#5. They also give you a choice of a wide variety because of all the companies that offer a unique array of supplies. Every day travel agents are given more information to help us as customers better.

#6. Less stress.

#7. Travel agents gets lots of updated information regarding hotels, air fare, shows, etc because they get minute by minute emails or updates.

#8. Great customer service.

#9. Travel experts expertise.

#10. Best value for your money spent.

#11. Knowledge of all the ins and outs of what you want for your travel needs.

#12. Travel agents are credentialed to best serve you for what you specifically want.

#13. Travel agents can tell you what to do regarding the best tourist attractions that you would be interested in.

#14. Kid friendly places to go visit and the best places to go see.

So, Zoe gives us the remaining of the 14 reasons why we should use a REAL-live-go-and-see a travel agent so he/she can best meet your needs. That’s why the Parents Everywhere Network has Zoe, our travel Genie!!!!

Happy Listening this week!

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There is just so much to discuss on this topic that Zoe decided to do two shows. So, for this first part, she tells us the reasons we should use a web based travel agency. You know, with the world it is today, it is really rather convenient to just Google your destination. Simply type it in and then find out all you want while you are relaxing after a busy day at work or at home with the children. You can read and research all you want at your leisure. Then, once you’ve decided, just Google your city and/or the phrase travel agent or travel agency or anything related and BAM!!! You have pages and pages to choose from!

You log onto the website you think you may be interested in and fill in the questionnaire and magic! You should be contacted soon by the travel agency who specializes in the particular area of travel you wish to enjoy. There are specials all the time on the web and literally, thousands to choose from! Zoe relates to us her experience and what she feels you should know about using web based travel agencies.

Of course, when there are advantages, there are also disadvantages when using a web based agency. One of the major aspects that is missing when using web based anything is losing the personal touches when speaking and visiting with a real live person. The rapport you build when meeting someone adds to the relationship you develop when talking with your travel agent. He/She then knows who you are and then, is better equipped at customizing your vacation based on knowing you personally. But, then again, you can argue that this is true when you speak to someone on the phone as well.

Regardless, listen to Zoe this week and make up your own mind on using travel agencies on the web. Then, listen again next week as Zoe shares with us reasons to choose a travel agent that you can go visit and speak with. Thanks for listening!

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Vacationing is also a great way to exercise. You find that you walk around more from town to town or within the large city such as Rome. You are not in front of the television, playing on the computer, or even checking emails! You are exploring!

Your family also learns from other countries what they may think of “Americans” and may want to educate them on what “Americans” are really like. This is very eye-opening and causes our children to think about assumptions of other cultures and what they may have about the United States.

When your children return from their trip, they are eager to share their experience with their friends in the class or in the neighborhood. How proud you are to hear your children teach the others about what they learned in Mexico, showing them a souvenier, or what they saw in New York City!

On these vacation tours, there are often fantastic opportunities for the children to learn how to cook, take photographs, or speak the language. It’s not just sightseeing anymore.

Remember to listen to your children about what they may like to do on vacation or where they may want to go. If given a choice, everyone is happier and it truly is a memorable family vacation!

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This week, Zoe discusses with us this ever present topic with our families. We always have an excuse, don’t we? We don’t have the time. We don’t have the money. We don’t have passports. Did you know that over 85% of families don’t have passports? Well, it will be mandatory by Summer 2008 for all of us to have passports even when we travel to Mexico, Canada, the Bahamas, the US Virgin Islands, anywhere outside of the United States. So, please go do that!

Europeans have the right idea. Businesses and the lifestyle there supports vacation time… 4-6 weeks time per year. In Germany, it is up to 8 weeks, Zoe comments. (What a dream for us, right?!) Why can’t we do that? Zoe gives us a partial list of what the reasons are for us to travel as a family. She calls it the 21st century reasons for traveling today:

1. Fall in love with your partner again.

2. Rediscover your children.

3. Learn about other places around the world. Listen to the show to find out where her favorite memory is as a child. She can still remember details such as the aroma of the air during a certain time of day. Where is it?!?

4. Consequently, you will learn about their cultures.. .religions, way of living, customs, etc.

Stay tuned next week to find out the rest of the reasons we MUST travel as a family. Traveling as a family makes the memories we will always remember and also teaches our children about the world we live in! Thanks for listening!

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Of course, by the title, you already know it is the U.S. Virgin Islands. Zoe shares with us the beauty of the three distinct islands that make up the U.S. Virgin Islands. There are National Parks, beautiful beaches with powder-like sand, and amazing “Kodak moment” places that you just cannot get enough of. She tells us also of a certain “Bay” whose name is a popular spice we love to use in cooking and why she just loves that Bay.

Zoe discusses which islands you have to go visit if time is a factor. She directs us to which hotels, what to do, what to expect, and which time of year we should consider when traveling with our families to the U.S. Virgin Islands. As an additional piece of Jeopardy, she answers any confusion we may have between the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands. Hmmm… something to use just in case you’re a contestant on Jeopardy.

So, we hope you enjoy this week’s show and all the secrets Zoe, the Travel Genie suggests for our family vacation to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Remember, if you want to know about a particular vacation destination, chances are Zoe’s been there and would love to share with you her experience there. Comment of Zoe’s Family Vacation Blog and she’ll answer all your questions. Thanks!

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We also learn how Zoe has loved travelling since childhood and she indeed has been in several countries and numerous cities. So, it is not a surprise, that once she had a family of her own, she encouraged travel with her own children. Travel opens the mind of your children, opens them to other cultures that are even richer than our own. Yet, as a family, sometimes we are intimidated or unaware of what we “should” know when we travel with our families. We know we should travel, but how, when, and WHERE?!

Well, we are so fortunate to have our very own travel genie with us to share all the secrets we need to know when we travel with our families! Our show will help you plan the many vacations you will take with your family to make the memories that you will always remember with laughter in your hearts.

If you have a destination you would love to learn more about or have any suggestion, please call us at 877.980.2828 or comment on this blog and Zoe will answer all your questions! Tune in next week when Zoe reveals her most favorite place in the whole wide world….

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