Another Secret of the Travel Industry- Online Travel

The next best kept secret of the travel industry is- online travel retailers display what they want to display. Here's a great example. A recent search on a major online retailer showed a very low fare from Toronto to Los Angeles. 2 catches- Northwest and through Detroit. Nobody from Toronto would take Northwest to Los Angeles through Detroit. Worse still, if you decided you would take this flight (because of the price), and clicked through to purchase it, it was not available. Secret #2- most online retailers do an inventory refresh every 4-6 hours. (The low fare was available to a few but maybe not available for several hours).
Back to the first point- the select inventory and display. American Airlines is attepting to launch a new direct connect booking system (like a private booking site). Orbitz is no longer displaying American because of a dispute related to this program. Now Expedia is joining the fray. Expedia has stopped listing American fares in its initial fare search results (i.e. your first search results). You have to make an extra click and search for American fares.
So, a couple of bits of advice- buy what you want to buy (NW stopping in Detroit for 4 hours on the way to L.A.?) and realize you may not be getting the full picture.

Airline Lounges

If you travel for business, it's nice to be able to relax in an airline lounge. The best in the world is in Dubai- the Emirates Lounge in their new terminal for Business Class only. Several chefs prepare hot and cold foods and it is 5 star. They even have a Spa! The London Lounge in Heathrow Terminal 3 is pretty good and is for Star Alliance travellers. Comfortable with some quality food and drink. Porter Airlines at Toronto Island is great for a small airline. WiFi, espresso, and Walker's cookies. Among the worst is Air Canada Terminal 1 in Toronto. Comfortable but...WiFi is spotty as it is provided by the airport. The food is cafeteria quality. Warmed over pasta, iceberg lettuce, olives. Their saving grace is the liquor- Guiness on tap and some decent wine. Lounge access is not what it's cracked up to be!

Disney World or Bust!

If you are a parent of a small child, you know that you must go to Disney! It is a parental obligation. Having been 3 times, I can say that it is a lot of fun for big kids too. But it is a minefield- there are so many choices and variables. Parks, passes, hotels, best airfare, dining plans, dining reservations with characters, best time to go, etc. Do yourself a favour and use a travel agent who specializes in Disney-www.chipandco.com/2010/11/disney-world-quick-tips-should-you-use-a-travel-agent/. A Disney vacation is an investment- and will cost you more than you think! Get expert advice from someone who knows better and has planned Disney trips. You'll be as happy as your kids when you set foot in the "magic kingdom"!

Vacation Memories

A research company called the YPartnership has recently presented evidence that there is a strong connection between vacations and the creation of memories that stay with us our entire lives. Pretty amazing and incredibly powerful! And the research also shows that when we plan vacations for our families, we are conscious that we are creating memories for them. So, while everyone can and do create their memories, why would you want to remember that cheap trip to Cuba (or Domincan, etc.)? After all, it's no bargain if you hate the trip! And who wants to remember that.

The Best Kept Secret In The Travel Industry

The secret is- those who book directly with the supplier are paying for something they are not getting- the services of a professional travel consultant. You are going to pay an agent fee or commission when you book directly because it is always built into the price of any brochure program. Tour operators, cruise lines and top hotels in particular, love when you book direct because a large portion of that agent commission simply goes directly into their pocket! A good agent has your best interests at heart (they want a repeat customer); they will look out for further discounts for you; and will be there for you in an emergency (think volcano in Iceland). A good agent will compare various travel companies; will advise on the best product to meet your needs; point out advantages and disadvantages of your options; analyze your travel insurance needs, and provide personal service. On the price side, you will never receive better pricing on any online site. A connected agent will have as good or better pricing than you will see on any direct booking site. So, get unbiased travel advice and expertise from a good agent- you're paying for it!

Ottawa

Ottawa is not exactly exotic but has a nice feel to it. A blend of Toronto and Montreal- most speak French (in addition to English of course) and it is clean like Toronto. The outdoor cafes, the Byward Market, a selection of museums, the canal, etc. A very nice long weekend, especially in summer. Le Moulin de Provence (in the Byward Market) is the bakery where Barrack Obama stopped for cookies when he was in town. Their baked goods are worth the trip to Ottawa alone!

Virgin America

I was invited to the Virgin America launch party at the brand new Thompson Hotel in downtown Toronto. And had the good fortune to meet Sir Richard Branson there. Virgin (and Sir Richard) always do things with a flair. Virgin America gets rave reviews from everyone- and when the price is the same (or less), why not give them a try? And the Thompson Hotel in Toronto (at 550 Wellington St. West) is something else. The launch party (and these photos) were on the rooftop lounge (complete with small pool). Great location, great ambience and great last minute rates. And the small Thompson chain is big with the rich and famous. Great service and value on both fronts. As Sir Richards so often says "brilliant".

Offline Is the New Online

The Travel Agent is alive and well. And saving travellers time, money, hassle, etc. I couldn't have said it better than Michael Valkevich at Fast Company: http://www.fastcompany.com/1653587/worklife-offline-is-the-new-online