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Podcast: TravelCommons

Podcast #9 – Wrapping Up the Vacation
Finishing my vacation with a podcast from the bathroom of the Budapest (Hungary) Marriott, high above the Danube. The second vacation podcast focuses on differences between business and leisure travel — how to “downshift” from business to leisure travel, balancing cost with risk when choosing a travel brand, and a Budapest traffic accident illustrates what business travelers take for granted. Also, listener comments from podcast #8, and music/sounds from Budapest street festivals. Here’s a direct link to the podcast file.

Here are the show notes from TravelCommons podcast #9:
- Intro music — Warmth by Makkina
- Recorded in the bathroom of Budapest Marriott
- Finishing up a 2½-week vacation in Europe
- The transition music in this podcast are iRiver recordings of Budapest street festival sounds
- Listener comments about podcast #8
- What does it take to “downshift” from the efficient cadence of a business traveler; how to enjoy the act of traveling?
- Following up on the Comfort in brands topic from podcast #8
- Two great experiences with non-brands — the Hotel Altiport in Meribel, France, and Fox Auto-Rent in Budapest
- Discount airlines taking over Budapest airport
- A traffic accident points out some of the things that business travelers take for granted
- Direct Link to a picture of the wrecked car
- 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
July 27, 2005
Podcast #8 – TravelCommons on Vacation

This TravelCommons podcast comes to you from my first day on vacation, recorded in the bathroom of the Novotel in Geneva, Switz. I walk through the Internet technologies that I used to book a small non-chain hotel in the French Alps, talk about the sort of “travel insurance” that people believe they get from chosing well-known travel brands, and then reflect on the pleasures of unplanned wanderings — trying to stay awake in Geneva and spending an afternoon at the World Beach Tchoukball Championship. Here’s a direct link to the podcast file.

Sorry for the delay in posting the show notes, but my Internet connectivity was a bit spotty at time, and I am, after all, on vacation:
Intro music — Warmth by Makkina
Recorded in the bathroom of the Novotel in Geneva, Switz
On a 2½-week vacation in Europe
Take the Worst Airport poll in the left column of this web site
Using all kinds of technology to book vacation hotels in France
Update — The Hotel Altiport was a great place in a beautiful setting above Meribel and had a great staff
Direct Link to a picture of the Hotel Altiport
Comfort in brands — where to take risks and where to play it safe while traveling
Serendipity — finding an unexpected prize when traveling
Direct Link to a picture of the women’s Beach Tchoukball finals
For those interested in tchoukball — www.tchoukball.org
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

Podcast #7 – Eating Alone; Classic Travel Stories

The TravelCommons podcast is back on the East Coast in Boston. Recorded in the bathroom of the Residence Inn in Charlestown, I talk about the tight summer travel market, strategies for eating alone without looking like a loser, and more Classic Travel Stories — fun on Air Canada. Also, e-mail and audio comments from listeners. Here’s a direct link to the podcast file.

Here are the shownotes for TravelCommons podcast #7:

Podcast #6 – The TSA Talks Back

This week’s TravelCommons podcast is an “odds-‘n’-ends” podcast, following up on items from previous podcasts and answering questions from web boards and e-mails. I follow-up on last week’s Sean Penn sighting and read the reply I received from the TSA in response to my complaint about Chicago Midway airport. Responding to a topic request on the Podcast Alley comment board, I give my thoughts about frequent flier programs. Answering some e-mail questions, I describe my convoluted podcast recording workflow. Here’s a direct link to the podcast file.

Here are the shownotes for TravelCommons podcast #6:

Podcast #5 – Celebrities in Airports; The Right Car Rental

This week’s TravelCommons podcast comes from the East Coast — recorded in the Mystic Marriott in Groton, CT. This week, I talk about recent experiences with rental cars, airport celebrity sightings, and my efforts to get out of my travel ruts. Here’s a direct link to the podcast file.

Here are the shownotes from the TravelCommons podcast #5:

Intro music — Warmth by Makkina
Recording from the bathroom of the Mystic Marriott Resort & Spa in Groton, CT
Thanks for the person who compared me to Bob Newhart in a comment on Podcast Alley
The right rental car can make all the difference on a trip
Airport celebrity sightings — Vin Diesel, Sean Penn, and Wynton Marsalis
Recognizing and trying to break out of my travel ruts
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

Podcast #4 – The Good Things About Travel

This week’s TravelCommons podcast focuses on the good things about travel. Last week’s podcast seemed a bit negative, so I try to bring a bit of balance this week. Recorded in the LAX Westin, I stow the laptop for a night and walk the Manhattan Beach, CA pier, reflect on a rare window seat ride on a flight out of Phoenix, and read from a friend’s letter as he starts a new life in Sao Paulo. Here’s a direct link to the podcast file.

Here are the shownotes from the TravelCommons podcast #4:

Intro music — Warmth by Makkina
Recording from the bathroom of the LAX Westin in Los Angeles
Made changes to the travelcommons.com website to allow everyone to leave comments about the podcasts
Sounds from a walk down the Manhattan Beach, CA pier and the Manhattan Beach Brewing Company

Looking out the window of a night flight from Phoenix to Chicago
Somebody types “Cabo San Lucas prostitutes” into Yahoo and ends up at the travelcommons.com website!
Business travel to Brazil causes a friend to chuck it all and move south
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

TravelCommons Podcast #3

Here’s the third TravelCommons podcast, each segment recorded in a different place. This week, after 7 flights in 5 days, I seem to be on quite a tear on the TSA. I talk about bad TSA experiences at Chicago Midway and good ones at O’Hare, Tampa, and Columbus, OH. Also, I talk about using the iPod to reduce travel stress and the first Classic Travel Story– about Cleveland travelers eager to get to Chicago. Here’s a direct link to the podcast file.

Here are the shownotes from the third TravelCommons podcast:

Intro music — Warmth by Makkina
Tough travel week — 7 flights and 4 cities in 5 days
Recording from the bathroom of the Camelback Inn in Scottsdale, AZ
Hot weather and turndown philosophy cards at the Camelback Inn

Rant on TSA screeners at Chicago Midway airport; compliments to the TSA screeners at Tampa and Columbus, OH
Using my iPod to reduce travel stress
First of a recurring feature — Classic Travel Stories
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

TravelCommons Podcast #2

Here’s the second TravelCommons podcast. This week, I talk about the evolution of the Southwest Airlines customer, the growth of travel meta-search sites such as Kayak and Sidestep, and how Mexicans vacation in Cabo San Lucas. There’s also a clip from fellow travel podcaster Curt Taylor of emptyseat.net. Here’s a direct link to the podcast file.

Here are the shownotes from the second TravelCommons podcast: