Thursday, February 11, 2021

Yesterday morning as I was working at the kitchen table in my pajamas, I received an email from CBS Los Angeles asking if I could jump on a Zoom to answer some travel questions. I gave the reporter a quick call and asked her to give me five minutes to jump in the shower, shave and put some clothes on. She game me 10, which probably saved me from cutting my chin.

I have a little studio in our basement so I turned on the bright lights and went to town on Jasmine’s questions. I knew they would only use a few sound bites so I tried to keep my answers succinct but she asked some good questions that I think a lot of travelers might have. Here are my answers and the interview. 

A round-up of all the travel news you need to know today:
For the rest of the week's travel news, as well as some great travel deals, click here!

Gifts and Gadgets for Travelers
Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Show your favorite globetrotter some love and get them excited about the idea of traveling again soon with these gift ideas that are perfect for the travel-lover in your life. Here's the guide. Plus, check out these fun finds for under $20:

 Gifts and Gadgets Under $20
-BagSmart Electronics Organizer
-GoDonut Phone and Tablet Stand and Holder
-Crystal iPhone Case
-Silicone AirPods Case
-Satin Pillowcases (Set of 2)
-Touchscreen Crossbody Bag
-Lightweight Foldable Headphones  

-Why You Should Buy Medical Grade Masks Now
-Everything You Need To Know About N95 and KN95 Face Masks
-Buy N95 & KN95 masks on Amazon
-Aiden Health’s N95, KN95 masks and other PPE

Should You Be Double-Masking?
We've been writing a lot about masks lately - it's a hot topic, these days. Recently, experts have started recommending doubling up on your masks. So, should you do it? Here's the story.

New Mask Mandate
The CDC order (you can read all 11-pages here) which went into effect on Monday, February 1, 2021. The only thing this CDC order changes is that it makes refusal to wear a mask a violation of federal law. So, instead of violators just being kicked off or banned from an airline (over 2,000 people have already been), they will now be arrested and charged with a federal crime, which will really crush someone’s record. Not to mention, the whole thing will cost them a good amount of cash and time. Here's everything you need to know.