Hotel “Bed Warmers” Available

Looking for a way to warm up those cold bed sheets in your hotel room? An English hotel has a new service called “Bed Warmers”.  The hotel will enlist a staff member to do it for you.  The Holiday Inn in Kensington London is offering a five-minute “human bed warming” service.  So, who get’s “bed warming” duty and what is expected from the bed warmer?  The hotel staff is instructed to dress from head-to-toe in a white, fleecy outfit that looks like a hazemat suit with footed pajama feet.  They will jump into bed with you and move around generating the needed  heat between those cold sheets for 5 minutes.  Usually two staff members, a female and male are sandwiched between you to generate the bed warming experience.  As an added bonus, you might get a little pillow talk at the same time.

Ryan Air’s new “Fee to Wee”

Cross your legs if you plan on flying on Ryan Air, they have plans to charge passenger to use its aircraft’s restrooms.  The airline is planning on installing “coin-operated” restrooms as a “cost saving proposal” that would help reduce fares by at least 5%. Ryan Air is proposing to remove (2) toilets in the back of the plane to make room for 6 extra passenger seats, leaving only one restroom on board for passengers.  The proposed “Toilet” charge would be 1 euro or 1 pound.  The airline route being proposed is between Ireland and Britain.  One industry expert predicts the aircraft remodel might require Boeing to re-certify its evacuation standards.  The complexities of re-engineering each 737 may be cost prohibited for the removal of the restrooms and installation of extra seats. It may revert to just charging it’s passenger it’s “Fee for Wee” without the extra seats.

Andy’s Pick for Mexico – Riviera Maya Adults-Only All-Inclusive Resorts

Want a warm winter get-away without the kids in a really nice property?  Check out my review of the  Iberostar Grand All-Inclusive Adults Only Resort near Cancun Mexico. click here to read about it.

What you can expect to see this coming Year.

It’s been a busy beginning of the new year. During the previous year,  the travel industry took a serious hit but it fared better than a lot of other industries.  This is good news coming into 2010 because, as the economy improves, travel should recover faster than other industries or sectors.  Travel is beginning to see a slight increase over 2009 and some predictions are “Book early for 2011 as 2010 demand is increasing and you may be “shut out” for peak travel destinations over peak periods.

In this review the trends for 2010 were taken from a surveys from Travel Age West publication.  Find out which destination are on the “bucket list”, which all-inclusive resorts are in style, which cruises lines are competing to attract new cruisers, and why it will be a good year to travel.

Destinations Winners in 2010

So which destinations could be the big winners in 2010?  A recent survey by Travel Age West reviewed that some of the travel industry’s top destination show a trend toward the exotic.  Some of the top destinations which consumers were likely to visits in 2010 are,  Colombia, Botswana, Nicaragua, Tanzania, Greece, Germany, Morocco, New Zealand, Portugal, Western Australia, Turkey, India and Chile.  The survey concluded that American travelers continue to seek and visit places around the world that are unusual.  Other exotic destinations include Vietnam, China, Thailand, Egypt, Peru and the Galapagos.  Many of these destinations are growing for multigenerational travel and of course Europe continues to attract Americans for its unique ambiances.  As for us in the travel industry, our challenge will be to help you find one-of-a-kind experiences in an exotic destination, all at a great price.  James TravelPOINTS has preferred relationships with vendors all over the world will help to provide the experience and style you are accustoming to.

Hotels

The economy has not been kind to the hotel industry this past year.  Surveys report that improvements in the hotel industry won’t really improve occupancy until 2011.  Although numbers are down guest satisfaction survey found that visitors are impressed with what they are getting.  Hoteliers know that providing extraordinary guest service in a consistent manner is good for continued success.

What we have noticed over the last year is survival of the fittest, the resorts and hotels that are continuing to provide additional service,amenities and guest satisfaction are still standing.  On day to day basics we hear from our travelers which hotels and resorts are providing the service and ambiance that they advertise.  Traveling Americans do not want to stay at an all-inclusive resort and find out they are the only guests at the property. Our agents are kept informed on a daily basis from our vendors to provide information to our clients which properties to stay while on vacation and which one’s to avoid.

During 2009, many of the luxury resorts were reluctant to reduce their pricing for fear that the traveling public would come to expect these rates.  To off set lowing prices, many of the luxury properties began offering extra amenities i.e. food and beverage credits, rounds of golf or spa treatments to make their pricing more appealing.  Over the course of the year, travelers came to expect and seek out added value amenities and rates.

One major all-inclusive resort that continues to excel and provide visitors with unforgettable vacation experiences is Sandals and Beaches.  Sandals have invested to enhance its products and a new partnership with Martha Steward Living this year.   It’s opening a new Sandal in Exuma Bahamas, featuring 190 oceanfront rooms ranging from beachfront villas to charming bay house settings.  The 500 acre resort, formerly the Four Seasons Resort Great Exuma at Emerald Bay also comes with a championship Greg Norman-designed golf course.

Cruises in 2010 – “Hang On To Your Hat”

In 2010 there are many new cruise ships to debut.  Royal Caribbean Cruises Lines just debuted it’s newest ship  the Oasis of the Seas, a 5400 passenger mega ship with mega fun and entertainment.    Norwegian Cruise Line in January will launch a 4,200 passenger cruise ship called the Norwegian Epic.  Oceania Cruises will launch its first new vessel, the 1,258 passenger Marina.  Silverseas Cruises will launch their new ship the Silver Spirit and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line will launch another new ship called the Allure of the Seas.  Carnival Cruise lines is also ready to roll out it largest ship in its fleet, a 4,656 passenger ship called the Carnival Dream.  In April Celebrity Cruises will launch the Eclipse and Costa Cruises will introduce the Deliziosa.  Holland America Lines will debut its newest ship, the Nieuw Amsterdam scheduled to set sail July 04 with a 12-day Mediterranean cruises between Venice, Italy and Barcelona Spain.  .

With all these new ships and existing ships in the market, what does 2010 look like for the consumer?  It appears that dramatic values will continue to be offered through out the industry to stimulate travel.Some of the deals being offered to get consumers off the fence and into cruise berths are “2-for-1″ cruise fares, free airfare, and generous onboard credits.

One of the greatest advantages our staff has the constant update we receive on the travel offers on a daily basis.  We know which offers are really good and ligament, which one’s sound good but have hidden fees and restrictions associated with them.  At James TravelPOINTS we receive offers from cruise lines many have never heard of.  Some of our clients traveling to obscure destination are looking for unique cruising experience, so we  keep abreast of these unknown cruise lines that complement the clients experience and journey. These things we know and we share with our customers who travel all over the world.

The travel offers and savings are going to be abundant during this year.  We are already seeing the public starting to travel again, but not at the same levels as previous years. Demand for travel has to increase to balance out the over abundant supply of inventory.  I don’t see a decrease in inventory, especially when you have all these new cruise ships coming online in the next 2 years with new ships along with the new hotel resorts that have been built over the past 10 years to coop with the growing demand before the recession.  If you are thinking of taking a vacation this year, call us and let us help you find the best fit, we have very competitive pricing suppliers that go “toe-toe” with the online agencies, and in most situations we are able to come out with a better pricing situation.  Remember, a good DEAL does not always translate into a good vacation, there is a reason for “Really Good Deals”.

Agent Profile- Dennie Zabler

Dennie Zabler a knowledgeable, experienced professional Travel Consultant, has been with James TravelPOINTS for over 29 years.  She is a dedicated Travel Agent that enjoys working with new and repeat clients.  She has earned her C.T.C (Certified Travel Counselor) Certification in 1994.  As a Kenya specialist, she has been recognized by American Express and has extensive experience working with clients traveling into Mexico, Hawaii, Caribbean, Cruises, Alaska, Europe and South Pacific.  Dennie has traveled all over the world and brings a wealth of experience and advice to her new and past clients.  She has also achieved the rank of Commodore status with Princess Cruise Lines.  Destination specialties include: South Pacific, Caribbean, Mexico, Africa and Hawaii.  You can contact Dennie at 303-442-2340 ext 230 or email at: denniez@travelpoints.com

Andy’s Pick for Mexico – Riviera Maya Adults-Only All-Inclusive Resorts

Review of the Iberostar Grand All-Inclusive Adults Only Resort Riviera Mexico, click here to read about it.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Date: Dec. 22, 2009 From: Andy James – James TravelPOINTS

2010 Travel Outlook

As 2010 approaches, what is the travel outlook for the new year. Are there still going to be great travel offers and deals,  and what travel opportunities do we foresee.   The  key components to great deals in 2010 is the availability of travel supply in the market place. At the moment,  there are a lot of great travel opportunities in the next 6 – 8 months,  demand has not caught up with the supply in the market.  Over the past 10 years, the cruise ships, hotel resort companies, and airlines  have been building and adding inventory for a growing U.S. travel market.   In 2009, the industry took a sharp dive in travel demand which resulted in excess inventory and not enough demand to fill the void. Hence, you begin to see discounted travel offers by suppliers to step up their marketing efforts to fill lagging inventory and entice travelers to book.   Some of these travel offers are “Last Minute” and some are discounted offers to persuade travelers to commit for travel later in the year.

So what should be your plan of attack? First thing to do is to call us;  we see and hear about all the deals that are flying around on a daily basis from cruises to vacation packages all over the world. Next,  be patient and flexible,  if  you are planning on traveling during a “peak period”.   The deals are not going to be as grand as travel during the shoulder or low season. Airline seats are going to the key factor, if the carriers cut back on lift into your destination, seats will be tight. Watch the fares and inventory, don’t wait until the last minute to book because the seats won’t be there.  (James TravelPOINTS online booking Tool) 

Travel offers and deals into Mexico and Central America will be in fairly good supply this year again along with many of the resorts offering great amenities. Cruises deals are going to be in large supply this coming year,  with some of the best deals available into Alaska, Europe and the Caribbean.  Many of the cruise lines have added new ships into their fleet in 2009 and many others are expecting to take possession of more ships in 2010. With an increase in cruise berths supply, the cruise industry has made a concerted effort to fill their ships, once filled, they plan to make up any revenue short fall with on-board purchases i.e. gambling, on-board shopping, shore excursions, signature dining, drinks etc. If you are planning to visit Europe this year, a cruise is a very effective way to see the sights and save. Call us; we have blocked space with many of the cruise lines that offer extra amenities on top of great pricing. In 2010, we don’t see a lot of change compared to the deals offered in 2009. The travel offers and savings are going to be abundant during the year. Our outlook for travel in 2010,  steady with modest gains over 2009.  Until  employment and the economy starts to turn around and more of the traveling public starts traveling again, demand for travel will creep along in small strides.  I don’t see a reduction in inventory, especially when all these new cruise ships are coming online in the coming year and there is an over abuntant of resorts and hotels to be filled.   Are You Receiving “Last Minute Travel Offers” If you receive a cruise or tour offer in the mail or email, call us, we can help you out and it won’t cost you anymore money. Every day we receive phone calls and emails from our clients asking if we can help them out by booking travel offers they have received in the mail or email from travel suppliers, yes of course we can. In many of the situations, we are able to find a better value for the price, because our staff work with these suppliers on a daily basis, they know which companies are offering sub-standard deals and which companies are offering really good deals.

Agent Profile – Peggy Wood

Peggy has been a travel consultant with James TravelPoints for the past 15 years. She has extensive personal travel experience throughout Europe and has been recognized by American Express as an Italy Specialist. Peggy has traveled to Europe many times exploring various destinations with an eye on Boutique Hotels and Villas. She has participated on many walking tour adventures with “Back Roads” and has great advice for clients seeking walking and sightseeing tours. Peggy is also a South Pacific specialist and recently returned from a 2 week vacation to New Zealand. In additional she has traveled to South Africa, Hawaii, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica and the Caribbean. She also very adept at domestic and international airline reservations. Her service specialties are luxury vacations, romantic honeymoons, customized boutique hotel journeys and intimate getaways to exotic destinations along with adventure travel. You can contact Peggy at 303-442-2340x 237 or email her at: Sicily Italy – Great Vacation Destination

Americans are just beginning to discover what savvy European travelers have known for years–which Sicily is one of the great vacation spots in Europe. Sicily is small enough that you can conquer it by car in a week although two weeks would be better. Happiness is driving through a world of vineyards and citrus groves, ancient Greek towns and temples while dining on incredible Sicilian fare. Below is the route I choose to travel and would gladly arrange for you. (Click here to read more about Peggy’s Trip)

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

A Real Family Business!

My name is Don James and together with my brother Andy and my sister Ann, we own and operate James TravelPoints.  Our father, Don James, Sr. started the business back in 1957 and the three of us siblings became involved in the business in 1981.  With 28 years of working together, we are extremely proud to consider ourselves a successful family business.  And the family tradition will continue, two sons this past year have joined the business for the third generation!

Travel Updates

Much of our business today is done by phone, email or website and we do not have the chance to meet many of our customers face to face.  In an effort to let you know who we are and what we do, every week or two we will send out a brief update on current travel industry news.  In our updates, we will also share with you a few of the outstanding travel bargains that we come across which are simply too good not share with our customers.

The Next Generation of Mega Ships

The big cruise news this week is the announcement of Royal Caribbean’s new mega cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas.  The new ship has been six years in the making and is the largest cruise ship in the world.  The mega ship can accommodate up to 5400 guests at double occupancy in 2700 staterooms.  At full occupancy, the ship will have more passengers than the population of many small towns!  The ship features seven themed “neighborhoods”.   The inaugural departure is scheduled for December 5, from it’s home port in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Trans-Atlantic On Sale!

Every fall the Trans-Atlantic market goes on sale and this year is no exception.  British Airways this week announced some fantastic fares from various U.S. cities to London and Paris.  One of the sample fares listed is $236 from New York to London round trip!  It costs more than that to fly round trip Denver to Casper, Wyoming!  Of course the New York/ London fare does not include taxes, fees and surcharges, and terms and conditions do apply.  The fares are good for travel from Nov. 17, 2009 through March 28, 2010, and tickets must be purchased by Nov. 19, 2009.

Apple Vacations “Super Sale”

We are seeing some fantastic bargains for Mexico this year!  This week Apple Vacations announced their annual “Super Sale” packages and there are some great values.  For example, in the Riviera Maya for departures on Jan 3 and 10, 2010, five nights at the all inclusive  Iberostar Paraiso del Mar, prices start at $799.99 per person based on double occupancy and that includes RT air from Denver, transfers to/from Cancun to the Iberostar Paraiso del Mar, all meals, drinks and more!  Taxes and fees are not included and restrictions apply.  If you would like to learn more about this trip or other “Super Sale” packages, please give us a call at 303-442-2340 or 800-538-7461.

Don James
James TRavelPOINTS
American Express Rep Office
1750 14th Street
Boulder, Co. 80302
PH: 303-442-2340

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

 James TravelPOINTS – Travel Tid-Bits  12/02/2009

When the snow starts to fly,  Americans like to head south for warm sun and ocean breezes, but this past year, Mexico has seen its name in the headlines across America for its border incidences and H1N1 Flu issues.  Here’s what you need to know to stay safe on your vacation into Mexico.          

***   Check the U.S.Department’s web site for security travel alerts at http://www.travel.state.gov/travel.

The U.S. State Department recommends you stay in areas where tourists usually reside.  They don’t recommend you go off the beaten path and explore remote areas that are not typically ventured into.  Carry a working cell phone and tell others where you are going if you are out on an adventure out of the ordinary. If you feel inclined register with the State Department e-mail notifications at:  https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui.

***  H1N1 Flu Advice for Travel into Mexico. 

Get a H1N1 vaccination, especially if you are prone to the Flu or you have a chronic health disorder or compromised immune system.  Mexico received a lot of attention over this and the risks are no different than staying home, you are susceptible of getting the Flu in the U.S or in Mexico, the advice is,  get a flu shot, wash your hands often, take sanitary wipes.   Like traveling anywhere in the world, common sense decisions are based on your experiences of where to stay and where to go.  

Contact us.  At James & Aggie TravelPOINTS we have A good sense of balance for our client’s safety and well being.  Our Travel Agents are kept abreast of current situations based on personal experiences and the constant communication between our client experiences and our relationships with the tour operators.  The information gathered provides the basis for making recommendation on the destination and allows our clients to make decisions based on these details.  Our tour providers and cruise ship up-date our agency on a regular basis regarding any situation that may pose a possible safety risk.  Tour operators and cruise lines tend to avoid destinations that pose a major risk associated with the well being of their passengers.  Over the past year, we have sent 1000’s of clients to Mexico and to our knowledge,  no one has reported back to us that they contracted the H1N1 flu.  

Andy JamesJames TravelPOINTS – American Express Representative Office1750 14th StreetBoulder, Co. 80302PH: 303-442-2340×224www.travelpoints.com 

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!