Get the Greatest Value from Your Travel Experience

Despite the current economy, you may be surprised to know that plenty of people are still traveling. But the softening demand overall has had a positive impact for those in need of a getaway.

"Just like the housing industry and the stock market, it is now a buyers’ market when it comes to travel," said Roger Block, CTC, president of Travel Leaders (formerly Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates). With the help of travel professionals, many consumers are able to take advantage of the special incentives and promotions being offered by a wide array of providers of vacation travel.

A recent survey revealed more creative ways in which the professionals at Travel Leaders are counseling clients to squeeze every ounce of value out of their travel experiences:

Save money by shortening your trip. Leaving just a day later or returning a day earlier should provide some savings. A slightly shorter trip may also help you to be flexible about your departure and return dates, which can lead to additional savings on airfare and hotel rates.

Drive, rather than fly, to your vacation destination. The cost of gasoline has moderated, and driving usually costs significantly less than flying. If you drive, you also won’t need to pay for a rental car at your destination. And, driving allows you to rediscover the joys of a road trip – going at your own pace, watching the scenery change and stopping whenever you want to explore things that interest you. It could even mean you have a little more discretionary income to upgrade your hotel – something that your travel professional may be able to help secure, thanks to their relationships with a vast selection of hoteliers.

Book a different category of accommodations. Luxury accommodations are a treat while on vacation. But, moving down a category or two may have little, if any, effect on your vacation experience. A less-expensive hotel room or cruise ship stateroom might be a little smaller or simpler, but you’ll typically still have access to the same quality of dining, sightseeing, activities and entertainment.

For more ideas on receiving the greatest value for every vacation dollar, talk with your travel expert.

Exciting Cruise Options for 2009

If you’re planning to cruise during 2009 – whether for the first time or the tenth – there’s a world of exciting options waiting for you.

For a cruise that’s both different and memorable, board one of the industry’s newest ships, such as Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Solstice. Passengers luxuriate in the ship’s spacious, thoughtfully designed staterooms, 85 percent of which have private verandahs. The Solstice has some notable industry "firsts," including real grass growing in the half-acre Lawn Club on the top deck; and the Hot Glass Show, a glassblowing show and studio developed with The Corning Museum of Glass.

If you don’t plan to cruise until later in 2009, consider booking a cruise on Royal Caribbean’s new Oasis of the Seas. This incredible ship will introduce the concept of "neighborhoods" at sea, providing passengers with a variety of settings for relaxation, dining and entertainment. For example, the ship’s Central Park neighborhood will let passengers wander along pathways lined with lush plantings of real grass, flowers and trees. The Oasis of the Seas will have a total of seven neighborhoods, each with unique attractions.

Making cruising even more of an enticing vacation option in 2009, the Travel Leaders network is running a special cruise promotion throughout the month of February. There are numerous cruise lines from which to choose, including many value-added offers such as shipboard credit, spa treatment credits, and more. One of the best parts is that no matter where you choose to cruise, you’ll pay upfront in U.S. Dollars for everything, including meals. That way, you won’t have to worry about sudden fluctuations in the value of the U.S. Dollar.

If you’re more attracted to a cruise itinerary than the actual cruise ship per se, consider Holland America Line’s 10-day Gems of the Baltic cruise. This cruise calls on the great cities of northern Europe, including Copenhagen, Talinn, Helsinki, Stockholm and St. Petersburg. If you haven’t seen the Mediterranean via cruise ship, try an itinerary like Norwegian Cruise Line’s 7-day Western Mediterranean cruise, which calls on the sunny cities of Barcelona, Naples, Rome, Florence and Cannes.

If you’ve cruised an ocean but want to try a different type of waterway, consider a cruise on one of the impressive rivers of Europe or Asia. Viking River Cruises’ 12-day "Imperial Jewels of China" cruise features the incredible scenery along the Yangtze River, as well as extended stays in Beijing and Shanghai. Avalon Waterways’ 11-day "The Legendary Danube" cruise from Prague to Budapest includes guided sightseeing in Nuremberg, Vienna and other historic cities along the way.

To explore more options for a fabulous cruise vacation in 2009, talk with your travel expert.

Honoring Abraham Lincoln

February 12, 2009, marks the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, widely regarded as one of the greatest U.S. Presidents. In this inaugural year, your travels may take you near one of the many historic sites that celebrate the life and achievements of the Civil War President who preserved the Union. If you can, take the opportunity to stop and reflect on his legacy.

Springfield, Illinois, has several Lincoln sites. This is where he served four terms in the state legislature and practiced law after serving a term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Visit the Lincoln Home, a four-block area that includes the only home Lincoln ever owned; the Old State Capitol, a reconstruction of the statehouse as it was during Lincoln’s time – and the now historic place where President Barack Obama announced his candidacy for the White House; and the Lincoln Tomb in the Oak Ridge Cemetery, where Lincoln, his wife and most of his family are buried.

The Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial is in Lincoln City, just off I-64 in southern Indiana – almost halfway between Evansville and Louisville (KY). The memorial includes a National Park Service visitor center with a museum and the Lincoln Living Historical Farm. The farm is a recreated pioneer homestead that provides a look at how Lincoln and his family lived in the 1820s.

Hodgenville, near Elizabethtown, Kentucky, has two must-see Lincoln sites. At the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site at Sinking Spring Farm, a neoclassical granite and marble structure houses a one-room cabin like the one in which Lincoln was born. Knob Creek Farm in Hodgenville, Kentucky, was Lincoln’s home from 1811 to 1816. This is where the young Abraham received some of the little formal schooling he had, and where a schoolmate rescued him from drowning in the creek.

If you’re passing through Lexington, Kentucky, visit the Mary Todd Lincoln House. Abraham Lincoln’s wife lived in the two-story brick house on West Main Street as a teenager.

Finally, there’s also each of the important historical sites in our nation’s capital. Ranging from the newly restored Ford’s Theatre, where President Lincoln was shot during an 1865 performance, to the Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC is brimming with historical landmarks that will celebrate the bicentennial of the birth of America’s 16th President.

Talk with your travel expert about more ways to take in some presidential history on your travels.

More for Travelers in Postcards Magazine

Postcards magazine, published four times a year by Travel Leaders (formerly Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates), has a new look and some new features for people who love travel.

• Postcards specializes in providing inspiration for vacation plans.  Each quarterly issue includes new articles on spectacular destinations – some well known, some off the usual path.  The magazine also has regular features that include a city spotlight, great hotels to stay at around the world, and sometimes it also includes a look at unusual festivals and events.
• Now, each issue of Postcards now includes two new features: "Where Can We…" and "Leading the Way."
• "Where Can We…" highlights a specific vacation activity and where it can be enjoyed throughout the world.  For example, the Winter 2009 issue asks, "Where Can We…Ski?"  The piece highlights great downhill skiing destinations from the U.S. to Europe, Asia, South America and even the Middle East (Ski Dubai is an indoor resort with real snow on five ski runs).
• "Leading the Way" highlights unique travel experiences offered by Travel Leaders agencies from coast to coast.  One example is a July 2009 "Eclipse Trip" to southern China, where travelers will be able to view the longest total eclipse of the sun that will occur during this century. The next edition will feature information about arranging missionary or service-oriented travel.

To receive a complimentary subscription to Postcards, contact the travel experts at your local Travel Leaders office.

Making the Best of a Layover

Winter may be winding down, but it’s still prime season for weather-related travel delays, which can mean extra time inside the confines of an airport. When stormy weather or severe cold have their way, business travelers can experience an unexpected layover in an unfamiliar city.

In these situations, don’t waste any time being frustrated by your bad luck. Instead, find a way to make the time as enjoyable as possible. Here are some ideas:

• Sleep. Find an unoccupied gate area and stretch out across a few seats. If you need a quieter environment and are a member of an airline club, take advantage of their comfortable chairs – if you’re not a member, talk to you travel professional on how you can purchase a day pass. If you happen to be in the Miami or London airports, check out their "sleep pods." For some real pampering, take a room at an airport hotel. If you’ll only be there for a few hours, ask to negotiate a lower room rate.
• Spa. Speaking of pampering, find out if the airport in which you are stuck has a spa. Reward yourself with a relaxing massage, facial or scalp treatment.
• Eat. Lots of airport restaurants offer some truly fine dining, in the airport itself or at nearby hotels. Find the airport information desk, ask for a list of restaurants and select a cuisine. Furthermore, aim for healthy choices that won’t leave you feeling stuffed.
• Work out. Again, the airport information desk is your source of information on gym facilities inside or close to the airport. Make your travel-related stress work for you by working it off.
• Spruce up. Look good for your next meeting or your return home. You can probably have your shoes shined, your nails manicured and your hair cut or styled inside or close to the airport.
• Entertain yourself. Take in a movie or read the latest bestseller – things you usually don’t have time to do because your travel schedule is busy. Ask about nearby museums, shopping malls or other points of interest and act like a tourist for a while. With a little luck, the time will fly by until you can board your plane for your next destination.
• Also, don’t forget, when delays are getting the best of many travelers, your best bet is to call on the resources of your travel agent to help you get home in the most efficient way possible.