On the Sunday, March 13th, 2011 edition of The Travel Guys… This week we take you to The Hamptons on Long Beach, one of America's most exclusive vacation resorts. You'll hear from a wellness resort on the Big Island of Hawaii that truly is a part of paradise. Finally, Gail Levario, Federal Security Director for the TSA here in Sacramento, joins us to talk Airport Security.
Hawaii Island Retreat
Let's face it, when it comes down to it, Hawaii is about as close to perfection as it comes - a true tropical paradise. As a result, when a resort manages to shine through and step even Hawaii up a notch, it's worth mentioning. One such resort is The Hawaii Island Retreat at Ahu Pohaku Ho'omaluhia. Set among towering evergreens and the Big Island's amazing North Kohala Coast, this resort boasts just 16 intimate "eco" rooms. We highly recommend you check this resort out if your plans take you to Hawaii anytime soon!
The Hamptons - Wish You Were Here!
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Andrea Gurvitz, president of Gurvitz Marketing in Long Island, joins us this week to give us a glimpse into one of America's most exclusive communities. It's a great interview, we hope you'll check it out!
TSA Redress Process
For our listeners who were interested in following up with the local TSA office here in Sacramento to begin the Redress process, please feel free to call (916) 830-9100.
On the Sunday, March 6th, 2011 edition of The Travel Guys… On Sunday, March 6th, Mark and Tom play host to two noted consumer travel advocates. The first is travel expert Ed Perkins, who writes for SmarterTravel.com. You may also recognize Ed from the Consumer Reports Travel Letter, which he used to edit for many years. Also joining us this week is Ben Schlappig - Blogger and Airline Mile extraordinaire! Finally, we'll have Corey Marshall from Anderson Vacations on-air to talk about the recent earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand. Corey is currently traveling through the area and will be joining us to share some insights on the aftermath, recovery efforts and effect on future tourism. You won't want to miss this interview if you're planning on visiting New Zealand anytime soon! Wait, but what about the toothpicks? We've rustled up a man who creates amazing pieces of art out of toothpicks. Don't believe us? Just continue reading and tune into the show!
Ed Perkins
Ed Perkins currently writes for SmarterTravel.com and was the editor of the highly respected Consumer Reports Travel Letter for many years. Ed is retired in Ashland, Oregon, and still following travel from the consumer point of view. He offered tips, many from the view of a senior traveler - a group which Ed proudly admits belonging to. We hope Ed will join us on a regular basis!
What's the Latest on Travel Credit Cards? - Recently written by Ed for SmarterTravel.com
Check out more of Ed's recent travel articles here
An Update from New Zealand
Christchurch, New Zealand recently endured a horrific 6.3 magnitude earthquake. The destruction caused by the quake was unbelievable, and our thoughts go out to all those affected by this tragedy. Road Reporter Corey Marshall of Anderson Vacations is currently traveling in the area. He'll be calling in to report on the aftermath of the earthquake and some wisdom for anyone thinking of visiting New Zealand within the next few months. The Kiwis are in recovery mode and Corey shares that spirit.
For more information on the Christchurch earthquake, you can checkout some of the following: Christchurch Earthquake Photolog - Boston Globe photolog of the aftermath and rescue efforts New Zealand Red Cross Donations - Donate to help the Red Cross deal with the aftermath of the quake
Luck Has Nothing to Do With It
Ben Schlappig has been perfecting his method of getting something for nothing from the airlines for a long time now. As part of an ongoing series, he'll be joining us today to divulge just a few of his secrets and share some interesting travel stories. Ben, known as "lucky" in the airline blogging community, writes an awesome blog called One Mile at a Time. We highly recommend you check it out!
Learn about how Ben got started with "mileage running," his tactic for making the most of airline miles and getting free travel! Todays episode was brought to you by PackingLight.net. Travel is easy when you're packing light!
Now for the Toothpicks...
We promised you toothpicks, and man, do we know how to deliver. Well...we know how to find the people who deliver... Enter Stan Munro, a man who knows how to do incredible things with toothpicks and a whole lot of patience. Don't believe us? Just checkout the photos below! Why? How? How Long? Glad you asked; Stan does a fantastic job of answering all these questions and more (with a healthy dose of comedy, we may ad) on his FAQ page. Our current favorite: "How do you transport these things?!? - Very carefully. No, really. Tons of bubble wrap, tuck in your shirt and your shoelaces so you don‘t trip." Stan is a great guy with an amazing talent. Check out a few photos of his work below and head over to his site when you're done (www.toothpickcity.com). There's tons more photos and more info on what makes Stan tick.
On the Saturday, February 26th, 2011 edition of The Travel Guys… For the second straight year, The Travel Guys will broadcast from one of the largest travel shows in the country this Sunday, February 27th. Join Tom (in Sacramento) and Mark (in New York) for some terrific interviews from around the world. Mark promises visits to Turkey, the Czech Republic, Costa Rica and more. We'll even tell you how to get reliable cell phone service at a reasonable cost overseas and introduce you to a government program that can make it safer for you to travel to exotic destinations.
Mark will be rounding up all the guests he can get behind a microphone to share with you on an this radio “trip around the world.” Great fun! Plus the travel news; Michelle and Veronica with an update of next weekend’s premier cultural arts events around town and more, all on Sunday at 2pm on KFBK. (The Travel Guys also stream live at www.kfbk.com at 2pm PDT Sundays.)
Guests and Websites from today's episode We'd like to extend a special thanks to each and every guest who was able to join us on-air today. Thanks!Luis Jara from Costa Rica - www.visitcostarica.com Alex Filippov from One Sim Card - www.onesimcard.com Pavel Kosar from Czech Tourism - www.czechtourism.com Waynette Kwon from the Big Island of Hawaii - www.bigisland.org - www.hawaiiislandretreat.com Ebru Ejder, Director of Turkish Tourism - www.tourismturkey.org John Echard from the US Department of State, talking about the new Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) - travel.state.gov/step
Check it out for yourself... All photos are courtesy of the New York Times
On the Saturday, February 19th, 2011 edition of The Travel Guys… It's no secret, we love to travel. But it would be a real shame to spend all our time uncovering the best that far-off destinations have to offer while overlooking some of the amazing attractions we have right here in California. Two such attractions that don't get near the attention they deserve are the Ramona Pageant and the "Taste of Pismo" at Pismo Beach. Both are a real treat, and we can't wait to share them with you! Speaking of local attractions, we have 3 sets of tickets to give away to local shows and events in the area. Tickets will be given out on-air, so be sure to listen in for your chance to win! The Ramona Pageant
This is a play like none you've seen before. The play takes place outdoors in the historic Ramona Bowl, allowing you to become fully immersed in the story as events unfold in all directions. Horses charge in from the left, gun fights to the right, dancing in front; it's really quite remarkable. Check out the 2011 Ramona Bowl official trailer over on their facebook page or learn more about the pageant at ramonabowl.com. Interested in the show but not the hassle? You can also join Sports Leisure Vacations on their annual trip to the Ramona Bowl at the end of April. A Taste of Pismo Beach
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It's almost time for the 6th Annual "Taste of Pismo" celebration at Pismo Beach. If you're not already familiar with Pismo Beach, just think warm, sandy beaches, excellent food and a whole lotta fun. The celebration takes place on April 25 and brings all these things together with live entertainment, food tasting and wine samplings (lots of wine samplings!) It's a fun time each and every year, and we HIGHLY recommend you check it out! You can learn more about the Taste of Pismo at www.tasteofpismo.com or learn about how you can experience the Taste of Pismo celebration with Sports Leisure Vacations! Carnaval in Sacramento!
Arguably one of the biggest dance parties in the world, Carnaval is coming to Sacramento for the first time ever! The event takes place this Saturday, Feb 26th, starting at 8pm and features live entertainment, dance crews, Brazilian food and drinks. Tickets are $20.00 at the door, but save $5.00 by purchasing in advance.