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Adventures For Singles Newsletter
November 2008
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Dear Suzy,
We just mailed out over 6,000 color brochures. If you do
not receive one, it's because we do not have your address
(or you live outside the USA.) Please submit to us along
with adresses of friends who may be interested in travel.
I'll be happy to mail them out as I have enough left overs
to wallpaper my house.
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2009 Trip Response
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The response to our 2009 trips has been surprisingly stellar.
Within 3 days of posting, the Jordan, Kenya, Mt. Kili and
Antarctica trips sold out and are now waitlisted.
New for 2009
And you book online as well using your credit card and the  button
found among the navigation tabs on the left. |
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Conde Nast Top 100
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Check out the November issue of Conde Nast Traveler magazine to
read the interesting annual "Top 100 Readers Choice Awards",
which rates airlines, cruiselines, hotels, cities, countries
etc. For top European islands: Mykonos #1, Crete #2 and Rhodes
#9 (We do all these this April.) For top Asia: Bali ranked #2
(We do it in September.) For cities: Salzburg #5 (AFS in
September) and Prague #10 (AFS in June.) This issue also has a
great article "Etiquette 101 USA" from surveys of foreigners on
how they view Americans.
http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/500080
For example, they think we eat funny, make small talk too
often, treat our pets like kids, don't dress that well and
that they know more about us than we know about them. It's
an interesting sociology read.
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Trip Status for 2009
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India March - We had 2 cancellations and time
is running out. Don't miss this exotic "Taj & Tigers" trip of a
lifetime for just $1595 land cost. We may not be presenting
this again for years to come!
Easter Cruise to Turkey & Greece (April)
We have a whopping 10 spaces available. Everyone loves to
cruise because you unpack once and meals are included. Come
explore the islands of Crete, Rhodes (my favorite), Epheusu
and spend 2 full days in exciting Istanbul. You may have
visited Santorini and Mykonos already, I have a dozen
times, yet I still love returning to these pearls in the
blue Adriatic. April is a great time to go because it's not
too crowded and the temps average a comfortable 72 degrees.
Crossing Jordan (May) - Fully booked but do
waitlist. To this we added a more extensive tour to Israel
including Nazareth, Tiberius, Megiddo (Armageddon),
Capernaum, sailing Sea of Galilee and more for only $565
land.
 Food
for travel thought..."The only things I own
which are still worth what they cost me are my travel
memories." - Burton Holmes Glob Totter for 70 years!
Last week I read a fascinating article in Travel Agent
Magazine about the poor economy, greed on Wall St.,
imprudent bank loans and people who took a vacation from
responsibility. The writer's opinion was that people have
lost touch with common sense values and have become obsessed
with materialism, with things. She now believes that we are
entering a period if correction that will bring us back to
traditional values that are ultimately more fulfilling than
mere possessions -- that people will come to realize that
the most important things in life are meaningful
experiences. In other words, a new shift in societal
consciousness and values will begin to emerge. And this
will play to travel strengths. Travel strengths are both
catharsis and escapism.
At AFS, we're in the business of providing both seductive
types of experience. Her insight may prove to be correct.
Cars aren't selling, but our trips are filling up as well as
ever.
Airline Tickets: If you booked air
recently the prices of late may have left you
shell-shocked. Bob Harrell, president of a travel and
aviation consulting firm states domestic fares are up 25%
over last year, while fares to Europe will be dropping down
20% on average. We encourage you to search your own air for
our trips. There are a gazillion online tools now for
locating good deals. Feel free to phone us as well.
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What About Fuel Surcharges?
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Good news! Oil is dropping. Not good news, airlines aren't
dropping their fuel surcharges (or not by much.) Cruiselines
are beginning to eliminate them. Airlines do not feel they have
to as long as passengers are willing to pay. It's evident they
are willing, as most flights are near capacity. Perhaps we
should lobby against this unfair surcharge.
Shopping Overseas?...If the shoe fits,
charge it!
I've seen clients go AWOL shopping abroad often buying
dozens of the same item. I saw purchases of furniture in
Kenya (never arrived), a chandelier in Venice (sent in a box
of a million pieces), a wedding gown in Florence (in case
she ever found a groom) and a car in Munich (not worth the
hassle.) Little things are fine even if they end up at
Goodwill.
But how do you get big items home? Repeat this mantra, "If
you can't take it with you, step away." If that's to
distressing, then arrange to ship it yourself. Ask hotel
for advice. If it's a major purchase, always check the
stores credentials with the local hotel or tourist board and
use a credit card.
Shed Some Pounds to Lighten Your Load
Delta adds a new bag fee. On Dec. 5 Delta will now
charge $15 for your first checked bag and $25 for a
second. If it exceeds 50lbs $90 will be assessed for
domestic routes and a whopping $150 on international!
Weigh your bags on your bathroom scale.
Tuesday we're off to Thailand and Cambodia leadind a
wonderful group of 54 people returning November 23.
That's all for now. I sincerely hope to see you on another
adventure in 2009.
Suzy Davis
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