[Travelandtourism] FW: My Friend and I

Sat Jan 12 17:26:12 UTC 2013

This was sent to me directly, and wanted to share with you the answer that I replied to.
Cheryl Echevarria, PresidentNFB Travel & Tourism 

We do have members that have traveled outside the country, but many of them don't talking on the talk list, we had last year at the National Convention during our Annual Meeting is Karl Smith (UT), who has gone many places with his kids and his wife and Robert Leslie Newman (who is President of the Writers Division). I also always have people on my radio show on thruoureyes.org in the past, who have traveled internationally as well as locally.
When traveling whether in the U.S. or outside the U.S. and when speaking to clients, I give them the same information.
You need to know your mobility skills. You may know your home town, but even outside your home town or new places, you need to know you skills, need to find you way around when there is no side walks, or wheelchair ramps, etc. Remember there are places here in our country that will not redesign something for accessible travel.  Case in point, they just redid some access in the Statue of Liberty, but unless you are a good walker and not need the elevator, you cannot get to the crown or the torch.
Or if you are going to the Leaning Tower of Pisa again if you can walk up to the top great, but they will not put in elevators for you.
You have to know where you want to go and when, and with the right person working with you, whether you do all the arrangements yourself or higher a travel professional to get all the information for you, you need to plan ahead.
Not a lot ahead, but just enough so you can enjoy your trip that you are spending so much money on.
You may need a special needs tour operator, you may not.
Currently I am working with someone who is not blind, but is in a wheelchair and is booking on a cruise around Asia, and he wants to go to the Great Wall of China, the Cruise Line doesn't have an accessible tour of the wall, so I had to find a separate tour for him, and they said there is a wheelchair ramp access but in a different part of the Wall, remember the Great Wall is over 5500 miles in length, so it is a matter of planning ahead.
Again, it isn't where you are going and whether someone has been there or not, it is a matter of your mobility and flexibility when traveling.
Cheryl

Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY State
Leading the Way in Independent Travel!SNG Certified - Accessible Travel Advocate!Cheryl Echevarria, Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriatravel.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com2012 Norwegian Cruise Line University Advisory Board Member.
Affiliated as an independent contractor with Montrose TravelCST - #1018299-10Echevarria Travel and proud member of the National Federation of the Blind will be holding a year round fundraiser for the http://www.NFBNY.org after Hurricane Sandy and other resources. Any vacation package booked between November 6 2012-November 6, 2013 and vacation must be traveled no later than 12/30/2014 a percentage of my earnings will go to the affiliate.  Also is you book a Sandals for couples or Beaches for families and friends resorts vacation, $100.00 per booking will go to the affiliate as well.  You do not need to be a member of the NFB.org, just book through us.

Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] My Friend and I
From: kekiangeles111 at gmail.com
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2013 17:32:47 -0700
To: cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com

Hi Everyone,
I have been conferring with my friend and she wanted me to ask: What countries do people have the most experience traveling through when they have gone to Europe? Also, has anyone taken the train in Europe to other countries?
Thanks?

Keitei Colton(435)-901-4265555 South 200 EastSalt Lake City, UT 84111kekiangeles111 at gmail.com
On 7 Jan 2013, at 14:19, cheryl echevarria <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com> wrote:

I just called you and left a voice message.

Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY State
Leading the Way in Independent Travel!SNG Certified - Accessible Travel Advocate!Cheryl Echevarria, Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriatravel.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com2012 Norwegian Cruise Line University Advisory Board Member.
Affiliated as an independent contractor with Montrose TravelCST - #1018299-10Echevarria Travel and proud member of the National Federation of the Blind will be holding a year round fundraiser for the http://www.NFBNY.org after Hurricane Sandy and other resources. Any vacation package booked between November 6 2012-November 6, 2013 and vacation must be traveled no later than 12/30/2014 a percentage of my earnings will go to the affiliate.  Also is you book a Sandals for couples or Beaches for families and friends resorts vacation, $100.00 per booking will go to the affiliate as well.  You do not need to be a member of the NFB.org, just book through us.

> From: kekiangeles111 at gmail.com
> Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2013 11:45:34 -0700
> To: travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Travelandtourism] My Friend and I
> 
> Hello all,
> 
> My friend and I are planning a trip to a few different countries in Europe and I was wondering if we could get some help. My friend and I are planning to travel to France, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Poland, Romania, Switzerland and Italy. We are looking at taking tours around castles, concentration camps and art museums. We are also thinking about staying in hostile a and traveling around by train, and when necessary, by either ferry or plane. Is there anything that anyone on the mailing list can help us with?
> 
> Thank you very much,
> 
> Keitei Colton
> (435)-901-4265
> 555 South 200 East
> Salt Lake City, UT 84111
> kekiangeles111 at gmail.com
> 
> On 7 Jan 2013, at 11:00, travelandtourism-request at nfbnet.org wrote:
> 
> > Send Travelandtourism mailing list submissions to
> >    travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
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> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> > than "Re: Contents of Travelandtourism digest..."
> > 
> > 
> > Today's Topics:
> > 
> >   1. Happy New Year from NFB Travel & Tourism President, Cheryl
> >      Echevarria (cheryl echevarria)
> >   2. TAKING THE DISNEY GUEST EXPERIENCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL: BUT IS
> >      IT ACCESSIBLE TO ALL CLIENTS (cheryl echevarria)
> > 
> > 
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> > 
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2013 11:57:36 -0500
> > From: cheryl echevarria <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
> > To: travelandtourism <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>
> > Subject: [Travelandtourism] Happy New Year from NFB Travel & Tourism
> >    President, Cheryl Echevarria
> > Message-ID: <BLU169-W2618FA876C310899C40F4AA1250 at phx.gbl>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Happy New Year and good morning all:
> > The division is growing every day, and we hope with 2013 in full gear we will make it one of the better ones.
> > After this e-mail I will  be posting an item that was posted in the Echevarria Travel Blog this morning.  Hopefully we will have pages for blogs on the NFB Travel & Tourism Website that is under construction, I am the webmaster for that, and so it should be up and running by the end of the week. The link will be www.nfbtravel.org
> > 
> > Since we will be in Orlando at the National Convention, a number of the Travel & Tourism officers and myself will be checking out a number of things at Walt Disney World prior to the start of the Convention, as well as, we will be having Mr. Mark Jones, Access Manager, for both Walt Disney World and Disneyland parks at our meeting, which will be July 2 from 1-4pm, and he will also be one of our Tour Guide at the Magic Kingdom this year.  
> > Some other people who have mentioned they might be coming to the meeting and will give full agenda to the meeting once everything is finalized. Such people as someone hopefully from Norwegian Cruise Lines, BAB - Beautiful Accessible Barbados and others for a panel discussion. So try and make plans to attend the meeting.
> > Every year, we plan on going to at least one of the theme parks, since we will be in Orlando for the next 6-7 years.
> > If you haven't registered yet for the convention, as of January 1st, 2013 you can get all the information from the December and January Braille Monitor or go to the NFB.org website and register.
> > The NFB Travel & Tourism website will be up sometime by the end of the week and we will be having information as well.
> > Some other things going on.
> > I know you have seen the postings but I will be posting this again.
> > Our division is doing its first group trip, it is opened to everyone to join, blind or not.
> > Here is the information, it is during meet the blind month of October, if you are interested in going the 20% deposit is due by January 30th, if you cannot make the 20% by then please contact me and we can work out the details.
> > For those who are interested in going, you can contact to book either myself at 631-456-5394 or Maurice Shackelford, Vice President of the Travel & Tourism Division at 770-280-5029
> > We can accept checks and money orders made out to the NFB Travel & Tourism Division and mailed to our Treasurer, Milton Taylor his e-mail is milt2533 at gmail.com and his mailing address is below, we can also accept credit card payments through paypal.com, let us know and we will send you an e-mail for payment :
> > Milton Taylor, TreasurerNFB Travel & Tourism 654 W 1820 N,Orem, Utah 84057-2081
> > 
> > 
> > Here is the information:
> > NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND TRAVEL AND TOURISM DIVISION PRESENTS:Group Trip to Las Vegas and some of the great National Parks for EveryoneFrom October 9-13, 2013Pricing and Itinerary follows
> > Pricing per person does not include transportation round trip to Las Vegas, NV, but can be arranged.  Also should you want to stay an extra day prior to the trip starting or after trip ends can be arranged and pricing will vary.  Also travel insurance is offered; please ask pricing upon booking your trip.
> > If you are totally blind and are worried about not enjoying the trip because it might be to visual for you we are working with Scenic Tours, Ron Helquist who is the owner of Scenic Tours and Jason Murray, who is the manager, will make it happen.  We want everyone to enjoy the trip using all of your senses.
> > Pricing includes: Tour bus, tour guide, hotels, all meals, entrance fees to the parks, taxes and fees, only thing not included is the tip to the tour guide upon end of the trip.
> > Payment structure: 20% of trip due at booking, full deposit due 8/1/2013, and final payment due 9/1/2013. But we are offering once 20% of trip has been paid, payment plans can be arranged.
> > Single Occupancy - $860 p.p.   - $172 per person due at bookingDouble Occupancy - $721 p.p.  - $145 per person due at bookingTriple Occupancy - $625 p.p.    - $120 per person due at booking
> > 
> > Itinerary:Day 1: Las Vegas, NV - Fly into Las Vegas, NV. You will be met at the airport and shuttled to your hotel in downtown Las Vegas. You will have the evening to explore Las Vegas and catch some sleep before our big trip. Lodging at Bally?s Resort Dinner Included
> > Day 2: Day 2 ThursdayGrand Canyon National Park & Page, AZ - After an early breakfast, we will depart at 7am to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. We will cross over the new bridge in front of Hoover Dam, the largest dam in the United States. We will meet famous Route 66 in Kingman, AZ. After a short break, we will continue down Route 66 until Williams, AZ. From there we will enter into the National Park.
> > We will make 3 stops along the rim and view this natural wonder of the world. We will also enjoy lunch inside the park before we move on. After leaving the park we will enter the Navajo Indian Reservation. We will traverse the reservation to Page, AZ. We will lodge for the night in Page. Our lodging for the evening will be at Quality Inn, Page AZ.
> > Lodging at Quality Inn Breakfast & Dinner Included (snacks and water is supplied)
> > Day 3 Friday - Zion National Park & Bryce Canyon National Park.  Today we will depart Page for Zion National Park. Once we arrive at the park, we will enjoy lunch at the Zion Canyon Lodge. Once we are finished with lunch, we will enjoy seeing the not only Zion Canyon and the beautiful oasis within the canyon, but we will also see the east bench of Zion. It is a unique area that offers a different view of the sandstone cliffs that make up Zion National Park. Once we have enjoyed Zion National Park, we will depart the park and go to Bryce Canyon National Park. In Bryce Canyon, we will visit Fairyland, Sunset, and Bryce Points. Afterward we will check into our hotel at Ruby?s Inn for the evening. Lodging at Ruby?s Inn, UT Breakfast & Dinner Included.
> > Day 4 Saturday - After a delicious breakfast, we will depart Bryce Canyon and travel down one of the most beautiful highways in America, Highway 12. This road provides you with the beauties of the sandstone canyons and the wonders of 9,500 ft mountain vistas. We will then travel to Capital Reef National Park. In the park we will some petroglyphs, the old school house, and the capitol dome. Once we have finished enjoying Capital Reef, and had a delicious boxed lunch, we will depart for our return journey to Las Vegas. We will travel through the beautiful Aquarius Plateau and then get back to the I-15 corridor. We will stop in St George, UT for a final dinner and a pleasant walk in town. After dinner, we will travel to Las Vegas, NV where we will spend the night. Lodging at Las Vegas, NV Breakfast & Dinner Included
> > Day 5 Sunday - Breakfast and returning to the airport
> > Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY State
> > Leading the Way in Independent Travel!SNG Certified - Accessible Travel Advocate!Cheryl Echevarria, Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriatravel.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com2012 Norwegian Cruise Line University Advisory Board Member.
> > Affiliated as an independent contractor with Montrose TravelCST - #1018299-10Echevarria Travel and proud member of the National Federation of the Blind will be holding a year round fundraiser for the http://www.NFBNY.org after Hurricane Sandy and other resources. Any vacation package booked between November 6 2012-November 6, 2013 and vacation must be traveled no later than 12/30/2014 a percentage of my earnings will go to the affiliate.  Also is you book a Sandals for couples or Beaches for families and friends resorts vacation, $100.00 per booking will go to the affiliate as well.  You do not need to be a member of the NFB.org, just book through us.
> > 
> >                         
> > 
> > ------------------------------
> > 
> > Message: 2
> > Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2013 12:58:28 -0500
> > From: cheryl echevarria <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
> > To: travelandtourism <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>
> > Subject: [Travelandtourism] TAKING THE DISNEY GUEST EXPERIENCE TO THE
> >    NEXT LEVEL: BUT IS IT ACCESSIBLE TO ALL CLIENTS
> > Message-ID: <BLU169-W10770456A8D268F457F30D8A1250 at phx.gbl>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
> > 
> > 
> > Here is that blog posting I was talking about earlier:
> > Good morning all:
> > I send clients of abilities and disabilities to the different Disney Resorts and Cruise Lines, and when  they have new items out for the Disney Guest Experience, I have to check to see if it is accessible to all clients, especially the blind and disabled clients.If you have been following my posts, and what I do for a living as being a travel agent, especially a Travel Agent, who specialty the Special Needs realm.
> > Yes I do everyone who wants to travel and I make sure that all clients have the best vacation that money can buy.So, as of today Monday, January 7, 2013, when you book with me to go to Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida, and lets just educate a little bit on this end, because people call me up and they want to go to Epcot and Epcot is only one of the theme parks in the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
> > Walt Disney World has (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom, ESPN WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS, 2 Water Parks, Downtown Disney - Shopping and other entertainment, miniature golf, Water Sports, and so much more!) plus free shuttle service to clients staying at the resort hotels from Orlando International.
> > Now I hope I haven't lost you.
> > The main topic is Taking the Disney Guest Experience to the next level: But is it accessible to everyone!
> > As mentioned as of today at the Walt Disney World Resorts in Orlando, FL.  from the press release today it states:We?d like you to be among the first to hear from Tom Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, on how we plan to enhance the Guest experience. Our efforts are driven by a fundamental desire to exceed our Guests? expectations, and we aim to make your job, as one of our valuable travel professional partners, better as well.
> > At Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, we continually push the boundaries of creativity and innovation to deliver the best possible experience for our Guests. We?re always looking for ways to take what we do and do it even better. Over the past few years, we?ve devoted considerable time and resources to create a more immersive, more seamless and more personal experience for each and every Guest who spends time with us. I know there?s been significant speculation about these efforts among our fans, so we?re pleased to give you a glimpse into the work we are doing to take the entire Disney Guest experience to the next level.
> > Some of these initiatives are more apparent and can already be seen by our Guests ? like our interactive queues at Walt Disney World? Resort and the Enchanted Art on our cruise ships ? while others are more behind-the-scenes and are focused on ?how? visitors plan, access and enjoy their experiences with us. Over the next several months, we?ll be rolling out a collection of tools at the Walt Disney World Resort called MyMagic+ that will give Guests more opportunities to customize and personalize their entire visit.
> > Now that you know what I am talking about, I have sent out an e-mail to Mr. Mark Jones, Access Manager, of both Walt Disney World Resorts and Disneyland, to see if these are accessible to the disabled.
> > The blind and visually impaired clients can access kiosks and queues that have plugs on the machines like ATMS at banks and other places so that we can put our headsets on and plug in and use them, since we cannot few the screens, they maybe touch sensitive but it we cannot see them, then they are not accessible to all clients and guests.
> > We will see what happens on this. I will be having Mark Jones sometime in the future probably in April or May on the Echevarria Travel Show if you have been watching/listening over the last few months.  Also when I attend the Annual National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind in July with the board member of the NFB Travel & Tourism we will find out for ourselves if they are accessible, or they have once again put out a product that is not accessible to everyone at the time of launching them.Disney and other places need to realize that you cannot have something and say it is for the Disney Guest Experience when some guests cannot experience them.
> > Cheryl Echevarria
> > 
> > Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY State
> > Leading the Way in Independent Travel!SNG Certified - Accessible Travel Advocate!Cheryl Echevarria, Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriatravel.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com2012 Norwegian Cruise Line University Advisory Board Member.
> > Affiliated as an independent contractor with Montrose TravelCST - #1018299-10Echevarria Travel and proud member of the National Federation of the Blind will be holding a year round fundraiser for the http://www.NFBNY.org after Hurricane Sandy and other resources. Any vacation package booked between November 6 2012-November 6, 2013 and vacation must be traveled no later than 12/30/2014 a percentage of my earnings will go to the affiliate.  Also is you book a Sandals for couples or Beaches for families and friends resorts vacation, $100.00 per booking will go to the affiliate as well.  You do not need to be a member of the NFB.org, just book through us.
> >                         
> > 
> > ------------------------------
> > 
> > Subject: Digest Footer
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> > End of Travelandtourism Digest, Vol 90, Issue 1
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