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Frequently Asked Questions about Travel

Provided by the folks at Peace Frogs Travel/Outfitters

How far in advance should I book a ticket to Europe?

For winter travel, 21 days or more. For summer travel I’d start looking in January. For peak travel dates, like right before high season kicks in around June 10, I’d book as far in advance as you can (but no more than 9-10 months).

Why should I buy travel insurance?

Travel insurance is a good idea for anyone who can not afford to lose the money they have pre-paid for a trip. This applies to most people, but we probably see about 50% of our clients actually spend the extra money to be insured. Of course, there are coverage restrictions and specific reasons that can and cannot be used to make a claim, but things that most people worry about are covered- serious injury or emergency medical reason for traveler or family member, flights cancelled/airports closed due to weather related issues, etc. it’s already stressful and disappointing enough to cancel a trip, let alone lose your money in the process.

Why should I book through a local agency instead of using the Internet directly?

Booking through Peace Frogs Travel/Outfitters rather than the internet has many, many benefits. The traveler works with a professional who books flights, honeymoons, international travel, cars, hotels every day and has done so for many years. The knowledge and ‘idea’ factor alone is a huge benefit over booking on line. In addition, a travel consultant can take care of situations that arise after a trip is booked but before or during travel. This can be a huge help if there’s a schedule change, misconnect, emergency requiring cancellation, or just a change in plans. We also advocate for our clients while on a trip- since although we do our very best to insure that clients get exactly what they want and need things can and do go wrong. There are too many reasons to list but we feel we are providing a service worthy of our nominal fees and can provide exceptional travel advice and assistance. Lastly, booking through Peace Frogs Travel/Outfitters helps the local community as we provide travel gear, goods and donations to local schools and charities, are sponsors of Virginia Discovery Museum events, and give scholarship funds for student study abroad.

When is the best time to book a cruise?

Any time. Seriously, it depends on the type of cruise as well as the time of year. Small ships, specialty cruises in Europe and the South Pacific, and many Alaskan cruises can and should be booked up to one year in advance to get availability plus a good cabin selection. There are certain specialty cruises that operate once or twice a year and are very popular. For those, you can get on a waiting list even before the sail date or the price has been set. Once the sail date is released you are first in line to book a cabin. This process might start over a year in advance of the cruise.

There used to be seasons where you could get really great ‘deals’ on cruises but because cruising has become so popular year round I don’t think these booking seasons really exist any more. Of course, whenever there’s a lull in bookings the cruise lines can make a push for sales by extending guaranteed cabin upgrades and early booking bonuses.

Categories: FAQ