Tips For Purchasing Airline Tickets
November 20, 2008 - Gas prices are falling, but airline tickets are pretty much staying the same. To help find the best possible price during this holiday season. Individuals and small group tours need to keep some things in mind when purchasing their airline ticket.
- Book directly: Airlines have begun giving discounts or vouchers to customers who book directly through their website. It not only helps drive people to their website, but helps the airlines not have to pay that extra commission they would to priceline, orbitz, or expedia.
- Sign up for their email: Many airlines offer special discounts to customers who sign up for their email and will sporadically send them out.
- Look for flights at nearby airports: Depending on where you are flying to many times there are smaller airports who will have cheaper flights. So, if one of your baseball travel tours includes New York try flying into New Jersey.
- Try to be flexible: Adjusting your travel days by a day or two may be able to save you in the long run.
- Don't wait: If you find a deal don't wait to see if a better one more than often when you come back it will be gone.
However you decide to purchase your airline ticket make sure all of your baseball vacations get planned in plenty of time.
Topics:
sports travel and tours,
baseball travel,
baseball vacation package,
big league tours,
MLB tours,
group tours
November 3, 2008 - A lot of us dread going to the airport these days. It takes a lot of time to get through security, which means we must arrive earlier and it can sometimes be very frustrating. Listed below are some tips you can use before arriving at the airport to speed up the check-in process and help with an all around better experience.
Airport Tips Before Your Tour Vacations
- Check your itineraries for seat assignments and make any ticket changes you need.
- Handle any special needs you might need before you get to the airport.
- Check to make sure the contact information they have for you is correct.
- Take care of any passports, visas, or any other important papers you might need way ahead of time.
- Know the check-in requirements for your airport.
- Know the requirements for the security checkpoints where you'll be traveling.
- Check security check-point wait-times and allow plenty of extra time for busy holiday periods.
Baggage Tips
- Put your name and phone number of your destination on the inside and outside of your bag.
- Don't wrap your gifts since all luggage is subject to inspection. (If during a seasonal holiday please be aware of theft and consider sending your gifts by mail.)
- Travel light when you can. Try bringing one carry-on bag that will fit underneath the seat in front of you.
- Carry valuables, medication, and travel documents in your carry-on baggage.
A great way to check for travel alerts and updates is the Transportation Security Administration website.
Topics:
tour operator,
sports travel and tours,
baseball travel,
group tours
Family Makes East Coast Baseball Tour TogetherOctober 23, 2008 - Here's a note that I received from one of our travelers. This is from Michael H. who traveled with his son and grandson on our East Coast 3 baseball tour which included games at Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park, a full day at Cooperstown, and a private stadium tour of Fenway Park. Michael's letter reads:
I'm sending this note to let you know how great the tour that Jarrett, Nolan and I went on was to me. It's been almost two months and I still think of it everyday. I will always have the best of memories about this baseball trip.
You handled everything so well and made it even more enjoyable. It was a pleasure to meet you and your daughter and your dad.
Thanks again for a great time!!!"
We very much enjoyed you traveling with us, too, Michael. We love it when our guests have such a great time on the baseball road trips, especially when three generations get to experience them together!
Topics:
stadium tours,
sports travel and tours,
Fenway Park,
sports vacation,
testimonials,
Yankee Stadium,
hall of fame,
Cooperstown
Sports Tours Likely Not AffectedJuly 29, 2008 - According to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), average domestic airfare rates rose 4.4 percent from the first quarter of 2007. As it turns out, those rates are still lower than Spring of 2001. The report also shows the 100 cities that have the highest and lowest average fares.
You can view more of the story on wnbc.com in New York or the full report on the BTS website.
While most folks planning sports packages or sports vacations will also include airfare into the price, a shift of 4.4% is not likely to dissuade travelers from booking the baseball vacation packages of their dreams. In fact, the relatively low increase of airfare as a percentage compared to the increases seen in gas prices might lead some to opt to fly instead of drive on their baseball vacations.
Topics:
sports travel and tours,
baseball travel,
baseball vacation package,
sports vacation
Want Great Seats? Stadium Tours? Meet a Player? Great Hotels? Time to Explore?I started this business a few years ago because I didn't like how other tour companies were offering their baseball trips. Many of them offer 10 - 14 day trips that require you to ride on a bus for hundreds, if not thousands, of miles.
They stay in hotels that are outside of the cities so that you don't really get to explore them while you're there. And, unfortunately, the seat locations aren't great.
Here are a couple of blog entries from
their customers:
- "We then headed up to our seats (in Yankee Stadium) which were just a few feet from the moon. Like at Shea we were 4 rows from the top but this time we were in right field. We could not see most of the right field fence so we hoped all activity would be in left field...It sounds like our seats are pretty horrible tomorrow night too so hopefully we can scope some better seats."
- "2800 miles of riding in a bus with almost no sleep and too many hot dogs but what an adventure it was." I bet. Not my kind of adventure...
- "Tickets were in the upper deck and I made a vow in 1991 never to sit up there again. We left the group to suffer from fear of falling out of their seats..."
If the sound of these comments leaves you concerned about booking other group travel tours, check out our tours and rest assured that you'll never have an experience like they've described.
Topics:
stadium tours,
sports travel and tours,
baseball trips,
baseball vacation package,
testimonials
April 1, 2008 - Many times, we talk with individuals in an organization or group who are put in charge with organizing a group travel tour who doesn't normally handle travel - i.e. customers are coming into town, the "team mom" is planning a trip, an incentive package is offered to employees, or a group of friends wants to meet in a new city.
If you've never planned a large or small group tour, the task can be daunting, especially if the tour is in a city with which you are unfamiliar. Sports tours, particularly sports travel packages, can be a great way to minimize your effort and stress and allow you to relax while you successfully host the group tour.
Whether it's a baseball road trip you seek or some other sports tour, consider working with a tour operator who can offer you a package tour customized to your group, many times obtaining discounts because of their travel network, and providing you a service that will save you valuable time.
Topics:
group travel,
tour operator,
baseball road trips,
sports travel and tours
March 30, 2008 - Fans of all sports are interested in traveling to see their sports played out, taking sports vacations at ever increasing rates. Part of the mobilization of fans is that the Internet has made it possible for fans to buy and sell tickets at every major venue, even up to "near last minute" travel planning. Also many travel sites have made the planning easier than ever.
However, many fans are looking for assistance when putting together their sports travel packages. Even with all the information available online, there can still be some guess work about where to stay in a particular city. I've had clients tell me their night mares about choosing hotels based on limited or no knowledge of the areas and feeling like they've put themselves in great danger.
One other key element is the location of the tickets to your sports event. If you've never been to a particular stadium or venue, you can make choices that you might regret once you're in the park.
Whether it's a small group tour, family tour, or something you plan to do on your own, you might consider seeking out some assistance to plan your next sports vacation by purchasing a sports package from a tour operator.
Topics:
tour operator,
sports travel and tours,
baseball trips,
baseball games,
sports vacation
