Cruise for YOU

You can have the vacation of a lifetime, see the world, completely unwind, take a walk on the wild side, dance the night away, feast on fabulous cuisine, learn something new, make friends, bond with your family, steal quiet moments with your spouse and children. Whatever your heart desires, is yours, when you choose to cruise.

Here are 10 Reasons* of Why you should take a Cruise:

1. Choose to cruise for VALUE. One price buys your cabin, dining, entertainment and more.
2. Choose to cruise for ROMANCE. Secluded beaches, en suite dining on a balcony overlooking the ocean and spa services for two are just some of the romantic pursuits available.

3. 

   Courtesy of NCL Rights Reserved

   Choose to cruise for CUISINE. Tantalize your taste buds with gourmet fare that showcases exotic ingredients, old standbys like pizza and ice cream or spa cuisine for a healthy alternative. Depending on your mood, dine in a traditional ballroom setting, a small bistro or a casual eatery.

4. 

   Courtesy of NCL Rights Reserved

   Choose to cruise for VARIETY. With over 200 distinctive ships, 3000 ports-of-call and an unbelievable array of places to see and things to do, there is a perfect cruise for you. For even more choice, consider a pre- or post-land tour.
5. Choose to cruise for ACTIVITIES. Fill your days with sightseeing, sports activities, cultural lectures, educational tours led by naturalists and historians or simply lounge by the pool and relax. At night, enjoy dance extravaganzas, musical revues, gaming or a quiet evening gazing at the stars.

6. 

   Courtesy of NCL Rights Reserved

   Choose to cruise for SIMPLICITY. Don't come back from your vacation needing a vacation. Planning a cruise is simple; your CLIA-affiliated travel agency can handle all of the details. Once you're on board, nearly all expenses are pre-paid... talk about hassle-free.
7. Choose to cruise for NEW HORIZONS. Fall asleep in one destination and awake to a new horizon... and you only have to pack and unpack once!
8. Choose to cruise for FAMILY. Families love cruising. Children's programs, kid-friendly menus and tours of the ship will keep your children happy, while affording you some time alone.

9. 

   Mandara Spa Sauna
   Courtesy of NCL Rights Reserved

   Choose to cruise for PAMPERING. Regardless of your budget, all cruise lines pamper their guests with first-class service around the clock.
10. Choose to cruise for SATISFACTION. It's a fact that cruises have a higher percentage of satisfied customers than any other vacation experience.

These are just a few reasons you should give yourself a chance to Cruise if you haven't before. You can even plan your cruise more than a year in advance and pay over time, budget is not a trouble anymore. Give me a call and let me explain the endless chances you have customized to your expectations and beyond.

*Courtesy of CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association)
Photos courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line, all Rights Reserved.

Leila Reyes

Family Travel Specialist

817-554-3346

When I should book my Vacation?

This is a question you probably have heard or even have asked yourself. As a Family Travel Specialist is a question I've been asked a lot. I know how hard is to take decision, but there are factors on the specific details of your vacation that can help tremendously to help you choose the best time to book your vacation.

First, I suggest you make a list of the details of your vacation. Actually you should make two different lists, one that includes everything that you want and you're not able to negotiate and other that includes things that might be or you are more flexible.  Let's say you have specific dates for your vacation because your children, who will be traveling with you must be out of school, the date you have chosen should go under the list of things you won't negotiate. When creating the lists you should consider the travel dates, if it's going to be a land or cruise vacation, your hotel preferences, how many people will be traveling and if are kids involved, are there payment options available, etc. Taking some time to plan and analyze all the do’s and don’ts will help you to have a better picture of what exactly you want to do. This way you won’t regret your decision, although this wasn't the outcome of Lisa.

A few months ago, Lisa Daniels* asked me to help her plan a Cruise Getaway to celebrate her 15^th Anniversary.  After a wide search I found her cruise, she was very pleased with the itinerary and the Cruise Length, but instead of booking she decided to wait because she has heard that “closer the departure date the lower the fares”. By the way this wasn't planned 6 months in advance, she was only a month from the sailing date, and I couldn't stress her enough to book her cruise that day, because she was risking losing availability on the Ocean View Cabins she requested (which were only 4 available by that time). So I went directly to my "do list" plan. This way I could show her that celebrate her anniversary on a cruise for the dates indicated was a priority for her and waiting to book would put at risk she could make the trip or not. I also detailed her all the options she had, and the possible outcomes. Happily she made her booking that same day, and reduced her risk of losing it.

There are endless factors that can affect your decision, because each vacation is unique. Let me give you another example; let's say you want to spend New Year's Holiday in Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL with your family. One thing I can tell you right away is that these dates are peak season in ANY hotel. I will highly recommend you to book as soon as possible once you have agreed the fares and availability for your family vacation. Another advantage is if you book in advance (3-6 months) Disney Resorts allow you to make a down payment and pay your full balance on a later date or on installments. (This option is also available in cruises; you can even book a cruise 2 years in advance in some cases, which is smoother to your pocket.) If your traveling party is 5 or more, availability is something you need to secure. I have a family of 5, and not always I find room for us, that's why I usually book 6-10 months in advance.

Summarizing, whatever I could recommend you to do, will depend on the factors and/or details of your unique and special vacation. although you should not wait if, in fact, are 100% sure of what you want, and when you want it. Do you need help deciding? Please give me a call, so we can start planning your next vacation and the options available you may have to book now or later.

Leila Reyes
Family Travel Specialist

817-554-3346

*Names have been changed for Privacy Purposes. 

Family Vacation: Get what you Paid!

A reallity is that "most people" want to be able to book their own Family Vacation online, without depending on someone else's advise. Yes, not everyone trust Travel Professionals and even believe that booking a Family Vacation directly from Travel Companies like Carnival Cruises or Walt Disney World will lead the to get the best deals. Or even using booking engines like Orbitz or Travelocity to give an example.

What differenciates me from them? Not much, let me explain. L R Travel have access to the same prices, deals, destinations, etc. like the "Big Travel Companies" and "Booking Engines". An advantage for L R Travel is we have the expertise and travel education that "most people or common people" don't have. What drives this common people to book themselves? The Price. Unfortunatelly cheaper price is NOT equivallent to client's expectations or desires of an unforgettable and worry-free vacation, a simple truth is without a Travel Professional you are on your own.

As a Travel Professional, I use to talk and share with my collegues information that, in most cases, help me suggest a specific destination, a hotel, a cruise or in the other hand totally avoid it. I'm sure an accountant will advise you about Cash Flows or Income Statement, but a Travel Professional will give you the best advise about destinations, best time to travel, excursions, the pros and cons based on past client's experiences or my own.

To give you a better idea, let's picture this example together. Imagine you booked by yourself a Family Cruise Vacation to Mexico, you choose the best deal found with a perfect oceanview stateroom.  What you may not know is that due to high crimes in Mazatlan, MX most (if not all at this time) cruise lines has been avoiding that port of call, that you thought about visiting.

First, if you have had made this booking through L R Travel is for sure, I would have given you that information prior booking, that in fact could have changed your mind of taking that itinerary.

Second, but because you were focusing on the best price, your booked Oceanview Stateroom was a "guaranteed cabin" that in most cases means it has an obstructed view, and here is an example:



Obstructed View Cabin Oceania
All rights reserved

I don't consider that this was part of your plan, right? Well once again, if this reservation had been booked through L R Travel, this information would have been clarified upfront before making any committment. I'm here to commit to your needs, to your desires and to do all in my power to exceed your expectations.

We, together, can create a long and trustful relationship, just allow me to help you customize your Dreamed Vacations. One thing I can assure you is, that I'll be the person that pick up the phone the first time you call, and the second one too. On those big companies you don't know who will answer. With L R Travel that's not the case.


Leila Reyes
Family Vacation Specialist
lrtravel@live.com

Family Travel Expert, I call that Specialist; Why?

I became a Family Vacation Specialist eight months ago. I am a certified Family Travel Specialist by the Travel Agent Academy. I've been trained not only as Family Travel Specialist, but as Cruise Specialist as well. Currently working on my ACC certification(Accredited Cruise Counselor) by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). I'm also a Commodore, the highest achievement earned by Princess Cruises and Cunard Cruises.

I've been in Disney World (a Family Vacation Preferred Destination) four times and this year my family will experience the Disney Cruise for first time. I have taken 3 other cruises, two to the Caribbean and one to Europe.

I provide my clients the most personal and trustful information regarding their pictured or planned vacations. I take every idea and thought as it is for me and my personal family, but keeping in mind what they want and what they expect. Always trying my best to find them the best itineraries and deals on the market that fit with their specifications. Searching and asking to every supplier available, taking my time to achieve and go beyond their expectations.

If you're considering going on a Cruise or planning a Family Vacation, please feel free to contact me via email or phone so we can discuss your vacation plans in detail.

Leila Reyes

Family Vacation Specialist

lrtravel@live.com

2011 Emerging Vacation Trends--Family Vacation

Today I want to talk you about how a Family Vacation is positioned in the Travel Industry for 2011.  It's interesting to see how fast Family Vacation Niche is moving and growing over the years. Most family members are aware of the daily busy schedules and the lack of quality time and rest (leisure) time we allow to ourselves and our children. People asking for advise on planning their vacation are mostly looking for a shorter one, no more than 7 days; but this isn't totally negative because they are focusing on having at least two vacation weeks during the year.  Having a short family vacation allow them to explore even more destinations in a short period of time and at the same time distributing their "leisure time" during the year, and during school vacation. For example, Spring Break Week is one of the busiest weeks for travelers and travel advisors as well. Having kids off school, grant their parents plan for a short family vacation.

One destination that is in every family near or forecast future is to visit Walt Disney World. There is an increase of families planning and booking their Walt Disney World in advance, specially after all the great deals published in this past days. The advantage Families have in planning ahead of time is the possibility for them to make "monthly" payments to their booking after the deposit payments has been met, making it even more affordable without jeopardizing their budget. There will be always the ones that like to wait for "last minute deals", but doing so increase their chance of not having their preferred dates to travel or even their accommodation could be totally booked. This is a risk I don't recommend to anyone planning a Family Vacation.

There has been a lot of news about prices going up due to oil price increment, the latest announcement has been made by Norwegian Cruise Line and Regent Seven Seas, expect the increase fares beginning April 1st. To know the impact of these announcements in the travel industry we'll have to wait and see, but in my opinion while you plan ahead of time, this increases won't affect you in the way is projected. Everyone needs a break of their daily busyness and nothing will work better than relaxing on a Family Vacation.

Leila Reyes
Travel Agent
lrtravel@live.com