Vacation Network News

KTAR August 29th. 2010

OPEN: Are near misses becoming a bigger problem, Would you ride a 600 MPH train in China and look out for one mean bird high over Scotland!

1. The number of 'Near Misses" between aircraft is up considerably and some industry experts say it is partly due to almost 25% of controllers being new to their jobs as replacements for a big wave of retirees reaching their exit age. The way these incidents are recorded has recently changed which has also increased the numbers. Fortunately the electronic onboard computers now available to warn pilots of other planes threatening their path. These devices frequently warn pilots before controllers ever say a word.

2. The Japanese "Bullet Trains" have been famous for years and they are now working on a 360 MPH version using "Maglev Technology". The Chinese who currently operate the only daily use Maglev train from the Shanghai Airport are developing a 600 MPH train which they plan to run in a vaccumn tube to eliminate air friction which limits speed.

3. There is a current "Notice To Airmen" for travel over Scotland to be aware of the possibility of encountering a Large Vulture at altitudes OVER 30,000 feet! This 7 year old African Ruppell's Vulture is named Gandalf and he flew away from a bird show called "World of Wings" Gandalf is not afraid of humans and is Armed And Dangerous because his large beak is designed to rip flesh from carrion, so if seen "DO NOT APPROACH"!

First Guest: We have many National Parks around America focused on scenery but among those that are a memorial to an historic event few compare to The Gettsburg National Military Park located in eastern Pennsylvania but near our Nations Capital, Washington D. C. There is a small town named Gettsburg but the battlefield and the new visitors center attract over one million visitors a year. There is a new museum in the town in the home of a local attorney Mr. David Wills where Lincoln spent the night before delivering his famous address which is the most extraordinary piece of Presidential oratory to date. Ranger Spokesperson Ms.Kathy Lawhon joins us to give an overview of this "Hallowed Ground" and what to expect during a visit. The website is http://www.nps.gov/gett/

Second Guest: Tom Parsons of Best Fares .com comes on to give us the deals this week for travel from Phoenix. To see all Tom has to talk about go to www.BestFares.com and enter KTAR in the search box at the top.

Cruise With Michael: If you would like to join Michael Dixon and his wife Gaile on their Fall Tahiti cruise get the details at: http://www.pgcruises.com/destinations/itineraries/14-night-new-zealand-eastbound/default.aspx or call Hagers Journeys at 1-(800) 227-7606.

The Louie List: Do you know what vaccinations you may need to travel out in a dangerous part of the world and where to get them?

1. The recent floods in Pakistan and the threat of Cholera and other disease forces us to remember that in many parts of the world, Africa, East Asia and parts of China the presence of disease whether airborne or from insects is still a daily "Life Threatening Issue".

2. If you have a trip planned to a remote or disease threatened part of the world be sure to check the CDC web site to see what vaccinations are recommended for that itinerary http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/content/vaccinations.aspx . Be aware that MANY of these inoculations require a series of shots over a period of up to THREE MONTHS so plan ahead. Demand for many of these treatments is not high so they may not be easy to find. Contact the County Health Dept. in a large city near you because they are frequently a less expensive source than the Private Medical Services that will get you most anything AT A PRICE!

KTAR August 22nd. 2010

OPEN: A caution on Lithium-Ion Batteries, all kids may need their own airline seat and smuggling exotic birds and monkeys can be embarrasing!

1. During the past 10 years there have been 113 incidents of re-chargable Lithium-Ion batteries bursting into flames on-board aircraft. With more and more personal electronic devices powered by these batteries (Cell-Phones, Laptops I-Pad etc.).The FAA is increasingly concerned about the danger of having these power-packs onboard. These batteries are usually safe when manufactured but dropping them or heavy use which also causes heat may allow a short circuit to occur. Because of the deep storage capacity of the electric cells in the pack if a short developes a fire is almost inevitable! The FAA is studing how to proceed but they may order all units OFF during flight which would increase safety on many devices.

2. The National Transportation Safety Board has issued a recommendation that they have introduced before regarding infant and young child travel on aircraft. The NTSB says that having a seat for each child so that their safety seats or holders can be used is critical for passenger safety. The Airlines are always interested in selling more tickets but they are not in favor of this suggestion becoming a rule because the added cost would stifle most family travel. Currently most carriers allow children under two to sit on a parents lap so a ticket is not required.

3. There is BIG MONEY in exotic birds and animals! For health and species preservation reasons many of these animals are banned from importation into the U.S. Recently in Los Angeles when a fellows bag was opened in customs four Birds of Paradise flew out. When the agents approached the man he looked crestfallen and quietly said I have some monkeys in my pants. They found two slow moving rare Loris monkeys in his underwear. He must REALLY LOVE animals!

First Guest: If you are more than 35 years old Poland was not readily available as a tourist destination for most of your life. With the fall of the Iron Curtain and the exit of Soviet control, which the Poles were largely responsible for, the cultural and historic sites of this large european country are now top level tourist interests. Mr. Jahn Rudamena of the Polish National Tourist Office joins us to talk about what his country has to offer and the best way to visit there.The website is www.Poland.Travel

Second Guest:Tom Parsons of Best Fares .com comes on to give us the deals this week for travel from Phoenix. To see all Tom has to talk about go to www.BestFares.com and enter KTAR in the search box at the top.

Third Guest: Banff and Lake Louise located in Alberta Province are the heart of the tourist destinartions in The Canadian Rockies. Whether you come for skiing in Winter or the hiking, biking and fishing of Summer there is something here for everyone. Mr. Stuart Hart of The Banff Tourist Board joins us to talk about this beautiful destination. More information at:

The Louie List: Did you smell alcohol on the pilots breath? What do you do next?

1. Unfortunately there have been a number of incidents in recent years of pilots that have been drunk or are impared by drugs when reporting for duty and even getting to their seats in the cockpit. This has happened on U. S. Domestic airlines and on many foreign carriers. Pilots are ordinary people who have stressful jobs with heavy responsibilities with the added family issues of constant travel away from home. Consequently they are not immune to the problems of alcohol abuse and other substance issues.

2. If you ARE CERTAIN that you have smelled alcohol or saw impaired function on the part of a cockpit crew member, report it to the cabin crew. Afterall their lives are at risk also. If this does not bring the situation to a satisfactory conclusion you can use your cell phone to call 911 to report the problem.

3. A word of caution: You have the right to question the competency of the pilots condition but this is a SERIOUS charge and you may be removed from the flight if you are wrong (That has happened). So check twice and report once but IF YOU ARE SURE!!! Don't RISK your life even if you have to get off the plane.

KTAR August 15th. 2010

OPEN: More Strike trouble possible at London Heathrow, Spirit Airlines has another new FEE and Harrah's Las Vegas group attacks the dreaded Resort Fees!

1. Heathrow and Stansted two of London's major airports are under a strike threat by airport staff as early as August 23rd. The Firefighters, Security staff and other support are employees of a Spanish Operating Company called Ferrovial. If Heathrow is struck this will cause the largest passenger service disruption since the Volcanic Ash disruption earlier this year.

2. Last week Spirit Airlines began charging a fee for Cayy-on baggage. $30 if you pay in advance or $45.00 if you have to pay at the gate.This NEW FEE has raised the anger of many members of Congress who not only believe that a small carry-on is a passenger right bUt they are upset because the government is getting NO TAXES from this large Fee Revenue Stream. Details on their web site: www.Spiritair.com

3. In the hotel industry Resort Fees have bugged customers for several years because they may be at a convention or business trip where they never go near the pool, gym or spa and feel that these charges are just a RIP-OFF! The Harrah's group of Las Vegas properties are starting a FACEBOOK campaign called vegasnoresortfees. Here they are listing ALL THE RESORT fees for Vegas hotels so you can know what you are in for.

First Guest: Vacation accommodations can be a big expense in any vacation plan. There is an Internet company offering some of the greatest vacation values and incredible locations around the world. The company is at www.HomeAway.com This web site offers apartment, homes, condos, villas and even private islands for rent for a few days or months at a time. These properties are mostly second homes that the owners offer to customers through Home Away to help with expense such as mortgages and upkeep. Mr. Alexis deBellwa - Vice President of the company joins us to explain the process for renters as well as for anyone that may want to offer a home on the site.

Second Guest:Tom Parsons of Best Fares .com comes on to give us the deals this week for travel from Phoenix. To see all Tom has to talk about go to www.BestFares.com and enter KTAR in the search box at the top.

Third Guest: There is a new cruise line with multiple itineraries of various lengths through the ancient and classical ports of the Mediterranian. This line focuses on the historic experiences that many passsengers are looking for rather than the Swimming Pool and Casino entertainment of other ships and cruises. Mr. Mitch Schlesinger - V. P. Marketing for Voyages to Antiquity joins us to talk about their first season in 2010, the newly remodeled ship and the plans for 2011. The web site is www.VoyagestoAntiquity.com

The Louie List: Maybe we should have a Passenger Code of Conduct!

1. The Jet Blue flight attendant that POPPED the Emergency chute after a passenger hit him in the head with an overhead bag and was rude to boot has rallied a mass of supporters for his act of "Take this Job and Shove It!"

2. Most all of us know that flying these days is not the classy experience it once was. Overcrowding, smaller seats and overworked airline staff have turned what was somewhat of and adventure into a gauntlet of assaults on our persons and sensibilities. I believe we should agree to a passenger CODE OF CONDUCT to help make traveling a better experience.

3. First we should bring back "Please and Thank you" when dealing with the flight attendants, we can't expect cheerful service from them if everyone on their flight is curt or even rude. Next if you see or are confronted by rude behavior just try to get over it, whoever the jerk was they are not going to change for you and getting in to it will just cause you more angst if not real trouble. In order to save your sanity from your seatmate Aunt Sally and her tale of her latest operation, NEVER travel without a set of ear-phones and a book or magazine. if ears and eyes are busy your lack of response to her comments cannot be considered rude.

KTAR August 8th. 2010

OPEN: The Southwest Airlines phenomena carries on, Big Apple hotel rates are going up and Hilton has a surprise with one of their franchise properties in China.

1. Southwest recently announced another big quarterly profit which has been a constant for them but for few other U. S. carriers. With a fleet of more than 400 Boeing 737 airliners this is America's largest airline. Other lines may have jumbo jets but Southwest has the routes, low fares and frequent departures. In the near future The President of Southwest says they will probably extend to Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean. A new computer reservations system will help their expanding destinations including Charleston, So.Carolina and Greenville-Spartanburg. A long time request to improve their frequent flyer program is necessary to attract more Business Travelers, a big target audience of Southwest Marketing.

2. New York City just past a rule that apartment hotels or any property not registered as an "Official Hotel" must rent accommodations for a minimum of 30 nights at a time. This will end an expansion of low-cost rooms being offered by small reservartions companies that were renting apartments in scattered areas of the city as nightly rooms. This rule is prompted by a new focus on Hotel taxes that have become a big issue because major internet sites such as Expedia, Hotels.com and others may not have been paying the same hotel taxes as the large local properties.

3. The Hilton Hotel Company got a BIG surprise when the Chinese Police arrested the franchise owner and 45 others for running a Mafia style gang out of the hotel in Chongging. The gang leader Mr. Peng Zhimin 47 was accused of having prostitution services and drug sales operating out of the hotel Karoke Club. Mr. Zhimin has a long history of fraud and con jobs in China. The hotel was closed for a week.

First Guest: Ireland, The Emerald Isle is at its "Greenest" during Summer but it is a fantastic vacation destination any time of the year. One of the leading tour operators for Americans going to Ireland is Hammond Tours. Company founder and President John Hammond joins us to talk about his adopted country where the movie "The Quiet Man" was filmed. His companies provides any vacation experience you could desire from Bed and Breakfasts to Luxury Castle tours. Their web site is www.HammondTours.com or call 1-866-486-8772.

Second Guest:Tom Parsons of Best Fares .com comes on to give us the deals this week for travel from Phoenix. To see all Tom has to talk about go to www.BestFares.com and enter KTAR in the search box at the top.

Third Guest: Most of us have heard of College Students taking a semester to volunteer off in a foreign country that was the origin of The Peace Corp but the whole Volunteer Tourism drive is no longer limited by age or length of time commitment. Mr. Jeff Creda - President of I-to-I which offers these volunteer opportunities in more than thirty countries around the world. He describes programs building housing in third world villages, ecology projects helping Leatherback Turtles and teaching English to students in foreign lands. Their web site is www.i-to-i.com or call 1-800-985-4852.

Cruise With Michael: If you would like to join Michael Dixon and his wife Gaile on their Fall Seabourn Cruise get the details at: www.HagersJourneys.com see the itinerary at:

http://www.seabourn.com/PlanACruise/Search/index.cfm?CruiseID=SOJ101011 or call 1-(800) 227-7606.

The Louie List: How and where to complain to get the results you want!

With the peak travel season of Summer more passengers, hotel guests or tourists on vacation have Less Than Pleasant experiences and believe they have just reason to complain. There are effective ways to make your unhappyness know that may get you the results you desire.

1. First give the local agents or management the opportunity to listen to your problem and solve it right there. Always be civil if not polite. If you make a local complaint the supervisors will probably be required to document it and you don't want the head office to see a report that you were wild, unruly and insulting that will not help your final resolution.

2. Keep all of your receipts and documents and the names of the company people involved or that you spoke to including titles and phone numbers. When you write send your complaint right to the TOP of the company. You can get Headquarters and Presidents addresses for looking on Google on the web. State your case as clearly and briefly as possibly.

3. Let them know that you are disappointed in their product and service and are shocked that your experience was allowed to happen. Describe what you WANT them to do to satisfy your dissapointment. Don't be unreasonable but ask them to do the RIGHT thing. Proofread your letter. If you are angry when you write it have someone read it for you, a letter with un-professional typos is given less attention. Say thank you when they respond!

Here are some web sites with further information: www.AirSafe.com , http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/ , The Federal Trade Commission www.FTCComplaintAssistant.gov , www.Lawyers.com

KTAR August 1st. 2010

OPEN: Italy is now the top vacation choice, Carnival Cruises modifies the smoking rules in their cigar bars and if you are crossing the street in Peru watchout for taxis!

1. A recently published Harris poll shows that for the first time in several years Italy is chosen as the number one vacation destination choice of most Americans if cost was not a factor. The votes of "Echo Boomers" ages 18-33 and "Baby Boomers" ages 46-64 pushed Italy above Australia at #2.

2. Carnival Cruises has placed restrictions on Smoking in a strange place The Cigar Bar. The smoking especially of Stogies is not a popular as it once was so the steady stream of passengers passing through the blue smoke to get to the Internet Cafe has raised comlpaints and the changes by Carnival.

3. A recent study by a leading Peruvian University shows that among 640 Taxi and Bus drivers in the capital city 40% exhibited Psycopathic Tendancies toward pedestrians.This lack of concern went so far as to say that many would feel no remorse about running over a pedestrian in the course of their job. So be extremely VIGILANT when walking or crossing the street in Lima or probably anywhere in Peru!

Second Guest:Tom Parsons of Best Fares .com comes on to give us the deals this week for travel from Phoenix. To see all Tom has to talk about go to www.BestFares.com and enter KTAR in the search box at the top.

Cruise With Michael: If you would like to join Michael Dixon and his wife Gaile on their Fall Tahiti cruise get the details at: http://www.pgcruises.com/destinations/itineraries/14-night-new-zealand-eastbound/default.aspx or call Hagers Journeys at 1-(800) 227-7606.

Third Guest: 2011 will be the 25th. anniversary of a special New Years trip hosted by Michael Dixon and Jose Catalan a previous Co-Host of this show. For this anniversary departure Jose has chosen a nine day adventure cruise through The Panama Canal and the exotic islands on each end of "The Path Between The Seas". Jose joins us to describe the daily itinerary of this Cruise Tour on the intimate Cruise West Lines ship which is small enough to get Up Close And Personal in this fascinating part of the world. For more information see: http://seasidejourneys.com/cruises-tours.htm or call (480) 949-1919 or 1-800- 336-2242

The Louie List: When you take to the road or want to cross the pond to Europe "Be Prepared" that should not just be the "Boy Scout" motto but your plan for a successful; trip.

1. The recent closure of European airspace for days at a time by Volcanic Ash and the millions of passengers whose trips were disrupted by this should remind us that REALLY unexpected events can surprise and delay our travels.

2. Before departing take the unexpected into consideration. Even if you are delayed for only a day you will need money to cope. Always have some emergency cash or at least Travelers Cheques so that you a re not dependent on the electronic world for food and shelter. If the power goes out for good credit cards aren't much use. For when cards are accepted don't depend on just one credit card or debit card. If the little Mag Strip on the back is compromised that card is useless so have a backup. Notify your card companies especially of foreign travel so their fraud prevention programs don't cut your account off!

3. Your travel documents and health information are critical to you safety and freedom. Keep copies of your passport in your luggage and on you when you lleave your destination hotel. Put your real passport in the hotel safe especially in third world countries. Any authority that needs your actual passport will go to the hotel with you. If you have serious medical issues that Emergency Medical personel should know you shoul wear a "Medical Alert Bracelet" . Your full medical history can also be important and you can have this on a Computer Thumb Drive from this source http://www.medtogo.com/travel-usb-keychain-medical-records.html

4. Travel with infants and children can present other problems, have at least a 24 hour supply of diapers and formula with you at all times, for yourself and kids have energy bars or other dense easy to carry snacks in case you are on your own for hours or a day! Even on a domestic flight if you need to take medications on a regular basis take a small bottle of water for yourself because the flight attendants may not get to you for hours.