Airline Baggage Policies & Fees

Airline Baggage Policies & Fees

It pays to be prepared!

With all the changes that have occurred within the airline industry, especially to the almost daily updates to baggage policies and fees, we wanted to help provide a resource for you, our client, that lists most of the world’s major airlines and their established baggage policies. Through our partnership with Funjet Vacations, we’ve prepared the following database for your use.

Please click here to view the Airline Baggage Policies Spreadsheet:
http://www.funjet.com/cs/baggagepolicy.asp?OAC=SLC&plCode=46809350

Hunt Mystery Cruise

Morris Murdock Travel and Hunt Mysteries are partnering in a Mexican Riviera Cruise on the Carnival Pride departing March 15, 2009! Talk about an AMAZING time!!!

The following link has more information about the cruise;
http://murdockescortedtours.com/MMT_Cruises/cruises_detail.cfm?ID=17

Destination Jamaica...Love is ALL you need!!!

Ginger and Ben chose Sandals Dunn's River Villaggio all inclusive resort for their wedding and honeymoon. They were very fortunate to have their family join them for the wedding. Ginger and Ben enjoyed nine nights in absolute paradise!
Destination weddings are becoming very popular and the wedding is often free of charge. At this time Sandals has a great value on airfare and accommodations. Please enjoy the beautiful family photo and the much appreciated thank you card Betty received!

Sandals really is the Luxury Included Vacation!

Airlines charge for Luggage

Beware travelers!

Baggage policies and restrictions vary by airline. Some airlines have started charging for luggage handling. For more information click here.



http://www.funjet.com/cs/baggagepolicy.asp?nonav=true&nobook=true

Don & Phyllis Hayes celebrate an amazing 50th Anniversary!

I would love to share with all of you the happy couple's anniversary announcement from The Billings Gazette;

DON AND PHYLLIS HAYES
Phyllis and Don Hayes, of Billings, celebrated their 50th anniversary on an Alaskan cruise. Phyllis Poskin and Don Hayes were married Aug. 30, 1958, in Torrance, Calif. They lived in Long Beach, Calif., where she worked at a bank for 23 years. He owned an Exxon gas station, where he was a mechanic. Later, he was a service writer at Montgomery Wards in Long Beach, then in Billings, where they moved in 1994. They are retired. They have a daughter, Penny; three grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Don and Phyllis sailed for the second time on Princess Cruise Lines to Alaska! They cannot get enough of the amazing scenery, delicious food and excellent customer service.








Of course Don couldn't go on his cruise without his Morris Murdock Travel Traveling Hat!!!

Happy Anniversary Love Birds!

Rose Parade, California

Rose Parade!!!

The 120th Rose Parade themed Hats Off To Entertainment, will take place on Thursday, January 1, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. (PST) featuring spirited marching bands from throughout the nation, majestic floral floats, and high-stepping equestrian units.

Come and join Morris Murdock Travel on an exclusive tour to the Rose Parade filled with unforgettable experiences!

You'll be dazzled by the sights and sounds of the 120th Tournament of Roses Parade. Our exciting tour includes a performance of The Glory of Christmas at the Crystal Cathedral, admission to Aquarium of the Pacific, a visit to the Reagan Library and much more.
Plan to ring in the New Year in Sunny California!
Tour Details:Dates: Dec 29, ‘08 – Jan 02, ‘09
Duration: 5 daysFrom: $1199 pp/dbl occupancy $1399 pp/single

Round-trip air from Salt Lake City Included Call for pricing from your City!
Includes:

• Roundtrip air from Salt Lake City
• 4 nights hotel accommodations at The Hampton Inn
• Reserved grandstand seating at the Rose Parade
• Performance of The Glory of Christmas at the Crystal Cathedral
• Post-parade float viewing excursion
• Dinner and show at Medieval Times
• Tour of Huntington Estate & Botanical Gardens
• Admission to Ronald Reagan Library & Museum
• Meals as listed in itinerary
• Admission to the Aquarium of the Pacific

To see more click on the following link:

http://murdockescortedtours.com/MMT_Tours/north_america/north_america_detail.cfm?ID=201

Iced up Summer

This amazing story is told by Jerry and Judy Healey about their Alaskan Cruise on Holland America Cruise line.

We were planning on attending a family reunion in Portland the end of July 2008. One evening my husband (Jerry) said, "Since we are already over by Seattle for the weekend why don't we just keep on going and go on an Alaskan cruise?" I almost fell over since this is something I have always wanted to do! After poking around on the internet I decided to visit Linda Hofer at Morris Murdock Travel to see what kind of deals she could come up with. What a find-- on July 26, 2008, we left Seattle, Washington on Holland America for our inland passage cruise. Here are just a few highlights of our trip. At the entrance of the Glacier Park we picked up a Ranger, who answered all of our questions and explained everything as we went along. We were lucky because as we entered the Park, it was cloudy, but as you can see, once we arrived at our stops the clouds lifted and the sun came out.

Photo #1 This is the Margerie Glacier. You would hear a big clap and all the eyes would be on the glacier, since you knew that it was calving and if you were lucky chunks would fall into the bay.

Photo #2 is a zoomed in photo of the top of Margerie Glacier with the mountains coming out of the clouds. The ice pieces on the bottom of the photo are the tops of the glacier that would calve and break off. They are huge.

Photo #3 is just a small chunk that has fallen off and floating in the bay. We thought it was small (since we are quite a distance away) until we zoomed in and noticed the kayaker. We have changed our mind that it was maybe a tad bigger than we thought.

Photo #4 is one of the views as we were leaving Glacier Bay. Isn't it just beautiful? I could just stay and watch this all day! You would think this would be very cold-- true, it was a little cool as the ship was going from glacier to glacier, but all you needed was earmuffs, light gloves and a jacket. While the ship was stopped it was just like a spring day.

Photo #5 was one of the tours we went on when we stopped in Juneau, Alaska. It was the tour to Mendenhall Glacier and the rain forest. Since I have already included glacier photos, I decided to just show you the Rain Forest. What a beautiful sight! This is the enterance into the Rain Forest. The upside down trees are just out of this world. They were an accident that the owner of this garden created. He got frustrated when he knocked over a tree and slammed it in the ground upside down. The top where the flowers are, are actually the roots of the tree. Don't you just want one for your own garden? If I could just figure a way to do this!

Photo #6 we rode golf carts up 600 feet to almost the top of the Rain Forest and then walked a short distance to check out the view. The day was sunny (not a rain drop in sight surprisingly) and this is one of the views of Juneau from the top. We were lucky--no one could believe that it was NOT raining. Everyone we talked to said it was the time of year when it usually rained.

Our next highlight on our trip was our final stop in Victoria, Canada.

Photos #7-9 were taken in Butchert Gardens.

Photo #7 is from the top of the Sunken Garden. This is just one view. It was just beautiful!

Photo #8 is along one of the walk ways going to the Japanese Garden. Everywhere you walked there were flowers similar to this. Can you imagine your yard looking like this?

Phone #9 Lastly, this photo is in the Japanese Gardens. There were totem poles, fountains and 7 differant gardens to check out. If you got tired, there were benches you could sit on. We only got a few hours here, but it is definately a place you might want to travel back to and spend some more time. There was a concert stage and you could pack a lunch, sit on the grass, and spend the day touring the gardens. We were able to see all of the gardens, but would have loved to just take more time.

Well, this is just a few of the highlights of our trip to Alaska on Holland America. We took close to 500 photos and it still wasn't enough! You would be sitting along the windows in the dining room and whales would be playing outside-- needless to say, no camera. If you wanted photos of everything, you would have to have the camera around your neck constantly!

I hope you have enjoyed a glimpse into our trip. It is a trip that we will remember for a long time.

Judy and Jerry Healey

Don't Miss the Boat!

Cruise Sale All Week Long At Morris Murdock Billings Office!!!
You do not want to miss out on all of these great deals! We have contacted all of our cruise vendors and they have given us prices you cannot pass up! Stop in or call us today! 111 S. 24th st. West, suite 27, Billings, mt 59102. (406)655-3500

Fiji May 2008

Fiji - the Quintessential South Pacific adventure - or in our case the perfect place to ditch the last stresses of working life............. The incredible blue of the South Pacific! Nowhere else on earth!.
.......The Lomani Resort on Malolo Island is a true piece of paradise. Great food, wonderful service, elegant room overlooking the azure blue bay, fantastic sunsets, scheduled and impromptu activities.

Every day a new adventure;

snorkeling the reef, .................................kayaking the sunset,

..........throwing a line off the stern as Captain Paul finds the best reef edge,

............Dr. Sams gives Captain Paul an ART consultation - and what a clinic!.

........beachcombing the windward side of the island beside the coconut plantation

a Fijian Luau complete with pig and poi slow cooked over hot coals for hours before being unearthed.
...................Fire dancers at the Polynesian show - fun and free to all Alas the feel of sand between the toes is becoming a vague memory. It's hard to believe we've been back a month already!

You May Need to Borrow Santa's Sleigh

It's 90* outside, your sunburnt and the last thing on your mind is the holidays. This should not be the case! Unless you book your flights soon you may need to borrow Santa's sleigh to get to your destination. With many carriers cutting flights and seats travel during the holidays is becoming a luxury. It is only July and there are not many seats left on flights during the holiday season. Here are a few quick tips for your holiday travel.

- Book as soon as you know your travel dates.

- Do not wait for the price to go down, gas keeps increasing and your flight may sell out while you wait.

- Always purchase travel insurance! If a carrier goes bankrupt they are not obligated to give you a refund.

- You will have to pay for your checked baggage so make sure you account for it in your budget.

- Pack very lightly to avoid paying for more than one bag or bags over 50lbs.

- If you are cruising, arrange to arrive to the port city a day early to ensure you do not miss your flights or loose your baggage.

- Always call the night before to confirm your flights and make sure there are no schedule changes.

* Delta 800-221-1212

* Alaska 800-426-0333

* United 800-241-6522

* Frontier 800-243-6297

* Northwest 800-225-2525

- Also prior to travel go to http://www.tsa.gov/ to double check security and packing allowances.

- Book through a travel agent, we keep tabs on all of your flights so if there is a schedule change we can fix it! It ensures less surprises for you at the airport.

Disney Cruise Line

Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust.....

Are you searching for a remarkable vacation? Disney is the superior choice! I have just returned from a Seminar at Sea and would love to share some of my juicy details... This was my first time experiencing any of the Disney Products. I started my journey alone for the first day. When I arrived at Orlando International Airport I began to feel a bit overwhelmed. Where was I supposed to get my luggage? Do I have all of my documents for the magical express? Is it to early to check into my Disney Resort? Once I trekked down the escalator and saw the Disney Cast member standing there I suddenly remembered that Disney has already taken care of my worries. My luggage had already been gathered and was on it's way to my room. They guided me to the magical express counter where I gave them my name and they directed me to a large air conditioned bus. When I got on the bus classic Disney cartoons were playing! My worried were completely gone and all I could think about was the adventure ahead of me. I had the opportunity to stay at three Disney Resorts during my stay. First, Disney's All-Star Music Resort. The property was HUGE! Three swimming pools, a huge cafeteria and many buildings full of guest rooms. The rooms were very clean but a bit noisy. When I woke up in the morning Disney's complimentary resort shuttles were directly outside my room waiting to take me to meet my group. I met my group at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. You must stay here!!! I had a Giraffe standing by the window in my room. My room was large with a queen bed and a set of bunk beds. I was pleasantly surprised that Disney offers H20 Spa products at all of there resorts. My hair has never been happier! My over all experience of this safari resort was magnificent! As we were leaving for Port Canaveral all of the characters from Hannah Montana were waiting for there shuttle as well. I turned to the other side of me and the Jonas Brothers were standing there! All of these celebrities were getting the exact same service as this small town Montana Gal. I felt like a million bucks!

When we arrived at Port Canaveral we got a VIP tour of the ship. Even the lowest category state room was incredible! As always, my bags beat me to my room. My room had a navigator's balcony. It was huge! The bathroom couldn't have been more perfect, the shower was in a separate room than the toilet and sink so my roommate and I had ample time to get ready. We immediately went to the top deck for the disembarkment party. The environment was unlike anything I have ever seen before! Initially I was a bit worried about all of the children on the ship. Each time I glanced at one of the many big screen TVs or looked down at the stage the adults were having just as much fun as the kids! Dad's were dancing onstage to YMCA...and they were enjoying themselves! After we disembarked we ate lunch...YUMMY! Later that evening we went to the Golden Mickey's. This musical won best musical at sea! I can't tell you about the show, it was so amazing you will have to see it for yourself! We then went to Animators Palate. There was magic happening all around me! The room was black and white but by the end of the show...yes, there is a show at dinner the room was radiant with beautiful colors! P.S. I had the best steak ever! After all of my activities I was exhausted and went to my room. I slept with the patio door open. I slept like a baby listening to the waves of the ocean. Little did I know, when I woke up I would be experiencing more magic and excitement than the previous day! It started with our seminar. I learned so much about all of the Disney Products I knew I could go back to the office and be an expert! For Dinner we had the same waiter, Lloyd. Again, during dinner we were surprised with more magic! When I finished my delicious three course meal I decided to go Karaoke. I have a terrible singing voice but karaoke is one of my favorite things to do!

My trainer Mario and I decided we were going to sing a duet. We ended up singing Summer Nights from Grease and A whole New World from Aladin. It was a riot! We were dressed quite fashionably in Pirate clothing for the pirates in the Caribbean party. After the big party I had to go to bed and wait for tomorrow's festivities! I woke up to a rainy day. Normally I would have stayed in maybe watched a movie. I was not going to let a little rain spoil my day at Castaway Cay! After eating lunch and heading over to Serenity Bay (the adult section of the island) the sun was shining!!! Much to my surprise I didn't have to wrestle anyone for a lounge chair there were plenty! I managed to find myself a hammock! The water was so transparent I had to go for a swim! The water was unbelievable! I have never been to an island so well kept! No liter, no gross bugs or wild animals. When it was time to get back on the ship I had managed to find many sea shells, a conch and use a whole bottle of sunblock (I tend to over do it a little). I rushed to get ready for dinner, after such a great day out in the sun I was hungry!

Tritans was the restaurant we were eating at. Lloyd greeted us as usual. A great thing about having the same server is they know your likes and dislikes. Lloyd called me peanut butter because I always ordered a peanut butter dessert. Simple things like that make you feel valued. I had such a phenomenal time singing karaoke the previous night that I joined the same club for western night. We were all given cowboy hats and dance lessons from the dancers in the musicals! I survived the lessons and won best dancer! My prize was a delicious bottle of champagne! The night somehow was over but before I could go to sleep I put my luggage outside my door. Cast members take your luggage off the ship to make your final disembarkment much easier. When I woke up I just walked right off the ship. My luggage was waiting for me. The line was very short to get through customs and I was back on the magical express. This time I went to Disney's All-Star Pop Century Resort. This value property was much better than All-star Music quieter, fresher smelling and less packed with people. I had my own personal Disney guide for the remainder of the day! Staci is another travel agent from Connecticut who practically lives at Disney. I only had one day to visit all of the parks. Normally this is impossible! Staci made some serious magic happen! I went on all of the important rides and had the opportunity to watch the light parade. After the light parade I was spent! I could not go to bed though because my flight left at 6:00am. This means the magical express left my resort at 3:00am.... The plane ride home was an excellent opportunity to reflect what a magical trip I had. I had taken the best cruise, conquered Disney World in one day and made some unforgettable friends!

Disney Open House

Wednesday June 18th we are putting on a Disney Open House.
If you have ever wanted to experience the Magic of Disney, now is the time to set the wheels in motion.
We will have refreshments, special Product Offers and Disney Door Prizes.
You can also register to WIN a $100 Gift Certificate.
We expect a fun turnout of all who have ever dreamed of Disney!
Taryn won't be directing traffic, but look for the sign!

Vacation Deals with Summer Sizzle Sale

If you’re like us, you’re probably MORE than ready to kick off the summer vacation months!

So to help Mother Nature along, Morris Murdock Travel has begun their Summer Sizzle Sale by offering some of the hottest vacation deals available! Our travel partners like Princess Cruises, Funjet Vacations, and From Mexico to Hawaii, Italy to China, these offers are being extended exclusively to Morris Murdock Travel clients!

Princess Cruises is even throwing in a "Princess Cruise's Deal of the Day" so you save even more on an incredible package! To find out more about these special cruise deals, text MORRIS to shortcode 83043.

As if the deals weren’t enough, Morris Murdock Travel is offering additional incentives to take the vacation of your dreams!

For example, if you spend $1,000 you’ll get two free movie tickets! $2,000 will get you a $25 American Express Gift Card, $3,000 a $50 American Express Gift Card, and $5,000 or more gets you a $75 American Express Gift Card! These incentives are only valid on the specific products offered on through the Summer Sizzle Sale.

But these hot deals won’t last forever so you’ll have to act fast! Give us a call at the number listed on our blog, or visit www.morrismurdock.com/sizzle to take advantage of these scorching offers!

Disney Cruise

Stay Tuned for amazing footage of Taryn's Disney Cruise Fam - coming soon

Airline Baggage fees

Please note that almost all airlines are now charging for that second checked bag. Go to the following link to access all the new rules and regulations.
http://content.travimp.com/quest/baggage_policies.html

Lomani Resort Fiji

Welcome to Billings Morris Murdock!

Pretty soon you will be able to access this site for all sorts of information on airline updates, places we've been, places we are going and even little gems from other travelers.

Not only that, you can tell us all about your own travels - and we will add your travel stories too!

Stay tuned!

Lomani means love in Fijian.

This is a particularly amazing sunset as seen last week from the Lomani Resort in Fiji - by Linda Hofer - more to come!