Rick Steves says he is not anti-travel agent.

You need a travel agent. Rick Steves, the European do it yourself independent travel host, writer and producer of the popular PBS television series Rick Steves' Europe, and best-selling author of 30 European travel books has become an advocate of using travel agents. He especially encourages purchasing airfare through travel agents. He writes:

"You can't save money by buying directly from the airlines."

"Travel agents save you money."

The low-rollers Las Vegas

Or how I made $75.00 from nothing but coupons and casino cards. This article from the Dallas Morning News warms our heart. Low stake gambling. Coupon promotions. Getting off the strip for better deals. It is a lesson in doing Las Vegas 101. Free registration...rather annoying is required to read the story.

Are cheap Las Vegas strip hotel rooms a thing of the past?

The Las Vegas Review journal speculates about the strip's future based upon the recent closing or about to be closed 5,000 lower-cost hotel rooms. Fewer bargain rooms means fewer bargain travelers. Is this good or bad for the strip's future?

Majority surveyed still consider Las Vegas a good value

Here is a link to the Las Vegas Review Journal latest article finding that Las Vegas' higher prices are still not keeping visitors away. But yet there is some concern about Tribal gambling.

Cancun Update

Cancun is still recovering from the destruction of Hurricane Wilma. Work still continues. Here is an update from the Chicago Sun Times Travel Section, including some recent on site reports about the rebuilding efforts at Cancun

The Imperial Palace She Ain't What She Used To Be. A Quick Las Vegas Trip Report.

Two colleagues just returned from five days attending a Las Vegas trade show. Staying at the Imperial Palace, they came back with very mixed feelings about the property which was recently sold to Harrahs in August 2005.

We liked the Imperial Palace because of its moderately priced rooms and absolutely great location.

This time however the rooms were rather worn, the casino had huge vacant spots were slot machines had been removed, causing it to be more crowded then needed.

Although no official announcement has been made, expect the Imperial Palace to be torn down soon as Harrahs will soon disclose its' plans to expand its presence in Las Vegas.

Valentine Day weekend was very popular. Las Vegas was crowded. Wait times, even at restaurants like the Cheesecake Factory were well over an hour Saturday night.

Le Village Buffet at Paris Las Vegas has made the No. 1 spot on the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s “Best of Las Vegas” poll for three consecutive years.

Le Village Buffet serves foods inspired by five provinces of France. Each station is themed after a particular province, including certain artictectural charisteristics of the region. Guests order their meals at each station

La Raclette area features melted cheese, cured meats, steamed potatoes, assorted vegetables and French bread. La Grillade food station offers a selection of assorted skewers of meat, seafood and grilled sausages.

The Brittany station specializes in crepes, while Normandy offers seafood and fish. Burgundy features prime rib, ham, rotisserie chicken, veal stew and pork chops. Alsace serves traditional chicken mushroom vol-au-vent, stuffed croissants, grilled Alsacian sausage and salmon scrambled eggs.

Le Village Buffet is a find and can be expensive. More than $25.00 for Sunday buffet. However, if you show up at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, you can still take advantage of the cheaper breakfast buffet bruch price. Just linger a little until the official start of the 11:00 a.m. Champaign brunch, and enjoy the much more elaborate and exceptional buffet for half the price.

Introducing Planet Travel's Better Value Travel

It is been two months since we posted to our Planet Travel Insider Blog.

We have been busy traveling.

In May we spent ten days touring Ireland with fellow staff members in preparation of several group tours planned for later this year and next spring.

Another staffer just returned from spending three weeks in France and Germany.

And finally we are making plans for another inspection tour of Las Vegas later this summer.

In between trips we have been working to upgrade our Planet Travel website The Beta version of the site will be available later in June. You will find easier to navigate, chock full of travel content, and the latest travel specials will be just one click away.

Later this month we will be introducing two new concepts: Value travel pricing and the "no unhappy customers promise"

We believe traveling cheap is not necessary better. Over night air trips with thee stops to get to your destination to save $30.00 is not good value. Staying at a cheap hotel with questionable location is not good value. As your trusted advisor we can help you find the best values available during the planning and booking process of your next trip without compromising your ability to deal with real live friendly people at very competive prices. And remember we are your lifeline in case something goes wrong or in case you need to change things while you are traveling. We will be soon be upgrading our system with 24-hour-seven-days-a-week assistance to our clients anywhere in the world they may be traveling at no additional charge.

Because we value long term relationships we have introduced "no unhappy customers." If something goes wrong, we will do everything we can be make it right. You have our word on it.

More to share later.