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
On the Sunday, December 8th, 2019 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Uber finally releases its long promised security report and it’s not good; and we explain why the argument that skipping housekeeping is not the favor to the environment you think it is, not to mention the hotels are “cleaning up” on those of you who don’t (clean up that is). In our Smarter Traveler segment, we tell you how to buy the middle seat in your row, effectively giving you more room at a price. Hotel Frequent Guest Programs are under fire. They are being constantly devalued, and redemption prices are going up. So which is the best of the worst? Which programs are the MOST valuable and which are the LEAST. You may be surprised by the Wallet Hub survey. Going to Reno by train, through the Sierra Mountains, is a popular winter activity. There are lots of different packages. Which one is best for you and your traveling partners?
On the Sunday, December 1st, 2019 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Uber has run a fowl of the transportation authorities in London and has "lost" its license to operate in the city. The penalty is suspended however, giving Uber a small window in which to fix their regulatory issues, including passenger safety. The Travel Guys highlighted Uber's safety record and policies in a recent program... Airlines don't have a lot of healthy options when it comes to buying on board, but Alaska Airlines has been determined to have the most healthy food on board. Hawaiian is at the bottom of the list. The US Department of Transportation is expected to announce new, stricter rules for non-service dogs on planes, following a recent string of incidents. In addition, several veterans with legitimate service dogs have been denied boarding with the animals, in part because the serviceman or woman's disability wasn't obvious to the airline staff. The rules are obviously being interpreted differently in different situations We at The Travel Guys say it's about time pets are taken out of the cabin. The airlines need to reduce the charge for handling pets and increase the level of safety for those animals, reducing the need to "game" the system. Our smarter traveler segment reminds you there is one really important thing you should have on your phone BEFORE traveling out of the country: The emergency phone numbers in the country or countries you will be traveling in. Clayton Whitehead is sitting in for Tom on this holiday weekend and he has the scoop. Find a list of the numbers here. Chris Hart of the Sacramento River Train joins us to tell everyone about their special holiday trains for the family this month. The Magical Christmas Train and the Holiday Dinner Train are two great options. Clayton is just back from New York City, where he led an annual excursion which included shows, a chance to see the Macy's Parade and sightseeing in The Big Apple. He has tips for why or why not to take a visit to New York City around holiday season.