Tickets, transportation, food and lodging are costs associated with traveling. There are many websites offering discounted rates and deals, but having someone with experience to help find the best deals can make planning a trip much easier.

Leisure travel services, which is part of family and morale, welfare and recreation offers a wide variety of services including discounted event and attraction tickets, trips and reservation services, many of which have a military discount.

The Joint Base Lewis-McChord LTS provides a service unlike any other travel vendor working for the military in this region.

"We're the only Ticketmaster outlet for military organizations in the Northwest," said Mickey Peebles, manager, LTS.

LTS doesn't charge a service fee and they work diligently to find the best discount.

"Typically if you go to a travel agency they charge anywhere from $36 to $100 in service fees," said Peebles. "Servicemembers will save that money by coming to us."

Peebles has been at JBLM for many years. He retired from the army in 1994 and worked at LTS every since. He explained that he gives out his personal phone number for customers to call or email him and he's always anxious to answer.

"Once I had a customer call me while he was on vacation in Australia concerning an issue he had on the trip," said Peebles, a native of Louisville, Ky. "I was able to assist him and make sure he enjoyed the rest of his vacation."

The employees at the LTS pride themselves on their reputation but they understand that in order to keep their good standing they must continue to work hard at providing the best customer care.

"We do a lot to support our community," said Peebles. "It's only three of us here, which makes it overwhelming at times. But it makes it all worth it when someone sends me an email or comes back with positive things to say."

Peebles explained that he always advises people to use their local bases program, but often people will get referred to him by someone else.

"I have people calling me from bases in California, and I try to tell them that someone in their area provide travel service as well," said Peebles.

Peebles enjoys advertising for LTS whenever he can, he feels that if he can spread the word then he'll help Servicemembers save money.

"I have been to units and talked to Family Readiness Groups," said Peebles. "The more chances I get to do that the better."

Leisure travel services is located at the Army Family Covenant Arena on JBLM Main, and can be reached at 253-967-3085.

Photo: Mickey Peebles, manager, leisure travel services, speaks with a Soldier about attraction tickets March 8, at Army Family Covenant Arena, JBLM. Leisure travel services, which is part of Family and morale, welfare and recreation offers a wide variety of services including discounted event and attraction tickets, trips and reservation services, many of which have a military discount.