Saturday, May 5, 2018
Ron Largent Travel Blog: The Internet and Travel Planning....What to Know B...
Ron Largent Travel Blog: The Internet and Travel Planning....What to Know B...: As you start your trip planning and you are trying to determine where you want to go, use the Internet. There are a number of travel sites,...
The Internet and Travel Planning....What to Know Before You Go! Chapter 1.
As you start your trip planning and you are trying to determine where you want to go, use the Internet. There are a number of travel sites, but the best way, in my opinion, is to use Google and put in such things as "vacationing in Australia, or Europe, or France, or the Caribbean, etc". Many site will come up and you can take your time and look at all of the many places that you can see and things that you can do. On our recent trip to Australia, we knew we were going to Cairns as our first step on our journey, so my wife Googled Cairns. From Cairns, which is north on Sydney, we were able to go out to the Great Barrier Reef, rode the train up to and through the Rain Forest, then rode the Skytrain back down over the Rain Forest to sea level, and back to the city of Cairns, which in itself is well worth seeing. We found all of this on the internet....then went to our agent, who had also suggested these attractions, and made the ticket arrangements.
And, you can use a site like Expedia to get an idea of flights into almost any destination in the world. They will give you prices and times, although the prices are often on bad connecting flights , or bad times, but it gives you a very good idea of when and where you can go. Trip Advisor is another good one, as this give first hand experiences from travelers.
These sites, and many others, are great for travel information, but not always good for ticketing. As I have said, and will say many more times, the local travel agent can get the same, if not better, price....they can give you the experiences of other travelers, and they can do the "hard work" for you, such as the reservations and ticketing. That is their job. But, you can do the pre-planning by using the Internet to get your general idea of where, when, why, and what you want to do.
A word about the Travel Agency. Only the good ones have survived the Internet. And they have survived because they can offer a service that the Internet cannot. As with almost any professional services these days, you can get almost any service on the web. But, you get what you pay for. I have planned and taken trips using nothing but the internet, with sites like www.hotels.com, and www.expedia.com, and they were good trips. But, for the most part, I was "flying by the seat of my pants". And, when all said and done, did not save a penny. Now we use an Agency exclusively. And, a couple of other factors as to why to use an agency....(1) some are specialists, like with Cruise Lines...(2) many of the agencies are really experienced. :Been there done that" is true for many and this experience is passed on to you.....(3) Your individual travel agent in an agency will become "your good friend", and they will have your interest foremost in their mind as they plan for you. This is that valuable factor...and can make the difference in your travels.
Next section is entitled...."Make a List"....and this is one of my favorites, for many do not do this until they get someplace and say, "I should have made a list of these things to bring". Stay tuned.
The above blog and all others can be found at www.ronlargenttravel.com
And, you can use a site like Expedia to get an idea of flights into almost any destination in the world. They will give you prices and times, although the prices are often on bad connecting flights , or bad times, but it gives you a very good idea of when and where you can go. Trip Advisor is another good one, as this give first hand experiences from travelers.
These sites, and many others, are great for travel information, but not always good for ticketing. As I have said, and will say many more times, the local travel agent can get the same, if not better, price....they can give you the experiences of other travelers, and they can do the "hard work" for you, such as the reservations and ticketing. That is their job. But, you can do the pre-planning by using the Internet to get your general idea of where, when, why, and what you want to do.
A word about the Travel Agency. Only the good ones have survived the Internet. And they have survived because they can offer a service that the Internet cannot. As with almost any professional services these days, you can get almost any service on the web. But, you get what you pay for. I have planned and taken trips using nothing but the internet, with sites like www.hotels.com, and www.expedia.com, and they were good trips. But, for the most part, I was "flying by the seat of my pants". And, when all said and done, did not save a penny. Now we use an Agency exclusively. And, a couple of other factors as to why to use an agency....(1) some are specialists, like with Cruise Lines...(2) many of the agencies are really experienced. :Been there done that" is true for many and this experience is passed on to you.....(3) Your individual travel agent in an agency will become "your good friend", and they will have your interest foremost in their mind as they plan for you. This is that valuable factor...and can make the difference in your travels.
Next section is entitled...."Make a List"....and this is one of my favorites, for many do not do this until they get someplace and say, "I should have made a list of these things to bring". Stay tuned.
The above blog and all others can be found at www.ronlargenttravel.com
Friday, May 4, 2018
Pre-Trip Planning....What to Know Before You Go....Part 1, Chapter 1
Chapter 1.
First, think Passport. If you do not have a valid and current passport, this is a first step as soon as you decide you are going to travel overseas, internationally, or whatever you want to call traveling outside the United States. You can get a passport application at the US Postal Service near you, and in many counties, there is a passport office as part of the County Clerk,or equivalent. And, there must be at least 6 months remaining on an existing passport, or you may be stopped at customs, both in the US and upon arrival in another country. This is a black and white issue…no 6 months, no travel outside the US. As part of the application, you must get passport photos, and these are available at various drug stores in your community, and at some of the US Postal Offices. The cost will be in the $125 range….and their is the passport book and the passport card…get the standard passport. Renewal will be about $100.
Second, think Plan in Advance. Time flies and I am recommending plan a year in advance of when you would like to travel. In this planning process, think through Where Do You Want To Go?, When Do You Want To Go?, Why Do You Want To Go to This Place?, and How Do You Want To Get There? The When is really important, and this may take some research on your destination. Everything from a National Holiday to a Special Event in that location can complicate your travel plans. Easter Week at the Vatican in Rome can be a nightmare if you do not like big crowds, for example. Boxing Day is the Day After Christmas in England, and many stores and attractions are CLOSED, including public transport. Local celebration days can bring extra crowds to attractions, and lines to get into museums can be long and slow. All of these kinds of events and happenings can now be found on the internet, and Google will become your “good friend”. The final past of this Plan in Advance section is to think about how long do you want to be in a place, city, or country? Some years ago one might think 2 days in Paris is plenty….not so now. Reasons are simple and revolve around (1) more people are traveling now than any time in history. And, (2) more travelers are coming from Asia To Europe….and many that were traveling to the Middle East are (3) now going to Europe and Asia…all complicating the crowd factor. So, think in terms of a day with crowds and lines and delays, and maybe another day or two in that special place will be in order.
In order to Plan in Advance, you have to have a good idea of where you want to go. Enter the Internet, and Chapter 1 will continue with using the Internet to get the information that you need to make some good plans and decisions. All for now.
This blog and others can be found at www.ronlargenttravel.com
First, think Passport. If you do not have a valid and current passport, this is a first step as soon as you decide you are going to travel overseas, internationally, or whatever you want to call traveling outside the United States. You can get a passport application at the US Postal Service near you, and in many counties, there is a passport office as part of the County Clerk,or equivalent. And, there must be at least 6 months remaining on an existing passport, or you may be stopped at customs, both in the US and upon arrival in another country. This is a black and white issue…no 6 months, no travel outside the US. As part of the application, you must get passport photos, and these are available at various drug stores in your community, and at some of the US Postal Offices. The cost will be in the $125 range….and their is the passport book and the passport card…get the standard passport. Renewal will be about $100.
Second, think Plan in Advance. Time flies and I am recommending plan a year in advance of when you would like to travel. In this planning process, think through Where Do You Want To Go?, When Do You Want To Go?, Why Do You Want To Go to This Place?, and How Do You Want To Get There? The When is really important, and this may take some research on your destination. Everything from a National Holiday to a Special Event in that location can complicate your travel plans. Easter Week at the Vatican in Rome can be a nightmare if you do not like big crowds, for example. Boxing Day is the Day After Christmas in England, and many stores and attractions are CLOSED, including public transport. Local celebration days can bring extra crowds to attractions, and lines to get into museums can be long and slow. All of these kinds of events and happenings can now be found on the internet, and Google will become your “good friend”. The final past of this Plan in Advance section is to think about how long do you want to be in a place, city, or country? Some years ago one might think 2 days in Paris is plenty….not so now. Reasons are simple and revolve around (1) more people are traveling now than any time in history. And, (2) more travelers are coming from Asia To Europe….and many that were traveling to the Middle East are (3) now going to Europe and Asia…all complicating the crowd factor. So, think in terms of a day with crowds and lines and delays, and maybe another day or two in that special place will be in order.
In order to Plan in Advance, you have to have a good idea of where you want to go. Enter the Internet, and Chapter 1 will continue with using the Internet to get the information that you need to make some good plans and decisions. All for now.
This blog and others can be found at www.ronlargenttravel.com
Thursday, May 3, 2018
Effective May 1, I am starting a series of blogs that will lead to my book....Senior Travel Secrets....with a sub title of "What to Know Before You Go". As a result of my having either lived, worked, traveled to over 70 countries since it all started for me in 1960 on a UCLA Student Extension program to India. The theme of the blogs will be to help people that are new to international travel....by addressing the common concerns, fears, unknowns, and basic questions of traveling in a "foreign" country.
I will start with Chapter 1..which will cover Passports, Language, and Money...so stay tuned. It should be interesting, and if any readers have suggestions, e-mail to me and I will give you credit for the idea...the more the better for the traveler. And, all of this and other travel opportunities are found on my web page.... www.ronlargenttravel.com
I will start with Chapter 1..which will cover Passports, Language, and Money...so stay tuned. It should be interesting, and if any readers have suggestions, e-mail to me and I will give you credit for the idea...the more the better for the traveler. And, all of this and other travel opportunities are found on my web page.... www.ronlargenttravel.com
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Royal Caribbean Special Sale ends March 28th...
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Your clients want to go places. Show them a
world of endless thrills and uncharted adventure during the sale that invites
them to discover more. When they book now, they’ll score up to an $100 in
instant savings with our Caribbean Bonus while also saving 30% on every
guest. Plus, bring the whole family because kids age 12 and under sail free.*
Offer ends March 28, 2018 at 11:59PM EST! |
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Monday, March 19, 2018
specials from Viking Cruises....
Panama Canal on a small
ship with only 930 guests. Enjoy more time in port and fewer days at sea, so
you have ample time to explore. Your cruise fare includes one shore excursion
in every port of call, onboard meals with beer, wine and soft drinks, unlimited
free Wi-Fi and more. Now, take
advantage of bonus savings and up to FREE air.* Additional itineraries
available. Call or e-mail for details. Hurry—offer expires March 20, 2018 ron@ronlargenttravel.com
Saturday, January 6, 2018
LOOK AT THESE SPECIALS FROM VIKING...
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Call Ron LARGENT At 530-941-0444
See the Best of France with Special Savings*
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Make your New Year’s resolution to explore, discover and travel
more in 2018. Perhaps indulge your palate in the capital of French gastronomy
on our Lyon & Provence cruise. Discover the
world’s most romantic city on our Paris & the Heart of Normandy
itinerary. Or sip Saint-Émilion, Médoc and Sauternes in their own terroir on a journey
through Bordeaux during our Châteaux, Rivers & Wine sailing. You
will experience cultural and culinary riches at every turn on these enriching
France cruises.
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Choose from these 3 enriching journeys:
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8 Days | Avignon to Lyon
APR-NOV 2018 Departures
From $1,999 per person, plus Air from $295*
Sail the scenic Rhône
River through beautiful French countryside. Explore the famed region of
Beaujolais and the colorful fields of Provence.
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8 Days | Paris to Paris
MAY-DEC 2018 Departures
From $1,999 per person, plus Air from $395*
Experience history at
the Normandy beaches, delight in the Gothic architecture of Rouen and immerse
yourself in Monet’s exquisite gardens at Giverny.
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8 Days | Bordeaux to Bordeaux
MAY-NOV 2018 Departures
From $2,399 per person, plus Air from $395 *
At the heart of this
legendary region, the city of Bordeaux invites visitors to savor its grand
architecture, tempting cafés and superb museums.
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