THE VACATION NERD WITH PATRICK WISCOMBE — EPISODE 178, PART 2
Speaker-Labeled Transcript

TODD CARLSON: This is the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show, presented by BluePlanetVacations.com, America’s Best Travel Advisors. Call or text the show right now: 801-649-3700. 801-649-3700. And now, here are your hosts, Patrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: All aboard for the infamous Just Cruising segment right here on the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show. Hello there. I hope you’re having a terrific weekend. My name is Patrick Wiscombe, alongside Mark Faldmo.

Every single week at the bottom of the hour, it’s the infamous Just Cruising segment, where we give you unique cruise itineraries—and we’ve definitely got a doozy this week. We’ve also got the cruise deal of the week.

Mark, let’s finish Jessica’s questions about things she should do while she is in Jamaica, and let’s recap what we’ve already talked about.

MARK FALDMO: We talked about my favorite things to do in Jamaica: Dunn’s River Falls, Rick’s Café and Seven Mile Beach, Bob Marley tours, bamboo rafting and James Bond tours.

Then you have to go to Scotchies and get some Jamaican jerk chicken. It’s a great experience to get that authentic Jamaican jerk chicken.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: Let’s talk about the deal to go to Jamaica. Let’s start there.

MARK FALDMO: This one is pretty close in. For Caribbean vacations, you can save up to $200, but it has to be booked by April 30th—next Wednesday—so you have to book pretty quickly.

Jessica mentioned that she wanted to go in the fall, so I looked at the end of September. This was September 18th for five nights. It includes round-trip airfare from Salt Lake City and five nights at the hotel.

One thing that’s nice is that we used to have to take an overnight flight from Salt Lake City, but now American Airlines and United Airlines both have flights that can get you to Jamaica on the same day.

This one is on American Airlines. The flight does leave at 5:30 a.m., so you have to be there pretty early, but you don’t have to take an overnight flight.

I chose two hotels in Jamaica. I would recommend a four- or five-star hotel. I wouldn’t go any lower in quality than that.

The first hotel is called Iberostar Waves Rose Hall Beach, which is right near Montego Bay. Round-trip airfare from Salt Lake City, five nights at the hotel and transfers between the airport and hotel start at $1,299 per person.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: How many days?

MARK FALDMO: Six days, five nights.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: So, $1,299.

MARK FALDMO: The second hotel I’d recommend is called Hideaway at Royalton Blue Waters. This is a five-star hotel located between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, about 45 minutes from the airport.

The price on that one is $1,459 per person. Those are some really good prices for Jamaica.

Jamaica is one of my favorite Caribbean islands to visit. When I visited it by cruise, I did not like Jamaica. When I actually visited it by land, I loved Jamaica, and I want to go back as much as I can.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: Jessica, call Mark in his office when you’re ready to book or if you have additional questions. The office phone number is 888-718-7717. 888-718-7717.

Let’s get to Seth’s question. If you have travel-related questions, call or text the studio: 801-649-3700. 801-649-3700.

Seth, I thought this was pretty funny. He is challenging you to find the most unique cruise itinerary. I know this is short notice. What did you find?

MARK FALDMO: I found three itineraries. These are all on Holland America.

The first cruise is round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, and it’s an Amazon River cruise. It heads south, does part of a Southern Caribbean cruise, then sails up the Amazon River to Manaus. After that, it visits more of the Southern Caribbean before returning to Fort Lauderdale.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: How many days is that?

MARK FALDMO: It’s a 30-day cruise.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: Very interesting.

MARK FALDMO: That one departs November 21st of this year, and it starts at $4,599 per person.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: I want to sail the Amazon. I think that would be amazing.

MARK FALDMO: I think that would be amazing as well.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: What else did you find? I was kind of surprised that you found three.

MARK FALDMO: This is one I like, and it’s a little closer to home. It’s a 12-day Mexican Riviera and Sea of Cortez cruise, round-trip from San Diego.

It visits Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlán, then sails into the Sea of Cortez. It visits La Paz, Loreto, Guaymas and probably my favorite port—just because I like saying it—Topolobampo.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: Topolobampo.

MARK FALDMO: Topolobampo. That’s actually near where the stories of Zorro were based. The person who inspired the character was born in Topolobampo.

That cruise sails in February of next year. Inside cabins start at $1,669 per person, and balcony cabins start at $2,269 per person.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: What Holland America ship is this on?

MARK FALDMO: Zuiderdam.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: Okay, Zuiderdam. I’ve got to ask: What’s the third one?

MARK FALDMO: The third one is a 130-day cruise, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. I’m not going to go over every port, just the regions it visits.

It starts in Fort Lauderdale, cruises down the east coast of South America, visits Ushuaia and Antarctica—

PATRICK WISCOMBE: We’re going south, then way south.

MARK FALDMO: Yes. Then it travels through the Strait of Magellan and up to Santiago, Chile. From there, it sails across the Pacific, visiting Easter Island, Tahiti, Auckland and Sydney.

It cruises up the northern coast of Australia to Singapore, then visits Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tokyo and several other ports in Japan.

From there, it sails across to Kodiak, Alaska, does a full Alaska cruise, a full Mexican Riviera cruise, passes through the Panama Canal and finishes back in Fort Lauderdale.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: One hundred and thirty days?

MARK FALDMO: One hundred and thirty days. You can also book certain segments. You don’t have to do the entire 130 days, but it is quite the itinerary.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: That is absolutely spectacular. I would do that in a second.

MARK FALDMO: Yes, you’re right.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: Those are some crazy places to visit. Which ship is that on, Mark?

MARK FALDMO: Holland America’s Volendam.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: That is absolutely spectacular. Sign me up, because I can do the radio show from the deck of Zuiderdam. Is that what you said?

MARK FALDMO: Volendam.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: Oh, Volendam. I’m sorry.

Seth, I think challenge accepted—and I think Mark absolutely slayed it.

If you have a travel-related question, text us. We want you to be part of the show, and we want to answer your questions: 801-649-3700. 801-649-3700. That is the studio and text line.

If you want to book the vacation, I’m going to give you a separate number: 888-718-7717. 888-718-7717. You can always visit BluePlanetVacations.com as well.

When we come back, we’ll wrap up the show. We’ve got Mark’s travel tips, and we’re going to talk about the benefits of using a travel agent or travel advisor.

That is next when the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show continues. Alongside my good friend Mark Faldmo, my name is Patrick Wiscombe. Thank you so much for allowing us to be part of your weekend. We will be right back.

TODD CARLSON: Explore your world. You’re listening to the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show with Patrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo. Call or text the show now: 801-649-3700. That’s 801-649-3700. And check out the podcast at InsideTravelTalk.com. We’ll be right back.

TODD CARLSON: This segment of Inside Travel Talk is sponsored by Star Clippers. For over 30 years, Star Clippers has offered unique, authentic tall-ship sailing experiences featuring creative itineraries throughout the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Central America.

To book your unique Star Clippers sailing adventure, contact Blue Planet Vacations at 888-718-7717 or BluePlanetVacations.com.

They’ll help you plan and book your next vacation. Yeah, really.

You’re listening to the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show, presented by BluePlanetVacations.com, America’s Best Travel Advisors. Call or text the show now: 801-649-3700. 801-649-3700. And now, here’s Patrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: We have literally been on the road for the last 30 days. Mark, it’s good to be home. I love traveling, but I think I need a break after 30 days on the road.

MARK FALDMO: Thirty days can be long.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: What is the longest trip that you and Heather—or just you, because this is your business—have ever been on?

MARK FALDMO: I think the longest I’ve been gone is 19 days. That’s not too terribly long. Well, I guess it is long, but 19 days is the longest I’ve been gone.

That was the trip where we flew to Tahiti, stayed there for a few days, and then took the Marquesas Islands cruise.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: Oh, the ship.

MARK FALDMO: Yeah. When we got off that cruise, our flight was canceled, so we spent two extra days in Tahiti. I didn’t complain, but it did make for a long trip.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: Was that Aranui 5, the ship that is half freighter and half cruise ship?

MARK FALDMO: Yes, Aranui 5.

Since you brought it up, I want to say that anyone interested in container-ship or freighter-ship cruising can find a great blog on the Blue Planet Vacations website about Aranui 5.

It is probably the most unique thing I’ve ever done and probably the most memorable thing I’ve ever done.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: You have referenced that for the last year and a half. Now I can finally put it in context, because it was one of the first things we ever discussed. Now it’s like, “Oh, I get why he keeps coming back to that.”

MARK FALDMO: It was an amazing experience.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: You are listening to the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show. My name is Patrick Wiscombe. That is the voice of Mark Faldmo.

We are finally broadcasting together in the studio here in Salt Lake City. It’s good to be home.

Coming up in this segment of the show, we are talking about Mark’s travel tips. We get a big response to this show generally, but I’ve noticed a real trend: When we do your travel tips in the last segment, it seems to resonate with customers.

I found an article about why you should use a travel agent. This is going to sound a little self-serving, but it is not.

I subscribe to an email called The Points Guy. It covers credit-card information, how to maximize your miles and other travel topics. It also has some really good travel tips. One of the things we wanted to talk about is: Why use a travel advisor?

Let’s start there.

MARK FALDMO: One of the things the article says is that you should use a travel advisor for your vacations. It lists several reasons why. I included many of the reasons from the article, as well as some of my own.

The first thing I’m often asked is: How do travel agents get paid? Does it cost me more to use a travel agent?

PATRICK WISCOMBE: I’ve even asked you that question. Let’s go in depth on this. How do you get paid?

MARK FALDMO: Travel agents are generally paid through commissions from suppliers, cruise lines and the different companies whose products we sell.

People ask, “Does it cost me more?” It doesn’t.

For a cruise, what you see on the cruise line’s website is generally the same price I would sell it for as a travel agent.

There are a few exceptions we’ve talked about. I may have a better price than what’s on the cruise line’s website if I have group space or if there is something special offered through the agency memberships I belong to. Generally, though, the price is the same.

I’ve heard travel agents explain it this way: You’re paying for it anyway. If you book it yourself, you are still paying the built-in travel-agent commission; the cruise line simply gets to keep it.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: I’m going to take it a step further. You have access to more rooms, and you have access to better deals. Is that fair to say?

MARK FALDMO: Generally speaking, yes.

The group I’m part of reserves group space, and in many cases, it receives advance notice. That space is reserved before the ships even go on sale to the general public.

That means it can be the best available price, and I can sell into those groups. Depending on when you’re looking, it can be several hundred dollars lower than what the cruise line is selling.

Cruise lines generally increase their prices as time goes on. With these groups, I can get space before it is on sale to the general public.

There are some fees that travel agents charge, and I should explain those.

The first is for airline tickets. Airlines are the one type of supplier that does not pay a travel advisor, so most agencies charge a ticketing fee for their time.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: If you have multiple people, you have to collect all their information and documents. You have to do everything, and that can be time-consuming.

MARK FALDMO: It definitely can be time-consuming.

A lot of travel agencies also charge what is called a plan-to-go fee or a good-faith deposit. If someone calls about something complicated, the agency may charge this deposit, but it will be applied to the cost of the trip.

Travel can be complex. A lot of people are intimidated by that complexity, so they go to a travel agent, have the agent plan everything, and then—once it has all been figured out—they don’t use the travel agent. They go and book it on their own after everything has been explained to them.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: That’s pretty slimy, honestly.

MARK FALDMO: It is.

That is why a lot of travel agents charge a plan-to-go fee or good-faith deposit. In most cases, it is applied to the cost of the trip, so it still doesn’t cost you any more, even though the fee is charged in advance.

On some very complex trips, we will charge a fee. If it is a very complex trip, that fee is well worth it to get the trip you want and need.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: What a lot of people don’t know is how you got into the travel industry. How did you get started?

MARK FALDMO: I’m actually third-generation in the travel industry. I grew up in the industry, doing everything from mowing the lawn at my grandparents’ agency to sorting brochures and eventually delivering airline tickets back when there were paper airline tickets.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: You literally drove them to people’s houses?

MARK FALDMO: To people’s houses and businesses.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: Wow, that goes back a while.

MARK FALDMO: It does.

One thing I’ve found with many of my colleagues in the travel industry is that they have deep-rooted connections to it—almost more than simply a love of travel.

A lot of people love travel, but being a travel agent—or being a good travel agent—is about more than just that love of travel.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: You have to have a love of logistics, too.

MARK FALDMO: A love of logistics.

I’ve been in the industry for a long time, and I’ve interviewed many potential travel agents. Some people say, “I just want to be a travel agent because I get to travel, and I get to do it cheaply or for free.”

PATRICK WISCOMBE: Which is true, but that’s a fraction of what you do.

MARK FALDMO: We’ve hired some people with that mindset. Most of them don’t work out.

You really have to love destinations, love logistics and take pride in what you do. It’s not all about travel.

I’ve been lucky. I have been able to travel and experience some pretty interesting things.

The Blue Planet Vacations tagline is “Explore your world.” I really want to help people get out there and make connections with different cultures and countries. That’s my passion.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: That also comes through education. You have to stay current on everything.

MARK FALDMO: There’s a lot of education involved in being a travel advisor. A good travel agent puts themselves through different training programs.

I was speaking with someone who may become an agent for me. I told them, “You’re going to have to learn 20 or 30 different booking systems,” because every entity has its own system you have to book through.

That’s one thing that has frustrated me as a travel advisor: There is so much that could be consolidated, but isn’t.

Committing to be a travel agent means committing to being a lifelong learner. Everything changes. There are many systems, and some agencies and agents specialize in key destinations.

Finding the right travel advisor is important for consumers. In our area here in Salt Lake, there are many great travel advisors.

Obviously, I would like everyone to book through Blue Planet Vacations—through me or one of my agents—but just book your vacations through a travel advisor.

Travel advisors are advocates for experiences, not transactions.

You can go online, complete a transaction and buy a trip. A travel advisor advocates for the experience and, as we’ve discussed, for better value.

Price is important, but a good travel advisor helps you get a better travel experience. We are always working to get you the best price, but also the best value for the money you’re spending.

One thing we talk about often on this show is experiential travel. There are many options and many ways to travel. Putting it all together is what a good travel advisor does.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: That’s what you’ve done for me. You have recommended things I hadn’t even considered, and we ended up doing them.

I’ve told you numerous times throughout the last year and a half—and I’ve known you for quite a while—but since we started doing the show, you’ve pointed us in directions that made me say, “Man, I’m glad we did that.”

MARK FALDMO: If I could summarize the value of a travel advisor in a few points, the first would be personalized itineraries.

We work hard to make sure your experiences are tailored to your individual preferences and that you have a unique journey.

The second is expert knowledge. A good travel advisor has extensive destination and supplier expertise. Not every product is right for every person, so we can help guide you toward the right fit.

The third is time savings. Travel advisors can save people a tremendous amount of time.

About a year ago, we talked about a neighbor of my father who said he had spent around 20 or 25 hours researching a trip.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: I remember this.

MARK FALDMO: My dad looked at it and said, “I could have put all of that together for you and had it back to you in about an hour.”

It was Ireland, which is one of my father’s favorite destinations and one he knows extremely well. The person eventually arrived at basically everything my dad would have recommended, but he spent more than 20 hours researching it.

The last point—and I think one of the most important—is problem-solving.

Travel advisors are great problem-solvers, not only when finding a trip that fits your needs, but also when travel doesn’t go as expected.

Having a travel advisor on your side can help you get through those situations.

We can’t always fix everything, but we often have access to special phone numbers and contacts at cruise lines, airlines and other suppliers who can help us get things corrected.

PATRICK WISCOMBE: It’s access to help solve the problem. I would take it one step further: You can explain what to expect if something goes wrong and talk the traveler through it.

Mark has helped me numerous times. I’ve mentioned it many times over the past year and a half.

Take advantage of Mark’s experience and book with him. He will stand by you while you travel.

I’ve called him numerous times—not only as a friend, but to say, “Hey, this is happening to me right now. How should I handle it?” He has always been there.

If you want to take advantage of any of the offers we’ve discussed during this week’s show, call Mark in his office: 888-718-7717. 888-718-7717.

We’ll have everything posted on BluePlanetVacations.com.

You can listen to the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show tomorrow morning. We’re on every Saturday and Sunday morning at 11 a.m. Mountain Time, right here on this radio station and around the country.

You can also stream, download and subscribe to the podcast at InsideTravelTalk.com. We’re on all the major podcast platforms. Just search for Inside Travel Talk.

That’s it. We’re done. It’s your turn.

Get out and explore the world while you can, because you never know what curveballs life is going to throw at you.

Live your life deliberately. Live your life intentionally.

Thank you so much for listening. We really don’t have a show or a business without you. Thank you for allowing us to be in your ears each and every Saturday and Sunday.

Have a great week. We’ll talk to you again next week.

TODD CARLSON: That’s it. That’s the end of the show.

You’ve been listening to the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show with Patrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo, presented by BluePlanetVacations.com.

Book your adventure right now. Call 888-718-7717. That’s 888-718-7717.

Thanks for listening. Have a great week.