Palm Tree Travel

Get the Best Price for Online Travel

2011-08-23T19:33:00.000-07:00

I was reminded recently, when booking a flight, that there are several cardinal rules for booking online to get the best possible price. Keep these in mind for the best price when arranging online travel:

1. Always book as far in advance as possible. This gives you the maximum flexibility, seating choices, and best price. If you cannot book before, 60 days in advance, wait until about 40-45 days ahead. Usually at 60 days airlines make the decision to add or cut flights. If demand is heavy at around 60 days, they may add flights and make your travel cost go down. A similar pattern works for hotels, except in peak seasons, depending on where you are traveling to.

2. If it works for you, book a package online. Many times hotels will share in the cost of air travel, in order to rent more rooms. This is evident when you see a hotel at $150 a night include airfare in a 3 night package for $499. To the hotel it is all the same as giving you a room discount when you get there, but they can plan ahead and save you money in the process.
3. Clear your cookies just before you actually purchase travel online. Most travel sites leave cookies on your computer and the more you check sometimes, the more the price will go up. After you have searched out your options, on whatever website you are using, close out your browser (I actually re-start my computer, too) clear out your cookies, and THEN make the purchase.

Remember, the links on this page are links we have used and recommend. Book your next trip today!

The Most Unique Products in the World - Skymall!

2011-07-24T16:03:00.000-07:00

Whether you have just returned from a trip, and forgot to take your complimentary Skymall catalog, or if you just can't find your copy from your last trip take a moment to click on Skymall and check their latest product offerings from their complete online catalog.
My personal favorite is the Electronics and Gadgets section, with all of the latest electronic toys I wish I had or had thought of.
So remember Skymall. Someone you know needs a gift from their catalog. Maybe even you.

15% off (no minimum) your SkyMall.com purchase with code LS15N: valid 7.22-7.31

Farebuzz - Recommended for Your Next Vacation!

2011-03-17T10:14:00.000-07:00

We have just added a new link to Palm Tree Travel, Farebuzz! Be sure and check their prices for any flights you are planning. So far I have found their prices to be 15-20% below other airfare quotes. Find low airfares, discounted hotels and car rentals at Farebuzz!
Also, keep in mind, airfares are getting ready to really climb in price, summer season, fuel prices, fall travel season and holiday travel all will push prices upwards as we go further into this year. If you are going to make flight travel plans for 2011, now would be a good time to do it.
So give Farebuzz a try, they seem to have a good thing going. Let us know about your experience with this site at palmtreetravel@msn.com.

Thanks. Remember to Bookmark our site and come back to it every time to plan your next vacation!

Flight Prices to Merida, Yucatan

2011-02-28T19:44:00.000-08:00

Since we have just moved to Merida, Yucatan and have recommended a visit here to so many people, thought we'd post some air fare prices to think about:

Monday June 6, 2011 to Friday June 10, 2011 $690 per person with one stop, Norfolk to Merida
Monday June 6, 2011 to Friday June 10, 2011 $388 per person with one stop, Norfolk to Cancun

Tuesday October 3, 2011 to Friday October 7, 2010 $545 per person with one stop, Norfolk to Merida.
Tuesday October 3, 2011 to Friday October 7, 2010 $388 per person with one stop, Norfolk to Cancun

These are just samples click the Cheaptickets Link to the right to book. There will be about $100 per person for taxes and fees additional.

Please bookmark my site, ( I only get paid if you book through this page). and accept my thanks for using Palm Tree Travel.

You Need A Vacation Right Now, and Save 30%

2011-02-24T14:52:00.000-08:00

30% Savings for Next 3 Days at CheapTickets!

You know how it feels, too cold, too much snow and ice, Winter has gone on too long! And it's only February!
Think about going somewhere warm, think about relaxing, you know you deserve it! Now is the time to make plans, while prices are good, before the deals get away on hotels, airfare, all inclusive resorts and more!

Book your next vacation today! 30% Savings!

Packing Your Car for a Long Driving Vacation

2011-02-02T21:01:00.000-08:00

On a driving vacation, the tendency for most people is to pack everything they need, begin to unpack at the first night's stop, a little more as the trip progresses, to the point where the whole vehicle is completely unorganized and there seem to be twice as much clothing, toys, shoes, etc. as when the trip began! Here are some tips to deal with this issue in an organized way, using just two bags:

1. Separate out the clothes you will wear the day of the trip. This will prevent rummaging through packed suitcases for the specific clothes you wanted to wear but have already packed.

2. Pack a small day-to-day bag that you will take in and out of the vehicle on the way to your destination. This will have your toothbrush, basic toiletries, razor, etc. and a change of clothes for 1-3 days, if your trip will take that long.

3. Pack your main suitcase with all the clothing items that you will need for your vacation that you are not wearing, or are not represented in your small day-to-day bag. This bag will not be opened until arriving at your destination, saving loading and unloading the bag on a daily basis, plus preventing re-packing that bag day after day.

I also recommend foldable light duffel bags, which are easier to get into, have handles and straps, and fit more neatly into a variety of areas. Of course, these are not the bags that you would take on a flying vacation. More on that topic in our next post. Safe & Pleasant Travels!

Free Internet and Wi-Fi on Delta Flights!

2010-12-16T11:22:00.000-08:00

Well, here we are on our way to New Orleans to be with our family for Christmas, and I am posting to this blog from 26,000 feet! Is that great or what!
Delta Airlines has teamed with Google Chrome to provide free wireless in-flight internet during the holidays! What a nice surprise and a great Christmas present.
Make sure to take your laptop or wireless device if you are flying Delta Airlines, and take advantage of this limited, but very welcome offer!

Keep Your Wallet Safe - Travel Tip #4

2010-11-07T16:57:00.000-08:00

You know it happens - someone standing in a crowd, a line, waiting.....and when they reach for their wallet, it is gone. Or coming around a corner in a market, headed back to the hotel, or just off the main square in the town you are visiting....and someone demands your wallet and runs. What do you do to protect yourself?

There are two main courses of action to protect your wallet:

1. Keep your valuables - cash, credit cards, air fare tickets, passports - in a secret location, such as a security wallet inside your shirt, tucked inside your pants - there are even socks and belts with secret compartments. Just be sure that when you go into these secret places to get money to pay for something, don't do it out in the open in front of everyone - or the secret does no good.

2. Use a "fake" wallet to give to the thief who demands it. This can be an old wallet, or a cheap wallet, fill it with the credit card blanks from credit card mail solicitations, old gift cards with no balances, a dollar or two in the back - nothing that can identify you, but just enough to feel and look like a real wallet. Either drop it or throw it down to distract the thief while you run away.

Keep your valuables safe, and enjoy your travel!

Travel Tips for Better Trips 3 - Make Copies?

2009-05-25T17:16:00.000-07:00

Of course it sounds silly - make copies for a better trip? Copies of what you might ask?

Make copies of all of your travel documents - your itinerary, your passport, your plane arrangements, your hotel reservations. Keep these copies separate from your original documents. This much seems obvious. But there are more copies you must make.

Take your wallet out and place every credit card, your drivers license, your club cards (AAA, AARP, etc) even your health insurance cards - face down on a copy machine and photocopy them all. Then carefully turn them over, and make another copy, of the BACK side of the card. Often there is important information, phone numbers or other details that you may need on the back of these cards, so make a copy of both sides.

While you are at it, make a copy of these cards and put it in your safebox at home or your safety deposit box at the bank. It could come in handy.

One further suggestion if you are more computer savvy is to scan all of your cards and travel documents, and save them on a portable USB flash drive so that you can print them out on a computer if necessary. These devices are small, portable, and can hold hundreds of documents.

Tips for Better Trips 2 - Travel Documents

2009-03-18T18:08:00.000-07:00

When planning a trip, always place a high priority on your travel documents - passport, airline reservations, car rental confirmations, and hotel reservations, plus travel maps, travel guidebooks and travel itineraries.

The best Tip is to begin to gather these documents together as soon as you begin to plan your trip, and place them in a carry-on travel bag that you plan to take on your trip. Since GoPalmTree.com recommends that you plan your travel on-line to save money, print out your online travel confirmations as soon as you make the reservation. You may need access to these documents in order to make changes, provide phone numbers to relatives, etc., and you do not want to have to search through endless computer files to find these important documents. TIP: THINK OF EACH DOCUMENT AS REPRESENTING THE MONEY VALUE IT COST YOU TO BUY IT OR BOOK IT - $100+ FOR A PASSPORT, $300 FOR PLANE TICKETS, $600 FOR HOTEL, ETC. This will help you to place a real value on each document, and when you think of the documents as actual cash, you will better protect and take care of each document accordingly.

Finally, make sure that you do these three things: 1) Keep your travel documents out when packing, including ID, and do not pack it in your regular luggage. 2) Look up the address of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the cities you will be visiting, and keep this with your documents. 3) Make a copy of all of your travel documents and keep these in a separate place that is not subject to being stolen.

These Tips will help you have a Better Trip!

Ten Tips for Better Trips

2008-12-29T17:38:00.000-08:00

Today we start what loyal GoPalmTree.com customers have asked for: Tips for Better Travel. Each week will bring another in our series of Ten Tips for Better Trips! Whether you travel domestic or international, by car, cruise or by air, you won't want to miss a single tip -travel smarter, safer, and save money.

Without delay, here is the first Tip for a Better Trip:

1. Packing Our best tip for packing? Start two weeks early! That's right! Two weeks before your trip, list out how many days you will be gone, what you plan to wear each day. Then decide in advance what bags you will take. (Bonus Tip: We try to never check a bag! We save money on bag fees, and still have everything we need for up to a week in a small duffel or carry-on, along with a small backpack. Occasionally we will check the carry-on bag on the way home, keeping our souvenirs and essentials with us in the small backpack.) One week before your trip, do a "dry run" pack, laying out the items you have listed, making sure they will fit, and checking for duplicate items. Verify that all items are in good condition, clean, and right for your trip (light colors/weights for warmer climates, etc.) Two nights before your trip, pack those bags, and then rest easy the night before your trip, knowing that you will only have to get up, toss in your toothbrush, and start your vacation.!

Plan Your Travel Online, and Save Money

2008-11-08T17:33:00.000-08:00

Traveling and saving money in the current economy can be difficult, but planning your travel online is still the best way to save. Here are the main reasons why:

-The best deals are put on the internet, sometimes at the last minute
Many times unsold hotel rooms and airline seats are released to internet booking sites and you can only find them with an internet search

-The best tools are available online
You can find out what the latest baggage rules and charges are for airline flights, calculate extra person charges or departure taxes, even find out what vaccinations may be required for your travel.

-There are more search options to help set your dates, flight schedules and times
It is great to plan travel online, comparing various airlines, flight schedules and fares, hotels according to your budget, location and preferences. Making details travel plans any other way is much more difficult and time-consuming.

-You can make & change your travel arrangements anywhere there is a computer
I have booked travel while at sea on a cruise, from an internet cafe, at a coffee shop on my laptop as well as on my home computer. The convenience of booking travel this way is great!

When you make travel plans, book your travel online. You can book travel on this site using the links in the travel planning area along the right side. You can book car rentals, hotels, cruises and more. Thank you for booking on GoPalmTree.com, and for supporting our travel business.

Making the Most of your Travel Budget

2008-10-12T17:22:00.001-07:00

The current financial crisis caught nearly everyone off guard, seasoned travelers included. What about your travel plans? Should you go ahead on that cruise? Should you continue planning your Holiday travel? What is the best move right now? Here are some suggestions:
1. If your trip is already paid for, then continue with your travel plans. There is no need at this point to avoid taking trips that are paid for in advance.
2. If you have not paid for your trip yet, check prices carefully before proceeding. Some resorts and vacation destinations are recognizing the impact of the financial crisis and will respond quickly with better pricing and offers.
Anyone traveling in the near future needs to consider whether they have any credit limits on credit cards that might be curtailed during this financial crisis, so as to not get caught on a trip with insufficient credit or funds to complete the trip or to return home!
As usual, smart travelers will find a way, so as you plan your travel, keep these things in mind and travel safely!