Warning: Summer Travel is Going to Be Chaotic - Here's Why and Here's How to Minimize the Chaos

Happy Sunday! I hope you had a great week. It sure was an adventurous one, as every U.S. airline and most U.S. airports (except LAX, LGA and JFK) have dropped the mandatory mask mandate. It's now optional and what I'm hearing from friends and family who have traveled this week, the breakdown of people wearing them seems to be about 50-50 (it depends on the region and the route.)

Rancho Palos Verdes
My family and I spent a glorious two nights at one of our favorite Southern California hotels ... Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes (RPV). I spent some of the best years of my life in RPV as I went to school there and worked for five years at Marymount College Palos Verdes (now Marymount California University). Sadly, news broke Friday that the school is shutting down after 54 years.

Marine Life
If you've never been to RPV, I highly recommend it -- especially on a warm, clear day. It's breathtaking, thanks to the topography and marine life. We saw whales (check out this short video on my Instagram), a huge pod of dolphins (see my Facebook) and a sea lion or harbor seal (I always confuse them).

Sesame Place San Diego
Last week, I told you that my family and I traveled to San Diego and stayed at Town and Country which is a great, affordable, family-friendly hotel. The main reason we were there was to check out the new Sesame Place and as promised, here's my story.

Travel Tip of the Day
Mother's Day is three weeks from today so if you want to get your mother, wife or daughter a special gift, it's time to get cracking! My beautiful and talented wife just wrote a post with some of her top picks, which might inspire you. Here's the story.

Travel Tips/Stories from This Week

Travel Product of the Week

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.

Travel Quote of the Day
“It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth.” ~ Neil Armstrong

Travel Tweet of the Day
@whoTFisbarbara: When FAs fake call the flight deck to change the temp in front of PAX>>>>>>

12 Things to Know in Travel Today
— Full refunds for canceled or delayed cruises now required
— CDC says face masks are still needed to protect the public, and WHO says omicron accounts for 99.5% of global COVID cases
— French Bee is launching cheap flights to Paris from LAX this month
— British Airways cuts 200 flights for summer
— A Japanese reporter's travel diary shows new level of chaos at airports
— This man is trolling his airline with PowerPoint presentations to find his missing bag
— United Airlines Adds a Boeing 787 Flight Simulator to Its App
— Total disregard for mask rule at LAX Airport
— CDC knows better than FL judge who nixed mask mandate, Fauci says
— SpaceX astronauts on an all-private mission to the ISS are spending a day free flying in orbit after their return home was delayed
— I’m a flight attendant—Here’s what I think about the mask mandate being lifted
— Yesterday's TSA checkpoint numbers

Miles & Points
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-The Best Premium Credit Cards in 2022
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Travel Contests
-Win a $5,000 credit toward a cruise or a resort getaway (April 17)
-"Share Your Story" Writing Contest for Outdoor Adventurists (April 30)
-Win a seven-night Caribbean cruise for two (Nov 14)
See all contests here

P.S. As always, thank you for subscribing to my newsletter! I hope you like it and you share with your friends, family and colleagues so they can subscribe to either my bi-weekly newsletter or Daily Travel Tip.

The Sunday Round-Up | April 24, 2022