The Voyage Report

The executive director of the FAA's UAS Integration Office shares with Mark tips every traveler needs to know, about how they can use drones, which free apps will help get near-instant approval for flying unmanned aircraft systems in the U.S., and what future changes could affect where we can fly drones on trips and in everyday life.

In the first ever 'State of TSA' address, administrator David Pekoske lays out the Transportation Security Administration's goals for 2018, innovations rolling out at airports and transit stations across the nation, and explained the challenges in keeping nearly a billion travelers a year safe.

We're on location from the floor of the 2018 New York Times Travel Show talking about how redeeming award miles can be frustrating and overpriced. Ari Charlestein, co-founder and president of Award Magic, a booking service, reveals which airlines are easiest to redeem miles on, whether redeeming flights for domestic or international flights are the best value, and the one thing you should never do when using miles.

New tools are transforming the way visually impaired and blind travelers navigate airports and, soon, transit stations of all types. Larry Skutchan of the American Printing House for the Blind helped design the "revolutionary" Indoor Explorer feature and tells us how it works, his incredible background as a computer programmer, and his hopes for the future of the American with Disabilities Act.

Following our 'Ask the Captain' and 'Ask a Flight Attendant' episodes, we wanted to pose your questions to an active air traffic controller. So in this episode, San Juan Tower controller Kyrandgel Rios explains his job, what it was like to ride out Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Irma in Puerto Rico while at work, how your typical flight works from an air traffic control perspective, and his top tips for travelers.

Inspired by the untimely death of her son, Sheryl Hill founded Depart Smart, a non-profit organization committed to preparing travelers for journeys abroad. Sheryl gives our Mark Albert a 10-question Travel Safe Quiz, shares specific tips to stay safe while traveling and how to vet the travel company you're considering using, and provides listeners with a promo code for a deep discount off the non-profit group's travel safety certification course.

We take a look back at 2017: the tips, tricks, and trends for travel and transportation in this year-end review. We re-introduce you to the explorers, adventurers, trend-setters, and top leaders influencing how we travel—by air, sea, rail, and in hotels, and non-traditional lodging. It's our best of 2017 and a look-ahead to 2018. Happy holidays!

Travelers United is America's largest non-profit travel advocacy organization. We chat with co-founder Charlie Leocha about how to get compensation when travel plans change, how to beat extra fees, the outlook for travel in 2018, and why he says, "we're still going to fight back."

Have you ever wanted to travel the world permanently—as a nomad? Our guest, Thomas K. Running, is the publisher of Nomad Gate, a guide to a "location independent" life. He tells us how to travel the world for under $20,000 a year, the best airlines and apps for nomads, and his top tips for travelers of all kinds.

With the holidays approaching, some travelers may be planning a getaway to a Disney theme park. Linda Marquez, a panelist on the Disney Parks Moms Panel for 2017, shares her top money-saving tips, reveals secrets inside Disneyland and Disney World, and gives us a list of Disney freebies for visitors.

We take you to Montenegro and Slovenia, two European gems. Terry Anzur, publisher of the travel website Strangers in the Living Room and a prolific contributor to The Voyage Report, chats about her favorite spots in both countries, reveals where to find Star Wars in Ireland(!) and space geeks in Alabama, and shares priceless tips for travelers of all ages.

We chat with Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst, who looks into his crystal ball for us to predict the future of aviation and lodging. Self-driving jet bridges? Wearables and Earables? How about vastly expanded biometrics? Henry weighs in on all of those and shares the highlights of his trip as a passenger on the last commercial United 747 flight.

Technology is transforming the lodging experience around the world. Mark chats with Adam Hollander, co-founder of Hotel Tech Report, the number one ratings and review site for hotel technology. Adam tells us about how tech is changing the industry, what new technology is coming to hotels worldwide, how Airbnb and non-traditional lodgings are forcing hotel chains to innovate, and his favorite travel tips for travelers.

Pittsburgh International Airport is reinventing itself. We chat with the airport's vice president of media relations about the airport rolling out myPITpass to allow visitors who are not flying to go past security, embarking on a $1.1 billion renovation, starting a class for first-time flyers, and ushering in what it calls an era of "air service renaissance."

We take The Voyage Report podcast on the road to Vietnam. Mark chats with local resident Gee Nguyen about Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Hoi An, Halong Bay and more destinations, along with getting Gee's tips and tricks for visiting this Asian country, which is experiencing a renaissance of vitality.

Some travelers aren't just looking for a cool Instagram photo; they want to inspire their soul. Mark chats with Jason Everett, a National Guardsman who engages in civic travel: volunteering or helping to improve the lives of others no matter where one goes. Jason tells us about his recent trip to Cuba with suitcases filled with donated skateboards and how listeners can take part in civic travel regardless of their destination.

Former teacher Dianne Sivulka knows how to combine education with adventures! She's the founder of Our Edventures and chats with Mark about making travel fun and educational for kids, how to use her downloadable itineraries and worksheets for your next trip, and her top tips for travelers of any age.

James Van Fleet is the chief meteorologist for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. Mark chats with Jim about this extremely active hurricane season, how he forecasts the weather for one of the world's largest cruise lines, how he helps decide which ships to divert or cancel, why he thinks it's so important to respond to cruisers on social media, and he reveals his top tips for travelers.

A new documentary called "Flights from Hell: Caught on Camera" uses lots of viral, shocking videos to illustrate the high-stress nature of our aviation system today. Mark chats with the producer director of the program, Chris McMillan, about extreme behavior in airports and on planes caught on camera, whether there are more incidents occurring this year or just more smartphones to record it, and his top tips for travelers to avoid in-flight meltdowns.

Meet the Airbnb of private campsites. Mark chats with Hipcamp founder Alyssa Ravasio about the "wave" that gave her the inspiration to start the site-sharing platform, the unique lands her site unlocks for campers and explorers, and her top travel tips for travelers.

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is almost here! This breathtaking annual display of aerodynamic color and light has become a massive event for travelers, drawing nearly a million people each year. Mark chats with the Fiesta's Tom Garrity about how the Fiesta began, the highlights of this year's show, and tips and tricks to beat the crowds and save money.

Combine the love of travel with the love of craft beer by beercycling through a country! Mark chats with Matt and Nikki Kummer of Wisconsin about their recent nine-day bicycle ride through the hills of Belgium beer country.

National Geographic Explorer and Photographer Ben Horton travels the globe telling stories with his cameras. Ben chats with Mark about how he chooses the tales he tells, how he uses his lens to weave a story and his personal goals when he goes to capture that one-of-a-kind, split-second image.

Millions just witnessed the Great American Total Solar Eclipse. Mark chats with Patti Isaacs and her husband, Gauss Rescigno—both eclipse watchers for nearly 40 years—about their reflections and experience seeing the 2017 Eclipse, their lifetime of star chasing, and the lessons we can all learn from gazing at the stars.

It's time to ask a flight attendant! Mark interviews commercial airline flight attendant Mia Herman and asks all the questions you want answered. Mia gives her do's and don't's for passengers, talks about her favorite places, shares stories from her travel blog, and reveals her most memorable moments in the sky.

The Chicago Tribune called Competitours the "Amazing Race for regular people." We chat with the mastermind of this unique adventure about the 11-day challenge extravaganza, how he plans the itineraries, his tips for travelers, and how you can take part in the next edition of Competitours.

House sitting is becoming increasingly popular as a way to save money on lodging while traveling. Mark interviews a couple who moved out of their house and now housesits full time around the world. They share how they did it, how much it costs, and how you can use house sitting to skip the hotels!

The Akron-Canton Airport in Ohio is trying something innovative: a Mom's Tour for parents of young children who want to have a dry run of the airport and airport security before an upcoming trip. Mark chats with the airport's director of marketing about the goal of the program, its growing popularity, and how it all works.

We celebrate our first 24 podcasts by tweeting one podcast every hour. In this episode, our editor-in-chief, Mark Albert, plays the highlights from The Voyage Report's first 24 podcast episodes around the globe, with tips, tricks, and memorable moments.

Our guest has just set a world record—the youngest person to visit every country on Earth. At just 24 years old, Eric T. Nguyen accomplished his globetrotting goal. Mark chats with Eric about why he did it, the hardships and scary moments along the way, his favorite countries, and his well-earned tips for both frequent and infrequent travelers. 

Mark Matthews is a professional mountain biker and media athlete. He travels the globe to compete and to shoot amazing images while conquering the toughest trails and courses. He chats with Mark about his favorite places in the world to mountain bike, his recent discovery in Turkey, and if he's ever scared as he's hurtling through the air.

We go on the road to Romania and Transylvania, home of the real Dracula. In the first Voyage Report podcast recorded in the field, Mark chats with Wise Transylvania tour guide Adrian Ungureanu about his homeland, why more Americans are visiting Romania, and his most popular tour—"Dracula's castle."

The Great American Total Solar Eclipse is less than two months away. It's a rare phenomenon that will cross the United States from coast to coast. NASA scientists recently held a briefing for reporters and the public about what to expect, how to watch the celestial event safely, and what researchers hope to learn. Listen to part of that briefing, as well as a Minnesota couple who has been traveling the globe to chase eclipses for more than 35 years.

It's time to ask the captain! Mark interviews commercial airline pilot Charlie Schaffer and asks all the questions you want answered. Charlie dispels some aviation myths, talks about his top tips for passengers and what they should not do on an airplane, how aviation has changed in the decades he's been flying, what he thinks about the U.S. government's electronics ban, and his favorite places to fly.

Come explore caves with us! We descend into these underground cathedrals with the National Speleological Society. Incoming president Geary Schindel shares with Mark his love of caving, the best caves in the United States and around the world, and how to get into caving for free in your local community.

The Frugal Traveler columnist for The New York Times, Lucas Peterson, dishes on his favorite destinations, deals, and dinner. Lucas chats with Mark about how he finds his savvy travel bargains; how he plans his trips and writes them for savvy readers; and his passion as a foodie, which he shares with viewers as the host of 'Dining on a Dime' on Eater. And he reveals his top tips for travelers.

Simply Smart Travel is a website run by Dr. Jeff Orenstein, the former publisher and founder of Living on the Suncoast Magazine. Jeff chats with Mark about his favorite destinations; his top tips for travelers, including those over 50 years old; and his number one rule for a successful trip.

The U.S. State Department is preparing for an unprecedented surge in passport applications this year, as many passports are due to expire. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Passport Services, Brenda Sprague, talks with Mark from Washington, D.C., about doubling the number of passport adjudicators, increasing passport offices, and the step-by-step instructions for any listener who needs to apply for or renew a passport—including some little-known rules that may save you from ruining your dream vacation.

The Vittoria Energy Expedition is a global journey onboard an entirely renewable energy-powered sailing ship. Mark chats with Nathan Sermonis, one of the co-creators of the project. Nathan tells us about the non-profit's mission and travel, how his team built a green sailing ship with solar panels from scratch, and the expedition's next destination: Cuba.

Celinne Da Costa quit her New York City advertising job and put her belongings in storage to set off on an unusual journey of exploration. She decided to couchsurf her way around the globe, only staying with people she met via social media. She's now writing a book about the journey that took her to 17 countries and the homes of 70 strangers. Mark chats with Celinne about the life-altering moment that made her leave her job, what she discovered on the road, and her practical tips for frequent and infrequent travelers.

One of the largest airline relocations in modern aviation history starts May 12, when 'Moving Day' comes to LAX, the second-busiest airport in the United States. Mark Albert chats with Los Angeles World Airports' Keith Wilschetz and Charles Pannunzio about the relocation of 21 airlines, the airport's $14 billion, multi-year modernization project, and how this incredibly complicated project will affect fliers.

The Unexpected Journey is a video project that seeks to "wake people up" from their lives by encouraging them to experience travel, culture, and charitable acts. Co-creator Mitch Summers chats with Mark about his own awakening, the goals for his self-funded project, and which country his team of five will travel to first to shoot their premiere television episode.

The Wall Street Journal's Andrew Blackman and photographer Genie Austin chat with us about their nomadic life. In 2015, the couple sold most of what they owned and hit the road. They tell Mark about their biggest discoveries about themselves, how they earn money to keep up the lifestyle of an explorer, and their top tips for travelers who want to experience a week—or a year—on the road.

Henrik Jeppesen was just 27 years old when he completed his quest to visit every country in the world. Neither money nor war stopped his adventure. Jeppesen chats with Mark about his next goal, his top tips for travelers to save money, and his favorite places.

Brett Snyder runs the very popular CrankyFlier.com, an 11-year old aviation industry blog with a loyal and devoted following. Brett shares with Mark how he got his start in the travel industry *in middle school*, some of his adventures in the air, and his top tips for fliers when their travels don't go exactly as planned. As a bonus, Brett brings us some breaking news - the date of his next Dorkfest at LAX.

Ben and Maggie Bowman of Chicago got the honeymoon of a lifetime - an all-expense-paid adventure to three stunningly beautiful destinations. The only catch? It was all for the pilot episode of the reality TV show "Honeymoon Hunters" on The Travel Channel. In this podcast, they share their experience, whether they would do it again, and their best non-TV tips for all newlyweds.

Rob Shipman has traveled the world on a global culinary adventure as an executive chef for hire. Rob tells host Mark Albert how he comes up with unique dishes in each of the countries where he works, admits he's changed a dish to make it more photogenic in our Instagram culture, and gives listeners one of his favorite recipes to make for themselves at home. Visit Rob's website at www.the-food-guy.com

Scott McCartney has written The Middle Seat column covering aviation for The Wall Street Journal since 2002. He chats with host Mark Albert about his much-watched annual airline rankings, whether airline CEOs ever yell at him, and the big changes ahead for fliers in 2017.

Russell Leven, director of the new PBS series City in the Sky, explains how he put together such an extraordinary, behind-the-scenes look at global aviation for PBS and the BBC in three episodes: Departure, Airborne, and Arrival.

CBS News Correspondent Jeff Pegues talks about the current security situation and threat picture travelers need to be aware of in 2017: how to stay safe while traveling, current security warnings around the globe, how the US travel ban could affect travelers, and what he's doing to keep his own family safe.