Canada Page 6

On the Sunday, August 1st, 2021 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Canada will open to US visitors on August 9th, but the US won't open to Canadians (and perhaps people returning from Canada) until August 21st at the earliest. Is it just us, or is something wrong with the way the dates (don't) line up? Delta has promised its frequent flyers their status will be preserved into 2022 and a report says the price of an Uber ride has gone up 9% in just the last 18 months. Our Smarter Traveler segment focuses on bogus smoking and other "after you've left" charges at hotels and how to avoid them. Hint: One piece of advice involves debit cards. Steve LaRosa is back after a long absence with a new version of What's Goin' On (Around Sacramento). Steve has a couple of outdoor ideas and a reminder that the Cruise Fest is coming back to Fulton Avenue soon. Mark has a Just One Man's Opinion commentary about those who have chosen not to be vaccinated, and what it's doing to the travel and hospitality industry. The guys wrap up with a discussion about how to avoid weather related summer travel delays.

On the Sunday, July 18th, 2021 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, it's looking more and more like the Canadian border will open before the end of summer. Amtrak is investing some of our tax dollars in some new train sets and the Eiffel Tower joins the reopened attractions list in Europe. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we renew the discussion about smoking charges in rental cars and hotel rooms. Mark cautions against giving any reason to charge you. Errant cigarette packaging, or packaging from any other thing you smoke, will get you in trouble. You don't want to make it LOOK like someone may have smoked in the room. Charges like these are hard to reverse. Maui can't get the airlines to cut flights, so the mayor helped push through a 3% addition to the island hotel tax. It will provide for a variety of civic improvements, but it's not likely to cut the number of visitors to the islands. No major competitor has yet followed Hilton to the "housekeeping no longer included" pile. We'll keep watching. The project is called Wisdom Travels. It's about the travel stories of nine local North Natomas residents.

On the Sunday, July 11th, 2021 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, The mayor of Maui, Hawaii asks the airlines to cut the number of seats on flights to his home island. Too many tourists, the mayor says. Canada updates its travel policy, but it doesn't help Americans; and Hilton becomes the first major chain to eliminate daily housekeeping at most of its hotels. In our Smarter Traveler segment, with summer flight delays and cancellations on the increase, we give you some tips on things you can do BEFORE you travel to help lower the possibility of getting stuck somewhere on the road, and if you are stuck, our tips might make it a little less painful. We solicited Travel Tips from our listeners. The best ones will be posted next week. Mark did a special goodbye to John Ascuaga, the owner and operator of the Nugget Hotel/Casino in Sparks, Nevada, for over 50 years. Mark shared a tribute from Nevada's governor and a personal story about John. A fine farewell to one of the nicest people you could ever meet. The Travel Guys would like to wish a Happy 75th Anniversary to President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter! 1979 - President Jimmy Carter stops to kiss his wife before departing the White House

On the Sunday, July 4th Independence Day edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, the government appears ready to back a plan to give passengers who's bags don't arrive on time a refund of their baggage fees. Why isn't that ALREADY the airlines' policy? Excellent question. Delta airlines is now selling COVID testing kits you can use when returning from international destinations. Travelers United is behind a drive to get the airline issued ticket voucher's shelf life extended. You can sign the petition they will send to Congress at www.travelersunited.com. Mark has been out on the road with groups of travelers the past couple of weeks. He has an update with useful ideas you can incorporate into your travels. Bottom line: Popular places are crowded, try and find a time when fewer people are there. Mark has some help. Lots of Travel Questions come to our mailbag. We answer a number of them from you, including topics like cruise line refund vouchers, what are the up-to-date protocols about distance and masks in the airport, when you might be able to go to Canada, and my favorite topic, why gas is so expensive at the Sacramento Airport.