Over the last few weeks I have seen a surge in our group bookings, bachelor/bachelorette parties, high school senior trips, family reunions, grandma taking everybody on a trip, Sunday school classes, girls/guys getaways, or just several couples wanting to get away for a little while (sometimes with sometimes without kids). This got me to thinking about how I travel, it is usually in a group. I just got back from New York City on a girls trip, the last (non-Disney) cruise was group of 128 people, that I escorted because it was by far the largest group I had ever done and I wanted to make sure everything went smoothly. That group started as a high school senior trip (there were only 50 seniors in the whole graduation class). The more people the more fun you can have!!
Group travel is a great way to get together with friends, families, and business colleagues (did you know that you can hold a conference onboard a cruise ship) you are able to spend some time together (and apart). Many times on a cruise group we can arrange for a group excursion that will be exclusive to your group only. You can have dinner together every night, if you choose. There are also many things you can do in small groups or on your own; visit the spa, hit the gym, or play miniature golf (took every ounce of me not to write Putt Putt, if you are from the Baton Rouge area and over the age of 25 you will understand). Heck, some cruises have a rock walls, ice skating rinks and surf simulators! Land packages can offer just as much togetherness, if you choose.
Some of the advantages of booking a group are……
#1 LESS STRESS!!!!! A lot of people do not want to do a group because they are to much work, but is really dosent have to be. Let us know what type of group, approximatly how many people, and where you would like to go. We work with the group leader to make sure all the details are tended too and then (and this is the best part) we handle the rest. Yes, that is correct, you tell them to call us. The group leader does not have to worry about collecting money, making payments, keeping track of all the deadlines. We do that!!
#2 Reduced deposits. For many groups we can offer a reduced deposit for the trip. For example most cruises require a deposit between $150-200 per person, for a group cruise most deposits are $75 per person. There are some circumstances that this doesn’t work (such as last minute and when air is included) but for the most part, this is a tremendous help to our clients.
#3 (This one is for my group leaders) You may be able to go at a reduced rate!! Most cruise lines offer a discount for every 9th cabin booked and most hotels start at 10 rooms (some more, some less). Each vendor is different, but most of the time there is something for the groups leader (sometimes is its a room upgrade).
Groups are really easy to put together, they usually have the snowball effect . My first group started with just my husband going on a cruise, we told a few friends and before we knew it we had 28 couples going with us. So the next time you are thinking about a trip, think about who could go with you, then give us a call and we will take care of the rest.
What trips have you taken as part of a group? What was the best part it?
