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What You Should Know About Cruise Ships Before Traveling

Critical Information That You Should Know Before Sailing! 

Cruise Ship Ratings

Cruise ships are rated on a 100 point scale. They need to maintain a health score higher than 86 out of 100. Cruise ships are a great location to have your next vacation. If given the opportunity, many parents would choose to take a leisurely cruise alone leaving the kids at home. Cruise ships are very safe. They are equipped with life boats, life jackets, emergency personnel, doctors, and firemen all on the cruise ship.  Finding the best travel deals will insure that your cruise vacation will generate a pleasant lifetime memory.

CRUISE SHIPS ARE LIKE FLOATING RESORTS

Cruise ships are like floating resorts with all the choices that fine resorts have to offer. You can be by yourself and lie back in a lounge chair, breathe in the sea air, soak up the sun, read good books, or watch the ever-changing view. Cruise ships are required to follow strict environmental regulations that ensure that treated sewage and wastewater from showers, sinks and kitchen galleys are discharged properly at designated offshore perimeters. In fact, cruise line waste management is so highly regarded that cruise lines are often consulted by state governments on pollution abatement and sewage control. Cruise ships are like floating resorts with all the amenities fine resorts have to offer.

PERSONAL SAFETY ON CRUISE SHIPS

Passengers are invariably assigned to lifeboats or similar survival craft. The total capacity of all the survival craft on board will exceed the total number of persons on the vessel. Passengers become friends; they are never just cabin numbers. Unlike other large cruise ships, they are proud of the intimate world they offer, where modern-day conveniences sail in harmony with traditional values.

Statistically, cruise ships are safer than hotels and resorts when it comes to fires and violent crime. However, it is in your best interest not to abandon common sense just because you board a cruise ship for a wonderful vacation. Prevention and common sense go hand in hand making your cruise a vacation that you will long remember favorably.

Staterooms generally have bathroom amenities from L'Occitane, flat screen TVs and DVD/CD players, and Bose Sound Docks for use with iPods that can be borrowed at no charge from reception. Wireless connectivity in public areas is generally available on most ships.

TELEPHONES - SATELITE TV

While most ships now have telephones in passenger cabins, you can also call someone on shore through the ship's radio operator while at sea. Staterooms on all of today's modern cruise ships are equipped with satellite television channels and in some cases in-cabin internet connections.

CRUISE SHIP DINING

Everything you've heard about cruise ship dining is true. At each meal, you'll find a varied selection of appetizers, salads, soups, main courses and desserts and each day the selection will be different. In addition to the prepared menu items, you will also be allowed to sample menu items not specifically scheduled for the day’s meal.  Simply ask the waiter and they will gladly assist you.

LIFETIME MEMORIES ARE MADE ON CRUISES

If you are like Jim Gray, who has made several cruises with his wife and friends, you will long remember the great vacation and all the new found friends that you will make onboard.  It is the trip of a lifetime and one that will leave you dreaming about that next great cruise.   If you you would like to cruise for free and earn a nice income while traveling, it is possible.  Jim Gray does it and so can you.

Keywords: cruise ship, vacation, cruise line, large cruise ships, ships, cruise ship rating, cruise ship ratings, travel, travel deals, travel advice, online travel, travel agents online, james gray

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All Inclusive Caribbean Vacation - Great Vacation Deals - Book A Vacation

Cruise Ship Manners and Etiquette

There is no handbook on cruise manners, but the key words here are common sense.

However, some less thoughtful folks onboard don;t seem to understand that there are some basic, unwritten, common sense rules of etiquette when they book a vacation on a cruise ship.

No, there is no handbook on cruise manners, but the key words here are common sense. For some less thoughtful folks onboard taking a vacation means taking a break from using their brains. You should take the time pre-launch to study the cruise ship information packet that you receive when you first book a cruise.

Picture a cruise ship like a floating village or small town at sea. As with any unfamiliar place you go to, you should get to know the lay of the land, so to speak. No one is going to be just like you. People from all over the world, from different cultures and religions are sharing the same floating space that you are. Everyone should learn how to live in harmony for this short stay so that all of you will have the best  family vacation possible.

Some cruisers have been to their share of ports and know what to do. However, first time cruisers “newbie’s” need to pay attention to their surroundings. Read the literature about the ships activities. And if there is any doubt about something, ask a member of the cruise ship crew.

Now, let’s talk about some of those unspoken shipboard rules:

Be Patient and Don’t Get Frustrated and Complain Unnecessarily.

You are on vacation! Nothing is more unattractive than a grown-up whining like a child over something like waiting in line. You know that saying “When in Rome?” Well, it is your vacation. No worries, no deadlines, no being late to anything  you’re on a ship and nothing on board is going anywhere. Introduce your self to others onboard and socialize as much as possible and join others in some cruise ship games. Meeting new friends is part of the journey that you are taking. Many long term friendships are birthed on cruise ships.

Respect the Dress Code Guidelines

Cruise ships will often post some clothing guidelines for attendance at dinner or live entertainment functions. If you don’t follow the guidelines, you will not be thrown off the ship. However, you could be made to feel mighty uncomfortable wearing your Bermuda shorts and flip flops to a semi-formal dinner or dance.

Don’t be an obnoxious seat saver or line cutter.

It is a bit exasperating when planning your cruise activities and take the time to arrive at a decent hour to catch the next lounge act only to have a sea of coats draped over chairs and no bodies in the seats. And line cutters, shame on you. It is one thing for you to stand in line and have your spouse join you after a quick trip to the rest room. It is a whole new ballgame letting in your twenty new found friends from the poker tables cut in line.

Be respectful when using gym equipment/hot tub/lounge chairs/computers, and etc.

There are possibly several hundred other people onboard who are lined up behind you at some point that may want to use these privileges. Don’t hog the equipment and be mindful of others who are discreetly waiting without complaint for their turn. Try to diversify your cruise ship activities to have a more rounded experience.

Respect the designated smoking areas

There are specific areas just for smokers on board. Do not be selfish and light up at the dining room table while others are eating. Here’s a big clue: if you see ash trays, you can light up.

These unspoken rules sound perfectly logical don’t they? Yet, some cruisers forget themselves in their quest for a good time and other people suffer for it. If you are unsure of something, ask a member of the cruise ship staff.

Let your common sense rule and don’t worry, common courtesy won’t get in the way of your having a good time on your cruise.

Keywords: vacation, cruise, cruise ship, cruise ships, shipboard, manners, rules of etiquette, common courtesy, book vacation, best family vacation, cruise ship crew, book a cruise, cruise ship games, cruise activities, cruise ship activities

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Voyage, Luxury | Cruise, Ships | Stateroom | Cruise Industry

CRITICAL DETAILS YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN CHOOSING THE RIGHT CABIN FOR YOUR LUXURY CRUISE 

Not all luxury cruise line staterooms are created equally. This is a fact that becomes all too painful if you happen to choose the wrong room for your cruise vacation.

I’ve heard horror stories of sleepless nights filled with the endless droning of the ship’s engines, of claustrophobic cabins scarcely the size of a walk-in closet, and of vacationers having to go up two or three decks before they could tell if it was day or night. On the other hand, there are stories of unbelievable luxury, of sitting idly on a private verandah watching the sun set while sipping wine, and of spacious suites decorated to lavish perfection.

Believe it or not, these two scenarios, and everything in between, happen on every cruise ship on each and every voyage. This is why Jim Gray feels that cabin selection is one of the most, if not the very most, important decisions that you can make before taking your cruise. And with more than 20 different types of staterooms available on a single cruise ship, choosing the right room is no easy chore.

Please, understand that there is little doubt that you will love the cruise ship itself. There will be many spacious areas on the ship and on the deck. Also, there will be so much to do on the ship and on the different shore excursions that you will normally only use your room for sleeping and changing cloths. Therefore, it is wise to give serious consideration to the differences in pricing when you choose your stateroom. After all, why pay a high price for a luxurious stateroom if you are not going to be spending much time in it?

The cruise industry is not expanding and building ships at the great rate they are because people are not enjoying their cruise. On the contrary, people love cruises and there are many reasons why. I just want you to understand what the staterooms are really like so you are not surprised in a negative fashion and so you can make an informed decision to make your cruise the best possible dream vacation it can be for you.

The number one factor that most people consider before choosing a stateroom is price. The price that you pay for booking a stateroom is dependent on many factors including the size of the room, the room’s layout, and the location of the room on the ship. The ship itself can even play a role in how much a stateroom costs. This is because luxury cruise liners are normally crafted with larger rooms and more built-in luxuries. In fact, the smallest stateroom available on a luxury liner might be much larger than a room on a mainstream cruise liner. Rooms on a luxury liner also almost always come with an ocean view or balcony.

Types of Cruise Ships.

While many new cruise liners have inside staterooms of comparable size no matter which Cruise Line you choose, the ship type itself plays an important role especially dependant upon the age of the ship. Keep in mind that a larger ship usually has larger rooms and more amenities, but don’t take this for granted without checking it out first or you could get a big surprise.

Here is a brief overview of some popular cruise lines and the types of ships that they use:

1. Large Ships:  (over 1,500 passengers) Carnival Cruise Lines; Celebrity Cruises; Costa Cruises; Cunard Line; Disney Cruise Line; MSC Cruises; Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL); Princess Cruises; Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and etc.
 
2. Mid-size Ships:  (500 – 1500 passengers) Crystal Cruises; Holland America Line; Oceania Cruises; and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

3. Small Ships (Under 500 passengers): American Safari Cruises; Cruise West; Hapag-Lloyd Cruise Line; Hebridean Island Cruises; Seabourn Cruises; SeaDream Yacht Club; Silversea Cruises; and Windstar Cruises, as examples.

Types of Staterooms

Once you have chosen the type of ship that you wish to book passage on, you will need to decide what type of room would be best suited to your voyage. This will no doubt be decided by a variety of factors including your budget, the length of your cruise, and your personal preferences.

To help you decide, here is a list of the four major types of staterooms and a description of each:

1. Standard Inside Staterooms (no window or porthole)

These are generally the least expensive of all staterooms and are, therefore, the smallest. These rooms normally are only about 120 to 180 square feet, but are usually tastefully decorated. Gone are the bunk beds of yesteryear. Today, most inside staterooms are furnished with two twin beds that can be pushed together for a couple. While the sleeping situation has improved, the bathroom in an inside stateroom is still excruciatingly small. There is no tub, only a shower, and a noisy vacuum toilet like that on an airplane. A sink and a few shelves finish off this small, but functional space. The rest of the stateroom is decorated in much the same way as a hotel room with wall to wall carpeting, individually controlled heat and air conditioning, TV, telephone, dresser, and a reading chair.

2. Standard Outside Staterooms (with porthole or window)

These rooms are virtually identical to inside staterooms with one small exception: the window or porthole. Modern ships normally have large picture windows instead of a porthole but some modern ships still offer rooms with portholes on lower decks. These are less expensive than the rooms with windows but they don’t offer much of a view. Some portholes are even partially submerged under the waterline or blocked by lifeboats.

3. Staterooms with Balconies or Verandahs:

These staterooms are larger than the standard stateroom and come complete with an outside space. Although small, this extra space gives you the opportunity to see the ocean from your room. And when you bore of sitting inside your cabin, you can open your door to a fresh breeze or step out on the balcony to absorb the view. Many of these staterooms even have a separate sitting area furnished with a convertible sofa which supplies extra sleeping space.

4. Suites:

Suites are balconied cabins that feature separate sleeping and sitting areas. These are the largest rooms that you can book on a cruise ship. Many even have large bathrooms which are completed with a tub. While these are the most expensive rooms aboard a cruise ship, the price may well be worth it if you plan on spending numerous days at sea or a good deal of time relaxing in your room.

Another consideration that you need to make before booking a stateroom on a cruise ship is location. The location of your stateroom not only affects price but also affects the entire cruise experience. A stateroom too close to the engines can be noisy, and a stateroom on the lowest levels can make you feel like you are entombed and not part of the festivities on the upper decks. On the other hand, if you plan on spending little time in your room, these sacrifices might be well worth the money that you save.

Jim Gray has learned that a great tip to remember when booking your cruise is that passengers are often upgraded at no additional cost if there is unfilled space on the ship.  It is not unusual for someone to book a lower level stateroom and to get automatically bumped up a level or two as a courtesy of the Cruise Line.  You might want to ask the booking agent about the Cruise Lines upgrade policy before booking, since not all Cruise Lines treat upgrades the same.

Now you know, so off you go!  Time to go book that exciting Cruise that you have always wanted to take or retake, whichever the case may be.

Bon Voyage!

Keywords:  luxury cruise lines, cruise vacation, vacationers, cruise ship, voyage, luxury, cruise, ships, stateroom, cruise industry, cruises, dream vacation,  luxury liners, luxury,  cruise liners, Cruise Ships, Cruise Line, Ships, Cruise Lines

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Luxury Travel Club - Discount Travel Web Sites

5 Common Techniques For Getting Discount Luxury Travel Packages

The majority of people are not financially well off, but would like to be. Sometimes you can temporarily live like the rich and famous and enjoy the excitement of luxury travel vacations.

So, as the saying goes, if you have champagne taste on a beer budget, let’s get going.  We’ll explore a few of Jim Gray's free travel tips and techniques on how you can enjoy a luxury travel deal on a budget.

Travel planning tips include developing a well laid out travel plan as the most important aspect of obtaining last minute discount travel deals and accommodations without spending any more money than they would for a three star or lower rated resort.

Travel in style with the following free travel tips and strategies.

Technique #1. Find Affinity And Loyalty Programs.

Capitalize on the flexibility and leverage you have in the competitive luxury travel package industry. Many companies want your business and offer lots of incentives to compete for your travel funds and to keep you as a customer.

For example, if you provide a service, you typically look out for your best customers and give extra perks to keep them coming back. These discount travel service companies reward travelers who remain loyal to them with unadvertised luxury travels and extras. This is the general idea behind frequent traveler programs.

Technique #2. Select The Right Travel Specialists To Work With.

As you’re researching destinations and comparing pricing online, note that all online travel companies aren’t equal. Lots of agencies have preferred status with suppliers who can in turn pass on these discount travel deals to you.

Again, this is just like we talked about earlier, only this time, the companies and suppliers are getting the great free travel opportunities and passing them on to you.

Technique #3. Turn Problems Into Travel Opportunities.

Like Jim Gray, you shuld choose a few top-notch luxury travel sites that you would like to visit and then locate the companies that provide service to these locations.  Then begin a relationship with these companies that you would like to use over and over again so that you can obtain loyalty bonuses and discounts. If they make an error when processing your accommodations, by all means, take advantage of the situation in a professional manner, however, don’t take undue advantage of the situation.

These companies desire to maintain consistent levels of quality and rely on their customers to provide constructive feedback and satisfaction/dissatisfaction. If a representative is not willing to work with you, ask around to find someone who will.

Technique #4. Just Ask.

One of the easiest and simplest techniques you can do is to just ask about any free travel opportunities. All they can say is no. Sometimes a special occasion may be enough to get you unexpected last minute discount travel deals. Simply do it and don’t be afraid to ask.

You can simply ask for an upgraded vehicle, accommodation, or airline seat. It doesn’t hurt and you’re no worse off than you were before you asked. In other words, you have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

Technique #5. Timing Is Everything.

Keep this in mind that travel is at its most expensive during holidays and other peak times of the year. However, if the time of year to travel is important to you, such as a special event you’ll be attending, traveling during major holidays or school vacations, and if you desire to find luxury travel packages for the best value you want, try to book as far in advance as possible.

Don’t forget the power of the internet. It can be one of your most effective tools in researching destinations, while getting luxury travel vacations at bargain prices.

Jim Gray hopes that these free travel tips and strategies are helpful to you.  Have fun and happy travels!

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Travel Deals | Travel Advice Online

Helpful First Class Cruise Travel Tips

Are You Nervous About Taking Your First Cruise? Who isn’t Nervous about taking a Cruise for the First Time, I should Say!

Here are a few Travel Tips to help calm your restless nerves and make your trip enjoyable.

If you are looking to take relaxing luxury cruise vacations with your family, loved ones or simply by yourself for some peace and quiet, a cruise is definitely one of your top options. If this is going to be your first cruise, there are a number of issues that you need to define to help you. Here are a few first class cruise travel tips to help you with your planning.

You need to know who will be going on this cruise with you. Whether you are traveling with your spouse, your kids, with friends or by yourself you most likely are looking forward to a quality experience. Different cruise lines plan cruises for adults only, family, young adults and etc.  As a general rule, everyone is welcome on most cruises. However it is easy to find a first class cruise that is mainly adult, or some that are more focused on providing entertainment for kids, from toddlers to teenagers on the many different cruise lines.

Financially, you need to decide how much money you want to spend, and figure out a realistic budget for yourself.  Comparing cruise lines prices should be paramount during your planning process. After paying for your cruise ship fees, usually, approximately 100 US dollars a day is sufficient. When booking your Cruise, be sure to make sure you find out exactly what is included in your fare; some extras that used to be thrown in are now an additional charge on different cruise lines. There are a several different ways to save, like taking advantage of the early bird fares and booking in advance. Also, while it’s risky, for those of you with flexible schedules, booking last minute can save you a lot of money as well.

So, what’s the most affordable way to get to your cruise ship? The most likely and popular ways are by driving or flying. A cruise can be a great finish to a road trip, where you can stop off whenever you please and explore several destinations on the way to your fabulous vacation. However, flying can save you valuable travel time and allow you more time on your curise.

Senior travel tips: Some first class cruise lines can give you a flight and cruise package, which is an easier and less stressful way to plan your trip, plus it usually includes the pricey transfers from the airport to your cruise ship. In addition, most cruise lines usually take care of your luggage, which means they can transfer it directly to your cabin.  This is a huge bonus for people that hate lugging around heavy bags which includes the vast majority of us.

The next big decision for you is to decide when you want to travel. Obviously you will want to go somewhere where the chance of hurricanes and bad weather is limited; however, keep in mind cruise ships will alter their destinations accordingly to avoid any pending hurricane dangers.

Timing wise, if you are planning on only spending a week on vacation, you are limited to the sunny areas, such as Mexico, most of the Caribbean, or the Bahamas. Other possibilities, depending on your starting destination, are Hawaii, Alaska or even Europe. Depending upon your personal situation and destination, comparing cruise lines prices and benefits is a must. 

If you are traveling without family and have a flexible schedule, the fall and spring are usually the cheapest times, because kids are away in school, and the weather is generally a bit chancier. In the more tropical areas, the temperature does not change too much, but what does change is the amount of precipitation. A bit of warm rain won’t hurt you, but it can become a little irritable and uncomfortable at times.

When choosing your cruise travels destination, a good starting point is figuring out what sort of activities you want to do, because each destination comes with a distinct ambience and different cruise lines provide different activities. There are always many water sports available on the ships, such as snorkeling and pool activities and more energetic things such as scuba diving. Port calls often take you to the tourist sites, such as museums and ruins.

Senior travel tips for your cruise travels and in fact good safety advice for everyone is not to venture off on your own and to be exceptionally careful of new acquaintances that volunteer to show you the so called good stores to shop in.  These individuals may be working off commissions with those particular stores considered tourist traps that have increased their prices to take unfair advantage of your unfamiliarity of local pricing and customs. Usually a polite no thank you is good enough to keep them at bay. The cruise line will usually give you a list of activities for the port stops that are respectful and offer you a good value for your investment and time. Keep in mind that these activities are limited on some of the tours, so book in advance if it’s something you really want to do.

If you are nervous about your first cruise vacation, an excellent thing to is make sure you get a cabin you are going to be comfortable in for your cruise, because it is going to be your home for the duration of your vacation. Keeping in mind that they do vary in prices, most people select discount vacation cruises with the cheapest room available so they have more spending money. Sometimes there are deals for upgrading to a better cabin if you book early enough.

You should beware of one-way destination cruises.  Make sure you know the ship’s plans because sometimes if you are only doing a one-way trip, the sightseeing may only be on one side of the ship, so you will see nothing from your room. If small spaces bother you, a cabin with a balcony may be good for you although it’s pricier, you get the luxury of stepping outside and enjoying the view.

The last question most people have regarding their cruise travels is food related. The apprehension some people feel about cruising with set dinner times is quite often unnecessary. You get to pick your dinnertime yourself, either an early seating, which is usually around 6pm; the late seating usually around 8pm, and an open option, where you are given a timeframe of a few hours. There are benefits to all of them. If you choose the late seating, there is always the possibility of missing certain shows or entertainment. The early seating means that any excursions you do need to be planned to allow you enough time to get back and ready for dinner. The open seating may be the best option for families we all know how unpredictable life can be especially when traveling with kids!

Hopefully these cruise travel tips will be highly beneficial to you during all of your future  family vacation trips.   I wish you the best experience possible during all of your travels.

 Keywords:  luxury cruise vacations | cruise travel tips | first class cruise | different cruise lines  | senior travel tips | comparing cruise lines  |discount vacation cruises | cruise travels |  destination cruises  | family vacation trips 

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I want to become a home travel agent

TRAVEL AGENTS ONLINE FIND SECRETS TO FINANCIAL SUCCESS

Who Else Wants to Know the Secret to a Lucrative Home-Based Travel Business?

More and more people from all walks of life are finding themselves in financial trouble due to the current economic conditions.

Increasing numbers are searching online to make money from a home-based travel business. They want to either supplement their existing low income or to totally replace it by working either part-time or full-time in an internet business of their own. They also want to take advantage of being able to travel to exotic vacation sites at major reduced rates while getting Five Star accommodations. They want the opportunity to earn a nice income when promoting special travel deals to their friends and contacts.

Their reasons are many and include low wages, poor to zero benefits, unthankful bosses, demanding hours, zero to little vacation time, loss of job and many, many more reasons. Rising costs everywhere add to most individual’s seriousness in looking to start a home-based travel business. Rising expenses for food, auto fuel, clothing, utilities, advanced education and more are becoming overwhelming to thousands and thousands of people who are caught up in this economic crisis. Even those who continue to be employed may only receive 0 to 4% raise per year, if any at all, which does not even keep up with daily cost of living. Therefore, extra income is a must for many households.

In response to these individuals needs for extra money, their desire to work from home and to generate more personal benefits, here is some great travel advice to start your own home-based Internet Travel Business.

Travel Advice - Ten Great Reasons for Starting a Travel Business for yourself.

1. Say good bye to a bad boss relationship and become your own boss. No more looking over your shoulder waiting for the hammer to fall when your boss has another bad day and throws his next temper tantrum. Instead, you can enjoy the freedom of being your own boss in your new travel business, setting your own goals, gain more control over your income potential, improve your family time, based on your personal needs and wants.

2. You can decide when and where you want to work and most likely will be able to do so in more comfort than was provided at your previous job. No more perfume- and cologne-filled elevators and public restrooms. No more vending machine junk food. You will be free to schedule your own flexible time and benefits.

3. You can put an end to mindless work like filing. Instead, choose to work on what you want and outsource the rest.

4. You can choose to continue working at your existing job or at another part time job while you grow your business to maintain a stable income. When you are financially stable, you can then terminate your existing job or any other part time job that you may be involved with.

5. You can say goodbye to job security issues and the fear of unemployment or being fired. You can run your business according to your needs and scheduling.

6. You can gain a personal sense of pride in being an entrepreneur and having more control over your future accomplishments. You will have the opportunity to help others achieve similar successes as yours as you grow your travel business.

7. Owning your own business will help you gain self confidence to face even the most challenging hurdles in life eliminating a lot of heartaches, headaches and stress.

8. You can say good bye to the earnings ceiling. The sky is the limit you own your own business.

9. In a home-based travel business, you can enjoy greater travel deals and financial gains plus many other benefits by using your own products and sharing them with family members and other potential clients. To put your mind at ease, travel agents online are not required to be licensed travel agents.

10. Based on your seriousness and success in your travel business, you may be able to plan your retirement much earlier than you ever expected. You will be in total control of your future vacations and your retirement plans. Plan what you want to earn and go get them!

So take another look at home-based travel business opportunities. You will no doubt find many reasons why a travel business deems your serious consideration in solving your financial needs.

James Gray

(503) 608-7559
WhoisJimGray.com
Skype: daddygraywolf

Keywords: Become a Travel Agent, I want to become a home travel agent, How do I become a travel agent, Become a travel agent for free

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Travel Tips

Are You Thinking of Taking a Cruise This Year?

Here is some sound travel advice to make your Cruise more relaxing and enjoyable.

Are you interested in taking a cruise?

If so, you are not alone. Each year a large number of individuals consider taking a vacation aboard a cruise ship. If you have never traveled on a cruise ship before, you may look for travel advice about what activities, facilities, and services can be found onboard. The activities found onboard cruise ships vary from ship to ship, but many cruise ships have a number of activities and services in common.

Most well-known facilities found on cruise ships.

Some of the most well-known facilities found on cruise ships are dining halls, restaurants, and cafeterias. Large cruise ships may offer a number of onboard dining facilities. It is important to note that many of these dining facilities are considered upscale restaurants. In addition to a sit-down restaurant, there area usually a number of small eateries located onboard. Elegant dining restaurants are popular among cruisers. To ensure that you are able to enjoy an elegant meal, your best travel advice is to schedule a reservation as soon as you board the ship.

Aside from dining facilities, bars and dancehalls are also found on most cruise ships. As with most of the bars and dancehalls found on land, there may be age restrictions in place. If you travel with your family, they may have to complete other activities while you enjoy the nightlight over the seas. If this should occur, you are in luck because most cruise ships have daycare centers and other activities geared towards children of all ages.

Daycare centers aboard Cruise Ships for children.

When it comes to placing your child in the care of a ships daycare center, you are urged to quickly familiarize yourself with the staff. This familiarization may help to calm your nerves. It is also important to note that cruise ship employees are often closely monitored, highly educated, and properly trained. While it may be difficult at first, you should feel comfortable leaving your child in the care of a cruise ship childcare worker.

Childcare is ideal for smaller children; however, if you travel with a teenager, daycare may not be an option. Swimming pools, libraries, video arcades, and movie theaters can often be found on cruise ships. Adult supervision is a policy that prevents children under a certain age from roaming freely around the ship.

Teenagers may be able to visit these facilities without adult supervision. Each cruise ship is likely to have different adult supervision policies. Good travel advice is for you to review these policies before purchasing your tickets.

Bars, dancehalls, gaming halls and casinos on Cruise Ships

In addition to the above mentioned bars and dancehalls, gaming halls or casinos can be found on most cruise ships. As with gambling on land, there are age limits on those that can gamble aboard a cruise ship. Popular gambling activities include slots, blackjack, poker, and much more. Many onboard casinos are open for business twenty-four hours a day. Gambling is a popular cruise ship pastime. If you are booking a cruise just to gamble, you may want to further explore the gambling options aboard each ship.

Physical exercise on Cruise Ships

Cruise ship operators know that many travelers take a cruise to escape their daily routines. Unfortunately for some, one routine that cannot be left behind is exercise. That is why almost all cruise ships have onsite fitness centers and fully equipped gyms. These gyms are often similar, and sometimes even better, than the gyms found in your hometown. In addition to a fitness center, a large number of cruise ships have jogging tracks.

Cruise Ship activities allow you to relax and to escape your daily routines

If a particular activity or event is the only reason why you are interested in booking a cruise, you are urged to physically check for that event or activity before making your reservation. The above mentioned services, facilities, and activities are found on a number of popular cruise lines. These cruise lines are likely to include, but are not limited to, Carnival Cruise Lines, Paradise Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity Cruises. With the click of a mouse or a toll free phone call, you can easily determine if your favorite travel activities can be found aboard the cruise ship of your choice.

James Gray
Skype: daddygraywolf
(503) 559-3790

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Leave Your Wallet Home

Travel Advice: Take a Cruise Ship Vacation With Out Your Wallet

Why Take a Hum Drum, expensive vacation this year? Live it up and take an exciting Caribbean Cruise for possibly less money, and experience luxury and far more excitement.

A cruise ship provides great, one price, travel deals, and one of the main attractions to booking a cruise ship is that just about everything is included in the booking price.

When many people think about a budget vacation, they picture an intrepid traveler in a roach infested hotel room eating stale sandwiches and riding around on the city bus. However, one of the best ways to save money on a travel deal is also one of the most luxurious. Booking a cruise can actually save you money over your normal type of vacation and you will have the experience of a lifetime. It is simply breath taking.

Cheap, Luxurious Accommodation

In addition to having a nice clean cabin for your trip, a cruise also offers unlimited food, including many amazing buffets that are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You should also know that the food on cruise ships are often better-quality to those in all but the best land locked restaurants, and once again, the food is included in the travel price.

Traveling Off-season

Of course, it is possible to save money by traveling in the off-season, and this can often be a great plan. For instance, even though it is the middle of the winter and most people are not thinking about vacations where you are, it may be warm and tempting in many tropical cruise ship destinations.

It is important, however to check out the local weather, and to avoid the rainy season in the destinations you are considering. Steering clear of hurricanes, tropical downpours and other weather problems can help you get the most out of your cruise vacation.

Cruise Ship Cabins

If you have never taken a cruise before, it is a good idea to get travel advice from those who have experienced cruising. These people can give valuable insight on the best balance of cost and comfort for your first cruise ship experience.

The location of the cabin is an important consideration when booking a cruise ship. The interior cabins on the lower parts of the ship are generally the least costly and generally without windows especially on the inner cabins, while the higher, larger cabins with ocean views are the most expensive and luxurious.

Discounts and Cheap Cruise ship Travel Deals

Cruise ship lines have been known to offer some fantastic travel deals at the last minute in order to move unsold cabins or avoid sailing with a less than full passenger load. If the ship is not full at departure time, the travelers in the lower cabins generally get the opportunity to be upgraded at no charge to a cabin at a higher level in the ship.

There are many last minute travel newsletters that provide travel advice on these types of cruise ship benefits, and these last minute travel deals are a big hit with retirees and others who have the time to see the world.

Food and Exercise

After sampling all of the great gormet cooking that is available on your cruise, you will probably feel the need to get some physical exercise. You will be glad to know that the cost of the cruise typically includes unlimited use of the gym, the weight room and the sports facilities. While many hotels tack on a surcharge for the use of the hotel gym and equipment, a cruise vacation generally includes these amenities.

Shipboard Entertainment

The cost of a cruise vacation also includes all shipboard entertainment and classes. The entertainment options on a cruise ship are often one of the best parts of the experience because many cruises offer such things as movie nights, theatres, spas, nightclubs, stage shows, discos, and even casinos.

There are also some great classes offered by cruise lines, in everything from origami to bridge to ballroom dancing. And again, these classes and entertainment options are included in the price you pay for the cruise.

Among the only things that are not included in the typical cruise vacation are alcoholic beverages and shore excursions. Many of the higher priced cruises even include these extras. If the shore excursions and drinks are not included they can be purchased onboard ship.

It is often possible to save money on shore excursions by booking the tours locally at portside instead of doing it onboard the cruise line. Just be sure, however that if you book it yourself that you make sure that the excursion gets you back to your ship on time. Cruise ships maintain a rigid sailing schedule, and there have been many people left on the dock because they did not get back onboard prior to the ship sailing. This can be embarrassing, frustrating and expensive when you find out that you are responsible for the expense of reconnecting with your ship later on.

For all these reasons, a cruise can be among the best, and most economical, of all vacation opportunities you will ever experience. The ability to enjoy a week or two week cruise at one low price is extremely powerful travel advice motivation for booking your cruise.

 

Keywords: Travel | Travel Agents Online | Travel Deals | Travel Advice | Travel Agents | James Gray

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Tips For Finding Low Cost Travel Deals

Travel: Tips For Finding Low Cost Travel Deals

Looking for Travel Advice on how to find great Travel Deals Online?  Here are a few great tips that can save you time and money.

So you have always wanted to travel and take a dream cruise vacation. Maybe it’s one of those things that wound up on the back burner, but you’ve started to believe that you just won’t be able to save up the money or find the right travel deals to take yourself and the spouse, or the whole family, on such a trip. Think again. With the following travel advice, you may be surprised.

The cruise industry is growing faster than ever, and with this huge expansion comes more travel opportunities to save money on special cruise deals. With more vacationers taking to the seas cruise lines are growing larger and can afford to offer special discounts to customers to get more people hooked on this luxury style of vacationing. Those looking for a cruise vacation can make a few smart decisions with the right travel advice and travel deals and save themselves a lot of cash without much sacrifice.

The first step is to look into travel theme packages. Many cruises offer special discounts for certain lifestyles or age groups. There may be a family discount, a golden years discount, or a honeymoon discount available. Depending on what type of cruise you want and who’s going with you, this can be a huge money-saver if you’re willing to accept what is offered in the packaged travel deals.

When it comes time to book your cruise, believe it or not, don’t be too hasty. Many cruise lines receive unexpected cancellations at the last minute, and are eager to fill the empty slots. A would-be vacationer can often get extremely good travel deals if their schedule allows them to wait until the last minute to book. Call a cruise line days before a ship sets sail, and you might be pleasantly surprised by what you hear regarding discount rates for last-minute trips.

If you find a cruise line that you like, consider booking any future cruise vacations with the same line. Many cruise lines give discounts to repeat customers and you will probably receive a good percentage off your rate if you book a cruise at the same time each year with the same company. Talk to a travel agents who specializes in cruises. Often these agents can get you travel deals as well, especially with cruise lines they book often. By booking through experienced travel agents you may earn the instant right to be a preferred customer. You might also want to check with travel agents online for other special travel packages and travel deals.

Finally, do your research! There are many travel sites online for discount cruise fares, just as there are for airfares and other types of travel. Some websites specialize in locating cheap cruises for those who wish to vacation on a budget. Make use of a search engine and travel agents online, and don’t get discouraged. Your cheap cruise is out there somewhere.

The trick to finding great bargains is using resources like these and a little brain work to find these special travel deals.

James Gray
Skype: daddygraywolf
(503) 559-3790

 

Keywords: travel, travel agents online, travel deals, travel advice, travel agents, james gray

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Travel Insurance? Not me! I will never need it, or will I?

Travel Insurance?  Not me!  I will never need it, or will I?
What about "Murphy Protection".... do you have that coverage? 

Travel  Insurance (i.e. Murphy Protection") Is Important When Traveling
It’s Murphy’s Law. If something can go wrong, it will go wrong ......

Murphy's Law 

It’s Murphy’s Law. If something can go wrong, it will go wrong given the right circumstances such as: Accidents; Loss of possessions; or Health issues regarding you or a family member at home requiring Travel is a great way to gain new experiences and learn a new culture. Travel insurance can help to miminize your frustration and loss in this case.

However, it's not much fun to travel with the thought of your safety hanging over your head right? Because no matter what travel deal you get or whose travel advice you follow, you know that something will inevitably go wrong. Why you ask?  It’s Murphy’s Law, that's why!

These are just a few examples of why travel insurance is necessary. However, what insurance should you choose? After all there are lots of insurance choices, so what do you need to know to make a reasonable choice?

Vehicle vandalism, stolen or misplaced luggage......

Travel is a great way to gain new experiences, meet new people and learn a new culture. However, it's not much fun to travel due to safety concerns. Vehicle vandalism, stolen or misplaced luggage, personal safety at the airport proper or in the air, and other concerns that have become more prominent since 911 cause all of us to think twice about how to protect ourselves and our possessions when we travel.

Travel Problems Seem to Popup from Nowhere.

No matter how well we plan or what travel deal we get, something inevitably seems to go wrong. Accidents, loss of possessions, or an urgent return trip might disrupt your travel plans. It’s Murphy’s Law. If something can go wrong, it will go wrong given the right circumstances such as: Accidents; Missed planes due to bad travel advice from a friend or possible from online travel agents; or health issues for you or a family member at home requiring your urgent return trip.

These are just a few examples of why travel insurance is necessary. However, what insurance should you choose? Why Do You Need Travel Insurance? There are many reasons why you should carry travel insurance. But then again, choosing the wrong insurance policy could simply increase your frustrations and problems especially if you are faced with a devastating loss.

There are hundreds of insurance choices and thousands of insurance agents and even travel agents who are eager to sell you insurance just to make a commission, with little regard to your actual needs. It's no wonder we get highly frustrated when we experience these types of travel problems.

Travel Advice to Consider:

Here are a few things that you should consider before deciding to purchase your travel insurance.

First, consider your travel habits. Do you go abroad? How long do you stay on a particular place? What mode of transportation do you frequently use?

If you travel all over the world, be sure that your policy is accepted anywhere. Also, make certain that your policy covers basic travel insurance claims such as: Medical expenses, Loss of luggage, Repatriation expenses, Cancellation of trips, And Liability.

Try to obtain a list of agencies and institutions and their contact information where you can get emergency assistance. Check to make sure that all along your route and your final destination that your policy is recognized and honored. Make sure that you are aware of any exclusion in your policy such as: Injury or loss of possessions during terrorist attacks and bankruptcy proceedings for any agency associated your travel accommodations. And by all means, check out the Company behind your insurance policy to make sure it is trustworthy, reliable, and has a history of honoring claims against it.

Second: You should check to see if your travel insurance will cover pre-existing situations. These conditions might include medical or health problems that you have prior to buying insurance. Disruption of a trip caused by a medical emergency or sickness of a member of your group should also be covered under a good policy.

Third, age is probably the most important factor with travel insurance. Most insurance policies do not cover people who are over the age limit. The age limit is usually around 65 years of age. People over 65 are usually considered high risk individuals.

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Airline Travel Advice

Airline Travel Advice - Tips to Eliminate Travel Frustrations and Fears

 Travel - Find Travel Agents Online | Travel Deals and Advice Online | James Gray

Travel by plane requires planning to minimize potential problems that can ruin your vacation and/or your business trip. At the very least, a little preplanning effort on your part prior to your departure is excellent travel advice and can help to eliminate potential nightmarish frustrations during your trip.

Pre-planning your trip can mean the difference between a nice, enjoyable trip that you will remember fondly for a lifetime or an extremely frustrating trip from hell that you will have night mares about many times over. If planned properly, It can be the cementing results of a safe and hassle free trip.

Here are some travel tips for your consideration:

 SCHEDULING:

Tickets - Seating: Always book tickets on a reliable airline. While all major airline are honest and creditable, employees can sometimes cause mistakes with your tickets that can cause you delays or miss-direct you to the wrong flight. Always verify your bookings well in advance of your departure date. Also, check if they are offering any special fares or discounts that may not have been available when you booked your flight. You may be able to get a nice discount just for asking. If you prefer pre-assigned seating, double check to make sure that it is coordinated with your tickets.

Parking: If possible, reserve your airport parking in advance. If airport parking reservations are not possible, then consider reserving space at private parking lots close to the airport that has shuttle service. If neither is practical, consider renting a room over night at a hotel/motel close to the airport with shuttle service. In some cases, the hotel/motel will allow you to leave your vehicle on their lot for a set number of days free as part of your overnight stay. They will normally shuttle you to and from the airport free of charge.  (Hint: It is customary to tip the shuttle driver for his services.)  Take special precaution to lock your vehicle and do not to leave valuables in your parked vehicle. Try to park in a lighted area if possible.

Arrival Time: Always check the flight schedule before you leave home. Make sure what the check-in-time is for your flight. Leave with plenty of time to spare. This way you won’t have to rush from one end of the airport to the other.

Departure Gate: Prior to your arrival at the airport, locate your departure terminal and the easiest access. Plan to be early and in line for boarding so that you secure your seating and have plenty of time to get your luggage stowed before takeoff. If you parked at the airport terminal, make a note of where your car is parked so that it is easy to find when you return, even if it is in the dark of night.

Airlines Rules:

Baggage: Find out the allowed size and weight of your baggage and don't exceed these limits. Tag all bags with your name, address, phone number, date of travel, and flight number. Pack the bags yourself and ensure that they are all packed safely. Check with the airlines to see if you are allowed to lock your baggage. If so, then make two sets of keys and have them carried by separate people in the travel group. Place your contact information on a 3”x5” card inside your luggage on top so that it is easily seen in case that the exterior tags get lost.

Electronics: All electronic items like cell phones and laptops must be fully charged. You need to be able to turn them on and demonstrate them in accordance to the airport rules. Use of cell phones while flying is prohibited. So do not plan or making or receiving calls when in flight. Most phones have a special switch to put your phone in “airplane mode”.

Documents: As a precaution pack documents, passport, medicines, and other immediate essentials in the carry on case. In case your luggage gets lost or misplaced in transit you will still have bare essentials. Take along a valid photo ID to the airport. Check to make sure that you have all of your tickets for each member of the party traveling with you.

Clothing: Be aware of the weather conditions at your destination and also at your return destination so that you can dress and pack clothing accordingly. Although airlines normally furnish pillows and blankets, you may want to take your own to eliminate the possibility of sharing the previous user’s germs or to simply provide yourself the same comfort during flight as you are accustomed to at home. However, you will need to be reasonable and not expect to take excessive materials due to the limited seating arrangements.

Prohibited Items Discussions:

 Miscellaneous: Do not carry electronics, knives, batteries, or other banned items. All dangerous objects like razors, scissors, and so on must be put in your check in luggage. It is against regulations for passengers to carry flammables, aerosols, or household cleaners.

Specific prohibited items are:

• Firearms even if you have a license,
• Hunting rifles,
•  Baseball bats,
• Golf clubs,
• Pool cues,
• Ski equipment,
• Hockey sticks,
• Darts,
• As well as bows and arrows.

 Verbal Conversations or Outbursts: Because of terrorist threats it is against the law to speak of hijackings, bomb threats, or other dangerous things.

Socialization: Be cautious about who you befriend. Never accept any letter or parcel to be delivered to persons known or unknown.

Unattended Baggage: Never leave your luggage unattended and if you do notice any abandoned parcel or luggage bring it to the notice of authorities.

Summary: Before you travel check online to make sure your flight is on schedule and that are no diversions at the airport. You should also check to see if there have been any new rules and/or regulations regarding passenger issues that you need to be made aware of. Most airports have easy access to their airline websites so it will be relatively easy to check on this information. However, if you lack computer skills or do not have a computer with you, then you will need to ask for help at the ticket counter.

For your personal safety, avoid dark areas when traveling to and from your vehicle to the airport and when loading and unloading your vehicle. If using public transport only use transportation services from official pick up points. Public vehicles must have official markings. Don’t get conned by people who make offers of special privileges or travel deals. With a little preplanning and this travel advice your travel should be safer and much more enjoyable.

Keywords: travel, travel deals, travel advice, online travel, travel agents online, James Gray

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Travel - Good Reasons NOT to Use Full Service Travel Agents.

Travel - Good Reasons NOT to Use Full Service Travel Agents
     ....Travel Club Memberships Offer Far Better Advantages.

Author: James Gray

Travel Advice: Travel Agents can't provide the convenience, cost savings and the vacation varieties of an Online Travel Club Membership.

They can't schedule your business trip and/or your vacation right from your living room, nor can they save hundreds of dollars on "choice" reservations like a Travel Club can, simply because most Licensed Travel Agents don't have access to the same wide pool of travel opportunities that a Club has access to. And, no.... as a Travel Club Member, you do not have to be a Licensed Travel Agent to get these special travel deals and to book your own travel.

Travel Myth: Generally, most travelers think that it is easier, less time consuming and much less confusing to simply visit a brick and mortar (store front) Travel Agent when planning their business trips and/or their vacation. They assume that because they are licensed travel agents, that they know all the tricks for getting the best travel deals and that they have access to every possible travel accommodation available everywhere worldwide. wrong, Wrong, WRONG!!!

Individual Travel Brokers are not full service accommodators.

Travel Agents do not have access to every single accommodation available worldwide. They generally have niche markets and therefore, they only have access to certain destinations and services within that niche. Even then, the niche may be so diverse that they do not have total access to all products within their area of expertise. What if your needs do not fit snugly into their niche?  You may find yourself being put into a vacation destination that you really did not want.    

Unless they are aligned with one of the larger, more popular professionally run Travel Brokerage Companies, you may be short changing yourself by using their services. Most often, Travel Agencies are linked to specific Travel Brokers and/or Venders. Their relationship is most often based on the fees, commissions and whatever other benefits that the Agency can get for selling only those specific Travel Packages promoted by their travel providers'.

Generally, customer benefits are at best a "second consideration" when a Travel Agency chooses which Travel Brokerage House to align with. They are like the small franchised convenience stores that services the "fast and easy - need it right now" convenience mentality of people who don't mind paying higher prices for lesser quality and less variety then they could get if they were to take the time to simply shop around. Until recently, travelers simply didn't know that they could get a much better deal just by searching the internet for travel agents online and joining a Travel Club.  However, due to the economy, travelers are becoming much more educated now and turning to sources where they can get higher quality vacations, with a wider selection of sites and at reduced rates simpy by joining a Travel Club.

People are changing the way they do things due to the current economic climate.

As noted above, with today’s economic conditions, most people are now taking the time to shop around for special travel deals and advice. They are becoming better informed individuals and are now turning to the internet to find the best deals for their vacation and business travel needs. They are finding the benefits of joining a travel club to be highly advantageous as compared to the benefits provided by a Travel Agent.

A good creditable online travel site is one that allows you to join as a member and to get the benefit of group buying power.  This concept includes giving each member their own personal Travel Center where they are able to book all of their travel accommodations right from one membership site. Good online sites not only provide great travel deals and advice; you can also book car rentals, condos, hotels, airline tickets, and even cruises. Some even offer an affiliate program where you can join them for a small fee and get huge travel discounts on all of your own personal travel plus you can even refer people to your personal online travel center and make a nice commission if they also book their accommodations at your site.

Here are some excellant reasons to consider an online travel club membership for all of your travel plans:

1. Convenience:

•  Book all your accommodations right from the comfort of your living room or anywhere that it is convenient for you. 
•  No need to seek out the closest travel agency, call to schedule a meeting, drive to their store front, and then negotiate to get the travel agent that is best qualified to service your personal needs.
•  No confusion about your accommodations....what you book, you get.
•  Get wider variety of accommodations with greater savings.
•  Potential to earn commissions on your travel and that of your friends.
•  Save hundreds of dollars on the right travel deal when you book reservations for airlines, hotels, condos. Car rentals and cruises.
  

Think of hotel rooms, airplane seats, and cruise ship cabins as perishable commodities. Just like an expired carton of milk has to be pulled off the grocery store shelf, on any given night, an empty hotel room is lost revenue that will never be regained.

Similarly, an airplane is going to fly and a cruise ship will embark whether or not the seats and cabins are full. It's in the best interest of hotels, airlines, and cruise ships to be fully booked. Additionally, since you are a member of a travel club there are no Travel Agency Fees associated with your online accommodations. That's why they can pass these savings on to you by offering discounted fares.

2. Complete Travel Packages 

  As a Travel Club Member, you generally get your very own personal Travel Center where you can access special vacation packages to destinations and hotel/condo properties to which you might not otherwise have access to.

Perhaps you're a golfer, and want a dream golf vacation. Maybe a Caribbean vacation is on the horizon and you are looking for the perfect cruise package. All of these choices are easy with online travel sites and best of all you get the options that best meet your needs.

3. More Control Over Your Accommodations: 

 When you book your vacation yourself, you can easily coordinate all aspects of your travel.

 You will have more control over:

• Flight selection and depart and arrival schedule 
• Pricing for all accommodations
• Hotel selection and reservation process
• Car rental selection and details
• Cruise Ship boarding schedule information
• and, many other related travel deal and advice issues
  

All of this convenience allows you to maintain more control over your trip. If you have a change in plans, you have access to your travel center to make the transition a smooth one.

4. Group Travel 

Extended families often travel together, and businesses have group travel requirements from time to time. In either case, a full service online travel club can easily book trips for people who have the same destination but who are traveling from different places.

Having a travel club membership gives everyone peace of mind and ensures that the group's needs can easily be met and coordinated all from one site. Plus, as a club member, you will have access to many group travel opportunities at special reduced prices that you could never have access to from a local Travel Agent.

While it's still possible to book your accommodations thru a Travel Agency, why would you want to?

After all, the advantages of a Travel Club Membership are limitless. 

When was the last time that your Travel Agency called you up and told you that you just earned a nice commission from booking your travel thru them or by referring a friend to them for travel? Never, Right!   This is just one of the many reasons that you should choose joining a Travel Club over using a Travel Agent online the next time that you take a vacation or business trip.
 
Keywords: travel, travel deals, travel advice, online travel, travel agents online, James Gray

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Do You Have A Vacation Dream? Stop Dreaming and Start Packing!

Do You Have A Vacation Dream? Stop Dreaming and Start Packing!

Do You Have A Vacation Dream?
Stop Dreaming and Start Packing......

Quest Travel Network - Proudly Opens the Door
for Dream Vacations That Everyone Can Afford!

Finally, it's your turn to wave goodby and leave on your Dream Trip of a Lifetime!

Quest Travel Network provides everyone the Opportunity to be able to enjoy their Dream Vacation using an amazing, Money Saving new product called QTN Q-Cards.  No other Travel Providers have them. They are exclusive to QTN.

 What are QTN Condo Q-Cards?  (Not Time Share!)

Quite simply, Condo Cards have taken the “timeshare” concept and improved it! Rather than you paying $10’s of thousands of dollars to purchase a timeshare for one or two weeks a year, QTN lets you use any of their over two million weeks in the nine largest timeshare resort and condo networks in the world as if you owned them yourself!

Condo Cards gives you the FREEDOM and PEACE of MIND knowing that you will never be subjected to:

 • Timeshare Tours,
 • Sales Pitches, or
 • Annual maintenance fees Q-Card advantages.

The advantages of using your Condo Q-Cards for a condo or resort vacation are:

• Condos and resorts have more space, comfort and amenities than hotel rooms.
• More rooms so that you can take the whole family with separate bed rooms.
• A full kitchen which will save you money from having to eat out every meal.
• No blackout Dates. This is a huge advantage over any other travel engine.
• Access to the QTN toll free Concierge Desk.
• Easily book your accommodations right from your living room and computer.

 How much do Q-Cards cost?

You can get a one time use Condo Card for Only $99 that you can use for a massive $1200 discount off of your next resort or condo vacation from over 2-million available weeks in over 150 countries!

The card becomes your key to a week-long Condo or Resort Vacation, with no blackout dates, and for less than a hotel stay. Use the QTN condo search engine or the QTN toll-free Concierge Desk to find and reserve your dream vacation with all of the details of your trip competed with the help of a courteous QTN online travel agent.

When you return from your dream vacation, fax in a form to let QTN know how you liked it and they will send you a $100 cash rebate as a “thank you” gift for using one of their properties!

 How can you get a Q-Card?

There are three easy and affordable ways to get your Q-Card as follows:

1. Purchase one from a Quest Travel Advisor for $99. (This is a one time use card at this price)

2. Purchase a Condo Quest Membership for $199 one-time payment! (You get one 'Unlimited use' Q-Card for $600 off of every resort and condo vacation you take EVERYTIME for as long as you are a member!)

3. Purchase a Quest Travel Advisor Membership for $449 one-time payment! (You get one unlimited use Q-Card for up to $1200 off of every resort and condo vacation you take for as long as you are a member with up to $1000 cash rebate following your trip! Plus, you get your very own personal QTN travel Center for commissions from your personal travel and others you refer to your site.)

QTN meets and/or beats other travel service providers 9 out of 10 times.

 How can QTN beat other Travel Provider prices and still five discounts and rebates?

 Simple: QTN beats the “big guys” prices 9 times out of 10 because QTN is tapped into the very same providers they use, but without their huge Travel Agent online markups.

 This allows QTN to provide better service and higher quality travel accommodations that are discounted to you the member and you earn the fees normally paid out to Travel Agents online.

Do I need a Travel Agent License?

 NO, you do not need to be a licensed Travel Agent in QTN.

In QTN, one of the ways you get paid is by simply using your Travel Center for your personal travel and also by referring other people to your Travel Center. When they book their travel accommodations thru your Travel Center you get paid a commission.

You don't even have to handle any of the booking details. A specially trained QTN online travel agent handles all of that work for you at no cost to you because it is benefit of your QTN Travel Center Membership Plan.

What is the Rebate Program?

Above are a few of the great benefits of having you very own Q-Card, however, here is the best part that you will never get from any other travel provider:

Once you get back, simply fill out and fax in the form to tell us how you liked your trip and QTN will send you a Quest Cash ATM Card worth $100 (if you used the single use Condo Card) for you to spend anywhere you want on anything you want. If you have one of the other Condo Card Programs, you will also receive a rebate in accord with the plan.

So if you do the math, when you activate the single use Condo Card, you actually get paid $1 to get a great $600 discount on a fantastic condo or resort vacation.

This is an amazing, money saving, travel membership program that you simply cannot affort to miss out on if you do frequent travels or are planning your next dream trip.  There is no charge to check out QTN to see if it is right for you.

James Gray
(503) 559-3790
Skype: daddygraywolf

 P.S. If you are looking for a home based business and a great way to enjoy a luxurious condo or resort vacation and want to take the entire family for prices equal to or below normal hotel rates, then you owe it to you and your family to check out Quest Travel Network .

Travel | Travel Deals | Travel Advice | Online Travel | Travel Agents Online | James Gray 

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Do You Have A Vacation Dream? Stop Dreaming and Start Packing!

Do You Have A Vacation Dream? Stop Dreaming and Start Packing!

Do You Have A Vacation Dream?
Stop Dreaming and Start Packing......

Quest Travel Network - Proudly Opens the Door
for Dream Vacations That Everyone Can Afford!

Finally, it's your turn to wave goodby and leave on your Dream Trip of a Lifetime!

Quest Travel Network provides everyone the Opportunity to be able to enjoy their Dream Vacation using an amazing, Money Saving new product called QTN Q-Cards.  No other Travel Providers have them. They are exclusive to QTN.

 What are QTN Condo Q-Cards?  (Not Time Share!)

Quite simply, Condo Cards have taken the “timeshare” concept and improved it! Rather than you paying $10’s of thousands of dollars to purchase a timeshare for one or two weeks a year, QTN lets you use any of their over two million weeks in the nine largest timeshare resort and condo networks in the world as if you owned them yourself!

Condo Cards gives you the FREEDOM and PEACE of MIND knowing that you will never be subjected to:

 • Timeshare Tours,
 • Sales Pitches, or
 • Annual maintenance fees Q-Card advantages.

The advantages of using your Condo Q-Cards for a condo or resort vacation are:

• Condos and resorts have more space, comfort and amenities than hotel rooms.
• More rooms so that you can take the whole family with separate bed rooms.
• A full kitchen which will save you money from having to eat out every meal.
• No blackout Dates. This is a huge advantage over any other travel engine.
• Access to the QTN toll free Concierge Desk.
• Easily book your accommodations right from your living room and computer.

 How much do Q-Cards cost?

You can get a one time use Condo Card for Only $99 that you can use for a massive $1200 discount off of your next resort or condo vacation from over 2-million available weeks in over 150 countries!

The card becomes your key to a week-long Condo or Resort Vacation, with no blackout dates, and for less than a hotel stay. Use the QTN condo search engine or the QTN toll-free Concierge Desk to find and reserve your dream vacation with all of the details of your trip competed with the help of a courteous QTN online travel agent.

When you return from your dream vacation, fax in a form to let QTN know how you liked it and they will send you a $100 cash rebate as a “thank you” gift for using one of their properties!

 How can you get a Q-Card?

There are three easy and affordable ways to get your Q-Card as follows:

1. Purchase one from a Quest Travel Advisor for $99. (This is a one time use card at this price)

2. Purchase a Condo Quest Membership for $199 one-time payment! (You get one 'Unlimited use' Q-Card for $600 off of every resort and condo vacation you take EVERYTIME for as long as you are a member!)

3. Purchase a Quest Travel Advisor Membership for $449 one-time payment! (You get one unlimited use Q-Card for up to $1200 off of every resort and condo vacation you take for as long as you are a member with up to $1000 cash rebate following your trip! Plus, you get your very own personal QTN travel Center for commissions from your personal travel and others you refer to your site.)

QTN meets and/or beats other travel service providers 9 out of 10 times.

 How can QTN beat other Travel Provider prices and still five discounts and rebates?

 Simple: QTN beats the “big guys” prices 9 times out of 10 because QTN is tapped into the very same providers they use, but without their huge Travel Agent online markups.

 This allows QTN to provide better service and higher quality travel accommodations that are discounted to you the member and you earn the fees normally paid out to Travel Agents online.

Do I need a Travel Agent License?

 NO, you do not need to be a licensed Travel Agent in QTN.

In QTN, one of the ways you get paid is by simply using your Travel Center for your personal travel and also by referring other people to your Travel Center. When they book their travel accommodations thru your Travel Center you get paid a commission.

You don't even have to handle any of the booking details. A specially trained QTN online travel agent handles all of that work for you at no cost to you because it is benefit of your QTN Travel Center Membership Plan.

What is the Rebate Program?

Above are a few of the great benefits of having you very own Q-Card, however, here is the best part that you will never get from any other travel provider:

Once you get back, simply fill out and fax in the form to tell us how you liked your trip and QTN will send you a Quest Cash ATM Card worth $100 (if you used the single use Condo Card) for you to spend anywhere you want on anything you want. If you have one of the other Condo Card Programs, you will also receive a rebate in accord with the plan.

So if you do the math, when you activate the single use Condo Card, you actually get paid $1 to get a great $600 discount on a fantastic condo or resort vacation.

This is an amazing, money saving, travel membership program that you simply cannot affort to miss out on if you do frequent travels or are planning your next dream trip.  There is no charge to check out QTN to see if it is right for you.

James Gray
(503) 559-3790
Skype: daddygraywolf

 P.S. If you are looking for a home based business and a great way to enjoy a luxurious condo or resort vacation and want to take the entire family for prices equal to or below normal hotel rates, then you owe it to you and your family to check out Quest Travel Network .

Travel | Travel Deals | Travel Advice | Online Travel | Travel Agents Online | James Gray 

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All about Travel

Who else wants to book their travel accommodations right from the comfort of their living room using their very own Travel Center while saving thousands of dollars and earning commissions while they travel?

Here is your Golden Opportunity for a One-of-a-Kind Travel Experience of a lifetime!

The QTN Travel Center is a comprehensive, but easy to use travel website built with the “do-it yourself” traveler in mind. The travel center has hundreds of pages, features, travel advice search and booking engines that provides all of the self-booking tools needed for the average person, like you and me, to easily handle all of our travel arrangements right from the comfort of our living rooms. The Travel Center is built with the best travel industry alliances worldwide. 

Why Should I have a QTN Travel Center?  What Are the Benefits?

Common Deceptions:

NO Bait and Switch – One of the most common “tricks” employed by the other MLM travel companies and travel agents online is showing properties with exceptional pricing that are NOT available. This is done to lead you to believe they have “better pricing” than the next guy but when you actually go to book it, you find out (after wasting a lot of time) that the offering is not even available. A reputable travel company like Quest Travel Network will NEVER do this….period! They know and respect how valuable your time is so they only provide inventories that are available. Giving you the piece of mind of knowing that the inventory you are interested in WILL be available when booking.

What You See is What You Pay – Another common “trick” that is employed is the “Net Pricing” approach. Companies will advertise pricing that is net of any taxes, transfers, duties, port charges etc. in an effort to make them look “cheaper”. Again, a reputable company like QTN simply will NOT do this. They know how valuable your time is… “Time is Money.” With Quest Travel Network, they use the “what you see is what you pay” pricing approach…no hidden fee’s/costs to you. This gives you the peace of mind knowing that the “Price you see IS the price you pay.” 

You will be able to pick travel deals from the entire inventory of the largest travel agencies and most popular online booking engines in the world.  With QTN you can be assured that you will always have access to all of the accommodations offered by other travel companies plus much, much more.  

With QTN, the database only displays AVAILABLE properties saving members valuable time and frustration. There is no disappointment after spending your valuable time booking your travel deals only to find out that they are not available.

As a QTN member, your TC provides advanced search options which include:

A. Search by price
B. Search by property name
C. Search by Value
D. Search by city
E. Search by amenity
F. Search by address
G. Search by local landmark

You also get special instructions and travel advice on subjects like:
 
A. How to use the page
B. Cancellation information
C. Credit card safety

Resource Area – Every TC has a resource area that provides members instant access to many industry resources. The site also features an in-depth Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, travel tools, and Destination Guides sections. The addition of these research tools provides you the comfort level needed to purchase your accommodations thru travel agents online.  

There are also unlimited resources for group and business travel as well.
 
A. FAQ's - broken into easy to use categories
B. Travel Advice - broken into easy to use categories
C. Travel Tools such as currency conversions, international clocks, passport and visa information, etc…
D. Traveler Profile Form that insure members receive the most from all of their personal and business travel

Resources:

E. Brochure Order Form
F. Poster Order Form 

Cruise Booking Engine

Planning a Cruise? The QTN Travel Center features the inventory of some of the largest providers of cruises to the entire travel industry.  You will have access to information about each ship, ports of call, cruise lines, etc and they even feature Cruises as low as $99 per person.

QTN has several cruises customized to members that offer a great range of destinations, itineraries, lengths, and price ranges.  Many featured cruises are below market price.  All member only cruises provide additional amenities for members such as onboard credits, cabin upgrades, gifts, etc.

Hotel Program

Need a hotel room for over-night or just a day or so? With QTN you get access to the entire inventory of the best online hotel providers. With your TC, you will have access to over 80,000 Hotels offering Special Internet Rates.

Condos

Like Condos? The TC features the inventory of several condo inventory providers giving you a large range of condos to pick from worldwide. Why stay in a stuffy hotel room when you can get a luxurious condo suite for comparable prices?

Condo Cards: QTN is the only online Travel business that provides condo cards as part of their membership package. These cards feature a one of kind Exclusive discount and rebate program. This allows users to instantly receive the discount offered to them when booking the condo accommodations, plus they also get a rebate from the travel industry when they return from the trip.

Travel Insurance:

As a QTN member, you can purchase travel insurance directly from your own Travel Center.  The Vacation Resort/Condo industry is one of the only industries that have an industry wide policy of “ALL CONFIRMED RENTALS ARE FINAL AND NON-REFUNDABLE”.  By adding travel insurance to the rental during booking thru the TC, members will be provided with extra protection in case they need to cancel

Road Trips - Explore great destinations within one to six hours from your chosen ZIP code. Just designate the amount of time you want to drive and enter the ZIP code into the search box of your TC signifying where you want to start from. Road Trips will search out cities in all directions based on your request, and provide you with an exciting selection of hotels, attractions and maps.
 
Member Only Cruise - Freedom Quest Trips – Features hand picked EXCLUSIVE trips for members. These trips are Exceptionally Different than all of the other trips advertised by network marketing companies to sell memberships. Along with the more conventional trips like the Cruises to the Caribbean and Hawaiian Islands, QTN will feature a more diverse range of trips. The trip sections will feature something for everyone. From Scuba diving and Adventure Type Trips to trips to the Australian Coral Reef, Eiffel Tower in France, African Safari and Buckingham Palace. We will also feature family trips such as a Dude ranch, a food trip to Italy (Taste of Tuscany), The Grand Canyon, and Yellow Stone.

One of the aspects of the Freedom Quest Trips and the Quest Travel Network is to allow members to take trips that they normally would not be able to afford. QTN will offer travel deals and trips for every desire, imagination, and pocketbook.

The challenge before you now is for you to do your due diligence and research other online travel businesses.  I know that when you have finished, you will find that Quest Travel Network stands head and shoulders above all other online travel businesses, not only for the wide range of accommodations available, but also for the potential income that you can make when you become a Quest Travel Network member.

Until next time, may your dream vacations soon become a reality?

James Gray
Skype: daddygraywolf
(503) 559-3790

P.S.  How many Dream Vacations do you want to take this year?  Think how much fun it would be to be able to take the whole family on a luxury cruise vacation to the South Pacific or anywhere else your heart desires knowing that you are making money while you travel! 

 

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Who Like's to Travel?

Who doesn't like to travel, I should say?

No one, that's who! Everyone that you and I know either secretly or openly dreams and brags about the dream vacation that they plan to take some day. The only problem is that most people are waiting until they either win the lottery or come into an inheritance from some rich relative. Of course, there are others of us who have nurtured the dream over several years and diligently saved money from our paychecks so that we can take that one big dream vacation as our retirement reward. Right? Well, now is the right time for you to renew your plans to travel because I have found a way to travel for free and earn a nice income at the same time.

Very few people can afford to call travel agents and schedule extended vacations especially during their child rearing life.

Travel deals are hard to find thru travel agents online or even land based, for that matter. We all know that using travel agents to book your travel is just to expensive and God knows that you simply can't take the time away from work or from the kids school activities to do the traveling that you would like to do. What about that business trip that you need to take that will wreck havoc on your budget due to the high cost of airfares, hotels, condos, cruises and other related travel expenses? These expenses become almost unbearable, especially when you consider the commissions paid to travel agents. Yes, even online travel agents generally charge a booking fee just for trying to find you the best travel deals and maybe even giving you a little travel advice in the process.

Do you want to know what James Gray does?

He uses his Quest Travel Center to book all of his travel accommodations. He is especially proud to share the information about the special travel products of Quest Travel Network to all his friends and acquaintances so that they can also participate in this amazing income producing opportunity while saving thousands of dollars every time they travel. He fully appreciates that if you are going to travel, why not do it in style and earn a nice commission at the same time? Without a doubt, Quest Travel Network is the best way to accommodate both of those concerns. After all, why allow some travel agent to stuff you into a dreary hotel room when you can get a luxury condo for the same price and pocket a nice commission at the same time? Talk about win-win, this really hits the jackpot.

Wouldn't you like to be able to go online and schedule your trip from the comfort of your living room knowing that you will be able to either meet or beat all other travel providers prices? How about luxury accommodations? Is that important to you also or do you like those dreary, single room hotels where your only view is generally the garbage bins in the alley behind the hotel? How would you like to pay hotel prices for luxurious condo rooms that are large enough for you to take the entire family, at no additional cost? Well, my friend, please keep reading because I can show you a way to reduce your vacation and travel expenses and even earn generous commissions any time that you and/or your friends travel when you book accommodations from your very own Travel Center like mine which you can view at the Quest Travel Network

Sure, this still doesn't address your time limitations from work or school. However, it certainly will allow you to do your traveling at a more reasonable cost and at the same time allows you to start a home based business in the multi-trillion travel industry. With the potential income from this business, you may even be able to quit your job much sooner than you had originally planned and begin enjoying the life that you have always dreamed about.

Sound interesting?

I thought so! And guess what! You don't have to be a licensed Travel Agent to get involved with QTN and to make commissions from anyone who books their travel accommodations thru your QTN Travel Center. You don't even have to handle the scheduling details for any bookings. All you have to do is refer customers to your Travel Center and licensed travel agents online handles all the scheduling details...WOW...you can't beat that! Did you click my travel Center link above yet? If not go back now and do it....you will be amazed at how easy it is to save thousands of dollars on each and every trip you take when you make your accommodations through the QTN Travel Center. You can also get great travel advice and travel deals right from the comfort of your living room thru the back office of the Travel Center.

To view a video about QTN, simply click here, enter your basic contact information and then listen to the exciting Quest Travel Network business opportunity as explained by the CEO of QTN, Mr. Tod Bell. I know that you will be excited and eager to join after listening to his message.

Thanks again for your interest in Quest Travel Network (QTN). I know that you won't be disappointed with the quality and financial benefits that you can get from the Quest Travel Network and the exciting travel deals that they provide.

James Gray
(503) 559-3790
Skype:daddygraywolf

P.S. How many vacations do you want to take this year? How much money do you want to make while you travel? It's all up to you! You will be your own boss in QTN. You will be able to schedule your own work hours and income stream. Think how this could improve your home life with your family

Keywords: Travel | Travel Agents Online | Travel Deals | Travel Advice | Travel Agents | James Gray

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Travel-Tavel Deals-TravelAdvice-Online Travel

What You Should Know About Cruise Ships Before Traveling

Critical Information That You Should Know Before Sailing! 

Cruise Ship Ratings

Cruise ships are rated on a 100 point scale. They need to maintain a health score higher than 86 out of 100. Cruise ships are a great location to have your next vacation. If given the opportunity, many parents would choose to take a leisurely cruise alone leaving the kids at home. Cruise ships are very safe. They are equipped with life boats, life jackets, emergency personnel, doctors, and firemen all on the cruise ship.  Finding the best travel deals will insure that your cruise vacation will generate a pleasant lifetime memory.

CRUISE SHIPS ARE LIKE FLOATING RESORTS

Cruise ships are like floating resorts with all the choices that fine resorts have to offer. You can be by yourself and lie back in a lounge chair, breathe in the sea air, soak up the sun, read good books, or watch the ever-changing view. Cruise ships are required to follow strict environmental regulations that ensure that treated sewage and wastewater from showers, sinks and kitchen galleys are discharged properly at designated offshore perimeters. In fact, cruise line waste management is so highly regarded that cruise lines are often consulted by state governments on pollution abatement and sewage control. Cruise ships are like floating resorts with all the amenities fine resorts have to offer.

PERSONAL SAFETY ON CRUISE SHIPS

Passengers are invariably assigned to lifeboats or similar survival craft. The total capacity of all the survival craft on board will exceed the total number of persons on the vessel. Passengers become friends; they are never just cabin numbers. Unlike other large cruise ships, they are proud of the intimate world they offer, where modern-day conveniences sail in harmony with traditional values.

Statistically, cruise ships are safer than hotels and resorts when it comes to fires and violent crime. However, it is in your best interest not to abandon common sense just because you board a cruise ship for a wonderful vacation. Prevention and common sense go hand in hand making your cruise a vacation that you will long remember favorably.

Staterooms generally have bathroom amenities from L'Occitane, flat screen TVs and DVD/CD players, and Bose Sound Docks for use with iPods that can be borrowed at no charge from reception. Wireless connectivity in public areas is generally available on most ships.

TELEPHONES - SATELITE TV

While most ships now have telephones in passenger cabins, you can also call someone on shore through the ship's radio operator while at sea. Staterooms on all of today's modern cruise ships are equipped with satellite television channels and in some cases in-cabin internet connections.

CRUISE SHIP DINING

Everything you've heard about cruise ship dining is true. At each meal, you'll find a varied selection of appetizers, salads, soups, main courses and desserts and each day the selection will be different. In addition to the prepared menu items, you will also be allowed to sample menu items not specifically scheduled for the day’s meal.  Simply ask the waiter and they will gladly assist you.

LIFETIME MEMORIES ARE MADE ON CRUISES

If you are like Jim Gray, who has made several cruises with his wife and friends, you will long remember the great vacation and all the new found friends that you will make onboard.  It is the trip of a lifetime and one that will leave you dreaming about that next great cruise.   If you you would like to cruise for free and earn a nice income while traveling, it is possible.  Jim Gray does it and so can you.

Keywords: cruise ship, vacation, cruise line, large cruise ships, ships, cruise ship rating, cruise ship ratings, travel, travel deals, travel advice, online travel, travel agents online, james gray

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Manners And Etiquette - Cruise Ship Information - Cruise Reviews

Cruise Ship Manners and Etiquette

There is no handbook on cruise manners, but the key words here are common sense.

However, some less thoughtful folks onboard don;t seem to understand that there are some basic, unwritten, common sense rules of etiquette when they book a vacation on a cruise ship.

No, there is no handbook on cruise manners, but the key words here are common sense. For some less thoughtful folks onboard taking a vacation means taking a break from using their brains. You should take the time pre-launch to study the cruise ship information packet that you receive when you first book a cruise.

Picture a cruise ship like a floating village or small town at sea. As with any unfamiliar place you go to, you should get to know the lay of the land, so to speak. No one is going to be just like you. People from all over the world, from different cultures and religions are sharing the same floating space that you are. Everyone should learn how to live in harmony for this short stay so that all of you will have the best  family vacation possible.

Some cruisers have been to their share of ports and know what to do. However, first time cruisers “newbie’s” need to pay attention to their surroundings. Read the literature about the ships activities. And if there is any doubt about something, ask a member of the cruise ship crew.

Now, let’s talk about some of those unspoken shipboard rules:

Be Patient and Don’t Get Frustrated and Complain Unnecessarily.

You are on vacation! Nothing is more unattractive than a grown-up whining like a child over something like waiting in line. You know that saying “When in Rome?” Well, it is your vacation. No worries, no deadlines, no being late to anything  you’re on a ship and nothing on board is going anywhere. Introduce your self to others onboard and socialize as much as possible and join others in some cruise ship games. Meeting new friends is part of the journey that you are taking. Many long term friendships are birthed on cruise ships.

Respect the Dress Code Guidelines

Cruise ships will often post some clothing guidelines for attendance at dinner or live entertainment functions. If you don’t follow the guidelines, you will not be thrown off the ship. However, you could be made to feel mighty uncomfortable wearing your Bermuda shorts and flip flops to a semi-formal dinner or dance.

Don’t be an obnoxious seat saver or line cutter.

It is a bit exasperating when planning your cruise activities and take the time to arrive at a decent hour to catch the next lounge act only to have a sea of coats draped over chairs and no bodies in the seats. And line cutters, shame on you. It is one thing for you to stand in line and have your spouse join you after a quick trip to the rest room. It is a whole new ballgame letting in your twenty new found friends from the poker tables cut in line.

Be respectful when using gym equipment/hot tub/lounge chairs/computers, and etc.

There are possibly several hundred other people onboard who are lined up behind you at some point that may want to use these privileges. Don’t hog the equipment and be mindful of others who are discreetly waiting without complaint for their turn. Try to diversify your cruise ship activities to have a more rounded experience.

Respect the designated smoking areas

There are specific areas just for smokers on board. Do not be selfish and light up at the dining room table while others are eating. Here’s a big clue: if you see ash trays, you can light up.

These unspoken rules sound perfectly logical don’t they? Yet, some cruisers forget themselves in their quest for a good time and other people suffer for it. If you are unsure of something, ask a member of the cruise ship staff.

Let your common sense rule and don’t worry, common courtesy won’t get in the way of your having a good time on your cruise.

Keywords: vacation, cruise, cruise ship, cruise ships, shipboard, manners, rules of etiquette, common courtesy, book vacation, best family vacation, cruise ship crew, book a cruise, cruise ship games, cruise activities, cruise ship activities

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Cruises | Dream Vacation | Luxury Liners | Luxury | Cruise Liners

CRITICAL DETAILS YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN CHOOSING THE RIGHT CABIN FOR YOUR LUXURY CRUISE 

Not all luxury cruise line staterooms are created equally. This is a fact that becomes all too painful if you happen to choose the wrong room for your cruise vacation.

I’ve heard horror stories of sleepless nights filled with the endless droning of the ship’s engines, of claustrophobic cabins scarcely the size of a walk-in closet, and of vacationers having to go up two or three decks before they could tell if it was day or night. On the other hand, there are stories of unbelievable luxury, of sitting idly on a private verandah watching the sun set while sipping wine, and of spacious suites decorated to lavish perfection.

Believe it or not, these two scenarios, and everything in between, happen on every cruise ship on each and every voyage. This is why Jim Gray feels that cabin selection is one of the most, if not the very most, important decisions that you can make before taking your cruise. And with more than 20 different types of staterooms available on a single cruise ship, choosing the right room is no easy chore.

Please, understand that there is little doubt that you will love the cruise ship itself. There will be many spacious areas on the ship and on the deck. Also, there will be so much to do on the ship and on the different shore excursions that you will normally only use your room for sleeping and changing cloths. Therefore, it is wise to give serious consideration to the differences in pricing when you choose your stateroom. After all, why pay a high price for a luxurious stateroom if you are not going to be spending much time in it?

The cruise industry is not expanding and building ships at the great rate they are because people are not enjoying their cruise. On the contrary, people love cruises and there are many reasons why. I just want you to understand what the staterooms are really like so you are not surprised in a negative fashion and so you can make an informed decision to make your cruise the best possible dream vacation it can be for you.

The number one factor that most people consider before choosing a stateroom is price. The price that you pay for booking a stateroom is dependent on many factors including the size of the room, the room’s layout, and the location of the room on the ship. The ship itself can even play a role in how much a stateroom costs. This is because luxury cruise liners are normally crafted with larger rooms and more built-in luxuries. In fact, the smallest stateroom available on a luxury liner might be much larger than a room on a mainstream cruise liner. Rooms on a luxury liner also almost always come with an ocean view or balcony.

Types of Cruise Ships.

While many new cruise liners have inside staterooms of comparable size no matter which Cruise Line you choose, the ship type itself plays an important role especially dependant upon the age of the ship. Keep in mind that a larger ship usually has larger rooms and more amenities, but don’t take this for granted without checking it out first or you could get a big surprise.

Here is a brief overview of some popular cruise lines and the types of ships that they use:

1. Large Ships:  (over 1,500 passengers) Carnival Cruise Lines; Celebrity Cruises; Costa Cruises; Cunard Line; Disney Cruise Line; MSC Cruises; Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL); Princess Cruises; Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and etc.
 
2. Mid-size Ships:  (500 – 1500 passengers) Crystal Cruises; Holland America Line; Oceania Cruises; and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

3. Small Ships (Under 500 passengers): American Safari Cruises; Cruise West; Hapag-Lloyd Cruise Line; Hebridean Island Cruises; Seabourn Cruises; SeaDream Yacht Club; Silversea Cruises; and Windstar Cruises, as examples.

Types of Staterooms

Once you have chosen the type of ship that you wish to book passage on, you will need to decide what type of room would be best suited to your voyage. This will no doubt be decided by a variety of factors including your budget, the length of your cruise, and your personal preferences.

To help you decide, here is a list of the four major types of staterooms and a description of each:

1. Standard Inside Staterooms (no window or porthole)

These are generally the least expensive of all staterooms and are, therefore, the smallest. These rooms normally are only about 120 to 180 square feet, but are usually tastefully decorated. Gone are the bunk beds of yesteryear. Today, most inside staterooms are furnished with two twin beds that can be pushed together for a couple. While the sleeping situation has improved, the bathroom in an inside stateroom is still excruciatingly small. There is no tub, only a shower, and a noisy vacuum toilet like that on an airplane. A sink and a few shelves finish off this small, but functional space. The rest of the stateroom is decorated in much the same way as a hotel room with wall to wall carpeting, individually controlled heat and air conditioning, TV, telephone, dresser, and a reading chair.

2. Standard Outside Staterooms (with porthole or window)

These rooms are virtually identical to inside staterooms with one small exception: the window or porthole. Modern ships normally have large picture windows instead of a porthole but some modern ships still offer rooms with portholes on lower decks. These are less expensive than the rooms with windows but they don’t offer much of a view. Some portholes are even partially submerged under the waterline or blocked by lifeboats.

3. Staterooms with Balconies or Verandahs:

These staterooms are larger than the standard stateroom and come complete with an outside space. Although small, this extra space gives you the opportunity to see the ocean from your room. And when you bore of sitting inside your cabin, you can open your door to a fresh breeze or step out on the balcony to absorb the view. Many of these staterooms even have a separate sitting area furnished with a convertible sofa which supplies extra sleeping space.

4. Suites:

Suites are balconied cabins that feature separate sleeping and sitting areas. These are the largest rooms that you can book on a cruise ship. Many even have large bathrooms which are completed with a tub. While these are the most expensive rooms aboard a cruise ship, the price may well be worth it if you plan on spending numerous days at sea or a good deal of time relaxing in your room.

Another consideration that you need to make before booking a stateroom on a cruise ship is location. The location of your stateroom not only affects price but also affects the entire cruise experience. A stateroom too close to the engines can be noisy, and a stateroom on the lowest levels can make you feel like you are entombed and not part of the festivities on the upper decks. On the other hand, if you plan on spending little time in your room, these sacrifices might be well worth the money that you save.

Jim Gray has learned that a great tip to remember when booking your cruise is that passengers are often upgraded at no additional cost if there is unfilled space on the ship.  It is not unusual for someone to book a lower level stateroom and to get automatically bumped up a level or two as a courtesy of the Cruise Line.  You might want to ask the booking agent about the Cruise Lines upgrade policy before booking, since not all Cruise Lines treat upgrades the same.

Now you know, so off you go!  Time to go book that exciting Cruise that you have always wanted to take or retake, whichever the case may be.

Bon Voyage!

Keywords:  luxury cruise lines, cruise vacation, vacationers, cruise ship, voyage, luxury, cruise, ships, stateroom, cruise industry, cruises, dream vacation,  luxury liners, luxury,  cruise liners, Cruise Ships, Cruise Line, Ships, Cruise Lines

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Luxury Travel Vacations - Free Travel Opportunities

5 Common Techniques For Getting Discount Luxury Travel Packages

The majority of people are not financially well off, but would like to be. Sometimes you can temporarily live like the rich and famous and enjoy the excitement of luxury travel vacations.

So, as the saying goes, if you have champagne taste on a beer budget, let’s get going.  We’ll explore a few of Jim Gray's free travel tips and techniques on how you can enjoy a luxury travel deal on a budget.

Travel planning tips include developing a well laid out travel plan as the most important aspect of obtaining last minute discount travel deals and accommodations without spending any more money than they would for a three star or lower rated resort.

Travel in style with the following free travel tips and strategies.

Technique #1. Find Affinity And Loyalty Programs.

Capitalize on the flexibility and leverage you have in the competitive luxury travel package industry. Many companies want your business and offer lots of incentives to compete for your travel funds and to keep you as a customer.

For example, if you provide a service, you typically look out for your best customers and give extra perks to keep them coming back. These discount travel service companies reward travelers who remain loyal to them with unadvertised luxury travels and extras. This is the general idea behind frequent traveler programs.

Technique #2. Select The Right Travel Specialists To Work With.

As you’re researching destinations and comparing pricing online, note that all online travel companies aren’t equal. Lots of agencies have preferred status with suppliers who can in turn pass on these discount travel deals to you.

Again, this is just like we talked about earlier, only this time, the companies and suppliers are getting the great free travel opportunities and passing them on to you.

Technique #3. Turn Problems Into Travel Opportunities.

Like Jim Gray, you shuld choose a few top-notch luxury travel sites that you would like to visit and then locate the companies that provide service to these locations.  Then begin a relationship with these companies that you would like to use over and over again so that you can obtain loyalty bonuses and discounts. If they make an error when processing your accommodations, by all means, take advantage of the situation in a professional manner, however, don’t take undue advantage of the situation.

These companies desire to maintain consistent levels of quality and rely on their customers to provide constructive feedback and satisfaction/dissatisfaction. If a representative is not willing to work with you, ask around to find someone who will.

Technique #4. Just Ask.

One of the easiest and simplest techniques you can do is to just ask about any free travel opportunities. All they can say is no. Sometimes a special occasion may be enough to get you unexpected last minute discount travel deals. Simply do it and don’t be afraid to ask.

You can simply ask for an upgraded vehicle, accommodation, or airline seat. It doesn’t hurt and you’re no worse off than you were before you asked. In other words, you have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

Technique #5. Timing Is Everything.

Keep this in mind that travel is at its most expensive during holidays and other peak times of the year. However, if the time of year to travel is important to you, such as a special event you’ll be attending, traveling during major holidays or school vacations, and if you desire to find luxury travel packages for the best value you want, try to book as far in advance as possible.

Don’t forget the power of the internet. It can be one of your most effective tools in researching destinations, while getting luxury travel vacations at bargain prices.

Jim Gray hopes that these free travel tips and strategies are helpful to you.  Have fun and happy travels!

Keywords: travel specialists | luxury travel packages | free travel tips | luxury travel club | last minute discount travel deals | free travel opportunities | travel planning tips | discount travel web sites | luxury travels | luxury travel vacations | luxury travel package | luxury travel destinations | discount travel service | luxury travel sites | luxury travel site | luxury travel deal |

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Are You Nervous About Taking Your First Cruise?

Helpful First Class Cruise Travel Tips

Are You Nervous About Taking Your First Cruise? Who isn’t Nervous about taking a Cruise for the First Time, I should Say!

Here are a few Travel Tips to help calm your restless nerves and make your trip enjoyable.

If you are looking to take relaxing luxury cruise vacations with your family, loved ones or simply by yourself for some peace and quiet, a cruise is definitely one of your top options. If this is going to be your first cruise, there are a number of issues that you need to define to help you. Here are a few first class cruise travel tips to help you with your planning.

You need to know who will be going on this cruise with you. Whether you are traveling with your spouse, your kids, with friends or by yourself you most likely are looking forward to a quality experience. Different cruise lines plan cruises for adults only, family, young adults and etc.  As a general rule, everyone is welcome on most cruises. However it is easy to find a first class cruise that is mainly adult, or some that are more focused on providing entertainment for kids, from toddlers to teenagers on the many different cruise lines.

Financially, you need to decide how much money you want to spend, and figure out a realistic budget for yourself.  Comparing cruise lines prices should be paramount during your planning process. After paying for your cruise ship fees, usually, approximately 100 US dollars a day is sufficient. When booking your Cruise, be sure to make sure you find out exactly what is included in your fare; some extras that used to be thrown in are now an additional charge on different cruise lines. There are a several different ways to save, like taking advantage of the early bird fares and booking in advance. Also, while it’s risky, for those of you with flexible schedules, booking last minute can save you a lot of money as well.

So, what’s the most affordable way to get to your cruise ship? The most likely and popular ways are by driving or flying. A cruise can be a great finish to a road trip, where you can stop off whenever you please and explore several destinations on the way to your fabulous vacation. However, flying can save you valuable travel time and allow you more time on your curise.

Senior travel tips: Some first class cruise lines can give you a flight and cruise package, which is an easier and less stressful way to plan your trip, plus it usually includes the pricey transfers from the airport to your cruise ship. In addition, most cruise lines usually take care of your luggage, which means they can transfer it directly to your cabin.  This is a huge bonus for people that hate lugging around heavy bags which includes the vast majority of us.

The next big decision for you is to decide when you want to travel. Obviously you will want to go somewhere where the chance of hurricanes and bad weather is limited; however, keep in mind cruise ships will alter their destinations accordingly to avoid any pending hurricane dangers.

Timing wise, if you are planning on only spending a week on vacation, you are limited to the sunny areas, such as Mexico, most of the Caribbean, or the Bahamas. Other possibilities, depending on your starting destination, are Hawaii, Alaska or even Europe. Depending upon your personal situation and destination, comparing cruise lines prices and benefits is a must. 

If you are traveling without family and have a flexible schedule, the fall and spring are usually the cheapest times, because kids are away in school, and the weather is generally a bit chancier. In the more tropical areas, the temperature does not change too much, but what does change is the amount of precipitation. A bit of warm rain won’t hurt you, but it can become a little irritable and uncomfortable at times.

When choosing your cruise travels destination, a good starting point is figuring out what sort of activities you want to do, because each destination comes with a distinct ambience and different cruise lines provide different activities. There are always many water sports available on the ships, such as snorkeling and pool activities and more energetic things such as scuba diving. Port calls often take you to the tourist sites, such as museums and ruins.

Senior travel tips for your cruise travels and in fact good safety advice for everyone is not to venture off on your own and to be exceptionally careful of new acquaintances that volunteer to show you the so called good stores to shop in.  These individuals may be working off commissions with those particular stores considered tourist traps that have increased their prices to take unfair advantage of your unfamiliarity of local pricing and customs. Usually a polite no thank you is good enough to keep them at bay. The cruise line will usually give you a list of activities for the port stops that are respectful and offer you a good value for your investment and time. Keep in mind that these activities are limited on some of the tours, so book in advance if it’s something you really want to do.

If you are nervous about your first cruise vacation, an excellent thing to is make sure you get a cabin you are going to be comfortable in for your cruise, because it is going to be your home for the duration of your vacation. Keeping in mind that they do vary in prices, most people select discount vacation cruises with the cheapest room available so they have more spending money. Sometimes there are deals for upgrading to a better cabin if you book early enough.

You should beware of one-way destination cruises.  Make sure you know the ship’s plans because sometimes if you are only doing a one-way trip, the sightseeing may only be on one side of the ship, so you will see nothing from your room. If small spaces bother you, a cabin with a balcony may be good for you although it’s pricier, you get the luxury of stepping outside and enjoying the view.

The last question most people have regarding their cruise travels is food related. The apprehension some people feel about cruising with set dinner times is quite often unnecessary. You get to pick your dinnertime yourself, either an early seating, which is usually around 6pm; the late seating usually around 8pm, and an open option, where you are given a timeframe of a few hours. There are benefits to all of them. If you choose the late seating, there is always the possibility of missing certain shows or entertainment. The early seating means that any excursions you do need to be planned to allow you enough time to get back and ready for dinner. The open seating may be the best option for families we all know how unpredictable life can be especially when traveling with kids!

Hopefully these cruise travel tips will be highly beneficial to you during all of your future  family vacation trips.   I wish you the best experience possible during all of your travels.

 Keywords:  luxury cruise vacations | cruise travel tips | first class cruise | different cruise lines  | senior travel tips | comparing cruise lines  |discount vacation cruises | cruise travels |  destination cruises  | family vacation trips 

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How do I become a travel agent

TRAVEL AGENTS ONLINE FIND SECRETS TO FINANCIAL SUCCESS

Who Else Wants to Know the Secret to a Lucrative Home-Based Travel Business?

More and more people from all walks of life are finding themselves in financial trouble due to the current economic conditions.

Increasing numbers are searching online to make money from a home-based travel business. They want to either supplement their existing low income or to totally replace it by working either part-time or full-time in an internet business of their own. They also want to take advantage of being able to travel to exotic vacation sites at major reduced rates while getting Five Star accommodations. They want the opportunity to earn a nice income when promoting special travel deals to their friends and contacts.

Their reasons are many and include low wages, poor to zero benefits, unthankful bosses, demanding hours, zero to little vacation time, loss of job and many, many more reasons. Rising costs everywhere add to most individual’s seriousness in looking to start a home-based travel business. Rising expenses for food, auto fuel, clothing, utilities, advanced education and more are becoming overwhelming to thousands and thousands of people who are caught up in this economic crisis. Even those who continue to be employed may only receive 0 to 4% raise per year, if any at all, which does not even keep up with daily cost of living. Therefore, extra income is a must for many households.

In response to these individuals needs for extra money, their desire to work from home and to generate more personal benefits, here is some great travel advice to start your own home-based Internet Travel Business.

Travel Advice - Ten Great Reasons for Starting a Travel Business for yourself.

1. Say good bye to a bad boss relationship and become your own boss. No more looking over your shoulder waiting for the hammer to fall when your boss has another bad day and throws his next temper tantrum. Instead, you can enjoy the freedom of being your own boss in your new travel business, setting your own goals, gain more control over your income potential, improve your family time, based on your personal needs and wants.

2. You can decide when and where you want to work and most likely will be able to do so in more comfort than was provided at your previous job. No more perfume- and cologne-filled elevators and public restrooms. No more vending machine junk food. You will be free to schedule your own flexible time and benefits.

3. You can put an end to mindless work like filing. Instead, choose to work on what you want and outsource the rest.

4. You can choose to continue working at your existing job or at another part time job while you grow your business to maintain a stable income. When you are financially stable, you can then terminate your existing job or any other part time job that you may be involved with.

5. You can say goodbye to job security issues and the fear of unemployment or being fired. You can run your business according to your needs and scheduling.

6. You can gain a personal sense of pride in being an entrepreneur and having more control over your future accomplishments. You will have the opportunity to help others achieve similar successes as yours as you grow your travel business.

7. Owning your own business will help you gain self confidence to face even the most challenging hurdles in life eliminating a lot of heartaches, headaches and stress.

8. You can say good bye to the earnings ceiling. The sky is the limit you own your own business.

9. In a home-based travel business, you can enjoy greater travel deals and financial gains plus many other benefits by using your own products and sharing them with family members and other potential clients. To put your mind at ease, travel agents online are not required to be licensed travel agents.

10. Based on your seriousness and success in your travel business, you may be able to plan your retirement much earlier than you ever expected. You will be in total control of your future vacations and your retirement plans. Plan what you want to earn and go get them!

So take another look at home-based travel business opportunities. You will no doubt find many reasons why a travel business deems your serious consideration in solving your financial needs.

James Gray

(503) 608-7559
WhoisJimGray.com
Skype: daddygraywolf

Keywords: Become a Travel Agent, I want to become a home travel agent, How do I become a travel agent, Become a travel agent for free

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Are you interested in taking a cruise?

Are You Thinking of Taking a Cruise This Year?

Here is some sound travel advice to make your Cruise more relaxing and enjoyable.

Are you interested in taking a cruise?

If so, you are not alone. Each year a large number of individuals consider taking a vacation aboard a cruise ship. If you have never traveled on a cruise ship before, you may look for travel advice about what activities, facilities, and services can be found onboard. The activities found onboard cruise ships vary from ship to ship, but many cruise ships have a number of activities and services in common.

Most well-known facilities found on cruise ships.

Some of the most well-known facilities found on cruise ships are dining halls, restaurants, and cafeterias. Large cruise ships may offer a number of onboard dining facilities. It is important to note that many of these dining facilities are considered upscale restaurants. In addition to a sit-down restaurant, there area usually a number of small eateries located onboard. Elegant dining restaurants are popular among cruisers. To ensure that you are able to enjoy an elegant meal, your best travel advice is to schedule a reservation as soon as you board the ship.

Aside from dining facilities, bars and dancehalls are also found on most cruise ships. As with most of the bars and dancehalls found on land, there may be age restrictions in place. If you travel with your family, they may have to complete other activities while you enjoy the nightlight over the seas. If this should occur, you are in luck because most cruise ships have daycare centers and other activities geared towards children of all ages.

Daycare centers aboard Cruise Ships for children.

When it comes to placing your child in the care of a ships daycare center, you are urged to quickly familiarize yourself with the staff. This familiarization may help to calm your nerves. It is also important to note that cruise ship employees are often closely monitored, highly educated, and properly trained. While it may be difficult at first, you should feel comfortable leaving your child in the care of a cruise ship childcare worker.

Childcare is ideal for smaller children; however, if you travel with a teenager, daycare may not be an option. Swimming pools, libraries, video arcades, and movie theaters can often be found on cruise ships. Adult supervision is a policy that prevents children under a certain age from roaming freely around the ship.

Teenagers may be able to visit these facilities without adult supervision. Each cruise ship is likely to have different adult supervision policies. Good travel advice is for you to review these policies before purchasing your tickets.

Bars, dancehalls, gaming halls and casinos on Cruise Ships

In addition to the above mentioned bars and dancehalls, gaming halls or casinos can be found on most cruise ships. As with gambling on land, there are age limits on those that can gamble aboard a cruise ship. Popular gambling activities include slots, blackjack, poker, and much more. Many onboard casinos are open for business twenty-four hours a day. Gambling is a popular cruise ship pastime. If you are booking a cruise just to gamble, you may want to further explore the gambling options aboard each ship.

Physical exercise on Cruise Ships

Cruise ship operators know that many travelers take a cruise to escape their daily routines. Unfortunately for some, one routine that cannot be left behind is exercise. That is why almost all cruise ships have onsite fitness centers and fully equipped gyms. These gyms are often similar, and sometimes even better, than the gyms found in your hometown. In addition to a fitness center, a large number of cruise ships have jogging tracks.

Cruise Ship activities allow you to relax and to escape your daily routines

If a particular activity or event is the only reason why you are interested in booking a cruise, you are urged to physically check for that event or activity before making your reservation. The above mentioned services, facilities, and activities are found on a number of popular cruise lines. These cruise lines are likely to include, but are not limited to, Carnival Cruise Lines, Paradise Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity Cruises. With the click of a mouse or a toll free phone call, you can easily determine if your favorite travel activities can be found aboard the cruise ship of your choice.

James Gray
Skype: daddygraywolf
(503) 559-3790

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My Advice Leave Your Wallet Home

Travel Advice: Take a Cruise Ship Vacation With Out Your Wallet

Why Take a Hum Drum, expensive vacation this year? Live it up and take an exciting Caribbean Cruise for possibly less money, and experience luxury and far more excitement.

A cruise ship provides great, one price, travel deals, and one of the main attractions to booking a cruise ship is that just about everything is included in the booking price.

When many people think about a budget vacation, they picture an intrepid traveler in a roach infested hotel room eating stale sandwiches and riding around on the city bus. However, one of the best ways to save money on a travel deal is also one of the most luxurious. Booking a cruise can actually save you money over your normal type of vacation and you will have the experience of a lifetime. It is simply breath taking.

Cheap, Luxurious Accommodation

In addition to having a nice clean cabin for your trip, a cruise also offers unlimited food, including many amazing buffets that are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You should also know that the food on cruise ships are often better-quality to those in all but the best land locked restaurants, and once again, the food is included in the travel price.

Traveling Off-season

Of course, it is possible to save money by traveling in the off-season, and this can often be a great plan. For instance, even though it is the middle of the winter and most people are not thinking about vacations where you are, it may be warm and tempting in many tropical cruise ship destinations.

It is important, however to check out the local weather, and to avoid the rainy season in the destinations you are considering. Steering clear of hurricanes, tropical downpours and other weather problems can help you get the most out of your cruise vacation.

Cruise Ship Cabins

If you have never taken a cruise before, it is a good idea to get travel advice from those who have experienced cruising. These people can give valuable insight on the best balance of cost and comfort for your first cruise ship experience.

The location of the cabin is an important consideration when booking a cruise ship. The interior cabins on the lower parts of the ship are generally the least costly and generally without windows especially on the inner cabins, while the higher, larger cabins with ocean views are the most expensive and luxurious.

Discounts and Cheap Cruise ship Travel Deals

Cruise ship lines have been known to offer some fantastic travel deals at the last minute in order to move unsold cabins or avoid sailing with a less than full passenger load. If the ship is not full at departure time, the travelers in the lower cabins generally get the opportunity to be upgraded at no charge to a cabin at a higher level in the ship.

There are many last minute travel newsletters that provide travel advice on these types of cruise ship benefits, and these last minute travel deals are a big hit with retirees and others who have the time to see the world.

Food and Exercise

After sampling all of the great gormet cooking that is available on your cruise, you will probably feel the need to get some physical exercise. You will be glad to know that the cost of the cruise typically includes unlimited use of the gym, the weight room and the sports facilities. While many hotels tack on a surcharge for the use of the hotel gym and equipment, a cruise vacation generally includes these amenities.

Shipboard Entertainment

The cost of a cruise vacation also includes all shipboard entertainment and classes. The entertainment options on a cruise ship are often one of the best parts of the experience because many cruises offer such things as movie nights, theatres, spas, nightclubs, stage shows, discos, and even casinos.

There are also some great classes offered by cruise lines, in everything from origami to bridge to ballroom dancing. And again, these classes and entertainment options are included in the price you pay for the cruise.

Among the only things that are not included in the typical cruise vacation are alcoholic beverages and shore excursions. Many of the higher priced cruises even include these extras. If the shore excursions and drinks are not included they can be purchased onboard ship.

It is often possible to save money on shore excursions by booking the tours locally at portside instead of doing it onboard the cruise line. Just be sure, however that if you book it yourself that you make sure that the excursion gets you back to your ship on time. Cruise ships maintain a rigid sailing schedule, and there have been many people left on the dock because they did not get back onboard prior to the ship sailing. This can be embarrassing, frustrating and expensive when you find out that you are responsible for the expense of reconnecting with your ship later on.

For all these reasons, a cruise can be among the best, and most economical, of all vacation opportunities you will ever experience. The ability to enjoy a week or two week cruise at one low price is extremely powerful travel advice motivation for booking your cruise.

 

Keywords: Travel | Travel Agents Online | Travel Deals | Travel Advice | Travel Agents | James Gray

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Travel Tips

Travel: Tips For Finding Low Cost Travel Deals

Looking for Travel Advice on how to find great Travel Deals Online?  Here are a few great tips that can save you time and money.

So you have always wanted to travel and take a dream cruise vacation. Maybe it’s one of those things that wound up on the back burner, but you’ve started to believe that you just won’t be able to save up the money or find the right travel deals to take yourself and the spouse, or the whole family, on such a trip. Think again. With the following travel advice, you may be surprised.

The cruise industry is growing faster than ever, and with this huge expansion comes more travel opportunities to save money on special cruise deals. With more vacationers taking to the seas cruise lines are growing larger and can afford to offer special discounts to customers to get more people hooked on this luxury style of vacationing. Those looking for a cruise vacation can make a few smart decisions with the right travel advice and travel deals and save themselves a lot of cash without much sacrifice.

The first step is to look into travel theme packages. Many cruises offer special discounts for certain lifestyles or age groups. There may be a family discount, a golden years discount, or a honeymoon discount available. Depending on what type of cruise you want and who’s going with you, this can be a huge money-saver if you’re willing to accept what is offered in the packaged travel deals.

When it comes time to book your cruise, believe it or not, don’t be too hasty. Many cruise lines receive unexpected cancellations at the last minute, and are eager to fill the empty slots. A would-be vacationer can often get extremely good travel deals if their schedule allows them to wait until the last minute to book. Call a cruise line days before a ship sets sail, and you might be pleasantly surprised by what you hear regarding discount rates for last-minute trips.

If you find a cruise line that you like, consider booking any future cruise vacations with the same line. Many cruise lines give discounts to repeat customers and you will probably receive a good percentage off your rate if you book a cruise at the same time each year with the same company. Talk to a travel agents who specializes in cruises. Often these agents can get you travel deals as well, especially with cruise lines they book often. By booking through experienced travel agents you may earn the instant right to be a preferred customer. You might also want to check with travel agents online for other special travel packages and travel deals.

Finally, do your research! There are many travel sites online for discount cruise fares, just as there are for airfares and other types of travel. Some websites specialize in locating cheap cruises for those who wish to vacation on a budget. Make use of a search engine and travel agents online, and don’t get discouraged. Your cheap cruise is out there somewhere.

The trick to finding great bargains is using resources like these and a little brain work to find these special travel deals.

James Gray
Skype: daddygraywolf
(503) 559-3790

 

Keywords: travel, travel agents online, travel deals, travel advice, travel agents, james gray

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Travel Insurance? Not me! I will never need it, or will I?

Travel Insurance?  Not me!  I will never need it, or will I?
What about "Murphy Protection".... do you have that coverage? 

Travel  Insurance (i.e. Murphy Protection") Is Important When Traveling
It’s Murphy’s Law. If something can go wrong, it will go wrong ......

Murphy's Law 

It’s Murphy’s Law. If something can go wrong, it will go wrong given the right circumstances such as: Accidents; Loss of possessions; or Health issues regarding you or a family member at home requiring Travel is a great way to gain new experiences and learn a new culture. Travel insurance can help to miminize your frustration and loss in this case.

However, it's not much fun to travel with the thought of your safety hanging over your head right? Because no matter what travel deal you get or whose travel advice you follow, you know that something will inevitably go wrong. Why you ask?  It’s Murphy’s Law, that's why!

These are just a few examples of why travel insurance is necessary. However, what insurance should you choose? After all there are lots of insurance choices, so what do you need to know to make a reasonable choice?

Vehicle vandalism, stolen or misplaced luggage......

Travel is a great way to gain new experiences, meet new people and learn a new culture. However, it's not much fun to travel due to safety concerns. Vehicle vandalism, stolen or misplaced luggage, personal safety at the airport proper or in the air, and other concerns that have become more prominent since 911 cause all of us to think twice about how to protect ourselves and our possessions when we travel.

Travel Problems Seem to Popup from Nowhere.

No matter how well we plan or what travel deal we get, something inevitably seems to go wrong. Accidents, loss of possessions, or an urgent return trip might disrupt your travel plans. It’s Murphy’s Law. If something can go wrong, it will go wrong given the right circumstances such as: Accidents; Missed planes due to bad travel advice from a friend or possible from online travel agents; or health issues for you or a family member at home requiring your urgent return trip.

These are just a few examples of why travel insurance is necessary. However, what insurance should you choose? Why Do You Need Travel Insurance? There are many reasons why you should carry travel insurance. But then again, choosing the wrong insurance policy could simply increase your frustrations and problems especially if you are faced with a devastating loss.

There are hundreds of insurance choices and thousands of insurance agents and even travel agents who are eager to sell you insurance just to make a commission, with little regard to your actual needs. It's no wonder we get highly frustrated when we experience these types of travel problems.

Travel Advice to Consider:

Here are a few things that you should consider before deciding to purchase your travel insurance.

First, consider your travel habits. Do you go abroad? How long do you stay on a particular place? What mode of transportation do you frequently use?

If you travel all over the world, be sure that your policy is accepted anywhere. Also, make certain that your policy covers basic travel insurance claims such as: Medical expenses, Loss of luggage, Repatriation expenses, Cancellation of trips, And Liability.

Try to obtain a list of agencies and institutions and their contact information where you can get emergency assistance. Check to make sure that all along your route and your final destination that your policy is recognized and honored. Make sure that you are aware of any exclusion in your policy such as: Injury or loss of possessions during terrorist attacks and bankruptcy proceedings for any agency associated your travel accommodations. And by all means, check out the Company behind your insurance policy to make sure it is trustworthy, reliable, and has a history of honoring claims against it.

Second: You should check to see if your travel insurance will cover pre-existing situations. These conditions might include medical or health problems that you have prior to buying insurance. Disruption of a trip caused by a medical emergency or sickness of a member of your group should also be covered under a good policy.

Third, age is probably the most important factor with travel insurance. Most insurance policies do not cover people who are over the age limit. The age limit is usually around 65 years of age. People over 65 are usually considered high risk individuals.

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Tips to eliminate Frustrations and Fears

Airline Travel Advice - Tips to Eliminate Travel Frustrations and Fears

 Travel - Find Travel Agents Online | Travel Deals and Advice Online | James Gray

Travel by plane requires planning to minimize potential problems that can ruin your vacation and/or your business trip. At the very least, a little preplanning effort on your part prior to your departure is excellent travel advice and can help to eliminate potential nightmarish frustrations during your trip.

Pre-planning your trip can mean the difference between a nice, enjoyable trip that you will remember fondly for a lifetime or an extremely frustrating trip from hell that you will have night mares about many times over. If planned properly, It can be the cementing results of a safe and hassle free trip.

Here are some travel tips for your consideration:

 SCHEDULING:

Tickets - Seating: Always book tickets on a reliable airline. While all major airline are honest and creditable, employees can sometimes cause mistakes with your tickets that can cause you delays or miss-direct you to the wrong flight. Always verify your bookings well in advance of your departure date. Also, check if they are offering any special fares or discounts that may not have been available when you booked your flight. You may be able to get a nice discount just for asking. If you prefer pre-assigned seating, double check to make sure that it is coordinated with your tickets.

Parking: If possible, reserve your airport parking in advance. If airport parking reservations are not possible, then consider reserving space at private parking lots close to the airport that has shuttle service. If neither is practical, consider renting a room over night at a hotel/motel close to the airport with shuttle service. In some cases, the hotel/motel will allow you to leave your vehicle on their lot for a set number of days free as part of your overnight stay. They will normally shuttle you to and from the airport free of charge.  (Hint: It is customary to tip the shuttle driver for his services.)  Take special precaution to lock your vehicle and do not to leave valuables in your parked vehicle. Try to park in a lighted area if possible.

Arrival Time: Always check the flight schedule before you leave home. Make sure what the check-in-time is for your flight. Leave with plenty of time to spare. This way you won’t have to rush from one end of the airport to the other.

Departure Gate: Prior to your arrival at the airport, locate your departure terminal and the easiest access. Plan to be early and in line for boarding so that you secure your seating and have plenty of time to get your luggage stowed before takeoff. If you parked at the airport terminal, make a note of where your car is parked so that it is easy to find when you return, even if it is in the dark of night.

Airlines Rules:

Baggage: Find out the allowed size and weight of your baggage and don't exceed these limits. Tag all bags with your name, address, phone number, date of travel, and flight number. Pack the bags yourself and ensure that they are all packed safely. Check with the airlines to see if you are allowed to lock your baggage. If so, then make two sets of keys and have them carried by separate people in the travel group. Place your contact information on a 3”x5” card inside your luggage on top so that it is easily seen in case that the exterior tags get lost.

Electronics: All electronic items like cell phones and laptops must be fully charged. You need to be able to turn them on and demonstrate them in accordance to the airport rules. Use of cell phones while flying is prohibited. So do not plan or making or receiving calls when in flight. Most phones have a special switch to put your phone in “airplane mode”.

Documents: As a precaution pack documents, passport, medicines, and other immediate essentials in the carry on case. In case your luggage gets lost or misplaced in transit you will still have bare essentials. Take along a valid photo ID to the airport. Check to make sure that you have all of your tickets for each member of the party traveling with you.

Clothing: Be aware of the weather conditions at your destination and also at your return destination so that you can dress and pack clothing accordingly. Although airlines normally furnish pillows and blankets, you may want to take your own to eliminate the possibility of sharing the previous user’s germs or to simply provide yourself the same comfort during flight as you are accustomed to at home. However, you will need to be reasonable and not expect to take excessive materials due to the limited seating arrangements.

Prohibited Items Discussions:

 Miscellaneous: Do not carry electronics, knives, batteries, or other banned items. All dangerous objects like razors, scissors, and so on must be put in your check in luggage. It is against regulations for passengers to carry flammables, aerosols, or household cleaners.

Specific prohibited items are:

• Firearms even if you have a license,
• Hunting rifles,
•  Baseball bats,
• Golf clubs,
• Pool cues,
• Ski equipment,
• Hockey sticks,
• Darts,
• As well as bows and arrows.

 Verbal Conversations or Outbursts: Because of terrorist threats it is against the law to speak of hijackings, bomb threats, or other dangerous things.

Socialization: Be cautious about who you befriend. Never accept any letter or parcel to be delivered to persons known or unknown.

Unattended Baggage: Never leave your luggage unattended and if you do notice any abandoned parcel or luggage bring it to the notice of authorities.

Summary: Before you travel check online to make sure your flight is on schedule and that are no diversions at the airport. You should also check to see if there have been any new rules and/or regulations regarding passenger issues that you need to be made aware of. Most airports have easy access to their airline websites so it will be relatively easy to check on this information. However, if you lack computer skills or do not have a computer with you, then you will need to ask for help at the ticket counter.

For your personal safety, avoid dark areas when traveling to and from your vehicle to the airport and when loading and unloading your vehicle. If using public transport only use transportation services from official pick up points. Public vehicles must have official markings. Don’t get conned by people who make offers of special privileges or travel deals. With a little preplanning and this travel advice your travel should be safer and much more enjoyable.

Keywords: travel, travel deals, travel advice, online travel, travel agents online, James Gray

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Reasons NOT to Use Full Service Travel Agents.

Travel - Good Reasons NOT to Use Full Service Travel Agents
     ....Travel Club Memberships Offer Far Better Advantages.

Author: James Gray

Travel Advice: Travel Agents can't provide the convenience, cost savings and the vacation varieties of an Online Travel Club Membership.

They can't schedule your business trip and/or your vacation right from your living room, nor can they save hundreds of dollars on "choice" reservations like a Travel Club can, simply because most Licensed Travel Agents don't have access to the same wide pool of travel opportunities that a Club has access to. And, no.... as a Travel Club Member, you do not have to be a Licensed Travel Agent to get these special travel deals and to book your own travel.

Travel Myth: Generally, most travelers think that it is easier, less time consuming and much less confusing to simply visit a brick and mortar (store front) Travel Agent when planning their business trips and/or their vacation. They assume that because they are licensed travel agents, that they know all the tricks for getting the best travel deals and that they have access to every possible travel accommodation available everywhere worldwide. wrong, Wrong, WRONG!!!

Individual Travel Brokers are not full service accommodators.

Travel Agents do not have access to every single accommodation available worldwide. They generally have niche markets and therefore, they only have access to certain destinations and services within that niche. Even then, the niche may be so diverse that they do not have total access to all products within their area of expertise. What if your needs do not fit snugly into their niche?  You may find yourself being put into a vacation destination that you really did not want.    

Unless they are aligned with one of the larger, more popular professionally run Travel Brokerage Companies, you may be short changing yourself by using their services. Most often, Travel Agencies are linked to specific Travel Brokers and/or Venders. Their relationship is most often based on the fees, commissions and whatever other benefits that the Agency can get for selling only those specific Travel Packages promoted by their travel providers'.

Generally, customer benefits are at best a "second consideration" when a Travel Agency chooses which Travel Brokerage House to align with. They are like the small franchised convenience stores that services the "fast and easy - need it right now" convenience mentality of people who don't mind paying higher prices for lesser quality and less variety then they could get if they were to take the time to simply shop around. Until recently, travelers simply didn't know that they could get a much better deal just by searching the internet for travel agents online and joining a Travel Club.  However, due to the economy, travelers are becoming much more educated now and turning to sources where they can get higher quality vacations, with a wider selection of sites and at reduced rates simpy by joining a Travel Club.

People are changing the way they do things due to the current economic climate.

As noted above, with today’s economic conditions, most people are now taking the time to shop around for special travel deals and advice. They are becoming better informed individuals and are now turning to the internet to find the best deals for their vacation and business travel needs. They are finding the benefits of joining a travel club to be highly advantageous as compared to the benefits provided by a Travel Agent.

A good creditable online travel site is one that allows you to join as a member and to get the benefit of group buying power.  This concept includes giving each member their own personal Travel Center where they are able to book all of their travel accommodations right from one membership site. Good online sites not only provide great travel deals and advice; you can also book car rentals, condos, hotels, airline tickets, and even cruises. Some even offer an affiliate program where you can join them for a small fee and get huge travel discounts on all of your own personal travel plus you can even refer people to your personal online travel center and make a nice commission if they also book their accommodations at your site.

Here are some excellant reasons to consider an online travel club membership for all of your travel plans:

1. Convenience:

•  Book all your accommodations right from the comfort of your living room or anywhere that it is convenient for you. 
•  No need to seek out the closest travel agency, call to schedule a meeting, drive to their store front, and then negotiate to get the travel agent that is best qualified to service your personal needs.
•  No confusion about your accommodations....what you book, you get.
•  Get wider variety of accommodations with greater savings.
•  Potential to earn commissions on your travel and that of your friends.
•  Save hundreds of dollars on the right travel deal when you book reservations for airlines, hotels, condos. Car rentals and cruises.
  

Think of hotel rooms, airplane seats, and cruise ship cabins as perishable commodities. Just like an expired carton of milk has to be pulled off the grocery store shelf, on any given night, an empty hotel room is lost revenue that will never be regained.

Similarly, an airplane is going to fly and a cruise ship will embark whether or not the seats and cabins are full. It's in the best interest of hotels, airlines, and cruise ships to be fully booked. Additionally, since you are a member of a travel club there are no Travel Agency Fees associated with your online accommodations. That's why they can pass these savings on to you by offering discounted fares.

2. Complete Travel Packages 

  As a Travel Club Member, you generally get your very own personal Travel Center where you can access special vacation packages to destinations and hotel/condo properties to which you might not otherwise have access to.

Perhaps you're a golfer, and want a dream golf vacation. Maybe a Caribbean vacation is on the horizon and you are looking for the perfect cruise package. All of these choices are easy with online travel sites and best of all you get the options that best meet your needs.

3. More Control Over Your Accommodations: 

 When you book your vacation yourself, you can easily coordinate all aspects of your travel.

 You will have more control over:

• Flight selection and depart and arrival schedule 
• Pricing for all accommodations
• Hotel selection and reservation process
• Car rental selection and details
• Cruise Ship boarding schedule information
• and, many other related travel deal and advice issues
  

All of this convenience allows you to maintain more control over your trip. If you have a change in plans, you have access to your travel center to make the transition a smooth one.

4. Group Travel 

Extended families often travel together, and businesses have group travel requirements from time to time. In either case, a full service online travel club can easily book trips for people who have the same destination but who are traveling from different places.

Having a travel club membership gives everyone peace of mind and ensures that the group's needs can easily be met and coordinated all from one site. Plus, as a club member, you will have access to many group travel opportunities at special reduced prices that you could never have access to from a local Travel Agent.

While it's still possible to book your accommodations thru a Travel Agency, why would you want to?

After all, the advantages of a Travel Club Membership are limitless. 

When was the last time that your Travel Agency called you up and told you that you just earned a nice commission from booking your travel thru them or by referring a friend to them for travel? Never, Right!   This is just one of the many reasons that you should choose joining a Travel Club over using a Travel Agent online the next time that you take a vacation or business trip.
 
Keywords: travel, travel deals, travel advice, online travel, travel agents online, James Gray

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Do You Have A Vacation Dream? Stop Dreaming and Start Packing!

Do You Have A Vacation Dream? Stop Dreaming and Start Packing!

Do You Have A Vacation Dream?
Stop Dreaming and Start Packing......

Quest Travel Network - Proudly Opens the Door
for Dream Vacations That Everyone Can Afford!

Finally, it's your turn to wave goodby and leave on your Dream Trip of a Lifetime!

Quest Travel Network provides everyone the Opportunity to be able to enjoy their Dream Vacation using an amazing, Money Saving new product called QTN Q-Cards.  No other Travel Providers have them. They are exclusive to QTN.

 What are QTN Condo Q-Cards?  (Not Time Share!)

Quite simply, Condo Cards have taken the “timeshare” concept and improved it! Rather than you paying $10’s of thousands of dollars to purchase a timeshare for one or two weeks a year, QTN lets you use any of their over two million weeks in the nine largest timeshare resort and condo networks in the world as if you owned them yourself!

Condo Cards gives you the FREEDOM and PEACE of MIND knowing that you will never be subjected to:

 • Timeshare Tours,
 • Sales Pitches, or
 • Annual maintenance fees Q-Card advantages.

The advantages of using your Condo Q-Cards for a condo or resort vacation are:

• Condos and resorts have more space, comfort and amenities than hotel rooms.
• More rooms so that you can take the whole family with separate bed rooms.
• A full kitchen which will save you money from having to eat out every meal.
• No blackout Dates. This is a huge advantage over any other travel engine.
• Access to the QTN toll free Concierge Desk.
• Easily book your accommodations right from your living room and computer.

 How much do Q-Cards cost?

You can get a one time use Condo Card for Only $99 that you can use for a massive $1200 discount off of your next resort or condo vacation from over 2-million available weeks in over 150 countries!

The card becomes your key to a week-long Condo or Resort Vacation, with no blackout dates, and for less than a hotel stay. Use the QTN condo search engine or the QTN toll-free Concierge Desk to find and reserve your dream vacation with all of the details of your trip competed with the help of a courteous QTN online travel agent.

When you return from your dream vacation, fax in a form to let QTN know how you liked it and they will send you a $100 cash rebate as a “thank you” gift for using one of their properties!

 How can you get a Q-Card?

There are three easy and affordable ways to get your Q-Card as follows:

1. Purchase one from a Quest Travel Advisor for $99. (This is a one time use card at this price)

2. Purchase a Condo Quest Membership for $199 one-time payment! (You get one 'Unlimited use' Q-Card for $600 off of every resort and condo vacation you take EVERYTIME for as long as you are a member!)

3. Purchase a Quest Travel Advisor Membership for $449 one-time payment! (You get one unlimited use Q-Card for up to $1200 off of every resort and condo vacation you take for as long as you are a member with up to $1000 cash rebate following your trip! Plus, you get your very own personal QTN travel Center for commissions from your personal travel and others you refer to your site.)

QTN meets and/or beats other travel service providers 9 out of 10 times.

 How can QTN beat other Travel Provider prices and still five discounts and rebates?

 Simple: QTN beats the “big guys” prices 9 times out of 10 because QTN is tapped into the very same providers they use, but without their huge Travel Agent online markups.

 This allows QTN to provide better service and higher quality travel accommodations that are discounted to you the member and you earn the fees normally paid out to Travel Agents online.

Do I need a Travel Agent License?

 NO, you do not need to be a licensed Travel Agent in QTN.

In QTN, one of the ways you get paid is by simply using your Travel Center for your personal travel and also by referring other people to your Travel Center. When they book their travel accommodations thru your Travel Center you get paid a commission.

You don't even have to handle any of the booking details. A specially trained QTN online travel agent handles all of that work for you at no cost to you because it is benefit of your QTN Travel Center Membership Plan.

What is the Rebate Program?

Above are a few of the great benefits of having you very own Q-Card, however, here is the best part that you will never get from any other travel provider:

Once you get back, simply fill out and fax in the form to tell us how you liked your trip and QTN will send you a Quest Cash ATM Card worth $100 (if you used the single use Condo Card) for you to spend anywhere you want on anything you want. If you have one of the other Condo Card Programs, you will also receive a rebate in accord with the plan.

So if you do the math, when you activate the single use Condo Card, you actually get paid $1 to get a great $600 discount on a fantastic condo or resort vacation.

This is an amazing, money saving, travel membership program that you simply cannot affort to miss out on if you do frequent travels or are planning your next dream trip.  There is no charge to check out QTN to see if it is right for you.

James Gray
(503) 559-3790
Skype: daddygraywolf

 P.S. If you are looking for a home based business and a great way to enjoy a luxurious condo or resort vacation and want to take the entire family for prices equal to or below normal hotel rates, then you owe it to you and your family to check out Quest Travel Network .

Travel | Travel Deals | Travel Advice | Online Travel | Travel Agents Online | James Gray 

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Who else wants to book their travel accommodations right from the comfort of their living room using their very own Travel Center while saving thousands of dollars and earning commissions while they travel?

Who else wants to book their travel accommodations right from the comfort of their living room using their very own Travel Center while saving thousands of dollars and earning commissions while they travel?

Here is your Golden Opportunity for a One-of-a-Kind Travel Experience of a lifetime!

The QTN Travel Center is a comprehensive, but easy to use travel website built with the “do-it yourself” traveler in mind. The travel center has hundreds of pages, features, travel advice search and booking engines that provides all of the self-booking tools needed for the average person, like you and me, to easily handle all of our travel arrangements right from the comfort of our living rooms. The Travel Center is built with the best travel industry alliances worldwide. 

Why Should I have a QTN Travel Center?  What Are the Benefits?

Common Deceptions:

NO Bait and Switch – One of the most common “tricks” employed by the other MLM travel companies and travel agents online is showing properties with exceptional pricing that are NOT available. This is done to lead you to believe they have “better pricing” than the next guy but when you actually go to book it, you find out (after wasting a lot of time) that the offering is not even available. A reputable travel company like Quest Travel Network will NEVER do this….period! They know and respect how valuable your time is so they only provide inventories that are available. Giving you the piece of mind of knowing that the inventory you are interested in WILL be available when booking.

What You See is What You Pay – Another common “trick” that is employed is the “Net Pricing” approach. Companies will advertise pricing that is net of any taxes, transfers, duties, port charges etc. in an effort to make them look “cheaper”. Again, a reputable company like QTN simply will NOT do this. They know how valuable your time is… “Time is Money.” With Quest Travel Network, they use the “what you see is what you pay” pricing approach…no hidden fee’s/costs to you. This gives you the peace of mind knowing that the “Price you see IS the price you pay.” 

You will be able to pick travel deals from the entire inventory of the largest travel agencies and most popular online booking engines in the world.  With QTN you can be assured that you will always have access to all of the accommodations offered by other travel companies plus much, much more.  

With QTN, the database only displays AVAILABLE properties saving members valuable time and frustration. There is no disappointment after spending your valuable time booking your travel deals only to find out that they are not available.

As a QTN member, your TC provides advanced search options which include:

A. Search by price
B. Search by property name
C. Search by Value
D. Search by city
E. Search by amenity
F. Search by address
G. Search by local landmark

You also get special instructions and travel advice on subjects like:
 
A. How to use the page
B. Cancellation information
C. Credit card safety

Resource Area – Every TC has a resource area that provides members instant access to many industry resources. The site also features an in-depth Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, travel tools, and Destination Guides sections. The addition of these research tools provides you the comfort level needed to purchase your accommodations thru travel agents online.  

There are also unlimited resources for group and business travel as well.
 
A. FAQ's - broken into easy to use categories
B. Travel Advice - broken into easy to use categories
C. Travel Tools such as currency conversions, international clocks, passport and visa information, etc…
D. Traveler Profile Form that insure members receive the most from all of their personal and business travel

Resources:

E. Brochure Order Form
F. Poster Order Form 

Cruise Booking Engine

Planning a Cruise? The QTN Travel Center features the inventory of some of the largest providers of cruises to the entire travel industry.  You will have access to information about each ship, ports of call, cruise lines, etc and they even feature Cruises as low as $99 per person.

QTN has several cruises customized to members that offer a great range of destinations, itineraries, lengths, and price ranges.  Many featured cruises are below market price.  All member only cruises provide additional amenities for members such as onboard credits, cabin upgrades, gifts, etc.

Hotel Program

Need a hotel room for over-night or just a day or so? With QTN you get access to the entire inventory of the best online hotel providers. With your TC, you will have access to over 80,000 Hotels offering Special Internet Rates.

Condos

Like Condos? The TC features the inventory of several condo inventory providers giving you a large range of condos to pick from worldwide. Why stay in a stuffy hotel room when you can get a luxurious condo suite for comparable prices?

Condo Cards: QTN is the only online Travel business that provides condo cards as part of their membership package. These cards feature a one of kind Exclusive discount and rebate program. This allows users to instantly receive the discount offered to them when booking the condo accommodations, plus they also get a rebate from the travel industry when they return from the trip.

Travel Insurance:

As a QTN member, you can purchase travel insurance directly from your own Travel Center.  The Vacation Resort/Condo industry is one of the only industries that have an industry wide policy of “ALL CONFIRMED RENTALS ARE FINAL AND NON-REFUNDABLE”.  By adding travel insurance to the rental during booking thru the TC, members will be provided with extra protection in case they need to cancel

Road Trips - Explore great destinations within one to six hours from your chosen ZIP code. Just designate the amount of time you want to drive and enter the ZIP code into the search box of your TC signifying where you want to start from. Road Trips will search out cities in all directions based on your request, and provide you with an exciting selection of hotels, attractions and maps.
 
Member Only Cruise - Freedom Quest Trips – Features hand picked EXCLUSIVE trips for members. These trips are Exceptionally Different than all of the other trips advertised by network marketing companies to sell memberships. Along with the more conventional trips like the Cruises to the Caribbean and Hawaiian Islands, QTN will feature a more diverse range of trips. The trip sections will feature something for everyone. From Scuba diving and Adventure Type Trips to trips to the Australian Coral Reef, Eiffel Tower in France, African Safari and Buckingham Palace. We will also feature family trips such as a Dude ranch, a food trip to Italy (Taste of Tuscany), The Grand Canyon, and Yellow Stone.

One of the aspects of the Freedom Quest Trips and the Quest Travel Network is to allow members to take trips that they normally would not be able to afford. QTN will offer travel deals and trips for every desire, imagination, and pocketbook.

The challenge before you now is for you to do your due diligence and research other online travel businesses.  I know that when you have finished, you will find that Quest Travel Network stands head and shoulders above all other online travel businesses, not only for the wide range of accommodations available, but also for the potential income that you can make when you become a Quest Travel Network member.

Until next time, may your dream vacations soon become a reality?

James Gray
Skype: daddygraywolf
(503) 559-3790

P.S.  How many Dream Vacations do you want to take this year?  Think how much fun it would be to be able to take the whole family on a luxury cruise vacation to the South Pacific or anywhere else your heart desires knowing that you are making money while you travel! 

 

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Who Like's to Travel?

Who doesn't like to travel, I should say?

No one, that's who! Everyone that you and I know either secretly or openly dreams and brags about the dream vacation that they plan to take some day. The only problem is that most people are waiting until they either win the lottery or come into an inheritance from some rich relative. Of course, there are others of us who have nurtured the dream over several years and diligently saved money from our paychecks so that we can take that one big dream vacation as our retirement reward. Right? Well, now is the right time for you to renew your plans to travel because I have found a way to travel for free and earn a nice income at the same time.

Very few people can afford to call travel agents and schedule extended vacations especially during their child rearing life.

Travel deals are hard to find thru travel agents online or even land based, for that matter. We all know that using travel agents to book your travel is just to expensive and God knows that you simply can't take the time away from work or from the kids school activities to do the traveling that you would like to do. What about that business trip that you need to take that will wreck havoc on your budget due to the high cost of airfares, hotels, condos, cruises and other related travel expenses? These expenses become almost unbearable, especially when you consider the commissions paid to travel agents. Yes, even online travel agents generally charge a booking fee just for trying to find you the best travel deals and maybe even giving you a little travel advice in the process.

Do you want to know what James Gray does?

He uses his Quest Travel Center to book all of his travel accommodations. He is especially proud to share the information about the special travel products of Quest Travel Network to all his friends and acquaintances so that they can also participate in this amazing income producing opportunity while saving thousands of dollars every time they travel. He fully appreciates that if you are going to travel, why not do it in style and earn a nice commission at the same time? Without a doubt, Quest Travel Network is the best way to accommodate both of those concerns. After all, why allow some travel agent to stuff you into a dreary hotel room when you can get a luxury condo for the same price and pocket a nice commission at the same time? Talk about win-win, this really hits the jackpot.

Wouldn't you like to be able to go online and schedule your trip from the comfort of your living room knowing that you will be able to either meet or beat all other travel providers prices? How about luxury accommodations? Is that important to you also or do you like those dreary, single room hotels where your only view is generally the garbage bins in the alley behind the hotel? How would you like to pay hotel prices for luxurious condo rooms that are large enough for you to take the entire family, at no additional cost? Well, my friend, please keep reading because I can show you a way to reduce your vacation and travel expenses and even earn generous commissions any time that you and/or your friends travel when you book accommodations from your very own Travel Center like mine which you can view at the Quest Travel Network

Sure, this still doesn't address your time limitations from work or school. However, it certainly will allow you to do your traveling at a more reasonable cost and at the same time allows you to start a home based business in the multi-trillion travel industry. With the potential income from this business, you may even be able to quit your job much sooner than you had originally planned and begin enjoying the life that you have always dreamed about.

Sound interesting?

I thought so! And guess what! You don't have to be a licensed Travel Agent to get involved with QTN and to make commissions from anyone who books their travel accommodations thru your QTN Travel Center. You don't even have to handle the scheduling details for any bookings. All you have to do is refer customers to your Travel Center and licensed travel agents online handles all the scheduling details...WOW...you can't beat that! Did you click my travel Center link above yet? If not go back now and do it....you will be amazed at how easy it is to save thousands of dollars on each and every trip you take when you make your accommodations through the QTN Travel Center. You can also get great travel advice and travel deals right from the comfort of your living room thru the back office of the Travel Center.

To view a video about QTN, simply click here, enter your basic contact information and then listen to the exciting Quest Travel Network business opportunity as explained by the CEO of QTN, Mr. Tod Bell. I know that you will be excited and eager to join after listening to his message.

Thanks again for your interest in Quest Travel Network (QTN). I know that you won't be disappointed with the quality and financial benefits that you can get from the Quest Travel Network and the exciting travel deals that they provide.

James Gray
(503) 559-3790
Skype:daddygraywolf

P.S. How many vacations do you want to take this year? How much money do you want to make while you travel? It's all up to you! You will be your own boss in QTN. You will be able to schedule your own work hours and income stream. Think how this could improve your home life with your family

Keywords: Travel | Travel Agents Online | Travel Deals | Travel Advice | Travel Agents | James Gray

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CruiseShip-Vacation-CruiseLine

What You Should Know About Cruise Ships Before Traveling

Critical Information That You Should Know Before Sailing! 

Cruise Ship Ratings

Cruise ships are rated on a 100 point scale. They need to maintain a health score higher than 86 out of 100. Cruise ships are a great location to have your next vacation. If given the opportunity, many parents would choose to take a leisurely cruise alone leaving the kids at home. Cruise ships are very safe. They are equipped with life boats, life jackets, emergency personnel, doctors, and firemen all on the cruise ship.  Finding the best travel deals will insure that your cruise vacation will generate a pleasant lifetime memory.

CRUISE SHIPS ARE LIKE FLOATING RESORTS

Cruise ships are like floating resorts with all the choices that fine resorts have to offer. You can be by yourself and lie back in a lounge chair, breathe in the sea air, soak up the sun, read good books, or watch the ever-changing view. Cruise ships are required to follow strict environmental regulations that ensure that treated sewage and wastewater from showers, sinks and kitchen galleys are discharged properly at designated offshore perimeters. In fact, cruise line waste management is so highly regarded that cruise lines are often consulted by state governments on pollution abatement and sewage control. Cruise ships are like floating resorts with all the amenities fine resorts have to offer.

PERSONAL SAFETY ON CRUISE SHIPS

Passengers are invariably assigned to lifeboats or similar survival craft. The total capacity of all the survival craft on board will exceed the total number of persons on the vessel. Passengers become friends; they are never just cabin numbers. Unlike other large cruise ships, they are proud of the intimate world they offer, where modern-day conveniences sail in harmony with traditional values.

Statistically, cruise ships are safer than hotels and resorts when it comes to fires and violent crime. However, it is in your best interest not to abandon common sense just because you board a cruise ship for a wonderful vacation. Prevention and common sense go hand in hand making your cruise a vacation that you will long remember favorably.

Staterooms generally have bathroom amenities from L'Occitane, flat screen TVs and DVD/CD players, and Bose Sound Docks for use with iPods that can be borrowed at no charge from reception. Wireless connectivity in public areas is generally available on most ships.

TELEPHONES - SATELITE TV

While most ships now have telephones in passenger cabins, you can also call someone on shore through the ship's radio operator while at sea. Staterooms on all of today's modern cruise ships are equipped with satellite television channels and in some cases in-cabin internet connections.

CRUISE SHIP DINING

Everything you've heard about cruise ship dining is true. At each meal, you'll find a varied selection of appetizers, salads, soups, main courses and desserts and each day the selection will be different. In addition to the prepared menu items, you will also be allowed to sample menu items not specifically scheduled for the day’s meal.  Simply ask the waiter and they will gladly assist you.

LIFETIME MEMORIES ARE MADE ON CRUISES

If you are like Jim Gray, who has made several cruises with his wife and friends, you will long remember the great vacation and all the new found friends that you will make onboard.  It is the trip of a lifetime and one that will leave you dreaming about that next great cruise.   If you you would like to cruise for free and earn a nice income while traveling, it is possible.  Jim Gray does it and so can you.

Keywords: cruise ship, vacation, cruise line, large cruise ships, ships, cruise ship rating, cruise ship ratings, travel, travel deals, travel advice, online travel, travel agents online, james gray

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cruise ship activities - cruise ship games - cruise activities

Cruise Ship Manners and Etiquette

There is no handbook on cruise manners, but the key words here are common sense.

However, some less thoughtful folks onboard don;t seem to understand that there are some basic, unwritten, common sense rules of etiquette when they book a vacation on a cruise ship.

No, there is no handbook on cruise manners, but the key words here are common sense. For some less thoughtful folks onboard taking a vacation means taking a break from using their brains. You should take the time pre-launch to study the cruise ship information packet that you receive when you first book a cruise.

Picture a cruise ship like a floating village or small town at sea. As with any unfamiliar place you go to, you should get to know the lay of the land, so to speak. No one is going to be just like you. People from all over the world, from different cultures and religions are sharing the same floating space that you are. Everyone should learn how to live in harmony for this short stay so that all of you will have the best  family vacation possible.

Some cruisers have been to their share of ports and know what to do. However, first time cruisers “newbie’s” need to pay attention to their surroundings. Read the literature about the ships activities. And if there is any doubt about something, ask a member of the cruise ship crew.

Now, let’s talk about some of those unspoken shipboard rules:

Be Patient and Don’t Get Frustrated and Complain Unnecessarily.

You are on vacation! Nothing is more unattractive than a grown-up whining like a child over something like waiting in line. You know that saying “When in Rome?” Well, it is your vacation. No worries, no deadlines, no being late to anything  you’re on a ship and nothing on board is going anywhere. Introduce your self to others onboard and socialize as much as possible and join others in some cruise ship games. Meeting new friends is part of the journey that you are taking. Many long term friendships are birthed on cruise ships.

Respect the Dress Code Guidelines

Cruise ships will often post some clothing guidelines for attendance at dinner or live entertainment functions. If you don’t follow the guidelines, you will not be thrown off the ship. However, you could be made to feel mighty uncomfortable wearing your Bermuda shorts and flip flops to a semi-formal dinner or dance.

Don’t be an obnoxious seat saver or line cutter.

It is a bit exasperating when planning your cruise activities and take the time to arrive at a decent hour to catch the next lounge act only to have a sea of coats draped over chairs and no bodies in the seats. And line cutters, shame on you. It is one thing for you to stand in line and have your spouse join you after a quick trip to the rest room. It is a whole new ballgame letting in your twenty new found friends from the poker tables cut in line.

Be respectful when using gym equipment/hot tub/lounge chairs/computers, and etc.

There are possibly several hundred other people onboard who are lined up behind you at some point that may want to use these privileges. Don’t hog the equipment and be mindful of others who are discreetly waiting without complaint for their turn. Try to diversify your cruise ship activities to have a more rounded experience.

Respect the designated smoking areas

There are specific areas just for smokers on board. Do not be selfish and light up at the dining room table while others are eating. Here’s a big clue: if you see ash trays, you can light up.

These unspoken rules sound perfectly logical don’t they? Yet, some cruisers forget themselves in their quest for a good time and other people suffer for it. If you are unsure of something, ask a member of the cruise ship staff.

Let your common sense rule and don’t worry, common courtesy won’t get in the way of your having a good time on your cruise.

Keywords: vacation, cruise, cruise ship, cruise ships, shipboard, manners, rules of etiquette, common courtesy, book vacation, best family vacation, cruise ship crew, book a cruise, cruise ship games, cruise activities, cruise ship activities

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Jet Lag Tips

Jet Lag - 7 Great Ways To Beat It When Traveling When you’re headed out on a vacation flight or business trip the last thing you need is to feel tired or run down. Here are 7 great travel tips that Jim Gray uses to beat jet lag after his long trip. They should prove helpful to you also. 1. Keep Your Routine the same, if possible When you’re not traveling for long trips, you can usually avoid jet lag by sticking to your normal routine. Keep your watch set to your “home” time and just do what you’d normally do at home regarding your routine eating, sleeping, exercising and etc. Your body won’t even notice the time change when you do this, and it will readjust without any problems on your return trip. 2. Try to Maintain Your Normal Sleep Hours When you’re traveling out of your normal time zone, you’ll want to try to keep to your normal bedtimes if possible. This will help your body fall into a new rhythm for the time when you’re away. Even if you can’t fall asleep right away, try to get into bed and close your eyes until you fall asleep. Eventually your body will pick up the clue and you’ll get all the sleep that you need. 3. Keep Yourself Hydrated Many times jet lag can be made worse by becoming dehydrated on your trip or while you’re traveling on the plane. To combat this you’ll want to make sure that you drink plenty of fluids such as water and juices as you. Alcohol can dehydrate the body so it should be avoided if you can. And if you’re expected to drink at a business function, just follow each glass with a chaser of water. 4. Try to Maintain Your Normal Daily Routine (Keep In Rhythm) When you travel to areas where the time will change significantly, you will need to set your watch when you arrive and start following the local time zone. You’ll need to reschedule your daily habits to fit the hours with in that time zone and to eat when you are supposed to eat, sleep when it’s dark, etc. By changing your routine from what you’re used to directly into the routine based on the new hours, you can help to offset jet lag before it even starts. Follow your new daylight and darkness hours to adjust your circadian rhythms. 5. Exercise daily, especially after a long flight One of the best ways to avoid jet lag is to do some form of exercise when you arrive at your destination. This can be as simple as a short walk or a few calisthenics in your hotel room. Do a few jumping jacks to get your heart pumping or start touring the town. When your body gets exercise, it can “bank” the extra energy and help you adapt to changing light conditions. 6. Take Medication, if necessary When all else fails, you can try a sleeping pill to re-teach your body when to sleep. Normally this isn’t recommended, but when you’re on an extended trip or you have to switch time zones frequently, a sleeping pill can help to give you some rest in order to be alert during the day. 7. Try Natural cures such as Aromatherapy If all else fails you can try aromatherapy and a nice warm bath as a means if relaxing your body thereby making sleep come more easily. You might want to find a good travel kit that includes oils that you can smell for energy as well as soothing oils for relaxation, like lavender.  (read more)

Luxury Cruise Lines | Cruise Vacation | Vacationers | Cruise Ship

CRITICAL DETAILS YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN CHOOSING THE RIGHT CABIN FOR YOUR LUXURY CRUISE 

Not all luxury cruise line staterooms are created equally. This is a fact that becomes all too painful if you happen to choose the wrong room for your cruise vacation.

I’ve heard horror stories of sleepless nights filled with the endless droning of the ship’s engines, of claustrophobic cabins scarcely the size of a walk-in closet, and of vacationers having to go up two or three decks before they could tell if it was day or night. On the other hand, there are stories of unbelievable luxury, of sitting idly on a private verandah watching the sun set while sipping wine, and of spacious suites decorated to lavish perfection.

Believe it or not, these two scenarios, and everything in between, happen on every cruise ship on each and every voyage. This is why Jim Gray feels that cabin selection is one of the most, if not the very most, important decisions that you can make before taking your cruise. And with more than 20 different types of staterooms available on a single cruise ship, choosing the right room is no easy chore.

Please, understand that there is little doubt that you will love the cruise ship itself. There will be many spacious areas on the ship and on the deck. Also, there will be so much to do on the ship and on the different shore excursions that you will normally only use your room for sleeping and changing cloths. Therefore, it is wise to give serious consideration to the differences in pricing when you choose your stateroom. After all, why pay a high price for a luxurious stateroom if you are not going to be spending much time in it?

The cruise industry is not expanding and building ships at the great rate they are because people are not enjoying their cruise. On the contrary, people love cruises and there are many reasons why. I just want you to understand what the staterooms are really like so you are not surprised in a negative fashion and so you can make an informed decision to make your cruise the best possible dream vacation it can be for you.

The number one factor that most people consider before choosing a stateroom is price. The price that you pay for booking a stateroom is dependent on many factors including the size of the room, the room’s layout, and the location of the room on the ship. The ship itself can even play a role in how much a stateroom costs. This is because luxury cruise liners are normally crafted with larger rooms and more built-in luxuries. In fact, the smallest stateroom available on a luxury liner might be much larger than a room on a mainstream cruise liner. Rooms on a luxury liner also almost always come with an ocean view or balcony.

Types of Cruise Ships.

While many new cruise liners have inside staterooms of comparable size no matter which Cruise Line you choose, the ship type itself plays an important role especially dependant upon the age of the ship. Keep in mind that a larger ship usually has larger rooms and more amenities, but don’t take this for granted without checking it out first or you could get a big surprise.

Here is a brief overview of some popular cruise lines and the types of ships that they use:

1. Large Ships:  (over 1,500 passengers) Carnival Cruise Lines; Celebrity Cruises; Costa Cruises; Cunard Line; Disney Cruise Line; MSC Cruises; Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL); Princess Cruises; Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and etc.
 
2. Mid-size Ships:  (500 – 1500 passengers) Crystal Cruises; Holland America Line; Oceania Cruises; and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

3. Small Ships (Under 500 passengers): American Safari Cruises; Cruise West; Hapag-Lloyd Cruise Line; Hebridean Island Cruises; Seabourn Cruises; SeaDream Yacht Club; Silversea Cruises; and Windstar Cruises, as examples.

Types of Staterooms

Once you have chosen the type of ship that you wish to book passage on, you will need to decide what type of room would be best suited to your voyage. This will no doubt be decided by a variety of factors including your budget, the length of your cruise, and your personal preferences.

To help you decide, here is a list of the four major types of staterooms and a description of each:

1. Standard Inside Staterooms (no window or porthole)

These are generally the least expensive of all staterooms and are, therefore, the smallest. These rooms normally are only about 120 to 180 square feet, but are usually tastefully decorated. Gone are the bunk beds of yesteryear. Today, most inside staterooms are furnished with two twin beds that can be pushed together for a couple. While the sleeping situation has improved, the bathroom in an inside stateroom is still excruciatingly small. There is no tub, only a shower, and a noisy vacuum toilet like that on an airplane. A sink and a few shelves finish off this small, but functional space. The rest of the stateroom is decorated in much the same way as a hotel room with wall to wall carpeting, individually controlled heat and air conditioning, TV, telephone, dresser, and a reading chair.

2. Standard Outside Staterooms (with porthole or window)

These rooms are virtually identical to inside staterooms with one small exception: the window or porthole. Modern ships normally have large picture windows instead of a porthole but some modern ships still offer rooms with portholes on lower decks. These are less expensive than the rooms with windows but they don’t offer much of a view. Some portholes are even partially submerged under the waterline or blocked by lifeboats.

3. Staterooms with Balconies or Verandahs:

These staterooms are larger than the standard stateroom and come complete with an outside space. Although small, this extra space gives you the opportunity to see the ocean from your room. And when you bore of sitting inside your cabin, you can open your door to a fresh breeze or step out on the balcony to absorb the view. Many of these staterooms even have a separate sitting area furnished with a convertible sofa which supplies extra sleeping space.

4. Suites:

Suites are balconied cabins that feature separate sleeping and sitting areas. These are the largest rooms that you can book on a cruise ship. Many even have large bathrooms which are completed with a tub. While these are the most expensive rooms aboard a cruise ship, the price may well be worth it if you plan on spending numerous days at sea or a good deal of time relaxing in your room.

Another consideration that you need to make before booking a stateroom on a cruise ship is location. The location of your stateroom not only affects price but also affects the entire cruise experience. A stateroom too close to the engines can be noisy, and a stateroom on the lowest levels can make you feel like you are entombed and not part of the festivities on the upper decks. On the other hand, if you plan on spending little time in your room, these sacrifices might be well worth the money that you save.

Jim Gray has learned that a great tip to remember when booking your cruise is that passengers are often upgraded at no additional cost if there is unfilled space on the ship.  It is not unusual for someone to book a lower level stateroom and to get automatically bumped up a level or two as a courtesy of the Cruise Line.  You might want to ask the booking agent about the Cruise Lines upgrade policy before booking, since not all Cruise Lines treat upgrades the same.

Now you know, so off you go!  Time to go book that exciting Cruise that you have always wanted to take or retake, whichever the case may be.

Bon Voyage!

Keywords:  luxury cruise lines, cruise vacation, vacationers, cruise ship, voyage, luxury, cruise, ships, stateroom, cruise industry, cruises, dream vacation,  luxury liners, luxury,  cruise liners, Cruise Ships, Cruise Line, Ships, Cruise Lines

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Cruise Vacation - Cruise Ship Vacation - Dream Cruises - Cruise Vacations

BOOK A CRUISE VACATION NOW FOR MUCH LESS THAN WOULD EVER EXPECT!

 So You’ve Always Wanted To Take Dream Cruise Vacations.  Well Now Is The Right Time to Get Great Travel Deals!

Think you can't afford to take that special cruise Vacation?  Think again, the timing will never be better then Right Now!

Maybe you are like Jim Gray was at one time and and have put your travel plans on the back burner because you’ve started to believe that you just won’t be able to save up the money to take yourself and the spouse, or the whole family, on a cruise ship vacation trip. Well, think again.  Jim didn’t give up on his travel dreams and now has completed five fabuleous dream cruises with his lovely wife and plans many more. 

The cruise industry is growing faster than ever, and with this huge expansion comes more opportunities to save money on a special cruise vacation deal. With more vacationers taking to the cruise line industry is growing larger and can afford to offer special discount cruise vacations to customers to get more people hooked on luxury cruise vacations. Those looking for a fun cruise can make a few smart decisions and save themselves a lot of cash without much sacrifice.

The first step is to look into theme packages. Many cruises offer special discounts for certain lifestyles or age groups. There may be a discounted family cruise vacation, golden age discounts, or a honeymoon discount available. Depending on what type of cruise you want and who’s going with you, this can be a huge money-saver if you’re willing to accept what is offered in the cruise vacation package deal.

When it comes time to book your dream cruises, believe it or not, don’t be too hasty. Many cruise lines receive unexpected cancellations at the last minute, and are eager to fill the empty slots. A would-be vacationer can often get the cheapest cruise if their schedule allows them to wait until the last minute to book. Call a cruise line days before a ship sets sail, and you might be pleasantly surprised by what you hear regarding the best cruise prices for last-minute trips.

If you find any vacation cruise lines that you like, consider booking any future cruise vacations with the same line. Many cruise lines give discounts to repeat customers and you will probably receive a good percentage off your rate if you book a cruise at the same time each year with the same company.

Do what Jim Gray did and talk to an online cruise specialist who specializes in cruises. Often these folks can get you deals as well, especially with cruise lines they book often. By booking through an experienced travel broker you may earn the instant right to be a preferred customer.

Finally, do your research! There are many sites online for discount cruise fares, just as there are for airfares and other types of travel. Some websites specialize in locating cruise bargains for those who wish to vacation on a budget. Make use of a search engine, and don’t get discouraged.

Cruise Vacation | Cruise Ship Vacation | Dream Cruises | Cruise Vacations | Dream Cruise | Dream Cruise Ship | Cheapest Cruise | Fun Cruise | Cruise Information | Cruise Industry | Cruise Bargains | Cruise Vacation Package | Family Cruise Vacation | Best Cruise Prices | Cruise Specialist | Cruise Line Industry | Discount Cruise Vacations | Cruise Vacation Deal | Luxury Cruise Vacations | Vacation Cruise lines

 

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Cruise Vacation - Cruise Ship Vacation - Dream Cruises - Cruise Vacations

BOOK A CRUISE VACATION NOW FOR MUCH LESS THAN WOULD EVER EXPECT!

 So You’ve Always Wanted To Take Dream Cruise Vacations.  Well Now Is The Right Time to Get Great Travel Deals!

Think you can't afford to take that special cruise Vacation?  Think again, the timing will never be better then Right Now!

Maybe you are like Jim Gray was at one time and and have put your travel plans on the back burner because you’ve started to believe that you just won’t be able to save up the money to take yourself and the spouse, or the whole family, on a cruise ship vacation trip. Well, think again.  Jim didn’t give up on his travel dreams and now has completed five fabuleous dream cruises with his lovely wife and plans many more. 

The cruise industry is growing faster than ever, and with this huge expansion comes more opportunities to save money on a special cruise vacation deal. With more vacationers taking to the cruise line industry is growing larger and can afford to offer special discount cruise vacations to customers to get more people hooked on luxury cruise vacations. Those looking for a fun cruise can make a few smart decisions and save themselves a lot of cash without much sacrifice.

The first step is to look into theme packages. Many cruises offer special discounts for certain lifestyles or age groups. There may be a discounted family cruise vacation, golden age discounts, or a honeymoon discount available. Depending on what type of cruise you want and who’s going with you, this can be a huge money-saver if you’re willing to accept what is offered in the cruise vacation package deal.

When it comes time to book your dream cruises, believe it or not, don’t be too hasty. Many cruise lines receive unexpected cancellations at the last minute, and are eager to fill the empty slots. A would-be vacationer can often get the cheapest cruise if their schedule allows them to wait until the last minute to book. Call a cruise line days before a ship sets sail, and you might be pleasantly surprised by what you hear regarding the best cruise prices for last-minute trips.

If you find any vacation cruise lines that you like, consider booking any future cruise vacations with the same line. Many cruise lines give discounts to repeat customers and you will probably receive a good percentage off your rate if you book a cruise at the same time each year with the same company.

Do what Jim Gray did and talk to an online cruise specialist who specializes in cruises. Often these folks can get you deals as well, especially with cruise lines they book often. By booking through an experienced travel broker you may earn the instant right to be a preferred customer.

Finally, do your research! There are many sites online for discount cruise fares, just as there are for airfares and other types of travel. Some websites specialize in locating cruise bargains for those who wish to vacation on a budget. Make use of a search engine, and don’t get discouraged.

Cruise Vacation | Cruise Ship Vacation | Dream Cruises | Cruise Vacations | Dream Cruise | Dream Cruise Ship | Cheapest Cruise | Fun Cruise | Cruise Information | Cruise Industry | Cruise Bargains | Cruise Vacation Package | Family Cruise Vacation | Best Cruise Prices | Cruise Specialist | Cruise Line Industry | Discount Cruise Vacations | Cruise Vacation Deal | Luxury Cruise Vacations | Vacation Cruise lines

 

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Cruise Vacation-Cruise Ship Vacation-Dream Cruises-Cruise Vacations

BOOK A CRUISE VACATION NOW FOR MUCH LESS THAN WOULD EVER EXPECT!

 So You’ve Always Wanted To Take Dream Cruise Vacations.  Well Now Is The Right Time to Get Great Travel Deals!

Think you can't afford to take that special cruise Vacation?  Think again, the timing will never be better then Right Now!

Maybe you are like Jim Gray was at one time and and have put your travel plans on the back burner because you’ve started to believe that you just won’t be able to save up the money to take yourself and the spouse, or the whole family, on a cruise ship vacation trip. Well, think again.  Jim didn’t give up on his travel dreams and now has completed five fabuleous dream cruises with his lovely wife and plans many more. 

The cruise industry is growing faster than ever, and with this huge expansion comes more opportunities to save money on a special cruise vacation deal. With more vacationers taking to the cruise line industry is growing larger and can afford to offer special discount cruise vacations to customers to get more people hooked on luxury cruise vacations. Those looking for a fun cruise can make a few smart decisions and save themselves a lot of cash without much sacrifice.

The first step is to look into theme packages. Many cruises offer special discounts for certain lifestyles or age groups. There may be a discounted family cruise vacation, golden age discounts, or a honeymoon discount available. Depending on what type of cruise you want and who’s going with you, this can be a huge money-saver if you’re willing to accept what is offered in the cruise vacation package deal.

When it comes time to book your dream cruises, believe it or not, don’t be too hasty. Many cruise lines receive unexpected cancellations at the last minute, and are eager to fill the empty slots. A would-be vacationer can often get the cheapest cruise if their schedule allows them to wait until the last minute to book. Call a cruise line days before a ship sets sail, and you might be pleasantly surprised by what you hear regarding the best cruise prices for last-minute trips.

If you find any vacation cruise lines that you like, consider booking any future cruise vacations with the same line. Many cruise lines give discounts to repeat customers and you will probably receive a good percentage off your rate if you book a cruise at the same time each year with the same company.

Do what Jim Gray did and talk to an online cruise specialist who specializes in cruises. Often these folks can get you deals as well, especially with cruise lines they book often. By booking through an experienced travel broker you may earn the instant right to be a preferred customer.

Finally, do your research! There are many sites online for discount cruise fares, just as there are for airfares and other types of travel. Some websites specialize in locating cruise bargains for those who wish to vacation on a budget. Make use of a search engine, and don’t get discouraged.

Cruise Vacation | Cruise Ship Vacation | Dream Cruises | Cruise Vacations | Dream Cruise | Dream Cruise Ship | Cheapest Cruise | Fun Cruise | Cruise Information | Cruise Industry | Cruise Bargains | Cruise Vacation Package | Family Cruise Vacation | Best Cruise Prices | Cruise Specialist | Cruise Line Industry | Discount Cruise Vacations | Cruise Vacation Deal | Luxury Cruise Vacations | Vacation Cruise lines

 

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Travel Specialists - Free Travel Tips

5 Common Techniques For Getting Discount Luxury Travel Packages

The majority of people are not financially well off, but would like to be. Sometimes you can temporarily live like the rich and famous and enjoy the excitement of luxury travel vacations.

So, as the saying goes, if you have champagne taste on a beer budget, let’s get going.  We’ll explore a few of Jim Gray's free travel tips and techniques on how you can enjoy a luxury travel deal on a budget.

Travel planning tips include developing a well laid out travel plan as the most important aspect of obtaining last minute discount travel deals and accommodations without spending any more money than they would for a three star or lower rated resort.

Travel in style with the following free travel tips and strategies.

Technique #1. Find Affinity And Loyalty Programs.

Capitalize on the flexibility and leverage you have in the competitive luxury travel package industry. Many companies want your business and offer lots of incentives to compete for your travel funds and to keep you as a customer.

For example, if you provide a service, you typically look out for your best customers and give extra perks to keep them coming back. These discount travel service companies reward travelers who remain loyal to them with unadvertised luxury travels and extras. This is the general idea behind frequent traveler programs.

Technique #2. Select The Right Travel Specialists To Work With.

As you’re researching destinations and comparing pricing online, note that all online travel companies aren’t equal. Lots of agencies have preferred status with suppliers who can in turn pass on these discount travel deals to you.

Again, this is just like we talked about earlier, only this time, the companies and suppliers are getting the great free travel opportunities and passing them on to you.

Technique #3. Turn Problems Into Travel Opportunities.

Like Jim Gray, you shuld choose a few top-notch luxury travel sites that you would like to visit and then locate the companies that provide service to these locations.  Then begin a relationship with these companies that you would like to use over and over again so that you can obtain loyalty bonuses and discounts. If they make an error when processing your accommodations, by all means, take advantage of the situation in a professional manner, however, don’t take undue advantage of the situation.

These companies desire to maintain consistent levels of quality and rely on their customers to provide constructive feedback and satisfaction/dissatisfaction. If a representative is not willing to work with you, ask around to find someone who will.

Technique #4. Just Ask.

One of the easiest and simplest techniques you can do is to just ask about any free travel opportunities. All they can say is no. Sometimes a special occasion may be enough to get you unexpected last minute discount travel deals. Simply do it and don’t be afraid to ask.

You can simply ask for an upgraded vehicle, accommodation, or airline seat. It doesn’t hurt and you’re no worse off than you were before you asked. In other words, you have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

Technique #5. Timing Is Everything.

Keep this in mind that travel is at its most expensive during holidays and other peak times of the year. However, if the time of year to travel is important to you, such as a special event you’ll be attending, traveling during major holidays or school vacations, and if you desire to find luxury travel packages for the best value you want, try to book as far in advance as possible.

Don’t forget the power of the internet. It can be one of your most effective tools in researching destinations, while getting luxury travel vacations at bargain prices.

Jim Gray hopes that these free travel tips and strategies are helpful to you.  Have fun and happy travels!

Keywords: travel specialists | luxury travel packages | free travel tips | luxury travel club | last minute discount travel deals | free travel opportunities | travel planning tips | discount travel web sites | luxury travels | luxury travel vacations | luxury travel package | luxury travel destinations | discount travel service | luxury travel sites | luxury travel site | luxury travel deal

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First Class Cruise Travel Tips

Helpful First Class Cruise Travel Tips

Are You Nervous About Taking Your First Cruise? Who isn’t Nervous about taking a Cruise for the First Time, I should Say!

Here are a few Travel Tips to help calm your restless nerves and make your trip enjoyable.

If you are looking to take relaxing luxury cruise vacations with your family, loved ones or simply by yourself for some peace and quiet, a cruise is definitely one of your top options. If this is going to be your first cruise, there are a number of issues that you need to define to help you. Here are a few first class cruise travel tips to help you with your planning.

You need to know who will be going on this cruise with you. Whether you are traveling with your spouse, your kids, with friends or by yourself you most likely are looking forward to a quality experience. Different cruise lines plan cruises for adults only, family, young adults and etc.  As a general rule, everyone is welcome on most cruises. However it is easy to find a first class cruise that is mainly adult, or some that are more focused on providing entertainment for kids, from toddlers to teenagers on the many different cruise lines.

Financially, you need to decide how much money you want to spend, and figure out a realistic budget for yourself.  Comparing cruise lines prices should be paramount during your planning process. After paying for your cruise ship fees, usually, approximately 100 US dollars a day is sufficient. When booking your Cruise, be sure to make sure you find out exactly what is included in your fare; some extras that used to be thrown in are now an additional charge on different cruise lines. There are a several different ways to save, like taking advantage of the early bird fares and booking in advance. Also, while it’s risky, for those of you with flexible schedules, booking last minute can save you a lot of money as well.

So, what’s the most affordable way to get to your cruise ship? The most likely and popular ways are by driving or flying. A cruise can be a great finish to a road trip, where you can stop off whenever you please and explore several destinations on the way to your fabulous vacation. However, flying can save you valuable travel time and allow you more time on your curise.

Senior travel tips: Some first class cruise lines can give you a flight and cruise package, which is an easier and less stressful way to plan your trip, plus it usually includes the pricey transfers from the airport to your cruise ship. In addition, most cruise lines usually take care of your luggage, which means they can transfer it directly to your cabin.  This is a huge bonus for people that hate lugging around heavy bags which includes the vast majority of us.

The next big decision for you is to decide when you want to travel. Obviously you will want to go somewhere where the chance of hurricanes and bad weather is limited; however, keep in mind cruise ships will alter their destinations accordingly to avoid any pending hurricane dangers.

Timing wise, if you are planning on only spending a week on vacation, you are limited to the sunny areas, such as Mexico, most of the Caribbean, or the Bahamas. Other possibilities, depending on your starting destination, are Hawaii, Alaska or even Europe. Depending upon your personal situation and destination, comparing cruise lines prices and benefits is a must. 

If you are traveling without family and have a flexible schedule, the fall and spring are usually the cheapest times, because kids are away in school, and the weather is generally a bit chancier. In the more tropical areas, the temperature does not change too much, but what does change is the amount of precipitation. A bit of warm rain won’t hurt you, but it can become a little irritable and uncomfortable at times.

When choosing your cruise travels destination, a good starting point is figuring out what sort of activities you want to do, because each destination comes with a distinct ambience and different cruise lines provide different activities. There are always many water sports available on the ships, such as snorkeling and pool activities and more energetic things such as scuba diving. Port calls often take you to the tourist sites, such as museums and ruins.

Senior travel tips for your cruise travels and in fact good safety advice for everyone is not to venture off on your own and to be exceptionally careful of new acquaintances that volunteer to show you the so called good stores to shop in.  These individuals may be working off commissions with those particular stores considered tourist traps that have increased their prices to take unfair advantage of your unfamiliarity of local pricing and customs. Usually a polite no thank you is good enough to keep them at bay. The cruise line will usually give you a list of activities for the port stops that are respectful and offer you a good value for your investment and time. Keep in mind that these activities are limited on some of the tours, so book in advance if it’s something you really want to do.

If you are nervous about your first cruise vacation, an excellent thing to is make sure you get a cabin you are going to be comfortable in for your cruise, because it is going to be your home for the duration of your vacation. Keeping in mind that they do vary in prices, most people select discount vacation cruises with the cheapest room available so they have more spending money. Sometimes there are deals for upgrading to a better cabin if you book early enough.

You should beware of one-way destination cruises.  Make sure you know the ship’s plans because sometimes if you are only doing a one-way trip, the sightseeing may only be on one side of the ship, so you will see nothing from your room. If small spaces bother you, a cabin with a balcony may be good for you although it’s pricier, you get the luxury of stepping outside and enjoying the view.

The last question most people have regarding their cruise travels is food related. The apprehension some people feel about cruising with set dinner times is quite often unnecessary. You get to pick your dinnertime yourself, either an early seating, which is usually around 6pm; the late seating usually around 8pm, and an open option, where you are given a timeframe of a few hours. There are benefits to all of them. If you choose the late seating, there is always the possibility of missing certain shows or entertainment. The early seating means that any excursions you do need to be planned to allow you enough time to get back and ready for dinner. The open seating may be the best option for families we all know how unpredictable life can be especially when traveling with kids!

Hopefully these cruise travel tips will be highly beneficial to you during all of your future  family vacation trips.   I wish you the best experience possible during all of your travels.

 Keywords:  luxury cruise vacations | cruise travel tips | first class cruise | different cruise lines  | senior travel tips | comparing cruise lines  |discount vacation cruises | cruise travels |  destination cruises  | family vacation trips 

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Become a Travel Agent

TRAVEL AGENTS ONLINE FIND SECRETS TO FINANCIAL SUCCESS

Who Else Wants to Know the Secret to a Lucrative Home-Based Travel Business?

More and more people from all walks of life are finding themselves in financial trouble due to the current economic conditions.

Increasing numbers are searching online to make money from a home-based travel business. They want to either supplement their existing low income or to totally replace it by working either part-time or full-time in an internet business of their own. They also want to take advantage of being able to travel to exotic vacation sites at major reduced rates while getting Five Star accommodations. They want the opportunity to earn a nice income when promoting special travel deals to their friends and contacts.

Their reasons are many and include low wages, poor to zero benefits, unthankful bosses, demanding hours, zero to little vacation time, loss of job and many, many more reasons. Rising costs everywhere add to most individual’s seriousness in looking to start a home-based travel business. Rising expenses for food, auto fuel, clothing, utilities, advanced education and more are becoming overwhelming to thousands and thousands of people who are caught up in this economic crisis. Even those who continue to be employed may only receive 0 to 4% raise per year, if any at all, which does not even keep up with daily cost of living. Therefore, extra income is a must for many households.

In response to these individuals needs for extra money, their desire to work from home and to generate more personal benefits, here is some great travel advice to start your own home-based Internet Travel Business.

Travel Advice - Ten Great Reasons for Starting a Travel Business for yourself.

1. Say good bye to a bad boss relationship and become your own boss. No more looking over your shoulder waiting for the hammer to fall when your boss has another bad day and throws his next temper tantrum. Instead, you can enjoy the freedom of being your own boss in your new travel business, setting your own goals, gain more control over your income potential, improve your family time, based on your personal needs and wants.

2. You can decide when and where you want to work and most likely will be able to do so in more comfort than was provided at your previous job. No more perfume- and cologne-filled elevators and public restrooms. No more vending machine junk food. You will be free to schedule your own flexible time and benefits.

3. You can put an end to mindless work like filing. Instead, choose to work on what you want and outsource the rest.

4. You can choose to continue working at your existing job or at another part time job while you grow your business to maintain a stable income. When you are financially stable, you can then terminate your existing job or any other part time job that you may be involved with.

5. You can say goodbye to job security issues and the fear of unemployment or being fired. You can run your business according to your needs and scheduling.

6. You can gain a personal sense of pride in being an entrepreneur and having more control over your future accomplishments. You will have the opportunity to help others achieve similar successes as yours as you grow your travel business.

7. Owning your own business will help you gain self confidence to face even the most challenging hurdles in life eliminating a lot of heartaches, headaches and stress.

8. You can say good bye to the earnings ceiling. The sky is the limit you own your own business.

9. In a home-based travel business, you can enjoy greater travel deals and financial gains plus many other benefits by using your own products and sharing them with family members and other potential clients. To put your mind at ease, travel agents online are not required to be licensed travel agents.

10. Based on your seriousness and success in your travel business, you may be able to plan your retirement much earlier than you ever expected. You will be in total control of your future vacations and your retirement plans. Plan what you want to earn and go get them!

So take another look at home-based travel business opportunities. You will no doubt find many reasons why a travel business deems your serious consideration in solving your financial needs.

James Gray

(503) 608-7559
WhoisJimGray.com
Skype: daddygraywolf

Keywords: Become a Travel Agent, I want to become a home travel agent, How do I become a travel agent, Become a travel agent for free

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Are You Thinking of Taking a Cruise This Year

Are You Thinking of Taking a Cruise This Year?

Here is some sound travel advice to make your Cruise more relaxing and enjoyable.

Are you interested in taking a cruise?

If so, you are not alone. Each year a large number of individuals consider taking a vacation aboard a cruise ship. If you have never traveled on a cruise ship before, you may look for travel advice about what activities, facilities, and services can be found onboard. The activities found onboard cruise ships vary from ship to ship, but many cruise ships have a number of activities and services in common.

Most well-known facilities found on cruise ships.

Some of the most well-known facilities found on cruise ships are dining halls, restaurants, and cafeterias. Large cruise ships may offer a number of onboard dining facilities. It is important to note that many of these dining facilities are considered upscale restaurants. In addition to a sit-down restaurant, there area usually a number of small eateries located onboard. Elegant dining restaurants are popular among cruisers. To ensure that you are able to enjoy an elegant meal, your best travel advice is to schedule a reservation as soon as you board the ship.

Aside from dining facilities, bars and dancehalls are also found on most cruise ships. As with most of the bars and dancehalls found on land, there may be age restrictions in place. If you travel with your family, they may have to complete other activities while you enjoy the nightlight over the seas. If this should occur, you are in luck because most cruise ships have daycare centers and other activities geared towards children of all ages.

Daycare centers aboard Cruise Ships for children.

When it comes to placing your child in the care of a ships daycare center, you are urged to quickly familiarize yourself with the staff. This familiarization may help to calm your nerves. It is also important to note that cruise ship employees are often closely monitored, highly educated, and properly trained. While it may be difficult at first, you should feel comfortable leaving your child in the care of a cruise ship childcare worker.

Childcare is ideal for smaller children; however, if you travel with a teenager, daycare may not be an option. Swimming pools, libraries, video arcades, and movie theaters can often be found on cruise ships. Adult supervision is a policy that prevents children under a certain age from roaming freely around the ship.

Teenagers may be able to visit these facilities without adult supervision. Each cruise ship is likely to have different adult supervision policies. Good travel advice is for you to review these policies before purchasing your tickets.

Bars, dancehalls, gaming halls and casinos on Cruise Ships

In addition to the above mentioned bars and dancehalls, gaming halls or casinos can be found on most cruise ships. As with gambling on land, there are age limits on those that can gamble aboard a cruise ship. Popular gambling activities include slots, blackjack, poker, and much more. Many onboard casinos are open for business twenty-four hours a day. Gambling is a popular cruise ship pastime. If you are booking a cruise just to gamble, you may want to further explore the gambling options aboard each ship.

Physical exercise on Cruise Ships

Cruise ship operators know that many travelers take a cruise to escape their daily routines. Unfortunately for some, one routine that cannot be left behind is exercise. That is why almost all cruise ships have onsite fitness centers and fully equipped gyms. These gyms are often similar, and sometimes even better, than the gyms found in your hometown. In addition to a fitness center, a large number of cruise ships have jogging tracks.

Cruise Ship activities allow you to relax and to escape your daily routines

If a particular activity or event is the only reason why you are interested in booking a cruise, you are urged to physically check for that event or activity before making your reservation. The above mentioned services, facilities, and activities are found on a number of popular cruise lines. These cruise lines are likely to include, but are not limited to, Carnival Cruise Lines, Paradise Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity Cruises. With the click of a mouse or a toll free phone call, you can easily determine if your favorite travel activities can be found aboard the cruise ship of your choice.

James Gray
Skype: daddygraywolf
(503) 559-3790

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Take a Cruise Ship Vacation With Out Your Wallet

Travel Advice: Take a Cruise Ship Vacation With Out Your Wallet

Why Take a Hum Drum, expensive vacation this year? Live it up and take an exciting Caribbean Cruise for possibly less money, and experience luxury and far more excitement.

A cruise ship provides great, one price, travel deals, and one of the main attractions to booking a cruise ship is that just about everything is included in the booking price.

When many people think about a budget vacation, they picture an intrepid traveler in a roach infested hotel room eating stale sandwiches and riding around on the city bus. However, one of the best ways to save money on a travel deal is also one of the most luxurious. Booking a cruise can actually save you money over your normal type of vacation and you will have the experience of a lifetime. It is simply breath taking.

Cheap, Luxurious Accommodation

In addition to having a nice clean cabin for your trip, a cruise also offers unlimited food, including many amazing buffets that are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You should also know that the food on cruise ships are often better-quality to those in all but the best land locked restaurants, and once again, the food is included in the travel price.

Traveling Off-season

Of course, it is possible to save money by traveling in the off-season, and this can often be a great plan. For instance, even though it is the middle of the winter and most people are not thinking about vacations where you are, it may be warm and tempting in many tropical cruise ship destinations.

It is important, however to check out the local weather, and to avoid the rainy season in the destinations you are considering. Steering clear of hurricanes, tropical downpours and other weather problems can help you get the most out of your cruise vacation.

Cruise Ship Cabins

If you have never taken a cruise before, it is a good idea to get travel advice from those who have experienced cruising. These people can give valuable insight on the best balance of cost and comfort for your first cruise ship experience.

The location of the cabin is an important consideration when booking a cruise ship. The interior cabins on the lower parts of the ship are generally the least costly and generally without windows especially on the inner cabins, while the higher, larger cabins with ocean views are the most expensive and luxurious.

Discounts and Cheap Cruise ship Travel Deals

Cruise ship lines have been known to offer some fantastic travel deals at the last minute in order to move unsold cabins or avoid sailing with a less than full passenger load. If the ship is not full at departure time, the travelers in the lower cabins generally get the opportunity to be upgraded at no charge to a cabin at a higher level in the ship.

There are many last minute travel newsletters that provide travel advice on these types of cruise ship benefits, and these last minute travel deals are a big hit with retirees and others who have the time to see the world.

Food and Exercise

After sampling all of the great gormet cooking that is available on your cruise, you will probably feel the need to get some physical exercise. You will be glad to know that the cost of the cruise typically includes unlimited use of the gym, the weight room and the sports facilities. While many hotels tack on a surcharge for the use of the hotel gym and equipment, a cruise vacation generally includes these amenities.

Shipboard Entertainment

The cost of a cruise vacation also includes all shipboard entertainment and classes. The entertainment options on a cruise ship are often one of the best parts of the experience because many cruises offer such things as movie nights, theatres, spas, nightclubs, stage shows, discos, and even casinos.

There are also some great classes offered by cruise lines, in everything from origami to bridge to ballroom dancing. And again, these classes and entertainment options are included in the price you pay for the cruise.

Among the only things that are not included in the typical cruise vacation are alcoholic beverages and shore excursions. Many of the higher priced cruises even include these extras. If the shore excursions and drinks are not included they can be purchased onboard ship.

It is often possible to save money on shore excursions by booking the tours locally at portside instead of doing it onboard the cruise line. Just be sure, however that if you book it yourself that you make sure that the excursion gets you back to your ship on time. Cruise ships maintain a rigid sailing schedule, and there have been many people left on the dock because they did not get back onboard prior to the ship sailing. This can be embarrassing, frustrating and expensive when you find out that you are responsible for the expense of reconnecting with your ship later on.

For all these reasons, a cruise can be among the best, and most economical, of all vacation opportunities you will ever experience. The ability to enjoy a week or two week cruise at one low price is extremely powerful travel advice motivation for booking your cruise.

 

Keywords: Travel | Travel Agents Online | Travel Deals | Travel Advice | Travel Agents | James Gray

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Tips For Finding Low Cost Travel Deals

Travel: Tips For Finding Low Cost Travel Deals

Looking for Travel Advice on how to find great Travel Deals Online? Here are a few great tips that can save you time and money.

So you have always wanted to travel and take a dream cruise vacation. Maybe it’s one of those things that wound up on the back burner, but you’ve started to believe that you just won’t be able to save up the money or find the right travel deals to take yourself and the spouse, or the whole family, on such a trip. Think again. With the following travel advice, you may be surprised.

The cruise industry is growing faster than ever, and with this huge expansion comes more travel opportunities to save money on special cruise deals. With more vacationers taking to the seas cruise lines are growing larger and can afford to offer special discounts to customers to get more people hooked on this luxury style of vacationing. Those looking for a cruise vacation can make a few smart decisions with the right travel advice and travel deals and save themselves a lot of cash without much sacrifice.

The first step is to look into travel theme packages. Many cruises offer special discounts for certain lifestyles or age groups. There may be a family discount, a golden years discount, or a honeymoon discount available. Depending on what type of cruise you want and who’s going with you, this can be a huge money-saver if you’re willing to accept what is offered in the packaged travel deals.

When it comes time to book your cruise, believe it or not, don’t be too hasty. Many cruise lines receive unexpected cancellations at the last minute, and are eager to fill the empty slots. A would-be vacationer can often get extremely good travel deals if their schedule allows them to wait until the last minute to book. Call a cruise line days before a ship sets sail, and you might be pleasantly surprised by what you hear regarding discount rates for last-minute trips.

If you find a cruise line that you like, consider booking any future cruise vacations with the same line. Many cruise lines give discounts to repeat customers and you will probably receive a good percentage off your rate if you book a cruise at the same time each year with the same company. Talk to a travel agents who specializes in cruises. Often these agents can get you travel deals as well, especially with cruise lines they book often. By booking through experienced travel agents you may earn the instant right to be a preferred customer. You might also want to check with travel agents online for other special travel packages and travel deals.

Finally, do your research! There are many travel sites online for discount cruise fares, just as there are for airfares and other types of travel. Some websites specialize in locating cheap cruises for those who wish to vacation on a budget. Make use of a search engine and travel agents online, and don’t get discouraged. Your cheap cruise is out there somewhere.

The trick to finding great bargains is using resources like these and a little brain work to find these special travel deals.

James Gray
Skype: daddygraywolf
(503) 559-3790

 

Keywords: travel, travel agents online, travel deals, travel advice, travel agents, james gray

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Travel Insurance? Not me! I will never need it, or will I?

Travel Insurance?  Not me!  I will never need it, or will I?
What about "Murphy Protection".... do you have that coverage? 

Travel  Insurance (i.e. Murphy Protection") Is Important When Traveling
It’s Murphy’s Law. If something can go wrong, it will go wrong ......

Murphy's Law 

It’s Murphy’s Law. If something can go wrong, it will go wrong given the right circumstances such as: Accidents; Loss of possessions; or Health issues regarding you or a family member at home requiring Travel is a great way to gain new experiences and learn a new culture. Travel insurance can help to miminize your frustration and loss in this case.

However, it's not much fun to travel with the thought of your safety hanging over your head right? Because no matter what travel deal you get or whose travel advice you follow, you know that something will inevitably go wrong. Why you ask?  It’s Murphy’s Law, that's why!

These are just a few examples of why travel insurance is necessary. However, what insurance should you choose? After all there are lots of insurance choices, so what do you need to know to make a reasonable choice?

Vehicle vandalism, stolen or misplaced luggage......

Travel is a great way to gain new experiences, meet new people and learn a new culture. However, it's not much fun to travel due to safety concerns. Vehicle vandalism, stolen or misplaced luggage, personal safety at the airport proper or in the air, and other concerns that have become more prominent since 911 cause all of us to think twice about how to protect ourselves and our possessions when we travel.

Travel Problems Seem to Popup from Nowhere.

No matter how well we plan or what travel deal we get, something inevitably seems to go wrong. Accidents, loss of possessions, or an urgent return trip might disrupt your travel plans. It’s Murphy’s Law. If something can go wrong, it will go wrong given the right circumstances such as: Accidents; Missed planes due to bad travel advice from a friend or possible from online travel agents; or health issues for you or a family member at home requiring your urgent return trip.

These are just a few examples of why travel insurance is necessary. However, what insurance should you choose? Why Do You Need Travel Insurance? There are many reasons why you should carry travel insurance. But then again, choosing the wrong insurance policy could simply increase your frustrations and problems especially if you are faced with a devastating loss.

There are hundreds of insurance choices and thousands of insurance agents and even travel agents who are eager to sell you insurance just to make a commission, with little regard to your actual needs. It's no wonder we get highly frustrated when we experience these types of travel problems.

Travel Advice to Consider:

Here are a few things that you should consider before deciding to purchase your travel insurance.

First, consider your travel habits. Do you go abroad? How long do you stay on a particular place? What mode of transportation do you frequently use?

If you travel all over the world, be sure that your policy is accepted anywhere. Also, make certain that your policy covers basic travel insurance claims such as: Medical expenses, Loss of luggage, Repatriation expenses, Cancellation of trips, And Liability.

Try to obtain a list of agencies and institutions and their contact information where you can get emergency assistance. Check to make sure that all along your route and your final destination that your policy is recognized and honored. Make sure that you are aware of any exclusion in your policy such as: Injury or loss of possessions during terrorist attacks and bankruptcy proceedings for any agency associated your travel accommodations. And by all means, check out the Company behind your insurance policy to make sure it is trustworthy, reliable, and has a history of honoring claims against it.

Second: You should check to see if your travel insurance will cover pre-existing situations. These conditions might include medical or health problems that you have prior to buying insurance. Disruption of a trip caused by a medical emergency or sickness of a member of your group should also be covered under a good policy.

Third, age is probably the most important factor with travel insurance. Most insurance policies do not cover people who are over the age limit. The age limit is usually around 65 years of age. People over 65 are usually considered high risk individuals.

Check if you and the members of your group are well under this age limit before deciding to purchase policies. Though high risk, older people can still get high premium insurance, the usual terms under these policies still applies with added benefits.

Use this travel advice to assess your situation and get travel insurance that is suitable to your needs. Next time you travel, arm yourself with a camera, a travel book, and most of all your insurance policy. After all, no one knows if or when during your travel you might need it.

James Gray
Skype: daddygraywolf

 

 

 

Keywords: travel, travel agents online, travel deals, travel advice, travel agents, James Gray

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Airline Travel Advice - Tips to eliminate Frustrations and Fears

Airline Travel Advice - Tips to Eliminate Travel Frustrations and Fears

 Travel - Find Travel Agents Online | Travel Deals and Advice Online | James Gray

Travel by plane requires planning to minimize potential problems that can ruin your vacation and/or your business trip. At the very least, a little preplanning effort on your part prior to your departure is excellent travel advice and can help to eliminate potential nightmarish frustrations during your trip.

Pre-planning your trip can mean the difference between a nice, enjoyable trip that you will remember fondly for a lifetime or an extremely frustrating trip from hell that you will have night mares about many times over. If planned properly, It can be the cementing results of a safe and hassle free trip.

Here are some travel tips for your consideration:

 SCHEDULING:

Tickets - Seating: Always book tickets on a reliable airline. While all major airline are honest and creditable, employees can sometimes cause mistakes with your tickets that can cause you delays or miss-direct you to the wrong flight. Always verify your bookings well in advance of your departure date. Also, check if they are offering any special fares or discounts that may not have been available when you booked your flight. You may be able to get a nice discount just for asking. If you prefer pre-assigned seating, double check to make sure that it is coordinated with your tickets.

Parking: If possible, reserve your airport parking in advance. If airport parking reservations are not possible, then consider reserving space at private parking lots close to the airport that has shuttle service. If neither is practical, consider renting a room over night at a hotel/motel close to the airport with shuttle service. In some cases, the hotel/motel will allow you to leave your vehicle on their lot for a set number of days free as part of your overnight stay. They will normally shuttle you to and from the airport free of charge.  (Hint: It is customary to tip the shuttle driver for his services.)  Take special precaution to lock your vehicle and do not to leave valuables in your parked vehicle. Try to park in a lighted area if possible.

Arrival Time: Always check the flight schedule before you leave home. Make sure what the check-in-time is for your flight. Leave with plenty of time to spare. This way you won’t have to rush from one end of the airport to the other.

Departure Gate: Prior to your arrival at the airport, locate your departure terminal and the easiest access. Plan to be early and in line for boarding so that you secure your seating and have plenty of time to get your luggage stowed before takeoff. If you parked at the airport terminal, make a note of where your car is parked so that it is easy to find when you return, even if it is in the dark of night.

Airlines Rules:

Baggage: Find out the allowed size and weight of your baggage and don't exceed these limits. Tag all bags with your name, address, phone number, date of travel, and flight number. Pack the bags yourself and ensure that they are all packed safely. Check with the airlines to see if you are allowed to lock your baggage. If so, then make two sets of keys and have them carried by separate people in the travel group. Place your contact information on a 3”x5” card inside your luggage on top so that it is easily seen in case that the exterior tags get lost.

Electronics: All electronic items like cell phones and laptops must be fully charged. You need to be able to turn them on and demonstrate them in accordance to the airport rules. Use of cell phones while flying is prohibited. So do not plan or making or receiving calls when in flight. Most phones have a special switch to put your phone in “airplane mode”.

Documents: As a precaution pack documents, passport, medicines, and other immediate essentials in the carry on case. In case your luggage gets lost or misplaced in transit you will still have bare essentials. Take along a valid photo ID to the airport. Check to make sure that you have all of your tickets for each member of the party traveling with you.

Clothing: Be aware of the weather conditions at your destination and also at your return destination so that you can dress and pack clothing accordingly. Although airlines normally furnish pillows and blankets, you may want to take your own to eliminate the possibility of sharing the previous user’s germs or to simply provide yourself the same comfort during flight as you are accustomed to at home. However, you will need to be reasonable and not expect to take excessive materials due to the limited seating arrangements.

Prohibited Items Discussions:

 Miscellaneous: Do not carry electronics, knives, batteries, or other banned items. All dangerous objects like razors, scissors, and so on must be put in your check in luggage. It is against regulations for passengers to carry flammables, aerosols, or household cleaners.

Specific prohibited items are:

• Firearms even if you have a license,
• Hunting rifles,
•  Baseball bats,
• Golf clubs,
• Pool cues,
• Ski equipment,
• Hockey sticks,
• Darts,
• As well as bows and arrows.

 Verbal Conversations or Outbursts: Because of terrorist threats it is against the law to speak of hijackings, bomb threats, or other dangerous things.

Socialization: Be cautious about who you befriend. Never accept any letter or parcel to be delivered to persons known or unknown.

Unattended Baggage: Never leave your luggage unattended and if you do notice any abandoned parcel or luggage bring it to the notice of authorities.

Summary: Before you travel check online to make sure your flight is on schedule and that are no diversions at the airport. You should also check to see if there have been any new rules and/or regulations regarding passenger issues that you need to be made aware of. Most airports have easy access to their airline websites so it will be relatively easy to check on this information. However, if you lack computer skills or do not have a computer with you, then you will need to ask for help at the ticket counter.

For your personal safety, avoid dark areas when traveling to and from your vehicle to the airport and when loading and unloading your vehicle. If using public transport only use transportation services from official pick up points. Public vehicles must have official markings. Don’t get conned by people who make offers of special privileges or travel deals. With a little preplanning and this travel advice your travel should be safer and much more enjoyable.

Keywords: travel, travel deals, travel advice, online travel, travel agents online, James Gray

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Good Reasons NOT to Use Full Service Travel Agents.

Travel - Good Reasons NOT to Use Full Service Travel Agents
     ....Travel Club Memberships Offer Far Better Advantages.

Author: James Gray

Travel Advice: Travel Agents can't provide the convenience, cost savings and the vacation varieties of an Online Travel Club Membership.

They can't schedule your business trip and/or your vacation right from your living room, nor can they save hundreds of dollars on "choice" reservations like a Travel Club can, simply because most Licensed Travel Agents don't have access to the same wide pool of travel opportunities that a Club has access to. And, no.... as a Travel Club Member, you do not have to be a Licensed Travel Agent to get these special travel deals and to book your own travel.

Travel Myth: Generally, most travelers think that it is easier, less time consuming and much less confusing to simply visit a brick and mortar (store front) Travel Agent when planning their business trips and/or their vacation. They assume that because they are licensed travel agents, that they know all the tricks for getting the best travel deals and that they have access to every possible travel accommodation available everywhere worldwide. wrong, Wrong, WRONG!!!

Individual Travel Brokers are not full service accommodators.

Travel Agents do not have access to every single accommodation available worldwide. They generally have niche markets and therefore, they only have access to certain destinations and services within that niche. Even then, the niche may be so diverse that they do not have total access to all products within their area of expertise. What if your needs do not fit snugly into their niche?  You may find yourself being put into a vacation destination that you really did not want.    

Unless they are aligned with one of the larger, more popular professionally run Travel Brokerage Companies, you may be short changing yourself by using their services. Most often, Travel Agencies are linked to specific Travel Brokers and/or Venders. Their relationship is most often based on the fees, commissions and whatever other benefits that the Agency can get for selling only those specific Travel Packages promoted by their travel providers'.

Generally, customer benefits are at best a "second consideration" when a Travel Agency chooses which Travel Brokerage House to align with. They are like the small franchised convenience stores that services the "fast and easy - need it right now" convenience mentality of people who don't mind paying higher prices for lesser quality and less variety then they could get if they were to take the time to simply shop around. Until recently, travelers simply didn't know that they could get a much better deal just by searching the internet for travel agents online and joining a Travel Club.  However, due to the economy, travelers are becoming much more educated now and turning to sources where they can get higher quality vacations, with a wider selection of sites and at reduced rates simpy by joining a Travel Club.

People are changing the way they do things due to the current economic climate.

As noted above, with today’s economic conditions, most people are now taking the time to shop around for special travel deals and advice. They are becoming better informed individuals and are now turning to the internet to find the best deals for their vacation and business travel needs. They are finding the benefits of joining a travel club to be highly advantageous as compared to the benefits provided by a Travel Agent.

A good creditable online travel site is one that allows you to join as a member and to get the benefit of group buying power.  This concept includes giving each member their own personal Travel Center where they are able to book all of their travel accommodations right from one membership site. Good online sites not only provide great travel deals and advice; you can also book car rentals, condos, hotels, airline tickets, and even cruises. Some even offer an affiliate program where you can join them for a small fee and get huge travel discounts on all of your own personal travel plus you can even refer people to your personal online travel center and make a nice commission if they also book their accommodations at your site.

Here are some excellant reasons to consider an online travel club membership for all of your travel plans:

1. Convenience:

•  Book all your accommodations right from the comfort of your living room or anywhere that it is convenient for you. 
•  No need to seek out the closest travel agency, call to schedule a meeting, drive to their store front, and then negotiate to get the travel agent that is best qualified to service your personal needs.
•  No confusion about your accommodations....what you book, you get.
•  Get wider variety of accommodations with greater savings.
•  Potential to earn commissions on your travel and that of your friends.
•  Save hundreds of dollars on the right travel deal when you book reservations for airlines, hotels, condos. Car rentals and cruises.
  

Think of hotel rooms, airplane seats, and cruise ship cabins as perishable commodities. Just like an expired carton of milk has to be pulled off the grocery store shelf, on any given night, an empty hotel room is lost revenue that will never be regained.

Similarly, an airplane is going to fly and a cruise ship will embark whether or not the seats and cabins are full. It's in the best interest of hotels, airlines, and cruise ships to be fully booked. Additionally, since you are a member of a travel club there are no Travel Agency Fees associated with your online accommodations. That's why they can pass these savings on to you by offering discounted fares.

2. Complete Travel Packages 

  As a Travel Club Member, you generally get your very own personal Travel Center where you can access special vacation packages to destinations and hotel/condo properties to which you might not otherwise have access to.

Perhaps you're a golfer, and want a dream golf vacation. Maybe a Caribbean vacation is on the horizon and you are looking for the perfect cruise package. All of these choices are easy with online travel sites and best of all you get the options that best meet your needs.

3. More Control Over Your Accommodations: 

 When you book your vacation yourself, you can easily coordinate all aspects of your travel.

 You will have more control over:

• Flight selection and depart and arrival schedule 
• Pricing for all accommodations
• Hotel selection and reservation process
• Car rental selection and details
• Cruise Ship boarding schedule information
• and, many other related travel deal and advice issues
  

All of this convenience allows you to maintain more control over your trip. If you have a change in plans, you have access to your travel center to make the transition a smooth one.

4. Group Travel 

Extended families often travel together, and businesses have group travel requirements from time to time. In either case, a full service online travel club can easily book trips for people who have the same destination but who are traveling from different places.

Having a travel club membership gives everyone peace of mind and ensures that the group's needs can easily be met and coordinated all from one site. Plus, as a club member, you will have access to many group travel opportunities at special reduced prices that you could never have access to from a local Travel Agent.

While it's still possible to book your accommodations thru a Travel Agency, why would you want to?

After all, the advantages of a Travel Club Membership are limitless. 

When was the last time that your Travel Agency called you up and told you that you just earned a nice commission from booking your travel thru them or by referring a friend to them for travel? Never, Right!   This is just one of the many reasons that you should choose joining a Travel Club over using a Travel Agent online the next time that you take a vacation or business trip.
 
Keywords: travel, travel deals, travel advice, online travel, travel agents online, James Gray

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Do You Have A Vacation Dream? Stop Dreaming and Start Packing!

Do You Have A Vacation Dream? Stop Dreaming and Start Packing!

 

Do You Have A Vacation Dream?
Stop Dreaming and Start Packing......

Quest Travel Network - Proudly Opens the Door
for Dream Vacations That Everyone Can Afford!

Finally, it's your turn to wave goodby and leave on your Dream Trip of a Lifetime!

Quest Travel Network provides everyone the Opportunity to be able to enjoy their Dream Vacation using an amazing, Money Saving new product called QTN Q-Cards.  No other Travel Providers have them. They are exclusive to QTN.

 What are QTN Condo Q-Cards?  (Not Time Share!)

Quite simply, Condo Cards have taken the “timeshare” concept and improved it! Rather than you paying $10’s of thousands of dollars to purchase a timeshare for one or two weeks a year, QTN lets you use any of their over two million weeks in the nine largest timeshare resort and condo networks in the world as if you owned them yourself!

Condo Cards gives you the FREEDOM and PEACE of MIND knowing that you will never be subjected to:

 • Timeshare Tours,
 • Sales Pitches, or
 • Annual maintenance fees Q-Card advantages.

The advantages of using your Condo Q-Cards for a condo or resort vacation are:

• Condos and resorts have more space, comfort and amenities than hotel rooms.
• More rooms so that you can take the whole family with separate bed rooms.
• A full kitchen which will save you money from having to eat out every meal.
• No blackout Dates. This is a huge advantage over any other travel engine.
• Access to the QTN toll free Concierge Desk.
• Easily book your accommodations right from your living room and computer.

 How much do Q-Cards cost?

You can get a one time use Condo Card for Only $99 that you can use for a massive $1200 discount off of your next resort or condo vacation from over 2-million available weeks in over 150 countries!

The card becomes your key to a week-long Condo or Resort Vacation, with no blackout dates, and for less than a hotel stay. Use the QTN condo search engine or the QTN toll-free Concierge Desk to find and reserve your dream vacation with all of the details of your trip competed with the help of a courteous QTN online travel agent.

When you return from your dream vacation, fax in a form to let QTN know how you liked it and they will send you a $100 cash rebate as a “thank you” gift for using one of their properties!

 How can you get a Q-Card?

There are three easy and affordable ways to get your Q-Card as follows:

1. Purchase one from a Quest Travel Advisor for $99. (This is a one time use card at this price)

2. Purchase a Condo Quest Membership for $199 one-time payment! (You get one 'Unlimited use' Q-Card for $600 off of every resort and condo vacation you take EVERYTIME for as long as you are a member!)

3. Purchase a Quest Travel Advisor Membership for $449 one-time payment! (You get one unlimited use Q-Card for up to $1200 off of every resort and condo vacation you take for as long as you are a member with up to $1000 cash rebate following your trip! Plus, you get your very own personal QTN travel Center for commissions from your personal travel and others you refer to your site.)

QTN meets and/or beats other travel service providers 9 out of 10 times.

 How can QTN beat other Travel Provider prices and still five discounts and rebates?

 Simple: QTN beats the “big guys” prices 9 times out of 10 because QTN is tapped into the very same providers they use, but without their huge Travel Agent online markups.

 This allows QTN to provide better service and higher quality travel accommodations that are discounted to you the member and you earn the fees normally paid out to Travel Agents online.

Do I need a Travel Agent License?

 NO, you do not need to be a licensed Travel Agent in QTN.

In QTN, one of the ways you get paid is by simply using your Travel Center for your personal travel and also by referring other people to your Travel Center. When they book their travel accommodations thru your Travel Center you get paid a commission.

You don't even have to handle any of the booking details. A specially trained QTN online travel agent handles all of that work for you at no cost to you because it is benefit of your QTN Travel Center Membership Plan.

What is the Rebate Program?

Above are a few of the great benefits of having you very own Q-Card, however, here is the best part that you will never get from any other travel provider:

Once you get back, simply fill out and fax in the form to tell us how you liked your trip and QTN will send you a Quest Cash ATM Card worth $100 (if you used the single use Condo Card) for you to spend anywhere you want on anything you want. If you have one of the other Condo Card Programs, you will also receive a rebate in accord with the plan.

So if you do the math, when you activate the single use Condo Card, you actually get paid $1 to get a great $600 discount on a fantastic condo or resort vacation.

This is an amazing, money saving, travel membership program that you simply cannot affort to miss out on if you do frequent travels or are planning your next dream trip.  There is no charge to check out QTN to see if it is right for you.

James Gray
(503) 559-3790
Skype: daddygraywolf

 P.S. If you are looking for a home based business and a great way to enjoy a luxurious condo or resort vacation and want to take the entire family for prices equal to or below normal hotel rates, then you owe it to you and your family to check out Quest Travel Network .

Travel | Travel Deals | Travel Advice | Online Travel | Travel Agents Online | James Gray 

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Do You Love to Travel but hate to depend on Travel Agents online?

Who else wants to book their travel accommodations right from the comfort of their living room using their very own Travel Center while saving thousands of dollars and earning commissions while they travel?

Here is your Golden Opportunity for a One-of-a-Kind Travel Experience of a lifetime!

The QTN Travel Center is a comprehensive, but easy to use travel website built with the “do-it yourself” traveler in mind. The travel center has hundreds of pages, features, travel advice search and booking engines that provides all of the self-booking tools needed for the average person, like you and me, to easily handle all of our travel arrangements right from the comfort of our living rooms. The Travel Center is built with the best travel industry alliances worldwide. 

Why Should I have a QTN Travel Center?  What Are the Benefits?

Common Deceptions:

NO Bait and Switch – One of the most common “tricks” employed by the other MLM travel companies and travel agents online is showing properties with exceptional pricing that are NOT available. This is done to lead you to believe they have “better pricing” than the next guy but when you actually go to book it, you find out (after wasting a lot of time) that the offering is not even available. A reputable travel company like Quest Travel Network will NEVER do this….period! They know and respect how valuable your time is so they only provide inventories that are available. Giving you the piece of mind of knowing that the inventory you are interested in WILL be available when booking.

What You See is What You Pay – Another common “trick” that is employed is the “Net Pricing” approach. Companies will advertise pricing that is net of any taxes, transfers, duties, port charges etc. in an effort to make them look “cheaper”. Again, a reputable company like QTN simply will NOT do this. They know how valuable your time is… “Time is Money.” With Quest Travel Network, they use the “what you see is what you pay” pricing approach…no hidden fee’s/costs to you. This gives you the peace of mind knowing that the “Price you see IS the price you pay.” 

You will be able to pick travel deals from the entire inventory of the largest travel agencies and most popular online booking engines in the world.  With QTN you can be assured that you will always have access to all of the accommodations offered by other travel companies plus much, much more.  

With QTN, the database only displays AVAILABLE properties saving members valuable time and frustration. There is no disappointment after spending your valuable time booking your travel deals only to find out that they are not available.

As a QTN member, your TC provides advanced search options which include:

A. Search by price
B. Search by property name
C. Search by Value
D. Search by city
E. Search by amenity
F. Search by address
G. Search by local landmark

You also get special instructions and travel advice on subjects like:
 
A. How to use the page
B. Cancellation information
C. Credit card safety

Resource Area – Every TC has a resource area that provides members instant access to many industry resources. The site also features an in-depth Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, travel tools, and Destination Guides sections. The addition of these research tools provides you the comfort level needed to purchase your accommodations thru travel agents online.  

There are also unlimited resources for group and business travel as well.
 
A. FAQ's - broken into easy to use categories
B. Travel Advice - broken into easy to use categories
C. Travel Tools such as currency conversions, international clocks, passport and visa information, etc…
D. Traveler Profile Form that insure members receive the most from all of their personal and business travel

Resources:

E. Brochure Order Form
F. Poster Order Form 

Cruise Booking Engine

Planning a Cruise? The QTN Travel Center features the inventory of some of the largest providers of cruises to the entire travel industry.  You will have access to information about each ship, ports of call, cruise lines, etc and they even feature Cruises as low as $99 per person.

QTN has several cruises customized to members that offer a great range of destinations, itineraries, lengths, and price ranges.  Many featured cruises are below market price.  All member only cruises provide additional amenities for members such as onboard credits, cabin upgrades, gifts, etc.

Hotel Program

Need a hotel room for over-night or just a day or so? With QTN you get access to the entire inventory of the best online hotel providers. With your TC, you will have access to over 80,000 Hotels offering Special Internet Rates.

Condos

Like Condos? The TC features the inventory of several condo inventory providers giving you a large range of condos to pick from worldwide. Why stay in a stuffy hotel room when you can get a luxurious condo suite for comparable prices?

Condo Cards: QTN is the only online Travel business that provides condo cards as part of their membership package. These cards feature a one of kind Exclusive discount and rebate program. This allows users to instantly receive the discount offered to them when booking the condo accommodations, plus they also get a rebate from the travel industry when they return from the trip.

Travel Insurance:

As a QTN member, you can purchase travel insurance directly from your own Travel Center.  The Vacation Resort/Condo industry is one of the only industries that have an industry wide policy of “ALL CONFIRMED RENTALS ARE FINAL AND NON-REFUNDABLE”.  By adding travel insurance to the rental during booking thru the TC, members will be provided with extra protection in case they need to cancel

Road Trips - Explore great destinations within one to six hours from your chosen ZIP code. Just designate the amount of time you want to drive and enter the ZIP code into the search box of your TC signifying where you want to start from. Road Trips will search out cities in all directions based on your request, and provide you with an exciting selection of hotels, attractions and maps.
 
Member Only Cruise - Freedom Quest Trips – Features hand picked EXCLUSIVE trips for members. These trips are Exceptionally Different than all of the other trips advertised by network marketing companies to sell memberships. Along with the more conventional trips like the Cruises to the Caribbean and Hawaiian Islands, QTN will feature a more diverse range of trips. The trip sections will feature something for everyone. From Scuba diving and Adventure Type Trips to trips to the Australian Coral Reef, Eiffel Tower in France, African Safari and Buckingham Palace. We will also feature family trips such as a Dude ranch, a food trip to Italy (Taste of Tuscany), The Grand Canyon, and Yellow Stone.

One of the aspects of the Freedom Quest Trips and the Quest Travel Network is to allow members to take trips that they normally would not be able to afford. QTN will offer travel deals and trips for every desire, imagination, and pocketbook.

The challenge before you now is for you to do your due diligence and research other online travel businesses.  I know that when you have finished, you will find that Quest Travel Network stands head and shoulders above all other online travel businesses, not only for the wide range of accommodations available, but also for the potential income that you can make when you become a Quest Travel Network member.

Until next time, may your dream vacations soon become a reality?

James Gray
Skype: daddygraywolf
(503) 559-3790

P.S.  How many Dream Vacations do you want to take this year?  Think how much fun it would be to be able to take the whole family on a luxury cruise vacation to the South Pacific or anywhere else your heart desires knowing that you are making money while you travel! 

 

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Who Like's to Travel?

Who doesn't like to travel, I should say?

No one, that's who! Everyone that you and I know either secretly or openly dreams and brags about the dream vacation that they plan to take some day. The only problem is that most people are waiting until they either win the lottery or come into an inheritance from some rich relative. Of course, there are others of us who have nurtured the dream over several years and diligently saved money from our paychecks so that we can take that one big dream vacation as our retirement reward. Right? Well, now is the right time for you to renew your plans to travel because I have found a way to travel for free and earn a nice income at the same time.

Very few people can afford to call travel agents and schedule extended vacations especially during their child rearing life.

Travel deals are hard to find thru travel agents online or even land based, for that matter. We all know that using travel agents to book your travel is just to expensive and God knows that you simply can't take the time away from work or from the kids school activities to do the traveling that you would like to do. What about that business trip that you need to take that will wreck havoc on your budget due to the high cost of airfares, hotels, condos, cruises and other related travel expenses? These expenses become almost unbearable, especially when you consider the commissions paid to travel agents. Yes, even online travel agents generally charge a booking fee just for trying to find you the best travel deals and maybe even giving you a little travel advice in the process.

Do you want to know what James Gray does?

He uses his Quest Travel Center to book all of his travel accommodations. He is especially proud to share the information about the special travel products of Quest Travel Network to all his friends and acquaintances so that they can also participate in this amazing income producing opportunity while saving thousands of dollars every time they travel. He fully appreciates that if you are going to travel, why not do it in style and earn a nice commission at the same time? Without a doubt, Quest Travel Network is the best way to accommodate both of those concerns. After all, why allow some travel agent to stuff you into a dreary hotel room when you can get a luxury condo for the same price and pocket a nice commission at the same time? Talk about win-win, this really hits the jackpot.

Wouldn't you like to be able to go online and schedule your trip from the comfort of your living room knowing that you will be able to either meet or beat all other travel providers prices? How about luxury accommodations? Is that important to you also or do you like those dreary, single room hotels where your only view is generally the garbage bins in the alley behind the hotel? How would you like to pay hotel prices for luxurious condo rooms that are large enough for you to take the entire family, at no additional cost? Well, my friend, please keep reading because I can show you a way to reduce your vacation and travel expenses and even earn generous commissions any time that you and/or your friends travel when you book accommodations from your very own Travel Center like mine which you can view at the Quest Travel Network

Sure, this still doesn't address your time limitations from work or school. However, it certainly will allow you to do your traveling at a more reasonable cost and at the same time allows you to start a home based business in the multi-trillion travel industry. With the potential income from this business, you may even be able to quit your job much sooner than you had originally planned and begin enjoying the life that you have always dreamed about.

Sound interesting?

I thought so! And guess what! You don't have to be a licensed Travel Agent to get involved with QTN and to make commissions from anyone who books their travel accommodations thru your QTN Travel Center. You don't even have to handle the scheduling details for any bookings. All you have to do is refer customers to your Travel Center and licensed travel agents online handles all the scheduling details...WOW...you can't beat that! Did you click my travel Center link above yet? If not go back now and do it....you will be amazed at how easy it is to save thousands of dollars on each and every trip you take when you make your accommodations through the QTN Travel Center. You can also get great travel advice and travel deals right from the comfort of your living room thru the back office of the Travel Center.

To view a video about QTN, simply click here, enter your basic contact information and then listen to the exciting Quest Travel Network business opportunity as explained by the CEO of QTN, Mr. Tod Bell. I know that you will be excited and eager to join after listening to his message.

Thanks again for your interest in Quest Travel Network (QTN). I know that you won't be disappointed with the quality and financial benefits that you can get from the Quest Travel Network and the exciting travel deals that they provide.

James Gray
(503) 559-3790
Skype:daddygraywolf

P.S. How many vacations do you want to take this year? How much money do you want to make while you travel? It's all up to you! You will be your own boss in QTN. You will be able to schedule your own work hours and income stream. Think how this could improve your home life with your family

Keywords: Travel | Travel Agents Online | Travel Deals | Travel Advice | Travel Agents | James Gray

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Internet Business Marketing Plan - Sample Business Plan

Critical First Step for Business Success: Your Business Plan 

(PART I of II)

If you already have an online business or if you are thinking of starting one up, then it is critically important for you to have a business plan in place in order to achieve success with your internet marketing business. 

A business plan is simply a road map that shows you where you are going with your business and how you plan to get there.  Without a plan (road map), how will you know when you have achieved your goal or in other words, arrived at your business destination?

If you're the owner of a small service business, having a solid Internet marketing business plan in place can both increase your name and brand recognition locally in your geographic area, as well as expose you to a whole new set of potential clients throughout the world. To be effective, your plan should be in writing, not just committed to your memory. However, if you are like many internet marketers, you carry your business marketing plan in your head without bothering to commit anything to paper. This could be a serious detriment to your internet success.

Here are some ideas for your consideration in developing your Internet marketing plan:

BUSINESS OBJECTIVE:

What do you want to accomplish by using Internet marketing? Find new clients? Provide new or unusual services and information to existing clients? Sell services or products to current and new customers? Educate your target market or your staff about current or new products and/or services that you offer? Create an online social community for your target market?

How much funding do you have to spend each month on your internet marketing plan? Having a goal and budget in mind will make your marketing more effective and will make the difference between your success and/or failure.

LEAD GENERATION – PROSPECTING PLAN:

 The most successful online business owners have an automated marketing lead generation marketing funnel (think of it as an upside down triangle) through which they "funnel" prospective clients into their business. The process begins from the top of the funnel, representing low-cost or free products or services, designed to move clients down through the funnel to the narrower bottom outlet of the funnel.

As prospects (leads) move thru the funnel towards the outlet, they will gradually represent increasing investments or “assets” into your business because these individuals are the ones who will purchase your products based on their immediate and/or future needs. Their willingness to become your customer will depend on your product or service providing them with a resolution to their problem or possibly providing them something that will enhance their quality and enjoyment of life.

KNOW YOUR COMPETITION:

Knowing and understanding where you stand among your competitors can you help you strengthen your marketing message. You can begin by doing a keyword search for the terms someone might use to find your business online. You can simply type in your keyword into the Google Search Bar which will return you a list of current sites using that keyword plus it will also tell you how many times the keyword is searched daily.  This will tell you what your competition is.

Write down the URL's of your top 5 competitors. How popular and relevant are their sites? You can check their traffic ranking with Alexia, http://www.alexa.com/#traffic, as well as see what other sites link to them. Does your competition offer something unique? Where are the gaps in the service or product offerings?

KNOW YOUR TARGET MARKET: 

Instead of trying to market to everyone (the shotgun marketing approach), find a clearly definable target market that you can easily describe and locate. Are they male or female? What age group? What industry? What socio-economic group? Where do they hang out on- and off-line? What do they read? To what groups and associations (real and virtual, personal and professional) do they belong? How much money do they make? Can they easily afford your product or service? What keywords are they using to search for businesses like yours online? (Note--you can do keyword research with free downloadable software, http://www.GoodKeywords.com).

WHAT PROBLEMS WILL YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE SOLVE?

The reason that someone will buy your product or hire to you to provide a service is to solve a particular problem that they have. What problems and issues plague your target market? How does your product or service solve that problem? How does your solution differ from that of your competitors? What makes you uniquely qualified to provide the solution to their problem?

BRANDING YOURSELF AND YOUR BUSINESS:

Your domain name is critical to your online business success.  It can either help you be memorable or it can cast you into the caverns of hell, never to be found. At a minimum, you'll want to acquire both your personal name as well as your business name and preferably with a .com (dot-com) extension, rather than a .net or any other extensions. If neither is available, try using a dash or dot between your name or business name or you can try to buy the .com versions of your product names and program names. If you use a full-featured domain registrar, you'll be able to point and mask these domains to internal pages of your web site, or use them as stand-alone sales letter pages.

You may also brainstorm potential problems faced by your target market or solutions that you provide and buy those .com domain names also. Internet marketer Jim Gray uses this technique to market his Travel Business and Health Care Business online. This is a compelling solution to his target markets, such as:

– Travel – Helping people find 5 star accommodations for three star prices and introducing them to a way to earn a nice income while traveling.

– Health Solutions – Helping people find solutions to their health problems and at the same time providing them a means to achieve financial success thru distribution of highly effective health related products.

Creating a business plan is of such importance to your internet success, that I have broken this report into two sections (Part I and Part II).

Please login again for Part II in my next blog to view a continuation of my discussion regarding developing your business plan.   

Keywords: internet marketing business plan, internet marketing plan, internet marketing, online business marketing, online business, business plan, automated marketing, leads, lead, lead generator, income technologies, prospects, market online

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Internet Marketing - Internet Marketers - Internet Marketing Specialist

STARTING YOUR ONLINE BUSINESS

Hello, my name is James (Jim) Gray and I want to welcome you to my internet online business site. The purpose of this site is to provide the readers with plain, down to earth advice and tools to help you start your online business.   

As you can see from the Blog Heading, my site is all about “Professional Internet Marketing”. If you are interested in how to start your own business online, then this site will provide you with some valuable insight based on my hard learned and expensive experience.

One of my goals is to save you the expense and time required to get your internet business up and functional as quickly as possible, based on your time commitment and financial situation. 

It is not my intent to build a website for you, however, it is my intent to point you to the right tools and programs needed for you to develop and maintain your own personal site.

Another goal is to provide content that is equally valuable to everyone seeking input on all levels of internet marketing regarding establishing an internet business. I plan to cater primarily to beginning internet marketers however, advanced marketers may also find the content to be valuable due to my different point of view.

As you study the content in my news letters and as you otherwise participate in any of the programs that I recommend on my site, I promise that you will only experience highly professional content developed with a high level of personal integrity. I will only recommend or provide serious internet business concepts, online business tools and programs that I feel meets the highest content quality and that is supported with the highest level of integrity.

Although this a newly established newsletter and Blog, another goal of mine is to make this newsletter one of the most sought after and helpful sites in the internet marketing world. I'm deeply appreciative and honored that you've decided to visit and I will do all that I can to make your visits meaningful.

You can rest assured that when you optin into my site that your name and email are safe with me.  I will never give, sell or otherwise distribute your contact information to any third party without your express prior approval. If, at any time and for any reason, you ever decide to discontinue your subscription to my newsletter, you can simply opt-out at any time.

Based on my experience, I firmly believe that most internet marketers become disenchanted and quit simply because of "information overload". Does this fit you?

Perhaps you are like I was and you listened to “online "gurus" trying to tell you what you "need" to do in order to be successful yet they failed to provide you with a clear cut model of how to achieve the same level of success as they did. I can attest to the fact that there really is a lot of great advice available on the Internet about starting your own online business, however, without a clear plan about how to proceed, it is easy to become over whelmed and the information becomes a bunch of "disconnected knowledge" in your brain. 

Generally this “information disconnect” causes many individuals to experienced "paralysis by analysis". In other words... you become so confused, you simply don’t know which way to turn or where to start, so you don’t start at all.  You wind up listening to more gurus and gathering more information and becoming more and more confused.

The purpose of this site is to help you become untangled, more focused and to help point you in the right direction with plain, down to earth advice and tools to get you started.  To give you that little push and a ray of sunlight that will help you get motivated into taking action.  

Regardless of where you are at in starting your own business online, I encourage you to follow along with my Blogs and newsletters and check out some of the lead generation programs in Veretekk to get you started. . It's taken me years to get to where I am, and I am going to do my best to teach you everything I know over the next several months so that you will not make the same mistakes that I have.

Ok, that’s it for now but be on the lookout for my next Blog in a few days. It will have some valuable information for you, so you won't want to miss it.

Have a great day and come back soon and often!

James Otto Gray
Internet Marketing Specialist
Marketing Tips and Advice for Successful Internet Marketers

PS: After you've viewed each Blog, please post your questions or comments on the Blog site rather than emailing them to me.  That way I will be able to respond to you much faster.

Keywords: internet marketing, internet marketers, internet marketing specialist, internet business, online business, internet advisor, internet business consultant, seo book, your online business, my online business, Veretekk, online business tools, online business tips, free internet marketing tools, marketing your business online, free internet marketing tips, how to start your own business online, how to start your own online business, starting your own online business, starting your own internet business, starting your own business online, serious internet business, start your own online business, start your own business online

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True Automated Marketing System

Automating operations how to improve your efficiency and effectiveness

One of the unique strengths is in finding truly automated solutions that help businesses run more efficiently.

By “Truly Automated”, I mean that no user intervention is required.

Take a look at a True Automated Marketing System

1. How can I be as efficient as possible in my marketing so that I don't waste time or money?

2. How can I spend less time on activities that I don't like (e.g. marketing and sales) and more time on activities that I love (e.g. Web design)?

3. Every time I get busy with clients, marketing falls behind, so I end up with a "feast or famine" cycle. How can I avoid the frustration of being swamped with work one month and famished the next?

4 How can I get clients to come to me instead of having to chase them?

One answer to the above questions is to develop automatic marketing systems that do your marketing for you while you do other things.

Take a look at a True Automated Marketing System

Most of the allegedly "newbie-friendly" products out there are really narrowly focused, including just one sketchy, poorly outlined method.

A True Automated Marketing System is different; because it focuses on the FOUNDATIONAL things you need to know

BEFORE you waste time or money on some shoddy method you would have avoided if only you knew BETTER.

# How to register a domain
# How to set up a hosting account
# How to set up your DNS
# How to create Web Pages
# How to upload files to your website (Frontpage or FTP)
# Setting up your autoresponders
# Automating your order processing
# Strategies to building a real mailing list

Along with many more,  Internet marketing, Learning HTML, Making web based Flash Videos, SEO, etc.

Take the time to look at a True Automated Marketing System

 

(read more)

Writing A Business Plan - Business Plan Outline

Critical First Step for Business Success: Your Business Plan 

(PART I of II)

If you already have an online business or if you are thinking of starting one up, then it is critically important for you to have a business plan in place in order to achieve success with your internet marketing business. 

A business plan is simply a road map that shows you where you are going with your business and how you plan to get there.  Without a plan (road map), how will you know when you have achieved your goal or in other words, arrived at your business destination?

If you're the owner of a small service business, having a solid Internet marketing business plan in place can both increase your name and brand recognition locally in your geographic area, as well as expose you to a whole new set of potential clients throughout the world. To be effective, your plan should be in writing, not just committed to your memory. However, if you are like many internet marketers, you carry your business marketing plan in your head without bothering to commit anything to paper. This could be a serious detriment to your internet success.

Here are some ideas for your consideration in developing your Internet marketing plan:

BUSINESS OBJECTIVE:

What do you want to accomplish by using Internet marketing? Find new clients? Provide new or unusual services and information to existing clients? Sell services or products to current and new customers? Educate your target market or your staff about current or new products and/or services that you offer? Create an online social community for your target market?

How much funding do you have to spend each month on your internet marketing plan? Having a goal and budget in mind will make your marketing more effective and will make the difference between your success and/or failure.

LEAD GENERATION – PROSPECTING PLAN:

 The most successful online business owners have an automated marketing lead generation marketing funnel (think of it as an upside down triangle) through which they "funnel" prospective clients into their business. The process begins from the top of the funnel, representing low-cost or free products or services, designed to move clients down through the funnel to the narrower bottom outlet of the funnel.

As prospects (leads) move thru the funnel towards the outlet, they will gradually represent increasing investments or “assets” into your business because these individuals are the ones who will purchase your products based on their immediate and/or future needs. Their willingness to become your customer will depend on your product or service providing them with a resolution to their problem or possibly providing them something that will enhance their quality and enjoyment of life.

KNOW YOUR COMPETITION:

Knowing and understanding where you stand among your competitors can you help you strengthen your marketing message. You can begin by doing a keyword search for the terms someone might use to find your business online. You can simply type in your keyword into the Google Search Bar which will return you a list of current sites using that keyword plus it will also tell you how many times the keyword is searched daily.  This will tell you what your competition is.

Write down the URL's of your top 5 competitors. How popular and relevant are their sites? You can check their traffic ranking with Alexia, http://www.alexa.com/#traffic, as well as see what other sites link to them. Does your competition offer something unique? Where are the gaps in the service or product offerings?

KNOW YOUR TARGET MARKET: 

Instead of trying to market to everyone (the shotgun marketing approach), find a clearly definable target market that you can easily describe and locate. Are they male or female? What age group? What industry? What socio-economic group? Where do they hang out on- and off-line? What do they read? To what groups and associations (real and virtual, personal and professional) do they belong? How much money do they make? Can they easily afford your product or service? What keywords are they using to search for businesses like yours online? (Note--you can do keyword research with free downloadable software, http://www.GoodKeywords.com).

WHAT PROBLEMS WILL YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE SOLVE?

The reason that someone will buy your product or hire to you to provide a service is to solve a particular problem that they have. What problems and issues plague your target market? How does your product or service solve that problem? How does your solution differ from that of your competitors? What makes you uniquely qualified to provide the solution to their problem?

BRANDING YOURSELF AND YOUR BUSINESS:

Your domain name is critical to your online business success.  It can either help you be memorable or it can cast you into the caverns of hell, never to be found. At a minimum, you'll want to acquire both your personal name as well as your business name and preferably with a .com (dot-com) extension, rather than a .net or any other extensions. If neither is available, try using a dash or dot between your name or business name or you can try to buy the .com versions of your product names and program names. If you use a full-featured domain registrar, you'll be able to point and mask these domains to internal pages of your web site, or use them as stand-alone sales letter pages.

You may also brainstorm potential problems faced by your target market or solutions that you provide and buy those .com domain names also. Internet marketer Jim Gray uses this technique to market his Travel Business and Health Care Business online. This is a compelling solution to his target markets, such as:

– Travel – Helping people find 5 star accommodations for three star prices and introducing them to a way to earn a nice income while traveling.

– Health Solutions – Helping people find solutions to their health problems and at the same time providing them a means to achieve financial success thru distribution of highly effective health related products.

Creating a business plan is of such importance to your internet success, that I have broken this report into two sections (Part I and Part II).

Please login again for Part II in my next blog to view a continuation of my discussion regarding developing your business plan.   

Keywords: internet marketing business plan, internet marketing plan, internet marketing, online business marketing, online business, business plan, automated marketing, leads, lead, lead generator, income technologies, prospects, market online

(read more)

Online BusinessTips - Free Internet Marketing Tools - Marketing Your Business Online

STARTING YOUR ONLINE BUSINESS

Hello, my name is James (Jim) Gray and I want to welcome you to my internet online business site. The purpose of this site is to provide the readers with plain, down to earth advice and tools to help you start your online business.   

As you can see from the Blog Heading, my site is all about “Professional Internet Marketing”. If you are interested in how to start your own business online, then this site will provide you with some valuable insight based on my hard learned and expensive experience.

One of my goals is to save you the expense and time required to get your internet business up and functional as quickly as possible, based on your time commitment and financial situation. 

It is not my intent to build a website for you, however, it is my intent to point you to the right tools and programs needed for you to develop and maintain your own personal site.

Another goal is to provide content that is equally valuable to everyone seeking input on all levels of internet marketing regarding establishing an internet business. I plan to cater primarily to beginning internet marketers however, advanced marketers may also find the content to be valuable due to my different point of view.

As you study the content in my news letters and as you otherwise participate in any of the programs that I recommend on my site, I promise that you will only experience highly professional content developed with a high level of personal integrity. I will only recommend or provide serious internet business concepts, online business tools and programs that I feel meets the highest content quality and that is supported with the highest level of integrity.

Although this a newly established newsletter and Blog, another goal of mine is to make this newsletter one of the most sought after and helpful sites in the internet marketing world. I'm deeply appreciative and honored that you've decided to visit and I will do all that I can to make your visits meaningful.

You can rest assured that when you optin into my site that your name and email are safe with me.  I will never give, sell or otherwise distribute your contact information to any third party without your express prior approval. If, at any time and for any reason, you ever decide to discontinue your subscription to my newsletter, you can simply opt-out at any time.

Based on my experience, I firmly believe that most internet marketers become disenchanted and quit simply because of "information overload". Does this fit you?

Perhaps you are like I was and you listened to “online "gurus" trying to tell you what you "need" to do in order to be successful yet they failed to provide you with a clear cut model of how to achieve the same level of success as they did. I can attest to the fact that there really is a lot of great advice available on the Internet about starting your own online business, however, without a clear plan about how to proceed, it is easy to become over whelmed and the information becomes a bunch of "disconnected knowledge" in your brain. 

Generally this “information disconnect” causes many individuals to experienced "paralysis by analysis". In other words... you become so confused, you simply don’t know which way to turn or where to start, so you don’t start at all.  You wind up listening to more gurus and gathering more information and becoming more and more confused.

The purpose of this site is to help you become untangled, more focused and to help point you in the right direction with plain, down to earth advice and tools to get you started.  To give you that little push and a ray of sunlight that will help you get motivated into taking action.  

Regardless of where you are at in starting your own business online, I encourage you to follow along with my Blogs and newsletters and check out some of the lead generation programs in Veretekk to get you started. . It's taken me years to get to where I am, and I am going to do my best to teach you everything I know over the next several months so that you will not make the same mistakes that I have.

Ok, that’s it for now but be on the lookout for my next Blog in a few days. It will have some valuable information for you, so you won't want to miss it.

Have a great day and come back soon and often!

James Otto Gray
Internet Marketing Specialist
Marketing Tips and Advice for Successful Internet Marketers

PS: After you've viewed each Blog, please post your questions or comments on the Blog site rather than emailing them to me.  That way I will be able to respond to you much faster.

Keywords: internet marketing, internet marketers, internet marketing specialist, internet business, online business, internet advisor, internet business consultant, seo book, your online business, my online business, Veretekk, online business tools, online business tips, free internet marketing tools, marketing your business online, free internet marketing tips, how to start your own business online, how to start your own online business, starting your own online business, starting your own internet business, starting your own business online, serious internet business, start your own online business, start your own business online

(read more)

True Automated Marketing System

Automating operations how to improve your efficiency and effectiveness

One of the unique strengths is in finding truly automated solutions that help businesses run more efficiently.

By “Truly Automated”, I mean that no user intervention is required.

Take a look at a True Automated Marketing System

1. How can I be as efficient as possible in my marketing so that I don't waste time or money?

2. How can I spend less time on activities that I don't like (e.g. marketing and sales) and more time on activities that I love (e.g. Web design)?

3. Every time I get busy with clients, marketing falls behind, so I end up with a "feast or famine" cycle. How can I avoid the frustration of being swamped with work one month and famished the next?

4 How can I get clients to come to me instead of having to chase them?

One answer to the above questions is to develop automatic marketing systems that do your marketing for you while you do other things.

Take a look at a True Automated Marketing System

Most of the allegedly "newbie-friendly" products out there are really narrowly focused, including just one sketchy, poorly outlined method.

A True Automated Marketing System is different; because it focuses on the FOUNDATIONAL things you need to know

BEFORE you waste time or money on some shoddy method you would have avoided if only you knew BETTER.

# How to register a domain
# How to set up a hosting account
# How to set up your DNS
# How to create Web Pages
# How to upload files to your website (Frontpage or FTP)
# Setting up your autoresponders
# Automating your order processing
# Strategies to building a real mailing list

Along with many more,  Internet marketing, Learning HTML, Making web based Flash Videos, SEO, etc.

Take the time to look at a True Automated Marketing System

 

(read more)

Best Business Plan - Business Plan Help

Critical First Step for Business Success: Your Business Plan 

(PART I of II)

If you already have an online business or if you are thinking of starting one up, then it is critically important for you to have a business plan in place in order to achieve success with your internet marketing business. 

A business plan is simply a road map that shows you where you are going with your business and how you plan to get there.  Without a plan (road map), how will you know when you have achieved your goal or in other words, arrived at your business destination?

If you're the owner of a small service business, having a solid Internet marketing business plan in place can both increase your name and brand recognition locally in your geographic area, as well as expose you to a whole new set of potential clients throughout the world. To be effective, your plan should be in writing, not just committed to your memory. However, if you are like many internet marketers, you carry your business marketing plan in your head without bothering to commit anything to paper. This could be a serious detriment to your internet success.

Here are some ideas for your consideration in developing your Internet marketing plan:

BUSINESS OBJECTIVE:

What do you want to accomplish by using Internet marketing? Find new clients? Provide new or unusual services and information to existing clients? Sell services or products to current and new customers? Educate your target market or your staff about current or new products and/or services that you offer? Create an online social community for your target market?

How much funding do you have to spend each month on your internet marketing plan? Having a goal and budget in mind will make your marketing more effective and will make the difference between your success and/or failure.

LEAD GENERATION – PROSPECTING PLAN:

 The most successful online business owners have an automated marketing lead generation marketing funnel (think of it as an upside down triangle) through which they "funnel" prospective clients into their business. The process begins from the top of the funnel, representing low-cost or free products or services, designed to move clients down through the funnel to the narrower bottom outlet of the funnel.

As prospects (leads) move thru the funnel towards the outlet, they will gradually represent increasing investments or “assets” into your business because these individuals are the ones who will purchase your products based on their immediate and/or future needs. Their willingness to become your customer will depend on your product or service providing them with a resolution to their problem or possibly providing them something that will enhance their quality and enjoyment of life.

KNOW YOUR COMPETITION:

Knowing and understanding where you stand among your competitors can you help you strengthen your marketing message. You can begin by doing a keyword search for the terms someone might use to find your business online. You can simply type in your keyword into the Google Search Bar which will return you a list of current sites using that keyword plus it will also tell you how many times the keyword is searched daily.  This will tell you what your competition is.

Write down the URL's of your top 5 competitors. How popular and relevant are their sites? You can check their traffic ranking with Alexia, http://www.alexa.com/#traffic, as well as see what other sites link to them. Does your competition offer something unique? Where are the gaps in the service or product offerings?

KNOW YOUR TARGET MARKET: 

Instead of trying to market to everyone (the shotgun marketing approach), find a clearly definable target market that you can easily describe and locate. Are they male or female? What age group? What industry? What socio-economic group? Where do they hang out on- and off-line? What do they read? To what groups and associations (real and virtual, personal and professional) do they belong? How much money do they make? Can they easily afford your product or service? What keywords are they using to search for businesses like yours online? (Note--you can do keyword research with free downloadable software, http://www.GoodKeywords.com).

WHAT PROBLEMS WILL YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE SOLVE?

The reason that someone will buy your product or hire to you to provide a service is to solve a particular problem that they have. What problems and issues plague your target market? How does your product or service solve that problem? How does your solution differ from that of your competitors? What makes you uniquely qualified to provide the solution to their problem?

BRANDING YOURSELF AND YOUR BUSINESS:

Your domain name is critical to your online business success.  It can either help you be memorable or it can cast you into the caverns of hell, never to be found. At a minimum, you'll want to acquire both your personal name as well as your business name and preferably with a .com (dot-com) extension, rather than a .net or any other extensions. If neither is available, try using a dash or dot between your name or business name or you can try to buy the .com versions of your product names and program names. If you use a full-featured domain registrar, you'll be able to point and mask these domains to internal pages of your web site, or use them as stand-alone sales letter pages.

You may also brainstorm potential problems faced by your target market or solutions that you provide and buy those .com domain names also. Internet marketer Jim Gray uses this technique to market his Travel Business and Health Care Business online. This is a compelling solution to his target markets, such as:

– Travel – Helping people find 5 star accommodations for three star prices and introducing them to a way to earn a nice income while traveling.

– Health Solutions – Helping people find solutions to their health problems and at the same time providing them a means to achieve financial success thru distribution of highly effective health related products.

Creating a business plan is of such importance to your internet success, that I have broken this report into two sections (Part I and Part II).

Please login again for Part II in my next blog to view a continuation of my discussion regarding developing your business plan.   

Keywords: internet marketing business plan, internet marketing plan, internet marketing, online business marketing, online business, business plan, automated marketing, leads, lead, lead generator, income technologies, prospects, market online

(read more)

Seo Book - Your Online Business - My Online Business, - Veretekk - Oline Business Tools

STARTING YOUR ONLINE BUSINESS

Hello, my name is James (Jim) Gray and I want to welcome you to my internet online business site. The purpose of this site is to provide the readers with plain, down to earth advice and tools to help you start your online business.   

As you can see from the Blog Heading, my site is all about “Professional Internet Marketing”. If you are interested in how to start your own business online, then this site will provide you with some valuable insight based on my hard learned and expensive experience.

One of my goals is to save you the expense and time required to get your internet business up and functional as quickly as possible, based on your time commitment and financial situation. 

It is not my intent to build a website for you, however, it is my intent to point you to the right tools and programs needed for you to develop and maintain your own personal site.

Another goal is to provide content that is equally valuable to everyone seeking input on all levels of internet marketing regarding establishing an internet business. I plan to cater primarily to beginning internet marketers however, advanced marketers may also find the content to be valuable due to my different point of view.

As you study the content in my news letters and as you otherwise participate in any of the programs that I recommend on my site, I promise that you will only experience highly professional content developed with a high level of personal integrity. I will only recommend or provide serious internet business concepts, online business tools and programs that I feel meets the highest content quality and that is supported with the highest level of integrity.

Although this a newly established newsletter and Blog, another goal of mine is to make this newsletter one of the most sought after and helpful sites in the internet marketing world. I'm deeply appreciative and honored that you've decided to visit and I will do all that I can to make your visits meaningful.

You can rest assured that when you optin into my site that your name and email are safe with me.  I will never give, sell or otherwise distribute your contact information to any third party without your express prior approval. If, at any time and for any reason, you ever decide to discontinue your subscription to my newsletter, you can simply opt-out at any time.

Based on my experience, I firmly believe that most internet marketers become disenchanted and quit simply because of "information overload". Does this fit you?

Perhaps you are like I was and you listened to “online "gurus" trying to tell you what you "need" to do in order to be successful yet they failed to provide you with a clear cut model of how to achieve the same level of success as they did. I can attest to the fact that there really is a lot of great advice available on the Internet about starting your own online business, however, without a clear plan about how to proceed, it is easy to become over whelmed and the information becomes a bunch of "disconnected knowledge" in your brain. 

Generally this “information disconnect” causes many individuals to experienced "paralysis by analysis". In other words... you become so confused, you simply don’t know which way to turn or where to start, so you don’t start at all.  You wind up listening to more gurus and gathering more information and becoming more and more confused.

The purpose of this site is to help you become untangled, more focused and to help point you in the right direction with plain, down to earth advice and tools to get you started.  To give you that little push and a ray of sunlight that will help you get motivated into taking action.  

Regardless of where you are at in starting your own business online, I encourage you to follow along with my Blogs and newsletters and check out some of the lead generation programs in Veretekk to get you started. . It's taken me years to get to where I am, and I am going to do my best to teach you everything I know over the next several months so that you will not make the same mistakes that I have.

Ok, that’s it for now but be on the lookout for my next Blog in a few days. It will have some valuable information for you, so you won't want to miss it.

Have a great day and come back soon and often!

James Otto Gray
Internet Marketing Specialist
Marketing Tips and Advice for Successful Internet Marketers

PS: After you've viewed each Blog, please post your questions or comments on the Blog site rather than emailing them to me.  That way I will be able to respond to you much faster.

Keywords: internet marketing, internet marketers, internet marketing specialist, internet business, online business, internet advisor, internet business consultant, seo book, your online business, my online business, Veretekk, online business tools, online business tips, free internet marketing tools, marketing your business online, free internet marketing tips, how to start your own business online, how to start your own online business, starting your own online business, starting your own internet business, starting your own business online, serious internet business, start your own online business, start your own business online

(read more)

True Automated Marketing System

Automating operations how to improve your efficiency and effectiveness

One of the unique strengths is in finding truly automated solutions that help businesses run more efficiently.

By “Truly Automated”, I mean that no user intervention is required.

Take a look at a True Automated Marketing System

1. How can I be as efficient as possible in my marketing so that I don't waste time or money?

2. How can I spend less time on activities that I don't like (e.g. marketing and sales) and more time on activities that I love (e.g. Web design)?

3. Every time I get busy with clients, marketing falls behind, so I end up with a "feast or famine" cycle. How can I avoid the frustration of being swamped with work one month and famished the next?

4 How can I get clients to come to me instead of having to chase them?

One answer to the above questions is to develop automatic marketing systems that do your marketing for you while you do other things.

Take a look at a True Automated Marketing System

Most of the allegedly "newbie-friendly" products out there are really narrowly focused, including just one sketchy, poorly outlined method.

A True Automated Marketing System is different; because it focuses on the FOUNDATIONAL things you need to know

BEFORE you waste time or money on some shoddy method you would have avoided if only you knew BETTER.

# How to register a domain
# How to set up a hosting account
# How to set up your DNS
# How to create Web Pages
# How to upload files to your website (Frontpage or FTP)
# Setting up your autoresponders
# Automating your order processing
# Strategies to building a real mailing list

Along with many more,  Internet marketing, Learning HTML, Making web based Flash Videos, SEO, etc.

Take the time to look at a True Automated Marketing System

 

(read more)

Internet Marketing Business Plan - Professional Business Plan

Critical First Step for Business Success: Your Business Plan 

(PART I of II)

If you already have an online business or if you are thinking of starting one up, then it is critically important for you to have a business plan in place in order to achieve success with your internet marketing business. 

A business plan is simply a road map that shows you where you are going with your business and how you plan to get there.  Without a plan (road map), how will you know when you have achieved your goal or in other words, arrived at your business destination?

If you're the owner of a small service business, having a solid Internet marketing business plan in place can both increase your name and brand recognition locally in your geographic area, as well as expose you to a whole new set of potential clients throughout the world. To be effective, your plan should be in writing, not just committed to your memory. However, if you are like many internet marketers, you carry your business marketing plan in your head without bothering to commit anything to paper. This could be a serious detriment to your internet success.

Here are some ideas for your consideration in developing your Internet marketing plan:

BUSINESS OBJECTIVE:

What do you want to accomplish by using Internet marketing? Find new clients? Provide new or unusual services and information to existing clients? Sell services or products to current and new customers? Educate your target market or your staff about current or new products and/or services that you offer? Create an online social community for your target market?

How much funding do you have to spend each month on your internet marketing plan? Having a goal and budget in mind will make your marketing more effective and will make the difference between your success and/or failure.

LEAD GENERATION – PROSPECTING PLAN:

 The most successful online business owners have an automated marketing lead generation marketing funnel (think of it as an upside down triangle) through which they "funnel" prospective clients into their business. The process begins from the top of the funnel, representing low-cost or free products or services, designed to move clients down through the funnel to the narrower bottom outlet of the funnel.

As prospects (leads) move thru the funnel towards the outlet, they will gradually represent increasing investments or “assets” into your business because these individuals are the ones who will purchase your products based on their immediate and/or future needs. Their willingness to become your customer will depend on your product or service providing them with a resolution to their problem or possibly providing them something that will enhance their quality and enjoyment of life.

KNOW YOUR COMPETITION:

Knowing and understanding where you stand among your competitors can you help you strengthen your marketing message. You can begin by doing a keyword search for the terms someone might use to find your business online. You can simply type in your keyword into the Google Search Bar which will return you a list of current sites using that keyword plus it will also tell you how many times the keyword is searched daily.  This will tell you what your competition is.

Write down the URL's of your top 5 competitors. How popular and relevant are their sites? You can check their traffic ranking with Alexia, http://www.alexa.com/#traffic, as well as see what other sites link to them. Does your competition offer something unique? Where are the gaps in the service or product offerings?

KNOW YOUR TARGET MARKET: 

Instead of trying to market to everyone (the shotgun marketing approach), find a clearly definable target market that you can easily describe and locate. Are they male or female? What age group? What industry? What socio-economic group? Where do they hang out on- and off-line? What do they read? To what groups and associations (real and virtual, personal and professional) do they belong? How much money do they make? Can they easily afford your product or service? What keywords are they using to search for businesses like yours online? (Note--you can do keyword research with free downloadable software, http://www.GoodKeywords.com).

WHAT PROBLEMS WILL YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE SOLVE?

The reason that someone will buy your product or hire to you to provide a service is to solve a particular problem that they have. What problems and issues plague your target market? How does your product or service solve that problem? How does your solution differ from that of your competitors? What makes you uniquely qualified to provide the solution to their problem?

BRANDING YOURSELF AND YOUR BUSINESS:

Your domain name is critical to your online business success.  It can either help you be memorable or it can cast you into the caverns of hell, never to be found. At a minimum, you'll want to acquire both your personal name as well as your business name and preferably with a .com (dot-com) extension, rather than a .net or any other extensions. If neither is available, try using a dash or dot between your name or business name or you can try to buy the .com versions of your product names and program names. If you use a full-featured domain registrar, you'll be able to point and mask these domains to internal pages of your web site, or use them as stand-alone sales letter pages.

You may also brainstorm potential problems faced by your target market or solutions that you provide and buy those .com domain names also. Internet marketer Jim Gray uses this technique to market his Travel Business and Health Care Business online. This is a compelling solution to his target markets, such as:

– Travel – Helping people find 5 star accommodations for three star prices and introducing them to a way to earn a nice income while traveling.

– Health Solutions – Helping people find solutions to their health problems and at the same time providing them a means to achieve financial success thru distribution of highly effective health related products.

Creating a business plan is of such importance to your internet success, that I have broken this report into two sections (Part I and Part II).

Please login again for Part II in my next blog to view a continuation of my discussion regarding developing your business plan.   

Keywords: internet marketing business plan, internet marketing plan, internet marketing, online business marketing, online business, business plan, automated marketing, leads, lead, lead generator, income technologies, prospects, market online

(read more)

Internet Business - Online Business - Internet Advisor - Internet Business Consultant

STARTING YOUR ONLINE BUSINESS

Hello, my name is James (Jim) Gray and I want to welcome you to my internet online business site. The purpose of this site is to provide the readers with plain, down to earth advice and tools to help you start your online business.   

As you can see from the Blog Heading, my site is all about “Professional Internet Marketing”. If you are interested in how to start your own business online, then this site will provide you with some valuable insight based on my hard learned and expensive experience.

One of my goals is to save you the expense and time required to get your internet business up and functional as quickly as possible, based on your time commitment and financial situation. 

It is not my intent to build a website for you, however, it is my intent to point you to the right tools and programs needed for you to develop and maintain your own personal site.

Another goal is to provide content that is equally valuable to everyone seeking input on all levels of internet marketing regarding establishing an internet business. I plan to cater primarily to beginning internet marketers however, advanced marketers may also find the content to be valuable due to my different point of view.

As you study the content in my news letters and as you otherwise participate in any of the programs that I recommend on my site, I promise that you will only experience highly professional content developed with a high level of personal integrity. I will only recommend or provide serious internet business concepts, online business tools and programs that I feel meets the highest content quality and that is supported with the highest level of integrity.

Although this a newly established newsletter and Blog, another goal of mine is to make this newsletter one of the most sought after and helpful sites in the internet marketing world. I'm deeply appreciative and honored that you've decided to visit and I will do all that I can to make your visits meaningful.

You can rest assured that when you optin into my site that your name and email are safe with me.  I will never give, sell or otherwise distribute your contact information to any third party without your express prior approval. If, at any time and for any reason, you ever decide to discontinue your subscription to my newsletter, you can simply opt-out at any time.

Based on my experience, I firmly believe that most internet marketers become disenchanted and quit simply because of "information overload". Does this fit you?

Perhaps you are like I was and you listened to “online "gurus" trying to tell you what you "need" to do in order to be successful yet they failed to provide you with a clear cut model of how to achieve the same level of success as they did. I can attest to the fact that there really is a lot of great advice available on the Internet about starting your own online business, however, without a clear plan about how to proceed, it is easy to become over whelmed and the information becomes a bunch of "disconnected knowledge" in your brain. 

Generally this “information disconnect” causes many individuals to experienced "paralysis by analysis". In other words... you become so confused, you simply don’t know which way to turn or where to start, so you don’t start at all.  You wind up listening to more gurus and gathering more information and becoming more and more confused.

The purpose of this site is to help you become untangled, more focused and to help point you in the right direction with plain, down to earth advice and tools to get you started.  To give you that little push and a ray of sunlight that will help you get motivated into taking action.  

Regardless of where you are at in starting your own business online, I encourage you to follow along with my Blogs and newsletters and check out some of the lead generation programs in Veretekk to get you started. . It's taken me years to get to where I am, and I am going to do my best to teach you everything I know over the next several months so that you will not make the same mistakes that I have.

Ok, that’s it for now but be on the lookout for my next Blog in a few days. It will have some valuable information for you, so you won't want to miss it.

Have a great day and come back soon and often!

James Otto Gray
Internet Marketing Specialist
Marketing Tips and Advice for Successful Internet Marketers

PS: After you've viewed each Blog, please post your questions or comments on the Blog site rather than emailing them to me.  That way I will be able to respond to you much faster.

Keywords: internet marketing, internet marketers, internet marketing specialist, internet business, online business, internet advisor, internet business consultant, seo book, your online business, my online business, Veretekk, online business tools, online business tips, free internet marketing tools, marketing your business online, free internet marketing tips, how to start your own business online, how to start your own online business, starting your own online business, starting your own internet business, starting your own business online, serious internet business, start your own online business, start your own business online

(read more)

True Automated Marketing System

Automating operations how to improve your efficiency and effectiveness

One of the unique strengths is in finding truly automated solutions that help businesses run more efficiently.

By “Truly Automated”, I mean that no user intervention is required.

Take a look at a True Automated Marketing System

1. How can I be as efficient as possible in my marketing so that I don't waste time or money?

2. How can I spend less time on activities that I don't like (e.g. marketing and sales) and more time on activities that I love (e.g. Web design)?

3. Every time I get busy with clients, marketing falls behind, so I end up with a "feast or famine" cycle. How can I avoid the frustration of being swamped with work one month and famished the next?

4 How can I get clients to come to me instead of having to chase them?

One answer to the above questions is to develop automatic marketing systems that do your marketing for you while you do other things.

Take a look at a True Automated Marketing System

Most of the allegedly "newbie-friendly" products out there are really narrowly focused, including just one sketchy, poorly outlined method.

A True Automated Marketing System is different; because it focuses on the FOUNDATIONAL things you need to know

BEFORE you waste time or money on some shoddy method you would have avoided if only you knew BETTER.

# How to register a domain
# How to set up a hosting account
# How to set up your DNS
# How to create Web Pages
# How to upload files to your website (Frontpage or FTP)
# Setting up your autoresponders
# Automating your order processing
# Strategies to building a real mailing list

Along with many more,  Internet marketing, Learning HTML, Making web based Flash Videos, SEO, etc.

Take the time to look at a True Automated Marketing System

 

(read more)