Exito Travel Official Blog !

Luckily, when it comes to travel to Latin America, some recent airfare and flight changes make it one of the best times to get up, and out of town.

Select “fall sale” fares have completely eliminated fuel surcharges.
Save an average of $300 per ticket by booking right now. Sales end soon.

SAMPLE ROUND TRIP FARES, TOTAL COST, INCLUDING ALL TAXES

At these rates, spending a week abroad could cost less than a holiday weekend flight in the US!  Subject to change. Restrictions apply. Availability is limited.

Groups of 10+:  Call : 800 655 4054, or complete a Group Request Form
1-9 passengers: Book Online or call 800 655 4053

For travelers, particularly groups, added flight service equates to better itinerary choices, and more lower-fare seats available to more destinations

Featured Changes For Latin America:

• Delta adds service to Tegucigalpa, Honduras
• TAM Brazilian Airlines adds direct service from Orlando to Sao Paolo
• TACA adds connection service to Paraguay
• Delta adds direct service from New York to Buenos Aires
• American and Delta add new flights to Brazil, to such popular destinations as Salvador, Manaus, and Fortaleza.

American Airlines is offering double Aadvantage miles on flights to Salvador de Bahia, or Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Date and registration restrictions apply. Book an applicable flight with Exito and find out how to earn double miles when flying round-trip between Nov 4th 2008 and Feb 15th 2009.  PLUS, ask an Exito Group Specialist about how to save over $50 off of the lowest, published fare for groups of 10+ traveling to these Brazil destinations, and more.

It’s the same challenge for most groups: How to find a group airfare option that fits the total budget, without having to pay in full right away, or otherwise risk paying more later, as the fare, taxes and/or fuel charges continue to skyrocket?

In the current airfare market, there is an inherent risk of paying more tomorrow for what was quoted today. Even when a “guaranteed” group rate is available, this guarantee typically applies only the base fare, and not to taxes, or the ever-increasing fuel surcharges, which can be as much as $300 per ticket. A group fare booked today can end up being hundreds higher by the time the group is ready to issue tickets.

There is a refreshing exception. Exito group specialists can now offer a guaranteed rate on select group fares INCLUDING taxes and fees. Book today with a deposit, and lock in todays total price, even if the final purchase is months away. While other group bookings fluctuate from rising fuel costs and annual tax adjustments, Exito’s qualifying group rates stay put, allowing groups the chance of actually staying within a set budget.

Here’s how it works:

1. Contact an Exito Group Specialist and request a quote for a group flight, specifying an interest in a guaranteed total rate. Phone: 800 655 4054 . *Minimum group size is 10 people, traveling on an identical itinerary*

2. Once a suitable itinerary is confirmed for the group, pay a standard group deposit, up to $100 per seat, to lock in the space and the price for the group. Deposits are either refunded or applied to the purchase price, provided the group abides by the airlines stated cancellation and minimum utilization policy. Note: Flights departing within 90 days may have special deposit and payment requirements.

3. Provide all passenger names and payment by the airline’s quoted deadline; typically 30-60 days prior to departure. *No surprise fees or extra taxes will be charged on qualifying fares, according to the initial quote*

This option is available to groups of at least 10 people traveling together, on select airlines, subject to availability of group space and according to specific airline policies, which are subject to change. Round trip travel must originate in the US, and include select destinations in:

Mexico - Guatemala - Costa Rica- Honduras - Belize - El Salvador
Nicaragua - Ecuador - Peru- Venezuela - Chile - Argentina - Brazil - Colombia

Contact an Exito Group Airfare Specialist for further details and to find your guaranteed group fare, now.

Phone: 800 655 4054

Email: groups@exitotravel.com

One of the most exciting things about contemplating a trip to Latin America is discovering the diversity of sustainable travel options. Staying in a remote “ecolodge” in Costa Rica or Ecuador, joining a cultural heritage tour in Peru, or enrolling in a Spanish immersion course in Guatemala are popular travel options that ideally benefit the local community and conserve its resources. There are ever increasing ways to enjoy connecting with a new culture, while striving to minimize the negative impacts of tourism.

Some people go a leap further by having a true “hands on” approach, choosing to focus firmly on service over sightseeing. Participants travel as a group to volunteer their skills for projects aimed at directly improving the lives of others, a.k.a. “mission trips”. Some example of groups recently booked with Exito include:

Burners Without Borders: Aiding in reconstruction efforts in Peru, after last year’s 8.0 earthquake.

Centura Medical Missions : Medical teams aiding health care facilities in Peru and Nepal

Nova University : Dentistry mission to northeastern Brazil

And, there is everything in between. A whole branch of the travel industry, aptly named “VolunTourism“, serves the increasing number of people who want to combine travel with some amount of volunteer or research work. A variety of travel companies and non-profit organizations endeavor to play the role of matchmaker, carefully putting well-intentioned people together with current projects. A couple of interesting examples:

Earthwatch puts volunteers to work “in the field”, collecting data for ongoing conservation studies focusing on anything from climate change to loss of habitat to lost civilizations. Volunteers who might find the idea of viewing wildlife “up close” in a place like Brazil exciting already, are invited through participation to gain a deeper understanding of the subject at hand, and about key conservations issues. Programs are designed to encourage researchers to apply what they learn back home.

Cultural Embrace provides guidance and placement services for groups and individuals engaging in a variety of volunteer activities, in and beyond Latin America. Volunteers choose from working in an orphanage or school, to taking part in wildlife conservation or construction projects. In many cases language immersion courses and a bit of sightseeing are either already included or can be added to the itinerary as a way of rounding out the ideal volunteer-travel “package”.

A recent Careerbuilder.com survey found that 25% of Americans plan to do some amount of work while on vacation, implying an expectation to stay connected to the job at home. Choosing to dedicate time and energy to a local project could result in a refreshing change of habit, a way to stay engaged with the “here and now” of the destination; ideally leaving the place, and the traveler, in better condition than they were before.