Travel By Land
Travel By Sea
Get a Group Together
And You Travel FREE!
By Retired
Group Tour Travel Agent,
M. Bradley
McCauley
Group Leaders
Travel Free
Six
Easy Steps to FREE Cruises and Tours
By
Mary Bradley McCauley
Retired Group Tour Travel Agent
© 2015
All Rights Reserved
Copying in any format, print or electronic without
permission of the author is unauthorized.
I am M. Bradley
McCauley, inviting you to cruise
and tour FREE. I did it
for 22 years. From the Bering Sea in
Alaska, to the Fjords of Norway, I’ve traveled FREE.
I cruised to
most of the Caribbean Islands, as well as the Greek Isles. I spent a week in
Aruba enjoying all of its delights, and I drank a secret potion prepared by a
tour guide in Fiji. The trips were all FREE.
I marveled at
the majesty of the peak of Mt. McKinley in Denali Park, Alaska, and warbled the
blues in New Orleans.
I strolled through Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, gazed
transfixed at the ruins of Pompeii, and was enthralled by the art in the
Sistine Chapel in Rome.
I have been awed
by the beauty and acoustics in The Opera House in Sydney, Australia, and I will
never forget the view from the Eiffel Tower in Gay Paree!
You can do it too.
This ebook tells how in Six Easy Steps
For years I was
employed as a group cruise and tour travel director. I've made free cruises and
tours available to countless group organizer, aka, group leaders, who sailed
the Caribbean and the Hawaiian Islands . . .
FREE!
I’ve made it
possible for other cruise and tour dreamers to take FREE trips to Switzerland,
Scandinavia, Italy, Alaska, and the Far East.
How to Make Your Travel Dreams Come True.
Are you a ‘travel
dreamer'?
During spare
moments do you think about where you would go and what you would do if you had
the means to travel?
Can you imagine
yourself standing at the rail of a luxury cruise ship, watching the sunset
beyond a distant tropical island?
Does the Far
East beckon you?
Have you longed
to travel to exotic places like Singapore, Hong Kong, or Tokyo?
How about a
cruise along the Mediterranean, or the Hawaiian Islands?
Do you long to
see the historic cities of Europe, kiss the Blarney Stone, and toss a coin into
Tivoli Fountain?
Would you like
to see the snow-capped mountains of Alaska, sail the Inward Passage, touch a
Pyramid, or study the ancient culture of Peru?
 |
Me, Ice Fishing
in Nome. |
Bob R, a friend of my older brother, was a retired utility
worker, an active member of the local union and the American Legion. Many other
union members were in the Legion and Bob enjoyed being with them and Alex, his
best buddy for years. It was after Alex's untimely death that Bob took stock.
Thinking about Alex and some of the things Alex had talked about
doing someday, Bob thought of things in life he wanted to do. He made a Bucket
List. At the top of the list was to visit Australia. Bob's father had talked
about his time in Australia when he was returning from WWII.
When another buddy from the Legion passed away unexpectedly, Bob went to see a
travel agent and was discouraged. There was no way he could afford to make such
an expensive trip.
Searching the Internet, he found tour companies doing group tours. On their web
pages he learned that group travel was cheaper and group leaders traveled FREE.
He got all the details, found out how many folks needed to sign on for him to
go free and began his campaign.
Fourteen months later, Bob and his family, some of his Legion buddies,
and a few friends from church went to Australia. He went FREE, they got group
discounts.
STEP
ONE Decide where you want to go!
STEP
TWO-See a Travel Agent!
STEP
THREE-Get a Group!
STEP
FOUR -Give Travel Presentations!
STEP
FIVE – Final Preparation!
STEP SIX – On Your
Way!
Step One
Decide where you want to go!
Picture the
place clearly in your mind's eye. Think about what you want to do there, how
you'll dress, and what you will see. If your desire is to go to a certain
place, you probably know a bit about it, to begin with.
Perhaps you have
always dreamed of going to Hawaii. Close your eyes; feel the balmy breeze and
the warm Pacific Ocean waves.
Picture yourself
there. What are you wearing? Are you on the beach? Flying over a volcano?
Watching the dancers at a Luau?
Vividly see
yourself in Hawaii, or any other destination you have in mind.
Picture yourself
packing. What type of clothes will you take?
See yourself
going to the airport or the cruise port.
Check into the
hotel, or find your cabin on the ship. Feel the excitement.
Is there a let
down when you think you might never go there? What do you think might prevent
you from actually being there?
The cost? Don't let that thought spoil the scene.
Don't think about the cost right now; just picture yourself where you want to
go.
Perhaps you want
to take a cruise.
The ship is a
floating hotel. Everything is done for you from keeping your stateroom in
perfect order, serving elegant meals, and providing Vegas-style entertainment.
You sit back and
enjoy the motion of the ship, the sight of the sun glistening on the water, and
feel the ocean breeze lulling you to relax.
Maybe the Canadian Rockies are more what you desire. Take that fabulous
train ride and see the spectacular sights of Banff, Calgary, and Lake Louise.
Talk about spectacular scenery, you will never forget it.
Of course,
there's my favorite, Alaska. You can cruise the Inside Passage or take a
motor-coach tour on the ALCAN (Alaska/Canada) Highway, or
do both. I did and it was fantastic.
I've been to
Alaska three times. It is almost impossible to describe. There is something
pristine about Alaska the glaciers, the wildlife, and the openness. All combine to bring about an exhilarating
experience that is impossible to forget.
When you make a
list of places you want to go, put Alaska on it. Trust me, it's fantastic.
A tour of Europe
is on almost everyone's travel list.
A picture safari
in Africa is becoming more popular, as are tours to China.
Once I arranged
for a group to shop in Singapore and Hong Kong. It was one of those, 'shop till
you drop' tours. That brings me to another subject, specialized tours.
How about wine
tasting in France?
Maybe spend a
week studying art in Tuscany?
Or a culinary learning experience in Paris?
There is also a
winter wonderland, Christmas shopping tour in Germany or Octoberfest.
I've had people
interested in visiting the homes of great authors in England.
A member from an
Italian American club asked me to arrange a ‘find your roots tour’ for some of
its members. They each knew the area of origin of their family and asked me to
arrange the tour so they could visit each Italian city.
Take some time
right now. Sit, close your eyes, and think about where you want to go.
Write whatever
comes into your mind. Repeat places if they come to you more than once. This
could be a clue to your favorite place.
STEP TWO
See a Travel
Agent!
When you decide
where you want to go, see a travel agent and find out all the details,
including cost.
Groups usually
get a cheaper rate, and you can use this as a tool to get people to go with
you. Check out seasonal discounts.
For example, a
trip to Europe can be much less expensive January through March, and Alaska is
a cheaper buy in the cooler season.
Caribbean
cruises are more costly from November through April. That’s what is called 'peak season' in the
cruise industry.
Once you have
the details about the cruise or tour,
ask how many
people make up a group.
For most cruise lines, a seven-day or less
cruise will require 15 people paid for you, the 16th to go FREE.
On some of the
deluxe cruise lines with longer sailing, the required group is just 9
passengers for the 10th (you) to go FREE.
On one of my
Hawaii cruises I had 6 free ones. I used two, gave away two, and sold two. That was extra spending money to use on my
cruise.
Most tours
require 32 to 40 in your group to get your own private bus, but don't let that
scare you. Once you get started, you'll find out how easy it is to get a group
together.
Ask your agent
how many are needed for you to get a FREE
trip.
Find out if it
includes transportation to the destination. Not all tour companies and cruise
lines include free air. My FREE cruise on the Mediterranean included round-trip
air from New York to Genoa, Italy. My FREE cruise in Hawaii did not include
free air.
Be sure to know
exactly what is included. The people signing up for your cruise or tour do not
want any hidden costs.
Are side tours
included?
My trip to
Scandinavia included daily tours, while my trip to Australia and New Zealand
had only one tour in each country. Additional tours were
optional.
This worked out
okay, since several of the people in my group wanted to see sights that not all
the people wanted to see.
My choice is to
have some tours included and have a day or two free for optional tours in
various locations. My tour to Tuscany in Italy had wonderful sightseeing tours
included as well as two free days to do your own thing. On cruises, most all
port tours -- or shore excursions, as they are called -- are optional. People
usually sign up for them on board the ship.
I always have a
list of the shore excursions to give to my group travelers prior to the cruise.
That way they know when they get on board what they want to do in each port.
It's important
to be knowledgeable about the tour. Drive your travel agent nuts with your
questions. Find out if the agency will supply you with flyers and brochures
with your name and telephone number as the contact person. Will they set up a
web site for your Tour?
If you aren't
satisfied with one agency, go to another until you find one you feel will
support you. Not all travel agencies are adept at group tours. Some specialize
in corporate travel, some in cruises, and some in leisure. Make sure the agency
you choose has experience with groups. Get references and check 'em out.
The Travel
Agency industry is a competitive business. A reliable agency will be more than
happy to answer your questions, work with you from start to finish, and make it
easy for you to promote your group.
If the agency
does not offer to work with you, go to another until you feel comfortable and
sure of them.
STEP THREE
Get a Group!
How in the world
do you get a group?
Where do you
find the people to make up the group?
There are many
ways. Word of mouth is one.
Tell members of
your family, your friends, your co-workers, parents, or your children’s friend;
people you know from activities you are involved with.
When you have
talked to everyone you know, then what? Check out church groups, Rotary Clubs,
the Elks, Moose, VFW, any organization you can have access to.
Retired military
groups are great sources.
Senior citizen
groups are phenomenal. They have the time, most often they have the money, and
they enjoy letting someone else do the planning and take care of the details.
Ask if you may
post one of your agency-supplied brochures/flyers in their meeting place.
Anywhere there is a bulletin board; ask if you can place one of your flyers.
Have flyers or brochures with your contact number handy to
pass out to those who express an interest in your cruise or tour.
Some group
organizers put small ads in regional publications and church bulletins. The ads
can read,
"Join a local group on a cruise/ tour to
(your
destination). Call (your name and number),
for details
and group rates."
Editors of local
newspapers look for fillers for the paper. A story about your up-coming trip
might be of interest to them.
If you've
learned all you can about the place you are going to visit, or the cruise you
plan to make, write a feature article that would attract interested people.
Offer it to the local news source as filler.
Be enthusiastic! Be excited! Energy
creates energy. People will pick up on your excitement.
I remember once
when I was at a son's baseball game, I was excitedly talking about my upcoming
tour
to Las Vegas. Three people sitting in the bleachers asked
me for information and two signed up and went with me. The third one got a
group of his friends together and went FREE.
Make a list of
anyone you know who could be interested.
Send information
to all your e-mail buddies and ask them to forward the information on to any
friends they think might be interested.
Use the internet. Set up a web site. If you aren’t able to do that, ask your travel agent to set one
up for you with the details of your trip.
Anyone who responds to the web site becomes part of one of your groups.
You never know
when a friend of a friend of a friend has been hoping to go on the same tour or
take that special cruise.
You don't have
to restrict yourself to people who live in your area.
If you decide to
take a cruise, people can meet you at the port. For tours, they can meet you at
your point of departure.
On several of my
Switzerland tours, people came from other states. Several in my group connected
with us in New York, and some in Zurich, Switzerland.
Don't limit your
contacts. The more people who know, the more will go.
When I have
people from other areas meet us, I always make sure they have nametags and ask
them to wear them so I can easily spot them at the airport.
Several people
from another state joined my group in Las Vegas. They were to meet me at the
airport since my plane was arriving after theirs. They misunderstood, took a
shuttle to the hotel, and it took two days before we ever really connected in
person. We chatted on the phone assured
me they were having a grand time and asked me to put them on my mailing list
for future trips.
Believe me, once you let people know you are planning on
getting groups together for cruises and tours, people will come to you.
In time, some of
them will want to go FREE also. When that happens, you can work with the
travel agent and receive a commission.
$$$$.
STEP FOUR -
Give Travel presentations!
Give travel
presentations. Your travel agent should be able to accompany you to
presentations to interested people. Most clubs and organizations are looking
for a program.
Provide light
refreshments. Rent a meeting room at a local hotel, if necessary, and
advertise, "FREE TRAVEL
NIGHT!"
Have plenty of
brochures and/or flyers available. Be sure the travel agent is there to answer
all the questions.
Sometimes a sales rep from a cruise line or tour company will give the presentation. See if
the agent will give door prizes. They usually have travel bags from major
companies.
When I had
several group organizers working with me, I had a monthly' Dutch-treat'
luncheon, where I presented new tours and cruise ideas. I usually had a representative from one of
the major tour or cruise companies make a presentation. I always had plenty of
brochures and flyers for my group organizers to give out to others.
If you aren't comfortable as a public
speaker, get a video of your cruise or tour. If large groups make you
uncomfortable, have a few people come to your home.
Get friends to
invite their friends to an informal get-together. I've had sessions similar to
product home parties and have given the person who invited the people a gift,
usually a travel bag from the travel agency.
Travel size
toiletries given to the attendees will often get them in the mood to travel.
A bank director had me
present monthly travel programs for some of its members. They also advertised
my tours in their monthly mail-out and offered members a discount on the tour.
A retirement
community let me publish a travel column in their monthly newsletter. I always
included details of one of my major tours at the end of the article.
I read brochures, learned what was available
in the areas, and wrote my own version. Now and then they invited me to give
travel presentations to their group.
I worked with a
church group that had me arrange day tours to area attractions, shopping trips,
and dinner excursions for their seniors.
I always went on
those short trips and handed out information about my major tours and
cruises.
Never pass up an
opportunity to give travel presentations.
STEP FIVE
Final Preparation - Deposits
Deposits are important because they mean the people are serious about going.
Cruise lines and tour companies always have deposit requirements. Make sure
they are refundable up to a certain time.
On all my tours,
deposits are refundable up until final payment. I suggest people take
cancellation insurance on tours over $400.00.
I've had several
people sure they wouldn't cancel and then either an accident caused them to be
unable to go, or a problem with a family member forced them to cancel.
All checks and
credit card payments are made to the "Agency," who then pays the tour
company, airlines, or cruise lines. Your only requirement is to get the people
on the trip. The agency should take care of all the necessary travel
arrangements.
Once you have
your group together and all payments are made, your next involvement is to be
sure everyone gets their travel vouchers.
I usually have a
get-together with light refreshments. If you are unsure of your ability to do
this alone, have your travel agent present to answer any last-minute questions.
There will
always be questions; like, 'what do I wear?', or, 'how much cash should I
bring?' My answers are usually,
"pack light," and "$50.00 a day," if meals are
included in the tour.
If you're going
out of the country, what is the exchange rate? What about the food and water? Are
they safe?
Are you going
somewhere that requires immunizations? How about tipping?
Tour companies
and cruise lines have printed information about the tour or cruise. Be sure you
have read the information and checked out any questions that you might be
asked.
It is important to know before you
go.
STEP SIX
On Your Way FREE!
You have gone
from dreamer to ‘doer,’ and you are ready to take that FREE cruise or
tour.
These are the
final details.
Contact each
member of the group, reminding them of departure time and place; also remind
them to wear their name tags, and to be sure they take all medications in their
carry-on bags.
Pack your
bags. Lock up the house. Meet your group and ENJOY your FREE cruise
or tour!
After you have a
little experience, develop a following, you can go to a travel agency and
become one of their outside sales reps, which is what I did. I had a 50/50
commission split with them and got all the free trips too; most I gave to my
group leaders.
That’s it. Follow these steps and you too will be
traveling FREE
STEP
ONE Decide where you want to go!
STEP
TWO-See a Travel Agent!
STEP
THREE-Get a Group!
STEP
FOUR -Give Travel Presentations!
STEP
FIVE – Final Preparation!
STEP
SIX – On Your Way!
M. Bradley McCauley is a writer and
retired group tour travel consultant living in middle Tennessee.
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© 2015 Copying or
reproducing in any format, print or electronic, without written permission of
the author is unauthorized
All information here is based on
the author’s personal experience as a Group Tour Travel Agent.
This article is for information only.
Images are from Public Domain, free to use
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