In most cases we do charge a fee for our services!!

What do we do for you?

Services and Philosophies of our agency

Comprehensive trip planning and luxury resort offerings by a seasoned travel professional. We specialize in Hawaii, Alaska and the Caribbean including Florida and the Florida Keys. Put our years of experience to work for you.
 
 
First off I’m going to type something rather unorthodox in this article. It might even go against any of your current beliefs. You will not save the most money by using my services to book your next cruise or dream vacation. Most often I am not going to find you the cheapest price, the best or the lowest cost for your vacation. Before you click that mouse, I will find you the best vacation for you.  
 
Why would I even admit to something as crazy as that? The reason for writing it is that I believe my clientele would never be satisfied with a cheap cruise or vacation. Especially considering my main focus is on Hawaii, an often expensive vacation in and of itself. More often than not clients would come home needing a vacation from their vacation and they would always “remember” what they paid when their vacation needs were NOT met, and who sent them there!! The other reason is that there are many travel agents across this great land that promise you the biggest discounts from the best providers all while providing the best in customer service. If these agencies are giving away the company store by providing you a discount then how can they possibly provide you the great customer service you are expecting? If every agency is finding discounts and giving great customer service, just what is it that sets Bowers Discount Travel, Inc apart?
 

Information is “Google” and “Bing” – proof
 

The amount of information available in an internet search is quite astounding. However, it is important to note that information is not the same as knowledge. Google or Bing is not going to be able to work with a supplier to offer an upgrade to a VIP Client. Google is not going to have a relationship with a hotels general manager or a cruiseline executive to contact should their be a problem during your vacation. Google is not going to be able to offer a restaurant recommendation for your favorite food. Google is not going to listen to the clues you give as you discuss your background, work details, interests to make sure you do not miss for what for many is a once in a lifetime opportunity. As an example I recently had a client departing from upstate Michigan. The trip he booked was to Hawaii and low and behold the day before travel the airline changed the connecting flight time, diminishing the amount of time they had to get from one side of the airport to the other. I was on the phone with the airline and with the client assuring them that they would be able to make the connection but if any problems arose to call me immediately after talking with a ticket agent should a problem arise. The client made their connections and enjoyed the 10 days in Hawaii. Enjoying an evening out at a local recommended Hawaiian Restaurant, complete with turn by turn driving directions for an island tour on their own of Oahu. Google or Travelocity or Expedia is never going to offer that level of service. 

We are professionals

Though we operate our business from our home office, we dress for work every single day. I know this may sound a bit silly, but if you were ever to do a video or Skpe conference call with us you won’t find us wearing pajamas and bunny slippers! We strive to stay current on all the changing information from our suppliers through in person meetings, webinars and industry conferences. Those funny letters after our name or certifications from the suppliers are probably meaningless to you, but in our industry they reflect and are an indication of an investment in the time and energy expended to earn them. Often times I spend countless hours studying and learning more about our ever changing industry and the suppliers and hotels within it.
 

There is a difference between price and value
 

I receive notices of “sales” and “deals” on a daily basis. I see prices daily so I recognize when an offer represents a true value or if the price listed was the same as last week but now has some fancy wording announcing a “sale.” I know how to find supplier offered discounts based on residency, age of traveler, membership of the military, police and fire and more if available. I also know that unless you want a view of a parking lot on your honeymoon or to be in the smallest inside stateroom that no one wanted to begin with on a ship, those “cheap lead in “deals” will be of no value to you as you will return not happy about your experience. When I tell people that you will not save the money using my services, I am really telling you….
 

My goal is to be sure you do not waste your money on a trip you will regret. 
 

Cheaper is not always better, spending just a few dollars or sometimes a hundred dollars more gets you much more in added value and peace of mind and stress free travels. 
 
It would be my honor to serve as your travel consultant. I want you to add to those pictures you have of your family on vacation as I know you don’t have pictures of you going off to work!! If I am not the right fit for you, I will totally understand. However, I urge you to get out and travel. Help turn around the fact that of all of the countries in the industrialized world, Americans use the least amount of their earned vacation time. You, your family and your soul needs a vacation experience with no responsibilities except to remember the sunscreen and to make sure your camera batters are charged. Please take the time to relax, reconnect and reflect.
 
I am truly excited to be in this business. I wake up every morning thankful for the life I have and thinking how much I love to travel, and how much I like to send people much like yourself on your next dream vacation.

TRIPOLOGY AND TRAVEL REFERRAL CLIENTS
 

As most of my clients come from Tripology and travel referrals from Hawaii and Cruise line based websites I have a few helpful insights and recommendations, and a few requests.
 
It costs our agency to acquire your information and work on your initial quotes, it is both beneficial and helpful to keep in contact with us. All to often I have Tripology clients in particular who take the time to request information but simply disappear never to be heard from again. I would ask that it be a matter of mutual respect. You want information and quotes please be respectful enough to open up the two way communications needed to fulfill your request. If you are not happy with or do not like the quote or no longer need our services please be courteous and send an email saying simply that you have found other arrangements or are no longer going on the trip. 
 
The fees come into play because all to often-prospective clients will take our knowledge and information and book on their own. Even at times they will book then call back when the vacation goes awry expecting us to fix it. If we didn’t book it we can’t fix it plain and simple.  In most cases it doesn’t cost you anymore to work with a travel professional and most of the time Travelocity, Priceline, Orbitz etc has lower prices. But once you get into the fine print and the meat and potatoes of the deal it’s not a deal after all. 
 
Fees are charged to Tripology clients based on the complexity of the research and the request. The most helpful thing that helps our agency find you the best value and the best vacation fit is cooperation and insight and input from you the client. All too often clients are focused on price and loose sight of the real value in a package deal.
 
In closing the best advice I can give you as a prospective client or even a long time client is to be prepared to jump on and place a deposit on a great vacation. I have a saying "If I find you the right vacation at the right price, would you be putting down a deposit today?" Otherwise giving out quotes is simply an excercise in futility, because the prices often change up and or down, mostly up within the span of time it takes to read this article.I’ve had clients recently that even waiting a day resulted in an increase in airfare of $300-700.00 or more. The old saying of Snooze you loose comes into play within the travel industry. New Airfares are posted by 3PM on Tuesdays and the best travel date for airfares is Wednesday.
 
Thank You for your time

 
Picture taken atop Halaekala in Maui on December 13, 2010. Western Maui mountains behind me. Kahului to the right and the Wailea/Kihei area on the left.

Nathan Bowers, ACC ACE DS
Owner/ Travel Consultant
Bowers Discount Travel, Inc

Phone Numbers: 1-877-319-7916  305-897-0521
Email:

My Personal Home # 352-620-8503