On the Sunday, April 16th, 2023 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, animal rides are being phased out as tourist attractions in many countries and we explore why, and the FAA says 250 people have been referred to the FBI over their behavior on airplanes. For many of these folks, a bad day is about to turn into a life-altering event. Is it a customer service crisis, or just a generational shift in the way business is done? Mark and Tom discussed declining customer service in the travel industry and suggest a couple of work-arounds. Google has announced they are enhancing features which let you explore national parks; and airlines are asking, can one pilot be as good as two? - We tackle those two stories at the bottom of the hour. We dip into the Mailbag to answer your questions about summer airfares and the cost of parking at hotels.
On the Sunday, April 9th, 2023 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, many National Parks are now requiring reservations to enter (see the link to the list on this page); and airfares are falling...and rising...at the same time. Why is that? Tipping. It's a hot topic not only with travelers, but with non-travelers. Every time we turn around, a screen is asking you if you would like to tip someone. Where do we draw the line? Tipping is the subject of our Smarter Traveler segment. Richard Lewis has been heading up Sacramento theater for many years. The Music Circus is an icon in our community, along with Broadway Sacramento. Richard tells the stories of how his father started the Music Circus, how he used to help put up the tent every summer, and his progression to CEO. Now, it's time for him to start backing away, and so it's time to hear Richard's story. It's better than the story line for many a Broadway show, the story of a kid who grew up with the Music Circus. It's one of our favorite interviews ever.
On the Sunday, April 2nd, 2023 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Amsterdam (The Netherlands) says enough is enough, and talks about taking steps to improve the quality of the visitor experience. That could mean some changes to the city's red light district. A new study shows the complaints about airline refunds are up ten-fold compared to pre-COVID numbers. Mark has some thoughts on why that that could be happening. With so many people traveling, especially during spring break, and many hotels, restaurants and attractions short of help, tempers can flare. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we talk about how to reverse that trend. Right now on the road, a little kindness goes a long way. Mark spent the week on the road, in two uniquely different locations. He shares a little about his time, first in Cheyenne, Wyoming; then in Honolulu. From Cowboys to Aloha, Mark has some tips for you if you are heading to either destination sometime soon. April is Down to Earth month for California Wineries, with special events all over the region. Our special guest shares information on some of the festivities.
On the Sunday, March 26th, 2023 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, The Netherlands airport is cutting the number of flights it handles daily, in an effort to help global warming. An off duty pilot helps in an emergency on board a Southwest plane, and American Airlines wants its flight attendants to be in uniform when on duty. Once again we have a story about a passenger leaving something on a plane and having that item turn up in the possession of an airline employee or contractor. Our Smarter Traveler segment discusses the idea of putting air tags in your bags and on other important personal items to protect against theft. Clayton Whitehead is head of International Travel at Sports Leisure Vacations. Like US destinations last year, popular international spots are experiencing a post-COVID boom. We talk to Clayton about the return on international travel and what he sees looking forward. Will the boom continue? Mark has an edition of the Weird Travel News, with stories highlighting a weirdly shaped shrub in Portland and why some travelers are nicknamed "gate lice" by airline employees.