This week, Sunday, December 17th, on The Travel Guys…

In the Travel News, Hilton is working to make your hotel room totally controlled by your phone. When? Where? We have details.

In our Smarter Traveler segment, Mark warns against the allure of bonus points from your airline credit card for buying online. The prices you pay may not be the best.

Wallet Hub is an online company that can help you pick the right travel credit card, along with other ways of organizing your expenses when you travel.

Finally, Mark dips into the mail bag to answer your questions. Submit your questions to Mark by using the form on this page.

Highlights

* www.onemileatatime.com

* www.wallethub.com

* Best Hotel Rewards Program – Wallet Hub

Highlights from previous weeks

* seatguru.com

*  swell-productions.com

* Vintage cowboy, blues, Americana Christmas show tickets

* Con Brio tickets – Harlows

* Passage to South America – Sports Leisure Vacations

* Tulip Time in Holland and Belgium – Sports Leisure Vacations

* O Magazine Presents the Alaskan Explorer Cruise – Sports Leisure Vacations

* Best Hotel Rewards Program

* Flying with Gifts: The TSA Rules You Need to Know

* The New Amazon Prime Membership Benefit That’s Perfect for Travelers

This Sunday, December 10th, on The Travel Guys…

*    In the Travel News, American Airlines confirms the seats are moving closer together on their new planes; and Mark has a strong opinion to share on the many opportunities being presented to buy airline and even hotel points.  If you are thinking of “giving” this gift to your favorite miles/points hound, you’ll want to hear what Mark has to say.

* Cheap airfares which include almost nothing besides a seat on the plane are all around us these days.  Gwen Duncan has an update on Norwegian Air, the newest international bare bones airline.

*  Steve LaRosa is on hand to share his latest version of “What’s Goin’ On” in and around Sacramento for the holiday season.

*   If you are a fan of cruising, the ocean or river versions, Michael Downer of Sports Leisure Vacations tells us about several upcoming adventures by Sports Leisure.  They include a river cruise in Europe at tulip time in the spring, a trip around the cape with several stops in South America (also in the spring) and an Alaska cruise sponsored by O Magazine.  Michael already has a cruise covering Australia and New Zealand in the works for January of 2019.

Highlights

* seatguru.com

*  swell-productions.com

* Vintage cowboy, blues, Americana Christmas show tickets

* Con Brio tickets – Harlows

* Passage to South America – Sports Leisure Vacations

* Tulip Time in Holland and Belgium – Sports Leisure Vacations

* O Magazine Presents the Alaskan Explorer Cruise – Sports Leisure Vacations

* Best Hotel Rewards Program

* Flying with Gifts: The TSA Rules You Need to Know

* The New Amazon Prime Membership Benefit That’s Perfect for Travelers

This Sunday, Dec. 3rd, on The Travel Guys…

* In the Travel News, American Airlines seems to have found enough of their pilots to fly over the holidays…at double holiday pay.  American Airlines stockholders should be thrilled.  Plus, Mark has the schedules for the new Vancouver – Sacramento service on Air Canada.  Our international airport is becoming more international!

* Rick Steves was in Sacramento last Sunday night, to deliver his “Travel as a Political Act“ presentation.  Despite what the title might leave you to believe, the speech wasn’t political in the sense you may be thinking. Mark and Tom share their analysis.

* How Safe is My Trip is the name of a website mentioned by Gwen Duncan in a report on Travel Scams last week.  Now we have the head of the site on our show to explain to you how you can get high level intelligence information about your travel destinations for a small fee.

* Mark talks about two Sports Leisure Vacations adventures.  Join the group headed for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in San Jose in early January; or scratch one off your bucket list by joining Mark on a journey down Route 66 in April.

Highlights

* “Travel as a Political Act” – Rick Steves

* How Safe is my Trip?

* U.S. Figure Skating Championships

* Route 66, The Main Street of America – Part I

* J.D. Power: The Best Hotel Loyalty Program Is …

* How to Snag a NYC Hotel for $100 per Night

* 10 Tips for Traveling as a Political Act

* Hotel Week NYC January 5-15

This Sunday, November 26th, on The Travel Guys:

* In the Travel News, Mark has details on an airline and a cruise line that have financial issues.  One is out of business, the other probably worthy of a closer look before selecting a cruise.  Mark has all the details.

* Gwen Duncan has a feature on Travel Scams, the kind of scams that happen to you live, on the street.  Things you need to be aware of, especially when you are in a foreign land.

* We are joined live, in studio, by Sid Hana, TSA Federal Security Director; and Dale Keller, Assistant Federal Director for Screening Procedures. If you have a question about airport screening or security, give us a call at 916-921-1530 or 800-821-1530.

Highlights

* Island Air filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

* French America Cruise Line

* Points & miles changing fortunes. Which points are worth more (or less) than before?

* How Safe Is My Trip?

* Scam Detector

* Transportation Security Advisor

* Southwest’s Sensual New Safety Demonstration

* USA’s Very Best Vegan Restaurants

* What If America Was One Big Theme Park?

Highlights from previous weeks

* Earn 5,000 bonus miles when you join Mileage Plan | Alaska Airlines

* 10 Tech Gifts for Traverlers

* Route 66, The Main Street of America (Part I) – Sports Leisure Vacations

* Key West, Miami and The Everglades 2018 – Sports Leisure Vacations

This Sunday, November 19th, on The Travel Guys…

* In the Travel News, Alaska Airlines fires the next shot in the “California War” with Southwest, offering 5,000 bonus miles on your first flight upon signing up for their frequent flyer program.  Click here for details.

* Gwen Duncan has a list of Pet Peeves at the airport that we are calling Airport Etiquette.  Things like keeping your kids under control, being ready when its your turn at the security desk, not hogging three seats in the waiting area with all your junk…wait, you hopefully don’t see yourself on that list, do you?

* Chris Elliott is along to talk about DNA tests that make you want to journey to your homeland, basic economy airfares and resort fees, among this week’s topics.

Highlights

* Earn 5,000 bonus miles when you join Mileage Plan | Alaska Airlines

* 10 Tech Gifts for Traverlers

* Route 66, The Main Street of America (Part I) – Sports Leisure Vacations

* Key West, Miami and The Everglades 2018 – Sports Leisure Vacations

This Sunday, November 12th, on The Travel Guys:

* In the Travel News, Mr. Marriott, Jr., is suing Mr. Marriott, Sr. – something about a divorce; and Mark has a hint on how to rent a Frank Lloyd Wright House on your next vacation.

* The guys answer questions from The Mailbag (send your question in on the form below), including where to park at the airport, who has the best international wifi and more.

* We take you on a walking tour of The Castro, one of San Francisco’s most diverse neighborhoods.  Find out more about the tour here.

* Each quarter, Holiday Inns (IHG Hotels) replace a list of hotels you can snare for only 5,000 Rewards Points.  This quarter’s list includes the Holiday Inn Express in Rocklin.

Highlights

* Cruisin The Castro Walking Tour

* These 20 Countries Have the Fastest Wi-Fi Speeds

* Beware Of These Common Travel Scams Around The World

* Book Almost 100 InterContinental Hotels for Just 5,000 Points a Night

* Rent a Frank Lloyd Wright Home for Your Next Vacation

* How to Eat Well at the Airport

* ‘Chinning’ all over the world!

* Marriott’s Former Heir Apparent Sues His Father

* Flight Attendants Reveal the Secret to Sleeping Better on an Airplane

* ‘World’s smallest hotel’ created in old VW Beetle in Jordan desert

* This 9-year-old cancer patient wants a card from you to celebrate his ‘last Christmas’ early

* Hilton Is Introducing A New Credit Card That Comes With Top Tier Status (And More!)

* Marriott heir sues dad for booting him from family trust over divorce

* IHG Rewards Club

This Sunday, October 29th, on The Travel Guys…

* In the Travel News, security is a little tighter for people heading into the U.S. on an international flight, it could cost you money to cross the street in Honolulu and Stockton Airport officials apparently have lost their sense of direction.  Mark has details.

* In our Smarter Traveler segment, Gwen Duncan stops in to talk about Riverboat cruises.  They are increasingly popular both in the states and abroad and they are different from ocean going cruises, Gwen is in studio to talk about the differences and help make you a smarter river cruiser.

* Out in the Nevada Desert, far from civilization sits a brothel which has garnered world-wide fame over the years.  It has been open and closed several times, and today it is serving visitors and “tourists.”  Of course, you can patronize Mustang Ranch in the “business” sense, but did you know you can take a tour to the landmark?  We have all the details.

* The hit Broadway show Beautiful lands in Sacramento soon and the guys have two tickets to give away Sunday.

Highlights

* World Famous Mustang Ranch Brothel

* Beautiful – The Carole King Musical

* Patty’s Tours – Visiting Reno

* Visiting the Hawaiian Vanilla Farm

* Hogwarts Express Rescues Stranded Family

Highlights from previous posts

* Long Beach, Washington

* Where Illegal Food Goes to Die

* The dark reason why you should always take pictures of your hotel room

* Incredible Southwest Companion Pass Offer For California Residents

* Click Here to Apply for Southwest Companion Pass

* Air Passenger Rights Fold-up Card

* Air Passenger Rights: The on-the-Go Guide

* Airport Construction Notices

 

 

This Sunday, October 22nd, on the Travel Guys…

* Mark is in studio, Tom is on the road, checking in from Orlando, where he’s spent time at Disney World and he has an update list of things to make you a smarter Disney visitor on your next trip.

* In the Travel News, Southwest Airlines has an incredible offer for residents of California only. It is perhaps the most generous offer by an airline in quite some time.

* We take you to the town of Long Beach.  Not the city of Long Beach, California; but indeed the town of Long Beach, Washington.  A little known destination off a spur of Highway 101 in the corner of southwest Washington, it’s actually easier to get there from Portland.  It’s known as the kite capital of the world and has one of the best small town bakeries on the planet.

* Mark asks the question, “What is your seat-picking strategy on Southwest Airlines?” Listening are invited to call in and share their ideas and methods of seat selection.  The best idea, as judged by the Travel Guys crew, will win $50 in gift cards from See’s Candies.

Highlights

* Long Beach, Washington

* Where Illegal Food Goes to Die

* The dark reason why you should always take pictures of your hotel room

* Incredible Southwest Companion Pass Offer For California Residents

* Click Here to Apply for Southwest Companion Pass

* Air Passenger Rights Fold-up Card

* Air Passenger Rights: The on-the-Go Guide

* Airport Construction Notices

This Sunday, October 15th, on The Travel Guys…

In the Travel News, is the way airlines board planes putting you at a health risk?  And we’ve found the dirtiest thing in your hotel room.  The coffee maker, believe it or not.

In our Smarter Traveler segment, we bring back an interview with Ed Perkins from a couple of years ago where Ed explains how valuable your waking hours are when you are on vacation.  It’s a fascinating break down that may change the way you approach things while traveling.

Ramona Goodge, one of our Road Reporters, is on hand with an update on travel to British Columbia.  Ramona roams the province several times a year and knows where to go wildlife watching and where to discover the special off the beaten track places.

Finally, Amy Lewis and her husband Stuart Lewis planned their own trip to Europe recently.  We talked to them about their plans before they left, and now we check back in with them to see how the do it yourself travel worked out.

Highlights

* 2017’s Best Foodie Cities in America

* The Hidden Travel Cost You Should Never Ignore – Ed Perkins

* Time vs. Money Interview with Ed Perkins

* Travel Planning Tips Interview with Amy and Stuart Lewis

* Wildlife Viewing in British Columbia – Sports Leisure Vacations

* The International Selkirk Loop – Sports Leisure Vacations

* Read This Before You Fly on an Airliner Ever Again

This Sunday, October 8th, on The Travel Guys…

* In the Travel News, things have come 180 in terms of travel to Cuba, as the U.S. State Department issues a warning telling Americans to be extra careful if you are headed to Cuba anytime soon.  The Florida Keys officially reopened to tourists last week, and good news from Puerto Rico, as the first cruise ships will return next month.  Plus, another Indian tour operator has dropped elephant rides from their itineraries and we’ll tell you why.

* In our Smarter Traveler segment, realizing that in Sacramento we don’t have as many non-stop destinations as travelers in San Francisco or Los Angeles, we discuss what is the right amount of time to allow for a layover between flights in an airport.  Many of us have to connect to get to most destinations, so layovers are a science with some frequent Sacramento travelers.  We’ll share some of that wisdom.

* Right after the news update at the bottom of the hour, we’ll be looking for three listeners who are avid cruisers, travelers who love to go by boat or ship.  Call in and tell us why you love big ship cruising or small ship cruising or yacht cruising or sailing on the open water or river cruising in Europe or just any kind of cruising.  The traveler who offers the strongest points will win a $100 Ruth Chris Gift Card.  There will even be prizes for the runners up.

* Finally, on a day when we are giving away things, we might as well let go of our last two Rick Steves tickets.  Rick will be in Sacramento at the Crest Theater on Sunday, November 26th.  You can get tickets here if you don’t win a pair from The Travel Guys.  Our friends at public television KVIE are sponsoring the event.

Highlights

* A Look Inside The New England Patriots’ New Private 767

* How to survive a road trip with your kids

* Disneyland’s MaxPass Is Totally Worth It

* Southwest passenger wows with surprise song and dance

Highlights from previous weeks

* calautomuseum.org

* harlows.com

* suttercreektheater.com

* Bag King

* Delta Is Introducing Free Inflight Messaging

* These 10 Photos of San Francisco In The 1960s Are Mesmerizing

*