Greetings from Toronto! I hope you're having a great holiday weekend! If you're new here, this is our weekly round-up of the daily travel tips I shared throughout the week.
Our three weeks in Canada to spend time with Natalie's family is coming to an end. We've had a fantastic time. Plus, we finally made it to the famous Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, an attraction that's long been on our list of places to visit. The highlight is, without a doubt, the Dangerous Lagoon, a 315‑ft moving glass tunnel (North America’s longest), where a “magic carpet” walkway carries visitors beneath swirling sharks, manta rays, sea turtles and colorful fish. To avoid the crowds, arrive right when they open.
🍁 Costco in Canada
Speaking of Canada, my wife went to Costco this week and discovered they don’t accept Visa like they do in the U.S. Here, they only take Mastercard, so keep that in your back pocket if you're traveling North. On another shopping note: I went to a No Frills grocery store and scored a box of 11 red mangos for just $5.99 CAD—that’s only $4.38 USD! Not everything is this inexpensive, but it’s definitely nice having an exchange rate that makes everything about 27% off. Gotta love traveling to Canada!
🏝️ Trip Report: Ischia
While here in Canada, I was able to work on some of my trip reports. The first stop on our summer vacation this year was Ischia, Italy - the island from which my grandparents hailed. We flew from LA to Naples via Chicago, then took a ferry to Ischia. Here's my full trip report with details about where we stayed, where we ate and what we did while we were there. Read the story here.
⛈️ Severe Travel Weather
There's been a lot of travel news so scroll down to see the top 12 travel news stories of the week (as well as my tips and featured travel videos, which are a mixture of fun and hard news). One of the stories: This week, there were a ton of flight cancellations and delays due to severe thunderstorms. I don't remember it being this bad in the past but the good news is there are very few cancellations (so far) for today.
😢 Turkish Airlines Flight Diverts to Chicago After Passenger Dies Over Greenland
Sadly, a passenger passed away on a flight from Istanbul to San Francisco. What I don't understand is why the airline diverted to Chicago if the passenger had died hours earlier and the diversion only made the flight 58 minutes shorter. There's a good chance the passenger was from the Bay Area so diverting to Chicago and then flying the body back across country isn't ideal, especially for family members who may have been awaiting the arrival of their loved one. Same for all the passengers (and possibly crew) who then would have had to fly four more hours to get from ORD to SFO. Here's the story.
🛂 U.S. Passport Processing Times
Let's end on some good news ... This week, an employee from the U.S. State Department told me that "processing times are now 4-6 weeks [for] routine service and 2-3 weeks for expedited service." Here are 12 passport tips that will save you time, money and headaches. |
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✈️ Today's Travel Outlook 🕰️ As of 9:40am ET: 141 flights have been canceled and 1,105 delayed within, into, or out of the U.S. Check live flight stats FAA National Airspace System Status 🗺️ Weather & Travel Resources National Forecast Maps Airline Travel Waivers: American | Delta | United What to do during weather delays and cancellations |
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🧭 Travel Product of the Week
😴 The Ultimate Blackout Sleep Mask
We are back at my mother-in-law's place in Toronto and if you remember from last year, she bought me a sleep mask that completely blocks out all the sunlight that floods her place in the mornings. It immediately became my go-to mask and I never travel without it. I'm glad I have it with me on this trip. Numerous readers have emailed me to say it's the best one they've tried too. So, if you have trouble sleeping at home or in hotel rooms, give this one a try. It's the best $15 you'll spend on solid sleep! Buy here. |
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📱 Monday
How I Stay Connected While Traveling
My family and I just returned from an incredible trip to Europe and I have so many travel tips, stories and photos to share. One of the main topics I wanted to discuss was how I stayed connected and I just received an email from a regular reader with some great questions. Patti C asked: Will my cell phone and iPad work with Italy’s charging plugs or do I need a special adapter? Also, I heard you can’t bring power chargers in carry-ons anymore? Here's what you need to know.
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💰 Tuesday
Travel Reporter Blasts Hotel for $500 Smoking Fee He Says Is a Scam— Here's How to Protect Yourself
Zach Griff, a well-known travel reporter from The Points Guy, recently stayed at a Hyatt hotel, with his wife and their 8-month-old daughter. Upon checking out, he was shocked to discover a $500 smoking fee charged to his account. The problem? Neither he nor his wife smokes. He later discovered he wasn’t the only one to be hit with this fee, thanks to a new high-tech smoke alarm system. Here’s what you need to know.
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👀 Wednesday
Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines Offering BOGO Tickets to Hawaii — Deal Ended
One of our favorite family destinations is Hawaii (I’ve been at least two dozen times), and my favorite airline to get there is Hawaiian Airlines. And if I had my travel dates set, I’d be booking today because Hawaiian is offering a Buy One Get One Free deal that ends tonight. Get the details here.
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💰 Thursday
LAX to Lisbon for $580? TAP Air Portugal Goes Year-Round and the CEO Shared His Top Travel Tip
TAP Air Portugal just made its Los Angeles to Lisbon route year-round—and to celebrate, they’re offering roundtrip fares for just $580. As an added bonus, their CEO told me his best travel tip. Get the details here.
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🛑 Friday
Breeze Airways Swoops In With New West Coast Routes and $39 Fares After Avelo's Exit
Just one day after Avelo Airlines revealed plans to shut down its entire West Coast network, Breeze Airways announced it is stepping into the gap and doing it with sale fares starting at just $39 one way. Here are the details.
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🏛️ Saturday
12 Things to Know Before You Travel to Europe
If you or a friend are planning to travel to Europe this summer, I’m pretty sure you’ll appreciate any advice to help make your travels go smoother and safer. Europe is one of the busiest places for tourists over the summer months and 2025 is expected to be no exception. Here are 12 things to know before you travel to Europe.
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💬 TRAVEL QUOTE OF THE DAY “I've always been very determined to travel, just in terms of opening your imagination and making you flexible" ~ Susan Sarandon |
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📺 Travel Videos of the Week
Turkish Ice Cream Vendors are in a League of Their Own
One of the highlights of our summer trip to Europe was the experience with Istanbul’s ice cream vendors. I shared one video with you last week, but here are two more — one of my daughter and one of a stranger getting ice cream. If you’re heading to Türkiye, be sure to grab a cone. The vendors are hilarious and put on a show you won’t forget. Here are the videos.
American Airlines Passenger From Hell Delays Flight With Outrageous Behavior
If you thought the American Airlines passenger who claimed she saw ghosts and kept dropping F-bombs on a flight from Dallas was bad… just wait until you see this guy. This five-part video shows a strung-out passenger who somehow managed to stay on the plane for at least 12 minutes — even though he should have been dealt with in the first 20 seconds. Here are the videos.
Man Misses His Boarding Time and Runs Past Gate Agent at Denver Airport – Only to Have Frontier Lift the Ramp in His Face
I don’t think there’s ever been a time I’ve gone through an airport and not seen someone running. The times I didn’t, it was because I was the one running. Which is why one of my top travel tips is to allow plenty of time to get to the airport so you don’t have to make a mad dash or stress like this Frontier Airlines passenger did. Here's the video.
Video: NYC Subways Swamped by Flash Flooding
Overnight storms brought heavy rain and flash floods, disrupting subway and train service. According to the New York Times: "New York City’s public transit was mostly back on track Tuesday morning." Check out these videos and photographs. |
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🌎 Top 12 Travel Stories of the Week 1 Noem Hints TSA Could Soon Ease Restrictions On Liquids On Flights
2 TSA Expands Security Checkpoint Lanes for Families With Children and Military Members
3 American Express Is Doing a Quick Stop Airport Lounge
4 United Passengers Say They Were Stuck On Newark Tarmac For 7 Hours During Severe Weather Delay
5 American Airlines Will Introduce A Quick-Serve Lounge In Charlotte
6 Delta Announces New Routes From LAX To Hong Kong, Chicago
7 After Eight-Plus Years, The Waldorf Astoria New York Is Back
8 Thailand Delays Tourist Entry Fee Until 2026 As Arrivals Dip And Economy Falters
9 The Grand Canyon Lodge Was An Elusive Getaway For Nearly A Century. Now It's Gone
10 Plunging Dollar Leaves American Travelers With Less Buying Power This Summer
11 Why Delta And United Are Pulling Away From The Airline Pack
12 Airbnb To Introduce More Guest-Friendly Cancellation Policies
Read them here! |
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🧵 TRAVEL THREAD OF THE WEEK @the_officialsambailey: Someone just honked to get me out of my parking spot faster so now I have to sit here until both of us are dead. |
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✅ Currency Exchange 🇪🇺 €1 Euro = $1.16 USD
🇬🇧 £1 GBP = $1.3 USD
🇨🇦 $1 CAD = $0.72 USD
🇦🇺 $1 AUD = $0.65 USD
🇲🇽 $1 MXN = $.053 USD
✅ Calendar Countdown 🛠 43 days until Labor Day
🎃 103 days until Halloween
🦃 130 days until Thanksgiving
🎅 158 days until Christmas
🎊 164 days until New Year's Eve |
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✈️ More Featured Products |
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Portable Fan That's Also a Phone Charger and Has a Flashlight
This is a 3-in-1 must-have. We just returned from Europe and it was hot, hot, hot! We were so glad we remembered to pack two of these portable fans, especially for the kids to use. Compact, lightweight and easy to throw in your bag when you go exploring for the day, these fans were a real life-saver and we won't be traveling anywhere hot without them. PLUS: It serves as a back-up phone charger and has a handy flashlight. Available in 6 different colors. Buy here.
EverSnug Travel Blanket
Planes can be cold but there's no reason to suffer for your entire flight. This travel blanket is soft, cozy and warm (not to mention cleaner than airline blankets ... if you even get one), and packs up quickly and easily in its own carrying case. This is one accessory my wife and I use all the time when we fly and made us wonder what took us so long to buy travel blankets. Read why we love it here and buy here.
34% off Anker 5-in-1 hub
A hub like this is an essential when I travel. It streamlines my chargers and is an excellent travel companion. It's got a 4K HDMI port, USB-C and USB-A data ports and a 100W PD-IN port for pass-through charging. Regularly $34.99, it's currently 34% off for $22.99 for a limited time. Buy here.
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