New Passport Process in Omaha - Effective October 1, 2017

As many of you know, for awhile to apply for a Passport in Omaha meant you had to go to specific Post Office locations to make an appointment.  Then tings changed a few years ago - there is now a central location to apply which is the Omaha Passport Center.  This is/was a Postal Impression located at 5346 S 136th St in Deerfield Plaza (Millard).  You had to call to make your appointment but now another change has come.  Effective October 1, 2017 you now set your Passport Application appointment online.  I've provided a link below for your convenience.

The online scheduler also applies to the one post office location in Bellevue as well as in Council Bluffs.  However, if there are no appointments available soon enough for you, the other option I highly recommend is going to the Sarpy County Courthouse - Clerk of the Court.  No appointment is necessary - they will accept applictions during their normal business hours.

https://tools.usps.com/go/pages/schedule-appointment/index.jsp?locationId=1378217

Gran Caribe & Gran Porto Rebranded

This Fall you will find two new resorts - one in Cancun and one in the Riviera Maya.  Gran Caribe & Grand Porto resort have been re-branded as Panama Jack Resort.  Panama Jack has been know for it's beach attire and sunglasses.  Now they have thrown their hat (pun intended) to join the all inclusive experience.  They are calling this new venture as "all inclusive re-imagined".  These resorts still remaining family friendly resorts but know with the touches you find with all of their products.  It's about entering a tropical paradise where you will find both recreation and relaxation.  The adventure begins when you are a traveler and not a tourist.  

Viking now offering more than just river cruises

Viking is well known for their amazing river cruises around the world.  We have seen them more often on television offering free air or 2 for 1 pricing.  Many of their river cruises sell out and for good reason.

Now, they have decided to take their passion of cruise to a larger scale and offer ocean liner cruises.  One of the biggest differences you will see comparing it to other major cruise lines is that there are no inside or ocean view cabin - only verandah/balcony cabins.  They believe everyone should have a great view on their cruise and still enjoy the luxury of what sailing on their river cruises.  You will find one of their sailing in this issue leaving at the end of January and includes free airfare - yes FREE AIRFARE along with transfer when arriving and departing on the days of your cruise. 

While they only have 5 ships at this time, this new venture has been well received by many cruises lovers.  Instead of these "floating cities", their ships only hold 930 guests to give more of that small ship experience.  Meals will have a focus on the destination, so you will get to have a taste of local foods while on board.  While it is not all inclusive, they do include a lot as part of your cruise cost.  There is free WiFi on board, beer/wine/soft drinks are included at lunch and dinner, as well as one complimentary shore excursion in every port.  So come enjoy what is being called "The Thinking Person's Cruise" and see what Viking as in store for you.

Excellence to open newest Caribbean resort

Excellence resorts is a well known adult only, all inclusive company in Mexico and Dominican Republic.  Now, they are happy to have their newest property open on the island of Jamaica.  Excellence Oyster Bay is an all suite resort scheduled to open January 2018 and set on its own private peninsula in Montego Bay with 2 miles of white sand beach for you to enjoy.  Just a short 30 minute ride from Montego Bay Sangster airport and you can enjoy 2 a la carte lunch option, 8 a la carte dining options, 1 buffet, including a wood oven pizza place along with 9 bars and lounges.  You now have even more of a reason to visit this amazing island for the first time or revisit again to see all the changes this country has made recently. 

Riu expands in Mexico

Riu Resorts is adding the finishing touches to it's newest property in Mexico - #RiuDunamar.  The resort is located north of Cancun in #PlayaMujeres.  Set to open in December, this family friendly resort is for those who are looking for more of a laid back atmosphere.  There are over 700 rooms at this property along with 5 swimming pools, free WiFi throughout the property.  For those looking for a bit of pampering, you will find it at the Renova Spa and while you are getting a massage you can send the kids to the RiuLand Kids' Club.  Give me a call or send me an eamil to learn more about this property or find what pricing we can get you at this new Riu #allincluisve resort.

Are you prepared for the unexpected?

We all know that life throws us a curve every now and then but this month, Mother Nature has really come with a vengeance this year.  With three major hurricanes #Harvey, #Irma, & #Maria making landfall and causing billions of dollars in damage, major earthquakes in Mexico bringing down buildings in second, not to mention the huge loss of life, and wildfires and earthquakes in California.  Now, to add insult to injury, we are seeing strained political tensions with North Korea and Iran.  

We never know what is going to happen on any given day - are you prepared for the unexpected or even for things you know about?  During Hurricane season (June 1 - November 30) and ove the winter months, I highly recommend getting travel insurance to help protect your investment.  If you have kids or elderly parents, have had a past illness like cancer or any other pre-existing condition that could affect your travel, it is a very good idea to get the insurance. 

Travel insurance covers you for illness, injury or death; plus it will cover you for trip delays or interruption, lost/delayed/damaged baggage.  Most travel insurance policies will help cover medical expenses, emergency medical evacuations and in some cases accidental death & dismemberment.  There are various forms of travel insurance available with travel providers as well as with 3rd party companies.  With travel providers, they may offer a cancel for any reason policy.  This usually means that you have up until 4 to 6 hours before departure to cancel "for any reason" and get a full refund minus the cost of insurance.  Cost can range from $80 to $200 per person.  All other policies have their own list of "covered reasons" on top of what I have mentioned above.  The catch here is that the cost is based not just on the price of your trip but on your age as well - so the older you are and/or the higher cost of your trip, the more expensive it will be.  If you have the option to get a cancel for any reason policy, that is always my first choice but it is good to compare your options avaialable.

February 1, 2017 Newsletter

Well, what can we say about the last couple of weeks?  A lot has happened that has many of us scratching our heads, unsure of what the future has in store for us.  Here at Freedom Travel, we are standing firm and remaining optimistic for the future.  Whatever your travel needs, wants and dreams may be, we will do all the necessary research to answer your questions and help make your trip as smooth and stress free as possible.

In this issue we wanted to touch on destination weddings and honeymoons.  Many lucky couples made the recent holidays an extra memorable time by saying "Yes" to their loved ones and promising to spend their lives together.  If you, or someone you know found themselves falling into this category - Congratulations!  Now it's time to start planning.  Whether you are hoping to make your big day an extra special one by saying "I Do" on the ocean shores or are just hoping to spend those special Honeymoon days waking up secluded in your own private bungalow we are here to help! 

Airline News
Executive Order - For complete accuracy, it was decided to provide a link directly to Homeland Security's "Fact Sheets" page for up to the minute information.  Learn More...

Hotel News
Hilton Honors - Hilton Worldwide announced Tuesday, January 31st it will be dropping the pseudonymous "H" in its Hilton Honors program.  But this is minor in comparison to what else is awaiting their members in February.  The program will be unveiling a new slider tool that will help them decide how many Honors points they want to use in combination with money when booking their rooms.  Learn More...

Cruise News
Cruise Safety - As cruise season draws near, the cruising industry is focused on the safety of its passengers.  The Passenger Ship Safety conference recently took place in Miami where much focus was on fire safety.  Learn More...

Book Early - Many cruise companies have opened their schedules thru mid 2019.  It may seem far off in the distance, but now is the perfect time to set aside a week or two on our calendar and put down your deposit on a terrific cruise vacation. 
 

The Real ID Act

Issued for immediate release on Monday, December 12th by the office of the Press Secretary for Transportation Security Administration (TSA), came the announcement that TSA will begin enforcing REAL ID security checkpoints in January 2018.  REAL ID, means that state issued driver's licenses or state identification cards may only be used if your state is REAL ID compliant. Learn more about REAL ID, your states compliant status and FAQ's.

Tips for capturing the beauty of the Aurora Borealis

This year we saw a surge of interest in the beauty of our universe.  One of the most spectacular happens within our Earth's atmosphere and now is the peak time to see it.  Find out how to capture all the beauty and splendor here....