On the Sunday, January 5th, 2020 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Delta employees say their new Lands End uniforms are making them sick, a study of facial recognition sends up some alarms (Asian and African American travelers are misidentified far more often) and the organizers of Burning Man are suing the government for jacking up their permit prices for the annual event in the desert. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we address the issue, "Can you get a refund for your ticket if your airline goes out of business? What if your flight is canceled? Does the airline HAVE to give you your money back, or can they give you a voucher for a future flight?" The answers are yes, if your airline is out of business; and yes again, you can insist on cash if your flight is canceled. Gwen Duncan of Cordially Yours Travel, Clayton Whitehead of Sports Leisure Vacations, and Ed Perkins, longtime travel journalist; all join us for Travel Roundtable. Our topics are how travel changed in the last decade, and what changes might be awaiting us in the next ten years. Uber and Lyft and selfies and Instagram and Facebook all came of age with travelers in the last decade. Plus, discounted long distance airlines came and went, we now pay for our chosen seats on planes and a whole lot more.
On the Sunday, December 29th, 2019 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, one of Washington, DC's coolest museums says goodbye, and Uber is back in the news. The subject is once again rider safety. In light of another helicopter crash in Hawaii, we once again renew the fixed wing vs. helicopter debate. In our Smarter Traveler segment, with Clayton Whitehead sitting in for Tom, we talk about attire on cruise ships - is the "formal night" officially gone; whether or not airline clubs are worth their not-so-cheap membership fees, and the importance of having the right expectations when you travel, about everything from security to seating on the plane and local customs. The ride service, GoGoGrandparent was first featured on the show over a year ago. It's Uber/Lyft for mature folks and can be summoned with a phone call. We get an update on their services. Between them, Clayton and Mark have over 60 years of Tour Directing experience. They share a list of Tour Director secrets and add a few of their own.
On the Sunday, December 22nd, 2019 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Carnival says you cannot wear offensive apparel on board its ships any longer; and our Sacramento airport offers some tips for holiday travel, including checking Facebook (@SacIntlAirport), Instragram (@Flysmf) and Twitter (@SacIntlAirport) for updates. Remember to allow plenty of time, as parking in some lots will be at a premium. Mark also tells listeners the stories on "juice jacking" at airports are mostly false alarms. At least so far. Non-refundable rates on hotel rooms on websites have become the new "basic economy" of accommodations. Yes, the prices are lower. But when you book one of these non-refundable rates, know something. They are non-refundable. Doesn't matter if you have a medical issue, your wedding or canceled or your cousin passed away. How do you get out of them? Mark has the answer. (Generally, you don't, but there is one longshot.) Reducing our carbon footprint to slow global warming is a topic of importance to many travelers. Consumer Advocate Chris Elliott joins us (www.elliott.org) to talk about first baby steps some major companies are taking to respond. The town of Santa Claus, Indiana, is a small, midwestern city. But as you might suspect by its name, it does become a special place every holiday season. We go to Santa Claus to learn about a project the townspeople volunteer for every year, answering children's letters to Santa Claus.
On the Sunday, December 15th, 2019 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Super Shuttle, the original airport ride share, is a casualty of the ride sharing movement. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we tell you which destinations have been searched the most often on the web this year... In the back half of the show, it’s a Travel Guys Christmas. Call in and share your best travel tip and get rewarded with a travel gift for the holidays. Last week’s wreath laying at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery