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Indeed, at 12:06pm on Sunday, February 14^th, a brand new radio program was born in Sacramento. At that moment, Tom Romano cued the board operator and the theme track for “The Travel Guys” was heard on the air for the first time. Tom and I will be co-hosting the show.

I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am to be back on the radio. (My first stint was as a sports talk host and commentator on KSAC, 1240AM, in the early 1990’s. I loved being on the air talking sports then, and I’m really looking forward to working with my long time friend Tom on our new program.) “The Travel Guys” will be heard every other Sunday to start, from 12-1pm. The next broadcast is this Sunday.

You can listen driving home from church or while you’re out and about or working around the house on a Sunday afternoon. The program will be light and fun and informational. “Info-tainment” is what describes our format best. We want to offer you information the traveler can use, whether you travel for business, pleasure or some of both. Things that are interesting, whether you are traveling there or not.

We want to update you when someone in the travel industry does something screwy (which means we’ll be talking about the airlines every program), or help suggest ways to make your travels more enjoyable. It won’t be a Sports Leisure infomercial, but we will liberally sprinkle the show with spots that highlight some of our favorite people and destinations. We have 30 years of experience on the road to share with you, and the radio is one of the best places to do just that.

Our first guest last week will be a regular. John Holloway, of Holloway Travel Outfitters, will be our travel gadget guy. Already he’s saved us from bed bugs, jet lag and poor circulation while sitting on a plane. This coming Sunday, we will broadcast live from the New York Times Travel Show in New York. Hope you’ll give it a listen.

The show will be funny and light and packed with news tidbits. When the situation calls for it, we’ll bring you real hard travel news. We’ll also ask your opinions and invite you to call in from time to time. You never know, there might even be a laugh or two.

Being on the radio has always been a passion of mine. It’s a joy to know I get to share that passion once again. I hope you’ll consider tuning in this Sunday, February 28^th, from 12-1, on KFBK, 1530 on the AM dial. “The Travel Guys” can also be heard March 14^th and 28^th at the same time.

From time to time, Sports Leisure experts like Clayton Whitehead, Ramona Goodge and Scott Angeletti will appear as guests and tell us about their travels. Clayton will offer our frist “Road Report” on the March 14^th show, sharing his upcoming trip to New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

If you’re near a computer, the show streams live at www.KFBK.com. Just click on “listen.” On www.sportsleisure.com, you’ll find links to everything mentioned on the show, plus cool travel-related items that come across my desk from time to time. Go to our web site, and click on “Cool KBFK Radio Stuff.” As always, I invite your comments and suggestions. Sports Leisure Vacations has become a leader in the travel industry because of your input. I would like “The Travel Guys” to follow in those footsteps. “See” ya on the radio Sunday. Feel free to tell a friend.…

An incredible human tragedy is unfolding in Haiti. Like many, we are horrified by the pictures we see, and wondering how we can help. Our staff is exploring how we could best direct our personal and business resources.

In the meantime, there are several ways you can help the situation in Haiti, one such option is by donating to the American Red Cross efforts in Haiti. You can do so by visiting them online at www.redcross.org and clicking “Donate Now” or by calling them at 1-800-RED-CROSS. Alternatively, you can donate $10.00 automatically by texting “Haiti” to 90999. Doing so should add your donation to your phone bill this month. More information can be found here.

Our prayers are with the people of Haiti, their friends and family.

Mark Hoffmann, Owner/Founder

Sports Leisure Vacations

I first met Ted Bridges at a tourism symposium in 1999.  I was the speaker, talking to a gathering of small, tourism-based businesses in Vermont and New Hampshire about attracting more tour groups to their shops, restaurants and hotels.  At one point in my presentation, I spoke of the importance of helping a tour operator create a unique experience for his or her travelers and how if you could assist in the creation of that experience, by providing names and contacts and even facilitating the added events yourself, you would win our hearts and our business.  Ted worked for the Cortina Inn at the time, and when the opportunity came to share your own creations with the audience, it was obvious to me that Ted “got it.”  He had worked with enough tour groups to know what made them tick.  He knew a cooking demonstration for the ladies and a cigar symposium for the men was a great way to occupy a lazy New England fall afternoon.  He knew the value of a tour operator’s business and how to make a lasting positive impression.

Ted was recovering from double bypass surgery when a staph infection popped up out of nowhere and within a week’s time, took his life.  And now the tourism industry has been robbed of one of its most cheerful faces, one of its biggest supporters.

Ted was like many people who make a living in the tourism industry.  He had a tremendous passion for his work.  You wanted your group to stay with Ted, because whether it was the Cortina Inn, or the Holiday Inn in Rutland, Vermont, where he had hung his hat in recent years; you knew Ted would take care of your people.  Every time you saw him, you knew you could pick his brain for ideas, little tidbits of information that might lead to a great experience for your travelers.

Farewell Ted Bridges.  You have left us far too soon.  There were itineraries still to build and wine yet to be tasted.  Cigars will go unsmoked and culinary creations unexplained in your absence.  For when God created you Ted, he broke the mold.  I was privileged to know you, to share a few laughs and a few short moments with you through the years.  They are memories I will cherish.  Farewell, my friend.  And so it goes…

This post has very little do to with travel. It has a lot to do with life. Mary Travers passed away Wednesday, September 16th. Many don’t know her by her last name, but rather by her first. For the last 4+ decades, she has been the “Mary” of one of America’s legendary folk trios, Peter, Paul & Mary.

For some, they were three people who wrote songs protesting the war in Viet Nam and other social injustices. Some probably considered them left-wing wackos (and still do). But I suggest to you they were (and still are) the conscience of the country, often during times of great social stress and disagreement.

They wrote of real places like El Salvador, and of magical characters like Puff, The Magic Dragon. People say to be at one of their concerts was like taking a trip through time, through our country in the last 40 years. That’s what people say. Personally, I don’t know. For despite the fact that Sports Leisure Vacations took people to see the famous trio in concert many times, I was never able to tag along. You know, one of those things you keep putting off, thinking there will always be another chance. This time there won’t be another chance. It makes me sad.

Peter and Paul have indicated they will carry on. It’s reassuring to know they will continue to carry their message of social justice and hope. They have entertained countless millions of people in their careers as musicians. I hope it will be the same, but I know it will not.

Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Farewell Mary Travers. Thank you for the joy you brought to our lives. Amen.

Airlines continue to tack on fees and added charges anywhere they can in what seems to this observer to be a remarkably effective way to aggravate even the occasional traveler.  Just this past week, three carriers announced increases to checked bag fees.  In fact, if you are flying one of the “legacy” carriers (United, American, US Air, Delta/Northwest and Continental), taking a short trip and checking two bags, it’s entirely possible that the government-imposed taxes on your ticket, combined with the charges to check your bags, could end up being more than the cost of the actual transportation!

Airlines have taken the same tack as rental car companies, who for years have been tacking on everything from the fees they pay the airport to do business there (my landlord calls it rent, they call it a “concession fee” on the bill), to property taxes (I kid you not, take a look at the invoice) to ridiculous charges to refill the gas tank ($5, $6 even $7 a gallon).  It took the airlines a little while to figure out how to play this game, but greed is helping them close the gap quickly, and it’s not good news for travelers.  Baggage fees are rising, literally on an almost daily basis.  You’ll pay for pre-packaged food, a movie, a cocktail; US Air even tried charging for water for a time before public outcry made them rethink their approach.

Isn’t it interesting that among the three major carriers to post a profit in the most recent quarter you can find Southwest and Jet Blue airlines (Air Tran, which does not serve Sacramento is the third).  Neither charges a fee for the first two checked bags.  And while they do charge for cocktails in flight, the rest of the fees, up to now, have remained property of their competitors.   But now there are signs that even Southwest is falling into the abyss.  Last week Southwest announced a $20 round trip fee to secure a lower numbered/lettered boarding pass.

There has been one positive side to the baggage fees.  People are bringing less junk with them on the road.  There seems to be a prevailing attitude that even if you paid $2,000 a person for your vacation, you aren’t going to give an airline an extra $50-$60 to transport that second suitcase.  Down side – people are cramming more into the one bag they check, and carrying on more luggage, creating more competition for the overhead space on the plane.   And that one checked bag tends to weigh 10-15 pounds more than it used to.  As a Tour Director who has to handle those suitcases on an almost daily basis, I can only think of one comment.  Oh joy.

There seems to be no end in sight to the fee-free-for-all.  Ryan Air, a low-cost carrier in the UK, is installing one pound coin slot in the toilets on board their planes.  Don’t have correct change you say?  Hmmm, guess it will be a long trip.  Which US airline will be the first to add this insult to previous injury?  Stay tuned, and keep your hand on your wallet, especially on your way to the airport.  Or the john. – Mark

(Ed. Note – Sports Leisure Vacations is proud of our policy of including any fees for the first checked bag in the price of your trip.  This policy is based on baggage fees as of August 15, 2009, when our annual catalog went to press.)