August 30, 2025 • 26 mins
The travel landscape constantly evolves, and this episode navigates the shifting terrain of vacation perks, international promotions, and specialized travel experiences to help you make informed decisions about your next adventure.
Disney fans, take note – Disneyland California is eliminating its valuable 30-minute early park entry benefit for hotel guests starting January 5th. This popular perk, which allowed guests to experience multiple attractions before general admission, will be replaced with just one Lightning Lane entry per resort stay. For frequent park visitors, this represents a significant downgrade that might impact your decision to stay at Disney properties.
Meanwhile, Thailand's tourism authority has announced an innovative response to declining visitor numbers – free domestic flights for international travelers arriving between September and November. With proof of an international ticket, visitors can explore beyond Bangkok to destinations like Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai at no additional cost. This limited-time opportunity perfectly complements a Southeast Asian adventure, allowing travelers to experience Thailand's remarkable diversity without the usual internal travel expenses.
Mexico continues developing its "Magic Towns" program, now enhancing infrastructure to 177 authentic destinations across the country. The focus on improved roads and transportation options makes these cultural gems more accessible from major tourist hubs like Puerto Vallarta and Cancun. For travelers seeking authentic Mexican experiences beyond the resort areas, these charming towns offer a glimpse into the country's rich heritage and traditions.
Planning ahead? Book your 2026 vacation by September 15th with full payment to save up to $550 on packages worldwide. This tiered discount applies to Hawaii getaways, all-inclusive Mexico resorts, and European adventures – a substantial saving for those able to commit to future travel plans now.
The episode also demystifies expedition cruising, explaining how these smaller vessels (typically under 200 passengers) access remote destinations like Antarctica, the Galapagos, and the Amazon. Unlike traditional cruises focused on onboard entertainment, expedition voyages emphasize education, active exploration, and meaningful cultural immersion. Current deals from HX cruise line offer Arctic adventures under the Northern Lights or journeys from Norway to Scotland at surprisingly accessible price points under $4,000 per person.
Discover these opportunities and more by connecting with our travel experts at 888-718-7717 to transform these insights into your next unforgettable journey.
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 a great perk at
Disneyland going away, helpingyou save up to $550 on your
vacation in 2026, ultimateNorway cruises, free flights
within Thailand, vacations inHawaii and all-inclusive
(00:22):
vacations in Mexico and Europe.
Let's start 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.
Show Voice (00:39):
Travel deals and offers change constantly and are
capacity-controlled and subjectto change without notice
constantly and are capacitycontrolled and subject to change
without notice, Helping youplan your next vacation.
This is the Inside Travel Talkpodcast and radio show presented
by BluePlanetVacations.
com, America's best traveladvisors.
(00:59):
Call us now 801-649-3700,801-649-3700, and check out the
podcast at InsideTravelTalk.
com.
Here's Patrick Wiscombe andMark Fulton.
Patrick Wiscombe (01:27):
Serving humanity with the greatest
vacation deals on the planet.
You are listening to the InsideTravel Talk podcast, a radio
show Alongside Mark Faldmo.
My name is Patrick Wiscombe andcoming up on this edition of
the show we will be talkingabout Disneyland, getting rid of
(01:47):
early park entry for hotelguests Honestly a great perk.
If you stay at one of theirhotels, it's going away.
We'll give you the details andif you are new to this radio
show and podcast, our job isvery simple.
It is to help you plan and bookyour next vacation, or just
give you ideas of where you maywant to consider vacationing
(02:09):
next, and we are presented byblueplanetvacations.
com.
And thank you for taking thetime to stop and listen.
Mark, you are back from towerbutte in page, Arizona.
You took the helicopter ride.
We did the show live from thetop of that Butte last week.
It is good to have you home.
Mark Faldmo (02:31):
It's good to be back.
I'm so far back up in work thatit's taken me a few days to get
all caught up.
Patrick Wiscombe (02:39):
Well, that's a good problem to have.
Mark Faldmo (02:41):
Yeah, you know that was such a fun vacation.
I usually work, but there wasso much to see.
It was such a fun vacation.
I usually work, but there wasso much to see.
It was such a really good tourby Globus that I just didn't
work.
So so now I've had to pay theprice and catch up on all of
that so that Globus tour thatyou're on, what was it called?
Patrick Wiscombe (02:59):
was it canyons ?
Mark Faldmo (03:01):
and I forgot what it was called canyon country
adventure okay, that's the nameof it check that out.
Patrick Wiscombe (03:06):
Call mark about the canyon country
adventure.
It was basically a slowvacation going to all of the
national parks between Las Vegasand phoenix and I absolutely
loved it, yeah, and especiallythe helicopter ride to the top
of tower butte yeah, that was ahighlight.
Let's get right to the traveldues headlines.
It is bad news Disneylandeliminating early park entry,
(03:31):
one of the main benefits, in myopinion, for their hotel guests.
I think that sometimes thatskews towards people booking
with them, and now they'retaking it away.
Mark Faldmo (03:41):
So this is Disneyland in California.
They're eliminating the 30minute early admission park
benefit for hotel guests andthis will start January 5th.
Patrick Wiscombe (03:51):
Okay so after the new year.
I can swear that it was an hourbefore it.
Mark Faldmo (03:56):
Some point in in Orlando it's an hour Um I think
California Disneyland has alwaysbeen 30 minutes Okay, or at
least the last little while it'sbeen 30 minutes.
Instead, every hotel guest willget one lightning lane entry
per resort stay.
That is nice, but I don't thinkit makes up for that 30 minute
early admission.
No, because if you're there fora few days you could go in and
(04:19):
get two attractions done everyday between Disneyland and
California Adventure.
And now you just get oneLightning Lane pass and it is
still subject to availability.
So you have to make thosereservations so you might not
get what you want using thatLightning Lane, if you can swing
it financially.
Patrick Wiscombe (04:39):
Just get the upgraded tickets so you can jump
the line everywhere, theLightning lane everywhere.
Yes, that's worth it, that is.
Mark Faldmo (04:48):
Yeah, we'll see how this goes.
I hope they don't bring thatout into the Florida parks.
They're probably testing it.
I've only stayed one time atDisney and we went every day
early either to Disneyland orCalifornia Adventure.
It was great.
Patrick Wiscombe (05:02):
Yeah, it is fun.
It's too bad they're gettingrid of it.
Hawaii California Adventure itwas great.
Yeah, it is fun, it's too badthey're getting rid of it.
Hawaii's first cross-realitybus tour.
What is that about?
Mark Faldmo (05:10):
This is mainly designed for children and their
parents, but it is actually on abus.
But you have goggles on and soXR goggles, and so they've
designed a whole presentationwhile on this bus tour that gets
you immersed, as you drivearound Waikiki, in Hawaiian
(05:31):
culture and, you know, reallytries to bring Hawaii alive
there's, you know, things onvolcanoes and sea turtles and
just a lot of things that's inthe Hawaiian culture there.
So I'm going to Hawaii in aboutsix weeks and so I am actually
going to do this to see exactlyhow this works.
And it seems pretty interestingto me although I don't know why
(05:54):
you need to be on a moving busif you're wearing XR goggles,
but maybe they have you takethem on and off and do some
things, but it seems interestingto me.
Patrick Wiscombe (06:05):
By the way, this is not a commercial for
Apple Vision Pro, but if you'veever tried one of those things
you talk about being lucky as akid to start learning in a
completely different way, otherthan just looking at pictures
and reading text in a book, someof these immersive experiences
are absolutely spectacular.
(06:25):
Yeah yeah, free flights withinThailand.
Obviously, you have to get toThailand, but I like the idea of
flying free within the country.
Mark Faldmo (06:35):
I'm not sure how they're going to implement this
because the timeframe is soquick, but Thailand is seeing a
slump in international arrivalsby 6% the first few months of
2025.
That's a pretty significantdrop in tourist numbers, and so
what they're trying to do iscome up with this program that
could start, they say, as earlyas August.
(06:57):
This was just announced August20th, but I don't know how I
mean.
We're on what the last day.
Patrick Wiscombe (07:03):
Yeah, today's August 30th here.
Mark Faldmo (07:04):
August 30th and then it is supposed to be for
flights between September andNovember, which is the low
season.
If you have proof of aninternational arrival ticket,
they are going to pay domestictravel, so you can get to see
some of the other places inThailand.
They haven't announced thelogistics or how this is going
(07:25):
to work, but if you want to goto Thailand fairly quickly, or
if you're going to Thailand andwant to see other areas, you can
get up to Chiang Mai, Chiang Ra, down to Phuket any of those
places on a free ticket.
That is a pretty good deal.
Patrick Wiscombe (07:39):
You and I have talked about Mexico's magic
towns, and apparently they'remaking it easier to get to said
magic towns.
Mark Faldmo (07:47):
Yes, they are.
They've kind of completed theirphase one, which is just
getting the magic towns andstarting to get the notoriety of
the magic towns.
Now they're really starting tofocus on the infrastructure and
how to get tourists to thosemagic towns, and now there are
177 magic towns within Mexico.
(08:08):
There are a lot of them withintwo hours of some of the main
tourist areas and so, forexample, in Puerto Vallarta,
they are really enhancing theroad system to get to San
Sebastian, which is up in theSierra Madres.
It's a lovely town.
If I could go there every timeI went to Puerto Vallarta, I
would.
Patrick Wiscombe (08:29):
You do love it there.
Mark Faldmo (08:31):
I do, it's great, and there are a couple that
we've talked about that arefairly close to Cancun and
they're, you know, reallyenhancing how to get there.
In fact, the Mayan train stopsin a few of those places, and so
you can either go there on aday trip or just go there and
stay.
(08:51):
I've never actually stayed in amagic town, but I think it
would be fabulous, you know,because it's just laid back and
really authentic Mexican culture.
Patrick Wiscombe (09:01):
You've always said that about the magic towns.
Yeah, always.
In the opening segment we havethe travel deal of the week, and
this week we are helping ourlisteners save up to 550 on your
vacation in 2026.
Mark Faldmo (09:21):
what are the particulars on this offer?
Book your vacation by September15th, travel between January
1st and December 31st of 2026and pay in full at the time of
reservation.
This is good to Hawaii,all-inclusive Mexico, good to
vacations in Europe.
It just has to be an air and ahotel package.
It's kind of a tiered discount.
(09:43):
It's based off of a percentageoff of the total cost of the
trip, and so if you can save$100, $200, or even up to the
full $550, that's a pretty gooddeal.
Patrick Wiscombe (09:57):
Okay, and you have to book by when?
Book by September 15th and thencomplete travel between what?
Mark Faldmo (10:03):
days, yeah, January 1st 2026 and December 31st.
Patrick Wiscombe (10:08):
Oh, okay, so you have the entire year then.
Mark Faldmo (10:11):
Yep, you have the entire year.
Oh okay, it's good worldwide,but most people are probably
going to use this for Hawaii andthen their all-inclusive Mexico
vacations.
I actually just booked someoneto Europe using this and then
they saved about $400 off of thecost of that.
It's a great promotion if youknow you're going to go and can
pay for your whole vacationupfront at the time of
(10:31):
reservation.
It's a great promotion if youknow you're going to go and can
pay for your whole vacation upfront at the time of reservation
.
Patrick Wiscombe (10:35):
Hawaii really doesn't have all-inclusive
vacations, correct?
Or they've tried it and itreally didn't go anywhere.
Mark Faldmo (10:43):
Yeah, they've tried it.
I do believe there is still onehotel on the Big Island that
does have an all-inclusivepackage, but it's been a tough
go in Hawaii.
Anyone who's tried it?
Patrick Wiscombe (10:57):
Anyone who goes to Mexico.
Generally speaking, thosevacations are all-inclusive.
Is there such a thing asall-inclusive in Europe?
I wouldn't think so.
Mark Faldmo (11:07):
No, there's not.
There's just the breakfast plan.
I actually take that backbecause Hyatt Inclusive Hotels
they do have hotels over therewhere you can buy European plan,
which is breakfast only, or youcan buy an all-inclusive, like
in Corfu in Greece.
There is a Secrets or no?
(11:28):
I'm sorry, it's a Dreams.
There's a Dreams in Corfu inGreece, which does have an
all-inclusive plan.
So there are some hotels,especially like the beach areas
in Spain, greece, where you canbuy an all-inclusive, but it is
more on the rare side.
Patrick Wiscombe (11:46):
Take advantage of that.
Save up to $550 on yourvacation in 2026.
You need to book by September15th, so that is coming up in
just a smidge over two weeks,and then that is good for travel
between January 1st andDecember 31st 2026.
They need to fill up some rooms, so you might as well take
(12:08):
advantage of the offers thatthey have.
Call Mark in his office, Justget the conversation started, no
obligation.
888-718-7717.
888-718-7717.
And he'll also post this onblueplanetvacations.
com and there's also contactinformation there on the website
(12:30):
.
When we come back, it is time.
It is time for the infamousJust Cruising segment, the
segment of the show that hasmade us famous worldwide.
We will be talking aboutSmithsonian journeys to
returning to the Mississippi.
We've got the cruise deal ofthe week with HX Ultimate Norway
and the Nordic Navigator fromNorway to Scotland.
(12:54):
Do not miss this next segment.
If you love cruising, this isthe section of the show for you.
That is next when the InsideTravel Talk podcast, a radio
show, continues Alongside MarkFaldmo, my name is Patrick
Wiscombe.
We will be right back.
Show Voice (13:15):
Taking you to 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.
Ad Voice (13:38):
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We'll be right back Inside.
Travel Talk is brought to youby Amar Waterways.
From castles and capitals tovistas and villages, visit some
of Europe's most remarkablesites and cities To set out on
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(13:58):
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blueplanetvacations.
com.
Show Voice (14:14):
Now back to the Inside Travel Talk podcast and
radio show presented byBluePlanetVacations.
com America's best traveladvisors.
Hit us up right now801-649-3700, 801-649-3700.
And check out the podcast atInsideTravelTalk.
com.
(14:34):
Here's Patrick and Mark.
Patrick Wiscombe (14:57):
Ahoy, mateys, ahoy.
You are listening to the InsideTravel Talk podcast, a radio
show.
I am Patrick Wiscombe.
Mark Faldmo will be back in thestudio here in just a moment.
I had to go print some stuffoff Coming up in this segment of
the show we will be talkingabout the cruise deal of the
(15:19):
week.
This is the segment of the showfor which we are most famous
around the world and around thecountry.
But first let's get to thetravel news headlines.
As Mark makes his way back intothe studio, I saw this news
story that Smithsonian JourneysMark is returning to the mighty
Mississippi.
What details do we have on that?
Mark Faldmo (15:39):
They went there regularly until 2019.
They've seen enough demand comeback that they are taking a
journey between Memphis and NewOrleans.
They don't own their ownequipment when they do this.
They are actually chartering aship from American Cruise Lines
and this will be on one of theclassic paddle wheelers.
The Smithsonian always getssome very good guest speakers
(16:03):
and historians, so on this onethey're going to have a
presidential historian.
That'll be the guest speakerthat can talk a lot about the
country's history there.
They announced they'vechartered a ship for 2027 on the
Nile which will view the solareclipse.
I think that would be veryfascinating to be in Egypt for
the solar eclipse.
I don't know where they'll bein their journey, but I think
(16:23):
that would be a fascinating tobe in Egypt for the solar
eclipse.
I don't know where they'll bein their journey, but I think
that would be a very interestingdestination.
Patrick Wiscombe (16:28):
We want you to be part of the show, so if you
have travel related questionscruise questions, travel,
whatever it is text the studioright now, 801-649-3700.
801-649-3700 is how you get ahold of the show both during the
week and, of course, whilewe're on the air.
We received a text.
(16:49):
From who was this Ross?
I've heard you talk aboutexpedition cruising on the show
before.
Can you help me understand whatexpedition cruising is?
I think it's a good question.
Mark Faldmo (17:01):
I hadn't really thought of that from the
listener's perspective.
We just go talk aboutexpedition cruising and I don't
think we've spent time definingwhat it is, because it is a
different way to cruise.
Expedition cruises are cruisesthat are centered on exploration
and immersive experiences.
Typically these cruises are onsmaller, purpose-built ships to
(17:24):
go into some of these smallerports or ports that have certain
restrictions.
They go to harder reach areaslike Antarctica and the Arctic,
Galapagos, Amazon.
They just go to really remoteplaces in the world.
They emphasize meaningfuldiscovery through hands-on
learning.
They emphasize meaningfuldiscovery through hands-on
(17:45):
learning.
They really help the guestsexplore the destinations with
expert-led excursions andlectures rather than on a
regular cruise.
It's kind of passivesightseeing, what you're doing.
Patrick Wiscombe (17:55):
That's a great way to say that it's active
learning.
Mark Faldmo (17:58):
Yeah, I like because there are a lot of
restrictions on larger cruiseships.
Most of the expedition cruisesare about 200 passengers or less
, which enables the cruise lineto have more flexible
itineraries, more frequent ports.
You can get closer to thewildlife and also with fellow
travelers.
(18:18):
They prioritize education overentertainment and they really
want you to dive in to thedestination.
Patrick Wiscombe (18:26):
Where do the expedition cruises go and why
would someone want to choose anexpedition cruise over a typical
tourist destination?
Mark Faldmo (18:37):
They really try and venture in to more remote,
lesser-visited areas.
For instance, today I was justreading about an expedition
cruise company.
It's called Ponant and theyhave the only class three
icebreaker or something.
It's the only passenger vesselwith that and in 2027, they are
actually having a voyage to theNorth Pole, where the ship will
(18:59):
go and sit on the geographicNorth Pole.
There we go.
The ship will go and sit on thegeographic North Pole.
There we go.
It's things like thatExpedition cruises do, but also
things like the NorthwestPassage and then other places a
little bit close to home BajaCalifornia, you know, sailing in
the Sea of Cortez.
Patrick Wiscombe (19:14):
That's a great example.
You never really hear aboutanyone going up the inside part
of Baja.
It's always the Pacific side.
Mark Faldmo (19:22):
Other places, expeditions would be Galapagos.
Ooh, that's a good example.
Yeah, Because there are lots ofrestrictions there.
So it's really only the smallerexpedition cruises that can go
there in the Amazon andexpedition cruise, even though
some of the big cruise lines cango a good deal up the Amazon
going on an expedition cruisethat will take you deeper into
(19:44):
the Amazon.
Patrick Wiscombe (19:45):
Less entertainment, more education,
getting in touch with nature.
Mark Faldmo (19:49):
Interesting places.
Yeah, more interesting places.
Patrick Wiscombe (19:52):
What does a typical day look like on board
one of these?
Mark Faldmo (19:55):
expeditions.
They're really destinationdriven, so if you're at sea,
your lectures on your next portwhen you're in port.
A lot of these places don'thave piers and so you're taking
zodiac, small inflatable boatstaking you ashore.
A lot of these cruises offerwildlife viewing, hiking,
kayaking, snorkeling or guidedcultural excursions In the
(20:19):
evening rather than yourBroadway production show.
They often have presentations,recap of where you've been, a
preview of where you're going toreally help you have that
immersive experience thatthey're trying to get you in.
They also have photo classeshow to take the best wildlife
pictures.
They have onboard experts thatreally help to enhance your
(20:42):
vacation.
Some expedition ships are luxury, some are not so luxury, but
they're all comfortable andthey're used kind of as your
mobile base camp.
You can relax when on board,gourmet meals, reading areas,
saunas there we go Igloos youknow different things like that,
and a lot of them include allof that.
(21:03):
They're not additional.
One of the cruise lines that Ireally like for expedition
cruising is HX.
I think two, maybe three weeksago we talked about Hurtigruten.
They used to be the samecompany.
Hurtigruten does Norwegiancoastal voyages and then they
started an expedition cruiseline.
They're one of my favorites.
Patrick Wiscombe (21:22):
Let's get to the cruise deal of the week,
which is HX, and what's thepromotion we have for listeners
this week.
Mark Faldmo (21:27):
Right now they have free suite upgrades or you can
choose up to 35% off of cabins.
A lot of people, if they doknow about Expedition Cruising,
they think they're veryexpensive and they can get
expensive.
But with this 35% off it makesit more affordable and I
actually found two expeditioncruises on Hurtigruten that are
(21:51):
under $4,000 a person.
That is a deal and so that'sbringing up more in line like
what you'd pay for a suite on abig ocean liner.
Yep, this first cruise that I'mlooking at, it's called Ultima
Norway.
It's Arctic Expedition underthe Northern Lights.
Yep, this first cruise that I'mlooking at, it's called
Ultimate Norway.
It's Arctic Expedition Underthe Northern Lights.
So this is Norway in thewintertime.
This particular sailing that Ilooked at is January 24th.
(22:15):
It's an eight day sailing andit starts at $3787 per person.
That is very reasonable, so forunder $4,000 a person it really
spends its full time in theArctic Circle.
So you fly to Tromso in Norway,which is above the Arctic
Circle, and then you have eightdays cruising around Northern
(22:39):
Norway.
Patrick Wiscombe (22:40):
Oh, how fun.
Anything else that you want tothrow in here?
Mark Faldmo (22:51):
Yeah, there is one more cruise, and this one is
called the Nordic Navigator,from Norway to Scotland, and
this one's even a better deal.
It starts at $3451 per personand it is an 11-day cruise.
This is actually, since it's arepositioning cruise, the same
rule for expedition cruising asregular cruising.
Those kind of repositioningcruises usually are a better
(23:14):
price.
This cruise, it starts in theTromso and then just sails down
that west coast of Norway andthen goes over to Lurwik in the
Shetland Islands, goes toKirkwall, which is there at the
northern part of Scotland, andthen sails around and ends in
Glasgow.
And this one is the end ofMarch, so it's a March 28
(23:37):
sailing next year.
The one thing I like aboutHurtigruten is pretty much
everything on board is includedyour regular meals, so breakfast
, lunch and dinner Drinks areincluded at mealtime, and then
you get a complimentaryrefillable water bottle.
You get a polar expeditionjacket, a backpack and then
(23:59):
another kind of HX expeditionkit that you get I'm not sure
what's in that ComplementaryWi-Fi, use of the sauna, hot
tubs, fitness rooms onboard.
All the gratuities are included, although if you get good
service you can leave an extragratuity.
Patrick Wiscombe (24:17):
Yeah, and those stateroom attendants, they
earn it.
Mark Faldmo (24:20):
The last thing that I think is great is you have
included unique excursionexperiences.
There may be some that areadditional costs, but they do
include some of thoseexperiences.
Patrick Wiscombe (24:33):
Take advantage of that offer.
Take advantage of all of them.
Just call Mark in his office,get the conversation started.
No obligation 888-718-7717,.
888-718-7717.
That is the cruise deal of theweek.
(24:53):
We've actually got three ofthem.
Make the call.
Like I said, no obligation, butat least explore it.
You won't regret it, but atleast explore it.
You won't regret it.
You can listen to thisaward-nominated show again
tomorrow morning, Sunday, at 11am, right here on the very radio
station that you're listeningto right now, and you can stream
(25:15):
, download and subscribe to thepodcast at InsideTravelTalk.
com.
We are on all of the majorpodcast platforms and you can
get links to all of thoseplatforms on inside travel talk.
com.
Well, now it's your turn to getout and explore the world while
you can, because you never knowwhat curveball's life is going
(25:37):
to throw at you.
Live your life deliberately,live your life intentionally,
and thanks for lifeintentionally and thanks for
listening.
We don't have a businesswithout you.
We don't have a radio show orpodcast without you.
Thank you for allowing this tobe part of your weekend.
Have a terrific week.
We'll talk to you next Saturdayand Sunday.
Show Voice (26:01):
That's it.
That's the end of the showYou've been listening to the
Inside Travel Talk podcast andradio show with Patrick Wiscombe
and Mark Faldmo, presented byBluePlanetVacations.
com.
Book your adventure right now.
Call 888-718-7717.
That's 888-718-7717.
(26:22):
Thanks for listening.
Have a great week.
Ad Voice (26:39):
Inside Travel Talk is brought to you by Travelex
Insurance Services.
Their travel insurance planscan help protect you and your
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Travelex is known for theiraward-winning customer service
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Contact Blue Planet Vacationsat 888-718-7717 or
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com for more information.
Welcome to the Inside Travel Talk podcast and
radio show Coming up.
On today's show we will betalking about a great perk at
Disneyland going away, helpingyou save up to $550 on your
vacation in 2026, ultimateNorway cruises, free flights
within Thailand, vacations inHawaii and all-inclusive
(00:22):
vacations in Mexico and Europe.
Let's start 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.
Show Voice (00:39):
Travel deals and offers change constantly and are
capacity-controlled and subjectto change without notice
constantly and are capacitycontrolled and subject to change
without notice, Helping youplan your next vacation.
This is the Inside Travel Talkpodcast and radio show presented
by BluePlanetVacations.
com, America's best traveladvisors.
(00:59):
Call us now 801-649-3700,801-649-3700, and check out the
podcast at InsideTravelTalk.
com.
Here's Patrick Wiscombe andMark Fulton.
Patrick Wiscombe (01:27):
Serving humanity with the greatest
vacation deals on the planet.
You are listening to the InsideTravel Talk podcast, a radio
show Alongside Mark Faldmo.
My name is Patrick Wiscombe andcoming up on this edition of
the show we will be talkingabout Disneyland, getting rid of
(01:47):
early park entry for hotelguests Honestly a great perk.
If you stay at one of theirhotels, it's going away.
We'll give you the details andif you are new to this radio
show and podcast, our job isvery simple.
It is to help you plan and bookyour next vacation, or just
give you ideas of where you maywant to consider vacationing
(02:09):
next, and we are presented byblueplanetvacations.
com.
And thank you for taking thetime to stop and listen.
Mark, you are back from towerbutte in page, Arizona.
You took the helicopter ride.
We did the show live from thetop of that Butte last week.
It is good to have you home.
Mark Faldmo (02:31):
It's good to be back.
I'm so far back up in work thatit's taken me a few days to get
all caught up.
Patrick Wiscombe (02:39):
Well, that's a good problem to have.
Mark Faldmo (02:41):
Yeah, you know that was such a fun vacation.
I usually work, but there wasso much to see.
It was such a fun vacation.
I usually work, but there wasso much to see.
It was such a really good tourby Globus that I just didn't
work.
So so now I've had to pay theprice and catch up on all of
that so that Globus tour thatyou're on, what was it called?
Patrick Wiscombe (02:59):
was it canyons ?
Mark Faldmo (03:01):
and I forgot what it was called canyon country
adventure okay, that's the nameof it check that out.
Patrick Wiscombe (03:06):
Call mark about the canyon country
adventure.
It was basically a slowvacation going to all of the
national parks between Las Vegasand phoenix and I absolutely
loved it, yeah, and especiallythe helicopter ride to the top
of tower butte yeah, that was ahighlight.
Let's get right to the traveldues headlines.
It is bad news Disneylandeliminating early park entry,
(03:31):
one of the main benefits, in myopinion, for their hotel guests.
I think that sometimes thatskews towards people booking
with them, and now they'retaking it away.
Mark Faldmo (03:41):
So this is Disneyland in California.
They're eliminating the 30minute early admission park
benefit for hotel guests andthis will start January 5th.
Patrick Wiscombe (03:51):
Okay so after the new year.
I can swear that it was an hourbefore it.
Mark Faldmo (03:56):
Some point in in Orlando it's an hour Um I think
California Disneyland has alwaysbeen 30 minutes Okay, or at
least the last little while it'sbeen 30 minutes.
Instead, every hotel guest willget one lightning lane entry
per resort stay.
That is nice, but I don't thinkit makes up for that 30 minute
early admission.
No, because if you're there fora few days you could go in and
(04:19):
get two attractions done everyday between Disneyland and
California Adventure.
And now you just get oneLightning Lane pass and it is
still subject to availability.
So you have to make thosereservations so you might not
get what you want using thatLightning Lane, if you can swing
it financially.
Patrick Wiscombe (04:39):
Just get the upgraded tickets so you can jump
the line everywhere, theLightning lane everywhere.
Yes, that's worth it, that is.
Mark Faldmo (04:48):
Yeah, we'll see how this goes.
I hope they don't bring thatout into the Florida parks.
They're probably testing it.
I've only stayed one time atDisney and we went every day
early either to Disneyland orCalifornia Adventure.
It was great.
Patrick Wiscombe (05:02):
Yeah, it is fun.
It's too bad they're gettingrid of it.
Hawaii California Adventure itwas great.
Yeah, it is fun, it's too badthey're getting rid of it.
Hawaii's first cross-realitybus tour.
What is that about?
Mark Faldmo (05:10):
This is mainly designed for children and their
parents, but it is actually on abus.
But you have goggles on and soXR goggles, and so they've
designed a whole presentationwhile on this bus tour that gets
you immersed, as you drivearound Waikiki, in Hawaiian
(05:31):
culture and, you know, reallytries to bring Hawaii alive
there's, you know, things onvolcanoes and sea turtles and
just a lot of things that's inthe Hawaiian culture there.
So I'm going to Hawaii in aboutsix weeks and so I am actually
going to do this to see exactlyhow this works.
And it seems pretty interestingto me although I don't know why
(05:54):
you need to be on a moving busif you're wearing XR goggles,
but maybe they have you takethem on and off and do some
things, but it seems interestingto me.
Patrick Wiscombe (06:05):
By the way, this is not a commercial for
Apple Vision Pro, but if you'veever tried one of those things
you talk about being lucky as akid to start learning in a
completely different way, otherthan just looking at pictures
and reading text in a book, someof these immersive experiences
are absolutely spectacular.
(06:25):
Yeah yeah, free flights withinThailand.
Obviously, you have to get toThailand, but I like the idea of
flying free within the country.
Mark Faldmo (06:35):
I'm not sure how they're going to implement this
because the timeframe is soquick, but Thailand is seeing a
slump in international arrivalsby 6% the first few months of
2025.
That's a pretty significantdrop in tourist numbers, and so
what they're trying to do iscome up with this program that
could start, they say, as earlyas August.
(06:57):
This was just announced August20th, but I don't know how I
mean.
We're on what the last day.
Patrick Wiscombe (07:03):
Yeah, today's August 30th here.
Mark Faldmo (07:04):
August 30th and then it is supposed to be for
flights between September andNovember, which is the low
season.
If you have proof of aninternational arrival ticket,
they are going to pay domestictravel, so you can get to see
some of the other places inThailand.
They haven't announced thelogistics or how this is going
(07:25):
to work, but if you want to goto Thailand fairly quickly, or
if you're going to Thailand andwant to see other areas, you can
get up to Chiang Mai, Chiang Ra, down to Phuket any of those
places on a free ticket.
That is a pretty good deal.
Patrick Wiscombe (07:39):
You and I have talked about Mexico's magic
towns, and apparently they'remaking it easier to get to said
magic towns.
Mark Faldmo (07:47):
Yes, they are.
They've kind of completed theirphase one, which is just
getting the magic towns andstarting to get the notoriety of
the magic towns.
Now they're really starting tofocus on the infrastructure and
how to get tourists to thosemagic towns, and now there are
177 magic towns within Mexico.
(08:08):
There are a lot of them withintwo hours of some of the main
tourist areas and so, forexample, in Puerto Vallarta,
they are really enhancing theroad system to get to San
Sebastian, which is up in theSierra Madres.
It's a lovely town.
If I could go there every timeI went to Puerto Vallarta, I
would.
Patrick Wiscombe (08:29):
You do love it there.
Mark Faldmo (08:31):
I do, it's great, and there are a couple that
we've talked about that arefairly close to Cancun and
they're, you know, reallyenhancing how to get there.
In fact, the Mayan train stopsin a few of those places, and so
you can either go there on aday trip or just go there and
stay.
(08:51):
I've never actually stayed in amagic town, but I think it
would be fabulous, you know,because it's just laid back and
really authentic Mexican culture.
Patrick Wiscombe (09:01):
You've always said that about the magic towns.
Yeah, always.
In the opening segment we havethe travel deal of the week, and
this week we are helping ourlisteners save up to 550 on your
vacation in 2026.
Mark Faldmo (09:21):
what are the particulars on this offer?
Book your vacation by September15th, travel between January
1st and December 31st of 2026and pay in full at the time of
reservation.
This is good to Hawaii,all-inclusive Mexico, good to
vacations in Europe.
It just has to be an air and ahotel package.
It's kind of a tiered discount.
(09:43):
It's based off of a percentageoff of the total cost of the
trip, and so if you can save$100, $200, or even up to the
full $550, that's a pretty gooddeal.
Patrick Wiscombe (09:57):
Okay, and you have to book by when?
Book by September 15th and thencomplete travel between what?
Mark Faldmo (10:03):
days, yeah, January 1st 2026 and December 31st.
Patrick Wiscombe (10:08):
Oh, okay, so you have the entire year then.
Mark Faldmo (10:11):
Yep, you have the entire year.
Oh okay, it's good worldwide,but most people are probably
going to use this for Hawaii andthen their all-inclusive Mexico
vacations.
I actually just booked someoneto Europe using this and then
they saved about $400 off of thecost of that.
It's a great promotion if youknow you're going to go and can
pay for your whole vacationupfront at the time of
(10:31):
reservation.
It's a great promotion if youknow you're going to go and can
pay for your whole vacation upfront at the time of reservation
.
Patrick Wiscombe (10:35):
Hawaii really doesn't have all-inclusive
vacations, correct?
Or they've tried it and itreally didn't go anywhere.
Mark Faldmo (10:43):
Yeah, they've tried it.
I do believe there is still onehotel on the Big Island that
does have an all-inclusivepackage, but it's been a tough
go in Hawaii.
Anyone who's tried it?
Patrick Wiscombe (10:57):
Anyone who goes to Mexico.
Generally speaking, thosevacations are all-inclusive.
Is there such a thing asall-inclusive in Europe?
I wouldn't think so.
Mark Faldmo (11:07):
No, there's not.
There's just the breakfast plan.
I actually take that backbecause Hyatt Inclusive Hotels
they do have hotels over therewhere you can buy European plan,
which is breakfast only, or youcan buy an all-inclusive, like
in Corfu in Greece.
There is a Secrets or no?
(11:28):
I'm sorry, it's a Dreams.
There's a Dreams in Corfu inGreece, which does have an
all-inclusive plan.
So there are some hotels,especially like the beach areas
in Spain, greece, where you canbuy an all-inclusive, but it is
more on the rare side.
Patrick Wiscombe (11:46):
Take advantage of that.
Save up to $550 on yourvacation in 2026.
You need to book by September15th, so that is coming up in
just a smidge over two weeks,and then that is good for travel
between January 1st andDecember 31st 2026.
They need to fill up some rooms, so you might as well take
(12:08):
advantage of the offers thatthey have.
Call Mark in his office, Justget the conversation started, no
obligation.
888-718-7717.
888-718-7717.
And he'll also post this onblueplanetvacations.
com and there's also contactinformation there on the website
(12:30):
.
When we come back, it is time.
It is time for the infamousJust Cruising segment, the
segment of the show that hasmade us famous worldwide.
We will be talking aboutSmithsonian journeys to
returning to the Mississippi.
We've got the cruise deal ofthe week with HX Ultimate Norway
and the Nordic Navigator fromNorway to Scotland.
(12:54):
Do not miss this next segment.
If you love cruising, this isthe section of the show for you.
That is next when the InsideTravel Talk podcast, a radio
show, continues Alongside MarkFaldmo, my name is Patrick
Wiscombe.
We will be right back.
Show Voice (13:15):
Taking you to 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.
Ad Voice (13:38):
Thanks for listening.
We'll be right back Inside.
Travel Talk is brought to youby Amar Waterways.
From castles and capitals tovistas and villages, visit some
of Europe's most remarkablesites and cities To set out on
your own river cruise journey.
(13:58):
Contact Blue Planet Vacationsat 888-718-7717 or
blueplanetvacations.
com.
Show Voice (14:14):
Now back to the Inside Travel Talk podcast and
radio show presented byBluePlanetVacations.
com America's best traveladvisors.
Hit us up right now801-649-3700, 801-649-3700.
And check out the podcast atInsideTravelTalk.
com.
(14:34):
Here's Patrick and Mark.
Patrick Wiscombe (14:57):
Ahoy, mateys, ahoy.
You are listening to the InsideTravel Talk podcast, a radio
show.
I am Patrick Wiscombe.
Mark Faldmo will be back in thestudio here in just a moment.
I had to go print some stuffoff Coming up in this segment of
the show we will be talkingabout the cruise deal of the
(15:19):
week.
This is the segment of the showfor which we are most famous
around the world and around thecountry.
But first let's get to thetravel news headlines.
As Mark makes his way back intothe studio, I saw this news
story that Smithsonian JourneysMark is returning to the mighty
Mississippi.
What details do we have on that?
Mark Faldmo (15:39):
They went there regularly until 2019.
They've seen enough demand comeback that they are taking a
journey between Memphis and NewOrleans.
They don't own their ownequipment when they do this.
They are actually chartering aship from American Cruise Lines
and this will be on one of theclassic paddle wheelers.
The Smithsonian always getssome very good guest speakers
(16:03):
and historians, so on this onethey're going to have a
presidential historian.
That'll be the guest speakerthat can talk a lot about the
country's history there.
They announced they'vechartered a ship for 2027 on the
Nile which will view the solareclipse.
I think that would be veryfascinating to be in Egypt for
the solar eclipse.
I don't know where they'll bein their journey, but I think
(16:23):
that would be a fascinating tobe in Egypt for the solar
eclipse.
I don't know where they'll bein their journey, but I think
that would be a very interestingdestination.
Patrick Wiscombe (16:28):
We want you to be part of the show, so if you
have travel related questionscruise questions, travel,
whatever it is text the studioright now, 801-649-3700.
801-649-3700 is how you get ahold of the show both during the
week and, of course, whilewe're on the air.
We received a text.
(16:49):
From who was this Ross?
I've heard you talk aboutexpedition cruising on the show
before.
Can you help me understand whatexpedition cruising is?
I think it's a good question.
Mark Faldmo (17:01):
I hadn't really thought of that from the
listener's perspective.
We just go talk aboutexpedition cruising and I don't
think we've spent time definingwhat it is, because it is a
different way to cruise.
Expedition cruises are cruisesthat are centered on exploration
and immersive experiences.
Typically these cruises are onsmaller, purpose-built ships to
(17:24):
go into some of these smallerports or ports that have certain
restrictions.
They go to harder reach areaslike Antarctica and the Arctic,
Galapagos, Amazon.
They just go to really remoteplaces in the world.
They emphasize meaningfuldiscovery through hands-on
learning.
They emphasize meaningfuldiscovery through hands-on
(17:45):
learning.
They really help the guestsexplore the destinations with
expert-led excursions andlectures rather than on a
regular cruise.
It's kind of passivesightseeing, what you're doing.
Patrick Wiscombe (17:55):
That's a great way to say that it's active
learning.
Mark Faldmo (17:58):
Yeah, I like because there are a lot of
restrictions on larger cruiseships.
Most of the expedition cruisesare about 200 passengers or less
, which enables the cruise lineto have more flexible
itineraries, more frequent ports.
You can get closer to thewildlife and also with fellow
travelers.
(18:18):
They prioritize education overentertainment and they really
want you to dive in to thedestination.
Patrick Wiscombe (18:26):
Where do the expedition cruises go and why
would someone want to choose anexpedition cruise over a typical
tourist destination?
Mark Faldmo (18:37):
They really try and venture in to more remote,
lesser-visited areas.
For instance, today I was justreading about an expedition
cruise company.
It's called Ponant and theyhave the only class three
icebreaker or something.
It's the only passenger vesselwith that and in 2027, they are
actually having a voyage to theNorth Pole, where the ship will
(18:59):
go and sit on the geographicNorth Pole.
There we go.
The ship will go and sit on thegeographic North Pole.
There we go.
It's things like thatExpedition cruises do, but also
things like the NorthwestPassage and then other places a
little bit close to home BajaCalifornia, you know, sailing in
the Sea of Cortez.
Patrick Wiscombe (19:14):
That's a great example.
You never really hear aboutanyone going up the inside part
of Baja.
It's always the Pacific side.
Mark Faldmo (19:22):
Other places, expeditions would be Galapagos.
Ooh, that's a good example.
Yeah, Because there are lots ofrestrictions there.
So it's really only the smallerexpedition cruises that can go
there in the Amazon andexpedition cruise, even though
some of the big cruise lines cango a good deal up the Amazon
going on an expedition cruisethat will take you deeper into
(19:44):
the Amazon.
Patrick Wiscombe (19:45):
Less entertainment, more education,
getting in touch with nature.
Mark Faldmo (19:49):
Interesting places.
Yeah, more interesting places.
Patrick Wiscombe (19:52):
What does a typical day look like on board
one of these?
Mark Faldmo (19:55):
expeditions.
They're really destinationdriven, so if you're at sea,
your lectures on your next portwhen you're in port.
A lot of these places don'thave piers and so you're taking
zodiac, small inflatable boatstaking you ashore.
A lot of these cruises offerwildlife viewing, hiking,
kayaking, snorkeling or guidedcultural excursions In the
(20:19):
evening rather than yourBroadway production show.
They often have presentations,recap of where you've been, a
preview of where you're going toreally help you have that
immersive experience thatthey're trying to get you in.
They also have photo classeshow to take the best wildlife
pictures.
They have onboard experts thatreally help to enhance your
(20:42):
vacation.
Some expedition ships are luxury, some are not so luxury, but
they're all comfortable andthey're used kind of as your
mobile base camp.
You can relax when on board,gourmet meals, reading areas,
saunas there we go Igloos youknow different things like that,
and a lot of them include allof that.
(21:03):
They're not additional.
One of the cruise lines that Ireally like for expedition
cruising is HX.
I think two, maybe three weeksago we talked about Hurtigruten.
They used to be the samecompany.
Hurtigruten does Norwegiancoastal voyages and then they
started an expedition cruiseline.
They're one of my favorites.
Patrick Wiscombe (21:22):
Let's get to the cruise deal of the week,
which is HX, and what's thepromotion we have for listeners
this week.
Mark Faldmo (21:27):
Right now they have free suite upgrades or you can
choose up to 35% off of cabins.
A lot of people, if they doknow about Expedition Cruising,
they think they're veryexpensive and they can get
expensive.
But with this 35% off it makesit more affordable and I
actually found two expeditioncruises on Hurtigruten that are
(21:51):
under $4,000 a person.
That is a deal and so that'sbringing up more in line like
what you'd pay for a suite on abig ocean liner.
Yep, this first cruise that I'mlooking at, it's called Ultima
Norway.
It's Arctic Expedition underthe Northern Lights.
Yep, this first cruise that I'mlooking at, it's called
Ultimate Norway.
It's Arctic Expedition Underthe Northern Lights.
So this is Norway in thewintertime.
This particular sailing that Ilooked at is January 24th.
(22:15):
It's an eight day sailing andit starts at $3787 per person.
That is very reasonable, so forunder $4,000 a person it really
spends its full time in theArctic Circle.
So you fly to Tromso in Norway,which is above the Arctic
Circle, and then you have eightdays cruising around Northern
(22:39):
Norway.
Patrick Wiscombe (22:40):
Oh, how fun.
Anything else that you want tothrow in here?
Mark Faldmo (22:51):
Yeah, there is one more cruise, and this one is
called the Nordic Navigator,from Norway to Scotland, and
this one's even a better deal.
It starts at $3451 per personand it is an 11-day cruise.
This is actually, since it's arepositioning cruise, the same
rule for expedition cruising asregular cruising.
Those kind of repositioningcruises usually are a better
(23:14):
price.
This cruise, it starts in theTromso and then just sails down
that west coast of Norway andthen goes over to Lurwik in the
Shetland Islands, goes toKirkwall, which is there at the
northern part of Scotland, andthen sails around and ends in
Glasgow.
And this one is the end ofMarch, so it's a March 28
(23:37):
sailing next year.
The one thing I like aboutHurtigruten is pretty much
everything on board is includedyour regular meals, so breakfast
, lunch and dinner Drinks areincluded at mealtime, and then
you get a complimentaryrefillable water bottle.
You get a polar expeditionjacket, a backpack and then
(23:59):
another kind of HX expeditionkit that you get I'm not sure
what's in that ComplementaryWi-Fi, use of the sauna, hot
tubs, fitness rooms onboard.
All the gratuities are included, although if you get good
service you can leave an extragratuity.
Patrick Wiscombe (24:17):
Yeah, and those stateroom attendants, they
earn it.
Mark Faldmo (24:20):
The last thing that I think is great is you have
included unique excursionexperiences.
There may be some that areadditional costs, but they do
include some of thoseexperiences.
Patrick Wiscombe (24:33):
Take advantage of that offer.
Take advantage of all of them.
Just call Mark in his office,get the conversation started.
No obligation 888-718-7717,.
888-718-7717.
That is the cruise deal of theweek.
(24:53):
We've actually got three ofthem.
Make the call.
Like I said, no obligation, butat least explore it.
You won't regret it, but atleast explore it.
You won't regret it.
You can listen to thisaward-nominated show again
tomorrow morning, Sunday, at 11am, right here on the very radio
station that you're listeningto right now, and you can stream
(25:15):
, download and subscribe to thepodcast at InsideTravelTalk.
com.
We are on all of the majorpodcast platforms and you can
get links to all of thoseplatforms on inside travel talk.
com.
Well, now it's your turn to getout and explore the world while
you can, because you never knowwhat curveball's life is going
(25:37):
to throw at you.
Live your life deliberately,live your life intentionally,
and thanks for lifeintentionally and thanks for
listening.
We don't have a businesswithout you.
We don't have a radio show orpodcast without you.
Thank you for allowing this tobe part of your weekend.
Have a terrific week.
We'll talk to you next Saturdayand Sunday.
Show Voice (26:01):
That's it.
That's the end of the showYou've been listening to the
Inside Travel Talk podcast andradio show with Patrick Wiscombe
and Mark Faldmo, presented byBluePlanetVacations.
com.
Book your adventure right now.
Call 888-718-7717.
That's 888-718-7717.
(26:22):
Thanks for listening.
Have a great week.
Ad Voice (26:39):
Inside Travel Talk is brought to 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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