Recorded in the bathroom of the Bellagio in Las Vegas, this special “Listeners’ Feedback” edition is 100% listener content from e-mails and website comments. I tell listener stories about carry-on luggage and troubled airplane landings, while two listeners take the mic to talk about the technology they use in their travels. Here’s a direct link to the podcast file.
Here are the show notes from TravelCommons podcast #29:
- Intro music — Warmth by Makkina
- Recorded in the bathroom of the Bellagio in Las Vegas
- Two trips this week — a quick trip to Memphis, and then out to Las Vegas through the end of the week
- Highly recommend riding the Hertz bus in Memphis when Marvin is driving
- I’m not a big fan of business meetings in Vegas — it’s too geared for leisure travelers
- Bridge Music — Carry On Regardless by Van Morrison
- Rich Wisco shares his luggage strategy. His blog has some good travel pictures
- Chris from Tulsa describes an interesting carry-on weight test administered by Southwest
- Bridge Music — I Don’t Like to Travel by Byther Smith from the Podsafe Music Network
- Chris from Tulsa talks about harrowing approach into PHX
- Allan Marko talks about getting his head between his knees on an approach to SNA
- Bridge Music — Pictures of You by Evangeline
- Travel Tech — a new semi-regular topic about the technology that travelers use
- I found the whatsinmybag Flickr collection on the Frick’s World blog (here’s the picture of his bag)
- Ed Vawter raves about the iGo power supply
- Dan O’Leary of the HotelCoffee podcast talks about his travel technology bundle
- Closing music — Ramblin’ Man by the Allman Brothers Band
- Feedback at comments[at]travelcommons.com, the comment board on podcastalley.com, or right here in the comments section below
- Direct link to the show
8 comments on “Podcast #29 – Special Listeners’ Feedback Show”
Comments are closed.
I’ll get to doing the survey right away.
I liked the segment you did on headphones. I’m not in the same economic strata as you are, so I had to find earphones that cost less. My choice was the Shure E2c sound isolating earphones. They are an in-ear canal type, and they work just by blocking the sound out just like earplugs. They probably don’t cut noise quite as well as noise cancelling technology, but the sound quality is superb, even if the E2c is the lower cost model in their lineup. The E2c cost me about $80. And I agree with you that there is a real benefit to wearing them on long flights.
I was looking into the Shure E2c but found the cheaper Sony MDR-EX81s to be far better. Plus they match the iPod – although if you don’t have an iPod that doesn’t matter. I liked the Sonys because they are lightweight and fit really well, and are just generally pretty good value for money. Down to $30 at Amazon USA
Remember, I didn’t say I bought the Bose headsets. I used Diners Club points and ordered them out of Diners Club’s catalog. Not sure I would have paid $300 of my own cash. My $30 in-ear Apple earphones (not the standard earbuds) do a decent-enough job.
I saw a guy wearing Bose noise-cancelling cans on the train into Chicago last week. That’s a bit much. I mean, I know the secretaries chatting about their boyfriends can be a bit annoying at times, but wearing the Bose was a bit of overkill.
Regards,
Mark
I liked the segment on trains to planes. I agree that Boston is one of the best connections. Also good:
Heathrow -> Paddington Station in London
we liked the metro to Plaza Del sol in Madrid from the airport and know a nice little hotel run by an American expat just one block from there.
The one that we have done a number of times but I think twice before doing again is taking the subway to JFK. Plan on an hour on the subway from Manhattan, at least from the Upper West Side. Of course if your flight is leaving at rush hour, the subway might get you there and a cab might get stuck in traffic.
Chris from the Amateur Traveler podcast
Thanks so much for the shoutout Mark, and I must say it was a particularly excellent edition.
I believe I’ve also had an encounter with Marvin in Memphis. I distinctly remember a well dressed gentleman with the quintessential FM voice. Hertz should be very happy to have him as an employee.
Yes, tourist locales are not good for business. Try staying at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort in Panama City Beach, Florida sometime. The fitness room was essentially a non-entity.
I have also been on Marvin’s bus. If I recall he acts like it’s his own radio station “You are listening to wHERTZ on your quick 4 minute ride to the airport”. I was in Memphis the early part of December and didn’t see him, but it’s good to hear he’s still there. I wonder if Hertz management knows that this one driver has that much of an impact on their customers?
Listened to the show on a night flight from ATL to West Palm, thanks for the mention.
Keep up the good work…
Mark,
Good Job! I’ve subscribed to you podcast since you came to Memphis in Feburary. Last week I had a business trip to Birmingham (via ground) and enjoyed listening to Travel Commons.
By the way, US 78 is 4 lanes all the way from Memphis to Birmingham. 3.5 hrs. and no security lines!
Brian
Brian –
I talked about the fly-or-drive calculus in episode #23. If you think about the flight from Memphis to Birmingham,
it takes 30 minutes to drive to and park at the airport,
you should be there 60 minutes prior to flight departure,
Northwest’s direct flight clocks in at 60 minutes,
add on another 30 minutes to de-plane and get a rental car,
and finally another 30 minutes to drive to your destination.
Without any airport delays, you’re at break-even between fly or drive and that doesn’t take into account the inconveniences of air travel — TSA hassles, being a slave to the airline’s schedules, airport delays. Sounds like you made the right decision to hammer down those 4 lanes — so long as you only use the right 2 lanes each way.
Take care,
Mark