HOW TO GO

Established in 1946, and continuing today under the leadership of Mary Rhoden, Tennessee Valley Travel Agency (TVTA) is very proud of it's decades long service to Chattanoogans, and others across the continent and beyond, who value our commitment to travel services beyond the ordinary. Our mission is to help you realize the greatest satisfaction possible in your pleasure travels each and every time you call on us.

TRAVEL...beyond the Ordinary!
In our ongoing quest to provide you with travel experiences beyond the ordinary, we have invested and continue to invest substantial resources to maintain a staff of travel consultants and support staff, who have superior knowledge, experience, and worldwide contacts to help you truly realize your travel dreams. Working with state of the art communications and operational systems and worldwide networks, our aim is simply to make your travels as nearly perfect and as hassle free as possible. After all, our biggest reward is your praise after a successful journey. We want to earn that praise by building a long term relationship with you which is based on meeting or exceeding your needs each time you call us.

The travel industry is huge and ever changing. Much confusion abounds in the air travel marketplace with wildly fluctuating fares, schedules, rules, and even airlines and their services. New cruise lines, tour operators, hotels and resorts enter and exit the marketplace constantly. What was last year's hottest destination, could very well have lost its luster a year later. There's an ever changing panorama on the travel horizon worldwide, and we are here to help you sort through the possibilities to find precisely the travel experience that will most likely meet or exceed your needs.

Most of our clients have access to much information through friends, family and the Internet. We work closely with them providing proprietary information from inside sources worldwide to clarify, expand, or validate their knowledge and then to arrange their travels to meet their needs. Some particularly well traveled and informed clients simply prefer to allow us to book travel arrangements in order to avoid the time consuming tasks of securing accurate and complete reservations, and to make sure that their specific requirements are met for each trip. Whatever our role may be in your travel plans, we're here to help you do it right, on time, and with local accountability.

And by the way, at TVTA we take the word confidential very seriously. We do not discuss our clients' travel plans outside the context of our work. We respect very much your privacy in personal matters, and you can know with certainty that your travel plans, and personal information is held in strictest confidence.

Personal Travel Time is Precious...Invest Wisely!
Consider for a moment just how important your personal travel time really is. For most of us, many of our most precious memories are written in the context of travel with friends, family, business associates, or even by ourselves. Regardless of each of our financial capabilities, travel time is a precious commodity and represents an investment that cannot be taken lightly. It just makes good sense to entrust your travel time to those who understand its value and are dedicated to fulfilling your dreams through friendly, knowledgeable, and professional services each time you call or email us.

We need to get to know you!
It's a real challenge to match each of our clients with the travel product or services that will best meet or exceed their needs for each trip. To accomplish this crucial task, we ask our clients to provide us with some pertinent personal information, so that when particularly good offers appear in which you have indicated interest, we are able to promptly inform you of the opportunity. Your personal profile, which is highly confidential, allows us to serve you extremely well, so please take the necessary time to provide us with your information!

Which TVTA Consultant is Best for you?
We are pleased to provide our clients with specialized travel consultants for interests ranging from worldwide cruises and tours, adventure travel, sports of all varieties, cultural, and art, as well as destination experts for most any region in the world. Each of our vacation and leisure travel consultants has areas of expertise that focus a bit differently, and even though our goal is to provide excellent services at all times to each client, consultants styles and personalities understandably differ as well.

Many clients prefer to work with one favorite TVTA consultant for all their travel needs. Others want to work with whichever consultant has the particular knowledge and experience with a destination or travel company germane to their current travel plans. We want you to feel free to work with whomever you choose, whenever you wish. Personal chemistry in travel is very important for your satisfaction, and we always want to provide the right agent for your needs. Should you need any guidance, or have any dissatisfaction with a service, please contact TVTA management for confidential action.

Our cost to you
Historically, travel agencies derived compensation from commissions paid by travel suppliers- airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, hotels, resorts, and other travel suppliers. This traditional source of revenues changed dramatically in February 1995, when the major airlines capped commissions to agents. The net effect of this action was to shift some of their costs of agent compensation to the traveler. Some services which agencies provided clients at no charge prior to February 1995, now must be passed along to our clients. Your TVTA travel consultant will fully inform you of any fees that you can expect prior to incurring any charges or obligations. These nominal charges enable our company to maintain the best staff of travel professionals, systems, and services that you have come to expect over the years.

We are proud of our long history of exceptional service to our clients, and we are honored each time you call on us. We invite you to give us your comments, compliments, and even criticisms, so that our future service to you can be the best possible. Our objective is to build long term client relationships and to be the finest travel agency in the world for our clients.

Destinations
For your pleasure travels, we literally have a world of possibilities. In your choice of destinations, let the words of an ancient wise man guide your decision- "Man know thyself!" For example, if you enjoy your creature comforts, then your trip to China should be aboard a fine cruise ship rather than a tour that will stay in local hotels, where accommodations and services will be limited.

If we ask you many questions, please do not be offended. Our suggestions for places for you to visit are based on our experience and research, and your needs and desires as we perceive them. The more you can tell us of your personal likes, dislikes, interests and goals, the better we can advise you as to our recommendations.

Once you have decided upon your destination, we urge you to begin your studies! Part of the fun and excitement of travel is the anticipation of new experiences and involvement in the culture and history of your destination. While the Internet is information rich, don't forget local bookstores and remember the local library. Here you will find massive collections of travel related information to prepare you for your journey. Your trip represents a large investment and the more time you spend in study, the more your visit will mean to you.

Travel Style
Just as important as where you go, is how you go! To help you decide on what style of travel suits you best, here are some considerations:

• PACKAGES (OR NON-ESCORTED TOURS):
  Offer you hotel accommodations, transfers from and to the airport, usually by motorcoach, and group sight-seeing possibilities with the benefits of group rates. Packages offer a good bargain for those who do not require close personal attention or assistance.
• ESCORTED TOURS:
  Offer an itinerary and price which include hotel accommodations, all transfers and sight-seeing by motorcoach, baggage handling, prepaid gratuities and taxes, usually a number of meals, and the services of a knowledgeable, experienced tour lead and/or guide. Escorted tours offer more personal attention and assistance than a package, but the trip is oriented primarily to the group, not the individual. Since the traveler is a member of a group, prices are attractive. The escorted tour is a carefree form of travel, recommended for first-time globetrotters, as well as seasoned travelers.
• CRUISES:
  A superb leisure travel possibility! Cruise ships offer a multitude of destinations worldwide and range in style from comfortable to luxurious. Itineraries vary from three days to three months, and prices include accommodations, meals, entertainment, transfers from and to the airport, and in some cases airfare is included in the package price. Cruising is an extremely comfortable, carefree form of travel and the most explosively growing segment of the leisure travel industry. The key to a successful cruise experience is choosing the ship and itinerary that is right for you.
• INDEPENDENT TRAVEL:
  For the knowledgeable, well traveled client, who wants specific destinations, accommodations, and/or other services. Essentially, you plan, we execute.
• FOREIGN (AND DOMESTIC) INDEPENDENT TOURS:
  The FIT- pure comfort, convenience, personal service and attention are the cornerstones of this ultimate category of travel. We offer custom planned itineraries, private car transfers and sightseeing, and most importantly, the services of local agents worldwide. The choice travel experience for those accustomed to fine living at home and abroad. Though certainly not inexpensive, the FIT offers real value in personalized service and the maximizing of quality time.

Terms and conditions for trips vary substantially, so please take time to read the "small print". Your TVTA travel consultant will be glad to answer you questions or refer you to the right source for further information.

Each category of travel contains many possibilities. Combinations of categories are certainly possible, and in many cases preferable, to fulfill your travel needs and dreams.

Travel Suppliers
While our role in your trip is that of an agent for the airlines, hotels, and tour operators, our utmost concern is that your trip is successful in every way. For this reason, we suggest suppliers who have a reputation for providing reliable, caring services at a fair price. By its very nature, travel can entail circumstances beyond anyone's control. Should you encounter a problem or dissatisfaction on your trip, please take the time to document the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the situation. Upon your return, we will be able to more capably pursue a satisfactory conclusion of the situation with this vital information.

Documents
In many cases, foreign travel requires you to have a valid passport in your possession to enter the countries of your destination. Even when passports are not required, proof of citizenship in some acceptable form with photographic ID is mandatory.

We heartily recommend that you obtain a passport. We will be happy to assist you in obtaining one. Your passport is now good for ten years, so you needn't worry with its renewal very often.

Should you wish to visit countries like Egypt, Brazil, or Nepal, you will need a visa. Visas are essentially a method of screening visitors in advance of arrival, and in order to obtain a necessary visa, you must have a valid passport. We stand ready to capably assist you with all necessary documentation.

Travel Insurance
Your pleasure trip represents a substantial investment in time and money, and it is prudent to consider insuring your self against possible losses in cancellation fees, luggage, even life and limb.

We offer Trip insurance from reputable firms for your consideration. Of course, we advise you to check with your own insurance agent for professional advice on present coverage, and how it will relate to your travels.

Our pamphlets will clearly state coverage, but for technical questions, we will refer you to the insurance company directly.

Inoculations & Prescriptions
While most areas in the world are reasonably safe for travel, we suggest that you consult with your physician as to his recommendations for inoculations such as tetanus, cholera, etc. Your may want to obtain medication in advance for traveler's stomach, diarrhea, etc. While we will do our best to inform you of any medical considerations, we must defer any questions to the advice of your doctor.

Thank you for choosing TVTA. We greatly appreciate the opportunity for service and look forward to assisting you in all your travel needs.