The Sunday Round-Up | September 12, 2021 Good morning. Yesterday, was a very emotional day for me and many around the world. I can't recall crying so much on any other 9/11 anniversary. It's hard to believe 20 years have passed. I was in New York City on that horrible day and lost a friend.
All the stories I read and watched really hit home and I can't stop thinking about the lives that were cut too short, the grieving families and the empty voids. It's heart-wrenching. Watching The Man With The Red Bandana on ESPN (the video is embedded in this roundup of 12 Stories To Never Forget Those We Lost On September 11) had me bawling the moment the young man's father began speaking. Being a parent has really changed me, especially my emotional side.
Speaking of parents ... I was going to surprise my dad with a visit this week but ended up canceling my ticket a couple of hours before since he's in a new rehab center and the COVID protocols are very strict. Besides, he still has a bad cough so I don't want to be locked in an unventilated room with him. I've begun updating this page about his status again since I've had many requests and he still has ups and downs post-COVID.
After reading the New York Times newsletter this week, it made me feel a bit better about traveling: “For children and vaccinated adults without other major health problems, there are a lot of reassuring signs. Covid appears to present less risk than some other daily activities. Among Americans under 17, fewer than 500 have died of Covid since the pandemic began; many more — a few thousand every year — die in vehicle crashes. As Wachter said about Covid this week, “Risk is low enough to live life, high enough to be careful.”
Travel Deal of the Day
If you want to travel, you should be able to snag some incredible deals to Europe for under $299 roundtrip. A reader emailed me this morning to say: I just booked a R/T flight from LAX to Madrid in the middle of Oct for $276! Iberia airlines, nonstop. I thought this was a great deal and wanted to share with you. I found it on Google Flights. Of course, I didn't get to pick my seat and will have to do carry-on only but I don't care. ~ Angel
What It's Like As An American Traveling In Europe During COVID-19
If you're wondering what it's like traveling around Europe during COVID-19, I interviewed Nomadic Matt yesterday who just returned from 80 days in Europe. He had lots to share. Click here to listen to the podcast or watch my interview on YouTube.
TSA Checkpoint Numbers Just Dropped
If you flew yesterday, I'm guessing there was a good chance you had an empty seat next to you as security checkpoint numbers fell off a cliff. According to the TSA, officers screened 1,363,653 individuals at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, September 11. The day before: 1,792,979. I'm thinking the reason is people were scared to fly on the anniversary and it was a Saturday. We'll know tomorrow when the TSA reports today's numbers.
As per usual, there was a ton of travel news this week and I wrote a lot of travel tips so please scroll down to see it all.
12 Things
— Yesterday's TSA checkpoint numbers
— JetBlue bans a husband and wife from using the airline for refusing to wear masks properly and swearing at staff
— How Europe's doors are slamming shut for Americans
— American Airlines' new contract is too ambiguous for stranded flyers: expert
— Wildfire forces closure of part of freeway in California
— Alitalia will keep flying after October 14, after all
— 9/11 changed air travel forever — will COVID-19 do the same?
— Retired flight attendant pushing beverage cart arrives at WTC after 200-mile trek
— Yankees/Mets honor 9/11 heroes 20 years later
— More Americans are turning to travel agents
— You asked: Should we travel to a Level 4 country right now?
— Inside a hijack: The unheard stories of the Pan Am 73 crew
— Watch: Fantastic Four Deputies save toddler who fell into backyard pool
Read it all here in today's travel news round-up as well as the 84 other top travel news stories from this past week! Travel Tips From This Week:
Monday:
-10 Ways to Find Cheap Thanksgiving Flights
Tuesday:
-The Quickest Way to Get In and Out of LAX
Wednesday:
-The Real Reason Flight Attendants Tell Passengers To Hold On To Their Phones During Takeoff and Landing
-Reminiscing: The Tauck Baseball Hall of Fame Event Featuring Ken Burns and Phil Niekro
Thursday:
-Yowza! Southwest Airlines Offering Incredible Deal (expired)
Friday:
-11 Tips For Dealing With American Airlines Credits
-This Major Airline Is Banning Unvaccinated Passengers From International Flights
Saturday:
-Where Were You On September 11, 2001? I Was In NYC
-12 Stories To Never Forget Those We Lost On September 11
-My travel segment on Leo Laporte's The Tech Guy
Sunday:
-VIDEO: Airline Passenger Goes Viral Wearing Just a Thong Bikini
Travel Tips From Last Week:
Monday:
-The EU Just Took the USA Off of its Safe Travel List
Tuesday:
-Brilliant New Travel Essential: A Passport and Vaccine Card Holder Combo
-US Adds This Surprising Country to Level 3 "Reconsider Travel" Advisory List
-Honolulu's New Vaccine Requirements
Wednesday:
-The Ultimate Guide to Protecting Your CDC Vaccination Card
Thursday:
-Shocking Flooding Images in NYC and Airports
-10 Items To Have In Case of an Emergency
Friday:
-COVID Vaccine Card Tips Travelers Should Know
Saturday:
-Where Can Americans Travel To in Europe?
-My travel segment on Leo Laporte's The Tech Guy
Sunday:
-VIDEO: Where the hell is Miami airport security?
Miles, Points & Credit Card PostsThe best credit cards in 2021 for earning travel rewards are unique because they aren't just earning rewards when you travel. For instance, travel cards may also come with extra points or credits for streaming services or eating at home. So, if you're wondering if it's worth it to get a travel credit card, note that there's more to it than only earning points and miles when you're away from home.
Air Travel
-9 Tips For Avoiding COVID-19 On Planes and In Airports
-How To Get That TSA PreCheck Checkmark
-How To Fly First Class For Cheap Between Los Angeles and New York
-Do This To Have the Most Comfortable Flight
-How to Save Big on Money and Miles When Booking Flights
-Are You Wearing Your Travel Pillow Wrong?
-Real-Time Misery Map Shows Travelers What to Expect
-Canceling Because Of COVID? Here’s How to Get Your Money Back
-Will the US Follow Europe's Lead and Ban Cloth Masks?
-The Money-Saving Trick Airline Executives Don’t Want You To Know About
-How Much Time Should You Give Yourself Between Connecting Flights?
-Why You Should Keep Your Airline Boarding Passes and What You Should Do With Them
-How to Get Out of LAX and Other Airports Quicker
-12 Passport Tips To Save You Time, Money and Headaches
-8 Ways to Make Sure an Airline Doesn't Lose Your Bag ... And That You Don't Get Robbed or Stalked
-Always Do This After Booking Flights
-Renewing Global Entry Just Got Way Easier
-How To Reach an Airline's Reservations Agent Without Waiting
-My Number 1 and 2 Travel Tips
-Don’t Fall For This Airport Scam
-Tips From Our First Family Plane Trip
-How I Speed Through Airport Security
-Don’t Make This Rookie Mistake When Using Miles
-Can You Bring Frozen Liquids Through Security?
-10 Air Travel Pet Peeves and What You Can Do About Them
-10 Tips For Better Sleep On a Plane
-17 Ways to Find Cheap Flights
-What to Do: Weather Delays and Flight Cancellations
-7 Dirtiest Things on an Airplane According to a Flight Attendant
-How to Track Airfares by Signing Up For Fare Alerts
-The App All Travelers Need to Download
-How to Match Elite Status with US Airlines
-15 Tips for Surviving a Long Flight
-How to Get Upgraded to First Class
-Econophobia: Fear of Flying Coach
-JohnnyJet.com Booking Tool
International Travel
-A New Vaccination Requirement All Travelers Must Consider
-5 Reasons I’m Not Going to Canada And Why You Might Want to Reconsider Too
-What Every International Traveler Needs to Know
-Don't Make This Embarrassing Mistake In Japan Like I Did
Road Trips/Car Rentals
-Don't Fall For This New Travel Scam That's Costing People Hundreds of Dollars
-Do This When Using a Rideshare, Taxi or Car Service
-Never Forget Your Room Number or Parking Spot Again
-3 Ways To Save Money on Gas
-How To Prevent Car Rental Companies From Ripping You Off
-The Quick Way Thieves Are Trying To Ruin Your Trip
-15 Tips To Renting A Car in 2021
-The Car Rental Tip You've Never Heard Before + It Can Also Save You Money and Jail Time
-Always Do This Before Renting a Car
-An Ex-Cop Has Pulled Over Vehicles For This Reason
-How To Not Have Your Road Trip Ruined
-Road Trip Safety: Open Your Trunk Before Arriving
-5 Ways to Prevent Motion Sickness on a Road Trip
-How To Find Cheap Parking
-A Brilliant Reader Travel Tip
-Life-Saving Car Emergency Tips
Lodging
-The Truth About Hotel Room Key Cards
-3 Reasons To Always Get Two Hotel Room Keys
-Don't Get Suckered By Hotel and House Rental Marketers
-Don't Fall For This Hotel Scam
-Book with Expedia or Priceline
-How to Make Sure You Get the Lowest Room Rate at Your Hotel
-Latest Lodging News
Cruising
-Latest Cruise News
Vaccinated Travel
-The New Website To Easily Find Entry Requirements
-A Better Way to Protect Your Vaccine Card
-Best Source for COVID-19 Testing
-Air Travelers to US Must Show Negative Coronavirus Test
Popular Stories
-Coolest Nature Live Webcam Ever
-Are Americans Welcome in Canada?
-How to Never Miss A Wake-Up Call Again
-5 Tips For Traveling With Medications
-Mugged in Europe: Tips To Help You Travel Safe
-Rick Steves Pickpocketed In Paris -- Here's How To Prevent It From Happening
-Always Wear This When You Travel To Keep Valuables Safe
-The Free Storm Tracking App Every Traveler Should Download
-The Most Important Thing For Travelers To Do According To A Safety Expert
-Don't Make This Cell Phone Mistake
-How To Bring Your Office With You Wherever You Go
-Can You Guess the Airline By Its Flight Attendants' Uniforms?
-How To Avoid Bank of America’s International ATM Fees
-Must-Have Product For Traveling With Little Kids
-Tips For Traveling To Europe's Hidden Gem, Which Is Open to All Americans
-5 Reasons To Hold Off on Booking Europe Travel For This Summer
-The Site Every Int'l Traveler Needs To Bookmark
-3 Websites To Cross-Reference Before Traveling Internationally
-First look at Avelo Airlines’ Inaugural Flight
-The Map App Every Traveler Needs To Download Now
-Genius iPhone Hack
-Travel Hack: Never Get Your Valuables Stolen On The Beach
-Why People Eat at McDonald's When They Travel
-10 Things You Don’t Need to Pack
-10 Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Airplane Habits: Are YOU Guilty?
-Fallen Soldier on My Delta Flight
Good To Know
-How To Check Hospitalization Numbers
-The Trick to Preventing Items In Your Car From Getting Stolen
-A Genius Food Safety Hack for Travelers
-A Lifesaving Tip
-Business Travel Isn’t Coming Back in September
-The App Every Traveler Needs When Getting Around Town
-Always Travel With This Item To Save You Time, Money and Embarrassment
-10 Tips For Your Trip to the Los Angeles Zoo
-Hawaii Drops Testing
-The Best Cell Phone Plans For International Travel
-The Rule You Need to Know for International Travel
-The Number One Travel Tip to Save You Money and Headaches in 2021
-How to Use Your Phone As a Remote Control
Safety/Health
-The Product That Will Prevent Your Glasses From Fogging Up ... And It Actually Works
-Always Do This Before You Leave Home For A Trip
-How to Keep Your Valuables Safe
-This Simple Trick You’ve Probably Never Thought of Can Help to Keep You (And Your Stuff) Safe
-This Gadget Will Keep Your Valuables Safe When You Travel
-10 Items I Have in Case of Emergency
-How to Find a Doctor While Traveling
-How to Save Big On Prescription Drugs at Home and on the Road
-My Somewhat Freakish Travel Habit Might Just Save Your Life
-How To Always Have Clean Water
-The Health Tool You Need at Home and On the Road
-A Tool I'd Never Heard of But Have Now added To My Travel Health Kit
Food/Shop
-Too Soon To Start Holiday Shopping? Maybe Not
-The Neck Massager That's Perfect for Travelers
-The Blackout Sleep Mask Travelers Need
-Your Favorite Travel Foods Delivered & a $15 Promo Code
Travel Gadgets/Products
-The Carry-On Essential You Never Thought of Packing
-This Beach Pillow Is The Accessory You Never Knew You Needed
-The PeaPod Prestige Travel Bed Makes Life Easier For Parents
-Always Pack This For Summer Travel
-The Solution For Those Who Always Have No Storage Left iPhones
-A Brilliant New Travel Purse for Women
-The Travel Gadget Flight Attendants Never Leave Home Without
-The Best Luggage to Give and Get
Just For Fun
-Hands Down the Best Beach Toy for Kids
-How To Virtually Meet Your Favorite Celebrity
-The Best Airplane Toy For Any Kid
-An Emirates Flight Attendant Stood Atop The Tallest Building in the World
-Hilarious Travel Video
Face Masks
-How to Prevent Sore Ears Caused By Face Mask Straps
-I use Aiden Health’s N95, KN95 masks
-What to Know Before Wearing an N95 Mask
-The Best Face Masks for Flying During COVID-19
-8 Accessories to Make Wearing Face Masks More Comfortable, More Hygienic and More Pleasant to Wear
Watch
-11 Great Travel Shows for Kids
-Live New York City Webcams
Destination Guides
-10 Reasons NOT to Go To Hawaii Right Now
-Catalina Island
-12 Things To Know Before Going To The Hollywood Bowl
Podcast/YouTube
-39 Travel Questions: Samantha Brown
-39 Travel Questions with Josh Gates
-39 Travel Questions with Andrew McCarthy
-39 Travel Questions with Leo Laporte
-More
Travel Contests
–Win $5,000 in free fuel with the Summer is a Go Road Trip Giveaway.
–Win a week-long cruise for two people on board The 2021 Country Music Cruise
–Win a five-night getaway to Montego Bay, Jamaica
See all contests here
P.S. As always, thank you for subscribing to my newsletter! I hope you like it and you share with your friends, family and colleagues so they can subscribe to either my bi-weekly newsletter or Daily Travel Tip. |
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