Lost and Found at LAX
Rudy visits the lost and found office at Los Angeles' airport and finds some interesting flotsam and jetsam.
Q&A I -- The World's Worst Drivers
Callers tell Rudy about the worst drivers in the world.
Airline Food
Once cash-strapped airlines - with a bit of help from researchers in the field of "food science" - may be making the dining finer at 35-thousand feet. Ronnie Hess from WBEZ in Chicago goes behind the scenes in a kitchen that specializes in making airline food
Interview With a Hotel General Manager
Known as GMs in hotel parlance, general managers are the lords of the manor with one of the few jobs that still commands absolute authority. Stan Bromley is the regional vice president of Four Seasons in Washington, DC. I asked him why savvy travelers might want to get to know him after they check in.
Deal of the Week
Feel like taking a little drive south? Or how about to California? Well, beginning this coming week, have I got some cheap cars for you.
Along with the change in climate comes a seasonal shift in the demand for rental cars. As the weather grows cold in some parts of the country, people begin considering winter vacations in places like as Florida and California. And rental car companies there need cars from other locations to bolster their fleets.
That's where you come in. Between October 12th and December 12th, National will let travelers drive cars from selected locations in the Northeast and Midwest to certain big cities in Florida. Here's a typical price from National: Rent a mid-sized car in Washington, D.C. and drop it off a week later in Miami for an astounding $89. And you can keep the car for two weeks. Not much small print: Just reserve your car at least three days in advance.
Hertz boasts a similar offer-for $10 a week more-but throws California into the deal. Avis tells me it's not quite ready to announce its prices yet. Which means if warmer climes are calling you, grab the family or friends and pick up a ridiculously cheap rental car at National or Hertz. That's my deal of the week.
Q&A II
General caller questions.
Balloon Festival
For 26 years hundreds of balloons in all shapes and colors have floated in the skies over Albuquerque, New Mexico at the International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. The biggest event of its kind in the world, this years gathering has been underway for several days with activities scheduled to run through this weekend. Now even though Judith Fein has both a fear of heights and a fear of flying she made us a promise that she'd go aloft.
Next Week on The Savvy Traveler
We'll follow a flock of Italian sheep who've just finished summer vacation, hear how Berlin's facelift has become a tourist attraction and cruise the English countryside in a classy British sports car and Rudy will take listener calls about traveling with pets.
That and more in next week's voyage with The Savvy Traveler. I hope you'll join us.
If you want your very own copy of The Savvy Traveler, order an audio cassette. It's easy. Just call 303-823-8000. The price is $15. As Rudy says, it's a steal.
