The outlook for summer and fall 2009 resorts, cruise and rail travel

Overall: Great travels deals are available

Given that there was a significant reduction in travel over the last twelve months; leisure travel operators are slashing prices to attract customers.  Bundled travel deals are still the best because they offer additional discounted airfare and/or hotel stays. Expect an increasing number of hotels, rental car companies and tour operators to offer discounts on their base rates.  A few week ago, I asked several vendors at a travel fair about their current rates, most indicated that they had rolled back prices to 2006/2007 rates.  This should be welcomed news for budget travelers who can find a cornucopia of deals at this time.

 Also; consumers can find good travel deals for air travel. While rates have not declined to the Fall 2001 bonanza levels, if you book well in advance or on special days (savvy travel agents know about special days), you can get a really good price. In fact, London, Paris and Dublin have become more affordable, with British Airways and Air France offering great deals. Toronto and Montreal Canadian are excellent options for week-end getaways close to home.

All Inclusive Resorts: Mexico on Sale

Mexico is on sale for the remainder of this year.  In order to compete with the significant reduced prices of the resorts in Cancun, Cozumel and Iztapa, Sandals and SuperClubs are offering 30-65% off specials.  Not to be outdone, GoGo Worldwide Vacations is offering special pricing on their Worldwide Collection which includes China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan & South Korea to its existing destinations: Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Cook Island, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and Bali. Collette Vacations is offering free air travel to Europe, China or the Canadian Rockies. Apple Vacations is offering saving up to 70% on fall deals. It is important to note that consumer interested in GoGo Worldwide Vacations and Apple Vacations should contact a travel agent.

Cruises: Always a great deal

Cruising is, and will remain the best travel deal for the remainder of the year. Whether you are a budget, premium or luxury traveler, there is a cruise for you at an affordable price. Pick the destination you have always dreamed about: Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, or South America – is within your grasp. As always, flexibility about your desired itinerary, and dates, will help you save. Cruises are available at a rate of $65 per person per day or less. So get out there! You deserve a cruise. It’s good for you, it’s affordable and you’ve earned it.

Rail: Focus on Canada and Europe

Rail Vacations offers unique travel experiences, with breathtaking views, great interaction with locals and a rich learning environment.  Here are the highlights of three rail vacations:

Rail Europe

Rail Europe consists of ten high speed trains. They are Eurostar, Thalys, TGV, Eurostar Italia, Lyria, AVE, Inter-City Express (ICE), Cisalpino, Artesia, and Talgo.

Eurostar- Travels through the Chunnel and connects you to major cities in under two and a half hours.  For example, you can travel from:

• London to Brussels in 1 hour 51 minutes
• London to Lille in 1 hour 20 minutes
• London to Disneyland Paris in 2 hours 15 minutes

Thalys - The Thalys train provides direct links to 17 cities including Paris, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany in over 50 round-trips a day. It can even take you from Paris to Brussels in less than ninety minutes.

The TGV – The TGV is your choice when traveling to France, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium.

Lyria – Gives you a spectacular view from the rolling French countryside to the majestic Swiss Alps.

Artesia - This high-speed train takes you from the best of France to the best of Italy by day or night, via connecting city pairs of Paris and Rome, Dijon and Milan, Chambrey and Florence and 13 others.

Talgo - Talgo passes through brilliant coastal landscapes moving you from one port city to another in stress-free comfort, such as Montpellier, Narbonne and Perpignan in France, and Barcelona, Alicante, Cartegena, and Valencia in Spain.

Canada Rail Vacations   

Canadian Rockies vacation gives you the most beautiful destinations in Western Canada. These Canadian railway holidays getaways can be from three nights and four days to eleven nights and twelve days.  Your choice for the short railway holidays includes, Vancouver to Banff, Vancouver to Jasper, Vancouver to Calgary, and Whistler to Jasper. On the longer trips you can combine the Inside Passage with the majestic Canadian Rockies and the Rocky Mountaineer, via Ferry, Motor coach, Rail and Helicopter.