May 11, 2022

Greetings! I didn't change the photo above from last week because my kids and I have been sick so we haven't gone anywhere. I thought I would spare you the image of us sitting outside the Urgent Care. The good news is that we're all on the mend, we tested negative for COVID and my wife somehow escaped its wrath. 

Speaking of being sick: COVID is definitely rearing its ugly head and a handful of my cousins in the northeast have contracted it. We're set to go to the east coast ourselves soon so I hope the nasty virus runs itself out of town before we get there.

Memorial Day is fast approaching and it looks like it's going to be a busy one. AAA's predictions come out next week but reservations in TripIt from Concur are up 207% for domestic flights, 466% for international flights (!!!), 191% for car rentals, 184% for lodging, and 134% for vacation rentals compared to 2021. Here's more. 

Heading to Europe?
If you are heading to Europe, you should be happy with the current exchange rates: 
1 EUR = $1.05 USD
1 GBP = $1.23 USD

The EU also just announced today that they no longer recommend masks for air travel -- see 12 Things to Know in Travel (below). And yesterday, I interviewed an American in Germany on what it's like to travel around Europe and more. Watch the interview on YouTube or listen to the podcast. 

To put it mildly, this year's Mother's Day was very subdued. But it did give us a chance to reminisce about past trips through photos, which brings me to today's Travel Tip of the Day. 

Today's Travel Tip
The Easiest Way to Digitize Your Old Photos
I don't know about you but I have a lot of printed photos that I've wanted to get digitized for years. If you have 50 photos, it’s easy to do yourself but if you have hundreds or thousands like me, it’s a total time suck, time which can be much better spent with my family, working, playing sports, watching sports or honestly, watching paint dry. But then I discovered an incredible service that did all the hard work for me and I'm so pleased with the results. Read more about it here. 

More of my Travel Tips from this Week
Do This Before Booking: How To Check COVID/Hospitalization Numbers of Your Destination
A reader emailed me for advice about going to a June conference in Chicago where thousands of people will be attending and also wanted to know what the COVID rates/hospitalizations were for a specific destination. My advice is to speak to your doctor and check the numbers. Here’s how to do it. 

How Travelers Can Protect Themselves from This Type of Theft
This might not be something you've ever thought of before but there's a new type of theft on the rise and if you're on the NextDoor app, you may have seen your neighbors complaining about it. It's something you'll want to be aware of both at home and when you're traveling. Here's how travelers can avoid falling victim. 

Travel Product of the Week

Travel Product of the Week: Portable Charger
This portable charger is a fan favorite! Plus, it's the one item flight attendants say they never leave home without. Check it out here.

12 Things in Travel You Need to Know Today
— E.U. will no longer recommend masks for air travel
— Passenger with "no idea how to fly" lands plane after pilot incapacitated
— No charges for Mike Tyson for punching airplane passenger
— TSA is expanding use of screeners to help at busy airports
— New Zealand to open international borders fully to visitors from end-July
— Turkish plane returns to gate after passengers sent crash photos
— Big fight during a KLM Flight caused by racial slur is caught on video
— Florida sheriff’s deputy accidentally drives SUV over sunbather, 23, lying on her back at popular beach
— The death toll rises to 42 after an explosion at a hotel in Cuba
— Air France seeing a gradual revival in transatlantic business travel
— Amtrak to add more trains as demand returns
— 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 Quote of the Week
"Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.” ~ Benjamin Franklin


Travel Tweet of the Day
@drjudymelinek: Mask up. Mask. Mask. Mask. N95s or KN95s. Not the cloth or surgical ones. Outdoors you should be ok. Indoors with others you need to mask. Seriously. Just get in the habit. You don’t want to get this again & again. Your brain, heart, lungs, kidney, pancreas & liver will thank me. 


Credit Card News/Offers for Travelers
-It's never a bad idea to start earning rewards for a trip abroad. Here are some of the best cards for international travel (that also earn rewards when staying close to home). 

Free Travel Book

Grobetrotting: Travel the World Laugh by Laugh
Jeff is one of the funniest travel writers around... He will have you in stitches all while getting a sense of place. He and I met on a cruise a few years ago and from time to time his articles have appeared on JohnnyJet.com. Jeff’s first book, Grobetrotting: Travel the World Laugh by Laugh has just been published. He’s offered some free copies to my readers. If you’d like one click here. I suggest doing it soon because they’re sure to go fast.   


Travel Contests
-Win a dream trip to ‘Your Villa One’ (June 13)
-Win a free vacation at Sandals Resorts (June 30)
Win a 5-Night Moon Palace Resort Vacation (July 18)
Win a seven-night Caribbean cruise for two (Nov 14)
Win an eight-day Viking river cruise for two (April 30, 2023)
See all contests here.


Air Travel Tips
-FBI Says Sexual Assault on Planes is Increasing - Here's How to Protect Yourself
-Worried About Flying and Being Surrounded By Unmasked Passengers? Here's How to Protect Yourself
-Warning: Summer Travel is Going to Be Chaotic - Here's Why and Here's How to Minimize the Chaos
-How To Reach an Airline's Reservations Agent Without Waiting
-How to Get the Exit Row For Free
-10 Ways to Find Cheap Flights This Summer
-Can You Travel With the Lithium Ion Batteries Found in Phones, Tablets and Chargers?
-How to Prevent In-Flight Thefts 
-The Best Coach Seats To and From Hawaii
-The Flight Tracking App That Pilots Use
-How to Avoid Long Lines When You Travel ... And at Home
-Why American Travelers Should Book International Travel on US Carriers ✈ 
-How to Track Airfares by Signing Up for Fare Alerts
-Travel hack that will let you use your wireless headphones to watch in-flight movies 
-A Simple and Genius iPhone Hack to Track Flights.
-Here’s How You Can Really Get Upgraded to First Class
-Which Trusted Traveler Program Is Right For You?
-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
-My Number 1 and 2 Travel Tips

Lodging
-The First Thing I Do When I Check into a Hotel Room
-3 Ways to Get a Refund on a Nonrefundable Hotel Room

Cruise
-All of Your 2022 Cruise Questions Answered by a Cruise Expert

Road Trip Tips
If you're planning a road trip, then be sure to follow these tips:
-Here Are 9 Ways to Save Money on Gas
-DON'T Do This When You're Driving Because It's Just Not Worth It
-One of the Worst Decisions Travelers Can Make
-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 2022
-How To Prevent Car Rental Companies From Ripping You Off

International Travel
-Rick Steves' Solid Advice About Travel This Spring and Summer  
-Can The US Government’s Free COVID Tests Be Used for Travel?
-The Sleep Hack Every Traveler Needs to Know 
-The Must-Have App for Travel to Europe

Safety
-ALWAYS Leave These at Home When You Travel
-Bet You Don't Know What an ATM Skimmer Looks Like.
-Don't Fall for These QR Code Scams
-How to Reuse your N95 and KN95 Masks
-10 Things to Have in Case of an Emergency
-The Pocket Thermometer You Should Never Leave Home Without
-Life-Saving Car Emergency Tips 
-My Somewhat Freakish Travel Habit Might Just Save Your Life
-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