Tour and Travel

Archive for the ‘travel club’ Category

There are sensational moments in life and to live them again and again can be even more refreshing. Most people find it important to captivate the important moments and phases in their lives through electronic digital camera documenting. One can not only capture the memories for a lifetime but also share them with their loved ones as and when desired.

In case, you are wondering that cameras are an expensive affair, if you think that way then think again! Today, one can find buy inexpensive camera quickly that you can buy. There are fully-loaded and quality cameras that are available at inexpensive price points that you can buy. You are no longer required to spend a fortune on your favorite Panasonic Digital Camcorder or on the newest Brother Electronic Camcorders. You can avail the newest model from the best producers at inexpensive price points.

One can quickly purchase inexpensive cameras from the websites or online. There are various assessment websites on the Internet that provide many inexpensive cameras from the best and leading camera producers and electronic giants that you can buy. The assessment websites provide deals and offers on different cameras. They provide options in size, color, specifications, discount provides, unique presents and various other provides as part of the buy inexpensive camera assessment on the site. The universally recognized shopping places such as eBay, Amazon etc are also widely used by the on the internet people.

Some of the well-known and buy inexpensive camera purchased through these websites is Panasonic Digital Camcorder and the newest Brother cameras. The Panasonic company is a Western technology company that is well-known the world over for its cameras, microchips, Stereos etc. Hence, Panasonic is a well-known company across the globe. There is quality description and reasonably priced cameras. Whereas, Brother is also Western company though it provides many technology from its different global manufacturing and marketing locations.

The newest Brother cameras are quickly available on the internet that provides hd camera documenting features and the facilities to turn your camera into a personal camera recorder. One can shoot hd with ultra zoom facility on the newest Brother cameras. Brother also provides newest accessories to the people on the internet. Brother ZR800 Digital Camcorder and Brother ZR70MC MiniDV Electronic Camcorder are the newest Brother cameras to hit the industry in the recent times.

You can purchase the new and newest Panasonic and Brother Cameras on the internet at the best possible rates. There are dealer websites as well as assessment places that give you flexibility of easy payments, installments and quality discount deals with unique presents as well. Moreover, one can also get the cameras from the favorite manufacturer shipped and transported right at their doorstep.

The Travel Dilemma:

Each year thousands of people join travel/vacation clubs in hopes of saving money on vacations and travel. They believe that by paying a fee to a private club, they will be privy to some “insider” information and have access to discount travel options which will in turn save them money. Travel Clubs aren’t new, but their popularity is rising. As the travel industry hikes up its prices year after year, consumers are eager to find new options to afford the vacations they want to take. In today’s economy, only the elite can afford to spend a week at a beachfront luxury resort. The rest of us take what we can get and make the best of it.

How Discount Travel Works:

Basically, it goes like this. Large travel industry companies own millions of properties which they rent out at retail prices to the consumer (you and me). A large portion of their properties remain vacant every week of the year. So, after they get as many consumers to pay top dollar price for as many rooms as possible, they then sell off the remainder of their “empty” rooms to discount brokers. If you have ever shopped on Priceline, Kayak or TravelZoo, you have probably noticed their prices are less than what you would pay if you booked through the actual property itself. These discount brokers pay a certain price for the properties and then increase the pricing before they market them to the public. The consumer must pay the discount broker more than they obtained the properties to offset advertising, personnel management and web rankings. So, while you can pick up some good deals through these discount travel brokers, options are generally limited and you still aren’t getting the “steal” you may be looking for.

How is a Travel Club Different?

Unfortunately, some travel clubs act like the discount broker. They will acquire large lots of properties, mark them up and then offer them to their members. But, there are a few travel clubs that go about discount travel in a whole new way. These elite few will charge you a one time fee for a lifetime membership. As a member, you are then welcomed into the inner workings of the company and exposed to travel deals that you can’t get on the open market. A good travel club will never mark up their properties before they offer them to their members.

How to Tell a Good Travel Club from a Bad One:

Of course, price is the largest determining factor. You should look for a travel club which has a “one time join fee” of under $1,000. Steer clear of travel clubs that charge renewal fees. You should never pay maintenance fees, association fees, Red Week Fees, prime vacation week fees, or dues of any kind. A good travel club will have thousands of properties available from a large geographic area….possibly world-wide. Make sure the club only carries high-quality properties. If the club offers properties at the Motel 6 or Howard Johnson’s, this is not an elite club. The best clubs will offer 3,4 & 5 Star resorts and condos at prices you are currently paying for a 2-star hotel room. Be choosy, and expect great service at an affordable cost.

Some clubs do not advertise themselves at all. The club members advertise for them, which saves the company money which they in-turn pass on to members. One particular club allows its vacation club members to become club associates at no additional charge. Many members choose to only to take part in saving money on vacations, and enjoying club benefits. But, others will choose to be an associate and advertise for the company for a commission on new sales. As such, this particular travel club has very little operating expenses which allows them to offer club memberships at a low price with no recurring fees or dues of any kind.

So, are Travel Clubs a Good Idea or Not? As long as you sign up under a quality vacation club, it can absolutely be a good decision. You can save as much as 30-80% on each vacation you take from now on. Of course, there is an upfront cost to belong to a club, so you need to determine if it’s affordable on your budget. If you are really lucky, you might be able to join a good travel club, and take that first vacation for less than what you typically budget for a vacation in the first place. My advice is to do your homework. There are a few great travel clubs out there, but you need to be able to distinguish them from the others.

As memberships in travel clubs, like Coastal Vacation Club and Prestige Travel Club increase, many are turning to lifetime travel memberships to save up to 74% off their travel for life.

Here is a list of 10 things to look out for if you are considering joining any vacation travel club.

1. Licensed and bonded travel vendors

Make sure your club uses licensed and bonded vendors. These are recognized by the state they do business in, and will make sure you are dealing with real and legit travel agencies who want to see your satisfaction as priority one.

2. No time share gimmicks, sales presentations or tours

Many vacation club vendors are veiled time-share pitch fests. You are required to attend long sales presentations just to use or activate some of the discount portions of your trips. Make sure tours are not required as a pre-requisite for activating a trip or staying in a condo.

3. Years in service

Vacation clubs can crop up in an instant by some “slick willy’s” just to make a fast buck, and they sell you something that is not originally what it seemed and before you realize it and try to get your money back, they are gone, off to the next deal. So make sure you look closely to see if the Club has an established track record of industry credibility and integrity.

4. BBB Reports

Do your due diligence on the travel clubs, looking through scam reports and BBB reports. You’ll find many independent agents represent the “mother” travel club and they can be unscrupulous, while the parent company acts responsibly, so take note that individual resellers might have a bad track record, while the parent company has a spot less record. Stay away from problematic vendors.

5. Terms and conditions of use: Holidays, Singles/married couples, blackout dates

Many travel clubs often limit availability to non-holidays, or have blackout days. One vendor I know of, for example, will not let you travel 7 days before or after a major holiday. Since there are major holidays almost every month, you are missing 14 days a month or around 160 days a year which are off-limits. So make sure you know the terms and conditions, age limits, and if those traveling must be 2 married couples or if the trips apply to singles.

6. One time membership fees

Some travel clubs will dock you a monthly fee, some will dock you a yearly renewal fee. Be careful of those who hit you hard upfront and then bleed your money slowly over time. Good travel clubs offer you a low, one time fee to get started and no further renewals or back end fee.

7. Variety of discount types

Does your travel club only offer 2 night 3 day trips? Or does it offer a lot more like unlimited week long condo stays, Unlimited discount cruises, ski discounts, dining discounts, or golf discounts? Make sure your travel club membership has many varieties of trips and vacation styles to fit all personality and travel types.

8. Location choices

Domestic membership or International. Does your travel club only cater to the USA or does it have benefits far and wide reaching into the best vacation destinations across the planet? Make sure you know the values for local or international experiences.

9. Education on how to consume membership

A good travel company will offer CD’s, videos and literature to help their membership consume their club benefits and get the most out of taking their trips. If your travel club does not offer some training or help in showing you how to use your package, you might want to look else where.

10. Transferability

Will you be allowed to give away some of your trips in your travel club or will your name and address be hard coded into every voucher to only be used by you? Some travel clubs have over 40 trips included, and no one could use that many trips in one year. So make sure your travel club will allow you to transfer trips and packages to family and friends, with no extra costs and simple order fulfillment.

Traveling around the world as an exclusive travel club member can sure have it’s money saving advantages, and for the more pricey clubs out there, like Coastal Vacations Club, for example, some people choose to share one membership among a small group and divide out the trip benefits.