smarter traveler Page 70

On the Sunday, March 7th, 2021 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Marriott is paying its employees to take the COVID vaccine, California theme parks are reopening - sort of, and you can now fly to Cancun non-stop from Sacramento. The man who is The King of Walking Tours of Times Square has a new virtual tour, a Broadway Pub Crawl. The next one is on St. Patrick's Day (fee for this activity). Owner Tim Dolan is on hand to tell us how we can join in. Our Smarter Traveler segment focuses on vaccine travel. The European Union appears poised to create some type of vaccine travel pass. Whether its a hard card you carry, or something electronic; it could make travel safer or more difficult, depending on your point of view. Plus, are Americans passing on spring break travel this year, waiting for more vaccinations? Randy Paragary is a Sacramento restaurant legend. Now he's ventured into the hotel business. The Fort Sutter Hotel has opened downtown and Randy joins us to talk hotels and restaurants during COVID.

On the Sunday, February 28th, 2021 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, formal complaints to airlines jumped by over 500% last year. Not surprising, considering all the fuss over refunds and vouchers. California tourism destinations are hoping for spring openings, at least on a limited basis. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we talk about how both Americans and Canadians are trying to make sure the closing of Canadian ports to cruise ships and a little known US law don't kill the Alaska cruise season. Work is going on to fix the situation north and south of the border. Which poses the question, will cruise ships be safe this summer? We'll tell you about how the cruise industry is preparing to resume sailing the world's oceans. Chris Elliott, who used to have a weekly column in The Bee when the paper had a travel section, makes one of his regular guest appearances on our program to talk about those airlines vouchers you've got. Guess what, they could be expiring soon. What do you do? Chris has some wisdom. In the final segment, Mark answers some mailbag questions on overseas travel this summer, making reservations for a cruise and bringing food on the plane.

On the Sunday, February 14th Valentine's Day edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, after meetings at the White House, officials on both sides say there is little interest in restricting domestic air travel. Disneyland is reopening its California Adventure Park in southern California. But wait, no rides? Entertainment, shops and restaurants only? "A limited-time ticketed experience," Disney is calling it. Starts March 12th. We share the history of Valentine's Day, and why it has a special significance in Oregon in our Smarter Traveler segment. The Charles Shulz Museum in Santa Rosa is a monument to the creator of Peanuts. They are offering an online exhibition called Hidden Treasures, and the museum curator joins us to talk about it. San Francisco is hosting a cool cultural arts exhibition, a unique floor to ceiling video display of some of Van Gogh's most unique works. It's cultural arts for people who aren't into such a thing. Tickets are selling fast, so get your tickets soon if you wish to attend.

On the Sunday, February 7th Super Bowl Sunday edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Canada says no cruise ship calls at its ports in 2021. Does this mean an old US law threatens the Alaska summer cruise season? Reminder: If you are picking up someone at an airport, train or bus station, you will need a mask in the lobby. The fine is $1,500 and apparently it’s going to be enforced. A survey by leading travel risk and crisis responder Global Rescue says traveler concerns will drop dramatically this summer as more COVID vaccinations are completed. 77% of responders say they are less concerned about traveling during the second half of the year. Our Smarter Traveler segment discusses vaccines vs. travel. This week, three cruise lines announced they will require vaccines to board their ships. We have an update. Tour professional and Road Reporter Clayton Whitehead joins a travel roundtable in the back half of the program. Clayton is a lifetime travel industry veteran and has some thoughts on how and when travel returns and what it looks like. Mark offers one of his Just One Man's Opinion commentaries on a subject that is only marginally related to travel, but is something he has noticed during COVID, and it (humorously) alarms him.