August 12, 2021

Good afternoon! I’m excited to see MLB’s Field of Dreams game tonight between my beloved New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox in throwback uniforms. That’s right ... 33 years after filming the hit movie in Dyersville, Iowa Kevin Costner will be back in a cornfield to throw out the first pitch, but this time surrounded by an 8,000-seat stadium. Shoeless Joe Jackson was right: If you build it, (t)he(y) will come. And come they will, entering the game via the cornfields in the outfield. 

Scroll down for all of this week's stories, news and tips, including a product recommendation to prevent your glasses from fogging up that actually works. 

Travel Downturn?
The Delta variant has already come and there’s a lot of talk in the news today that travel is slowing down thanks to Southwest Airlines warning investors of a downturn because of the pesky variant.

I Canceled My First Business Trip
There's no doubt where we're headed, which is why I penned a post a couple of weeks ago about why business travel isn’t coming back in September as everyone had hoped. I just canceled what was supposed to be my first business trip in over 18 months. I pulled out because the conference is in Las Vegas (a hotspot) and I have two unvaccinated kids at home. I can’t take the chance. 

TSA Checkpoint Numbers
However, everyone is talking about the TSA checkpoint numbers dropping rapidly. I don't think they’re that rapid and I've been expecting the drop since most of the travel is leisure and many are families. Believe it or not kids, are already going back to school. I know, crazy, right? When I was a young lad, school didn’t start until the day after Labor Day. Expect the numbers to drop even more in the next few weeks.

Prices Will Drop
The good news with kids going back to school, besides a quiet house, is that prices for flights, hotels and rentals are going to drop big time in most destinations (Hawaii might be an exception).  

Maui Travel Tips with an Elite Travel Advisor
Speaking of Hawaii, yesterday I interviewed elite travel advisor, Stacy Small, about the travel she's booking and her tips for traveling to Maui, which is where she lives. You can watch the interview on YouTube or listen to it on my Podcast (please subscribe to both!)

This Week's Travel Tips and Stories
1. If you take medications when you travel, you'll want to read these 5 tips.

2. Don't Fall For This New Travel Scam That's Costing People Hundreds of Dollars
Unfortunately, these days it’s difficult to keep up with all of the travel scams, so I just try to learn about them (and more importantly, remember them) whenever I compile the travel news for the day. Today, I learned about a new one and it's costing travelers hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. Don't fall victim to this scam.

3. Real-Time Misery Map Shows Travelers What to Expect
This map is a great tool for all travelers. It shows you what flight delays and cancellations you can expect at the airport you're traveling through and can help you better prepare for your journey. Read the tip here.

4. Incredible New Emirates Ad
There's not much to say about this new ad from Emirates except that you have to see it to believe it. I've also added another video of behind-the-scenes since people didn't believe she really did it. Watch it here.

Today's Travel Tip
The Product That Will Prevent Your Glasses From Fogging Up ... And It Actually Works
Anyone who wears glasses knows that when paired with a face mask, they can fog up, which can be extremely uncomfortable, annoying and even dangerous. I've written about solutions to this problem before but according to a friend whose opinion I trust, this product actually works and anyone who wears glasses needs to try it. Read the story here. 

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

Good To Know!
Don't miss out on these 14 incredible 100k bonus offers, available right now, just in time for late summer or early fall.

12 Things in Travel You Need to Know Today 
— Yesterday's TSA checkpoint numbers
— Air travel falters as concern over delta variant spreads
— Hawaii travel restrictions: Restaurants, bars reduced capacity again
— Fortress New Zealand eyes opening to vaccinated travellers early 2022
— JetBlue launches first London flight despite lingering pandemic
— Southwest Airlines warns Covid variants could wipe out profits this fall
— 2 children test positive for COVID-19 on Royal Caribbean cruise ship
— Watch Jay Leno hang out of a moving plane in epic mid-air stunt
— 2 mainland travelers arrested in Honolulu for alleged fake vaccine cards 
— L.A. will require vaccination proof to enter most public indoor spaces
— New COVID cases are up 86% in the U.S. See the states where cases are rising the fastest
— Beached Killer Whale's sorrowful call captured on video
— Woman's rude act sparks controversial plane etiquette bebate 
(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
-Recreation.gov: “Share Your Story” Contest Winners Announced
-Win a safari getaway awarded as a $20,000 check 
-Win a relaxing vacation for two people in St. Croix 
-Win an eight-day Viking cruise for two
See all contests here

More
Fully Vaccinated Travelers From USA and EU Won't Have to Quarantine in England
Read the story.

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 This Summer
-How to Prevent Road Trip Theft
-15 Tips For Renting A Car in 2021
-How To Prevent Car Rental Companies From Ripping You Off

Big American Airlines News
Great news for American elites! Just when I gave up on retaining my Executive Platinum status, American Airlines dangled a warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie in front of me and I'm biting. Read the story here.

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