Stellar Travel

Airline Updates

One Way Awards now available on United

• One-Way Awards are available for both Saver Awards (fewer miles) and Standard Awards (more miles and more flexibility).

• You can use these awards to fly United- or United Express-operated flights only. Sorry, these awards cannot currently be used with our airline partners.

• You must fly the most direct route from origin to destination. That means no stopovers. You can, however, make connections. Tip: If you want to visit multiple cities, you can use multiple One-Way Awards to create your itinerary.

• Complete One-Way Awards rules

Did your flight depart late but arrive early?

Airlines are padding their schedules by adding minutes to the flight duration to ensure that more flights arrive on time and boost their “on-time” performance ratings. It used to be that if your flight left late, you knew you would arrive late. But now, travelers are beginning to notice that you can leave late and arrive early.

According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, it analyzed 50 different domestic flight times and learned they are about 10% longer in March 2010 than March 1996. Airlines say they have to build in congested airports and air-traffic control delays. In addition, planes are flying about 2% slower to save fuel costs. Airlines use historical data to estimate schedules and aim for about 65% of flights getting to the gate exactly at the scheduled arrival time. The DOT gives a 15-minute cushion to rate “on-time”.

Northwest Airlines is no more

Delta has completed their integration of Northwest Airlines and January 30th saw the last flights operating as Northwest. Any future flights that were ticketed as Northwest were automatically converted to Delta flight numbers over the past weekend.

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Kauai Marriott

The 365 room Kauai Marriott has completed their renovation with all rooms receiving the Marriott “Revive”* bedding and beautiful new furnishings. All of the rooms have robes & slippers, Kauai Coffee and an empty mini fridge for your beverages and snacks.

Resort Features:

NO additional daily RESORT FEE!
Complimentary shuttle to/from the Lihue airport
Hawaii’s largest single level pool
Renovated fitness center with all new equipment
Safe, swimmable beach
Kauai Lagoons Jack Nicklaus Championship Golf
Walk to Anchor Cove and Harbor mall
Best sushi on the island at the Toro-Tei Sushi Bar

Stellar Travel is one of only 75 travel agencies in the country to be given Paradise Elite status with Marriott Resorts. This allows us to give our customers the VIP treatment, which includes:

VIP check in and room escort by hotel staff • Complimentary amenity • Pre-registration for express check in • Priority for early check in and late check out (subject to availability) • A no walk policy for Paradise Elite guest

*Experience Revive, the new bed from Marriott, and you’ll launch your day on the right side of the bed. Feel the difference that 300-thread count sheets can make. Down comforters snuggled inside custom-sheeted duvet covers fresh for your arrival. Thicker mattress with plush toppers. More, fluffier pillows to absorb fatigue. You’ll awake refreshed and ready to surpass your personal best. Because when you sleep at Marriott, you’ll outlast your day.

At Stellar Travel you’ll find certified Hawaii Specialists who really know the islands, the accommodation choices and Aloha activities. And, by booking with us, you’ll get more!

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New Disney Hawaii resort named Aulani opens 2011

Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa. The Disney resort, which is under construction at Ko ‘Olina Resort on Oahu, is scheduled to open in the fall of 2011.

The name Aulani means “the place that speaks for the great ones,” or “the place that speaks with deep messages,” said Joe Rohde, senior vice president of creative for Walt Disney. According to the Hawaiian Dictionary Aulani is a noun that means “messenger of a chief.”

The company hasn’t said how much the project costs but estimates put it at about $800 million. When completed, the new resort will have 360 hotel rooms and 481 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club villas. It will also include an 18,000 square-foot spa, two restaurants, 14,545 square-foot conference center, and 48,685 square feet of outdoor venues, including pools, hot tubs, a snorkeling lagoon and a variety of programs for children.

Contact Stellar Travel’s Disney specialist Sheryl Graddon, sheryl@stellartravel.com or call 425-747-1900 ext. 222.

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Stellar Travel Clients Share Their “Caring Tourism” in Argentina

After an unforgettable travel experience by Stellar Travel’s clients in Argentina, hearts were warmed from Asochingua, a small village outside of Cordoba, Argentina, to Medina, Washington.

While planning their custom-designed 2009 Holiday trip to Argentina, Gary and Darcy Hollie of Medina, Washington asked their advisor Rita Goldman to assist them in researching volunteer opportunities in the communities on their itinerary. Suggestions were made about helping disadvantaged children, since the Hollies were traveling with their two teenagers.

Their 13-day itinerary was designed by Rita and Ladatco Tours, a Stellar Travel and Virtuoso South American travel partner. Rita’s inquiries through Ladatco President Michele Shelburne led to the El Colibri Estancia Hotel in Cordoba, and she was further referred to La Casa De Dios, a local home for orphaned and developmentally challenged young men. After learning that the boys are crazy about football (soccer) and Argentina teams, the Hollie family and Ladatco coordinated to purchase soccer jerseys as Christmas gifts.

The Hollie family also packed boxes of Christmas candy, soccer balls, footballs and Frisbees for the boys. The gifts were personally delivered by the Hollie family and a representative from El Colibri Estancia Hotel on Christmas Eve Day. Darcy Hollie described pure joy all around as the boys opened the large box of jerseys and happily searched for their favorite team.

Further, the La Casa De Dios facility showed signs of disrepair and financial need. The Hollies have since partnered with the owners of El Colibri Estancia Hotel, Raoul and Stephanie Fenestraz, to manage their materials donation for the roof replacement project.

The El Colibri Estancia Hotel has decided to include La Casa De Dios for special attention and projects from future travelers and guests of their hotel. The Hollie family said “we think of this visit as one of our most memorable and special travel experiences and feel lucky to have met these wonderful young men and their caretakers.”

For more information about this and other travel to Argentina, contact Rita Goldman, CTC, Travel Advisor, Stellar Travel at 425.747.1900 – rita@stellartravel.com

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SeaDream’s Caribbean…amazing price!

SeaDream had a group cancellation on their April 2nd, 2010 9 day sailing from San Juan and is offering an incredible starting price of $1,999 per person, which is a 73% discount. SeaDream is an all inclusive “yachting” experience with only 112 guests. This will sell out quickly!

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Best of the Best Hotels for 2010

Click Here to Explore the Best of the Best

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Delta raises checked bag fee more than 50%

Delta announced an increase for checked baggage on domestic flights. For tickets purchased after January 5th for travel beginning January 10th and beyond, it will now cost you $23 for the first bag and $32 for the second – that is a whopping 53% increase for the first bag.

Plus there is the added fee if you don’t prepay online. From Delta’s website:

Effective for tickets purchased on or after January 5, 2010, for travel on or after January 12, 2010, customers who check in and pay bag fees at an airport kiosk or with an agent will incur a $2 surcharge for the first and a $3 surcharge for the second checked bag

Fees continue to be waived for SkyMiles Medallion Members and passengers purchasing full Y or first class fares.

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Rental Cars – Costing More and Not Available

According to a rental car consulting firm, the average weekly published rate in 2009 for a compact car was $335.05, up 51% from 2008. They are predicting rates will continue to rise in 2010.

Fleet sizes have been reduced by all rental companies, falling by an average of 25% in 2009 and they are down 50% from just a few years ago. Since demand has fallen about 20% across the county, companies have been able to raise rates. Rental car companies are planning to increase fleet sizes in 2010 as demand increases, but it is expected to be slow since they will try to maintain pricing power.

Stellar Travel assists its corporate clients with securing discounted car rental rate agreements, including company and traveler benefits. Contact Susan Bluhm – susan@stellartravel.com.

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Argentina adopts entry fee for U.S. visitors

On December 20, 2009 Argentina began collecting a $131 entry fee from U.S. visitors. The Argentine government set this entry fee to an equal amount that Argentine citizens must pay when requesting a visa to travel to the United States.

The payment of this fee IS NOT a visa since Argentina does not require a visa for U.S. citizens. The fee will only be collected at the Buenos Aires Ezeiza Airport and is valid for multiple entries into Argentina for 10 years.

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Save up to $1000 on a Hawaii Vacation!

Save a cool “grand” on your next vacation to Hawaii when you book air, car and hotel with Classic Vacations. With savings like these,
the time to book your Hawaiian getaway is now. Take off for the Islands. And take off $1,000.

Booking Window: January 4, 2010 – February 22, 2010 Travel Window: January 4, 2010 – December 18, 2010

Air	Receive $50 off each airline ticket to Hawaii on United Airlines Save $100 per ticket if you upgrade your flights to first class
Car	Save $200 with Classic’s Free Car offer Receive a triple upgrade ($200 savings) with Alamo and get a full-size car for the price of a compact
Hotel	Receive up to a $500 air credit when you book five nights at a participating hotel in Hawaii Combine with hotel specials for free nights, free breakfast and more