Never flown International First/Business Class? Here are 4 of the best reasons to give it a try

For many people airfare is a means to an end, something you deal with to get to your final destination.  Regardless of whether you are traveling for work or for pleasure there are many reasons to pay the premium on an upgraded air experience.  Below are our top reasons to book, and be sure to reach out to Nick Running Travel before your next business or personal trip.  We have access to non-public rates (prices you can’t find online), and every trip comes with a personal consultation to ensure we pick the flights right for you.

1.       Lie Flat Seats
Why spend your hard earned money on a vacation only to sleepwalk through the first few days.  Don’t walk into an important business meeting still trying to recover from your time zone change.  Almost all flights these days have lie flat seats that allow you to properly adjust to your time zone change.  Many First Class seats even have expensive mattress pads that mimic a bed in a hotel room.  There is nothing better than waking up fully rested to hit the ground running.

2.       Upgraded Airport Experience
Customers receive expedited security, lounge access and other perks to help make the airport experience more luxurious. Lounges often offer free food and alcohol and are usually a much better place to spend time at the airport.  Some airlines offer completely separate terminals for first class passengers and Michelin star restaurants.

3.       Enhanced onboard food and beverage
No more choosing between unknown red or white wines and microwave dinners.  Business cabins usually offer 4-5 wine options that can retail for as high as $50 a bottle. Food is also served restaurant style, plated and normally in courses.  Some airlines even go as far to have chiefs onboard cooking meals.  Many first class offering included rare and high end wines retailing over $400 a bottle.

4.       Higher Service Standard
Premium cabins offer much higher service levels than economy.  There are many more crew members per passenger and they often go out of their way to make sure you have a good experience.  From someone to hang your jacket upon boarding, to personal delivery of pre-departure champagne, anyone who prefers a personal level of service would see value in being attended to for a long flight.

10 Reasons you NEED a Travel Adviser

Today I'm proud to officially kick off Nick Running Travel, however many of you may be wondering why you would even need a travel adviser / agent in the first place...   While booking a trip yourself seems freeing and exciting, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. There are nearly 400 MILLION results when you google “hotel in Paris.”  Who has time to sift through the results, find properties within your budget, figure out which ones are in the prime location, and then check for availability? Add researching restaurants, scheduling guides, and arranging transfers, and you might as well make planning travel your full time job. Here are 10 perks you can expect with Nick Running Travel.

1. Insider Access
Nick Running Travel has preferred supplier relations to make sure your experience is special.  No more waiting in lines, we can arrange private experiences that allow you to make the most of your precious vacation time.

2. Complementary Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Start your day right! When you book with Nick Running Travel, you get complimentary breakfast at more than 1000 hotels and resorts around the world. 

Free Breakfast provided by kivotos hotel in mykonos

3. Hotel Credit
Another perk that we receive at our partner hotels is $100 (or equivalent in foreign currency) hotel credit for food and beverage or spa.  These credits are available at the same hotel rate that can be found online.  Why would you turn down $100?

4. Upgrades
Who doesn't love upgrades!!?!  Our partner hotels confirm upgrades at the time of booking or upon arrival at the hotel.  Don't get stuck with a room that faces the parking lot or loading dock, with Nick Running Travel that room could turn into an Ocean View!

Upgraded ocean front room at Four Seasons Punta Mita.

5. Special Occasions
Nick Running Travel works with hotels in advance for all your special occasions.  Anniversary, Honeymoon, Birthdays..... we make sure the hotel is prepared in advance and knows all the details they need to make the stay special.  You could try doing this on your own, but we have personal contacts with many hotels who want to make sure our clients keep coming back.

Surprise procecco and cake awaiting in our room upon check-in at the Four Seasons Florence.  Happy Honeymoon!

6. Free experiences
Many of our hotel partners offer complimentary experiences to our clients, like a martini class, museum tickets, bicycle tour, or picnic in a park. Just a little something to make a trip even better!

7. VIP Status
You won’t be just any reservation when you book with Nick Running Travel. We make sure our partners know who you are and are aware of your unique preferences. You’ll feel like a VIP — just don’t blame us when you can't go back to booking on your own.

Private 5 course cooking lesson with the head chef in Florence.

8. Authentic Experiences
Would you rather see a destination as a tourist or experience it like a local? Our on-the-ground partners aren’t just familiar with a destination. They live, eat, and breathe it. They know the markets where the locals go and can guide you through it. They can arrange for you to visit a local home or learn a craft from an artisan.

9.Airfare
Your vacation starts when you walk down the Jetway!  Nick Running Travel has access to discounted first and business class airfare, so you can beat jet-lag with lay flat beds while enjoying premium wine and food.  Best of all, no matter what class of service, we tie in your airfare with your other reservations so once you hit the ground everything is seamless.

10. Peace of Mind
We’ve all read the travel horror stories. Someone getting booked in a creepy hotel, being turned away at security because your passport expires in two months, costly trip disruptions beyond the traveler’s control, and so on. There’s no need to worry your vacation will be a newspaper headline when you book with Nick Running Travel. We know that your hotel is safe and clean. Your tour guide has been vetted and verified by our trusted partners. And if anything does happen, we are your advocate and only a call away to get the issue sorted out quickly and efficiently.

Enjoy drinks by the pool stress free!