March 30, 2022 Travel has rebounded! Things are really looking up. I was just watching an infectious disease expert on the local news and when asked if this is a good time to travel, he said it is. In fact, he's taking his first family vacation next week because COVID numbers, and more importantly, hospitalizations, are down in most of the country. He did advise using all the safety precautions recommended by the CDC and not to go to destinations with high COVID case rates.
It was great to hear and I'm so happy we went to Hawaii a couple of weeks ago (scroll down for all my trip reports) and if I had the money, I would be back there next week.
But if you're planning on traveling this spring or summer, then you will want to check out all the stories below. They will help you save time, money and aggravation. Oh, and the photo above is from yesterday's preview of Delta's new $1.9 billion headhouse at LAX. It was my first time at an indoor event in two years. That story is also below.
Today's Travel Tip
The First Thing You Should Do When You Check into a Hotel Room to Ensure a Good Night's Sleep
I was just going through some of my past travel tips and I can’t believe I’ve never written about one of the first things I always do when I check into a hotel room. This one little thing can really make or break your trip. Seriously. Hint: It involves something in this photo. Read the story here.
RELATED READING
-The Blackout Sleep Mask Travelers Need
-Never Sleep Through Your Alarm Again
-The Sleep Hack Every Traveler Needs to Know
-How to Sleep Better in a Hotel Room
Travel Product: Portable White Noise Machine
Further to today's tip about ensuring a good night's sleep, this portable white noise machine is another trick to try. Compact and portable, it's perfect for life on the road, at home or even in an office to drown out ambient noise. Check it out here.
VIDEO: You'll Never Believe What a Passenger Tried to Check
If you were wondering what the heck Will Smith was thinking at the Oscars, then you'd better sit down for this story. You'll never believe what this passenger tried to check. The world has gone mad. Watch the video here.
How to Get the Exit Row For Free
If you read yesterday's article, I talked about how to get an exit row for free and said I'd elaborate on that point. So today's post shares four ways you might be able to score the most coveted seats on the plane for free. Read the story here.
Here Are 10 Ways to Find Cheap Flights This Summer
I was hoping to be coming to you from New York, but airfares are crazy expensive. In some markets, they really jumped, including L.A. to New York. They're two to three times the price using cash or miles than what they were a month ago. Here are 10 ways to find cheap flights this summer.
Why American Travelers Should Book International Travel on US Carriers ✈
Many international air carriers offer a superior product and service but there are two significant reasons why American travelers should book international travel on US carriers, especially during these uncertain times. Read the story here.
Hawaii Trip Reports 🌈
I recently returned from 10 days in Hawaii with my family. To get there, we flew on one of United’s plush 777-300 in business class. We spent the first four nights at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and the last five nights at the Ritz-Carlton Waikiki. To get home, we flew economy on one of Hawaiian Airlines’ widebody A330 planes, which you can read about here >> Here’s my HNL-LAX trip report.
How to Have a Mountain of Colorado Family Fun
With recent CDC guidelines dropping the indoor mask mandate for 75% of Americans, many are eager to come out of sheltering in place and start mapping out some fun summer plans. Included in this story are some of our favorite mountain spots to consider in Colorado along with some helpful tips woven in to make the most of your trip. Read the story here.
Good To Know
-The Best Coach Seats To and From Hawaii
-All of Your 2022 Cruise Questions Answered by a Cruise Expert
-Here Are 9 Ways to Save Money on Gas
-The Flight Tracking App That Pilots Use
-How to Avoid Long Lines When You Travel ... And at Home
-Should You Still Travel to Europe This Summer? Rick Steves and Peter Greenberg Weigh In
-Can You Travel With the Lithium Ion Batteries Found in Phones, Tablets and Chargers?
-How to Prevent In-Flight Thefts
Worried The Plane Will Be Too Hot? Use This
Two weeks ago, I wrote about something I always keep in my travel bag in case the airplane is too cold (you can read that story here). This prompted a comment from a reader about being on a plane that was overheated, which reminded me of another pocket-sized gadget I also have in my carry-on bag. Check it out here. | 
