We Make Getting There As Easy As Being There! Since 2009 We offer one on one travel expertise in Romance, Family and Escorted Travel. Also serving the blind traveler whether you use a Cane, Guide Dog or Sighted Guide.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Cheryl Echevarria: Founder, Echevarria Travel – Advocate for the Blind
Here is the story that I said was going to happen. It was published today on www.fortune52.com
February 16, 2012 This is from www.fortune52.com, I am also going to be honored with 52 other women from Across Long Island on March 12, 2012
Cheryl Echevarria is blind and might not be able to sightsee like everyone else, yet this intrepid Brentwood woman loves to travel. She relies on her service dog, Maxx, her heightened sense of smell, touch and sound and the confidence that comes from traveling often.
Born with Type 1 diabetes, Cheryl was 22 years old when she was diagnosed with diabetic retinopothy, a common diabetic eye disease that is the leading cause of blindness in American adults.
Cheryl's life changed forever one night in 2001 when she was driving home from her job as an administrative assistant when suddenly, she recalls, her vision became completely blurry. "I had to pull over. I couldn't see."
Cheryl's doctor told her that if her diabetes was affecting her eyes, it would also affect other organs in her body. Subsequently her kidneys began to fail as well. In 2002 she began kidney dialysis treatments three times a week for four hours a day. Her treatments continued for three years until she went through another life-altering experience when her friend Steve Carroll donated his kidney to her.
Once Cheryl recuperated from the organ transplant, she was determined to go back to work. During her dialysis treatments, she lost her sight completely in one eye. She says her remaining sight is "like looking through a telescope hole covered in thick plastic."
Cheryl enrolled in a training program provided by the New York State Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH), where she learned new job skills, including how to use computer software for the blind.
After completing the program, Cheryl was ready for the next step in her recovery which was to go back to school. She began taking classes at Branford Hall Career Institute in Bohemia, and became the school's first blind student to graduate. She found an administrative job in the healthcare field where she worked for two years.
Cheryl felt she missed 10 years of her life being sick and was ready to transition into a new career. She began scouring the internet for new connections.
"I found the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) online and joined the greater Long Island chapter," she says.
The NFB is the largest non-profit organization in the world for the blind that is operated by the blind. Cheryl now serves as the treasurer of the Long Island chapter, adding that all members and officers must be blind to serve in a board position. "We are advocates for education, employment and accessibility," Cheryl says proudly. "We lobby ourselves, we don't hire anyone."
After searching through the federation's resources, she decided that becoming a travel agent would be a good career choice. She loved to travel and she could work from home. "I have a background in customer service and sales, and this was a good fit," she says. After completing her job training online, Cheryl started working through a host travel agency, confident that becoming a travel agent was the right career move.
In 2009 Cheryl and her husband, Nelson, founded Echevarria Travel. Cheryl says Nelson is an integral part of the agency, and is the photographer and videographer for the travel images used on their website. "I'm the only blind travel agent in the tri-state area that I know of," she says and was recently named president of the NFB's national travel and tourism division.
Cheryl's blindness has given her a very clear insight into the planning required to ensure a pleasurable trip for her clients.
Her agency offers services to everyone, but Cheryl's specialty is the traveler who is blind, on dialysis, in a wheelchair, or has had an organ transplant. As a survivor of all of these illnesses, Cheryl is uniquely qualified to help them plan their trip.
"I know what a person would need and the questions to ask," she says. "What's your degree of blindness? Do you use a cane?"
If travel plans include a cruise, she will want to know if the client can read Braille. "I ask because not everyone does," she explains. "If they don't [read Braille], I contact the cruise line and make sure they get a meet-and-greet and tour of the ship so they can familiarize themselves with their surroundings," she says.
If they plan on traveling with their service animal, Cheryl explains that they will need to go to their vet to get a health certificate and they need to secure a permit to bring the animal into another country.
The cruise industry has taken notice of this newly mobile customer base and are making their vessels more accessible so sight-impaired travelers can acclimate themselves quickly.
Cheryl has been working closely with Norwegian Cruise Lines, and says she helped them implement Braille menus on their ships.
No two visually impaired people have the same level of functional vision so Cheryl helps her clients overcome some of the red tape they might encounter to ensure that they have a good experience. All of this pre-travel preparation includes additional paperwork that Cheryl helps her clients complete as part of her services.
Understanding the requirements and information needed for traveling today is invaluable. As a travel advocate and advisor for the blind, Cheryl has opened up a world of new experiences for these sensory travelers that might have been out of reach before.
For more information, email: reservations@echevarriatravel.com, call Cheryl at 631-456-5394 , or toll free at 866-580-5574 ; or go to:www.echevarriatravel.com. For daily updates read Cheryl's blog atwww.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Exciting Information about Disney Parks and the websites for the Blind Consumers and Blind Travel Agents
Good morning all:
This information is going to the Travel and Tourism Division as well as my blogs and some people who are very interested in this information.
In the past, the blind has had many issues with the Disney Parks, especially there websites and some have recently had problems with guide dogs and where they are allowed to go and what rides that can go on with there dogs.
Also, the travel agent portal, travel professionals to book clients trips and also there certification program, Disney's College of Knowledge, have not been accessible.
As of yesterday, February 14th, I was on the phone with Mr. Mark Jones, who is the Manager of the Access for Customer Relations of all Disney Parks, as well as there cruise ships, which includes the consumer websites.
He knows who the National Federation of the Blind is, and was eager to speak to me, I got his name from someone through my connections within the travel associations.
We were on the phone yesterday for over an hour, discussing some of the recent concerns, from as mentioned the Travel Agent Portal, the Disney Websites, and an issue that was brought to my attention, that a member had posted on one of the other talk lists, that he/she was denied access to do the Jedi Training at MGM Studios in Orlando, FL.
Well, first he said to me, first and foremost, they have been working on the Walt Disney World Consumer website, and is in the final stages of completing to be fully accessible. He is also going to speak to the people who handle the travel agent website and keep me up to date on this.
I will be discussing more of this at our Travel and Tourism Monthly teleconference which will be Monday, February 27 at 8pm Eastern Time, 7pm Central, 6pm Mountain, and 5pm Pacific.
I will post call information shortly
You do not have to be a member of the Travel and Tourism Division of the National Federation of the Blind to come and join us for our monthly teleconference, if we are voting on something, then it is up to the paid membership to vote, to become a member it is $10.00 a year to join.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Echevarria, President
Travel and Tourism Division
About the National Federation of the Blind:
With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind
Friday, February 10, 2012
How to avoid getting norovirus on your cruise
This comes directly from Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.
Recently another Royal Caribbean ship was affected by a norovirus outbreak, where many passengers became very sick. Over the years we've heard reports of outbreaks on other ships but there are definite precautions you can take to avoid getting sick yourself.
What is norovirus?
Norovirus is a virus that causes acute gastroenteritis. This means people will have symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain.
Noroviruses spread from person to person, through contaminated food or water, and by touching contaminated surfaces. Norovirus is recognized as the leading cause of foodborne-diseaseoutbreaks in the United States. Outbreaks can happen to people of all ages and in a variety of settings.
How to prevent contracting norovirus
Norovirus is commonly contracted by
- Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus (someone gets stool or vomit on their hands, then touches food or drink).
- Touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus and then putting your hand or fingers in your mouth.
- Having direct contact with a person who is infected with norovirus (for example, when caring for someone with norovirus or sharing foods or eating utensils with them).
Generally speaking, people with norovirus illness are contagious from the moment they begin feeling sick until at least 3 days after they recover.
You can prevent getting sick by
- Washing your hands, especially after using the restrooms and before eating or preparing food.
- Avoid shaking hands during outbreaks.
- Do not prepare food for others if you become sick for up to 3 days after becoming sick.
- Wash laundry that may be contaminated with vomit or stool.
Cruise Lines Agree to Mandatory Safety Drills before Departures and TSA plans widescale rollout of trusted-traveler program
Here are a few items in the travel news that will affect everyone.
Cruise Lines agree to mandatory safety drills before departure. I will go into this in a minute, this is mandatory that the cruise lines must do this, it is also mandatory that every single passenger on that voyage participates as well. If you are disabled, there are ways of doing this as well, since I am blind and have done these myself, it is not difficult at all, and the cruise lines are enforcing that you participate. Make sure that this is done prior to departure, and if you do not attend the mandatory Muster Drills, you can and it has already been done, be forced to leave the ship and will not be allowed to sail, as well as no money will be returned to you for this infraction.
Here is the information, all information if provided by Travel Weekly Magazine and US World News.
Cruise lines worldwide agreed on a new emergency-drill policy requiring mandatory muster for embarking passengers prior to departure from port.
CLIA, (which, Echevarria Travel, meaning myself is a paid member of) the European Cruise Council and the Passenger Shipping Association put forward the new policy with the support of their member cruise lines.
The new policy takes effect immediately.
According to a CLIA statement, on rare occasions when passengers arrive after the muster has been completed, they will be promptly provided with individual or group safety briefings that meet the requirements for musters applicable under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.
The formal policy is designed to help ensure that any mandatory musters or briefings are conducted for the benefit of all newly embarked passengers at the earliest practical opportunity.
The change in policy follows the Jan. 13 Costa Concordia accident in Italy, where 16 died and 16 more are missing.
The cruise industry announced in Jan. 27 that it would undertake a Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review, including a "comprehensive assessment of the critical human factors and operational aspects of maritime safety."
CLIA, (which, Echevarria Travel, meaning myself is a paid member of) the European Cruise Council and the Passenger Shipping Association put forward the new policy with the support of their member cruise lines.
The new policy takes effect immediately.
According to a CLIA statement, on rare occasions when passengers arrive after the muster has been completed, they will be promptly provided with individual or group safety briefings that meet the requirements for musters applicable under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.
The formal policy is designed to help ensure that any mandatory musters or briefings are conducted for the benefit of all newly embarked passengers at the earliest practical opportunity.
The change in policy follows the Jan. 13 Costa Concordia accident in Italy, where 16 died and 16 more are missing.
The cruise industry announced in Jan. 27 that it would undertake a Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review, including a "comprehensive assessment of the critical human factors and operational aspects of maritime safety."
TSA plans widescale rollout of trusted-traveler program
After a measured launch and rollout last year of PreCheck, the Transportation Security Administration on Wednesday announced plans to broadly expand the airport trusted-traveler program this year to more than two dozen large U.S. airports.
Through PreCheck, TSA absolves some vetted frequent flyers and members of other Department of Homeland Security trusted-traveler programs from removing shoes, laptops, jackets and belts during airport security screening.
Though TSA still characterizes the program as a "pilot," the expansion represents another step toward permanence.
Already active at airports in Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami and Minneapolis, PreCheck this year is slated to launch in Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Houston, New York, New Orleans, Newark, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Washington, among other locations.
After launching last year with American Airlines and Delta, the program is growing to include US Airways, United and Alaska Airlines.
TSA claimed it has screened more than 336,000 passengers through PreCheck, which provides benefits to travelers while allowing TSA "to focus its efforts on passengers the agency knows less about while providing expedited screening for travelers who volunteer information about themselves prior to flying," according to TSA's announcement.
Still, participants in the program are not guaranteed its benefits each time they are screened, and program members must wait in line like other travelers for document and ID checking.
According to TSA administrator John Pistole, the program represents a shift "away from a one-size-fits-all approach to a more intelligence-driven, risk-based transportation security system."
Pistole in an interview with Business Travel News last month said TSA is "interested in expanding it as broadly as possible, moving from the pilot concept to making it a formal part of TSA."
Leading the Way in Independent Travel! Cheryl Echevarria http://www.echevarriatravel.com 631-456-5394 reservations@echevarriatravel.com For daily updates read our blog at http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.comThrough PreCheck, TSA absolves some vetted frequent flyers and members of other Department of Homeland Security trusted-traveler programs from removing shoes, laptops, jackets and belts during airport security screening.
Though TSA still characterizes the program as a "pilot," the expansion represents another step toward permanence.
Already active at airports in Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami and Minneapolis, PreCheck this year is slated to launch in Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Houston, New York, New Orleans, Newark, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Washington, among other locations.
After launching last year with American Airlines and Delta, the program is growing to include US Airways, United and Alaska Airlines.
TSA claimed it has screened more than 336,000 passengers through PreCheck, which provides benefits to travelers while allowing TSA "to focus its efforts on passengers the agency knows less about while providing expedited screening for travelers who volunteer information about themselves prior to flying," according to TSA's announcement.
Still, participants in the program are not guaranteed its benefits each time they are screened, and program members must wait in line like other travelers for document and ID checking.
According to TSA administrator John Pistole, the program represents a shift "away from a one-size-fits-all approach to a more intelligence-driven, risk-based transportation security system."
Pistole in an interview with Business Travel News last month said TSA is "interested in expanding it as broadly as possible, moving from the pilot concept to making it a formal part of TSA."
Thursday, February 9, 2012
U.S. Updates Mexico Travel warning
Good morning all:
Leading the Way in Independent Travel! Cheryl Echevarria http://www.echevarriatravel.com 631-456-5394 reservations@echevarriatravel.com For daily updates read our blog at http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
If you are planning any trips to Mexico, you are more than likely going to be in an area that is still quite safe to travel to, as in the story from U.S. State Department. Just an FYI to all.
updated by Travel Weekly Magazine dated, February 8, 2012
The U.S. State Department updated and expanded its travel warning for Mexico due to growing drug violence and the spread of cartels.
The warning, dated Feb. 8, replaces a warning that had been in place since April 22, 2011.
The updated warning advises against nonessential travel to areas within 16 Mexican states, including Veracruz and the border areas of Aguacalientes and Zacatecas, and Colima and Michoacan.
No advisories are in effect for the state of Quintana Roo (Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya and Tulum), the Riviera Nayarit, Mexico City, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara and Guanajuato (San Miguel de Allende and Leon).
Travelers are advised to stay within the tourist areas of Acapulco, Ixtapa, Mazatlan, Monterrey and Zihuantanejo.
The warning, dated Feb. 8, replaces a warning that had been in place since April 22, 2011.
The updated warning advises against nonessential travel to areas within 16 Mexican states, including Veracruz and the border areas of Aguacalientes and Zacatecas, and Colima and Michoacan.
No advisories are in effect for the state of Quintana Roo (Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya and Tulum), the Riviera Nayarit, Mexico City, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara and Guanajuato (San Miguel de Allende and Leon).
Travelers are advised to stay within the tourist areas of Acapulco, Ixtapa, Mazatlan, Monterrey and Zihuantanejo.
Leading the Way in Independent Travel! Cheryl Echevarria http://www.echevarriatravel.com 631-456-5394 reservations@echevarriatravel.com For daily updates read our blog at http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
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