August 19, 2021

I hope you had a great week. I want to thank you again for all well wishes regarding my dad who has been in a Connecticut hospital with COVID-19 since last Thursday. I update the post about his condition daily but it looks like he's going to beat it. His medical team says that if he wasn't vaccinated, it would have been a much different outcome. So two huge thumbs up for the vaccines. 

The Photo Above 
The photo above was taken Tuesday night at the Hollywood Bowl. It was my wife's and my first date night out in a very long time. It was a welcome distraction from the stress about my dad's health and we took a lot of precautions. Natalie had never been to the Bowl so I was excited to show her what is arguably the nicest outdoor concert venue in the world. If you're planning to go, tickets for some concerts, like the LA Philharmonic, which we attended, begin at just $8. Here are 12 things to know before you go to the Hollywood Bowl, plus over a dozen photos from our big night out. 

Scroll down for all of this week's stories, news and tips.

Update: The Anti-Fog Wipes For Your Glasses That Actually Work
Last week, we featured a great anti-fog lens wipe for glasses to minimize the fogging up effect caused by face masks. We linked directly to the anti-fog wipes but it seems that many people (including my mother-in-law), mistakenly bought the lens wipes and not the anti-fog wipes. My mother-in-law says the lens wipes are the best she’s used and make her glasses extremely clean. But for the anti-fog properties, be sure to buy the anti-fog wipes. Find the links here.

A Genius Food Safety Hack for Travelers
Whenever you return home from a trip, it's important to know if the food in your freezer is still safe to eat. This genius hack is so quick and easy and can prevent you from getting sick. 

What's It Like To Live In New Zealand During COVID-19
One of my most popular YouTube/Podcast interviews I had was interviewing Jules Older who is a travel journalist from San Francisco but moved to New Zealand in May of 2020. I decided to find out what it's like living in the bubble and you can watch the interview on YouTube or listen to it on my Podcast (please subscribe to both!). NOTE: This interview took place on Saturday which was before they went into a snap lockdown.  

Today's Travel Tip
Today's Travel Tip: Avelo Airlines Announces New Base and $59 Fares
Avelo Airlines is a new low-fare carrier and I had the pleasure of being on an inaugural flight from Burbank to Santa Rosa. Today, they're expanding their routes and have announced incredible $59 deals to a host of popular destinations. Read the story here.  

There's still more so scroll down to get caught up. 

Good To Know!
Three exciting bonus ways to earn points this month include referrals to friends, new business card designs, and a new bonus that earns free hotel nights after card approval.

12 Things in Travel You Need to Know Today 
— Yesterday's TSA checkpoint numbers
— Miami Beach couple arrested in Hawaii for doing this
— Chicago reinstates indoor mask mandate for restaurants, bars, gyms, stores, and more
— Nando's closes 45 restaurants because of chicken shortage
— Chicago hotels lose 10,000 room nights in two weeks as delta variant prompts some travelers to postpone trips
— Woman comes face-to-face with 10-foot-long snake in Australia supermarket: video 
— Some Trump properties are requiring guests and staff to mask up
— Nicole Kidman allowed to skip Hong Kong's strict quarantine
— Singapore sentences Briton Benjamin Glynn to six weeks in prison for not wearing face mask
— After a year without rowdy tourists, European cities want to keep it that way
— This man risked everything to go around the world in a flying boat
— If you got Pfizer, this is when you're more likely to get breakthrough COVID
(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!)

Travel Contests
-Win a safari getaway awarded as a $20,000 check (Aug 27)
-Win a trip for two to Italy (Aug 29)
-Win a relaxing vacation for two people in St. Croix (Aug 31) 
See all contests here

More
How to Never Miss A Wake-Up Call Again
When you're staying at a hotel and don't want to miss a flight or important meeting, use this trick to make sure you never miss an important wake-up call. 

This Travel Tip Will Save You a Ton of Money and Aggravation
This tip will save you a ton of money and aggravation if you just do one simple thing. Here's the tip.

Sadly, It's That Time Again: Where to Buy N95 and KN95 Masks
This is something I hoped I would never have to recommend again, but unfortunately, I do. And as we head into the fall, now is the time to get them before they get expensive and difficult to find. Read the story here.

The Trick to Getting Out of LAX and Other Airports Quicker During Rideshare Shortage
Here's the trick to getting out of the airport quicker.

Always Travel With This To Save You Time, Money and Embarrassment
Read the story here.

Never Forget Your Room Number or Parking Spot Again
Here's the simple way to never forget your hotel room number or parking spot again.

Don't Get Suckered By Hotel and House Rental Marketers
Read the story here.

In Case You Missed It  
Air Travel Tips
-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:
-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

Always Pack This For Summer Travel
One thing I love about living in Southern California is that we don't have many mosquitoes here, unlike other parts of the country and world, including my home state of Connecticut, where I was last week visiting family. After being bitten by a mosquito, my cousin turned me on to a device that's all-natural and was one of the top products featured on Shark Tank (all five sharks wanted a piece of it). The best part is that it costs just $10 and is the perfect thing for throwing in your summer travel bag. Read the story here. 

Don't Leave Home Without ...
If you're planning to travel anytime soon, make sure you pack a comfortable sleep mask like this one, that blocks out all light and has fully adjustable and deep eye cups. It's also great for anyone who suffers from bad headaches and migraines.
 
Don't Fall For This Hotel Scam
One thing that irks me about staying in hotels is how they always seem to try and sucker you. First, it started with outrageously overpriced phone calls but then technology advanced and people were able to use their own cell phones. Then, it was the mini bar but even by charging $5 for a small pack of M&Ms, hotels couldn’t make money so they got rid of the those. On a recent hotel stay, I encountered another way that many hotels try to deceive, or at the very least confuse, guests. Don't fall for this hotel scam.
 
Don't Make This Cell Phone Mistake
When I received my cell phone bill this month, my eyes almost popped out of my head when I saw a charge for an $81 phone call. I thought it must have been an error but it turns out it wasn't. Here's how to avoid making the same mistake.

10 Air Travel Pet Peeves and What You Can Do About Them
After my flights last month, I was reminded of some of my top pet peeves while flying. Here they are, plus what you can do about them. What are yours? Leave a comment and let me know!

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