In the Travel News, vaccinated international travelers will soon be welcome in the US, an international airline (SAS) is ditching the mask requirement for some flights, and Captain Kirk soars into space. Our Smarter Traveler segment talks about United Airlines extension of many travel credits/vouchers, and an update on the Southwest meltdown from last week. Ed Perkins, travel journalist and advocate for travelers, talks to us about the fight against resort fees. Turns out Ed was the first to write about the evils of the fees when they first reared their heads three decades go. Reporter Clayton Whitehead attended the new show Dear San Francisco: A Love Story, at the Club Fugazi in San Francisco last week. This new show replaces the long-running Beach Blanket Babylon.

The Travel Guys

The Travel Guys with Mark Hoffman

In the Travel News, Southwest Airlines had another meltdown this weekend, with flight cancellations numbering well over 1,000. Depending on who you speak to, it was either due to bad weather in Florida, a shortage of staff and crew, or the alignment of the moon. Canada is telling travelers you must be fully vaccinated. This is for international AND domestic travelers, arriving by flight, train or cruise ship. Many more countries are announcing reopening post-COVID, including Australia, Viet Nam, India and a number of others. Entry requirements vary. Our Smarter Traveler segment addresses airline vouchers. Many travelers have them because of COVID cancellations, and they have been around a long time. What’s the one thing you don’t want to do with airline vouchers? Try to resell them. We invite listener call-ins, to discuss travel questions of the day. Have you resumed traveling? Do you dine comfortably in crowded restaurants, are you a “to go” tipper? Are you tired of hotels blaming the lack of services on COVID, or are you willing to be understanding a bit longer?

Travel Guys with Mark Hoffman

In the Travel News, United lays off far fewer non-vaccinated employees than first projected, and reentering the US from an overseas country is going to be a bit more difficult. Our Smarter Traveler segment sends a red flag for car rentals over the holidays (reserve NOW), and new software is limiting fuel burning time on the runway. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra annually provides one of the most dazzling Christmas shows seen anywhere. Al Pitrelli joins Tom to tell us about this year’s show. We’ve talked about how the airlines have taken so much taxpayer money while not following refund rules on tickets. The day of reckoning is coming. Chris Elliott joins us to talk about the Department of Transportation crackdown.

Delta Airlines says it makes no sense to ban flyers from one airline unless they are banned from all airlines. Makes perfect sense to us. Plus, knowing getting thrown off a plane for not obeying a flight attendant or refusing to wear a mask could make it so you couldn’t fly anywhere ever might be a bit of a deterrent to some. Maybe. Speaking of airlines, American Airlines made some serious changes to its Contract of Carriage, which is basically the agreement between you and American when you buy a ticket. The airline has chosen to remove language which previous protected the consumer. If you fly American, we strongly recommend you read the article above. Mark visited Missouri and Iowa on a recent scouting trip for a future Sports Leisure Vacations Baseball Tour. He has some observations on COVID protocols (in case you are traveling there soon), and Tom inquires of Mark what a scouting trip is and why it would be important for a tour operator to personally visit destinations BEFORE his travelers arrive. The Pumpkin Patch Express is one of the many specialty trains offered by the Fox River Train folks. It’s a great way to entertain the family without going far from home. The Fulton Avenue CruiseFest is annually one of the biggest local events in the area. This year, the Batmobile will be on hand. Steve LaRosa, our local CruiseFest expert, joins us to tell you all about it.

In the Travel News, the DOT is investigating a number of airlines who didn’t provide refunds in a timely manner, or misled travelers into thinking they couldn’t get a refund for their ticket. Southwest announces no booze on their planes until at least next year, and we talk about the last term changes brought to travel by the events of September 11, 2001. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we remind you of some of the resources available to help you prepare for your next COVID-era trip. Canada opened its borders to US travelers a month ago. Road Reporter Chris Galloway has been in Canada with a group of travelers for the last week, and will repeat with another group next week. He checks in to tell us about getting into Canada, and just as importantly, getting back into the states. Gwen Duncan has an update on cruising. What are cruisers buying and when are they going out of the oceans and rivers of the world again? What are the restrictions cruisers need to know about?

Travel Guys Radio with Mark Hoffman

In the Travel News, Maui has joined Oahu in creating a program which insures travelers who enter restaurants, and other indoor venues, have proof of vaccination, either through a unique program on your phone or by presenting a vaccination card. The Queen Mary, which has been enjoying retirement in Long Beach for the past 50 or so years, may be done as a tourist attraction. Plus, United Airlines has made a major concession on ticket credits. The price of a cruise is often way more than what you paid before you boarded. The cruise lines have set up a gauntlet of ways to extract money from you. We’ll talk about some of them and perhaps you can make your own plan to cut the cruise lines profits next time you sail. Mark says the travel industry has experienced an upswing in “I thought things would be better so I booked, but now I want to cancel at the last minute and not be charged anything” calls. He has some strong words for travelers who aren’t big on taking responsibility for their decisions. In our final segment, we put on our entertainment hats as Tom interviews MARC D’ANTONIO who is featured in the DISCOVERY+ show, “SHOCK DOCS – ALIEN INVASION: HUDSON VALLEY” (which began streaming on Monday, August 16th).

In the Travel News, the Canadian and Mexican borders remain closed. But wait, it’s only the BORDER that’s closed, you can still get into Mexico and Canada by air. What the heck? And you’ll be masking up on planes and trains until January of next year. If you have to pre-test for COVID before traveling, there are a few really important things you should know. Also, here is an age-old simple credit card rip-off at some tourist hotels, known as the “pizza scam.” We explain what it is, how it works and how you can avoid it. Road Reporter Clayton Whitehead was recently traveling in Upper Michigan and also visited Mackinac Island. He has a report on how people in rural areas are reacting to the new COVID up tick, and talks about Mackinac, one of his favorite destinations. Clayton closes with a tribute to a traveling friend. Finally, we have an update on the rental car situation. Is it getting better, worse? Is it time to plan your trip around price/availability of a rental car?

In the Travel News, San Francisco has become the first major city to require vaccinations at many indoor venues, including restaurants. Seems as though New Orleans might be next. Mark reports on a new railroad in the Rockies, a ride which takes you to the edge of the Utah National Parks. Mark was in the Chicagoland area last week, around O’Hare Airport, attending a conference. He has reviews on a variety of restaurants, a hotel chain’s fall from grace and a thank you to the local police department. Bottom line: some information you can use the next time you are overnighting near O’Hare Airport in Chicago. Killresortfees.com is a web site dedicated to educating you about how you can help in the fight against those troublesome fees. We have a guest to help us understand if there’s any chance we might see the end of resort and other similar fees in our lifetimes. Finally, Mark and Tom close with some observations about traveling currently. What are some of the do’s and don’t for vaccinated travelers today.

In the Travel News, if you want to attend theater in San Francisco or on Broadway this fall, you are going to have to wear a mask and be vaccinated or tested to get into the theater, at least until November. Two people headed into Canada found that having false documents will set you back a healthy chuck of cash and American and United follow Delta by saying to their frequent flyers: your benefits are preserved for another year. Our Smarter Traveler segment gets away from nuts and bolts and looks at the problem several airlines are having with keeping their schedules. Southwest and American have had some problems, Spirit has had BIG ISSUES. Mark explains what’s going on and why this shouldn’t be happening. Hint: The taxpayers have been suckered. Hilton is cutting back on housekeeping, unless you are at a Ritz Carlton or higher. We ask you how you feel about that. Will it impact which hotel you choose to stay in? We take your phone calls in our third segment and one listener will be a big winner. Family travel is full of challenges. COVID brings some extra issues. We talk to a family traveler and get his tips on how to get your gang from here to there.

In the Travel News, Canada will open to US visitors on August 9th, but the US won’t open to Canadians (and perhaps people returning from Canada) until August 21st at the earliest. Is it just us, or is something wrong with the way the dates (don’t) line up? Delta has promised its frequent flyers their status will be preserved into 2022 and a report says the price of an Uber ride has gone up 9% in just the last 18 months. Our Smarter Traveler segment focuses on bogus smoking and other “after you’ve left” charges at hotels and how to avoid them. Hint: One piece of advice involves debit cards. Steve LaRosa is back after a long absence with a new version of What’s Goin’ On (Around Sacramento). Steve has a couple of outdoor ideas and a reminder that the Cruise Fest is coming back to Fulton Avenue soon. Mark has a Just One Man’s Opinion commentary about those who have chosen not to be vaccinated, and what it’s doing to the travel and hospitality industry. The guys wrap up with a discussion about how to avoid weather related summer travel delays

In the Travel News: COVID and travel are making a comeback at the same time. Can tourism prevail? Or are we destined to go back into hiding? We have a breakdown. Southwest Airlines offers an apology for a string of incidents which have left many people short of their destination in the past few weeks, and an airport piano player in Atlanta is the subject of a feel-good story. Our Smarter Traveler segment features a Letter to the Editor from Christopher Elliott’s web site, gently suggesting why it’s important to get the vaccination for COVID. Hilton Hotels is ending daily housekeeping at most brands. Do you care? Is it a plus or a minus not getting your room cleaned daily? The move is sure to save hotels a chunk of money. Wonder if that will trickle down to consumers. Lots of fun things to do in Mendocino County this summer and fall. We have a guest with a rundown of events, just in case you might want to check one or two out

In the Travel News, The mayor of Maui, Hawaii asks the airlines to cut the number of seats on flights to his home island. Too many tourists, the mayor says. Canada updates its travel policy, but it doesn’t help Americans; and Hilton becomes the first major chain to eliminate daily housekeeping at most of its hotels. In our Smarter Traveler segment, with summer flight delays and cancellations on the increase, we give you some tips on things you can do BEFORE you travel to help lower the possibility of getting stuck somewhere on the road, and if you are stuck, our tips might make it a little less painful. We solicited Travel Tips from our listeners. The best ones will be posted next week. Mark did a special goodbye to John Ascuaga, the owner and operator of the Nugget Hotel/Casino in Sparks, Nevada, for over 50 years. Mark shared a tribute from Nevada’s governor and a personal story about John. A fine farewell to one of the nicest people you could ever meet. The Travel Guys would like to wish a Happy 75th Anniversary to President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter!

In the Travel News, Southwest and American are short staffed and it’s starting to show on the front line, Hawaii is dropping the quarantine for vaccinated travelers and if you were a fan of the TV show Friends, we have a cruise to tell you about, where you can relive those TV memories. Joe Brancatelli, author of the Joe Sent Me web site, is ranting about airlines again. Justifiably so, as fares go up, vouchers expire and the airlines continue to drink at the public trough. Mark explains Joe’s concerns, including a new COVID surcharge that didn’t stick. Chris Elliott joins us to explain why the much anticipated post-COVID travel bargains didn’t materialize, and reminds people the cost of not behaving yourself in the sky could be a lot more than you bargained for. If you are considering a visit to Disneyland anytime soon, you won’t want to miss our special segment on Disney’s two California theme parks. Tips on what to visit, and how to maneuver post-COVID

In the Travel News, Southwest Airlines had a week of computer glitches and delays throughout their system, and since they aren’t really saying why it happened, no one knows if the coming week will bring a repeat. National Parks are reporting long lines to get in, so make sure you know if you need a day pass, camping permit or whatever, because you don’t want to be turned away. One of the “volunteer” cruises had a COVID infection, but they continued on without major problems. The governor of Florida wins a victory over the CDC. Cruise lines cannot require vaccinations. Is this a good thing? Our Smarter Traveler segment focuses on those who travel with life-saving medications and those needing wheelchair assistance at airports. The world’s longest border has been closed for over a year and will remain that way until at least July 20th. Clayton Whitehead has an update on when we might be able to go to Canada. To round out the show, we take you to a preview of the Mother Lode Fair in Tuolumne County over the holiday weekend. Did you know there are lots of great hiking trails in that region? You will after you listen to the podcast!

In the Travel News, Southwest will add flights to Palm Springs and Kona this fall and we have the latest episodes of “people behaving badly on planes.” In our Smarter Traveler segment, Hawaii’s governor has spelled out when the testing and quarantines might be relaxed; cruise ships are getting back in the ocean – with one already reporting positive COVID passengers on board; and the CDC has changed the regulation on vaccinated travelers on SOME forms of public transportation…but don’t throw away the mask quite yet. Chris Elliott, America’s foremost travel consumer advocate, joins us to talk about vacation rentals. Seems owners of vacation home are getting quite creative on the fees they are adding to rentals. Chris updates us on what to look out for. Hint: The bottom line may NOT be the bottom line. Mark went to Oregon with a group of 30 travelers last week, on the heels of a trip to Nevada. How are the two states different? How are rising numbers of travelers impacting the system at airports, restaurants and the like? Mark has some observations.

Hosted by Mark Hoffmann and Tom Romano. The show airs EVERY Sunday, from 3-4pm on KFBK AM 1530 and Newstalk 93.1 FM in Sacramento, CA.

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The Travel Guys

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