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Every trip to the airport you see that one person who is drudging along weighed down by their massive carry on. Follow these tips when packing your bags
1. First decide if you are carrying a laptop, if you are choose a bag that can easily carry the weight.
2. Don’t overload on books.
3. Make sure to have a magazine when you get reading fatigue
4. iPod, iPad, or iPhone, some method of music and games
5. Don’t forget your headphones!
6. Socks are a must, airplanes are usually kept chilly, and you wont want to walk through security barefoot, ewh.
7. Even if your destination is hot I reccomemd pants and a sweater for the flight
8. Snacks, you never know how long you will sit on the runway
9. Journal, I know its old fashioned but when all your gadgets are dead you can channel your thoughts into a journal
10. Gum is a necessity for me, after a long flight a burst of minty gum is just what I need.

Sundance Vacations has teamed up with 105 The River and the Mohegan Sun at
Pocono Downs to present a weekly giveaway at each “Party on the Patio” every
Thursday night throughout the summer. Doors open at 6pm. Be sure to stop by
so you can enter to win!

Congratulations to last night’s $100 Free Play Winner, James Fovalli of
Scranton, Pa!

As a member of the US Travel Association we’ve been following the association’s efforts to launch a trusted traveler program for airline screening.  Yahoo news reported on the potential launch of the trusted traveler program for this fall.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110622/us_nm/us_usa_security_aviation

TSA has been under pressure to improve the security screening process and create a program for those business and frequent fliers willing to undergo prior security background screenings so they can speed through airport checkpoints.

“We’re working with airlines, U.S. carriers initially, to say for those who are willing to share information about themselves, what can we gain from that that would help us make informed judgments” about passenger security, TSA Administrator John Pistole told the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

We remain cautious until the details regarding the extent of information that will be required in order to participate are released.  If the program is not too onerous certainly Sundance Vacation’s tens of thousands of frequent travelers will benefit.  “Excess inventory to drive to destinations flies off the excess list so if air travel becomes easier we can expect more fly to destinations to pick up in popularity,” says Sundance Vacations founder John Dowd.

We will continue to monitor this development for our travelers.

Being on a vacation where the room rates are $500 a night does not leave much money for activities on the trip.  Instead book your Sundance vacation to the South Palm suites on the east coast of southern Florida.  Florida offers a wide variety of activities from the beautiful beaches to delectable dinners.  If you are a previous New Jersey beach traveler be sure to enjoy the dramatically fewer people on the beach than in Jersey.  Personally after a few full days on the beach I get a little restless yet I hate to give up my valuable time in the sun!  If this is you, try boating.  We used Marina One to rent a small boat for around $500.   It was a comfortable size for our family of four with plenty of room to sun bathe or just relax and admire the beautiful homes of the intra coastal.  “Relax” is the key word here.  The intra coastal although offering a harbor from the waves of the ocean is not a place for thrill seekers.  Signs reading “no wake zone” and “minimum wake zone” plaster the docks.  But while cruising slowly, if you’re lucky, you may catch a glimpse of a manatee.   Although a pricey excursion your savings with Sundance allow you to enjoy your vacation to the fullest.

Upon arriving in the Grand Tetons you may feel a sense of seclusion as the bison and Elk roam just feet from the car. Yet the rugged terrain of the Tetons is accompanied with the quaint town of Jackson.

The Grand Tetons offer a variety of activities of all ages! For the adventurous member of your family book a tour with Jackson Mountain Guides.  The tours range from difficult overnight climbs to the Teton peaks to beginner climbs in Boulder City.  We took a 5 year old on the climb in Boulder City where she was able to scale large boulders and feel the effects of true rock climbing gear and all!  The hikes are also numerous in the area.  My personal favorite is the hike at Jenny Lake. You take a leisurely ferry ride across the lake to the trailhead where you can begin your climb to Inspiration Point.  The climb is scenic with waterfalls cascading ahead of you, and wildlife just steps away not to mention the adrenaline rush when you reach the top. The views at the point are breathtaking. If hikes are not your think try a bike ride! The trails are flat and paved yet surrounded by immaculate views and wildlife.   Not adventurous enough? Try paragliding off of Jackson Hole’s Ski area.  I highly recommend Jackson Hole Paragliding! They have Tandem gliders so you can ride with a professional who might even throw in a few tricks to make the descent even more exciting!

After a long day of adventure settle town for a leisurely dinner in the quaint western town of Jackson. The town is filled with eclectic western infused shops as well as souvenirs! For higher end dinning visit the Teton Village just 10 minutes from Jackson. Whether you stroll down the streets and pop into a saloon or sit down for a five star meal Jackson is bound to have something for everyone.

Deep in the serene backwoods of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, on 60 wooded acres, sits the Dells Club Condos property.  The property is located next to the Wisconsin River and is surrounded by magnificent landscapes. Seeing as Dells Club Condos is in a rustic area, hiking, biking, fishing, boating, horseback riding, skiing, snowboarding, and golf come natural as some of the most popular local activities.

Dells Club has a heated pool with deck area, a tennis court, and a boat pier with seating, to entertain guests while on-site.  The units at Dells Club Condos come complete with a full kitchen – including a microwave, TV, VCR, a patio or balcony, and a wood-burning fireplace for the cold winter months.

Despite the peaceful surrounding, there are definitely way to make some noise during an experience in Wisconsin Dells.  Downtown Dells is a must-see during the trip: dining, shopping, art galleries, boat tours, and exciting nightlife can all be found in Downtown Dells, along with so much more.

Other attractions in Wisconsin Dells include visiting Noah’s Ark Water Park, Timbavati Wildlife Park, Cave of the Mounds, the Kalahari Indoor Theme Park, and the Ho-Chunk Indian reservation to try your luck in the casinos.  Also, there are dinner cruises, theaters, and plenty of restaurants for guests as they enjoy their stay in Wisconsin Dells.

Guests looking for a relaxing, nature-filled getaway must visit Dells Club Condos.

Every once in a while TAN receives a testimonial that really touches our hearts… just in September TAN received the following from a long-time client:

September 19, 2010

Dear folks at TAN,

The purpose of this letter is to tell you all how impressed I am with your organization. I spent the week of September 10^th through the 17^th in Branson, Missouri at the Eagle’s Nest Resort at Indian Point and I couldn’t have had a better stay, unless the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders were staying next door but anyway it was a week to remember!

My wife, Maryann, and I purchased [this vacation program] for when we both retired. But the old saying goes, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.” Maryann died last October.

My squad from Vietnam and I have remained in touch all this time and from time to time over the years have gathered to remember our buddies who didn’t make it, and to share time together.

There were approximately eight guys and one woman who attended this reunion. We learned that our friend Doc had recently undergone surgery for cancer and would have to undergo chemo when he got back. His wife very much wanted him to have a good time, and boy, did he.

Where I saw the condos we were to stay in, and met the nice people at the Eagle’s Nest I was thrilled. After a great time I had at the resort and the fantastic treatment I received from the TAN folks, I am ready to give a testimonial any time you want. The condos were much better than staying in a hotel. Every one told me what a great time they had and what a hero I was for arranging it, but I give all the credit to TAN. I still have six more chances to stay with you and am really looking forward to it.

On behalf of all my Corpsmen I want to thank you all for a trip that we will all remember.

Sincerely,
Bob Martin

P.S. Our other Corpsman would have been here but he designs golf courses and was in China. When he hears what a great time we had, he’ll be at the next one I’m sure. My wife would have loved it!

Luxury has found its home in Cape Coral: The Resort at Marina Village Inn, a 19-story hotel, offers spacious rooms, stunning views of the Caloosahatchee River, San Carlos Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico.  Each unit is sure to make you feel like a celebrity; along with modern furniture and room décor, units are equipped with a king-size bed, full kitchen including a dishwasher and a microwave, TV, internet access, telephone, washer, dryer, heating and air conditioning, and a screened lanai.  Room service is available at the resort.

The resort also offers a pool, lap pool, fitness center, clubhouse, amphitheater, tennis courts, bocce ball, a horseshoe pit, fishing, boat and kayak rentals, spas, water taxi rides to the beaches, and sunset cruises.

As for dining accommodations, The Resort at Marina Village Inn has the Marker 92 Waterfront Bar & Bistro serving up delicious cuisine nightly.  Woodfired dishes, fresh seafood, and a large wine selection at Marker 92 make it the perfect place to eat after a long day on the water.  You can dine indoors and enjoy the beautiful furnishings, or dine outdoors and enjoy the views.  The resort also offers The Nauti Mermaid Dockside Bar & Grill, where you can relax and enjoy the causal menu along with live entertainment on Friday nights, and Saturday and Sunday afternoons.  If you wish to dine in the privacy of your room, you can take pleasure in the in-room dining services.

The Resort at Marina Village Inn is a beautiful resort.  The contemporary design, numerous activities, and gorgeous sites will make for a very relaxing vacation that you’ll want to last forever.

Jayne Clark from the USAToday recently authored a story “How to get the most out of a Disney/Universal park visit”.  This is a topic of great importance among the tens of thousands of Sundance Vacations travelers.  The article recommends the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World written by Bob Sehlinger.   Some of Sehlinger’s money saving tips include:

1. Staying in a non Disney branded hotel.  We couldn’t agree more.  Sundance Vacations travelers can stay in Kissimmee (within a few minutes of the park) for just $198 for the entire week.  Dates are available through October.
2. Buy a cooler to stock breakfast items.  Travelers who stay in a typical hotel room may be forced to live out of a cooler as Sehlinger suggests but our travelers are offered accommodations that have a full kitchen which is definitely a popular benefit to traveling with Sundance Vacations.

“I have to admit that when we travel I don’t often use the kitchen in our unit.  The Disney World area is definitely among the exceptions,” advises Sundance Vacations founder, Tina Dowd.  “There is so much to do that we don’t want to waste time with a sit down breakfast; a bowl of cereal or a bagel while we get ready for the day is perfect.  We also appreciate the refrigerator for storing our own cold drinks.”

Travelers who are looking for money saving tips should visit Sundance Vacations before they book their next hotel room.

At Sundance Vacations, we do everything in our power to inform our customers of certain fees that are not prepaid with the initial vacation package purchase. We provide informative group or individual presentations for all prospective clients. During each presentation, the non-prepaid fees are made apparent and very clear. The fees are also written on a large white board by the presenter during the presentation in front of the room. Of course, the fees are also disclosed in the contract but we also recap all of the fees in a straightforward one- page summary of the contract called the Consumer Disclosure Acknowledgment. This one page summary makes it very easy for our customers to review pertinent details at a glance.

In order to provide the most for our customers, we decided to create an informational blog post on the types and costs associated with each fee. This information will also be located on our website.

There are 4 fees that are not prepaid. These fees are paid to Travel Advantage Network (TAN) by the traveler when they use the vacations:

1. Annual service charge – $29.92 month ($359.00 yearly). Many products and services have annual service fees similar to credit cards, country clubs, and gyms. Our service charge can be paid annually or monthly at the convenience of our client.
2. Processing Fee – $99.00. Clients pay a processing fee each time they make a reservation
3. Peak Season Upgrade – $30.00/night. Clients purchase a standard package and only pay this fee when they travel during our peak season time.
4. Additional Bedroom Upgrade – $30.00/night. Client may request a larger unit for an additional fee.

“Why are there extra fees?”
Have you traveled to the beach during summer, or taken a winter ski trip to the mountains? Were you distressed at the inflated or gouged rates charged during those peak travel times? Often times these rates will be double or triple the cost of a trip during off season. Our fee structure caps the amount you pay per night when vacationing during our prime/peak season.

“Why do I need to pay for an extra room?”
Have you ever needed more than one hotel room to accommodate your family? Impersonal hotels charge full price for each accommodation and give you identical rooms connected by double locked doors. Sundance clients may upgrade to a two or even three-bedroom suite (each extra bedroom sleeps two additional people) and the cost is only $30.00 per night for each additional bedroom. Because buying an additional hotel room can sometimes be well over $100 a night, we view this $30.00/night fee as one of the great benefits to our travel service.

Fees, How they Benefit Our Clients
We do not incur every expense upfront, so we don’t charge them upfront. Our clients can hold onto their money longer, and only pay fees when they are incurred. Because we collect fees, the corporation always has an incentive to fulfill vacation requests. Collecting revenue over time through this fee structure ensures the company a positive revenue stream. As a result, the fee structure functions as a built in protection for our clients.