On the Sunday, December 16th, 2018 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, a cruise ship has installed a roller coaster and a U.S. hotel is using robots to deliver room service. Finally, would female travelers like to see “women’s only” sections on flights?
Airline passengers do some mighty strange things while flying, many of them to EACH OTHER. In our Smarter Traveler segment, Mark shares the list, which features his personal pet-peeve.
Mark has spent much of the week on a steamboat on the Mississippi River. Reporter Clayton Whitehead joins him to talk about the cruise and some of its destinations in Mississippi.
We also talk with the ship’s “Riverlorian,” the steamboat version of a floating historian, and Mark gives his review of the American Queen.
On the Sunday, December 9th edition of The Travel Guys: In the Travel News, a woman is suing Hilton Hotels for $100 million dollars after she says an employee video-taped her in the shower and tried to extort money from her. The fear is there may be more videos and more victims. Southwest Airlines is inching closer to service to Hawaii. Mainland employees who have volunteered for Hawaii jobs have been told to report to Honolulu by the second week of January. From southern California comes word of two sisters/nuns who used the school treasury to support a half million in travel and gambling habits.
A level two travel advisory has been issued for Spain. Exercise increased caution due to terrorism. Remember if you are traveling to a foreign country to enroll in the S.T.E.P. program.
Gwen Duncan shares some of her biggest frustrations as a travel counselor. They include people who don't get the same name, exactly the same name, on their license and passport; those who don't realize a passport has to be valid for six months after your return date; and finally, the importance of having a signed letter of permission when you are traveling with a minor child who isn't your own, or might be a step-child or a child who was adopted. Check the links below for more information.
Michelle Couch Friedman from Elliott Advocacy (
Michelle Couch Friedman from Elliott Advocacy (
www.elliott.org) told us about a smoking fee scheme found right here at the Extended Stay property in Rancho Cordova. A guest was charged $150 for smoking. Except he doesn't smoke. On closer examination when contesting the fee, it was discovered that the hotel charged the smoking fee the day BEFORE the guest checked in. Wow. Scam. Double scam. Extended Stay Rancho Cordova, 10721 White Rock Road is the hotel is question.
On the Sunday, December 2nd, 2018 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Delta Air Lines has announced new service from Sacramento to Detroit. It begins in June. The westbound flight leaves Detroit at 7:55pm. The return flight is a red eye, arriving back in Detroit at 6am. Marriott Hotels confirmed a major data breach impacting millions of Starwood customers. The incident began four years ago. Marriott has just begun notifying impacted consumers. We’ll have an update next Sunday. It’s the time of the year for Mileage and Hotel Runs. What’s that you ask? It’s when frequent travelers create trips to make sure their “status” with an airline or hotel chain is preserved for the next year. Mark explains the hows and whys of the scramble to preserve status. Our Sacramento TSA representatives are in studio to talk about holiday security at the airport and take calls from our listeners.
On the Sunday, November 25th, 2018 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, United flight attendants are setting up picket lines on December 13th at major United hub airports, to protest the cutting of a flight attendant on some long haul flights and other work-condition related issues. Carnival Cruise Lines has announced a change to their on board smoking policy that is a bit draconian. In addition to the possible $500 fine, you could be put off at the next port of call with no refunds. That would include anyone in the offending passenger's cabin.
Mark and Tom spend the Smarter Traveler segment talking about how to value online reviews for travel companies and their services. Are they legit? How would you know?
Finally, it's Travel Guys Thanksgiving, as we ask your listeners to call into answer a variety of travel-related questions and give their opinions. Prizes for anyone who calls in with a travel tips to share with the audience.