Episode 212: The October Crazy Travel Roundup

Hello and welcome to episode 212 of Travel Stories from the Back Again and Gone. Being recorded in the beautiful Hilton Garden Inn in Columbia, SC. If you’re a new listener, a warm welcome; and if you’re a returning listener, great to have you back.

Tonight, it’s the October Crazy Travel Roundup. Yes, you heard that right—after a long hiatus, the podcast is back on the road, thanks to my trusty (and surprisingly reliable) Chinese-made lapel microphone.

To kick things off, I’m enjoying a Bound by Time IPA from Edmund’s Oast in Charleston, SC. At 7% ABV, it’s quickly become one of my favorites. Our local Publix seems to get just four 4-packs a week, and it’s a constant battle between me and some other rando to see who stocks up first.

South Carolina’s craft brew scene has really stepped up its game over the past few years, and tonight, with a great beer in hand, I’m ready to share some of those wild October travel stories with you.

Only one October trip stands out: It began with a flight into Atlanta for a quick meeting. I grabbed a rental car and hit the road for Greenville, SC, then headed to Columbia, SC. I planned to catch a late flight back out of Atlanta to O-Town, which was scheduled to land around 11:30 PM.

But I wrapped up early in Columbia, SC, and got to the airport by 5:00 PM. I asked Delta if they could get me on an earlier flight, and they rebooked me on a 7:00 PM departure, getting me home by 9:30 PM—two hours ahead of schedule. Just after clearing TSA, I got a text from the Entrepreneur who is at the O-Town airport, en route to Philly. He said the airport was a complete mess and that his flight was delayed by 2 hours. Moments later, Delta sent me a notification that my 7:00 PM flight had been rescheduled to 8:30 PM, pushing my arrival to 11:00 PM—only 30 minutes ahead of the original plan. The Entrepreneur’s delays worsened, so he headed home to catch what he called the “suicide flight” out the next morning.

This was all happening as the government shutdown started to take hold, on day one or two of the chaos.

Fast forward to my current trip, which began on day 39 or 40 of the shutdown. With the FAA cutting flight schedules and airlines cancelling flights left and right, I decided to ditch the airports and the hassle altogether and drove down to Columbia. Even after all these years, driving on I-95 is still a grind.

Point Me To The Plane recently asked - What Travel Rules Do You Use That Make Your Travels Easier?

Five Travel Rules to Consider

Rule #1: Four nights minimum

Rule #2: Business class for flights over 4 hours

Rule #3: Start with a city, end with a resort

Rule #4: Leave a $20 tip per night for housekeeping

Rule #5: Add 50% to the hotel sticker price to get the true rate

I read this several times, and no actual rise-and-grind road warrior follows or actually believes in these rules.

Since I figured this was a joke, here are a few of my travel rules.

Rule #1: Coach is fine… unless the flight includes a meal

If they’re serving food with forks instead of pretzels, that’s the universe telling you to upgrade.

Rule #2: Tip housekeeping $20 unless you’re the one who needs housecleaning

Because sometimes the room looks worse after you organize it.

Rule #3: Add 50% to the hotel price, then add emotional baggage fees

Taxes, resort fees, minibar guilt, and that one night you said “just one more round.” It all adds up.

Rule #4: No packing list survives first contact with TSA

That carefully folded outfit? TSA’s now seen more of your socks than your spouse.

Rule #5: Never trust a Wi-Fi labeled “Airport_Free_Public_Safe”

That’s not free Wi-Fi—that’s a hacker with your Netflix login now. Use a VPN

Rule #6 Souvenirs weigh more on the way home

Physics can’t explain it. But your extra suitcase full of “local art” sure does. The same holds true with dirty clothes.

Rule #7: Always act like you know where you’re going

Confidence counts. Even when Google Maps says “recalculating” for the fifth time.

Bonus Rule: Never trust anyone who says “it’s a short walk”

That phrase has destroyed more relationships than time zones ever could.

“Remember, whether your rule is four-night minimums or twenty-dollar tips, the real rule of travel is simple: pack your patience, your passport, and a sense of humor big enough to fit in the overhead bin.”

From View From The Wing we have - ‘Three Beers Later’: Delta Passenger Body Checks Flight Attendant, Twists Gate Agent’s Breast, Then Runs For It. Here are the cliff notes, or what you need to know..

Move over, Love Is Blind—Delta just launched Passengers Gone Wild: SLC Edition.

Meet Cody Sierra Marie Bryne, a Utah traveler who proved that boarding a plane sober is just a suggestion. After admitting to “only three beers” (because somehow 3 beers makes mayhem classy), she allegedly turned a routine Salt Lake City–Portland flight into a WWE meet-and-greet, complete with a full-body check, hair-pulling, and the aviation industry’s first recorded “gate agent purple nurple.”

When ordered off the plane, she made a break for it—because nothing says “I deserve another chance” like sprinting to buy a ticket on a different airline immediately after assaulting someone from the first one. Two officers finally subdued her, likely using the phrase “You’re cut off” as their Miranda rights.

Charges include sexual battery, assault, and public intoxication—but not irony, which remains legal in Utah despite clear abuse. Delta reiterated its “zero tolerance” policy, which in PR terms means they said “Wow, please don’t associate us with this,” in six carefully worded sentences.

The internet’s verdict:

* “3 beers” in Utah = “7 beers” anywhere else.

* “Four names” = guaranteed main character energy.

* “To Portland” = I’m surprised this wasn’t a dude headed to Florida.

Moral of the story: never believe “Just three beers,” and never test the patience of a Delta crew armed with Biscoff cookies and zero sense of humor.

For some, their subtle flex is dropping their shiny credit card onto the table when they offer to pick up the tab. If you spend any amount of time on the travel blogosphere, you will come across countless websites dedicated to which credit card is the best for travel and which credit cards offer the best points value for your purchases.

For example, The Points Guy recently asked, Is the Amex Platinum worth the annual fee? My input is coming from someone who has spent close to 30 years traveling for business, so my opinions are a bit jaded.

Amex Platinum statement credits and perks

The Amex Platinum offers a laundry list of statement credits that can help offset the $895.00 annual fee. That’s the excuse they use to entice you to spend the $895.00. In full disclosure, the credits amount to over $3,500 in value per year, more than triple the card’s annual fee.

Hotel statement credit

Potential annual value: Up to $600 when booking a prepaid stay via American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection on American Express Travel®.

Unfortunately, I book through Concur, so it is of no value to me.

Resy

Potential annual value: Up to $400

Just pay with your Amex Platinum at an eligible U.S. Resy restaurant; no reservation is required. This credit alone almost covers half of the annual fee.

A corporate card covers my meals when traveling.

Uber Cash

Potential annual value: Up to $200

Cardmembers receive up to $200 in Uber Cash per calendar year toward U.S. rides and Uber Eats orders.

Uber Eats does hold value here at Chateau Relaxo, Uber rides not so much since we use it maybe twice a year when we travel.

Uber One statement credit

Potential annual value: Up to $120. I don’t need an Uber credit card.

Digital entertainment statement credit

Potential annual value: Up to $300

Amex offers cardmembers a digital entertainment statement credit that provides reimbursement for a variety of streaming and entertainment services. For some, this is of value.

Lululemon statement credit

Potential annual value: Up to $300

The CEO shops there, not me.

Equinox statement credit and SoulCycle at home

Potential annual value: Up to $300

We, not I, rented a Peloton with the excuse that I can work out any time I want. We, not I, no longer rent a Peloton.

Clear Plus membership statement credit

Potential annual value: Up to $209

I’m still not 100% sold on Clear, as I’ve yet to see any real value in it.

Airline fee statement credit

Potential annual value: Up to $200

Each calendar year (not account anniversary), cardmembers can get up to $200 back in statement credits toward incidental fees on a single U.S. airline they designate.

Technically, this credit is used toward charges such as checked baggage fees, seat assignment fees, airline lounge passes, and similar expenses, so it has minimal value.

Oura statement credit

Potential annual value: Up to $200

This credit can only be used on hardware purchases, not the subscription. If you’re not familiar, Oura rings are smart rings that track a variety of health and fitness data.

I have an Apple watch, I’m good.

Saks Fifth Avenue statement credit

Potential annual value: Up to $100

We don’t shop at Saks

Walmart+ statement credit

Potential annual value: Up to $155

This is a monthly $13.00 Walmart credit. I don’t think I spend $200.00 per year at Walmart.

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit

Potential annual value: Up to $30 a year

There is some value in this, but it’s only every four years.

Most of these potential annual values are divided by 12, since you have to use them monthly or quarterly to get the full $3500.00.

Here’s the one place it might just pay off —and it’s not in these vendor perks. New cardmembers can find out their offer and see if they’re eligible for as many as 175,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.

For Chateau’ Relaxo, there might be $300.00 of value, if we remember to use the benefits every month, back to my jaded stance due to all these years of business travel. I no longer want an upgrade unless I’m flying with the CEO or traveling across the country. Hanging out in an airport lounge holds no appeal, since almost every airport offers free WiFi, and lounge snacks are marginal at best. This was solidified when my last flight out of Atlanta was delayed, and the line for the Terminal A Delta Sky Club stretched out the glass doors, wrapped around the corner, and down the concourse.

I spent years chasing points. I’d apply for a new card and pay the required amount within the allotted time to earn 70,000 to 150,000 points or miles. We’ve put college tuition and a new roof on a credit card, and even purchased a car, to get those points.

In the past few years, major corporations have really changed their stance on travel expenses. Most use what we call a ghost credit card when booking Travel. This means you book your flight and your company receives the invoice, and you never have to fill out an expense item for it. In addition, they will issue you a corporate credit card to be used for everything else. This means you don’t get to reap the full benefits of the points earned on all your travel purchases. In the past, I would book a Hilton stay with my Hilton American Express card and earn 12 points per dollar, which adds up extremely quickly.

Just remember that if you can’t pay the balance in full each month, the interest rate will outweigh any of the card’s benefits.

By the way, there is a mirrored Platinum card if you want to blind bystanders as you pay for your lunch tab at a food truck.

I am a fan of traditions, as we have the same Christmas breakfast every year, and the CEO has a shot of Blanton’s Whiskey before every Florida Panthers game. They won two back-to-back Stanley Cups.

However, traditions, or better yet, superstitions, can be dangerous. For example, walking under a ladder, the danger is injury if the ladder falls or tools drop on someone.​ How about Broken Mirrors? The threat here is due to sharp glass shards, which can cause severe cuts and injuries

There’s even a tradition/superstition of Tossing Coins into Engines to have a safe journey. I’m sure you’ve already figured this one out. An elderly woman tried to wish a plane good luck by tossing coins into the engine – Guess What Happened Next?

This 80-year-old woman tried to give her flight some “good luck”—by tossing coins into the plane’s engine. The elderly passenger was apparently confusing a multimillion-dollar jet with a mall fountain. She threw nine coins at the engine and prayed for a safe flight. Guess what? Only one coin made it in, great throw Grandma, but that was enough to delay 150 travelers for over five hours as the ground crew went on an impromptu treasure hunt worthy of Indiana Jones, except with much less gold and a lot more annoyed tourists.​

As social media pointed out, “Grandma, this is not a mall wish fountain with turtles.”

If the airline industry ever needs a lesson in how superstition can grind air traffic to a halt, they’ve got it. Maybe next time, someone should just bring a lucky rabbit’s foot—or better yet, keep the spare change for airplane snacks instead of engine sacrifices.​

So, moral of the story: when flying, please don’t take “throwing money at the problem” quite so literally.​

Time for our “Thank you, Florida” section.

This comes to us from View From the Wing - Frontier Passenger Jumps Airport Check-in Counter, Gets Into Hair-Pulling Fight With Agent — Bodycam Shows Felony Arrest

by Gary Leff on October 23, 2025

A Frontier Airlines passenger didn’t make it onto her flight at the Orlando airport. She says she didn’t miss it, had a “business class” ticket, and expects rebooking and a voucher. Check-in staff said she arrived late, that they were rebooking her, and that they were frustrated by her filming them.

There’s a 17-minute video, there’s always a video, and let’s title it: “Frontier Airlines — Now Boarding Section: Melee”

Filmed live at the Orlando airport, starring one very confident passenger, an unimpressed supervisor, and gravity doing its thing by baggage claim.

The Plot in 30 Seconds:

One passenger insists she didn’t miss her flight.

The crew insists she absolutely did.

She insists she had a “business class” ticket — only problem, Frontier doesn’t have business class. Not even business‑casual.

Act One — “Operation: Record Everything”

She whips out her phone to film the counter staff like it’s Dateline: Orlando. When told to stop, she… jumps the check‑in counter.

Because when life says, “You’re late for your flight,” the logical next move is apparently hurdling furniture and invading the employee zone.

Act Two — “Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow”

Once behind the counter, both she and the agent go full Jerry Springer. Hair‑pulling, slapping, the works — right next to the baggage belt where dreams (and dignity) go to die. Bystanders jump in to separate the combatants just as police arrive to replay the footage like NFL refs reviewing a fumble.

Act Three — “Felony and Flirtation”

When officers inform her that roughing up a 65‑year‑old employee is a felony, she switches tactics — baby voice mode- and gets a pair of fancy handcuffs.

What’s the Florida motto? Come on vacation. Leave on probation.

Here’s the closer, “She demanded rebooking for her ‘business class’ fare. Ma’am, you were on Frontier — you’re lucky your seat had fabric.”

If you spend any time flying, you will eventually see people who stand up as soon as the plane parks at the gate and the “fasten seat belt” sign turns off. Some of them will even go as far as walking up the aisle towards the plane’s door. This is poor airline etiquette; just wait your turn. We all need to get off the plane.

So here’s a story straight from the “You Can’t Make This Up” files: A mom on a Frontier flight decided that nobody was leaving the plane until her kid got off first. Only problem? She was standing in the aisle several rows ahead of her kid—and just planted herself right there like a human blockade.

Passengers trying to get off? Nope. Flight attendants asking her politely to move? Nope. She basically took the aisle hostage. It was like a toddler tantrum meets traffic jam... on an airplane.

The classic airline family drama apparently sparked the whole thing: seats not assigned next to each other. Frontier does “family seating” by chance—or by magic—if you pay up or get lucky. This mom skipped both and then got upset when her daughter was several rows back.

The flight attendant did a great job calming the chaos, but honestly, this was a masterclass in “How Not to Airport.” Moral of the story? If you’re gonna fly cheap, be prepared for some cheap behavior. And maybe—just maybe—buy the seat next to your kid.

Amiri King posted the almost 90-second video on X. I’ll put a link in the show notes, and if you decide to watch it, see if mom reminds you of the woman in the DAFUQ meme.

Well, there you have it, Episode 212, the October crazy travel round-up.

For long-time listeners, thank you for your comments and emails. For new listeners, I hope you return.

If you want detailed show notes, links, and pictures, head over to Substack at travelstories.substack.com/

You can also leave me a message on Anchor or email me at [email protected].

As I always say, travel safe, stay safe, and thanks for listening.

Episode 211 The September Crazy Travel Round Up

Hello and welcome to episode 211 of Travel Stories from the Back Again and Gone podcast. Still being recorded in the beautiful home office of Chateau Relaxo, FL. If you are a new listener, welcome; if you are a returning listener, welcome back. Tonight, it’s The September crazy travel roundup, which makes two episodes in the last two months, we just might be back on track.

Ever since COVID, I’ve begun almost every episode with, “Still being recorded in the beautiful home office of Chateau Relaxo, FL,” and the reason was that for years, most episodes were recorded in various hotels as I’ve traveled. In the past five years, recording gear has gotten much smaller and lighter so I might just take this show back on the road.

During September, I was on the road for three of the four weeks.

Trip 1

Orlando to Columbus, Ohio. This required a connecting flight, of course, because the only direct flights out of O-Town are to Atlanta, Delta’s primary hub. Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, JFK, LaGuardia, Boston, LAX, Salt Lake City, Seattle, and of course Amsterdam. Atlanta is the only destination in my territory. For a long time, listeners, yes, I switched from Southwest to Delta as my airline of choice.

As I was riding the escalator at O-Town, ready to go through TSA, I got a text letting me know that my flight into Atlanta was delayed by an hour, and I only had a forty-five-minute layover to catch my flight into Columbus, not good.

At the top of the escalator, I headed to the Delta counter and was able to get re-booked on a flight that got me into Columbus only two hours after my original flight. Even the middle seat was vacant, I owe one to the Plane Gods for that. Halfway through the flight, a flight attendant tapped me on the shoulder, identified me by name, and informed me that Delta was depositing 1,000 miles into my account for the inconvenience. Certainly not enough for a ticket, but it was stellar customer service. Here’s a travel tip: at some point, a flight will get delayed or cancelled, trust me, it will. Do not take to X or the Ticky Tok and b***h about it, find an employee either in person or on the phone, and this is the key, calmly ask them if they could help to rebook you on another flight. In all my years of travel, I have never once seen someone yelling or threatening a gate agent over a cancelled or delayed flight garner them a quick rebooking. Gate agents know schedules, and they will gladly help you out if you’re nice.

My big takeaway from this trip is that I-70 is under major road construction, which turned a 90-minute drive into a 120-minute journey.

Trip 2

It was a road trip that started in Little Rock, Arkansas, and ended up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with a stop in Bentonville. Arkansas. All of these locations were new stops for me. Little Rock was what I expected. While it’s the state’s capital, it has a highly small-town feel. The next stop was Bentonville, Arkansas, and that night’s hotel was close to $200.00 after I applied all my discount codes. I rolled into town around 5:00 PM, and traffic was bumper-to-bumper. I knew that Bentonville is Walmart’s home base, but the traffic was similar to Atlanta or Dallas. When I checked in, I asked the desk clerk, “Is traffic always this congested?” He reapplied, “Every day.” He went on to say that Tyson Foods and JB Hunt Trucking were also headquartered here, so weekdays are chaotic with traffic and hotel prices skyrocketing due to the influx of vendors conducting business. He said that on the weekend, hotel prices returned to the normal range, then increased again on Sunday night.

The drive from Bentonville to Tulsa was on I-40 and uneventful, except that as soon as I entered Oklahoma, the first thing I saw was a casino. The one bright spot about Tulsa was that parking on the street in downtown Tulsa cost less than $1.00 per hour, and I didn’t have to dig for quarters because they had their own parking app.

Trip 3

Into Panama City for a meeting, another meeting in Pensacola, and then the last meeting was in Mobile, AL. All three locations I’ve been to, with Mobile holding a special place, ever since the CEO and I went there for Mardi Gras a few years ago. I was bright enough to book my flight into Panama City. FL and not Panama City, Panama.

However, here’s what happened flying out of the Mobile, AL airport. This was my first time flying out of Mobile, so I asked Google Maps for directions to the Mobile Airport. I put my rental car in gear, joined a conference call, and began driving down I-65 and then East on I-10. I jump off I-10 and see signs for the Mobile International Airport. Before long, I’m following detour signs and driving down two-lane roads covered in dirt, and I begin to get concerned as I don’t see any planes taking off or landing or a control tower. Suddenly, Google Maps tells me to turn left, and I see the tail of an airplane, and a sigh of relief comes over me, until I hit the “Dead End” sign. I will save you the cussing, but Mobile has not one, but two airports. The Mobile Regional Airports and the Mobile International Airport, which is slated to open in the fall of 2026, who knew, apparently not me.

I asked Google Maps, again, for directions to the correct airport, and luckily, I’m only 30 minutes away. I arrive at the gate roughly 10 minutes before we board, which, for me, is cutting it a bit too close. Here’s what makes me the mayor of Stupid Town. My hotel the night before was located on, get this, “Airport Boulevard”, yes, I am the mayor.

A few travel observations I’ve made over the past few months of traveling.

* A different hotel each night is still rough, but it does allow me to accomplish more with less travel expense to my company.

* Every flight is still full, and on every flight, passengers are asked to gate-check their luggage because overhead space is unavailable.

* This next thing is a significant change for me. If you’re a long-time listener, you’ve probably heard me say, “There are two types of luggage: carry-on and lost.” I am now checking my luggage even with only a 60-minute layover. Airlines have stepped up their baggage-tracking game, and with the help of an AirTag, most of my concerns about lost luggage are gone.

* Airports have significantly enhanced their amenities over the last decade or so. It used to be that every airport charged for internet access, usually through services like Boingo. Now, almost every airport offers quote-unquote free internet after you watch an ad or complete a survey. In the past, airports such as Nashville and Memphis had someone playing music in the atrium, an airport bar, or near the gate. When I flew out of Tulsa, there were several members of the Tulsa Symphony serenading us with music as we waited to board. I recently noticed that the Atlanta airport has a Chiropractic center and a Georgia lottery station on Concourse B.

* Most major chain restaurants will allow you to order airport food through their app. Think about it: you’ve landed and, while taxiing to your gate, you order your gooey frappe, whatever it is, get off the plane, and skip the line.

* One thing that hasn’t changed is boarding by zone. Passengers in Zone 6 will crowd the gate as general boarding begins. After twenty-five years of flying, I can assure you that Delta is not going to start boarding with Zone 6 all of a sudden. Delta used to begin boarding by status after the First Class passengers were boarded. It went Platinum, then Gold, and then Silver. On this flight, there were so many Platinum members that we all had to board simultaneously.

We all remember what we were doing at specific times in our lives -

I was working at a feed and grain store the day Ronald Reagan was shot. I was driving north on I-95 and saw the cloud from the Challenger explosion.

On 911, I was leaving my office, headed to Knoxville, TN. At 9:03 AM, I cut through our break room at the moment the second plane hit the second tower. In 2001, we communicated through email and texting. Probably because you had to press the “1” key three times to use the letter “C,” and not every cell phone was capable of receiving emails.

We had an office directly across from the Pentagon, which was struck by American Airlines Flight 77 at 9:37. By 11:00 AM, headquarters sent an email stating that no one was to travel. If you are on the road, consider extending your hotel stay. If you are headed to the airport, do not return your rental car; instead, find a hotel or drive back home. The final directive was for each of us to call our team members to let them know this, in case they didn’t have access to their laptops and a phone line.

On the 1st anniversary of 911, which I don’t consider an anniversary, I was in Valdosta, GA. I was stirred from my slumber by a parking lot filled with emergency equipment, including sirens and lights…. To this day, I have no idea what happened, but it’s not the best way to start your day, especially on the anniversary of something as tragic as 911.

The attacks killed 2,976 people, including citizens from across the globe, and injured thousands, many of whom are suffering from the effects 24 years later.

Let’s lighten the mood a bit. Even after traveling for all these years, I still have several habits when I check into a hotel room and when I check out.

When I first enter, I check the shower, the closet, and under the bed to verify that I’m not sharing the room with any randos. When I check out of my room, I perform a thorough sweep of my belongings to ensure I don’t leave any phone or laptop chargers behind.

Over the years, the only thing these habits have produced is a phone charger left plugged into the wall, a solid indicator that housekeeping didn’t pay much attention to preparing the room for the next guest, which was me.

Here are the Cliff Notes of this next nightmare:

A Ukrainian model checks into her Tokyo hotel, sniffs a suspiciously sweet-and-sour scent, and discovers—no, not bad housekeeping, but a real, sweaty man hiding under her bed with nothing but a USB cable for company. The intruder bolts faster than when a guest realizes the minibar isn’t free; the police behave as if they just walked off a Japanese game show (no security cameras, barely any questions), and APA Hotel’s bed storage innovations score an unexpected “surprise guest.” Who says Japanese hotels don’t offer extra amenities?

What Actually Happened

* The woman checks in, changes clothes, and gets comfy… but notices an “animal covered in sugar” aroma instead of the usual fresh press of the tatami.

* Looks under the bed (as one does in Tokyo), finds not lost slippers but a blinking, bowl-cut stranger.

* Screaming ensues; man sprints for the exit, leaving behind his power bank and any chance for a good Yelp review.

* Police show up but demonstrate more “serenity” than “detective work,” taking minimal info and maximum indifference.

The Wisdom of Travel

* Always check under the bed in Tokyo—your suitcase might not be the only thing stored there.

* Japan: Low on crime rates, high on the probability that “privacy” means “no security cameras when you absolutely need them”.

* Next time you smell “dead animal covered in sugar”—know, it’s not a new flavor at the ramen shop! And “dead animal covered in sugar” is the worst cocktail name ever.

Recently, One Mile At A Time posted - 14 Of My Biggest Hotel Pet Peeves, From Decorative Pillows To Destination Fees

The list was all over the road, but a few of these did resonate with me.

* Bathrooms without privacy—I’m not sure where the author is staying, but I have never seen a hotel bathroom without privacy.

* Decorative pillows & other bedding—I’ve never really noticed them.

* Showers with weak water pressure - Years ago, I carried plumber’s pliers to remove the water restrictor valve from the showerhead. I haven’t used them in years.

* Complicated showers, poorly designed—if a shower challenges you, figure it out or use YouTube.

* Gyms that aren’t 24/7 - I’ve never had a desire to hop on an elliptical at 2:00 AM.

* A poor coffee setup — not a coffee person myself; I use caffeinated soda to jump-start my mornings, but I can understand the frustration.

* Destination, resort, and urban fees - It comes with the territory. The room rate can be an extra $30.00 per day, or you can pay a $30.00 per day resort fee. Either way, the house always wins.

* Scripted, artificial customer service - I’ve never noticed it, probably because I always engage the desk staff in a friendly two-way conversation.

* Hotels trying to avoid providing elite perks - I’ve never felt shorted on any elite perks, and honestly, I’d rather have the perks when I’m traveling with the CEO than when I’m traveling alone.

* In-room TVs automatically turning on—OK, but I have no idea why this would be a pet peeve.

* Room amenities that aren’t properly checked - This is the first pet peeve that I would agree with. I need my soap, a functioning iron, and a couple of bottles of water.

* Beds with square pillows - “Square pillows at a hotel? Fantastic—because when I travel, I definitely dream of waking up with my neck shaped like a question mark and my soul questioning its life choices.” Seriously, whoever put this list together must be a travel snob.

* Lack of power outlets by the bed - I agree, and that’s why I carry a power strip. I did have a hotel last month that the bedside clock offered wireless charging.

* Rooms without desks or desk-like setups - Completely agree.

I relate to three of the fourteen; I am the broken traveler.

This came from a new site - Twisted Sifter.

A passenger was filmed opening and eating a can of tuna on an airplane, sparking considerable online outrage and humor due to the strong smell and lack of consideration for fellow travelers. Many commenters described it as a “crime against humanity”. They joked about placing the passenger on a no-fly list, noting that eating pungent foods in close quarters is socially inconsiderate. The story elicited a mix of commiseration and amusement, with the article emphasizing that while bringing your own food on a flight is fine, travelers should be mindful of how their choices affect others in confined spaces.

I’ve never brought food onto a plane, and strawberry Twizzlers don’t count. If you’re flying out of Memphis, TN, there’s a good chance that someone will board with a Styrofoam container with ribs in it. In Boston, it’s the lobster roll. Airports have upped their food game, from major chains to local favorites. Thank you, ATL, for the Varsity. All this being said, I recall about ten years ago, on a Southwest flight, they announced that they wouldn’t be serving peanuts as a snack because a passenger was highly allergic to them.

Ten or eleven years ago, I witnessed a similar scenario unfold across the aisle from me. I am not a can of canned tuna fish. When the odor fills the kitchen, I’m heading towards my home office. When it happened to me, there was no TikTok, and the travel blog sites were in their infancy, so there was nowhere to post your gripe.

So next time snack cravings strike at 30,000 feet, leave the tuna in your checked bag—because on an airplane, the only thing that should be canned is the attitude, not the fish.

Paddle Your Own Canoe recently posted this about British Airways.

A British Airways lawsuit claims a ground worker at Chicago O’Hare, allegedly under the influence of marijuana, drove mobile airstairs into a Boeing 747-400, causing $228,028 in damage and significant disruptions way back in September 2019. The worker did not immediately report the incident, forcing the airline to cancel a London-bound flight, pay for passenger accommodations, and incur repair and legal costs while seeking compensation from Ground Services International (GSI), whose insurer has refused to pay.

First, British Airways sadly retired the 747s in 2019. Second, you know what I say about marijuana enthusiasts. Marijuana enthusiasts do nothing but think about when the next time they get to smoke marijuana, how they are going to smoke marijuana, and where they will be smoking marijuana.

“Apparently, British Airways can add ‘grounded by the munchies’ to their list of flight delays—who knew the scariest thing on the runway for a 747 wasn’t a bird strike, but a set of stoned airstairs doing a drive-by wing job?”

Well, there you have it, Episode 211, the September crazy travel round-up.

For long-time listeners, thank you for your comments and emails. For new listeners, I hope you return.

If you want detailed show notes, links, and pictures, head over to Substack at travelstories.substack.com/

You can also leave me a message on Anchor or email me at [email protected].

As I always say, travel safe, stay safe, and thanks for listening.

Hello and welcome to episode 210 of Travel Stories from the Back Again and Gone podcast, coming to you from the home office of Chateau Relaxo, FL. If this is your first time listening, I’m glad you’re here. If you’re returning, welcome back. Tonight’s episode covers our recent adventure to Alaska. Thanks for tuning in.

I’m enjoying a Cigar City Fancy Papers Hazy IPA from Tampa, Florida—6.5% ABV, if you’re curious.

It’s been a while—almost five months since the last episode. Life at Chateau Relaxo has kept us busy, from losing a parent to switching jobs and everything in between.

After twenty-five years, I moved on from the company that started the original blog and inspired this podcast. The good news? My new job means more travel, so expect episodes a bit more frequently—maybe not 2019 levels, but definitely more than lately.

Recently, the CEO and I checked off a bucket-list item with a seven-day Alaska cruise, departing Seattle on the Norwegian Encore. Before this, my only cruise was Miami to Mexico during Carnival, and I wasn’t a fan. I was hesitant, but the CEO convinced me to give it another try.

My advice: If you’re cruising out of Seattle, consider flying in a day early. Coming from the East Coast, we arrived midday, which gave us time to explore Pike Place Market. All passengers were required on board by 4 PM—tempting as it is, don’t risk flying in the day of your cruise. One fellow passenger did, and his luggage ended up in Detroit. The staff had to assist him in shopping for clothes.

Day 1: Boarding in Seattle was smooth, with organized windows for boarding. Our luggage arrived around 4 PM, and finding it was like a scavenger hunt. The rest of the afternoon was spent unpacking and organizing—more on room organization will be discussed later.

Day 2: We were at sea, the perfect chance to explore the ship. Guest Services provided us with a map and informed us about the Norwegian app. Every morning, a newsletter lists the day's activities. Our internet package was less than 120 minutes, so we decided to upgrade to unlimited—it wasn’t cheap, but it was essential, as you'll see.

Day 3: Juneau. The first thing you’ll notice here is the abundance of jewelry stores—18 at last count. They're set up for cruise ship passengers with disposable income. Many are owned or partnered by cruise lines, offering discounts and rebates. I spent 30 minutes negotiating for a watch but left it—and found the same price in the duty-free shop, no haggling required. If you’re buying big-ticket items, do your homework before making a purchase.

Everyone recommends Tracy’s King Crab Shack and The Red Dog Saloon—but I skipped both. Tracy’s had an enormous line and pricey crab legs, and while reviews are stellar, both my patience and budget couldn’t handle it. The Red Dog Saloon is famous for its Duck Fart Shot, but these days, crowded bars and novelty drinks aren’t my thing.

Our first excursion was Douglas Island Pink and Chum—DIPAC—the local salmon hatchery. Quick note: book excursions through NCL. They’ve vetted providers and, if your tour runs late, the ship will wait for you. That’s not always the case with local bookings. DIPAC operates the Macaulay Hatchery, nearly 50 years old, helping sustain Alaska’s salmon population and offering interactive exhibits. Mid-July through August, you can witness millions of chum salmon returning to spawn. Outside the hatchery, a seal swam by, and the trees filled with bald eagles—a magical moment.

Back on the boat, we joined our first art auction, hosted by Park West Gallery. If you attend, expect lively bidding, champagne, and events such as “Guess the Price” and reverse auctions. It’s a fun way to learn about art, but be sure to research your purchases—most pieces are limited editions or prints, and appraisals aren’t always independent. We bought two pieces, spent more on framing and shipping than the art itself, but hey, maybe we’ve started a collection.

Day 4: Skagway and the . The train climbs nearly 3,000 feet over 20 miles—stunning views, waterfalls, and bridges. Sit on the left side for the best scenery. We saw bears, learned about glacier geography, and crossed Pitchfork Falls (named for its multiple cascading streams). This was the only excursion requiring passports. After a full day, we skipped returning to Skagway—jet lag and exhaustion won out.

Day 5: Glacier Bay. Perfect timing for a rest day. We discovered a laundry service—everything you can fit in a bag for $35, a lifesaver halfway through the trip. Glacier Bay was stunning—and if you have binoculars, be sure to use them. Balcony rooms pay off when public spaces get packed. We watched otters swimming and frolicking in the bay, another highlight.

Day 6: Ketchikan, docked at Ward Cove on July 4th. Enormous souvenir warehouse, and at the back, options for all sorts of Alaskan excursions. Norwegian seems to opt for more remote docking spots.

Our excursion: The Bering Sea Crab Fishermen’s Tour on the Aleutian Ballad (from Deadliest Catch). Calm waters offered up-close views of king crab, octopus, and more—plus dozens of eagles swooping for fish.

The crew’s sea tales blended humor, drama, and inspiration. Ketchikan’s parade meant limited time in town, so we headed back early.

Day 7: Victoria, BC. More time at sea before docking at 8:30 PM. Hit the casino, lost money—typical. We stayed aboard instead of exploring.

Boat Life: Dining options galore—three main restaurants, buffet, and The Local open 24/7. Several specialty restaurants satisfied every craving. If you’re hungry, that’s on you.

Entertainment included Broadway shows, a Beatles tribute, live music, themed parties, silent discos, and DJ sets. The casino and art gallery provide chances to win or lose. The Encore Speedway—the largest racetrack at sea—never seemed open. Pools, hot tubs, an observation lounge, and a spa offered plenty of ways to relax. Drink packages? If one cabin member buys, everyone must. Beer selection is average, cocktails are strong, and prices are high.

Time change tip: We stuck to Eastern Time, waking up at 4:30 AM Alaska time. 24-hour dining saved us many mornings.

What we brought—and didn’t use: Eye mask (room has blackout curtains), aluminum straws (never needed), rain pants (unused), tripod/GoPro (never used), HDMI cable for screencasting (ship TVs aren’t compatible).

What we used: Magnets (metal walls = extra storage), raincoats (for warmth), “hot hands” packs, lanyards (keycards convenience essential), power strip (one cabin outlet), packing cubes, snacks, backpack, battery pack, binoculars with straps.

50/50 items: Didn’t need waterproof boots, sunglasses (no glare issues), water bottles (didn’t miss them), waterproof phone covers (never used).

My must-bring list: First aid kit, Ziploc bags, old hotel key (for lights), Dudewipes.

Wish I’d brought: Small wedge for the door, more cigars (the ship’s cigar lounge only sells when in international waters, so stock up ahead), Poo-Pourri spray for the cabin.

One last tip: Skip the elevator—stairs save time and are good cardio.

Encore stats: Built in 2019, 1,094 feet long, 136 feet wide, crew of 1,735, 2,043 staterooms, 20 decks, speeds up to 25 knots.

Special features: Encore Speedway, laser tag, Galaxy Pavilion, observation lounge, 28 bars/lounges, and a 24/7 laundry staffed by 22.

I’m a spreadsheet nerd, so here are some stats: On a typical 7-day cruise, the ship provides 200,000 meals daily, 50 types of bread, 15,000 morning coffees, 30,000 pounds of produce, and 31,900 bottles of beer (among lots of other numbers).

Day 8: Seattle. Off the ship by 10 AM, flight at 9 PM, so the CEO booked a final tour: Space Needle, Sky View Observatory, Seattle Aquarium (amazing jellyfish), Pike Brewing Company (food > beer), and the over-the-top Chihuly Garden and Glass.

After nine days of 4:30 AM wakeups, we were ready for the airport.

All in all, I wasn’t sold on the trip at first, but once the ship sailed, I was hooked. The staff made every moment enjoyable.

That wraps up episode 210, “Our trip to Alaska.” Thank you to our longtime listeners for your comments and emails, as well as to our new listeners. I hope you'll come back. Find detailed show notes, links, and pictures at Substack—travelstories.substack.com. Leave a message on Anchor, or email [email protected].

As always, travel safe, be safe, and thanks for listening.

Thanks for reading The Travel Stories Newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Hello and welcome to episode 209 of Travel Stories from the Back Again And Gone podcast. This is being recorded in the beautiful home office of Chateau Relaxo, FL. If you are a new listener, welcome; if you are a returning listener, welcome back. Tonight's topic is the first quarter of 2025.

This evening, I am partaking in a Day Trip IPA at 6.6 ABV from Sweetwater Brewing in Atlanta, GA. If you ever get to Atlanta, this brewery is worth a visit.

It’s been a while since the last podcast. January, February, and March are over, and we are already one-fourth done with 2025. What a crazy first quarter of a year when it comes to aviation.

* January 7 – A Swan River Seaplanes Cessna 208 Caravan crashed into the water at Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia. Out of the seven occupants onboard, three people were killed, including the pilot, and three others were injured.

* January 28—Air Busan Flight 391, an Airbus A321-200 operating from Busan to Hong Kong, caught fire shortly before takeoff at Gimhae International Airport. All 176 people onboard were safely evacuated, and only 7 were injured.

* January 29 – A Light Air Services Beechcraft 1900, which was carrying oil workers, crashed shortly after takeoff from GPOC Unity Airstrip in South Sudan. Out of the 21 occupants onboard, 20 were killed.

* January 29 – In the 2025 Potomac River mid-air collision, American Eagle Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700 operated by PSA Airlines, collided with a Sikorsky UH-60 over the Potomac River, killing all 64 people onboard the CRJ700 and all 3 aboard the UH-60. This is the first fatal aviation accident involving a Bombardier CRJ700.

* January 31 - A small medical transport jet carrying a child and her mother, along with four other people, was in the air for less than a minute after taking off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport before coming down in a fiery "high-impact" crash near a busy mall. All six on the plane perished, and 22 people on the ground were injured.

* February 17th, Toronto, A Delta plane crashed, caught fire, and then, if that wasn’t enough, flipped upside down as it skidded down the runway. Everyone on the flight survived. There were a few injuries, but everyone survived. Adding insult to their injuries, Delta is offering them $30,000 each. The airline will pay approximately $2.3 million if all passengers accept the offer. They tell customers this gesture has no strings attached and does not affect their rights. Delta's 2024 revenue was in the billions, and the best they could come up with was 30 K. Apparently, many Delta C-level employees thought this was a suitable gesture. Two words for everyone on that flight, “Lawyer Up”.

Those are just six of the incidents that I decided to post. I’d rather board a plane for a flight than drive on I-4 into downtown O-Town.

One Mile At A Time asked - Hotel Mobile Check-In Via App: Is It Worth Using? Most major hotel groups, like Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott, offer a mobile check-in option through their apps, just like most airlines do. The question is, should you use this, and if so, what’s the benefit of doing so? I rarely use mobile check-in for a few reasons. The primary reason has to do with room upgrades. If you use mobile check-in, you likely won’t get an upgrade. Also, I want the desk crew to know that I am a returning guest, which has benefits beyond the upgrade. Those benefits can be extra snacks or a couple of extra complimentary drink coupons It might mean that you don’t have to pay for parking, and in the case of the Hilton Disney Springs, I have never had to pay a resort fee due to being a returning customer and checking in at the front desk. If you are a baby road warrior without status, the Hilton app will at least let you pick your room.

We haven’t had a Florida man story in a while, so let’s consider this.

A Florida man faces 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to popping an American Airlines gate agent in the face as he tried to board a flight at the wrong gate at Dallas-Fort Worth DFW airport last October.

Keith Charles Owens, one of the three named people, was sentenced in May after negotiating a plea deal. The plea deal would come with a lengthy prison sentence. In addition to the sentence, Keith Charles Owens might be fined $250,000.

Here’s the Cliff Notes:

Keith Charles Owens turned up at the wrong gate for his flight and skipped the boarding line.

When his boarding pass failed to scan, the gate agent directed Keith Charles Owens to the right gate, which he headed towards, again skipping the boarding line and bypassing the podium and boarding pass check.

Keith Charles Owens made it to the jetway, where he was stopped by airline personnel and escorted back into the terminal building. Having failed to get on his flight, Keith Charles Owens returned to his original gate, where he grabbed the gate agent who had tried to help him by the gate agent's shoulders and neck and pushed him back.

Prosecutors alleged that Owens then repeatedly punched the victim in the face before passengers and other American Airlines staff rushed to drag him away and restrain him.

Owens was charged with interference with security screening personnel because scanning boarding passes is a security duty for American Airlines employees – a job that the gate agent was doing at the time he was assaulted.

The incident caused the flight that the gate agent was boarding to be delayed, while several airline employees had to go off work for several days due to injuries sustained in the assault.

Witnesses said that Owens appeared intoxicated at the time of the incident.

Here’s an update: an American Airlines flight attendant who was arrested on charges of trying to secretly film a teenage girl using an airplane lavatory during a September 2023 flight to Boston has pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography.

Estes Carter Thompson III, one of the three named people of Charlotte, North Carolina, reached a plea agreement with prosecutors on Thursday after initially pleading not guilty to the crimes and now faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, along with a fine of up to $250,000.

According to prosecutors, Thompson was working as a flight attendant on a September 2, 2023, flight from Charlotte to Boston when he approached the 14-year-old victim, who was lining up to use the bathroom at the back of the aircraft.

Thompson invited the victim to use the lavatory in First Class and escorted her to the front of the plane.

However, before letting the victim use the lavatory, Thompson briefly entered the bathroom with the doors closed. When the victim was eventually allowed to use the lavatory, she found a large ‘defective catering equipment’ sticker taped to the seat.

The victim became suspicious and looked underneath the sticker. Concealed under the sticker was an Apple iPhone with the camera peeping out.

The victim took a photo of the hidden camera and showed it to her parents, who confronted Thompson. As the flight was approaching Boston, Thompson allegedly locked himself in the lavatory, where he reset his phone to factory setting in an attempt to wipe any photo evidence. What a coward, but wait, there’s more.

Forensic experts were able to retrieve photos from Thompson’s iCloud account and allegedly found photos depicting victims aged just seven, nine, 11, and 14 using an airplane bathroom. What a sicko.

Additionally, over 50 images of a nine-year-old unaccompanied minor were allegedly found in the same account.

All the victims have been identified and contacted by law enforcement. The parents of a nine-year-old victim have filed a lawsuit against American Airlines, accusing the Fort Worth-based carrier of negligence.

In response, a law firm hired by American Airlines tried to get the case dismissed by arguing the young girl was to blame as she should have known she was being secretly recorded. I call this victim changing

As this nightmare unraveled, the airline eventually dismissed the law firm responsible for filing this defense, although attorneys acting on behalf of American Airlines are still contesting lawsuits from several victims, arguing that the airline can’t be held responsible for the criminal actions of a former employee.

Here’s a new fear unlocked. A married couple said they were forced to sit next to a dead woman's body for four hours on a flight from Australia to Qatar. Yes, you heard that correctly. About 10 hours into the flight, a woman exited the restroom, collapsed, and died in front of them. Not sure if the couple was in first class, but apparently, dying in front of someone on a flight allows the corpse to complete the flight next to that person. Objectively, if someone punches out on a plane, it's not like you can open a door and push them out. Qatar says they have been "in direct contact with the family of the deceased" and offered passengers "directly affected" by the uncomfortable situation "emotional support and compensation.". This offering is code for “Please don’t sue us”. If I ever go TU, or toes up on a flight, you have my permission to open a door, or bust a window and send me on my way.

The world can be confusing; in the words of the late George Carlin, “Why do we park on driveways and drive on parkways?”. Confusing right? Last week, life got confusing in “Thank You Florida.” Dateline Orlando, where a Southwest Airlines pilot mistakenly tried to take off on a taxiway last week. In case you didn’t know it, a runway is what a plane uses to get said plane up into the atmosphere and you on your way. A plane uses a taxiway to move from the runway to the gate. The plane finally stopped after the air traffic controller yelled “Stop” three times. The Southwest marketing team quickly released this statement: "The crew mistook the surface for the nearby runway," Southwest is engaged with the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) and FAA to understand the circumstances of the event."

According to the flight data tracker, the aircraft’s top speed was approximately 80 mph. Airplanes typically travel about 35 mph on taxiways. A Boeing 737 would need to accelerate to about 150 mph for takeoff. I didn’t understand why the passengers were on a different flight. This is just like the flight crew times out, so they tap out, and a new flight crew takes over. Who takes the bullet for this, the pilots or the tower? I'm not sure, but someone will need to update their resume.

One last “Thank You, Florida” story, and this one is disturbing. Here at Chateau Relaxo, we are pro-animal, specifically pro-dog, as we just rescued another husky, and this one resembles Gene Simmons. This story is horrific: a Florida woman was arrested after allegedly drowning her dog in an Orlando airport toilet.

Here’s the recap.

Alison Agatha Lawrence, one of the three named people, was scheduled to fly from Orlando to Bogota. While checking in, her nine-year-old miniature schnauzer, Tywinn, was denied boarding because she did not have the correct paperwork to transport the dog to Colombia. Lawrence walked away from the counter to an airport restroom with her dog

There, she was observed in a stall for an extended period cleaning up “a lot of water and a lot of dog food.” When the bathroom cleaner entered the restroom about 20 minutes later, she found the trash can much heavier than usual. Inside the trash can, she found the dog, with a collar around its neck, still warm…but dead. An investigation revealed the dog died by drowning. On March 18, Lawrence was arrested and charged with third-degree animal cruelty, which is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Neither of which is justice for what she did.

As I once told The Entrepreneur, put your girlfriend, now wife, in the trunk of your car, and put one of the dogs in the trunk of your car, and see which one is happy when you open the trunk. Dogs give unconditional love.

Finishing up with a topic we haven’t spoken about in a while, nudity. I’ve always said there are two types of nudity, good nudity and bad nudity. Good nudity includes nice lighting, soft music, and a few candles. Bad nudity is seeing someone nude that you don’t want to see naked. When nudity is involved in a travel story, it’s usually bad. March 26, Naked Woman Rants And Raves At DFW Airport. I’ve heard varying stories as to what provoked this behavior. I'm not sure if any of them are true, but there’s one fact: because there’s a video. In the video, she is seen squirting people with her water bottle while screaming about being a polyglot and then destroying airport equipment. A polyglot is a person who knows or uses several languages. Yes, I had to Google for the definition

I’m unsure why people often strip their clothes off during a meltdown. The video indicates this woman is battling some demons, possibly due to mental health issues. I hope she gets the help she needs. Often, the naked person is overweight and a threat to other people’s eyesight, but this person is not.

Well, there you have it, Episode 209, the 2025 first quarter.

For long-time listeners, thank you for your comments and emails. For new listeners, I hope you return.

If you want detailed show notes, links, and pictures, head over to Substack at travelstories.substack.com/

You can also leave me a message on Anchor or email me at [email protected].

As I always say, travel safe, stay safe, and thanks for listening.

Thanks for reading The Travel Stories Newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Hello and welcome to episode 208 of Travel Stories from the Back Again And Gone podcast.

This is being recorded in the beautiful home office of Chateau Relaxo, FL. If you are a new listener, welcome; if you are a returning listener, welcome back. Tonight, we’re talking about dining at Disney Springs.

It’s no secret that I am a fan of Disney Springs, and more so than being a fan of any of the parks. I make it to Disney at least once a year, and that trip is typically to Epcot during the food and wine festival. Disney World doesn’t turn me off; I don’t like waiting in line in the sun for an hour to ride a one- or two-minute attraction.

I can’t tell you how many websites there are that Disney are Disney-related; I’m guessing thousands.

There is even a 2025 100 Best Disney Blogs and Websites i, which will help you narrow it down.

These sites cover such topics as:

* Packing lists

* Lightning Lanes

* Attraction rankings

* Vacation planning guides

If you didn’t know, a Disney family vacation isn’t cheap. The average cost for a family of four to Disney World can easily top $6,000 for a seven-night trip, and that’s if you’re a frugal traveler. A 7-day family trip to Disney World can exceed $12,000, especially if you splurge on memorable character meals and hotels closer to the theme parks. Being Florida residents, we get a break on tickets with a 4-day ticket running $240.00 per person, so $60.00 per day for park admittance. This, of course, comes with terms and conditions. Tickets with an advance park reservation are valid from January 13 to May 23, 2025. Reservations are limited and subject to the availability of reservations allocated to this ticket as determined by Disney and park capacity.

About eight years ago, we bought an annual pass, and the yearly pass was $749.00 per person. The four of us went twice that year, which means each visit cost us $375.00 before food and beverage. in 2025, there are four levels of the annual pass ranging from $469 up to $1549.00. But have no fear, as you can make 12 monthly payments at 0% interest.

If you decide to open your wallet and head to the Mouse House, other than the long wait times, which can be reduced by purchasing the Lightening Lane, or you’re not bothered paying $4.00 for a 20oz bottled soda, it will be a spectacular time. Everything there is perfect: the bathrooms are as clean as your local Bucee’s, there will be no litter anywhere, and the cast members, that’s what they’re called, are as friendly as the person taking your food order at a Chick-fil-A.

On to Disney Springs. It opened in 1975 as the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village. Over the years, it has expanded and been rebranded. In 1977, it was called the Walt Disney World Village. In 1989, it was rebranded the Disney Village Marketplace. 1997, it became Downtown Disney and finally became Disney Springs in 2015. The hours are typically from about 10:00 a.m. until about 1:00 a.m.

Disney Springs is a standalone area within Walt Disney World. It features stores, entertainment, and dining and does not require an admission ticket or fee to visit.

The area is divided into four sections: The Marketplace, The Landing, Town Center, and West Side, each offering unique experiences. Significant attractions include an AMC 24-plex movie theater, Cirque du Soleil's, a House of Blues, and the Aerophile balloon ride.

Disney Springs boasts an impressive 68 restaurants. This includes table service, quick service, bars, lounges, and specialty food and beverage spots. Whether you're in the mood for a gourmet meal or a quick snack, there's something for everyone!

There are a few chain restaurants:

Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza - Where you can build your pizza.

Chicken Guy! Which is a Guy Fieri creation. Believe it or not, there are 20 locations across the United States, so it’s not that unique.

Earl of Sandwich also has locations at several of the Florida Turnpike rest stops.

House of Blues - Southern-inspired cuisine and live music. We’ve seen several concerts there.

Planet Hollywood is a themed restaurant in most major cities with a Hollywood vibe.

Rainforest Cafe - An immersive dining experience with a jungle theme. This is not a quiet and intimate dining experience.

Starbucks - of course, there’s one at Disney Springs; need I say more?

The Boathouse—While not a traditional chain, this one has multiple locations and offers upscale dining with a nautical theme.

Most chain restaurants offer identical food, so there are no surprises. However, I want to try a new or different dining experience when I travel, so I avoid chain restaurants.

Over the years, the CEO (My Wife) and I have dined at most of these restaurants. Some are good, some are average, and some wouldn’t be in business if they were anywhere other than Disney Springs, which provides a rotating clientele. Most of these establishments require a reservation, so the chances are slim that you will walk up and be immediately seated. So, to save time and aggravation, there is a reservation portal.

So, to save time and money, here are the highlights, focused on restaurants that offer table service. I have no bias toward walk-up establishments, but when I dine, I typically want to sit in an air-conditioned environment and not stand in the baking Florida sun woofing down a Wetzel Pretzel with mustard dripping onto my shoes.

Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar is a unique, aviation-themed bar inspired by the character Jock Lindsey. If you recall, Jock Lindsy was Indiana Jones' pilot from the "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Its vintage airplane hangar-turned-dive bar offers a fun and immersive experience with its eclectic decor, featuring airplane parts, salvaged equipment, and mementos from Jock's adventures. The bar serves a variety of creative cocktails and delicious appetizers. Some popular menu items include the Snakebite Sliders and Air Pirate's Pretzels. They also offer a walk-up bar outside the establishment. Our go-to meal here is the Snakebite Bao Buns which consists of Smoked Brisket, Amarillo Mustard, Peppadew Relish, Pickled Onion, and Tomato, accompanied by Jock’s Old Fashioned made with Knob Creek Disney Single-Barrel Bourbon. Yes, Disney has their own single-barrel bourbon.

Morimoto Asia as in Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. This destination features a stunning two-story layout with kitchens showcasing traditions like Peking duck carving and dim sum preparation. The restaurant offers a diverse menu with highlights such as sushi, sashimi, Morimoto Spare Ribs, and Ramen. The venue also includes a second-level sushi bar. You can enjoy a dining experience with Chinese, Japanese, and Korean dishes. My last meal there was the Tandoori Angry Chicken, half of a chicken with Morimoto epice spice, bell pepper, carrot, mushroom, and coconut curry sauce. My drink of choice is their Japanese Old Fashion, made with Suntory whisky, simple syrup, and Angostura bitters. It's not your typical Old Fashion, but it is tasty. There is also the walk-up Morimoto Asia Street Food, which has a limited menu, but they’ll serve you fast. Take note, as there is limited outdoor seating.

The Edison is a unique dining and entertainment venue designed to resemble an abandoned 1920s power plant. This industrial, gothic-themed hotspot offers classic American cuisine, signature cocktails, and a variety of live entertainment. Multiple levels have distinct dining and bar areas, including a dance floor and stage for nightly performances. Steampunk-inspired décor and waterfront balcony views enhance the ambiance. The menu includes a range of contemporary American dishes, such as sandwiches, salads, and entrees, along with craft cocktails. The typical meal starts with Candied Bacon, The Edison Burger, which consists of sirloin, short rib & brisket, white cheddar, Applewood smoked bacon, pickles, lettuce, and tomato, topped with their Edison Sauce. The libation of choice is whatever we’re in the mood for.

Next up is Jaleo by José Andrés, which brings the flavors of Spain to life. The menu offers an extensive variety of tapas and contemporary Spanish cuisine. They serve authentic paella cooked over a wood-fired pit, cheeses, and salads. They also have a premier selection of sangrias, Spanish wines, and sherries. Okay, here’s where the tide turns. We’ve been here once, and that’s it. I don’t recall what we ordered or drank; it was a giant cup of OK.

If you want to get your Gaelic on, head to Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant. This authentic Irish-owned establishment was built entirely in Ireland and reassembled in Orlando. It offers traditional and contemporary Irish cuisine, live music, and dance. The menu features hearty favorites like bangers and mash, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and boxty potato pancakes. A variety of Irish beers, whiskeys, and cocktails are available. Raglan Road is known for its entertainment, including talented musicians and Irish dancers performing on multiple stages. They also host the Mighty St. Patrick's Day Festival. If you dine here, go with the Shepherd's Pie made with braised and pulled beef & lamb and root vegetables in a rich red wine jus with Irish peat smoked mashed potatoes with a mug of Guinness. Here’s today's trivia: what’s the difference between Shepard's Pie and Cottage Pie? Shepherd's pie is made of ground lamb, while cottage pie uses ground beef.

In episode 207, I discussed Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill. Although it provides a contemporary take on the classic bar and grill idea, the food didn't impress us. Here’s a quick summary: the truffle fries, two WP Prime Burgers, and two double drinks amounted to $143.00, not including the tip.

Terralina Crafted Italian is a delightful waterfront restaurant inspired by Italy's lake district. It offers a warm, rustic setting to enjoy classic Italian flavors. The menu features a variety of dishes, including wood-fired pizzas, hearty pasta, and fresh vegetables. My last meal was seafood fettuccini with fresh mushrooms, shrimp, fish, spicy lemon-tomato broth, and a grilled baguette. Terralina Crafted Italian has an extensive wine list and craft cocktails to complement your meal.

If you plan to dine at Chef Art Smith's Homecomin, you will need a reservation, and even then, plan on your reservation being 30 to 45 days out. This spot is known for its Southern comfort food. The restaurant emphasizes fresh, locally sourced ingredients, showcasing Florida's agricultural bounty. Signature dishes include fried chicken, shrimp and grits, and house-made sugar doughnuts. As hack as it sounds, their Moonshine Cocktails aren’t that bad.

The decor and ambiance are designed to make guests feel at home, but again, you will need a reservation.

If you’re a fan of hamburgers, consider D-Luxe Burger. They offer gourmet burgers and hand-cut fries. Try the Classic Cheeseburger or the Barbecue Burger. Each is made with a signature blend of beef and served on a house-made bun for ultimate freshness—plan on being surrounded by lots of kids and strollers.

We have two go-twos if you are looking for a restaurant where you won’t need a reservation and the wait will be less than 10 minutes.

The first is City Works Eatery & Pour House. It offers an extensive selection of craft beers, 90 of which are local and classic American bar food. City Works also has massive, state-of-the-art HDTVs, making it ideal for watching sports. We usually order appetizers such as duck nachos, pretzel bites, or BBQ chicken flatbread. We watched several of the Florida Panther’s Stanley Cup runs here last year.

The second, and probably our favorite, is Splitsville. Typically, one of us will post a picture on social media with the caption, “renegotiating everything,” which is usually followed up with concerning texts from family and friends. Splitsville offers a unique entertainment, dining, bowling, and live music blend. Splitsville has 30 luxury bowling lanes for bowlers, and no bowling alley would be complete without billiard tables.

The menu goes beyond typical bowling alley food, offering everything from fresh-rolled sushi to mouth-watering cheeseburgers and hand-tossed pizzas. My typical order is a Buffalo Chicken sandwich with extra buffalo sauce for the fries. Try one of their frozen drinks—think adult Slurpee. My favorite is the Swampwater, a mix of Orange Chrush and Big Wave Dave. When you mix the Orange Crush Vodka, 153 grains, and orange with the Big Wave Dave Vodka, grain alcohol, and raspberry, you get Swampwater.

If you’re a fan of sweets, check out Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop or Gideon's Bakehouse. At Ghirardelli, I’d go with the Ocean Beach Sea Salt Caramel Sundae. Gideons is famous for its cookies. Be prepared to stand in line and wait, and then wait some more sometimes; the wait is two hours. Personally, I think the juice isn’t worth the squeeze because they have a second location at the East End Market. While these cookies are delicious and huge, they are expensive. The CEO (My Wife) and I went the other day, and four cookies set us back $25.00.

Well, there you have it, Episode 208, Dining at Disney Springs. For long-time listeners, thank you for your comments and emails. For new listeners, I hope you return.

If you want detailed show notes, links, and pictures, head over to substack at travelstories.substack.com/ You can also leave me a message on Anchor or email me at [email protected]. As I always say, travel safe, stay safe, and thanks for listening.

.

Hello and welcome to episode 207 of Travel Stories from the Back Again And Gone podcast.

This is being recorded in the beautiful home office of Chateau Relaxo, FL. If you are a new listener, welcome; if you are a returning listener, welcome back. The 2024 Travel Year in Review Plus Some Travel News roundup is tonight's topic.

There is no beer in this episode as this is recorded on January 1st, and I traditionally do dry January.

The days between Christmas and New Year are odd for me. It's even weirder when the holidays fall on a Wednesday. Those days are extremely slow for me when it comes to work, and I’ve learned to embrace those slow times because, by mid-January, all hell typically breaks loose.

It’s time for my year to be reviewed. I am a numbers nerd, and I love to track things.

For my beer consumption, I use Untappd.

In 2024

I drank 91 unique beers. 20 beer styles, with IPAs being my favorite style, no surprise there. I drank beer at 100 locations, with Saturday being my favorite day. I drank beer from 70 different breweries. With New Belgium getting the most love, thank you, Voodoo Ranger series.

This surprised me; my top beer for the year is Two Hearted IPA from Bells Brewery. It’s a great beer, but I never would’ve guessed it was my top beer.

The worst beer of the year was Gummies Fruit Punch IPA, which was so sweet it hurt my teeth, and Juniper Pilsner from 81Bay Brewing tasted like I was drinking a ground-up juniper bush.

Regarding the podcast, I had a whopping 1% growth in streamed episodes and 10% in followers. The top episode was the First Flight of 2024, which streamed 999% more than the average. 24% of listeners are between the ages of 18 and 24. Travel Stories was streamed in 19 different countries thanks to all the listeners.

Let’s look at my 2024 travel numbers.

In 2000, I signed up for TripIt; over the past 14 years, I have traveled 655,049 miles, equating to traveling around the world 26.3 times. This consists of 1825 days on the road and 517 trips. 35% of my time was traveling.

Of those 14 years that have been tracked, all road warriors keep track of their travel numbers,

In 2018, I spent more time on the road than I ever have in my 24 years of business travel.

* Trips 51

* Days 248

* Distance 75,284 mi

* Cities 70

* Countries 1

Six years later, in 2024, those numbers have decreased significantly.

* Trips 16

* Days 56

* Distance 31,511 mi

* Cities 36

* Countries 1

While many had hoped that business travel would return to pre-COVID numbers, we have become too comfortable with virtual meetings.

My favorite 2024 business adventure was a 500-mile Buffalo to Rochester road trip. Let’s review a few of the food highlights.

In Buffalo, dinner was at the Pearl Street Grill and Brewery. They offer a solid brew list, many of which are made onsite. While I was tempted to order wings, this is Buffalo. Our waitress convinced me to go with the Buffalo Chicken Pizza, which was so much OK that I left almost half of it when we left.

In Utica, it was Slice. Slice’s claim to fame is that they were featured on Barstool Sports one-bite pizza reviews, scoring 7.7 out of 10. If you visit, make sure you order their char-grilled purple cow wings. I am still trying to figure out what the purple cow sauce is made of, but this fantastic, tasty, sticky mix is tough to distinguish a single dominant flavor with. And while you’re at it, get yourself a slice; they are as big as your head. And keeping with the theme, I had a slice of purple cow pizza, which was beyond delicious.

In Rochester, the food stop was Amiel's the Original Submarine based solely on the hotel's recommendation. It took me a minute to hone in on what I wanted. I went with a large Buffalo Chicken-A-Miel with hot peppers and extra buffalo sauce. After my first bite, my sinuses opened right up, and I knew then that I was in store for one delicious sub. There is an excellent selection of glass bottled drinks….. think Hank’s Root Beer and save room for a cookie.

Regarding personal travel, it was the two trips to Boston, a city I have only visited to catch a flight back home. Listen to episodes 199 and 202 for the details. If you don’t listen, just know that it’s worth visiting.

Keeping with the theme of food let’s open with this. Which hotel has the best complimentary breakfast? TPG (The Points Guy) should be The Points Guys since Brian Kelly is no longer a one-man show. If you’re new to business travel, TPG can be a helpful site as you navigate what branded credit cards will work best for you.

Back to the actual story: Which hotel has the best free breakfast? TPG ate 10 meals at 10 different hotels to find the winner.

Specifically, they considered four key criteria:

* Variety: How many options of hot foods, proteins, cereals, fruits, bread and pastries, yogurts, juices, coffees and teas, condiments, and more were available?

* Dietary friendly: Were there options available for a wide swath of dietary restrictions, including non-dairy milk or yogurts, gluten-free bread or pastries, vegan item,s and the like?

* Presentation: Was the breakfast area clean and organized? Were the foods labeled so guests knew exactly what they put on their plates?

* Taste: How did it all taste?

Their list:

10. Comfort Inn

9. Hyatt Place

8. La Quinta by Wyndham

7. Fairfield by Marriott

6. Hampton by Hilton

What is the difference between a Hampton Inn and a Hampton Inn and Suites?

* Hampton Inn: A budget to midscale hotel with limited food and beverage options

* Hampton Inn and Suites: Offers suites in addition to rooms and may include amenities like free hot breakfast, parking, and Wi-Fi.

* So, for the most part, they are the same.

5. SpringHill Suites

4. Holiday Inn Express

3. Homewood Suites by Hilton

2. Residence Inn by Marriott

1. Embassy Suites by Hilton

Mostly, I agree with the list because nowhere on it is Courtyards by Marriott. I have never had a decent breakfast at a Courtyard. There is no mention of Tru from Hilton or Avid from IHG. These are great spots for breakfast if you are carb-loading or starting your day with an S-ton of sugar. I’m glad that Embassy Suites by Hilton made the list, as they lay out a great spread. However, it should be in second place because the Hilton Garden Inn does it much better and should be number one—both Embassy and Hilton Garden Inn offer made-to-order eggs or pancakes. The bacon is always crispy, which is odd, and the biscuits seem to be made from scratch. It’s doubtful, but they are delicious.

Here are some tips if you're wondering how to score free hotel breakfasts.

* Some hotel chains, like Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express, offer complimentary breakfast to all guests. It's a great perk to look for when booking your stay.

* Many hotel loyalty programs provide complimentary breakfasts to benefit members with a specific status level. For example, Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors offer this perk to their elite members.

* Certain travel credit cards, including complimentary breakfast, have hotel status or benefits. It's worth checking if your card offers this perk.

* Keep an eye out for special promotions or packages that include complimentary breakfast. Sometimes, hotels offer these deals to attract more guests.

* Booking Strategies: Booking directly through the hotel’s website or app can sometimes unlock additional perks, including complimentary breakfast.

These tips can help you enjoy a delicious start to your day without spending extra money, leaving more in your budget for the fun parts of your trip!

It's time to talk about PTO-paid time off. My employer is beyond generous with PTO. I get 25 days of PTO plus three float days. This means I could take one day of PTO every other week. We can also bank up to 210 days, which rolls over yearly. For some, maximizing PTO is at the forefront. How about turning 16 PTO days into 55 days of vacation in 2025?

We must focus on the federal holidays on a Monday or Friday in 2025.

* Monday, Jan. 20: Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday

* Monday, Feb. 17: Washington's Birthday, also known as Presidents Day

* Monday, May 26: Memorial Day

* Friday, July 4: Fourth of July

* Monday, Sept. 1: Labor Day

* Monday, Oct. 13: Columbus Day, known as Indigenous Peoples Day

These holidays below fall on weekdays next year:

* Wednesday, Jan. 1: New Year's

* Thursday, June 19: Juneteenth

* Thursday, Nov. 27: Thanksgiving

* Thursday, Dec. 25: Christmas

If you tag on a PTO day before or after the federal holidays and put in for PTO on January 2nd and 3rd, you used 11 PTO days for 39 days of vacation.

If you're looking for a longer steak of vacation days, think Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 27). Request PTO for Monday, November 24; Tuesday, November 25; and Wednesday, November 26. 74 and Friday, Nov. 28 (unless you have Friday off already). Depending on your company policy, you can use three or four PTO days to get nine consecutive days off (Nov. 22–30).

By planning ahead and combining these holidays with PTO, you can turn 16 PTO days into up to 55 days of vacation in 2025

Since you work for your PTO, make it work for you.

Here’s another statistic for you. The five busiest air routes last October.

* Los Angeles - San Francisco 319,064 seats

* Las Vegas - Los Angeles 303,394 seats

* Atlanta - Orlando 288,226 seats. This is surprising because by the time you get to the Atlanta airport, check-in, etc., you should be using online check-in. Take the flight and the deal with the O-Town airport you could drive this.

* La Guardia - Chicago 283,592 seats

* New York JFK - Los Angeles 282,426 seats

October isn’t traditionally a heavy travel month, and I can only imagine the numbers for November and December.

This is rental car season, or at least the migration of rental cars back to Thank You, Florida.

Pre-COVID rental car companies offered cheap rates for anyone who wanted to drive a rental vehicle to Florida from dozens of destinations. Guess what? Hertz is bringing this promotion back. However, in the past, rental car companies offered a rate of as low as $4.95 per day for rental vehicles returning to Florida. These were one-way trips from destinations in much of the eastern United States.

Like all good promotions that get brought back, there are some changes. To start, your rental will not be as low as $4.95, and it must be picked up through 1/19/2025. A minimum one (1) day rental is required, with a maximum of ten (10) days. You still get to pay all the airport fees, tourism fees, vehicle license recovery fees, and any other government-imposed taxes or fees.

You can pick up your car from twenty-two locations across the south and northeast.

Return to select cities in Florida:

* Fort Lauderdale

* Miami

* Sarasota

* Jacksonville

* Palm Beach

* Tampa

* Orlando

* Fort Myers

So, if you’re looking to visit Thank You Florida in the next three weeks, this isn’t a bad deal; it’s just not as good of a deal as it was in 2019.

"With Hertz's 2024 Florida drive-in deal, the only thing you'll be speeding through is your playlist of road trip songs!"

United Airlines Holiday Feast Fiasco: A Recipe for Disaster

Imagine this: United Airlines spreads some holiday cheer by serving festive meals to their Denver-based employees. Sounds great, right? Well, not so much. The "warm holiday salad" and chicken that had been left out a bit too long turned out to be the Grinch in disguise.

Employees, including flight attendants, started experiencing symptoms that could only be described as a holiday horror show: stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Over 200 flight attendants were initially thought to be affected, with some even falling ill mid-flight, causing at least one plane to return to the gate. Talk about a turbulent holiday!

The union later revised the number of affected employees to 24, but the damage was done. United is now investigating the incident, and employees are being advised to report their symptoms to avoid any holiday absence penalties.

To make matters worse. United also has a policy that penalizes flight attendants for calling in sick during the busy holiday period.

So, if you ever thought your holiday meal was a disaster, just be glad you weren't on the receiving end of United's "special" holiday feast!

Here’s a hotel hack, and I am not a fan of hacks because not everything is a hack. The CEO (My Wife) and I recently stayed at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista - Disney Springs, one of our favorite local hotels, after visiting Disney Springs and having dinner at Wolfgang Pucks. I need to post a podcast or blog about Disney Springs dining at some point. Wolfgang Puck’s did not meet the CEO's (My Wife) or me's expectations, and I rarely complain about food. We started with the Truffled Potato Chips, which were delicious. We ordered the WP Prime Burger with White Cheddar Cheese, Bacon Onion Jam, and Brioche Bun. To start, the Brioche bun did little to contain all of its contents. Within a few minutes, the bottom of the bun was falling apart, which was not a big deal since we had a fork and knife. The big thing was that the CEO (My Wife) ordered her burger; well done, don’t judge, and it was far from well done. The truffle fries, two WP Prime Burgers, and two double drinks totaling 143.00 dollars tipped the value scale.

Back to the hotel room hack. When we returned to the room, we discovered the thermostat would not go below 68 degrees. This is not conducive to my slumber. Since our room had a Honeywell thermostat, I knew how to get around the temperature limit. Here is the secret: hold down the display button, the off/auto button, and finally, the up arrow. The display will show LEn, and you can now set the room temperature to your level.

Well, there you have it, Episode 207, The 2024 Travel Year in Review, Plus Some Travel News Roundup.

For long-time listeners, thank you for your comments and emails. For new listeners, I hope you return.

If you want detailed show notes, links, and pictures, head over to substack at travelstories.substack.com/

You can also leave me a message on Anchor or email me at [email protected].

As I always say, travel safe, stay safe, and thanks for listening.

Thanks for reading The Travel Stories Newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Hello and welcome to episode 206 of Travel Stories from the Back Again And Gone podcast.

This is being recorded in the beautiful home office of Chateau Relaxo, FL. If you are a new listener, welcome; if you are a returning listener, welcome back. Tonight, it’s the December roundup.

I am enjoying a New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Tropic Force IPA at 9% ABV tonight. I’ve yet to have anything terrible from the Voodo Ranger series.

I've taken one road trip in the last few weeks: down to South Florida and then back North, past Chateau Relaxo to Ocala, FL.

Lunch in South Florida was at Rotelli’s. Five of us stopped in for lunch, and it was terrific. I started with the garlic rolls, which were done exactly like a garlic roll should be. I went with a cheesesteak, which was delicious and huge—so huge that I took half it back to the hotel for dinner. The other four in my party had been there before and knew what to order. It was off the lunch menu, and it started with soup or salad, followed by half a sub. If that wasn't enough, a slice of pizza closed out the food trifecta.

I had lunch in Ocala at Harry’s Restaurant. I had MAHI MAHI, grilled with lemon cream sauce.

New Orleans heavily influences Harry’s, from food to service.

Dinner in Ocala was at the District Bar & Kitchen. Make sure you begin your meal with a DBK smoked old-fashioned—that is, if you are of legal age and not one step away from a 12-step program. My meal was the District Burger—brisket and short rib combined into classic smash patties. Add cheese and caramelized onions, and finish it off with sweet, hot pickles. Try to sit at the bar if you can, as you won’t be disappointed.

The hotel in South Florida was the Hampton Inn Deerfield Beach, FL. I’ve been staying here off and on for 15-plus years. It’s a Hampton, so there were no major surprises.

The hotel stay in Ocala was at The Avid. I have never stayed at an Avid property. The staff was friendly, but the rooms seemed barren. The desk was not very deep, and the electrical plug was centered on it, making it hard to open my laptop. The breakfast came up short, with premade sausage biscuits. It's a solid three stars.

Let’s open with high-functioning, and not as in a high-functioning alcoholic, but a high-functioning traveler.

According to the Huffington Post, these are the four signs that you are secretly a high-functioning traveler.

* Extensive Planning

* Arriving (Too) Early

* Avoiding Certain Types Of Transportation

* Overpacking

Extensive planning means spending excessive time planning trips and researching destinations, accommodations, and activities in great detail. This extensive planning helps them feel more in control and prepared for any potential challenges that may arise. I am OK with my extensive planning, is to ensure the dates of my hotel and flight are correct. When it comes to activities, I can always find something to do.

Arriving too early at the airport is my jam. In the words of Ryan Bingham, aka George Clooney, from the movie “ In the Air,” All the things you probably hate about traveling -the recycled air, the artificial lighting, the digital juice dispensers, the cheap sushi- are warm reminders that I'm home. I embrace the airport; I know that if I’m at Love Field, there is a What-A-Burger, BWI has a Dog Fish Head brewery, and Atlanta Hartsfield is home to The Varsity.

Avoiding Certain Types Of Transportation - I’m not a fan of taxis since ride-share has come into being.

Overpacking, we talked about this last episode. You don’t need to take everything with you. Besides, every town has a Walmart or Target in case you under-pack.

"Traveling with high-functioning anxiety is like being a duck—calm on the surface, but paddling like crazy underneath!"

It’s that time of year when road warriors consider mileage runs. A mileage run is a trip to earn frequent flyer miles or achieve elite status with an airline. This can lead to benefits like complimentary upgrades, bonus miles, and lounge access. Often, these are flights for meetings that could’ve been handled with a Teams meeting. These aren’t as common as they were 20 years ago, as most companies have strict travel rules in place.

How about a mattress run? Mattress runs are similar to airline mileage runs. A mattress run is when you book and check into a hotel to gain loyalty benefits, like elite status or bonus points, without necessarily staying overnight. The practice used to be more lucrative, but changes in hotel loyalty programs and increased room rates have made it less rewarding. And with so many hotel-branded credit cards, most will automatically grant you loyalty status.

Combining mattress runs with mini-vacations or using credit cards to earn elite status are alternative approaches suggested as modern strategies.

It comes down to that head in a bed.

I’m not a massive fan of the Ticky-Tock unless the CEO sends me something to watch. Recently, she came across this Ticky-Tock hack. Side note: Not everything in the world is a “hack.” Sometimes, it’s just a good idea. For instance, applying for TSA Pre-check isn’t a hack; it’s a good idea.

The hack involves texting your flight number to yourself on the morning of your flight. For iPhone users, this creates a clickable link that provides real-time updates on your flight status, gate number, and baggage claim information. A flight number consists of a 2-letter airline code and a series of numbers that will help you differentiate your flight from others flying that day. You will see the flight number in your booking confirmation or your boarding pass. If you are confused about your airline code, you can also quickly look it up in the International Air Transport Association’s search engine.

This method, notice I didn’t say hack, helps travelers avoid the hassle of constantly checking airport screens or airline apps.

"Who knew the secret to stress-free travel was just a text away? Siri, book me a flight and send me a reminder!"

Let’s talk about Spirit Airlines. Everyone knows that Spirit is on the edge of bankruptcy with Ted Christie, Spirit CEO, being in favor of $5.3 million in retention bonuses that Spirit disclosed it will pay five of its top executives, which was disclosed in the bankruptcy filings — $3 million for Christie and $850,000 for Chief Operating Officer John Bendoraitis in particular, not sure about the other three.

But that isn’t what this is about; it’s about Spirit Flight Club, or as some call it, Spirit Fight Club. If you click the link to watch the video, be warned: It is NSFW. Spirit Fight Club is usually between two passengers; in this case, it isn’t. I present: ‘I’ll Drop Kick You!’ Spirit Airlines Agents Bump, F-Bomb, and Check In Passengers—All at Once—talk about multitasking. This came to us from View From The Wing.

In a now-viral video, two Spirit Airlines check-in agents—yes, check-in agents, not even on the plane—can be seen fighting. At the start of filming, they can be seen bumping while one says to the other, “Do not play with me.” She continued, “Do not play with me, 'cause I’m not the one nor the two. ..just go, you ain’t gonna do nothing. Like I said, keep my f’ing name out your mouth, b*tch.” Then she begins dropping f-bombs, telling the other employee to go away. My favorite is “I’ll drop kick yo’ azz” as she prints a passenger boarding pass like it’s just another day. Like I said, multitasking.

"Spirit Airlines: Where the check-in agents might just check you out!"

It's time for some controversy. Does the toilet paper go over or under? Is Ginger or MaryAnn hotter? Is cheesecake pie? These are things that can divide a crowd. How about this? Imagine meeting your soulmate and finding out they stand up as soon as the plane lands. Ouch.

Since I typically sit in a window seat, if I happen to stand up when the plane lands, I’m not going anywhere, and I’ll be hunched over. Personally, I don’t care if you stand up or stay seated. What I care about is that as soon as it’s time for our row to exit, you need to be “Johnny On The Spot” and move.

It's time for another NSFW work video. There's a r/KarenGoBrrr sub-reddit where this was the post's title “It wasn’t the message, it was the delivery of the message”.

The plane lands, the bell chimes, indicating that it is ok to undo your seatbelt and this gentleman immediately stands up. Several rows back, this young lady unleashes a verbal rant of threats and cuss words. The only thing safe for work thing, she yelled, “ I’m not getting up the plane any faster. You trying to hop over people that that.” I have no idea what she meant by this, but you be you. Short of that sentence or two, everything else she yelled made her look trashy, not the person who stood up. Again, I don’t care if anyone stands up, but I wish every person who takes an aisle seat would do as one of my traveling buddies does. He turns to the middle and window seat passengers and says, “If you have a connecting flight, I will stand up as soon as we get the all-clear to let you get out.” Simple and considerate. Honestly, it wasn’t the message; it was the delivery of the message.

How about another employee versus employee story? From One Mile At A Time - Delta Flight Attendant Stabs Colleague, Charged With Attempted Murder. This story was all over the travel blogosphere.

A 36-year-old Delta flight attendant has been arrested following a spree of violence that happened during a layover in New Orleans on Monday, November 25, 2024. This was in the downtown hotel where Delta crews stay during their layovers.

Several Delta crew members had gone out for the evening. When returning to the hotel, one of them began acting strange. The primary victim (a female) reportedly escorted the suspect (a male) to his room, at which point an argument began.

The suspect then started stabbing his female colleague twice in the arm and once in the neck. The victim then fled to another floor for help, following the suspect. A security guard then intervened and was stabbed in the process as well. Next, the police arrived and arrested the suspect. Lots of questions with this one. How did the flight attendant travel with a knife? Did he buy it during the layover? It is New Orleans, after all. Was there more than alcohol involved? Finally, the motivation behind the violence, I have my thoughts, but it will be interesting to hear what the victim says.

I don’t spend much time on Twitter, sorry, X, but I came across this tweet from KyleMatthewsCEO.

Business tip;

Whenever you are flying commercial, especially in business/first class, always wear your best business suit & tie combo (business formal).

Kyle goes on to add: Combine the professional clothes with a clean shave, combed hair, and I hate to admit, yes a nice watch helps, at minimum you will get looks, and in all likelihood the person sitting next to you will have to ask… “hey, what do you do for a living?”

The comments on this were stellar.

* Heidi wrote I've never once thought "I wonder what they do for a living" about anyone on an airplane.

* Andrew posted, I wear basketball shorts and a dirty t-shirt in first class so people don't ask questions.

* EconGiggles added, Obviously, you’ve never flown the 15-hour flight from LAX-MEL.

Generally, people did not support Kyle’s business tip, and one reader suggested that this should be Kyle’s last tweet.

Here’s my take: all my trips begin and end at Orlando International Airport MCO. Half the people I see wear pajamas or sweatpants with slides and hoodies, and don’t forget the BOSE noise-canceling headphones. Personally, I don’t care if you look like you rolled out of bed and headed to the airport. What I care about is you not being an asshat on the flight, especially if you are sitting next to me.

When I was a Delta Sky Miles member flying out of Atlanta, I always wore dress slacks, a dress shirt, and a tie. The jacket was optional, especially if I didn’t have a first-class seat since there weren’t any closets to hang it up in coach. At the time, I was flying back into Atlanta during the evening, so I often came from a client site and didn’t have a place to change clothes.

The other reason for dressing up was, at that time, it made it easier on Delta to get a first-class upgrade, or if my flight was delayed or I needed to change flights, I looked a bit more professional than someone who looked like they got their clothes out of the hamper.

I understand some people dress down who are millionaires; think Sam Walton. However, people make assumptions based on first impressions.

"Who knew that trading sweatpants for a suit could turn your flight into a networking event? That’s my business tip.

Well, there you have it, Episode 206, The December roundup.

For long-time listeners, thank you for your comments and emails. For new listeners, I hope you return.

If you want detailed show notes, links, and pictures, head over to substack at travelstories.substack.com/

You can also leave me a message on Anchor or email me at [email protected].

As I always say, travel safe, stay safe, and thanks for listening.

Hello and welcome to episode 205 of Travel Stories from the Back Again And Gone podcast.

This is being recorded in the beautiful home office of Chateau Relaxo, FL. If you are a new listener, welcome; if you are a returning listener, welcome back. Tonight, it’s the 2024 Gift Guide.

I am enjoying a Queen Hazy IPA from Prison Pals Brewing in Doral, Florida this evening. Queen is 6.2 ABV and quite tasty.

For returning listeners, my standard holiday gift list is still intact. Feel free to indulge an old road warrior.

* Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II – steel bracelet and should run less than $11k.

* 1995 Land Rover Defender – I had a chance to buy one for $30k in 1995, and I’m still bent that I passed on it. Seven or eight years ago, you could pick up a gently used one for less than $70k. Now it’s north of $100,000 for one.

The Gift Guide episodes are some of my favorite episodes.

I have two faults, probably more.

When I find a hobby, I will jump in with both feet.

* Herb garden

* Beer

* Cigars

* Fishing

* Whiskey

* Powerlifting

The second is that I’m an easily influenced gadget guy. Sites like Uncrate, Cool Tools, and BoingBoing Gadgets are my Kryptonite.

Typically, gifts with “Travel” in their names are useless: travel wallet, a travel scale—you get the idea.

Here are a few ideas that sound great, but they’re not.

Stainless Steel Tumblers—Yeti, Rambler, Rtic, or any tumblers that keep ice intact for three weeks. We’ve all got one, three of them, to be exact, and while they’re a great gift, they’re not great for traveling. Those behemoth steel tubes are made for hanging out on the boat or at a neighbor’s cookout.

* Blacklight Flashlight—While this sounds practical, no one wants to know what germs lurk in their hotel room. Besides, if the place looks sketchy, I’ll find somewhere else to stay.

* Anything Associated With Washing Clothes In Our Room – We don’t need a clothesline that stretches across the bathtub. Nor do we need a sink-stopper soap contraption. Most hotels have a washer and dryer hidden somewhere. Yet a Tide To Go Pen is a great gift.

RFID Blocking Anything – I never understood the hype over this. With the introduction of chipped cards, this is even less of a necessity. Besides, if they want your information, they’ll get it.

When choosing gifts, consider size and weight. Most of us are good at Luggage-Tetris, which means we know what goes where in our luggage. Giving us some odd or oversized item throws us off our game. The same goes for weight. If it’s too heavy, we may travel with it once—yes, once—and then we’ll donate it to Goodwill.

Looking back, it’s interesting to see the progression of travel gadgets.

In 2016, it was:

Amazon Fire Stick—Most hotel TVs have HDMI slots, so why not use that NetFlix or Hulu account on the road? Since it’s small and lightweight, it makes the cut. Most hotel TVs are smart TVs, and you no longer need an Amazon Fire Stick for the road.

Also, in 2016, it was a Travel Router. When traveling, I rarely leave home without a travel router. Convert a wired network connection into a wireless one so everyone can enjoy it. Most allow you to connect a USB drive for file sharing and stream media from any connected device. Make sure to use a VPN. Eight years later, WiFi is almost everywhere and usually free.

Most road warriors should have the following, but check to see if they’re missing any of these.

● Packing Cubes – This is one of those things that I figured I could live without. After five years, I don’t know how I would have survived without them. Feed your OCD-ness for less than $25.00.

● AUKEY Powerbank – I’ve yet to find a bad Aukey product. There’s nothing worse than having a dead phone, especially when you’re trying to let EVERYONE know your flights are delayed. I have gifted these for years; make sure whatever you order is rated 10000mAh or above. $23.00 on Amazon

● Anker PowerPort Speed 4 Wall Charger with One Quick Charge – If you travel with family, no doubt someone will leave their charging knuckle at home. This 4-port wall charger will instantly make you a hero. $28.00 on Amazon.

● Anker Powerline II 3-in-1 Cable, Lightning/Type C/Micro USB Cable – Cables are a pain! My running joke is that if I ever fall off a cliff, I want some sort of a charging cable with me.... the reason is that it’ll get hung up on something long before I hit the ground. With this, you can reduce three cables into one. Less than $20.00

Connectivity is the lifeblood of traveling. If you’re in an office, everything you need is close by. However, something as trivial as not having an outlet close by can be a real show-stopper. That’s why so many gifts focus on connectivity.

Here are a few things you might want to consider:

* Foldable Travel Duffel Bag—This is a stupid yet simple gift. How many times have you needed some sort of bag? This 20-inch bag features a compact folding design and is perfect for collecting shells at the beach or pinecones in the mountains. It stores easily in your backpack and costs less than $17.00.

* Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket—I hate jackets. First, they’re bulky, and second, they’re cumbersome. In 2018, I picked up a Nano Puff, and I like that it’s thin yet keeps me warm. I can put it in a compression bag, which reduces it to nothing. Retail is $240.00, but you can find it much cheaper if you search.

* Medicine Bag – This one isn’t exciting till you need it.

* Benadryl is great for skin irritations or making children or grandchildren go to sleep.

* AirBourne is excellent for colds. I’ve fended off more colds with this stuff than I can remember.

* Zyrtec – for allergies.

* Zantac – for heartburn.

* Top it off with aspirin and bandages. To take a medicine bag to the next level, add a sewing kit, wet wipes, and a collar stays if they wear dress shirts.

* I have no trouble sleeping in a hotel room, and if I wake up in the middle of the night, I don’t get confused about where I am or where the bathroom is. Some road warriors aren’t so fortunate, and they wake up in a panic in a dark hotel room, not knowing where they are. A motion-activated night is the perfect gift. They’re roughly $10.00 a piece, so buy two because we’ll leave one in a hotel room when we check out.

* If your road warrior likes to eat in their hotel room, a handy and inexpensive gift is a collapsible silicone bowl with a lid. I’m a fan of the $1.99 Ramen noodle bowls, but by the time I throw in a couple of packages of Starkist Buffalo Chicken, the original container is overflowing. These bowls come in handy; with the lid, you can keep it fresh for the midnight snack. Change back on $11.00.

* Recently, I stopped traveling with my iPad and keyboard. They were heavy, and the only place I used them was on an airplane. Besides, my iPhone does everything my iPad does, except for the keyboard. Enter the Samsers Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard with a Stand for your phone. Weighing 5.53 ounces with a charge, you will get 40 hours of continuous operation or 180 days of standby. Only $24.00

* With the temperature dropping, you might need to turn the heat on in your hotel room. A hotel room heater does two things: first, it warms the room, and second, it quickly dries out the air, which can lead to a rough night of sleep. If that sounds like the road warrior in your life, purchase them a Cool Mist Humidifier. Small, lightweight, and USB-powered, you can choose from two mist modes, which will help to improve air quality, ease allergies, and relieve dry skin and throat. $24.00

* This past year, I bought one of these for the kids: the AirFly Bluetooth Wireless Transmitter for Wireless Headphones. Say goodbye to tangled cords with these. Use your wireless buds or headphones to listen to audio from in-flight entertainment, gym equipment, gaming devices, or any 3.5mm audio jack. They are right around $35.00.

With just a bit of thought, you can get creative and gift someone something they will use without spending much money.

There are small portable white noise machines, drink holders for their suitcases, Phone holders for the airplane seat backs, and if all else fails, an inflatable neck pillow. I think that’s the right time. I have suggested that anyone buy a neck pillow.

Well, there you have it, Episode 205, The 2024 Gift Guide.

For long-time listeners, thank you for your comments and emails. For new listeners, I hope you return.

If you want detailed show notes, links, and pictures, head over to substack at travelstories.substack.com/

You can also leave me a message on Anchor or email me at [email protected].

As I always say, travel safe, stay safe, and thanks for listening.

Hello and welcome to episode 204 of Travel Stories from the Back Again And Gone podcast.

This is being recorded in the beautiful home office of Chateau Relaxo, FL. If you are a new listener, welcome; if you are a returning listener, welcome back. Tonight, it’s the November Roundup.

Tonight, I am drinking a Bound By Time IPA from Edmund’s Oast Brewery in Charleston, SC. At 7% ABV, Bound By Time is quickly becoming my favorite beer. Look for it at your local Publix; a four-pack will set you back around $15.00.

There have been no real trips of note in the last month. The CEO and I did make to Disney Springs, and as we tend to do, we had dinner at Splitsville as we negotiated our relationship. I enjoy Disney Springs in the late afternoon this time of year since the temperature is in the 80s, not the 90s.

Let’s start with holiday travel since it is that time of year. Here are a few holiday travel blunders to avoid.

Packing more than you need. After 24 years of business travel, I have perfected this. I don’t pack clothes that I haven’t worn in 3 years, and I don’t need to pack ten pairs of underwear for a 5-day trip. The CEO is a “Team Over-pack” member, which means she will check her bag. Regarding checking bags, here are a few things to consider. Does your credit card offer free checked bags?

Another thing to consider is being mindful of your bag's weight, especially during the holidays. You could return home with gifts in your luggage. You might incur extra fees if you check multiple bags or a bag of more than 50 pounds.

If you plan to travel by plane, look for a reservation you can change or cancel. Most airlines will give you credit for your ticket if you cancel, but if you only travel once or twice a year, you might prefer the cashback in your account. If you are booking travel with a credit card, look to see if they provide free travel insurance. Airlines typically won't cover a flight if it is canceled due to weather.

If you can be flexible with your travel plans and leave a day later or return a day later, this might provide some options, some of which might be cheaper. This is a no-brainer: avoid flying on the busiest days. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving will be a dumpster fire, but flying on Thanksgiving day might be a better choice since most travelers are already at their destination. The CEO and I used to do this flying into Atlanta on Christmas day, and typically, it was an easy travel day.

The last thing to consider is whether using points or paying for the plane fare with dollars is cheaper. I am not the best at this because my points vs. dollars strategy is as follows: I consider how many airline points I have vs. what I can afford to pay when my credit card bill comes due. For you financial nerds, there is a calculator that can help you out.

I rarely touch on religion, but when a post contains a church leader, thank you, Florida, and a mid-flight fight, I do have a duty. Former ayahuasca church leader Everett Chad Nelson, one of the three named people, recently got in a mid-flight fight. If you’re not familiar with the ayahuasca religion, I wasn’t. After a quick Google search, there seems to be only one ayahuasca church, and it’s in Florida, about 34 miles from Chateau’ Relaxo. If you’ve never heard of ayahuasca or listened to Joe Rogan, here’s the 50,000-foot view. Ayahuasca is a plant-based psychedelic. Which can alter a person's thinking, sense of time, and emotions. They can cause a person to hallucinate—seeing or hearing things that do not exist or are distorted. Sounds like fun.

Back to Everett, Chad Nelson was on a flight from California to Washington, D.C. About two hours into the five-hour flight Everett Chad Nelson, 44, left his seat in the rear of the aircraft and headed to one of the lavatories up front. When Everett Chad Nelson exited the bathroom, he stopped at seat 12F and “without notice, began physically attacking a sleeping male passenger by punching him repeatedly in the face and head until blood was drawn. The man began screaming, after which a Good Samaritan intervened and managed to pull Everett Chad Nelson off of him.

Aside from giving the unidentified passenger two black eyes, Nelson opened up a gash on the man’s nose, spattering blood on his seat, the wall, the window, and the sleeves of Everett Chad Nelson’s green windbreaker. There was no motive, and the pummeling came completely out of nowhere.

I’ve shared my opinion on the devil's lettuce, which isn’t favorable. That being said, I’m doubling down on any psychedelic by saying it's not for me.

View From The Wing posted this last month: People Are Showing Up At Hotels For Free Breakfast And Leaving—And They Aren’t Even Hotel Guests. Most commercial hotels offer some sort of free breakfast. You’ll find it at Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn, and Holiday Inn Express, which serves these amazing cinnamon rolls.

I rarely see a hotel check that you’re a guest before giving you access. This is a case of looking like you belong there: You can park in the lot, walk in, and eat.

 The only hotel I recall recently verifying that I was staying at is the full-service Hilton at Disney Springs. Now, their Covington Mill’s breakfast buffet is one of the best you’ll find, with a price tag of $30.00 per person.

Years ago, most Hilton properties gave you a daily copy of USA Today. A sales rep once asked me to bring him my daily copy and spare room key. Since this was a dude, I had no interest in handing him my extra room key. I would’ve felt the same way if it had been a female, so I asked him why. His angle was with a USA Today tucked under his arm and room key he could get himself a free breakfast. Internally I said to myself, what a d*****s as my mouth put forth, hell no.

I have probably spent more than 1700 nights in hotels, so I’ve had more than 1700 opportunities to dine on a hotel's breakfast offerings. There are only a few properties that stand out in my mind: Crown Plaza, Greenville, SC; the full-service Marriott in Mobile, AL; the Hampton Inn Duluth, GA; and the Hilton at Disney Springs. That’s it—four properties. There may be a fifth or sixth, but I am getting older and don’t recall. Most hotel breakfasts offer what I call square eggs, limp bacon, and oatmeal that could be used for wallpaper paste. One saving grace is bagels, yogurt, and anything in a container, such as jelly, honey, or peanut butter. The other saving grace is the juice machine. If I ever hit the lottery, I will buy a juice machine for Chateau’ Relaxo. The aerated apple juice is a perfect way to start your day.  

This one comes from the Delta subreddit.

Carlydoingthings posted, I was punched in the face by another passenger - Delta is saying there’s nothing they can do

Carlydoingthings was flying from Detroit to Los Angeles, and about an hour into the flight, another passenger punched her in the eye. At first, she didn’t realize what was happening as she watched a movie with noise-canceling headphones. A flight attendant saw it happen and asked the guy, “Did you just punch her?” Apparently, this guy had been vaping, touching other passengers inappropriately, was extremely inebriated, and overall caused a significant disturbance all over the plane. He was being escorted to the back of the plane to be detained when this happened. Another passenger had to sit in the last row with him so he didn’t harm anyone else.

Carlydoingthings did report it and did give a statement to the police when they landed.

To make things worse, when she deplaned, the Delta agent I spoke to wasn’t even sympathetic. They told me they knew this guy had caused trouble before the flight and that he probably should never have been allowed to board in the first place. Yet, somehow, Delta still let him on the plane.

When Carlydoingthings contacted Delta about the incident, they offered her 4,000 SkyMiles (about $40) as a “goodwill gesture.” That’s it—no flight reimbursement or further compensation, even though she always flies Delta for work. For reference, Delta routinely awards travelers 5000 SkyMiles for lost luggage.

Now, Delta says it doesn’t get involved in passenger conflicts, but here’s the thing: this guy shouldn’t have been allowed on the flight at all. If they had acted sooner, Carlydoingthings wouldn’t have been assaulted.

Right off the bat, 4000 SkyMiles are ridiculous. You can open a Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and get a 70,000 Bonus SkyMiles after you use your new card to make $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months. And the tip-in is that you don’t have to get punched in the face.

All things being equal, if a bar is liable for overserving someone who goes out and gets in a wreck, Delta should be liable for someone who was quote-unquote causing trouble before he boarded the plane. If Carlydoingthings wanted to get assaulted, she could have flown Spirit.”

From the, you have to be kidding department; I give you JetBlue passenger sues after being served a ‘dangerously cold’ ice cream sandwich via The Independent. Karla Quinonez, who broke an incisor on her way to Paris, claims the ice cream sandwich was “at a temperature below what is reasonable or safe for consumption”. 

This sounds eerily like the infamous 1994 hot coffee lawsuit against McDonald's, where Stella Liebeck was awarded $160,000 after she purchased hot coffee from a McDonald's restaurant, then accidentally spilled it in her lap, and suffered third-degree burns in her pelvic region. 

“The ice cream sandwich that JetBlue served to Quinonez was frozen solid and caused Quinonez to sustain severe bodily injuries, including a root fracture of tooth number 10,”. Quinonez argues, that no one said anything about how hard the ice cream sandwich was, and she immediately cracked her upper left lateral incisor when she bit down; the complaint continues. According to the complaint, this necessitated an emergency tooth extraction immediately upon landing, a subsequent implant, and continuing care upon returning to the United States, which blames Quinonez’s “pain, suffering, and mental anguish” solely on JetBlue’s “negligent acts.”

It’s that time of the year when Florida fall is here, which means the day's high temperature is 84, and the afternoon rain showers have gone away. It’s also time for the annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. If you’re unfamiliar with this yearly spectacle, this allows everyone to embark on a culinary adventure across six continents—from August 29 to November 23, 2024, for a price. If you’ve listened to the podcast, you’ll know I’m more of a Disney Springs fan than any of the Disney parks. However, I find Epcot to be my Disney-happy place. 

There’s a detailed post on the Substack, but here’s a rundown of some of the food and beverages we sampled, mixed with a game called Hide-N-Squek.

We sampled Schinkennudeln, a Pasta gratin with ham, onions, and cheese, for $5.25 in Germany. I found a recipe and will be making this at home. 

When we reached Canada, it was time for Braised Beef Poutine: French fries with braised beef, Boursin Garlic & Herbs cheese sauce, some cheese curds, and gherkin relish out the door for $10.00. 

In Mexico, it was an order of Flauta de Barbacoa, which is fried tortillas filled with barbacoa beef topped with salsa verde, crema Mexicana, and queso fresco—$8.00.

The last memorable meal is a Food & Wine Classic: the Teriyaki Chicken Bun, a Steamed bun filled with minced chicken, vegetables, and teriyaki sauce from Japan—$7.95.

For beer, I limited myself to one flight, which included these three. Dunkel Lager by von Trapp Brewing, Weihenstephaner Festbier by Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan and  Lemon Zest Hefeweizen by Radeberger Gruppe. I do not like fruit beers, but the Lemon Zest wasn’t that bad.

One drink that surprised me was the Expresso Martini from Joffery’s coffee kiosk. Ever since the Entrepreneurs' wedding, I have grown to enjoy an Expresso Martini. 

In Spain, we enjoyed red sangria.

The most unique drink from Italy was a blood orange margarita. It is a simple drink consisting of tequila, triple sec, and blood orange liqueur.

One last thing to do at the food and wine festival is Remy’s hide & squeak scavenger hunt. This Ratatouille-inspired scavenger hunt takes place around the World Showcase. To participate, all you have to do is drop $10.00 for a map, and then as you wander around the World Showcase, you look for statues of Remy holding the ingredients for his favorite dish: ratatouille. Once you spot Remi, you apply the matching sticker to your map. Even if you are not good at hide & seek, you don’t need to find all or even a single Remi just turn your map in at Disney Traders for your prize, I think we got a refrigerator magnet.

Well, there you have it, Episode 204, the November roundup

For long-time listeners, thank you for your comments and emails. For new listeners, I hope you return.

If you want detailed show notes, links, and pictures, head over to substack at travelstories.substack.com/

You can also leave me a message on Anchor or shoot me an email at [email protected].

As I always say, travel safe, stay safe, and thanks for listening.

Thanks for reading The Travel Stories Newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Hello and welcome to episode 202 of Travel Stories from the Back Again And Gone podcast.

This is being recorded in the beautiful home office of Chateau Relaxo, FL. If you are a new listener, welcome; if you are a returning listener, welcome back. Tonight, it’s six flights, a wedding, COVID-19, and some travel craziness.

Hurricane Helene landed in late September and spared Chateau Relaxo and Central Florida. That said, my sister lives in one of my favorite towns, Asheville, NC, and they didn’t do so well. They finally got the power restored on day six, but on day eight, there was still no water.

Tonight, I am partaking in an Elysian (Elison)Space Dust, coming in at 8.2 ABV. Thank you, Publix for the BOGO.

I added some new brews to my Untappd list in September.

Here are the highlights.

* Incredible Pale Ale, HenHouse Brewing Company. 6.9 ABV

* Liquid Blanket, Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar 6.5 ABV

* Mind Haze Brain Melter, Firestone Walker Brewing Company 8.5 ABV

* Stone IPA, Stone Brewing 6.9 ABV

* Mind Haze, Firestone Walker Brewing Company 6.2 ABV

* Two Hearted IPA, Bell's Brewery 7 ABV

* Secret Llama, from World of Beer 9 ABV

* Zombie Dust, 3 Floyds Brewing 6.5 ABV

* Lunch, Maine Beer Company 7.0 ABV

* The Substance, Bissell Brothers Brewing Company 6.6 ABV

* King Sue, Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. 7.8 ABV

* Heady Topper, The Alchemist 8 ABV

* Hitachino Nest Japanese Classic Ale 7 ABV

* Save the Robots, Radiant Pig Craft Beers 7 ABV

* Laser Kitten, Medusa Brewing Company 6 ABV

As I always say, drink local because it exposes you to new flavors and styles and opens you up to local stories and traditions.

Every year, I try to mention 911 in my September episode. 

While it happened over two decades ago, I still remember it vividly.

The September 11th, the timeline

8:46 AM – Flight 11 crashes into the World Trade Center’s North Tower. All passengers aboard are instantly killed, and employees of the WTC are trapped above the 91st floor.

9:03 AM – Flight 175 crashes into the WTC’s South Tower. All passengers aboard are killed instantly, and so are an unknown number of people in the tower.

9:37 AM – Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon. All passengers aboard are instantly killed, and so are 125 civilian and military personnel in the building.

9:45 AM – US airspace is shut down under Operation Yellow Ribbon. All civilian aircraft are ordered to land at the nearest airport.

9:59 AM – The South Tower of the World Trade Center collapses.

10:02 AM – Flight 93 plows into an empty field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Although its ultimate target is unknown, it was likely heading for either the White House or the US Capitol.

10:28 AM – The North Tower of the World Trade Center collapses.

The timeline included many more events, and I’ll include a link in the show notes so you can view it yourself.

On 911, I was leaving my office in Duluth, GA, headed to Knoxville, TN. I cut through our break room moments, and I mean the moments before the second plane hit the second tower. A few of my co-workers were in the breakroom for the last 15 minutes, saying it was some sort of prop plane that flew into the North Tower. It soon became clear that this was a full-on attack. 

In 2001, our branch office was located right down the street from the Pentagon, and everyone there heard and felt the crash and saw the remnants of the crash of Flight 77. 

Around 10:30 or 11:00 AM, corporate pulled everyone off the road, which was no easy feat since smartphones weren’t all that common. There were a lot of emails read on a laptop, followed up by phone calls to coworkers we knew were in the field and not sitting in front of their laptops.

My children were 11 and 7 so I headed out to pick up my daughter if I remember my wife was working at the PRE-K school my son was attending and we all met back at the house.

No one knew how long the airports would be shut down, so coworkers drove their rental cars back to Atlanta Hartsfield to pick up their personal cars.

There were so many heroes that day, but unfortunately, many perished.

On to something a bit more cheery.

I logged a bunch of hotel stays during September, and those stays made me think a bit. To start, hotels need to bring back single-use toiletry bottles. Yep, I said it, and I’m sure it’s not the best thing for our environment. However, one hotel’s wall-mounted shampoo was not correctly secured in its mount in September. This meant anyone could take the bottle and empty all the shampoo into their bottle or throw a bunch of gribbleys in the bottle, just lurking for the next person. In a different hotel, I got one pump of body gel before it stopped dispensing. I’m sure it cost millions of dollars to retrofit all these rooms with these canisters of gribbleys. Someone should have taken those dollars and found some sort of sustainable single-use toiletry bottles.

The other thing that hotels, or at least the ones I stay at, lack is any sort of automation. In the year 2024, we are still having to flip a light switch or use the remote to turn on the TV. How about a Google Echo and some smart plugs? Echo turns on YouTube TV, Echo turns off the bathroom lights. How about wireless phone chargers? Equipping hotel rooms with that is far better than installing 24-oz shampoo bottles, conditioner, and body gel.

In September, six flights were divided: 4 with Southwest and 2 with Delta.

Currently, I am breaking my “The Person Who Chases Two Rabbits Catches Neither” strategy as I’m dividing my trips between two airlines. Let’s break this down: on the 4 Southwest flights, I had an empty seat next to me on two of them. Southwest does offer free texting and live and posted several TV series, but most of it hasn’t been updated in the last four months. Plus, I had to use my iPhone or iPad to watch any of it.

Eight years ago, when we relocated to Chateau’ Relaxo, I strayed from a 16-year relationship with Delta and went with the side chick Southwest Airlines.

So far in 2024, I’ve had four flights on Delta, which does little to advance my Delta Skymile status other than some extra points due to my Delta American Express card. However, it does subtract four flights from Southwest A+ status.

My two Delta flights were nice. Both planes were full, which is the norm, but they offered free WiFi, TV series, live TV, and movies delivered through the seat-back tablet. Each seatback also provided a USB charger for my devices.

One of my trips took me to Northern California. It had been years since I’d traveled there, and the traffic there is as bad as in Southern California, with an afternoon 32-mile trip taking 90 minutes. I’ve also discovered why there are so many wildfires, and it’s because everything is dry on both sides of I-680. There are possibly a few green trees but absolutely no green grass.

Another trip took me back to Boston. If you’ve followed this podcast for any amount of time, you’ve heard me talk about “The Entrepreneur.” Well, he went and got married. It was a three-day destination wedding. 

On Friday, we had a section of seats at Fenway for a Red Sox game. It was great to see the Green Monster in person and eat a Fenway dog. The rehearsal dinner was at the Blue Ribbon Brasserie, followed by a meet-and-greet at Dillon's. 

The wedding was held at the Commonwealth Hotel, and it went off without a hitch. It was probably one of the best receptions I’ve ever attended, with “The CEO” and “The Entrepreneur” gracing the dance floor for the mother-son dance.

As a tip-in to the event your boy here got COVID, I dodged it for 4 ½ years, and I finally got it. Being a manly man, I must admit I spent two days in bed. It’s been close to 30 years since I’ve had the flu, probably due to all the germs I’m exposed to when traveling, but all my joints ached just like I remember with the flu.

Let’s move on to vacation time, or, as it’s now been called, paid time off (PTO). My company is extremely generous, as I get 25 days of PTO per year and three float PTO for religious reasons, mental health, etc., well over a month of PTO.

In Reed Hasting's book No Rules, Rules, Reed explains how NetFlix has an “unlimited vacation policy” that gives employees the freedom to take time off. From a corporate view, this makes sense since everyone on my team is salaried. We don’t track our work on weekends or odd work hours or if someone needs to take a few hours off for a doctor's appointment, so why should we track vacation or PTO time? 

One of the kids recently started a new job and used most of their PTO for a wedding and a bout with COVID-19. They are tied down for a few months, waiting for their PTO to build back up.

All the HR BS leads me to ask, would you like to turn 12 vacation PTO days into 45? If you do, you must plan your PTO days in concert with the federal holidays.

Thanksgiving is always on a Thursday, so if you take Friday off, it’s a four-day weekend. My company automatically gives it to us.

MLK Jr. Day, Washington’s birthday, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Columbus/Indigenous People Day are all on Mondays. If you work on the day after those holidays, you now have five four-day work weeks.

The takeaway is to maximize your PTO time so consider lining up your PTO with the federal holidays.

Here’s another question. What happens to your hotel points, credit card points, and miles after you die?

Right off the bat, the CEO and I have a “Death Folder,” a unique term, right? If one of us punches out, that folder contains every website and its password. It also contains a list of names to investigate in case we meet an untimely demise. After my father's death two years ago, I spent a solid two days selecting “Forgot Password” on numerous websites, trying to find what he was paying and how much he was paying.

For example, Delta Air Lines' SkyMiles program states, "Miles are not the property of any Member. Except as specifically authorized in the Membership Guide and Program Rules or otherwise in writing by an officer of Delta, miles may not be sold, attached, seized, levied upon, pledged, or transferred under any circumstances, including, without limitation, by operation of law, upon death, or in connection with any domestic relations dispute and/or legal proceeding." Feel free to figure that out.

However, In almost all cases (especially regarding flights), you can book travel for someone else using your points and miles. So, if a loved one has login access to your account, they can book travel for themselves and others using your points or miles in case you pass away. Since I had my dad’s Southwest login information, I could book several trips for relatives until the points ran dry. However, be mindful of mileage expiration dates.

Hotel points are generally the most flexible for transfers. Regardless of the reason, they can often be transferred to another member. So, if your loved one has remaining hotel points, you might be able to transfer them to your account if you have their account information.

Finally, the unused points could be forfeited when you close a credit card. So, ensure you understand your bank and card policy before closing any credit cards. I or we fell victim to this. My dad passed away on July 4th, 2022. At the time, he had a Chase card with an S-ton of points. My sister decided it was best to cancel the card, and we lost all those points.

After several years of rumors, Southwest will change its open seating policy and assign seats like most other airlines.

After being a Southwest steady for the past eight years, I like their current policy. I typically end up in boarding group A, and I know which window seats have the window perfectly positioned, so I get maybe an extra inch of shoulder room.

Another way to get early boarding, even before A-List Preferred, is if you fake the need for a wheelchair. Southwest Airlines has more wheelchair passengers than any other airline. It drives up the airline’s costs as they pay for the wheelchair service and cheat other customers out of better seats. Southwest calls that the  “Jetbridge Jesus” flight as passengers come on with a wheelchair to get the best seats and miraculously walk without any assistance when the flight is over.

This will also reduce the frustration of passengers trying to save seats for their family or friends with backpacks and folded jackets.

I don’t think this is a big deal, at least not to me. Hopefully, they will keep the two-free luggage policy.

Just in case you need another reason to check your receipt when leaving your hotel or dropping off your rental.

Avis claims Giovanna Boniface drove their rented 4WD Yukon Denali 36,482 miles in three days, charging her $8,079.76. 

The receipt shows .25 per mile for 36482 miles; they gave her a discount of $883.00 and then added $1215.00 in taxes.

Giovanna didn’t notice the overcharge until she checked her credit card statement before boarding a flight to Europe.

If she had driven the car non-stop for 72 hours, she would have to maintain an average speed of 402 miles per hour. I’m not a car guy, but I can assure you that a 4WD Yukon Denali has a hard time breaking 130 MPH. The receipt Avis gave Giovanna reads, "Odometer Out: 48170 Odometer In: 77224". G” Giovanna says she'd only driven 185 miles.

After some arguing, Giovanna received a credit for her trip.

There seems to be a decrease in airplane shenanigans or chaos. Early and mid-COVID, it seemed that every episode had some sort of Flight Club, Miami Flight Club, Florida Flight Club, or Spirit Flight Club. Passengers were regularly squaring up and looking to throw down, and we all know the first rule of Flight Club.

Recently, the FAA posted, “Airlines have reported more than 1,240 cases to the FAA this year, compared with nearly 6,000 in 2021. Relatively few of them are deemed serious enough to be passed along to the FBI for investigation and potential filing of criminal charges.”

Looking around the travel blogosphere everyone has an idea why, but according to View From The Wing, these are the top 3 reasons.

* They’re different passengers.

* True, before COVID, you knew what to expect on a discount or second-tier airline. Suddenly, American Airlines dropped its prices in search of revenue, and honestly, would you rather fly Spirit or American Airlines?

* Mask rules ended

* I’m sure the day the mask mandate was lifted, shenanigans or chaos decreased since there were no arguments about whether you should wear a mask.

* Alcohol returned to planes

* This is a no-brainer because, during COVID, airlines weren’t serving alcohol, so what did travelers do…. They pre-gamed at the terminal and boarded the plane fully lit. I’ll let you piece together the pieces from there.

Well, there you have it, Episode 202, the September roundup

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As I always say, travel safe, stay safe, and thanks for listening.

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