Spent the holiday week digging through the TravelCommon archives and assembled a “Best of TravelCommons 2005″ episode. Starting with a medley of hotel bathrooms, we revisit some rants on the TSA, the 3-episode Sean Penn arc, and excerpts from some of the best stories of 2005. Here’s a direct link to the podcast file.

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Recorded in the bathroom of the Philadelphia Marriott, this week’s podcast comes at the end of my last flight of the year — a triangulation across Boston, Providence, RI, and Philadelphia. A light schedule let me catch a good lunch and dinner in Philadelphia. A weekend ski trip to Denver prompts thoughts on the disconnect between business travelers and resort hotels, and the increased number of non-frequent elite status travelers. Here’s a direct link to the podcast file.

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This week’s podcast is recorded in the bathroom of the Oldsmar, FL Marriott. In the midst of a bunch of work and a tough travel itinerary, why am I surprised that I just can’t get into the holiday spirit? A huge snowstorm blowing through Chicago threatens to strand me in Memphis — until another traveler suggests driving the 550 miles home. And a Classic Travel Story from a former road warrior about finding love in a hotel bar. Here’s a direct link to the podcast file.

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Back on the road after the Thanksgiving holiday, this week’s podcast is recorded in the bathroom of the Durham, NC Marriott and edited in the RDU Admirals Club. A listener asks “What do you miss when you travel?” Also, some ideas on staying connected with the family — replacing those random bits of conversation while on the road, and some careless moments with rental cars. Here’s a direct link to the podcast file.

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