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

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.

What To Wear

This is a another common question that is on first time cruisers minds - “What should I bring to wear?” The biggest concern here is for the evening meal times and especially the formal nights or those nights where you are expected to where your Sunday best. Now for the women that is usually not such a concern as most women love to dress up but when it comes to putting a tie around a guys neck while on vacation then the whining usually starts.

Formal Nights

Now let me start by saying that while when you are planning your vacation and the topic of dressing up for supper pops up a common reaction is “Hey I’m on vacation, not at work, so I do not want to get dressed up”. Well coming from a guy who doesn’t wear a shirt and tie very often I must say that I don’t mind getting dressed up for a couple of nights because it makes me feel a little special. I find that after a great day of hanging out in the sun wearing shorts and tees all day it actually feels good to head to your stateroom, get showered up and throw on a nice outfit to wear to supper - it’s a great way to end your day. It’s like having a night on the town where you wear your fancy duds, go out for a great meal, and then head off to the theatre for some great entertainment. Aboard the ship these nights are very exciting for men and women alike and even the children like it as most don’t get this chance when at home. Also these times are a great chance to get a family picture taken as there are always photographers scattered throughout the ship who will take your photo and you don’t have to pay for it unless you like it.

All of the ships I have been on have had two formal nights where you are expected to dress up a little more than usual. Women usually wear your typical long evening dress but you don’t have to run out and buy the latest Christian Dior outfit to fit in as you will see a wide variety of dresses and styles including many off the shelf $30.00 dresses. For the men a dark suit with tie is perfectly acceptable but you will see some men wearing tuxedos which can usually be rented aboard the ship (that would have to be arranged before you set sail - don’t go looking for a tux one hour before dinner). So guys if you want to go all out and really impress the women here’s your chance.

Regular Evenings

For the nights that are not classified as formal you are not required to dress up but there is still some code that the ship would like you to adhere to for the evening meal. Shorts, tees, and jeans are not acceptable in the dining rooms for supper. This does not apply during the day as you can head to the same dining rooms for breakfast or dinner and the only restriction is that everyone must wear footwear and the men must wear a shirt and women must wear a coverup over their bathing suits. Now there is no need to be concerned about forgetting these rules as they are always posted just outside the door of any dining room that these rules apply to and if you forget then one of the dining room staff will very politely take you aside and explain the rules.

Daily Wear

During the days pretty much anything goes (as long as you are wearing something - and of course there are cruises available for those who might like to bend those rules). Treat being on deck in the daytime the same as heading to the beach, swim suits are the norm here. Make sure you bring sandals to wear on deck because in 30 degree weather the deck can get very hot to walk on barefoot. Please note that if you want to go to the dining room and even go to a buffet during the day you still have to wear a shirt and/or a coverup - hey it’s only common courtousy.

FreeStyle Cruising

The last ship we vacationed on was the Norwegian Sun and Norwegian has a concept that they call FreeStyle Cruising which is designed to provide an option for those of us who don’t want to get all gussied up. FreeStyle Cruising also allows you to eat in any dining room whenever you like - you don’t have a set time that you have to get ready for. So if you are having a great time up on deck there isn’t any need to stop at 5:00 pm and head to the cabin to get cleaned up for supper at 6:00. You can eat later if you like. Also they don’t require you to dress up for formal nights but they still do have two formal nights where you can pull out the shirt and tie if you like and on those nights the majority of folks were wearing dresses, shirts and ties - even though it was optional.

When we all first booked this cruise this idea seemed very appealing but the funny thing was that we unanimously determined that we actually missed the dressing up part. As a matter of fact I would say the majority of people aboard our ship dressed up anyway for evening meals even though it wasn’t required. As I said before this part of the evening is special and a great way to end the day.

Caribbean Vacations for the whole family.
Cruises and All-Inclusives.
http://caribbeanvacationing.com

Taking children, infants to teenagers, on a Bermuda cruise can make the voyage more exciting and fun-filled. Bermuda cruises with children incorporate learning and playing experiences in a safe and secure environment. They offer a full line of fun activities onboard to keep the children engaged throughout the voyage. Some Bermuda cruises feature separate entertainment areas for children of every age group. Educational programs as well as art, craft, or science projects are arranged for children.

Facilities such children’s libraries, playrooms, computer centers, pools, paddle tennis courts, and video arcades are included in Bermuda cruises with children. Different activities such as talent shows, fitness programs, costume making, treasure hunts, parties, and various other fun events are hosted to entertain the children. Special children’s menus, with their delicious favorites, are also offered. Babysitting services are provided for an extra charge. Moreover, Bermuda cruises offer special facilities and services for physically challenged children.

Most of the Bermuda cruises have trained youth counselors for constant supervision of the children. They are assigned to entertain the children throughout the cruise and to assist them while shopping. Special shore excursions, rides, and hikes are organized for the children.

Bermuda cruises offer outstanding discounts for children. Often, the cruises charge only a third or fourth of one person’s rate for children, which is usually lower than the cabin rate of the first two persons. In some Bermuda cruises, for children younger than twelve, the rate falls to half the actual cruise amount.

Bermuda Cruises provides detailed information on Bermuda Cruises, Discount Bermuda Cruises, Spring Break Bermuda Cruises, Bermuda Cruise Ships and more. Bermuda Cruises is affiliated with Bermuda Triangle.

When preparing for a Caribbean cruise most people are only thinking about warm weather and sunny beaches. Pack some shorts, some muscle shirts, and some dresses; however also remember to bring along a light jacket and at least one warmer outfit. Even the warm demeanor of the weather can turn quickly. From time to time it can get quite chilly and you’ll want to be prepared for this as well as be ready for all of the contingent events and activities in which you may become involved such as swimming water polo and so many more. There are too many things for you to do on your first trip however it never hurts to be prepared. A small amount of preparing can keep you from being uncomfortable on your Caribbean cruise.

Think about how much cash you want to carry with you ATMs are good to use. Keep your cash to a minimum to deter pickpockets and petty thieves however you will need to make sure you have enough to tip the ship staff and shopping on the mainland. This again is where ATMs will come in handy. Paying the usage fees will be less painful then losing all your cash to thieves.

To insure full peace of mind make arrangements for someone to watch your house while you are away. Make sure you choose a person whom you trust. Keep things running as usual as possible if you have a usual housekeeping or lawn service don’t cancel them. Also let someone know how to get in touch with you if they need to.

Most people are thinking about sun and beaches when they start thinking about their Caribbean cruise. Although you’ll spend a fair amount of time on the beach you will enjoy other activities as well. Make sure to pack for warm weather. However bring a light jacket and at least a warm outfit. You may find yourself deciding that you would like to go for a jog around the promenade or perhaps you are in the mood to go out dancing or shopping these are all good activities for which you will need to plan and pack. If you decide that you want to go out and go dancing under the stars or perhaps you are interested in going on a hike while you are in port or dining at one of the more upscale restaurants you will need to keep these possibilities in mind while you are packing for your vacation. Even the sunny demeanor of the weather can turn quickly. A small amount of planning can keep you from being uncomfortable. While you are busy planning and scheduling your activities and what you might need do not forget to take into consideration those obvious items that you will need on a regular basis. It can be expensive to buy day to day items on the ship while on your cruise so remember while you’re packing for those contingencies to also remember to bring along those every day items so you won’t have to pay for them while on board the ship. Of course sunscreen and dark sunglasses are a must. As well as a camera something to read and some tunes.

A few simple things can make sure your vacation is one that is truly relaxing. These simple steps can insure true peace of mind. Pack with a plan watch the cash you carry and make sure your house is tended by a person you trust. Now you can enjoy this Caribbean cruise you’ve been preparing so hard for.

Find the resources your need for your next Caribbean Cruise Vacation at Caribbean Cruise Live.com.

Roatan, one of Honduras’ Bay Islands, lies just north of the mainland. Christopher Columbus first landed here in the early 1500’s, but today Roatan is beginning to welcome a different type of ocean-going vessel: cruise ships.

Why? This has to be one of the prettiest islands in the Caribbean. Once you see what it has to offer, your only question will be how has it remained a best-kept secret for so long.

On our visit here, we chose the Fantasy Island Resort excursion. This involved a bus ride for several miles across the island. I always find the trip to your excursion location interesting in itself - it’s a great way to learn about a country, sightseeing while enroute to your destination. Visitors here will see a wild mix of things while enroute - furious development bordering primitive neighborhoods.

According to our excursion guide, even Roatan’s utility infrastructure is very new, with the island only having gotten electricity in the last decade or so.

Upon our arrival, we discovered that Fantasy Island actually is a separate island from Roatan; it is connected by a wooden bridge to the larger island. The resort is adorned with all things tropical, including lush tropical vegetation and free-roaming monkeys and peacocks. The staff has done a very good job of keeping this resort looking like a just-discovered hidden beach, while still offering a full-service resort complete with dive center.

Walking into the resort’s lobby area, we were treated to free, non-alcoholic fruit drinks, then brought to a beach area where we could leave our belongings until the snorkel trip was complete. After getting snorkel gear, we were off to our first snorkel site, a sunken boat near shore. The second site was a coral reef, again just a few fin kicks from shore. I am a diver, and I have to say that the health and beauty of this shallow reef rivaled most anything I have ever seen while diving much deeper. Exiting the water is a breeze, thanks to the shaded pier that juts into the water, specially built for divers and snorkelers.

The snorkel trip was followed by free time at the beach, which is appointed with beach chairs, ‘umbrellas’ of thatched material, and hammocks strung between trees in the shade.

Other excursions here include a trip to Gumbalimba Park, which is a one-stop shop for entertainment and adventure on this island. This park offers an animal preserve, complete with monkeys who love attention, iguanas, turkeys, and other exotic animals. Also here is the ‘Coxen’s Cave’ history tour, a sandy beach with chairs and hammocks in the shade, a restaurant offering a lobster buffet, a gift shop, and snorkeling/scuba/snuba. There is even a ‘zip line’ canopy tour, where you whiz down a cable enjoying a view of paradise from above the tree canopy! If you are traveling as a family or group, this truly is one place which has something for everyone. Check with your cruise line for details on these or other excursions.

Once you travel to Roatan, Honduras, you’ll understand why cruise lines such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean are investing millions of dollars in pier improvements in this Central American country. They understand the potential that this island holds. If you’re looking for a tropical location with plenty to offer that still maintains its natural, primitive beauty, put Roatan, Honduras on your must-see list.

Johnnie Rhodes

For more information, including pictures, please visit:
http://www.thecruisinginsider.com/roatan

You might think with all the economic uncertainty and problems in the financial markets that now is not a great time to be searching for job vacancies on cruise ships. However almost alone amongst the foreign travel industry - cruises are defying the market and are more popular now than ever. There are more cruise liners operating all over the world than ever before and the demand for reliable skilled employees is rising all the time.

Most cruise liners now are pretty much comparable to floating five star hotels and offer a huge variety of facilities and entertainment to their passengers. This of course means that the variety of skills needed to look after thousands of guests is also greatly increased from just about every conceivable hospitality job through to IT support, nurses and admin roles most people can find an appropriate job vacancy on a cruise liner.

Working on a cruise liner has lots of benefits - you get to travel all over the world, all your bills and board are free, meet people from all over the world and generally makes your job into an adventure. However it is important to remember that these jobs are all hard work - cruise passengers can be extremely demanding and you have to be professional and courteous at all times. The discipline involved is much more than a normal job simply because when that ship sets sail everyone has to be relied on to do their job and keep the passengers happy.

Obviously you should be comfortable working at sea and unless you are very senior or an officer you will generally be required to share a cabin. The crews quarters are often quite small - so again if you’re somebody who needs lots of their own space you might not enjoy this. Having said that you are usually able to use all the ships facilities when off duty so there is plenty of space for relaxing away from sleeping quarters.

Working on a cruise liner is certainly a fantastic experience but it’s not for everyone - if you want to do 9-5 hours you’ll be disappointed as everyone is expected to pitch in and do whatever is required. There is a great camaraderie though amongst most crews - with friendships made that often last a lifetime. You work hard but when you finish your contract you’ll come back having met lots of new people, seen loads of new places and best of all an almost untouched salary sitting in your bank account!

If you are seriously looking for job vacancies on cruise ships there are some agencies that can help you out. This guide was written by a cruise ship recruiter which also gives you all the information you need to get your big adventure under way as quickly as possible.

Job Vacancies on Cruise Ships

All the best
Jenny

The travel agent who won her business did it by rebating. If there is one dirty word in the cruise industry it’s rebating, which means an agent kicks back part of his or her commission (generally 15% of the cruise fare) to pass along a lower fare.

After 15 years of writing about the cruise industry I still don’t see why rebating is bad - don’t real estate agents and car salesmen do the same thing? Isn’t this just basic competition? Still, several cruise lines won’t let any travel agent rebate cruise fares, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Sea Cruises and, to a large part, Norwegian Cruise Line.

The remaining cruise lines do allow rebating, but won’t permit travel agents to advertise or promote a lower price to the public. You have to ask.

This means that if your sights are set on a Princess, Holland America, Cunard, Oceania, Carnival and Seabourn cruise, it’s worth your time to ask travel agents if he/she can come up with a lower price than the one you’re first quoted.

Of course your chances are better in some cruising regions. Right now, sales of Caribbean, Mexico, Baltic, South America and Western Europe cruises are soft. Hence, here you stand a better chance of getting a lower price than on Alaska and Greek Island cruises, which are selling much better this year.

It’s all about supply and demand. And timing. For example, traditionally suites and balcony cabins sell out first. But now that a bad economy is upon us and there’s overcapacity in the Caribbean, Mexico and some areas of Europe, you still may get a better deal on the highest-priced categories. So ask. The only think a travel agent can say is “sorry, this is the price.”

WHEN NOT TO SHOP AROUND: When you have a wonderful travel agent you trust implicitly, who has steered you towards good deals in the past. To save $100 or so isn’t worth it.

One caveat. Travel agents can only rebate the price of a cruise. There are fixed costs, like port charges, taxes, fuel surcharges and airfare that are never negotiable.

Anne Campbell is a journalist who has been covering the cruise industry for 15 years. She is editor of Cruising From New York http://www.cruisingfromnewyork.com and ShipCritic Blog http://www.shipcriticblog.com

Visit these web sites to sign up for news, bargains, tips and ship reviews

Cruise Critic is an excellent way to get to know what you can expect from a cruise beyond what you read in the promotion pamphlet. You will only see good things there, but from Cruise Critic, you can get the lowdown on the real deal.

Another great advantage is that you can compare cruises here. Something might have seemed just right for you, but you might have nagging doubts whether it is worth the money. Well, Cruise Critic is the perfect place for you to find out if there is another cruise, maybe not so well advertised, that gives you what you want at a much better price.

It is always difficult to go at something blind - how can you know if the cruise that sounds perfect will deliver everything it promises? If the cruise has been running at least for a year, you are sure to find somebody or the other on this online community who has taken the cruise, and you can find out exactly what you can - and cannot - expect from the cruise. You will not have to take anything blindfolded.

This online community is also a great place for a beginner to get started. If you are wet behind the ears, you will find plenty of very helpful hints that will hold you in good stead when you do go on that cruise.

Choosing a cruise in itself can be a daunting task for somebody who is a novice. You will find plenty of people on the message boards and forums who are happy to help and pass on their knowledge. After all, if you do not have some sort of knowledge of cruise etiquette, you are bound to make blunders that will make your ears burn!

Forewarned is always forearmed. Talking to people who know and are willing to help is always a great advantage, no matter what you are embarking on. If it is something like a cruise, which is something most people dream about for years before finally taking the plunge -though hopefully not literally - then it is always better to do all the research you possibly can before making your choice. Cruise Critic is the perfect place for you to do that.

Manuel Wiggins is an accomplished niche website developer and author.
To learn more about Cruise Critic visit Summer Cruises Online for current articles and discussions.

As more and more people are turning to owning their own home based business for supplemental and full time income, there are also more and more people looking to becoming a home based travel agent. Many people assume that there is not much money to be made, and that the travel industry is declining. This is not true. Even though the rate of financial growth in travel has slowed — the financial earnings and the overall money spent on travel continues to increase year after year. There is still money to be made in being a travel agent — especially if the agent specializes in a certain niche, such as specializing in group vacation packages and in group cruises.

If a person wants to train at home to become a home based travel agent — they may wish to consider becoming certified through a training programs that teaches both the travel service business and the network marketing business. These travel agent training programs provide full company support and team support by other independent home based agents. Another reason a network marketing affiliation is beneficial to the travel agent is because this type of program provides the agent with various non-traditional avenues to earning a very high level of residual income. The network marketing certification program teaches the new agent how to become a fully certified IATA recognized agent. In addition, the program also teaches the agent how to market “exclusive travel memberships” to clients and individuals. The sale of these memberships then provide the agent with a steady, recurring and growing residual income base. The network marketing program also financially rewards their home based agents who refer others to the agent training program. When an agent recruits another new agent to the training program, an upfront commission is earned, and a residual override commission is also earned. The residual override commission is earned month after month on the set up of the new agent’s home based travel agency.

The network marketing travel agent certification program is a fairly new approach to training to become a travel agent. However, an individual can become a fully certified agents and also receive all the tools needed to set up their agency. One of the tools provided is an exclusive booking portal so that the agent can earn 70%-90% of the travel commissions earned that are booked from the agent’s home office. Full professional training and ongoing career development training is also provided to the travel agent networker — at no additional cost. The on-going training consists of instruction on how to build a successful and income producing home based travel business. Trainings are held on how to approach groups and businesses to propose group trips or incentive trips. Trainings are also held on how to specialize in a niche area of travel, such as how to specialize in luxury cruises. All of these trainings are done through live teleconference, so the home based agent may access the trainings from their own home during convenient evening hours. Furthermore, the travel agent networker also is placed on a team of other home based travel agent networkers– so the new agent is always supported by an upline mentor who desires to help the new agent become profitable in their travel business as soon as possible.

When a travel agent becomes certified through a program offering the two combined business models (the network marketing plan and the certified travel agent plan), the agent is then positioned to potentially earn $100,000 a year or more in not just one way, but in three ways –

(1) through earning commissions on travel booked for clients,

(2) through earning residual income on the sell of exclusive, deep-discount travel memberships (these membership provide monthly destination trips for members at as much as 80% off the lowest internet rates) and

(3) through residual override commissions on the travel business completed by other travel agencies in the agent’s referral network.

In conclusion — to anyone considering becoming a home based travel agent, I highly recommend that you consider becoming certified and opening your agency through a program that truly provides you with the training and the tools you need to

(1) receive your certification, and

(2) actually realize an amazing and steady income that may even put you in retirement many years early — so you can then enjoy the freedom and attain the resources needed to have even more travel and vacation experiences for yourself!

Sherry Pevey is a successful online network marketer and and independent agent with Traverus Travel. To learn more about how to become a successful certified home based travel agent with an income potential of $100-$200,000 a year, visit her Traverus Travel Team Site http://www.travelsuccessteam.com