The Weekend Travel Show: Recent Episodes
Doug Parker
Every week host Doug Parker sits down with notable travel experts to get the latest scoop on airlines, cruise lines, hotels, destinations, reviews and travel tips.
We talk to Mark Murphy about his book Travel Forward and Amazon entering the travel arena. James Shilinglaw stops by to talk about a river cruise panel he moderated at the New York Times travel show. Jeff gives us seven luxury travel tips.
This week we are in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. This region is known for its wineries and breweries as well as small towns and the Watkins Glen International racetrack, which hosts NASCAR for a weekend each summer. The biggest glass museum in the world is also in this area, and we bet you've used some of the glass produced by their parent company here without even realizing it! Show notes: www.weekendtravelshow.com.
Nancy Schretter from the Family Travel Network joins us to talk about her latest trip to Hawaii, where she got to spend some time on the island of Lanai.
Lānaʻi is the sixth-largest of the Hawaiian Islands and the smallest publicly accessible inhabited island in the chain. It is also known as Pineapple Island because of its past as an island-wide pineapple plantation. Nancy talks all about her trip!
We could call The Orlando Eye sister to The London Eye over in Europe. A 400', 30-capsule ferris wheel located on International Drive in Orlando, Florida. There was a big media event where daredevil Nik Wallenda walked between capsules on the Today Show and we were there.
Hear all about The Orlando Eye, the newest attractions in Orlando and the largest observation wheel on the East Coast!
At an event aboard the cruise ships Carnival Breeze in Port Miami, “Today” show television personality Kathie Lee Gifford announced that she is once again teaming up with Carnival Cruise Line, but this time not dancing around in a bathing suit. Enter GIFFT wines.
We are aboard Carnival Breeze covering the announcement and have a chat with Kathie Lee Gifford about GIFFT wines.
What's Trending in Travel
- Check your Frequent Flyer Accounts - They may have been hacked
- TSA increasing Random Searches at US Airports
- Korean Air "Nut Rage" executive arrested and could spend 15 years in Prison
- Canadian man finds his Elizabeth Gallagher for an around the world trip
This week Sherry Laskin stops by and gives us the golden rules of Amtrak etiquette when it comes to riding the rails and tipping the cart attendents. There is much more to Amtrak than just hopping on and off the train.
Simon Duvall has What's Trending in Travel:
- Despite renewed Cuba dialogue, recreational travel to the Caribbean island nation is still illegal
- Two hotel chains, two very different approaches to WiFi
- AirTran Airways celebrates final flight as integration with Southwest is complete
- Korean Air executive goes 'nuts' over Macademias on a plane
Travel photographer and writer Craig Zabransky talks to us about taking photos while traveling. Craig gives us photography tips, what apps to use and how to take the best photograph possible.
What's Trending in Travel
Air Travelers have been naughty this year with the TSA seizing a record number of guns
Tauck.com offers eGiftCard for Travelers
Amazon rumored to be entering the hotel booking arena
The Success of the High Line in New York City has urban planners looking down
We've set sail on a three-night Caribbean shakedown cruise to test out Princes Cruises' Regal Princess. Hear about out three night cruise aboard this brand new cruise ship, hear us talk with some of the cast from The Love Boat TV show and visit their private island Princess Cays.
For the last 20 years Gary Bembridge has been travelling every month of every year. Gary sits down with us and chats with us about his latest partial world voyage, how he planned it and the logestics involved.
Simon Duvall also stops by to talk to us about What's Trending in travel.
JetBlue to add bag fees and reduce leg room
Another one bites the dust - JetBlue, under pressure from Wall Street Investors to raise revenues, has announced they will start charging bag fees to passengers who book the lowest price tickets.
- Currently, passengers are allowed 1 free checked bag.
- New fare tiers will be available that include a checked bag and other extras like more loyalty program points
- And they'll be cramming 15 more seats onto their A320 jets and reducing legroom by over 1.5 inches on average
- Southwest only major airline with checked bags included in the price of a base ticket
Marriott and Hilton to Tighten Cancellation Policies
- Hotels, inspired by the airlines ability to raise billions of dollars in 'ancillary' fees and charges are looking for ways to charge customers more
- The Marriott and Hiltion chains are tightening cancellation policies at many hotels effective January 1 to require a traveler to cancel a reservation 24 hours in advance to avoid a cancellation penalty.- This would affect hotels where the previous policy required cancellation by 6 pm local time on the day of arrival
- A penalty of 1 night's room and tax would be charged for a cancellation with less than 24 hours notice
- Other hotel chains are expected to follow suit
Amtrak Ridership up - slightly - in 2014, but infrastructure challenges remain
- Amtrak ridership and revenues inched up in Fiscal 2014, with 30.2 million passengers boarding trains, paying a total of $2.2 billion in ticket revenue
- increase of 0.2% and 4% respectively- Ridership on the busy Washington-to-Boston Northeast Corridor line increased 3.3% to 11.6 million, an all-time record- Ridership was down, however, on both long-distance routes and state-supported services, which Amtrak blames on delays caused by freight railroads and poor track conditions outside of the northeast corridor
More attractions coming to Orlando's Tourist Corridor in 2015 and Beyondhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/northamerica/usa/11239820/Worlds-tallest-roller-coaster-to-be-built-around-Orlando-skyscraper.html - Details were released recently on 2 new attractions coming to Orlando's International Drive, the tourist strip better known for hotels and restaurants
- The SkyScraper World's Tallest Roller Coaster - 535 feet high wrapping around a bulding set to open in 2017- The World's highest version of the Star Flyer - airborne swings that spin at up to 40 miles/hour atop a 450-foot tower - open in 12-18 months
- The skyscraper and star flyer join the Orlando Eye observation wheel, Maddam Tussaud's wax museum and the sea life aquarium opening in Spring 2015
- Forget Disney and Universal - Families may need to add another day to their vacation just to visit all the attractions popping up outside of the theme parks
Dr. Kris just returned from a family vacation to Colonial Williamsburg and Washington DC. He shares his experience, what he did, the logistics of getting around and some travel tips for the mid-Atlantic region.
GhostTunes is a new digital venture that was recently released to go up against iTunes in the digital music department. We have the CEO Randy Bernard of Ghost Tunes on the line to share about the company, what it offers and how exactly it differs from iTunes.
On this episode the tables are turned and listener Kristin interviews me about my recent experience on Princess Cruises' Ruby Princess. We'll talk about the public areas, the food, staterooms, entertainment and overall thoughts of Princess Cruises.
The editor of the Royal Caribbean blog drops by to give us the latest on Royal Caribbean’s upcoming state-of-the-art cruise ship Quantum of the Seas. Matt tells us his five favorite new features recently revealed on Quantum of the Seas.
Less Legroom, full planes and the Knee Defender make for a volatile summer in the skies, also from the air passengers behaving badly file, fighter jets scrambled after 2 drunk women fight over alcohol and cigarettes, and you can drive a Ferrari in Las Vegas for just $500 - but there's a catch. Luxury travel specialist Simon Duvall reveals it all.
Kristin Ladewig joins for to chat about her recent trip to Montgomery, Alabama. Kristin goes into detail about the things to do in Montgomery, places to eat and overall vibe of the city. Mark Pell is the Hotel Director aboard a cruise ship - Holland America's ms Westerdam - that does season service to Alaska and spends the other months in the Caribbean. We sat down with Mark to talk about life on board a cruise ship, what exactly the duties of a Hotel Director entail and the everyday ins and outs of his job.
We had a chance to sit down with Linda, our destination guide on our Alaskan Cruise this summer on Holland America Line. We have an unscripted conversation with Linda about Alaska, the region, her background and why Alaska is such an amazing experience.
Happy 100th Birthday to the Panama Canal! To celebrate, Sunny Lockwood joins us to chat about a book that her husband and her wrote called Cruising Panama’s Canal. An interesting read about how a horrifying life accident turned into a trip of a lifetime.
Simon has What's Trending in the world of travel news:
Fans Pay Tribute to Robin Williams at notable sites across the country
Four Seasons Resort opens at Walt Disney World in Orlando
3 Atlantic City Casinos to close by mid-September
Robot Bellhop in Aloft hotels
More information can be found at http://weekendtravelshow.com.
On this show we talk to John Shallo, John just returned from the Nickelodeon Suites Resort in Orlando, Florida with his family of five. John shares all about the resort, his experience and what his kids thought about the destination itself.
Ask Jason
How long does it take to get a passport?
We are looking at NYC in October and the hotel rates are through-the-roof, is one website better than the other when it comes to getting a good rate on a hotel?
Is travel insurance really worth it? It doesn't look that expensive but I want to make sure my basis are covered before I commit to it.
Sherry Laskin joins us again this week and chats about car rentals and everything we need to know. Did you know you don't HAVE to purchase the insurance? Sherry breaks down the car rental process from researching to driving off the lot in this interview. In travel news, Simon talks about more planes going with less leg room, Southwest getting new seats, a new waterpark with a slide that's breaking world records and the animator Chuck Jones has a mobile Warner Brothers display on tour. Travel questions we cover passport processing times and can you really win if your flight is super delayed or even canceled?
From abroad to here in the states, there isn't a place Sherry Laskin hasn't traveled solo. No one makes her travel solo, she loves it. This week Sherry joins us to talk all things solo travel, things to look out for, how to conquer the road by yourself and to travel smart.
What's Trending
Travelers Are Wary after Malaysian Airlines jet is shot down in Ukraine
Increased TSA Fees to be used to reduce Federal Deficit
Hotels Offering Rewards for Social Media Interaction
Airline Ancillary Income Total 31.5 Billion Dollars in 2013
Ask Jason
My husband grew up in Texas and wants us to spend a few days in San Antonio when we visit his relatives next month. Is there enough to do there that it's worth visiting?
What's the difference between an Alaska cruise that goes roundtrip from Seattle and those that go one-way from Vancouver to Seward? Is one better than the other? Which would my family enjoy more?
Do you recommend any fun beach excursions in Cozumel?
We took the show on the road this week as we went down to the Tampa/St. Pete area in Florida to cover two events that a lot of travelers love to talk about and do.
What we did?
Checked out Tradewinds Island Resort and the new Guy Harvey Outpost they recently opened
Attended the announcement by Cigar City Brewery and Carnival Cruise Lines about a new partnership to host Cigar City beer on 13 of their Florida-based cruise ships.
Spoke to one of the entertainers on the cruise ship Carnival Legend that's currently based out of Tampa, Florida. Find out about Angie's passion for singing and how she went from singing around Georiga with a guitar to being a cruise ship entertainer.
Amanda Tinney is the creator and founder of Disney Everyday, a website dedicated to all-things-Disney. Today we discuss dining and the Epcot Food and Wine festival.
What's Trending
TSA is cracking down on unpowered electronic devices
Spirit Airlines is giving away 1 Billion miles to travelers who hate them
Airport in Germany introduces Robot Valet Service
Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas to Become a Marriott
Ask Jason
My company is sending me to Las Vegas for a convention next month. There's lots of free time built in to the schedule, and I don't gamble. Is there anything else to do in Las Vegas other than slot machines and blackjack?
I'm flying my family to Orlando to visit Disney World for 2 weeks and we want to take a couple of days and spend them on the beach. I don't want to rent a car as I'm a bit nervous about driving in the states. What are our options to get to a beach in Florida?
I want to take one of the paddle wheel cruises on the Mississippi River but I don't know where to start. Should I sail from New Orleans, Memphis, St. Louis or Minneapolis? Which will give us better ports and scenery?
Resources
Florida Express Bus
Mears Transportation
This week we touch base with Simon to find out What's Trending in the world of travel. Southwest flies their first international flight, US Department of Homeland Security orders enhanced screening at international airports, lots of Las Vegas hotel news and British Airways has a unique "happiness blanet." Jason returns this week with more Ask Jason questions. This week Jason tackles getting travel insurance while on an escorted tour, suggestions for a short cruise getaway and airline frequent flyer programs and if they are still worth it.
Summer Vacation Ideas Close to Home
Caribbbean Cruise
- Summer capacity ebbs and flows, but this year lots of ships -- especially big ones -- heading to the Caribbean from South Florida, most notably Norwegian Getaway and MSC Divina
- 7 night cruises in July from $429 per person from South Florida / Cruise from Galveston for 7 nights in August from $289
- Hard to beat those prices for what's essentially an "inclusive" vacation
- Many offers also include onboard credit or other extras
- Check out our cruise search on SimonTravels.com. Prices do fluctuate but there's a lot of availability so chances are you can find these deals or something very similar
New attractions in Florida's Theme Parks - WWoHP Diagon Alley expansion opens July 8, will let muggles explore the Wizard's shopping district in London, tour the vaults of Gringott's bank and ride the Hogsmeade express between Hogsmeade and London and actually travel between the 2 Harry Potter areas in each park. Also at Universal, the Cabana Bay Beach Resort -- the new moderate hotel -- is fully open including rooms, family suites and the lazy river at the pool.
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is now open in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. The jewel in the crown of the New Fantasyland expansion, it's been getting mostly positive reviews. Also at Walt DIsney World, Harambe Nights events are happening every Saturday night through August 9 at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Private event includes a cocktail reception, a special telling of The Lion King story featuring a live band and celebrity narrator and a dinner buffet after the show. It's in the new custom-built theater in the Harambe section of the park; old theater in Camp Minnie Mickey has been removed to make way for the new Avatar Land called Pandora coming in 2017.
- Busch Gardens in Tampa will debut the Falcon's Fury 335-foot drop tower ride later this summer, but the reimagined Panatopia area of the park is already open, which turned Timbuktu into a colorful oasis.
Road Trip to a National Park
- The Great Smokey Mountains, Yellowstone National Park and Grand Canyon National Park are at the top of most peoples' lists
- There's a great unofficial site - us-parks.com -- that will help you plan a drive that hits several national parks in a specific region of the country. They're all customizable trips and can be done in as little as 7 days.
- Somewhat lesser known national parks like Acadia in Maine and Hot Springs in Arkansas are also great add-ons to a trip where you might be visiting family or other attractions in a region
Lake Tahoe
- Nesstled in Northern Nevada just a quick drive from Reno, Lake Tahoe is most recognized for its' premier ski resorts
- But it's a summer hot spot as well known for all kinds of outdoor recreation and a laid-back vibe
- Heavenly Ski Resort in South Lake Tahoe offers a full roster of summer activities including Hiking, a zip line, a ropes course, gondola rides and a "fun run" up the mountain
- Squaw Valley in Northern Lake Tahe offers many of the same activities plus Geocaching, tennis, swimming and more
- Boat rentals, water skiing and parasailing on the lake
- Cool Weather throughout the summer, highs in the 80s or less, lows in the 50s most of the summer
What's Trending News Briefs
New All-Business Class Airline to Fly from Newark to Paris
- La Compagnie will offer 74 business class seats on it's Boenig 757-200 aircraft. Yes, they'll just have 1 aircraft. Bacup with Iceland Air
- Tickets priced between $1800-$4600 which are competitive
- Uphill battle -- Eos, MAXjet, Sliverjet and L'Avion all tried similar business models about 10 years ago and failed
- Perhaps the reduced competition and limited capacity of the modern airline industry will finally allow this type of service to prosperRenivated Delta Flight Museum opens in Atlanta- 68,000-square-foot museum is housed in old Delta hangers that date to the 1940s- traces Delta's history from crop-dusting and air mail service to its first passenger flight from Dallas to Jackson, Mississippi, on June 17, 1929.- Features Delta's first Douglas DC-3 and its first Boeing 767 jet.- Tickets cost $12 for adults and $9 for seniors and $6 for children over 5
- Open every day except Wednesday
- Not in the terminal, so don't plan on visiting during your layover
Intercontintental Debuts new EVEN hotel Brand
- EVEN is a new brand of "Wellness" hotels from the company that owns Holiday Inns
- Designed to compete with Courtyard by Marriott and HyattPlace, EVEN hotels feature state-of the art gym, in-room fitness gear, and a dining facility serving healthy food.
- All non-smoking rooms
- Intercontinental says EVEN will help travelers maintain their healthy lifestyle on the road and encourage healthy choices while traveling- in-room training zone has a balance ball, yoga mat, and other fitness equipment.
- Free wi-fi but no free breakfast
- First one opened in Norwalk Conneticut, Rockville MD coming later this summer and 3 locations in New York City next year
Travefy is the easiest group travel planner. Plan trip details together, collect money from the group for trip costs & make a custom itinerary. We talk to the CEO of the website to get the details and what exactly Travefy does. Simon has travel news on TSA fare increase on July 1, 24 hour hotel stays that let you check-in when you want, staying in the Queen's castle in Scottland and new Harry Potter land opening July 8 in Universal Studios Orlando Florida.
On this episode Sherry Laskin joins us to talk about her latest press trip to St. Augustine, Florida. Sherry talks about the local haunts, things to do around the nation's oldest city, culinary delights and the spooky ghosts around this city in Northeast Florida. Simon has travel news on United Airlines revamping thier frequent flier program, PEOPLExpress back in the air, Jet Blue debuting a new-class of seats for transcontinental flights and free wifi now at Atlanta airport.
On this show we talk to the founder of Get A Room, a hotel booking site that claims to get you cheaper hotel rates by partnering up with 1000s of hotels across the world. Luxury Travel Sepcialist Simon Duvall tells us What's Trending in the world of travel with news about a submarine you could rent for the night, Disney adventure trips and more.
Kristin Ladewig joins us again this week to give us some insight and advice when it comes to planning a Walt Disney World vacation. Kristin touches on the best time to go to Walt Disney World, lodging, dining plans and cost vs convenience for going to Disney. Simon has travel news on leisure travel recovering, new website lets travelers lock in airfare for up to four weeks, Greyhound bus celebrates 100 years and a new IKEA store coming to Sweden. Jason answers questions on contacting the bank before traveling, can adults have fun on a family cruise with kids and is it safe to use credit cards overseas.
Theresa Russell biked across the United States recently from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine. Hear her story, her experience and what it was like trekking over 3,000 miles. Simon has travel news on what the CDC has done to monitor MERS, Denver hotels go up in prices, travel/drink around the world for a cost and Airtran Airways to fly its final flight in December. Ask Jason answers your questions on using your cell phone when out of the country, outbreaks in Europe and an app to track spending while traveling.
This week, we check-in live with Luxury Travel Specialist Simon Duvall who is sailing aboard the Azamara Quest on an 8 night California Wine Country Cruise. He shares his experiences aboard the ship and in San Francisco. Simon introduces us to several of Azamara Quest's officers and Azamara Club Cruises President and CEO Larry Pimentel and tells us why Azamara's unique itinerary offerings attract a significant number of first-time cruisers.
On this show we talk with Stormin Norm about a visit to Sydney, Australia. He gives us the Austrlia 101 run down and what to expect if we head to the land down under. Simon gives us What's Trending. He covers: 3-Room Suites Coming to ety-had Airways, Permanent Cirque du Soleil Show to open on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, New attraction dangles visitors 1,000 feet over Chicago, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Opening Date Set and Disney's monorail for sale.
This week travel expert Sherry Laskin stops by to give us some activities to do in Cozumel, Mexico that's off the beaten path. Too many vacationers just want to go to the beach or drink but there really are some activities to dig down into the culture. Simon has travel news on TSA pre-check expanding to Air Canada, Amtrak starting to take animals on trains and faster internet while traveling. In Ask Jason we tackle hotel tipping, how to save for vacation and finding the best places to eat for your destination.
We just returned from a cruise ship that is sailing from Florida year-round, the Carnival Sunshine. This ship has all of Carnival's brand new Fun Ship 2.0 elements, along with great food, bars and entertainment. Every public area on Carnival Sunshine has a unique personality and you will see why we loved our Carnival cruise.
This weekend Editor of Popular Cruising joins us to share his experience on the Dancing with the Stars cruise, taken from the ABC hit TV show DWTS. Simon tells us what's trending with some latest hotel suveys released and Jason answers more listener questions on red-eye flights and more!
We talk to Key West, Florida. Talk about the American Airlines/US Airways frequent flier program and the changes made, plus more of your travel questions.
This week listener Sarah joins us to talk about her latest trip to New Orleans. Sarah tells us about things to do on a budget, places to eat, sights and the overall vibe of the city. Simon gives us travel news on a airline that has a mile high club, a vegas attraction and a new beach club resort opening in Orlando. On Ask Jason, we tackle: passport card vs. passport and Mexico vacationing.
Nancy Schretter with the Family Travel Network drops by to talk about voluntourism opportunities for you to do on your next vacation through her Together for Good organization. Simon has travel news on TSA carrying guns, the opening of 9/11 Memorial Museum, Virgin Cruise Lines and the Washington Monument reopening. Travel Expert Jason Coleman answer questions on visiting New England, future cruise credits and if the airlines are required to compensate you for delays. Listen and learn!
Elizabeth Schneider is a dynamic professional speaker, wine industry consultant and trainer and she joins us this morning to give us a crash course on wine and traveling. Simon gives us What's Trending in the world of travel and Travel Expert Jason Coleman answers yor questions on: plane watching in St. Maarten, when to travel to Paris and Quebec City. Listen and learn!
This week we talk with a unique Mexico-based excursion company. Sherry Laskin drops by to share her AirBNB experience and Simon Duvall gives us What's Trending in the world of travel. Listen and learn!
Erin Kirkland just released a book called Alaska on the Go: Exploring the 49th State with Children. Erin talks to us about some hot spots in Alaska. Simon gives us What's Trending in the world of travel and Travel Expert Jason Coleman tackles a listener question about planning a trip to Disneyland in California. Listen and learn!
Travel Expert and columist for USA Today Chris Elliott is on the show to talk about his new book "How to be the World's Smartest Traveler." Jason returns this week answering listener travel questions and Simon brings us "What's Trending" in the world of travel. Listen and learn!
Kristin Ladewig from St. Louis just returned from a Amtrak train trip from St. Louis to Chicago. Kristin details the trail ride, her roomette her and her husband booked and the coach ride coming back from Chicago. Kristin gives a full Amtrak review. Simon stops by with What's Trending in travel news and travel expert Sherry Laskin fills in for Ask Jason! Listen and learn.
Travel expert Jason Coleman answers another batch of listener questions: Planning a trip to Hawaii, which island should I go to? Can I transfer my booking made directly with a cruise line to a travel agent? Which is the best place in Europe to spend vacation?
Simon Duvall has what's trending this week in travel: Credit Card Breach Affects Travelers at select Marriott, Holiday Inn, Westin, Renaissance and Radisson Properties in 8 States, Hotel WiFi changes are coming that could save -- or cost you - money depending on how you use the internet when you travel, A Break on duty free carry-on, thanks to a new TSA Rule and In Norway, you can take the world's first dog sled taxi Service to your hotel.
Is Nashville just a sleepy country town or is there more to it? We talk to a representative from Loews Vanderbilt Hotel Nashville and get the scoop on the Nashville scene and all about the property.
Travel expert Pauline Frommer drops by to give us some of her picks for the top travel destinations of 2014. Pauline also shares her biggest tip when it comes to visiting New York City.
Travel Expert Jason Coleman returns for another installment of Ask Jason. This week Jason answers listener questions on getting a local phone when traveling to international, how to rent a car in Europe without breaking the bank and a multi-day train trip.
Rick Griffin and Sandi McKenna spend their lives traveling around the world documenting checking things off their bucket list. We had a chance to catch up with Rick Griffin between trips and he told me all about midlife road trip, how it started, some of his recent trips and what travel trends he's seeing into 2014. *Sandi was suppose to join us but she was stuck in a NYC blizzard.
Travel writer Craig Zabransky lives in New York City and gives us some advice on how to navigate NYC without breaking the bank. Craig covers public transportation options, dining out at some off the one-off places and some hidden gems and relaxing areas around the city.
The creator of the "It Happened Here" app stops by the chat about his award winning app that tells your hidden facts about the cities you're traveling to. I used this app in NYC and it was really cool what it reveals! Hear all about the app that was named "Best Tour App" by TravelandLeisure.com. Plus, Simon Duvall stops by the give us the travel news and what's trending in the world of travel.
This Rio Grande oasis is the perfect destination to discover the beauty and tranquility of Puerto Rico. Filled with warm tropical decor, friendly resort staff and spacious guest rooms, Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Beach Resort Spa gives you an amazing experience in Puerto Rico. This 500-acre, beachfront property borders both the Puerto Rico rain forest and two golf courses and a secluded beach. Amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean including an ocean view from the pool. General Manager Danny Williams chats with us all about the resort in Puerto Rico and the island as a destination.
Travel expert Jason Coleman is here with another installment of Ask Jason. Jason tackles travel insurance for land based tours and if it's needed, if it's possible to get a refund on your cruise vacation after you already put your deposit down and helps a listener who is torn on the best Caribbean island to be active on.
We talk to the Sheldon Suga of Hawks Cay resort in the Florida Keys. Sheldon shares the ins and outs of the South Florida oasis and what there is to do on property for the kids up to the adults.
I sit down and talk to travel writer and podcast host Gary Bembridge about this latest book "The Cruise Travelers Handbook." Gary shares the inspiration about writing the book, some cruise travel tips, packing tips and misconceptions of cruising.
Baby Boomers were born between 1946-1964. The Boomer Travel Patrol was a concept created by Liz Dahl, a former travel agent and public relations consultant who felt baby boomers were not in the coveted demographic of 18-49 and therefore left out of the “fun” activities when it came to travel. We love bus trips and cruises, but there's more to see and do and we have the time and means to explore the world. Jason returns with "Ask Jason" segement. Jason covers St. Kitts, travel insurance while flying and frequent flyer miles.
Tucson, Arizona is a growing urban oasis in the Sonoran desert. Whether you want to experience the ancient Native American culture, explore the nearby hiking trails and national parks or simply enjoy the outdoors where the sun shines 350 days of the year, Tucson and exciting attractions. To complete your stay, General Manager Glenn Sampert is on the program to talk about the Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa.
Travel Expert Jason Coleman joins us this morning answering listener travel questions. Today Jason covers TSA locks and what kind of locks should we lock our checked luggage with, new flight schedule implemented to an existing airline reservation, avoid looking like a tourist.
Having your own Caribbean beach vacation villa sounds good to me! Blue Sky Luxury drops by to talk about the process and what's involved in getting a luxury vacation villa. Imagine having Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica and St. Lucia all at your finger tips. We'll explore the islands and find out what island is good for what activity.
It's the plague of the sea and you don't want it when you take a cruise vacation, some Royal Caribbean passengers weren't that fortunate on a recent sailing. Editor in Chief of Vacation Agent Magazine and cruise travel writer for TravelPulse.com, Theresa Norton Masek, joins us to talk all things norovirus and why it gets such media hype when it does happen. Is it that bad or is it sensationalism? Theresa weighs in.
It's the plague of the sea and you don't want it when you take a cruise vacation, some Royal Caribbean passengers weren't that fortunate on a recent sailing. Editor in Chief of Vacation Agent Magazine and cruise travel writer for TravelPulse.com, Theresa Norton Masek, joins us to talk all things norovirus and why it gets such media hype when it does happen. Is it that bad or is it sensationalism? Theresa weighs in.
The Virgin Islands consist of two groups of islands, the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) and the British Virgin Islands. The USVI consist of 4 larger islands and some 50 smaller islets and cays. The total area of the USVI is 133 square miles. Kelly Merton is the owner of Blue Ocean Groups travel and she gives us the lowdown on visiting the British Virgin Islands.
Trae Bodge is the Senior editor for RetailMeNot.com and speaks to us on the website, how it works and RetailMeNot's 2014 Trends. Simon is here with travel news and to share what's trending in the world of travel.
Travel Expert Jason Coleman joins us this morning answering listener travel questions. Today Jason covers TSA locks and what kind of locks should we lock our checked luggage with, new flight schedule implemented to an existing airline reservation, avoid looking like a tourist.
ShipMate app is kind of like a roll call for cruise lines but different, it lets you find your ship and see what users are registered on your sailing. Once you establish your sailing you can live chat with folks who you think may be of similar interest. On top of the live chat feature, you can also find out where your ship is at any given time, gives you a countdown, webcam views and more. Creator Mike Jirrot joins us today to talk all about ShipMateApp.
Baby Boomers were born between 1946-1964. The Boomer Travel Patrol was a concept created by Liz Dahl, a former travel agent and public relations consultant who felt baby boomers were not in the coveted demographic of 18-49 and therefore left out of the “fun” activities when it came to travel. We love bus trips and cruises, but there's more to see and do and we have the time and means to explore the world. Jason returns with "Ask Jason" segement. Jason covers St. Kitts, travel insurance while flying and frequent flyer miles.
Trae Bodge is the Senior editor for RetailMeNot.com and speaks to us on the website, how it works and RetailMeNot's 2014 Trends. Simon is back with travel news and to share what's trending in the world of travel.
Tim Hoffman is the owner of Montpelier Plantation and Beach in Nevis, a small island located in the Leeward islands. Tim stops by to talk to us about the island, how to get there, what there is to do and all about his hotel property that is located on a plantation.
Travel writer Jeff Titelius has a European travel journal that explores all of his European travels. Jeff provides great insight on European tours, hot spots in Europe and some amazing photos. Recently Jeff got to experience the European Christmas Markets on Viking River Cruises and shares his journey with us. Listen and learn!
On July 2009, Ellen Jovin began a long-term language project. The goal: to learn as much as she could of a bunch of languages spoken around New York City. She accomplished that and shares her language learning journey with us. She also shares some tips on learning different languages. She shares her journey.
Wondering whether to fly or drive on your next trip? BeFrugal.com has the Fly or Drive Calculator. Find out if its cheaper for you to fly or drive to your next destination. Also, we talk to Anthony Guido, Communications Manager of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. The museum is set to open this fall and we got a sneak peak inside!
Valen Dawson owns the travel website This Way to Paradise which specializes in beaches and islands which are perfect for a winter getaways, she also focuses on travel scams. Her site is written from a personal point of view, and all of the opinions are her own. MiniTime makes family travel easy by providing parents with detailed information, recommendations and trip planning tools, all based on the ages of your kids. Think Trip Advisor, but for families.
Listener Kristin shares her experience at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. Hear the full review of dining, living areas, the views and transportation to and from the resort. Plus, travel expert Jason Coleman is back for another installment of Ask Jason. Jason tackles airline Saturday night stays, picking a Panama Canal cruise and getting bumped when flying.
Today we talking to travel writer and podcaster Elaine Masters about San Diego, California and some tips on exploring the area. Plus, she will share with us some tips on booking travel alone. Lets just say you'll want to double check what city you're going to!
SpotCayman has, mapped and listed, over 300 restaurants in Cayman, 78 wifi hotspots, all hotels, shopping, island attractions, tour operators, dive sites, doctors, churches, car rental agencies, grocery stores, gas, liquor stores and the list goes on. We are full of information for your stay on each of the Cayman Islands of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.
Jason Coleman is back answering listener questions on things to do in Grand Cayman, airline consolidators and group airline bookings.
We stumbled across a service that alerts you when hotel rooms become available -- the service -- Hotel Room Alerts. This free alerts let you know when sold out hotel rooms become available via email or text message. We get the scoop with the creator of HotelRoomAlerts.com. Simon Duvall gives us the Top 5 things to do in Chicago.
Today, the trend in air travel planning is becoming more and more the responsibility of the passenger and increasingly complex. With the proliferation of online booking services, the scarcity of truly knowledgeable travel agents and the increased desire for frequent flyer awards and elite upgrades, the frequent flyer needs as much unbiased information as possible to maximize their travel experience at minimal expense. We get the scoop from the founder of Expert Flyer. Plus, Jason Coleman answers questions on resort fees, being stuck in the airport because of snow and others.
Grand Bahama Island is the fourth largest island and second most popular tourist destination in the Bahamas. Located less than 70 miles from the coast of Florida, the island is 539 square miles in size and features long stretches of secluded beachfront, wildlife habitats, tropical gardens, charming neighborhoods and plenty to see and do. Simon Duvall stops by with this week's travel news, this week is all airline news from United Airlines doing away with the unaccompanied minor program on certain flights to the retirement of the DC-9.
Spirit of Survival is a one-of-a-kind story of the incredible fortitude that ordinary people can conjure in order to overcome even the most harrowing of disasters. Told from the point of view of each of the five members of one family, this book offers a unique and detailed look into the truth behind the headlines surrounding the Carnival Cruise Line's Costa Concordia cruise ship sinking off the coast of Isola del Giglio, Tuscany in January of 2012. Their astounding account of the tragic events before, during and, perhaps most shockingly, after the enormous cruise ship ran aground are sure to amaze you.
CarryOn.com makes travel fun. You can ask the experts questions about where to go, where to stay, and what to see and do when you get there. Who are these experts? They are people who have traveled to your dream destination and who have insider knowledge about what any traveler could expect to find on their own journey. We talk to the CarryOn.com founder. CEO of TripInsurance.com, Dan Skilken is also hear answering your listener travel questions on delays, ski trips and annual insurance policies.
Remember taking those interstate trips when you were a kid and picking up the Hotel Coupon book? Years later that very same book is still around but in the form of a handy smart phone app as well. We talk to Mark Novak with Hotel Coupons about app, the low rates and what it means for travelers. Travel expert Jason Coleman answers listener travel questions on: water in Mexico, traveling with a healthy immune system and traveling overseas and getting vaccinated.
Listener Kristin Ladewig just returned from a Walt Disney World vacation in Orlando, Florida, where she got to try out the new Disney Magic Band. This neat little contraption basically holds the keys your Disney trip. Room keys, credit card, theme park pass and more are all on the Disney Magic Band. Hear Kristin talk all about it. Keeping with the theme of Disney, Simon Duvall gives us his Top 5 Walt Disney World snacks.
Now that major airlines such as Delta, Southwest, American Airlines, and US Airways provide passengers with WiFi access during flights, it's possible to get hacked. Kent Lawson, founder and CEO of Private Communications Corporation - speaks on the vulnerabilities of public WiFi. Plus, guide book giant Fodor's recently came out with updated and free city guides. Whether you're craving Indian food while touring London or the lights on Broadway - the latest versions of Fodor's City Guide app makes city navigation a cinch!
Group travel is complicated! Travefy makes it easy.Travefy is a free online travel planner that solves the coordination headaches of group travel. Through Travefyusers can collaborate on trip itineraries, book travel deals, and manage shared expenses. We talk to the founder of Travefy, David Chait, he fills us in on this cool website. Also, travel expert Jason Coleman is back answering more travel questions.
HMSHost (operator of airport restaurants) offers a mobile app for iPhone and Android called B4 YOU BOARD which allows travelers to browse menus, order a meal from restaurants anywhere in the airport, and then have that meal delivered to them hot and fresh at their gate. The app can be used at JFK airport, Minneapolis Saint Paul, Chicago O’Hare, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, and Phoenix Sky Harbor. We learn all about it in this episode. Plus, Simon has what's trending in the world of travel.
Clearwater, Florida is located on Florida's Gulf Coast, about 22 miles outside of Tampa. There is a lot to do there from amazing seafood, fun in the sun to family activities. Cassie Lovett speaks with us on behalf of the City of Clearwater to talk about the destination and fun in the sun. We also speak with the cell carrier giant, AT&T, about some must-have apps to relieve stress, navigational apps and their "It Can Wait program."
Launched late 2012 from Google's Niantic Labs, Field Trip is a geo-location-based guide to the cool, hidden and unique things in the world around you. Available now for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Glass and Android devices, Field Trip runs in the background of your device and seamlessly pushes interesting and relevant information like history of architecture or public art, local events, restaurants, shopping, deals, and happenings straight to your phone. Also, Simon Duvall checks in with a new segment called Top 5, on this episode Simon reveals the top 5 travel stories of 2013.
Patrick Smith spends hours a week in the friendly skies, that's because he's a civilian airline pilot, flying the Boeing 757 and 767 for a popular airline. Patrick talks to us about life in the sky, his latest book Cockpit Confidential and answers some of your questions. Jason Coleman is here with another popular "Ask Jason" segment.
Nancy Schretter from the Family Travel Network drops by to talk about her latest trip to Provo, Grand Turk. Hear about white sandy beaches, places to eat, stay, things to do and learn Grand Turk like an insider. Plus we talk to a VP at Hotwire.com about travel trends, their app and last minute hotel bookings.
Sherry Laskin is the queen of transatlantic cruise crossings. She is always taking cruise ships between Europe and the USA, and vice versa. Her latest experience was on Cunard's Queen Mary between Southampton, England and New York City. In this episode, Sherry breaks down the experience for us and gives us the ins and outs of a seven night transatlantic crossing.
Imagine having to never have to worry about finding a parking spot in your city again. That can happen with "Parker" app by Streetline. We talk to the folks at Streetline about the app and how it works in real time. Simon has travel news on hotel sleep wars, concert cancelations at Sea World, stretching a cruise ship and airline security fee hike. Plus Jason Coleman returns with his Ask Jason segment, answering your listener travel questions.
On show show travel maverick Mark Murphy stops by to talk about his newly released book "Travel Forward." Mark talks about some traveling forward experiences he's had in travel and also gives us some tips on winter travel. Simon gives us some great last minute Christmas gear for the travel lover in your life and Jason Coleman answers more of your listener questions.
On this show we talk to Alex from TravelFashionGirl.com and she gives us travel packing tips. Learn how to pack lightly. Simon Duvall gives us what's trending in the world of travel and Jason Coleman answers listener questions on airport travel, the 3-1-1 rule and getting through TSA security with elders.
This week Nancy Schretter from the Family Travel Network and she gives us 5 Family Winter Getaways. Simon Duvall returns with "What's Trending" in the world of travel news. Travel expert Jason Coleman answers more your listener questions plus a segment on Helen, GA.
On the show we talk to Susan Phillips with the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, a fun beachside destination in South Carolina. Hear about events in Myrtle Beach, things to do, attractions, food and more.
Sherry Laskin recently returned from her journey from Europe. Sherry will give us a lot of information about traveling abroad, the dates to go and resources to use. Luxury Travel Advisor Simon Duvall gives us a segment we are going to try out called “What’s Trending”. Hear about airline, hotel, destination and travel news across the map.
Jason Coleman returns with our Ask Jason segment where he will tackle a question about seat selection on airplanes.
Recently, I had the opportunity to spend some time down there and got to check out the Atlantis Space Shuttle exhibit. This is the actual shuttle that flew 33 space missions. It was pretty awesome!
Andrea Farmer with the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex links up with us and talks about all what KSC has to offer and how much it has changed.
There is nothing like learning when you are on vacation, especially if your learning about cool things like the exact GPS path your cruise ship is taking, how to improve photography and other cool geeky things. Technology industry veteran MickeyLive talks to us about what he teaches at sea, how he got into it and some great tips on how to make the most out of your digital travel arsenal.
Did you know there’s a dude ranch in Florida? I sure didn’t. We talk to the COO from Westgate River Ranch about one of the original dude ranches in Central Florida and what they have to offer.
Traveling a lot can wear on you big time. Scott Lara from Air Sea Travel has some tips on how to prepare yourself for your next long vacation.
Ever wonder what it was like to vacation in an all-inclusive resort? Stephanie Cannon from Honeymoons Designed answers a lot of questions on the resorts, what’s included and the best way to start your researching. Stephanie tells that that a recent Google search she did for all-inclusives returned 77-million results!
Ray MacDonald joins us on our 16-nt Transatlantic crossing from Barcelona to New Orleans and gives his thoughts of the lonnng sailing, we learned how to see the world in a weekend and take more of your listener questions.
This week we are aboard Carnival Cruise Line's newly refurbished Carnival Sunshine as we make our way from Barcelona to New Orleans on this 16-nt transatlantic sailing. We will hear from the cruise director, the comedian, a passenger review and Jason Coleman returns answering your travel questions.
We talk to Christina up in Helen, GA about what there is to do there, the scene and wineries. Plus, we learn about life on a cruise ship with the Hotel Director and digital techspert John, who runs the computer classes on board.
We are aboard American Cruise Line's 150-guest Queen of the Mississippi paddlewheeler between St. Louis, MO and Minneapolis, MN. We are cruising right up the heartland of the United States, where a lot of cruising started - on the Mississippi River. Doug talks to the captain, cruise director, entertainer and some passengers.
We are broadcasting aboard Princess Cruises' brand new Royal Princess. We talk to Jason all about the ship and some history behind the old Love Boat and Gavin MacLeod (aka Captain Stubing) talks about his new book and thoughts of the ship.
We are hanging out in Quebec City and talk to our tour guide Michelle about things to do. Family Travel Network checks in and gives us some things for families to do in Quebec City and Jason Coleman is back with more listener questions in Ask Jason!
We are in St. Louis broadcasting under the arch. We talk to locals Kristin & Scott about the city, things to do and sights to see. If you want to know how to see the world in the weekend you'll want to hear our guest Christine and Jason answers more listener questions.
Casey Slone from Little Tybee Island in Georgia joins us to talk about Tybee as a fall travel destination. National Cruise Vacation week is upon us and we get the details on some great cruise deals. We talk to the president of GetARoom.com, a booking engine with rock bottom hotel prices. Jason Coleman is back with his Ask Jason segment.
We get a review of Disney's Magic Band from Sarah's recent trip to Walt Disney World. Hear how the band works, the access you get and how to wind up getting up. Destin, Florida is known for its white sandy beaches, we'll talk to Tracy from Destin to find out about the destination.
Broadcasting aboard Holland America Line's ms Eurodam on a 10-night Canada/New England cruise. Hear about the ports we hit, the ship's captain, exective chef and our tour guide in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Plus, listener questions with Ask Jason!
Cruise Expert at Answers.com, Sherry Laskin, joins us to discuss river cruising and how different and unique it is from your typical ocean going cruise. Scott from Air Sea Travel drops by to talk fall travel with us.
Pigeon Forge is a popular fall travel destination. We talk to someone from Pigeon Forge and Dollywood. We talk to Matt Long about five reasons the iPhone operating system is great for travel and Jason answers a series of listener questions. This is the actual on-air braodcast on Talk Radio 600, WBOB.
Scott is back and he has six things the cruise lines won't tell you. Editor in Chief of Vacation Agent Magazine drops by to chat about her trip out to Utah, visiting the Red Mountain Resort and what a resort spa is like. Listener call-in line: 888-429-4334
We talk to personal trainer Nicole La Placa on staying healthy on the road, Chris drops by with his some happenings in Las Vegas this fall, Jeff talks about his recent trip to Norway and answers some of your travel questions. Listener call-in 888-429-4334
Over 20-million adults go do Disney every year without children. Kristin Smith gives us some tips on navigating Disney without the kiddos. We answer a listener call about cell phones on a cruise ship and how to save you money on communication at sea. Listener call-in line: 888-429-4334
International travel rockstar Mark Murphy joins us to talk about fall travel tips, airline consolidators and Mexico. We speak with industry expert Stewart Chiron the Cruise Guy about Costa Concordia and answer your travel insurance questions. Listener call-in line: 888-429-4334
International travel rockstar Mark Murphy joins us to talk about fall travel tips, airline consolidators and Mexico. We speak with industry expert Stewart Chiron the Cruise Guy about Costa Concordia and answer your travel insurance questions. Listener call-in line: 888-429-4334
We talk to Adam Coulter, editor for Cruise Critic UK. Adam is in Italy watching them raise the 125,000-ton Costa Concordia. Plus Simon Veness from World of Cruising Magazine gives his thoughts. Listener call-in line 888-429-4334.
We talk to Adam Coulter, editor for Cruise Critic UK. Adam is in Italy watching them raise the 125,000-ton Costa Concordia. Plus Simon Veness from World of Cruising Magazine gives his thoughts. Listener call-in line 888-429-4334.
Scott Lara from Air Sea Travel joins us to talk about cruising during hurricane season and some of his frequently asked questions. Travel writer Sarah Phillips answers a listener question about planning a trip to Europe. We talk train travel with Simon Duval and answer your questions. Listener call-in line:888-429-4334.
Scott Lara from Air Sea Travel joins us to talk about cruising during hurricane season and some of his frequently asked questions. Travel writer Sarah Phillips answers a listener question about planning a trip to Europe. We talk train travel with Simon Duval and answer your questions. Listener call-in line:888-429-4334.
Fitness blogger Meghann Anderson gives us advice on staying fit while traveling, local physcian assistant Ed McDonough gives us a lesson in norovirus and a listener call about cheap airfare. Call-in line 888-429-4334
Staying safe while traveling is important, Nancy Schretter with Family Travel Network gives us some great tips to protect ourselves while traveling. Rick Steves talks to us about his book on Mediterranean cruise ports. Call-in line 888-429-4334.
Maritime historian Peter Knego talks about the now-defunct Love Boat, from a once popular TV show to cruise ship graveyard. Plus, a listener gives his review of his Disney Cruise Line's Alaska experience. Call-in line 888-429-4334
We talk to maritime historian Peter Knego about the Love Boat, Nancy Schretter from the Family Travel Network about staying safe while on vacation, dining in NYC and a listener question about hotels in NYC. Our listener call-in line: 888-429-4334
Fitness blogger Meghann Anderson gives us advice on staying fit while traveling, local physcian assistant Ed McDonough gives us a lesson in norovirus and a listener call about cheap airfare. Call-in line 888-429-4334
We talk to maritime historian Peter Knego about the Love Boat, Nancy Schretter from the Family Travel Network, dining in NYC and a listener question about hotels in NYC. Our listener call-in line: 888-429-4334
Note: This show is the actual broadcast on Newstalk 600, WBOB.
Staying safe while traveling is important, Nancy Schretter with Family Travel Network gives us some great tips to protect ourselves while traveling. Rick Steves talks to us about his book on Mediterranean cruise ports. Call-in line 888-429-4334.
Maritime historian Peter Knego talks about the now-defunct Love Boat, from a once popular TV show to cruise ship graveyard. Plus, a listener gives his review of his Disney Cruise Line's Alaska experience. Call-in line 888-429-4334.