NOTE: This blog has
no ads and I'm not beholden to hotels, cruise lines, tour companies or
airlines, and that's why I can offer my readers the truth about all of the
above + offer the many ways to enjoy comfort traveling for less
Especially
in 2017 travelers must decide whether they are concerned about safety, price,
in addition to the usual individual choices about adventure, relaxation, a mix
of both, or whatever else moves a traveler to want to travel on their vacation.
The worst of
the problems about safety came from refugee migration in 2016, mainly when refugee
migrants were welcomed to Germany by Angela Merkel without restraint in late
2015, and the numbers increased as economic migrants from North Africa, as well
as migrant refugees from wars and economic failures have touched every country
in the Western world, including the USA.
If safety is
important, don’t book in advance—I recommend last minute bookings within a
month or less of travel, especially if there has been a terror related incident
in a particular country, you know hotels will lower prices, also airlines will
have cancellations because tour companies have booked space they can’t use,
tour operators will be flooded with cancellations and will want to offer a
great discount, that’s when safety versus price will be a big consideration.
The question
of travelers safety in 2017 will greatly affect price—in fact, bargains are to
be had if a traveler decides price is more important than safety.
I recommend keeping
in mind the headlines and latest terror warnings when booking a trip, however,
the biggest bargains exist for traveling overseas to countries in Western
Europe now beset by migration away from the war torn middle east plus from wars
as well as poverty in North Africa.
Expect
discounts galore in the prosperous Western world where terrorists mix with the
refugees in a lethal mix, also expect neighboring countries to be afflicted
with migrants who refuse to take a closed border as a deterrent to their entry
into Germany, regardless of the obstacles.
The best way
to find those travel bargains comes via some initial research starting with the
tourism bureaus of each country you may want to visit—look up hotel packages to
find the average price, and any alternative accommodations that can fulfill the
requirements for a memorable experience.
For those
travelers who need to secure travel arrangements specifically on certain
vacation days, I recommend booking tours only with a tour operator who is a
member of USTOA (United States Tour Operators Association)—this organization
mandates that each tour operator maintains an insurance policy to protect client
deposits, therefore in case a terror threat or some other catastrophe cancels
the tour every client gets a full deposit refund.
*part 2
explores travel choices where safety is no problem but prices are higher
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