Thursday, July 1, 2021

Good morning! Huge Independence Day celebrations are gearing up so be ready to hear some cheers and big bangs across the USA. 

Speaking of big bangs ... TSA has been setting all kinds of pandemic records at security checkpoints across the nation. Sunday delivered a pandemic high with 2,167,380 people passing through, while Monday saw 2,066,964 people. We're now up to 75% of 2019 throughput levels and keep in mind, these numbers are without a lot of international and business travelers.  

These records will most likely be beat come this Friday and Monday so show up early to the airport and pack your patience. Here are some quick tips for holiday weekend and summer travelers: 

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 driving, like 91% of travelers will be this weekend (according to AAA), 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


Destination Guide: Catalina Island
Last week, my family and I were coming to you from Catalina Island. I promised to put together a detailed story with plenty of pictures and here it is. As you can see, it's an incredible escape and difficult to believe it's just 22 miles off the coast of Southern California because it feels like a world away. 

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.

BRAND NEW!
This premium card just got upgraded with new fitness, dining, CLEAR, and entertainment perks, valued at over $1,400! Plus, there's a new 100k bonus on this card.

12 Things in Travel You Need to Know Today 
— Japanese official warns US of potential surprise attack on Hawaii — from Russia and China
— California family on nationwide search for late daughter's missing doll left on United plane
— Royal Caribbean just got cleared to sail from Miami this weekend
— Kayaker bitten by shark at Catalina Island, airlifted to hospital 
— The Delta variant: How to protect your unvaccinated children from Covid-19
— Rental car company Hertz emerges from bankruptcy, with changes to board
— Rick Steves: Pot is now used by Mom and Dad. And Grandma's rubbing it on her elbows
— Former 'SNL' star kicked off airplane over alleged mask issue
— ‘Almost like it’s back to normal’: LAX could see big crowds for Fourth Of July holiday travel
— Flying car completes first ever test flight between cities in 35 minutes
— Announcing the launch of The SIGMUND Project
— Yesterday's TSA checkpoint numbers 
+ More 
(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
-Win a $10,000 vacation bookable on Travelocity
-Win a seven-night European river cruise for two people
-Win a week-long cruise for two people on board The 2021 Country Music Cruise
See all contests here

100k Bonus Points Offer (Worth $1,250 in Award Travel)
Credit card offers come and go, but there is one that has us shouting from the rooftops because it is the best offer EVER on this top travel credit card. Just in time for summer, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a brand new 100,000-points limited time offer, available after meeting the minimum spending requirements. Besides earning 100k points there are so many perks that come with this rare offer, you don’t want to miss out. To get more details on why this offer is so impressive, check out our posts below:

• Best Ever Chase Sapphire Preferred 100,000 Bonus ($1,250 Value!)
• Q&A: Is The Chase Sapphire Preferred Still Worth It In 2021?
• 7 Best Perks of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

With the 100k point bonus, you can transfer your points to one of Chase’s travel partners, including Marriott, United, or even to try JetBlue’s new Mint class flights to the UK, beginning in August. Plus, you’ll earn unlimited 2x rewards on dining and travel worldwide (don’t worry, there aren’t any foreign transaction fees). So, where will you go with the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
Posts in this newsletter contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.

In Case You Missed It  
Hawaii Dropping Testing and Quarantine For Vaccinated Travelers
It was another busy week in travel and last night, Hawaii dropped some huge breaking news: Governor David Ige just announced that the state will eliminate its pre-travel testing/quarantine requirement for domestic travelers to Hawaii who have been fully vaccinated in the United States on this date. Here are the details.

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!

Tips for Traveling to Hawaii During COVID
-10 Tips for Traveling to Hawaii (Oahu) During COVID 
-Maui Advice for Travelers
-The App Every Traveler to Hawaii Needs to Download 
-Live Hawaii Webcams