HOLIDAY TRAVEL - Planning? Book Early!!

Traveling over the holidays? It would behoove everyone to listen: “Holiday travel procrastinators do so at their own peril this year, and practical travelers should be shopping now and buying before the end of October.” (Rick Seaney, Online Travel Guide)
There are parents with kids in college who, when waiting to book for Thanksgiving or Christmas from one week to the next, thinking they could get “better deals” are finding that prices are doubling from one week to the next.
The lesson?
“If you book way in advance, you can get really good deals,” a parent said.
Airlines now have an advantage in the endless game of cat-and-mouse with travelers. Because of the recession, they have been grounding planes. Fewer seats for sale gives them more power to set prices, since they are less desperate to get even modest fares to help fill up planes.
The number of domestic seats for sale is down 5 percent this month, compared with October last year, and they are down 21 percent from October 2000, according to OAG, an aviation-data firm.
Look and/or book online at www.eaglepointtravel.com

NO PASSPORT REQUIRED! (for some) Available for worldwide bookings

Puerto Rico - ah...no passport required for USA residents. We have a beautiful 14,000+ sq ft ocean front villa available. Specialist 50% off pricing for a limited time (For travel Oct 1 - Nov 13, 2009. 5-night minimum. Vacations must be booked by November 1, 2009. This beach front villa sleeps up to 26 with 10 bedrooms. $1250 per night

Winter travel: Book 5 nights by October 31st & Get 2 additional nights FREE. (For Travel Nov 14, 2009 - Apr 30, 2010.Book by October 31, 2009.)

December 26-25 (Holiday rates - book now, receive free gift)

Call (888 421 0270) or email us NOW for more information (www.eaglepointtravel.com)

This beach front villa is great for weddings, corporate travel, groups, family reunions -

AFRICA, CAMPING SAFARI, CLASSIC SAFARI

While there are those of us who have already experienced a touch of snow....there are others who are looking to winter vacations. Think AFRICA!! Botswana has a marvelous Classic Safari for the Camper person. It is 6 days and is priced from $1230 per person (air is not included), which begins in Livingstone and ends in Maun. This is a marvelous, exciting, not to mention hands on safari experience with nature walks, game drives and a change to see how people and wildlife co-exist. Call or email us for a detailed itinerary (www.eaglepointtravel.com). This is not a large group safari but more to 6-8 couples which is for an intimate, hands-on, working together experience not soon to be forgotten! Don't forget, our winter is their summer! (Or, warmer weather)

Baggage Fees, an update

If you are a United Airlines flyer, I was reading new information today about their baggage fees. Wonder who else will follow? United Airlines has put a new twist on baggage fees with Premier Baggage, charging customers a flat price that allows them to check two standard bags at no additional cost every time they fly on a United or United Express operated flight in a year. Customers can purchase a subscription for an introductory price of $249, entitling them to check two standard bags on United and United Express operated flights domestically and internationally, where applicable, rather than paying to check bags each trip. The annual subscription also covers the standard checked baggage charge for up to eight companions traveling under the same confirmation number as the subscriber. Mileage Plus Premier members are exempt from first and second bag fees on standard bags. The purchase of a Premier Baggage subscription does not waive fees that would ordinarily be assessed for oversized and overweight bags, and does not cover the cost of checking bags beyond two standard bags. For more information, visit www.united.com/premierbaggage

Airlines, Airfares and general travel

Planning for 2010 and beyond: Everyone needs to be aware that Southwest (and others) are raising their fares, which to most of us is no surprise. Airlines have cut capacity and even some cities that normally had different airlines flying in and out...now find themselves with instead of 4-5 airlines servicing them, they are down to 3. This causes prices to go up...due to demand. Because there is going to be less seating practically everywhere, PLEASE do yourselves a favor and plan/book your vacations, weddings, honeymoons...business trips, as early as you can. You can always go to www.eaglepointtravel.com to the online booking page and pre-book air...whether business, pleasure or (gasp) last minute trips...some none of us can foresee. The following is a note I saw on USA Today (today):
Southwest recently introduced a sale on tickets between Phoenix and San Diego as well as other destinations, but the prices of the sale tickets are higher than the low fares many travelers have grown to expect. Tom Parsons of BestFares.com says the prices are "not really that bad" although they are higher than the airline's historical range of sale fares. Other airlines have also boosted fares. "The writing is on the wall," Parsons said. "We had nine months of great travel bargains in 2009. Air travelers will be paying much more (in 2010) than they did in early 2009, as much as 50% more." USA TODAY (10/1)