In this article, we will explain how anyone can travel at a fraction of the regular price, enjoy perks, benefits and upgrades like you’ve never experienced before, travel tax-deductible anywhere in the world, and even get paid when you travel.

What does it mean to travel as an “insider?” Well, for decades, the travel industry has depended on travel agents to book all travel. Then, in the mid-1990s, two things happened that forever changed the way people book travel. Number one, the airlines stopped paying commissions to agencies. This impacted them greatly since airline commissions were very important to their income stream. At about the same time, the first Internet booking engines like Travelocity came into existence. Over the years as the Internet sites got more user-friendly and offered better prices, less people went to the full service agency, instead booking their own travel online. In a way, the online booking websites trained millions of people to be their own travel agent. Of course, you don’t make a commission, but you do get a great Internet rate.

It’s important to keep in mind that for decades, the travel vendors (cruises, hotels, resorts, etc.) have depended upon the word-of-mouth advertising of travel industry professionals. It’s called free advertising. The travel properties routinely invite travel agents at a deeply reduced rate in exchange for the agents going home to promote their hotel or cruise line. The properties are not going to kick someone out of a hotel room so you can stay there cheaper, but if the room is going to go unused anyway in an off-season or shoulder season, then they will still benefit by having you stay there at a reduced rate and then help to promote their facility. It’s a win-win situation. If the hotel doesn’t rent that room tonight, it’s loss revenue forever.

Tax Benefits

It’s very important to understand the difference between traveling with after-tax dollars as opposed to traveling with pre-tax dollars as a business owner. Let’s look at taxes for a minute: if you are not a business owner, you are missing out on one of the advantages of tax-deductibility. Let’s take a simple example of the difference between an employee and a business owner. Let’s say the average American spends about $3,000 per year on travel and vacations. You may spend more. If you are an employee, you will have to earn about $4,500 down at the job and then net out $3,000 after taxes. You then spend the $3,000 on the vacations. At the end of the vacation, you have great memories, but no money in your pocket.

Contrast this with the travel business owner who also makes $4,500 (maybe even at the same job), but then buys the travel as a business expense. As a business owner, you don’t pay taxes until all business expenses are deducted. In addition, because you are a travel professional, you will probably get the same vacation at a reduced rate, say $1,500. Subtract this from $4,500 and you are left with $3,000. Now you must pay the same rate of taxes (let’s say about 33% or $1,000). You are left with $2,000 in your pocket and the good memories. Which way would you rather travel, as an employee or a travel business owner?

In addition to the travel being tax deductible (consult with your tax advisor), you may have other business expenses such as cell phones, internet connection, car expenses, cameras, etc. As long as you treat your travel business as a real business by documenting your business activities and expenses, you may have additional tax benefits (check with your tax advisor).

Once you learn how to become an insider in the travel insider and travel like the pros, you will not want to travel any other way.

Joe Jacobson is a travel professional working with YTB Travel Network. His focus is on helping others start their own online travel business, as well as helping nonprofits use travel as a fundraising tool. For more information, visit the websites YTB Home Based Business, YTB Travel Network or YTB Travel Chronicles

Hawaii is a stunning vacation destination and these days it is becoming easier than ever to scout around on the internet and get yourself a really good deal. Gone are the days when you had to go into your local agent and trust them to find a suitable package. Now you can mix and match flights, hotels and even cruises for yourself. One of your first priorities when you are looking for cheap vacation packages in Hawaii is to establish which of the islands you would find the most suitable.

You will need to consider how you want to spend your vacation time. Do you want to find an island that is commercialized or quiet and off the tourist trail. Are you interested in seeing the volcanoes? What about some water sports such as surfing? Or would you like to spend your time relaxing and perhaps taking in some of the beautiful scenery and cultural attractions of the islands. Whatever your choice, you are sure to be able to find something suitable amongst the cheap vacation packages in Hawaii.

When is comes to arranging your vacation, wherever it may be, you will always have a choice between booking a cheap package, where you may not be able to guarantee the quality of the hotel and facilities, or a more expensive and reliable option. The choice that you make is very much dependent upon your own circumstances. It is probably fine to opt for one of the cheap vacation packages in Hawaii if you are a young couple who are traveling without children and do not have issues to consider such as disability access in hotels or accessibility for the less agile. A cheap package may mean that you will find yourself on a higher level perhaps without an elevator or up a flight of steps in a resort.

In a destination such as Hawaii, there is so much choice regarding the type of holiday and the facilities that each island has to offer, that sometimes it is worth spending an extra few dollars and enlisting the help of a native Hawaiian agent to help with booking your vacation. If you are looking to take advantage of one of the specific activities that are available, you would be wise to ensure that this is possible in the destination that you have chosen. Some of the cheap vacation packages in Hawaii are not necessarily near the best areas for surfing, for example. This should be researched prior to booking.

It should, however, be perfectly possible to spend some time in front of your computer doing some research and coming up with a choice of reasonably priced options. Make a list of what is important to you and your family and likewise things that are unacceptable, and get to work looking for a cheap vacation package in Hawaii that will suit you all. It could be wise to check out some travel forums to see if other people have used the same package companies that you are interested in. Their experiences may save you time and money and ensure a happy and successful vacation.

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author.
To learn more about vacation packages, please visit New Vacation Site for current articles and discussions.