TravelCommons

Recorded in the Courtyard Copley Square in Boston, this special edition pulls the best of the first year of TravelCommons. Starting with the “bathroom medley” — the roll call of all the hotel bathrooms that have served as TravelCommons’ recording studios, we move on to excerpts from stories on topics such as the TSA, unusual Continue Reading →

Once again coming to you from the West Coast, this time the Newport Beach, CA Marriott. After a week off the road, I’m bouncing again between San Francisco and Orange County. Listener feedback from a hotel chain accountant on the hotel add-on charges and from an ex-Northwest Airlines loyalist. We have a travel story about Continue Reading →

Recorded in the San Mateo, CA Marriott, we work through a bunch of listener feedback and follow-up items, talk about what seems to be a general increase in the crankiness of frequent travelers — for good cause or the whining of spoiled brats? — and stumbling across what seemed to be the spontaneous break-out of Continue Reading →

Recorded in the Orlando Downtown Marriott, I talk about a real rarity — a plane full of happy people. Also, the results of a recent study confirm that hotels are increasing their use of add-on fees and surcharges, and listener feedback about the timeliness of long-haul vs. commuter flights. Here’s a direct link to the Continue Reading →

Back after a longer-than-planned absence, this episode is recorded at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott in Dana Point, CA. We talk about the TSA‘s return to a hard line on shoes, the thing I miss most when I’m off the road, and the latest way for airlines to raise cash from their frequent flyer programs. Here’s Continue Reading →

Back in front of the microphone after a week off, it’s been a light travel week. A quick down-&-back to Tampa offers the opportunity to take a 20-minute vacation on the Gulf of Mexico. A flight attendant on my flight back from Houston last week gives a smooth performance in passenger care, and a couple Continue Reading →

Two trips but no hotels means this episode is recorded in the TravelCommons studios outside of Chicago. Rummaging through the virtual mailbag, I comment on listener e-mails and web site postings. I also talk about finding some free WiFi in Houston’s Bush International Airport and give a guided tour of my briefcase. Here’s a direct Continue Reading →

Recorded in the Marriott Courtyard in Irvine, CA, this week’s visits to old haunts in Memphis and Huntington Beach prompts thoughts on how traveling back home is different. Also, we talk about experiences in searching for free WiFi hotspots, and a bit of puzzlement about the TSA’s ‘Registered Traveler’ program. Here’s a direct link to Continue Reading →

Spent all week at home and ended up catching a cold from my son. This week’s topics are spurred by listener e-mails and web postings. We talk about bad experiences with rude TSA screeners, some thoughts about travel toiletries, and the cost of broadband on the road. Here’s a direct link to the podcast file. Continue Reading →