smarter traveler Page 10

On the Saturday, November 29th, 2025 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, we introduce you to a Chicago hotel with a $5 room rate and a $125 “resort fee,” and as part of our nation’s continuing program to “welcome” international visitors...sarcasm intended...fees at national parks will rise to ridiculous levels in 2026. You can cruise the world in two very different ways. River and ocean-going cruises are both popular. We have some tips on mistakes to avoid when booking a river cruise. Many of us are traveling during the holidays, which often means passing through multiple airports, sometimes with time to kill. We’ll tell you which airports in the country go all out on their holiday décor. The show wraps up with two topics: A Door Dash survey tells us a little about the (good) health of Sacramento restaurants, and we even share a little insight about Door Dash's "take" on your order. Plus, we discuss service (or the lack of it) in hotels these days. From the phone to the front desk, life has changed and don't look for it to get better.

On the Saturday, November 22nd, 2025 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, TSA says if you show up without a real ID, you can fly, but it’s going to cost you; and Uber extends its “women preference” safety feature. Our Smarter Traveler segment has tips for getting through airport security during the holidays. Should you wrap those presents before you fly? What about holiday foods and snow globes? We have the answers. Credit cards and the money made by airlines and the credit card companies when you use their cards have become a major part of airlines business model. We all revel in the points and miles we collect and what we can buy with them. But a recent court decision may change all that. An expert joins us to tell you how this may impact travelers. The US Department of Transportation said this week we need to dress “with respect” when we fly. The initiative is being called “the golden age of travel starts with you." We’ll talk about the idea of “dressing with respect” and what it means.

On the Saturday, November 15th, 2025 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, a hotel chain folds and guests are forced out literally overnight; and driverless cars are about to be beside us on Bay Area freeways...Waymo is expanding. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we discuss layovers, that period of time between when your plane arrives and when the connecting flight departs. There are some REALLY important things to consider when booking your flights. We discuss America’s best sports cities, according to the Washington Post. If you are a sports fan and a traveler, we’ll share some great places to catch a game on the road. In our final segment, we have features on which countries allow you to clear customs BEFORE arriving back in the USA, and a little about etiquette when it’s time to get off the plane.

On the Saturday, November 8th, 2025 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, the big story is the mandatory reduction of flights by the FAA. Mark flew trough Chicago Friday and has a report. We also have some insight about which flights are being canceled and what you can expect if your flight is canceled. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we discuss how hotels are following airlines by unbundling services. A new trend is charging you to park a car regardless of whether you actually have a car. That's right, pay for parking even though you have no vehicle. The nickel-and-dime your customer battle enters a new phase. The second half of the program is dedicated to an interview with Sacramento Kings Broadcaster Gary Gerould. Gary travels more than most people, doing his job as a play-by-play man. He'll share lots of stories with us, including life on the road and how he came to be the voice of the Kings.