News updates are sent daily. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Gilbert travel agency battles high gas prices
Digg|
Save|
License|
Print|
E-mail|
PREPARING: Kay Cikity works on an itinerary for a client Friday at the Gilbert home of Sue Arko, who opened a travel agency out of her house in 1999.
Thomas Boggan, Tribune
A Gilbert travel agency is promoting public transportation to combat the down economy and high cost of gasoline.
"Dump The Pump" is part of a financially conservative travel package developed by Free Spirit Vacations and Events and is aimed at saving dollars for their customers while touring cities.
"By using public transportation, our guests save money, conserve fuel and reduce the amount of harmful greenhouse gases that are emitted into our environment," said Sue Arko, owner of Free Spirit Vacations and Events.
Travelers are given passes for public buses and light rail and are encouraged to avoid renting cars or using chartered buses.
"Chartered buses are restrictive," said Arko, who started her agency in 1999 in her Gilbert home and now uses a converted barn in her backyard for an office.
"Travelers on chartered buses must all leave a site together, but public buses gives them more flexibility. They can come and go as they please. It's also less expensive."
The public bus passes are part of an economic travel package that also includes airline tickets, hotel rooms - usually in a less-expensive district of a city - and tickets to low-cost or free local attractions such as museums, gardens and other places within walking distance.
Arko said the goal of each package is to avoid hidden costs that sometimes pop up when tourists travel independently.
"Besides the high cost of fuel, we're facing - and trying to combat - all of the other economic downturns for our travelers," Arko said.
Among the challenges facing Arko and other travel agents is a drop in international trips and vacations on cruise ships.
"We feel cruises will eventually pick up, however," said Arko, who notes that most of her customers are Valley residents over age 50.
"Right now we're trying to give our travelers the most value for their travel dollars, which can be difficult in today's environment." She added: "People are traveling less, but they're still traveling."
Please add your comments, but follow these guidelines to keep this a safe, credible place for discussing the news: