For travel season, it's certainly upon us,
and it's been kind of already a mess,
especially if you're traveling to Europe.
I mean, we've heard all about
these cancellations and delays,
and that's why we wanted to
invite our travel expert Angel
Castillanos joining us this morning.
So you just returned from
so many different places.
I can't keep track of your travels,
but I'm so happy that you're
joining us right now.
Good morning to you, Angel.
Thanks for having me Neda
going to be with you.
Ohh I'd I love love love your Instagram
like just to see where you are.
The views are incredible
and you have great advice.
So tell us first of all,
where have you traveled recently
and what was your experience like?
Well, I've been to the Caribbean
to the Dominican Republic
to the Grand Cayman Islands.
I've spent time in Italy and I was
recently in London for the Queen's
70th Jubilee Platinum Jubilee.
Oh my goodness, yeah I went to
London after that and still saw
a lot of the barricades were up.
I mean it was. Packed right,
that was must have been wild.
Yeah I've I've never seen more people,
but that's really the story
of Europe this summer.
You know the crowds are really
sort of unprecedented and
travel has come roaring back,
especially to the popular
places like Italy and in Paris
and London and those cities.
I mean, I was shocked.
We travelled to Greece for a
friend's wedding and the amount of
people at these airports and the
amount of delays and cancellations
that it kept hearing about it,
took one of our friends four days late.
To get back home.
So that's how much he was delayed.
Stuck in Spain for a while,
but at the airport, not like he
got to go out and do anything fun.
So what has that been like?
What have you personally seen?
I mean, what did people run into?
A lot of problems?
Well, yeah, I mean just today alone
there's over 1400 delays in this country.
I mean, airports like Newark
airports are reporting double
digit cancellation and delays,
so travelers certainly need to have
patience and be aware of what's happening
and and really expect these crowds so.
So when you're thinking of summer travel,
I think the first thing people wanna should
really consider is the day they're leaving.
Usually, statistically speaking,
midweek travel doesn't have as many
delays and cancellations and also that
first flight is more than likely to
take off than a flight later in the day,
and avoiding OTA's, online,
travel agencies,
booking direct with the airlines
is absolutely key.
That way you have a relationship with
the airline and the first thing I do
once I book that airfare is I immediately.
Download the app of the airline on
flying on and apps like FlightAware
that give you really up to date
information directly at your
fingertips and on your phone.
I like that, so booking with the airline,
not like the Travelocity and
Expedia is not to call them out,
but it's better to just go directly to them.
Get that app right,
it speeds things up at least
absolutely we call those OTA's and
that really gives you a little bit
more power and it shows the airline
you have a little bit more loyalty.
If that does count for something.
And also if there was a time,
if there was a season ever to
go carry on this summer, is it?
I know, you know.
I don't have a lot of credibility
with people as a carry-on guy.
You know, some people think the
carry-on is her shoes alone,
but with with the shorting staffage
that is happening and that is really
trickling down to US travelers.
You know,
that's one big frustration that
travelers are reporting.
Reporting is the delay in luggage
and want to.
I'm so glad you mentioned this
because the bride and groom,
like I said, we went to.
Fighting the grooms whole suit that
he spent all kinds of money on did
not make it in time for the wedding,
so the day of you had to
go buy an outfit in Greece,
found a little town and found
a really nice looking suit.
But still. I mean, he's,
you know a few $100 on something
that never arrived, yeah.
That's
really unfortunate.
And with all these travel tips that
we're sharing this morning and then
I try to share on my Instagram that
those are the little mistakes that
we want to plan for and try to avoid.
You know, some things are
unavoidable whether you know
sometimes can be unavoidable,
but it's it's those little things
that that can be make travel better.
If we can go ahead
and I will say for carry on,
we rolled our clothes into little like
burritos so you can stuff a lot more than
you think. I'm I'm a roller too.
You know, if you were raised.
In a marine family,
you know you know rolling really easily
and you know getting to the airport,
of course really does make a
difference if you plan ahead.
If you if you're there.
Hours before time,
nobody wants to spend time at the airport,
but I found that airport lounges
really kind of ease the sting out of
delays and getting to the airport.
You know, three hours before your flight,
right? Yeah, I mean that if that
helps you get on that actual plane,
it seems worth it.
They just have pretty good food and drinks.
In those lounges, if you can get in one.
And they just wanted to ask you too.
As far as why, obviously,
do you feel like it's just
the pent up effect?
People miss it so so much
and now they're taking off
it. It's really the perfect storm.
It's the combination of what
everyone is calling, revenge, travel,
and the Super increase of demand,
but also the staffing shortages
that the airlines are really having
across the board that are not only
causing delays and cancellations,
but that are even trickling
down to to baggage handlers.
And airport staff.
OK, yeah, everyone's dealing with that.
What's your advice if you're
trying to book right now and
prices are crazy, should we wait?
I mean, what's the best thing to
do if it's just too expensive?
As you're searching,
you know I would set a Google Alert
as you're searching for flights.
You know Google Flights is
one of my go to resources.
I also cross referenced that with
Skyscanner and you can set alerts to
where if you start to see the price go
down where wherever you feel comfortable,
book that ticket,
but you can expect that really
prices have just sort of leveled.
Up for the rest of 2022.
So if you're flying,
you know flying really anywhere in the world,
whether it's domestically or internationally,
prices will be much higher,
much higher, because the demand is there.
Angel real quick. I know the COVID
restrictions on your last legs,
they were pretty much gone, right?
Yeah, yeah. Fortunately for US travelers,
you know we don't have to take a COVID
test to get into the United States anymore,
which really matches the entrance
requirements to other popular.
Countries so that becomes a whole lot easier,
and I've noticed that on on flights,
especially international flights,
the staff and the pilots do a nice
job of reminding everyone we're
still in the COVID situation.
So go ahead and wear mask if you'd like to,
and you know, be fair to the
people who who make a choice.
OK, check out Angel on his Instagram.
It is really, really fun.
I get a lot of travel envy,
but I also learn a lot from you.
So Angel under score travels.
Thanks for being on with us.
Rare chance to get you on the
end of one of your travels.
Well, next time I'll be on the road,
so this is a rare opportunity that
can't wait to hear all about it. Angel,
thank you so much. Great to see you.
Thanks Nana, happy travels.