Avoid Getting Scammed When Booking On-Line

With the age of hi-speed internet, along with the access to online booking vacation sites like Expedia, Orbitz, priceline.com, Travelocity among the many, nearly 25% of Americans have been scammed or nearly scammed when booking a vacation online.

In a recent survey of 1,000 persons by McAfee, a giant software company, 18% said that they had or almost had fallen prey to vacation travel scams, and some 30% of travel-related scam victims reported they lost between $1,000 and $3,000. One of the major reasons that people fall victim to scams is the last minute nature of a person’s decision to travel. In the McAfee survey nearly 31% of those vacation scam victims clicked on a deal that was too good to be true. Meanwhile, 13% of victims shared that their identity was stolen after sharing their passport details during the booking process.

I have written in a previous blog that a person who tries to plan their own trip will spend on-the-average, the following time researching and planning to book a trip.

‡ Four to six weeks planning and and researching

‡ Spend 20-30 hours of their own time on the computer

‡ Visit 38 different websites

‡ Spend 8 hours on the phone, most of them holding for customer services

‡ The average spent on a vacation is $1,145/per person for a land trip and $1,791/per person for a cruise. Both of these figures are ground floor averages and don’t include extra spend that one may not have been budgeted.

With the amount of time and effort that should be taken to plan and book a trip costing thousands of dollars, why then are so many people booking their vacations last minute? Is it all those great last-minute travel deals flooding our inboxes? Or today’s millennial travelers who are more comfortable with the technology that allows them to quickly and easily plan and book flights, hotels, rental cars, and event tickets? The answer, according to research, is both. Among travelers, 44% are planning and booking their leisure trips two weeks or less prior to their departure, with more than half agreeing that they can be swayed by last-minute deals.

But with this in mind, a good majority of people in the survey, 80% of responders said they worry about having their identity stolen during the research and booking process. Despite these worries, less than 25% of travelers feel they have the right security in place to prevent their identity from being stolen. Coupling the lack of security software on many travelers computers with the fact that 31% of travelers booking online, do not check the authenticity of a website before booking a trip online. A recipe for disaster.

The McAfee survey also ranked the top five destinations that showed the highest concentration of potentially malicious websites: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Venice, Italy; Canmore, Canada. The scammers take advantage of the high search volumes for accommodation and deals in these popular destinations, while the cybercriminals drive unsuspecting users to potentially malicious websites that can be used to install malware and steal personal information or passwords.

Another high level of scams take place while you are traveling, especially abroad. Though 36% of people in the survey expressed concerns of having their personal data stolen while on vacation, 42% said they either do not check the security of their internet connection or willingly connect to an unsecured network while traveling.

Other potentially dangerous travel and technology behaviors included 40% of Americans using work devices while on vacation, 66% of travelers checking and sending emails, and 35% managing money through a banking app, another BIG NO-NO while traveling. You never know who is picking up your unsecured network while using a banking app.

So when you are going to spend a good chunk of money on that vacation, you want to make sure that it is done so you not only get the best bang-for-your-buck but also enjoy a vacation that is stress free and relaxing. One way to insure all of this, is to work with a trained Travel Advisor. They not only have the knowledge and experience, but have done a lot of traveling around the world to be able to provide you with solutions for your trip. Here are just some of the ways using a trusted Travel Advisor will insure your trip goes as planned without getting scammed:

1. Travel Advisors make it is easy to travel

There is no do-over for a vacation gone wrong. Travel Advisors can help you achieve the vacation you desire because they listen, suggest, adjust, understand and become a friend, not just a search engine or an anonymous voice. “They do the work, you pack and go!” Most Travel Advisors book your trip by CALLING their consortium of vendors and booking each segment of your trip rather than using the internet to book. They ask questions to the human on the other end of the line to make sure you, the traveler, is getting exactly what you want on your trip. They leave nothing to chance.

2. Travel Advisors add a human element

A travel professional ensures that you are a person, not a number. They are invested in their clients' happiness and satisfaction and want to make sure each and every trip is packed full of positive lifelong memories. They are with you before, during and after your trip, kind of like "for better or for worse." Travel Advisors answer their phones and respond to their email no matter where you are on the planet.

3. They save you so much time and stress

Sure, reading about places to go is fun, but planning a trip is hard work, and you never know what to believe. Travel Advisors travel the world, looking at everything, from the size of the rooms in hotels and cruise ships to the dining options on-site and nearby. If they haven't personally been where you want to go, they know someone who has. They can answer your questions quickly and correctly.

4. Travel Advisors have your back

Everyone hopes that their vacation will go off without any problems, but the last few years have been tough for global traveling, with natural disasters, airplane problems and system failures overwhelming some suppliers. But Travel Advisors have the access and the knowledge to help speed your re-accommodation, and act as your advocate when there are problems. When you book with an agent you can reach out to an actual person with whom you have built a trust relationship.

5. A Travel Advisor can save you money

Most do not charge for their services when you book any travel with them. Even if your Travel Advisor charges a fee, the value you receive will be bigger than what you paid. Travel Advisors belong to a consortium of vendors within the travel industry, and when your advisor books through these consortiums, they can provide group pricing which the general public does not have access. Also cruise lines and many resorts get the majority of their customers through travel professionals and these vendors will pass along perks to share with you.

So take the worry and stress out of getting scammed on your next special vacation. Sure you can continue to use online services and take your chances or you can simply pick up the phone and call your trusted Travel Advisor. Even at the last minute. They have the knowledge, the resources, the experience, the time, but most of all they have your best interest at heart in planning a vacation that will be a lasting memory.

So when it’s time to travel, pick up the phone and call your trusted Travel Advisor, book a great trip, then go have some fun!

Aren’t you glad we called our Travel Advisor to book this fantastic cruise!

Cool off for the Summer-Cruise to Alaska

The 49th State, the largest in the U.S., is perfect for cruisers, with numerous opportunities to appreciate its vast natural beauty. Sail along the Inside Passage to visit the immense ice formations of Glacier Bay and Icy Strait, as well popular ports such as Ketchikan, Skagway and Juneau, the only U.S. state capital that's not accessible by car.

Alaska is sometimes thought of as America’s last frontier, with the state’s rugged mountains covering huge amounts of land, and much of it largely untouched by humans. It is also home to glaciers and wide waterways, referred to as passages, bordering the thick brush of the mountains. It is these waterways that enable cruising to be such an amazing way to see Alaska. An Alaskan cruise brings passengers alongside wildlife and glaciers with panoramic views visible from the decks of the ship.

Alaska cruise itineraries typically include the Inside Passage, a beautiful part of Alaska’s landscape that stretches along the southeast coast of Alaska. Along the way, the famous Hubbard Glacier is visible along with other glaciers and fjords. There’s also the chance to see a wide variety of wildlife.

Summer Deals

Princess Cruise Lines - 2 For 1 Sale

Voyage of the Glaciers - 7 Days 5 Ports

Departs: Anchorage, Alaska

Departure Date: Saturday August 17, 2019

Ship: Golden Princess

Ports: Anchorage (Whittier), Alaska • Hubbard Glacier (Scenic Cruising), Alaska

Glacier Bay National Park (Scenic Cruising), Alaska • Skagway, Alaska • Juneau, Alaska

Ketchikan, Alaska • Vancouver, British Columbia

Pricing: Starting from $408 for Interior* & $460 for Oceanview* (Only Levels Available)

Norwegian Cruise Lines - Free At Sea Sale

Inside Passage Roundtrip from Seattle, WA - 7 Days 4 Ports

Departure Date: Saturday August 24, 2019

Ship: Norwegian Joy

Ports: Seattle, Washington • Ketchikan, Alaska • Juneau, Alaska • Skagway, Alaska Victoria, British Columbia • Seattle, Washington

Pricing: Starting from $749 for Interior* • $1,149 for Oceanview or Balcony* • $1,349 for Mini-Suite • $2,649 for Concierge*

Free At Sea Sales Includes

FREE UNLIMITED OPEN BAR

FREE SPECIALTY DINING

FREE SHORE EXCURSIONS

FREE WIFI

FREE EXTRA GUESTS

Guests can choose the number of free offers based on their stateroom booked

Prices are per person double occupancy

*Prices shown are plus taxes, fees, and port expenses per person

So if you are looking for a way to cool off this summer, Alaska is the perfect answer. Choose a cruise and see places and sites you have never seen before. What a great way to spend time with the family or special friends on a cruise of a lifetime. Don't wait these offers are going fast.

Key West, Florida & Havana, Cuba

Key West, Florida

Two of our bucket list places we wanted to visit were Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba. Well on one trip we did both. On April 23, 2019 TeamTullyTravel set sail on Royal Caribbean’s, Majesty of the Seas for a five day visit to both places. I guess you can call this good timing, for we were one of the last ships to visit Cuba prior to the Trump Administration’s ban on “peope-to-people” visits to Cuba, which the cruise ships used to sail to this unique island. More on this later, but now to our first stop Key West, Florida.

To most, Key West is thought of as a beach town with great parties, endless sandy coastline and year-round sunshine. Well to that end, you would be exactly right. With plenty of, and I do mean plenty, of beach shops, bars, partying and sunshine. Key West is a small town and a true melting pot. With only 25,000 full-time residents, people from across the country and the world have made Key West home.

Deb & I kept hearing the word Conch being bantered about in our walks through the downtown area. I always thought a Conch was the spiral shell of a gastropod, often used as a horn. Well we were partially correct. It turns out that in Key West-eze, a Conch are people born in Key West. You’re not considered a Conch by simply living in Key West; but if you’ve been a local for at least seven years, you may be considered a “freshwater conch” in some circles. Who knew?

Key West is NOT a city filled with high rise buildings or a major metropolis, but rather a sleepy beach city, that I got the feeling from the locals that they would rather have all of us tourists just leave so peace and quiet could be restored.

We didn’t let the local sentiment get us down, they were all very friendly and helpful. So we trekked on our self-guided walking tour down Duval Street one of the main thoroughfares in the city. Lined with more bars than you can count, a Duval crawl is a must during a visit to Key West. Duval Street is also home to many restaurants and shops. When you get to talking to the locals you start to find out many interesting facts about Key West.

For one, it is closer in miles to Cuba than it is to Miami. As it’s famously stated on the Southernmost Buoy at the end of Simonton Street, Key West is 90 miles to Cuba. But to get to Key West from Miami, it’s a 150-mile drive down the Overseas Highway. The biggest “Oh Wow” we discovered was that Key West is only 8 square miles running four miles long and about two miles wide at its widest, Key West is a small island. The popular Old Town makes up about half of this area.

But the size does not equate with the fact this attached island is the home of the 3rd largest barrier coral reef in the world. Known as the Florida Straits, Key West’s coral reef extends 150 miles north towards Miami and 70 miles west to the Dry Tortugas. It’s the largest in North America and the third largest in the world behind Belize and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Yes another, “Oh Wow!”

We also found out that Key West was also a writer’s haven. Author Judy Blume who has made Key West her home for many years. Ernest Hemmingway lived here during the 1930s and some say Key West has inspired more writers per capita than any other American city. Other famous scribes who called Key West home include Tennessee Williams, Shel Silverstein, Robert Frost, Elizabeth Bishop and more. But one myth is not true. Jimmy Buffet does not live in Key West. He’s no longer a Key West local. But Parrot Heads can always gather at Margaritaville.

All in all Key West was fun, funky and a good place to spend the day off of the cruise ship. If you are looking to get away for a day or weekend and you are in the southern keys of Florida, drop on down and enjoy the sites and friendly atmosphere that is part of Key West.

Havana, Cuba

After leaving Key West, Florida we were on our way to Havana, Cuba. A place we always wanted to visit but never thought the day would ever come until President Obama opened up the opportunities late in his Presidency. What a thrill we were expecting on visiting this island. Well, we were not disappointed. We were part of an 8 hour people-to-people bus tour from the ship. Setting foot on land as we departed the ship was thrilling. You are now in a place you never would have thought you could experience. The euphoria was palpable. The wisdom that we received during the day on this magnificent journey, was overwhelming.

Havana is an unparalleled city rich in culture, history and tradition. It is proud of its preserved architectural heritage and colonial past. The famous Habana Vieja (Old Havana), where the city began more than five centuries ago, is one of the best preserved architectural designs in the Americas. Its historic urban center is filled with cobblestone plazas, and the surrounding wall fortifications are centuries old and massive. Today you’ll see a mix of structures from the Baroque and Neoclassical eras as well as conventional modern buildings.

To say that there are many, many buildings and homes in need of repair is an understatement. That is one of the images that hits you hard and you have to let your mind wander back to an earlier time when this grand city was fresher and vibrant. There is a shortage of everything in Cuba. The very basic goods, to fix buildings, cars, clothing are scarce and hard to come by. That is the main reason most of the grand buildings that once stood proud and tall, are now is state of disrepair.

Havana exudes a strong foundation of art, literature, ballet, sports, and science. It was a fountain of inspiration for poets and musicians alike. Ernest Hemmingway lived here for years and a great portion of his novels were written in a house 45 minutes from downtown Havana. As you walk the streets you can feel the hopeful energy and inspiration in the city as entrepreneurs yearn to share their local food, art, and customs.

One of the images of Havana I am sure most people have seen are the old classic cars. There are around 60,000 classic American cars in Cuba. Experts estimate that about half of these cars hail from the 1950s, while 25 percent are from the 1940s and another 25 percent are from the 1930s. The cars are often family heirlooms, passed down from generation to generation. Most have been converted from gas to diesel engines, since parts last longer and the price of diesel is far less.

Travelers can take driving tours in classic cars, especially in more touristy areas like Havana Vieja and Veradero. In these places, there are usually rows of beautiful cars lined up for visitors to choose from. Many of the cars are convertibles, which are perfect for cruising slowly and taking pictures.

To take a tour in a classic car, simply find the car that you like best and tell the driver how long you’d like to tour. Oftentimes they will recommend a route, but you’re also free to direct them where you want to go. If you’re in Havana, it’s pleasant to drive along the oceanfront Malecón. Sunset is an especially beautiful time of day to cruise this section of the city.

During the day our guide, a young lady in her mid 30’s tried to give us a realistic picture of life in Cuba today. Cuba has great beauty to offer, but it also has its downsides. It is neither the fairyland of happy dancing people as it is sometimes portrayed, nor is it a dark place where people are left to starve to death as others might try to frame it. The monthly wages would seem to suggest so. A translator makes $20 a month, and a doctor makes $30 a month. A 1.5-liter bottle of water costs $2, sometimes $1. It’s an inevitable fact of life in Cuba that most things are out of reach of the locals.

Access to education and medical services is universal. Because the weather is hot, the residents don’t need fuel to keep themselves warm. The state also provides a subsidy for citizens to buy staples such as eggs, sugar and rice. The constitution ensures everyone has access to music and art, and going to see concerts or plays is either free or very cheap. Life in Cuba is expensive, and people are always looking for a way to make extra money. The houses are in a dilapidated state and the furniture inside is at least 30-40 years old.

The US and Cuba haven’t always been on the best of terms. Unfortunately, this also negatively affected the quality of life in Cuba. While Obama was winning admiration for his moderate approach, there were detractors who second-guessed the intentions of America’s warming to Cuba. Some critics say that America’s approach is not for diplomatic or humanist reasons, but instead simply to promote the USA’s interests. But now all of that has changed once more due to the Trump Administration banning all people-to-people visits on June 5, 2019. We can only hope that this will change in the coming years because a visit to Cuba is a learning experience, an eye opener, a place to be treasured.