Become a Home Based Travel Agent

GHOST, GOBLINS, AND GHOULIES
By Jan Shaughnessy

 There was a damp dense fog in the air.  It was dark, and clouds eerily streaked a full yellow moon.  I heard the cry of a lone wolf.  Suddenly, a bat flew off in front of me.  Startled, I stepped back onto the tail of a black cat that screeched out a blood curdling cry.  It hissed once more and ran off in the night.  Cobwebs draped the trees.  What a creepy place this was.  I needed to get out of here.  A large black rat scurried across my foot.  The hair stood up on my neck and I began to feel uneasy.  My heart was pounding.  "Where was I?" " What was this place?"  "Was I dreaming?"  Then out of nowhere a galloping black horse appeared carrying a headless man dressed in black.  In one hand he carried a pumpkin with a gruesome carved face.  With his other hand he pointed a gnarled finger.  I turned my head slowly in the direction he pointed.  I could make out the outline of a large tombstone.  "Oh no, please don't tell me."  "All this black, and gloom, could it be?"  I carefully shuffled through the dry Fall leaves over to the tombstone.  I stood in front of it with my eyes closed, nervous and shaking.  Slowly I opened my eyes to read.  RIP October 31, 2009 Happy Halloween!

Whew! What a nightmare.  It's that time of year again.  Strange things are happening.  Perhaps your getting weird phone calls from clients looking for something different to do.  Well your in luck.  Cruise lines, hotels, and tour operators, have a bag full of treats to offer your clients.  So take out your magic wand, tap it three times on the desk, and see what appears for your clients.

Cruiselines - Tell you clients to pack their bags and while they're at it, throw in a few things for the Halloween party.  Most cruises will have a special event on Halloween night.  Carnival has costume parties and events scheduled for all 23 of their ships.  Children will be able to participate in Trick-or-Treating throughout the ship.  Events are scheduled on sailings as early as October 17th  and run through October 31st.  The cruise rates for October remain low.  The Carnival Paradise had a Senior rate of $178 for the October 19th sailing.

Disney - The Magic Kingdom is stepping it up for Halloween.  Mickey's "Not so scary Halloween party" runs through November 1st.  Costumes, rides, Trick-or-Treating with the Disney characters, special music and the "Boo-To-You" parade are all planned activities.  A special treat will be the "Happy Hallowishes" fireworks.   Advance tickets are $46 children/$52 adults plus tax.  Disneyland in California is brewing up some "Wicked Fun For Everyone" too.  Check it all out at www.disneytravelagents.com

Universal Studios Orlando - Universal's Halloween Horror Nights run through October 31st.  Clients will be spooked by 8 Haunted houses, 6 Scare zones, and 2 live shows.  Regular park passes can be upgraded to include the special events from $29.99-$59.99.  Gory Getaway packages are a great value starting at $129 per person and include accommodations, admission, live entertainment, and a free 5X7 photo.  Taxes additional.  Check out the Halloween Horror Nights  at www.universalorlando.com .

Busch Gardens - Busch Gardens has a variety of thrills and chills with their "Howl-o-scream" events.  Many are for adults only. At Busch Gardens Tampa it will be blood and gore at the "Fright Feast Buffet" dinner show.  $24.95.  Scare zones throughout the park may make your clients jump out of their skins.   Admission to seven haunted houses is $35.  You can get your clients better deals with packages starting at $238.04 which include two admissions and one night accommodations.  Groups of two or more can experience the eight hour "Embalming Tour" for $169.95 per person plus tax.  It includes out of line admission to the haunted houses and roller coasters, preferred seating for the "Fright Feast Buffet", beverages at special areas of the park, parking, a session of behind the scenes secrets, a special event souvenir and free photo of their group.  For more nightmares your clients may want to check out the events at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.  www.buschgardens.com

Hotel Stays - Historic Hotels of America has ghostly tales to tell with their tours and packages.  Your clients can try their luck at over 220 hotels.  Hotels like The Sagamore Bolton Landing in New York; Paso Robles Inn at Paso Roble, California;   and the Jekyll Island Club Hotel in Jekyll Island, Georgia.  Check out all the hotels at www.historichotels.org and then click on the link for "Ghostly Tales of Halloween".  The hotels don't charge extra for any special friends that may "appear" in your room.  Remember though, if you check into the Hotel California you may never leave!

New Orleans, Boston and Salem - Clients may have a "Spooktacular" time in one of  Americas haunted cities.  New Orleans is known for it's Voodoo, but little ones can  enjoy the "Boo at Zoo" with trick-or-treating, entertainment and more.  The Big Easy will celebrate from October 29 - November 1st with haunted tours of sights and cemeteries, voodoos, vampires, and more.  www.neworleanscvb.com .  Boston and Salem will be celebrating with costume balls, a "Howl-a-ween" pet parade, eerie tales from the graves, and "Murder Mystery" nights.  Haunted happenings will take place through November 1st.  Visit www.bostonusa.com , then Calendar of Events. 

Have a safe and Happy Halloween everyone.  Watch out for the little Ghosts, Goblins and Ghoulies that may be stalking your neighborhood.