THE VACATION NERD WITH PATRICK WISCOMBE — EPISODE 179, PART 1
Speaker-Labeled Transcript
TODD CARLSON: Explore your world. It’s the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show, presented by BluePlanetVacations.com. Call or text the show now: 801-649-3700. 801-649-3700. And check out the podcast at InsideTravelTalk.com.
And now, here are your hosts, Patrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Welcome to the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show. Hello there. I am Patrick Wiscombe, The Vacation Nerd.
I am broadcasting live from Miami Beach, Florida. Mark Faldmo is back in Salt Lake City. He’ll be here in just a moment.
If you are brand new to this show, our entire purpose is to help you plan and book your next vacation, or simply give you ideas of where you might want to go next.
This show is presented by BluePlanetVacations.com. Thank you very sincerely for taking the time to stop and listen.
Nikki and I have spent nearly the entire month cruising. We have completed three back-to-back cruises, and we are about to board Norwegian Aqua for cruise number four.
We were just aboard MSC World America for its first revenue sailing with paying passengers. What a beautiful ship. I’ll have much more to say about that experience, but first let’s get to a listener question.
Mark, John texted the show and asked about Japan. He wants to know the best time to go and what he should do while he is there.
MARK FALDMO: Japan is a great destination. The best times to visit are generally spring and fall.
Spring is especially popular because of the cherry blossoms. The exact timing can vary by region and by year, but that is one of the biggest reasons people plan a spring trip to Japan.
Fall is also a great time because the weather is comfortable and you can see the changing leaves.
For a first trip to Japan, I would focus on Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima. Depending on how much time you have, you could also include Osaka or Okinawa.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Let’s start with Tokyo. What should a first-time visitor do?
MARK FALDMO: Tokyo has almost everything. One of the more unusual activities is street karting. You can dress in a costume and drive a small go-kart through parts of Tokyo.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: That sounds both awesome and slightly terrifying.
MARK FALDMO: It does. You can also attend a sumo wrestling event or visit a sumo stable, depending on the schedule.
I would ride the bullet train, even if it is only for part of the trip. Japan’s rail system is one of the experiences people remember.
Akihabara Electric Town is another interesting area, especially for electronics, gaming and anime. You can also take a cooking class and learn to prepare Japanese food.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: What about Kyoto?
MARK FALDMO: Kyoto gives you a very different side of Japan. Tokyo is modern and energetic. Kyoto feels more traditional.
It is known for temples, shrines, gardens and historic neighborhoods. The bamboo forest is one of the better-known places to visit, and Kyoto is also beautiful during cherry-blossom season.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: And Hiroshima is obviously historically significant.
MARK FALDMO: Yes. Hiroshima is important for understanding World War II history. The Peace Memorial Park and museum are powerful experiences.
It is not necessarily an easy visit emotionally, but it is meaningful and something many travelers remember for the rest of their lives.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Japan is one of those destinations where I would want some guidance, because there is so much to see and the language and transportation systems may feel intimidating to a first-time visitor.
MARK FALDMO: It is a destination where a guided tour can make a big difference, especially on a first trip.
You can have the transportation arranged, local guides who explain what you are seeing, and enough free time to explore on your own.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: John, I hope that gives you a good starting point: spring or fall, Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima, with Osaka or Okinawa added if time allows.
If you have a travel-related question for Mark and me, call or text the show: 801-649-3700. 801-649-3700.
We are going to take an early break because coming up next is the hot travel deal of the week, and we are bringing in TJ McAvoy from the Globus family of brands.
We’ll talk about guided touring, small-group vacations, private family tours and how to see the major attractions without wasting three or four hours standing in line.
That is next when the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show continues.
Alongside Mark Faldmo, my name is Patrick Wiscombe, broadcasting live from Miami Beach. Thank you for listening. We’ll be right back.
TODD CARLSON: Taking you to destinations around the world, the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show is presented by BluePlanetVacations.com, America’s Best Travel Advisors.
Call or text the show now: 801-649-3700. 801-649-3700.
Thanks for listening. We’ll be right back.
TODD CARLSON: Inside Travel Talk is brought to you by Avalon Waterways.
From castles and capitals to vistas and villages, visit some of Europe’s most remarkable sites and cities as you set out on your own river-cruise journey.
Contact Blue Planet Vacations at 888-718-7717 or BluePlanetVacations.com.
Now back to 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 check out the podcast at InsideTravelTalk.com.
Here are Patrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Welcome back to the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show. I am Patrick Wiscombe, The Vacation Nerd, broadcasting live from Miami Beach.
Mark Faldmo is back in Salt Lake City, and joining us is TJ McAvoy from the Globus family of brands.
TJ, welcome back to the show.
TJ MCAVOY: Thank you. It’s great to be back. I always appreciate the opportunity to talk travel with you and Mark.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Many listeners know you through Avalon Waterways, but today we are talking about Globus. Let’s begin with Globus 101. What is Globus?
TJ MCAVOY: Globus is guided touring. We have been around for about 97 years, and we are still family-owned.
The company began in Switzerland. The Mantegazza family started by transporting people across Lake Lugano. From that beginning, the company expanded into motorcoach touring and eventually grew into the Globus family of brands.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: When people hear “guided tour,” some may picture spending the entire vacation on a bus, following someone with a flag. What is the real experience?
TJ MCAVOY: The motorcoach is part of the transportation, but it is not the vacation.
We stay in first-class, generally four-star hotels, often in central locations. We include the must-see sites, local guides and special access. We take care of the logistics so guests can spend their time enjoying the destination.
We operate on six continents, so there are options throughout Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: What are the most popular destinations?
TJ MCAVOY: Italy is always very popular. Spain, Ireland, Scotland and Greece also sell extremely well.
There are also many strong itineraries in the United States and Canada.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: What is your personal favorite tour?
TJ MCAVOY: So far, New Zealand. Queenstown is one of my favorite places I have ever visited.
I am also preparing to travel to Italy, so I may have another answer after that trip.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Mark, what is your favorite Globus tour?
MARK FALDMO: I like the multi-country panorama tours. There is one that includes England, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France.
For someone who wants an introduction to Europe and wants to see several countries on one trip, it is a great way to do it.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: What about tours closer to home?
TJ MCAVOY: Canyon Country Adventure is one of our popular western U.S. tours. It includes several national parks.
One advantage Globus has is that we often stay inside or very close to the national parks. That can save a significant amount of travel time each day and allows guests to experience the parks when many day visitors have already left.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: I have a Yellowstone memory. I rode my bicycle through Yellowstone, and when buffalo are nearby, you learn very quickly that you can pedal harder than you thought.
MARK FALDMO: That is some strong motivation.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: There were buffalo and bears. Suddenly, Patrick discovered another gear.
TJ MCAVOY: That is one way to make the trip more active.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: You also have tours that combine Ireland, Scotland and Wales, correct?
TJ MCAVOY: Yes. We have several British Isles itineraries, including tours that focus on Ireland and Scotland and others that also include Wales.
Celtic Highlights is one of the well-known options. It is a good way to experience the history, landscapes and local culture without having to coordinate every hotel, transfer and sightseeing reservation yourself.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Globus has several different ways to travel. Explain Independence by Globus.
TJ MCAVOY: Independence by Globus is a locally hosted vacation. I describe the local host as your best friend in town.
You are not traveling with a traditional group. We arrange the hotels, transportation between destinations and selected sightseeing, but you have a local host available to help with recommendations and questions.
You may travel between cities by train or airplane, depending on the itinerary, and you have more freedom in your daily schedule.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: So it is a hybrid between a fully escorted tour and planning everything yourself.
TJ MCAVOY: Exactly.
In some destinations, particularly parts of Asia and eastern Africa, our touring is private. You may have your own vehicle, driver and guide.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: What is Cosmos?
TJ MCAVOY: Cosmos is our value-oriented touring brand.
It offers the same expertise and many of the same destinations, but the hotels may be outside the city center or at a different service level, and there may be fewer included meals or activities.
It is designed for travelers who want the advantages of guided touring at a lower price.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Can a family or group make an existing Globus itinerary private?
TJ MCAVOY: Yes. We have private touring options.
A family can take an existing Globus itinerary and make it private. For example, if you have 20 relatives who want to travel together, you can have your own motorcoach, tour director and departure.
That is especially useful for family reunions, heritage trips, clubs and groups that want to share the experience without being mixed into a larger public group.
MARK FALDMO: I recently worked on a private family heritage tour in Scandinavia. There were around 30 family members.
The route included Stockholm, northern Norway near Narvik, the Norwegian coast and Oslo. It was built around the family’s history and the places they wanted to visit.
That is a good example of how a private tour can be designed around something meaningful to the travelers rather than simply following a standard itinerary.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: What about one person or a couple? Do they have to bring a group?
TJ MCAVOY: No. Individuals and small parties can join one of our scheduled departures.
If you have seven people or fewer, you would generally join a published tour, although private arrangements may still be available with a supplement.
The point is that you do not need to assemble a large group to travel with Globus.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Globus has a large share of the touring market.
TJ MCAVOY: Globally, we represent about 52% of the touring market. We have been doing this for a long time, and the relationships we have built are a major part of the experience.
Those relationships help us secure strong hotels, good guides, special activities and access that would be difficult for many individual travelers to arrange on their own.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: You use the phrase “Local Favorites.” What does that mean?
TJ MCAVOY: Local Favorites are experiences that connect guests more directly with the destination.
In Spain, it might be a flamenco experience. In Jackson, Wyoming, it could be a chuckwagon dinner. In Bar Harbor, Maine, it might be a lobster bake.
These are not simply photo stops. They are intended to help travelers experience the local food, culture and traditions.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Let’s talk about the different Globus travel styles.
TJ MCAVOY: We have our classic tours, which include the major sights and experiences people expect.
We also launched Small Group Discoveries in August 2024. Those departures have a maximum of around 18 guests. In Europe, the average is closer to 15, and in the United States it is around 18.
We have about 50 Small Group Discovery itineraries around the world.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: What changes when the group is smaller?
TJ MCAVOY: A smaller group can use smaller hotels and restaurants, move more easily and participate in experiences that are not practical for a full motorcoach.
It feels more intimate, and guests often have more interaction with the tour director and local guides.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: You also have Choice Touring.
TJ MCAVOY: Choice Touring includes sightseeing choices within the itinerary.
Instead of everyone having to do the same activity, one guest might choose a guided city tour, another might take a bicycle ride and another might visit a vineyard.
The choices are included, so guests can shape part of the vacation around their own interests.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: And then there are the Undiscovered tours.
TJ MCAVOY: Undiscovered tours focus more on places beyond the best-known tourist route.
You may still visit major destinations, but the itinerary also includes smaller communities and regions that many first-time visitors would not find on their own.
Examples include Gourmet Tuscany, Montecatini, the Cinque Terre, the Italian Lakes and less-visited areas of Britain.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: One concern people have about guided touring is whether they will have any free time.
TJ MCAVOY: We build free time into the itineraries.
The tour director can make recommendations, help with reservations and explain how to use that time. Guests can shop, explore, rest or add another activity.
Guided touring is not meant to keep everyone on a rigid schedule every minute of every day.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Another major advantage is access. You have a phrase for that.
TJ MCAVOY: We call them “happy lines.”
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Happy lines?
TJ MCAVOY: Yes. When Globus has reserved access or skip-the-line arrangements, our guests may be in the happy line.
At a place like the Colosseum, the regular line can sometimes take three or four hours. Our guests may enter through a much shorter reserved line.
The people in the long line are usually not very happy. You see friends or couples arguing because they have already spent so much of their day waiting.
Those are the unhappy lines.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Happy lines and unhappy couples. That may be the title of the episode.
TJ MCAVOY: It is a real benefit. If you spend three or four hours standing outside one attraction, that is three or four hours you do not get to spend experiencing Rome.
The value is not just convenience. It is getting more vacation out of the time you have.
MARK FALDMO: That is one of the main reasons I recommend Globus for someone visiting a destination for the first time or for someone who wants to understand it in more depth.
The local guides provide context. You are not standing in front of a monument with your face in a guidebook trying to figure out what you are looking at or where you need to go next.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Let’s get to the hot travel deal of the week. What is the current Globus offer?
MARK FALDMO: The current promotion is up to $1,500 off select Globus tours.
It applies to select remaining 2025 departures and select 2026 tours. The eligible trips are worldwide, including Europe, the United States and Asia.
One itinerary that caught my attention travels through the Balkans, including Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: That is a region many travelers probably have not considered, but it is exactly the kind of trip where having the logistics and local guides arranged would make the experience easier.
TJ MCAVOY: Absolutely. There is so much history and culture in that region, and guided touring helps connect all of those places.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: TJ McAvoy from the Globus family of brands and Avalon Waterways, thank you for coming back on the show.
TJ MCAVOY: Thank you. It is always great to join you.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Take advantage of the offer: up to $1,500 off select Globus tours.
Call Mark or one of the Blue Planet Vacations advisors at 888-718-7717. 888-718-7717. You can also find the information at BluePlanetVacations.com.
When we come back, it is time for the infamous Just Cruising segment. We will talk about common cruise-ship mistakes and the cruise news and deals of the week.
That is next when the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show continues.
Alongside Mark Faldmo, my name is Patrick Wiscombe, The Vacation Nerd, broadcasting live from Miami Beach. Thank you so much for listening. We will be right back.
TODD CARLSON: You’re listening to the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show with Patrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo, presented by BluePlanetVacations.com, America’s Best Travel Advisors.
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.
