European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 16, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse The Canary islands volcanic origins give the archipelago some fascinating scenery for those looking for a break from the Beach. At left tourists visit the Tomb of King Mohammed v in Rabat Morocco. The Bay at Lendi Gozo part of the Island nation of Malta faces West and is an Ideal place to watch the Sun search of last minute bargains continued from Page i resort the average january air and water temperatures Art he decrees and to degrees resp Lively. Among , the world s most avid International travellers More Distant locations Are also popular especially in Asia and the Indian Ocean. Among the favorite destinations Are Thailand Indonesia the Seychelles and the maldives. Also popular among european travellers is Florida. Despite1 the far greater distance from Europe Quot it costs about the same to go to Florida and the Canary islands Quot says the Abr official. Hut accordingly Van Kranen few americans in Europe take advantage of the Florida offers. He said most americans wait to take their Florida vacations when the move Hack to the United slates. Quot we do not get too Many requests to the Caribbean because once you gel to thu . You get a much belter Deal Quot he says. Van Kranen says Sato can Book package vacations Tor americans with any of the major German travel firms at no extra Cost to the client. I it re Are a few Price ranges Lor one week Winter Pat Kages hotel and air fare to selected destinations. Prices vary according to Dales chosen and category of hotel. Prices Are taken from Winter Cata logs of various German tour companies supplied try Sato anti i a veiled into dollars a Gran Canaria Canary islands Spain $40 to $ i ,000. A Madeira Portugal $004 to $ i>77. A i Hailand $ 1,074 to $ 1,077. A Hali Indonesia $ i>77 to $.1, lr.4. A Dominii an Republic $ 1,000 to $ 1,744. A Majorca $ u 2 to $ 1,000. A mom Hassa Kenya $ 1,000 to $ 1 ,744. A Malta $s70 to $ .04. A i lot Ida Starling at $ i oots Tor two Norm Zeigler travel outdoor writer it flies in the face of that adage plan ahead. But travellers who can afford to wait can save Money by not booking vacations Well in Advance. According to Wolfgang Muller owner of a travel Agency in Griesheim Germany waiting until the last minute can Cut the Cost of a package vacation 20 percent to 40 percent. The savings result when charter companies lower their prices to move unsold airline seats. Prices usually Start dropping about a month before the scheduled departure Date Muller says. In Germany the travel Industry has borrowed an English phrase a Quot last minute Quot tickets a to describe the reduced Price bookings. One Large German company Neckermann und Reisen even has a Branch called last minute Verkauf sates. Muller says the trend to Book later is growing. Quot Twenty portent of my customers Are these last minute customers Quot he says. Unlike travellers who Book in Advance last minute customers Seldom know exactly what they want Muller says they know when they want to go and usually what they do not want. But they expect the travel agent to find something they will like. There Are two main types of packages the Quot no name Quot offers which give the destination and the category but not the name of the hotel and the regular offers in which both destination and hotel Are named. Muller says nearly All charter companies offer last minute specials and they Are available through any travel agent. He says it is easy to find last minute bookings for customers a even for the most popular Winter vacation destinations a up to the Day before they want to leave. Ronald Van Kranen Leisure travel head at scheduled airlines travel offices overseas says his company can also make last minute bookings with most of the Large German tour companies. He says the bookings do not make up a big segment of the military Market because Quot leaves have to be 4 stripes Magazine january 16, /992
