The Travel Guys

Dan Conry fills in for Pat tonight and is talking current events and taking your calls...

The current administration in Washington has dealt another blow to those wishing to travel to Cuba. Within the next 90 days, all air flights to any city except Havana will be banned. Marriott Hotels appears to be making a real commitment to less waste. The Marriott Marquis in San Francisco has done away with plastic water bottles, installed “filling stations” in the lobby and some Marriott Hotels are using non-plastic straws. The back half of the program features a Travel Round Table with Clayton Whitehead and Gwen Duncan. Both help sell travel to people like you, and they travel often themselves. From the new problem of over-tourism, to the real cost of room service and more.

We talk about cities with the most fake hotel reviews Houston and Chicago top the list. Remember the man who was arrested for “using a cell phone in the lobby while black” at the Doubletree Hotel in Portland last December? More and more travelers are choosing a vacation home when they hit the road. But the new industry is having some growing pains. Like those nasty fees from the hotel industry are starting to become popular with landlords. Chris Elliott, our resident expert on vacation rentals shares his expertise in an extended interview. This week, we have Meredith J. Eberhart. But we know him by his nickname, NimbleWill Nomad. We reconnected with Will, who likes to hike around the country, to see where he’s been and where he might be headed.

Sacramento was ranked by Wallet Hub as the #1 city in the country when it comes to the affordability and availability of highly rated restaurants.The Empire State Building in NYC has reopened their observation level, Uber says it will roll out Uber Pet in select cities on October 16th. Airlines have devalued their frequent flyer programs this year by “floating” the number of points you need for award tickets. REAL ID will soon be the law of the land. We walk you through the process, with someone who just got their new ID last week. Is it actually possible to attend 365 sporting events in 365 days? We talk to a man who made that journey…

The entry of Southwest into the Sacramento-Hawaii market has seen it’s first casualty. Alaska Airlines will stop flying non-stop to Kona in March. Mark has the story of an elderly couple who say they were tricked into smuggling more than $1million worth of drugs inside of four suitcases in their cruise ship cabin. Chris Elliott, our consumer advocacy friend (www.Elliott.org) updates us on legislation which might be moving resort fees (and their cousins, urban and other “destination” fees) towards the exit door. We open the phones and ask you to play “What overpriced things should I not purchase at the airport?” Should be easy, since everything is overpriced at the airport. Finally, we tell you why you should put one of your shoes in the hotel safe. Yes, really. Why?

AAA tells us the best time to book our holiday travel, fall color season is likely late this year and a politician is taking a stand against, wait for it….”mid-flight flatulence.” Car sharing, flight delays and airline water are all featured as we make you a smarter traveler. Last week, we told you about how some hotels on the Vegas strip were adding “venue fees” to patrons’ bills. Devin O’Connor from casino.org is our guest and has all the details. Most people wouldn’t think a cemetery would be a tourist attraction. And generally you would be right. But we found an exception, a cemetery which offers a program to bring you to you final resting place if you pass away while traveling.

Clubs on the Strip in Las Vegas have started charging a creative new fee to those who like to enjoy a cocktail. It’s called a “venue fee” and it’s creating a firestorm among visitors. A historic military convoy traveled across the country on the Historic Lincoln Highway and it passed through Placerville and south Sacramento on its way to the highway terminus in San Francisco. We feature two entertainers on the program this week. Coincidentally, both are appearing at the Sofia (B St.) Theatre. Herb Albert and Lani Hall are in town Sept. 19-20. Jack Gallagher, the popular local comedian, is starring in a one-man show, A Stand Up Guy, running through October 20.

An American Airlines mechanic apparently sabotaged one of his company’s aircraft, to insure it would not fly. What happens to cruise ship passengers when a hurricane means you can’t return to your port of departure, or get to the port to board your ship. What happens next? * When we talk about poor behavior on a plane, you might think we are talking about children. Think again. From naked bodies, to smelly food and just plain rudeness, your fellow passengers are a mixed bag. Of course, you are also in that bag. So is your behavior on a plane a positive or a negative to our little aluminum tube community? Pre-existing conditions are a big part of travel insurance and the claims made by the people who buy it. Ed Perkins, a longtime Consumer Advocate and Travel Journalist, joins us to discuss the issue. Air service has expanded rapidly at Sacramento International Airport, with service to lots of new cities, much of it non-stop service. Now, passenger service is coming to Mather Field. New, shuttle service to San Jose. We’ll tell you all about it.

Arunway will be closed all month at SFO, and if you are flying to or from there, you need to be on the alert. United Airlines, which has 40% of the traffic at the airport, has already offered a travel waiver to get people to move their flights without penalty. The TSA quickly rethought their stance on the newest Star Wars souvenir from the Orlando theme parks. Because the drink containers resemble hand grenades, the TSA originally banned them. Now they have reconsidered, allowing them in checked baggage. Contour Airlines is new to Sacramento. A regional carrier in other parts of the country, they only recently started service to Santa Barbara from our airport. Later this month, they add Palm Springs, and because of the strong response, service to Santa Barbara will be doubled to twice a day in each direction. Plus, and here’s the real kicker, they offer leg room like we used to have on airlines. The CEO is a guests with the guys. What happens when you pay a travel professional to make your arrangements, but they don’t pass on your payments to vendors? Gwen Duncan, our travel advisor from Cordially Yours Travel joins us for a conversation about how to make sure your travel advisor is legit and what to do if you find out they aren’t after you’ve paid them for your trip? Steve LaRosa, who regularly contributes his What’s Goin’ On segment to the show, is at the Sausalito Art Fest, and generally hangin’ around in The City over the weekend. He talks about how he got there (train), what he’s done (Beach Blanket Babylon among other things) and Art Fest itself. Steve also shares a remembrance or two of Sacramento-area legend who passed last week, Biba.

Are you one of the 49% of Americans who lie about wi-fi availability when you are on vacation?…..and we tell you the airports with the worst TSA security lines. We focus on Travel Insurance. Are you one of the many people with a “pre-existing condition?” Guests include Chris Delfino from the Apple Hill Growers, with an update on the upcoming season and some ideas on how to avoid the huge crowds on Apple Hill; and Michele Sanders from Make-a-Wish, who tells us how your unused airline miles could help a child’s dream come true.

Southwest announces the first of their Sacramento – Hawaii service, Stockton’s new United service to LA debuts next week, and there are new regulations regarding animals on airplanes. Steve LaRosa is on hand with an updated What’s Going On in and around the Sacramento area. Clayton Whitehead joins for an update on an exciting new show headed to Broadway next spring. Hint: It’s about Princess Diana’s life.

There are updated travel warnings for Hong Kong, Mark and Tom talk about what the rest of the world is saying about travel to these United States in light of recent mass public shootings and the Sacramento Airport has been named one of the best in the country. Mark talks about being a smarter traveler when it comes to the coffee maker in your hotel room. We also talk about Chris Elliott’s recent article about passengers of size on airplanes. Ed Perkins of Consumer Report fame and other travel publications, joins us to talk about “Skip-lagging.”

Travel News, Entertainment, and More!

In the Travel News, the Attorney General for Nebraska has joined his counterpart in the District of Columbia by filing suit to stop resort fees. Nebraska filed against Hilton, DC had gone after Marriott.

A lawsuit with a former concessionaire has been settled, allowing the National Park Service to call the Ahwahnee Hotel by its actual name again, you’ve probably heard the story about the early closing of Daffodil Hill this spring, pointing out how social media is exasperating the “over-tourism” problem…. To make you a Smarter Traveler, we have Travel Advisor Gwen Duncan on hand to talk about hotels. What to do if your reservation is lost, or more importantly, how to make sure it isn’t lost before arrival. And what if you don’t like your room? Most of us who travel use wi-fi in hotels, but we have a guest who says that’s really a bad idea. Robert McGarvey talks about why you want to avoid hotel wi-fi, and what some of the alternatives are. We dig into our mailbag and answer some of your travel questions. Topics include REAL ID, saving seats on Southwest, the parking problems at Sacramento International and a reminder about what to do if your flight is delayed late into the evening, or early morning.

The battle against Marriott Hotels, and the way they have charged their resort fees for years, has stepped up this week. The District of Columbia A.G. is seeking a court order to require Marriott to change the way they price their product immediately. Be a Smarter Traveler by knowing Ten Great Pieces of Hotel/Resort Etiquette. Gwen Duncan, of Cordially Yours Travel, joins us to talk about Travel Mishaps you can avoid before and during your travel, including what to do if you lose your passport when traveling. Hamilton is the most popular musical in history. It is currently playing is San Francisco on an open-ended run, extending into 2020. We talk with Ruben Carbajal, one of the principal cast members about what it’s like to take the stage 8 times a week in this incredible show. Ruben also traveled with the San Francisco company recently to Puerto Rico, for some very special Hamilton performances.

Mexico has a report on tainted liquor in tourist destinations, and Tauck Tours has added a very unique experience to one of their packages. Two new lounges have opened at our airport in Sacramento. We have an update on the cost of admission and what those dollars get you. Plus, who is grandfathered in the door…hint, think American Express Platinum Card. Tom has a report on this year’s edition of the State Fair, opening next week. There’s a Food Festival and lots of special days and discounts. Steve LaRosa presents his delayed special on Santa Fe, the second of his two-parter on the state of New Mexico. You can find tourism links below.

Boeing is being sued by pilots who say they are losing money and patience with the world’s largest builder of airplanes over the Max aircraft issue. Three California cities are on the list of best places to celebrate the 4th of July And what about the lady who found herself locked inside an Air Canada plane in Toronto? Mark talks about the danger of medicating yourself before flying… Mark is live from NYC, where today a month of LGBT Pride wraps up with a big parade. He also shares his love for live theater, particularly Broadway theater, and talks about why “live” is so much of a difference-maker to him.

Hawaii is cracking down on vacation rentals. TSA is disappointed in the number of people enrolled in Pre-Check, tips for checking out/doing business with Tour Operators, Hawaii is limiting vacation rentals to help locals and we tell you why you shouldn’t take things out of the hotel mini-bar to put your things inside. Steve LaRosa offers the first of a two-part travel guide to New Mexico. The first part highlights Albuquerque and Taos. We talk to hurricane survivor Paul Fling about his experience with a hurricane in Hawaii and get his tips for what to do before, during and after if you find yourself in the eye of the storm. And we have an update on a special LGBT Pride Month play being presented on Sunday, June 30th at the Cordova Arts Center. One show only, at 6:30pm.

A recent move by Booking.com may have an impact on the future of resort fees; and Rome has had it with tourists who can’t behave, Mark once again emphasizes the need to book early and allow plenty of time when you are traveling, particularly if you are utilizing the airport(s). Chris Elliott joins us to talk about the rise in fake reviews, particularly for hotels and attractions in the world of travel. Chris offers his wisdom on the situation. Connect with consumer advocacy at www.elliott.org. Code shares. What do they mean to the traveler. What the heck are they? How would you know if your airline is “code sharing”? Gwen Duncan sorts it out for us.

How to find out how clean your cruise ship is, and travel to Cuba is being impacted by political maneuvering, Tom talks to Cal Fire about safety tips for your camping trips this summer. Sports Leisure Vacations, the overwriter for our show, celebrates 40 years in the tour business this weekend. Clayton Whitehead joins Mark and Tom to tell how a small company became successful against long odds. Hurricane season officially began June 1st. If you are traveling to the southwest United States between now and October 1st, we have some important important information to share.

It appears the state of Hawaii is about to take some serious action against Airbnb. Mark tells you how to take advantage of fare sales by Southwest Airlines…the only major carrier who allows you to re-ticket without any fees. Gwen Duncan guests to talk with Tom and Mark about travel vocabulary. Certain words carry big meaning when you use them to make travel decisions. The Wakamatsu Festival in Placerville is just around the corner. We give you one last update on the activities celebrating the first permanent Japanese settlement in the United States, 150 years ago.

Boeing says the new software for the 737 MAX is done, they are just waiting on FAA certification. FAIRBnB is the new competitor to Airbnb. It promises to be socially responsible to communities as well and renters and home owners. The Island of Capri is declaring itself a “plastics free” area and threatening to fine tourists who violate the tough new law. An interview with Gary Gerould. The only play-by-play voice the Sacramento Kings have ever had (34 years) talks to us about life on the road in the NBA, his favorite cities, hotels, and restaurants; and even shares the story of how he came to be the Kings’ announcer. It is one of our favorite interviews ever.

The Utah Attorney General’s office is investigating Expedia for collusion with some major hotel chains. Hilton has taken over the top spot from Marriott in “brand value,” as measured by Brand Finance Hotels ranking. Our Smarter Traveler segment looks at a recent rankings of hotels, airlines and other travel providers, based on their service levels. In our Travel Mailbag, Mark answers questions on passports for tiny travelers (babies), Southwest Advance Boarding Passes and how to find out if your cruise ship is clean. Finally, we take you to Oregon’s North Coast, where their latest tourism promotion is rewarding local service station attendants for being the best tourism ambassadors in the region.

How are immigration issues at the border affecting travel? Cruises that visit Game of Thrones sites, reality of basic economy tickets, Canada Coast to Coast and Old Man River adventures with Clayton Whitehead, Sacramento show news with Richard Lewis.

United and Expedia are in a p-ssing contest, which could end up with United flights not being available on Expedia’s various platforms. Sacramento has new air service. Once a day non-stops to Santa Barbara on Contour Airlines. When should you reserve your summer travel? Our featured guest is Cynthia Nichol. In our extended interview, we talk about a variety of airport issues.

Mark talks Washington, DC this week, to lobby on behalf of the travel industry. Delta Airlines decides to reduce conflict over reclining seats with a simple solution…reduce the amount of recline for their seats. And American quietly introduces a new plane. You know, the one with 15 more seats stuffed into the same sized cabin. Last week, United Airlines announced they are dropping their award chart. Tuscan Women Cooking is the name of a small company, offering first class full-immersion culinary experiences. Each summer in the Sonoma Valley, wonderful outdoor theater is presented at Jack London State Park by the Transcendence Theatre Company. This year’s schedule is unveiled on the show, beginning with A Chorus Line.

United has become the latest airline to blow up its award ticket chart. Airbnb is under fire after a vacationing family found a live streaming camera in a Cork, Ireland home. A young South Carolina woman was found murdered after waiting for a ride share. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we talk about how to be safe when ride sharing. Matthew Felix wrote a book called Porcelain Travels, focusing on adventures involving porcelain…use your imagination. Rob Palmer claims to be the world’s first travel blogger. He made a living at it long before many of the current bloggers were born.

Nearly 500 people off the Viking Sky cruise ship off the coast of Norway Saturday and Sunday. 20 passengers were injured in the daring rescue after the ship lost power in extremely rough seas. The ship has now regained its engines and is heading to Nolde Harbor to disembark. Some Las Vegas resorts are selectively reducing or eliminating resort fees to attract more business, and a nationwide fast food chain which specializes in chicken sandwiches has been banned from the San Antonio airport. Mark talks about his own experience in having his email hacked this week, He offers some preventative wisdom. Listeners were asked to call in and give us the Five Things You Should Take With You On a Flight. Prizes were awarded. Mark answered questions from the Mailbag.

The Max 8 airplane has dominated the news this week. After its second fatal crash, the planes were pulled from the air all over the planet. American Airlines is bragging about the new benefits on its branded credit card…while failing to put the benefits you are losing anywhere in the copy. You can now ship banned items home from some airports at a reasonable cost and we share big news from Broadway, involving Hugh Jackson and something involving the “River City!” If you think someone is watching you, you’re right. Especially if you rent from Thrifty Car Rental. And be careful you don’t get “Bonvoyed.” The new name of Marriott’s frequent guest program is being used against them in most creative ways. Chris Elliott joins us to talk about some of the hidden challenges of Airbnb/Home Away type rentals, and Gwen Duncan talks about some cities where you can get free tours if you have a long layover.

A grandmother posed for a picture on a small iceberg….which was grand, until…grandma floated away! A man threw coins in the engine of a Lucky Airlines plane for good luck. What happens if you don’t get back to your cruise ship on time. It leaves without you! Clayton Whitehead was a guest in January before we departed with a group on a cruise in Australia and New Zealand. We asked Clayton for his tips on that kind of grueling travel, A brand new commercial airport is opening north of Seattle Monday. Las Vegas is constantly adding new things to do as it pivots away from just being a gambling Mecca. The Cannibition Cannabis Museum is the latest.

Princess is upgrading the wi-fi on their ships and New Jersey is creating the Anthony Bourdain Food Trail, Mark has a rant about the weird designs in new hotel rooms, Plus, his ideas on how to solve airline overbooking, the writer of a book on the Coca-Cola Trail, a compilation of Coke landmarks around he country; and a San Francisco-based travel writer you had to rely on Uber and Lyft to get around for two months.

Britain has declared war on resort fees and other “add-ons,” we tell you whether it’s best to use soap and water or hand sanitizer in the airplane restroom, And there’s a flight attendant who went out and walked on the wing. While the plane was in the sky. No kidding, Gwen Duncan of Cordially Yours Travel is in house to talk about cruise, airfares and why you might want to have a travel advisor, Paul Robbins (remember Paul & Phil on Y92 FM for years…) is back on the radio and back from New Zealand. He talks about his trip and his new afternoon show on his old station, 92.5 FM.

We’ll tell you how you can win a cruise while you are watching the Super Bowl, why the super cold weather they experienced in the east last week is really bad for your phone, and a British newspaper issues a warning about a possible eruption at Mt. St. Helens. But the warning is 15 years old, Mark explains why the first flight of your outbound trip should be the longest flight, a new list of the most ethical places to visit. The Travel Morality Index, found here, is the subject of the conversation.

The shutdown is over and it was a crack in the air travel system which finally brought it down, Mark made his annual visit to the New York Times Travel Show, and he has interviews from Provincetown, MA; the San Juan Islands of Puget Sound; and Tahiti, Mark introduces a company which has a broad array of light weight backpacks.

Bed bugs continue to plague popular destinations. We tell you where they are, we take a look at the number one current compliant from vacation share/Air B&B fans…..the rising cost of cleaning deposits, as the partial government shutdown continues, it is having more and more impact on travel, Dale Keller and Sid Hanna, our local TSA leaders, are in studio to talk about how the shutdown is impacting Sacramento, Clayton Whitehead, one of our road reporters, is about to embark on a flight to and cruise around Australia (and New Zealand). It’s a long flight and a long cruise, and we want to know from Clayton, what are you taking with you? Carol Channing, forever knowns as "Dolly" passed away.

A man is caught trying to smuggle kittens in his pants at the Singapore airport, Chris Elliott joins Tom and Mark to share an update on the “ding and dent” scam which appeared to be happening at certain car rental franchises, Mark is joining the broadcast live from the Big Island of Hawaii, the Broadway hit Come From Away has begun its limited run in San Francisco.

The city of Venice is fighting overcrowding by charging visitors a fee, the partial government shutdown may be about to hit airports in a big way, Herb Kelleher, the man who helped build Southwest Airlines into a low fare carrier with integrity, has died at the age of 87, Mark talks about the importance of checking your frequent traveler miles and points accounts on a regular basis, and reminds us that the sharing economy may not work out well in every instance, like car sharing, Hawaii is on many travelers’ radar, in part because of the anticipation of new service from Southwest Airlines to the islands, Gwen Duncan is a guest Sunday and talks about the spread of voluntourism around the planet.

Google Assistant can now predict flight delays with 85% per cent accuracy, Alaska Airlines has begun the first-ever flights from Sacramento to the Big Island of Hawaii, Southwest Airlines has finally gotten the ETOPS certificate needed to fly to Hawaii and will schedule test flights very soon, last minute gift ideas for the travelers on your list, Jeff from Best of Hawaii joined the guys to talk about Southwest’s arrival in the islands and more, Gwen Duncan from Cordially Yours Travel talks about the need for a Passenger Bill of Rights for River Cruises in Europe.

A cruise ship has installed a roller coaster and a U.S. hotel is using robots to deliver room service, would female travelers like to see “women’s only” sections on flights? In our Smarter Traveler segment, Mark shares the list, which features his personal pet-peeve, Mark has spent much of the week on a steamboat on the Mississippi River. Reporter Clayton Whitehead joins him to talk about the cruise and some of its destinations in Mississippi, We also talk with the ship’s “Riverlorian,” the steamboat version of a floating historian, and Mark gives his review of the American Queen.

A woman is suing Hilton Hotels for $100 million dollars after she says an employee video-taped her in the shower and tried to extort money from her, Southwest Airlines is inching closer to service to Hawaii, From southern California comes word of two sisters/nuns who used the school treasury to support a half million in travel and gambling habits, A level two travel advisory has been issued for Spain, Gwen Duncan shares some of her biggest frustrations as a travel counselor, Michelle Couch Friedman from Elliott Advocacy (www.elliott.org) told us about a smoking fee scheme found right here at the Extended Stay property in Rancho Cordova

Delta Air Lines has announced new service from Sacramento to Detroit, Marriott Hotels confirmed a major data breach impacting millions of Starwood customers,It’s the time of the year for Mileage and Hotel Runs when frequent travelers create trips to make sure their “status” with an airline or hotel chain is preserved for the next year, Our Sacramento TSA representatives are in studio to talk about holiday security at the airport and take calls from our listeners.

United flight attendants are setting up picket lines on December 13th, Carnival Cruise Lines has announced a change to their on board smoking policy, how to value online reviews for travel companies and their services, we ask your listeners to call into answer a variety of travel-related questions and give their opinions

Which industries might take advantage of driverless cars and could they become “hotels on wheels?”, Rome is issuing a handful of new urban regulations designed to stop tourists from abusing the city’s most popular tourist spots, Amy Travieso from the American Hotel and Hotel Association stops by tell Travel Guys to buy directly from the travel provider whenever you can, The Voices of California present “Merry and Bright” on December 1; and the Polar Express train starts its runs next week, and Gwen Duncan has returned from a visit to Thailand.

The Seattle Airport is beginning an experiment which allows 50 people each day to secure gate passes, The final episode of Parts Unknown with Anthony Bourdain airs Sunday the 11th on CNN, Mark shares the 3 most common mistakes people make when traveling to New York City, Steve LaRosa is in with his latest edition of What’s Goin’ On in and around Sacramento. Steve has a special guest, Carly Starr, with us to promote the Road Trippin’ Exhibit at the California Automobile Museum, and we invite listeners to call in and share their road trip memories.

The Mexican government has created a new higher level of security in Cancun, cruise lines are raising the cost of beverage packages, pre-paid gratuities for your cruise, the best and worst days to travel around the holidays this year, tips about traveling with a toddler, Ed Perkins joins us to talk about hidden hotel fees to watch out for, The Mizpah Hotel in Tonopah, Nevada, won the title of Best Haunted Hotel in America and General Manager John McCormick is on hand to talk about the hotel and some of the strange happenings there.

The first Krispy Kreme donut store opened in Ireland. American Airlines CEO Doug Parker says seats on his planes with LESS room are actually more comfortable, Marriott Hotels are dealing with random strikes around the country, Mendocino County is holding its very first mushroom festival, November 2-11, Mark has a fun list of travel tips for making a trip on the Lincoln Highway, in 1914…

A federal judge so no hunting Grizzlies in Yellowstone, American Airlines raises the cost of your bar tab, America's most haunted hotel, travel "lingo" explained, What's Going On with Steve La Rosa, Rock and Roll legend Graham Nash, and a service to preserve your travel memories

American Airlines says if Congress limits what they can charge they will just make the tickets completely non-refundable/changeable, Hidden fees have come to Airbnb, Did the recent fire damage Redding tourism destinations, The Trans-Siberian Orchestra visits Sacramento with its holiday show every year.

Sacramento International Airport has a new Director of Airports, The FBI has announced they have found a pair of Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers, Hawaiian Airlines has announced the longest domestic flight route in the U.S., Gwen Duncan joins our Smarter Traveler segment to talk about travel waivers, Preview Day a new catalog rolling out over 30 new adventures in the U.S. and around the world, Glamping have some of the basic conveniences of home, and annually Sacramento bestows the Elly Awards.