2022 Cruise Questions Answered | How to Find Cheap Flights This Summer

Happy first day of Spring! I'm know my friends and family in the northeast are relieved that most of the cold weather is behind them. Here in Southern California, it's been like summer with just a couple of chilly days (including today). But temperatures this week are expected to be in the 80s.

Travel (and the much of the world, I might add) is still a mess thanks to Putin's disturbing unprovoked war (if you have the means to help, here are some meaningful organizations to donate to). On top of that, it doesn't appear we're out of the woods with COVID like we had hoped a week ago. But neither is stopping travelers - especially domestically.

Airfares are Going ⬆
Yesterday, U.S. security checkpoints were shy only 128,000 people from the same day in 2019. Due to this surge in travelers, airlines still struggling to find pilots and high oil prices, airfares have nowhere to go but up. But don't worry, I have some tricks on saving money. Here are 10 ways to find cheap flights this summer.

Hawaii Trip Reports 🌈
-Los Angeles to Honolulu in United Polaris
-10 Reasons to Stay at Hilton Hawaiian Village
-12 Reasons to Stay at the Ritz-Carlton Waikiki (new)
-Honolulu to Los Angeles in Hawaiian Airlines Economy Comfort (coming on Wednesday)

Below are this week's travel tips, including my interview with the Cruise Guy (he's been on 289 cruises) to answer all of your 2022 cruise questions, as well as a new travel product recommendation that will help you get and stay organized when you travel. There are also a whole slew of travel news stories so please scroll down for this week's Sunday Round-Up.

Travel Tips/Stories from This Week

Travel Quote of the Day
“Don't tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you have traveled.” ― Prophet Mohammed

Travel Tweet of the Day
@EricHolthaus: After a relatively slow start, spring 2022 is advancing quickly through the Mid-Atlantic and the Midwest. Leaf-out is 7-10 days early this year from Indiana to NYC. Graph

Travel Products of the Week

Compression Packing Cubes
If you want to be organized when you travel and save time and space (who doesn't?), then compression packing cubes can help you accomplish all of that. Check them out here.

More Packing Cubes
If you couldn't tell, I'm now a convert to using packing cubes. My wife has been using them for a long time but it wasn't until our recent trip to Hawaii that I truly realized what a game-changer they are. We've never been more organized. Check out some more packing cube options here.

Travel Tip of the Day
All of Your 2022 Cruise Questions Answered by a Cruise Expert
Stewart Chiron, aka The Cruise Guy, has been on 289 cruises, including 13 in the last eight months. Stewart was kind enough to answer every question I threw at him, from how has cruising changed since the pandemic to which ships are the most luxurious and which ports are his favorite. Watch or listen to the interview here.

12 Things to Know in Travel Today
— Great Barrier Reef suffers widespread coral bleaching due to high ocean temperatures
— Russian cosmonauts arrive at International Space Station wearing colors of Ukrainian flag
— It’s time to throw away the coconut bras and grass skirts
— Turkey opens record-breaking bridge between Europe and Asia
— Italy announces plan to eliminate COVID-19 restrictions — Here's what's changing
— A new NYC to Milan flight route just launched with all business-class seats
— Delta Air Lines to raise pay by 4% for nearly all employees
— Get 50% off private room fares on Amtrak’s most scenic routes this spring
— These charts show how much it costs to charge an EV vs. refueling a gas vehicle
— Polar express: How airlines are plotting a new route to Asia
— US likely to see Covid cases rise from Omicron subvariant, Fauci says
— Yesterday's TSA checkpoint numbers

Miles & Points
-Are you taking full advantage of these card perks? You might be missing out on shopping, entertainment, finance, and other benefits!
-Marriott has over 7,000 properties all over the globe. Here are some of the best credit cards you can use for Marriott stays, including cards with bonuses up to 100k!
-Limited Time Offer! Earn a promotional Companion Pass® valid through 02/28/2023 (essentially a buy one, get one free on flights), plus 30,000 points, after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months with this exciting offer.
-The Best Premium Credit Cards in 2022
-Best Credit Cards for Dining, Restaurants, Takeout, & More 2022

Travel Contests
-Win a free vacation at a luxury resort (March 31)
-Win a $5,000 credit toward a cruise or a resort getaway (April 17)
-"Share Your Story" Writing Contest for Outdoor Adventurists (April 30)
-Win a seven-night Caribbean cruise for two (Nov 14)
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.

The Sunday Round-Up | March 20, 2022