On the Sunday, February 20th, 2022 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, if you are interested in buying an unfinished cruise ship, Getting Hong Kong, the parent company of “out of business” Crystal Cruises, has one for sale. The Global Dream, is still under construction in a German shipyard. If it is finished, it will hold 9,500 of your closest friends. The federal mask mandate will expire on March 18th. Will it be dropped, extended briefly, or given a longer extension? In our Smarter Traveler segment, we talk about buying tickets from “secondary-sellers” and what some of the unseen risks are in buying tickets on the open market. Mark escorted a dozen or so tours each year for his company, Sports Leisure Vacations. One of his favorite destinations is Hawaii, and he has a trip going in May to Maui and Kauai. He’ll share some of the highlights and tell you how you can join the small group if you wish. Theater is back on stage again in San Francisco. Our own Clayton Whitehead saw the premiere of another traveling Broadway show in San Francisco last week about Harry Potter and his gang and shares a review.
On the Sunday, February 13th, 2022 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, two big stories dominate the headlines. Frontier and Spirit, two budget airlines who charge you for EVERYTHING a la carte, are planning a merger. Mark says, “great, now two crummy airlines are combined into one.” Crystal Cruises is done pretending they will be back in business on April 30th. Industry insiders say they have fired staff and are folding their tent. The Crystal Cruises situation has caused a lot of would-be cruisers to be faced with wondering, “How do I get my money back?” We have some tips on getting in line for a refund from a bankrupt company, tips that can apply in lots of similar situations besides Crystal Cruises. During COVID, traveling nurses have really come into their own. Mark met one during a recent hospital stay, and Jamee shares a little about his unique profession with us. US airlines regularly schedules connecting flights with layover times that are nearly impossible to make. Shouldn’t airlines be responsible for realistic connection times OR covering expenses resulting from missed connections?
On the Sunday, February 6th, 2022 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Delta Airlines asks the government for help, saying it would be easier and better for all flyers if the government took control of the Do Not Fly list. Speaking of airlines, one has changed its baggage policy in a sneaky way (no surprise there) that could cost you some cash. We'll help you avoid the trap. We'll make you a smarter traveler with an updated list on how to get the best airfares. One of the ideas was new even to Mark! Two longtime California tourist attractions are facing challenges to their survival. We'll update you on the stories of the Roaring Camp Railroad and The Queen Mary. One of Mark's Sports Leisure Vacations staff members, Donnie Anderson, took an Amtrak adventure, and has a great story to share, along with some tips for someone thinking of a long distance train trip.
On the Sunday, January 30th, 2022 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, we update you on Crystal Cruise Lines' bankruptcy and what's happening as their ships try to finish their final voyages. Are Crystal's cruise passengers getting home or getting stranded? Our Smarter Traveler segment features comments on buying airline miles, and the importance of being aware of COVID cultural differences if you are traveling right here in the USA. Listeners are invited to call and offer their opinion on the latest surcharges, this time coming from restaurants who are sticking it to diners. What do Travel Guys listeners think? Gwen Duncan, our cruise expert, weighs in on the latest on the water. Is it time to book a cruise, or should you stay on the sidelines?