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On the Sunday, July 25th edition of The Travel Guys… 

* 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! Click here for a complete list.

Highlights

* Hilton ends daily housekeeping at most brands

* Things to do in Mendocino County this Fall/Winter

* Ned Levi of Travelers United – His Photography, just for fun

* Need to get a hotel smoking fee reversed because you didn’t smoke in the room?

* Hawaii COVID updates

* Wisdom Travels

* Creative car rental solutions

* Sign the petition to keep COVID flight credits valid

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On the Sunday, July 18th edition of The Travel Guys… 

* In the Travel News, it’s looking more and more like the Canadian border will open before the end of summer. Amtrak is investing some of our tax dollars in some new train sets and the Eiffel Tower joins the reopened attractions list in Europe.

* In our Smarter Traveler segment, we renew the discussion about smoking charges in rental cars and hotel rooms. Mark cautions against giving any reason to charge you. Errant cigarette packaging, or packaging from any other thing you smoke, will get you in trouble. You don’t want to make it LOOK like someone may have smoked in the room. Charges like these are hard to reverse.

* Maui can’t get the airlines to cut flights, so the mayor helped push through a 3% addition to the island hotel tax. It will provide for a variety of civic improvements, but it’s not likely to cut the number of visitors to the islands.

* No major competitor has yet followed Hilton to the “housekeeping no longer included” pile. We’ll keep watching.

* The project is called Wisdom Travels. It’s about the travel stories of nine local North Natomas residents.

Highlights

* How to get a bogus smoking fee from a hotel reversed

* Hawaii COVID updates

* Wisdom Travels

* Creative car rental solutions

* Sign the petition to keep COVID flight credits valid

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On the Sunday, July 11th edition of The Travel Guys… 

* 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!

Highlights

* Maui mayor says he wants fewer tourists

* An article about crossing the Canadian Border

* Ways to prepare for delays and cancellations

* Bolt Bus, which served Sacramento/SFO, is gone

* Sign the petition to keep COVID flight credits valid

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On the Sunday, July 4th Independence Day edition of The Travel Guys… 

* In the Travel News, the government appears ready to back a plan to give passengers who’s bags don’t arrive on time a refund of their baggage fees. Why isn’t that ALREADY the airlines’ policy? Excellent question. Delta airlines is now selling COVID testing kits you can use when returning from international destinations.

* Travelers United is behind a drive to get the airline issued ticket voucher’s shelf life extended. You can sign the petition they will send to Congress at www.travelersunited.com.

* Mark has been out on the road with groups of travelers the past couple of weeks. He has an update with useful ideas you can incorporate into your travels. Bottom line: Popular places are crowded, try and find a time when fewer people are there. Mark has some help.

* Lots of Travel Questions come to our mailbag. We answer a number of them from you, including topics like cruise line refund vouchers, what are the up-to-date protocols about distance and masks in the airport, when you might be able to go to Canada, and my favorite topic, why gas is so expensive at the Sacramento Airport.

Highlights

* Sign the petition to keep COVID flight credits valid

* Cruise lines ignoring Florida vaccine law

* The Worst Car Rental Billing Experience EVER

* Lulu’s in Redding

* Captain Jack’s Stronghold – Restaurant in Tulelake

* The Running Y Ranch near Klamath Falls

* ‘Friends’ fan cruise to set sail in 2022

* Beware of the heat when you travel

* Lincoln Highway Quarterly Meeting

* Oahu moving forward on reopening

* List of airline wheelchair policies (bottom of article)

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On the Sunday, June 27th edition of The Travel Guys… 

* 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.

Highlights

* ‘Friends’ fan cruise to set sail in 2022

* Beware of the heat when you travel

* Lincoln Highway Quarterly Meeting

* Oahu moving forward on reopening

* List of airline wheelchair policies (bottom of article)

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On the Sunday, June 20th Father’s Day edition of The Travel Guys… 

* 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!

Highlights

* Lincoln Highway Quarterly Meeting

* International Narcotics Control Board

* Paid and unpaid intern/apprentice opportunities for Napa theatre

* How to deal with air rage in real time

* Oahu moving forward on reopening

* Ways to volunteer for tourism during your visit to Hawaii

* Traveling with Medications (US Department of Homeland Security)

* Travel Smartly with Prescription Medications (US Department of State)

* Traveling with Prescription Medications (US Food and Drug Administration)

* List of airline wheelchair policies (bottom of article)

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On the Sunday, June 13th edition of The Travel Guys… 

* 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.

Highlights

* How to deal with air rage in real time

* Oahu moving forward on reopening

* Ways to volunteer for tourism during your visit to Hawaii

* Traveling with Medications (US Department of Homeland Security)

* Travel Smartly with Prescription Medications (US Department of State)

* Traveling with Prescription Medications (US Food and Drug Administration)

* List of airline wheelchair policies (bottom of article)

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On the Sunday, June 6th edition of The Travel Guys… 

* In the Travel News, Florida governor Ron DeSantis has an interesting Catch-22 on his hands. The cruise lines can’t sail from Florida, even on test cruises, until they reach 95% vaccination for passengers and 98% for crew. But DeSantis has declared no one will have to give out their vaccination status in Florida. So how do the cruise lines meet those thresholds? Mediation has broken down, cruise lines are furious. United Airlines is giving flight attendants three days off if they get vaccinated. Interestingly enough, flight attendants are not required to be vaccinated.

* In our Smarter Traveler segment, we are joined by Gwen Duncan of Cordially Yours Travel to talk about the cruise situation. Gwen loves to cruise and sells many of them. She presents Gov. DeSantis’ reasons for his position. Mark still thinks there will be a compromise which allows both sides to claim victory. Gwen says she would love to go on a cruise, but she wants to know the people she is sailing with are safe/vaccinated. Both concede there is a small number of people who cannot be vaccinated for various reasons.

* Beach Blanket Babylon ran for over 3 decades at the Club Fugazi in San Francisco. Now, a new show is set to open in the theater this fall. It will have a circus theme. We have an advance look at this new entertainment extravaganza.

* The Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach is back in business this summer. The unique cultural arts event featuring “living pictures” runs for two months in the summer. Our special guest tells you more about the festival and its accompanying art show.

Highlights

* Cordially Your Travel – Gwen Duncan

* Club Fugazi’s new show

* The Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach

* Top Travel Deals for June 2021

* Trailer Released for New Movie About Anthony Bourdain

* Sacramento Southwest passenger banned – video

* Ed Perkins on travel’s restart

* Ed’s new rail web site

* Southwest Routes to Hawaii from all destinations

* New Hawaii Rideshare about to start

* Different opinions on the comeback of business travel

* Make sure reviews aren’t too outdated

* From Folk to Film – A free concert from...

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On the Sunday, May 30th, Memorial Weekend edition of The Travel Guys… 

* In the Travel News, cruise ships are getting approval to begin the process of sailing again, and a Sacramento flyer will never board a Southwest plane again after attacking a flight attendant.

* Vaccine passports are becoming a reality in many international countries. Want to travel? You may need one, like it or not. We’ll give you an update in our Smarter Traveler segment. Plus, Airbnb is getting a LOT of pushback on the number of fees owners are adding to rentals. What do they plan to do about it?

* Ed Perkins is a travel writer and journalist who has been reporting on travel for nearly half a century. He regularly fills us in with his wisdom on travel issues. We’ll ask him about those pesky vaccine passports, about when reduced hotel service might come back and get his input on the restart of the cruise industry.

* Cruise ships are really in the news. Our own expert, Gwen Duncan, stops in to tell us where the deals are and what you need to know to get them. Hints: sign up for updates from cruise lines and get a good travel advisor.

Highlights

* Sacramento Southwest passenger banned – video

* Ed Perkins on travel’s restart

* Ed’s new rail web site

* Southwest Routes to Hawaii from all destinations

* New Hawaii Rideshare about to start

* Different opinions on the comeback of business travel

* Make sure reviews aren’t too outdated

* From Folk to Film – A free concert from the NY Pops Orchestra

* Your Boarding Pass has a Lot of Information about YOU

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On the Sunday, May 23rd edition of The Travel Guys… 

* Mark is live from Oracle Park in San Francisco, Tom is in studio in Sacramento.

* In the Travel News, Spain says if you’ve been vaccinated, welcome; as we predicted last week, at least half of the Alaska cruise season has been salvaged, and the Canadian and Mexican borders remain closed for another month – but there’s a glimmer of hope.

* In our Smarter Traveler segment, we tell you which hotel chains have dropped mask requirements and/or enforcement, and which ones still want you protecting yourself and other guests. Mark relates being a part of a freak snow storm in Virginia City this week and how you need to be prepared for unusual weather when you are traveling.

* In a recent interview, Chris Elliott’s advocacy firm got an “F” from the Better Business Bureau. Chris has the story and it’s a good one. (replay)

* Tom had the chance to talk with Jesse Colin Young, a rocker from not so long ago, in an Entertainment Guys feature. (replay)

Highlights

* Spain Is Reopening to All Vaccinated Tourists

* Royal Caribbean Submits Plan for Test Cruises to CDC

* Vaccinated guests may not have to wear masks at most hotels

* Elliott Advocacy

* Jesse Colin Young

* The Best Barbecue Place in Each State

* If a worried host asks you to pretend not to be a guest, it’s time to go

* Shortage of Help Could be an Indicator of Summer Travel Problems

* Your Boarding Pass has a Lot of Information about YOU

* Hwy 1 through Big Sur is OPEN

* Explaining the Jones Act – Cruise ships to Alaska

* Tauck Tours and Vacations

* Take Me Out to the Ballgame

* Clear – a pre-check program

* Registration for Clear

* Travelers put vaccination high on their list