Congratulation Deb Roberts

Short North Travel Newsletter

January 2008

1^st Quarter Issue

Welcome!

In this issue you’ll find links to 2008 travel brochures, travel news, messages about me, Deb Roberts, and some travel tips and tidbits. Enjoy!

Regards,

Deb

Deb Roberts, Mz Doo Dah

Short North Travel, Owner & Travel Agent - Columbus, OH 43215

Orlando

With the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971, Orlando has grown to become a top vacation destination. Over 44 million people each year visit Orlando, making it the 3rd most visit US destination for foreign visitors. For families with children, a visit to Disney World is almost a requirement. Disney World entices visitors with four theme parks, a dozen smaller attractions, two nightclub districts, tens of thousands of hotel rooms, a vacation club (otherwise known as timeshares), scores of restaurants, and even two cruise ships.

Universal Orlando adds to the dizzying array with two theme parks, three luxury resorts, and an entertainment complex, home to several unique restaurants, clubs, shops, and entertainment venues. SeaWorld tosses in two theme parks and an entertainment, dining, and shopping district of its own. And those are just the major players. All in all, there are over 95 attractions, both large and small, occupying an area twice the size of Manhattan.

Walt Disney World® Resort e-Brochure. Click the brochure cover to get started. Once the brochure is open be sure to add it to your favorites for quick access anytime.

P.S. Deb has earned her “Ears” from Disney’s College of Knowledge!

View all of Disney’s 2008 product e-Brochures at: http://www.shortnorthtravel.com/brochures.htm

Caribbean & Bermuda – Carnival Cruise Lines

Brochure features Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, and Bermuda cruises.

View all of Carnival Cruise Line’s 2008 product e-Brochures at: http://www.shortnorthtravel.com/brochures.htm

River cruises

River Cruises offer not only unparalleled scenery around every bend, but the most convenient, comfortable, and relaxing way to experience these destinations with a small group of English-speaking passengers. With congested highways the norm worldwide, river cruising is more attractive than ever. Your river vessel serves as your “floating hotel” — eliminating the need to pack and unpack time after time.

Focus on the destination, seek out the interesting and culturally significant, the wonderful and exotic, lovely small towns and vibrant cities along the rivers and waterways traveled. Vessels range in size from 48 to 222 passengers, perfectly suited for each itinerary.

Uniworld River Cruise

River Cruises

Experience the world on a Uniworld River Cruise!

v Rhine River

v Mosel River

v Elbe River

v Danube River

v Tulips & Windmills, Holland

v Christmas & New Year’s Cruises

v Grand France

2008 Uniworld Europe Special Offers

Warm up January with generous savings on a Uniworld Grand River Cruise.

Take advantage of special winter savings.

Special Savings – SAVE up to $500 per couple on select Grand River Cruises.

Contact Deb Roberts to make your reservation today!

Congratulation Deb Roberts! You are a Grand River Cruise Specialist Captain Graduate!

Happy Selling from the Uniworld Team!

Who is Deb Roberts (Mz Doo Dah) of Short North Travel?

I am a real life travel agent and I would like to offer to you my travel services.

Being a savvy shopper, I check for prices with reputable travel vendors, some who work solely with travel agents. If you’ve researched something and want me to match or beat that price…call me with that credit card of yours and let’s get it booked my friend!

Haven’t shopped at all? Let me find that vacation bargain price with upscale luxury level that you deserve!

Guess what? You don’t have to pay me, the travel vendor pays me! It’s that easy.

On my newly redesigned web-site, www.ShortNorthTravel.com, you will find deals, destination information, and research data that I have found useful. Tools that you too can use in planning.

Like booking it on your own? No problem. I’ve got you cover on that too. There are a few companies on the site that have allowed me to grant my clients access to their booking engines through my web-site. Some are research only and I have to make the reservation for you. Remember, I am always here to offer free hand-holding and follow-up. If you do book through the vendor, please pop me an E-mail to make sure I know about your trip before you go. I can still assist you with seats and special requests.

Call or e-mail me if you need help or more destination deals and ideas. I’m full of them! I get so many deals that I can’t possibly list them all on the web-site. Otherwise I’d never get around to booking travel arrangements for you!

“I appreciate my client, I am honest, and I will work hard for you!”

Deb Roberts, (Mz Doo Dah)

Short North Travel

Owner & Travel Agent

Columbus, Ohio

614-228-1868

Top 3 Reasons To Turn To Travel Agent Deb Roberts:

Relief. Bringing you 16 years of destination expertise, discounted hotel rates and airfares, all-in-one package deals, and exclusive specials and promotions. Helping you to determine your budget and distilling your options is the first relief that comes with working with a professional.

Savings. Think Travel Agents are too expensive? Think again. Rather than paying more for your vacation, you are likely to pay less and get more. A good travel agent is your advocate and puts your interests first.

Peace of mind. Finally, I am here for you before, during, and after your trip. And that bonus peace of mind comes at no extra charge.

So, where have you been considering? A tropical island? Mexico? A Mediterranean cruise or tour of Europe? Call me…I’m here to help!

Deb Roberts 614-228-1868

Noteworthy Travel News:

DOT Bans Loose Lithium Batteries

JANUARY 02, 2008 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation yesterday began enforcing limits on loose lithium batteries, which are used in many laptop computers, cameras and cell phones, in carry-on and checked luggage to prevent fire outbreaks.

DOT is allowing "two extended-life spare rechargeable lithium batteries" in carry-on bags if they are stored in plastic bags or original packaging and only in checked bags "if they are installed in electronic devices."

"Doing something as simple as keeping a spare battery in its original retail packaging or a plastic zip-lock bag will prevent unintentional short-circuiting and fires," said DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration deputy administrator Krista Edwards.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE finalized an agreement to sail at least 44 cruises a year to Bermuda during the next 10 years. According to NCL, the agreement utilizes two of the line's "newest and largest ships." The cruises will primarily depart from New York and Boston. In 2009, the 2,000-passenger Norwegian Spirit will sail from Boston to Bermuda, and the 2,200-passenger Norwegian Dawn will sail from New York. The 1,500-passenger Norwegian Majesty, meanwhile, will sail to St. George's, Bermuda, from Charleston, S.C., Philadelphia and Baltimore.

Passport Information

On October 4, 2006, the U.S. Government extended the deadline for Guests to obtain passports for sea travel to the Caribbean, including the Bahamas and Mexico. The deadline is now expected to be as early as January 2008. Please note, however, that recent legislative changes may permit an even later deadline depending on whether certain requirements are in place by January 1, 2008.

For air travel, however, the deadline was January 23, 2007. This means that all travelers, including U.S. Citizens* and all foreign nationals, traveling to the United States by air on or after January 23, 2007, such as Guests flying to Orlando, Florida from Canada, are still required to carry a valid passport after the effective date.

Despite these new requirements, we encourage Guests to obtain a passport as soon as possible. Having a passport allows you to always be prepared to travel wherever you wish, and offers an added measure of security when traveling.

Please be aware that it is the Traveler’s responsibility to acquire proper citizenship documentation (passport and/or green card). Those without proper documentation at time of departure will be denied boarding.

How to Get a Passport

U.S. Citizens – Visit the U.S. Department of State Web site or call the U.S. National Passport Information Center at 877-4USA-PPT for more information.

Canadian Citizens – Visit the Passport Canada Web site at http://www.ppt.gc.ca or call toll free at 1-800-567-6868.

YTB was in the news earlier this year, when Royal Caribbean Cruises suspended its business relationship with the agency, calling it a "card mill." A few weeks later, IATA terminated YTB. FYI, Short North Travel is NOT associated with YTB.

Cunard's three Queens to make historic stop in NYC (12/28/2007)

Cunard Line had its three ships, the Queen Mary 2, the Queen Elizabeth 2 and the newly launched Queen Victoria, in New York City on Jan. 13 for what the British line said was the first and only time.

The cruise line's three vessels will sailed out of New York harbor together at 6:30 p.m. and passed the Statue of Liberty during a fireworks display. Cunard said thousands of people gathered at viewing locations around the city to watch the event.

The QM2 departed from its homeport at Brooklyn's Red Hook terminal; the QE2 and the Queen Victoria departed from piers at Manhattan's West Side cruise terminal. The QE2 began its 26th and final world cruise before retiring in November 2008 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as a floating hotel.

The date marked the first time in Cunard's 168-year history that three "Queens" have been in service at the same time, Cunard said.

Cunard identified four viewing locations along Manhattan's West Side:

v Battery Park: On the southern shoreline of Manhattan.

v Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park: Just south of the Museum of Jewish Heritage overlooking the Hudson River with great views of the Statue of Liberty.

v The Esplanade: Running the entire length of Battery Park City, along the Hudson River from Stuyvesant High School on the north end all the way south to Battery Park.

v Hudson River Park: 550 acre park extends for five miles along the Manhattan shoreline from Battery Place to West 59th Street.

Hilton heir to donate proceeds of Hilton, Harrah's sales to charity (12/27/2007)

By Jeri Clausing

Barron Hilton said he will donate $1.2 billion of his proceeds from the sale of Hilton Hotels Corp. and Harrah's Entertainment to the charity his father created. In addition, he said he intends to give the foundation 97% of his fortune -- estimated today at $2.3 billion -- when he dies.

The money will go to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, which was established by Barron Hilton's father, Conrad, founder of Hilton Hotels. Barron Hilton serves as chair of the foundation.

In a news release, the foundation said Barron Hilton will donate approximately $1.2 billion of proceeds from the recent sale of Hilton Hotels Corp. to private equity firm the Blackstone Group and the pending sale of Harrah's Entertainment to private investment interests. That will bring the total value of the Hilton Foundation and its related charitable entities to approximately $4.5 billion.

According to the release, at a recent board meeting Barron Hilton also indicated his intent to contribute 97% of his entire net worth to the foundation when he dies.

"Speaking for the family as well as the foundation, we are all exceedingly proud and grateful for this extraordinary commitment," said Steven Hilton, president and CEO of the foundation. "Working to alleviate human suffering around the globe, regardless of race, religion or geography, is the mandate of the foundation set by my grandfather, Conrad Hilton, and now reinforced by my father, Barron Hilton."

Conrad Hilton established the foundation in 1944 and, when he died in 1979, left virtually all of his fortune to the foundation.

ARC pulls information from monthly data for new set of stats

The holidays are expected to close out with Jan. 2 emerging as one of the season's peak travel days, according to statistics complied by ARC. The figures also show Las Vegas, Orlando, Los Angeles, Chicago and Denver to be among the top 10 holiday destinations for most travelers.

NWA Call Center Assistance Fee Assessed for Seat Assignment Requests

(December 13, 2007) – Effective today, NWA/KLM Reservations will assess the Call Center Assistance Fee for customers who call to request a seat assignment for a reservation that was made through an external ticketing source.

Currently, a Call Center Assistance Fee of $15.00 USD/$18.00 CAD is assessed when a customer calls NWA/KLM Reservations to request a voluntary itinerary change on a booking originally purchased through an external ticketing source such as a traditional travel agency, online travel agency, another airline, WorldAgent Direct or on nwa.com.

Only one Call Center Assistance Fee is assessed per ticketed passenger. Once the fee is assessed for a seat assignment request or voluntary itinerary change, subsequent seat requests or voluntary itinerary changes are not assessed another fee.

The Call Center Assistance Fee for seat assignment requests would be charged in addition to any other applicable fees such as an administrative fee, or excess luggage fee.

Customers who do not want to incur the fee for seat assignment requests can obtain seat assignments free of charge by calling NWA/KLM Reservations and choosing the automated seat assignment option, through nwa.com, or by contacting the travel agency who originally issued their ticket.

Travel agents, on behalf of their customer, can request seat assignments either through the GDS or WorldAgent Direct.

The Call Center Assistance Fee would NOT apply to the following:

The original itinerary was ticketed by NWA/KLM Reservations.
For nwa.com or WorldAgent Direct bookings, when a customer is unable to assign seats because the system is down or the system is unable to handle the transaction.
Involuntary changes as a result of a schedule change or irregular operations.
Tickets booked in the following classes of service: P,F,A,R,J,C,Z,I,D,U,S,Y,B
Tickets issued on Government or Military fares.
If a customer is booked on a WorldPerks Upgrade or Certificate Upgrade.
A Platinum/Gold Elite member plus all others traveling in the same reservation.
A SkyTeam Elite member plus all others traveling in the same reservation.
Unaccompanied Minors
Disability Seats (indicated as D on the seat map) •
All wheelchair requests (WCHC, WCHR, WCHS, WCOB)

For complete details regarding the Call Center Assistance Fee, visit the Resource Center tab of WorldAgent Direct or call Northwest/KLM Reservations at 1-800-225-2525 or TTY at 1-800-328-2298.

Summer season in Alaska brought $1.6B in revenue to the state

More than 1.7 million tourists visited Alaska during the busy summer travel season, spending a record $1.6 billion in the state, the Alaska Tourism Industry Association said.

CBP to require IDs for border crossings beginning Jan. 31 (12/21/2007)

WASHINGTON -- The Customs and Border Protection agency issued a notice reminding the traveling public that starting on Jan. 31 its officers would no longer accept oral declarations of citizenship for entry to the U.S.

Prior to the notice appearing in the Federal Register on Dec. 21, the CBP had announced its intention to institute the new border procedure in the early part of the month.

According to the notice, citizens of the U.S., Canada and Bermuda will have to provide official documentation, such as a birth certificate, a driver's license or other government-issued identification, in order to enter the U.S.

The new procedure is the first step towards implementation of the next phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, a law that will require travelers crossing U.S. land borders and sea ports to present a passport or other specified identification beginning as early as 2008.

The first phase of the WHTI, which went into affect in January, already requires airline passengers to present such identification.

Amtrak beefs up dining options on overnight trains (12/20/2007)

Amtrak's overnight trains are now serving up new breakfast, lunch and dinner fare as part of revamped dining car menu options.

The new menu options are currently available on 10 of Amtrak's 14 overnight trains with Sleeper Car service, and include prepared-to-order steaks, specialty salads and pies.

The remaining four trains, such as the Florida Auto Train, already have specialty food service menus in place, Amtrak said.

Don’t miss out on knowing the news sooner.

Keep an eye on “Travel News & Info” on www.ShortNorthTravel.com

Noteworthy news of Columbus

Columbus, Ohio in the News – Submitted by SNBA’s John Angelo

Thinking of coming TO Columbus? Here’s clip from the New York Post:: http://www.nypost.com/seven/12252007/entertainment/travel/best_of_2007_137735.htm?page=0