Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Greetings! Can you believe today is the last day of August?! Crazy to think that summer is almost over here in the northern hemisphere. The good news is that it should mean the end of the travel chaos and high prices. I discussed some of those topics and more this week on NewsNation (screenshot above). You can read my detailed notes and watch the interview here: U.S. Airline Complaints Skyrocket – Here’s Why and Tips For Avoiding the Travel Chaos


U.S. Air Travel Outlook Today

Yesterday, there were over 880 flights canceled and 5,000 delayed within, into, or out of the U.S. Fortunately, today is looking a lot better! According to FlightAware (as of 11:55am PT), there have only been 138 cancelled flights and 1,782 delayed. Here's the up-to-date status and a live look at the FAA's National Airspace System (screenshot above). Here's what to do in weather delays and flight cancellations.


Del Mar Beach Hotel Bungalow
Two weeks ago, we stayed at the Del Mar Beach Hotel's Beach Bungalow. Read our review to see a ton of pics and see why it's such a special place.



Carbon Monoxide Poisoning – Here’s How to Protect Yourself

Speaking of rentals ... My sister was renting a house this week in Vermont and the carbon monoxide detector went off. She said it was a scary experience, but she was thankful the place had a working detector. This reminded me of the tip I wrote a few months ago, which was to always travel with a portable carbon monoxide detector just in case your house rental or hotel room doesn't have one or can't be trusted. Here's how to protect yourself.

Travel Deals
$79 Fares Between BGM and MCO/RSW
Avelo Airlines announced today it will begin serving Binghamton, New York this fall with exclusive nonstop service to two popular Florida destinations: Orlando and Fort Myers. Service begins November 16 and they are offering an introductory one-way fare of $79. I was on Avelo's very first flight last year so if you want to see what it's like, here's my trip report.

130,000 Bonus Points
Get up to 130,000 bonus points, at least 5x points on eligible dining, free nights, elite status, $0 intro annual fee, and more with the best cards from this major hotel brand


Travel Tips
DID YOU KNOW: Some Tylenol Products and Other Over-the-Counter Drugs Are Illegal in Some Countries?
A Russian court recently sentenced WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison for bringing cannabis into the country. It's a scary scenario for travelers and in some countries, even regular over-the-counter drugs that are readily available in the United States, are banned. Here's a list of products that are banned in Japan and other countries. Read the story

This is Why You Should Be Extra Cautious When Transiting Through Countries You Can’t Enter 
Even though much of the world has re-opened their borders, not everyone has and it’s risky for travelers to fly through countries that aren’t open. For example, yesterday, over two dozen Australian travelers were scheduled to fly from Helsinki, Finland, to Gold Coast, Australia, via Tokyo’s Narita Airport and their experience offers a valuable lesson for all international travelers.


LAST WEEK'S TOP TIPS
-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

12 Things in Travel You Need to Know Today
— South Korea to scrap COVID tests for arrivals in boost for travel
— New Zealand student survives 80-foot fall from Yosemite's Half Dome
— Virgin Australia has dropped a huge $49 international & domestic flight sale
— Pilots to picket Thursday at Hartsfield-Jackson and other airports
— Eurostar scraps popular route 'due to Brexit'
— Are rush hour times changing in Los Angeles post-pandemic?
— Boeing wins $2.1 billion order from Taiwan’s China Airlines
— Hawaii records highest visitor count since January 2020
— A Nebraska man paddled 38 miles down the Missouri River in an 846-pound pumpkin
— Why isn't the rideshare pickup area shaded at Palm Springs International Airport?
— Home tests OK, say RCCL and Celebrity

— 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!)

Travel Quote of the Day
“Now more than ever do I realize that I will never be content with a sedentary life, that I will always be haunted by thoughts of a sun-drenched elsewhere.” ~ Isabelle Eberhardt 

Travel Tweets of the Day
@RickSteves: Back in the 80s, I traveled throughout Eastern Europe wearing a pin that said “я люблю горбачева” — “I love Gorbachev.” In honor of the great reformer, here’s a 6-minute look at how Berlin went from a divided city to the vibrant powerhouse it is today.

Currency Exchange
€1 Euro = $1.00 USD
£1 GBP = $1.16 USD
$1 CAD = $0.76 USD
$1 AUD = $0.68 USD
¥1 JPY = $0.0072 USD


Travel Product of the Summer

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.



Travel Contests
-Win a trip to Finland for two (Sept 13)
-Travel to Korea Begins Again: Win One of Eight Sensational Trips (September 30) 

See all contests here.

My East Coast Trip Reports
-Trip Report: Los Angeles to New York
-Delamar in Greenwich
-Watch Hill Inn
-Hotel Review: Weekapaug Inn  
-Trip Report: New York to Toronto 
-
My Wife Got Randomly Selected For Covid Testing on Arrival at YYZ
-Trip Report: Toronto to Niagara Falls, NY for NEXUS/Global Entry Appointment
-Hotel Review: Embassy Suites Niagara Falls
-Niagara Falls Canada: An Excellent Family-Friendly Getaway
-5 Weekend Getaways From Toronto

-Hotel Review: Park Hyatt Toronto
-Trip Report: Toronto to Los Angeles via DFW on American Airlines


Credit Card News/Offers for Travelers
Does the idea of earning double rewards on every single purchase sound good? These two award-winning cards earn extra miles, no matter where you are. 
 
With a $95 annual fee, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great, easy-to-use travel card. It earns unlimited 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2x miles on every other purchase. So, no matter what you buy, you'll always earn at least double miles.
 
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is one of the latest additions to the Capital One family. It comes with lounge access and the ability to earn up to 10x miles on travel and 2x miles on purchases. There's an annual $300 credit plus 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 for travel). That's $400 towards travel yearly, knocking down the $395 annual fee.  
 
Both cards have a 75,000-miles bonus, free Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, exclusive access to presales with Capital One Entertainment, and $0 foreign transaction fees. 
 
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.  



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

Helpful Tips
-Two Great Amazon Products to Help You Sleep Better When You Travel
-The Easiest Way to Digitize Your Old Photos
-The Map App Every Traveler Needs To Download Now

-The Essential Email Reminder Service I Use To Manage My Life
-How to Never Miss A Wake-Up Call Again


Great Travel Products

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

Last month, three American tourists were found dead at a Sandals resort on the island of Exuma in the Bahamas. Autopsy results revealed that carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause. Here's how to protect yourself.


Travel Hack: How To Use Your Wireless Headphones to Watch In-Flight Movies
And if you do invest in a pair of Apple AirPods or already own a pair, you'll want to try this travel hack to wirelessly connect them to the airplane's inflight entertainment system. Read more here.


Book a Flytographer Photo Shoot
Every year, I tell my wife that I don't want anything for Father's Day. Time with my family is all I need. But this year, I said I'd like some framed family photos hung on our walls. Our best photos are from Flytographer shoots that we've done around the world and they're such great memories. So, if you're looking for a gift idea for your husband or father, consider booking a Flytographer shoot on your travels or in your hometown. If he's anything like me, he'll love it and cherish the photos for years to come. Use our affiliate link to get $25 off your first shoot

Quick Dry Beach and Pool Towels
These towels are quick-drying, repel sand and fold up so compactly, that your bag won't be bulging with towels the next time you head to the beach or pool. Plus, they just look really good, too. Check them out here.


More
-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

-Round-Up: Travel Neck Pillows for Better Sleep and a More Comfortable Flight
-The Travel Gadget Flight Attendants Never Leave Home Without
-A Brilliant New Travel Purse for Women
-The Best Airplane Toy For Any Kid

-Hands Down the Best Beach Toy for Kids

For Fun
-The Word Game You're Going to Want to Play
-The Wordle-Inspired Game for Travel Lovers 
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