Listen Now On the Saturday, March 9th edition of The Travel Guys…  In the Travel News, New York City has toughened up the rules under which you can rent out your place in The Big Apple, and hotels appear to be benefiting from the change. Plus, Costco has a great discount deal for Southwest flyers. In our Smarter Traveler segment, we discuss “authentic” travel experiences. If you want authentic, be careful and do your homework....

Listen Now

On the Saturday, March 9th edition of The Travel Guys… 

In the Travel News, New York City has toughened up the rules under which you can rent out your place in The Big Apple, and hotels appear to be benefiting from the change. Plus, Costco has a great discount deal for Southwest flyers.
In our Smarter Traveler segment, we discuss “authentic” travel experiences. If you want authentic, be careful and do your homework. Authentic in another country might be a fried dog hanging in a shop window (Viet Nam) or cooked eel (Sweden). Maybe authentic to you is having your hotel room overlook the town square. Except if there’s a big celebration and noise continues until 4am, you might think that wasn’t the best decision. Homework. Do your homework before making any major travel purchase.
Charlie Leocha from Travelers United is our guest. Charlie explains that just because Congress passes a law, it isn’t really a law until it’s written and put into effect. That can often take years and more than one administration for things to actually be enforced. Family seating and compensation for delayed bags are two examples of things Congress approved but we are still waiting for the rules to be put in place. For 6-7 years we have been waiting.
Our odds and ends segment offered tips on how to resolve issues with a vacation rental, the scary thought that dynamic pricing could be coming to restaurants and there is a new tipping app to cover those folks you never seem to have a couple of bucks in your pocket to reward their services.

Highlights

Consumer Alert: Please stop booking trips with these ailing companies!
Travelers United
Tipping with the server standing right over the top of you
California State Parks Parking and Use Fee info
Wheelchair polices, airline by airline
Uber from the airport – where it costs the most
How to get a digital ID
Tips for driving in winter weather
Say hello to the ocean on Icon of the Seas new cabins
Traveler’s United Mobility Friendly Travel Guide
Reports from on board the 9 month cruise
Consumer Advocate Chris Elliott
Is it time to mask up while traveling again?
Sacramento Airport Parking
Double check for things you can and can’t bring through security at the airport
Carry On Bag Size Requirements
TSA Renewal
Seating tips for major US Airlines
Denied Boarding Rules/Giving up Your Seat
How to win your consumer dispute using the Elliott Method