Tours - Escorted or Independent?

Tour operators offer different types of tours to suit every person's travel tastes.
An escorted tour usually includes a tour guide that travels with you from destination to destination and/or specialists in each destination. It also includes the transportation (usually motorcoach, rail or boat/cruiseline), lodging and some, most or all meals. This is a great way to see a country or region of which you have little or no prior knowledge. The tour guides can certainly make a trip the most memorable you've ever had. Many of the tours take you to off-the-beaten-path locations to see a view that you never would have seen if you were traveling on your own. Many times the tours go to small towns and meet the locals for dinner in their homes for a taste of the real life in the region.
Independent tours usually include transportation and lodging, but all touring and meals are on your own. This allows you to plan your own route and travel at your own pace. The lodging arrangements can be made in a large well-known city, or in small bed and breakfasts in the country. You may chose to stay in one hotel and make day trips to different nearby areas, or travel across multiple countries experiencing each night in a different place.
Independent travel requires some research on the part of the traveler while escorted tours don't require as much, if any. In any case, you can achieve your dream vacation with a little thought. I also recommend using a travel agent to assist with the plans and booking (of course :) )

Why use a travel agent?

The travel industry sure has changed over the years. With the Internet playing a key role in booking, research and 'deals', the Travel Agent has had to adapt and find ways to survive in the industry. Have you noticed that there aren't as many Travel Agencies around? The 'brick and mortar' agency is still around, but not to the same degree as it was in decades past. There is a new evolution of the Travel Agent called the HomeBased Travel Agent. Both groups of travel agents have all of the training, support and tools available to them to plan and arrange their clients' dream vacations. The homebased agent doesn't have the overhead (or exposure) of the storefront, but has access to the same brochures, training and suppliers.



Sure, you can do all kinds of research online and book your own vacation without the help and guidance of a Travel Agent (or Vacation Consultant as we like to call ourselves), but we are here to assist you and to add value. After all, you want to go on a great vacation - not one full of surprises and gotchas, right? We are here to educate our clients on the destination, the resort or cruise, what is included (and more importantly what is not), what to expect, what to wear, how to protect themselves and much more. We have direct access to the suppliers and can contact them to ask specific questions or make specific requests. We are your partner in travel and we want to help you have a wonderful vacation!



Remember that you don't pay more to use a travel agent in most cases - you pay the same published price you would pay on the internet if you did it yourself. There are cases where there may be a service fee (for domestic airline flights or professional consulting fees, if applicable), but for the most part, you are booking through us and getting additonal value for your vacation dollar! Many times we can get special group rates, room or cabin upgrades, or other special amenities from our preferred suppliers.



Next time you want to go on vacation, please consider using a Travel Agent!

Seeing America - Midcoast Maine

Whenever I travel I am asked where I'm from. When I say Maine, I usually get one of three answers:

• Maine? Is that in America?
• Oh, I've always wanted to go to Maine.
• Oh really, what part of Maine?

To the first one, I typically describe where Maine is in the U.S. and that it's beautiful here - and yes, we do have indoor plumbing and electricity.

The second question is usually followed by discussions about lighthouses and lobster bakes.

I have a standard answer for the third one: "Do you know Maine?" The answer is usually, but not always, no, so I don't bother with the town or general area. For those who know Maine, I'm in Leeds, just north of Lewiston/Auburn. For those who don't know Maine, I am a little over an hour from the coast and an less than an hour to the mountains.

Many first timers to the state want to see the coast, as they should. The coast of Maine is like no other with it's jagged rocks, pink granite, hundreds of peninulas (fingers) and islands. The small fishing towns and windjammer filled bays provide days of sightseeing enjoyment. From the City of Portland with all of it's shopping, dining and art venues to Bar Harbor (three plus hours northeast of Portland) with Acadia National Park and all of the towns and villages in between, midcoast Maine offers a vacation experience like no other in the world!

My picks: Snowsquall Inn in Wiscassett has great hosts and atmosphere and allows for day trips to Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, Boothbay Harbor and Monhegan Island. The Blue Hill Inn in Blue Hill (also with great hosts) offers a great location for visiting Belfast, Deer Isle and Stonington (my favorite place), and Acadia National Park which is a must-see for first time visitors to Maine. Stonington is the town at the end of Deer Isle. Dozens of islands surrounded by pink granite lie off the coast. I highly recommend taking a kayak or renting one from Old Quarry Ocean Adventures (www.oldquarry.com). We've camped there, too, and it's a perfect spot!