09.19.25 Clark Answers His Critics on Clark Stinks / HOTELS: What’s In A Name

Summary

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The Clark Howard Podcast

Episode: Clark Answers His Critics on Clark Stinks / HOTELS: What’s In A Name
Date: September 19, 2025
Host: Clark Howard
Co-Host: Krista

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Overview

In this Friday episode, Clark Howard begins with his signature "Clark Stinks" segment, addressing listener feedback and criticisms regarding his advice on various personal finance topics. The episode transitions to a timely investigation into the reliability of hotel brands, highlighting unsettling real-world anecdotes and providing actionable advice for travelers in a shifting hospitality landscape. The second half answers travel, investing, and consumer questions from listeners with Clark’s signature blend of candor, practical wisdom, and humor.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Clark Stinks: Listener Feedback & Clark’s Responses

(Starts ~02:23)

A. Employee Classification: Independent Contractors vs. W2 Employees

• A listener highlights the risks of misclassifying workers, notably regarding insurance exclusions and liability (02:23).
• Clark acknowledges the flawed U.S. system, supporting the idea of a "dependent contractor" category (03:00):

  “We have a system that is not working well functionally… the current classification system [isn’t] working well.” (Clark Howard, 04:16)

B. Regional Pronunciations

• Listener Linda critiques Krista for pronouncing “Nevada” incorrectly (04:31).
• Clark shares a light-hearted story about state name variations and local dialects (05:00).

C. Traffic Tickets & Consequences

• Christine in Oregon points out Clark’s earlier advice was incomplete regarding camera-enforced school bus ticketing—a ticket can carry credit and insurance implications, not just a fine (05:36).
• Clark and Krista discuss the nuances of such citations and the importance of understanding local laws (06:15):

  “Passing a school bus, it seems like that would be a major ticket you’d have to go to court over.” (Clark Howard, 06:45)

D. Fixed Annuities: Are They Really So Bad?

• Alan in Florida defends fixed annuities, likening them to CDs but with better returns (08:00).
• Clark clarifies he’s less critical of fixed annuities than of more complex, high-fee versions, but warns about higher surrender charges and commission-driven sales (08:32):

  “The immediate fixed annuity is one of the least bad annuity choices. That’s as positive as you’ll get me on it.” (Clark Howard, 09:42)

E. Electronic Supermarket Signage

• Randall in Missouri clarifies that major brands (like sodas) are returned to vendors if out-of-date; only perishables like baked goods truly benefit from dynamic pricing (09:57).
• Clark agrees and shares insights about supermarket operations, mentioning Aldi’s flagship NYC opening and pricing differences (11:56–13:15).

F. Value of Group Exercise

• Kathy in Maryland (a yoga studio owner) argues that expensive gym memberships can produce higher adherence rates due to social motivation (13:23). Citing 70–90% retention across demographics.
• Clark wholly agrees on the social value, but adds free outdoor groups are also an option (14:31):

  “People are much more likely to stick with an exercise program when it is with buddies… the peer support absolutely makes a difference.” (Clark Howard, 14:31)

G. Investment Firms Selling Annuities

• Sherry from South Carolina notes seeing annuity offers from Schwab.
• Clark explains brokerage firms are defending market share as clients become anxious over high stock valuations and seek perceived safety in annuities, despite generally disliking the way they're sold (16:57):

  “Insurance is a product that is sold, not bought… [annuities are] generally something that could be okay, a bad thing.” (Clark Howard, 18:04)

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2. Main Topic: HOTELS—What’s In a Name?

(Segment starts 22:02)

• Clark details the seismic shift in the hotel industry from company-owned/operated hotels to a franchise model prioritizing room-count growth over brand reliability (22:02).
• Brand standards are suffering: major hotel names no longer guarantee consistency or safety.
• Disturbing Example: Clark discusses a viral incident in which a guest found dead baby rats in a Marriott-branded hotel sofa bed (24:00).

  “Marriott, when they complained… gave them a big fat nothing. I’ve seen the pictures. They were disgusting…” (Clark Howard, 24:12)

• Clark criticizes the lack of accountability, as Marriott’s business model now revolves around maximizing branded rooms for royalty revenue rather than maintaining stringent standards (25:26):

  “These hotel chains have no skin in the game… Their incentive is not on enforcing standards of quality. Their incentive is on getting as many rooms under a brand name.” (Clark Howard, 25:51)

• Key Advice:
  • Don’t trust hotel brand names alone—always check recent consumer reviews.
  • Be alert to fake reviews; look for patterns and suspicious language (“brilliant” is a common flag).
  • Resolve issues on-site, not after you leave, unless you want to make a media case.

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3. Listener Travel & Money Questions

(Segment starts 28:56)

A. Non-Refundable Travel Booking—Can You Reverse It?

• Jesse in Georgia mistakenly booked a non-cancellable all-inclusive resort and faces $4,000 loss (28:56).
• Clark’s advice:
  • Contact higher-level executives via elliot.org as call center reps have no authority.
  • If unsuccessful, keep him posted to possibly escalate further.

B. Credit Cards vs. Debit Cards When Traveling Abroad

• Thomas in NC found US credit cards rejected in parts of Europe favoring debit cards and “chip-and-PIN” (32:37).
• Clark warns US debit cards lack federal protections but are sometimes necessary abroad; recommends “chip-and-PIN” credit cards or using mobile payments like tap-to-pay for better acceptance and safety (33:08).

C. Best Card for International Travel Rewards

• Ryan in Virginia wants advice for frequent, multi-region international travel: should he get a high-fee travel card for rewards, airline card, or stick with no-fee cashback cards? (34:44)
• Clark’s advice:
  • For a year of frequent long-haul trips, high-fee travel cards (Chase Sapphire Reserve, Citi Strata, Amex Platinum, Capital One Venture X) provide outsized sign-up bonuses and travel perks. Cancel next year if travel drops off (35:56).

D. Why Travel at All?

• John in New Mexico asks Clark—why travel so much? He’s a homebody (37:57).
• Clark:

  “I just have this childlike joy of experiencing new places, meeting new people, seeing new things, and I get a joy from travel that is just unbounded… For my poor wife… I travel less than I want, she travels more than she wants. That’s why we’re the MasterCard logo, we compromise.” (Clark Howard, 38:17)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Worker Classification Challenges:
  “We have a system that is not working well functionally… the current classification system [isn’t] working well.”
  —Clark Howard, 04:16

• On Loss of Brand Reliability in Hotels:
  “Their incentive is not on enforcing standards of quality. Their incentive is on getting as many rooms under a brand name.”
  —Clark Howard, 25:51

• On Motivation and Exercise:
  “Behavior, human behavior being what it is, you’re totally correct that people are much more likely to stick with an exercise program when it is with buddies…”
  —Clark Howard, 14:31

• On Annuities:
  “Annuities may have a small role to play. But the way annuities are sold in the United States makes them generally something that could be okay, a bad thing.”
  —Clark Howard, 18:04

• On the Joy of Travel:
  “I just have this childlike joy of experiencing new places, meeting new people, seeing new things… Always knowing I get to go somewhere I’ve never been before or go back to a place I loved just brings me such excitement.”
  —Clark Howard, 38:17

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• 02:23 — Clark Stinks begins: feedback on worker classification
• 08:00 — Listener defends fixed annuities, Clark’s nuanced response
• 13:23 — Gym memberships/group exercise debate
• 16:57 — Why even brokerages are selling annuities now
• 22:02 — Main segment: hotel brand names can no longer be trusted
• 24:00 — Marriott rat incident detailed
• 25:51 — Clark on hotel chains having no ‘skin in the game’
• 28:56 — Listener problem: non-cancellable hotel reservation
• 32:37 — Credit vs. debit card acceptance abroad
• 34:44 — Best credit card for international travel rewards
• 37:57 — “Why travel?” — Clark’s personal motivations

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Final Thoughts

Clark’s Friday episode blends laughter, humility, and hard financial truths. He embraces constructive criticism, provides concrete travel and consumer advice, and continues to empower listeners to save money, exercise discernment (especially with brands), and make choices that fit their own values—whether that’s joining a yoga group or booking a big international adventure.

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For more tips and to ask your own questions,
visit clark.com and clarkdeals.com

Transcript

[Clark Howard]

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[Krista]

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[Clark Howard]

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[Krista]

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[Clark Howard]

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[Krista]

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[Clark Howard]

Great to have you here on the Clark Howard Show. You know our mission is to serve you with advice and information that empowers you so you make better financial decisions in your life. And it's Friday, so you know what that means. That means I'm getting geared up to hear how I can serve you better. In our weekly Clark Stinks segment, Something else that stinks. How'd you like to be in a major brand hotel and find rats in your hotel room?

[Krista]

Yikes.

[Clark Howard]

And the hotel is like, yes, so what?

[Krista]

I was just in a fancy hotel and I had bed bugs.

[Clark Howard]

How'd that go for you?

[Krista]

I've still got the scars on my ankles.

[Clark Howard]

Ooh. Yeah. Because the whole point is that the name on the door of a hotel, the name on the sign means nothing anymore. I'll tell you what's behind that and what you need to know when you're booking a room wherever, including at a fancy resort. Krista. But now it's time to hear where I thought I was giving fancy dancy advice and you're saying that Clark name on the door, that was no good. And Clark stinks. I should have never encouraged you to speak. You must think I'm pretty stupid.

[Krista]

You should be ashamed of yourself.

[Clark Howard]

Well, maybe I'm wrong.

[Krista]

Maybe I'm wrong.

[Clark Howard]

Maybe you're right, pal.

[Krista]

Dan in Ohio says Clark. You mean missed the mark on independent contractors or W2 employees? The IRS is only part of the problem. As an insurance agent, many policies will exclude subcontracted work, so the independent contractor's work would not be covered. Also, if the independent contractor gets hurt on the job and workers compensation or department of labor can hold you liable for their injuries and fines if you should have classified them as a W2 employee. It's important to classify these employees correctly. And prior Clark stinks. Oh, yeah, Someone said you need to follow the rules, but this was kind of different.

[Clark Howard]

So, yeah, we got quite a bit of feedback whenever we've talked about this. And this is something that as a country, we've not been able to figure out for decades. And that's why there was something I read by a British economist years ago that I've talked about on the podcast and YouTube show. The idea of having a third category. Right now we have this situation with people. You're either a W2 employee or you're a 1099. That the third way of doing it would be to have a category called dependent contractor. Where right now we've got a system that's just way too stark. You're either this or you're that. And when you're an IC independent contractor, basically you got nothing other than pay for hourly work. You're not accruing any time towards anything. No vacation, no sick leave. You can be dismissed at any moment. That there's a need in the marketplace for another classification. The economist wrote this idea, dependent contractor, but it could be called whatever. We have a system that is not working well functionally. And obviously we would not have had so many posts about this from so many angles if our current classification system was working well.

[Krista]

This is from Linda in the state of Washington. Sorry, but Krista stinks. Please learn to pronounce Nevada correctly. Ditch the Boston College pronunciation as it is not correct.

[Clark Howard]

All right, so my brother and I, I was just in Utah visiting my brother and my sister in law with Lane and we were arguing about Nevada. Nevada. So yeah, I don't think people there have resolved it. Just like do you know what people call Missouri in addition to Missouri?

[Krista]

Missouri.

[Clark Howard]

Missouri. In some parts of the state. So I just go with Nevada because that seems to be what more often people in Nevada prefer for it to be called.

[Krista]

I'll try Linda. I don't do it on purpose. I just am used to saying it that way. Nevada. So I will.

[Clark Howard]

How do you. How do you say the name of the city you went to college in?

[Krista]

Boston.

[Clark Howard]

How do they say it?

[Krista]

Boston.

[Clark Howard]

Boston. There's a complete different. You.

[Krista]

Some say Boston. You know, their dialects are all over the place up there too. Okay. Christine in Oregon says, I was disappointed in your response to Michael from Pennsylvania, whose wife likely passed a school bus with flashing lights. Michael should have been honest from the get go saying he was not the driver. His wife could still have gone to court. Depending on her driving record, she may have gotten the fine reduced and there may have been other options. The bigger picture is that this will go on someone's driving record and better his wife's than his. It if he drives for work, he may have to report the ticket and regardless, their auto insurance will likely go up. I would pay the $300 fine. Impossible. Ding on his credit is the least of his issues.

[Clark Howard]

Christine, thank you. Let me dial back on that is. I remember what Michael said in Pennsylvania. The fine is against the car, not the driver. And so it doesn't.

[Krista]

It was the driver. It was. There was a video of his car. So he got the thing. But he said.

[Clark Howard]

But it wasn't him driving the car. But the thing was, I thought he said it was only about money, that there were no points involved with a camera ticket.

[Krista]

I don't remember that, but I don't know.

[Clark Howard]

I know that in a lot of jurisdictions it is just a revenue thing being done by a third party contractor and is not a points violation. But passing a school bus, it seems like that would be a major ticket you'd have to go to court over.

[Krista]

Yeah.

[Clark Howard]

How do we even revisit that one?

[Krista]

I don't know. Christine had her say, so I think we need to.

[Clark Howard]

Maybe Michael should follow up and. Yeah, because Michael, a lot of people have been really interested in this school bus ticket. I live on a major road and there's no median divider, so people are supposed to stop both ways. I was at a red light just this morning and the school bus was in front of me, about 10 vehicles. And people kept going with the, you know, the stop sign, the stop signs out. And people in the southbound side were stopping, but people on the northbound side were still going full speed even though there was no median. And they're supposed to stop. So those kids, you know, they're not going to look like you'd hope they'd look. They're young and that's why we have these rules to stop for the bus.

[Krista]

Alan in Florida says. Clark, you've been a terrific resource for me over the years, but you left out part of your explanation of why you hate annuities. You did not discuss a fixed annuity to me. They operate much like a cd, paying a set rate of return with a defined amount of years. No fees on my end guaranteed by an insurance company up to 250k. A better rate of return with the backing of an A rated insurance company. Yes, they do have an early withdrawal penalty, but so do CDs. You can pull out 10% a year without penalty. What am I missing?

[Clark Howard]

So Alan, you're talking about a very streamlined, simple annuity. And I don't object to those nearly as much as supposed investment oriented annuities. There are a lot of embedded costs and commissions in them, which is why you have the surrender period where you are a prisoner of that annuity for any of a number of years. The difference that I would point out versus a CD that has an early withdrawal penalty. The penalties on early withdrawal of a CD are far, far lower than the penalties usually are on an annuity because they're having to cover the very large commissions paid up front. So it is a way of depending on market conditions of getting a higher interest rate back on your money. When you're looking for absolute safety, then you can get with the CD specifically because of the handcuff you're in and the number of years you're handcuffed to it. So I would say that the immediate fixed annuity is one of the least bad annuity choices. That's as positive as you'll get me on it.

[Krista]

Randall in Missouri. Funny you were just talking about that. Missouri. Missouri says first things first. I just finished my first Aldi Smashburger Delicious, all caps. I believe that Clark was a bit off base during the segment regarding electronic signage in supermarkets. You made it sound as though the store would take the loss on an out of date soft drinks. I cannot speak for store brands, but any DSD national brands will be returned to the company for a full credit. I really doubt if the retailer would drop the price without getting a rebate from the supplier knowing that they can get full credit anyway.

[Clark Howard]

You're completely right that there are certain items that have RTV privilege return to vendor privileges on them and a lot of items that are stocked by the vendor itself. And in most supermarkets, the soft drink aisle is just one example. They are restocked. Snacks often are restocked by employees of the product seller, not the supermarket. And so it's their job to merchandise make sure that that various flavors are in stock for soft drinks. Their job to move the ones that are closest to pull date to the front, the ones with longer pull date to the back. And they are. They handle inventory and merchandising. And it's true that with something like soft drinks that the responsibility almost always falls to the vendor, not to the store. This is really more about perishables like baked goods, produce, things like that that go spoiled so quickly. That's where the Electronic price labels should truly make a difference. Now, an Aldi, do you know where Aldi is opening their flagship store for the United States. They're now the third largest supermarket in the US by number of stores.

[Krista]

Flagship store, what does that mean? Like the biggest one.

[Clark Howard]

They're opening their biggest one and it's going to be apparently really flashy. You're never going to believe it. Right near Times Square in New York.

[Krista]

Wow. Wow.

[Clark Howard]

Yeah. And I saw an item in the Wall Street Journal where they interviewed the management company, the leasing company, why would they lease prime space to Aldi? And it was so funny because the leasing person said, well, Aldi's generates so much traffic that we can rent other spaces adjacent for more money because there's an Aldi there.

[Krista]

So don't you think the prices are going to be higher than a normal Aldi for that real estate?

[Clark Howard]

Yes. So it is true that any retailer in Manhattan charges more than they do. Like if you go into Trader Joe's in Manhattan, which is Aldi's corporate sibling, they charge more money than they do if you are across the river in New Jersey or up in Connecticut, anywhere else in the tri state area, because the costs doing business are so very much higher in New York, but the prices are still so much cheaper than anywhere else you can buy groceries.

[Krista]

I know someone who's going to be there when he's in New York.

[Clark Howard]

Are you kidding?

[Krista]

Standing right next to him.

[Clark Howard]

Of course I'll be there. I'll take the one train.

[Krista]

Kathy in Maryland says Clark, you stink like a chicken coop that hasn't been cleaned in a month. Not really.

[Clark Howard]

Smell.

[Krista]

I appreciate all your sage advice. I've heard you say several times on your show that quote, expensive gym memberships are not worth it. And encouraging people to go to cheap gyms or work out at home, etc. Although I am biased, I own a yoga studio. I want to bring your attention to the value of in person group exercise. This is the simple fact is that there is a segment of the population who will never.

[Clark Howard]

That was my warrior.

[Krista]

I know Clark's doing yoga poses while I'm reading this. There's a segment of the population who will never exercise by themselves. Following along online or trying to exercise in your basement is just not the same experience as exercising in person with a group of people. The statistics show that group exercise has a significantly higher adherence, 50% plus lower dropout, strong retention, around 70 to 90% across demographics. My point is sometimes it's worthwhile to pay for a membership if it means that you will actually attend an exercise versus trying to save money and not exercising. Thank you for all you do, Kathy.

[Clark Howard]

Behavior, human behavior being what it is, you're totally correct that people are much more likely to stick with an exercise program when it is with buddies or a running group or a yoga group or Pilates or whatever, where people become gem friends with each other and they kind of push each other along. Completely true. That's why class based exercise is so in now. And that's also led to these free groups that meet in public parks around the country. They get together. I've got a friend who starts at 6am in a public park several times a week. And they do this thing where they rotate who leads the exercise and the running. And so having the peer support absolutely makes a difference. But it doesn't necessarily have to cost money.

[Krista]

Right. But like you do go to a yoga studio, like you're willing and I am willing. That is something to me. My health, that's definitely my highest month other than my mortgage. It's my very highest monthly payment because I feel like I do. Like I have a gym now that I love. I love the types of classes better than other gyms. And I mean, it's actually pretty reasonable. But I would have paid more for it, honestly, because my health is so important to me.

[Clark Howard]

And you were a college athlete. You've always been an.

[Krista]

Oh, my God, I wasn't.

[Clark Howard]

Yes, you were. And exercise is. So you were only a high school athlete.

[Krista]

Yeah.

[Clark Howard]

You were a college athlete too?

[Krista]

No.

[Clark Howard]

Okay. Anyway, so she was an athlete, competitive athlete. And so exercise is core to what you're about. Working on your core.

[Krista]

Good.

[Clark Howard]

Okay. Anyway.

[Krista]

My mental health too, more than anything.

[Clark Howard]

Oh, I. Absolutely. If I. If I'm tense or had a rough day or whatever. If I go exercise, I feel so much better.

[Krista]

Yeah, for sure.

[Clark Howard]

No doubt. 100%.

[Krista]

So you want one more real quick?

[Clark Howard]

Sure.

[Krista]

Sherry in South Carolina. Clark, you don't stink. Recently you said you were unhappy with one of your favorite children, Fidelity, because they were selling annuities. Speaking of annuities earlier, I've been with Charles Schwab investing for quite a while. And within the last year, I've gotten two solicitations to purchase annuities. What is going on? Thank you for all you do. I've learned quite a bit over the years.

[Clark Howard]

Yeah. So what's going on is market share. People are freaked about the reality that stock markets in the United States are by historical measures crazy high. They're up where there's no oxygen and they're priced for perfection. And so the discount brokers are saying, hey, the. They're having money. Exit their investment accounts, going to other financial houses where people are two insurance companies, yuck. To buy annuities. And the problem for them is they're losing assets under management, under their roof. So Vanguard stopped selling annuities. Schwab and Fidelity responding to the market, both are like, yeah, we're going to sell these things. So that's what's going on is they're capitalists and they got customers that are going to walk. If they don't walk some of their money away, they don't sell annuities. Does it change how I feel about annuities? No. Do I wish that Schwab and Fidelity had the guts to walk away from a portion of business? I wish they would. Because annuities may have a small role to play. But the way annuities are sold in the United States makes them generally something that could be okay, a bad thing. Because everything is driven by the incentive the insurance agents have selling the products with monster commissions that work better for the agent and the insurance company than they do for the consumer, for the investor. So insurance is a product that is sold, not bought. Meaning that people would not on their own wake up and say, hey, I think I want to buy an annuity today. They are driven, the sales of them driven by commission people that are convincing people that their fears will be addressed and solved by buying an annuity. If you do decide you want to buy an annuity, know what your state's limits are on coverage. If an annuity provider, the insurance company goes and solve it. People have been learning the hard way recently with some insurance company failures that they put too much money at stake with a single insurer. There is no FDIC for annuities. There are what are known as state guarantee funds. They have tight caps on what they'll cover. And you may have to wait potentially years to ever have your money restored. So if you are going to jump in the annuity pool, don't ever jump in too far with any one company. All I got to say about annuities for now, straight ahead, the name, Any name. How do you know you can count on it? In the hotel business right now, you can't count on the name.

[Krista]

We all have moments when we could have done better. Like cutting your own hair. Yikes. Or forgetting sunscreen so now you look like a tomato.

[Clark Howard]

Ouch.

[Krista]

Coulda done better. Same goes for where you invest. Level up and invest smarter with schwab get market insights, education and human help when you need it. Learn [e-mail] hey there Don McDonald from.

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[Clark Howard]

If you thought goldenly breaded McDonald's chicken couldn't get more golden, think Golder because new sweet and smoky special edition gold sauce it's here made for your chicken favorites and participate in McDonald's for a limited time. So hotel chains used to live and die by reliability consistency because that's what created the value for the brand name on the building, that you could book a room there and trust it. And that is what hotel chains thrived by or suffered from a lack of consistency. But today that's not really what's going on. Things have changed in the hotel business and it's led by hotel operators no longer owning their rooms. They are selling brands to people trying to shift the cost of building a building, managing it and the risk of making or losing money onto the owner of a hotel location, not themselves. So they are only in the business of growing room count because they then get royalty fees for every dollar of revenue that is booked at a hotel with their name on them. So they have a direct marketplace incentive that is anti consumer the hotel chain Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt IHG any of them. Their incentive is not on enforcing standards of quality. Their incentive is on getting as many rooms under a brand name that they own that they then receive the royalty fees from. The CEO of Marriott last year said net unit growth, that's number of rooms under Marriott brand names will probably be on my tombstone one day. And he talked about wanting to capture 100% of our guest travel wallet that it's all about net room growth which he said just a few months ago in another speech that that's what it's about and it's not just Marriott, but Marriott's the biggest player. And View from the Wing wrote a story that then's gotten a lot of play since about somebody who pulled out the sofa bed in a Marriott branded property and found rotting baby rats in the sofa. There was terrible smell in the room and they couldn't figure out what it was. And then they were pulling out the sleeper sofa and there were all the rats. So a rat apparently had given birth in the sofa and the dead babies were there still rotting away. The hotel offered nothing other than a different room. Marriott, when they complained to Marriott gave them a big fat nothing. I've seen the pictures, they were disgusting. They were posted by the guest.

[Krista]

I'm glad that they were wiped before I got to see them. It's just awful.

[Clark Howard]

But anyway, the funny thing, what do people do to try to make a story go away? And this is why I especially want to talk about what happened here. Marriott must have entered into some NDA with, you know, non disclosure agreement with the couple because now the pictures are gone. I'm sure somebody's captured one and posted it somewhere.

[Krista]

I'll look. No, I don't want to know.

[Clark Howard]

You don't want to look now because I don't get grossed out by stuff. It was pretty nasty looking at that picture of the carcasses of the dead rats. But this is the core of the problem in capitalism. Things work best when everybody's interests are aligned, including the customer. These hotel chains have no skin in the game. All they get money from is getting as many room nights under their flag, they call it flag and having as many keys, that's what they call each room is a key that they're getting revenue from, from people, but not carrying the risk of the hotels. So this is why it's so very important that you when you are booking a hotel, don't trust the name that it's showing of where you'd Be staying on the reservation. Go read reviews. And by the way, if you get good at reading reviews, you can tell which ones are fake. Somebody was paid to write positive or negative reviews or whatever. I mean, I read reviews all the time. I can tell when one's fake. And any review that uses the word brilliant in it, don't trust that either. I'm not going to say again why that is. Oh yeah, I sure will. Let's see how many British born citizens I can upset. British love using the word brilliant. And their standards for hotels are generally they're not as choosy as other people are around the world. I've experienced. And so if you see brilliant in a review, you ignore that one too. Even if it's an honest, legit review from somebody. Now I've said it. But the thing is, with the hotels, I no longer have any faith in that name. Any name, except if we stay in a very, very fancy place for a special occasion. But even then I read the reviews thoroughly. And you should too, because it's your money. And by the way, if you do have a problem with any travel supplier, the time to solve a problem is when it's happening, not after the fact. Because unless you become a media story like this thing did about the Marriott with the rats, unless it becomes a media story, you're put on ignore permanently. That's a problem.

[Krista]

I did just do some googling and.

[Clark Howard]

You could, you couldn't resist.

[Krista]

I didn't find those photos, but I found other photos in hotels of rats like floating in pools and all this other stuff.

[Clark Howard]

Wait, there's, there's a picture of it. I just found one.

[Krista]

Oh, that's nasty. That's nasty. That's so gross. Oh my gosh.

[Clark Howard]

Oh man. Okay, so also to marketing geniuses at Marriott, if you have a disgusting situation like that, solve it before it becomes a media problem. How about that?

[Krista]

Okay, I have some travel questions. Jesse in Georgia says, regrettably I was surfing the web window shopping for possible destinations at an all inclusive resort in the Caribbean. I was in a major auto accident four years ago.

[Clark Howard]

So sorry.

[Krista]

And I wanted to reward all the wonderful care that my live in girlfriend has provided during this time. Though I haven't fully recovered, I had high hopes to be well enough by Christmas to take her somewhere very special that I knew would be an incredible surprise for her and was strictly window shopping at this point. During my search, I completely by mistake clicked the no cancellation booking button on a resort on a major travel website. Yeah, I immediately called them and applied for a refund, explaining to them what had happened and how it was completely unintentional but they refused to cancel the trip. I explained to them what happened as well as my current uncertain health situation that may or may not allow me to actually take the trip. I also called the credit card company and put a non payment on the purchase which is in progress. Of course, I'm not sure if that will go through and be approved, so I'm afraid I may be stuck with a trip I can't use and it costs over $4,000. Any suggestions on how to stop this and maybe book again later when I know I'm going to be physically able.

[Clark Howard]

To go all right, first of all, Jesse, I wish you a full and complete eventual recovery and how wonderful that when the chips were down, your girlfriend's been there to provide great care to you over this four year window with the big travel suppliers. This is something we addressed on the podcast a while back. Everything they're about right now is non refundable, non refundable, non refundable. And bookings are set up where unless you pay close attention, you're booking non refundable. You have to be very, very cautious with any booking site that you are not booking a non refundable. I do not book non refundables except airline tickets where I travel so often that you get a credit you can use towards future travel. You don't get that with tours, hotels, resorts. The money just is gone. If you can't go now with the big travel suppliers. I found that if you go to elliot.org and find out who what they call executive contacts are at this organization, the fact that you realized your error immediately is the kind of thing that should have been taken into consideration and a credit should have been issued. This is mean spirited and cold and I'd like you to see if reaching out to one of the executive contacts at this big travel supplier will make a difference. Why am I choosing not to name them at this point? Because we're only hearing your version of things and this is a travel supplier I've trashed in the past when I've known the facts to be what they are. I don't know that in this case, but I want to hear back from you what happens after you reach executives there. What you need to know is that when you contact customer no service there, everybody is a contract worker at a call center, usually not even in the United States. They have no authority to fix anything, nothing at all. And I'd like to stay in touch and See what happens with this.

[Krista]

Thomas in North Carolina says, I recently returned from a wonderful trip to Europe. I had done my research and knew which credit cards charged a foreign transaction fee and which didn't. But I was shocked when my credit cards were not accepted at several gas stations, parked parking lots and restaurants. I asked some of the locals and learned that they were all using debit cards. Apparently in Belgium and the Netherlands, debit cards are the most common way to pay. My question is, are they all putting their bank accounts at risk or am I being overly cautious with my debit card?

[Clark Howard]

So I don't know what the European Union's rules are on consumer protections with debit cards. The reason you hear me being any debit card is not the debit card just by itself. It's the fact that it lacks basic consumer protections under federal law that credit cards have. Now what you experience, Thomas, in in Europe is that you have to have chip and pen in most places in Europe so the gas pumps will reject you if you don't have a pen code attached. Or if you go to a gas pump that accepts TAP to pay or you use Apple Pay or Google Wallet, usually the transaction will go right through because it's a whole different way that things are processed using TAP to pay versus using a traditional credit card if it's one that has to be read put in to the machine at gas stations and other places in Europe you use like if you go buy a self service ticket machine, you're trying to buy a train ticket or a bus ticket in Europe you have to have a pen code. So debit cards in the United States come attached with a pen. And that's why if you don't have a credit card that has a pen, I have cards that do have pens that are credit cards. But if you don't, the debit card has to become a backup for you in places in Europe where you can't use TAP to pay.

[Krista]

Ryan in Virginia says Clark, I will be embarking on some exciting international travel in the next year after having only left the country once before. I may be traveling out of the country four times next year to South America, to India and to Africa for work twice. I want to sign up for a credit card that has no foreign transaction fees. But I'm curious where you think the most value will be. Should I consider an airline card, one of the three big travel rewards cards, or stick to a no annual fee cashback card that also has no foreign transaction fees? I will likely be flying on different airlines due to specific Routes I would take Dallas to South Africa and New York to India and Africa but could potentially be on Star alliance airline for three of the four trips. Should I go big for the miles or stick to my tried and true no annual fee cards with cash back and P.S. i'm traveling to India for a wedding and I'm curious to know how you would fit all the clothes you need for a three day wedding in just a checked bag. I don't think swapping out three sets of Kirkland shirts will cut this time and I think he means a non checked bag like a carry on bag.

[Clark Howard]

Yeah, he has to do it.

[Krista]

I don't think three sets of Kirkland shirts would cut it this time. Thanks.

[Clark Howard]

So Ryan, you are in luck because this would be a point where you because of the certain free agency with who you'd be booking and you might possibly end up on Star Alliance a lot but not necessarily. I would be an independent agent with the war going on right now for market share with the very high annual fee independent cards. Chase Sapphire Reserve which is at 795but with big sign up bonuses available.

[Krista]

The Chase Strata got them on clark.com and we put the latest sign up bonus.

[Clark Howard]

So that one if you go into a Citibank branch to sign up for it you get a hundred thousand bonus points up front. Has a lot of flexibility with it. 595 Dollar fee. The Amex Platinum is about to go up on annual fee. A lot of rumors what it's going to be, don't know but that's going to be the most expensive. And then the fourth choice is the Capital One Venture X which I love because it's 395 but they essentially rebate all that to you. If you're a traveler these four cards make you an independent agent. The sign up bonus is available right now is the four of them jockey for position have been going up and up. One of the the sapphires has like a 200,000 point bonus right now. I just saw for for business owners, small business owners. So I would definitely because of doing these four big international trips I would decide which of these four you want the annual fee you're going to more than make back over and over again with the sign up bonus. If you don't travel a lot after this next year then you just don't renew the card unless you stay with Capital One Venture X which ends up being net cost to zero essentially anyway every year.

[Krista]

Okay, so I have to squeeze in a fourth question here. I know we're Running long. But I thought you'd want to answer this. From John in New Mexico. Clark, you mention often that you travel a lot. Why? I am a homebody and never travel except locally. And I don't understand why someone travels a lot and what they get from it. It seems like a very expensive hobby. Why? What am I missing?

[Clark Howard]

So on a recent podcast YouTube show, I talked about how my favorite book series growing up was Curious George and how I just have this childlike joy of experiencing new places, meeting new people, seeing new things, and I get a joy from travel that is just unbounded. So for me, always knowing I get to go somewhere I've never been before or go back to a place I loved just brings me such excitement. And there are people who. Who travel is just a big hassle. And oh, man, you have to do this and you have to go to the airports, you have to stand in line and blah, blah, blah. None of that phases me at all. In fact, I love going to airports. I know, I know. I did hit my head as a kid once. Absolutely. That's what it's about is that I just love experiencing different cultures, different people, different places, seeing things, experiencing things. And I just can't wait to go do that again. So I'm at one extreme. You know how life is a bell curve. I'm at one far extreme, and then there are others at the other extreme. You sound like that you're happiest in your nest. And for my poor wife, who is clearly a nester, having to deal with how much I love travel has been a somewhat acquired taste for her. I travel less than I want and she travels more than she wants. That's why we're the MasterCard logo, that we compromise and we get to that happy medium. You know what happy medium is? We travel to places she loves and I'm happy and she's happy. So, John, I got it. New Mexico is cool. You get to enjoy being there. Who wouldn't want to wake up any day? New Mexico, what a great place. And keep doing what you're doing, and I'll keep doing what I love, which is airplanes, airports, travel experiences, different things for different people. And I believe experiences make such an impact on us. So I hope you experienced something today in our podcast that was useful in your life, that you enjoyed hearing, hearing or seeing, and that this weekend is a great weekend for you, that you have a wonderful time doing whatever. But no, all weekend long, we never [e-mail] and clarkdeals.com is we're here to serve you through the weekend, night and day with information you can trust for your wallet. The best deals out there we can find at the moment, and our free newsletters as well that you can see how to subscribe [e-mail] NewsletterOrNewsLetters either one will get you there. Newsletters are free and you can can them if they bore you. You can keep reading them if you love them. This is all part of what we do to empower you with knowledge so you can save more, spend less, and never, never, not ever get ripped off. See you next week.

[Don McDonald]

That's the sound of the fully electric.

[Clark Howard]

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[Don McDonald]

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[Clark Howard]

This is electric performance redefined.