Thursday, April 15, 2021

Good morning from the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel! Today marks two weeks since I had my second dose of the Moderna vaccine, which means I'm fully vaccinated. Unfortunately, it doesn't mean that I have a free pass. I will continue to wear a mask, follow social distancing guidelines and wash my hands frequently. I also just read that the CDC reports 5,800 COVID infections in fully vaccinated people, which proves they're not bulletproof as advertised. That story and 11 more are in today's 12 Things To Know In Travel round-up (scroll down).

But it does mean I have a greatly decreased chance of getting seriously ill so I will be traveling more. Hence, I'm hitting the send button on this newsletter from a hotel room and not my house. 

Yesterday, I spoke on a panel for Organic Spa Magazine's Wellness Conference and thought it would be a lot more interesting and fun if I Zoomed in from a hotel so our friends at the Ritz-Carlton helped us arrange a stay. 

It's a beautiful hotel with jaw-dropping views of the Pacific. I will post a story this weekend with tons of photos, including our first restaurant dining experience in over a year. Yup! You read that right. Before the pandemic, my wife and I would eat out multiple times a week. Then when the nightmare started, we didn't even get takeout for over two months.

Well, two nights ago, our dry spell came to an end when we dined at a restaurant for the first time since March 2020.  We ate outdoors at a restaurant with socially distanced tables and I have tell you ... it felt and tasted so darned good.

Speaking of social distancing, the CDC just released a study that says that empty middle seats on airplanes reduce exposure to COVID-19. My first reaction was, "No sh*t, Sherlock.") It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out, which is why I was recommending people fly Delta since they've been blocking middle seats. But that ends May 1st and the airlines have to unblock seats in order to stay profitable. The flawed study can be found in the 12 Things To Know In Travel round-up. 

Potty Shields: A Must-Have for Traveling with Kids
Great news! We have a sponsor for this month's newsletters and it's a travel product that Natalie and I absolutely love. They're called Potty Shields and parents and grandparents of young children should seriously consider buying them because they're a game-changer for travel, whether you're taking a flight, a road trip or even a day excursion. Read why they're such a travel essential here.

I have some good news and some bad news. First the bad news: 

This Airline Devalues Points Overnight
This airline, which has always been one of the favorite carriers, sure does know how to tick off their loyal base, especially when they decided to devalue their points overnight with no notice. Here are the details.

These Top Airport Lounges Are About To Get More Expensive
And they’re not the only one raising fees. My favorite airport lounges are going to get more expensive. Here's what you need to know and how you might avoid this new fee.

TSA Does NOT Allow Full-Sized Sunscreen In Carry-On Bags
First up: On Tuesday, we wrote about the TSA now allowing full-sized bottles of sunscreen in your carry-on. But the TSA has now walked back this rule. See their statement at the top of this post. 

Mixed news:
Maui & Kauai Have New Rules
As you're about to read, the entry requirements for all the Hawaiian islands are not identical. Wondering about Maui and Kauai specifically? Here's what you need to know.

Now the good news! 

Air Canada Is Finally Issuing Refunds
Air Canada ticked off a lot of customers at the beginning of the pandemic when they refused to issue refunds for canceled flights, even though it was required by law. But that just changed. Here's how to get your money back. 

Hawaii Has New Rules For Vaccinated Travelers
Hawaii has some new ones regarding quarantine and it's a seriously mixed bag for travelers. For those who have been vaccinated and are planning to visit the islands, you'll want to read this news.

American Airlines and Southwest Celebrate Their Birthdays with Fare Sales
My memory might be slipping so correct me if I’m wrong, but this is the first time I can recall two airlines celebrating their birthdays within a week of each other with fare sales. First, Southwest announced on Monday that they were celebrating their 50th birthday with $50 fares and you have until May 3rd to buy. A few days later, American Airlines followed suit (what else is new?) with fares under $95 for their 95th birthday. Many of AA’s fares should have been billed as roundtrip for under $95 but keep in mind, they charge for checked bags while Southwest doesn’t. Here are the details with sample fares.

American Airlines Is Giving Away 100 Million Miles, Upgrades and More
I wrote about American Airlines’ 40th AAdvantage anniversary giveaway and I don't know if people realize they can play every day. I've had readers tweet, private message me and leave comments letting me know that they’ve won all kinds of prizes from 4,000 AA miles to upgrades. It's also an easy way to extend your miles another 18 months in case you haven't had any activity. I just played again this morning and won: "You're officially a winner in the AAdvantage 40th Anniversary Celebration! You've won an American Airlines Preferred Seat Upgrade*." Here are the details.

Credit Card Deal of the Month
Incredible Limited Time Offer! This top credit card just got an 80,000-point bonus boost (worth $1000), $50 for groceries, plus Lyft, Peloton, & DoorDash perks that can save you money.  

12 Things in Travel You Need to Know Today
Here are the story headlines:
— Yesterday's TSA checkpoint numbers
— CDC study says empty middle seats reduce exposure
— Major airlines signal rejection of new CDC guidance 
— EU countries move towards COVID passes to reopen summer travel
— CDC reports 5,800 Covid infections in fully vaccinated people
— Airbnb announces new restrictions for summer rentals
— New Zealand trials 'early warning' virus app at border
— Booking that week in Capri is a gamble right now
— Ontario Premier Doug Ford asks people not to fly in or out of province
— Passenger collapses at Heathrow 'after waiting in seven-hour queue'
— The Dutch/Greece travel experiment
— American Airlines ramps up domestic summer schedule to nearly pre-pandemic levels
+ More (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!)

In Case You Missed It

Hands Down the Best Beach Toy for Kids
After one toss, my son was hooked. He seriously would not stop asking for one and he’s never done that before and since then, I've had countless readers email or tweet me to say how much their kids love it. Here's where to get it ... and it's inexpensive, too.

This Week’s Travel Contests