Experience Travel LLC

11/03/2019

Greetings. This message is for those enrolled in TSA Pre-Check.
I got a message regarding PreCheck renwal so thought I'd pass on the info for those who are enrolled in PreCheck. The renewal process is easy particularly if there have been no changes from your original enrollment. However, if you have renewed your passport, gotten married or had a name change among other data, the process may be a bit more cumbersome, just like making changes to your drivers' license. It's not a big deal and well worth doing since it does make air travel easier and makes getting through the boarding process less cumbersome. One last thing.... of course renewing your PreCheck status comes with a fee.... $85 but at least in my opinion... well worth the cost to get the convenience. Check the email address used when you signed up as that's how I got my notice to renew. Happy Travels!

22/10/2018

Greetings to all. Today I have some (sort of) good news and some not-so-good but inevitable news from the travel industry. First the good. I just got some industry news regarding which states legal I.Ds' (driver's licenses, etc. are in compliance with the "REAL I.D." requirements and apparently Michigan is NOT in the "NO" column for compliance. Having said that, I'm still not certain of this status but will follow up with the appropriate agencies and get the details. As always, for travel purposes, there is no substitute for a passport which I always urge people to get as it is the best form of legal I.D. one can have. When I get more info re: MI's status, I'll post it here.

Next: not such good news. At least two or three airlines that fly both domestic and international routes, have bumped up fees for carry-on luggage, with most charging $30-40 for the fist bag. What I DON'T know for certain is if those airlines, i.e. Delta, etc. will continue with their "first (checked) bag free for passengers who are in their loyalty programs and/or have a co-branded credit. card. It appears that this is quickly becoming the norm among many airlines.
If you're traveling during the holidays and will be taking either extra clothes and/or gifts, etc. you may want to consider shipping those items particularly since you won't be bringing them back Just a thought.

18/10/2018

Greetings to all. It's been a while since I posted anything here. partly because I try my best to only post things I think may be of value and so I'm back today regarding some helpful info sent from the US gov't specifically to the travel industry and targeted for senior travelers. (We all know who we are... even though we may not look it) but nonetheless the birthdays keep coming and we adjust. I've made copies of this information and would be happy to send it or the link to anyone interested in these recommendations. I'm sending copies via mail to some clients who are traveling within the next six months and others who are planning future trips.
The material contains a checklist of items and documents to take when traveling as well as other recommendations related to I.D., medical information, travel insurance and other helpful tips specific to the senior traveler to help keep you safe and adequately prepared for any issues that may arise. Hope this was helpful and as always, call if needed.

12/08/2018

Just got a notice that I've not posted anything for a while so I'll try to remedy that here and now. First, I've been in the process of renovations to kitchen and baths. Need I say more? What a nightmare! As of this post hoping that things will be back to normal by mid-week. Business has been brisk so hoping to get caught up and back to normal by next week.Thanks to all my wonderful clients for your patience.

26/03/2018

Greetings to travelers, cruisers, in particular and those who always want to be "the first" to do something... here's your chance! I just got the notice of Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Symphony of the Seas. It is indeed the largest cruise ship ever with a capacity of 8,000 people (including staff) and a length about 65 ft. shorter than the Empire State Bldg. There's not enough room here to laud all the activities and "stuff" this ship has so take my word for it or just call me to be the "first on your block" to sail this truly unbelievable ship. Standing by...😊

13/01/2018

More updates on Real I.D. The following article provides the most recent information re: travel - passports - I.D.
For the majority of my clients and friends, be aware that Michigan is still not in compliance with Real I.D. AND more important, has NOT either applied for nor received an official extension to achieve compliance. Until there is any news about this process, I once again, HIGHLY recommend that you just apply for a passport. Remember that you may be able to squeak through security at Detroit metro, you may not be so lucky getting through security on the return flight in another state that will require I.D. to comply with the Real I.D. standards. Is all this uncertainty REALLY worth the risk? Just go get your passport and be done with all this wrangling among the states and the federal government."

Related Articles: Reprinted from Travel Market Report

"U.S. Government Expected to Extend REAL ID Compliance Deadlines"


"The news confirms statements from industry insiders who spoke to Travel Market Report in November about the upcoming January 2018 deadline."

“We are cautiously optimistic that DHS will continue to grant state extensions in short order and that we will not see widespread travel disruptions come January 2018,” Genevieve Strand, American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) manager, government and industry affairs, said at the time."

"Ultimately, the news means that travelers from the states still not in compliance and without a deadline extension — Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Washington — will not have to worry about traveling domestically without a passport until October 2020 at the earliest. Each of those states, according to Business Insider, have been granted extensions."

"The news also means that agents will no longer have to wonder whether or not to advise clients traveling domestically to get a passport, as all states now are either in compliance or are operating under a DHS extension."

"About half of the states in America are not in compliance with the new and stricter federal ID standards. States in full compliance as of Nov. 20, 2017, are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming."

"States granted an extensive until October 2018 are: Alaska, California, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington."

"American Samoa, Guam, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island and the U.S. Virgin Islands are awaiting a review of their extension requests from DHS."

11/01/2018

To all my travelers and those that want to be.... PLEASE, everyone who has a passport.... Please check your your expiration date especially if you are planning to travel within the next six months or even beyond. Given all the insanity going on in D.C. there is no way of knowing if, when or for how long the federal government may shut down since no one knows if there will be any agreement on budget and other issues relating to federal spending. No matter what, if there is even a temporary shut down of federal services... that means NO passport applications or renewals will be processed. Even if there is a shutdown and it is not long, it will still affect ANY government work and will likely result in a much longer period to apply and receive a new passport as well as delay the renewal of an existing document. Also, remember if the passport authority deems your picture or some other issue on your renewal application is unclear, they will return it for correction and the process will be delayed even further. All this goes to say.... PLEASE dig up your passport, check it for expiration dates and other accuracy, i.e. name change, etc. Don't sabotage your vacation plans because you forgot to check your passport information. I know I'm going to be renewing mine even though it won't expire for several months but I'm not taking any chances!
If you're in panic mode re: expiration, call me and I can help to get you an expedited passport if needed. P.S. It isn't cheap! so do it NOW. Happy travels to all.

09/12/2017

To all you cruisers... new info regarding working with your agent. I just picked up an industry article re: what travel agents are paid for loyalty and booking various cruise lines. FIRST.... understand that whether you book through a travel agent (best option) or directly with the cruise line, the cruise price will not change. What DOES change is that if you book with a travel agency, the commission % paid to the agency is based solely on that agency's volume with that cruise line. I understand the cruise lines' decision to reward high volume agencies which makes sense. My cautionary note to travelers is to just be mindful if an agency "pushes" or consistently recommends a particular line when there are others that have same or similar itineraries.
I also totally understand clients who want to consistently sail with a line with whom they have a loyalty membership. It makes perfect sense to stick with them but remember that the cruise industry constantly re-invents itself and you could be either missing out on an itinerary experience that your favored line does not have. Bottom line... don't get completely enamoured just because you belong to a loyalty program when a different cruise line might give you a better experience on a very different itinerary that your previous line does not provide. Last, if you have a travel agent... let them help you...that's what we do.

08/12/2017

Ok dear travelers, particularly those who fly... brace yourselves. Here is a headline I just picked up from a travel industry article.

THE US DEPARTMENT of TRANSPORTATION HAS DITCHED A PROPOSAL TO REQUIRE AIRLINES TO DISPLAY FULL TRANSPARENCY ON AIRLINE FARE INFORMATION.

First proposed during the Obama administration, it would have required airlines to disclose all relevant fees, including checked bag fees, at the start of a ticket purchase, rather than just before customers pay online. In addition to being unfriendly to consumers, it's just plain wrong. This is like going to a restaurant ordering from a menu without prices and not knowing how much it will cost until the food is served. If you are not happy with this rollback of consumer rights, you may want to call your representative and/or contact the DOT and voice your opinion.

07/12/2017

RE: the tax issue and cruise lines... here is the most current info I have.
Cruise lines:

"The Senate bill initially included a new tax on cruise line operations, which opponents argued would hit tourism in the U.S., including in Alaska.

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, offered an amendment that stripped the provision.

The cruise line tax was not included in the House bill and is not expected to be in the final version." I'm a little concerned about the "is not expected to be in the final version..." but am holding my breath and crossing fingers and toes that we will not be subjected to additional taxes on cruise lines because we all know who will be paying for those additional taxes. Keep the faith and stand by.... I'll post any news on this front as I get it.

07/12/2017

Who would have known that cruise lines would be a target for Congress to look for more revenue. Surprise!!! it was. I use the past tense because of this writing, the plan to find new sources of tax revenue in cruise lines seems to have been (thankfully)
sidelined. I will paste a copy of the most recent info on this so stand by.

20/11/2017

To my valued clients and others who may have been trying to reach me by phone..... I apologize for not getting back with you. It turns out that I'm having big problems with my business cell phone carrier (won't mention brand) but suffice that my mobile voice mail system is totally screwed up so not getting messages and therefore can't respond. I spent over THREE HOURS on the phone today trying to get it straightened out but no "fix" yet. They are supposed to call me in the a.m. so hopefully I'll be back in business by noon. With all due respect to advancing technology.... I'm seriously thinking about going back to my loyal and always functioning business LAND line. It never failed to get and hold messages, ring when someone called and gave me a dial tone when I needed to make a call. The voicemail system was flawless and maintained messages for far longer than I would have normally needed them. It DIDN'T make me breakfast or tell me the current temperature in Zimbabwe or the square root of pi but I was pretty OK with that. It did give me the correct time which is mostly all I needed in addition to the important functions noted above so unless I can find assistance from a
12 yr.old willing to put up with me OR an adult who will not continually "harrumph" and roll their eyes, I may seriously consider going back to my trusted land line. Still thinking this through so please be patient with me. In the interim, if you don't get me on the biz line: 248.666.5045, please feel free to call my personal cell phone (248.909.0330.) Yes, it's a cell phone but so old that I actually know how to use it. It rings.... I say "hello." I can retrieve voicemail without going through algorithms I haven't remembered since grad school and life is generally good. Once again, thanks for your patience and please trust me.... I'm MUCH better at the travel business than I am with a (new) cell phone. Kind Regards Barbara

09/11/2017

CUBA.... More changes, restrictions and policy re: travel.
I've tried to stay current with changes related to Cuba travel but it's getting as complicated as the tax code! Here are two of the really major changes to be aware of:

As before the Obama opening, most visitors to Cuba will again have to travel in licensed groups. One remaining exception appears to be the “support for the Cuban people” category, which requires travelers to “engage in a full-time schedule” of unspecified “meaningful interaction with individuals in Cuba” and activities that support civil society. Having said that, it appears that this still requires a group vs. individual travel plan.

All travelers are prohibited from staying at many hotels throughout the country that the State Department has said are connected to various holding companies said to be all or partly owned by the security services. The take-away here is that travelers and travel companies will be limited in the kinds of accommodations they can use for their passengers.

Instead, "The new regulations encourage Americans to stay in rooms rented by private citizens and to eat in private restaurants that have been allowed for a number of years as part of a growing Cuban private sector."

Some of these changes are positive including the last one noted, as it does create more opportunities for one-to-one interaction with Cuban people beyond just service or commerce.

The requirement to account for your time and activity is not necessarily new but what I don't yet know for certain is the manner in which travelers must account for their time and activity. Years ago, US citizens were required to maintain a daily log or journal showing where they visited and what they did so I'm guessing this or some similar requirement will be imposed. Border and/or Customs personnel had the authority to request to see the journals upon return to the U.S.

I'm not yet certain if there will be any significant changes regarding cruises to Cuba OR if any cruise lines will be dropping (or adding) Cuba as a destination. If they continue, passengers will likely be required to be part of an organized, supervised tour group in order to go ashore. This is conjecture on my part so don't hold me to it. We'll have to wait and see how the airlines, tour companies and cruise lines adapt to the new regulations. The one thing that is for certain... individual travel to Cuba is no longer permitted. Stand by as we in the travel industry get up to speed and accuracy about the changes and what to expect.

20/10/2017

I just picked up a piece of information from the U.S. gov't regarding travel that I thought was worth passing along.
TECHNICALLY, you can travel by cruise ship using only a passport card but there are a couple of big "however's" attached to that statement. First, the cruise line may require a passport as official identification but the second thing is even more important and something I hadn't considered. If your cruise is interrupted for some reason, i.e. illness, family emergency, etc. and you must fly home from a foreign country, you MUST have a standard passport book to FLY into the USA. Just one more reason to get that passport and make certain to periodically check the expiration date and give yourself enough time to renew prior to your next sojourn.

18/10/2017

Just a few days ago I posted a somewhat long message about the required new "REAL I.D. and that 22 states are NOT in compliance with it. Just TODAY, I received a message from another agent with additional information saying Michigan is among the 22 states NOT in compliance with the new requirement. IF this is true, folks in MI will require a passport to even fly domestically. Having said this, I have NOT confirmed this other agent's information but will look into it myself and post what I learn from both TSA and other Federal authorities. Either way, these kinds of restrictions ARE coming so might as well GO GET A PASSPORT! An initial passport is valid for five years and subsequent passports are good for ten yrs. so either way, it's a good investment if for nothing else than peace of mind. And remember... WITHOUT such an ID, you cannot even enter a Federal building. Wanna take the kids to D.C. and find out you can't get into some of the important landmarks because they are FEDERAL buildings? Got a son or daughter in the military and you can't visit them on base because you don't have proper credentials? As I've urged before.... JUST DO IT!!!

17/10/2017

If anyone is interested, I have information of the hurricane Impact on various Caribbean ports. Contact me if interested in this information.

15/10/2017

Several months ago I posted information regarding changes in the new rules regarding acceptable I.D. to fly.... even domestically. I talked about the new "Real I.D." rule which requires states to make specific changes to their drivers licenses and/or state I.D.s for non-drivers in order to be in compliance.
A license has generally been accepted as valid I.D. for domestic flights and/or a state issued I.D. card for non-drivers or minors. Of course, an up to date passport is ALWAYS the best form of I.D. for any kind of flight or other travel. There are still nine states that are not in compliance with this rule. Additionally, it is always wise to have TSA Pre-Check status, which often moves you through the boarding process more easily.

Here is a link to the full article and a list of the nine states.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lealane/2017/09/30/new-rule-residents-in-nine-states-will-need-passports-for-domestic-flights-in-2018/ Happy Travels!

Don't procrastinate!

13/09/2017

I just received an official statement from the Antigua tourism bureau. The really good news is that they "open" and ready for business. They acknowledge that perhaps not all hotels and resorts may be open because some normally shut down this time of year to do regular updates and refreshing. However, by in large, the island is open for business. The press release also clearly stated that tourist revenue will also go to help repair the total devastation of their sister island, Barbuda. I suggest that if you would like to experience the stunning beauty of this part of the Caribbean, please consider a trip to Antigua. You will enjoy the Caribbean lifestyle as well as help the people on the island of Barbuda as they work toward reconstructing their lives after the devastation of hurricane Irma. The Antigua airport was not affected and they are accepting incoming flights. However, it would be wise to call me for further general resort and flight info because US airports and airlines that service this area may have made significant changes to their previous flight schedules .

29/08/2017

As I got lost in an article about the upcoming renovation of the Belmond Cap Juluca resort in Anguilla, I made a mental note to keep it on my radar after completion. And then... suddenly another set of articles caught my eye about the Grenadines and more and off I went to another fantasy world about all the incredibly fabulous number of mini paradises we have within a few hours of flight time from almost anywhere in the U.S. I made a silent pledge to be sure NOT to shortchange those who contact me to assist with Caribbean island travel. There REALLY is a whole world-of-wonderful beyond the standard fare of the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Aruba and all the well known all-inclusive chains. I'm studying up on those more intimate and out-of-the-way places that TRULY give meaning to our ideals of "paradise." I'll be ready when you are.

11/08/2017

Greetings to all. Here is an excerpt from Travel Weekly regarding hurricane season. Wish I had better news but I don't. For those who are considering an fall vacation the one thing I CAN advise is to consider alternatives to anything in the Atlantic or Caribbean. The exception to this would be destinations very far south in the Caribbean, i.e. Aruba, etc. Typically, hurricanes are not able to sustain sufficient strength to travel that far south but it's also not unheard of. If you're into "color" you might consider either a land or cruise trip in the northeast US/Canada. You won't be soaking up sun on the beach but you sure will see some stunningly beautiful landscapes. If you go a little deeper into that area in Canada, there are wonderful little towns and tours all related to the tragic loss of the Titanic. I've done this trip on the Queen Mary 2 and was astounded at how little I really knew about this saga. In addition, this itinerary was the second leg of the world cruise which launched from England so there were lots of Brits and other Europeans on board, making for a most interesting journey. There are plenty of other destinations to consider for this time of year but if you absolutely, positively MUST have beaches, think Hawaii or Tahiti. Contact me for more info and options. Happy Travels!

The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, already expected to be more active than normal, could be worse than previously forecasted, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

It could be the most active since the 2010 season, which produced 19 tropical storms of which 12 became hurricanes, NOAA said.

NOAA has revised its May forecast from 11 to 17 named storms to 14 to 19 named storms, with five to nine anticipated hurricanes, up from four originally forecasted.

Hurricane Franklin currently is dissipating over interior Mexico after making landfall near Veracruz as a Category 1 hurricane Thursday morning.

08/06/2017

To my loyal clients in the Detroit Metro area... Just today I received 2018 promotions for NON-STOP ROUND-TRIP flights between Detroit and Punta Cana, Riviera Maya and Cancun MX. Mexico departures are March and April, Punta Cana departures are in late February. All itineraries are for six nights. If interested, please call soon for selected resorts and more information. These won't last.

05/06/2017

To anyone who has tried to contact me by phone over the last week or so.... please read. I (finally) opted to change over my business phone land- line to a cell line. Trust when I say I'm not really happy about this.... I LIKE the feeling of a real phone in my hand, cells are too big, bulky and uncomfortable but all of that is another topic. Nonetheless, I bit the bullet and did it. The changes are in transition as I type. Meanwhile, anyone who calls my business ph # will be temporarily forwarded to my current PERSONAL cell phone, which, of course does NOT have my business voice mail message so I'm concerned that those who do not know me may hang up. This is a real fear since I've not received any business calls since Thursday afternoon. So... if you call my biz line, just know you will get my cell phone which has a very friendly "Hi, it's Barbara...." kind of greeting. So leave a message letting me know your call regards travel and I will do my best to get back with you ASAP.

Hopefully once my business phone # is successfully ported to the new phone (whenever I receive it), things will smooth out. Please be patient during this transition. I'm not really happy about this but have to admit, the difference between the biz land line and a cell is substantial so it all goes to the bottom line.
Thanks,.

15/05/2017

I'm passing on a comment from a passenger regarding her recent experience on a United flight. NOTE: This is especially significant for families. Don't assume you can change or otherwise utilize seats even when they're not occupied. Whether you book online, with an agent or directly with the carrier, I advise that you contact the airline and ask if they allow seat changes once all passengers are on board and ready to depart. Depending on the size and configuration of the aircraft, there may be weight and balance issues which could affect whether or not they will allow passengers to change seats OR they just won't allow it for whatever reason they choose to use.

"Horrible flight – I was so sorry for this young family with twin babies stuck behind me in the very last row holding their babies for 5+ hours when there were whole empty rows of seats at the premium plus cost and they wouldn't of course let them sit there. When I was a young mother with a non-ticketed child we were always able to use empty seats… United does not care about its passengers."

10/04/2017

Some of you may have seen the article about a man being forcibly dragged off a United Airlines flight and if you saw it you may be aware that it was due to the flight having been "overbooked." This is REAL and a fairly standard practice within the industry. In this case they needed four passengers to volunteer and offered $400 and later $800 to do so. At some point a family of three volunteered but they still needed one more to agree and when no one did, they resorted to physically removing one person who resisted and was dragged off the flight by security officers. What most folks may not know is that this is real and legal. The fact that the airline overbooked, which is a common practice, may or may not be widely known and the airlines plan for these events with a "carrot and stick" approach which apparently usually works. This is one more reason to get trip insurance if you think a free ticket or the cash offer to take a later flight is not sufficient to cover your losses for anything you may have pre-paid at your destination, i.e. car rental, hotel, etc. Having said that, make sure whatever insurance you consider will cover this kind of situation. They are not all created equal so fine print is important. AND, from my somewhat limited certainty of this issue.... No, I don't think you can sue an airline for overbooking and bouncing you off the plane. It's a common practice and is probably spelled out in the small print of the airline ticket "passenger contract." Check it out next time you fly.

09/04/2017

Please click the following link regarding issues related to foreign travel for both non-US citizens and US citizens returning to the U.S.
I am NOT being an alarmist but, being in the travel industry, I thought it would be responsible to pass on this information particularly re: US citizens returning from travel outside the U.S.
It appears that Customs and Border Control have been given wide authority so I'm just suggesting that we all be vigilant re: our required documents, I.D. and other information. See the following:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/31/us-border-phone-computer-searches-how-to-protect?CMP=share_btn_link

The number of mobile phones being searched at the US border is exploding, but certain steps can help secure your privacy

20/03/2017

Attention air travelers... We sort of knew this would come at some point but it will be reality very soon. The "big three" Delta, American and United are each rolling out their "new" Basic Economy fares which will be lower than standard economy fares. However, the reality is that they're NOT really a lower price, they are just giving you lower service. For this supposed bargain rate you get no seat assignment, and no free carry-on bags among other things. The rates are essentially the same as standard economy fares were which will now be rising if you want those and possibly other features you used to get as part of the economy class fare. They say they're competing with the low-cost carriers, i.e. Spririt, etc. but sounds to me like they're asking for a plane full of very unhappy customers. I'd suggest you keep that "Basic Economy" term in your memory and avoid it if you can, at least on long flights OR book the lower cost airlines in the first place, you probably won't get any less service!

14/03/2017

This is primarily for all of those who just "don't believe in trip insurance..." It's March so it feels pretty safe from weather related travel problems.... NOT! We have to remember that it's not just the weather in our hometowns that we have to be concerned with. It's also the weather in all those cities from which our flight might be originating and/or any layover cities. I just received the following info and am happy to report that my clients who are currently traveling either have trip insurance or are fortunate enough to not have connections in any of the affected airports. Insurance is a small price to pay for not only peace of mind but being able to be reimbursed for losses. "A winter nor’easter expected to bring winds with gusts of up to 50 miles per hour, and dump more than 18 inches of snow in spots from Philadelphia to Maine, is causing airlines to cancel more than 1,500 flights over the next three days.

All of the major airlines are waiving change fees for customers ticketed to fly to or from airports from the mid-Atlantic to northern New England through Wednesday.

For example, Delta Airlines warned customers this morning that it was waiving change fees for flights from Roanoke, VA, to Bangor, ME, through Friday, March 17.

FlightAware shows that 1,213 flights are cancelled to and from U.S. airports on Tuesday, with airports like Baltimore/Washington International with 211 flights put on hold.

Currently, LaGuardia Airport in New York shows 91 flights cancelled on Tuesday, while Washington’s Reagan National Airport has 73 flights cancelled. Cancellations are expected to rise as more airlines announce their schedule changes today.

Southwest Airlines said it expected to ground nearly all of its flights in the Northeast on Tuesday.

The storm already brought snow to the south, and is moving up the East Coast, expected to start impacting the Philadelphia-Boston corridor Monday night with blizzard like conditions through Tuesday morning.

Snow in Chicago caused Southwest to ground more than 300 flights at Chicago Midway today while American Airlines is cancelling about 200 flights.