Travel Mates by Vantage

 

Looking for a travel companion?
Join TravelMates today!

Vantage just posted this on FB

Would you try this as a solo traveler?

 

If you love to travel but prefer not to go solo, look to TravelMates. Vantage’s free service, exclusively for MyPortfolio users, is an online community where you can connect with like-minded people who share your love for discovery. Just complete our brief, online profile form where you can post your photo and share any personal information (where you’re interested in traveling, hobbies and interests, favorite destinations, what you’re looking for in a companion, and other preferences) that might help you connect with a potential travel pal.
The next step is to search other TravelMates profiles and send messages to anyone with whom you might be compatible. We help you make the initial connection, and then you can pursue the friendship (or not) any way you choose.

Benefits of TravelMates:

• Easy way to meet new friends and travel partners.
• More choice. You’ll have plenty of options for finding someone with whom you are compatible – even a potential roommate.
• Save money by not having to pay a Single Supplement should you choose to room with your TravelMatesfriend.
• Enrich your life! Finding the right Travel Mates can lead to rewarding lifelong friendships, new social and professional contacts, and even romance.
• Reconnect with people you met on past trips.

TravelMates Terms and Conditions

Contact Vangtage for details, I do not promote or sell any travel services

2014 NO SOLO SUPPLEMENT!

Thanks to Sharron with  Palm Court Travel/Cruise Brothers we have a list of 2014 sailings with NO solo supplement.
You can reach her on FB at Cruises & More Travel Services

Her contact information is at the end of her list

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NORTHERN EUROPE 10           May 11,2014      Genoa, Italy        Amsterdam (IJmuiden), Holland   Costa Cruises / Costa neoRomantica   3.0         $1,493   $1,493   0%         No Supplement!                12           Jun 1,2014           Amsterdam, Holland        Amsterdam, Holland        Costa Cruises / Costa neoRomantica       3.0         $2,403   $2,403   0%         No Supplement!                12           Jun 25,2014        Amsterdam, Holland        Amsterdam, Holland        Costa Cruises / Costa neoRomantica       3.0         $2,663   $2,663   0%         No Supplement! #             14           Jul 7,2014            Amsterdam, Holland        Amsterdam, Holland        Costa Cruises / Costa neoRomantica       3.0         $3,428   $3,428   0%         No Supplement!                12           Jul 21,2014          Amsterdam, Holland        Amsterdam, Holland        Costa Cruises / Costa neoRomantica       3.0         $2,923   $2,923   0%         No Supplement!                12           Aug 2,2014          Amsterdam, Holland        Amsterdam, Holland        Costa Cruises / Costa neoRomantica       3.0         $2,923   $2,923   0%         No Supplement!                12           Aug 26,2014       Amsterdam, Holland        Amsterdam, Holland        Costa Cruises / Costa neoRomantica       3.0         $2,663   $2,663   0%         No Supplement!                10           Sep 7,2014          Amsterdam, Holland        Savona, Italy       Costa Cruises / Costa neoRomantica   3.0         $1,493   $1,493   0%         No Supplement!                11           Sep 7,2014          Amsterdam, Holland        Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy            Costa Cruises / Costa neoRomantica     3.0         $1,493   $1,493   0% GREEK ISLANDS Feb 24,2014        Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy            Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy            Costa Cruises / Costa neoRomantica       3.0         $1,493   $1,493   0%         No Supplement!                11           Mar 7,2014         Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy            Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy               Costa Cruises / Costa neoRomantica         3.0         $1,623   $1,623   0%         No Supplement!                11           Apr 9,2014          Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy            Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy               Costa Cruises / Costa neoRomantica         3.0         $1,623   $1,623   0%         No Supplement!                11           Apr 20,2014        Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy            Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy               Costa Cruises / Costa neoRomantica         3.0         $1,623   $1,623   0%         No Supplement!                11           Sep 18,2014        Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy            Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy               Costa Cruises / Costa neoRomantica         3.0         $1,623   $1,623   0%         No Supplement!                14           Oct 17,2014        Athens (Piraeus), Greece Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy            Silversea / Silver Spirit          6.0         $5,950   $7,438   25%      Suite!                11           Dec 24,2014       Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy            Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy               Costa Cruises / Costa neoRomantica         3.0         $1,753   $1,753   0%         No Supplement!

Am I just a CHEAP traveler?

I had to stop and think this week, “why do travel agents not understand value vs price?”   

Am I just a CHEAP traveler to all the agents who contact ME to to book a trip or more often my transatlantic crossings?    Endlessly I explain how I view travel and particularly transportation costs.
OF COURSE I prefer to travel business class, OF COURSE I enjoy a balcony on my 2 or 3 week sailings but I have a yearly travel budget.

I travel to add stories to my blogs and to experience new locations.   I don’t want to find a perfect place 15 years from now and say, ‘wish I had been here sooner’!

Therefore I take the yearly budget and divide it between all the trips I want to take each year.   If the location is more expensive to travel to or in, then I must devote more funds to that trip.

If I am spending 6 or 8 weeks Home To Italy, I can budget more closely since I rent apartments there or have Monasterystays.com book me into great convent hotels along my travel route.     I can live in Italy for less than in Atlanta, GA!

As I plan an additional trip for 2013 there are endless choices where I can spend my money.    Planning a 30+ day trip to maximize where I can travel, who I can interview and what special events I can attend is a tedious job.   Idea lists, maps and finally a spread sheet summarizing the ‘opportunities’ consume my time and every flat surface in my home:
the spare room has the side trip to Turkey,  the dining room is the command center, the den is the sorting and posting room……   is there an easier way?

Of course if I went to one location and experienced one town in one country, this would be far simpler but I have a limited number of years to see it all and do it all.

So travel professionals, I am NOT JUST CHEAP,  I am careful and a planner.

Do you spend more than 10k a year on travel?