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On the Saturday, April 18th, 2026 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Booking.com points to human support as its differentiator. But when Mark tried to contact their PR department with an invitation to come on the air and talk about that human support, all he got was crickets. Maybe not so supportive after all. And we tell you the worst traffic cities in the country. On our Smarter Traveler segment, we have some tips for beating the high prices at the pump. One of our favorite bloggers, Joe Brancatelli, joins us to discuss United Airlines' new stronger connection with Citibank credit cards. Joe also explains his strategy when it comes to credit cards and airlines. In our Odds and Ends segment, we have our favorites off a list of essential things you need to do before you head out on vacation.
On the Saturday, April 11th, 2026 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, bag fees are up pretty much across the board; and the department of homeland security threatens to pull customs agents from sanctuary cities. Guess what? LA and SFO are sanctuary cities. Our Smarter Traveler segment talks about fuel surcharges. Where are they popping up and perhaps the bigger question, are they legal? Next year, Marriott will celebrate 100 years. Today’s hotel chain started as an A & W Root Beer Stand in Washington, DC, in 1927. We’ll share the history of the Marriott empire. From a root beer stand to a hotel empire, it’s a pretty interesting story. In Europe, air travelers are protected against airline screw ups by something called EU 261. Charlie Leocha from Travelers United joins us to tell you how to make that rule work for you. Finally, we share some tips for leaving on vacation. Things you should do at home BEFORE you take off for paradise.
On the Saturday, April 4th, 2026 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, SFO won’t be the airport of choice for the next six months, as runway resurfacings and FAA rules cut the number of flights allowed to arrive each hour; and diners are rebelling against QR code menus in restaurants. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we tell you one of the single most important things you can do to stay healthy on the road. You may be surprised at the answer. Travel analyst Chip Lupo tells us the reasoning behind which Frequent Flyer programs Wallet Hub says are the best. Travel influencers are all over the internet, and not necessarily in a good way. Mark has some opinions about travel influencers and shares them.
On the Saturday, March 28th, 2026 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Delta tells congressional representatives no more perks until the TSA lines are gone, and United Airlines has a new option for those who want to sleep on the plane. But only if you are short. Details on those and other stories in the news. In our Smarter Traveler segment, some reminders about keeping your credit cards safe on the road; and the (many) reasons behind why the restaurant won’t seat you until your entire party has arrived. Our Odds and Ends segment touches on America’s upcoming 250th birthday celebration and travel to Cuba. We give out our personal information and our biometrics on an almost daily basis. Is that just a way of speeding us on our way, or is there more to the collection of information than that? Clayton Whitehead joins us to discuss if the government is keeping your personal information personal.