Frequently Asked
Questions about Global Travel Destinations:
- Who is Global Travel Destinations?
Celebrating over 19 years in the travel consulting business, Global Travel
Destinations is a unique, independent "boutique" travel consulting firm. Through
our association with our host agency, Direct Travel, and our travel network,
Virtuoso, we stand ready to assist you with travels near or far, the ultimate in
adventure, or the ultimate in luxury. While we are a full service company, we
specialize in several areas of the world. By far, our favorite, and most visited
region, is the South Pacific. We specialize in travel to Australia, New Zealand,
Fiji and Tahiti. We also love cruising - and can help you select from the many
cruises offered worldwide. Among cruise destinations, we specialize in the
Galapagos, Asia and the Mediterranean regions. We have cruised with most of the
major cruise lines, among our favorite are Celebrity, Azamara, Crystal, Regent,
Viking River Cruises and Royal Caribbean.
- What websites to you operate?
We operate websites which reflect our specialized training and passion for
certain regions or cruise companies. We have extensive knowledge of all of
our destinations such as the South Pacific and the Galapagos Islands, and have
sailed on many of the ships owned by our favorite cruise lines, Celebrity,
Azamara, Crystal, Regent, Viking River Cruises and Royal Caribbean. Our websites
reflect this unique knowledge and experience:
www.celebritycruisedestinations.com,
www.azamaracruisedestinations.com,
www.crystalcruisedestinations.com, and several others. - I thought travel agents went away with the Internet?
In
today's Internet-savvy world, many people choose to take control of their travel
plans. And we've all heard the horror stories - undisclosed travel times, the
luxury hotel suite that was anything but luxury or the lackluster tour guide.
Some travelers like the risk and "adventure" of do-it-yourself traveling. But,
the more discerning traveler knows to let a travel specialist do what they do
best. A travel specialist is your advocate; someone who is accountable for the
time and money you are investing. Your travel specialist works for you, not for
hotels, cruise lines or airlines. As a proud member of Virtuoso, North America's
most respected network of travel agents, we can offer increased value over other
travel agencies, and unparalleled choices that you won't find anywhere
else.
Did you know...
Even Terrell Jones, former Travelocity.com President and CEO,
uses a Virtuoso travel specialist to plan his vacations.
- Is there anything I should buy over the Internet?
While we represent and can ticket on nearly every airline in the world, we
would be the first to admit that we struggle to add value to simple, domestic
air purchases. So yes - if you are comfortable with an airline website or one of
the Internet booking engines - by all means, book your airfare via the Internet.
However, if you need to travel a bit further from home, to an international
destination for example, we're happy to help and in some cases may save you a
substantial amount of money through our airline and Virtuoso connections. And
then, when you start adding hotels or cruises into your travel plans - call us.
We'll make sure that all of the pieces fit together, that you receive the best
value and special amenities when available just for booking through us. And
we'll be here while you travel providing added value, extra protection and that
"just in case" resource back home.
- Are you Virtuoso?
No, we're a proud member of Virtuoso.
Virtuoso is a multi-billion dollar network of travel providers from around the
world. The network includes both travel specialists, such as ourselves, as well
as travel operators. Membership is exclusive, by invitation only. Travel
specialists include some of the the most well respected agencies in the world -
travel operators include the best cruise lines, hotels, resorts, spas, lodges,
villas, airlines, private jet companies as well as service providers such as
travel insurance and luggage handlers.
- What benefits does your membership in Virtuoso provide to
me?
You benefit in many ways. When sailing with our cruise partners,
you'll enjoy Virtuoso-only fares, complimentary onboard cocktail parties as well
as half- or full-day private excursions that are not available to the general
public. In hotels, resorts and spas you'll enjoy exclusive amenities such as
space available upgrades, daily breakfast and access to club or other VIP
facilities. With our airline partners, you'll receive negotiated fares for
lowest prices, the best available seat assignments, and in some cases private
lounge access and airport transfers.
- What do these benefits cost me?
Nothing! These benefits
are provided to you when you book your travel with Global Travel Destinations.
We can assist you in many ways. From pre- or post-cruise hotel stays, to
negotiated airfares to get you to your vacation destination, we can help. We can
custom design a complete vacation experience using our more than 1000 travel
partners from across the globe. We have on-the-ground connections in more than
70 countries that can design anything from a private tour, to exclusive site
access. These "on-sites" know their cities and countries best - providing
insider knowledge of where to go, what to see and how to get there.
- What cruise companies are members of Virtuoso?
Over 30
cruise companies are members of Virtuoso. Representing the luxury lines are
Regent, Silversea, SeaDream and Seabourn. The specialty lines include Azamara,
Disney, Viking River Cruises, Cruise West and Oceania. Larger ships are
represented by Celebrity, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Princess and NCL.
These are just a sample of the cruise lines that are members of Virtuoso.
- What hotels and resorts are members of Virtuoso?
There
are over 700 properties that make up the Virtuoso portfolio of hotels, resorts,
spas, lodges and villas. Among these is the historical Fairmont Chateau Lake
Louise in Canada, the magnificent Burj Al Arab in Dubai, the luxurious Voyages
Longitude 131 at Uluru (Ayers Rock), Australia and the prestigious St.
Regis in Aspen, Colorado.
- What tour companies are members of Virtuoso?
Abercrombie
& Kent, Epic Private Journeys, Trafalgar Tours, Backroads and Tauck World
Discovery are just a few of the many tour and vacation companies that are
available to you through our Virtuoso network.
- What is Virtuoso Voyages?
Virtuoso cruise customers
enjoy special savings and are treated as VIPs from the moment they embark.
Choose from more than 500 yearly Virtuoso Voyages departures aboard the
world's top cruise lines and enjoy exclusive cocktail receptions, special tours
and advantageous pricing. To ensure that your cruise experience is outstanding,
each Virtuoso Voyages sailing includes an onboard Virtuoso host who takes care of
your exclusive amenities and activities.
- How can I become a Virtuoso Voyages Member?
Simply
reserve a Virtuoso Voyages sailing with us, your Virtuoso travel specialist. Membership is complimentary.
- Haven't I heard of Virtuoso on NBC's The TODAY Show?
Yes, you may have. For the past several years Virtuoso travel specialists
have partnered with NBC and The TODAY Show to design travel experiences -
weddings, honeymoons as well as a travel "make-over" for a family that had
suffered an unfortunate cruise mishap.
- What is Virtuoso Travel Week?
Virtuoso Travel Week is
Virtuoso's annual week-long conference where travel specialists meet travel
providers from around the world. Recognized industry-wide as the best networking
opportunity in luxury travel, Virtuoso hosts an astounding 260,000 individual
meetings between the network's elite travel advisors and its world-renowned
providers. With a roster of attendees that read like the "who's who" of luxury
travel, Virtuoso Travel Week provides participants with both a vision for the
future and the opportunity to establish and strengthen the relationships that
enhance and enable the world's most extraordinary travel experiences. Global
Travel Destinations participates in this annual conference or the Virtuoso
International Symposium that is held at an international destination each year.
- Who is Virgin Galactic, and what is Virtuoso's
relationship?
Virgin Galactic is a company established by Richard
Branson's Virgin Group to undertake the challenge of developing space tourism
for everybody. It will own and operate privately built spaceships, modeled on
the history-making SpaceShipOne craft. In 2006 Virgin Galactic announced the
appointment of Virtuoso as their exclusive retail travel group in North America,
promoting commercial space tourism to the North American market. A select group
of Virtuoso's travel specialists will go through a comprehensive training
program with Virgin Galactic to become "Accredited Space Agents", making them
among the first travel consultants in the world endorsed to reserve seats on
Virgin Galactic spaceflights.
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