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Denali National Park, Alaska

Release Date: 08/05/2022

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More Episodes

In this episode: FAQ is: Should I join a frequent flier program tied in with my airline?

Today’s Destination is: Denali National Park, Alaska

Today’s Mistake- Carrying a paper bag down the departure hallway and spilling the starbucks coffee

Travel Advice: Jetlag tips

FAQ: Should I join a frequent flier program tied in with my airline?

Answer: That depends on the cost and if she will get any value back from this. I have been a member of American Airlines since 1982, and in the early days, there were some good perks. Later, United had some very good loyalty programs that I liked. Today, you may need to pay the fee for a basic credit card, somewhere near $75. Annually. So, if that seems reasonable, you may invest in it.

Alaska Airlines is affiliated with Bank of America. They offer a companion ticket, but you still need to pay $99 plus the taxes and fees. They have set the bar even higher, because you need to spend a certain amount of money within the first few months of owning the card. So, in essence, you are working for the card, while B of A gets to keep your data and spending information, along with your travel preferences. It may take 6 months to get your credentials. Then you can book a ticket with a companion. Do you want to wait 6 months? When you purchase your tickets, you can only buy them 300 days in advance, and the pricing is not always the best available. So consider all of the factors.

Today’s destination: Denali National Park, Alaska

(formerly Mt McKinley)

The park was built in the 1920’s and 1930’s. If you’re going to the park, consider the summer Solstice, hike at midnight.

You can sit outside at 2am and it’s still not dark.

I’ve been here twice on the Denali tour bus; inside the park they use basic school buses for your choice of tour length. This is my recommendation that you take the longest tour you can take so you see as much of the park as possible on the bus, with multiple stops for rest and photo breaks.

Private vehicles belong to the park rangers or wildlife biologists who have a permit in the windshield that allows them in. The campground is at mile 29 in the road and as far as you can drive, to the Savage River. With reservations, you can drive your cars into camp. You need to stay at least three nights, and you can only drive in on the first day and out the last day. I saw some RV’s and campers, but mostly park buses. It can be dusty out there in the summer.

Today’s Mistake- I was a sandy mess

I’ve been buried at the beach by my friends, but what a sandy mess that was. If your friends plan to bury you at the beach, be sure you wrap your body in a towel or something that will protect you from the sand. After getting out of the ocean, I still had sand almost all over my body, especially in my ear and hair. Don’t do this.

Today’s Travel Advice- Jet Lag tips

Get on the schedule of where you are going a couple of days early. Need a way to limit your jetlag? How about an app? Here are some suggested ones.

Timeshifter. Timeshifter is an app that helps resynchronize your circadian clock with your new time zone through a unique sleep, light and caffeine schedule. ...