Excursion adviser: Just Vacations’ Barb Peet is ready to help anyone planning a honeymoon or destination wedding
Excursion adviser
Couples planning their honeymoon or a beach or other destination wedding know there are countless decisions to be nailed down, and a travel expert can ease stress by taking
care of all the details.
Posted: Thursday, March 8, 2018 12:17 pm
|
Updated: 12:21 pm, Thu Mar 8, 2018.
spiritofjefferson.com
If you are planning a honeymoon or destination wedding, wouldn’t it be nice to know that you have someone on call to take care of all the details?
It’s a huge stress reliever for a bride and groom to know an expert with insider knowledge is on the case, explains Barb Peet, who runs the travel agency Just Vacations.
“That’s where we come in,” Peet said. “We’re there to help couples with the gray areas of travel.”
Peet is taking part in Saturday’s Ranson Bridal Expo at the Ranson Civic Center.
Peet says those who plan ahead often score the best rooms and the best prices on flights.
“There are only 160 to 180 seats on a plane, depending on the configuration,” Peet said. “Ten years ago, the airlines were giving last-minute discounts and they realized they were shooting themselves in the foot. It’s all changed. Most of the best discounts are given when you plan ahead.”
And it’s not just with the airlines that reward those who lay out their plans early, Peet said. “A lot of cruise lines and hotels are offering attractive incentives for booking ahead early,” she says.
Just how early is “early”?
Peet said that a good number is nine months, which means you should start talking about and planning your trip 10 to 12 months out.
Like most travel industry expert, Peet travels extensively herself.
“Many of the places I book people for are places I’ve already been,” she said. “When I go on vacation with the family, it’s not out of the norm for me to visit other hotels and look at their facilities and talk with their staff in order to get a good idea of whether I’d want to book a client at that property.”
Peet also makes herself aware of myriad other details about various locations.
“For some wedding destinations, a couple has to spend a set number of nights in that location before they can get married,” Peet said. “Sometimes, there are laws that require blood tests for marriage.”
Another benefit to working with a travel agent: If you have a special request come up during your trip or experience a problem, you have an ally to call who is familiar with your destination.
“I had a customer who booked a vacation using an online service,” Peet said. “She thought she was saving a lot of money, but a week before her vacation, she found out that there was a sewage backup at the hotel. She tried to get her money back from the website or for some kind of customer service but got no help whatsoever.”
Peet ended up stepping in to secure her suitable accommodations on short notice.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? Learn more about Just Vacations Inc. at just-vacations.com
Posted
on
Thursday, March 8, 2018 12:17 pm.
Updated: 12:21 pm.
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