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Once upon a time…
Before the dawn of the information super highway, brick-and-mortar travel agencies were the key to booking travel arrangements and finding deals on airfare. These agencies helped travelers plan trips and book flights, hotel and car rental reservations, and other travel necessities. But as the Internet started to dominate all areas of commerce, travelers began to turn to online travel agencies instead of the brick-and-mortars. These “virtual” agencies offered all the travel planning options and discounts conventional travel agencies offered without requiring travelers to leave their home. No longer did travelers need to make appointments and meet face-to-face with a travel agent just to make travel arrangements. There was now a convenient online solution to booking travel arrangements and finding discounts on airfare.
Reality Check
Online travel agencies haven’t completely decimated the conventional brick-and-mortar shops. Traditional travel agencies still do a great deal of business with travelers and are one viable solution to booking travel arrangements. However, as busy as our lives can be, online travel agencies do offer a quick and convenient solution to finding airline tickets without taking you away from home, or even work – and the brick-and-mortar shops realize this. Some conventional agencies are also hitting the web and establishing travel websites to cater to those individuals looking to quickly search for and book flights. So even though online travel agencies haven’t completely decimated the conventional travel agency industry, they have established a viable and convenient alternative to booking vacations, business trips, and other travel plans.
Life Still Exists in the Brick-and-Mortars
Conventional travel agencies still command a large portion of the travel booking industry. Their face-to-face service is what keeps them in business and, depending on the needs of the traveler, a more realistic solution to booking travel arrangements. When you book your travel plans through a brick-and-mortar travel agency, you’re working with real people and if you’re a frequent traveler, it’s nice to have a “favored agent” to turn to for travel information and advice. With an online travel agency, you’re simply interacting with a virtual interface that allows you to search for and book your own travel plans without ever speaking with a live person. Many people prefer face-to-face interaction and would never even dream about using a travel website to book their travel plans. There is still something to be said about personal service and the conventional travel agencies are capitalizing on it by offering personalized services and conveniences to travelers.
So Where do We Go from Here?
As you can see, there are benefits and disadvantage to both conventional and online travel agencies. Each one offers its own experience and features that make it unique from the other and in favor with different people. When it comes to selecting the best option for you, you merely need to ask yourself “What am I looking for in a travel agency?” The best way to answer this question is to check out a few online travel agencies, compare them to some brick-and-mortars, and see which ones have the savings, products, and services you desire.

Think about it for a minute.   Are there really Online Travel Business Opportunities?  Well, the answer is yes, absolutely.   The hardest question to answer for most people is who, what, where and why ? 
These are exactly the same questions we had here, and so we decided to search out the answers.   We looked at numerous online travel business opportunities.   Some were not opportunities at all, some were over exaggerated opportunities, and one stood out above the rest.  The criteria we used on reviewing online travel business opportunities were simple. We wanted a company with a proven track record, a real future, an easy to use system, extensive connections in the travel industry, a strong management team, and very importantly a company we could make money with and grow with.   As travelers we wanted to be able to book our own travel and earn a commission.   Basically we wanted to get paid to cruise and travel.   But we also wanted to be able to grow our online travel business and keep traveling.   We also wanted to present the opportunity to others as we traveled.   Sounds impossible, but it is not.   It is being done right now.
Ok , so who is the company.   The company that we feel is the best online travel business is YTB   Online Travel.  
What is YTB Online Travel?   YTB Online Travel Business brings you the perfect opportunity to transform your life through combining the fun of travel with the speed of the Internet, multiplied by the power of referral marketing to provide you with the ultimate home-based business solution. YTB Online Travel Business is taking the industry by storm!!  By combining an advantage-rich, home-based business (built around the Internet) with an extremely lucrative (and copyrighted) compensation plan, YTB Online Travel Business has become “The Choice” for thousands of opportunity seekers. In today’s marketplace, myriads of companies seek your time and attention, each claiming that their opportunity is the best.   By combining the powerful information handling capability of the Internet with the world’s most dynamic product (TRAVEL) and the personal touch of independent, home-based business people, YTB Online Travel Business has joined these three trends together in a flawless combination. The Internet is opening the doors to the riches of travel as never before. By utilizing the YTB Online Travel Business simple strategies and proven techniques you will learn how to leverage your time to generate a residual income 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  YTB Online Travel Business leaders work with you from the very beginning to set up and promote  your online travel business.   They  are experts in online marketing.   They teach you the secrets to success.   
Where is YTB Online Travel?  YourTravelBiz. com (YTB), is a wholly owned subsidiary of publicly traded YTB International Inc. , and located in Wood River, IL.   Each YTB Online Travel Business has their own travelsite, maintained and updated for them by YTB.   Reps work from home, everything is completely internet based.   It’s better and easier than “plug and play” hardware.   No computer geeks here and we did it with no problems.   Setup takes only a few minutes.   And YTB Online Travel Business experts do this for you.   YTB International Inc is celebrating their 7th. year in business.   Subsidiary YTB Travel Network is the fastest growing travel company in America and are building for the long run.  
Why YTB Online Travel?  YTB is a top 35 US travel seller, and based on current rate of growth is set to sell $1 BILLION of travel in 2008.   YTB has proven their stability and paid out several million dollar bonuses to its top Directors, which may set a network marketing industry record.   YTB Online Travel Business has grown impressively over the years.     The company is 7 years old and has just entered exponential growth. They’ve grown from 3,209  reps in 2003 to 8,348 reps in 2004, 21,399 reps in 2005, 60,063 reps in 2006 and 132,700 plus reps in 2007.   At present they are well over 140,000 reps.  
YTBI has five times more retail customers the RTAs purchasing their travel.   This is one of the highest customer to RTA ratios in the direct sales industry.   This fact alone makes it hard for anyone or any authority to not recognize the YTB Online Travel Business as a legitimate retailer of travel no matter how the network marketer model is structured.
YTB Online Travel Business is in its seventh year  and the majority of all RTA’s that have ever been with YTB are still active.  That is, every RTA including all six previous years according to YTB Online Travel Business.   That is a phenomenal record in direct sales.  
Although you can start earning fast in the YTB Online Travel Business and earn bonuses up to a million dollars as many Directors have, over and above the commission structure, YTB Online Travel Business wants to be known as the large, long term residual company.   It already has more than 100 Reps earning six figures annually with many earning $50,000. 00 a month or more.     In fact, six are earning six figures a month.   That’s right, per month, not just in a year. Of course the phenomenal RTA retention rate contributes to the ease of creating a large, long term residential income.   The above incomes are extra ordinary and being made by a small number of established Directors of YTB Online Travel Businesses and are not indicative or guaranteed as to what you will make.   However the YTB Online Travel Business is still a great opportunity for anyone who likes to travel,  wants to get paid to cruise and travel, wants to earn additional income (YTB has a program that guarantees $6,000. 00 first year income)  from an internet home based business, and would like to share this opportunity with others.  
In the nearly ten years that we have been researching MLM or network marketing we have never found any company willing to guarantee “BOTH” the first year profitability and the residual income derived from ones efforts. In fact, much to the industries detriment, companies all too often made outrageous income and life style claims to lure the unsuspecting into programs where true success was all but impossible except for a select few. These few would be paraded across the stage, given huge bonus checks to perpetuate the dream, or more aptly put, the myth of a success full home based business. The blame was always assigned to the individual. The most egregious of companies were closed and or failed but the industry as a whole supported, promoted, and taught the flawed approach of “through enough against the wall and some will stick” or “if they fog a mirror sponsor them”. With very few exceptions the industry has never focused on insuring success with a valid business plan nor have they promoted retention by guarantying that the average person would have a chance to leverage their success through duplication. Sadly, until now, most companies actions showed they cared little for the individual once their application fee had cleared. Well, we’ve succeeded in making a short story long. We’ve made our point. This is the first instance we’ve found where a company has addressed the above mentioned problems. In our estimation they’ve found a solution. Their product, “travel”, may not be a uniquely differentiated but it can be marketed to every single niche market without exception. The company is 7 years old and has just entered exponential growth. They’ve grown from 3209  reps in 2003 to 8348 reps in 2004, 21399 reps in 2005, 60063 reps in 2006 and 132700 plus reps in 2007.   Simply put, this is the easiest opportunity we have ever found to market. One that we can finally say, with full confidence, that any person joining can make a profit without any reservations. YTB Online Travel Business looks at every RTA who joins the travel company as a group waiting to happen.   Each RTA is a center of influence and brings a warm market to YTB.   The company has an infrastructure in place to help them with family reunions, church groups, fundraising trips, etc.   Over 60 percent of YTB’s cruise business are groups and YTB Travel is working on tools to help its RTA’s with land group sales also.     
For more information on the YTB Online Travel Business Opportunity go to 
www. travelveracity. biz         
 

When you are looking to book your next vacation or your next business trip, you may be considering using an online travel agency. Before you decide to do so, however, you should be aware of what to expect from an online travel agency so you can determine how best to match that to your own unique needs. There are several different levels of service in which to classify online travel agencies, the level you need depends on your trip requirements as well as your personal travel and leisure preferences or desires. Quite simply, you should be able to find an online travel agency that can fulfill any expectation you may have. Whether you prefer self-service travel plans where you do all of your own searching and booking, or a full-service online agency that handles every detail on your behalf, there are many options available. Depending on the type of travel you will be undertaking, there are also various options that you can consider among online travel agencies. Some specialize only in travel packages, while others offer a la carte menus of travel services for you to pick and choose. There are several expectations, however, that are universal to all online travel agencies. These have to do with the minimum level of service provided and the quality and competitiveness of the types of travel being sold. It is best to qualify the online travel agency on all of these expectations before you choose to enter into partnership with them for the travel you are seeking to plan. The first universal expectation that you should have for your online travel agency is having a variety of destinations and packages available to choose from. It does not matter what specialty the agency might have, from full-service travel to niche travel such as cruises or unusual destinations. No matter what is being sold, you always want to partner with an agency that provides options. While the first option you see may very well end up being the best choice or the best value, you will have no means of determining that unless other options are available for comparison. Good self-service travel sites will readily offer you comparison information. Full-service online travel agencies should compile that same information and present it to you when you are in the process of making a decision. The second universal expectation you should have when using an online travel agency is that they offer the same basic types of vacations from more than one carrier or provider. For example, you can choose between two major airlines for the same New York-to-Miami flight leg of your trip. If an online travel agency represents only one brand, they are not truly a travel agency; instead, they are a representative of that brand. If only one brand were offered, customers would have no means of evaluating whether the services and products offered were of value or were worthless. Having a number of providers to choose from when selecting hotel or airfare or cruise line shows that the travel agency is actively updating its site with the best prices and options currently available. The third universal expectation that you should have for your online travel agency is price competitiveness. Although travel agencies sometimes charge fees to travelers in order to off-set their cost of doing business, those fees must be fair. The charges for the actual travel services you see published through online travel agencies should be no more than what you would pay if you went directly through the provider, and, in fact, less if bundled with other services. The final universal expectation that you should have for your online travel agency is a service-level guarantee that ensures you get what you pay for and are treated in a courteous and appropriate manner. Online travel agencies should also offer some form of a guarantee for your purchases that no foreseeable action on their part or the part of the service provider will interrupt your travel. They cannot warrant against freak or random occurrences, but they can ensure that their own offerings are solid before offered. Perhaps the best thing about using an online agency is the availability of customer reviews and feedback you can read before making a final purchase. Another nice convenience, for repeat customers, is the ability to create your own customer profile that allows you to save certain options in your preferences that will streamline future vacation planning. You can save time and hassle by storing any corporate or membership discount numbers, frequent flyer numbers and other pertinent information on your customer profile. The expectations you hold for the online travel agency you select as a partner may be varied. If they can uphold these four basic standards of quality, you can be assured that you are getting sound representation and the best deals available.

Are you on a holiday or traveling on business purposes or pursuing your studies abroad? Whatever your purpose may be, you must have travel insurance, while traveling overseas. International travel involves a certain amount of risk. If you need treatment abroad, but are not equipped with sufficient money, you will be confronted with a difficult situation. Travel insurance will be of great help during such emergencies. Cover yourself with the best travel insurance policies, when you plan to travel abroad. A travel insurance policy not only covers medical treatments while you are abroad, but also relieves of any kind of reimbursement immediately by providing cover damages caused due to loss of passport and loss or delay of baggage along with the standard medical coverage that you obtain. It is wise to secure yourself with the best travel insurance policies, whenever you plan to travel abroad and have a hassle-free travel experience. Most of the general insurance companies today offer holiday insurance cover and the best way to find out about travel insurance plans is to browse online and compare all the travel insurance policies and rates available in the market before you make your final choice. Many sites provide you the list of credible travel insurance companies and also help you to choose the one that you feel is suitable for you.   You just need to fill in your profile details, the type of your trip, the place where you are planning to travel, the premium you can pay and the number of days covering your travel or holiday, in order to get the best policies, rates and cover online, offered by some of best travel insurance company brands. If you are thinking about getting the best travel insurance, it is best to buy online. Many big players of travel insurance sector have been recognized as popular travel insurance companies. These big players will also give you a free recommendation online on the best travel policy with best coverage at best rates you should choose. These travel insurance policies will help you deal with any difficult situations while you are traveling abroad. These policies essentially cover insurance against unforeseen situations and medical emergencies while traveling abroad. Notable travel and holiday insurance companies offer policies, namely Travel companion, Individual Overseas Plan, Student Companion, Travel Elite, Travel Assist, Student Medical Insurance and others. These policies essentially cover insurance against unforeseen situations and medical emergencies abroad. Get an instant quote from any Travel insurance website online. You can find out the premium rates with the help of this quote. Some of the reputed travel insurance companies offer you policies, where no paperwork and medical check-ups are involved. Other benefits come handy to you as you get your travel plan instantly and the option of EMI payment without any extra charges makes the entire process of transaction very easy and quick. However, you must remember that, while applying for the best travel insurance policies from an insurance company in India, you must be within the country. Just make sure that you go through the premium rates of various insurance companies, the travel cover they offer and make your final decision. Hence, we advise you to browse through the travel insurance rates online and grab the best insurance deal.  

I did some research on this and found out that the Online Travel industry is growing fast and the best part is that it is generating numerous jobs and many people around the world are setting up their own online travel companies.

How do they do that? I did that assignment too and I wanted to share the information I learned from those who have succeeded and who have been earning way more than the average income from their previous jobs.

There are sites that are currently providing all the stuff needed to start a new career in this industry and they are termed as Online Travel Consultant or Online Travel Booking Agent. One site I saw provided me some hints on how to do this even in your own home. One company that really got my attention is The Personal Travel Group. Here is what they told me:-

First, you must watch their informative video which explains the business opportunity to you. After this you complete an online registration application on their web site. You will then be invited to one of their information centres for a full explanation. Once accepted and signed up, they will provide you with access to their system, your own web site and a password.

Once they have issued you this, you can access their booking engine through your site. You are then able to search, place a booking on hold for 24hrs or book and pay immediately. Once you start making bookings, you will start receiving commission from your own pre-set margins!! (interesting…….).

I did a search on their site and they are an accommodation supplier and even other services such as to make transfers, car hire, golf and insurance and these products are exclusively available online.

They even have a full team of professional, experienced support agents who are standing by for any queries or questions. Bookings can be made either on line or over the telephone and you can ask your support team any questions or doubts you have. I think this is very important for self-starters.

The most interesting part is how you can earn money from this. They take online bookings in real-time and payments are made through their web site. They even offer different payment methods that will suit your business and that can be stated in the contract given to you by their company.

To cut things short, they handle everything and everything is automated. Your task is to expand your clientele and let all the tasks be handled by them. Take note, once it is set up, the running costs are very low. It is a really great idea. No need for customers to go to a travel agency, everything is online. That is the power of The Personal Travel Group technology today.

But be also aware that there are other companies or sites that offer similar start up packages, but I found that there were some details that were not quite clear, unlike the one I have discussed above, and the commissions seemed to be much less.

The important thing here is that a career as an Online Travel Agent or Consultant is one of the best alternatives to increase your income. This could be the best year to get started in the Travel Industry and it is one of the best options to generate a first or second income. With a small investment and your TIME and EFFORT, you could make a great success of this type of business. The objective here is to share this information so that it will be helpful to my readers.

Imagine this: you wake up in the glamorous, exotic, or rustic location of your choice. A smile sneaks its way onto your face. You’re living your dream of traveling the world… and, here’s the best part – you’re getting paid for it.

It is extremely difficult to write about this subject without sounding ‘hypey’ and ‘salesy,’ so let me just lay out the facts, and I’ll let you come up with your own conclusions:

Hundreds of billions of dollars change hands online every year.

•    Thousands of one-man-business entrepreneurs are making a portion of this money.
•    Internet technology has made business possible from anywhere in the world. All you need is a laptop or Internet café…
•    With a little bit of training and know-how, creating a profitable business online that takes in a few thousand dollars per month takes about 30-90 days.
•    There’s a growing underground community whose strategies have them making more money than their friends with ‘Jobs’ and they get to travel to wherever they like.

There are the facts. If you put it all together, there is no reason you can’t take an extremely small piece of the pie. In fact, if you made .00001% of the money being made online you’d be ridiculously rich!

So what are the methods to make this happen? There’s no selling your friends or timeshares or anything shady like that. These are completely legitimate, entrepreneurial ventures that don’t take any startup costs or a ton of training. There are MANY ways to make money online, but here are 3:

1)    Sell digital information. If you’re an expert on a subject of any kind, you can quickly and easily create an digitally delivered product and then focus on selling the product online. This can be an ebook, mp3, video file, or even a simple password-protected website. The markup on these products is HUGE because they cost nothing to create or deliver, and they can be sold for $10 to $10,000+ dollars. Say you have a modest $20 download. If you sold a measly 3 products per day, you’re making $1,800 bucks a month. Sell a $50 dollar product (which takes no more work) at the same rate and you’re making $4,500 a month… for doing the work ONCE!

2)    Sell stuff on Ebay. “Wait!” I can hear you objecting… “I don’t want to carry around old junk to sell while I travel!” By all means… DON’T! You can easily set up an inexpensive account with a fulfillment house and have them ship your auction sales for you. You can hire a high school kid or your little sister to ship stuff. Better yet, just sell digital products on Ebay and don’t ship anything!

3)    Blogging. This is a great option for writers, photographers, and videographers who want to document their travel. You’re probably going to be at least journaling, taking pictures, or video… most likely a combination of all three. Well, did you ever consider making it into a blog that makes money? Setting up a blog to collect income from your advertisers (and visitors, if you choose) is easier than ever. Some bloggers are making $250,000+ per MONTH just for writing about their lives. Yes, you read that correctly. Per month. Not too shabby!

The real key to making money online is to take action and get started. Pick one of these methods, learn as much as you can from experts who have done it already, and then go travel the world!

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The expert authors at www.MoneyForTraveling.com
have all made a substantial internet income while traveling or they have been hired and paid well to travel the world. They now teach others how to make money for traveling. Visit MoneyForTraveling.com to discover 12 methods for making money while traveling.