Online chat about vacations
June 12, 2008
Stan Sommers with International Tours will answer your vacation questions. Stan knows the tips and tricks to make your vacation dollars go further. Submit your questions.
Moderator: Stan Sommer of International Tours has been giving Emporians travel advice for 24 years. Today, he has agreed to answer reader's questions in an online chat. Be sure to refresh your screen often to keep up with the conversation. Have a question? please submit it in the next 15 minutes, as we have a number of questions that were submitted in advance. The first question is about popular travel destinations.
moderator: What are some of the most popular travel destinations and what are the costs?
Stan Sommers: Disney World, Honeymoons to the Caribbean, Mexico, Caribbean & Alaska Cruises. Prices will vary due to length of stay at a resort, length of cruise, type of cabin selected and whether you select the all-inclusive option which includes all meals & beverages. Estimates on costs of an all-inclusive 3 star resort in Mexico for 5 nights would run $1260pp for airfare, transfers, hotel & taxes. Honeymoon couples staying at Sandals resort in Jamaica can expect to pay $1600 to $1800pp. A 5 night cruise with oceanview cabin may run $800 to $1000pp depending on the time of year and how early you booked the cruise. Alaska cruises due to a short season and high demand are generally more expensive than a Caribbean cruise.
moderator: How have family vacations changed as compared to 20 years ago?
Stan Sommers: 20 yrs ago families generally took their family vacation in the summer time for two weeks going to visit grandparents. Now they'll take 2 or 3 shorter trips during the year.
emporia123: Are the all inclusive resorts really more expensive than non all inclusive. What do your customers say about the all inclusive vacations?
Stan Sommers: Yes they are. As all meals and beverages(alcoholic & soft drinks) are included. For a seven night stay the price difference could be $400 to $500 higher. The majority of my clients like the all-inclusive option, because then they know in advance the total price of their vacation.
emporia123: With increased costs are vacation resorts discounting their prices? If so what are the real bargains right now?
Stan Sommers: There are certain times of the year that resorts have discounts. In Mexico, there slow time is summer and fall, when it's warm everwhere. Except cruises are generally higher during the summer months as its family vacation time. High season in the Caribbean is from 15Dec to just after Easter.
quarterback: What packages do you have for disneyworld and how much do they cost?
Stan Sommers: A family of 4, staying 5 nights on a disney property hotel, 3 day park hopper pass and airport transfers would run $1400. Airfare depending on how earlier you booked your trip would be approx $260pp. Disney also has a meal plan that includes both breakfast & dinner would be an additional $195pp
moderator: What is your favorite vacation destination and what makes it unique?
Stan Sommers: Each of us has favorite vacation destinations that change as we live our lives. When we were raising our family....our sons favorite vacation was the Methodist Church ski trip. Our favorite sport has been Scuba diving....so the island became our favorite vacation for many years. Travel offers the opportunity to enjoy your sports, hobbies, seeing the beautiful wonders of our world, cruising to different port-of-call and to learn about different people and cultures. What makes them unique? You learn from each experience an
quarterback: With air fare prices going up - when is the best time to buy tickets? When do you get the best deals.
Stan Sommers: As early as possible. With most of the major carriers you can purchase tickets 300 days in advance. Traveling on Tues, Wed or Sat., as these are the airlins slower days could save additional money.
quarterback: Why is it best to use a travel agent to plan trips instead of trying to do it our selves. How much does it cost to use a travel agent?
Stan Sommers: One of the best reasons is that the travel agent has either been to the destination you are wanting to travel to or has the wholsale vendors that can help in giving the best advise to the client Also, the agent is there to help in case something goes wrong while you are traveling. For all travel packages that include air, transfers, hotel, our commission is paid by the vendor we use and not the client.
moderator: What is your best travel advice?
Stan Sommers: The best advice I can give is to use a travel agent. Start your planning early. Do some research on the destination you think you want to visit. Have all adult travelers come to the first visit and have a budget in mind, so the agent can ask questions in order to qualify the clients for the right destination. Sometimes after talking with both clients, the agent may conclude from your answers that the destination you think you want to visit would not be suited to your lifestyle and could recommend better locations.
Moderator: That's all the time we have today. Thanks to Stan Sommers for taking the time to come by The Gazette office to participate in this chat, and to all the people who submitted questions. A transcript of today's chat will be published in Friday's Gazette. Keep your eyes open for the next online chat here at www.emporiagazette.com.