Myth N1. It is better to book tickets from a tour operator than from a tour agency. The operator creates the tour; the tour agency buys “the product” in bulk and sales it at retail. On one hand the tour operator may know better some small details about a particular trip. However usually he has a narrow specialization. The tour agency is working with more tour operators at the same time and can offer more placing options; it is easier for a tour agency to choose the desirable duration of the trip and the needed departure date. The idea, that booking a voyage from an operator is cheaper rather than from a tour agency, is groundless. The tour agency lives on the commission it receives form the difference of bulk price and the retail one. And that’s why the price of a voucher is going to be pretty the same everywhere. Moreover the tour agencies offer to the client a discount at the expense of its commission, – that’s why their price can be lower.

Myth N2. It is better to take your tickets and the passport from the tour agency in advance. Usually the tourists worry when they are told that the package of documents should be taken from check-in counter at the airport a day before the trip or even the same day of its beginning. Unfortunately there is nothing to do about that. The thing is that the documents ought to be handed in to the embassy in one and the same day for all the departing persons (and it is an obligatory request in several consulates), and the foreign officials themselves see the date of the departure and give out the documents a day before the departure. It is obvious that the tour agencies do not “close” the groups till the last moment and try to hand in the passports till the deadline. It is easily understood, especially if considering the fact that a lot of people do not like to plan everything in advance and to choose their holiday half a year beforehand. If the tour package contains a charter flight then the air tickets for it are released literally in the last moment. Otherwise, when there appear changes in the list of tourists, the tour operator – consolidator of the trip, – has to pay a big fine. That’s why the buyers of the standard vouchers will have to put up with this rule.

Myth N3.Charter is always bad!
Charter is an ordered flight, that is not included in the main schedule, and that is why the slots (time of departure) for it are inconvenient sometimes like “windows” between the regular flights. But none will reject a charter because its very attractive cost, that differs great form the regular flight cost, will cover easily all the inconveniences. Besides that the tour operator sometimes manages to settle everything with the airlines and “knock off” a convenient time. Several tour agencies offer now the right to choose the type of the flight; however tours with regular flight are more expensive as a rule, that’s why if you want to cut corners, a charter is inevitable.

Myth N4.It is more advantageous to buy “burning” vouchers!
As the tour agencies notice, there appeared a whole category of tourists that play for time till the last moment and wait when there will begin “to appear smoke” from the offers. However we warn the adherents of this theory that buying a voucher in the last moment is all the same as playing the roulette. There are destinations were there can be no “burning” offers because they are popular and loved. Postponing the choice till the last moment means to be in time for nodding brag away: you’ll have to take what remained, and what remained is unfortunately not the best that could be. If you have a favourite resort, a favourite hotel and even a favourite room, then take care of your holiday in advance. Meanwhile several tour operators wishing to change the habits of lots of tourists offer very attractive prices just in good time long before the beginning of the season. Of course this is also a lottery. However, if the season is a good one, than the prices can raise, and those who have bought the voucher in advance, will take advantage of it for sure.

Iuri Tarabanov writes about interesting travel experiences. His Travel Deals site is http://www.travelime.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Iuri_Tarabanov

Join a travel club and save and possibly even make money.

Posted on September 17th, 2007 by John
Filed under: Vacation Tips