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Create your customized road trip in just a few clicks..

Authentik is an online platform dedicated to simplifying the planning of tailor-made road trips for families and couples.

With this in mind, the company has innovated by creating the world's first road trip planner.

Your dream trip in 3 easy steps:  

1- Choose your road trip

Explore unique itineraries and select the one that captivates you.

2- Modify it online

Customize your itinerary to suit your desires in just a few clicks.

Get your price instantly and set off on your adventure.

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Helping travelers make their dreams come true by simplifying road trip planning.

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We created Authentik to revolutionize the tourism industry and how to plan a trip. We do this day after day thanks to a mindset relying on innovation. The status quo just doesn't suit us.

Since the company was founded in 2002, we have engaged in a continuous improvement plan and we aim for nothing less than thorough quality. Although we do not deem ourselves as perfect, we are determined to become perfect.

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We are genuinely like a big family, and we like to care for each other. We are equally kind to Mother Nature, to whom we donate  1% of our sales .

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We are a group of experienced, well-travelled and highly educated travel experts who are passionate about delivering personalized service to each and every client. We derive inspiration from working with you to plan travel to your dream destinations and help to Create Your Best Days Ever!

We have travelled to most of the places on our website and many others that aren’t as yet featured, as pinned on Our Destinations map.

Our travel experts have researched and experience first-hand many of the tours and ideas presented on our website and have hundreds more to offer from our preferred tourism partners around the world. Attending travel trade conferences, workshops and tradeshows (whether in person or virtually online) and taking continuing education courses keeps us up to date on the ever changing travel landscape.

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How online booking has changed the travel agent landscape

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Travel agent jobs have dipped sharply, dropping about 70% between 2000 and 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The proliferation of online travel companies has made it easy for deal hunters, armchair travellers, and business travel planners to track information and find the best deals at their fingertips. But don't count out travel agents yet—many are seeing a resurgence as travel recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

TravelPerk used BLS data to analyze the decline in U.S. employment of travel agents over time, comparing employment to a timeline of online travel resources that have propelled online booking.

It's important to note the differences between various booking option services available to customers. Travel agents help clients in planning their trips by arranging travel with suppliers. Examples of their suppliers include package tours, travel insurance, railways, cruise lines, car rentals, airlines, hotels, and so on. A travel agent's clients include corporations, groups, or individuals, who often have very different travel needs and expectations.

Business travellers, for example, are spending 50% less on travel than pre-pandemic, but as they steadily return, many have concerns including mitigating costs as in-person conferences restart and anticipating changing entry restrictions, especially for international travel. Leisure travellers may turn to agents to recommend lower-risk—but still scenic—vacation destinations.  

Travel agents can own their business or work for an agency owned by someone else. Instead of working with travellers on an itinerary from the ground up, a tour operator, in contrast, will arrange specific packages with suppliers such as airlines and hotels.

They will then offer these packages to their customers. Booking sites, on the other hand, make it possible for travellers tailor-fit their travel arrangements and book them on their own, whether it's just a short weekend jaunt or a month-long international business trip.

Travel is forecast to return closer to pre-pandemic levels in 2023— the U.S. Travel Association projects that next year leisure spending will return to 2019 levels and business travel will climb to 88% of 2019 spending. Read on to learn more about how these online booking sites have changed the travel agent landscape.

Travel agent jobs experience a drastic decline

The internet has significantly impacted travel—fundamentally transforming the experience itself and upending the way the industry functions. As traditional operators struggled to adapt, new brands began to emerge. The industry's digital disruption started in the '90s and has continued steadily.

In 1994, Travelweb.com, the first comprehensive worldwide hotel properties catalog online, appeared. It would soon include a feature allowing customers to make online bookings. Then, in 1995, the Internet Travel Network claimed to oversee the first online airline reservation. ITN was the forerunner of GetThere, the reservation system for corporate travel .

In 2000, it sold to Sabre , which ran an automated airline seat reservation system. Also in 1995, Viator Systems—​​​​now known as Viator—started a travel technology business that helped provide bookings for excursions and destination tours online.

In 1996, a new player entered the online travel bookings world: Expedia. This online platform was Microsoft's foray into online travel. This attempt has been incredibly successful, given its spot as one of the world's top online travel agencies. At a time before e-commerece was widely adopted, Expedia gave consumers price comparisons for flights, car, and hotels—and the means to easily and safely book them on the site. The website's first advertisement touted that everyday people could now use " the same reservation system" as travel agents.

That same year, partly inspired by the U.S. airline Southwest, Ryanair introduced its famously low-cost airline model, transforming Europe's airline industry by allowing travelers to book directly on airline websites. Bypassing travel agents and online booking platforms cuts out service fees and commissions, and also allows users to pick any flight the airline offered—not just the ones selected by a third party.  

Other players that emerged in the '90s include Lastminute.com, Travelocity, FareChase, and Priceline. FareChase used metasearch, working as a search engine that gathered fares from booking websites for hotels, airlines, and agencies. This platform laid the groundwork for other online booking solutions like Skyscanner, TravelSupermarket, Kayak, and Sidestep, which operated as one-stop-shops to find deals across different airline and company websites.

In that same decade, information about travel destinations became more accessible to consumers. In 1995, Jeff Greenwald became the first travel blogger when he published a travel article for Global Network Navigator. While travel blogging isn't the same as making online bookings, it also makes a difference in the travel agent landscape.

As information proliferates online about travel how-tos and destinations, more and more people are inspired to plan trips and make travel decisions—including booking and ticketing—rather than relying on the expertise of a travel agent.

The 2000s further accelerated changes in the travel industry

Tripadvisor was founded in 2000 and had a mission to help people make better travel decisions. The company organized hotel listings, making them more searchable, and ranked hotels based on travellers' reviews. With this information at their fingertips, prospective travellers could book using the recommendations of other travellers instead of a travel agent.

After Sept. 11, it took nearly three years for airline travel to return to previous levels after a high of 65.4 million passengers in August 2001. As the travel industry dealt with the downturn in business and leisure trips, these online platforms became the saving grace for operators like hotels and airlines who needed to sell large amounts of available inventory . The travel industry's reliance on these platforms remains to this day.

Another shift came in 2003 when IAC purchased Expedia. IAC's constellation of websites, led by Barry Diller, attracts up to 2 billion monthly visits in 190 countries. In the first quarter of 2003, Expedia's net income quadrupled to $26.9 million with a revenue of $198.8 million , signalling a further rift between travel agents and their customers, who are now planning their trips online.

Even though Priceline launched in 1997, it wasn't until 2004 that its popularity surged with the acquisition of Active Hotels, a European online hotel reservation service. The following year, Priceline also bought Booking.com, cementing its share of the profitable European travel market. Also in 2004, the online home-sharing platform CouchSurfing was launched, offering travelers the opportunity to stay and experience their chosen destination with locals.

Not long after, the travel industry saw a startup poised to change the hotel industry fundamentally. AirBedAndBreakfast—now named Airbnb—was able to secure significant funding in 2009, after which they experienced growth so quickly that, by 2011, users had booked 1 million nights on the platform, which was then available in 89 countries.

During the global financial crisis of 2008 , airline stocks plummeted 68%, and cruise lines, hotels, and resorts fell 74%. The following 10 years tested travel industry systems, and those that survived became more agile and accessible, especially for those in developing nations . Before the 2008 recession, China, India, and Latin America made up 21% of international travel. By 2016, that share had almost doubled to 41%.

COVID-19's impact has been predictably significant

In 2021, the number of international arrivals was 1 billion less than before the pandemic . World Tourism Organization experts believe the travel industry will not fully recover until at least 2024. Worldwide spending on tourism and travel was less than half in 2020 than what it had been in 2019. Employment was also heavily impacted, with 62 million people working in the worldwide tourism and travel sector losing their jobs in 2020.

Despite the gloom and doom of the pandemic, it looks like some recovery might be on the horizon for travel agents. The BLS projects a 20% increase in demand for travel agents from 2021 to 2031, outstripping its 5% growth projection for all occupations. Some have reported a marked recovery in business , even compared to pre-pandemic levels. A flash poll conducted by the American Society of Travel Advisors in early March 2021 revealed that in 2021, 76% of travel advisers saw an increase in customers versus pre-pandemic times, and 80% have fielded queries from those who had never used a travel adviser before.

Because of the constant changes in restrictions and rules, travellers began reaching out to travel agents who could help them plan their trips. More travellers have looked to travel agents who can help when business trips, cruises, and other plans are cancelled or delayed due to health restrictions. As more agents become more adept at dealing with last-minute travel support assistance, their roles may expand beyond just planning for trips to also helping more with crisis management and recovery for travellers.  

As travel surges back to life, so may the fortunes of travel agents rise along with it.

This story originally appeared on TravelPerk and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

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Travel agencies.

From: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

You might choose to have a travel agent help you book your next vacation. Here’s what you need to know about using the services of a travel agency.

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Choosing a travel agency or agent, licensed travel agents, members of travel associations, travel agency complaints.

Here are some questions to ask before choosing a travel agent:

• Is the travel agent licensed in your province or territory?
• Has the agent completed a training program?
• Has the agent travelled widely?
• How many years has the agent or agency been in business?
• Does the agent or agency belong to a travel agents' association or related organization?

In some Canadian jurisdictions, travel agents must be licensed or registered. Check with your provincial or territorial consumer affairs office to find out what requirements exist in your region.

Many travel agents or agencies belong to professional travel associations. Members may be required to meet certain requirements for training, staffing and financing, and often must follow a code of ethics and standards.

Here are the names of a few of these associations:

• Association of Canadian Travel Associations (ACTA) : Over 12,000 travel agents across Canada work in ACTA member agencies – representing more than 80% of the travel business booked through a travel agency.
• International Air Transport Association (IATA) : Travel agencies displaying the IATA designation are authorized to sell tickets for IATA-member airlines ( some 290 airlines  in 120 countries).

Choosing a travel agent or agency affiliated with these groups does not guarantee that you won't have problems, but it can offer you an additional measure of security.

Although the Canadian Transportation Agency may be able to help with complaints about the air portion of travel arrangements booked through a travel agency or as part of a tour package, complaints about travel agents and tour operator services fall under provincial jurisdiction. The Consumer Hub can help you find the appropriate provincial or territorial government authority to seek redress for a consumer issue with a service booked using the services of a travel agency.

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Why Using a Travel Agent is Better than Booking Online

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Travel is a lot more complicated than it used to be.

Sure, the Internet makes it easy to book a flight to the Caribbean and reserve a room at your favourite beach resort, but what if you’re planning your first trip somewhere slightly more complex? To a place where you don’t speak the language, which requires multiple layovers or has so much to see and do that you don’t even know where to start?

While sinking hard-earned cash into your dream trip is never a bad idea, more and more travellers are finding value in consulting with a travel advisor over booking online when seeking a more customized travel experience, and it’s not difficult to see why:

Agents offer all the validation you crave

The Internet is useful when researching a trip, but relying on it as your main tool when hobbling together a dynamic, memorable, personalized vacation comes with a lot of variables – and for first-timers, potential for misstep.

Consulting with a travel agent means you can collaborate and share your ideas with an expert who has likely been there themselves, and is able to make helpful suggestions for travelling logistics and unique experiences you may not have even thought about.

What’s more, travel experts not only make it their business to know a wide variety of trip styles, destinations and travel companies, they’re also often trained to match the right vacation for every traveller’s style, preference and personality.

They know something you don’t know

The world is big. And while some travel companies are more popular than others, chances are there are tours, hotels and destinations out there that you don’t even know exist. But travel advisors do.

Take booking an experience with Silversea, for example. One could simply book the cruise online but when working with a travel agent who knows the Silversea experience, they will help you get the most out of your time and financial investment, guiding you in booking pre- or post-cruise extensions and which cities make for the best options to do so, or which itinerary best fits your travel agenda.

As professionals, these experts are constantly attending events, trade shows and travelling to acquaint themselves with unique and special experiences so that when you walk through their door, they’ll have more for you to consider than just garden-variety travel brands.

Further to that, these nifty travel advisors also have professional connections with the brands they know, giving them access to perks, discounts and useful insider-info (like which room has the best view).

Their success is based on your happiness

For many travel agents, repeat clients and references makes-up the bulk of their business, so they have significant incentive to work hard and make sure your trip is a success (unlike many travel sites, which function on booking numbers, and not necessarily customer satisfaction).

By going above and beyond to deliver on and exceed your expectations, the best travel agents are driven to provide you with the kind of experiences that will make you want to return for your next vacation – and tell all your friends.

They’ve got your back

Travel, like many amazing things in this world, is not cheap. And while going on your dream trip is exciting and rewarding in all the right ways, there are also a lot of things that could go wrong, which are not always within your control.

If you book with a travel agent, they do most of the worrying for you – and many will make themselves available throughout your trip in the event of any unforeseen hiccups.

Unlike booking online, which often comes with social media-based customer service and purchasable travel insurance with all kinds of rules and regulations, the kind of assistance offered by an agent goes way beyond a 1-800 number; it’s about having someone to call when your shuttle doesn’t pick you up at the airport, or when a storm is threatening to put a damper on your trip, who will make it all better.

The Internet can’t hug you good-bye (yet)

One of the best things travel experts have to offer is their ability to tailor your trip specifically to your personality. Because they’re invested in your happiness, great agents work to build a relationship with their clients based on trust and understanding, as opposed to automatically delivering whatever you ask for.

This means your agent will advise you against things they think you may not like, and use their relationships with top hotels and tour guides to arrange incredible experiences on your behalf. Some even go above and beyond to provide personalized services, such as care packages or airport send-offs.

True, the Internet is a wealth of knowledge, and you can even use it to consult with local experts and experienced travellers. But everyone’s trip is different, and while there is no shortage of personal opinions available online, your advisor will take the time to talk about your plans one-on-one, weigh-in as an expert to ensure your trip is the right fit, and always ask how it went when you’ve come back home.

Can you say that about your browser history?

Do you use a travel advisor?  Tell us about a time they saved the day.  Comment below or tweet us !

You want to travel your way and our Travel Advisors are experts at making personalized travel arrangements. Whether it is a vacation to get away from it all, a cruise to explore the corners of the world or an active holiday, Vision Travel offers the best service and value to each and every client. Visit www.travellingwithvision.ca to start planning your next vacation.

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Travel Agent? Work From Home ... No Monthly Fees

How becoming a home based travel agent with us can benefit you:

It will allow you to spend more time with your family (actually watch your kids grow up while making money!). Work on your own time -- you set your own schedule. Kill the commute -- save the headache, save on gas, work from home! Be your own boss! Forget the office politics and having someone always looking over your shoulder! Live your life your way! Life is short, live it on your own terms by making work fit around your life instead of life fitting around your work! Pay your bills.

Sound good? Keep reading or contact us now to learn more...

Are you ready to take charge of your life and start your own home based travel business? You have a passion for travel and would like to make it your business. You occasionally research or book travel for your friends and family. You desire a job with flexible full-time or part-time hours. You are looking for financial independence. You want a home based initiative that is inexpensive to start, simple to operate and easy to learn. You already have a great network of prospective clients including friends and family members. You want to have unlimited access to one-on-one support to help you succeed.

Every person who is working for a registered Ontario retail travel agency and is selling travel services or providing travel advice to the public must, by law, meet the TICO's Education Standards, which came into effect on July 1, 2009. click

https://www.tico.ca/industry-info/education-standards.html

https://www.tico.ca/blog/becoming-tico-certified-travel-counsellor-ontario  

https://www.tico.ca/news/advisory/321-tico-s-new-online-education-platform-now-available.html  

There is a one time set up fee $599.00 and no monthly fees, this is for to set up a phone line, JustTravelDeals.ca email, business cards, set you up on our phone system so that we will give you free leads and our team support.

If you find yourself saying 'yes,' then you may be an ideal candidate. Contact us now to learn more about this great opportunity.

with JustTravelDeals.ca or Call Rosario @ 905-799-3000 ext 221 email [email protected]

Do you have friends and family members who are locked in tight to their full-time corporate jobs, but you know that they’re secretly dreaming about starting a home-based business? Let’s be honest, nearly everyone has toyed with the idea at some point during their career. Well, the travel industry is one of the leaders in the home-based business model, with more than half of today’s travel agents being either home-based employees or independent home-based agents.

The upside? Freedom, flexibility, convenience, a 15-second commute, more time spent with loved ones, a better work/life balance; and, oh yes, you’re the boss.

The challenges? A feeling of isolation, missing the office banter, you’re the entire team, personal distractions, the out-of-sight-out-of-mind phenomenon, and you must be very disciplined and organized. And, since you’re the boss, the buck always stops with you.

Workplace analysts predict that the trend of working remotely will only continue to gain steam as we enter the next decade. So whether you’re already home-based, or you’re considering it, here are six ways to stay connected, confident, and successful.

1) Create clear boundaries.

One of the biggest challenges as an entrepreneur working on your own from home is the need to create clear boundaries. Set guidelines about such things as what your work hours are, whether you’ll work on weekends and evenings, and how you’ll handle client emergencies. If you don’t, and you have an ambitious personality, it’s easy to end up working more than you did at a corporate job.

“Because home is where I work, it’s easy to feel like I’m always ‘on duty. “My phone might ding with a text or email at 11:30 at night from a client. And often does. So the challenge is for me to decide whether I’m going to ignore that ‘til the morning during ‘business hours’ or immediately respond.”

2) Take the time to set up an office that you love to work in.

You’ll be spending about a third of your life there - and it’s the place where you make the magic happen for your clients - so set up a custom environment just for you. Consider what type of desk, chair, and other furniture you most enjoy; what type of lighting you prefer; whether you want an outside view from your desk; whether you like to have some background music playing; and where to put things like plants, a soothing water element, and your dog’s bed. Most importantly, have it be a place where you can confidently work without distractions. You may even want to pick up a book on the ancient art of feng shui, to effectively move the creative energy in your home office. You get the idea.

For those who would rather not be alone in an office, and who thrive in group settings, co-op spaces and shared office spaces are springing up everywhere. Or, have the best of both worlds by keeping your home office and occasionally working on your laptop at the local coffee shop (if you just need the energy boost you get from being around other people).

3) Get out in your local community and in the industry.

Make no mistake about it, home-based does not equate to homebody. Especially in travel, connecting with prospects and customers, as well as colleagues, is key.

Elise Newman, of Newman5 Travel LLC, in Maitland, Florida, said: “Much of my core business comes from direct referrals, so maintaining positive relationships with my clients and members of my local community is a big part of my job. I am active in several charitable organizations and on several community boards. I participate frequently in online travel agent forums and leadership meetings with my host agency. I also make time to talk directly with vendors – cruise lines, resort chains, and tour companies – to ensure that I have the best, most up-to-date information for my clients.”

4) Volunteer - and meet people outside of your bubble.

When you pursue a passion outside of work, it can open all sorts of doors for your business as well. for instance, get involved with the Guide Dogs (SEGD) years as a puppy raiser. They take the pups into their homes for about a year, teaching them the basics of being a good dog (manners, sit, stay, come). And they get together with other raisers and visit different places in the community to expose the dogs to all sorts of things they might encounter one day with a visually impaired person or a veteran with PTSD. Even take each pup to a Ritz-Carlton on vacation, which always ends up being a great conversation starter.

5) Take ‘me time.’

Even the most confident of personalities can sometimes feel alone or lonely in their home-based business. Although Newman said that she stays busy, so she rarely feels lonely, she did offer this insight: “The best way to combat loneliness is to establish a routine that prioritizes working efficiently, but one that also includes me-time. I frequently connect with clients and others in my community, and luckily, that is easy to do by phone, email, or other online methods. I go out to lunch with friends, clients, and vendor contacts, and my family is always nearby.”

The real “mental health break” of getting out of the house, try to “regularly schedule lunches and dinners with both friends and clients to try out new hot spots. ‘Sunday Funday’ is a regular occurrence where we’ll just get a bunch of friends, (and honestly, most of my clients were already or became my friends) together somewhere, like Downtown, to do a little shopping and eating and exploring.”

6) Keep close tabs on your work/life balance.

“You need to remember that just because I work from home and everything is at my fingertips, that does not mean I run a 24/7 business. A big challenge is maintaining the always-important work/life balance, breaking away from my desk, and not working too many hours. Though I run a concierge-style, white-glove business and work hard for my clients, I leave my home office in the evening and try to address after-hours, non-urgent requests the following day.”

Is it worth the time and effort it takes to develop a successful home-based business? You bet. Take it from Rosario, who shared: “What I love most about working from home is the freedom and independence. Knowing I wake up every day doing what I love and not having a boss (other than clients), and not having to ask for vacation time or permission to go to the doctor ... it’s priceless to me. I only wish I had figured out what I wanted to be when I grew up a long time ago!”

I really enjoy working from home. We have a relatively informal house, so there are several comfy chairs to relax in or on a big sofa. Being able to spend time with my kids, exercise, and run errands when I need to, allows me to break up long stretches of work. My wife also works from home a few days each week now, which allows us to connect during breaks and interact regularly. I really cherish family time, meals, etc., and working from home allows that. Maintaining that work/life balance, as I said, allows me to enjoy what I do, which makes me better at what I do, and working from home is an integral part of that.”

One-third of agents are now home-based and 90% say they have a better work-life balance

TORONTO — Results from the just-released second annual home-based agent survey show that more than 35% of travel agents in Canada are now independent, home-based contractors.

Conducted in January 2018, the independent nationwide survey of Canadian hosted travel agents tripled in response size from the 2017 study. The survey was conducted by a private consulting firm and logged responses from more than 500 home-based agents representing many different host agencies.

This year’s results are consistent with some of the findings from last year but they also provide invaluable new insight, he says.

Here are some of the 2018 home-based agent survey’s key findings:

• 52% of the home-based agents who responded have only ever worked as a home-based agent, which suggests that home-based agents have been around for longer than is commonly thought, and that people are now joining the industry as hosted agents from the get-go.
• 87% of agents who responded are 40+ years of age, and 28.5% are 60+, and worked for many years in a bricks-and-mortar agency. Many home-based agents are highly experienced and are converting to home-based later in their careers,
• 45%+ of hosted agents said they are ‘very’ to ‘extremely’ happy with their host agency, however 12% said they were ‘unhappy to very unhappy’.
• 92% percent of agents who switched from a bricks-and-mortar or a storefront to home-based said they were happier and 90% of agents believe they have a better work-life balance, up 5% over last year.
• Responding agents also reported a better quality of life, with top impacts including more time to travel and more time with family, the ability to work from anywhere, and the ability to “be my own boss”.

Career opportunities as a TICO Certified travel professional

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Turkey is a huge nation straddling eastern Europe and western Asia with cultural connections to ancient Greek, Persian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires. It offers a wealth of destination varieties to travellers; there is something for everyone's taste—whether they be travelling on an extreme budget by hitchhiking or by a multi-million yacht!

Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region. The city of Paris, within its administrative limits largely unchanged since 1860, has an estimated population of 2,193,031, but the Paris metropolitan area has a population of 11,836,970, and is one of the most populated metropolitan areas in Europe. In 2009 and 2010, the city has been ranked among the three most important and influential cities in the world, among the first three "European cities of the future" according to a research published by Financial Times and among the top ten cities in the world in which to live according to the British review Monocle.  The city is the home of the most visited art museum in the world; ''the Louvre'' as well as the ''Musée d'Orsay'' noted for its collection of French Impressionist art, and the ''Musée National d'Art Moderne'' a museum of modern and contemporary art. The notable architectural landmarks of Paris include Notre Dame Cathedral (12th century); the Sainte-Chapelle (13th century); the Eiffel Tower (1889); and the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur on Montmartre (1914). In 2014 Paris received 22.4 million visitors, making it one of the world's top tourist destinations. It is also known for its fashion, particularly the twice-yearly Paris Fashion Week, and for its haute cuisine, and three-star restaurants. Most of France's major universities and grandes écoles are located in Paris, as are France's major newspapers, including Le Monde, Le Figaro, and Libération.

Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it serves as the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2010, Budapest had 1,721,556 inhabitants, down from its 1980 peak of 2.06 million. The Budapest Commuter Area is home to 3,271,110 people. The city covers an area of 525 square kilometres (202.7 sq mi) within the city limits. Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube with a unification on 17 November 1873 of right (west)-bank Buda and Óbuda with left (east)-bank Pest. Budapest is one of Europe's most delightful and enjoyable cities. Due to its scenic setting and its architecture it is nicknamed "Paris of the East".

Madrid, Spain's elegant capital, is beautifully located on the Manzanares River. It is also the political, economic and cultural centre of Spain. Due to its economic output, high standard of living, and market size, Madrid is considered the major financial centre of Southern Europe and the Iberian Peninsula; it hosts the head offices of the vast majority of major Spanish companies, such as Telefónica, Iberia and Repsol. Madrid is considered the 17th most livable city in the world and as one of the world's major global cities.

Oslo is a county and municipality, as well as the capital and largest city in Norway. Oslo was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III "Hardraade" of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The Danish–Norwegian king Christian IV moved the city, rebuilding it closer to Akershus fortress, as Christiania (briefly also spelt Kristiania). In 1925, the city reclaimed its original Norwegian name, Oslo. The diocese of Oslo is one of the five original dioceses in Norway, which originated around the year 1070.

Sydney is the largest and most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. The city is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. It is also the oldest and most cosmopolitan city in Australia with an enviable reputation as one of the world's most beautiful and liveable cities. Brimming with history, nature, culture, art, fashion, cuisine, design, Sydney's set next to miles of ocean coastline and sandy surf beaches. Long-term immigration has led to the cities reputation as one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse cities in Australia and the world. The city is also home to the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, two of the most iconic structures on this planet.

Piraeus is a city in the periphery of Attica,  Greece and within the Athens urban area, located 12 km southwest of its center and upon the Saronic Gulf. According to the 2001 census, Piraeus has a population of 175,697 people within its administrative limits, making it the third largest municipality in Greece and the second within the Greek capital following the municipality of Athens. The Piraeus urban area extends beyond the administrative city limits to the suburban municipalities, with a total population of 466,065. 

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So you want to become a travel agent! You have come to the right place! The Travel Agent Next Door is the only travel services network that is 100% focused on its agents! We know we offer the best agent training program out there! We want to share our passion for travel with you!

And your timing could not be better –the travel industry needs new talent, as many of its veteran members will be retiring over the next few years. And when you join the Travel Agent Next Door, you will be part of the travel industry’s fastest growing network. One that is designed to support you every step of the way! Let us show you why a career in the travel industry is the right choice for you!

When you join the travel industry you will be entering a fast- paced environment that is always changing and always exciting. You will help people realize their dreams and also help them when they are in need. This is a global industry. You will interact with people all over the world. And yes, you will have a chance to travel yourself. But most of all, this is a people business, one where you will always be interacting with customers, suppliers, partners and your peers. Trust us – you will never be bored!

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Questions You Should Know The Answers To…

Prior to creating our New Agent Learning Program we did our homework. From our research, we found there are many differences in what host agencies offer. Here are some key questions you will want to ask when talking to us and to any other host agency.

• Is marketing included in your fees or is it an extra fee?
• Do they do the marketing for you and from you or do they create the material and you have to do it?
• Direct Mail (Canada Post)
• Targeted E-Marketing
• E-Newsletters

Lead Generation:

• Do they have a referral program that compensates friends or colleagues that refer new customers to you?
• What is the length of the contract you will be asked to sign? Buyer beware! Some contracts are for 5 year terms and even after 5 years the contract says you are not able to work in the travel industry for 1 more year.
• Are there many additional fees for marketing, websites, telephone that you should know before making your decision?

Personal Website:

• Do they offer a personalized bookable website in their fees?
• Does their website have booking engines that include Hotel, Car, Cruise, Packages, Insurance & Excursions?
• Are you responsible for updating the content on your site or is it done for you?
• How is the training delivered? Is it live (via webinar), prerecorded or classroom?
• What materials will you receive? Will you receive actual textbooks and workbooks from an accredited training institute or is it a binder compiled by the host agency?
• Does the host agency require you to make your bookings in Sabre or Apollo? While these tools may financially benefit the host agency, it’s not so easy for a new agent. These tools are difficult to learn and consume a significant portion of your scheduled training program.

And the final question, one of the most important questions for you personally:

• After you start with your host agency, are you supported by a team dedicated exclusively to new agents or by an accessible, experienced agent of that host agency?

The above questions are key to know the answers to before moving forward with any host agency. As they always say, the devil is in the details! We would love an opportunity to review the program with you one on one. First we suggest you watch the webinar and then we will follow up with an email that contains a link to the frequently asked questions section. Alternatively you can call Rhonda, VP of Talent Development toll free at 1-855-727-8126.

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Planning a trip is a time-consuming and complicated process. Travel agents simplify this process for their customers in addition to providing consultation services and entire travel packages. They may book flights, cruises, rental cars and hotels, as well as resort stays and events. Agents cater to a wide demographic, serving both individuals and corporations. They may also concentrate in a special segment of the field; many agents specialize in leisure travel, business trips, or location-specific journeys to Europe, Africa, or Asia.

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The U.S. Department of State runs each passport agency and center. An agency and center is different than acceptance facilities which may include post offices, libraries, and local government offices.

Avoid the stress of needing to visit a passport agency or center for urgent travel. Apply early at an  acceptance facility  or  renew by mail .

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• Enter information about your travel plans to see if you qualify for an appointment. You may make an appointment for up to seven members of your household.
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The first two digits of your nine-digit passport application locator number allow you to know which agency or center is working on your application. You can find your application locator number by checking our Online Passport Status System . 

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You can find an agency or center's mailing address on each agency or center webpage. You can contact our locations by mail if:

We sent you a letter : If we need more information to process your application , we will send you a letter in the mail. Send the information to the full mailing address in Sterling, VA listed on your letter. Do not send information to the agency’s physical address.

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• Please note that after 30 minutes of inactivity on each page, your session will expire and your information will not be saved.
• If you need a passport within the next 2 business days, you can't book an appointment using this tool. Visit a specialized passport site (Service Canada Centre – Passport Service) that offers urgent pick-up service.
• If you have a non-urgent travel date and no appointment is available, find a passport service location near you to visit without an appointment.
• A proof of travel or need must be provided for urgent pick-up service and may be required for express pick-up service. Additional fees apply.
• Some locations are seeing high demand for appointments. Appointment availability may vary.
• Complete all forms prior to your appointment and bring required documents with you. To find passport application forms and information about required documents, visit Canadian passports and other travel documents. .

If your form(s) aren’t complete, we won’t be able to accept them during your appointment.

We recommend you don’t finalize any travel plans until you get your new passport.

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The information provided is collected under section 5.1(1)(a)(i) of the Department of Employment and Social Development Act and/or section 12(e) of the Canadian Passport Order. The information provided is used for the purpose of booking an appointment with Service Canada. Refusing to provide information will result in not being able to book an appointment with Service Canada.

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10 Best Online Travel Agencies in Canada

So you want to book your trip with a online Canada travel agency but don’t know where to start? There are so many choices on the web for internet travel agencies in Canada, which is both good and bad. Good because having a lot a choice is a good thing and bad because a lot of choice can also be very confusing!

Traveling is a very exciting and enjoyable experience, however, the planning stages of a vacation can be quite time-consuming and complicated, especially for first-timers. Owing to this, a good number of people prefer to seek the expertise of a professional to help them handle their travel arrangements.

A travel agency is a business that helps to arrange travel or tourism-related services for people. These agencies help to simplify the travel planning process by booking flights, cruises, rental cars, and hotels, coupled with resort stays and events.

They offer vacation and accommodation suggestions based on their experience and research as well as work within a stipulated monetary budget if need be. Aside from being invested in their clients’ happiness and satisfaction, they also make sure that every detail of the trip is properly arranged in order to ensure that clients enjoy a lovely, stress-free family vacation.

Today, the simplicity of making travel bookings online using self-serve booking engines make people to now believe that there is little or no need to use a travel agency for their booking needs. However, have it in mind that leveraging the expertise of a professional when it comes to making traveling plans can have a massive impact on how much you spend and how much you enjoy your vacation.

Top Online Travel Agencies in Canada

Truth be told, finding the ideal online travel agency for your needs can be quite confusing. Nonetheless, here are the top options to consider when seeking an online travel agency in Canada;

Redtag.ca is renowned as one of the most popular online travel agencies fully owned and operated by a Canadian Corporation. According to reviews, they offer some of the best flights, hotels, car rentals, all-inclusive packages, and cruises.

One of the many things that make this agency attractive to Canadians is the price drop assurance Red Tag offers; but aside from that, they offer streamlined services and many options to suit the needs of varying clients.

This is another top option for anyone inside or outside Canada. They always have exclusive deals on a whole lot of resorts and this guarantees that you can always find some pretty good deals, especially if you’re flying last minute. Also note that they offer seasonal flights to destinations in Canada, U.S., and Europe. The lowest prices accorded by this company are only possible because they are a budget airline.

Expedia is renowned globally as an online agency that offers travelers quick access to flights, hotels, and cars. According to statistics, they are the biggest travel agency in the world. Hotels.com, trivago, and Travelocity are all owned by Expedia, and together they offer something for everyone. Some of Expedia’s offerings and features include:

• Expedia rewards for hotels, cars, and more
• Experienced support
• Compare cruise lines
• Big savings when booking flights, hotels, and car
• Operates in nearly 70 countries and in over 35 different languages
• Luxury travel options

Google Flights

Google Maps remains one of the most popular websites; however, note that Google Flights is not that far behind. The site does a wonderful job as a flight search engine. It will help you search all available flights, as opposed to flights just provided by a specific carrier and its partners.

Google flights are the top option when looking to plan your next trip as you can get inspiration at a quick glance. It allows you to search by airport, best price, or destination. Google Flights will then provide you with all available options for your next movement or travel.

TourRadar.com

TourRadar is renowned as one of the best travel resources, especially for group travelers. According to recent reports, this company offers over 40,000 tours including ones provided by Intrepid Travel. In addition, they have adequately consolidated all the varying tour operators onto their site so you can quickly compare your different options.

Note that this includes small groups and large group tours. This of course is better than searching through different websites. Aside from that, when you sign up with a referral link, you will obtain 5% off your first tour.

Booking.com

Booking.com offers customers the platform to book their travel and car rental. It ensures that travelers can explore various accommodation types, destinations, and deals. It is a full-scale and exhaustive OTA for the everyday traveler. Some of its offerings and features include:

• Intuitive booking tool and website
• Flight + Hotel booking for easily planning trips with no cross-referencing travel websites
• Simple car rental options and taxi hire
• Available in over 40 different languages and offers over half a million properties across 207 countries
• You can book experiences in your destination city to entertain you on your travels
• Genius rewards program

Factors to Consider Before Choosing a Travel Agency in Canada

There are so many benefits to traveling. You only need to ensure that you select the right travel agency to help you make the arrangements. There are a whole lot of things to consider when looking to choose a travel agency in Canada. These factors include;

Affordability

In many situations, especially when looking to travel to places outside Canada, the best option would be to use a travel agency to save cash. Have it in mind that travel agencies tend to offer clients a wide range of options depending on their budget as well as itinerary. Owing to that, you need to find an agency that best aligns with your needs and pockets.

Smooth booking process

Most often, you will want the process of arranging your travels to be smooth and fast, especially since you wouldn’t want to spend so much time just making travel arrangements.

Have it in mind that a properly streamlined booking process that leverages state-of-the-art online booking tools is a sure factor to consider when choosing any good travel agency in Canada. Also, ensure to find a travel agency with approvals workflows integrated into their online booking tool, so you can have the whole approvals process automated.

Customer Service

This is, without doubt, one of the most viable factors to take into consideration when searching for a travel agency. Have it in mind that there will be back-and-forth communication right from the moment you get in contact with an agency.

Owing to that, excellent customer service should be on top of your priority list to ensure you find a reliable and efficient agency. Note that you can find out if a travel agency values customer support the first time you get in contact with them.

Were they responsive to your messages? How long did it take them to respond to your questions? Always remember that a good agency will always keep you informed whenever there are developments with your traveling arrangements.

Access to a vast range of carriers and products

Agreeably, the bigger the range of carriers, the more you can easily compare and get the best possible deals on your travels. A meager range of carriers translates into fewer options and a higher probability of bookings being made outside your travel policy. Howbeit, since you will be paying for the trip, it is imperative to make sure that the costs are convincing.

A good travel agency will explain in vivid detail the costs so that you can understand exactly what you are paying for at every stage. You should be worried when the travel agency is trying to push you into booking an extremely cheap deal, as there could be hidden costs or the deal might not be worth it.

 5. Transparent fee structure

You wouldn’t want to have to contend with hidden costs when you are working with a travel agency. Owing to that, it is imperative you make sure that their fee structure is transparent and that you understand precisely what you’re being charged for.

It is also recommended to check if their online booking tool (OBT) displays any penalties or fare changes when you cancel or change travel bookings. Note that this will help you understand more what you’re up for.  Also ask your friends and family members who have had prior experience with the agency or better still look up reviews for the company online.

Some Tips for Using an Online Canada Travel Agency

Search out where you want to go and the dates of travel first, then you will be comparing apples to apples

• Look at several sites to compare prices
• Check in with a real live travel agent, they can have access to deals not found online
• Keep notes on the names of the travel sites and prices, after a few hours of searching, all the information will get mixed up in your head!

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Banff national park.

Entry and service fees help support visitor services and facilities. This means that every time you visit, you are investing in the park — and in a legacy for future generations!

Have questions about park passes for Banff National Park? What is a park pass and why is it needed? Learn more.

Indigenous connections

Parks Canada is working with Indigenous groups with longstanding connection to Banff National Park to strengthen connections with traditionally used...

Provides entry to Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho, Mount Revelstoke, Glacier, Waterton Lakes and Elk Island national parks.

Valid until 4:00 p.m. on the day after purchase.

Available online at:

National park gates, information centres, campgrounds and at the following partner locations

• Alberta Hunter Education Instructors' Association
• Cabela's Retail Canada
• CrossIron Mills
• DMF Travel Centre
• Tourism Canmore Kananaskis
• Tourism Golden

Discovery Pass

Provides entry into more than 100 National Parks, National Marine Conservation Areas and National Historic Sites across Canada,

Valid for a full year until the end of the calendar month of purchase.

Discovery passes must be signed by the pass holder to be valid; are non-refundable; not transferable and rendered void if resold. Full terms of use.

• AMA Travel (*AMA membership required) 
• Cabela's Retail Canada 
• Calgary Airport Authority
• Calgary Social Club (membership required)
• Campers Village
• Escape Social Club (membership required)
• Guarantee RV – Calgary
• Medicine Hat Destination Marketing Organization

Related links

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• Brochures and publications

• English (UK)
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• Deutsch (DE)
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