Author: Laura Schad

Russian consulate closure may mean longer visa processing times, increased tensions

In response to Russia’s alleged role in the poisoning of an ex-spy in Britain, the Trump Administration is expelling 60 Russian diplomats and is ordering the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle on April 2.

This closure is expected to lead to longer processing times for travel visas and other services. The Seattle location was responsible for requests coming from people in Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. The closure will also cause greater inconvenience for those who need to make in-person appearance since the Russian consulate in San Francisco was closed last September. The only remaining locations include New York, Washington D.C. and Houston.

The United States was not the only country to support Britain through the expulsion of Russian Diplomats as multiple countries in the EU have taken similar actions.  As political tensions between Russia and the rest of world continue to increase, travelers are urged to closely monitor developments and prepare for possible impacts.

As always, U.S. travelers visiting foreign countries are advised to register their trip with the State Department’s STEP program. This free service allows the U.S. government to easily update enrollees with information from the Embassy about safety conditions in the traveler’s destination country. STEP also helps the U.S. Embassy contact enrolled travelers in the event of civil unrest, natural disaster, or family emergency. For more information on STEP or to enroll please visit https://step.state.gov/STEP/Index.aspx

Congress revisits the issue of airfare transparency

A mostly overlooked provision in the lengthy Fiscal Year 2018 Omnibus Appropriations Act signed into law by President Trump last week mandates that the U.S. Department of Transportation re-launch its investigation into airfare transparency. Proponents of improved airfare transparency, which includes the American Society of Travel Agents, have called for the DOT to “work with the industry, consumers and other stakeholders to establish guidelines for the airlines and any for profit seller of commercial air transport to ensure that fares and fees be clearly displayed” in order to provide customers with well-defined and accurate pricing information.  

In December of 2017, the DOT withdrew proposed rulemaking on fee transparency, which left many consumer advocates worried that the true cost of air travel could be hard for consumers to determine while shopping on line.

Air France

Travelers holding tickets on Air France or Joon should be prepared for delays and cancellations as several staff unions are planning to strike on Friday, March 30. Air France said flights on HOP, Delta and KLM will not be affected.  Both Air France and Delta are offering travel waivers so potentially impacted customers can reschedule their travel through April 5, 2018. In addition, Air France said customers who wish to postpone travel beyond April 5 will receive a voucher that will be valid for 1 year and can be used on Air France, KLM or HOP flights. This voucher will be non-refundable.

For more information, please contact your Adelman travel consultant.  

Delta Air Lines

Delta announced that it has enabled biometric fingerprint scanning capabilities for access to all 50 of its domestic Sky Club airport lounges. Delta, which already is an industry leader in the use of biometric technology, says the new system “has the potential of streamlining check-in for millions of club visits each year.”  The new biometric program is automatically available to Delta Sky Club members who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and are also enrolled with CLEAR. Other eligible Sky Club members can sign up via kiosks being installed in 14 club locations. Delta notes that customers can also continue to use their boarding pass to gain access to its Sky Clubs.

In addition to unveiling the new biometric program at its Sky Clubs, Delta said it will open a new club location at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport later this year.

Great Lakes Airlines

Wyoming-based regional carrier, Great Lakes Airlines halted all of its scheduled commercial flights earlier this week. The shutdown has impacted travelers departing from destinations including Cheyenne, WY, Page and Prescott, AZ, Salina KS and Telluride CO. American Airlines is offering protection to its ticketed customers who are impacted by the discontinuation of service.

Great Lakes Airlines officials note that despite the shutdown, the company has not entered bankruptcy and will continue to support Great Lakes Jet Express service between Denver and Pierre and Watertown, SD through Aerodynamics Inc.

Some of the world’s greatest scenery is right in our own back yard

Trip highlights include tours to Zion, Bryce, Arches & Grand Canyon National Parks, Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley and the Red Rocks of Sedona. According to Marvin, another great stop on this trip includes the lesser-known but still stunningly beautiful Capitol Reef National Park.  Marvin notes, “From the striking Zion National Park and Monument Valley, which is so spectacular that glimpses of its dramatic landscapes are often used in advertisements, to the intriguing Red Rocks of Sedona, you will be wowed every day of this trip.”  

This customized tour also offers many unique experiences including rim walks that overlook amazing vistas, a cruise on the rugged Colorado River and Lake Powell where you can then take a quick hike to see the intriguing Rainbow Bridge and a jeep tour through Sedona’s stunning backcountry.  Exciting optional opportunities include horseback riding along with mountain bike and hot air balloon tours. Marvin highly recommends the optional sunset hummer ride through the magnificent Arches National Park noting that, “It is out of this world!” 

This special trip also includes the expertise of local guides, park admissions, eight meals and more. With all the arrangements already taken care of and our Adelman host to oversee your journey, all you need to do is sit back, relax and be amazed by this remarkable and awe-inspiring area of our great nation.

For more information on the Canyonlands and our special tour please give us a call at 800-749-7116 or visit the Adelman Discoveries page of our Vacations website at www.adelmanvacations.com

The Walker Hotel Greenwich Village

Tucked away within the heart of Greenwich Village, one of New York’s
oldest and most picturesque neighborhoods, is the beautiful Walker Hotel Greenwich Village. This chic boutique hotel is bursting with spirit. Guest rooms feature art-deco inspired furnishings and bathrooms that recall classic NYC living with black and white subway tiles.  Upscale amenities including Italian Frette linens, and Bluetooth stereos offer an at-home experience that invites you to settle in.

Hidden inside this charming hotel is Society Café, a new market-to-table American restaurant, fueled by farmers market ingredients, with a seasonally driven menu that is bound to excite guests. Friday and Saturday nights, the Walker has live jazz in their lobby from local artists. The Walker Hotel also features a carefully curated library featuring classic New York-themed books including early editions by authors from those who call, or have called, Greenwich Village home.

Elevate your New York experience by choosing to stay at the unique Walker Hotel. Adelman customers will receive special pricing that can be booked via your Adelman booking tool using the code ATG. You can also contact your Adelman travel consultant for help making reservations at this premier New York hotel.

How to avoid one of the biggest pitfalls in global travel

(Sponsored Content)

Travelers take great strides to piece together the perfect itinerary.  Each aspect of global travel involves numerous conversion points: your front door to the departure terminal, arrival gates to hotel entrances, and every start- and end-point in between, until you return safely back home.  The barrage of choices you face to assure foolproof travel arrangements tends to tempt many of us into ignoring one of the most critical elements of travel—namely, ground transportation. 

We think hard about airlines to select.  We are careful to choose places to stay and our sight-seeing destinations.  Yet, even as ground transportation is the one link which connects all of these aspects into a single, cohesive trip, we do not think about making arrangements until the moment we need it.  Unfortunately, one bad ground transportation experience can spoil an entire evening, spurn unnecessary stress or, worse, stain the memory of an entire trip. 

Consider these three questions to avoid the common pitfall of “winging it” when it comes to ground transportation and assure total peace of mind—wherever your travels may take you:

Where does the supplier offer service?

Consistently high standards are a must when it comes to finding peace of mind in global travel.  A smooth ride on Saturday and a frustrating wait time on Sunday can sully any occasion out of town.  Finding a ground transportation supplier with proven service experience across the globe can help to assure a consistently superior standard of service.  Scan the company’s website to see if they boast wholly-owned operations—and in how many cities or countries.  Do they have a global footprint in the places you plan to travel?  When a company takes pride in owning its operations, and in vetting their independent franchises, you can avoid the risk of booking with a provider that blindly subcontracts ground transportation services to suspicious third-party operators or fly-by-night drivers.

How “professional” are so-called ‘professional drivers’?

The seeming ease of hailing a taxi or downloading a ride-hailing app often entices travelers into winging it when they venture into a new town or city.  Doing so leaves travelers vulnerable to drivers who are often late, lack critical training, possess dubious credentials, show up in a vehicle lacking in space for fellow travelers or luggage, or are impolite.  If you are booking in advance, take an extra minute to review service and etiquette guarantees on the supplier’s website or marketing materials.  Are background checks performed on each driver and are drivers fully-vetted for alcohol and substance abuse?  Are motor vehicle record reviewed?  Does the supplier train and/or certify their drivers before they take the wheel?  Do drivers reliably arrive at pick up points at least 15 minutes early?  Ask before booking.

Will your travel consultant go the extra mile?

Every skilled travel consultant values joyful feedback from their clients and positive word of mouth.  After all, where would travel agents be without enthusiastic clients who tell others to take a chance on them and their services?  Your Adelman travel consultant will take the extra steps needed to deliver you a “wow” experience by making premium chauffeured transportation a part of your global travel itinerary.

Contact your professional Adelman travel consultant for more information on maximizing your ground transportation options.

Time is running out to renew your passport before rates go up

As a reminder, effective April 2, 2018, the cost of getting a new U.S. passport will increase by $10. The Department of State said it needs to boost the execution fee by $10 to cover the rising costs of processing a new passport application. The total rate for obtaining a new adult passport will be $145, up from $135, while the price for a child’s passport will go up to $115.

The cost of a passport card will go up to $65 for adults and $50 for children.  Passport cards can be used to enter the United States at land border crossings and sea ports-of-entry from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. The passport card cannot be used for international air travel. The passport card is Real ID compliant and can be used for domestic air travel.

The $10 price increase does not apply to applicants renewing their passport by mail.

U.S. State Department lifts travel advisory for Mexico’s Playa del Carmen

Earlier this week the U.S. State Department updated its travel advice for Mexico’s Playa del Carmen to say that, “Effective immediately, U.S. government personnel are permitted to travel to all parts of Playa del Carmen.”  This includes using all ferry services between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel.

This reversal comes about two weeks after the U.S. State Department initially issued a travel alert for the entire Playa del Carmen area following an explosion on a ferry.  The advice was later narrowed to include just specific neighborhoods.

The current advice still cautions travelers as follows, “As noted in our Mexico Travel Advisory for the state of Quintana Roo, U.S. citizens should exercise increased caution due to crime.” This advisory also notes that most violent crimes in and around the region are targeted within criminal organizations.

CDC advises travelers to Brazil to get yellow fever vaccine

As an outbreak of yellow fever continues in a large part of Brazil, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that all travelers visiting the affected areas of the country get vaccinated to help protect against this potentially life-threatening illness. According to the CDC advisory, areas affected by yellow fever include: Espirito Santo State; Sao Paulo state, including the city of Sao Paolo and all coastal islands; Rio de Janiero state, including the city of Rio de Janiero and all coastal islands’ and some cities in Bahia state. More information on this outbreak and a map of Brazil’s impacted areas can be found on the CDC website at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/alert/yellow-fever-brazil

Delta Air Lines

As part of Delta’s plan to expand its presence in Boston, which it considers a “focus city,” the carrier will launch a new non-stop route to Las Vegas. Daily flights will begin Oct. 1, 2018.  Also on Oct. 1, Delta will introduce service between Salt Lake City and El Paso, TX. Additionally, Delta unveiled plans for new service between San Jose, Calif. and New York’s JFK starting June 8, 2018.

In other news, Delta has added an opt-in Communication Cockpit tool for travel managers using the Delta Edge suite. With the enhancement companies can add their names to messaging that Delta sends out directly to corporate travelers. Delta said it is notifying corporate travelers directly when they are eligible for preferred seating or priority boarding.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Airline officials announced that KLM will no longer sell duty-free cigarettes on board its aircraft effective July 1, 2018. According to a company statement, “We at KLM feel it is no longer suitable to sell cigarettes aboard our flights. KLM supports good health and sportsmanship, which simply cannot be combined with cigarettes.” KLM will instead extend its range of other tax-free items available during flight.

Lufthansa

After a trial run at Los Angeles International Airport, Lufthansa said it will expand its biometrics-based boarding program to other U.S. airports. The program uses special boarding gates with a camera that can capture facial images as flyers approach. In just seconds the images are then matched against records in the Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) database. If there is a match the traveler is marked as “boarded.”  There is no further need to show a passport or boarding pass. Lufthansa says that this new technology allowed it to board a 350-passenger A380 aircraft in just 20 minutes.

Lufthansa also announced that it will introduce new dining options for purchase to passengers in coach and premium economy on select flights. The meals, which will be served on porcelain plates, will be available starting in May and will cost between 19 and 33 euros.

United Airlines

Following a string of problems regarding animals on its aircraft, United said it is suspending its PetSafe animal transport service until May 1, 2018, so it can review the program. Airline officials said existing reservations will be honored, but the carrier is also working with customers who wish to cancel. The suspension of the animal transport service does not affect passengers traveling with pets in the cabin.

Adelman Vacations honored by Apple 

Adelman Vacations recently received the Platinum Elite Apple Award from Apple Vacations. A leading tour operator for destinations throughout the Caribbean, Central/South America, Mexico, the Hawaiian Islands and more, Apple is known for providing its customers with top quality and affordable vacation packages.

As a Platinum Elite Apple Travel Agency, Adelman Vacations receives extra benefits from Apple such as exclusive promotions for our customers and educational site inspections, which allow our staff to share more first-hand experiences with our clients.

Special summer savings in Hawaii

Apple Vacations is offering a variety of special deals to Hawaii including a great land-only package at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa.  This well-appointed resort is ideally located on the famous Waikiki Breach and boasts 5.2 oceanfront acres with swaying palm trees and unique shops.  Guests can easily step out onto the soft sands and enjoy the beautiful blue waves while soaking up the spectacular views including Diamond Head in the background.

The Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa also offers a variety of delicious dining experiences along with a full range of spa services from experienced therapists. Guests can also take advantage of heated pools and water activities including snorkeling and surfing.

In addition to the service and amenities offered by Marriott, customers will benefit from the perks that come with booking an Apple Vacation. Special pricing from just $595 per person for a five-night package is available for a limited time on select dates from April 2 through Aug. 13, 2018. For more information contact your professional Adelman Vacations advisor at 800-749-7116 or visit our website at www.adelmanvacations.com.

Hilton restructures rate categories to offer more choice

To provide customers with more choice, Hilton is restructuring its low “Best Available Rate” (BAR) tier. Under the new program there will be a new Flexible rate category that will offer customers the same great low rates and will still include flexibility for close to arrival changes or cancellations.* Customers who are looking for cost savings and do not need the flexibility can choose Hilton’s new Semi-Flex rates, which are about 4 percent lower but require earlier notice for cancellations.* Hilton will also offer these choices with its Honors loyalty rate program along with some other specialty pricing programs.

Hilton has started rolling out this new rate plan in some markets but does not expect to complete full global deployment until this July. If you have questions, please contact your professional Adelman travel consultant.

*Change and cancellation policies may vary by hotel

Get to Honors Gold faster

Adelman customers can earn Gold status in the Hilton Honors loyalty program in just four stays. Clients simply need to register using the special link, https://www.hiltonhonors.com/en_US/HHCM/adelman-ftgold/landing and then book via Adelman and complete the four stays within 90 days of registration.