Posted on

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Our Commitment To You

At Instant World Booking, the health and well-being of our Travelers, Partners, and Employees is our foremost concern.

For our Partners:

We are working overtime to ensure our partners around the globe receive the service they need. We deeply care about your safety, health, and well-being. And, our thoughts and prayers are with you all. We also want you to know that we are concerned about the well-being of your travel business. Instant World Booking remains strong, and our company’s services and operations continue without interruption. Our high level of support, and ensuring your travel or accommodation business is supported at all times, is of the utmost importance to us.

As you monitor the situation and consider your own continuity plans, Instant World Booking is prepared to help in any capacity needed. While difficult days are here to stay for awhile, wellness and prosperity will soon again appear on the horizon. Our plans for growth and development in the coming months, particularly for the next generation of IWB services, are progressing rapidly. When you are ready to consider new and alternative solutions for your travel or accommodation business, to jump-start your own business growth, we will be ready to offer you low cost options and alternatives.

For our Travelers:

We all may be putting our travel on hold for now, but that doesn’t mean we must stop dreaming about that next travel adventure. Around the globe, we’re supporting our nations, and staying home to fight the virus. But, our love for travel will not disappear. While many cannot travel for now, the crisis will end soon. And when it does, we will all enjoy seeing the world again. So, on our website, our social media, and other forms of communication, we will continue to share the many wonderful properties our partners have to offer, and announce future deals as they come along. And sometimes, just the beauty of one of our fantastic travel destinations can inspire wonder and desire for our future of traveling the world.

As we all share in this crisis, we all share the desire and motivation to get out again and explore the world as soon as it’s over. We’ll keep dreaming and planning for that day. In the meantime, we can remain positive, and perhaps constructively prepare for the future.

Here are some tips: How about brushing up on a second language? Read up on some regional cuisine that you may wish to sample, or try out a regional recipe for yourself in the kitchen. Make a list of some invaluable travel tips from magazines, books, and websites that will make your first trip more gratifying. Finally, think about acquiring a new carry-on bag or backpack that will suit your future travel style perfectly. In the meantime, please stay safe and take care of yourself and your loved ones.

Where can I get more information?

#WEREALLINTHISTOGETHER


Link to this post!
Posted on

Important CC Info For Your Business

Instant World Booking is a recognized leader in credit card collection for hotels, hostels, and lodging worldwide, and offers the widest range of collection options with an integrated booking engine for hotel websites.  Because of this experience we get a lot questions from hotel managers on how to deal with difficult and unpleasant problems with credit card collections.  Here’s one question we recently received from a lodging partner regarding a reservation they accepted directly:

I had a situation recently where a scammer paid me with a credit card and then the rightful owner of the credit card reclaimed the money. This left me with a big overdraft and i am still trying to clear it. Is there no insurance against this sort of thing? When i approached my bank (bbva in Spain.) they said there was nothing they could do as there was no signed credit card receipt from the person who made the reservation. This person is a recognized scammer and I had an e-mail from him confirming the reservation which I showed to the bank and they just ignored it.  Who is wrong?

Unfortunately, in this situation, the customer is right.  In fact, the customer is always right in these situations since credit card companies protect the cardholder first.  In a fraud situation, there is nothing you can do to recover the loss, and this can be considered a cost of doing business with credit cards.

If you want to avoid having to deal with this type of online fraud entirely, consider using Instant World Booking’s reservation booking engine on your website.  Instant World Booking offers the most flexible and comprehensive set collection options available among any online provider today.  Any deposit amount can be collected by credit card for your website reservations.  Additionally, you will not have to deal with any disputes since Instant World Booking handles everything.  An even greater benefit is the Full No-show and Cancellation Protection offered with every hotel website booking engine.

http://www.instantworldbooking.com/booking-engine.php

 

Link to this post!
Posted on

Discover Asia


Asia, largest of the continents, is like a beautiful patchwork quilt, each piece being important to the whole, yet an entity unto itself. A trip to this great continent of extremes is filled with wonderment and miraculous sights, such as the impressive Himalaya Mountains, with the highest peak in the world, Mount Everest, being 29,028 feet high; Tibet, the highest plateau on earth, and the breathtakingly splendid Taj Mahal of India, which, although built in 1630, still symbolizes the exotic aura that surrounds all of Asia.
The mysterious Orient entices the traveler to its fabulous ports of Hong Kong and Singapore, two of the most exciting cities anywhere; to picturesque Japan, which consists of four lovely islands, and is renowned for its unique culture, charming Kabuki theater, quaint architecture and graceful cherry trees; to Burma, called the “Golden,” because of the gold-encrusted pagodas that dot the landscape; and to intriguing Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, with its five hundred mosques and glamorous history of glory and accomplishments.
You are transported to the pages of the “Arabian Nights” when you enter Baghdad, capital of Iraq; in fact your entire vacation in Asia will be memorable for its fairy tale quality and the indescribable magic that envelops this continent.
Often considered the cradle of the human race because the Biblical story of the creation of mankind originated here, Asia was also the birthplace of the great religions, Christianity, Judaism, Mohammedanism and Buddhism, thus making it the site of pilgrimages made by thousands of people every year. The Bible relates the story of the continent from the Garden of Eden to Babylon and Nineveh, and although Asia has changed in this age of modern commercialism, it has never lost its singular appeal.

Link to this post!
Posted on

Travel to Cuba Now Possible with Instant World Booking

American travelers keep asking, “are we still able to travel to Cuba?”  The answer is definitively yes.  But if you’re wondering how, here’s what you need to know about travel to Cuba.

In November, the Trump administration tightened travel and commercial ties to Cuba, part of its effort to roll back former President Barack Obama’s historic opening with Havana.  The new rules came nearly five months after President Trump announced he would reverse Obama-era policies that loosened the decades-long trade embargo against the communist island.

The new restrictions impact primarily individual travelers.  Yes, you can still hire a tour company and join a guided tour that ensures you meet all the requirements and fulfill the full time schedule of activities they require.  But what about individual travelers, hostelers, or adventurous people who want to support the humanitarian vision for Cuba, while still traveling in their own independent way?   Under new Treasury Department rules, individual “people-to-people” trips — which have enabled individual American travelers to visit Cuba for educational purposes on their own as opposed to with a tour group — have been eliminated.  This elimination has had obvious repercussions for companies like Airbnb which famously cater to individual travelers.

But, Instant World Booking has now entered the Cuban market, and is offering a fresh alternative to Airbnb and other services for accommodation at unique and individual Cuban small hotels and casa particulares.  The lawmakers have assured that individual travelers are still able to visit the island if it’s in support of the Cuban people.  While little-known to American travelers today, this assurance is actually written into the law.

Here’s how you, as an individual traveler, may still lawfully visit Cuba today.  One of the approved reasons for traveling to Cuba is called “Support for the Cuban people”.  Under this travel category, you engage in activities that result in meaningful interaction with individuals in Cuba. This now includes such activities as renting a room in a private Cuban residence (casa particular), eating at privately owned Cuban restaurants (paladares), and shopping at privately owned stores run by self-employed Cubans (cuentapropistas).  So, renting one of the many private accommodations now available from Instant World Booking can help facilitate the trip to Cuba you are hoping to make.  But remember, in order to meet the requirement for a full-time schedule, you must also engage in additional authorized Support for the Cuban People activities.  We suggest you check out the actual requirements at one of these two official sources:

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?mc=true&node=se31.3.515_1574&rgn=div8

https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/cuba_faqs_new.pdf

Better yet, do you need to get some sort of license or authorization from the US government?  No.  As an American traveler to Cuba, you can start planning your trip today.  It’s called a general license, and as long as you conform to the activities and requirements outlined in the above sources, your trip is permitted.  But, we suggest you read the rules thoroughly.  You’ll need to keep some records regarding your schedule and trip.  Remember, you are ultimately responsible for ensuring your travel is in compliance with the regulations.

To celebrate our commitment to travel in Cuba, we have introduced a new website www.cubainstantbooking.com, featuring a vast set of options for accommodation in Cuba.  This site joins the over 100+ other sites in our proprietary network of hotels, hostels, and apartments worldwide.   In addition, we are beginning to work with both US and Cuban groups to facilitate accommodation of official travel groups within our network of private lodgings in Cuba.

We hope you are inspired by this article, and will perhaps consider a trip to Cuba in the near future.  Remember that your presence can help support civil society in Cuba, and promote the Cuban people’s independence.  Please feel free to contact Instant World Booking with any questions you may have.

Link to this post!
Posted on

Visit San Francisco In August

You think of California in the summer months, you automatically think of hot summer days. But you will be very surprised to know that in San Francisco, it can be a bit chilly, especially in August. So if you need a break from the heat, head to San Francisco! Its well known for a number unique characteristics like its chilly summer fog, steep rolling hills and eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture. And of course the famous Landmark, The Golden Gate Bridge. This article is the place to find out where to go and what to see and do in San Francisco during the “chilly” Summer month of August!

http://www.sftravel.com/article/things-do-san-francisco-august?

http://instantworldbooking.com/california.php

 

 

 

 

Link to this post!
Posted on

Introducing IWBmob – a New Mobile Booking Concept

Our new mobile website design is here.

We recently announced the introduction of IWB’S new mobile website, dubbed IWBmob. The first phase of this re-branding has just been released. It is a mobile-first design. This means that your profile page, and the entire booking process, has been redesigned. And it’s nothing short of revolutionary. Our new design features leading edge mobile aesthetics, and an ultra-responsive, streamlined user experience. For users of our new booking engine, the experience will surpass almost any modern booking site available today.

What does mobile-first mean?

Mobile-first means that our site will respond flexibly to all types of computers and devices, with an emphasis on mobile users. After all, more than 25% of worldwide travel bookings are made on mobile devices. And, mobile bookings are increasing at a rate of 20% or more each year in some countries. But, this also means that our website, and your property information, will be equally beautiful and functional on all computers. In the coming weeks, additional phases of our IWBmob re-branding will be visible across our entire website.

One thing to consider when selecting your primary booking engine is this. Have you gone through the booking process on multiple different mobile devices such as an iPhone, an Android phone, and a tablet?  Are the email confirmations that your guests receive equally mobile-friendly? Instant World Booking has this all covered for you.

We invite you to check out your new profile pages (including up to 15 translated pages for each property that we’ve always offered). We think you’ll agree that it works better on mobile devices, and is more straightforward and easy for users, than most other booking sites.

Here are some of best profiles we’ve seen. We recommend you check them out for ideas. Remember, add your best photos!

Hotel Convento Santa Catalina, Guatemala
Wander Inn Bunbury, Australia
Amigos Hostel Cozumel, Mexico
Bondalem Beach Club, Indonesia
New Ostel Florence, Italy
Nanu Guesthouse, South Korea

As an added bonus, we will soon introduce some innovative methods of integrating your IWB experience with Facebook and other social media. These are brand new innovations that are currently not used by any other booking service. Look for future announcements to learn how to take advantage of these innovations.

Sign up at www.instantworldbooking.com

Espanol

Nuestro nuevo diseño de sitio web para móviles está aquí.

Recientemente anunciamos la introducción del nuevo sitio web móvil de IWB, llamado IWBmob. La primera fase de este re-branding acaba de ser lanzado. Es un diseño móvil primero. Esto significa que se ha rediseñado su página de perfil y todo el proceso de reserva. Y no es nada menos que revolucionario. Nuestro nuevo diseño cuenta con una estética móvil de vanguardia y una experiencia de usuario optimizada y flexible. Para los usuarios de nuestro nuevo motor de reservas, la experiencia superará prácticamente cualquier sitio de reservas moderno disponible hoy.

¿Qué significa móvil primero?

Mobile-first significa que nuestro sitio responderá con flexibilidad a todo tipo de computadoras y dispositivos, con énfasis en los usuarios móviles. Después de todo, más del 25% de las reservas de viajes en todo el mundo se realizan en dispositivos móviles. Y, en algunos países, las reservas móviles aumentan a un ritmo del 20% o más cada año. Pero, esto también significa que nuestro sitio web, y su información de propiedad, será igualmente hermosa y funcional en todas las computadoras. En las próximas semanas, las fases adicionales de nuestra nueva marca IWBmob serán visibles en todo nuestro sitio web.

Una cosa a considerar al seleccionar su motor de reserva principal es esta. ¿Ha realizado el proceso de reserva en varios dispositivos móviles diferentes, como un iPhone, un teléfono Android y una tableta? ¿Son las confirmaciones por correo electrónico de que sus invitados reciben igualdad de movilidad? Instant World Booking tiene todo esto cubierto para usted.

Te invitamos a consultar tus nuevas páginas de perfil (incluyendo hasta 15 páginas traducidas para cada propiedad que siempre hemos ofrecido). Creemos que estarás de acuerdo en que funciona mejor en dispositivos móviles y es más sencillo y fácil para los usuarios que la mayoría de los otros sitios de reservas.

Para la comparación, aquí están algunos de los mejores perfiles que hemos visto. Le recomendamos que los revise para obtener ideas. Recuerde, agregue sus mejores fotos!

Hotel Convento Santa Catalina, Guatemala
Wander Inn Bunbury, Australia
Amigos Hostel Cozumel, Mexico
Bondalem Beach Club, Indonesia
New Ostel Florence, Italy
Nanu Guesthouse, South Korea

Como una ventaja añadida, pronto introduciremos algunos métodos innovadores de integrar tu experiencia de IWB con Facebook y otras redes sociales. Se trata de innovaciones completamente nuevas que actualmente no son utilizadas por ningún otro servicio de reservas. Busque anuncios futuros para aprender a aprovechar estas innovaciones.

Regístrese en www.instantworldbooking.com

Link to this post!
Posted on

Is Your Passport Up To Date For Travel In 2017?

Since summer will be here in just a few days and travel is going to be at its summertime peak before we know it, here’s an very impt article we came across in regards to making sure your Passport is up to date. Your passport might not be valid enough for certain countries. Please read the below Article for some very important information.

#travelblog #IWBmob

 

https:www.instantworldbooking.com

 

 

 

Link to this post!
Posted on

Hidden Nebraska

Nebraska is a Midwestern U.S. State encompassing the prairies of the Great Plains, the towering dunes of the Sandhills and the panhandle’s dramatic rock formations. Lincoln, the capital and a vibrant university town, is distinguished by its soaring state capitol. The city of Omaha is home to the Durham Museum, which honors the state’s pioneering past in a converted railroad depot. Its where the Midwest meets the West, literally. Geographers identify the 100th meridian, which nearly halves the state, as the boundary between the two regions. But travelers don’t need a sign to recognize the divide. As in frontier days, the majority of Cornhuskers live in the state’s eastern half, and out west, the sun still sets over vast grasslands and yucca-capped buttes. Nebraska has wonders in every direction: vast prairies in the east, majestic cliffs and peaks in the west and sand dunes in between, making for a trip as scenic as it is fun. The state is also rich in history, with many opportunities to explore its heritage. See one bold sunset set against the backdrop of the Sandhills, (as in our attached photo) and you’ll understand what drove settlers across the grassland plains and over the bracing rivers to stake their claim to history! Tour Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park, or explore a historic military fort. No matter where you go—or where you’re from—you’ll always be welcomed with a warm smile.

http://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/nebraska

http://instantworldbooking.com/countries-places/Nebraska.popular-hotels.php

Link to this post!
Posted on

Ways To Save On The High Seas

Cruising the high seas has long been regarded by travelers as a romantic throwback to a bygone era of travel, where you wake up to the salt air, open ocean, and all you have to do each morning is get up, then step ashore and go exploring.

In searching for that “just right” first cruise, you’ve followed all the rules — researched cruise lines, examined possible itineraries You’ve booked your ship, selected a stateroom and picked an itinerary.

So what’s next?

You’d be surprised at how many factors — perhaps less earth-shattering but important nevertheless — remain to be considered, such as packing, getting to the ship and life onboard.

If you haven’t booked the cruise line’s flight-inclusive air/sea package, you’ll need to book your own air transportation to the port unless you intend to drive. When flying in, plan to arrive as early in the morning as possible on embarkation day. The day before is even better. The reason: You need to factor in possible flight delays and other transportation glitches that could keep you from getting to the pier on time. The same advice goes for the flight home — book flights in the afternoon, just in case your ship is delayed clearing customs and you debark late.

The following first-time cruise tips and cruise 101 will help you find the answers to any remaining questions you might have, so that you can get off to a stress-free and fun-filled start to your first ever vacation at sea. There are a few ways to make your seagoing escape even more affordable. Below are five tips for cutting costs, from looking for short-notice savings to finding freebies like complimentary dinners in a specialty restaurant or shipboard credits — the equivalent of cash that you can spend on board.

  1. Book within 90 days of departure.
  2. Seek specialty discounts
  3. Take advantage of age-related discounts
  4. Find the free perks.
  5. If you’ve traveled before, Flaunt your past-passenger status

Whether you’re heading on a mini cruise or venturing off, out to sea for 16 days, preparation is key, after all, our aim is to make sure you sail away happy.

Enjoy the Article below & happy sails!

http://vacationsmagazine.com/Vacations/Cruises/5_Ways_to_Save_on_Your_Next_Cruise

www.instantworldbooking.com

 

 

 

 

Link to this post!
Posted on

Elvis Presleys Birthplace ~ Tupelo, Mississippi

Calling all Elvis fans! Of course we’ve ll been to ~ or planning on visiting ~ Memphis, to visit the Kings castle “Graceland”.  What can you say about this wonderful landmark! Its his famed estate featuring mansion tours, exhibits, a car museum & 2 jets. (Not sure if the Jets are still there, I read recently they were up for sale) But along my travels to Memphis, I took an even more interest as to where Elvis was born and his early childhood. So off we went to Tupelo, Mississippi, the birthplace of Elvis Presley. His home is now a historic museum site. His birthplace is more than a two-room shack, its a real Elvis a experience. It really is a fascinating little town, and just a short drive from Memphis (under 2 hours by car)  Plus Tupelo has been named an All-America City by the National Civic League in 1967, 1989, 1999, 2011, and 2015, so there must be something very special about this little town! Besides the obvious, theres also the the 444-mile historic Natchez Trace Parkway, which its is headquarters are there, a local Tupelo man has a collection of automobiles so extensive and expensive that it became the official automobile museum of Mississippi! Also theres an abundance of dining opportunities, quality Hotel Rooms, many specialty shops downtown, Antique shopes, ect. If you’re an “Elvis Fan Forever” ;  ) I would definitely recommend heading to Tupelo.

www.instantworldbooking.com

 

Link to this post!