The Travel Show: The First Travel Expo of the Year!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Travel John, Larry Gelwicks get Away Guru and I've just
get away Guru, back from Thailand and Cambodia two days
ago on Thursday, and.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Here i am.

Speaker 1 (00:15):
I had my morning cold coffee, No, don't get excited,
that's diet coke, you know, and an egg McMuffin my
typical breakfast on Saturdays. I'm so excited to be here
at the Utah Travel Expo, the thirtieth annual travel Expo,
the biggest and best travel expo anywhere in the Inner
Mountain area, sponsored by Morris Columbus Travel. And I'm pleased

(00:37):
to welcome back to the show. Emily State's marketing director
for Morris Columbus Travel.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
Emily, welcome to the show.

Speaker 3 (00:45):
Thanks for letting me be here. Larry, always good to
be on.

Speaker 2 (00:47):
We're here at Mountain America Expo Center.

Speaker 1 (00:49):
We had opened yesterday and we will be here until
five o'clock today. So introduce our audience to the Utah Travel.

Speaker 4 (01:00):
I don't know how anyone can listen to your show
and not know about the Travel Expo, but this is
our thirtieth year. We have over one hundred and twenty
travel vendors here. Airlines, cruise lines, tour companies, safaris all
hear experts in their fields to talk about the great
destinations of the world and different cruise lines.

Speaker 1 (01:17):
And you know what is nice about the expo as
you can come in, as you mentioned one hundred and
twenty travel suppliers and vendors. You can come in, sit down,
talk to a cruise line executive, tour company, airline people,
ask questions, come with questions.

Speaker 2 (01:38):
Oh the best way and find out is.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
This resort, is this cruise, is this tour the right one?
Is this the perfect vacation for what I'm looking at?
And get it straight from the horse's mouth.

Speaker 4 (01:50):
Absolutely, And then you can head over to our booth
with our travel advisors and sit down and book it
right on the spot and take advantage of the specials
that these travel providers are off.

Speaker 1 (02:00):
Well, what's really nice is exclusive travel expo discounts. Now,
on top of that, we're going to bribe you to come.
You know, those are my two great parenting skills, threats
and bribes. Threats and bribes how I raised my kids.
But listen, here's how we're going to bribe you, uh

(02:21):
to come to the expo. Just kidding, but we are
going to give you a gift. Yeah, a fifty dollars
gift certificate with Morris Columbus Travel that is applicable to
your next qualifying vacation. Absolutely, fifty bucks just to show up.
Now it is a ticketed event. You can go to
Utah Travel Expo dot com, Utah Travel Expo dot com,

(02:45):
or just take care of.

Speaker 2 (02:45):
The tickets here, right.

Speaker 1 (02:47):
Absolutely, so, what are some of the vendor specials that
you're seeing out there that you know? Many of them
are exclusive to Morris Columbus Travel or exclusive just to
the expo. Others are what I call Morris Columbus specials.

Speaker 5 (03:05):
Absolutely so.

Speaker 4 (03:06):
I mean, let's start with the big guns, Delta Vacations.

Speaker 6 (03:09):
If you book a DELTAPA.

Speaker 2 (03:10):
Talking about my biceps every day.

Speaker 7 (03:13):
I talk about.

Speaker 4 (03:14):
Yeah, if you if you book a package with Delta
Vacations here, you're going to save up to two hundred
dollars per booking. If you're a sky Miles member, which
of course is free. To be a sky Miles member
with Holland America, you can get free balcony upgrades or
up to not up not ork and this on a cruise, yes,
up to thirty percent off fares and they're going to
give you some spending money on the ship up to

(03:35):
five hundred dollars. We love that Norwegian Cruise Line is
doing free prepaide service charges, so you know, all gratuities
are taken care of and they're doing free error.

Speaker 1 (03:46):
You know, the service gratuities on a one week cruise
is like one hundred and fifteen bucks per person. These
are prepaid gratuities, obviously more on the longer cruise. What
Morris Columbus Travel negotiated with several cruise lines is kids
sail free. You just pay the taxes for the third

(04:09):
and fourth person sharing your cabin. Now with some cruise
lines it's kids twelve and undersil free. With other cruise lines,
the Morris Columbus special is the third and fourth person
of any age, no family affiliation.

Speaker 2 (04:25):
You got to be really good friends, you know, to
do something last.

Speaker 1 (04:28):
But imagine that the first two people pay a discounted rate.
The third and fourth sharing your cabin sale absolutely free.
You just pay the government taxes.

Speaker 8 (04:41):
Right.

Speaker 4 (04:41):
We want you to have a fantastic sailing, so we
make sure to lock that in for you.

Speaker 1 (04:46):
So coming down here at the Mountain America Expo Center
in addition to which is in sandy. In addition to
the specials, there are information seminars. We have three large
seminar rooms going all day long. You can join me,

(05:09):
sit in there and laugh at me. At two thirty
now they're going on now with different travel destinations. We
have international travel tourist boards that have flown into the
US to come here to this expo from all over
the world. Sitting down, I'm looking right across at Fiji, Bulavinaka.

Speaker 2 (05:30):
They're here from.

Speaker 5 (05:30):
Fiji, those ladies supers, Oh my.

Speaker 1 (05:33):
Gosh, Thailand is here, Taiwan, Cook Islands.

Speaker 2 (05:37):
Spain is here.

Speaker 1 (05:39):
European countries, all of these. But you want to take
advantage of these information seminars. Now, mine at two thirty
goes for thirty minutes. As I said, you can come
in and laugh at me. Is about traveling with the
Getaway Guru. I take groups around the world. I'd love
to have you joined me. We have so much fun.

Speaker 4 (06:03):
Yeah, and there's plenty more seminars. Even if even if
you miss Larry's, which no one's going to miss.

Speaker 7 (06:08):
Yours by'll be packed.

Speaker 5 (06:09):
It'll be packed.

Speaker 4 (06:10):
You can come learn about the Galapagos and sailing with
Crystal Cruises celebrating the United States is two hundred and
fiftieth birthday this year with American Cruise Lines, that's got
to be a great trip.

Speaker 2 (06:21):
You know, we all want to travel.

Speaker 1 (06:24):
There's an excitement, especially in the planning stages. Yes, I
tell people, you know, people say I'm not afraid of
the Internet.

Speaker 2 (06:33):
I embrace the Internet.

Speaker 1 (06:35):
I say that folks get as much information as you
can about a destination of potential cruise a trip, and
then bring that to us, let us add to it.
Almost invariably we can add something. It may be a discount,
it may be a free amenity, it may be an upgrade.

Speaker 2 (06:55):
We can do something.

Speaker 1 (06:56):
Morris Columbus Travel is the largest seller of cruises in
the entire Inner Mountain Air. In fact, if you take travel,
the largest seller of travel, and so we are able
to offer not only some special promotions, but exclusive promotions.

Speaker 4 (07:13):
Absolutely, And we do want to thank listeners to this
show and also everyone who's worked with us over the years,
all of those who've traveled with us over the years.
I mean, this is our thirtieth anniversary of the expo.
We've been in business for much longer than that, and
we want to thank all of our travelers for making
us making that possible.

Speaker 1 (07:30):
It's the Utah Travel Expo at the Mountain America Expo
Center in Sandy today until five o'clock with over one
hundred and twenty travel suppliers vendors. You can sit and
actually go anywhere in the world.

Speaker 4 (07:47):
True, Larry, you know we haven't even talked about prizes yet.

Speaker 1 (07:50):
Oh did we not mention your favorite things?

Speaker 3 (07:54):
Free giveaway?

Speaker 2 (07:55):
Tell me about free travel giveaway?

Speaker 4 (07:56):
Yes, So what you want to do when you get
to the show, when you see the giant globe that's
hanging from the ceiling, heads straight back there and fill
out our prize entry forms on the iPads. We are
giving away some big, big ticket items for example, airline
tickets to Hawaii or to Europe, cruises to Alaska the Caribbean.
Fiji is giving away a week long stay love I

(08:19):
Love Fiji.

Speaker 1 (08:21):
Okay, Now you have to register to win, but do
you have to be present?

Speaker 4 (08:25):
You have to be present to register, but you do
not have to be present to win. I'm the lucky
gal who gets to make those calls next week if
you're not here at this to find out.

Speaker 1 (08:34):
If I were to draw my name for the trip
to Fiji. Is this gonna cause any suspicion?

Speaker 4 (08:39):
You know you ask me that every time, and I.

Speaker 2 (08:42):
I don't like your answer. I know, I know You're
gonna keep asking me.

Speaker 4 (08:45):
Yes, Larry, I'm sorry again, Kathy Gelwicks, we could pull that.

Speaker 2 (08:50):
Oh very good. So you know that's the nice thing thing.

Speaker 1 (08:53):
You do not have to be present to win, but
you have to register in person. As you walk in,
look to your right towards the back of the conference hall.

Speaker 6 (09:04):
You can't miss the giant the giant globe.

Speaker 1 (09:07):
Just a quick registration to win. And every hour we
are awarding prizes.

Speaker 7 (09:13):
Yes, sir, Yes, sir, the Utah Travel.

Speaker 1 (09:16):
Expo at the Mountain America Expo Center and Sandy the
thirtieth Annual. I'm speaking with Emily State's marketing director for
Morris Columbus Travel.

Speaker 2 (09:27):
So you're kind of the brainchild behind this.

Speaker 4 (09:29):
Try I do try One thing I want to mention
about the prizes that I forgot to say. If you
register for prizes yesterday, you're.

Speaker 6 (09:34):
Welcome to come back to the show again.

Speaker 4 (09:35):
We'd love to see you. You don't You shouldn't register again.
Those registrations will be good for today and we don't
want any duplicate registrations to get kicked ARSA.

Speaker 2 (09:44):
I registered one and twenty three times.

Speaker 4 (09:47):
Oh, that's you've never pulled. Really, Larry, you've got nothing
on your side here.

Speaker 1 (09:53):
Well, thank you Emily for joining us at the Utah
Travel Expo at the Mountain America Expo Center and Sandy.
We're here until five o'clock today. Check out all the
details at Utah Travel Expo dot com. Now coming up next,
we are heading to around the World with Talk Tours,
a deluxe, wonderful tour company with Luke O'Malley from Ireland.

Speaker 4 (10:18):
O mahoney. Yes, yes, he was on last year and
he's great.

Speaker 1 (10:21):
We love our business development manager in the West for
Talk Tours. What makes talk different? It is one of
my favorite tour companies. You can't miss with Talk Tours.
Right here on the Travel.

Speaker 2 (10:34):
Show, you'll be joining us.

Speaker 1 (10:36):
We're looking forward to seeing you today at the Utah
Travel Expo.

Speaker 9 (10:53):
You're listening with the Travel Show.

Speaker 1 (10:55):
I'm Larry Gelwicks, that get away guru here at the
Utah Travel Xpo. We're gonna be at the expo today
until five o'clock at the Mountain America Expo Center and
Sandy with over one hundred and twenty.

Speaker 2 (11:08):
Travel suppliers and vendors. I'm pleased to welcome my friend
Luke Mahoney. That's right. I had to get there.

Speaker 1 (11:17):
I was teasing in what a great British name, and
he was gonna push he's from Ireland.

Speaker 2 (11:23):
I love Ireland.

Speaker 6 (11:24):
Top of the morning.

Speaker 1 (11:25):
Let me ask you this, and you're with the talk
Tours the business development manager West. Let me ask first
about Ireland. I know you go all over the world.
What is it about Ireland that captivates people?

Speaker 10 (11:38):
You know, I've been here so long that when I
go back, I get reverse culture shock when I see
how green it is.

Speaker 6 (11:43):
It's just exceptional year round.

Speaker 2 (11:45):
Year round.

Speaker 6 (11:46):
But what's really special it's the people arery.

Speaker 10 (11:48):
I was back at Christmas time right in Ireland, and
I was walking through Dublin and it was freezing now, right,
and this fellow walks up to me in the street
and he says, you look cold, good Dublin accent on him,
and I said, I'm a big cold. He said, here,
I got two hats. You can have this second one.
It was brand new, so nice of them. Now he
probably stole the hats, but it was still nice.

Speaker 2 (12:06):
That he gave me.

Speaker 1 (12:07):
The Well, I hope he stole them from an Englishman.

Speaker 6 (12:10):
Yes, that's right.

Speaker 1 (12:11):
Yeah, you tell us about Top Tours.

Speaker 2 (12:15):
Yeah, it's a great.

Speaker 6 (12:17):
Company, incredible. I would say it's the best.

Speaker 10 (12:21):
I started off in my career as a tour director
and I remember driving past this beautiful hotel and seeing
a tauc motor coach outside, and I asked my driver,
who are they, and he said, that's the best of
the best. Took me twenty years to get a job
with this company at it because I just needed that
experience and I'm so glad to be here now. They're
family owned and they're based in the US, first company
to have a US tour broker's license. We do trips

(12:43):
all over the world land tours, so motor coach tours
typically sometimes trains.

Speaker 2 (12:48):
Well, let's talk about Europe. Yeah, where else the world.

Speaker 10 (12:52):
We do Asia, we do safaris, we do Antarctica, river cruises,
we do river cruising, we do small ship crew using
we got this faries as mentioned, we go to Australia
and New Zealand.

Speaker 6 (13:04):
That's where we're going to fly you from place to blaze.

Speaker 10 (13:06):
Because it's just too vast to be on a motor coach,
you know. But we're known for our unique exclusive access.
So have you ever been to the Vatican?

Speaker 9 (13:15):
Oh?

Speaker 10 (13:15):
Yes, elbow to elbow experience, right, a lot of people
there and someone saying cilentcio and mushing you on to
the next room with touc you got to go after hours.
Nobody else there. Now, it's not just a Vatican.

Speaker 7 (13:27):
We do that.

Speaker 6 (13:28):
We do it all over.

Speaker 1 (13:29):
You're talking about the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel.

Speaker 2 (13:33):
You've gotta be kidden.

Speaker 10 (13:34):
Yep, you can look go in there and revel, look
up at you know, Michelangeline Chapel. And with us we
do small groups as a few as fifteen.

Speaker 1 (13:44):
Well, you know, I often hear about the talk difference.

Speaker 2 (13:48):
What is it? What do you mean by that?

Speaker 10 (13:49):
Well, we're all inclusive, so everything's included. We do not
nickel and dime. We do not sell optional experiences in destination.
The price is the price is the price. It's print
in the brochure. We don't do dynamic pricing where it
goes up based on demand. So you pay for that
and everything is included from beginning to end. And these
experiences are high end. The hotels are beautiful. There are

(14:10):
four seasons in the US. They're oberoys in India, which
are like palaces. They're castles in Ireland and we have
a special on by the way, Can I talk about
that at the end of course, okay, But everything's included
this unique exclusive access I talked about Sistine Chapel. You
could go to Cloud Monai's house and gardens on a
river cruise, take a motor.

Speaker 2 (14:28):
Coach shot on the cruise front door.

Speaker 10 (14:30):
It's it's before it opens, see it like Money did
when he did those paintings. No tourists in the inn,
so it's just you guys there, which is amazing valley
of the Kings in Egypt. So you get to go
there after hours with a guide's going to tell you
all about it.

Speaker 6 (14:43):
See Toot and commons tomb.

Speaker 2 (14:46):
May. Can you do anything at castle? We do?

Speaker 6 (14:49):
Indeed.

Speaker 10 (14:50):
Actually that's one of my favorite Irish built castle.

Speaker 1 (14:54):
Yes, yeah, you know so many of the castles in
the UK is Lord Fufu's manor house and they call
it a castle. Dromoland is a real castle fifteenth century.

Speaker 10 (15:05):
It is exactly so many times you have built by
the O'Brien's in fact, so it's a good Irish name
and we have a show special. Right, so if someone
comes and books through Mars Columbus within the next month,
they will get a complimentary hotel night at the beginning
or end of the trip. Now, our trip to Ireland

(15:26):
starts with Dromoland Castle.

Speaker 2 (15:28):
It starts starts. Well, how do you top that?

Speaker 10 (15:31):
Well, you're stay in the Shelbourne at the end, which
is like the most famous hotel in island. Yes, yes,
but if you were to get that special, you would
be able to choose from a free night at Dromolin
Castle before the tour starts or a night in the
Shelbourne Hotel when the tour ends. I was looking up
pricing for Dromolin Castle this morning. Eight hundred to twenty
eight hundred dollars a night. Oh that's so much, you

(15:53):
would say with this special. So come on down meet
one of the travel advisors.

Speaker 1 (15:57):
You know what I love about Dromoland. It's in the state,
have championship golf, falconry, equestrian, skate shooting, archery, bisk I mean,
it's just wonderful. We're speaking with Luke O Mahoney, business
development manager West for top tours. We've only got a
couple of minutes left. Talk to me about what is

(16:20):
Rome by.

Speaker 10 (16:21):
Tuc Rome is a new product by tech oh Am
that's right, not the city in Italy, but oro Am.

Speaker 6 (16:27):
Rome is a new product.

Speaker 10 (16:29):
So typically tautcasts are going to be fifty five and owards,
but this product is for people in their forties and fifties,
so they're typically still working. So we slow it down
a bit. Instead of multiple hotels, we probably have two
or three Instead of one or two nights in each hotel,
we've got three to four nights in each hot I
like that. Yeah, so there's a bit more time. This
choice between activities. You could stay work on your laptop

(16:51):
in the morning, or the tour director could walk you
down from your boutique hotel to this beautiful area in
Rioca where we'd go for you know, swim in the morning,
biking around wineries, climbing the highest sand dune in Europe.

Speaker 6 (17:04):
And then the food is exceptional.

Speaker 10 (17:06):
On Rome, that's very adventurous. So in southern France, we're
going to take you out on a small boat off
the coast with a chef and two chefs. We're going
to catch get oysters and then they're going to prepare
them for you on the ship with make you a
lovely meal.

Speaker 6 (17:20):
Little boats.

Speaker 1 (17:21):
Look, we have about one minute. Yeah, you do something
unique with river cruising.

Speaker 10 (17:26):
We do so we have the fewest amount of passengers
that you can get on a river cruise.

Speaker 6 (17:32):
Were the family owned company.

Speaker 10 (17:34):
We have three tour directors on board, whereas most companies
will have a cruise director. We have those three tour directors,
which really excels the experience. Also, we do amazing dine
experiences in destination, so not just on the ship, but
we'll take you to the Palais Palavacini in Vienna where
you will have entertainment with musicians and ballet and opera,
five course meal, the waiters with the white glove service,

(17:56):
the flushes that they lift all off the tables at
the same time. Guests, that experience alone is a good
enough reason to come to Europe.

Speaker 1 (18:05):
We're speaking with Luke o' mahoney, business Development Manager West
for Tough Tours, and you can come and talk to
Luke right here at the Utah Travel Expo. We'll be
here until five o'clock today at the Mountain America.

Speaker 9 (18:17):
Expost Center in Sandy Fop.

Speaker 2 (18:20):
Thanks for joining us go Ireland.

Speaker 1 (18:35):
Sawdy Cop, and welcome to the Utah Travel Expo. I'm
here today until five o'clock. We're broadcasting live. The Utah
Travel ex is the biggest and best travel show in
the entire West in the US with over one hundred
and twenty travel suppliers. Now I open this segment by
sawdy Cop. I'm pleased to welcome my friend Tippy, the

(18:59):
marketing man at Tourism Authority of Thailand also known as
TNT Tippy Saadi.

Speaker 3 (19:06):
Cup Sawadika Raley. Thanks for having me today.

Speaker 2 (19:09):
Well, I was just in Thailand.

Speaker 1 (19:11):
I got back this week and I'll be returning to
Thailand a week from today. Now, your office in Los
Angeles promotes tourism to Thailand. Yes, what is it about
the Kingdom of Thailand? Yes, they have a king. What
is it about the Kingdom of Thailand that attracts people?

(19:33):
People go there and can't.

Speaker 2 (19:34):
Wait to go back?

Speaker 3 (19:36):
Yeah?

Speaker 11 (19:37):
Right, Thank you for having me. And I know that
you've brought so many many friends and family to Thailand.
And then many of them are repeaters because they go
to Thailand. For some they really like it because Thailand
has almost everything for everyone. We have deep culture. As
you mentioned that, we have a king We have been
a kingdom for over seven seven hundred years. We have

(20:00):
reached in cultural activities, natural activities.

Speaker 9 (20:03):
You know.

Speaker 11 (20:04):
Were also home home of quite a few numbers of
Unesco her her site as well. We have good nature,
good food, uh you know, good beaches you know, and
and and very conveniently located, so wherever you are from,
you know, including those people coming from Utah also easily
accessible to Thailand. And that's why you enjoy everything, a

(20:26):
bit of everything, and leave Thailand and everyone will say,
I want to come back next time.

Speaker 1 (20:31):
Well, I divide Thailand into three general geographic areas, and
would you comment briefly on each one. First, let's go
north chang Rii, chang My, the foothills of the Himalayas.

Speaker 11 (20:46):
Yes, yes, so northern Thailand is also very very popular.
And then with Changmai as a major destination. Chiangmai itself
is really really old. It's even you know, older than
than the central part Thailand was for.

Speaker 2 (21:00):
The capital of the Atlantic Kingdom.

Speaker 11 (21:02):
Yes, yes, especially up in the north and Thailand we
call it Atlanta. Major attractions will be elephant experiences. You
can learn, you can prepared food and you know, burying
the elephants and learn about elephant life.

Speaker 5 (21:15):
That's the highlight of the.

Speaker 1 (21:17):
Best elephant camps and sanctuaries are in the north of Thailand.

Speaker 2 (21:23):
Let's move to the midlands.

Speaker 1 (21:24):
Yes, Bangkok being the most famous in Patia. Talk to
me about But I love Bangkok. I love It's a
big city, but I love it.

Speaker 11 (21:35):
Yeah, it's very metro and then it has been a
capital for over two hundred and fifty years, so it's
a mix of the all and the new, you know.
And then Mordan, you know, very modern by the river
as well, so it's big for food like street food,
river cruise, dinner. And then you will enjoy visiting Grand Palace,

(21:56):
you know, Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Temple of Dawn as.

Speaker 7 (21:59):
You you see, Yeah.

Speaker 11 (22:01):
What a room you see in many movies. And also
street food, especially at night.

Speaker 1 (22:06):
Well, you know, Thailand. To me, it's the culture, the
people and the food. Don't even get me started on
the food is very reasonable.

Speaker 2 (22:16):
You know.

Speaker 1 (22:17):
I tell people that there are certain places around the
world that if you traveled all that distance and only
saw that one thing. It's worth the trip. The taj
Mahal is one night, and the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
If you were to go all the way to Thailand
and only saw that, it's worth the trip.

Speaker 2 (22:39):
But of course you're going to see more.

Speaker 1 (22:41):
Let's move to the south, the islands of the South,
be it Krabbi or.

Speaker 2 (22:48):
Yeah.

Speaker 11 (22:48):
So that is where you enjoy good seafood, relaxing, scuba diving, serving,
sun beddings, whatever. Most important thing is that we are tropical,
so the water is warm all year round.

Speaker 7 (23:01):
That means you can it really is.

Speaker 11 (23:03):
Yeah, so you can, you can swim, you can do
scuba diving all year around, and that's why that's why
people visit, you know, you know Thaialan for all kinds
of you know experiences.

Speaker 1 (23:15):
For first time visitors, what are the must sees anywhere
in the kingdom.

Speaker 11 (23:24):
I would say if it's the first time, and also
if you have limited days as well, Bangkok is a must.

Speaker 2 (23:30):
Yes.

Speaker 3 (23:30):
I will say.

Speaker 11 (23:31):
If you've been to Thailan and never been to Bangkok.

Speaker 7 (23:33):
I would say you've never miss you've never been.

Speaker 11 (23:36):
Yes, this is a mass and Grandpalace, like like Larry
just said, is a must.

Speaker 2 (23:41):
Yeah, yeah, now you have.

Speaker 1 (23:43):
An interesting campaign this year called Healing is the New Luxury.

Speaker 2 (23:48):
Explain that to us.

Speaker 11 (23:50):
Yeah, making sure is that we try to bring in,
you know, things related to the well being of the body.

Speaker 3 (23:58):
Health.

Speaker 11 (23:58):
Yeah, and wellbeing of your body, your mind, and your
soul in different aspects.

Speaker 8 (24:03):
You know.

Speaker 11 (24:03):
It's something simple that everyone can do, is to have
a you know, a good time missade something like that,
you know, to be a part of your program.

Speaker 5 (24:11):
And then to have.

Speaker 11 (24:12):
A good and healthy Taipho Thai food is really really
healthy as well if you happen to have it in
a correct way. So that is that is what we
try to you know, bring in into the Thailand UH
experiences to to all the American travelers.

Speaker 1 (24:27):
You know, there's many good airlines, uh multiple airlines serving
us A to UH Thailand. A very easy one is
Delta Airlines for those who use the Salt Lake City
Airport non stop to the soul in Cheon Airport uh uh.

Speaker 11 (24:49):
And and and then and then connect to three cities
in Thailand.

Speaker 1 (24:53):
Yeah, Salt Lake to Bangkok, h well, three cities, King
and puqutt Pouquette with one plane change.

Speaker 7 (25:01):
Yes, yes, very convenient.

Speaker 11 (25:03):
This is this is the best bet from those who
would travel out of Salt Lake City.

Speaker 3 (25:07):
Yeah, and then that is.

Speaker 11 (25:09):
They've done really great job, great services, you know, great safety.

Speaker 7 (25:13):
You know I relived them well.

Speaker 2 (25:15):
I just got back from Thailand.

Speaker 1 (25:17):
I have said publicly many many times that if it
were not for my children and grandchildren, I would live
in Thailand.

Speaker 2 (25:27):
But I can't decide. I have to have two houses.

Speaker 1 (25:29):
One is I want to be up north in the
foothills of the Himalayans chang Mai, chang Rai. But I
gotta have a beach house in Pouquet right right, so
I gotta have to We're speaking with Tippy, marketing manager
at Tourism Authority of Thailand. She and her team are
here at the Utah Travel Expo stop by their booth,

(25:51):
and I will be flying to Bangkok one. I just
got back too, and I'll be back in one week.
I fly out on Delta Airlines the Bangkok Yes the
way to say thank you and ty.

Speaker 11 (26:05):
Cobkunk, thanks for having me, Thank you, to thank.

Speaker 2 (26:09):
You all the best, to you, thank you.

Speaker 1 (26:11):
We're here at the Utah Travel Expo and we just
spoke with the marketing manager of the Tourism Authority of
Thailand and we're going to enjoy the rest of the
day here at five o'clock. We're here and we want
you to stop by.

Speaker 2 (26:27):
Now.

Speaker 1 (26:28):
You can get all the details at the Utah Travelxpo
dot com. I want to tell you about a couple
of programs that I will be personally hosting. You can
pick up in the in the escorted tour just as
you walk in a list of all the tours that
I will personally be hosting here for Morris Columbus Travel. Now,

(26:54):
two I want to tell you about it. I'm so excited.

Speaker 2 (26:56):
One is a trip on the Make River.

Speaker 1 (27:00):
Now, what we do on river cruises is we go
in and take what's called an inventory risk. We actually
buy the cabins, which produces incredible savings on most of
our river cruises with Alma Waterways the Ultra Deluxe over
the top cruise line. I love these guys, and you

(27:22):
will save between a thousand and two thousand dollars per
person over buying it direct, same date, same ship, same everything.
Why because we've actually gone out and bought the cabins.
So this November I'll be headed back to Southeast Asia
on the riches of the Mekong River, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Speaker 2 (27:46):
Now you can go.

Speaker 1 (27:48):
We can set up an individual visit to Thailand, which
my wife and I'll be doing. We're going to go
to Thailand before we go to Cambodia and join the group.
And it is it's how do I.

Speaker 2 (28:01):
Describe it, It's it's rural backwater.

Speaker 1 (28:04):
It's like stepping back in time, visiting big cities, small cities,
the small hamlets. Everything imaginable. And I have I think
like four cabins left on that. The rates start at
just twenty nine to ninety nine, subject to availability for
this one. Another exciting cruise that we have is June

(28:28):
of twenty twenty seven. Now this one is on the
Send River, sailing with Almah Waterways. Round trip from Paris
will go to Ruin, which is Joan of Arc. That
is you feel like you've stepped back five hundred years
history with the cobblestone streets and the architecture. We visit

(28:50):
han Flour, which is Gothic architecture. Again a step back
in time. But for me, the highlight are the beaches
of Normandy. D Day Beaches June sixth, nineteen forty four,
the start of D.

Speaker 2 (29:05):
Day and you know, it's sobering.

Speaker 1 (29:07):
There were five beaches the Americans took to, the Brits
took to, the Canadians took one, and Omaha Beach was
one of the American beaches that was the bloodiest. I
was just there in July and standing at Omaha Beach.

(29:28):
The German bunkers, the machine guns, that cannon bunkers are
still there, which I went inside. And what I like
to do when I visit places of history is to
to watch video of the places, and I stood right there.

(29:53):
Our next guest is my friend, the marketing for the
Stoveall Hotels. He'll be joining us in just a few minutes.
I wanted to finish on the He just joined me here.
Welcome Mark, Good morning, Larry. Now you and in the

(30:15):
next segment we'll be talking about the absolute must hotels
stay for Disneyland. Let me finish up on the Send River.
It's sobering to go to the American Cemetery, and I mean,
you're there. Ninety six hundred Americans, mostly teenage boys and
young men in their early twenties.

Speaker 2 (30:36):
Ninety six hundred graves.

Speaker 1 (30:38):
And at four o'clock they lowered the American flag and
play taps. It brought tears to my eyes. That's one
thing that we'll be doing anyway. June seventeenth and the
twenty fourth, twenty twenty seven, I'll be your personal host
and tour guide on the Send River with Almah Waterways.

Speaker 2 (30:56):
Again.

Speaker 1 (30:57):
Your savings is between one thousand and two two thousand
dollars per person based on your cabin category. When we
come back, we'll be speaking with Mark Harrison, senior sales.

Speaker 12 (31:08):
Manager for the Best Western plus Stowball Hotel Amanaheim, and
I'll tell you why they are the absolute number one
choice for your Xden manifest right here on the Travel Show.

Speaker 2 (31:42):
You're listening to the Travel Show.

Speaker 1 (31:44):
I'm Larry Gelwiz, the getaway Guru here at the Utah
Travel Expo, the biggest and best travel show anywhere in
the Inner Mountain West, with over one hundred and twenty
travel vendors and suppliers were at the Mountain America Expo
Center in Sandy until five o'clock today, and one of
my favorite travel vendors is Mark Harrison, senior sales manager

(32:08):
for the Best Western plus Stovealls Hotels.

Speaker 2 (32:11):
As in plural, they're Anaheion. Mark.

Speaker 7 (32:15):
Welcome to the travels welcome. Thank you Larry.

Speaker 2 (32:17):
Okay, I just let the cat out of the bag.

Speaker 1 (32:20):
You've got two hotels, yes, that served primarily Disneyland visitors.

Speaker 13 (32:25):
Absolutely, we are Disney good neighbor hotels and we're literally
we actually have the closest hotel to the entrance of
Disneyland two minute walk. Stowvells In is across the street
from the convention center. So whether you're coming for fun
or business, we got you covered.

Speaker 1 (32:41):
So you have the stove walls In a Best Western
plus yes, and the park Place, which is the closest
hotel to Disneyland two minutes from the entrance.

Speaker 2 (32:52):
What is the difference between them?

Speaker 13 (32:54):
The park Place In is a mini suitets hotel, so
you have the larger rooms with the two queen beads.
It's in a separate sofa area. And stoos In we
have the adjoining rooms, so with the smaller rooms, they
don't have the sweets.

Speaker 1 (33:09):
But they're ample size and I've stayed there several times.

Speaker 13 (33:13):
Yes, and if you're on a budget, stoveles In has
you covered.

Speaker 7 (33:17):
We have some really great low rates for this year.

Speaker 13 (33:20):
We'd actually just lowered our rates for the whole year
by thirty percent.

Speaker 2 (33:24):
Do you know what's interesting.

Speaker 1 (33:26):
My advice is, whatever you're planning to visit Disneyland, say
maybe this spring, this summer, this fall, this winter, book
your reservation at either park Place or the Stowball in
and do it now.

Speaker 2 (33:42):
Now.

Speaker 1 (33:42):
I was just there with my family in December, and
you and I had a nice chat, and my daughter
had booked the rate January of last year.

Speaker 2 (33:53):
Incredible rate.

Speaker 1 (33:55):
I happened to look at the rates like the week
before we.

Speaker 2 (33:58):
Were right they had. Yes, so folks, book your hotel,
book it early.

Speaker 1 (34:06):
Now let's talk about the Stowball and I would say
it's about a ten minute walk.

Speaker 13 (34:11):
Yes, roughly about a ten minute walk, nice walk, just
through downtown Disney. If you don't want to do the walk,
there's the Anaheim Resort transit bus that picks up every
I believe twenty minutes for six dollars for a day pass.

Speaker 7 (34:23):
And take you up and back. Takes you right up
and back.

Speaker 1 (34:26):
Your legs are fine at the beginning, they get tired, exactly. Look,
first of all, it's a great location, the rooms are
good sized. You offer not a continental breakfast, but a
full breath.

Speaker 7 (34:40):
It's a full breakfast. They call it a breakfast buffet.

Speaker 13 (34:43):
So you got the hot meats, the potatoes, scrambled eggs, pancakes,
and they change it through every day, so it's not
the same, not the same every day, trust me because
I eat it personally.

Speaker 1 (34:54):
So it's a great And you know, frankly, Disneyland's expensive.

Speaker 2 (34:59):
We all know that food is expensive.

Speaker 1 (35:03):
Wait it is, and so what we like to do
is stay at the stove Walls Inn and tank up.
Excuse the expression at breakfast, I don't mean waste food.

Speaker 2 (35:13):
I mean we consume what we but we have a
full breakfast.

Speaker 1 (35:17):
That kids have a full breakfast, and off we off
we go there that highlight the park Place.

Speaker 2 (35:24):
It's kind of a mini suite hotel.

Speaker 13 (35:26):
It is a mini sweet hotel. It had one hundred
and ninety eight rooms or non smoking. It is a
Disney Good Neighbor hotel and a three diamond star with
Triple A of course, and we got some great room rates.
You go to our website. We have a dedicated website
Stovallshotels dot com where you can book both hotels.

Speaker 1 (35:46):
Now Stowball st O V A L L S Hotelsplural
dot com. Stovealls Hotel and there you can look at
the stowball In and the park Place. Now you've also
got some new restaurant options.

Speaker 7 (36:03):
We your hotels, we do. It's exciting.

Speaker 13 (36:05):
We at the stowballs In, we have Finni's Craft House.
Phinnis is a local restaurant in the right there. Yeah, great,
great menu, it is great. It's a craft house. So
they have local beers from Anaheim. And starting this month,
they're even going to do room service for our hotel.

Speaker 7 (36:22):
They yeah, that starts a couple of weeks from now.

Speaker 2 (36:25):
Actually, so, and what about at the park Place?

Speaker 13 (36:27):
Park Place has Caluccammas, which is a fabulous Mexican restaurant
that opens talking. Yeah, it's good at guacamole. Oh yeah,
Margarita's after a long day at Disneyland. Nice strong, Margarita.

Speaker 1 (36:41):
Let me ask you this, there's a lot of good
hotel options in and around Disneyland. There are, yes, Why
stowballs In, Why park Place.

Speaker 13 (36:53):
What makes us unique, Murray, is we're family owned, we're
family operated, and we're family fun. We've been there since
the sixties. Stowell's family are still majorly involved with the
hotel operations, and we're a Disney good Neighbor Hotel, which
means we are inspected by Disney personally, not for Disney.

Speaker 1 (37:11):
It's kind of like the unofficial Mickey's stamp of approof.

Speaker 13 (37:15):
It is exactly what it is, and there's only a
select few hotels at our Disney Good Neighbor Hotels, so
we're proud of that status.

Speaker 1 (37:23):
The Stowballs in this is serious comment. Have the Getaway
Guru's personal stamp of approval.

Speaker 2 (37:29):
I've stayed there.

Speaker 1 (37:30):
Check out Stoveallshotels dot com. That's Stovewallshotels dot com. Make
your reservations now for whenever you're gonna be visiting. We've
been speaking with Mark Harrison, senior sales manager for the
Best Western plus Stovealls Hotel and the Park Place.

Speaker 7 (37:49):
Mark, thank you for joining us regularly.

Speaker 1 (37:51):
All about Nay Stay two for our number two of
the travel show. It's the Getaway Guru, the Best two
hours of radio and I'm here at the Utah Travel
Expo today. We'll be here until five o'clock. The biggest

(38:14):
and mess travel show anywhere in the Western United States,
with over one hundred and twenty travel vendors and suppliers.
We have airlines, cruise lines, Safari, companies, hotels, resorts, tourist
boards from around the world, which leads me into our
next guest, Kathy, the Regional director for North America for

(38:38):
Tourism Fiji. Kathy bulavinaka, which is the native greeting. I
gotta tell you a funny story because bulla is kind
of short for hello, Buenos diillas, Aloha, good to see you.
So I've been to Fiji many times. I have an
absolute love affair with Fiji. Some years ago, I took

(39:00):
two of my daughters with me.

Speaker 2 (39:02):
They were in high school.

Speaker 1 (39:05):
And we stayed at the Outrigger Hotel. Had a nice
group there, and you know I always tell them to
learn a little bit.

Speaker 8 (39:16):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (39:17):
Well, she misunderstood when I said, you say hello to people,
you know bulah, and she thought it was band too.
So she's walking around the resort and outside the resort,
she's so friendly and she says to people band to
band two. And you know, the Fijians are so polite

(39:41):
that they nobody corrected her. They just smiled and nodded
their head. They thought, who is this crazy girl? You know,
bantu is not a word in Fijian. And I'm laughing
my head off, and I let it go on for
three days.

Speaker 2 (39:58):
I did know band to bad To as.

Speaker 1 (40:01):
My daughter Sarah, and final I said, Sarah, it's not
bad To, it's Buddha.

Speaker 8 (40:07):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (40:08):
Oh, so listen, what is it about Fiji? Everybody who
goes to Fiji wants to go back.

Speaker 2 (40:18):
What is the attraction? What is the draw of Fiji?

Speaker 14 (40:22):
I think Fiji because it is a year round tropical destination.
Everyone knows, you know, okay, yeah, beautiful beachies and things.
You will choose Fiji because it's a tropical island destination,
but you will keep coming back because of the friendliness
of the people.

Speaker 8 (40:36):
You know.

Speaker 1 (40:37):
I think all of Polynesia has a reputation for friendly people,
but my experience is the Fijians standout.

Speaker 2 (40:46):
Yeah, you meet a stranger and it's like your best friends.

Speaker 1 (40:51):
Now we've already explained bullah sure for buladinaka the greeting,
there is an expression the bullah.

Speaker 6 (41:00):
Yeah what is that?

Speaker 14 (41:01):
So in Fiji we are we are very welcoming people
and it's because we we're just genuine like that. We
don't do it because you know, for whatever commercial value,
in Fiji, we're genuine about it and it's very simple.
You know, when we see you, we say hello, were
welcome into our home. And I think the big part
of that is because the resorts Fiji said ninety percent

(41:23):
of our land natively, and there's nothing that's.

Speaker 5 (41:25):
Going to change about that.

Speaker 14 (41:26):
So most of the resorts are also contracted to employ
the local villages.

Speaker 5 (41:30):
It's part of it. So when you come into Fiji,
we're also giving back to the villages.

Speaker 14 (41:33):
But it's because you're also didn't to work with mom, dead,
cousin uncle.

Speaker 1 (41:38):
What is for visitors? You could be as active or
as laid back as you are. Championship golf, deep sea fishing.
What are some of the most popular activities for North
American visitors.

Speaker 14 (41:53):
I think one that absolutely stands out is our singer
Talker Rivers a party.

Speaker 2 (41:57):
Oh my god.

Speaker 14 (41:59):
You go into the heart of about eighteen different villages,
but you get to visit one for the day and
you come into our homes and you see how we
live very basically, and yeah, it's it's always life changing
for North Americans. The other one is Cloud nine, which
is like it is the floating by in the middle
of the ocean. It's beautiful out there, do.

Speaker 2 (42:16):
You know I like the jet boats.

Speaker 5 (42:18):
Yes, the spins.

Speaker 2 (42:19):
Oh, so much fun. It's Fiji easy to get to
from the United States.

Speaker 14 (42:26):
Yes, we do have direct flights out of l e
x SA, non stop, non stop direct.

Speaker 5 (42:31):
Yeah, not stopping for fielding or anything.

Speaker 14 (42:33):
And we hope to have a few seasonal flights out
of Public City soon, hopefully.

Speaker 1 (42:38):
Did you just say we hope, we hope, we hope
they have seasonal flights out of Salt You get a
lot of Utah visitors.

Speaker 5 (42:46):
Yes, yes, we do.

Speaker 1 (42:48):
Oh my gosh. You know, my nephew served as an
LDS missionary. Speaks beautiful. He's also a rugby player and
if he's playing a team many teams have Fijian players.
Because he's playing a team that doesn't know him, he

(43:09):
is listening to their instructions in.

Speaker 8 (43:14):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (43:15):
Yeah, Now, Fiji can be a what we call a
standalone destination. Yeah, you go in Fiji, but it's also
a great stopover destination on your way to New Zealand
or Australia.

Speaker 2 (43:29):
Yeah, yeah, easy, and talk to me about that.

Speaker 14 (43:32):
So Fiji, if you have a ten hour direct flight
in Tunandi, and then if you add on Australia New Zealand,
it's only three or four hours away.

Speaker 1 (43:41):
And now is there a do you know if Fiji
Airways has a stopover charge?

Speaker 5 (43:46):
No, it's free.

Speaker 2 (43:47):
I thought it was free.

Speaker 1 (43:48):
So you know, people go to Australia and New Zealand
and then stop in Fiji, either going or coming, and
you can stay for three or four days.

Speaker 2 (43:59):
You can stay for a week. Now the main island
Vitty labels.

Speaker 1 (44:03):
Yes, the international airport is in Nandi spelled Na d
I and uh.

Speaker 2 (44:10):
You have Suva.

Speaker 1 (44:11):
Yes, you have the King's Road, the Queen's Road. But
what are some of the other outer islands that are
very popular?

Speaker 14 (44:19):
Yes, so very close to Nandi's the Maman of the
group of islands. So that's where you go for nice
suns and see sun drenched islands.

Speaker 2 (44:25):
The Maluca still have the Blue Lagoon cruisers throwing.

Speaker 5 (44:29):
Yes, yes, that's another way to see those islands. Are
going to see more. They have three point seven night cruises.

Speaker 2 (44:34):
And these are smaller cruise ships.

Speaker 1 (44:36):
Huh, not the big ocean, not the big ones, the
smaller What about some other islands just off Vitty label?

Speaker 14 (44:43):
I would like the Northern group of islands, so towards
the Gotten Island of Fiji, and then the Headden Paradise.

Speaker 1 (44:54):
We've been speaking with Kathy, Regional director in North America
for Tourism Fiji Bullah.

Speaker 2 (45:01):
Thank you for joining us.

Speaker 1 (45:02):
You were wonderful and do come as you walk in
you will you just come under the big balloon arch.

Speaker 2 (45:10):
Look to your right there is Fiji and.

Speaker 1 (45:14):
Kathy's in a green and white move move he say
Bula tour or maybe it should come up and say Bantu.

Speaker 2 (45:23):
You've got a great story. Hey, thank you so much.
Thank you again. We're here at the Utah Travel Expo.

Speaker 1 (45:31):
We're here until five o'clock today at the Mountain America
Expo Center in Sandy.

Speaker 2 (45:38):
Love to have you join us here at the thing.

Speaker 1 (45:42):
Our next guest is Michael Brown, national account sales manager
for Travel Answers.

Speaker 2 (45:49):
Michael, it's good to have you here on the show.

Speaker 1 (45:52):
And Travel Answers itself is probably not a household name
that we wreckone that's correctly.

Speaker 2 (46:01):
We want to make it a household name. So who
and what is Travel Answers?

Speaker 15 (46:08):
Well, Larry, thank you firstly for having me on today.
It's exciting to be on your program. I love your
program and everything that you do.

Speaker 7 (46:14):
Thank you Travel Answers.

Speaker 15 (46:15):
We are a destination specialist wholesale company and what the
heck does that mean?

Speaker 2 (46:20):
I was just let me ask you a question, what
the heck does that mean?

Speaker 15 (46:24):
So we work with Morris Columbus Travel. We are their
supplier partner and we have contracts with the airlines, the hotels,
the transfers and the tours in the South Pacific, Africa,
Asia and Europe.

Speaker 1 (46:37):
So someone would come to Morris Columbus, what are the
travel advisors? Correct, and say I want to visit Australia,
I want a Safari, I want that anywhere, and then.

Speaker 2 (46:53):
Morris Columbus would work with you as a Specialist's right?
How long have you worked with Morris Columbus.

Speaker 15 (47:00):
Oh, for the better part of two decades now, so
we have a kid. Yeah, we have really strong partnership
with Morris Columbus. We love you guys very much.

Speaker 1 (47:09):
So you have you offer some discounts that people cannot
get on their own.

Speaker 15 (47:14):
Correct, that's right? Yeah, So you should always travel with
the travel advisor. Saves you money, you have expertise, helps
you with your documents, local contacts, amenities, just a whole
litany of opportunities and advantages for using a travel advisor.
So When you work with Morris Columbus Travel and their

(47:35):
trusted partner, Travel Answers, you get the wealth of our experience.
We have destination specialists who have lived in or traveled
extensively to all of our destinations. We have direct contracts
with airlines and hotels, and we have margins, discounts sales.
We work with tours and boards and through More's Columbus
you get access to all of them.

Speaker 1 (47:55):
Well, let's review some of the places that you go. Tahiti,
the Cook Islands. Have you been up to itube talkie?

Speaker 7 (48:02):
I have not personally.

Speaker 1 (48:05):
It's of course we're tongdays where most people visit in
the cook of an itube talkie.

Speaker 2 (48:10):
Michael, you have to go to all right, I have Fiji.

Speaker 1 (48:13):
We just had Tourism Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Africa, Europe.
With that, we're speaking with Michael Brown, national account sales
manager for Travel Answers. You could speak with Michael personally
right here at the Travel Show.

Speaker 2 (48:31):
Michael, thank you for joining us. Say hi, is that
your booth very good?

Speaker 1 (48:40):
Or when we come back here on the Travel Show.

(49:13):
You're listening to the Travel Show. I'm Larry Gelwicks, the
Getaway Guru. We're here at the Utah Travel Expo. We'll
be here till five o'clock today and it's an exciting time.
The biggest and best travel show anywhere in the Western
United States with over one hundred and twenty travel vendors.

Speaker 2 (49:34):
Now, my next guest is Sarah from.

Speaker 1 (49:37):
The Cook Islands, an ambassador for the Cook Islands. Now,
when we think of Polynesia, we often think of Hawaii
or Samoa Tonga. We just had Fiji tourism here Tahiti.
One of my favorite visits is Islands. Sarah, Welcome to the.

Speaker 2 (49:58):
Travel show, Karana.

Speaker 5 (50:00):
Thank you so much for having me.

Speaker 1 (50:05):
I would say a lot of people are probably not
familiar with the Cook Islands.

Speaker 2 (50:11):
Is that a fair statement?

Speaker 8 (50:12):
I think so, We're definitely amongst our us friends. We're
still relatively undiscovered.

Speaker 1 (50:19):
Which is one of the great benefits of visiting the
Cook Island.

Speaker 2 (50:24):
So, first of all, where.

Speaker 1 (50:25):
Are the Now, I've been there, I know where they are.
But for our listeners, where are the Cook Islands?

Speaker 8 (50:31):
Yes, so we are about a six hour flight south
of Hawaii and about two hours east two and a
half hours east of Tahiti. So we're very similar in
landscape and in culture to Tahiti. But like you can
hear from my accent, and like the French that went
to Tahiti, the British kingtonies to the Cook Island. So
we speak English predominantly, and we also use New Zealand dollar.

Speaker 2 (50:52):
Oh that's your currency. Yes, we use New Zealand. I'll
tell you right now.

Speaker 1 (50:57):
The US dollar is very wrong against the New Zealand dollar,
which makes the Cook Islands a great value.

Speaker 2 (51:06):
The main island ror Tonga non to.

Speaker 1 (51:09):
Be confused with the Kingdom of Tonga. Yes, roor Tonga
is the main island. The capitol island. One are well
it Taki. Talk to me about the different island options
and where people could visit.

Speaker 2 (51:25):
And what they can expect. First, let's go to Rohraton. Yes.

Speaker 5 (51:28):
Well, so the Cook Islands are a tropical a caipelago.

Speaker 8 (51:31):
We're made up of about fifteen different islands and when
you arrive to the Cook Islands, you land in another Tonga,
our main island there and we have a range of
things to do, everything that you would expect from a
tropical destination. See activities. You can explore our mountains and
get to know our local people. The nice thing about
alto Tonga is that we're only twenty miles around island,

(51:53):
so you can see the island drive around it in
less than an hour. Yeah, so it's really not really
easy to meet the local people and engage with our
Maudi people and you know, get to hear their stories
and see their way of life. It's really an if
you're looking for an authentic island experience, you're really going
to get that, but still have the modern amenities that

(52:14):
you would expect from a resort or a hotel stay.

Speaker 1 (52:16):
There is a Maori culture in the Cook Islands which
I just absolutely love.

Speaker 8 (52:22):
Yes, and we know we have a lot of similarities
to places like Tahiti and New Zealand, but still very
distinct in our own way. And if you go just
forty five minutes north of Ralotonga, your land in actually paradise.
It's where the locals go to holiday, that's where that's
where you want to be in isis hockey and it's
about a forty five minute flight north of Ratatonga.

Speaker 1 (52:44):
I have recommended Aitutaki to so many people and they
come back almost speechless. What can our visitors expect in Autoki?

Speaker 8 (52:56):
Well, it's it's almost it's so hard, it's almost impossible
to put into words what what Isosuckey is like. But
imagine paradise and imagine crystal blue waters, beautiful visibility, amazing
snorkeling and white sandy beaches and quiet.

Speaker 5 (53:12):
It's so relaxing and peaceful.

Speaker 2 (53:16):
It's yeah, Las Vegas night but a lot of them
does have a.

Speaker 8 (53:24):
Lively hub and a pretty great night scene as well too,
if that's something that you're interested in too, So you
can relax during the day and then you know, get out.

Speaker 5 (53:33):
Of party and dance with the locals in the.

Speaker 7 (53:36):
Evening and dance with the locals that's with the locals.

Speaker 5 (53:38):
Absolutely how people are out and about, And I.

Speaker 3 (53:41):
Would say too, it's a really safe destination.

Speaker 8 (53:44):
I meet a lot of solo travelers, the tires families,
and they say they feel safe to drive around on
their own or catch a taxi, get on the bus,
and they know that they that they are going to
be looks after. Because we're a small community, we look
after one that.

Speaker 1 (53:57):
One of the things I like about the cook is
that a visitor can be as active or as laid
back as they want to be, exactly for those who
want activities, be they what we call a soft activity
or a more adventurous activity.

Speaker 2 (54:15):
What are some of the most popular.

Speaker 8 (54:17):
Well, I think we're a great destination for the soft adventure.
If you want to flop and drop, you can definitely
do that. But in terms of adventure, you know, you
can go get a souscooter and dive with the turtles.
You can snorkel. You we have scuba diving. You can
swim with the whales in Itentucky. You can explore our
mountain rangers, hike across the mountains and then end up
at a beautiful water.

Speaker 2 (54:37):
Deep sea fishing, deep sea fish biking.

Speaker 8 (54:39):
Yeah. Absolutely, there's there's so much to c and do
we really for a little island.

Speaker 5 (54:46):
We really pack a punch when it comes to Or.

Speaker 1 (54:48):
You could just kick back under the shade of a
palm tree or a cabana, enjoy the pool of the resort.

Speaker 2 (54:55):
I enjoy the ocean. I don't know how to describe
the clarity of the water.

Speaker 5 (55:02):
The clarity and even the temperature. So it's nice to
swim in all year round in the sun.

Speaker 2 (55:06):
You're not gonna shiver, No, definitely not.

Speaker 8 (55:09):
You can leave, you can leave the long wetsuits at home.
Our lagoon water is beautiful and tippid and only about
waste deep, so it's really safe for families and little
ones to swim and enjoy too.

Speaker 1 (55:19):
We're speaking with Sarah, the Cook Islands ambassador.

Speaker 2 (55:22):
You can talk to Sarah.

Speaker 1 (55:24):
She's in a beautiful pink and white mumu with it
looks like a black pearl necklace, which is of course
famous in the South Pacific. We're here at the Utah
Travel Expo. The Cook Islands have a wonderful display with information.
It's actually quite easy to get to and it's to
me it's a step back in time in the South Seas.

Speaker 5 (55:46):
Sarah, Oh, thank you so much. Thank you for having
me here with you.

Speaker 8 (55:51):
In definitely, the Cook Islands is like the islands that
you may remember of yesteryear, like fifty years ago. No
high raise buildings, no buildings taller than a coconut. We
want you to see the island before you see the hotels.

Speaker 2 (56:03):
Well, thank you very much.

Speaker 1 (56:05):
Hey, coming up next, we're gonna go deluxe cruising with
Crystal Cruises, which sails all around the world, my absolute
favorite deluxe ocean cruise line.

Speaker 2 (56:17):
Again, we're here at the Utah Travel x bo you're

(56:40):
listening to the travel show. I'm Larry Gelwicks the get Away.

Speaker 16 (56:43):
If we're here at the Utah Travel Xbook, we're to
hear until five o'clock the biggest, the best travel expo
you'll ever find, with over one hundred and twenty travel
vendors and suppliers. What's so great about the expo as
you can come in and sit down and talk to
any of these travel folks, ask questions and plan the

(57:05):
perfect vacation. And one booth, I hope you stop buys
one of my favorites, Crystal Cruises. I'm pleased to welcome
back to the Travel Show my friend Marnie Whipple, Regional
sales director for Crystal Cruises.

Speaker 1 (57:21):
Marni, welcome to the Travel Show. You were with me
in was it December and November on the show. It's
great to have you back, Marny. Now, for our listeners
who may not be familiar with Crystal Cruises, which is
a deluxe, I actually.

Speaker 2 (57:39):
Have four categories of ocean liners.

Speaker 1 (57:44):
What I call is kind of a first class that
would be like Princess Royal Caribbean, great companies. Then there's
kind of a premiere line celebrity Holland. But a wonderful
step up is more of the deluxe, which I think
Crystal is the king of those. So introduce us to

(58:07):
Crystal Cruises.

Speaker 2 (58:08):
Who are you?

Speaker 8 (58:09):
Oh?

Speaker 3 (58:09):
Thanks, Larry. We are exceptional at sea. We've been cruising
for thirty five years. We follow the Sun around the
world and what we really do is offer it with
exceptional service. So we have two beautiful ships, boutique in
their style. We only have six hundred guests or seven
hundred and forty, and because of our size, we have
a lot more space. When you're welcomed home aboard Crystal,

(58:31):
there are many choices, more dining choices, the entertainment also exceptional.

Speaker 1 (58:36):
No, I've sailed with you a couple of times. I
want you to picture you're looking at a large ocean liner.
You may think, oh, there's two thy twenty five hundred people.
We're talking six hundred, seven hundred and eight hundred. I
think you up to nine hundred is it?

Speaker 3 (58:51):
No, just seven hundred recently renovated.

Speaker 1 (58:54):
Yes, on what you think would have over two thousand
people on it. It's unheard talk about the Crystal difference.
What makes you different from other cruise lines, including the
luxe cruise lines one hundred percent.

Speaker 3 (59:07):
It's our crew. We have more space, more choices, everything
that you would anticipate, and things.

Speaker 5 (59:13):
You didn't know that you wanted.

Speaker 3 (59:14):
The butler will surprise you with as an example. But
with the special touches and that sensitivity, the caring from
the heart, the authenticity, how the crew show up. I
was on in November. The crew somebody remember me and
they said, Martie, do you want that cappuccino you used
to like. I haven't been cruising with us since twenty nineteen,
so to be welcomed home and to have them remember

(59:35):
all of these details because it's like family, but you're
treated like royalty at the same time.

Speaker 2 (59:39):
I have found that.

Speaker 1 (59:42):
The two biggest differences that I find. One is the service,
which you highlighted, but the quality of dining. It's as
good as any big city restaurant in New York A.
San Francisco really is Ashley Larry.

Speaker 3 (59:56):
We have two restaurants that are Michelin Star dining experiences,
plus we have Nobu Matsahisa, plus our waterside restaurant. Every
night we completely change the menu.

Speaker 1 (01:00:05):
Now you sail around the world and people can buy
a segment here or there, you have some current promotions
or specials.

Speaker 3 (01:00:12):
Yes, we just launched a really exciting voyage appens to
Rome May fifteen to May twenty second. She starts at
an exceptional value of around thirty five hundred per guest.
Really wonderful opportunity for Cruiz is that that's seven days.
And we also have an air a Caribbean air included
opportunity of people looking to warm up from this wonderful,

(01:00:33):
refreshing Utah air today. And also we have a save
up to five thousand per couple on select voyages. Had
some shipboork credit to help you with your short excursions
or your onboard SPA opportunities.

Speaker 1 (01:00:46):
When people sail with Crystal, what are their comments or reactions?

Speaker 3 (01:00:52):
A lot of times they're speechless. They're just in awe
of the service.

Speaker 2 (01:00:57):
I've never been accused of being speechless.

Speaker 5 (01:01:00):
Oh that's funny.

Speaker 3 (01:01:01):
A lot of times you can just look at their
faces and they say, wow, I didn't I didn't know,
I didn't didn't think about that all.

Speaker 1 (01:01:09):
I want to say this with no disrespect to other
cruise lines, because I enjoyed cruising. My wife Kathy and
I love cruising It's been our privilege to sail a
number of times with.

Speaker 2 (01:01:23):
Crystal Cruises. But how do I say this?

Speaker 1 (01:01:28):
After a Crystal experience, it's hard to go back to
anything else, No disrespect intended.

Speaker 3 (01:01:35):
There's something about Crystal. There's a secret sauce. You feel
like you're at home. It's you're always welcome home. There's
something really special about every little detail.

Speaker 1 (01:01:47):
To check out available voyages, your website.

Speaker 3 (01:01:51):
Is Crystalcruises dot com, and really always work with a
travel adviser.

Speaker 1 (01:01:57):
What I'm suggesting people do is go to the website
Crystalcruises dot com and then look at different choices and
take it to Morris Columbus Travel Advisors. Oftentimes we have
some promotions, signature promotions and others that we can add
to it.

Speaker 3 (01:02:17):
And right now we have one hundred and twenty five
dollars per guest shipboard credit as a thank you for
this wonderful Morris Columbus Travel show.

Speaker 1 (01:02:25):
We have verygular Barney Whipple, Regional sales director for Crystal Cruises.

Speaker 2 (01:02:30):
Thank you for joining us. Thank you, Larry, and you
can come and talk to Marney right here at the Utah.

Speaker 3 (01:02:35):
Travels Looking forward to it.

Speaker 1 (01:02:36):
Hey, I'm very excited about our next guest, Daniel, the
sales manager for Rovos Travel, and this is a unique
experience in the through the heart of Africa, Daniel Fincham,
Is that pronounced correctly?

Speaker 7 (01:02:55):
Yep, that's correct.

Speaker 1 (01:02:57):
Yep, that's good enough, Very good Daniel. First of all,
introduce our listeners. We're syndicated on nineteen stations, so we
have a huge listening audience.

Speaker 2 (01:03:07):
Who is what is Rovos rail?

Speaker 7 (01:03:11):
Thanks?

Speaker 17 (01:03:11):
Good to be a yeah, Robstrail is a luxury train
experience that trouble predominantly in Southern and East Africa. We
have these beautiful refurbished nineteen twenties railway carts and run
a collection of journeys anywhere from two nights all the
way to sixteen nights.

Speaker 8 (01:03:29):
Is that?

Speaker 1 (01:03:30):
And forgive me if this is not a good comparison.
Many people are familiar with the orient Express. Is that
that type of luxury Yeah? Very well, step up.

Speaker 17 (01:03:41):
Yeah, it's often referred to sometimes as the Oriente Expace
of Africa, not connected anyway, but great way.

Speaker 1 (01:03:47):
People are familiar with that. So it's a luxury experience.
Where do you travel in South Africa?

Speaker 17 (01:03:55):
I think that's one thing that does definitely set us
apart is that the amount of different journeys that we
do offer in that area is fantastic. So our shorter journeys,
our most popular ones would be from Cape Town up
to Pretoria where we have our own railway station, Pretoria,
the capitol, Yeah, one of the capital South South Africa.

Speaker 2 (01:04:10):
Yeah.

Speaker 17 (01:04:10):
And then also from Pretoria up to Victoria Falls and
a beautiful way too love it, Yeah, one of the
seven natural Wonders of the world, one of the most
incredible kind of natural sights to see. And then also
we have our longer journey. So my personal family would
have to be the Namibia Safari, which is an eleven
day train journey from where to where.

Speaker 2 (01:04:29):
And seeing what. Yeah.

Speaker 17 (01:04:30):
So from Pretoria you start and then you work your
way through South Africa and then into Namibia right in
the south, and then you work your way up the coast,
going towards what Volvers Bay and Skeleton Coast and also
accessing different sides.

Speaker 1 (01:04:43):
Assuming on the longer or any of the jerseys, you're
not simply sitting on the rail for six, you know,
two to sixteen days.

Speaker 7 (01:04:51):
No, not at all. So you have your beautifully appointed
cabin there.

Speaker 17 (01:04:55):
We have three different types of cabins on board, the
largest being one hundred and seventy five square feet.

Speaker 2 (01:05:00):
You're a railroad, that is mass.

Speaker 7 (01:05:02):
It is massive.

Speaker 17 (01:05:03):
Yeah, your own private standing bathtub as well, all of
the all the suites are on all the rooms are
on suite. And then every day we do have an
excursion as well, so you're not stuck on the train.
All dayursions included food and drinks are fully inclusive experience.
So yeah, all your food, drinks, excursions, laundry, everything.

Speaker 7 (01:05:22):
Is included in the price.

Speaker 17 (01:05:23):
So you know the price right up front, yep, exactly
once you paid for it then, I think so it
works out very well priced in terms of not having
to unpack throughout a whole Southern Africa trip. If you
want to go on Safari for twelve days, you've got
one room and just a beautiful way to experience it
as opposed to jumping on airlines across the.

Speaker 1 (01:05:40):
Talk to me about the dining experience, absolutely incredible.

Speaker 7 (01:05:44):
I was just on the train in October and I
blew my mind again.

Speaker 17 (01:05:48):
Luncheoned in our both four course tasting menus that are
paired with South African wines. We have fantastics, some my
l ears on board who really take into consideration your
likes and preferences and we can cater to any archie requirements.

Speaker 7 (01:06:01):
That the shifts on board.

Speaker 17 (01:06:02):
Free, lactose free and yeah yeah yeah on board so
yeah i'll shift on board are amazing. And if you
have R on board, I highly recommend going to look
at the kitchen. That's amazing. How in this tiny little
space at the back what they're able to make in
the in the in the train.

Speaker 7 (01:06:19):
So you have a website we do, which is rovost
dot com. Ye this r O B O S.

Speaker 1 (01:06:26):
Here's what I suggest people do is go to rovos
dot com, look at the different options and then kind
of narrow down your choices and bring that information to
Morris Columbus Travel.

Speaker 2 (01:06:41):
Our advisors are.

Speaker 1 (01:06:43):
Are experts in international travel, and oftentimes we may have
promotions that can add.

Speaker 2 (01:06:50):
To what you see.

Speaker 17 (01:06:52):
Yeah, and I also, yeah, the nice thing is it
can be a full journey, but also it's a fantastic
little add on. So if you are doing a traditional
South African Safarian something along those lines, and you want
to add Victoria fors, adding one of those short three
or four night journeys is a great way to experience
the train and kind of create a different experience on
your travel.

Speaker 11 (01:07:11):
Now.

Speaker 1 (01:07:12):
I know a lot of our listeners are familiar with
Every year we do two or three great migration safaris
in Kenya. It's a short flight down to Johannesburger, Pretoria.
For those who travel with us to Kenya, you really
are to think about adding South Africa. For most of

(01:07:34):
visitors going to Africa and safaris one time.

Speaker 2 (01:07:39):
I think it's great. I go every year, but you
know for most it's one time.

Speaker 1 (01:07:45):
Daniel, and don't miss this experience in Southern and Eastern Africa.

Speaker 17 (01:07:51):
Yeah, Definie and South Africa is also just this fantastic
destination in terms of its diversity of experiences. Not only
is it offering safaris, but world class city's lock Cape
Town and yeah, you can even jump on the train
in Darsalam and take it for sixteen nights all the
way down.

Speaker 7 (01:08:06):
To Campton if you like.

Speaker 17 (01:08:07):
What's our longest journey troubles through five different countries and
Trudio once we run that journey twice a year.

Speaker 1 (01:08:15):
We're speaking with Daniel Fincamp, sales manager for ROVs Travel.
When you come to the Utah Travel Expo you can
talk to Daniel personally at the Rovos Rail booth here
at the Mountain America expos Center and Sandy. Come with questions,
and this Rovos rail has got me intrigued. I'm going

(01:08:38):
to do a deeper dive into this fantastic train.

Speaker 2 (01:08:42):
Well, thank you.

Speaker 1 (01:08:42):
We should do the Travel Show live on the train
one day anyway, Daniel, thank you for joining us.

Speaker 2 (01:08:49):
All the best to you, brother, appreciate it all right.

Speaker 1 (01:08:51):
More when we come back here on the Travel Show,
and don't forget We'll be here until five o'clock at
the Mountain America expos Center in Sandy. Talk to the
travel vendors, talk to Daniel. Take a look at the
brochure as they have available for Rovis Travel.

Speaker 2 (01:09:10):
One hundred and twenty travel suppliers and vendors are right here.
Coming back more with the Utah Travel.

Speaker 9 (01:09:18):
Expect you're listings in the travel show.

Speaker 1 (01:09:33):
I'm Larry Gelwick's the getaway Guru here at the Utah
Travel Expo, and I just spoke to the most interesting
gentleman who's attending. His name is Dima and he has
Mattei Travel, which are day tours here in Utah to
the National parks and we're going to be talking to

(01:09:56):
Dema in the coming weeks and maybe work something out.
But if you want to see Utah on day trips
or you have friends coming in, we're gonna talk to
you all about Mattei Travel. You know, this Utah Travel
Exmo is so spectacular. It is the biggest and best
travel show anywhere in the Inner Mountain area with over

(01:10:19):
one hundred and twenty travel vendors suppliers. These are airlines,
cruise lines, safari companies, hotels, resorts, tour companies, everything imaginable.
And on today's special edition of the Travel show, we
have been talking to many of the vendors and suppliers

(01:10:39):
that are here at the show.

Speaker 2 (01:10:41):
It's an exciting time. You can come. We're here till
five o'clock at the Mountain America.

Speaker 1 (01:10:45):
Expo Center in Sandy and you can sit down and
talk to airlines, cruise lines, tour companies, resorts, ask questions
and find out what is the perfect vacation and do
take advantage of exclusive expo discounts. And just for showing up,

(01:11:08):
Morris Columbus Travel, who is the sponsor of the Travel Expo,
will give you a fifty dollars gift card applicable on
your next qualifying vacation with Morris Columbus Travel. Now, every
hour we're giving away major travel awards, free airline tickets,

(01:11:29):
free trips to Europe, Fiji, Hawaii, Mexico.

Speaker 2 (01:11:33):
Around the world, around the US.

Speaker 1 (01:11:35):
Now, somebody's going to win these prizes, and if you're
register it may as well be you. When you walk in,
look to your right in the far corner of the
Exposition Center. We're on the north side of the Mountain
America Expo Center. There's a huge globe hanging from the ceiling.

(01:11:56):
That's where you register for the Tree Free Travel Awards. Now,
you have to be present to register, obviously, but you
do not have to be present to win. You just
register and we're going to be drawing names and contacting.

Speaker 2 (01:12:14):
People if they're not here next week.

Speaker 1 (01:12:17):
So, as I said, somebody's going to win these prizes,
and it may as well be you. Well, I just
got home from Thailand and Cambodia two days ago with
the most incredible, wonderful group of travel show listeners.

Speaker 2 (01:12:32):
I actually will be leaving.

Speaker 1 (01:12:34):
A week from today, headed back to Thailand, all the
way across the Pacific with another group of travel show listeners.

Speaker 2 (01:12:44):
I have such a good life.

Speaker 1 (01:12:45):
And then later on in the month of February, I'll
be joining Kathy in Sydney, Australia for a two week
group of travel show listeners. We have a two week
cruise of Australia and New Zealand. I gotta tell you honestly,
I absolutely love my life. I want you to check
out the Morris Columbus Travel website Morriscolumbus dot com. That's

(01:13:10):
Morriscolumbus dot com. And if you want to look at
any of the escorted tours which are sold under the
name of Morris Murdoch Escorted Tours, a division of Morris
Columbus Travel, scroll down on the homepage and click on

(01:13:30):
Morris Murdoch Escorted Tours, and then if it's a cruise,
click on Cruises. If it's a land tour, click on
the geographic Deska, Asia, Holy Land, Faith based tours, Africa, Europe,
whatever you're looking for, and then a whole list of

(01:13:51):
our escorted tours will come up. You'll also see my
photo on the tours that I'm hosting. In fact, if
you show up here at the Utah Travel Expo, as
you walk in. Right on the right hand side is
the Morris Murdock Escorted Tour booth, and there's all of
my tours there.

Speaker 2 (01:14:11):
But there's one page.

Speaker 1 (01:14:12):
It has a yellow heading at the top, and it
lists all of the tours that I'll be taking in
twenty six and twenty seven. I will say some of
them are not listed because they're already sold out, but
it would love to have you join me. The other
thing on the home page click on resources and then

(01:14:32):
there's a whole bunch of nice offers there, including at
Parking Jet, which is the only locally owned off airport
parking facility, and I like it off Excuse me, I
like it locally owned because the money stays in Utah

(01:14:54):
rather than going out out of state. But click on resources,
click on so Lake Parking Discount and you can get
a twenty percent discount. Print half a dozen, print a
dozen coupons, keep them in your car, and when you
go to parkin Jet you can get a twenty percent discount,

(01:15:15):
which is really gonna save you.

Speaker 2 (01:15:17):
An absolute ton of money.

Speaker 1 (01:15:20):
Well, this brings us to the end of a special
edition of the Travel Show.

Speaker 2 (01:15:24):
Again. We're here till five o'clock at the Utah Travel.

Speaker 1 (01:15:28):
Expo at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy.

Speaker 2 (01:15:32):
If you want.

Speaker 1 (01:15:33):
Details, go to Utah Travelxpo dot com. There are information seminars.
I'll be doing one of traveling with me the Getaway
Guru at two thirty today. Check out that website Utah
Travelxpo dot com. Utah Travelxpo dot com and I'd love

(01:15:55):
to see you out here.

Speaker 2 (01:15:56):
You recognize fighting not us, but the U.

Speaker 9 (01:16:03):
S Hot Trowlers will have a great