Tag: air travel, Page 41

On the Sunday, April 30th, 2023 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, a woman got arrested in Sydney, after arriving on a flight from LA with a 24-carat gold-plated gun in her luggage. Yosemite National Park is closed after warm temperatures brought the much dreaded spring melt flooding. Mark relates two situations which occurred on a flight he was on Saturday night, as examples of games people play with flight attendants. Hiding over-the-limit carry-ons and not following rules regarding pets on board are two examples he witnessed. Conceding it's possible for a flight attendant to have a bad day, one has to keep in mind they can have you removed from the aircraft, or worse. Mark suggest picking your battles carefully, or maybe just not playing stupid little games. Do you really think you are the first person ever to use a coat to conceal an extra carry-on? Be a smarter traveler and give the flight attendants a break. Is inflation having a bearing on the travel decisions you make for this summer? Or just ridiculously high prices. The guys talk about why this might be the year to pick a less-popular destination. Finally, Mark shares some of his experience from the second half of his journey with 29 travelers down the Chicago-Oklahoma City portion of fabled Route 66. He highlights some of the classic attractions, hotels and restaurants along the old highway and talks about why you might consider a short journey if you can't make an extended trip.

On the Sunday, April 16th, 2023 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, animal rides are being phased out as tourist attractions in many countries and we explore why, and the FAA says 250 people have been referred to the FBI over their behavior on airplanes. For many of these folks, a bad day is about to turn into a life-altering event. Is it a customer service crisis, or just a generational shift in the way business is done? Mark and Tom discussed declining customer service in the travel industry and suggest a couple of work-arounds. Google has announced they are enhancing features which let you explore national parks; and airlines are asking, can one pilot be as good as two? - We tackle those two stories at the bottom of the hour. We dip into the Mailbag to answer your questions about summer airfares and the cost of parking at hotels.

On the Sunday, April 9th, 2023 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, many National Parks are now requiring reservations to enter (see the link to the list on this page); and airfares are falling...and rising...at the same time. Why is that? Tipping. It's a hot topic not only with travelers, but with non-travelers. Every time we turn around, a screen is asking you if you would like to tip someone. Where do we draw the line? Tipping is the subject of our Smarter Traveler segment. Richard Lewis has been heading up Sacramento theater for many years. The Music Circus is an icon in our community, along with Broadway Sacramento. Richard tells the stories of how his father started the Music Circus, how he used to help put up the tent every summer, and his progression to CEO. Now, it's time for him to start backing away, and so it's time to hear Richard's story. It's better than the story line for many a Broadway show, the story of a kid who grew up with the Music Circus. It's one of our favorite interviews ever.

On the Sunday, April 2nd, 2023 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Amsterdam (The Netherlands) says enough is enough, and talks about taking steps to improve the quality of the visitor experience. That could mean some changes to the city's red light district. A new study shows the complaints about airline refunds are up ten-fold compared to pre-COVID numbers. Mark has some thoughts on why that that could be happening. With so many people traveling, especially during spring break, and many hotels, restaurants and attractions short of help, tempers can flare. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we talk about how to reverse that trend. Right now on the road, a little kindness goes a long way. Mark spent the week on the road, in two uniquely different locations. He shares a little about his time, first in Cheyenne, Wyoming; then in Honolulu. From Cowboys to Aloha, Mark has some tips for you if you are heading to either destination sometime soon. April is Down to Earth month for California Wineries, with special events all over the region. Our special guest shares information on some of the festivities.