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A Great Time to
Travel
By John
Collins
 Immediately following the events of Sept. 11, 2001, the travel industry came to a screeching halt. Trips for business and pleasure were postponed or cancelled. The travel industry changed. But today, as spirits strengthen, people are ready to hit the road.
Travel has, in many ways, changed for the better. Though you may not see the super-cheap discounts that were so prevalent late last fall, the travel industry is still offering incentives.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) and their many travel partners are developing special "Freedom to Travel" deals everyday for members. Whether you're looking for a low-cost cruise, a cheap weekend away, discount lodging or bargains on attractions, check out value-based packages at
www.aaa.com.
Cruise lines were suffering after Sept. 11, so much so that Carnival Cruise Lines not only tried donating a portion of each cruise fare to charity and raising travel agent commissions to 20 percent, but also dropped their fares. And while cabins are now starting to fill back up, good deals can still be had.
Timing is everything. To take advantage of deals today, you need to act fast. Browse the Internet for bargains on sites such as
www.expedia.com or www.bestfares.com. Don't wait for the Sunday newspaper's travel section to get "in the know," because it'll probably be too late.
Check with your travel agent or online for special deals offered through travel tour companies. Collette Vacations, for example, began offering discounts last fall and even developed a tour series focusing on rediscovering America. For more information on their Great American Treasures Series tours or others, call 877/760-7617 or visit
www.collettevacations.com.
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