Take Some Stress Out of Your Travel Plans

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The worst part of a vacation is air travel to reach your embarkation port or destination.  It starts with booking your flights, which in most cases will require you to pay in full at the time of booking.

What if your plans change due to an unexpected event?

Pre-2020, perhaps you discounted that possibility entirely, but you must admit that at this point, little would be shocking.

At a minimum with a change of plans, you can expect to spend a half hour on hold and then probably another hour and a half going through phone trees before reaching someone who at least has an answer, although that answer may not be one you want to hear.

Why not make your life easier by letting me book your air along with your cruise, land tour or resort stay using the same vendor?

Would the decision be easier for you if you knew you frequently don't pay for your air until you reach the final payment due date as part of a package?

Sometimes, "free air" or reduced price air is included in the cruise price, as frequently is the case with Viking, and turning this gift down may not result in a lower price, depending on when you book.  Other times, as with Oceania, you can alternatively take a discounted cruise price in lieu of "free air," if you have air miles to burn.

Even if you have air miles available to cash in, you would be well-advised to consider booking air with the cruise line or land packager, simply because it makes your trip planning process easier.

Many popular cruise lines, such as Celebrity, Princess, Holland America and Royal Caribbean, allow you to pick your own "flexible flights" though their booking engines at the same pricing that you would get directly from the airline or through an online service like Orbitz.  If the cruise is cancelled, the air cancels automatically without charge.  What could be easier than that?

Other times you may not have as much flexibility of choice but still rest assured knowing you won't have to worry so much about getting to the ship on time.   Plus, you won't usually be forced to pay for air until final payment on your cruise or package.

And don't forget that you can add a pre- or post-cruise tour or hotel stay to get the most bang for your air buck, with transfers included.

A vacation is supposed to relieve stress, not cause it.

Let me help you make it stress-free.

Wes

Our shared virtual cruise takes us back to the facinating, less-renowned capital city of Slovakia, Bratislava, to explore the history of the Habsburgs and Napoleon.