Fastbreak Vacations of Chicago has developed an alternative for people who don't want to pay to join a travel club: it's a 900 telephone number that gives information about discounted travel possibilities.
The recorded information on the number, 900-990-3335, is updated as often as twice a day and primarily deals with package tours, cruises, hotels, condominiums and air fares.For instance, late last month, Fastbreak, an offshoot of Private Label Travel, was offering an air charter fare from New York to London of $149 one way.
Also announced on the phone line was a 10 percent discount for travel to Brazil and South America, and a 20 percent discount for a South Pacific cruise leaving from Sydney. Some of the listings call for departures within a day or two.
Calls cost $1 a minute, and Debbie Kowalski, manager of Fastbreak Vacations, says the company received 300 calls the first day it went into operation, July 22, and has since been averaging 100 a day. The average call, Ms. Kowalski said, lasts three minutes.