Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Greetings! It's been a rough couple of weeks. First, my daughter was sick with the flu for a week. The following week, my son was sick for eight days and during that time, my 93-year-old dad ended up in the hospital on the 22nd anniversary of my mom's passing (here are our eulogies). He's still in the hospital and is isolated because he has a superbug. 🙏

The good news is he seems to be on the mend, my kids are back to normal and we just returned from an incredible pumpkin patch (photo above). Here are 15 reasons to visit this fun family-friendly farm if you're in Southern California. 

✈️ U.S. Air Travel Outlook Today
It's been a great week to travel as there haven't been too many delays or cancelations. And as of 12:25pm PT, there have been only 61 canceled flights to/from or within the United States and 1,795 delayed. Here's the up-to-date status and a live look at the FAA's National Airspace System. Here's what to do during weather delays and flight cancellations.

Today's Travel Tip
The One Thing That Drives Me Nuts on Airplanes - And I Can't Believe It's Not Illegal
Last week, an American Airlines flight from Miami to Barbados had to return to the airport after flyers became sick due to a strong odor. Some passengers reportedly started vomiting. The culprit? Read the story. 

Currency Exchange
American travelers still have very favorable exchange rates thanks to the strong US Dollar: 
€1 Euro = $0.97 USD
£1 GBP = $1.12 USD
$1 CAD = $0.72 USD
$1 AUD = $0.62 USD

12 Things in Travel You Need to Know Today
— Stowaway! Snake removed from United Airlines flight at Newark Liberty
— Italy airport strikes: What to do if your flight is cancelled this Friday
— British Airways reaches deal with pilots, heading off strike
— Sanibel Island causeway washed out by Ian reopens early
— United Airlines says travel demand is stronger than recession pressures; shares rally
— Saudi Arabia sentences U.S. citizen to 16 years over tweets, family says
— Spirit shareholders approve takeover by JetBlue after a long battle for discount airline
— Heathrow passenger poos on British Airways plane floor and smears it on curtains
— Canadian fined for rollerblading on Bangkok's Sukhumvit road
— Two tourists killed and three injured in hot air balloon crash
— Secret Service charged as much $1,185 per night to stay at Trump D.C. hotel
— 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!)

More Travel News and Tips

The Best Day of the Year to Fly is Coming Up 
If you don’t like traveling through crowded airports, sitting on packed airplanes or paying expensive airfares, raise your hand. Both of mine are up, too. Here's the best day of the year to fly.


🎃 Flying on Halloween? Here’s the TSA’s Advice on What to Wear and What NOT to Wear
I've flown on Halloween a few times and it's usually a pretty fun day at the airport. But there are still rules to follow when it comes to what you can wear and pack in your bags. The TSA has shared some of their tips and tricks to make sure everyone has a fun but safe day. Read the story.

🦃 10 Ways to Find Cheap Thanksgiving Flights 
According to fare-tracker Hopper, Thanksgiving flights are going to be the most expensive they've been in five years. "Airfares will be 22% higher than in 2019, and 43% higher than last year. Fares for Thanksgiving peaked at over $400 in August, but have fallen ~9% into September as they do each year and will remain at the current level until mid to late October." So buy your tickets early and follow these tips to find cheap Thanksgiving Flights.

Travel Quote of the Day
"There’s tourism and there’s travel. The traveler doesn’t know where’s he going, and the tourist doesn’t know where he is." ~ Unknown

Travel Tweet of the Day
@RyanAir: James Corden BANNED from Ryanair

Travel Video of the Day
A mime at SeaWorld publicly shames a dad for allegedly letting his wife do the ‘heavy lifting’ in viral footage. Watch the videos here.

Travel Book of the Week
Just Being Jon: A Memoir

Travel Product of the Year
How Expert Travelers Track Their Bags
Lost luggage numbers are up in the US due to the fact that more and more people are starting to travel and there are far fewer workers to handle the increase. Traveling with carry-on luggage is one way to make sure your bags never get lost but if you are checking bags, here's how to make sure you can find them if they ever get lost or stolen. Read the story here. PLUS: If you already have Apple AirTags or Samsung SmartTags, these handy keychains and holders will help protect them and make them easier to secure to your belongings.

Miles/Points/Credit Cards
-This no-annual-fee card has the unique ability to redeem points towards next month's rent payment or even for a down payment on a home without having to pay transaction fees! 
-New card alert! This business card earns unlimited 2% cash back on purchases, has a $1,000 cash back bonus, and more.
-This free loyalty program is now open to U.S. travelers, making it easier to earn and redeem points for flights, cruises, and more.

Travel Contests
-Win a seven-night Caribbean cruise for two (Nov 14)
-Chance to win $5,000 in credit each year for life to use at any Evolve vacation rental. (November 30)
-Win an eight-day Viking river cruise for two (April 30, 2023) 
See all contests here.

Credit Card News/Offers for Travelers
Miles earned can be transferred to 15+ travel programs, including Air Canada, Air France, and British Airways. You can also redeem miles to cover past travel expenses. You can read more in our comparison of the Venture X vs. Venture Rewards if you aren't sure which card is best.  

Recent Tips/Stories
-Say It Ain’t So! American Airlines Eliminates its Best Online Booking Feature
-What Travelers Can Learn From LA Shooting of Rapper PnB
-Now That the Queen Has Died Do You Need to Exchange Your UK Bank Notes?
-A Lady in London Shares Her Best London Travel Tips
-The Time I Met Prince Charles, Princess Kate and Watched Queen Take Off
-DID YOU KNOW: Some Tylenol Products and Other Over-the-Counter Drugs Are Illegal in Some Countries?
-This is Why You Should Be Extra Cautious When Transiting Through Countries You Can’t Enter
-The Tape Every Traveler Should Pack Is Not Duct Tape
-Move Over SeatGuru: There’s a New Sheriff In Town When It Comes to Seating Charts 
-4 Hotel Hacks For Making Your Hotel Room Completely Dark So You Get a Better Night’s Sleep
-This Travel Hack Can Save You Hundreds of Dollars When Booking Flights
-12 Things to Know Before Going to Paris
-Don't Travel Without Downloading This App
-Maui is Paradise but Their Airport Isn’t - Here’s How to Avoid the Chaos at Kahului Airport

Air Travel Tips
-If a Flight Attendant Asks You Not to Do This, Please Don't
-Here's how to get JetBlue and other airlines to extend your travel credits
-12 Ways to Save Money on Baggage Fees
-The Service That Makes Covid-19 Testing So Much Easier For Travelers
-FBI Says Sexual Assault on Planes is Increasing - Here's How to Protect Yourself
-How To Reach an Airline's Reservations Agent Without Waiting
-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 
-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
-Here’s How You Can Really Get Upgraded to First Class
-How to Speed Through Airport Security

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

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
-How to Avoid Being Ripped Off When Traveling Internationally  
-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
-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

Good to Know
-The Super Cool New iPhone Feature You Didn't Even Know You Had
-The Inflation Vacation: Read This If You Plan to Travel This Summer

Tourists in Bahamas Killed by Carbon Monoxide Poisoning – Here’s How to Protect Yourself