Up to $3,000 in Resort Credits at Barceló Maya Palace Deluxe in Riviera Maya

The crystalline turquoise blue sea is the star attraction at the Barceló Maya Palace Deluxe 5-Star hotel. Located right in front of one of the most beautiful beaches in the world on the Mayan Riviera, its architectural design was inspired by the area's colonial culture.  For travel between now and December 31st of 2013, you can enjoy all-inclusive luxury PLUS resort credits up to $3,000!  Here's how it breaks down:

• Stay up to 4 nights - $1,200 in resort credits
• Stay from 5-11 nights - $2,000 in resort credits
• Stay 12 nights or more - $3,000 in resort credits

Resort credits can be used for room upgrades, private romantic dinners, shopping, spa treatments, and more.  This resort credit offer is also good at the following properties:

Barceló Maya Beach & Caribe - All Inclusive, Riviera Maya

Barceló Maya Tropical & Colonial - All Inclusive, Riviera Maya

Barceló Bavaro Beach - All Inclusive, Punta Cana

Barceló Bavaro Palace Deluxe - All Inclusive, Punta Cana

Barceló properties are known for luxury.  All of the rooms at the Maya Palace Deluxe are junior suites or suites. It also boasts 2 master suites. Each room is furnished with everything you need to make your stay unique. 

With the Barceló Maya Palace Deluxe All Inclusive program, you can enjoy dining at 6 restaurants, all with sea views; 2 of them offer exquisite buffets – El Mirador offers international cuisine and the buffet restaurant, La Hacienda, typical Mexican food. There are also 3 specialty restaurants, with Brazilian food on offer at Rodizzio restaurant, French food at Le Brasserie, plus a typical Caribbean restaurant, Caribe. In addition, the hotel has 5 bars and complete resort facilities: nightclub, chapel, U-Spa, 4 swimming pools with a jacuzzi and an area for children, a pool for children to play in and a theater with live shows put on by the entertainment team.

For the sports lover, along with water activities such as sailing, scuba diving, windsurfing, the hotel has 2 tennis courts, a fitness center, a miniature golf course, 2 basketball courts, water aerobics, beach volley ball, table tennis, and many more activities.

Plan a getaway with travel dates between November 1, 2012 and December 31, 2013, to take advantage of this value-added promotion!  Click here to see a panoramic view of the grounds:  barcelo_flash.asp

Last-Minute Thanksgiving Travel Savings

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Haven’t booked your Thanksgiving holiday flight yet?  You still might be able to surprise mom and show up for Thanksgiving dinner, but you need to take action right away.  Last-minute holiday travel can be very expensive, but there are ways to get around those higher costs.  Consider flying in on Thanksgiving Day, when seat demand is low and prices are usually cheaper.  Or, consider flights with with one stop or more, which are sometimes cheaper.  If you don’t want to miss turkey dinner, consider flying in on the “red-eye” (overnight flight) the night before.

Keep in mind that flights out of major airports are typically cheaper and have more schedule options.  If you live in a rural area, it might be worth it to drive a couple of hours to a bigger airport.  Travel tip:  When comparing prices, watch out for baggage fees and pack light.  Many airlines charge $20 or more for the first checked bag (each way) and Spirit Airlines even charges for your carry-on (fee ranges from $35 to $100 per carry-on, depending on how early or late you pay the baggage fee).  On Southwest Airlines, bags fly free.

What Travelocity Won't Tell You

 
Not every trip requires the services of a travel agent.  Travelers who have experience with reputable online booking engines (like Travelocity) know that by booking early enough and being somewhat flexible on their travel dates, they can snag a cheap flight from New York to Miami.  The emphasis here is “reputable” booking engines.  I have heard horror stories about travelers experiencing booking or credit card issues and getting no relief after exhausting all of the “contact us” options.  The main thing to watch for in comparing online prices for airfare are the fees for baggage.  This information is not found on third-party websites, so you need to check each airline's policy.   Most charge for at least the first checked bag -- about $20 each way. One airline in particular currently charges for checked baggage AND carry-on bags.  If there's only a $40 difference between fares, check the baggage fees before you book, to make sure you're getting the best price overall.

There's no need to consult a travel agent before you strike out on a road trip to visit family and friends.  There are usually plenty of affordable hotels en route that offer a comfortable place for an overnight stop.  If you decide to book ahead, the two main things to be aware of on booking hotels are the hotel reviews and the cancellation policy.  Some of the online reviews are not reliable, and many travelers have found out the hard way that some of those “pre-paid” $57/night deals are non-refundable and non-cancelable once you enter your credit card information and click on the "Submit" button.  A travel professional may have inside knowledge about current hotel renovations and other issues that might prevent you from getting a good night's rest, and they can help you decipher the hotel room types as they relate to cancelation policies. Travel agents can also help you with other details specific to your situation, such as finding a pet-friendly hotel, a subway station close to the hotel, or an affordable hotel close to a convention center.
Although it's a fairly uncomplicated process to book a 4-day cruise to the Bahamas online, there’s really no such thing as a $199 cruise.  The rates that are advertised online are per person, double (or triple) occupancy, and most do not include taxes and fees (including things like fuel surcharges). The lower advertised rates generally apply to off-season dates -- not a June honeymoon.  Don’t get me wrong -- cruises are still an exceptional value, even during peak-season, considering that the price of the cruise includes accommodations, meals, snacks, beverages, entertainment, activities, 24-hour room service and beautiful sights along the way.  A travel agent can help you find the best value overall, and can help you with pre-/post-cruise hotel stays and transfers to and from the cruise port.

If you’re planning a special getaway or event that involves any combination of the following elements, a good travel agent should be consulted:

• A complicated itinerary
• Airfare plus hotel accommodations 
• A special occasion or event
• Group travel
• Corporate travel
• Rail service
• International travel
• Escorted tours
• Complex airline routing
• Premium cruise tours (cruises with land tours)
• Affinity groups (such as escorted wine and culinary tours)
• Travel to hot spots during peak season (example: New Orleans during Mardi Gras)
• Trips involving local guides, drivers

       A good travel agent can save you time and money, by establishing a relationship with you and getting to know your needs and wants.  Using their connections and the clout of having access to agent-only deals, they can get you the best value for your money, with added benefits like upgrades and bonuses. Travel professionals can negotiate special rates for business travelers and groups. If you’re not sure where you want to go, a travel agent can offer recommendations based on your lifestyle and budget.  They can also provide inside information about your destination, such as climate, local attractions, dining dress codes, travel alerts, currency exchange rates, and passport/vaccination requirements.  A good travel agent will prepare you for any “hidden charges” before you commit.  Case in point:  I recently ran across an online deal for a one-bedroom villa in Puerto Rico for $54/night, which for 5 nights totaled $270.   But, there were additional fees of $182 for housekeeping ($34.60 per night for housekeeping?). With taxes and other fees, the total was well over $600 for a 5-night stay.  For those same dates, I could stay 5 nights in a beachfront room at the Courtyard by Marriott for under $600.  A travel agent can sort through all the fine print for you and give you the bottom line.

       The most important reason to use a travel agent is peace of mind.  If your flight is canceled or there is an issue with your hotel stay, your travel agent will contact the supplier on your behalf and will be with you throughout the process.   Since   travel agents can offer the same discounts as online booking engines, and most do not charge the traveler a booking fee, it just makes sense to go with a live person that can take care of all the details for you.

Test your knowledge by taking the following travel trivia quiz:

1. What are (generally) the two cheapest days of the week to fly?
2. What day of the week is best for booking a flight?
3. What does “European Plan” room mean?
4. How much (on average) are cruise ship gratuities?
5. Name an all-inclusive resort that offers free weddings.
6. Name a Caribbean island that does not require a US passport.
7. What island in the Caribbean does not have car rentals?
8. Which airline has great rates, but charges for checked bags AND carry-on bags?
9. What terminology do you look for, to make sure your hotel rate is cancelable?
10. Name a resort which caters to adults-only.
11. Name a Caribbean island that has “au naturel” sun bathing beaches.
12. Which island in the Caribbean has 365 beaches?
13. What is the best mode of transportation for sightseeing in DC?
14. Is it cheaper to fly, rent a car, or take the rail service between Charlottesville, VA and Washington, DC?
15. Name a pet-friendly hotel chain.
16. Name a possible downside to an upgrade on a cruise ship.

Find the answers to our travel trivia quiz on our FAQs page.