Where's Johnny Jet?

Did you ever think you would see the day when the U.S. government issued a Level 4 travel advisory ("Do Not Travel") for the WHOLE world?! I certainly did not. Level 4 is the highest warning and until now has been reserved for places like Syria, Afghanistan, North Korea, Iraq… If you're an American and out of the country you better get home ASAP or you'll risk being stuck indefinitely. Crazy times we’re living in, eh? 

Obviously, you should not be traveling right now or for the next couple of weeks at least. My wife and I cleared our travel schedules for the next two months and it’s starting to feel like it will be even longer. I really hope not because I would still like to see my 91-year-old dad in Florida and visit relatives in Connecticut and Toronto who have not met our 7-month-old baby. But for now, home is the safest place to be.

Hopefully you’re able to work from home like my wife and I have been for the past 20 years (four for my wife). Instead of freaking out and panicking, I’m actually enjoying the mandatory quarantine since I’m home with my family and we’re all healthy. It’s nice not having FOMO ("fear of missing out") and always wondering what it’s like in other places.
 

Travel virtually
By the way, speaking of what’s going on in other places, I created a post with some of my favorite webcams around the world so you can travel virtually. FYI: I ran that article as a tip this week. If you don’t get my Daily Travel Tip but would like to, you can click "Update subscription preferences" at the bottom of this email and check the "Travel Tips" box. Or you can forward this sign-up link to your friends and family. 

Three of my friends and travel bloggers, Angela, Matt and Valerie, tested positive for COVID-19 this week. We wish them a speedy recovery. I hope that everyone is staying safe and healthy and that Americans who are abroad are able to get home safely to their families during these unprecedented times. Also, a special shoutout to all those on the front lines, the doctors, nurses, healthcare, and emergency workers who are true heroes. 

Related: My coronavirus resource page for travelers to stay on top of how things are changing.

How I'm Entertaining My Toddler While He's Home From School
Now that schools are closed, parents across the country are looking for ways to entertain their kids throughout the day. My wife wrote this piece outlining some of the things she's doing to pass the long days at home with our three-year-old boy. Check out her ideas here and please, share some of your own!
 

Half-off Shipt annual membership
My wife recently got a Shipt membership and she loves it. This same-day delivery service (particularly great for right now) makes life so much easier when she's too busy to run errands. Whether you need it for day-to-day errands or whether you're stocking up on essentials, Shipt can deliver whatever you need straight to your door within an hour. The annual membership is $99/year but with Natalie's referral code, you can score a membership for just $49/year.

Companies I work with and recommend
Allianz (travel insurance), Amazon (travel gadgets and supplies), Bluffworks (wrinkle-free clothing), Booking.com (hotel deals), Hotspot Shield (VPN to protect your data and get cheaper travel deals), Medjet (medical evacuation and transport), Rail Europe (trains in Europe), Scottevest (travel clothes).

Follow us on social
If you're on social media, don't forget that you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter. You can follow my wife on Pinterest and Instagram.