Nomadic Star Travel, LLC – Newsletter

Greetings!

Nomadic Star Travel, LLC welcomes the opportunity to service your travel requests. We know creating an unforgettable travel experience begins with making the first day of your vacation a memorable one. Our travel agents/advisors stay abreast of the latest travel trends. Travel is a huge investment, so please allow us to assist you. We would like to be “Your Passport to Adventure” and to date, we have traveled to every continent, except Antarctica, which is our future plan.

Thanks to our clients for the referrals. We know you book with us for our customer service, expertise, price, and the personal relationship. We have a convenient payment plan to fit most budgets.

The holidays are rapidly approaching. Now is the time to book your cruise for the holidays. Remember, most clients book their cruises a year in advance.

Even the travel industry continues to embrace a new normal characterized by rapid shifts in service and unpredictable disruptions, travel advisors have become an ally for Black travelers seeking assistance in navigating continued uncertainty both at home and abroad. We at Nomadic Star Travel, LLC know that Black travelers prefer to travel in groups and visit destinations specific to Black heritage. Black travelers have purchasing power that is hard to deny. According to a 2021 MMGY study, Black American travelers spent $20.2 billion on international leisure trips and $109.4 billion on domestic leisure trips in 2019. Some of the most popular destinations and perceived safety and acceptance include Dubai, Greece, Ghana, Portugal, Panama, Colombia and the Caribbean.

Hours for Nomadic Star Travel, LLC

• Monday-Thursday, 9:00am-5:00pm
• Friday, 9:00am-4:00pm
• Closed all federal holidays and weekends.

Service Fee

We are often asked, “Does Nomadic Star Travel, LLC charges a service fee?” Yes, we charge a service fee as we devote time to your individual request to ensure we are giving you exactly what you requested.

Contact Us  

When you submit your request through the Contact Us tab, travel advisors at Nomadic Star Travel, LLC will follow-up with your travel request(s). We send an email with the questions and request confirmation and authorization to continue with your request.

E-mail is the most utilized means of communication by our travel advisors. Please allow two business days to respond to your email. Unfortunately, at times emails are sent from the Contact Us link, are directed to the Junk and Trash folders. Microsoft is working to correct this problem. This may be the reason we have not responded to your travel request. Rest assured, we are now checking Junk and Trash folders as we want to service your travel request. We also put pen to paper and send letters through the postal system.

REAL ID Update

Starting May 7, 2025, you will need a state-issued REAL ID-compliant license or identification card. You can also utilize another form of identification, such as a passport, to fly within the United States. Please visit tsa.gov for a list of acceptable forms of identification and additional information regarding REAL ID.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

Starting 2025 the Transportation Security Administration will require CLEAR lovers to produce a REAL ID or passport at airport checkin. The CLEAR program is based on two premises. It takes you to the front of the checkin line. Its biometric checkin process means you do not have to pull out your ID. Starting in May 2025, this advantage seems about to disappear.

In July the TSA announced it is already screening a limited number of randomly selected CLEAR travelers after “security incidents.” There reportedly have been three cases in which travelers managed to get through the CLEAR line without having valid IDs. This prompted a congressional investigation.

Passports

The wait time for new and renewal of passports is unbelievable! Please check the expiration date of your passport now. Even if you pay to have your passport expedited the wait time is a minimum of seven to nine weeks.

Travel, Accident and Baggage Insurance

Nomadic Star Travel, LLC sells travel, accident and baggage insurance on all travel booked through the agency. We recommend you purchase insurance within 15 days of your deposit for travel to be covered for pre-existing conditions. This insurance protects the agency and the client. The cost of insurance is based on the client’s age, cost of trip and destination. Travel, accident and baggage insurance cannot be purchased once a hurricane has been named.

We know emergencies arise from time to time, even after you have purchased insurance. Please read your policy and understand the cancellation policy. Nomadic Star Travel, LLC cannot advise you on the claim policy.

Airfare Quote 

Unless you are ready to book your flight, please do not ask for a quote. Group travel requires the airline to reserve space for the group. This includes names, class of flying, and a deposit. When group travel is requested, there is a group rate. When there are cancellations to group travel the rate increase is spread to all travelers as the airline has specifically set aside seats for the group that they could have sold to other guest. Thanks for understanding.

Did you know …

• The Biden administration plans to propose regulations that would require airlines to compensate passengers and cover expenses for cancellations and significant delays that are within a carrier’s control. Compensation would come on top of existing refund requirements for canceled flights These rules would put the U. S. in closer alignment with long-standing EU regulations.
• The US Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John) has something for everyone to enjoy? You can feel at home in the tropics. Think about scheduling your getaway.
  • Carnival in St Croix is December 30, 2023-January 6, 2024
• Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas arrives in 2024?
• Royal Caribbean is the only cruise line to offer entertainment across four stages: the theater, the air, the ice, and the aqua?
• Princess Cruises will homeport a ship at Port Canaveral for the first time in 2024?
• Disney Cruise Line is to open a new island destination named Lighthouse Point on the island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas in summer 2024? Lighthouse Point will offer multiple amenities for both families and adults.
• Cruisers’ preferences for sitting at tables with strangers, including table sizes is a concern? Cruise passengers should visit the dining room early on embarkation day to have the chief steward confirm table assignments and accommodate last-minute requests. The demand has driven an increase in the number of tables for two in the main dining rooms on the company’s ships. It’s also a good time to confirm any dietary restrictions or requests. Cruise lines typically list this in their daily programs for embarkation day. 

The Value of Student Travel

Nomadic Star Travel, LLC has been afforded the opportunity to assist colleges and universities with travel sending their students to study abroad. Students have studied in Dubai, China and India and we have made ourselves available the entire time the students were abroad.

Students are back on the move. Educational tours continue to be a popular option for many student groups. Interest in sports tourism is a quickly growing sector of the travel industry. Music tours have continued to show promise. Students who have traveled showed an increased willingness to know, learn, and explore.

Inflation has had ripple effects across almost every industry, including in the student travel realm. Transportation costs saw the largest increase with the bus, train and air transportation which increased more than 15%. Much has changed and fluctuated within the industry. The benefits and life-changing gifts student travel offers to youth has remained the same.

If requested, our travel advisors may serve as chaperones with your students.

Meet and Greet Family and Friends at Airport

Do you remember when we could meet and mingle at the terminal gates? We could see family and friends take off. We could welcome loved ones with a warm embrace right at the gate. Well, these hubs actually allow you to do this again, but you will be required to get a guess pass. This pass allows passengers that are not flying to go through security screening checkpoints.

This list of airports allow visitors that do not have tickets to travel through security as long as you register for the pass in advance. You will have to contact the airport directly for instructions on securing the pass.

• Bishop International Airport in Flint, Michigan
• Capital Region International Airport in Lansing, Michigan
• Detroit Metropolitan Airport
• Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
• Ontario International Airport in California
• Orlando International Airport in Florida
• Palm Springs International Airport 
• Seattle–Tacoma International Airport 
• Tampa International Airport  
• Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco, Washington .
• Tulsa International Airport 

Flight Status to Cuba

JetBlue is currently among five airlines servicing the United States-Cuba market. Until the spring, the carrier flew between Fort Lauderdale and Havana nearly three times daily, before scaling back to twice-daily over the summer. JetBlue will soon stop flying to Cuba, citing weak demand that it attributes to U.S. restrictions on travel to the island nation. United, meanwhile, will end service between Newark and Cuba in late October.

Tourist E-visas for Vietnam

The National Assembly of Vietnam approved extending tourist e-visas from 30 to 90 days, which became effective August 15, 2023.

Upon being granted an e-visa, a foreigner can enter and exit an unlimited number of times within 90 days, without having to go through procedures for obtaining a new visa.

Citizens of countries that are unilaterally exempted from visas by Vietnam will be granted temporary residence for 45 days (up from 15 days) and can be considered for visa issuance and temporary residence extension according to regulations.

The law is effective now. The e-visa issued by the Immigration Department to foreigners through the electronic transaction system is only valid once. Vietnam is issuing e-visas to citizens of 80 countries.

All-inclusive Resorts 

All-inclusive resorts include airfare, lodging, your transfers to and from the airport (once you arrive your destination), meals, and activities at resort. We strongly encourage the purchase of insurance. When requesting all-inclusive resorts, please inform us if you are interested in an all-adult resort or family resort, as well as the rating of the resort, four or five stars.

Future trips:

• Dubai/Abu Dhabi (October 2024)
• International African American Museum … more information forthcoming 
• Israel (December 2024)
• Egypt (February or March 2025)
• Cruise on Oceania newest ship, Allure (2025) … more information forthcoming
• … with the holidays rapidly approaching, if you are interested in booking a holiday cruise, please contact us. We have celebrated Christmas and New Year’s on cruises in the past. A family cruise in December could be the gift the entire family wants!
• It is time to plan for graduations, class reunions, family reunions, and get-aways!

Did you know …

• The Biden administration plans to propose regulations that would require airlines to compensate passengers and cover expenses for cancellations and significant delays that are within a carrier’s control. Compensation would come on top of existing refund requirements for canceled flights These rules would put the U. S. in closer alignment with long-standing EU regulations.
• The US Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John) has something for everyone to enjoy? You can feel at home in the tropics. Think about scheduling your getaway.
  • Carnival in St Croix is December 30, 2023-January 6, 2024
• Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas arrives in 2024?
• Princess Cruises will homeport a ship at Port Canaveral for the first time in 2024?
• Disney Cruise Line is to open a new island destination named Lighthouse Point on the island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas in summer 2024? Lighthouse Point will offer multiple amenities for both families and adults.
• Cruisers’ preferences for sitting at tables with strangers, including table sizes is a concern? Cruise passengers should visit the dining room early on embarkation day. You can request the chief steward confirm table assignments and accommodate last-minute requests. The demand has driven an increase in the number of tables for two in the main dining rooms on the company’s ships. It’s also a good time to confirm any dietary restrictions or requests. Cruise lines typically list this in their daily programs for embarkation day.