Comments on: 9 essential travel strategies for 2009 http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/9-essential-travel-strategies-for-2009/ The last honest travel site Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Patricia Eachus http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/9-essential-travel-strategies-for-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-9588 Patricia Eachus Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:58:56 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=8278#comment-9588 The big expectation of a huge drop in Hawaii tourism has not hit our front door. We have used for years and now are the suppliers of accommodations on "vacation rental by owner". Our guests fall into the desire for luxury setting at the fraction of the BIG BOX impersonal resorts. Our two private, luxury studio suites selling for a fraction of the hotels is the guests gain and our delight. Stop whining hotels and let's give these valued vacationeers a memorable Aloha and see 2009 as the year to NOT play it safe by staying home. The big expectation of a huge drop in Hawaii tourism has not hit our front door. We have used for years and now are the suppliers of accommodations on “vacation rental by owner”. Our guests fall into the desire for luxury setting at the fraction of the BIG BOX impersonal resorts. Our two private, luxury studio suites selling for a fraction of the hotels is the guests gain and our delight. Stop whining hotels and let’s give these valued vacationeers a memorable Aloha and see 2009 as the year to NOT play it safe by staying home.

]]> By: Marge P http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/9-essential-travel-strategies-for-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-9394 Marge P Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:57:57 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=8278#comment-9394 This is a great article, Chris - very positive and accurate (in my opinion). I look forward to seeing what plays out in 2009. It very well could be a memorable travel year! This is a great article, Chris – very positive and accurate (in my opinion). I look forward to seeing what plays out in 2009. It very well could be a memorable travel year!

]]> By: Skip http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/9-essential-travel-strategies-for-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-9386 Skip Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:45:29 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=8278#comment-9386 Excellent points, Christopher. I wrote them down. I would add a very important caveat to #2, though: never book something you wouldn't be happy with if an upgrade didn't come about. I believe Anita Durham-Potter will back me up on this one, as people regularly booked the cheapest cruise cabins they could find and then got mad when the ship was fully booked, upgrades weren't available, and they had a single cabin sitting on the floor below the disco. So book a cheap cabin but make sure it's something you'd still be happy with if upgrades aren't available. Excellent points, Christopher. I wrote them down.

I would add a very important caveat to #2, though: never book something you wouldn’t be happy with if an upgrade didn’t come about. I believe Anita Durham-Potter will back me up on this one, as people regularly booked the cheapest cruise cabins they could find and then got mad when the ship was fully booked, upgrades weren’t available, and they had a single cabin sitting on the floor below the disco.

So book a cheap cabin but make sure it’s something you’d still be happy with if upgrades aren’t available.

]]> By: Lois http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/9-essential-travel-strategies-for-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-9374 Lois Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:48:43 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=8278#comment-9374 “Home exchanges have been rising in popularity during the past year,” says Zach Everson, a travel blogger. “I think they’ll see a sharp spike next year.” Zach's prediction is right! Already 2009 has been a bumper year for new members joining our home exchange service, <a href="http://www.homebase-hols.com" rel="nofollow">Home Base Holidays</a>. We've been operating since 1985 and the only time we have seen a similar spike in membership was a decade ago when it was largely due to a surge in use of the internet. This time, the surge is definitely related to the economic downturn that is prompting people in many countries to look at alternative ways to travel that save money. It's also likely that, as our service is based in London, and the pound sterling is dismally low in value against many other currencies for the first time in several years, that now the UK is a bargain destination, especially for Americans and Europeans! “Home exchanges have been rising in popularity during the past year,” says Zach Everson, a travel blogger. “I think they’ll see a sharp spike next year.”

Zach’s prediction is right! Already 2009 has been a bumper year for new members joining our home exchange service, Home Base Holidays. We’ve been operating since 1985 and the only time we have seen a similar spike in membership was a decade ago when it was largely due to a surge in use of the internet. This time, the surge is definitely related to the economic downturn that is prompting people in many countries to look at alternative ways to travel that save money.

It’s also likely that, as our service is based in London, and the pound sterling is dismally low in value against many other currencies for the first time in several years, that now the UK is a bargain destination, especially for Americans and Europeans!

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