Travel By Land
Travel By Sea
Get Friends Together
And You Travel FREE
Group Leaders Travel Free
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 major 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.
Group Leaders Travel FREE!
You Can Do It Too!
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?
Bob R, a friend of my older brother, is a retired cable line worker, an active member of the local union and the American Legion. Many other union members were in the Legion. Bob enjoyed being with them and Alex, his best buddy for years. It was afterAlex untimely death that Bob took stock.
Thinking about Alex and some of the things he had talked about doing some day, 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 he needed to sign on the tour 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.
You Can Do It
It’s all in this Six Steps to FREE Cruises and Tours eBook.
- 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 motorcoach tour on the ALCAN (Alaska/Canada) Highway, or do both. I did and it was fantastic. A five-day cruise followed by a five-day motorcoach tour. So spectacular.
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 the Octoberfest.
I've had people interested in visiting the homes of great authors in England.
A member of 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 during 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 motorcoach but don't let that scare you. Once you get started, you'll find out how easy it is to get a group together. That's in Step Three!
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 website 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). Contact: (your name, email and/or website)
for details and group rates."
Editors of local newspapers look for fillers for the paper. A story about your upcoming 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 son's baseball games, 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 my group.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 website. 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 website 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 and they 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 -
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 questions.
Sometimes the 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 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 lets 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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All information in this eBook is based on the author’s personal experience as a Group Tour Travel Agent.
Article is for information only.
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