March 8, 2025 • 51 mins
The perfect Eastern European vacation doesn't require the typical London-Paris route that everyone takes. Instead, discover the magic of Budapest, Vienna, and Prague – a cultural triangle that delivers incredible value with fall flights starting at just $749. Budapest captivates with its dramatic Danube views, thermal baths, and vibrant Market Hall, while Vienna dazzles with imperial Schönbrunn Palace and musical heritage. Complete your journey in Prague, where castle views, the Charles Bridge, and Old Town Square transport you to a fairy-tale setting with delicious local pastries and Prague ham.
Our hot travel deal spotlights Egypt, where tourism is surging with bookings up 300% for some companies. Experience this bucket-list destination through Globus Journeys' nine-day tour from $2499, exploring Cairo treasures and cruising the Nile. For a more immersive experience, Ama Waterways offers an 11-night program from $5499 with deeper exploration of UNESCO sites including the Valley of Kings and Queens. These promotions won't last long – the best time to visit Egypt is October through April when temperatures are more comfortable.
Cruise lovers have plenty to celebrate with Royal Caribbean's new promotion offering up to $500 off flights to Europe or Alaska when booked by March 31st. Their Serenade of the Seas delivers an incredible Alaska value with seven-day sailings from Vancouver starting at just $895 per person. Meanwhile, Norwegian Cruise Line's Baltic itineraries showcase Scandinavia's gems with 11-day cruises from Southampton visiting Sweden, Estonia, Finland, Denmark and Amsterdam from $1999.
A persistent travel myth suggests travel advisors only work with wealthy clients, but national surveys reveal 83% of advisors say their clients' average trip costs under $5000, and 90% welcome clients regardless of budget. Working with a travel advisor typically results in higher satisfaction rates – 90% compared to 70% for direct bookings – with no additional cost to you since commissions are already built into prices.
Ready to turn these travel ideas into reality? Connect with a professional who can craft your perfect getaway, whether it's exploring Eastern Europe's cultural triangle, witnessing the ancient wonders of Egypt, or cruising the spectacular coastlines of Alaska or the Baltic region.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Patrick Wiscombe (00:00):
Welcome to the Inside Travel Talk podcast and
radio show Coming up.
On today's show we will betalking about Eastern Europe
vacation ideas, bucket list,Egypt vacations, as well as
Baltic and Alaska cruises.
Let's start the show.
The Inside Travel Talk podcastand radio show presented by
BluePlanetVacations.
com, contains travel deals,promotions and offers that may
(00:23):
be time sensitive.
All offers and information wereaccurate when the show aired.
Travel deals and offers changeconstantly and are
capacity-controlled and subjectto change without notice.
Show Voice (00:38):
Explore your world.
It's the Inside Travel Talkpodcast and radio show presented
by BluePlanetVacations.
com.
Call or text the show now801-649-3700, 801-649-3700.
And check out the podcast atInsideTravelTalk.
com.
And now here are your hosts,Patrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo
(01:03):
.
Patrick Wiscombe (01:13):
It is the weekend, which means it is time
to talk travel.
Hello there, my name is PatrickWiscombe.
Mark Faldmo will be in thestudio here in just a moment.
The entire purpose of thispodcast and radio show is to
help you plan and book your nextvacation, and if you have no
idea where to go, mark and Iwill be giving you some ideas of
(01:34):
where you may want to considernext, and we are presented by
blueplanetvacations.
com and we want to thank you fortaking the time to stop and
listen and coming up on today'sshow.
We've got the Eastern Europevacation ideas bucket list,
Egypt vacations, as well asBaltic and Alaska cruises.
(01:56):
And let me bring in the co-hostof this award-nominated radio
show.
Hello, mark Faldmo.
Hey, Patrick, let's get to thetravel news headlines.
American Airlines is going tostart testing complimentary
in-flight Wi-Fi.
I thought that was one of thosethings that was just included.
Mark Faldmo (02:16):
We're spoiled because we live in a Delta
market and Delta has had freeWi-Fi for a few years now.
American has not had that.
They still charge $10 a deviceper flight or you can buy
membership.
So they are testing this out.
To get that free Wi-Fi you haveto be a SkyMiles member.
So this just seems like it'd bea great way to increase people
(02:39):
in their frequent flyer programs.
But they are testing it out tosee how it does.
In part, American Airlines kindof had a rough year last year.
They made some changes thatreally alienated some of their
corporate clients with who theycould book with and a couple of
things in their frequent flyerprogram which really gave them a
(02:59):
downturn in bookings.
They quickly changed course onthat, but they're trying these
ways to get people back toAmerican Airlines.
They struggled last year.
I think they should just go allcomplimentary Wi-Fi.
All airlines should offer asimilar program to what Delta
offers.
Hotels used to be that way.
Now all hotels offer free Wi-Fiin one form or another.
Patrick Wiscombe (03:24):
If you have travel-related questions for the
show while we are on the air.
801-649-3700,.
801-649-3700 is the studio onthe text line.
Delta adds Morocco in athree-route expansion.
We don't talk about Moroccovery often.
Mark Faldmo (03:44):
Delta is adding a flight from Atlanta to Marrakesh
.
Along with this announcement,they announced two other routes,
one to another Africandestination, to Accra, ghana,
and then the other route thatthey offered was from Austin,
Texas to Cancun, was from Austin, Texas to Cancun, Mexico, so
(04:08):
not quite as exotic as thoseother two, but Morocco.
That, I think, is a great addfor the Delta route system,
makes that destination aone-stop for us here in Salt
Lake City and for many travelersthat are in Delta airline
cities.
Patrick Wiscombe (04:21):
It wouldn't be a show if we didn't talk about
London.
So Gatwick is expanding theirairport and they could add
100,000 more flights.
That's a lot of flights.
Mark Faldmo (04:32):
That is.
So yeah, that's 100,000 moreflights annually if this
proposal goes through.
And what it would take is theyneed to relocate one of the
runways, because right now theycan't operate the runways
simultaneously, so one needs tobe moved so that they can
operate one for takeoff, one forlanding, which would enable
(04:53):
more flights.
And then they're going torenovate and update all of their
terminals at Gatwick.
Patrick Wiscombe (05:00):
Always in this first segment, it is always the
destination spotlight.
We received a text from Debbie.
Did you see that text come?
In I segment, it is always thedestination spotlight.
We received a text from Debbie.
Did you see that text come in?
Mark Faldmo (05:09):
I did see it.
I started pulling up someinformation and putting some
thoughts together on it.
Patrick Wiscombe (05:14):
Okay, Debbie says that she wants to go to
Europe but does not want theregular London, Paris, et cetera
.
She wants more of a custom tripand she's asking for your
recommendation somewhere betweeneight and nine days.
What do you recommend?
Mark Faldmo (05:30):
A couple of things come to mind.
I would recommend doing a threecity tour, which would be
Budapest, Vienna and Prague.
Patrick Wiscombe (05:39):
That's a pretty good one too.
Mark Faldmo (05:41):
You can do those easily in anywhere from seven to
nine days, depending on howlong you wanted to stay in each
city.
Looking at airfare, looking fora custom trip where we'd fly
into Budapest and home fromPrague.
For this fall, I found flightsas low as $749.
And that was two connectionflights, so you'd connect
(06:03):
somewhere in the US andsomewhere in Europe to get there
.
If you wanted one connectionflights, that price is $1,100,
which is still a pretty goodprice.
Right now for hotels, there's aEurope sale through the end of
March for 20% off select hotelsin Europe.
How I would form this vacation?
(06:25):
I recommend flying intoBudapest, spending about three
nights in Budapest, spending twoor three nights in Vienna and
spending three nights or so inPrague.
These cities are easy to getbetween.
I take a train.
I just do train travel to getto those.
Budapest is about a two and ahalf three hour train ride from
(06:46):
Vienna, and Vienna to Prague isabout a four hour train ride.
Patrick Wiscombe (06:50):
We're so used to having cars here in Salt Lake
that the idea of taking trainis just a little bit foreign to
us.
Mark Faldmo (06:57):
Yeah, it is, train is a great way to get around
Europe.
Patrick Wiscombe (07:01):
So let's talk about Budapest first.
What would you recommend thatDebbie does in Budapest?
Let's start there.
Mark Faldmo (07:08):
I'll take each of those three cities and just give
some highlights.
There's a lot more to do thanthis.
In Budapest, the main thing isexplore Buda Castle and the
Fisherman's Bastion, castle Hill, where this is at, up on a hill
, overlooks Parliament,overlooks the Danube River.
It's the main thing I wouldvisit there.
(07:29):
The next thing is Market Hall,which is their local market.
It's your classic, typicalEuropean market.
There's food, there's a fishsection, a meat section, there's
souvenirs.
Just a great place where youcan go and shop for things and
watch local shop as well.
Patrick Wiscombe (07:49):
Not to mention just taking the scenery while
you're doing all that.
Mark Faldmo (07:52):
Yes, Budapest is probably one of the most scenic
towns along that line, Patrick.
It's such a great thing, youknow, just walking along the
Danube.
I love to do that in theevening time, when the
parliament buildings lit up andthe castle hills all lit up.
It's just an idyllic location,I think.
Moving on to Vienna, you shouldvisit Schönbrunn Palace.
(08:15):
It's comparable to Versaillesin Paris.
In France, Vienna is known forits musical heritage.
Go to a classical concert inone of the many venues in Vienna
, and then also in Vienna, Ilike going to St Stephen's
Cathedral.
You can actually climb to thetop of this cathedral and have
(08:39):
great views of the whole city ofVienna.
Patrick Wiscombe (08:42):
You know, there's something for me
personally about being in anelevated position and I'm
literal elevation and justlooking over things I don't know
what that is inside of my brainthat just lights up and makes
me happy.
That's Vienna.
By the way, I thought ofsomething that you may have
forgotten to do in Budapest thethermal baths.
Mark Faldmo (09:06):
Thermal baths yeah, Budapest is famous for that and
those thermal baths.
There's lots of places you cando that.
Definitely that should be onyour list to do in Budapest.
Patrick Wiscombe (09:17):
All right.
So we've got Budapest, we'vegot Vienna, let's go to Prague.
What do you like doing there?
Mark Faldmo (09:22):
It's known for its castles and spires Prague Castle
up on a hill.
When you get up there, lookacross the city of Prague and
see all of the church steeplesand spires and it's quite the
sight.
And then also walking acrossthe Charles Bridge, which is an
iconic bridge in Prague from thevery first Mission Impossible.
(09:44):
That's the bridge where one ofthe important scenes of Mission
Impossible happens.
It's a must-see when you go toPrague.
My favorite thing to do thereis just explore the old town
square.
When you think of a Europeantown square, I think Prague town
square is exactly what Ienvision.
There's street vendors.
(10:05):
My most favorite travel foodsare there.
One is the trundle neck, whichis a roasted bread.
They wrap it around a woodendowel and it kind of is a
rotisserie on the fire and sothey're kind of cone-shaped
bread, usually cinnamon andsugar and then Prague ham.
It's a great experience inPrague.
Patrick Wiscombe (10:28):
Because you brought up Mission Impossible.
Just let listeners know thatMission Impossible Dead
Reckoning Part 2, called theFinal Reckoning coming out May
23rd.
Mark Faldmo (10:39):
Looking forward to it.
Patrick Wiscombe (10:41):
I am too.
Mark Faldmo (10:42):
I've always liked that Mission Impossible
franchise.
Patrick Wiscombe (10:44):
I think Tom Cruise has done an amazing job
with it.
Yeah, Debbie, you are in for atreat by going to any of those
cities and going to all three,especially by the train.
An amazing experience.
You will not be disappointed.
Call Mark at his office.
Get the conversation rolling,no obligation, of course.
(11:06):
Call him at 888-718-7717,888-718-7717.
And you will post this on BluePlanet Vacations, right, mark?
I will Yep BluePlanetVacations.
com when we come back.
It is time for the hot traveldeal of the week, regardless of
(11:32):
the destination, and this weekwe are talking about Egypt and
we'll also have more travel newsheadlines.
That is next with the InsideTravel Talk podcast.
A radio show continuesalongside Mark Faldmo.
My name is Patrick Wiscombe.
Thank you so much for listening.
We'll be right back, markFaldmo, my name is Patrick.
Show Voice (11:45):
Wiscombe.
Thank you so much for listening.
We'll be right back, taking youto destinations around the
world.
The Inside Travel Talk podcastand radio show is presented by
BluePlanetVacations.
com, America's best traveladvisors.
Call or text the show now801-649-3700.
801-649-3700.
(12:06):
Thanks for listening.
We'll be right back.
Ad Voice (12:24):
This segment of Inside Travel Talk is sponsored by El
Dorado Spa Resorts.
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To book your romantic beachgetaway at an El Dorado spa
resort, contact Blue PlanetVacations at 888-718-7717 or
(12:49):
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Show Voice (12:59):
Now back to the Inside Travel Talk podcast and
radio show presented byBluePlanetVacations.
com, America's best traveladvisors.
Call or text the show right now801-649-3700, 801-649-3700.
And check out the podcast atInsideTravelTalk.
com.
(13:20):
Here's Patrick Wiscombe andMark Faldmo.
Patrick Wiscombe (13:29):
Welcome back inside of the Inside Travel Talk
podcast and radio show.
My name is Patrick Wiscombe,alongside Mark Faldmo.
You can listen to this showeach and every Saturday and
Sunday morning at 11 o'clockright here on this radio station
and around the country, andalso on InsideTravelTalk.
com Coming up in this segment ofthe show.
(13:53):
We've got the hot travel dealof the week and this week we are
going to Egypt.
Mark Faldmo (14:06):
Mark I saw on the rundown man, you've got a really
a pretty great promotion to gosee Egypt on this one.
Yeah, there's some really greatways to see Egypt and some good
promotions as well.
Patrick Wiscombe (14:12):
Before we get there, let's get to the travel
news headlines and let's startin Bali.
This time they, Bali, areconsidering a hefty new daily
tourist tax.
That's not something I want tohear.
What are the details?
Mark Faldmo (14:27):
Bali is on many travelers' bucket list.
Last year, Bali instituted a$10 mandatory fee for all
tourists entering and they areconsidering upping that fee to
$100 per person per day, whichis a huge increase.
Patrick Wiscombe (14:48):
Wow.
Normally, when we talk abouttourist taxes, it's $10 to $20,
not $10 to $100.
Mark Faldmo (14:54):
The reason why they're doing this is because
they kind of want to pick andchoose who visits the country.
That, unfortunately, will pricea lot of people out.
Yeah it will, but there aresome places in Bali where it's
almost like spring break all thetime Tourists behaving badly, I
guess and so they're reallytrying to cut that out.
(15:15):
I hope the fee does not go thathigh.
It's a destination they feelthey almost have to because of
some of the trends in tourismthat are happening in Bali.
Patrick Wiscombe (15:26):
Trevi Fountain .
How many times have you beenthere?
Mark Faldmo (15:29):
Several times, probably 20 or 30 times.
Patrick Wiscombe (15:32):
Well, here's one thing I didn't know Trevi
Fountain is reopening.
But there's also a whole bunchof rules.
Mark Faldmo (15:38):
It was closed for renovations.
They're now limiting access tothe fountain itself.
If you've not been to TreviFountain, it's set in a small
square.
The square is open, but they'vekind of gated off.
There's almost like stadiumseating, kind of like three
terraces where you could sit.
Look at the fountain, andthey're now limiting that area
(16:01):
to 400 visitors simultaneously.
Patrick Wiscombe (16:04):
Whoa, whoa, wow.
Mark Faldmo (16:05):
They're really cutting down, so when one person
leaves, another person can comein.
Patrick Wiscombe (16:11):
Isn't Trevi Fountain the fountain that was
in Angels and Demons with TomHanks?
Mark Faldmo (16:16):
Yes, it was.
Patrick Wiscombe (16:17):
Okay, all right, that's where they dumped
the priest.
Mark Faldmo (16:19):
Yeah, another thing which I like is there's no
sitting on the basin edge.
People used to just sit thereand eat their gelato, which
would really ruin the view.
Me being a photographer, I'vealways wanted to get a good shot
of that, but you almost nevercould because someone was always
sitting at the base of thefountain.
I think these changes are goodand will enhance the overall
(16:43):
quality of visiting thatmonument in Rome.
And these are in effect everyday from 9 am to 9 pm.
On Mondays and Fridays it won'topen until 11 am because they
have to go in and collect allthe coins that are thrown in to
Trevi Fountain twice a week aweek.
(17:03):
Some of the local lore aroundTrevi Fountain is if you toss a
coin into the fountain, it meansyou'll come back to Rome again.
They collect lots of money,people that want to come back to
Rome.
They get thousands of euroseach week.
Patrick Wiscombe (17:18):
Do they really ?
Mark Faldmo (17:18):
It's that much Into Trevi Fountain Wow.
Patrick Wiscombe (17:22):
I would like to know if you put your hand in
there to collect a few coins, ifyou're going to get yelled at.
Mark Faldmo (17:27):
Probably so you probably will.
Yes, you probably will Okay.
Patrick Wiscombe (17:31):
I saw a story that tourism in Egypt is really,
really starting to take off.
What kind of stats are weseeing on it?
Mark Faldmo (17:38):
Egypt is up about 6% 2024 versus 2023 and 2025 and
2026.
Some things are already soldout.
There are some companies thatsell Egypt that have seen 300%
increases in their sales to thatdestination.
Patrick Wiscombe (17:58):
I was talking with Nikki last weekend about
going to Egypt to go see thepyramids.
It's kind of funny that we'retalking about this.
Mark Faldmo (18:04):
Going to see the pyramids in Egypt is on probably
most people's bucket list.
It is still on my bucket list.
I have not been to Egypt.
I usually would get one to tworequests a year to Egypt.
I've already had four requeststhis year, really, of people
wanting to go to Egypt.
So even at Blue PlanetVacations we've seen that
(18:26):
increase in interest to Egypt.
Patrick Wiscombe (18:30):
Let's talk about this week's hot travel
deal of the week, which justhappens to be Egypt.
When's the best time to visitEgypt?
The best?
Mark Faldmo (18:39):
time to visit Egypt is October through April.
It's cooler.
In fact, a lot of the companiesthat do Egypt don't even go in
June and July.
The best way to see Egypt, Iwould say, is either through an
escorted tour or a Nile Rivercruise.
That's a little bit misleading,because the Nile River cruises
(19:02):
include quite a bit of land andthe escorted tours also include
a Nile River cruise.
So it's different experiences,because now river is important
and some of those places on thenow river you can see best when
visiting them by a river cruise.
(19:23):
So all of the ways to do thisinclude a component of a river
cruise and the tour.
Patrick Wiscombe (19:29):
Either way, you you're probably going to be
okay.
Mark Faldmo (19:33):
Yes, yeah.
Patrick Wiscombe (19:34):
Well, which promotion do we have for
listeners this week?
Mark Faldmo (19:37):
I've got two promotions.
One is with Globus Journeys,which is one of the really good
hosted vacation providers that Iuse Right now.
They have save $1,000 per tourand they have a nine-day tour
that starts from $2499 perperson.
This tour includes a few daysin Cairo and then you fly to
(20:02):
Luxor and see a few places there, and then you do take a river
cruise on the Nile and then youfly back to Cairo for a night to
fly home.
This is a fairly economical wayto see Egypt and the Nile River
.
Patrick Wiscombe (20:19):
So nine days, nine days, wow, okay, you're
right, that is economical.
Mark Faldmo (20:25):
So that price would be for the end of August.
It goes up a little bit fromthere still in the hot season,
but kind of at the beginning ofthe season when it starts to
cool a little bit.
Patrick Wiscombe (20:36):
Well, that explains the $2499 then.
Mark Faldmo (20:39):
Yeah.
Patrick Wiscombe (20:40):
Still hot, but we still want you to go.
If you can endure the heat,correct.
What if you want to do thecruise option?
Mark Faldmo (20:46):
There are similar tours, but Ama Waterways, which
would be my pick, to do Egyptand the Nile.
Their program starts at 11nights and it starts at $5499
per person.
Patrick Wiscombe (20:58):
What are the ports on that?
Mark Faldmo (20:59):
This one you get, compared to what we talked about
with Globus has a few more days, a few more experiences.
So it has three days in Cairo,visiting the various museums,
the pyramids at Giza.
Then from Cairo you go to Luxor, the city formerly known as
Thebes.
It's a UNESCO World HeritageSite.
(21:21):
From there you have the Valleyof the Kings, valley of the
Queens.
This tour also goes to Aswan,which is an area where Ramses II
was one of the most activepharaohs in Egypt, and then a
few other places, comes back toLuxor, where you'll see some
more sites in that area, andthen go back to Cairo.
Patrick Wiscombe (21:43):
That's a part of the world that is always
featured in films.
That has always grabbed myimagination.
Mark Faldmo (21:49):
Yeah, it would be fascinating, I think, to visit
my imagination.
Yeah, it would be fascinating,I think, to visit you.
Look at these itineraries, boththe Globus and Alma Waterways.
What they offer, justfascinating sites to see.
We did mention that price of$5499.
Those are for September datesfor Alma Waterways.
Patrick Wiscombe (22:07):
Okay, so September of this year, 2025.
So not next year.
Correct, Okay all right, so youstill can go, if you can get
there.
Mark Faldmo (22:15):
Yeah, right now, Amma Waterways has up to $2,000
off select departure dates.
They have some that are $500,some that are $1,500, some that
are $2,000, just depending onthe date that you want to go.
Patrick Wiscombe (22:29):
So the $5,499, that includes that savings of
$2,000 per stateroom for those11 nights.
Mark Faldmo (22:37):
On select dates.
On select dates, okay.
Patrick Wiscombe (22:45):
All right, that's just one of those trips
that you just you'll rememberfor the rest of your life.
It's that part of the worldthat doesn't get a lot of press,
but when you see it itabsolutely is stunning.
Take advantage of those twooffers.
Go to Egypt.
Call Mark in his office duringthe break, just to get the
conversation started888-718-7717.
(23:05):
888-718-7717.
And he will also post this onblueplanetvacations.
com when we come back.
It is almost time for theinfamous Just Cruising segment.
We've also got some cruise newsof the week and we're taking a
Baltic cruise on NCL.
That is next, when the InsideTravel Talk podcast and radio
(23:30):
show continues.
Oh, as well as Alaska, that isnext.
We'll be right back.
Show Voice (23:36):
You're listening to the Inside Travel Talk podcast
and radio show with PatrickWiscombe and Mark Faldmo,
presented by BluePlanetVacations.
com America's best traveladvisors.
Call or text the show now801-649-3700.
That 801-649-3700.
That's 801-649-3700.
And check out the podcast atInsideTravelTalk.
(23:58):
com.
We'll be right back.
Ad Voice (24:11):
Inside Travel Talk is brought to you by Amar Waterways
.
From castles and capitals tovistas and villages.
Visit some of Europe's mostremarkable sites and cities To
set out on your own river cruisejourney.
Contact Blue Planet Vacationsat 888-718-7717 or
blueplanetvacations.
com.
Patrick Wiscombe (24:30):
Welcome back to the Inside Travel Talk
podcast, a radio show coming up.
In the next 28 minutes we willbe talking about short Royal
Caribbean vacations and here'sone that I didn't have on the
rundown at any point Russiagetting into the cruise game and
we will also be discussingBaltic and Alaska cruises.
(24:50):
Let's get back to the show.
The Inside Travel Talk podcastand radio show presented by
BluePlanetVacations.
com contains travel deals,promotions and offers that may
be time sensitive.
All offers and information wereaccurate when the show aired.
Travel deals and offers changeconstantly and are capacity
controlled and subject to changewithout notice and subject to
(25:18):
change without notice.
Show Voice (25:20):
This is the Inside Travel Talk podcast and radio
show presented byBluePlanetVacations.
com, America's best traveladvisors.
Call or text the show right now801-649-3700, 801-649-3700.
And now here are your hostsPatrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo
.
Patrick Wiscombe (25:50):
All aboard for the infamous Just Cruising
segment on the Inside TravelTalk podcast and radio show.
Hello there, I'm PatrickWiscombe, alongside Mark Faldmo,
and I am coming to you fromdowntown Phoenix, Arizona.
I have to do the radio show.
While I'm on the road, mark isback in Salt Lake handling all
(26:11):
of the producing duties.
Make sure we get and stay onthe air.
I noticed we had a little bitof a glitch during the break.
You're not gonna have to do theshow by yourself, are you?
Hope not?
If something goes horribly awry, I will call you from the phone
(26:31):
and you'll just have to patchme in, if that's okay.
Yeah, the internet here in myAirbnb is a little bit.
It's reliable-ish.
Mark Faldmo (26:44):
Hopefully it stays reliable for the next 28 minutes
.
Patrick Wiscombe (26:48):
Coming up in this segment of the show, as I
mentioned, is we're going to getinto the short vacations from
Royal Caribbean.
Russia could appear on somecruise itineraries I don't know
about that one quite yet.
Things have got to kind ofmellow out and we'll be talking
about Baltic and Alaska cruises.
Where should we start here?
Should we?
(27:08):
Let's go to the cruise newsheadlines.
You okay with that?
Let's do that, All right.
I saw a story that Nice isbacktracking on a cruise ship
ban.
I'm curious about the details.
Mark Faldmo (27:20):
So I think this is great news for cruisers in the
Mediterranean.
That area of Nice has alwaysbeen fascinating for me to visit
.
Go out to some of the smallhilltop towns in southern France
.
So last month the mayor of Niceannounced that cruise ships
carrying more than 900passengers would not be
(27:41):
permitted in the nearby port ofVille-France, which is where
most of the cruise shippassengers to Nice would come.
There was a little spat betweenthe two mayors.
The mayor of the small town saidwell, those ships dock in
territorial water so you can'tban them.
So they've come up with acompromise and they've increased
(28:01):
the ship capacity to 2,500passengers will be allowed to
visit that port and that's goingto start next year.
But what that would mean?
If you took this year's cruiseschedule, only 65 of the 90
scheduled calls would be allowedto visit.
So they started looking at thisthe local merchants and it
(28:23):
would cost the city annuallyabout $3 billion in lost revenue
by not allowing these cruiseships.
So it's a good compromise.
I know locals sometimes haveproblems with the floods of
tourists that come through, butyou also need your community
open to others so they canexperience your culture and your
(28:46):
destination.
Patrick Wiscombe (28:48):
Royal Caribbean is leaning into short
vacations starting 2026 and 2027.
Now I'm going to assume threeand four day vacations are what
they're talking about.
Mark Faldmo (29:00):
Yeah, so this is actually three to five night
cruises is what they're talkingabout here.
They have really found thetrend, as people want the
shorter vacations.
Personally, for me, I think I'donly go five nights or longer.
Yeah, the shorter cruises are alittle bit too short for me.
Yeah, but they are findingthat's what people want.
(29:22):
They're moving the Utopia ofthe Seas year-round Port
Canaveral, doing three andfour-night sailings.
Some of their newer ships,miami, the wonder of the seas,
is going to do three to fournight sailings from Miami.
They actually have a couple ofships in ports that
traditionally don't have summersailings.
(29:43):
For instance, in Galveston, themariner of the seas is going to
do four and five nightCaribbean sailings, which those
shorter sailings have somepretty interesting ports.
They go to Costa Maya andCozumel.
They also have a ship there inthe winter doing the same thing,
but a different ship.
So they will have 11 ships in26 and 27.
(30:07):
Wow, doing exclusively three tofive night sailings.
Patrick Wiscombe (30:11):
You know what, which is a huge number, oh my
goodness.
Yes, I kind of get it.
These ships are very, veryexpensive and you can charge a
lower ticket price for three tofive nights versus seven and
longer, so it's an easier sell.
Yes, and so the turnover youhave to pay for the ship.
Somehow, with this amount ofturnover, that will resolve that
(30:32):
issue.
Mark Faldmo (30:33):
I just feel sorry for the crew that has to turn a
ship around twice a week insteadof once a week, because, you
know, turning a ship aroundgetting 4,000 people off and
then another 4,000 people on ina matter of a few hours is quite
the task.
Patrick Wiscombe (30:49):
Oh, my goodness.
Mark Faldmo (30:50):
They've got it down to a science and it does open
up cruising to a wider audienceSome people, as you said, you
can charge a lower price.
It does make it more affordableto more people.
Patrick Wiscombe (31:01):
Russia appearing on cruise itineraries.
What is this?
Mark Faldmo (31:06):
This was the president and CEO of Norwegian
Cruise Line saying that they arepositioning their fleet to
potentially add back in StPetersburg to their Baltic
cruises as soon as 2026.
There's two regions that a fewyears ago were very popular to
add into cruise itineraries Onewas the Baltic that included
(31:28):
Russia and the other was EasternMediterranean that included
Israel, two ports that are inthe midst of conflict.
Right now, all those sailingshave stopped.
One of my favorite cruisemoments doing a Baltic cruise
and sailing out of St Petersburg.
Patrick Wiscombe (31:47):
Oh, so you have been there.
Mark Faldmo (31:48):
I have been there.
I did it in June.
St Petersburg is far enoughnorth that they get lots of
light till late at night and mywife and I just sitting out of
the balcony as we sail thatbecause it's quite a long sail
out from St Petersburg, but StPetersburg was a wonderful stop
on that port.
So hopefully these conflictsaround the world can die down so
(32:12):
we can experience some of theseinteresting places in the world
.
Patrick Wiscombe (32:17):
I would go to St Petersburg in a minute, just
not in the middle of a war.
Mark Faldmo (32:21):
Yeah, just not right now, and I think 2026
might be too soon for that,although Norwegian did say that
they have 11 ships that arebased in Northern Europe in 2026
.
So taking one of those shipsand adding in St Petersburg, if
it became possible, they couldeasily do that in 2026.
(32:43):
So they're already positionedpretty well for just Northern
Europe cruises in general theScandinavian countries, Iceland,
all of the Baltic, with theexception of St Petersburg.
Patrick Wiscombe (32:56):
I was just curious how close Kiev is to
Moscow or St Petersburg.
It's really kind of not thatclose.
I thought it was way closer tothe conflict zone.
It's quite a ways actually.
It's thousands of miles.
Okay, so that would be like,hey, I'm not going to go to Los
Angeles because they're at a war, but we're in New York a little
bit.
Yeah.
Mark Faldmo (33:16):
Yes.
Patrick Wiscombe (33:17):
Okay, I just hear Russia and conflict in
Ukraine.
I'm like I don't want to goanywhere near that, but they're
really not close at all.
Mark Faldmo (33:24):
You probably could do that, but right now it's all
kind of political and people'sconfidence in the destination.
Patrick Wiscombe (33:33):
You mentioned NCL.
Let's talk about that Balticcruise.
Mark Faldmo (33:37):
This year.
They have a pretty gooditinerary I looked for later in
the year, later in the fall,which I think is a great time to
go to the Baltic.
This was end of September,first part of October.
This is a round-trip cruisefrom Southampton, flying to
London to get to that port ofSouthampton.
(33:58):
It goes to two ports in Swedengoes to Tallinn, in Estonia,
Helsinki, Finland, Copenhagen,Denmark which is one of my
favorite ports in this areaProbably Tallinn and Copenhagen
are my two favorite ports andthen it goes to Amsterdam and
ends in Southampton.
Patrick Wiscombe (34:16):
Wow.
Mark Faldmo (34:17):
So that is an 11-day cruise Inside cabin
starts at $1999 per person and abalcony cabin starts at $2949
per person, which NCL?
Patrick Wiscombe (34:31):
ship is this one on?
Mark Faldmo (34:31):
$29.49 per person.
Which NCL ship is this one on?
So that is on the NorwegianStar, which is one of their
older ships.
It actually happens to be oneof my favorite Norwegian ship.
I personally like the layout ofit and it's also the first
Norwegian ship that I ever wenton.
There we go, so that kind ofholds a special memory for me,
okay.
Patrick Wiscombe (34:51):
So okay.
So Baltic cruise, how much didyou say?
It was inside cabin 1999.
Is that what you said?
1999.
, and then a balcony cabinbasically 2948 per person.
Okay, let's get to the cruisedeal of the week.
Believe it or not, that was notthe cruise deal of the week.
Let's talk about Alaska andEurope.
Where do you want to start here?
Mark Faldmo (35:13):
So I just want to mention this promotion that
Royal Caribbean just put out.
This is for the month of Marchand their promotion to save up
to $500 off of flights to Europeor to Alaska.
So they're really trying todrive people to those two
destinations, Europe and Alaska.
Book by March 31st sale betweenmid-April and the end of
(35:37):
October to get that up to $500off, and it's a tiered discount
based on where you're comingfrom.
Just another great way toenhance and lower the cost of
your vacation.
And this is combinable withtheir current promotion, which
is 60% off.
The second guest and kids sellfree.
Patrick Wiscombe (35:56):
Wow, Okay, so today is depending on when
you're listening to us.
It's either March, SaturdayMarch 8th or Sunday, March 9th.
Basically, this promotion goesfor the next three weeks.
And when do you have to?
Sail by Sail by the?
Mark Faldmo (36:09):
end of October.
I think it's October 27th isthe actual date.
Patrick Wiscombe (36:13):
So basically within the next six months Book,
but sail within the next sixmonths.
Let's also talk about the RoyalCaribbean Alaskan cruise.
Which ship is this on and whendoes it sail?
Mark Faldmo (36:26):
As I was looking for that airfare deal, I
stumbled across this cruise.
It's a very good price, forthis is June 1st of this year.
Sailing round trip Vancouver.
It goes Vancouver to Sitka, toTracy Arm Fjord, Juno, Ketchikan
, prince Rupert and back toVancouver.
(36:47):
How many days?
So it's a seven-day cruise.
Wow, they're moving around.
Yep, it has two days at seaplus the half a day which has
seen that Tracy Arm Fjord.
The other half of that day isseeing Juno.
So this is a June date of thisyear.
Inside cabin starts at $895 perperson, which is amazing for a
(37:09):
summer Alaska cruise.
It sure is.
A balcony cabin starts at$1,329 per person.
Which ship is this on?
So this is on the Serenade ofthe Seas, which is one of Royal
Caribbean's smaller ships, thenagain getting on and off in
Vancouver, one of my favoritecities in the pacific northwest
(37:29):
oh yeah, you have found somereally good stuff this week.
Patrick Wiscombe (37:34):
Man, book those vacations, get on it.
Get out and see the world withyour friends, family, whoever,
whoever you want to take, callMark in his office during the
break 888-718-7717.
888-718-7717.
And Mark will also post this onblueplanetvacations.
(37:54):
com when we come back.
Final segment of the show we'vegot Mark's travel tips.
Mark, I'm going to put you onstandby here.
I want to ask you the questiondo travel advisors like you only
work with the wealthy?
And we've got some final travelnews headlines.
We'll wrap up the show when wecome back.
(38:15):
My name is Patrick Wiscombe.
He is Mark Faldmo.
You are listening to the InsideTravel Talk podcast, a radio
show.
We will be right back Talkpodcast and radio show.
Show Voice (38:24):
We will be right back, helping you get out and
see the world.
You're listening to the InsideTravel Talk podcast and radio
show with Patrick Wiscombe andMark Faldmo, presented by
BluePlanetVacations.
com America's best traveladvisors.
Book your Vacation now888-718-7717.
888-718-7717.
(38:47):
The show will continue afterthis.
Ad Voice (38:53):
This segment of Inside Travel Talk is sponsored by
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For over 30 years, starClippers has offered unique,
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itineraries throughout theMediterranean Caribbean and
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To book your unique StarClipper sailing adventure,
(39:16):
contact Blue Planet Vacations at888-718-7717 or
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Show Voice (39:28):
This is the Inside Travel Talk podcast and radio
show with Patrick Wiscombe andMark Faldmo, presented by
BluePlanetVacations.
com America's best traveladvisors.
Call the show right now801-649-3700.
801-649-3700.
And now your hosts, PatrickWiscombe and Mark Faldmo.
Patrick Wiscombe (39:57):
Welcome back to the Inside Travel Talk
podcast, a radio show this weekoriginating from Phoenix,
Arizona, inside of an airbnb.
We're doing this show on theroad.
Thank you so much for allowingus to be part of your weekend.
Each and every Saturday andSunday at 11 am, mountain time
(40:17):
on this radio station and radiostations around the country.
And, of course, you can pick upthe show at insidetraveltalk.
com and you can just stream theshow there, as well as subscribe
to the show Coming up.
In this final segment of theshow, we've got Mark's travel
tips and we're going to betalking about travel advisors
(40:38):
the very thing that Mark doesand if he only works with the
wealthy.
And the answer is no.
But we're going to detail whotravel advisors, generally
speaking, work with.
But before we get there, we'vegot some more travel news
headlines that we need to get to.
Southwest Airlines hasannounced a big partnership,
which is who?
Mark Faldmo (40:57):
Well, they've announced that their flights
will be available on some onlinesites like Expedia.
Patrick Wiscombe (41:03):
They're going outside really.
Mark Faldmo (41:06):
Which is very interesting.
I've always thought it odd howSouthwest has operated their
booking business Online.
You could only get theirflights online by going to their
website.
Yeah, Even with travel agents areally quick, high-level
(41:26):
overview.
There are four differentairline booking systems that a
travel agent can use.
For the longest time, Southwestwas only available in one of
those four systems, so it wasreally odd.
They had that policy and nowthey are starting to branch out.
They're in more and morebooking systems for travel
agencies.
And now to the general public.
(41:48):
The prices are pretty much thesame across no matter how you
book it, but it's just givingpeople more choice in how they
book it.
Patrick Wiscombe (41:55):
So, to summarize, you've got, of course
, Southwest, the app or online,you've got Expedia and you've
got one of the booking enginesinstead of four, if I've got
that right.
Mark Faldmo (42:06):
The booking engine that travel agents use, and we
also have a travel agent sitewhere we can book Southwest.
Patrick Wiscombe (42:15):
You know that I really like Hyatt properties.
Nikki and I will be staying onein Miami Beach coming up in
April.
Apparently there's some Hyattnews.
What do listeners need to know.
Mark Faldmo (42:26):
Yeah, there is, and this is for those that are part
of World of Hyatt, which I amand which I am.
I've always appreciated Hyatt'saward charts and how easy it
was to book hotels with them andget a good deal when you're
using your frequent stayerpoints, your world of Hyatt
(42:47):
points.
They are recalculating this andthey have so kind of the bad
news is 118 hotels are moving tohigher award categories.
Patrick Wiscombe (42:59):
So they're going to chew up more points.
Mark Faldmo (43:01):
Compared to years past.
There's been anywhere from 30to 50 that have gone up.
Very few go down.
In years past they've had a fewhotels that have gone down, but
it doesn't list any number ofhotels that have gone down.
Hyatt has always been, I think,the most valuable hotel program
out there.
I have a hard time because I'ma titanium elite member with
(43:23):
Marriott, so I'm usually goingthere to get into the lounge and
all of the stuff that thatbrings me, but if it comes to
redeeming points, I'm alwaystrying to go to Hyatt.
Patrick Wiscombe (43:35):
United Airlines is opening its second
grab and go lounge.
I'm really hoping that's foodit is.
Mark Faldmo (43:43):
You know it's interesting.
We, you know we've talked aboutour airport lounges in the past
on this show.
Sometimes you have just ashorter connection.
So United is trying thesegrab-and-go lounges out, so
people that are part of United'slounge system.
They've opened most recently inDenver and they have one in
(44:05):
Houston where you can go in andthey just have grab and go food
and drinks, which I think is aninteresting concept, because if
you have a shorter hourconnection, 45 minute connection
you don't have time to go inand enjoy the full lounge
experience, lounge experienceWe'll see how that goes.
It kind of looks like they havea picture of it and it kind of
(44:27):
looks like the market in a hotellobby just has some food and
things like that.
For those that spend a lot oftime in airports, a lounge is a
great little retreat from thehustle and bustle of an airport.
Patrick Wiscombe (44:41):
One thing that we forgot to include in the
second segment of the showduring the hot travel deal of
the week is this Hawaiian Mexico.
Let's throw it in this segmentso listeners can take advantage
of this, but they have to movereally quick on this one, though
.
Mark Faldmo (44:57):
Yeah, so this is a promotion for Hawaiian Mexico
that ends on March 14th.
Patrick Wiscombe (45:02):
Oh, so next Saturday.
Mark Faldmo (45:04):
Next Saturday, so you'll want to book your
vacations to Hawaii or Mexico bythen.
Patrick Wiscombe (45:10):
I'm sorry, next Friday.
Mark Faldmo (45:12):
Next Friday yeah, Friday.
So I was just doing somelooking for fall dates to Hawaii
.
Now this promotion.
You have to book an air and ahotel package to get this.
But I was just looking quicklyfor flights in October Salt Lake
City to Honolulu and I foundseveral dates that were about
(45:36):
$480.
If you combine that with ahotel, you can get up to an
additional $200 off yourvacation.
Patrick Wiscombe (45:45):
So Hawaii and Mexico save up to $200, but you
have to book by Friday, March14th.
Mark Faldmo (45:51):
And travel by December 15th, so it's basically
for 2025 travel.
Patrick Wiscombe (45:57):
We've discussed this before.
Working with travel advisors.
Meaning what Mark does.
The old term is called travelagents, so travel advisors are
meaning what Mark does, the oldterm is called travel agents.
So travel advisors are travelagents, just a different term
that they're using and one ofthe questions that has come up.
I know that you've had thisquestion, but I've also had this
question Do travel advisors oragents only work with the
(46:21):
wealthy?
Mark Faldmo (46:22):
The short answer is no only work with the wealthy?
The short answer is no.
Yeah, the short answer is no.
Over the last few years and I'mnot sure why, that has become
kind of a perception out there.
I've even seen it on sometravel forums both you and I
watch regularly is peoplethinking that travel agents only
work with the wealthy?
(46:43):
There was a national surveydone of travel advisors.
83% of travel advisors saytheir client's average trip in
2024 was less than $5,000.
And more than that, 90% oftravel advisors say that no
amount of a trip is too low forthem to work with clients.
(47:03):
And I hope most travel advisorswould have kind of the same
attitude I have.
I've always had a love fortravel and just really want to
get people out there toexperience the world.
In this show we've talked aboutsome pretty interesting and
exotic destinations and some ofthem are a little bit on the
pricey side.
But to get people to Mexico,Hawaii, even to Florida,
(47:27):
southern California, I justreally want to help people
experience other parts of theworld.
So I don't care how little itcosts or how much it costs.
I'll help anyone get out thereto see different parts of the
world.
Patrick Wiscombe (47:42):
And Mark means it the number of times that he
has helped me personally and Irealize that I am in a fortunate
position where I'm doing theradios, but Mark helped me out
with this short business tripthat I'm on in Phoenix.
Called him hey, where do yourecommend I stay?
Mark Faldmo (47:55):
I've always said it's a great industry to be in.
It's one by consumers that'soften misunderstood.
They don't know how we get paid, which we've talked about that
in the past.
Travel agents are paid mainlyby commission, so if you're
booking a cruise, thatcommission is already built into
the cruise, no matter how youbook it.
So you're paying for the use ofa travel agent, whether you use
(48:18):
one or not.
In many cases and we've alsotalked about in the past a lot
of suppliers like workingselling through travel agents
because the customersatisfaction is so much higher.
Four, maybe five weeks ago wetalked about a study from a
cruise line where those thatbooked with a travel agent had a
(48:40):
90% satisfaction rate comparedto a 70% satisfaction rate for
those that book directly withthe cruise line or online.
Working with a travel agentdoes give a better experience
overall.
That's our goal and that's whatwe work at every day to provide
for our customers.
There are lots of great traveladvisors out there.
(49:02):
I know plenty in this area andoutside of this area that I
wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
I'll always first recommendmyself and my employees, but I
say work with a travel agent.
Patrick Wiscombe (49:15):
That's going to do it.
We are done for the week.
Now to springtime baseball inPhoenix.
That's not why I'm down downhere, but that is a nice benefit
.
Yeah, you can listen to thisshow again tomorrow morning at
(49:36):
11 am right here on this radiostation and you can stream,
download and subscribe to thepodcast at InsideTravelTalk.
com and we are on all of themajor podcast platforms.
Book your vacation Any of thedeals that we've talked about
during the last hour.
Call Mark in his office,888-718-7717, 888-718-7717.
(50:01):
And he will also post it onblueplanetvacations.
com.
Now it is your turn to get outand explore the world, because
you never know what curveballslife is going to throw at you.
As we say each and every week,live your life deliberately.
Live your life intentionally.
(50:23):
Thank you so much for listening.
We will talk to you again nextSaturday and Sunday that's it.
Show Voice (50:29):
That's the end of the show you've been listening
to the inside travel talkpodcast and radio show with
Patrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo, presented by blue planet
vacations dot-com.
Book your adventure right now.
Call 888 718718-7717.
(50:49):
That's 888-718-7717.
Ad Voice (50:58):
Thanks for listening.
Have a great week.
Inside Travel Talk is broughtto you by Travelex Insurance
Services.
Their travel insurance planscan help protect you and your
vacation.
Travelex is known for theiraward-winning customer service
and high claims paid rate.
Contact Blue Planet Vacationsat 888-718-7717 or
blueplanetvacations.
com for more information.
Welcome to the Inside Travel Talk podcast and
radio show Coming up.
On today's show we will betalking about Eastern Europe
vacation ideas, bucket list,Egypt vacations, as well as
Baltic and Alaska cruises.
Let's start the show.
The Inside Travel Talk podcastand radio show presented by
BluePlanetVacations.
com, contains travel deals,promotions and offers that may
(00:23):
be time sensitive.
All offers and information wereaccurate when the show aired.
Travel deals and offers changeconstantly and are
capacity-controlled and subjectto change without notice.
Show Voice (00:38):
Explore your world.
It's the Inside Travel Talkpodcast and radio show presented
by BluePlanetVacations.
com.
Call or text the show now801-649-3700, 801-649-3700.
And check out the podcast atInsideTravelTalk.
com.
And now here are your hosts,Patrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo
(01:03):
.
Patrick Wiscombe (01:13):
It is the weekend, which means it is time
to talk travel.
Hello there, my name is PatrickWiscombe.
Mark Faldmo will be in thestudio here in just a moment.
The entire purpose of thispodcast and radio show is to
help you plan and book your nextvacation, and if you have no
idea where to go, mark and Iwill be giving you some ideas of
(01:34):
where you may want to considernext, and we are presented by
blueplanetvacations.
com and we want to thank you fortaking the time to stop and
listen and coming up on today'sshow.
We've got the Eastern Europevacation ideas bucket list,
Egypt vacations, as well asBaltic and Alaska cruises.
(01:56):
And let me bring in the co-hostof this award-nominated radio
show.
Hello, mark Faldmo.
Hey, Patrick, let's get to thetravel news headlines.
American Airlines is going tostart testing complimentary
in-flight Wi-Fi.
I thought that was one of thosethings that was just included.
Mark Faldmo (02:16):
We're spoiled because we live in a Delta
market and Delta has had freeWi-Fi for a few years now.
American has not had that.
They still charge $10 a deviceper flight or you can buy
membership.
So they are testing this out.
To get that free Wi-Fi you haveto be a SkyMiles member.
So this just seems like it'd bea great way to increase people
(02:39):
in their frequent flyer programs.
But they are testing it out tosee how it does.
In part, American Airlines kindof had a rough year last year.
They made some changes thatreally alienated some of their
corporate clients with who theycould book with and a couple of
things in their frequent flyerprogram which really gave them a
(02:59):
downturn in bookings.
They quickly changed course onthat, but they're trying these
ways to get people back toAmerican Airlines.
They struggled last year.
I think they should just go allcomplimentary Wi-Fi.
All airlines should offer asimilar program to what Delta
offers.
Hotels used to be that way.
Now all hotels offer free Wi-Fiin one form or another.
Patrick Wiscombe (03:24):
If you have travel-related questions for the
show while we are on the air.
801-649-3700,.
801-649-3700 is the studio onthe text line.
Delta adds Morocco in athree-route expansion.
We don't talk about Moroccovery often.
Mark Faldmo (03:44):
Delta is adding a flight from Atlanta to Marrakesh
.
Along with this announcement,they announced two other routes,
one to another Africandestination, to Accra, ghana,
and then the other route thatthey offered was from Austin,
Texas to Cancun, was from Austin, Texas to Cancun, Mexico, so
(04:08):
not quite as exotic as thoseother two, but Morocco.
That, I think, is a great addfor the Delta route system,
makes that destination aone-stop for us here in Salt
Lake City and for many travelersthat are in Delta airline
cities.
Patrick Wiscombe (04:21):
It wouldn't be a show if we didn't talk about
London.
So Gatwick is expanding theirairport and they could add
100,000 more flights.
That's a lot of flights.
Mark Faldmo (04:32):
That is.
So yeah, that's 100,000 moreflights annually if this
proposal goes through.
And what it would take is theyneed to relocate one of the
runways, because right now theycan't operate the runways
simultaneously, so one needs tobe moved so that they can
operate one for takeoff, one forlanding, which would enable
(04:53):
more flights.
And then they're going torenovate and update all of their
terminals at Gatwick.
Patrick Wiscombe (05:00):
Always in this first segment, it is always the
destination spotlight.
We received a text from Debbie.
Did you see that text come?
In I segment, it is always thedestination spotlight.
We received a text from Debbie.
Did you see that text come in?
Mark Faldmo (05:09):
I did see it.
I started pulling up someinformation and putting some
thoughts together on it.
Patrick Wiscombe (05:14):
Okay, Debbie says that she wants to go to
Europe but does not want theregular London, Paris, et cetera
.
She wants more of a custom tripand she's asking for your
recommendation somewhere betweeneight and nine days.
What do you recommend?
Mark Faldmo (05:30):
A couple of things come to mind.
I would recommend doing a threecity tour, which would be
Budapest, Vienna and Prague.
Patrick Wiscombe (05:39):
That's a pretty good one too.
Mark Faldmo (05:41):
You can do those easily in anywhere from seven to
nine days, depending on howlong you wanted to stay in each
city.
Looking at airfare, looking fora custom trip where we'd fly
into Budapest and home fromPrague.
For this fall, I found flightsas low as $749.
And that was two connectionflights, so you'd connect
(06:03):
somewhere in the US andsomewhere in Europe to get there
.
If you wanted one connectionflights, that price is $1,100,
which is still a pretty goodprice.
Right now for hotels, there's aEurope sale through the end of
March for 20% off select hotelsin Europe.
How I would form this vacation?
(06:25):
I recommend flying intoBudapest, spending about three
nights in Budapest, spending twoor three nights in Vienna and
spending three nights or so inPrague.
These cities are easy to getbetween.
I take a train.
I just do train travel to getto those.
Budapest is about a two and ahalf three hour train ride from
(06:46):
Vienna, and Vienna to Prague isabout a four hour train ride.
Patrick Wiscombe (06:50):
We're so used to having cars here in Salt Lake
that the idea of taking trainis just a little bit foreign to
us.
Mark Faldmo (06:57):
Yeah, it is, train is a great way to get around
Europe.
Patrick Wiscombe (07:01):
So let's talk about Budapest first.
What would you recommend thatDebbie does in Budapest?
Let's start there.
Mark Faldmo (07:08):
I'll take each of those three cities and just give
some highlights.
There's a lot more to do thanthis.
In Budapest, the main thing isexplore Buda Castle and the
Fisherman's Bastion, castle Hill, where this is at, up on a hill
, overlooks Parliament,overlooks the Danube River.
It's the main thing I wouldvisit there.
(07:29):
The next thing is Market Hall,which is their local market.
It's your classic, typicalEuropean market.
There's food, there's a fishsection, a meat section, there's
souvenirs.
Just a great place where youcan go and shop for things and
watch local shop as well.
Patrick Wiscombe (07:49):
Not to mention just taking the scenery while
you're doing all that.
Mark Faldmo (07:52):
Yes, Budapest is probably one of the most scenic
towns along that line, Patrick.
It's such a great thing, youknow, just walking along the
Danube.
I love to do that in theevening time, when the
parliament buildings lit up andthe castle hills all lit up.
It's just an idyllic location,I think.
Moving on to Vienna, you shouldvisit Schönbrunn Palace.
(08:15):
It's comparable to Versaillesin Paris.
In France, Vienna is known forits musical heritage.
Go to a classical concert inone of the many venues in Vienna
, and then also in Vienna, Ilike going to St Stephen's
Cathedral.
You can actually climb to thetop of this cathedral and have
(08:39):
great views of the whole city ofVienna.
Patrick Wiscombe (08:42):
You know, there's something for me
personally about being in anelevated position and I'm
literal elevation and justlooking over things I don't know
what that is inside of my brainthat just lights up and makes
me happy.
That's Vienna.
By the way, I thought ofsomething that you may have
forgotten to do in Budapest thethermal baths.
Mark Faldmo (09:06):
Thermal baths yeah, Budapest is famous for that and
those thermal baths.
There's lots of places you cando that.
Definitely that should be onyour list to do in Budapest.
Patrick Wiscombe (09:17):
All right.
So we've got Budapest, we'vegot Vienna, let's go to Prague.
What do you like doing there?
Mark Faldmo (09:22):
It's known for its castles and spires Prague Castle
up on a hill.
When you get up there, lookacross the city of Prague and
see all of the church steeplesand spires and it's quite the
sight.
And then also walking acrossthe Charles Bridge, which is an
iconic bridge in Prague from thevery first Mission Impossible.
(09:44):
That's the bridge where one ofthe important scenes of Mission
Impossible happens.
It's a must-see when you go toPrague.
My favorite thing to do thereis just explore the old town
square.
When you think of a Europeantown square, I think Prague town
square is exactly what Ienvision.
There's street vendors.
(10:05):
My most favorite travel foodsare there.
One is the trundle neck, whichis a roasted bread.
They wrap it around a woodendowel and it kind of is a
rotisserie on the fire and sothey're kind of cone-shaped
bread, usually cinnamon andsugar and then Prague ham.
It's a great experience inPrague.
Patrick Wiscombe (10:28):
Because you brought up Mission Impossible.
Just let listeners know thatMission Impossible Dead
Reckoning Part 2, called theFinal Reckoning coming out May
23rd.
Mark Faldmo (10:39):
Looking forward to it.
Patrick Wiscombe (10:41):
I am too.
Mark Faldmo (10:42):
I've always liked that Mission Impossible
franchise.
Patrick Wiscombe (10:44):
I think Tom Cruise has done an amazing job
with it.
Yeah, Debbie, you are in for atreat by going to any of those
cities and going to all three,especially by the train.
An amazing experience.
You will not be disappointed.
Call Mark at his office.
Get the conversation rolling,no obligation, of course.
(11:06):
Call him at 888-718-7717,888-718-7717.
And you will post this on BluePlanet Vacations, right, mark?
I will Yep BluePlanetVacations.
com when we come back.
It is time for the hot traveldeal of the week, regardless of
(11:32):
the destination, and this weekwe are talking about Egypt and
we'll also have more travel newsheadlines.
That is next with the InsideTravel Talk podcast.
A radio show continuesalongside Mark Faldmo.
My name is Patrick Wiscombe.
Thank you so much for listening.
We'll be right back, markFaldmo, my name is Patrick.
Show Voice (11:45):
Wiscombe.
Thank you so much for listening.
We'll be right back, taking youto destinations around the
world.
The Inside Travel Talk podcastand radio show is presented by
BluePlanetVacations.
com, America's best traveladvisors.
Call or text the show now801-649-3700.
801-649-3700.
(12:06):
Thanks for listening.
We'll be right back.
Ad Voice (12:24):
This segment of Inside Travel Talk is sponsored by El
Dorado Spa Resorts.
Escape to Cancun's Riviera Mayawith authentic all-inclusive
luxury at an El Dorado SpaResort.
Our oceanfront resorts areexclusively for adults and have
been voted among the mostromantic resorts in Mexico and
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To book your romantic beachgetaway at an El Dorado spa
resort, contact Blue PlanetVacations at 888-718-7717 or
(12:49):
blueplanetvacations.
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Show Voice (12:59):
Now back to the Inside Travel Talk podcast and
radio show presented byBluePlanetVacations.
com, America's best traveladvisors.
Call or text the show right now801-649-3700, 801-649-3700.
And check out the podcast atInsideTravelTalk.
com.
(13:20):
Here's Patrick Wiscombe andMark Faldmo.
Patrick Wiscombe (13:29):
Welcome back inside of the Inside Travel Talk
podcast and radio show.
My name is Patrick Wiscombe,alongside Mark Faldmo.
You can listen to this showeach and every Saturday and
Sunday morning at 11 o'clockright here on this radio station
and around the country, andalso on InsideTravelTalk.
com Coming up in this segment ofthe show.
(13:53):
We've got the hot travel dealof the week and this week we are
going to Egypt.
Mark Faldmo (14:06):
Mark I saw on the rundown man, you've got a really
a pretty great promotion to gosee Egypt on this one.
Yeah, there's some really greatways to see Egypt and some good
promotions as well.
Patrick Wiscombe (14:12):
Before we get there, let's get to the travel
news headlines and let's startin Bali.
This time they, Bali, areconsidering a hefty new daily
tourist tax.
That's not something I want tohear.
What are the details?
Mark Faldmo (14:27):
Bali is on many travelers' bucket list.
Last year, Bali instituted a$10 mandatory fee for all
tourists entering and they areconsidering upping that fee to
$100 per person per day, whichis a huge increase.
Patrick Wiscombe (14:48):
Wow.
Normally, when we talk abouttourist taxes, it's $10 to $20,
not $10 to $100.
Mark Faldmo (14:54):
The reason why they're doing this is because
they kind of want to pick andchoose who visits the country.
That, unfortunately, will pricea lot of people out.
Yeah it will, but there aresome places in Bali where it's
almost like spring break all thetime Tourists behaving badly, I
guess and so they're reallytrying to cut that out.
(15:15):
I hope the fee does not go thathigh.
It's a destination they feelthey almost have to because of
some of the trends in tourismthat are happening in Bali.
Patrick Wiscombe (15:26):
Trevi Fountain .
How many times have you beenthere?
Mark Faldmo (15:29):
Several times, probably 20 or 30 times.
Patrick Wiscombe (15:32):
Well, here's one thing I didn't know Trevi
Fountain is reopening.
But there's also a whole bunchof rules.
Mark Faldmo (15:38):
It was closed for renovations.
They're now limiting access tothe fountain itself.
If you've not been to TreviFountain, it's set in a small
square.
The square is open, but they'vekind of gated off.
There's almost like stadiumseating, kind of like three
terraces where you could sit.
Look at the fountain, andthey're now limiting that area
(16:01):
to 400 visitors simultaneously.
Patrick Wiscombe (16:04):
Whoa, whoa, wow.
Mark Faldmo (16:05):
They're really cutting down, so when one person
leaves, another person can comein.
Patrick Wiscombe (16:11):
Isn't Trevi Fountain the fountain that was
in Angels and Demons with TomHanks?
Mark Faldmo (16:16):
Yes, it was.
Patrick Wiscombe (16:17):
Okay, all right, that's where they dumped
the priest.
Mark Faldmo (16:19):
Yeah, another thing which I like is there's no
sitting on the basin edge.
People used to just sit thereand eat their gelato, which
would really ruin the view.
Me being a photographer, I'vealways wanted to get a good shot
of that, but you almost nevercould because someone was always
sitting at the base of thefountain.
I think these changes are goodand will enhance the overall
(16:43):
quality of visiting thatmonument in Rome.
And these are in effect everyday from 9 am to 9 pm.
On Mondays and Fridays it won'topen until 11 am because they
have to go in and collect allthe coins that are thrown in to
Trevi Fountain twice a week aweek.
(17:03):
Some of the local lore aroundTrevi Fountain is if you toss a
coin into the fountain, it meansyou'll come back to Rome again.
They collect lots of money,people that want to come back to
Rome.
They get thousands of euroseach week.
Patrick Wiscombe (17:18):
Do they really ?
Mark Faldmo (17:18):
It's that much Into Trevi Fountain Wow.
Patrick Wiscombe (17:22):
I would like to know if you put your hand in
there to collect a few coins, ifyou're going to get yelled at.
Mark Faldmo (17:27):
Probably so you probably will.
Yes, you probably will Okay.
Patrick Wiscombe (17:31):
I saw a story that tourism in Egypt is really,
really starting to take off.
What kind of stats are weseeing on it?
Mark Faldmo (17:38):
Egypt is up about 6% 2024 versus 2023 and 2025 and
2026.
Some things are already soldout.
There are some companies thatsell Egypt that have seen 300%
increases in their sales to thatdestination.
Patrick Wiscombe (17:58):
I was talking with Nikki last weekend about
going to Egypt to go see thepyramids.
It's kind of funny that we'retalking about this.
Mark Faldmo (18:04):
Going to see the pyramids in Egypt is on probably
most people's bucket list.
It is still on my bucket list.
I have not been to Egypt.
I usually would get one to tworequests a year to Egypt.
I've already had four requeststhis year, really, of people
wanting to go to Egypt.
So even at Blue PlanetVacations we've seen that
(18:26):
increase in interest to Egypt.
Patrick Wiscombe (18:30):
Let's talk about this week's hot travel
deal of the week, which justhappens to be Egypt.
When's the best time to visitEgypt?
The best?
Mark Faldmo (18:39):
time to visit Egypt is October through April.
It's cooler.
In fact, a lot of the companiesthat do Egypt don't even go in
June and July.
The best way to see Egypt, Iwould say, is either through an
escorted tour or a Nile Rivercruise.
That's a little bit misleading,because the Nile River cruises
(19:02):
include quite a bit of land andthe escorted tours also include
a Nile River cruise.
So it's different experiences,because now river is important
and some of those places on thenow river you can see best when
visiting them by a river cruise.
(19:23):
So all of the ways to do thisinclude a component of a river
cruise and the tour.
Patrick Wiscombe (19:29):
Either way, you you're probably going to be
okay.
Mark Faldmo (19:33):
Yes, yeah.
Patrick Wiscombe (19:34):
Well, which promotion do we have for
listeners this week?
Mark Faldmo (19:37):
I've got two promotions.
One is with Globus Journeys,which is one of the really good
hosted vacation providers that Iuse Right now.
They have save $1,000 per tourand they have a nine-day tour
that starts from $2499 perperson.
This tour includes a few daysin Cairo and then you fly to
(20:02):
Luxor and see a few places there, and then you do take a river
cruise on the Nile and then youfly back to Cairo for a night to
fly home.
This is a fairly economical wayto see Egypt and the Nile River
.
Patrick Wiscombe (20:19):
So nine days, nine days, wow, okay, you're
right, that is economical.
Mark Faldmo (20:25):
So that price would be for the end of August.
It goes up a little bit fromthere still in the hot season,
but kind of at the beginning ofthe season when it starts to
cool a little bit.
Patrick Wiscombe (20:36):
Well, that explains the $2499 then.
Mark Faldmo (20:39):
Yeah.
Patrick Wiscombe (20:40):
Still hot, but we still want you to go.
If you can endure the heat,correct.
What if you want to do thecruise option?
Mark Faldmo (20:46):
There are similar tours, but Ama Waterways, which
would be my pick, to do Egyptand the Nile.
Their program starts at 11nights and it starts at $5499
per person.
Patrick Wiscombe (20:58):
What are the ports on that?
Mark Faldmo (20:59):
This one you get, compared to what we talked about
with Globus has a few more days, a few more experiences.
So it has three days in Cairo,visiting the various museums,
the pyramids at Giza.
Then from Cairo you go to Luxor, the city formerly known as
Thebes.
It's a UNESCO World HeritageSite.
(21:21):
From there you have the Valleyof the Kings, valley of the
Queens.
This tour also goes to Aswan,which is an area where Ramses II
was one of the most activepharaohs in Egypt, and then a
few other places, comes back toLuxor, where you'll see some
more sites in that area, andthen go back to Cairo.
Patrick Wiscombe (21:43):
That's a part of the world that is always
featured in films.
That has always grabbed myimagination.
Mark Faldmo (21:49):
Yeah, it would be fascinating, I think, to visit
my imagination.
Yeah, it would be fascinating,I think, to visit you.
Look at these itineraries, boththe Globus and Alma Waterways.
What they offer, justfascinating sites to see.
We did mention that price of$5499.
Those are for September datesfor Alma Waterways.
Patrick Wiscombe (22:07):
Okay, so September of this year, 2025.
So not next year.
Correct, Okay all right, so youstill can go, if you can get
there.
Mark Faldmo (22:15):
Yeah, right now, Amma Waterways has up to $2,000
off select departure dates.
They have some that are $500,some that are $1,500, some that
are $2,000, just depending onthe date that you want to go.
Patrick Wiscombe (22:29):
So the $5,499, that includes that savings of
$2,000 per stateroom for those11 nights.
Mark Faldmo (22:37):
On select dates.
On select dates, okay.
Patrick Wiscombe (22:45):
All right, that's just one of those trips
that you just you'll rememberfor the rest of your life.
It's that part of the worldthat doesn't get a lot of press,
but when you see it itabsolutely is stunning.
Take advantage of those twooffers.
Go to Egypt.
Call Mark in his office duringthe break, just to get the
conversation started888-718-7717.
(23:05):
888-718-7717.
And he will also post this onblueplanetvacations.
com when we come back.
It is almost time for theinfamous Just Cruising segment.
We've also got some cruise newsof the week and we're taking a
Baltic cruise on NCL.
That is next, when the InsideTravel Talk podcast and radio
(23:30):
show continues.
Oh, as well as Alaska, that isnext.
We'll be right back.
Show Voice (23:36):
You're listening to the Inside Travel Talk podcast
and radio show with PatrickWiscombe and Mark Faldmo,
presented by BluePlanetVacations.
com America's best traveladvisors.
Call or text the show now801-649-3700.
That 801-649-3700.
That's 801-649-3700.
And check out the podcast atInsideTravelTalk.
(23:58):
com.
We'll be right back.
Ad Voice (24:11):
Inside Travel Talk is brought to you by Amar Waterways
.
From castles and capitals tovistas and villages.
Visit some of Europe's mostremarkable sites and cities To
set out on your own river cruisejourney.
Contact Blue Planet Vacationsat 888-718-7717 or
blueplanetvacations.
com.
Patrick Wiscombe (24:30):
Welcome back to the Inside Travel Talk
podcast, a radio show coming up.
In the next 28 minutes we willbe talking about short Royal
Caribbean vacations and here'sone that I didn't have on the
rundown at any point Russiagetting into the cruise game and
we will also be discussingBaltic and Alaska cruises.
(24:50):
Let's get back to the show.
The Inside Travel Talk podcastand radio show presented by
BluePlanetVacations.
com contains travel deals,promotions and offers that may
be time sensitive.
All offers and information wereaccurate when the show aired.
Travel deals and offers changeconstantly and are capacity
controlled and subject to changewithout notice and subject to
(25:18):
change without notice.
Show Voice (25:20):
This is the Inside Travel Talk podcast and radio
show presented byBluePlanetVacations.
com, America's best traveladvisors.
Call or text the show right now801-649-3700, 801-649-3700.
And now here are your hostsPatrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo
.
Patrick Wiscombe (25:50):
All aboard for the infamous Just Cruising
segment on the Inside TravelTalk podcast and radio show.
Hello there, I'm PatrickWiscombe, alongside Mark Faldmo,
and I am coming to you fromdowntown Phoenix, Arizona.
I have to do the radio show.
While I'm on the road, mark isback in Salt Lake handling all
(26:11):
of the producing duties.
Make sure we get and stay onthe air.
I noticed we had a little bitof a glitch during the break.
You're not gonna have to do theshow by yourself, are you?
Hope not?
If something goes horribly awry, I will call you from the phone
(26:31):
and you'll just have to patchme in, if that's okay.
Yeah, the internet here in myAirbnb is a little bit.
It's reliable-ish.
Mark Faldmo (26:44):
Hopefully it stays reliable for the next 28 minutes
.
Patrick Wiscombe (26:48):
Coming up in this segment of the show, as I
mentioned, is we're going to getinto the short vacations from
Royal Caribbean.
Russia could appear on somecruise itineraries I don't know
about that one quite yet.
Things have got to kind ofmellow out and we'll be talking
about Baltic and Alaska cruises.
Where should we start here?
Should we?
(27:08):
Let's go to the cruise newsheadlines.
You okay with that?
Let's do that, All right.
I saw a story that Nice isbacktracking on a cruise ship
ban.
I'm curious about the details.
Mark Faldmo (27:20):
So I think this is great news for cruisers in the
Mediterranean.
That area of Nice has alwaysbeen fascinating for me to visit
.
Go out to some of the smallhilltop towns in southern France
.
So last month the mayor of Niceannounced that cruise ships
carrying more than 900passengers would not be
(27:41):
permitted in the nearby port ofVille-France, which is where
most of the cruise shippassengers to Nice would come.
There was a little spat betweenthe two mayors.
The mayor of the small town saidwell, those ships dock in
territorial water so you can'tban them.
So they've come up with acompromise and they've increased
(28:01):
the ship capacity to 2,500passengers will be allowed to
visit that port and that's goingto start next year.
But what that would mean?
If you took this year's cruiseschedule, only 65 of the 90
scheduled calls would be allowedto visit.
So they started looking at thisthe local merchants and it
(28:23):
would cost the city annuallyabout $3 billion in lost revenue
by not allowing these cruiseships.
So it's a good compromise.
I know locals sometimes haveproblems with the floods of
tourists that come through, butyou also need your community
open to others so they canexperience your culture and your
(28:46):
destination.
Patrick Wiscombe (28:48):
Royal Caribbean is leaning into short
vacations starting 2026 and 2027.
Now I'm going to assume threeand four day vacations are what
they're talking about.
Mark Faldmo (29:00):
Yeah, so this is actually three to five night
cruises is what they're talkingabout here.
They have really found thetrend, as people want the
shorter vacations.
Personally, for me, I think I'donly go five nights or longer.
Yeah, the shorter cruises are alittle bit too short for me.
Yeah, but they are findingthat's what people want.
(29:22):
They're moving the Utopia ofthe Seas year-round Port
Canaveral, doing three andfour-night sailings.
Some of their newer ships,miami, the wonder of the seas,
is going to do three to fournight sailings from Miami.
They actually have a couple ofships in ports that
traditionally don't have summersailings.
(29:43):
For instance, in Galveston, themariner of the seas is going to
do four and five nightCaribbean sailings, which those
shorter sailings have somepretty interesting ports.
They go to Costa Maya andCozumel.
They also have a ship there inthe winter doing the same thing,
but a different ship.
So they will have 11 ships in26 and 27.
(30:07):
Wow, doing exclusively three tofive night sailings.
Patrick Wiscombe (30:11):
You know what, which is a huge number, oh my
goodness.
Yes, I kind of get it.
These ships are very, veryexpensive and you can charge a
lower ticket price for three tofive nights versus seven and
longer, so it's an easier sell.
Yes, and so the turnover youhave to pay for the ship.
Somehow, with this amount ofturnover, that will resolve that
(30:32):
issue.
Mark Faldmo (30:33):
I just feel sorry for the crew that has to turn a
ship around twice a week insteadof once a week, because, you
know, turning a ship aroundgetting 4,000 people off and
then another 4,000 people on ina matter of a few hours is quite
the task.
Patrick Wiscombe (30:49):
Oh, my goodness.
Mark Faldmo (30:50):
They've got it down to a science and it does open
up cruising to a wider audienceSome people, as you said, you
can charge a lower price.
It does make it more affordableto more people.
Patrick Wiscombe (31:01):
Russia appearing on cruise itineraries.
What is this?
Mark Faldmo (31:06):
This was the president and CEO of Norwegian
Cruise Line saying that they arepositioning their fleet to
potentially add back in StPetersburg to their Baltic
cruises as soon as 2026.
There's two regions that a fewyears ago were very popular to
add into cruise itineraries Onewas the Baltic that included
(31:28):
Russia and the other was EasternMediterranean that included
Israel, two ports that are inthe midst of conflict.
Right now, all those sailingshave stopped.
One of my favorite cruisemoments doing a Baltic cruise
and sailing out of St Petersburg.
Patrick Wiscombe (31:47):
Oh, so you have been there.
Mark Faldmo (31:48):
I have been there.
I did it in June.
St Petersburg is far enoughnorth that they get lots of
light till late at night and mywife and I just sitting out of
the balcony as we sail thatbecause it's quite a long sail
out from St Petersburg, but StPetersburg was a wonderful stop
on that port.
So hopefully these conflictsaround the world can die down so
(32:12):
we can experience some of theseinteresting places in the world
.
Patrick Wiscombe (32:17):
I would go to St Petersburg in a minute, just
not in the middle of a war.
Mark Faldmo (32:21):
Yeah, just not right now, and I think 2026
might be too soon for that,although Norwegian did say that
they have 11 ships that arebased in Northern Europe in 2026
.
So taking one of those shipsand adding in St Petersburg, if
it became possible, they couldeasily do that in 2026.
(32:43):
So they're already positionedpretty well for just Northern
Europe cruises in general theScandinavian countries, Iceland,
all of the Baltic, with theexception of St Petersburg.
Patrick Wiscombe (32:56):
I was just curious how close Kiev is to
Moscow or St Petersburg.
It's really kind of not thatclose.
I thought it was way closer tothe conflict zone.
It's quite a ways actually.
It's thousands of miles.
Okay, so that would be like,hey, I'm not going to go to Los
Angeles because they're at a war, but we're in New York a little
bit.
Yeah.
Mark Faldmo (33:16):
Yes.
Patrick Wiscombe (33:17):
Okay, I just hear Russia and conflict in
Ukraine.
I'm like I don't want to goanywhere near that, but they're
really not close at all.
Mark Faldmo (33:24):
You probably could do that, but right now it's all
kind of political and people'sconfidence in the destination.
Patrick Wiscombe (33:33):
You mentioned NCL.
Let's talk about that Balticcruise.
Mark Faldmo (33:37):
This year.
They have a pretty gooditinerary I looked for later in
the year, later in the fall,which I think is a great time to
go to the Baltic.
This was end of September,first part of October.
This is a round-trip cruisefrom Southampton, flying to
London to get to that port ofSouthampton.
(33:58):
It goes to two ports in Swedengoes to Tallinn, in Estonia,
Helsinki, Finland, Copenhagen,Denmark which is one of my
favorite ports in this areaProbably Tallinn and Copenhagen
are my two favorite ports andthen it goes to Amsterdam and
ends in Southampton.
Patrick Wiscombe (34:16):
Wow.
Mark Faldmo (34:17):
So that is an 11-day cruise Inside cabin
starts at $1999 per person and abalcony cabin starts at $2949
per person, which NCL?
Patrick Wiscombe (34:31):
ship is this one on?
Mark Faldmo (34:31):
$29.49 per person.
Which NCL ship is this one on?
So that is on the NorwegianStar, which is one of their
older ships.
It actually happens to be oneof my favorite Norwegian ship.
I personally like the layout ofit and it's also the first
Norwegian ship that I ever wenton.
There we go, so that kind ofholds a special memory for me,
okay.
Patrick Wiscombe (34:51):
So okay.
So Baltic cruise, how much didyou say?
It was inside cabin 1999.
Is that what you said?
1999.
, and then a balcony cabinbasically 2948 per person.
Okay, let's get to the cruisedeal of the week.
Believe it or not, that was notthe cruise deal of the week.
Let's talk about Alaska andEurope.
Where do you want to start here?
Mark Faldmo (35:13):
So I just want to mention this promotion that
Royal Caribbean just put out.
This is for the month of Marchand their promotion to save up
to $500 off of flights to Europeor to Alaska.
So they're really trying todrive people to those two
destinations, Europe and Alaska.
Book by March 31st sale betweenmid-April and the end of
(35:37):
October to get that up to $500off, and it's a tiered discount
based on where you're comingfrom.
Just another great way toenhance and lower the cost of
your vacation.
And this is combinable withtheir current promotion, which
is 60% off.
The second guest and kids sellfree.
Patrick Wiscombe (35:56):
Wow, Okay, so today is depending on when
you're listening to us.
It's either March, SaturdayMarch 8th or Sunday, March 9th.
Basically, this promotion goesfor the next three weeks.
And when do you have to?
Sail by Sail by the?
Mark Faldmo (36:09):
end of October.
I think it's October 27th isthe actual date.
Patrick Wiscombe (36:13):
So basically within the next six months Book,
but sail within the next sixmonths.
Let's also talk about the RoyalCaribbean Alaskan cruise.
Which ship is this on and whendoes it sail?
Mark Faldmo (36:26):
As I was looking for that airfare deal, I
stumbled across this cruise.
It's a very good price, forthis is June 1st of this year.
Sailing round trip Vancouver.
It goes Vancouver to Sitka, toTracy Arm Fjord, Juno, Ketchikan
, prince Rupert and back toVancouver.
(36:47):
How many days?
So it's a seven-day cruise.
Wow, they're moving around.
Yep, it has two days at seaplus the half a day which has
seen that Tracy Arm Fjord.
The other half of that day isseeing Juno.
So this is a June date of thisyear.
Inside cabin starts at $895 perperson, which is amazing for a
(37:09):
summer Alaska cruise.
It sure is.
A balcony cabin starts at$1,329 per person.
Which ship is this on?
So this is on the Serenade ofthe Seas, which is one of Royal
Caribbean's smaller ships, thenagain getting on and off in
Vancouver, one of my favoritecities in the pacific northwest
(37:29):
oh yeah, you have found somereally good stuff this week.
Patrick Wiscombe (37:34):
Man, book those vacations, get on it.
Get out and see the world withyour friends, family, whoever,
whoever you want to take, callMark in his office during the
break 888-718-7717.
888-718-7717.
And Mark will also post this onblueplanetvacations.
(37:54):
com when we come back.
Final segment of the show we'vegot Mark's travel tips.
Mark, I'm going to put you onstandby here.
I want to ask you the questiondo travel advisors like you only
work with the wealthy?
And we've got some final travelnews headlines.
We'll wrap up the show when wecome back.
(38:15):
My name is Patrick Wiscombe.
He is Mark Faldmo.
You are listening to the InsideTravel Talk podcast, a radio
show.
We will be right back Talkpodcast and radio show.
Show Voice (38:24):
We will be right back, helping you get out and
see the world.
You're listening to the InsideTravel Talk podcast and radio
show with Patrick Wiscombe andMark Faldmo, presented by
BluePlanetVacations.
com America's best traveladvisors.
Book your Vacation now888-718-7717.
888-718-7717.
(38:47):
The show will continue afterthis.
Ad Voice (38:53):
This segment of Inside Travel Talk is sponsored by
Star Clippers.
For over 30 years, starClippers has offered unique,
authentic tall ship sailingexperiences featuring creative
itineraries throughout theMediterranean Caribbean and
Central America.
To book your unique StarClipper sailing adventure,
(39:16):
contact Blue Planet Vacations at888-718-7717 or
blueplanetvacations.
com.
Show Voice (39:28):
This is the Inside Travel Talk podcast and radio
show with Patrick Wiscombe andMark Faldmo, presented by
BluePlanetVacations.
com America's best traveladvisors.
Call the show right now801-649-3700.
801-649-3700.
And now your hosts, PatrickWiscombe and Mark Faldmo.
Patrick Wiscombe (39:57):
Welcome back to the Inside Travel Talk
podcast, a radio show this weekoriginating from Phoenix,
Arizona, inside of an airbnb.
We're doing this show on theroad.
Thank you so much for allowingus to be part of your weekend.
Each and every Saturday andSunday at 11 am, mountain time
(40:17):
on this radio station and radiostations around the country.
And, of course, you can pick upthe show at insidetraveltalk.
com and you can just stream theshow there, as well as subscribe
to the show Coming up.
In this final segment of theshow, we've got Mark's travel
tips and we're going to betalking about travel advisors
(40:38):
the very thing that Mark doesand if he only works with the
wealthy.
And the answer is no.
But we're going to detail whotravel advisors, generally
speaking, work with.
But before we get there, we'vegot some more travel news
headlines that we need to get to.
Southwest Airlines hasannounced a big partnership,
which is who?
Mark Faldmo (40:57):
Well, they've announced that their flights
will be available on some onlinesites like Expedia.
Patrick Wiscombe (41:03):
They're going outside really.
Mark Faldmo (41:06):
Which is very interesting.
I've always thought it odd howSouthwest has operated their
booking business Online.
You could only get theirflights online by going to their
website.
Yeah, Even with travel agents areally quick, high-level
(41:26):
overview.
There are four differentairline booking systems that a
travel agent can use.
For the longest time, Southwestwas only available in one of
those four systems, so it wasreally odd.
They had that policy and nowthey are starting to branch out.
They're in more and morebooking systems for travel
agencies.
And now to the general public.
(41:48):
The prices are pretty much thesame across no matter how you
book it, but it's just givingpeople more choice in how they
book it.
Patrick Wiscombe (41:55):
So, to summarize, you've got, of course
, Southwest, the app or online,you've got Expedia and you've
got one of the booking enginesinstead of four, if I've got
that right.
Mark Faldmo (42:06):
The booking engine that travel agents use, and we
also have a travel agent sitewhere we can book Southwest.
Patrick Wiscombe (42:15):
You know that I really like Hyatt properties.
Nikki and I will be staying onein Miami Beach coming up in
April.
Apparently there's some Hyattnews.
What do listeners need to know.
Mark Faldmo (42:26):
Yeah, there is, and this is for those that are part
of World of Hyatt, which I amand which I am.
I've always appreciated Hyatt'saward charts and how easy it
was to book hotels with them andget a good deal when you're
using your frequent stayerpoints, your world of Hyatt
(42:47):
points.
They are recalculating this andthey have so kind of the bad
news is 118 hotels are moving tohigher award categories.
Patrick Wiscombe (42:59):
So they're going to chew up more points.
Mark Faldmo (43:01):
Compared to years past.
There's been anywhere from 30to 50 that have gone up.
Very few go down.
In years past they've had a fewhotels that have gone down, but
it doesn't list any number ofhotels that have gone down.
Hyatt has always been, I think,the most valuable hotel program
out there.
I have a hard time because I'ma titanium elite member with
(43:23):
Marriott, so I'm usually goingthere to get into the lounge and
all of the stuff that thatbrings me, but if it comes to
redeeming points, I'm alwaystrying to go to Hyatt.
Patrick Wiscombe (43:35):
United Airlines is opening its second
grab and go lounge.
I'm really hoping that's foodit is.
Mark Faldmo (43:43):
You know it's interesting.
We, you know we've talked aboutour airport lounges in the past
on this show.
Sometimes you have just ashorter connection.
So United is trying thesegrab-and-go lounges out, so
people that are part of United'slounge system.
They've opened most recently inDenver and they have one in
(44:05):
Houston where you can go in andthey just have grab and go food
and drinks, which I think is aninteresting concept, because if
you have a shorter hourconnection, 45 minute connection
you don't have time to go inand enjoy the full lounge
experience, lounge experienceWe'll see how that goes.
It kind of looks like they havea picture of it and it kind of
(44:27):
looks like the market in a hotellobby just has some food and
things like that.
For those that spend a lot oftime in airports, a lounge is a
great little retreat from thehustle and bustle of an airport.
Patrick Wiscombe (44:41):
One thing that we forgot to include in the
second segment of the showduring the hot travel deal of
the week is this Hawaiian Mexico.
Let's throw it in this segmentso listeners can take advantage
of this, but they have to movereally quick on this one, though
.
Mark Faldmo (44:57):
Yeah, so this is a promotion for Hawaiian Mexico
that ends on March 14th.
Patrick Wiscombe (45:02):
Oh, so next Saturday.
Mark Faldmo (45:04):
Next Saturday, so you'll want to book your
vacations to Hawaii or Mexico bythen.
Patrick Wiscombe (45:10):
I'm sorry, next Friday.
Mark Faldmo (45:12):
Next Friday yeah, Friday.
So I was just doing somelooking for fall dates to Hawaii
.
Now this promotion.
You have to book an air and ahotel package to get this.
But I was just looking quicklyfor flights in October Salt Lake
City to Honolulu and I foundseveral dates that were about
(45:36):
$480.
If you combine that with ahotel, you can get up to an
additional $200 off yourvacation.
Patrick Wiscombe (45:45):
So Hawaii and Mexico save up to $200, but you
have to book by Friday, March14th.
Mark Faldmo (45:51):
And travel by December 15th, so it's basically
for 2025 travel.
Patrick Wiscombe (45:57):
We've discussed this before.
Working with travel advisors.
Meaning what Mark does.
The old term is called travelagents, so travel advisors are
meaning what Mark does, the oldterm is called travel agents.
So travel advisors are travelagents, just a different term
that they're using and one ofthe questions that has come up.
I know that you've had thisquestion, but I've also had this
question Do travel advisors oragents only work with the
(46:21):
wealthy?
Mark Faldmo (46:22):
The short answer is no only work with the wealthy?
The short answer is no.
Yeah, the short answer is no.
Over the last few years and I'mnot sure why, that has become
kind of a perception out there.
I've even seen it on sometravel forums both you and I
watch regularly is peoplethinking that travel agents only
work with the wealthy?
(46:43):
There was a national surveydone of travel advisors.
83% of travel advisors saytheir client's average trip in
2024 was less than $5,000.
And more than that, 90% oftravel advisors say that no
amount of a trip is too low forthem to work with clients.
(47:03):
And I hope most travel advisorswould have kind of the same
attitude I have.
I've always had a love fortravel and just really want to
get people out there toexperience the world.
In this show we've talked aboutsome pretty interesting and
exotic destinations and some ofthem are a little bit on the
pricey side.
But to get people to Mexico,Hawaii, even to Florida,
(47:27):
southern California, I justreally want to help people
experience other parts of theworld.
So I don't care how little itcosts or how much it costs.
I'll help anyone get out thereto see different parts of the
world.
Patrick Wiscombe (47:42):
And Mark means it the number of times that he
has helped me personally and Irealize that I am in a fortunate
position where I'm doing theradios, but Mark helped me out
with this short business tripthat I'm on in Phoenix.
Called him hey, where do yourecommend I stay?
Mark Faldmo (47:55):
I've always said it's a great industry to be in.
It's one by consumers that'soften misunderstood.
They don't know how we get paid, which we've talked about that
in the past.
Travel agents are paid mainlyby commission, so if you're
booking a cruise, thatcommission is already built into
the cruise, no matter how youbook it.
So you're paying for the use ofa travel agent, whether you use
(48:18):
one or not.
In many cases and we've alsotalked about in the past a lot
of suppliers like workingselling through travel agents
because the customersatisfaction is so much higher.
Four, maybe five weeks ago wetalked about a study from a
cruise line where those thatbooked with a travel agent had a
(48:40):
90% satisfaction rate comparedto a 70% satisfaction rate for
those that book directly withthe cruise line or online.
Working with a travel agentdoes give a better experience
overall.
That's our goal and that's whatwe work at every day to provide
for our customers.
There are lots of great traveladvisors out there.
(49:02):
I know plenty in this area andoutside of this area that I
wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
I'll always first recommendmyself and my employees, but I
say work with a travel agent.
Patrick Wiscombe (49:15):
That's going to do it.
We are done for the week.
Now to springtime baseball inPhoenix.
That's not why I'm down downhere, but that is a nice benefit
.
Yeah, you can listen to thisshow again tomorrow morning at
(49:36):
11 am right here on this radiostation and you can stream,
download and subscribe to thepodcast at InsideTravelTalk.
com and we are on all of themajor podcast platforms.
Book your vacation Any of thedeals that we've talked about
during the last hour.
Call Mark in his office,888-718-7717, 888-718-7717.
(50:01):
And he will also post it onblueplanetvacations.
com.
Now it is your turn to get outand explore the world, because
you never know what curveballslife is going to throw at you.
As we say each and every week,live your life deliberately.
Live your life intentionally.
(50:23):
Thank you so much for listening.
We will talk to you again nextSaturday and Sunday that's it.
Show Voice (50:29):
That's the end of the show you've been listening
to the inside travel talkpodcast and radio show with
Patrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo, presented by blue planet
vacations dot-com.
Book your adventure right now.
Call 888 718718-7717.
(50:49):
That's 888-718-7717.
Ad Voice (50:58):
Thanks for listening.
Have a great week.
Inside Travel Talk is broughtto you by Travelex Insurance
Services.
Their travel insurance planscan help protect you and your
vacation.
Travelex is known for theiraward-winning customer service
and high claims paid rate.
Contact Blue Planet Vacationsat 888-718-7717 or
blueplanetvacations.
com for more information.
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