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May 7, 2026

108 – The Travel Show 2026

Host: Herb Weisbaum
Christopher Elliott - Travel Expert, author of the "On Travel" column

Travel is always a challenge, but right now, the war with Iran has added a whole new layer of turbulence and uncertainty—especially for those who plan to fly. Airlines around the globe are raising prices, adding fees, and cutting flights.

Planning your trip now requires extra care because of travel scams fueled by AI. It’s also becoming more difficult to get the lowest prices for plane tickets, hotel rooms, and rental cars without choosing a non-refundable rate that requires an advance purchase.

In this episode, we dive into the unique challenges facing travelers, possibly for the rest of the year, and how to deal with them.

Other Consumerpedia travel episodes:

106 – Avoid a Vacation Rental Nightmare

89 – Avoid a Hotel Horror Show

60 – How to Avoid a Big Cell Phone Bill When Traveling Abroad⁠

41 – Hotel Intel: Finding the Best Rates

Additional Resources:

On Travel is a weekly consumer travel column that offers information and advice for people planning a business or leisure trip.

Elliott Advocacy⁠ is a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that empowers consumers to solve their problems and helps those who can’t.

Not a Checkbook member? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Related Episodes

April 9, 2026
Host: Herb Weisbaum
Kevin Brasler - Executive Editor at Checkbook.org

A recent Checkbook investigation found widespread problems with vacation rentals, including fake listings and stolen deposits. Even worse, many victims get little or no help from Booking.com or Vrbo to recover their lost money.

In this episode: We share results of our investigation and provide tips on how to protect yourself when booking a vacation rental. One key: Your best move to avoid losing money to scams or bad actors is to book with a credit card.

Read our full report about vacation rental scams at Checkbook.org.

Not a Checkbook member? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

July 24, 2025
Host: Herb Weisbaum
Jamie Lettis - Associate Editor; Dani Dredger - Senior Manager, Digital Marketing; Andy Duff - Director of IT Coordination; Jennifer Barger - Director of Content; Emily McKeague - Marketing Coordinator; Andrea Densmore - Managing Editor

Saving you time. Saving you money. Helping you score great deals—and steer clear of rip-offs and scams. That’s what we’re all about at the Consumerpedia podcast.

In this episode, Checkbook staffers share their favorite life hacks—simple tricks and workarounds they’ve used and swear by—that will help you shop smarter, spend wiser, and stay one step ahead.

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#84: Free Perks You Didn’t Know You Had
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Not a Checkbook member? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

June 26, 2025
Host: Herb Weisbaum
Jennifer Barger - Checkbook's Director of Content; Tara Busch - Founder, Conscious Travel Collective

A bad hotel room can ruin your vacation or business trip, so you need to be careful when making your reservations. Hotel websites and online booking sites have great photos and glowing descriptions, but what you see isn’t always what you get.

In this episode, tips for booking a room so you don’t end up having a nightmarish experience. Plus, what to do if you wind up staying at the Bates Motel.

More from Checkbook:

Hotels: Tips for Finding a Sweeter Stay

Related Consumerpedia Episodes:

#41: Hotel Intel: Finding the Best Rates
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Not a Checkbook member? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

May 15, 2025
Host: Herb Weisbaum
Christopher Elliott - Syndicated Travel Columnist

Travel is always a hassle, but this year, it comes with some added twists. There’s growing uncertainty about the economy, and concerns about being an American tourist in a foreign country. Will you be welcome?

In this episode: What to expect when booking flights, hotel rooms, or vacation rentals; how to spot travel scams that can ruin your vacation and cost you a bundle; and tips on how to be a respectful and responsible tourist when visiting other countries.

Other Consumerpedia travel episodes:

#60: Avoid a Big Cell Phone Bill When Traveling Abroad
#41: Hotel Intel: Finding the Best Rates
#17: How to Find the Best Deals on Airfare

Additional Resources:

Visit The Elliott Report to read Christopher Elliott’s travel reports and advice. His nonprofit Elliott Advocacy empowers consumers to solve their own problems and helps those who can’t.

Not a Checkbook member? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings⁠⁠⁠⁠.

September 5, 2024
Host: Herb Weisbaum
Kevin Brasler - Checkbook's Executive Editor

Want to spend a few days in Dublin before going to Munich? Sightsee in Madrid or Lisbon on the way home from Paris or Rome? Maybe break up that long-haul flight to Australia or New Zealand with a few nights in Tokyo or Honolulu?

Dozens of airlines (mostly foreign carriers) let you visit two places for the price of one by allowing free stopovers. Book these tickets and you can stay in the hub city for a few days or weeks, and then continue onward to your final destination.

In this episode: A look at some of the stopover programs available and how to find them. Plus, tips for anyone planning to buy a plane ticket.

Additional Resources:

These 26 Airlines Let Flyers Stop Over in Their Hubs for Free

Consumerpedia Episode 62: The Travel Show 2024

New Rule Will Soon Require Airlines to Provide Automatic Refunds When Flights Are Canceled or Significantly Delayed

Don’t Get Left Behind When Your Airline Travel Credits Expire

Credit Card Reward Programs Under Scrutiny by Federal Regulators

Not a Checkbook member? ⁠Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings⁠.

Support our podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/consumerpedia/support

May 2, 2024
Host: Herb Weisbaum
Haley Berg - Lead Economist at Hopper.com; Christopher Elliott - Travel Expert, author of the “On Travel” column

It’s going to be a busy summer for travel, especially for those headed abroad. It’s late in the booking season, but some deals may still be available.

In this episode, we’ll look at what you can expect to pay for airfare, hotel rooms, and rental cars. Plus, tips from travel experts Haley Berg of Hopper.com and Christopher Elliott of the “On Travel” column on how to deal with crowds and other peak-season hassles.

Other Consumerpedia travel episodes:

⁠17 – Travel Tips: How to Find the Best Deals on Airfare⁠

⁠41 – Hotel Intel: Finding the Best Rates⁠

⁠60 – How to Avoid a Big Cell Phone Bill When Traveling Abroad⁠

Additional Resource:

⁠Elliott Advocacy⁠ is a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that empowers consumers to solve their problems and helps those who can’t.

Support our podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/consumerpedia/support