Tag Archives: PreCheck

Best Gift Ideas for a New Traveler

Posted by mark on December 11, 2019 Comments Off on Best Gift Ideas for a New Traveler

Coming into the heart of the Christmas shopping season, when people are getting desperate for gift ideas, I thought I’d offer up 10 suggestions for gifts that a new frequent traveler will actually use. While many gift lists are pushing Away luggage, Huzi infinity pillows, and Aesop travel kits (these companies must’ve splashed a lot […]

Podcast #132 — Travel Apps on My Phone

Posted by mark on August 27, 2017 1 comment

It’s a listener request podcast. A fellow Peacock, this one named Jack, asked “What travel apps do you have on your iPhone?” Paging back through the TravelCommons archives, I’ve covered different categories of travel apps,  — in the most recent iteration of my Top 10 Travel Tips I recommended some flight tracking apps and way […]

Podcast #117 — Random Thoughts About Eggs, Scotland & Car Rentals

Posted by mark on October 11, 2015 3 comments

Apologies in advance because this is pretty much a stream-of-consciousness episode, with semi-strung together thoughts about eggs, car rentals, seeing the Pope, travel food, and stuff from my September trip to Scotland.  I talk about how handy I found the new Revolut service for spending and sending money in Europe; recent good and bad experiences with Hertz […]

Podcast #116 — Traveling Thru Japan; Luggage Trends

Posted by mark on August 26, 2015 Comments Off on Podcast #116 — Traveling Thru Japan; Luggage Trends

Back behind the microphone after an extended summer break highlighted by a two-week family vacation in Japan. We talk about traveling in Japan. It was a fantastic time, though we were lost without translation at times. But with the US dollar buying 124 yen, it was the right time to go. We also talk about […]

Podcast #107 — Serious About Hotel Reviews; TSA Gets Something Right!

Posted by mark on January 29, 2014 1 comment

Brushing aside the cobwebs to make my way back into the TravelCommons studios, we talk about the growing importance of TripAdvisor hotel reviews and the checklist I walk through when writing a review. I also continue to gush about the TSA’s PreCheck program, even if this autumn’s rapid expansion seems a bit rough-&-ready at times. […]

Podcast #106 — Summer Vacation in Amsterdam; Restaurant Trends

Posted by mark on September 6, 2013 3 comments

Back in front of the mic after summer vacation, I’ve continued the heavy travel schedule — New Orleans mostly with a week in Amsterdam for a family vacation. I talk about the exposure of staying in a houseboat on an Amsterdam canal and run through my personal “Best of” list. Flying out of the Gulf […]