AAA Talking Travel (08/15/26)

Your True Crime podcast keeps listeners on the edge of their seats. But here's the real mystery. Why isn't it making more money? Odyssey Creator Lab is here to solve that. We host your show for free. No fees, no catch. You focus on the suspense. While our sales team brings in advertisers and revenue, stop leaving money on the table. Apply now at Creators.odicy.com and turn your passion for true crime into real revenue. Christine's app is in studio. We are not only streaming on X, but you can also see this in the Metropolitan Window video screen by going to kDKRadio.com, KDK Watch, 100.1 FM, AM 1020, the Odyssey app, our YouTube page. And here she is, and we're going to simply say before we get to all of our itineraries for this week, boy, these are the places that you need to go now. Good morning. Good morning. All right. Well, I can't get started without giving a huge shout out to the Res Center's very own Hannah Holdeman, who is tying the knot today. So if you haven't already, please reach out and congratulate her. It's super, super exciting. Cheers. I can't wait until we hear all about her honeymoon when she gets back so that we can yap about all the fun things. Did she book her own honeymoon? I guess she did. Of course she did. What kind of silly question is that? It's probably what she's been planning for the last year. She's not planning the wedding. She's planning the honeymoon. They're going to have a great time and a great life. Absolutely. Absolutely. Can't wait. So it might feel like summer's flying by, but there's some really great news for anyone that hasn't traveled yet and they still have travel on their mind because it's not too late to book your 2026 vacation. So maybe there's a destination you've been talking about visiting. Maybe you want to get away somewhere warm this winter. Or maybe you just need a vacation on the calendar so that you have something to look forward to. Whatever the reason is, today is a great day to make that trip happen. When you book a 2026 trip today, you can receive a free Yeti Tumblr when you call in or stop by your local office and mention promo code KDCA. So if you've been waiting for that little extra reason to finally book that vacation, this is it. And while you're thinking about your next trip, let me tell you about another way that we can make traveling even easier for you, especially if you're flying. AAA travel is hosting a TSA pre-check enrollment event at our Pleasant Hills branch, August 25th through the 28th. So if you haven't enrolled in TSA pre-check yet, now is the perfect time to do that. It can make your airport experience so much easier with very few hassles, a lot less stress when you go through security. Enrollment at this event and our Pleasant Hills office is being provided by edemia, and it's $78. lasts for five years. A TSA pre-check agent will be available each day from 9 to noon and from 1 to 5. Appointments are going to take priority over walk-ins, of course, so I definitely recommend scheduling yours ahead of time. You can do that by visiting AAA.com slash TSA, and you'll be able to make your appointment then. Again, this is at our Pleasant Hills office. So there's something that we're doing a little bit different this year at some of our TSA precheck events as well. We're making it a little bit more fun. So while you're there taking care of TSA precheck, you can also connect with some of AAA's preferred travel partners and get some inspiration for your next vacation right on site. So on Tuesday, August 25th, from 9 to noon, you can meet with Royal Caribbean. So anyone that's an avid listener, if you've tuned in and listened to Sydney, she will be on site on Tuesday, August 25th. On Wednesday, August 26, Disney.

Disney is going to be there from 9 to noon. So again, anyone that's tuned in and listen to Marcy, she will be there. Wednesday from 1 to 5, you can connect with member choice vacations. We'll have Matt in the house. And then on Thursday from 1 to noon, we're going to have sandals and beaches resorts. I love sandals and beaches. It is very much the best all-inclusive and the only way to go when you're thinking of all-inclusive travel. And then on Friday, we're going to have Norwegian cruise lines on site August 28th from 9 to 5 p.m. So you can be... In the office, you can take care of your TSA pre-check enrollment and at the same time, start talking with some of those true experts about that trip that you've been dreaming about and sit down with one of the travel advisors that they have in that office to be able to get that trip booked for you. And remember, today is the day. If you book your 2026 trip, you are going to be able to receive a free Yeti Tumblr when you call in 1-800-354-8761 or stop by your local office and mention promo code KDKA. And then, of course, the fun doesn't stop there. We have so many things happening in our branches as we kind of get closer to closing out summer. Our AAA McMurray office, which is located at 4,000 Washington Road, is hosting a AAA travel summer celebration. So if you're in the area August 24th and 25th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days, you can stop by. I'll be there. If you've booked any travel in our South Hills branch with Isabella Keir Starmer, she's recently promoted to management there. She'll be there. So stop by. We're going to have raffles. We're going to have... refreshment snacks, travel advisors, probably a vendor on site, debating between Sydney and Matt trying to get them both there. So depending on what your availability looks like, there's just so much going on this year, so much to close out the summer with, whether you need TSA precheck, whether you need to book that last minute travel, or whether you're just looking to visit with one of the offices that is closest to your home. A lot of our members haven't realized that that AAA McMurray office is there yet. A lot of stuff to get to on this program today. So what are some of the hot spots for this summer? Some of the hot spot. So Europe is huge this year. Of course, the Caribbean, you can never get enough of that. I'm so excited to get into the cruise and the tour of the week. The Caribbean is some of the best memories that I've had, you know, whether you're able to take a cruise and knock off a ton of destinations at once. I found that for me personally, that's the best way to decide if it's somewhere that I want to go back. You know, the first time that I had ever visited San Juan Puerto Rico was on a cruise. And then I loved it so much that I was like, I have to go back here. I need to be able to take this in for more than, you know, couple of hours. So cruising is a really great way to get an idea of where you want to go back and visit. So I'm really excited to dive into the cruising tour of the week this year or this. today because we still have time to travel this year. You know, when you're traveling on a cruise, you don't necessarily need a passport to travel if it's closed looped. You don't need a passport to travel to Puerto Rico. So if, you know, if that's something that's holding you back and you're thinking that you're limited on your options, you're not. So, you know, give us a call 1-800-354-8761. Stop by your local office. Sit down with a travel advisor. Let them know what you're looking for. You know, everything that we're talking about today is completely customizable. So if the dates don't work or if... If you are looking to go longer or stay less time, we can absolutely do that for you. Membership. Tell them why they need to get it.

Obviously, you need a membership. As summer comes to an end, you know, we're looking at finishing up those last minute road trips or, you know, getting into those winter seasons where we were probably due for another rough winter here. So you definitely want to make sure you have that peace of mind in your pocket. And not only the road service that comes with it, we offer so much more than that with, you know, auto insurance, home insurance, life insurance. You know, we've got pet insurance. You've got discounts on Hertz and Penske rentals if you're looking to move. You've got discounts for show your card. save. So as we get into the fall and we get into football season, you're looking to maybe shop Dunham's and save on, you know, the Will Howard, Jersey, because that's where my mind goes when we just come out of preseason. So whatever you're looking for, however you're looking to save, AAA is the only piece of plastic in your wallet that is truly going to pay you money. Yeah, and especially with back to school, you have a chance to pick up some great bargains. So your card and save, you may get more. Absolutely. Couldn't agree more, Rob. All right. Before we leave, great careers at AAA and then we'll take a and we're going to come back and do a whole lot more. I've seen what it's done for you in a short time, so why not recommend it to someone out listening right now that if you're looking to take that next step and become a part of their team, here's how you can do it. I couldn't agree more. You know, I'd mentioned earlier we have the summer celebration coming up in our McMurray office. Isabella Keir Starmer was a fantastic travel advisor in our South Hills office for many years, and we just recently promoted her into management. So we're always looking to promote with... from within and if you're looking to really grow your career there's no better place to start than triple a you know you can get involved in our travel agency. And we, you know, even if you don't have that background of travel and selling travel, we, we have a really extensive program that kind of teaches you the ins and outs of the systems and the destinations and the preferred partners that we work with. And, you know, we basically give you all of the tools that you need to turn into an Isabella or an Andrea or Alicia or myself or Kalin, you know, we've all taken different paths. But at the same way, we all love the career path that has been, you know, get afforded to us through AAA. So we do have. a couple of openings as travel advisors. We have an opening in our South Hills location. We have an opening in our North Hills location. So if you think that travel is something that you would love, and I promise you that it is, every single day is something different and every single day is something fun. So AAA.com slash careers is the perfect way to get started. All right, sounds good. Christine Zapp is here. We're going to be heading to Puerto Rico. We've got a cruise. We've got Bahamas on our mind. We've got all sorts of good stuff. We have just got underway. And we've got three more segments to go up until noon. Remember, 800, 35, 4, 870. 761, 800, 354-8761. Some special events coming up as well. We'll remind you about all of that. Stay with us. This is AAA East Central's Talking Travel. Christine Zapp and your Prat Pack today, KDKA. I'm Jenna Fisher and I'm Angela Kinsey. And together we have the podcast Office Ladies. Just because we finished rewatching the office does not mean we're going anywhere. Every Wednesday we'll be sharing even more exclusive stories from the office and our friendship with brand new guests. Plus, you can revisit all the Office Ladies rewatch episodes every Monday with new bonus tidbits before every episode. So follow and listen to Office Ladies on the free Odyssey app and wherever you get your podcasts.

All right, I can't stand the suspense any longer. I'm ready. It's all about Puerto Rico. So let's get going. It's a trip you do not want to miss. And remember, AAA.com slash radio for everything and all the itineries we talk about each and every week. And we've got those people standing by to Dream It, Planet Booket, 800, 354, 8761. Kristen. All right. So our tour of the week takes us somewhere warm and beautiful. And the best part is you can enjoy a Caribbean vacation without needing a passport. We're talking about Puerto Rico. And this is a AAA member first vacation. So this is a really great way to trade the cold weather. This winter for sunshine for beautiful beaches, history, food, and plenty of opportunities for adventure. So the package that we put together is for December 2nd through December 8th of 2026. This includes roundtrip airfare from Pittsburgh International. This includes round trip private transfers and your hotel stay. It's going to also include a $50. AAA member activity voucher that you can use towards activities during your vacation. And I really want to focus on the hotel because this location is perfect. So this property is going to be located in the Condado area. This is the AC Hotel San Juan. We've got you in a king room right in that lively, like I said, condado district. So you're close to bars, restaurants. plenty of places to explore, and the hotel is a super short walk from the beach. The property also features a rooftop pool, a fitness center, cocktail lounge, tapas bar, and a restaurant that's serving Spanish cuisine. So the rooms are going to offer that Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV, mini-fridges, tea, coffee makers, and then we're going to also have some upgraded rooms available that are going to offer balconies and ocean views. So if you're looking to stay in Puerto Rico, I cannot stress enough how much Condado really has it all. I know that there's a lot of great things to do in the San Juan area. You know, you've got all of the colorful buildings and the cobblestone brick and there's lots of restaurants and shopping, but it's not right on the beach. So to be able to be right on the beach and have access to, you know, the rooftop pool and the food and the fun and, you know, the entertainment, you really want to be in that Condado area. And then this package is also going to include a $50 AAA member activity credit. So you can use that to make your Puerto Rican adventure even more memorable. So there's all kinds of activities that are available, everything from exploring that old San Juan area to visiting the L unique national rainforest. You also got horseback riding, ziplining, ATV adventures, catamaran sailing, snorkeling, and even a bioluminescent bay kayak experience. So whatever you're looking for, Puerto Rico truly has. as all of it. And it has been a popular destination when we started this program over 30 years ago, and it's got a lot of popularity now.

Absolutely. It's one of the destinations, you know, like I said, you know, when I was on a cruise, I've been to so many of the islands throughout the Caribbean and it's one that you want to keep going back to. I just think that the culture and the food and the energy, it just keeps drawing you back in. And the fact that it's, you know, part of the U.S. makes it that much more accessible. So, you know, you definitely want to stop by our Pleasant Hills office and get TSA pre-checks. You can zip through security. But to be able to not have to worry about if your passport's renewed or if you need to get your passport, you know, I definitely recommend. doing those things so you're ready to travel in 2027. I know it's crazy to think about that, but you want to get things in order before then. However, like, let's get a last minute trip in before the end of the year where you don't have to worry about your passport. And the thing about Puerto Rico is... consistency, the weather is always nice. Oh my God, it's beautiful. It's so far south, so it's going to be a beautiful day no matter what it is. And it's almost like when you're in Florida. If it rains, it's for five minutes, and then it's beautiful again. All right, so give me your five checkpoints. So when you get off ship or you hit a destination, you've never been to before, what are the five things that you just look for that'll make it an even more pleasurable trip? Obviously, food's one of them. I was going to say, can I say food for one through five? Food's one of them. Yeah, I definitely think food is probably, my number one. And then any type of activity that is going to be in the water. I love being, you know, in the water. I'm not a beach girl. I don't love the sand. It's sticky and gross and I'm just not for me. But anytime I can be in the water, so if I'm kayaking or I'm canoeing or I'm snorkeling or on a catamarian cruise, that is where the fun is for me. So anytime that we can do something like that or, you know, they have that rainforest in Puerto Rico. That is an experience in itself. So you definitely want to reach out to your local AAA travel advice. or give us a call 1-800-354-8761. Let them know the budget you have in mind, your activity level, what you really like to enjoy on vacation, and they'll be able to pair the perfect activity together for you. And the best part is this package is going to include a $50 activity voucher if you are a AAA member. She, one of the things that I've learned doing this show for over three decades, there are certain places that are must. You talk about Punta Conti, you talk about Costa Rica, you talk about Puerto Rico. What are they all have in common? Tourism is their number one industry. what makes them tick and they're going to do everything they can to give you the best experience possible because they want repeat performers they want people to keep coming back time after time after time. Absolutely. It's just one of those destinations anywhere throughout the Caribbean. It just never goes out of style. So whether your idea of vacation is relaxing by the pool, exploring history and culture, or getting outside and having adventure, Puerto Rico gives you all of those options. So the package that I mentioned, again, this is December 2nd through December 8th of 2026, includes roundtrip airfare from Pittsburgh International. Round trip private transfers. So what that means is once you, you know, deboard the plane and you go through, you know, customs and immigration, you grab your luggage, someone is going to be there to transfer you to your hotel privately. And then at the end of your stay, they're going to transfer you back. This is going to include your hotel accommodations at the AC San Juan Con.

Condato, also that $50 member activity voucher. This package is pricing at 1940 per person based on double occupancy. And again, your AAA travel advisor is going to be able to help you customize and experience the activities that best fit the way that you travel. So, you know, think about that last minute travel that you're looking to take this year. Things are going to start to chill down around here. Football's right around the corner. If it's already started, it's going to get cold and you're going to want to be able to think I have that trip booked. I have something to look forward to. I can get away this winter. So here's the thing. History, tropical settings, and of course the best are swaying palm trees and sandy beaches and crystal blue water. So it's got a little bit of everything. A little bit of everything. All right. Again, 800, 354-8761. So Puerto Rico, you think of the culture, the history. To me, that alone is worth making a trip. And here's the best part. It's not that far from home. Yeah, and it's an easy single connection. So whether you're flying United, whether you're flying American, whether you're flying Delta, you know, you have your preferred airline, you want to gain that status. There's single connection options into Puerto Rico with all of them. So, you know, a lot of the options that we're going to provide you, you're leaving early in the morning, you've got a single connection in maybe Charlotte or Miami, and then you're down in Puerto Rico by early afternoon. So it's, you have that first full day that you're able to, you know, get checked in, and then the whole evening is yours to explore. And then you've got. seven full days with this itinerary. And again, like I said, if this package or these dates don't work for you, it's completely customizable. Maybe you want to island hop. Maybe there's more than one destination that you want to check out. Maybe you only have five nights or a long weekend. You know, give us a call. Our call center's open till five today. 1-800-354-8761. You will probably get anyone but Hannah because she's off celebrating today. And then our branches. A lot of them are open, you know, No, 1, 2 p.m. So stop by your local office and let them know what budget you're working with or what dates work for you. But it's not too late to plan a trip to get away this year. And again, if you're booking a trip that travels in 2026 and you're booking today, if you mention promo code KDKA, you're going to receive a free Yeti Tumblr as well. And here's the thing. If you're planning a December wedding. And you have no idea where you're going to go on your honeymoon. This would be a nice little getaway. The perfect getaway. I can't think of a better way to celebrate, you know, and to really unwind and relax after all the stress of wedding planning is to just lay by the beach, not me, someone else, lay by the beach. Or, you know, again, if you're a more active traveler, Puerto Rico has a lot of that. So whether you're thinking you want to do horseback riding, ziplining, ride ATVs, catamaran sailing, canoeing, snorkelling, kayaking. They really have it all. So you're not going to wake up, come down from your room, and go to the pool. and spend all day there. The pool's different. The pool doesn't have sand. Okay. I'm okay with the pool. As long as I'm not getting sand all over me. You may be the first host that I've ever had on this show in 30-plus years. It is talking travel that doesn't like sand. But I guarantee you, it's pretty the beach, but you know what happens? The worst part, you do get sand between your toes and up your nose. Yes, absolutely. Yeah, for sure. Alicia is the most beach girly girl I have ever met in my life. So she is for sure on here wanting a very different vacation experience.

than I do. But that's the beauty of travel, is that no matter what you're looking for, there's a destination, or there's a tour, or there's a cruise, or there's an island out there for everyone. Listen, the older gentleman in the room is going to bring this up. And if you're a history buff and you love baseball and you love the pirates like I did as a kid, when you go to Puerto Rico, you won't have to go very far to find out about the history of that young man who grew up there, none other than Roberto Clemente. Love it. Love it, love it. And I'm sure if I flip through this motorist, We have spring training stuff already in the works for 2027. And if we don't, it is coming soon. Just let me get through this year, please. 800, 354-8761. Tell them what we have coming up. If you like the Bahamas, you're going to love this. All right. So coming up next, we do have a cruise that we are going to highlight. It is with Royal Caribbean. And we love all things Royal Caribbean. They're one of my absolute favorite brands. Anything from, you know, being able to travel as a couple or a family or, you know, if you're looking for like a bachelorette park. or, you know, something like that, it is the perfect option for everyone. This is also going to be a featured vacation of ours. So it's going to include your transportation to and from the port, which is something that you can't get everywhere. You can't get that by Googling and booking, you know, on some random mom and pop shop stop online. So you need AAA travel. You need the professionals in AAA East Central. All right, we're coming back. Remember that number. 800, 354, 8761. 8003-454-876. One more hour. Next hour, it's an extra hour of open talk. Lots of things to get to. Pick up on some of the things we discussed this morning. In the first couple of hours and some stories that have been trending since, we'll get to all of that. But in the meantime, don't forget, AAA.com slash radio for all the itinerary that we're discussing on today's program. You can read along at home. And then you dream at Planet Book at 800354-8754-8761. Christine Zapp, your Pratt Pack. Back with more in just... In just a moment, Rob Taylor's got the update at 1130 here at KDKA. Lemonade, fresh squeeze lemonade. Lemonade? Lemonade? Oh, nuts. Is your business struggling to be seen, not reaching the right customers? Yeah. Odyssey's here to help. Your one-stop shop for digital marketing. Wait, really? With targeted digital media, plus SEO, SEM, social, OTT, and more. We help your business reach the right audience and drive results. Whoa, hey, one at a time. Stop missing out on valuable customers. Visit digitallocalads.com to learn more about our local advertising solutions. That's digital local ads.com. Okay, people. Mine starts here. Before we cruise off to the Bahamas, let's talk Paris and a little black and gold as in Pittsburgh Steelers. Kristen Zapp. All right. I know we're off air talking all things Steelers, and I'm like, all right, we got to talk about these trips that we have coming up. So we do have a couple of trips that we are featuring that are going to be. Around the black and gold, around our very own Pittsburgh Steelers. So, of course, everybody knows that we are traveling to Paris to take on the Saints this year. So we have a Steel City kickoff in Paris, which is hosted by Katie Kay's Larry Richard. This trip is October 21st through the 26th of this year.

Package pricing is starting at 7199 per person based on double occupancy, and it includes so much that you don't have to worry about. This includes round-trip airfare from Pittsburgh into Charles de Gaulle, which is the airport there in Paris, France. It's going to include your round-trip motorcoach transfers from the airport to the hotel, to the game. Everything you need, all that ground transportation is going to be included. It's also going to include four nights accommodation at the Paris Marriott Opera Hotel. It's going to include your official NFL stadium game tickets. So you've got tickets to the game included. Also a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus tour, black and gold kickoff party. And then you're also going to have some gifts included with you. And then the very best part is that you're going to be accompanied by a AAA tour manager. So if you're worried about how to navigate the city, where to go, what to do, you're going to have somebody on site for you. So that is one of the trips that we are doing this year. And then we also... have a New Year's trip with the black and gold. So we have a black and gold in the music city. So New Year kickoff is going to be in Nashville, Tennessee this year, December 31st through January 4th of 2027. Prices are starting at 3,039 per person based on double occupancy. And this is going to include New Year's Eve in Nashville. It's going to include, you know, the NFL game tickets, Pittsburgh versus Tennessee. It's going to include your hotel accommodations in a downtown Nashville hotel. It's also going to have a little bit of a reception there. Country Music Hall of Fame. It's also going to include dining at Old Red, which is Blake Shelton's dining and music venue. And then you're going to include as well a guided city tour and the Grand Ole Opry. So so many cool things happening around our beloved Pittsburgh Steelers this fall. You know, I hate to break it to you. You know how much you love Taylor Swift. And I do too. But this Ella Langley is making a push. No, Rob, don't say things. I'm so mad. I haven't seen wedding photos yet. Get me fired up. But I did hear an interview with Travis Kelsey where he was calling her his wife. So I was like, okay, I'll allow it. You know, a guy sits in that chair with me Sunday in this time slot is the manager, agent of Travis Kelsey, and he went to the wedding. Does he have photos? No, no one has photos. He has photos of him and his wife at the hotel. But... He said, he saw him and met him all. He said it was unbelievable. I bet. And he said the food was incredible and they were so gracious those two. Aw. But do you know who Ella Langley is? Sounds like country music. That's not up my alley. I'm telling you, she is. Really good. The next Taylor Swift, maybe? Well, that's going to be. That's yet to be seen, but she's getting that kind of early push and filling up arenas too. So it's just amazing. I love seeing all the young talent out there. Speaking of young talent, how in the world did someone as young as you get into travel and end up on a radio station within a matter of years? And all of you, Alicia, obviously Andrea. Caitlin, you guys really have come a long way in a short time with AAA, and that's pretty exciting. Yeah, I mean, I definitely think at least Alicia Andrea and myself have Tracy Edwards to thank for that. Tracy. I know. Shout out to him. I'm sure he's rooting for Will Howard as the Steelers decide on their...

QB2, I guess. All he ever thinks about Ohio State. Preseason rank number one. He's probably doing cart roll somewhere right now. Me and him both. So yeah, I definitely think Tracy has a lot to do with it. We all started in different ways. You know, we were each in different branches. Alicia started, I believe, as like an intern. And Andrea started as an agent. And I believe East Liberty. I started downtown in an office that's not even here anymore. So we've all kind of grown and moved in different directions and ended up in careers that we genuinely reached. really enjoy and we're all in different different paths now but started in the same way. And I think that, you know, being able to be part of the radio show every weekend is super exciting and super fun. And all four of us, Caitlin included, even though she has a different path than the rest of us, like. We all just love to travel and love to talk about it. And it's exciting. And to be able to put these trips together and be part of the magic to make these things happen for our members is pretty incredible. It is. All right. 8663-9-1-1020 is our number. If you have anything on your mind on the way of travel, but the number you need to remember, 800, 354-8761. Let's go to the Bahamas. All right. So now we're going to switch from an island getaway to our cruise of the week. So this week we're featuring a perfect-day Bahamas cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the... Seas departing December 5th through the 13th of 2026. And one of the things that I really like about this vacation is that you don't have to worry about driving all the way to New Jersey yourself. AAA is going to provide round-trip motor coach transportation from select pickup points, including Independence and Niles in Ohio, and then Cranberry Township in New Stanton in Pennsylvania. So you'll travel by motor coach to New Jersey. You're going to stay overnight in a hotel, enjoy breakfast the next morning, and then head into New York City for a sightseeing tour before continuing onto Cape Liberty to board the ship. Once you're on board the Odyssey of the Seas, you've got seven nights to relax and explore. This is a quantum ultra-class ship, so there is a ton to do. You'll be able to experience the Ripcord, I Fly Skydiving Simulator, the Flowrider Surf Simulator, rock climbing, bumper cars, and roller skating rinks in the Seaplex. Or if you're looking for something a little less adventurous, you're able to catch entertainment. at the Royal Theater. They also have a theater called 270. And then if you want to slow things down even more, there's tons of pools, the adults only salarium, plenty of dining options, and lots of places to simply sit back and enjoy being at sea. You know, one of my favorite things about traveling with Royal Caribbean is that I feel like you can do it with a ton of friends or a ton of family, even if you have different interests. You know, for example, the last time I sailed Royal Caribbean, you could not get my brother off of the flowrider. Every single time he was done, he's back in line to do it. And it looks fun. It's not for me. I'm hanging out in the solarium where there's no children running around and it's quiet and it's calm. You know, spend a day in the spa being able to relax. And then, of course, when we're in port, you know, he still wants to be on the surf simulator and I want to be off exploring. So regardless how you're traveling or who you're traveling with, a cruise is always such a great option because it offers something for everyone.

So this specific itinerary is going to include ports of call like Cape Canaveral, perfect day at Cocoa K in the Bahamas and Nassau, along with several relaxing days at sea. A perfect day at Cocoa is probably one of my absolute favorite places to be. They have so many neighborhoods to explore with complementary options as well as premier experiences like the Thrill Water Park, Cocoa Beach Club, and the Hideaway Beach. And then in Nassau, you can explore the city, enjoy the beaches, experience the history, or get out on the water. So regardless what you're looking for, these destinations offer it all. AAA member rates are starting at 1820 per person based on double occupancy for an interior. your cabin and then Ocean View balcony cabins are also available starting at 2,100 per person based on double occupancy. And when you're thinking about planning a cruise and what that looks like as far as full picture, you definitely need to stop by your local office, sit down with a travel advisor, or give us a call at 1-800-354-8761. Because those days where you're in port, we are also able to help with your shore excursions. So through a company called Shore Excursion Groups, we can help you find and book excursions in each of those ports of call. They offer hundreds and thousands of different destinations and different experience. in ports all around the world. So everything from private excursions to small group experiences and your standard group tours. So basically think instead of getting off the ship and wondering what you're going to do that day, let your AAA travel advisor help you plan those experiences in advance. For example, on the cruise, there are excursions available in Port Canaveral, Koko K, and Nassau. So everything from beach days and snorkeling to sightseeing and some of those more adventure experiences, it's just another way that AAA travel can help take the work out of your vacation. So you can just truly sit back, relax, and enjoy the time that you have away. All sorts of good things to do while you're away. So it's okay to tell your agent, show me the way. Absolutely. I mean, that's the beauty of it. So this trip is lovely because it's out of Cape Canaveral. It's such a smooth experience to be able to sail in and out of New Jersey. You've got your motor coach transportation from Pittsburgh. You don't have to worry about driving across the state. You've got your pre-night hotel. accommodations already arranged. You get to take in the beauty and the liveliness of New York City before you depart. I mean, and then you're going to be able to drive past the statue of, or not drive, you're going to sail past the Statue of Liberty as you're exiting the area. I mean, it's just all of the excitement and the fun is it's going to get started right before you even get on the ship. There is this massive social media influencer who came from Ireland to New York. And I'm looking at New York through. someone's eyes who's never been there, but we talk about where she's from all the time, Ireland. And it made me realize how amazing New York is. She was in Times Square, did a selfie. And for all of us that have talked about it and we see it, we kind of take it for granted. 100%. It's ours, right? Right. But then you realize when somebody comes from a foreign country to New York, the Big Apple, 10 million strong and does a selfie at Times Square in the middle of the day,

We live in a pretty incredible place, United States of America. So just to get to go to New York, forget all the other bells and whistles, but to get to go to New York. This trip's worth the price. I couldn't agree more. I think that you kind of hit the nail there. I mean, we absolutely take places like New York City for granted because it's right around the corner more or less. You know, we're thinking like, we need to go to Paris. We need to go to London and we need to experience the Christmas markets in Europe. But we have something special right here in the U.S. and it's so close to home. You know, even if you're looking to plan trips, you know, around the holidays to New York City, that's something that AAA travel can provide. There's just so many great ways to still get a vacation in before the end. of the year. So if you're looking to, you know, spend time in the Caribbean, if you're looking to take a cruise, you know, if you're looking at, you know, just a long weekend in New York City, you definitely want to stop by your local office or give us a call 1-800-354-8761. Let the travel advisor know, the dates that you have in mind, what you're looking for. Absolutely everything can be customized to make your vacation happen. Again, 800, 354-8761. We'll come back to wrap up the hour with Kristen's app. We'll go back on... Every itinerary that we brought up in a few other things you don't want to miss, and especially getting that motorist and you get it, but becoming a member. We'll explain all of it in just a couple of moments. AAA Central's Talking Travel, Christine Zapp, and your Prat Pack today on KDCA. All right, as we get ready to wrap up the hour with Christine Zapp, AAA Central's Talking Travel, we'll go over everything Puerto Rico and the cruise to the Bahamas before we get out of here. But talk about the membership, all the perks that you get, including one of my favorites, and I never leave home without it. I have it in my briefcase here at the studio, and that's the monthly motorist. Go ahead. Absolutely. Our motorist is one of the things that gets me most excited for all of the inclusions and all the trips and all the savings that we have. And, you know, another really great thing that you're able to get through AAA travel and to, you know, really experienced and to make your... vacation kind of put a little bow on everything is that when you book, we're booking and we're making sure that you're protected from start to finish. So we offer AAA travel. We offer travel insurance through AAA, which is through a company called Alianz travel insurance. It's something that's worth discussing whenever you're putting any amount of money into a trip because unfortunately things can happen. So you may have to cancel for a covered reason. You might have a delayed flight. Your luggage could be delayed, damaged, or even lost. You could have a medical emergency while you're traveling. And with Allianz, you're also going to have access 24-7 assistance. So you're not completely on your own if something unexpected happens while you're traveling.

The important thing is that when you are talking with your AAA travel advisor about all of the options when you're booking a trip, because coverage, benefits, exclusions, and eligibility can vary depending on the plan and the circumstances. So, you know, there's a lot of moving parts to travel insurance, but we absolutely want to make sure that you're completely covered in whatever type of vacation that you have. So like I said, we are going to make sure that you are fully protected from start to finish. So I want to recap everything we talked about. But I also want to remind you, it is not too late to book that trip for 2026. And if you're booking your 2026 trip today with AAA travel, I want you to mention promo code KDCA so that you're going to receive that free Yeti Tumblr. We've also got TSA precheck enrollment events coming up. We have that happening in our Pleasant Hills branch. Again, that is August 25th through the 28th with appointments available throughout the day. However, those appointments are going to take priority over walk-in. So, TSA to get yourself an appointment. And don't forget, we're also going to have some of our preferred partners there. So Royal Caribbean, Disney, member choice vacation, sandals and beaches, and Norwegian are going to be joining us throughout the week. So if you have any of those destinations or any of those products on your mind, it is the perfect time to stop by the branch. So our tour of the week, again, this was a Caribbean package to Puerto Rico. This package was departing December 2nd through the 8th of 2026. This includes roundtrip airfare from Pittsburgh International, round trip private transfers from the airport to your hotel. It's going to include your accommodations at the AC Hotel San Juan Condado and a $50 AAA member activity voucher. Pricing for this specific package is starting at 1940 per person based on double occupancy. Again, these dates are fully customizable. The destination's customizable. Maybe you have a passport and there's a different Caribbean island that's been on your mind. Or maybe you're looking at all of the options that you can do whenever you're thinking about Mexico. So just give us a call, 1-800-354-8761. Stop by your local office. Let us know what dates work for you, what budget you have in mind, and we can put together a truly incredible Caribbean. vacation package. Our cruise of the week is a perfect day Bahamas cruise on board Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas. This is sailing December 5th through the 13th. It's going to include that motor coach transportation from select pickup points, a pre-night hotel cruise stay, seven-night cruise. Most of your meals and entertainment are going to be included once you're on board. Your pre-compactuities are included, a New York sightseeing tour, and government taxes and fees. Pricing for this is starting at 1820 per person based on double occupancy for an interior cabin. or 2,100 per person based on double occupancy for an Ocean View balcony cabin. And you can see the price difference between that interior and Ocean View balcony cabin is very minimal. You know, I've sailed in an interior cabin before. And, you know, there are some benefits to it. I personally love sleeping in the dark. So it's very much like sleeping in a closet. So there is that benefit. But in the morning, you know, you love to get up and have your coffee and sit on the balcony and take in that fresh ocean saltwater air. So for, you know, even.

for me loving sleeping in a closet. I would very much prefer that Ocean View balcony cabin. I'm a nightlight type of person. Okay. I got to have my nightlight. So you're going to have the door open, basically. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, honestly, I'm not a big fan of the inside. I've been one, and I'm in the balcony the second time. And it's good, as long as you get you where you need to be and you get all the things to go with it. But there's something about being able to smell that ocean air. Absolutely. And in the spacing, you know, you're going to get a little more space in an Ocean View balcony room as well. So definitely something to consider when you're looking at it. You know, and whether you're looking at Puerto Rico or a Caribbean cruise, a last minute, 2026 getaway or something. completely different. I don't want you guys to forget, AAA travel is a full service travel agency so we can help you with the flights, the hotels, cruises, activities, shore excursions, travel protection. Everything is all in one place and everything is completely customizable. You know, there's nothing too big or too small that we can't help you do, whether you're looking for, you know, a road trip and you need hotel stops along the way. You want to go to New York for the holidays. You want to do a river cruise in Europe and experience the Christmas mark. or if you need TSA pre-check, you can stop by our local office at the Pleasant Hills branch. So there's so many different ways to explore, so many different things that we can help put together for you. If you're still not sure on what you want to do, I highly recommend stopping by the McMurray office on August 24th and 25th. We're going to have travel advisors on site. And it's just a way to celebrate summer. And we're going to have raffles and prizes and refreshments. And, you know, I've been on here and I've talked about my cookie girl, Becca. We just ordered some cookies from her. So you know there's going to be some yummy treats there. So if you're, you know, still on the edge, give us a call. Stop by your local office. Visit our TSA precheck events. Stop by some of the summer. There's no, you know, better way to really just sit down and think, hey, where can I get away this summer? Where can I still take a trip to by the end of the year? It's not too late. Hey, they can always jump on a little plane and go down to that place that your father-in-law lives down in Fort Lauderdale. Yeah, absolutely. You can never go wrong with Florida. Florida is an easy getaway. I love the Pompano Beach area. It's super underrated. It's about 30, 40 minutes outside of Fort Lauderdale. And there's just a lot of really great things to take advantage of, lots of foods, lots of restaurants, shopping, dining. And it's not as, you know, crowded as it might be if you're going to Miami. There's so many great things. ways and you know things to do in miami and there's great experiences and culture and food but There's a lot of people because it's one of the really great tourist options that we have. So if you're thinking about traveling to Florida and you want the beach and you want food and you want a great time, Pompano Beach is a great way to experience that. And you may seem a little too early because we're in the midst of summer and kids are still home from school, at least for the next handful of days. But fall foliage, you may want to look into those now too. Absolutely. I love full foliage. That makes me think of Bedford. You know, when we're, we have the Bedford County fall foliage. So I love any type of fall foliage that we can get a hang on. So when you're thinking.

of the fall that makes me think of football and all of the great ways that we can celebrate that. So, you know, we, again, we mentioned earlier in the show that we have a couple of trips coming up this year with the black and gold. So reminder that we do have a new year kickoff in Nashville, which is going to be Tennessee versus Pittsburgh, December 31st through January 4th. That includes your... New Year's Eve in Nashville. It's going to include tickets. It's including your hotel accommodations downtown and all of the fun that comes with Nashville. So dining at Blake Shelton's restaurant, a city tour, the Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame. Pricing is starting at $3,039 per person based on double occupancy. You do not want to miss that. And if you're looking to get away even sooner and to be able to take in some football outside of our beloved... Not Heinzfield, our Hackercher Stadium. We've got the Steel City kickoff in Paris, which is hosted by Katie Kay's Larry Richard. This package is pricing at 7199 per person based on double occupancy, departing all... October 21st through the 26th of 2026. This is going to include roundtrip airfare from Pittsburgh into Paris. It's going to include your motor coach transfers from the airport to the hotel to the game. So everything once you're on the ground is going to be included. You've got four nights accommodation at the Paris Marriott Opera Hotel. It's going to include your tickets, hop on, hop off sightseeing, a river cruise, and then, of course, the black and gold kickoff party. So you do not want to miss these incredible trips happening this fall as well. And we began the show talking about a special event that's going to be happening on one of the branches. Go ahead. Absolutely. So we've got our TSA pre-check event that's coming up in our Pleasant Hills office. That is going to be August 25th starting and then ending on the 28th. We're going to have tons of vendors there. So think Royal Caribbean, Disney, member choice vacation, sandals, Norwegian. So if you're looking to travel this fall and you still haven't taken advantage of TSA precheck, you definitely want to stop by the office. You can visit our office or make an appointment. AAA.com slash TSA. And then again, if you have recently booked a trip with Isabella, she has been promoted to management, and she is the manager of our McMurray office, and we are hosting a summer travel celebration there. So we're going to have opportunities to win exciting prizes. We're going to have refreshments, snacks. That's happening August 24th and 25th. And it's going to be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. We offer travel, membership, insurance. All of the benefits that come with your AAA membership are going to be available there. And that McMurray Murray office is located at 4,000 Washington Road. So you do not want to miss that. No, one more shout out to our good friend and coworker, Hannah. Then we'll say goodbye. Go ahead. Yes. Oh my gosh. Get me teared up before the end of the show. So shout out to Hannah. If any of you follow her on social media, I promise you she did not leave her dress in an Uber. She has this super fun sister that likes to hack her Facebook. So she is.

Fine. I have no doubts. I cannot wait to see the photos. I have no doubt we will see Hannah's photos before we see Taylor Swift. Yeah, listen, best of luck to both of them. Nothing but just a beautiful day, beautiful memories, the beginning of a long and happy and healthy life from your Pratt Pack. Really excited about their journey. Always excited to see you because you bring your A-game, lots of information. It'll be Alicia next week and then Andrew will be here and we'll just continue to do what we do each and every week. We've been doing it for over 30 years in this time slot. appreciate it. I know you do from all the feedback that I get when I'm here or outside the station, but nobody appreciates AAA Central more than me. They'll be my family forever, and I'm proud to be a part of their family. Have a great day. Thanks, Rob. All right, new news, then. We got some talking to do. I'm going to talk more about education and the cost of something I saw in the Tribune review on their app just about an hour ago, and at times chimes in perfectly on what we were talking about earlier today in the way of saving public education in America. that and much more still today on KDK. Number to doubt of join me, 866, 391, 1020. Hey there, I'm Kendra Adachi and my show The Lazy Genius Podcast helps you be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don't and you get to decide what matters. I'm not here to tell you what to do. I'm here to give you a new way to see. Episodes of the Lazy Genius podcast are full of compassionate time management tips and permission slips to do what makes sense for you. New episodes drop every Monday. Follow and listen to the Lazy Genius podcast on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.