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End of the Year Opportunities
December 16th, 2009

I normally don’t blog on “great deals” – not because I don’t want to make you aware of them, I do! I just feel that often times that can get mistaken for ‘cheap price’ and that is not the message I want to convey, nor the type of travel I plan. However, with the end of the year coming up, there are a ton of amazing values – luxury hotels, niche cruise lines, and tour operators promoting unique experiences for less, and these are the type of items I do like to encourage.

I realize the end of the year is coming up. I also realize that if you weren’t planning to book a luxury vacation before the end of the year, these promotions may not have you running for your wallet to book one. I am hoping, though, to inspire some ideas for 2010 vacations and show my readers some of the unique opportunities “out there.” If in fact you were toying with booking your vacation before the end of the year – say as a big family holiday gift – then these promotions just might help you take that step towards booking and save you some money doing so!

I do not recommend just any company that is having a sale. I carefully examine the company’s quality, my experience and that of other trusted industry professionals and the value of the offer.

Yachts of Seabourn – This company has recently begun offering year-round sailings in Asia and as an inaugural celebration, they are offering free business class air to Asia. Journeys on the Seabourn Pride include itineraries through China, Korea, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Lindblad Expeditions – One of the leading adventure tour companies in the world, Lindblad is offering $1500-$3000 off plus complimentary air travel for select itineraries for Britain/Ireland and Norway to Iceland. This promotion extends past the new year to January 30, 2010.

Travel Impressions – this company which works exclusively with travel professionals is offering a wide variety of discounts for destinations around the globe. Examples include $500 savings at the Excellence Riviera in Cancun, 4th night free at the Le Meridian in Tahiti, free nights at Outrigger properties in Hawaii and more.

Hurtigruten – These upscale, small ship voyages to some of the world’s most breathtaking locations are being discounted 10% to 30% until December 31st.

These are just a few examples of the large amounts of savings and value available in travel right now. While these promotions are only for a few more weeks, similar values are available year round. The bottom line is, everyone in the travel industry wants to see people continue to travel. We do what we do because we love to help people experience the world. In many cases, that means providing reduced rates, free nights, and value added services as incentives. If you have an interest in a destination, hotel or specific type of travel, chances are there are opportunities for excellent value. We also like those who plan early in the industry and tend to provide additional incentives for doing this. So start early planning your 2010 and learn what type of value you can receive!