Before travelers even arrive at another country, some travel terms already sound like a foreign language.
Like any industry, travel agents have their own vernacular when it comes to flights, hotels, airlines and cruises. It’s helpful to have a working knowledge of some common terms to make your plans smooth sailing.
As a full-service travel agency, AAA offers up nine definitions to common travel jargon:
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BAR: Short for “best available rate,” it’s the lowest non-restricted rate available for a hotel room. Non-restricted means the rate has a flexible cancelation policy.
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Day guest: Travelers who have an extra-long layover can opt to pay a reduced day rate for a temporary hotel room to shower, recharge or use the property’s amenities or spa.
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Open jaw: This is a type of flight where a passenger flies into one city and out of another, but the city of origin remains the same. Open-jaw flights tend to be more popular overseas but can take place anywhere.
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Rack rate: This is the regular price of a hotel room before any promotions are put into effect.
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Red eye: Quite simply, a red eye is an overnight flight.
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Repositioning cruise: When a cruise ship needs to get from one side of the world to the other to adjust for the changing seasons, a repositioning cruise is developed. An example of a repositioning cruise is Alaska to Caribbean to the Panama Canal. Prices are slightly less expensive than traditional cruises because more of the days are spent only at sea.
- Shoulder season: This is the time period between peak and low season when demand is less. Rates tend to be lower and crowds are fewer, but travelers might not have the best weather to enjoy their vacation.
- VAT: Short for value-added tax, this type of consumption tax is most often used in Europe. It is similar to a sales tax that adds a fixed percentage of taxation on products and services at each step of production.
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Wave season: This “season” takes place the first three months of the year when cruise lines heavily promote the year’s bookings. While great promotions are available, it still depends on the location and time of the cruise for the best time to buy.
For more travel expertise, visit highroads.az.aaa.com.
