Tag: Sports Leisure Vacations

On the Saturday, August 2nd, 2025 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, our airport screens a record number of travelers in one day, and AI is being used to create fake travel destinations and take people on wild goose chases. Southwest Airlines has started charging bag fees and assigning seats. But not for all flights. We tell you where the line is drawn and how to deal with Southwest's "dueling systems" for the next few months in our Smarter Traveler segment. Japan is one of the hottest destinations on the planet right now. We sent a group of Sports Leisure Travelers to Japan in May and we talk with Donnie Anderson, who led the group, and get some tips on travel to the “land of the rising sun…” (Do you REALLY not tip in Japan?) Air traffic controllers have been in short supply for many years. Since the job pays pretty well, why can't they find people to do the job. We shed some light on the "why aren't there enough people in the tower" subject.

On the Saturday, May 11th, 2024 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Amtrak is having a sale on many of their long distance trains through May 16th. Save at least 30% on certain classes of service. Business travel is showing a significant rebound, and a study pretends to tell us which day of the week to buy your airline tickets. We have our doubts about the findings. Consumer households are paying, on the average, $1,100 in credit card fees every year. Not late fees for missing a payment, but fees that are added to your purchases by merchants to offset the growing cost of your cash-back and triple rewards cards. Are you getting value from your travel credit cards? Mark was in Chicago and Seattle this past week, scouting hotels, restaurants and attractions for upcoming Sports Leisure Vacations trips. He shares tips for some of the spots he visited, including a dive restaurant under the tracks in Chi-town, made famous in a Saturday Night Live skit and Chicago Cubs baseball history. There's a new vacation rental company joining the fray. We'll tell you a little about "Rentalz," and why they say they are different from the others.

On the Saturday, December 30th, 2023 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Spirit Airlines put an unaccompanied minor on the wrong flight to Florida, and then made the family drive 160 miles to pick him up. Talk about screwing up and then complicating the issue. Las Vegas Strip casinos have all raised their parking costs again. Remember when it was free to park on The Strip? Wasn't that long ago. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we talk about the danger of taking "selfies" on the road. Increasingly, people, especially young people, are putting themselves and others in jeapardy, just trying to get the perfect souvenir photo. Don't risk your life, or the lives of wildlife or other travelers. We talk about three basic rules for selfie takers. Road Reporter Clayton Whitehead joins Mark and Tom for a look back at the 2023 travel year. In addition to discussing some of the challenges of moving about the country and the planet (often with 25-30 people in tow), we discuss some of Sports Leisure Travelers' favorite spots this past year. Grab a note pad, because in our favorites are lots of great tips for places to see, stay and eat on your next adventure.

On the Saturday, November 11th, 2023 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, United Airlines redesigns its frequent flyer program to put a heavier premium on the use of their credit cards, following American and Delta into the “we don’t care if you fly on our planes, as long as you use our credit cards” tunnel. Complaints about the airlines to the Department of Transportation (DOT) nearly doubled in the first part of 2023. Is the service from the airlines that bad, are the customers that grouchy or has something changed in the sky? In our Smarter Traveler segment we try and come up with the answer. The back half of the show features a version of “What’s Goin’ On Around Sacramento.” Jack Gallagher stops by to promote his show on December 9th at the B St. Theatre; there’s a really unique music festival at the Green Room Social Club in Placerville after Thanksgiving; and the Transcendence Theatre in Napa/Sonoma has a Broadway Christmas Show for you to attend in December. Sports Leisure Vacations even has a day trip package including brunch and the show (link on this page).