Local travel agencies

Local travel agencies

By Tiffany Young Friday, 26 June 2009

While health, crime and the beginning of hurricane season, which began June 1, are keeping some vacationers from traveling to Mexico, others are taking advantage of the low prices and deals being offered.

Mexico has been affected by low tourism turnout this year, which led to VivaAerobus ceasing operations out of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at the beginning of June, but many Austin travel agents say cruises to Mexico are the way to go.

Don Kurtz of Paradise Vacation and Travel Co. said many travelers are still going on cruise ships to Cozumel, where he visited recently and felt safe. But he added that he had not sold any packages to interior Mexico in a while.

Diana Whiteside, an Austinite and Anderson High School graduate, opened Cruise Holidays of Northwest Austin in the Gateway Shopping Center about a year and a half ago after teaching sixth grade geography at Cedar Valley Middle School. Specializing in cruises, she agrees that cruises are a great way to travel, especially if you are concerned about safety.

“People ask about hurricanes all the time, and what I always tell them is the ship moves — [allowing it to] avoid the hurricane,” Whiteside said. “And travel towns are not where the violence is — that is about 400 to 500 miles inward.”

However, she advises tourists to practice safety while abroad.

“We tell people to only visit legitimate businesses, always leave an itinerary with a family member at home and that there is safety in numbers, so go on excursions with a group,” Whiteside said.

In mid-May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention removed its travel health warning for H1N1 swine flu in Mexico, meaning it should be safe for U.S. travelers. The CDCP, however, recommends that high-risk travelers, such as small children and adults over 65 years old, see a doctor before making the trip.

For specialized information on planning a trip, booking through a local travel agency can offer travel tips and information on specific destinations.

“Travel deals can be found online and with local travel agencies, but a local agency can offer personalized service you would not receive online,” said Karen Brice, director of leisure sales for Accent Travel/American Express. “Local agencies can also help to minimize cancellation penalties from travel vendors.”

For more information on safe travel, visit www.cdc.gov/travel.

Local travel agencies in northwest Austin*

• AAA Travel - Austin North, 13376 US 183 N., Ste. 108, 335-5222, www.aaa.com
• Accent Travel/American Express, 10710 Research Blvd., Ste., 328, 338-0444, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , www.accent-travel.com
• Cruise Holidays of Northwest Austin, 9901 N. Capital of Texas Hwy., Ste. #220, 338-8880, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , www.cruiseholidays.com/northwestaustin
• Easy Tours of India, Arboretum, 10000 Research Blvd., Ste. 250, 345-1122, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , www.easytoursofindia.com
• Paradise Vacation and Travel Co., Inc., 418-0290, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , http://paradisevacationandtravel.com
• Sterling Vacations, 345-7755, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , www.sterlingvacations.com
• Above and Beyond Travel, 3720 Far West Blvd., Ste. 109, 346-4793, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , www.aabtvl.com

* While Community Impact attempted to include all locally owned agencies within the Northwest Austin edition’s distribution area, this list may not be comprehensive.