Travel Stories

Hello and welcome to episode 222 of Travel Stories from the Back Again and Gone Podcast. Still being recorded in the beautiful home office of Chateau’ Relaxo, FL. If you’re a new listener, welcome; and if you’re a returning listener, welcome back. I really need to pack a traveling microphone and go back to recording these in hotel rooms. Tonight it’s The Perimeter, the Peloton, and the Platinum Loiterer

Three trips of note since our last episode. The first was Savannah, Georgia, which is probably one of my favorite towns of all time. So much so that I have done multiple episodes focusing on the town; it started with Episode 9 - Savannah In The Summer, then Episode 102 - Summer Along The Georgia Coast, followed by Episode 124 - The Towns I Like, Savannah, GA.

Even though I’ve spent the majority of my life near the ocean, I am not a quote-unquote beach person; give me the mountains, rivers, and lakes, and I am in my happy place. The CEO and I were married in Savannah at the Mansion on Forsyth Park, which was a Marriott Autograph property at the time- how appropriate for a road warrior to get married at a hotel and use points for everyone’s room. The mansion was sold and reopened in 2024, and now operates as Hotel Bardo Savannah. Here’s a Behind the Bardo article.

Our last stay at the Mansion on Forsyth Park was the weekend before COVID turned everyone’s world upside down. We were rolling back into O-Town that Sunday afternoon, after a Saturday cooking class at the mansion with plans for me to leave for New Jersey the next day, when I got an email saying all travel was to cease and that I was responsible for letting my team know. I’m pretty sure I spent the remainder of the drive home phoning team members to fill them in on the news.

If you go to Savannah in the summer, it will be hot; even though you’re on the coast, there’s very little breeze. Usually, my hotels of choice are located along Bay Street, which is close to Factors Walk or Broughton Street and one of my favorite restaurants, the Crystal Beer Parlor. The Parlor opened in 1933 as one of the first legal bars after Prohibition. While the food is great, my allure is their “Beers our father’s drank.” The list includes Old Milwaukee, Genesee Cream Ale, Ballantine, and Stroh’s, just to name a few. I remember growing up, my dad would cut the grass wearing long pants and a white “V-Neck” T-Shirt, then finish the afternoon off with a Carlings Black Label. Back to my Savannah hotel search: since it’s summer, the rates were astronomical, and Bay Street was too far from the customer’s site.

I ended up at the Hilton Garden Inn Savannah Midtown, which offered everything I needed for a two-night stay, including those delicious Hilton Garden Inn wings.

Most hotels will typically give loyalty members a bottle of water and a package of cookies. At the Hilton Garden Inn Savannah Midtown, I found a partially stocked fridge, likely left by the previous guest. It was two unopened bottles of Orange Gatorade and two packages of Ken’s Blue Cheese dressing. Neither of these items was consumed with my wings.

The other oddity about the room was the bed’s height. I’m 5’ 8”, and I actually had to hop up to get in the bed. I’ll put a picture in the show notes.

The next trip was to Knoxville, TN, which I last visited in 2018. The hotel of choice was the Hilton Garden Inn Knoxville West/Cedar Bluff. Cedar Bluff was an up-and-coming area between 2005 and 2015, but I didn’t notice much growth since my last visit. Now I did fly, so I didn’t make the I75 North drive, so there may be plenty of growth further down south.

No meals worth mentioning during this visit, but the Hilton Garden Inn Knoxville West/Cedar Bluff did have storage containers in the parking lot, so they may be about to undergo renovations.

Personally, I’m hoping those shipping containers contain some new fitness center equipment, as one of the treadmills and the Peloton both had “Out of Order” signs proudly displayed. Let’s talk about the Peloton Hilton relationship. I first mentioned this relationship in 2022 during Episode 178, and I recall thinking this wasn’t a good idea, as these Pelotons were going to get the dog-s beat out of them. I believe this was the first time I’ve seen a Peloton not up and running in a Hilton fitness center. This program has been so popular that Hilton is now offering an In‑Room Peloton Fitness Experience.

From the press release: Hilton (NYSE: HLT) and Peloton (NASDAQ: PTON) are making it easier than ever for travelers to sustain fitness routines and goals while on the road. Through Hilton’s Connected Room Experience (CREx), guests can now access a complimentary collection of Peloton’s on-demand fitness content on their in-room TVs. Designed as an introduction to Peloton’s Instructor-led classes, this seamless offering allows travelers to stick to their wellness routines—or try new ones—while on the road. Drawing on insights from a recent Hilton survey, which found that 90% of travelers strive to maintain their wellness routines while on the road. Peloton even offers a web-based tracker so you can see which Hilton fitness centers offer Peloton’s in-room classes.

The last trip worth mentioning was back to Atlanta, and the first two nights were at the Hampton Inn Atlanta NW Cumberland, which is ITP. That’s Atlanta slang; ITP stands for Inside The Perimeter and OTP stands for Outside The Perimeter, with the perimeter being Interstate 285, which is 63 miles and completely encircles downtown Atlanta.

Here’s a “Perimeter” story: It was August 19, 1982, and Atlanta Braves pitcher Pascual Perez got lost heading to a home game at the Atlanta Fulton County Stadium. Perez had received his Georgia driver’s license that day and, on his way to the Stadium, accidentally got on I-285 instead of I-85. This makes sense, as Perez was called up from AAA just two weeks earlier and was new to Atlanta.

Perez drove the Perimeter for 2 1/2 loops, over 3 hours and over 150 miles. He had to ask for $10 worth of gas because he also forgot his wallet. The gas station attendant recognized him and helped out. He arrived at the stadium during the National Anthem and was fined $100 for missing his scheduled start. So the Perimeter holds a special spot for Atlantans.

Back to the Hampton Inn Atlanta NW Cumberland. As I entered, the desk clerk was arguing with a customer over the room they had requested. Thankfully, a second desk clerk gave me my key and a bottle of water in under 30 seconds, and I was headed to the elevator.

This room had seen better days. The wallpaper around the bathroom outlet was peeled away, exposing cracked drywall. The full-length mirror that typically hangs on the wall was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall it should be hanging on, and the door looked as if someone had tried to break in.

I get that hotels age, but all of those items should have been addressed by now, and after looking at the Google reviews, my room wasn’t the exception. Probably the most frustrating thing about my room was the desk, or better yet, the desk chair; it barely fit between the bed and the desk, and had I wanted to watch TV, it would’ve been difficult since the TV was several feet behind, over my left shoulder.

The last night of my Atlanta trip was a stay at the Tru by Hilton Atlanta Airport College Park. This property shares many of its resources with the Home 2 Suites, which is in the same building. The property switch was due to a few reasons. First, it’s located next to the SkyTrain, which takes you directly to the airport, saving me at least 30 minutes when returning the rental car. Second, I can turn in the rental a day early and save my company some money.

My last visit to a TRU property was back in 2018, and I covered it in Episode #1, “Hello Again From Our New Home.” This really wasn’t the true first episode; it was the first episode after I moved the podcast from the Hype Orlando site to Anchor, which Spotify acquired. In 2018, I compared the Tru property to…

Hello and welcome to episode 221 of Travel Stories from the Back Again and Gone Podcast. Being recorded in the beautiful home office of Chateau’ Relaxo, FL. If you’re a new listener, welcome; and if you’re a returning listener, welcome back.

No beer this episode, as I am recording this early on Saturday morning, and I am not that much of a monster.

I believe I was on a plane almost every single week during the last five or six weeks, and in reference to the last episode, possibly my luck with hotels, or at least the ones that I am staying at, has taken a turn for the better.

The first trip was to Raleigh, North Carolina, for a few days, which, of course, means my go-to Hilton Garden Inn, right outside the Raleigh-Durham airport, was my lodging of choice. I’ve been at this location for many years, and it is perfectly located for all of my work interactions. There is a Sheetz gas station a quarter mile away, and Sheetz is probably, in my opinion, the only runner-up to Quiktrip; and if you need something more than what Sheetz has to offer, the RDU Galleria is right across the parking lot, which houses a food court with a solid selection of six different restaurants as well as a bar.

What I like about this Hilton Garden Inn is consistency. It seems that the desk clerk has been there for at least five years, as well as the bartender who makes a mean old-fashioned, and as I always say, I believe Hilton Garden Inn has some of the best chicken wings around. The best part is it is five minutes from the rental car return, which means not having to get up super early for a suicide flight.

Another trip was a quick overnight trip to Atlanta, nothing unusual because the evening traffic starts right around 1 PM and it continues well after 7 PM.

The first night of my stay, I ended up staying at a Hilton property on the west side of town, and when checking in, I was offered the complimentary choice of a beverage, and I mentioned to the desk clerk, with Atlanta being the home of Coca-Cola, let me go with a sugary Coke. And that’s when the desk clerk said he had previously worked for Marriott and that Marriott properties only serve Pepsi-Cola due to the fact that years ago, Marriott needed some working capital, 10 million dollars, and Pepsi was the only one that would give them the money, and in return Marriott would only serve Pepsi products in perpetuity.

I’m one that loves a good story, but I also have a really good BS detector. I knew there had to be some truth to this, but I couldn’t believe that a business that wasn’t owned by PepsiCo would lock itself into a lifelong deal for only a few million dollars. So that night I did a deep dive into the inner webs and found, yes, there was some truth to the story, but it is not all that it seems.

Here’s what I found: Marriott International famously served only Pepsi products for over 30 years due to a financial rescue deal, but the hotel chain is currently transitioning to Coca-Cola products worldwide. The History Behind the Pepsi Deal is that in 1991, Marriott faced extreme financial trouble and needed money to stay afloat. The company asked its longtime beverage supplier, Coca-Cola, for a loan between $50 million and $100 million at a low interest rate. Coca-Cola declined, stating they were not in the business of giving loans. Next, Marriott approached PepsiCo. PepsiCo agreed to provide a multi-million dollar loan to support the hotel chain. In exchange for the financial lifeline, Marriott signed an exclusivity contract. They dropped Coca-Cola entirely and made Pepsi their official beverage provider in 1992. For over three decades, every Marriott lobby bar, mini-market, and fountain machine featured Pepsi products. The big switch to Coca-Cola was as of April 2026; Marriott International ended its historic 34-year partnership with Pepsi.

The hotel giant signed a massive new global agreement with the Coca-Cola Company. Marriott decided to switch back to Coke for a few key reasons: Guest Preference: Marriott shared that more than 70% of its guests prefer the Coca-Cola portfolio over Pepsi.

The new deal brings Coke products to more than 9,700 properties across 143 countries. Marriott chose the swap to elevate the guest experience and offer the brands travelers request most. Because the transition is rolling out across thousands of hotels, you may still find leftover Pepsi items at a few locations. Still, Coca-Cola is rapidly becoming the new default standard.

Pepsi saved Marriott from bankruptcy, and Marriott honored that for 34 years. But in the end, customer preference won. Remember loyalty rules business… until the data says otherwise.

Next time you’re at a Marriott and grab a soda, check the can. If it’s Coke? That’s new. If it’s Pepsi? You’re in the last few hotels still on the old deal.

The last night of my Atlanta trip, I stayed at the DoubleTree Atlanta Airport, a property that I’ve frequently stayed at over the past 17 years. However, there was one change since my last stay. They now charge for parking: $25.00 for overnight parking. This is a total money grab. The parking lot looked exactly as it did during my last visit, no new asphalt and no new stripping. If an airport hotel wants to charge for parking, bake it into the room charge. Most everyone lodging at an airport hotel is a business traveler, and a parking charge means an additional entry in an expense report; yes, it’s the little things. But they did give me a cookie at check-in, and their Philly cheesesteak is nothing to pass on.

Believe it or not, on my flight home, the Atlanta airport TSA pre-check took less than five minutes to get through, which I have not had happen in years, so I’m sure I will pay for that at some point.

I noticed the airport was having a hard press on the Delta-branded American Express cards. Because of what I was traveling with, I had to check my bag, and as I was handing it over to the ticket agent, she said, “I noticed that you have this color of the American Express card.” She said, “If you update to this color, here are the additional benefits you get,” and she went through the benefits, some of which were enticing. Some really wouldn’t apply to me, and others I already had. So, to close the deal, she flipped over her ID badge and asked me to scan the QR code with my phone, which took me to deltaoffer.com, where I could view the various levels of American Express cards and compare their benefits. Seriously, this ticket agent spent a good three or four minutes hyping me on this, so I’m sure she was getting comped on anyone who applied and was issued a card based on her QR code.

I headed off to Concourse E, which by far hands-down has the best food choices in all of the Atlanta airport, and at the top of the escalator there was yet another American Express Delta booth hawking credit cards. After lunch. I headed back to Concourse T, got off the plane train, went up the escalator, and again was presented with yet another kiosk hawking Delta-branded American Express cards. It was then that my gate was changed from Concourse T to Concourse A, and I repeated the whole process: down the escalator, walk a bit, and then up another escalator, and what do I find, but another Delta American Express-branded credit card kiosk looking for applicants.

I got to my gate and opened up the webpage that the ticketing agent’s QR code directed me to and started reading about the benefits of upgrading our current card. And actually, we have two American Express cards, which I would love to condense down to one single card. After reading and considering, I decided that it would absolutely make sense to upgrade the card, as the benefits of a new level far outweighed the benefits of the current two cards that we are using. But here is the fly in the ointment: when I started thinking about it, we probably have easily 10 different monthly auto-deducts against both of those cards, and the thought of untangling that web and, in turn, retangling it with a new card made upg…

Hello and welcome to episode 220 of Travel Stories from the Back Again and Gone. Being recorded in the beautiful home office of Chateau’ Relaxo, FL. If you’re a new listener, welcome; and if you’re a returning listener, welcome back.

In this episode, I ask a very simple question, “What’s going on with hotels?” Thanks for listening.

Over the past 26 years, I have probably spent, conservatively, 2000 nights in hotels, that’s a humble brag. I know for a fact that with Hilton, it’s over 1000, which is one of their requirements for lifetime diamond status, and I hit that probably seven or eight years ago. I am a lifetime Titanium with Marriott, and last time I looked, I had over 700 nights with them. Then, throw in the first four or five years when I stayed at Holiday Inn Express properties, mixed with countless conventions and company kickoffs, I would say it is well over 2000 nights.

And maybe it’s me, maybe I have just hit a bad string of hotels as I am traveling in a new territory and trying to get the lay of the land, thank you Progressive Insurance’s Dr. Rick, as to where the best hotels are.

Back in the good old days, I sound like my father now. I had some elite status with Holiday Inn, and I could remember every time I stayed at the Crown Plaza in Greenville, South Carolina. There would be a knock on the door, and somebody from the kitchen would be there with a plate of cheese and fruit, and a small bottle of wine. Thanking me for my status. Now you receive an automated text five minutes after you walk into your room, asking if everything is to your liking. I have no idea. I just walked into the room. Give me a few minutes to unpack.

If you’ve never stayed at a DoubleTree property, one of their claims to fame is that you receive a nice warm chocolate chip cookie upon check-in. It used to be that if you had Hilton Diamond status, they presented you with a nice tin that held half a dozen chocolate chip cookies, and after almost every trip, the tin made it home with one or two cookies missing. I recently stayed at the DoubleTree by the Cincinnati airport. I was not offered a cookie and did not even see the heated cookie drawer, which is typically located behind the counter.

I completely understand that we are all having to do more with less, and I’m sure you could partially blame it on COVID, as nobody traveled consistently for probably six or seven months. However, I believe some of the decline began before COVID. It used to be that most hotels had some manager’s reception, typically on Monday or Tuesday nights, since that was when most road warriors started their travel week, but those are few and far between now.

One of the next changes I noticed was the shift from individual disposable toiletries to large wall-mounted dispenser bottles. My environmentalist side completely understands and agrees with not filling up the landfills; however, the hygiene side of me would prefer to be clean. On my last trip, the shampoo bottle in the shower was actually torn out of the wall and sitting on the soap tray. And the shampoo gel bottle, the most important bottle, was empty. The other thing that I miss about the individual toiletry bottles is that I would routinely bring them home, and we would donate them to the local homeless or women’s shelter. Think of it as Hilton and Marriott paying it forward.

Another thing I have noticed over the last year or so of traveling is that most Hilton hotel rooms no longer have a bedside clock. Not a huge deal for most of us since we use our smartphones, or at least I do, as my alarm clock. I have no idea how many rooms there are in the Hilton hotel chain worldwide. I’m guessing over 1 million, and they’re probably paying between $10 and $15 for that bedside alarm clock. If that’s the direction they are heading, that’s easily a $10-$15 million savings by not having to replace them. Where are those savings going?

Another bone of contention for many travelers is that you no longer automatically have daily room service as you did in the past. Typically, I see it is offered every other day unless you request it daily. I, for one, never have room service come into my room during my stay. If I need more towels, I can always go downstairs, but I’m not everyone, and I’m sure that there are people who want or need daily housekeeping. This has to be a direct response to COVID, as most hotel chains either furloughed or let people go during that time, and then found this to be a suitable workaround now that people are back to traveling.

Now, I must hand it to Marriott and the fact that the full-service Marriott or the Renaissance Marriott locations still offer the concierge lounge, which doesn’t seem like much, but it’s a great way to start the day with a nice breakfast or wind down the day with an adult beverage and some snacks.

Let’s talk about the conditions of hotels. So I’ve spent the last year traveling almost like it was 2019, and during that time, I have yet to see one hotel that was doing any remodeling or renovations, and that used to be a very common sight. There would be a few of those large shipping containers in the parking lot and a couple of hallways taped off with a drop cloth, but that seems to have gone by the wayside.

On a recent trip, I went downstairs for my morning workout, and the dumbbell rack held a pair of 15-pound dumbbells and a single 5-pound dumbbell. Somehow, I don’t think somebody stole the other pairs of dumbbells, but you never know. That same fitness center also had a cable tower where you could do a variety of exercises, but it had only one handle, the other being torn off. And if you wanted to watch TV while you were working out, good luck, as the cables were just wound up in a ball hanging down from the TV set. I certainly don’t expect a Retro or a Planet Fitness, but I would expect whatever is in there to be functioning.

On the same trip, but in a different hotel, still a Hilton property, there was a giant chip missing from the bathtub, and the iron in the room did not work.

I went down to the front desk to get another iron, and one of the plastic plates was missing, exposing the iron’s wires. Being smart, I made sure to touch the wires to verify the iron was in working order.

Same trip, third hotel, and this one was a Home 2 Suites, which typically has a small kitchen, real plates and glasses, and a mid-size refrigerator. One of the glasses still had lipstick from a previous guest. This is one of the reasons that you never use glasses that aren’t wrapped in plastic when you stay in a hotel room. I replied to the automated “Welcome” text with a picture of the glass and the comment, “It looks like someone forgot to clean this glass.” No response, no acknowledgment. I guess management didn’t have anything in the playbook for a lipstick-stained glass.

Another thing I have noticed is that almost every hotel room has a QR code you can scan with your phone to tip the housekeeping staff. The first time I saw this, I was not a fan because I feel that whoever is cleaning the room should get the tip, and tips should not be pooled so that everybody gets an equal share of the tips, even if they didn’t do an equal share of the work. At the same Home 2 Suites with the lipstick glass, I actually scanned the QR code instead of leaving some cash on the counter, and on the landing page, it asks if I want to cover the $0.59 service fee so the full tip goes to the housekeeping team. I am willing to bet that part of that $.59 goes to the hotel chain, and the remainder goes to the company processing the tip. Again, it is easier to leave some cash on the countertop when I leave.

What is really perplexing is that hotels are more expensive than before. We use a third-party booking site, and there is a $ 135-per-night threshold, before taxes and fees, that, if we exceed, will not notify our manager. Every single hotel room I have booked in the last 12 months has been…

Hello and welcome to episode 219 of Travel Stories from the Back Again and Gone. Being recorded in the beautiful home office of Chateau’ Relaxo, FL. If you’re a new listener, welcome; and if you’re a returning listener, welcome back.

A few trips since our last episode, and two of which were new destinations, which always makes for an adventure.

The first trip was a four-day trip to Lake Forest, California. Since I fly Delta, this required a layover in Atlanta and a burger at Shake Shack.

It’s been a few years since my last West Coast visit, and California never disappoints. Gas prices were well north of $6.00 a gallon. And here are just a few reasons as to why.

Primary Reasons for High Prices

* Highest Taxes in the U.S.: Drivers pay approximately $0.90 per gallon in combined taxes. Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS): Adds roughly 17–30 cents per gallon

* Special “Boutique” Fuel Blend: California mandates a unique, cleaner-burning gasoline blend that reduces smog.

* And what they call “Fuel Island,” There are no interstate pipelines bringing finished gasoline into California. The state must rely on its own refineries or on expensive marine imports from Asia, which can take weeks to arrive.

The Courtyard Marriott Lake Forest had at least 25 EV charging stations, and we rolled in a 9-person Chevy Suburban.

The other California oddity is the clear plexiglass fences that almost every home and townhome has protecting their backyard. The reason these homes are easily $1,000,000 is that, after dropping that much cash, homeowners can enjoy the mountain views through the plexiglass fences.

The meal of the trip was at Splashes in Laguna Beach. Splashes is on the beach, as in right on the sand. My dinner choice was something that I would never pass up, Braised Prime Short Rib, and it was one of the best servings that I have ever tasted. As an added bonus, they were filming an episode of one of “The Real Housewives” shows. Since I didn’t sign a release, I will not be in an upcoming episode.

The following week, I enjoyed a trip to Springfield, Missouri. There were no standout meals, and the hotel was a standard Marriott. However, there were two items worth mentioning. First, I became that “guy” as I left my dress socks on the bed back at Chateau’ Relaxo, which required a trip to the Wall-Of-Mart, where I discovered that they sell real booze, not malt liquor and Fireball but Buffalo Trace Bourbon and Grey Goose Vodka. While I thought this was some sort of oddity, I discovered that when I filled up my rental car’s gas tank at the West Bypass Eagle gas station, they also sold high-octane liquor as well. So apparently, there is no need for a traditional liquor store in Springfield, Missouri.

The other item is a travel tip. I have been renting cars on a consistent basis for the past thirty years, and while I always did a walk-around of my rental before I left the Hertz lot, one thing I’ve never considered is whether my rental car would pass a state vehicle inspection. Let’s set the stage. I had a 6:00 AM flight out of Springfield to Atlanta, then on to Orlando. Because there is no airline that flies directly from Orlando to Springfield. It is 3:30 AM, and I am on a country road exactly one mile from the airport when, all of a sudden, the car behind me turns on an EDM light display as I am being pulled over by the Springfield Sheriff. I’ll save you all the driver’s license and proof of insurance conversation, but my Hertz rental car had no tail lights, brake lights, yes, but no tail lights. Long story short I was given a warning and sent on my way, only to find out that TSA doesn’t open until 4:30 AM so I could’ve had an extra 45 minutes of sleep.

You know you’ve hit a uniquely American travel moment when a TSA checkpoint turns into a tequila tasting. At one airport, a passenger decided her full-size bottle of Don Julio was too good to surrender, so instead of tossing it out or checking it, she started chugging it right there in line. The joke writes itself: TSA said “no liquids,” and she apparently heard “challenge accepted.” And honestly, there’s something so wonderfully chaotic about the whole scene — because this wasn’t a tiny souvenir bottle or a last-minute airport snack, it was a full commitment to the bit. According to the report, drinking that much 40% liquor in one shot is no small thing, and it definitely turned an ordinary security line into a viral spectacle. It also shines a light on the absurdity of the 3.4-ounce liquid rule, which has had travelers tossing out everything from water bottles to shampoo for years. So, congratulations to this traveler for finding the most dramatic possible workaround… though it’s probably not the kind of airport strategy anyone should be putting on their packing list.

“The internet did what it does best — turned a TSA meltdown into comedy content. Some people thought it was hilarious, others thought it was ridiculous, but everybody had an opinion.”

This came to us via “View From The Wing”

A man recently decided that 11 hours at an airport bar was the perfect pre-game for a Delta flight, only to discover that the “party” didn’t quite make it to cruising altitude. Upon boarding, he immediately tried to liven up the cabin by smacking a sleeping passenger’s head and yanking another’s headphones out, all while loudly announcing that he was creating a “party flight”.

When a flight attendant intervened, the man confidently threatened to never fly Delta again—a “punishment” the crew seemed perfectly happy to accept, promptly showing him the door. Even as he was escorted off, he tried to start a passenger revolt, begging his fellow travelers to abandon the flight and join him back at the bar. To his likely dismay, not a single person joined his movement, proving that while he had the stamina for an 11-hour drinking session, he severely lacked the charisma to lead a mutiny

And with most of these posts, much of the comedy gold exists in the comments from readers - Christian posted:

11 Hours at the bar. The guy really was trying to prove that you can’t drink all day if you don’t start in the morning, I guess.

View From The Wing also gave us our first “Thank You Florida” story.

On a recent flight from Zurich to Miami, a passenger named Guillaume Mattler reportedly turned a long-haul journey into a criminal case. While the victim was asleep, Mattler allegedly began groping her, an act noticed by both other passengers and a flight attendant who promptly intervened to separate the two.

Following his relocation to the back of the plane, Mattler allegedly returned to the victim’s seat area under the guise of retrieving his belongings. During this interaction, he handed her a handwritten note that read, “You look beautiful when you are sleeping.”

When confronted by federal authorities upon landing, Mattler claimed he was simply trying to strike up a conversation and exchange contact information. His defense—that his unsolicited physical contact and creepy note were just a romantic gesture—failed to impress the authorities. He now faces federal charges for sexual abuse, likely ensuring his future travel experiences will involve significantly less legroom and considerably more prison time.

“I’m Not Smoking, I’m Just Fog‑Testing the Cabin”

News flash: vaping on a plane is now the adult version of “I only tried it once!”—except instead of a grounding, you get a lifetime ban and a viral TikTok.

Our hero steps into the bathroom, fires up the e‑cigarette, thinking they’ve discovered a legal loophole, and instead sets off the smoke alarm like a DIY special‑effects team. Suddenly, the flight crew is doing a full‑scale crime‑scene sweep of the plane while the rest of us just wanted to watch Moana in peace.

The FAA’s stance is basically: “We wrote this law in 1988, before anyone knew what a vape was, but we meant it for all drama‑inducing vapor inhalers.” So whether you’re puffing a Camel or a candy‑flavored vape stick, the plane’s only job is to say, “Detected: fraud, fines, and vide…

Hello and welcome to episode 217 of Travel Stories from the Back Again and Gone. Being recorded in the beautiful home office of Chateau’ Relaxo, FL. If you’re a new listener, welcome; and if you’re a returning listener, welcome back.

No beer, as I am recording this at 9:00 AM, and I am not that much of a monster.

Yes, late again in getting the crazy travel round-up out, but it’s been that busy. Just a handful of trips in January. One trip was to Mobile, AL, where I had the most amazing jerk chicken at Jamaican Vibes Restaurant. Another trip to Raleigh, NC, where I escaped the January 2026 Snowmageddon. And a recent trip to Palm Beach, FL, in February. If you didn’t know it, seasonal rates are in full effect in Thank you, Florida, with Hampton Inn’s reservations for over $300.00 per night. I ended up staying at the Residence Inn by Marriott Palm Beach Gardens. This was a typical Marriott property, but two things really irked me. First, they charge for parking in an open lot that’s shared with an office complex. I could’ve avoided the parking charge by saying I arrived via ride-share. Just tack the $10.00 on my bill so I don’t have to itemize it on my expense report.

The bigger irk was that a co-worker made reservations for all three of us, and they ran all three rooms under his credit card the night before we checked in. I’m Lifetime Titanium, humble brag, and have been staying at Marriott properties for 25 years, and we have always transferred the room charge to our own credit card at checkout. The worst part is now this coworker has to explain to finance why he has two additional rooms on his expense report.

Let’s open with a “Thank You, Florida Story from Live And Let’s Fly - United Passenger Takes Off Pants During Boarding On Orlando Flight, Crew Allegedly Does Nothing

A passenger on a United Airlines flight to Orlando reportedly decided that pants were optional during boarding. Some might call it a bold choice; we call it Florida formal.

According to eyewitness accounts, the individual had already committed to going pants‑free by the time they reached their seat — this was not a mid‑flight plot twist. Fellow passengers did what modern society demands:

took a photo and immediately sent it to the internet.

The most surprising part?

No immediate intervention from the flight crew, which sparked debate over airline policies and basic “inside voice / outside clothes” expectations. United’s own rules allow staff to step in if someone is “not properly clothed,” which raises the philosophical question: What is “proper,” really, at 35,000 feet?

The comments, as you would expect, were gold:

“Why do airlines even have rules anymore?”

“He’s not 400 lbs. wearing leggings and a tube top, so, no harm done.”

And from Todd S - I would drop to my knees and thank Jesus if a guy sat next to me in underwear. Heck, not even good looking, but a guy in undies. woof!!! Would make that long flight go by quickly!!!!! Sign me up, please!!!

Bonus takeaway: Flight attendants now apparently have another unofficial pre‑flight checklist item… and it’s not the life vests.

Let’s stay in Thank You, Florida, for this story as well. According to BroBible, “So a woman in Florida had a dream. That dream was networking with rich, powerful people in airport lounges. And to make that dream happen, she dropped $895 a year on an American Express Platinum card—because nothing says ‘business opportunity’ like free hummus at Gate C17.

She finally gets into the lounge, expecting private‑equity vibes… and instead finds what airport lounges actually are: people eating muffins, scrolling their phones, and fully unconscious under a jacket like it’s nap time at preschool. No one was networking. No one was closing deals. Nobody whispered, ‘Let’s take this to Slack.’ The most aggressive interaction happening was someone reaching for the last donut.

The caption on the video said it all: ‘0 connections were made.’ Which, honestly, might be the most accurate assessment of airport lounges ever.

Moral of the story? Airport lounges aren’t secret Illuminati meeting rooms—they’re just waiting rooms with better snacks and slightly less carpet shame. Your next startup co‑founder is probably still in coach.” And after 26 years of business travel, everyone knows my take on airport lounges.

“So this story sounds like it was pitched in a writers’ room and everyone agreed it was too much… but it actually happened.

According to View From The Wing, an elderly man was pushing his wife through Tenerife Airport in a wheelchair, trying to make a flight—until security realized she had passed away from natural causes. And yes, this is basically ‘Weekend at Bernie’s: Airport Edition.’ [viewfromthewing.com]

Airport staff noticed something was off when she wasn’t responding, medical personnel were called, and authorities activated what is officially known as Spain’s ‘protocol for discovering a body’—which sounds less like a policy and more like something you never want announced over a PA system. [viewfromthewing.com]

The man was questioned and later released. While the situation was tragic, the sheer logistical audacity of trying to clear airport security as if nothing were wrong is wild.

This joins the growing list of reasons why airports are not the place for improv, optimism, or pretending everything’s fine.

Somewhere, the ghost of Bernie is nodding in approval… and TSA is adding a bullet point to their checklist.”

“Turns out the only thing you can’t bring through security is denial.”

“Spirit Airlines: Fashion Police With Cup Holders”

“So apparently, Spirit Airlines can kick you off a flight with no refund if they decide your outfit doesn’t pass the vibe check. Crop tops? Risky. Flip‑flops? Criminal. Meanwhile, Spirit is charging you extra to breathe and calling it a premium experience.

Let’s be clear: Spirit has never cared about class. This is an airline where the seat cushion is optional, the tray table is the size of an iPhone Mini, and the boarding process feels like the Hunger Games with roller bags. But now suddenly they’re like, ‘Ma’am, this exposed midriff is unacceptable.’

Spirit will let the plane smell like feet and energy drinks, but God forbid you show an ankle. They’re like, ‘Sir, you can bring a live iguana onboard for $49, but that crop top? Absolutely not.’

And the real Spirit move? No refund. That’s the most on‑brand part. Not ‘please change.’ Not ‘here’s a blanket.’ Just: ‘You’re dressed like a human being in 2026—get off our plane and thank you for your donation.’

Spirit Airlines: where the dress code is stricter than the maintenance schedule.”

Time to show my age - I do get tired of people dressing like trash on a plane. PJs and slides may be the rage, but you look stupid wearing them on a plane. Except for the long flights, where it is the norm. The “look at me” crowd with the low cut tops, thongs showing, and guys with jeans falling off their a** are all inconsiderate of others.

How about shoes, if your plane has to ground evacuate, or worse, flip-flops or slides aren’t going to protect your feet. Then you will try to sue someone for your own stupidity.

Dress for the occasion or stay home.

This came via X, or as I still say Twitter, sorry Elon. Have you ever sat next to that one family on a flight that turns row 17 into a full-blown catering operation? Yeah—this mom built a sandwich assembly line on a five-hour flight. Five hours! Not international, not transatlantic—just New York to Colorado—and she’s running a sky deli.

She had the bread, the deli meat, the greens, and the condiments. Remember practice safe lunch, use a condiment. Tray tables down, production line ready. It looked like Subway met Spirit Airlines. The safety briefing should’ve included instructions for washing lettuce.

Flight attendants were probably like: “Ma’am, we said buckle up, not buttercup.”

Meanwhile, the rest of the plane’s watching her craft turkey clubs while holding a three-ounce bag of Cheez-Its, wondering why the smell of Dijon has reached cruising alt…

Hello and welcome to episode 216 of Travel Stories from the Back Again and Gone. Being recorded in the beautiful Hilton Garden Inn RDU, Raleigh, NC. If you’re a new listener, welcome; and if you’re a returning listener, welcome back.

It’s a bit late, but it’s time for the December crazy travel roundup.

Tonight I am partaking in a HI-PITCH Mosaic IPA from Hi-Wire Brewing in Asheville, NC. Hi-Pitch comes in at 6.7 ABV and turned Dry January into Damp January.

This Hilton Garden Inn is one of my favorites. It’s located just outside the airport, and across the parking lot is one of the best food courts I’ve ever seen.

I saw something in the HGI parking lot I’ve never seen before. When I got in my rental this morning, I looked at the car in the slot next to mine, and what caught my eye was that all of their rental papers were on the dashboard, but what was extremely unique was that they had shoved what appeared to be a dry sheet into the air conditioning vent. With that ca,r stunk, or the driver was employed by Tide.

Let’s open with a Thank You, Florida story that is pure thank you, Florida.

A Beechcraft 55, which is an older 4-seater plane, took off from Merritt Island on an instructional flight, then reportedly lost power in both engines and went looking for the world’s longest runway, which was Interstate 95. During the emergency landing, the plane dropped right onto a southbound Toyota Camry in the middle lane, crushed it, bounced off, and slid down the highway, throwing sparks like a Fourth of July clearance sale at Kohls

Miraculously, the 57‑year‑old woman driving the Camry only had minor injuries, and the two 27‑year‑old men in the plane walked away without a scratch, making this the luckiest accidental carpool in Florida history.

Of course, this happened in Brevard County, where space launches are routine, so a bonus highway landing is basically just “local color” at this point. Witnesses described it as “scary” and “troubling,” which is polite Floridian for “I will be telling this story at every barbecue for the rest of my life.- The NTSB and FAA are investigating, which in comedic terms means: someone now has to explain on paperwork how they managed to use a Camry as a landing gear accessory and still count it as a successful emergency landing.

In summary, it’s the rare Florida story where a plane lands on a car, traffic still looks worse than the crash, and the only real casualty is the Camry’s resale value.

This came from View From the Wing - Frontier Locks Down Boarding, Telling Passengers To ‘Snitch On Your Neighbor’ Until Hidden Dog Is Found.

Frontier managed to turn routine boarding into a live‑action game of “Find That Felony Beagle,” with a flight attendant announcing that nobody was going anywhere until passengers snitched on whoever smuggled a mystery dog aboard.

​During boarding, a Frontier flight attendant gets on the PA and declares there’s an undeclared dog on the plane, urging everyone to look around and rat out their neighbors like it’s jury duty for Scooby‑Doo.

The cabin turns into a low‑budget whodunit: people side‑eyeing seatmates, whispering, and pretending not to be the one whose backpack just whimpered.

​TSA is okay with pets at the security lines; the problem is Frontier’s own rules, fees, and paperwork, which make this less of a “national security threat” and more “someone dodged a pet surcharge.”

Frontier is the same airline that once booted an emotional‑support squirrel. At the same time, its spiritual sibling Spirit famously got a student to flush her emotional‑support hamster, so the bar for weird pet drama is already somewhere under the cargo hold.

​The author even recalls a Delta flight that turned back to the gate over service‑animal paperwork, proving airlines will happily burn fuel and time to chase down a dog that did absolutely nothing wrong.

With a post like this, you have to visit the comments, where by the time I got to the last one, people are debating Trump, Islam, Christianity, inflation, and book bans. At the same time, one exasperated reader begs the author to remember this is supposed to be a travel site, not a Thanksgiving argument at 35,000 feet.

​On this flight, the dog wasn’t the problem; the real emotional‑support animal was the drama Frontier unleashed when it turned the cabin into “Neighborhood Watch: Canine Edition.”

Here in Thank You, Florida, we have the battle of the Sheriff’s. In Brevard County, we have Sheriff Wayne Ivey, who went viral when he issued a harsh warning to protesters who use violence in his county: “We will kill you graveyard dead.” Then there’s my favorite Grady Judd with his “I suspect the reason they were shot so many times is that that’s all the bullets we had.” – His most famous response when asked why deputies shot a suspect 68 times in 2006.

In Valousia County, we have Mike Chittwood, and Sheriff Mike enjoys waiting at the airport for extradited individuals returning to the state, and he recently did just that.

Sheriff Mike confronted Robert Goodwin at Daytona Beach International Airport, telling him, “I think it’s important you look the people you screwed over in the eyes.”

​Students and families from Seabreeze High School shouted “You’re a scumbag!” as Goodwin descended the escalator after his extradition from California.

​Goodwin responded briefly, saying he was “very sorry” but maintained he was “innocent until proven guilty,” offering no further explanation. Chitwood added that Goodwin had confessed to investigators, stating, “His fingerprints are all over it... He told the detectives exactly what he did.

A group of 104 high school students signed up with Stone & Compass Travel for a nine-day trip to Italy and Greece for summer 2024. Each family paid at least $3,550 for airfare, lodging, and activities. Goodwin allegedly stole over $180,000.00 from these High School students and then headed to California, until he was brought back here.

On a recent Nashville–Las Vegas Spirit flight, one guy decided the in‑flight entertainment would be “punch a flight attendant in the face,” and the Spirit pilot responded by auditioning for the NFL with a full‑body tackle in the aisle. Which begs the question, who is flying the plane?

​A male passenger gets up, argues in the aisle, and then clocks a female flight attendant, instantly upgrading himself from “annoying” to “enjoy your lifetime Greyhound status, sir.” A pilot steps in, physically takes the guy down, and the whole thing is a textbook case of interfering with crew, which usually ends in restraints, an FBI investigation, and a permanent ban from the airline.

​The story lands perfectly in Spirit’s running joke reputation: you buy the rock‑bottom fare, and sometimes you get bonus content in the form of a live‑action “don’t ever do this on a plane” training video. In addition to rock bottom fares, how about an IQ threshold before you're allowed to board the plane?

In case you didn’t know, travel isn’t cheap and usually requires staying within a budget. So what happens if you exhaust your budget before the end of your trip? What happens if you’re so broke you can’t pay to get your vehicle out of the airport parking garage?

Well, here’s one way to not address it. A 35‑year‑old guy at New Orleans Airport decided that instead of paying his parking fee, he’d try the “free exit via bomb threat” plan, and is now looking at up to 10 years in federal prison for what was essentially not having his card go through at the garage.

​He blocked the short‑term exit when his card was declined, got moved to surface parking, then allegedly called the airport demanding they “page Hassan” and warning “we have the bomb” if they didn’t, followed by a second call where he threatened to cut the operator’s throat.

​Deputies pinged the phone, found him still sitting in his Jeep in the lot like a villain who never watched CSI, and arrested him; now he faces a possible decade in prison and a six‑figure fine, all because he apparently thought terrorism was cheaper than parking.

You…

Episode 215 - The Travel Year In Review

Hello and welcome to episode 215 of Travel Stories from the Back Again and Gone. Being recorded in the beautiful home office in Chateau’ Relaxo, FL. If you’re a new listener, welcome; and if you’re a returning listener, welcome back.

Tonight, it’s the 2025 travel year in review.

Way back in 2010, I signed up for TripIt. If you’ve never used TripIt, it ingests all of your travel-related emails and then builds a shareable itinerary. Over the past 15 years, I have traveled 668,450 miles, which is equivalent to almost 27 trips around the globe. This consists of 1856 days on the road and 527 trips. 35% of my time was traveling. These numbers don’t include the previous 10 years before 2010.1111

Of those 15 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 25-plus years of business travel.

In comparison, these were the 2025 numbers.

In the first six months of 2025, I didn’t travel due to my previous position. Ever since COVID, business travel has been down, replaced by Teams and Zoom. But you’ll hear me say it regularly: big business gets done face-to-face.

Will travel return to pre-COVID levels? Doubtful, and for a few reasons. Travel is expensive. I recently tried to book a Hampton Inn in Pensacola, FL, off-season, and it was $170.00 per night before taxes and fees—the days of a $400.00 round-trip flight on a major carrier are gone. If you find a cheaper flight by the time you pay for bags, seats, etc., it’s the exact cost or close to it, as with Delta or American. Then throw in the fact that there are more flight delays now than ever before, planes are packed, and unless you’re a Delta Diamond Medallion, your chances of an upgrade are very slim. For example, I recently flew out of Atlanta, which is a bad example because everyone in Atlanta flies Delta, but the first-class upgrade list had 43 people on it. There were only ten or twelve physical first-class seats.

I am a numbers nerd and a beer nerd, and I use Untappd to track the beers I drink.

This past year, I drank 54 beers that I had never drunk before. Out of the 501 different styles of beer that is produced, I consumed only 19 different styles, and if you listen to any of the episodes, it’s easy to guess that my favorite style is the IPA. My top-rated beer was Bound by Time IPA from Edmund’s Oast in Charleston, SC. This was followed by local brewery Three Odd Guys and their APK, another IPA weighing in at 7.4% ABV.

The worst beer of the year was on board the Norwegian Encore: a 66 by Norwegian Premium European Pale Lager that tasted like SHIP. But we selected the cruise based on the boat, not the beer they were serving.

My first beer of 2025 was Rad Little Thing from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. I had subtle hints of pine, which sounds weird, and it came in at 7% ABV. Untappd awards a multitude of badges for different beer styles and for various locations where you consumed beer. In 2025, I got 65 new badges, bringing my badge total to 1525, which means absolutely nothing in the real world. I drank enough beer to fill a five-gallon mop bucket. In full disclosure, I don’t log every beer I drink, mostly new or unique beers, and most come in 4-packs or 6-packs, so do the math, it’s probably two 5-gallon buckets.

My total unique beer count since 2011 is sitting at 1552.

When it came to the podcast, Spotify shared some numbers. According to Spotify, my podcast audience increased 40% over the previous year. My follower count grew by 6%. The top episode was episode 210, our trip to Alaska, which was played 27% times more than the average episode. Travel Stories was listened to in 30 countries, and it is a top-ten podcast for 40 of my followers and a top-five podcast for 20 of them. This is a clear indicator that these folks need to broaden their podcast library.

Most don’t know this, but I am an avid reader. I almost exclusively read non-fiction. I recently finished Disrupt Everything—and Win: Take Control of Your Future by

James Patterson, yes, that James Patterson, and Patrick R. Leddin. This is a practical guide that shows you how to use disruption as a positive force to take back control of your life and future through deliberate habits and courageous choices. Scott Payne was a guest on Joe Rogan’s podcast earlier this year, talking about his book, Code Name: Pale Horse: How I Went Undercover to Expose America’s Nazis. The book is Scott’s gripping true story of being an FBI undercover agent infiltrating violent neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups, while struggling to protect his family, faith, and sanity.

I also close out each episode by directing listeners to Substack, but Substack doesn’t post any year-end numbers. However, I did pick up a handful of new Substack subscribers. Honestly, the only reason I have a Substack site is to post the show notes link and pictures. I’ve never viewed it as a legitimate blog site, which is why it’s free.

This is where I typically list the trips and meals for the year.

With only ten trips, most of which were destinations that I’ve been to, this was still an easy choice.

The trip of the year was our Alaskan cruise, which I covered in episode 210. It’s time to sound like everyone else. If you have the chance to take an Alaskan cruise, try to do it. I wasn’t a fan of cruises, and previously, my thoughts of an Alaskan trip would’ve consisted of a fly rod and a drift boat. There was no shortage of activities, even if you never left the ship. The food on board and when we docked was over-the-top.

My opinion of cruises changed with this cruise, so much so that we’re considering another cruise next fall.

Here’s a new addition: the most ridiculous hotel stay of the year, which was at the Moxy Columbia, South Carolina, Downtown. I had to rate this objectively, even though I really wanted to give it 1 or 2 stars. This hotel is not designed for the business traveler. And if I had done a deep dive on the room I had selected, I would’ve found out that it was 190 ft.². You have to go down to the second floor to get an ironing board and an iron. The elevators are tiny and can only fit two people with their luggage.

The day I was there, the door key system was broken, so you had to have an employee escort you back to your room every time you left. They were very gracious and took it in stride. The staff were very friendly and helpful, so don’t let that deter you from booking here.

Here’s what really put me over the edge. Your only parking option is valet or a public lot. I circled the block several times and never saw a public lot, so valet it was. I’m not a fan of valet services. When I need my car, I need my car. Case in point, when I texted the valet to bring me my car, it took almost 25 minutes, and I was late for my meeting.

If you are the type who enjoys a downtown loft experience, then this is the place for you. In addition, if this is the type of place for you, you would give it five stars.

For the best travel meal of the year, it would be Blue Ember BBQ in Rogers, Arkansas. The first thing you notice when you get out of your car is the smell of the pit, and that’s always a good thing. I ordered the Special Ops Sandwich, which consisted of brisket, pork, sausage, BBQ beans, and a rib stacked between a buttery bun. A total fat guy sandwich.

Since I’ve switched my airline of choice from Southwest to Delta, I plan to be squeezed into a Delta economy seat in the coming year.

I’m a lifetime Hilton Diamond and Lifetime Marriott Titanium, so there’s not much to gain there except for a new Hilton tier, Diamond Reserve. How do you hit Diamond Reserve? Glad you asked.

The requirement is 80 nights or 40 stays AND $18,000 USD in eligible annual spend. Alex, I’ll take “what’s not going to happen for $500.00.

Let’s do a bit of math: $18,000 divided by 80 nights is roughly $225 per night, which is crazy for your typical road war. My tip for the 80 nights would be: if I were doing a …

Hello and welcome to episode 214 of Travel Stories from the Back Again and Gone. This episode was supposed to have been recorded at the beautiful Hilton Garden Inn in Mobile, AL. However, your boy here came down with a case of the shingles and couldn’t travel, thank you, 1970s chicken pox outbreak.

If you’re a new listener, welcome; and if you’re a returning listener, welcome back.

This afternoon, I am partaking in a Sweetwater Brewing G13 Hazy IPA coming in at an even 6.0% ABV.

Tonight, it’s the November crazy travel roundup.

One turn-and-burn trip in November. It was to Macon, GA. The only thing worth mentioning is that I did not stop at Buc-ee’s on the way up or on the way back home.

Onto the craziness -

The source of this first story is View From The Wing.

A man at the New Orleans airport apparently decided the best way to speed up TSA was to show up dressed for an MMA weigh‑in, not an airplane ride, and get this, security very much disagreed.​

Early in the morning at MSY, a passenger approached the TSA checkpoint, took off his shirt, was told to put it back on, then instead peeled off his socks and squared up in a bouncing boxer stance like he was about to fight the metal detector. He then went the whole “airport fight club” route, stripping down to just his boxers, yelling, pointing, and fist‑pumping at officers while very underdressed for his boarding group.​

TSA shut down two security lanes, not because of a bomb threat but because of one very loud pair of underwear, delaying a bunch of sleepy 6 a.m. travelers who had only signed up for coffee and regret, not this. Several deputies eventually showed up, restrained him, and carried him off like a budget Vegas act that ran just a bit too long.​

The Legal aftermath (and the Louisiana underwear law). He was booked for disturbing the peace, but not public indecency, because in Louisiana, boxers still count as clothing, which may be the most New Orleans detail of the whole story.

Of course, the online peanut gallery was classic.

Commenters joked that he misunderstood post‑9/11 rules and thought TSA now needs everything off except the shoes, or that he was trying to help TSA by “using his wand” to scan passengers.

Would a travel podcast be of any use if it didn’t offer up some holiday travel tips? I think not.

I typically don’t head to the airport during peak travel weeks; it’s just not worth it.

Money and cards

Use airline-branded credit cards waive baggage fees and offer bonus sky miles. Check whether your card offers lounge access. Most of the time, you won’t have to check because you remember that’s the main reason you’re dropping 7 or 8 hundred dollars for the card’s annual fee.

Honestly, airline lounges are completely overrated; they are crowded, it’s challenging to find a seat, and those mini-eggrolls aren’t that great.

Some cards also cover Clear Plus fees, making expedited security effectively free if you use the statement credits.​

Airports, parking, and apps

Prebook airport parking early, especially at busy hubs, thank you MCO, where some garages only accept pre-reservations once they’re near capacity.​ Rideshare is another excellent option.

Install airline apps, a flight-tracking app like FlightAware, and the TSA app to monitor delays, gate changes, and security wait times.​ If you’re driving, have Waze or Google Maps loaded as well

Timing and bags

Get to the airport early and favor the first flight of the day, which is more likely to leave on time and easier to rebook from if needed.​

Consider checking bags (with an AirTag inside) to keep your hands free, but read fare rules carefully if you rely on carry-ons, especially on discount airlines and basic economy.​

Stuff vs. shipping and TSA rules

For bulky gifts or gear, price out shipping (e.g., via services like LugLess) instead of paying oversize bag fees.​ We have shipped items back from week-long trips. That being said, during our Canadian trip, we ended up with about eight bottles of booze, which would have cost us over $100.00 to ship back home. We found a local Walmart and bought a one-time-use, for us, $30.00 suitcase. We wrapped that liquid gold in our dirty clothes, don’t judge, and since we were flying Southwest, that bag flew for free.

Avoid wrapped presents at security, review TSA rules on liquids and food, and note updates such as Real ID requirements and changing shoe-removal norms.​

Security,

This is a no-brainer. Make sure you have at least TSA PreCheck. Adding Clear reduces the time you spend in holiday security lines. Remember, kids can often be added to your Clear plan for free or at a low cost.​ That being said, I have yet to realize the actual value of Clear.

Sticking with the tips theme.

When your flight is canceled, which at some point it will, the key moves are to quickly secure a new plan with the airline, know what you are owed, and document everything for possible refunds or claims later.​

Act fast on rebooking.

Don’t b***h tweet, or b***h X. Get in every “queue” at once: stand in the customer service line while also using the airline’s app and calling their customer service to search for alternate flights.​

Be flexible about airports and routes (nearby airports, connections instead of nonstop) to increase your chances of getting out the same day.​

Know your rights and options.

Check whether the cancellation is within the airline’s control; many major U.S. carriers now promise free rebooking, meal vouchers, and sometimes hotels when it is the airline’s fault.​

Review the airline’s contract of carriage and the U.S. DOT delay/cancellation dashboard to see what compensation or accommodations you should receive.​

Use status, insurance, and cards.

If you have elite status, a co-branded airline card, or lounge access, head to the lounge or priority desk where agents are often less slammed and more empowered to help.​​ Case in point: I recently flew out of Raleigh, and next to my gate was the Delta priority desk, staffed by an actual person. Not once over the course of 90 minutes did I ever see anyone walk in looking for help.

Check your travel insurance and credit card benefits, which may cover hotels, meals, or even alternative transportation if you are stuck overnight.​

Stay calm and document.

Take a moment to breathe and avoid lashing out at the gate or customer service agents; being calm and collaborative tends to get better results and more creative solutions.​ A pro tip is to ensure you’re not wearing pajama pants and slides.

Save all emails, app notices, and receipts for food, lodging, and ground transport, in case you can claim reimbursement from the airline, insurance, or your card later.

View From The Wing recently posted - Passenger Caught On Video Fighting 4-Year-Old Over Airplane Window Shade — Which One Was Right?

Here’s the 30,000’ view.

A grown man and a 4‑year‑old basically reenacted a custody battle over an airplane window shade, and the only thing missing was a judge and a juice box.​

A man in coach is trying to watch “Hocus Pocus 2,” not the original, when a kid in the row behind keeps reaching forward to push the shared window shade up, triggering a full-on tiny-hand vs. grown-man slap-fight over who controls the sun.​

They go several rounds of shade tug-of-war while the internet watches, laughs, and mostly sides with the kid, who apparently wants to see the entire planet at once.​

By standard airplane etiquette, the window-seat adult technically “owns” the shade, but wrestling a preschooler through a bulkhead isn’t exactly a great look for Team Grownup.​

The sensible move would have been: ask the parent to control the grabby octopus, then let a flight attendant play referee instead of going UFC: Toddler Edition.​

The article lays out six tongue-in-cheek “commandments” of window shades: up for takeoff/landing, window seat rules the shade, flight attendants are shade gods, don’t blind people, try to accommodate neighbors, and close shades in hot destinations so the next passengers don’t board into a flying Easy-Bake Oven.​

In other words, yes, …

Hello and welcome to episode 213 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 2025 holiday gift guide.

I am a self-diagnosed early adopter gear nerd, and I have the gear inventory to prove it.

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

Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II – steel bracelet and starts at $11k if you can get an authorized Rolex dealer to sell you one.

1995 Land Rover Defender – I had a chance to buy one for $30k in 1995, and I’m still bent on passing 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.

As tempting as it is, there are a few road warrior gifts to avoid.

Luggage – Unless you know your road warrior really well, stay away from buying them luggage. Yes, there are some excellent choices out there, but we all have our preferences. A friend returned a backpack because it lacked a strap to slide his luggage handle through. For me, when I buy a new piece of luggage, I do mental Tetris to make sure everything fits inside the way that I need it to.

Stainless Steel Tumblers – Yeti, Rambler, Rtic, or any of those tumblers that keep ice intact for 3 weeks. We’ve all got one, three of them to be exact, and while it’s a great gift, they’re not great for traveling. Hanging out on the boat or at a neighbor’s cookout is what those behemoth steel tubes are made for.

Blacklight Flashlight – While this sounds as practical as it gets, no one wants to know what germs are lurking in their hotel room. Besides, if the place looks that sketchy, I’ll check out and find some other place 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 some kind of 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.

Most gifts with “Travel” in their name are useless. Travel scale, travel wallet, and travel vest immediately come to mind.

Several years ago, we enacted a gift policy here at Chateau’ Relaxo. No blankets, no candles, and no tumblers were to be given as a gift. Somehow, we have more blankets, candles, and tumblers than ever before.

Seriously, when buying road warrior-themed gifts, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Gift size and gift weight, and your job is to find the balance between the two, because your job isn’t to fill their suitcase or weigh it down. In addition, look for gifts that serve several functions. For example, no road warrior should carry more than one charging cable; find one with multiple connectors.

When we lived at FrickFord Farms, the house was cooled with window-shaker air conditioning units, which produced a consistent hum that lulled us to sleep each evening. When we moved into Chateau’ Relaxo, we had central air, and that hum was gone, replaced by difficulty falling asleep each night. The easy fix was to purchase a sound machine, which lulled us back into La-La land. For years, we tried to remember to pack this when we traveled. One day, I stumbled across a Portable sound machine which measured 2’ X 2’, the perfect size for travel. A portable sound machine offers several distinct advantages for travelers, especially those needing restful sleep or stress reduction in unfamiliar environments.​

* Improved Sleep Quality - Portable sound machines help mask disruptive noises—such as traffic, hotel hallway noise, airplane engines, or voices.​

* Reduced Stress and Anxiety - By providing soothing background sounds or white noise, these machines encourage relaxation and help minimize stress or anxiety caused by new surroundings.

* Versatile and Portable - Modern travel sound machines are compact, lightweight, and often rechargeable via USB, making them easy to pack and use anywhere.

* Consistent Environment - Creating a familiar background sound can help maintain a consistent sleep routine, making it easier to adjust to new time zones or travel schedules.

A portable sound machine enhances travel comfort through better sleep, relaxation, adaptability, and convenience, making it an essential item for frequent travelers and those who value restful nights away from home.​

This falls into the size vs weight equation, a Travel-Sized Wireless Keyboard, which I am using to write most of these show notes for this episode. The main reason I never purchased one was, get this, the price, which is north of $200.00. I found one for less than $30.00, and while I was at it, I threw in an iPad-compatible pencil for $13.00. While I don’t use these every single day, it was well worth the $45.00 I spent.

As I’ve gotten older, my sinuses have apparently aged as well, and for some reason, when I travel in the winter, my sinuses dry out, yeah, I know, probably TMI. If there’s a road warrior in your life with this same issue, there is a solution: a portable humidifier. Find one that uses a water bottle, since most hotels give you one or two when you check in instead of an actual water tank.

Even in this digital age, I still use an ink pen and a journal, actually multiple journals. When it comes to an ink pen you don’t have to spend a bunch of money; you can, but you don’t have to. You can pay $50.00 at websites like Jet Pens or Yafa and end up with something far nicer than your father’s Cross or Parker ballpoint pen. I’ve had my first real pen for over thirty-five years, and it’s still hanging in there after having to have it repaired twice. Yes, you can break a pen and have it magically brought back to life. When it comes to a journal purchase, something that’s hard-sided, like a book with nice thick paper, so the ink doesn’t bleed through. For work, I use a Finisher’s Journal, a quarterly journal with a system very similar to a Bullet Journal. For non-work notes, my go-to is the Field Journal with Lochby cover with a brass Fisher Space pen.

If you have a road warrior who travels by air and has a pair of those fancy noise-cancelling headphones, consider an AirFly Bluetooth Transmitter. It connects those fancy noise-cancelling headphones to the in-flight entertainment system. Plus, if your road warrior travels internationally, they can charge the AirFly while it’s in use, which means they could watch most of the Fast and the Furious series during the flight.

Compact Travel Games - Yes, we all have smartphones with plenty of games installed. However, there’s nothing cooler than an old-school handheld game controller. You can get one from Miyoo or R36Max . The R36MAX has over 18,000 games to pick from. These run anywhere from $50.00 to $100.00.

Portable Second Monitor - When COVID hit, and I became a stay-at-home worker, one of the first things I bought was a second monitor. I was amazed by how much more productive I became, or thought I became, since I could watch YouTube videos on it. When travel picked back up, it was highly frustrating to work on just my laptop’s screen. The CEO ordered me a SideTrak second monitor that hung off my laptop. It wasn’t inexpensive, and it was heavy. Fast forward five years, and you can find these for well under $100.00 and weighing less than 2 pounds.

AirTags - I have recently become a fan of AirTags. All three of my dogs wear them. Two of which are Husky’s which is the Siberian word for escape artist. I have one in my backpack and in my truck. I recently came across the Elevation Lab AirTag Extended Battery Case. This is a case for your Air Tag, which is powered by 2 AAA batteries. It’s bulky, so it’s not ideal if you’re looking to conceal your Air Tag, bu…

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 a…