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​NEWS

Say What? Travel Translation Magic with Google

4/27/2020

 
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Breeze Past the Language Barrier with the Google Translate App

​​Features
  • Super Cool Camera Translator:  You can point your device's camera at any printed text (signs, menus, historical placards, etc) and see a translated version appear directly on your device's screen replacing the existing image before your eyes. 
  • Speak Easy:  Speak into your phone and see the translation instantly (you or the person speaking the other language).
  • Free Style:  Write or draw the language character you want to translate if your camera cannot distinguish the characters.
  • Old School:  Simply type what you want translated.
  • Accessible in Any App:  Turn on Google Translate for text messages, emails and more.

Learn All About It
https://translate.google.com/intl/en/about/#!#your-choice

​​Get Started
  • Download the Google Translate app to your smartphone or tablet that you'll carry with you during your travels
  • Select the country and download the specific language for that country

This information is provided as a reference intended to simplify one's travel.  The Hill Guys Travel has no affiliation with Google, makes no guarantees and assumes no responsibility for the performance of Google apps.  Other translation apps and services are available for download if users want to search them out.

Travel Updates for Coronavirus/COVID-19

4/12/2020

 
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Happy April

We hope you are all staying well and have started wonderful lists of destinations you'll visit when this all blows over.  

The Hill Guys have actually been extremely busy since the March 11th announcement that the US would deny entry to any non-US folks who had visited Europe within the prior 14 days.  Unfortunately, our busyness has been undoing all the trips that we’ve crafted over the last 15 months.  Here is what we’ve learned over the last several weeks.

Current Travel Indicators (April 2020)

While COVID-19 uncertainty provides no solid date for when vacation travel will resume, there are some indicators.   It appears most of the summer travel season is shot, but August seems to be the best case scenario at the moment for travel to open up: 
  • The Centers for Disease Control has a No Sail order in place for cruise lines operating in US waters until mid July.  
  • Also, most US airlines are currently planning to resume some international flights in July and be ramped back up by late October.  

​We’ll have a much better perspective on the travel landscape by late May.

Advice from The Hill Guys

  • If you currently have travel booked from September onward, the indicators are that you shouldn’t cancel those plans just yet.
  • Only book lodging with a free-cancellation option.  Check the fine print as some properties may provide free cancellation while assessing a processing fee.
  • When feasible, wait as long as possible to cancel any existing reservations in order to receive the best options.  While nothing is guaranteed, travel suppliers so far have demonstrated a trend of being more generous when they know travel cancellations are imminent.  
  • Don’t expect COVID-19 to be accepted universally as a reason to waive penalties or issue refunds on non-refundable bookings. 

Notes about Cancelling Travel

Flights Cancelled by the Airline:  On April 3rd the US Department of Transportation ordered airlines to provide refunds “...when the carrier cancels the passenger’s scheduled flight or makes a significant schedule change and the passenger chooses not to accept the alternative offered by the carrier.”  Prior to that order, many airlines had only been offering credits and waiving change fees for non-refundable tickets in those events.

Flights Cancelled by the Customer:  Most carriers are waiving change fees, but only providing future travel credit for non-refundable tickets.  Each airline’s policy is different and changes frequently as the COVID-19 story progresses.  Check with your specific carrier for its present terms and if they will make any exception to provide a refund instead of a credit.

Non-Refundable Hotel Reservations:  Many properties have allowed free cancellations due to COVID-19.  However, when the hotel is unwilling to cancel a non-refundable booking without a penalty (after all, those terms were accepted when the booking was made), we have found that every one has allowed our customers to at least apply their funds to a future date.  

Cruises:  Unlike the airlines, cruise lines have been wonderful to customers and travel agents alike.  They have been footing the bill for flights to get passengers home whose cruises ended abruptly   Each has offered either 100% refunds or the option of future cruise credits that often times come with bonus funds or some hefty onboard credits.  Most are allowing guests 24 months to book a cruise using the future cruise credit.  Also, our preferred lines of Princess and Viking have also taken care of travel agents by continuing to pay commissions on all their cruises that have been cancelled.  The cruise industry's generosity is amazing considering that its 2020 season has been decimated.

101 Ways to Travel Without Leaving Your House ~ Conde Nast Traveler

4/3/2020

 
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The Hill Guys®:  Matt and Brandon Hill
brandonmatt@hillguystravel.com

Call or text:  ​(918) 771-9050  or (505) 466-6203
Toll-Free:  (844) 876-0400 (calls only)
Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm Central / Closed weekends


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  • Home
  • Let's Cruise
  • All-Inclusive Vacations
  • Tools and Resources
    • LGBTQI
  • Travel News
  • About Us
  • Customer Kudos
  • Visit Kauai
  • Visit Santa Fe
    • Santa Fe Eats
    • Santa Fe Sights & Drives
    • Santa Fe Adventure
    • Santa Fe Entertainment
    • Santa Fe Gay
    • SF Transportation
  • Military Perks
  • Contact Us
  • Terms & Conditions
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