On the Sunday, February 9th, 2020 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Marriott, in two separate moves, cuts the value of your Bonvoy points pretty significantly. Between the new "peak/non-peak" award chart, and the "annual realignment" of awards for individual properties, considerable value has been lost for some. Cruise ships are scrambling to respond to the Coronavirus, dropping planned stops in China, refusing Chinese passengers and even getting stuck in quarantine. Plus, Disney will open a Star Wars Hotel in 2021! Our Smarter Traveler segment features ways you can ditch single use plastics while you are traveling; and we talk about how major credit cards are quietly removing many of the travel-related benefits you used to get with your annual fees. We share the 2020 Elliott Customer Service Awards, as voted by the readers of Elliott.org, regular Travel Guys contributors Chris Elliott's consumer advocacy website. We close the program visiting with Anna Harris. Anna is a lady with a mission, a mission to improve life for some people she has met in her travels. It's a most unique story.
On the Sunday, February 2nd, 2020 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, the Department of Transportation is asking for your input as they create new rules for Emotional Support Animals on airplanes, United Airlines says window shades up for take-off and landing, and we tell you about a Canadian hotel chain with free midday getaway rates on Valentine's Day. The Corona Virus is on the minds of many travelers. In our Smarter Traveler segment, Mark and guest co-host Gwen Duncan, herself a Travel Advisor, talk about cancellation realities and strategies for situations just like this one. The second half of our show features our annual Super Bowl Sunday Travel Quiz. Call in and answer a few questions and win yourself some free food from Chili's.
On the Sunday, January 26th, 2020 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, a new bill in Congress might mean another step towards the end of resort/destination fees at hotels; and Chinese travelers have stopped coming. What does that mean for the businesses who catered to them? Once a year we dedicate a program to interviews gathered at the New York Times Travel Show. With an attendance of over 30,000 in three days, it is the largest show for travelers in the country. We have seven live reports.
Mark loves travel gadgets, and he talks with a company which allows you to create your own suitcase, and another with an airplane comfort “mat” which might actually help with those miserable coach airline seats. We take you to Plymouth, MA, to talk about the 400th anniversary of the landing of the pilgrims; it’s off to Poland for a culinary tour; to Gander, Newfoundland - the town found in the popular musical “Come From Away;” and you get to go with us on a safari in Africa.
On the Sunday, January 19th, 2020 edition of The Travel Guys… In The Travel News, Harrah's Reno, the original downtown club (started as a bingo parlor in 1937) was sold by Caesar's for $50 million dollars. Jet Blue has raised the price of baggage fees by $5 to $35 bucks for your first bag. Now it's probably just a matter of a few days until the other carriers join them at that level. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we read back a "Love Letter to Spirit Airlines" from one of their flyers. OK, so it might not be a TOTAL love story. The Last Ship, starring Sting, will arrive in San Francisco in just a few weeks. We have Sting''s co-star, Oliver Savile, with us to talk about the show. When people need help from a consumer advocate with a travel problem or issue, do they always tell a truthful story. Or do they fudge just a little bit sometimes. We ask Chris Elliott the question and his answer probably won't surprise you.