Vacationing during the summer months means two things for travelers: large crowds and peak prices. Whether your clients are crowd-dodging value hunters planning their dream excursion or spontaneous realists looking to pull off a fun trip on the fly, following some seasoned advice can help them stay ahead of the herd this year—and maybe even pay less for it.
Dealing with Crowds
The Dream – How to Avoid Crowds
Get a guide: For some travelers, dealing with crowds may be as easy as avoiding them altogether. One way to accomplish this is by connecting with a local guide who knows how. A number of networks and websites can help travelers get in touch with reputable guides with local knowledge for varying costs, sometimes for free.
Show up early, skip the lines: Travelers visiting historic landmarks, natural wonders and other highly-trafficked attractions may want to show up early, even before operating hours as it could be the difference between unavoidable photo bombs and frameable keepsakes. For an additional cost, many museums and theme parks offer skip-the-line options that may be well worth the time your clients will save waiting.
Try smaller airports: Booking flights via smaller hubs could save your clients from headaches at busier airports. Airports like LAX and O’Hare are known for high percentages of flight delays during the summer months compared to smaller, neighboring hubs like John Wayne and Midway.
The Reality – How to Prepare for Crowds
Accept them: Even if your clients plan their best to avoid crowds, experienced travelers know doing so during peak season is in some ways impossible. Preparing your clients for dealing with crowds could help manage their expectations and put them in the right mindset to go with the flow and enjoy themselves.
Protect their trip: Offering protection with travel insurance can help provide the peace of mind that even if your clients’ plans don’t go perfectly, they have some safeguards in place. Should your clients get stuck at an airport because their plane has a mechanical breakdown or because of a storm, travel insurance can help give your clients the backing they need to get back on track. Even if the original airline doesn’t have seats on another flight right away, travel insurance can provide reimbursement for additional costs your clients have to pay to catch up to their itinerary. So if your clients can only find seats on another flight with another airline, you clients can go ahead and book without having to persuade the original airline to endorse their ticket.
Ways to Save
The Dream – Book in Advance with a Flexible Schedule
Time it right: The best way to save money on peak season travel is to book well in advance as prices rarely drop as summer travel dates approach. Ideally, your clients have some flexibility with their schedule and can snag the best deals by vacationing mid-week or at the early/late end of the season. Steering clear of local happenings like big summer events, religious celebrations or school breaks can also help keep costs down in addition to helping your clients travel during quieter times of year when locals are more receptive to visitors.
The Reality – Be Open to What’s Possible
Alternative lodging: Your clients may have missed the “book early” boat and be rustling up a last-minute trip. They can still save by being open to options they might not have previously considered. For instance, alternative lodging like home sharing can help travelers save when booking late.
Alternative destinations and trip types: If your clients have rigid schedules and their dream destination is out of their price range, encourage them to be flexible. Having a few destinations in mind and letting the airfare decide could help them save hundreds, as can considering counter-intuitive trip types— like cruising the Caribbean during hurricane season. Its off-season status keeps the Caribbean affordable during the summer months and while it may seem counter-intuitive, a cruise ship’s ability to redirect itself and travel to alternative ports can make for a preferable option to a resort vacation during the storm-prone summer.
Help protect their trip: If your clients aren’t sure about taking a leap of faith, telling them about how travel insurance can help with certain risks could give them the confidence they need to try a trip they hadn’t planned on. For instance, protection offers reimbursement for prepaid costs if they need to cancel because of a hurricane-related event like a cancelled flight, mandatory evacuation and more. Plus, plans provide 24/7/365 emergency assistance so your clients have help in their back pocket while traveling, anytime.
Get your clients ready for their peak season vacation by passing on these pieces of wisdom and they’ll be well on their way to unwinding along with the rest of us—crowds, costs and all—complete with a protection plan from Generali Global Assistance and a commission for you. Want to discuss other ways to earn more this summer? Contact your dedicated account manager to set up a customized sales training and to learn more about maximizing insurance take rates at your agency.
Travel insurance plans are administered by Customized Services Administrators, Inc., CA Lic. No. 821931, located in San Diego, CA and doing business as Generali Global Assistance and Insurance Services. Plans are available to residents of the U.S. but may not be available in all jurisdictions. Benefits and services are described on a general basis; certain conditions and exclusions apply. Travel Retailers may not be licensed to sell insurance, in all states, and are not authorized to answer technical questions about the benefits, exclusions, and conditions of this insurance and cannot evaluate the adequacy of your existing insurance. This plan provides insurance coverage for your trip that applies only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home and automobile policies. The purchase of this plan is not required in order to purchase any other travel product or service offered to you by your travel retailers. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer, insurance agent or broker. This notice provides general information on Generali Global Assistance’s products and services only. The information contained herein is not part of an insurance policy and may not be used to modify any insurance policy that might be issued. In the event the actual policy forms are inconsistent with any information provided herein, the language of the policy forms shall govern.
Travel insurance plans are underwritten by: Generali U.S. Branch, New York, NY; NAIC # 11231. Generali US Branch operates under the following names: Generali Assicurazioni Generali S.P.A. (U.S. Branch) in California, Assicurazioni Generali – U.S. Branch in Colorado, Generali U.S. Branch DBA The General Insurance Company of Trieste & Venice in Oregon, and The General Insurance Company of Trieste and Venice – U.S. Branch in Virginia. Generali US Branch is admitted or licensed to do business in all states and the District of Columbia.
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