Vacation Network News on KMOX - St. Louis
Saturday May 27, 2006

1. Alligator Terrorism of Tourists in Florida
   
2. Become an International Volunteer on your next vacation.
   Spend a week in Guatemala, Peru, Costa Rica, Brazil or Russia working with local organizations building and running schools, health clinics, centers for the elderly and other services that their people need.
   After your week of volunteer work you will have an opportunity to tour that country and learn about the land and people before returning home.  1(800) 221-2216
   General Tours - http://www.generaltours.com/index.phtml
   Much of the cost of your trip may be tax deductible, ask your tax advisor. Your local AAA Travel office can also help you with a General Tours trip ( 314) 523-7350.
   
3. Best Fares – Tom Parsons with the latest news in air fares from St. Louis.
   www.BestFares.com
   
4. NCL America introduced a new Cruise ship in Hawaii this week to expand their cruises around the islands. The new vessel flying the American flag will sail seven day cruises calling at Hilo, Kona, Kahului-Maui, Nawiliwili-Kauai and the home port of Honolulu.
   http://www.ncl.com/fleet/poh/index.htm  or contact AAA Travel for more information. (314) 523-7350
   
5. The Louie List: When you book a Cruise should you accept a cabin guarantee?
   
   A. What is a “Guarantee”?  In the cruise industry the Top and bottom cabins sell first. When they are trying to move sales along the cruise line will frequently offer all cabins of a certain type at a fixed price.
   
   B. (Example) All outside cabins will be on sale at the lowest outside price maybe a category “E” but there are outside cabins in “B, C, and D which are usually at a higher price.
   
   C. When you book at the Cat. E price they may offer to assign you a cabin number or they may offer an E – Guarantee.
   
   D. If you accept the guarantee it means you will eventually be assigned an E cabin or above. How much higher in category depends usually on how far out you book from departure. When the line is closing sales for that departure they look at the cabins not assigned and begin assigning the best cabins first to the Guarantee clients that booked first. Since you and all the other guarantee customers paid the same price the line goes first come best served on assignments. In any case you will never be given a cabin lower that an E class.
   
   E. I recommend in almost all cases to accept a guarantee. In the great majority of cases I have seen the client receive an upgrade and in some cases to much higher category.
   
   F. Ask your travel agent if this is something that may work for you!