October 21, 2021

Good morning! As you can see from the photo above, our family had kind of a rough week, which is why I didn't send out a daily travel tip on Monday or Tuesday. To keep this short, I created a post about why, including an update about my test results.

A rare sports equinox will take place today
According to The Kansas City Star and Morning Brew, “For only the 25th time ever, all four major US pro sports (NHL, NBA, MLB, NFL) will be in action.

HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN
10 days until Halloween 🎃
35 days until Thanksgiving 🍗
38 days until Hanukkah 🕎
65 days until Christmas 🎄
72 days until 2022 🍾
90 days until we go to Hawaii! 🌴🐳🏄

That’s right! To give us something to look forward to, especially after the post-Christmas blues settle in, I purchased some super cheap fares to Hawaii. I also splurged for business class on the way there since the flight is an hour longer and we want to minimize the chances of any of us getting sick while we’re on the islands. Also, it wasn’t really much more money when you factor in paying extra for seats with extra legroom, checked baggage and food. On top of that, because I did these two simple tricks, I saved an additional $280 AFTER purchasing the tickets.

Even better news: Hawaii just announced they are welcoming back certain travelers on November 1!

If you're flying over Thanksgiving, you will want to read this tip about why you might miss your Thanksgiving flight (and not for the reason you think) and how to minimize your chances of getting stuck.

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
— Ex-Alitalia flight attendants protest status
— Curtain pulled back on Marriott’s $100M 'resort fee' program
— Sun Country Airlines adding seven new cities, including first flights to Canada
— Singapore Airlines restarting Houston flights from Manchester, England
— Tulum: Shooting in a bar leaves a tourist dead and one injured
— United CEO warns travelers to beware when flying airlines without a vaccine mandate
— Flights cancelled, schools closed as China fights virus outbreak
— EasyJet unveils first airport lounge at Gatwick
— San Francisco's only In-N-Out closed for not checking proof of vaccination
— U.S. FAA proposes minimum rest periods for flight attendants between shifts
— American Airlines posts $169 million profit on taxpayer help
— 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!)

Travel Tip of the Day
This Nat Geo Show Will Teach You To Be A Better Packer and Show You Can Never Get Away With Trafficking Drugs
I know you don't need to be reminded not to traffic drugs but this Nat Geo show is fascinating and provides a few helpful tips for all travelers. Plus, it's a bit of an addictive watch if you're looking for something to binge this weekend. Read the story. 

Travel Quote of the Day
“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” ~ Louisa May Alcott

New on My Podcast
Wait, What?! Miami and JFK Tops J.D. Power’s North America Airport Satisfaction Study – Here's Why
 
Credit Card News/Offers For Travelers
-Earn up to 9% cash back this holiday season with this card 
-The first Centurion Lounge in Europe is now open at this major airport.
-Good news—Capital One has added six new 1:1 transfer partners. But, they're also losing their partnership with this popular airline before the end of the month.
-There's a brand new balance transfer credit card with an introductory rate of up to 21 months, plus no annual fee, cell phone protection, and more.

Travel Contests (NEW)
-Win a GrandEscapes package, including a 6-day/5-night deluxe room for a family of four 
-Win a five-night trip to L'Andana in Castiglione della Pescaia, Italy and a $5,000 inheritance* to spend on travel, room service, or whatever else you decide to blow your fortune on. 
-Win a seven-night Caribbean cruise for two
See all contests here

Last Week's Travel Tips/News
-The Real Reason Southwest Canceled So Many Flights
-Land Borders To Finally Open
-10 Ways to Find Cheap Thanksgiving Flights
-10 Ways to Find Cheap Christmas Flights
-The Silent and Green Solar Generator Everyone Will Want While Camping Or In Case of an Emergency
-Sorry T+L, You Got This One Wrong – Here’s How You Can Really Get Upgraded to First Class
-Two Great Things to Keep in the Car For Road Trips

More Tips
-Canada Announced That All Travelers Will Be Required To Be Fully Vaccinated Even To Travel Domestically
-Which Trusted Traveler Program Is Right For You?
-The Most Dangerous Places to Be During a Lightning Storm
-To Spain and Back: The Do’s and Don’ts While Traveling During a Covid Surge
-An Incredible Airline Status Match Opportunity You Won't Want To Miss
-Why You May Want To Avoid This Major U.S. Airport
-The Must-Have App For Travel to Europe
-12 helpful pandemic travel tips for the EU and the UK
-Renting Out an Entire Movie Theatre is Cheaper Than You Think
-The Essential Email Reminder Service I Use To Manage My Life
-American Airlines Flagship Lounges Are Reopening And They're Now Selling Day Passes
-And The Best Hotel In The World Is ... 
-Plan Your Leaf-Peeping Trip With This Fall Foliage Map
-Car Seat Tips For Keeping Your Children Safe
-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 
-A New Vaccination Requirement All Travelers Must Consider
-How To Make Sure the TSA PreCheck Checkmark is On Your Boarding Pass
-9 Tips For Avoiding COVID-19 On Planes and In Airports 
-How to Never Miss A Wake-Up Call Again
-This Travel Tip Will Save You a Ton of Money and Aggravation
-Sadly, It's That Time Again: Where to Buy N95 and KN95 Masks
-Too Soon To Start Holiday Shopping? Maybe Not 
-The Anti-Fog Wipes For Your Glasses That Actually Work

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

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