December 16, 2021

Good morning from chilly southern California! The photo above was taken Sunday night at Manhattan Beach's annual Christmas fireworks.

It was another turbulent week in the travel industry thanks to omicron. The new variant is throwing a wrench in many people's travel plans and some governments are being stricter than others. For example, rumor had it that Canada was going to shut their borders but they didn't. They just gave a stern warning. However, France, dropped the gauntlet on travelers from the U.K and you can read about both (and more) in today's 12 Things To Know below.

Europe for $109
Speaking of Europe, a new low-cost Icelandic airline called PLAY just announced service to the United States this morning, with $109 fares for the spring. This is a deal anyone who wants to head to Europe should look into.

Holiday Gift Idea: The Smithsonian Children's Illustrated Atlas
If you're looking for a gift for any child on your holiday shopping list, this gorgeously illustrated children's atlas is just the ticket. Our son is getting this for Christmas from his Nana and it's going to be a big hit. It's a great gift for any kids, nieces and nephews or grandkids on your list. (And yes, it delivers before Christmas!) Check it out here.

There's plenty of travel news today as well as my travel tip of the day so please scroll down after a message from our sponsor.

12 Things in Travel You Need to Know Today
— PLAY, a new low-cost Icelandic airline is offering cheap ($109) tickets to Europe
— Canadians urged not to travel abroad over Omicron
— France restricts travel from Britain
— Airline CEOs got grilled after promising to keep up staffing levels
— Biden picks Michelle Kwan to be ambassador to Belize and Caroline Kennedy to be ambassador to Australia
— Airbus just drew a heart in the sky with the last Airbus A380 ever to be built as the superjumbo jet era comes to a ceremonious end
— Dominican Republic plane crash kills nine
— Eva Longoria to Host CNN Searching for Mexico Travel Show
— Bali only received 45 international tourists in 2021
— Open trunks: Some people 'risking it all' to avoid car break-ins as San Francisco, Oakland report spike in crime
— Airbus unseats Boeing to replace aging fleet of Qantas 737s
— CDC: Italy and 2 other nations now at 'very high' travel risk for Covid-19
— Yesterday's TSA checkpoint numbers 
(Read it all here in today's travel news round-up as well as the 84 other top travel news stories from the past seven days!)

Ryanair Wins Twitter By Throwing the UK Government Under the Bus
If you’ve been following international news then you know that Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, is under fire after it was revealed that they were flouting their own government’s rules by throwing a huge holiday party last Christmas at 10 Downing Street, his official residence. Ryanair, who is suffering financially from the new strict Covid rules tweeted one of the funniest graphics ever created by an airline’s social media team.

39 Travel Questions with Captain Sandy
Yesterday, I interviewed Captain Sandy from Bravo's hit TV show Below Deck Mediterranean. Here's the interview.

What's the Best First Class Between Miami and New York and Airline Cancelation Policy
A reader sent me a question the other day, which I think many will find interesting since I bet others are wondering the same thing. I know I was. Here's the question and my answer.

An Obvious Resource That Many Travelers Don't Take Advantage Of
This tip is so obvious that I never thought about writing about it. But when a perpetual traveler and friend tweeted about it, I thought I should share it with you. It can make a huge difference in helping you plan your travels. Read the story.

Travel Quote of the Day
“The best education I’ve had in my life is to travel.” – Matthew McConaughey

Travel Tweet of the Day
@DaveKeating: "Travel from the UK to France over the Christmas period is going to be made almost impossible. It's a heartbreaking time of year to have last-minute travel restrictions like this.  

Credit Card News/Offers for Travelers
-Here's how you can earn extra American Airlines AAdvantage Miles when you fill up your gas tank, including an easy extra 100 bonus miles.
-Which of these top travel cards is better for you? Both earn 3x rewards on dining, come with an annual hotel credit, and more.

Travel Contests
-United Cruises - 1,000,000 Mile Sweepstakes (Dec 31)
-Win a trip to Puerto Rico, Florida, or St. Croix (Dec 31)
-Win an eight-day Viking cruise for two (Dec 31) 
-Win a Caribbean cruise for two (Jan 16)
-Win a five-night getaway for two to the Dominican Republic (Jan 17)
See all contests here.

In Case You Missed It  
Air Travel Tips
-Warning to Travelers with Clear, TSA PreCheck and Elite Status
-How to Get Free Upgrades and Points on American Airlines
-A Brilliant Trick to Save Huge on Airfares
-A Simple and Genius iPhone Hack to Track Flights.
-Toronto Pearson Airport Warning 
-Sorry T+L, You Got This One Wrong – Here’s How You Can Really Get Upgraded to First Class
-Which Trusted Traveler Program Is Right For You?
-Why You May Want To Avoid This Major U.S. Airport
-The Most Unreliable Airline in North America?
-The Real Reason Flight Attendants Tell Passengers To Hold On To Their Phones During Takeoff and Landing
-The Quickest Way to Get In and Out of LAX 
-How To Make Sure the TSA PreCheck Checkmark is On Your Boarding Pass
-9 Tips For Avoiding COVID-19 On Planes and In Airports 
-8 Ways to Make Sure an Airline Doesn't Lose Your Bag ... And That You Don't Get Robbed or Stalked
-How to Speed Through Airport Security
-How To Find Out If The TSA PreCheck Lane Will Be Open
-How To Reach an Airline's Reservations Agent Without Waiting
-My Number 1 and 2 Travel Tips

Road Trip Tips
If you're planning a road trip, then be sure to follow these tips:
-Two Great Things to Keep in the Car For Road Trips
-3 Ways To Save Money on Gas
-How to Prevent Road Trip Theft
-15 Tips For Renting A Car in 2021
-How To Prevent Car Rental Companies From Ripping You Off

International Travel
-A New Vaccination Requirement All International Travelers Must Consider
-To Spain and Back: The Do’s and Don’ts While Traveling During a Covid Surge
-The Must-Have App For Travel to Europe
-12 helpful pandemic travel tips for the EU and the UK

Lodging
-And The Best Hotel In The World Is ... 

Safety
-10 Things to Have in Case of an Emergency
-How To Always Have Clean Water
-The Pocket Thermometer You Should Never Leave Home Without
-Life-Saving Car Emergency Tips 
-5 Places an Infectious Diseases Doctor Begs You Not to Go
-My Somewhat Freakish Travel Habit Might Just Save Your Life
-11 Tips for Traveling During Cold and Flu Season. 
-What I Keep In My Carry-On First Aid Kit
-The Most Dangerous Places to Be During a Lightning Storm
-Car Seat Tips For Keeping Your Children Safe
-Sadly, It's That Time Again: Where to Buy N95 and KN95 Masks