Ready...Set...Vacation! with Erik the Travel Guy

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Travel Tip - Unraveling the Differences Between Low-Cost and Legacy Airlines

In today's fast-paced world, the aviation industry offers travelers a plethora of options when it comes to choosing airlines. Among these choices, two prominent categories stand out: low-cost carriers and legacy airlines.

Travel Tip - Saving Money For Vacation

This is a topic I seem to be focused on quite a bit lately. It was widely reported this week that the cost of airline tickets have risen 25% in the last 12 months. That outpaces inflation. It is yet another example of how everything seems to be expensive right now. The good news is, that you can still save while you are away without sacrificing a tremendous loss of "vacation bliss."

Travel Tip - How to Stay Safe While Traveling

Traveling is a wonderful way to explore new places, cultures, and experiences. However, it's essential to prioritize safety while on vacation to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip.

Travel Tip - New York for the First Timer

New York City is the greatest city in the world! But hold on…visiting the big apple can be expensive, frustrating, exhausting and time consuming. So before we put one item on our agenda, let’s take a moment.

Travel Tip - What I Pack in my Shaving Kit

As you know, I travel a lot for a living. I fly more domestic flights than international and for shorter duration trips. Which means my carry on is my only means of transporting the essential items I need when I’m shooting episodes of my television shows. This includes my toiletry or shaving kit.

Civil War Sites To Visit

Over the years, I have traveled to many civil war sites, battlefields and museums. It never gets tiring because I always learn something new. Fortunately, a number of historic sites have been preserved for posterity and here are just a few of my favorites. 

Travel Tip - How To Score Cheap Airfare

When planning a trip, finding the best and cheapest airfare is often at the top of the priority list. Fortunately, there are a variety of online resources that can help you save money on flights.

Travel Tip - Packing for International Travel

Who is excited to see the world? You’ve made your reservations (or not) and now it's time to pack. The tips below provide helpful tips for packing for an international vacation.

Travel Tip - 20 Tips for International Trips

As you know by now, I love exploring my home country of America. I believe we have one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. What you may not know is I equally love trotting the globe!

Five Romantic Vacation Destinations

Valentine’s Day is upon us (or was) and perhaps that annual observance reminded you to book a romantic getaway with your significant other. Perhaps an extended weekend in a place you both adore or a week-long romance extravaganza is in order?

Travel Tip - Delta's Free WiFi and Others

Bored flyers rejoice! So, Delta airlines will offer free WiFi on most flights! This is one of the things that Delta is good at, making consumer-friendly operational decisions. Who, in their right mind, could argue AGAINST free WiFi? Nobody.

Travel Tip - Flight Delays Explained

It’s time to talk about the industry we love to hate… commercial airlines - or as I like to call it, the world’s collective punching bag! But I’d like you to help me change that. After all, the numbers don’t lie.

Travel Tip - Giving The Gift of Vacation

‘Tis the season once again and once again you are faced with a long list of people to shop for. Of course giving is what this time of year is all about. But if you’re like me, then you want to give meaningful gifts to your family and friends.

Travel Tip - 6 Tips on How to Beat Jet Lag

I am about to get on the plane. My bags are packed and my passport is ready, but am I ready? “Jet lag”, ladies and gentleman, is a dish served as wholly in first class as it is in coach. However, here are a few quick tips to beat jet lag before it beats you!

Travel Tip - How Not To Get Robbed On Vacation

Listen, while the world is a beautiful place  (see literally every video we’ve ever produced) there is always a chance you’ll run into the wrong element while traveling abroad.

They Want To Take Away Our Airline Miles

If you’ve ever booked a trip using your credit card rewards then you know how, well… rewarding that feels! You’ve spent, you’ve earned, you’ve accumulated and now it’s time for you to reap the benefits from your strategic purchase making. Whether it’s flights, hotel rooms, meals or other deals you deserve those rewards, miles or points - whatever you prefer calling them. 

Beating the 2022 Vacation Woes

This may just be the most important travel crossroads you’ll come upon. Allow me to elaborate. It’s July 2022 and a few key roadblocks are in our vacation path (so to speak). Let’s review…COVID 19, supply chain issues, bigger bill at the supermarket, the war in Ukraine, staffing shortages, high inflation, canceled flights, monkeypox, peak summer travel demand, the kids are out of school (and bored) and, to top it off, topping off the gas tank requires a new mortgage on your home with a 23% percent APR!

Erik Hastings Biography

Erik Hastings, a.k.a. "Erik the Travel Guy"

Erik “the Travel Guy” Hastings is an EMMY award-winning television personality who speaks directly to consumers who can't afford to "get their vacations wrong". He is the host and managing editor of three internationally syndicated television series; "Beyond Your Backyard", “Food for Thought” and “Cruise Food”.

Erik leads an incredibly talented team of industry pros and is the editorial driving force of his platform. While the travel industry directly supports millions of families worldwide, Erik believes travel makes the world a better place. Through exploration and discovery, he has learned that travel brings cultures together and he eagerly shares that spirit with his viewers.

In 2005, Erik launched his own production company that specialized in creating high-quality, low-cost travel videos for online distribution, which has added “world traveler” to his resume. This enterprise encapsulates all of Erik’s true joys by combining video production, writing, discovery, adventure, performing and interacting with fascinating people in some of the most inspiring and beautiful travel destinations in the world. Since inception, he has amassed an impressive client roster including Hertz, The Greenbrier Resort, CruiseOne, Carnival, Pinehurst, Iberostar, and countless official tourism bureaus throughout the world.

In 2017, Erik and his creative team began production on "Beyond Your Backyard", a new educational travel series for Blue Ridge PBS. The series debuted in April of 2018 on Blue Ridge PBS and other public broadcasting stations and quickly gained national attention and new affiliates. Today, the series is seen by millions of viewers nationwide. The series is syndicated by NETA and carried on the CREATE Channel. In its first season, the series was honored by the industry with two EMMY awards for the show and its host.

In 2022, Erik formed a new venture (4:55 AM Entertainment Co.) with his longtime friend and creative partner Jason Zumwalt. His new company produces two series: “Cruise Food” and “Food For Thought”.

Erik spends (on average) about 25 weeks on the road per year. When he's not traveling, he spends time with his two daughters in the New York City area.

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