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Meet the Travel Agents

Don’t Leave Home Without Them

By Nancy McRae

Where do you go for a vacation when you already live in one of the most beautiful places in the world? This question has perplexed many a Coronadan, but it is possible to leave the island and find delightful adventures elsewhere. These suggestions, offered by some of Coronado’s most seasoned travel agents, might surprise you. Pack your bags and get ready for a little slice of Heaven.

CL: What are some recent developments in the travel industry and how do they impact the consumer?

• Ann Eades, All-Ways Travel: More costs are being passed on to the consumer. For example, airlines have stopped paying commissions to travel agents, so we now charge a service fee to our clients. To keep overhead costs down, many travel agents have closed their retail offices. But that doesn’t mean we’re going out of business – we’ve just moved to home offices. That enables us to specialize more and to offer our customers better values than ever.

• Joan McGill, Acacia Travel: Extra security is the big change. You can no longer show up at the airport 20 minutes before a flight and expect to get on board. Also, effective this year, you can’t lock your checked luggage. This enables security personnel to have access to it in case they spot something suspicious. Vulnerability of luggage can be a problem for many people.

• Eric Jones, Coronado Travel Group: When I started in the travel business 34 years ago air tickets to
Europe were $1,200, even in the off season. Now they’re as low as $300. Vacation travel now is one of the few great values left to the consumer. Everything else has gone up and up, but travel costs have come down.

• Eades: Travel costs have come down except if you’re buying one of the “residences” on the new Residensea ship “The World.” One- to three-bedroom condominiums range in price from $2.2 million to $7 million, plus exorbitant condo fees. But the ship has a full-size tennis court, simulated golf, spas and four different restaurants. This year Residensea is offering to rent 88 studios on board The World at a 50-percent discount. So for $225 to $300 per person per day including all meals, beverages, and gratuities you can really live it up!

CL: What are some of the most popular destinations for Coronadans, who are already living in paradise?

• McGill: This may be paradise, but the water’s cold here. People head to where it’s warm.

• Jan Haines, Crown Travel:Many of my customers like to go on Crystal Cruises. They don’t care about the destination, they just love the Crystal. It’s a six-star experience, with deluxe staterooms, Broadway-caliber shows, superb cuisine and excellent service.

• Eades: Another paradise, Hawaii. Europe, particularly London and Italy, are also favorites. Holland America cruises have several week-long and 12-day trips to Mexico. It’s an easy, safe vacation, especially for people who don’t want to fly. You can even go round-trip through the Panama Canal now.

• Jones: A relatively new development for San Diego is that many cruise ships now leave and return to port here. So you can have a great vacation with no airfare, or if you’re pinched for time, fly one-way and then sail back.

• Barbara Haines, Coronado Fun Club: Fun Club has joined with All-ways Travel to specialize in day and overnight bus tours. We take in museums, including the Getty and Huntington, theatre, the Del Mar races, Palm Springs Follies, Pageant of the Masters in Laguna, and local Indian resort/casinos. We occasionally do a “mystery trip” which is always popular! The Coronado Fun Club is for people of all ages who want the fun of doing new things without the hassle of planning and driving. Everyone is welcome!

• Bette Brown, longtime Coronado agent: It’s not where you go, it’s who you go with. If you enjoy who you’re traveling with, whether it’s your family, a companion or the group of fellow travelers on your tour, then you’re going to have fun wherever you go.

CL: What are some of the best travel bargains for 2003?

• Haines: People are waiting until the last minute to book because of global uncertainty. Even world cruises, which are normally booked one to two years in advance, are accepting last-minute bookings. Traditionally, great travel bargains can appear throughout the year, and probably even more so this year.

• Jones: The savvy cruise traveler books right after the holidays because cruise lines offer incredible two-for-one packages, or 50 percent off for a solo traveler. Winter is a wonderful time to put the family on a cruise ship.

• Eades: Cruise capacity has gone up so much, there are bargains galore. Even beyond January/February, for just about any destination you pick you’re going to see great discounts.

• McGill: Australia, Fiji, the South Pacific are good values. A 12-day, two-city package to Australia with lodging and air can be as low as $1400. Normally, you pay more than that just for airfare.

• Jones: Two-week trips to Paris or London including air and hotel are priced well below $1000. Wherever you’re going, you can either get a better deal by booking six months in advance or by waiting until the last minute, although you may not get exactly what you want. It depends on how you live your life.

• David Coleman, Air Gorilla: Every day online it’s possible to bring new discounts to the consumer’s attention as the major vacation providers make their information available to us. Many consumers are uncomfortable making a cruise or vacation package booking online. With our system, there is a live agent involved. The online consumer sees many possibilities and sends in their preference, which is reviewed by a live agent. Sometimes the agent can recommend something even better.

CL: What are some of your favorite recommendations for family trips, honeymoons or eco-travel destinations?

• McGill: Cruising is the ideal family vacation. I book a lot of family reunions, and a cruise ship is the perfect place for people ranging in age from toddlers to grandparents. There is something for everyone.

• Jones: Many cruise ships can fit four to a stateroom, and the kids are usually practically free, so it’s a very good value for a family. Families should look for places that are “all-inclusive.” Everything from food to special activities is already included in the price, so there are no nasty “added-on” surprises at the end of your trip. There are many such places in Mexico, including some great Club Meds.

• Eades: Many cruises, especially to Alaska and the Caribbean, offer supervised programs for the kids so the parents can have some alone time. Another family-favorite destination is the Napali Kai on Maui – casual, great snorkeling, 18-hole golf course, the best sunsets. And it’s very affordable. They are condos, so you can do some of your own cooking, but there’s also a great restaurant. It’s a warm, fuzzy place, the way Hawaii used to be.

• Pat Flynn, All-Ways Travel: Another good spot for families in Hawaii is Kona Village. It’s very costly, but it’s all-inclusive. The programs are wonderful, and the people there treat you like family. For honeymoons, nothing beats Tahiti, where there are some fabulous bargains right now.

• Jones: Canada, where our dollar is worth $1.50, is certainly worth mentioning. Everybody loves the train trips and outdoor adventure trips through the Rockies. The scenery and food are great, friendly people, no language barrier, easy to get there. Whistler Resort in British Columbia is ideal for families with high school and college-age kids.

• McGill: For eco-travel try Costa Rica or Fiji. The people in both places are so friendly. There is hiking and rafting and every adventure you could want. For nature and animal lovers, the Galapagos Islands are a great destination, and the Smithsonian offers some fabulous tours.

CL: Why do consumers still need to use a travel agent?

• Eades: Recourse. If you’re doing a straight round-trip, go online. But if you’re doing a diverse itinerary, and a problem or change of plans comes up, your travel agent is your backup support. Also, many people aren’t technically oriented, and would rather talk with a travel agent than face a screen. People may think it costs more to use an agent, but we are often able to meet or beat prices advertised by cruise lines. We encourage people to call us before they book.

• Jan Haines: Service and expertise. We have traveled extensively and done the research. Do you want to talk to someone who has been there, knows the hotels, knows the restaurants, knows the city, or do you want to talk to an order-taker? All those rooms look real nice in the computer, but when you get there they may be like a prison cell. When you’re spending money on your dream vacation, a travel agent is the best way to make sure you’re getting what you really want.

• Jones: I’ve got a tip for the consumer. Get the brochures, look at all the pretty pictures, but don’t pay those prices ever. You can do better booking through an agent. We spend our whole lives in the business, with firsthand experience of destinations, contact with other agents, industry meetings. We keep on top of it. Any fees paid by the consumer are more than made up by savings in his time and trip value.

CL: What is the best trip you personally have ever taken?

• McGill: It’s always the last trip I took, because there have been very few trips that I haven’t enjoyed. But I’d have to say the trip to Paris with my 14-year-old daughter was the best.

• Flynn: The Windstar cruise out of St. Thomas was the most fun. We loved the ship, the islands, the scuba diving.

• Brown: New Zealand. Nothing can describe how beautiful the people and the country are. You just have to experience it.

• Eades: My favorite destination in the whole world is Ireland. I fell in love with it five years ago, and ever since I’ve been taking small group tours to Ireland. This year I’ve got a garden group going. It’s so beautiful there, the people are friendly, and we make our fair share of pub stops.

• Jan Haines: I love to travel, to see things, to learn. I love every trip I take.

• Coleman: Kaui, with its Napali cliffs and Waimea Canyon. It’s a great getaway without too many crowds.

• Jones: I just finished my twenty-third trip to France. Every time I go there, I see new things. The quality of life, history, culture, art. And the food and the wine are the best. Last year I went through Provence on a river cruise, stopping at ancient medieval towns. It was like going back to the 1500s. Even people who don’t think they’re going to love France, love that trip.


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