Travel Business wants to be known as the large, long term residual company.  It already has more than 100 Reps earning six figures annually with many earning $50,000.00 a month or more.    In fact, six are earning six figures a month.  That’s right, per month, not just in a year. Of course the phenomenal RTA retention rate contributes to the ease of creating a large, long term residential income.  The above incomes are extra ordinary and being made by a small number of established Directors of YTB Online Travel Businesses and are not indicative or guaranteed as to what you will make.  However the YTB Online Travel Business is still a great opportunity for anyone who likes to travel,  wants to get paid to cruise and travel, wants to earn additional income (YTB has a program that guarantees $6,000.00 first year income)  from an internet home based business, and would like to share this opportunity with others.

In the nearly ten years that we have been researching MLM or network marketing we have never found any company willing to guarantee “BOTH” the first year profitability and the residual income derived from ones efforts.

In fact, much to the industries detriment, companies all too often made outrageous income and life style claims to lure the unsuspecting into programs where true success was all but impossible except for a select few. These few would be paraded across the stage, given huge bonus checks to perpetuate the dream, or more aptly put, the myth of a success full home based business.

The blame was always assigned to the individual. The most egregious of companies were closed and or failed but the industry as a whole supported, promoted, and taught the flawed approach of “through enough against the wall and some will stick” or “if they fog a mirror sponsor them”. With very few exceptions the industry has never focused on insuring success with a valid business plan nor have they promoted retention by guarantying that the average person would have a chance to leverage their success through duplication.

Sadly, until now, most companies actions showed they cared little for the individual once their application fee had cleared.

Well, we’ve succeeded in making a short story long. We’ve made our point. This is the first instance we’ve found where a company has addressed the above mentioned problems. In our estimation they’ve found a solution. Their product, “travel”, may not be a uniquely differentiated but it can be marketed to every single niche market without exception.

The company is 7 years old and has just entered exponential growth. They’ve grown from 3209  reps in 2003 to 8348 reps in 2004, 21399 reps in 2005, 60063 reps in 2006 and 132700 plus reps in 2007.

Simply put, this is the easiest opportunity we have ever found to market. One that we can finally say, with full confidence, that any person joining can make a profit without any reservations.

YTB Online Travel Business looks at every RTA who joins the travel company as a group waiting to happen.  Each RTA is a center of influence and brings a warm market to YTB.  The company has an infrastructure in place to help them with family reunions, church groups, fundraising trips, etc.  Over 60 percent of YTB’s cruise business are groups and YTB Travel is working on tools to help its RTA’s with land group sales also.

You Can Get Diverse Benefits With Travel Insurance Option

James Roy asked:

When you go for traveling and you want to take travel insurance then you have many alternative and depending upon your choice you can exercise any one of the travel insurance option.

The options given for travel insurance by insurance companies are very vast and insurance companies provide travel insurance options for almost all kinds of traveling be it for single trip or for multi trip. Which travel insurance policy will be beneficial for you it depends upon your requirements that for what type of coverage you are looking. Although travel insurance options are varied but depending upon your choice you can compare all and ultimately buy the best one.

If you are a frequent traveler then the policy of travel insurance which will suit you best is the annual travel insurance policy. Annual travel insurance policy will cover for your entire trips taken in a period of 12 months. But if you like to go for traveling on some special occasions only then you have the option of single trip travel insurance. Holiday travel insurance is designed keeping in mind all the possible requirements of people who undertake traveling for spending their vacations in foreign countries. Just like these options for travel insurance policies there are some other insurance policies as student travel insurance policy, family travel insurance policy, adventurous travel insurance policy, and business travel insurance policy.

Almost in all these options of travel insurance policies the basic covers are exactly same but as per the premium of the policy it can vary. But before you select any policy of travel insurance it is important to carefully consider the level of coverage that you want for yourself and the cost of the policy. Before you opt for any policy of travel insurance you should make sure that the coverage of travel insurance covers personal belongings and money, medical expenses, legal expenses, personal liability and also personal accident. You can check different form of insurance policies on travel around and also can check out various options given so as to save a great deal of money for your self during traveling and can also avoid any danger.

Now internet has become the best mode to search about the various travel insurance options and online you can do it very conveniently. Online you can collect quotes for travel insurance given by many insurance providers and you can compare them all. After comparing them all on the internet you can opt for any travel insurance which you find is the most suitable for you.

How a Travel Agent can Save you Money on your Next Trip

Ryan Anderson asked:

These days, many families have their put their vacation plans toward the bottom of their list of priorities. During tougher times, a vacation can seem to simply cost too much money. However, if you are thinking about going on a vacation, you might want to look into working with a travel agent to save money on vacation expenses. Working with a travel agent to plan your vacation means you might be able to afford the trip you thought you would have to put off until next year. For this reason alone it is definitely worth exploring the possibility. So how can working with a travel agent save you money?

Your travel agent will help you get the most out of your budget

Whether your travel budget is $500 or $5,000, working with a travel agent is probably the best way to make the most of your money. Especially if you’re traveling on a tight budget, the skills, knowledge, and experience of a travel agent can be invaluable.

Just make sure when you’re discussing travel plans with your agent, you are absolutely clear about how much money you have to spend. If you want to travel as cheaply as possible, make sure your travel agent understands this so that they have a good idea of the types of travel and accommodation they should be finding for you.

Your travel agent can quickly access a number of providers

Travel agents typically have access to a large network of travel, accommodation, and activity providers. With computer systems that provide access to travel agents all over the world, they can quickly locate details of discount travel providers in many countries. This is one of the main reasons why working with a travel agent is a good idea when you’re on a strict budget. They have access to a large number of different resources, software, and industry contacts, all of which they can use when hunting down the best bargains.

Your travel agent knows the cheapest times to travel

Some days are less expensive to travel on than other days. Red-eye flights and stand-by flights can be less expensive, but direct flights can cost more than taking a circuitous route that involves several different connections. Your travel agent should be very knowledgeable on the process of all this and knows that flights booked on Friday, Sunday, and Monday are generally more expensive. You stand a better chance of saving money on flights if you’re flexible about your travel dates.

In addition, your travel agent can quickly tell you if your vacation plans fall within a peak season during which flights to your destination are significantly more expensive. This means that you can modify your travel plans if you wish. Changing plans may include a cheaper destination or traveling during the offseason to save money on your flight.

Advanced booking is another factor that your travel agent can use to help you get cheaper flights. You should be booking at least six months ahead to get the most affordable tickets. Your agent should tell you that the holiday season is always a relatively expensive time to travel, no matter how far in advance you book.

Your travel agent has access to bulk discounts and consolidated tickets

If you’re willing to travel as part of an organized tour, your travel agent can help you access travel and accommodation. There are also specials for activities that are significantly cheaper than what you would spend if you did the same activities alone. This is because as part of a tour you can take advantage of bulk discounts. You can even organize your own tour through your travel agent, and the organizer might get to travel for free!

Consolidated tickets provide you with the chance to save on your air travel costs. A consolidated ticket is simply a ticket which was purchased by the agent as part of a large group of tickets sold by the same airline. The agent gets a bulk discount on the tickets and can pass that discount on to their clients.

Your travel agent has industry contacts and experience

This translates into money being put back into your pocket. Your travel agent may be in regular contact with many industry professionals, and might be able to get you a great deal on a tour being planned by another agent. If you’re flexible with travel times, your agent may advise you to adjust your trip dates to travel during a cheaper part of the week, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars in travel costs. An experienced agent should have expert knowledge of your travel destination and can provide advice on budget accommodation and activities. The agent may often be able to provide discount coupons, free passes, and other incentives.

Best of all, none of these advantages come at a price! You can take full advantage of the wealth of knowledge and experience that your travel agent provides, and can potentially save a great deal of money in the process.