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Podcast #142 — Sleeping in Business Class; Changes from Chinese Tourists

Yet another last-minute long-distance trip, this time to Frankfurt, Germany, lets me check out United Airlines’ new business class service, and think again about the value for those expensive lie-flat seats. Seeing a new Chinese menu at a favorite wurst stand in the old part of Frankfurt reminds me of the changes driven by the…

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Podcast #141 — When You Think the TSA is Bad…; Expired Money

A last-minute trip to Pune, India provided more than enough material for this episode — a visa dash, very hands-on airport security, worthless rupee notes, flight disruptions…. We also read the obits for a couple of smart bag companies and hear why MSP’s T2 isn’t so ghetto after all. All this and more at the direct…

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Podcast #140 — Travel Tech Gets Physical; Pay Attention to the Safety Briefing

Physical travel technology rather than latest phone app; TSA K9 screening; dingy airport terminals, flight attendants’ safety demonstrations become strident.

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Podcast #139 — Brewing Best Hotel Room Coffee; Notes from Spain

Returning to the mic after 10 days of food, wine, wind, rain, and snow in the north of Spain. I talk about traveling in Spain, and with my guest Coleman Collins about how to make the best coffee in your hotel room

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Podcast #138 — Travel Turning Me Hipster; Every Delay Has a Story

February is a tough time to be in the Midwest, so when my travel took me south, to New Orleans and then to Florida, there was no bitch tweeting about the TSA lines or flight delays. In this episode, I walk through how each change in airport security has pushed me to be more hipster…

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Tips for Buying A Suitcase

I’ve been putting off shopping for a new bag for a long time, as in years. Up until a few months ago, I was using a vintage Swiss Army black roller that still sported the Vietnamese and Hong Kong customs stickers it picked up in 2008. A few years ago, I’d retired it in favor of…

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Podcast #137 — New Year’s Travel Status Tips; How to Shop for a Suitcase

So we’re four weeks into the new year and 30-50% of us have already ditched our New Year’s resolutions, but we still have time to get our 2018 travel status lined up. Over the holiday break, I bought a non-smart carry-on to replace my now-banned Bluesmart; I walk through my shopping criteria. All this and…

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Looking Back at 2017 — The Highs and The Lows

After clearing the mists of last night’s New Year’s Eve party, I thought about some of the highlights and lowlights of my travels in 2017 Highlights Uber/Lyft Driver Stories — Not only are Uber and Lyft rides easier to get than most taxis, the stories the drivers tell are a lot more entertaining. A Lyft…

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