ActiveTravels is a travel membership club that provides a winning combination of expert travel advice and inspiration as well as personalized booking services for all your travel needs. For an annual fee of $75, you have direct access to one of the world's foremost travel writers, Steve Jermanok, who has explored more than 80 countries and has made global contacts that he can call on to ensure that your trip is special. No longer will you have to take a chance on online travel sites and hope for the best. We can personally guarantee our recommended destinations and accommodations as we have been there and experienced them firsthand. Just like you have a financial adviser, it's important to have a personal travel advisor who knows you and your travel profile and can make certain that your vacation time with family and friends is well spent.
If you need further convincing on why it is so important to use a travel advisor, read this article, "Why You Need a Travel Agent," by Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com.
As soon as you are a member, you'll fill out a travel profile questionnaire. This will help us to get to know you and understand what you like best when you travel. Steve & Lisa will consult with you personally, give you destination ideas and boil down the trip that will work best just for you. Steve's wife, Lisa, a travel advisor linked with the reputable Virtuoso network and Largay Travel, will pay attention to all the details and book each segment of your getaway for you. We may refer you to members of our staff, Amy Perry Basseches and/or Rachel DeLong, depending on the region or interests you have.
We believe in clear and transparent costs.
Our commission is built into the trips you take. That doesn't mean your costs are higher. On the contrary, we usually find lower prices through our Virtuoso Network. We are also able to get built-in amenities like complimentary breakfasts, room upgrades, spa passes, and/or vouchers toward meals that you will not be able to get by booking online yourself.
Many airlines no longer give commissions to travel consultants. So, if you would like us to book flights, we need to charge a fee or we don't get paid for our work.
The only other time we would charge a service fee is when you request that we provide a detailed Dream Day™ itinerary, a day-to-day offering of our favorite activities in your destination, restaurants, and hotels based on your interests. Take it from a travel writer who's been designing trips around the globe for over 20 years, these itineraries take time to develop. We love to do it, but we need to charge a fee for our time.
That said, these are the only fees you'll ever see from us:
ActiveTravels Dream Day™ Itineraries include a personalized detailed itinerary including hotels, logistics, activities, and restaurant recommendations. Fee options are as follows and please note costs can be shared by all travelers:
There are many benefits to booking these services through ActiveTravels!
Am I paying more for hotels, cruises, and tour operators, so you get your fee?
No! And, often, we can get you even better rates than what you see online. Sometimes, we can get you a room when that hotel website says there is no availability. Not to mention, by working with us, we are often able to get you upgrades and help you with your special requests. How? The travel business is a "people to people" business. We have been fortunate to have made successful working relationships with hoteliers, tour operators and tour guides around the world and we will make these connections work for you.
I can book everything online, why exactly do I need you?
Excellent Customer Service! We're here for you, every step of your trip, from the planning stage to problems that may arise on the road, to hearing your tips for other clientele when you return. Try getting that from Orbitz, Expedia, or Priceline.
If you have any additional questions that are not answered here, please email us at info@activetravels.com. We look forward to hearing from you!