It's a No Brainer to Buy a TotalTrip™...But Just What is TotalTrip?
By Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large
July 8, 2003
Devoted readers of this column know I usually don't write about what's happening here at Travelocity. As an objective travel resource, I prefer to focus my travel guidance on ways to make each trip you take a success--whether it's booked through us, somebody else, or planned on your own. That said, just this once, I hope you will indulge me as I describe a tremendously exciting new development at Travelocity.
What is it that has me excited enough to momentarily set aside my objectivity? Well, it's called TotalTrip™. But before I describe what it is and does, I should mention something you've probably already noticed--Travelocity has a new homepage. And part of the reason we refreshed our look was to make room for TotalTrip, a tool that puts more deals directly at your fingertips.
Say goodbye to searching a la carte! Now, at the click of your mouse, select "flight + hotel" and save a bundle! Speaking of bundles, bundling is what this new TotalTrip capability is all about. TotalTrip takes your selected or desired air selections, pairs them with hotel options, and presents you with one single price. Booking together this way not only saves you the $5 booking fee you pay on the major travel sites, but it also passes along big time savings.
How does it work? It's simple: the TotalTrip price keeps prices of the individual trip components hidden, which enables us to provide you with specially-negotiated bulk airfares and/or hotel rates you wouldn't otherwise have access to. Think of it as you would a value meal. Sure, you could buy a double-cheeseburger and super-sized fries a la carte, but why would you when combo #4 puts them together, and maybe even throws in a soda--all for one low price? The value meal saves you money, and so does Travelocity's TotalTrip feature.
Check out some of the highlights of TotalTrip:
- Hotel choice: chose your own hotel brand, room type, and even bed choice
- Search for hotels based on location
- Read customer reviews of hotels AND see AAA ratings
- Airline selection options: choose your airline and flight times
- Dynamic options: TotalTrip only displays selections that are actually available (also known as "real-time" inventory). This feature ensures you aren't confused, bothered, or otherwise lured by offers that don't exist.
- Flexibility: Do you prefer to book your air or hotel first? Either way, you decide which way to search.
- Choose your own seat: The airlines usually do this, but we're the only major travel website to continually offer this feature (and we've made some enhancements!), making it easier to always sit where you want.
While I can tell you that scoring your TotalTrip just got a little easier at Travelocity, don't just take my word for it--try it yourself. Go ahead, I dare you. Go to the homepage and check it out. It's "totally" worth it.
(Just a note: enhancements to add cars and extras, such as lift tickets and much more are coming later this year!)
For more travel tips and advice, check out Amy Ziff's blog, The Window Seat, or her monthly column, Travel Trends & Advice from A to Z. To suggest a topic for a future column or to tell about a travel experience of your own, please email Amy Ziff at ask.amy@travelocity.com.
Related Links
Top 20 Editor's Picks of Travelocity's Local Secrets, Big Finds
Travelocity's Treasures From Your Own Backyard
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