Introduction to Travel and Tour Management

Chapter 4: Products and Services Offered by Travel Agencies and TMC’s

CHAPTER 4
Products and Services Offered by Travel Agencies and TMC’s

Motor Coach and Rail Road Travel

Travel within continental Europe and North America can be affected by surface transportation such as
motor coaches or by rail road.
USA - Grey Hound Bus Company offers the extensive bus network in the country.
AMTRAK offers the extensive rail network in the country.
Europe - EURAIL Passes are a very popular and economic way of traveling within the continent.

A. EURAIL
Established in 2001, legal entity registered in Luxembourg, with head office in Utrecht,
Netherlands.

EURAIL Products:

1. EURAIL Global Pass

It offers the most extensive travel possibilities: practically unlimited travel in 18 EURAIL
Global Pass countries. This pass is available for 15, 21, 30, 60, 90 days; 10 days within 2
months or 15 days within 2 months. This pass also entitles the buyer to benefit from
bonus discounts, such as reductions on room rates of some hotels, and discounts on bus
and shipping lines.

a. EURAIL Global Pass Adult – valid in 1 st class carriages in 18 countries, including

shipping lines; appropriate for ages 26 up. For children ages 4-11, they pay half the
fare of this pass.
b. EURAIL Global Pass Saver – offers a special price for two or more people traveling
together; reduced to 15% of the Adult Pass.
c. EURAIL Global Pass Youth – offered to travelers ages 26 and younger, which has a
reduced fare of 35% of the Adult Pass. This pass is valid only in second-class
carriages, so for those who would still stay and travel at the First Cabin, travelers
may purchase a regular Adult Pass.

2. EURAIL Select Pass

This enables the traveler to design his own tailor-made pass selecting 3-5 European
bordering countries for durations of either 5, 6, 8. 10 days within 2 months. It offers
unlimited rail travel between 25 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Montenegro, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Serbia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland).

3. EURAIL Regional Pass

It entitles the traveler to travel within a chosen country combination. This is ideal for
those on a short stay in Europe, wanting only to visit a couple of countries. EURAIL gives
travelers an opportunity to select two European bordering countries to choose, plus
numerous discounts and freebies.
4. EURAIL National Pass
It is a single country pass, perfect for travelers who want to see one entire European
country in a shorter timeframe. It allows unlimited train travel in one European country.

In the Philippines, EURAIL and Amtrak are represented and sold by American Express
Transnational c/o Adventure Travel Corporation.
Introduction to Travel and Tour Management
Chapter 4: Products and Services Offered by Travel Agencies and TMC’s

Locally, rail travel is not advisable due to the poor state of the railway system. Also, the priority
of rail transportation is by mere transfer of public passengers from origin to destination, without
any clue of tourism or travel service per se. However, for bus companies, they offer service to
transfer from island to island, such as Victory Liner, JAM, BLTB, Gold Liner, Philtranco, Philippine
Rabbit, Partas, etc.

B. GREYHOUND BUS COMPANY, AMTRAK AND VIA RAIL CANADA

Grey Hound was founded in 1914, and is the largest provider of intercity bus transportation in
North America. While they are known for regular services, Grey Hound offers a number of other
service to its customers.
a. Greyhound Package Xpress service – offers value priced same day and early next day service
to destinations.
b. Company’s Greyhound Travel Services unit – offers charter and tour packages for businesses,
conventions, schools and other groups at competitive rates.

Amtrak also offers:

a. The USA Rail Pass – for international visitors only, it is available within three different
regions, on the entire USA, which is offered on 5-day, 15-day and 30-day unlimited travel
passes.
b. Amtrak Vacation – package includes rail travel, air travel (one-way), hotel accommodation,
sightseeing tours, theater/event tickets, meals, car rentals, and more. Amtrak arranges
everything for the traveler.

Car Rentals
This may be driven by a chauffeur, or self-driven. Most TMCs are able to book a selection of vehicle
types anywhere in the world. Major companies, such as Budget, Avis and Hertz have offices in major
cities of the world, with pickup and dropoff facilities. As a rule, a valid international driver’s license is
required, which can be obtained at the Philippine Motorist Association for a fee, and is valid only for 6
months. Local car rental companies include Fil-Cars, Active Wheels and Helsinki.

Domestic Maritime Products

The cruise products available in the Philippines today are divided into domestic and international.

a. M/B Lagoon Explorer (Cruise and Hotel Center) – a 10-cabin catamaran sailing from Coron,
Busuanga to the Calamian Group of Islands, Palawan, offering a 4D/3N island hopping cruise.
b. M/V Coco Explorer – operates Mindoro-Calamian service, during certain times of the year only.
c. Super Ferry – largest interisland shipping company in the Philippines, operates the “Sail Away”
inclusive tour package. This is not technically a cruise package, since the transportation used for
the service will be the current maritime fleet of Super Ferry. They also offer ApEx
ApprenticeShip Program for HRM and Tourism students, which combines onboard learning
activities with sightseeing and other ashore activities. Lastly, they also offer MarEx Program for
Maritime students – Deck and Engine.
d. Negros Navigation Company (NeNaCo) – operates various packages on board its own fleet of
interisland vessels, to 8 major tourist destinations in the country.
e. Sun Cruises (Magsaysay Lines) – operates regular shuttle services onboard 120-seater island
cruisers, to the island of Corregidor. This is a component of a full-day Corregidor Excursion,
which includes a 2-hour guided, sightseeing tour of the war memorial and lunch at the
Corregidor Inn.
f. M/V Palau Sport (Oceanic Charter Corporation) – operates a diving cruise service to Palau and
Cebu from June to October only.

International Luxury Cruises

Introduction to Travel and Tour Management
Chapter 4: Products and Services Offered by Travel Agencies and TMC’s

a. Star Cruises – In the Far East, it is the best known cruise ship operator. It is the 3 rd largest cruise
line in the world, and the largest in Asia Pacific. Packages operate from Singapore and Hong
Kong, to Malaysia and Thailand. Aside from their own booking office in Manila, their Philippine
representatives are Pan Pacific Travel, Rajah Travel and Cruise Ship Travel.
b. Carnival Cruise – ships sail to more than 20 destinations, for instance, (Alaska, Bahamas, Canada,
Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, Panama Canal, Bermuda, Europe)
c. Crystal Cruise – operates 14-day cruises to South America, including Barbados, Rio de Janeiro
and Buenos Aires, and 11-day Pacific cruises from Acapulco, Los Angeles, San Francisco and
Vancouver. Crystal Cruises appointed representative in the Philippines is Adventure
Travel/American Express.
d. Royal Caribbean International – operates cruises in the Pacific Northwest, Mexico and Hawaii in
addition to the cruises in Alaska, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Europe. It is the second largest
cruise line in the world.
e. Norwegian Cruise Lines – sets sail to over 140 ports of call on four continents from the northern
European ports of Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Oslo and St. Petersburg, to the Caribbean, Alaska,
Europe and South America, Bermuda and Hawaii.
f. Princess Cruises – offers activities galore and dinner and dancing delights in the cruise programs
to various cities in Europe, places in the Caribbean and Alaska, Africa and China cruise tours,
Asia, the Pacific, and Hawaii. It is available in the Philippines through Cruise Ship Travel, Rajah
Travel and Traders Travel Corporation.
g. Disney Cruise Lines – brings its unique style to the sea with its ships. It is family-oriented, but
ships offer intimate lounges and elegant dining for adults.

Accommodation and Lodging Establishments

a. City Hotels – Hotel and Travel Index listed Top 5 major hotel chains (Holiday Inn, Nikko Hotels,
Hyatt Hotels, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, and Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts)
b. Resorts – accommodation establishments with a leisure component. These are normally
situated in leisure areas such as beach-side, river-side, lake-side, mountain side and the like.

Sightseeing Tours and Tour Packages

These can be purchased either in a seat-in-coach, or private tour basis. Sightseeing tours are half-day or
full day tours to sights and sites of interest in the destination country.

Seat-in-Coach – refers to sightseeing tours with other individual on a first-come-first-served

accommodated basis, on scheduled departures.

Private Tours – operated exclusively for certain individuals.

In the Philippine urban centers, seat-in-coaches is made available by Baron Travel Corporation’s
“Rainbow Run”, Southeast Travel’s “Sunshine Run”, Inter-Island’s “Tour Network” and Great Sights
Travel.

Tour packages are a combination of two or more travel components that normally include at least 1
night in the destination country or city. It is classified as (1) Ground Arrangement, (2) Land Arrangement,
(3) Inclusive Tour Packages, and (4) Inclusive Escorted Tour Package.

Ad Hoc Group Travel Arrangements

Ad Hoc – Latin word for “as the need arises”. Ad hoc travel refers to special travel arrangements for
pilgrims, students and any other form of travel not falling under the previous category.

Insurance/Assist Cards
A. Travel Insurance
Introduction to Travel and Tour Management
Chapter 4: Products and Services Offered by Travel Agencies and TMC’s

Travel insurance policies offer a range of coverage and provisions such as repatriation, death,
unforeseen accommodations and travel expenses and loss of personal effects. It helps people to
travel with ease and peace of mind whether it’s for business or leisure. It is classified as (1)
travel-health or (2) travel related assistance.

B. Assist Cards
It provides health and accident security overseas in a manner that the host in-country handles
all the necessary requirements a traveler may have.