Greetings from Huntington Beach!
I hope you had a great week! For all of our new subscribers, this is a weekly round-up of the daily travel tips I shared throughout the week. Welcome!
There's a lot of travel news this week, so scroll down to catch the top 12 headlines and click the link to see them all and get in-depth coverage.
🌍 Myanmar earthquake
One of the biggest stories is the devastating aftermath of the 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar. Video from Myanmar had been limited but some footage has started to emerge alongside what we've seen from neighboring Thailand, specifically Bangkok (about 800 miles away), and it's absolutely shocking. Below in Travel Videos of the Week, I embedded multiple videos from both places of the terrifying moments, as well as ways to support relief efforts.
🌩️ Travel Waiver: Midwest Severe Weather
It looks like it might be a rough travel day later today. United Airlines and others have issued a travel waiver for the Midwest for today (March 30) thanks to severe weather. This waiver allows for voluntary changes for travel to, from or through these airports: Appleton, WI (ATW), Cedar Rapids, IA (CID), Chicago-O'Hare, IL (ORD), Eau Claire, WI (EAU), Grand Rapids, MI (GRR), Green Bay, WI (GRB), Indianapolis, IN (IND), Madison, WI (MSN), Mason City, IA (MCW), Milwaukee, WI (MKE), Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN (MSP), Moline, IL (MLI), Peoria, IL (PIA), South Bend, IN (SBN), and Traverse City, MI (TVC).
🧜♀️ Huntington Beach
We just checked out of the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach. We were here for National Mermaid Day, which, in case you didn't know, was yesterday! The hotel has a fun program for kids called Mermaid Magic and in honor of the day, we were invited down to check it out. Our daughter got to meet some mermaids, swim with a mermaid tail, enjoy a menu of mermaid-themed treats and participate in other underwater themed activities. It was a sun- and fun-filled day. The hotel's Mermaid Magic program can be booked online here. Stay tuned for more about our stay!
🛋️ Virgin Atlantic’s new LAX Clubhouse
On Thursday, I got an exclusive sneak peek at Virgin Atlantic’s new LAX Clubhouse. Check out all my photos here.
⚾️ Hey Baseball Fans: Here’s How to Get MLB.TV For Free
If you're a baseball fan, then you don't need me to tell you that Opening Day was this week! What you might not know is T-Mobile is bringing back a popular promotion that I’ve written about for the last four years. Through tomorrow (March 31) all T-Mobile users can redeem a free, year-long subscription to MLB.tv, which streams full, live MLB games. It’s a $149.99 value. Here's what you need to know.
SPONSOR: Goolets
⛵ Discover Croatia by Sea: An Unforgettable Way to See the Adriatic Coast
Croatia's Adriatic coast, with its idyllic islands, charming towns and crystal-clear waters, is a must-visit for those seeking adventure and relaxation. To truly experience its beauty, chartering a yacht is the perfect way to explore the stunning coastline in luxury and style. For an unforgettable (and affordable!) experience, consider using Goolets to book your dream boat charter. Read more about Goolets here and book your own cruise here.
🦖 Where Can You Dig Up Real Dinosaur Fossils in North America?
My eight-year-old son is obsessed with dinosaurs. I mean, really obsessed. He knows the names of almost every dinosaur, he watches all the dinosaur movies and TV shows he can, and reads anything he can find about these prehistoric animals. I sometimes wonder if his love for dinosaurs began with one of the first books we read to him when he was a baby, Dinosaur Dance by Sandra Boynton. Now, he devours a whole collection of dinosaur books. Today, he asked me, “Is there a place where you can dig up real dinosaurs?” In looking up the answer to his question, here's what I discovered. FYI: The photo was taken in Santa Barbara.
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✈️ Today's Travel Outlook
As of 8:53am PT, there have been 116 canceled flights to, from or within the United States and 2,534 delayed. Here's a link to the up-to-date stats and a live look at the FAA's National Airspace System Status. Here's what to do during weather delays and flight cancellations.
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🧭 Travel Products of the Week
Amazon's Big Spring Deals
Amazon 's Big Spring Deals are on and there are big savings for travelers. Here are some of our top picks.
✅ 56% off travel backpack: Buy here
✅ 22% off portable phone charger: Buy here
✅ 22% off universal travel adapter: Buy here
✅ 61% off ceramic flat iron: Buy here
✅ 22% off portable digital luggage scale: Buy here
Other Great Deals
✅ Apple AirTags are still on sale: Snag a four-pack for $69.99 or a single one for $24
✅ Scottevest jacket: It has 20+ pockets to keep valuables safe and hidden: men’s and women’s
✅ Mini rolls of gaffer tape ($13.88)
✅ 34% off Anker 5-in-1 hub
✅ Waterproof AirTag holders ($7.99)
✅ $6.42 for 10-pack lithium coin batteries
✅ 41% off ($9.98): 6-Foot Surge Protector Power Strip
✅ 29% off ($9.95) RFID blocking money belt |
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⚾️ Monday
Yankees Players Share Their Top NYC Dining Spots for a 24-Hour Visit
Baseball season is kicking off this Thursday, which means teams are heading out of their spring training facilities in Florida and Arizona to their home cities or first away games of the season. As the New York Yankees players were preparing to leave Tampa for their home opener against the Milwaukee Brewers in the Bronx, they were asked where they’d eat if they had 24 hours in New York City. I've embedded the video, transcribed it and added links to their choices: Here's what you need to know.
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💰 Tuesday
Travel For Less: How to Save Money Everywhere You Go
Today's tip comes courtesy of my friend Matthew Kepnes who goes by Nomadic Matt. His new book, How to Travel the World on $75 a Day, comes out today and is full of great money-saving tips for travelers. And he's sharing some of his top tips here in this post: Travel Less: How to Save Money Everywhere You Go.
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⚠️ Wednesday
FBI Issues Warning About Latest Scam Targeting Travelers
Everyone needs to be aware of scammers but travelers, in particular, must stay on high alert. This is mainly because they’re often in unfamiliar places or dealing with different customs. I've written many tips about common travel scams to watch out for, like the falling lady scam and these notorious European travel scams travelers should know before heading to the continent. That’s why it's essential to research your destination before you travel and stay extra cautious when receiving texts and emails about your trip, even after returning home. Here's what you need to know.
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📱 Thursday
Don’t Want to Pay For Global Entry? Use This Free App
If you read yesterday's travel tip, then you already know about this free app. I have never had to use it but I have many friends who swear by it. Some use it when the Global Entry line is long, which is why I downloaded it ... just in case. Here's how it can speed up and simplify your travels.
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🚐 Friday
How to Catch an Uber to JFK Airport for Just $10
When I heard that Uber was expanding their Uber Shuttle service to and from JFK for $10, I was all ears. Of course, being the savvy company that Uber is, this price is only available for a limited time. Here’s what you need to know.
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🏨 Saturday
How to Spot and Avoid Copycat Hotel Booking Sites That Cost You More
One of the reasons I continue to write a free daily travel tip newsletter is because I am compelled to help travelers save money, have a smoother experience and stay safe. There’s so much information out there that a weekly newsletter just doesn’t cut it. I try to keep readers up-to-date daily on the latest travel news and tips to help them be smarter, savvier travelers. Thanks to Dawn Gilbertson of the Wall Street Journal, I just learned of something travelers need to know about involving copycat hotel websites. Here’s what you need to know.
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💬 TRAVEL QUOTE OF THE DAY “Travel makes a wise man better, and a fool worse." ~ Thomas Fuller |
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📺 Travel Videos of the Week
Laptop Battery Fire Forces Southwest Airlines Passengers to Evacuate By Slide
Last week, I wrote about a Hong Kong Airlines Airbus A320 had to make an emergency landing in Fuzhou, China because a lithium battery caught fire. I mentioned that incidents like this are becoming more common and that it’s one of my concerns when traveling over large bodies of water since there’s often nowhere to land. It turns out, on the same day, a Southwest Airlines flight (3077) from LAS to RNO encountered a similar issue and passengers had to exit using the rear emergency slides and the front door. What’s interesting is that this video is going viral because someone noticed an off-duty flight attendant going down the slide with her bag over her shoulder and wearing high heels. While it’s widely known that both are a big no-no, she made it look effortless, almost like she was on an amusement park ride. She seemed to be having fun, but in a popular flight attendant forum, she was taken to task. Here's the video and more info.
UCLA Men’s Basketball Coach Roasts Low-Fare Airline After UCLA’s Season Ends
UCLA’s men’s basketball coach Mick Cronin was asked, after their loss to Tennessee, when he would start worrying about next season. Cronin had a surprising answer and threw a low-cost airline under the bus in the process. “Right now, guys, it’s 12:40 am, and our season just ended. That’s it. You’re going to ask me about next year? Right now, my biggest concern is how bad the seats are on ... Here's the story.
Unbelievable Videos Capture the 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Shaking Bangkok’s Skyscrapers and Pools
Bangkok is one of my favorite cities in the world. There’s so much to see, do and eat, not to mention the luxury hotels that are surprisingly affordable. However, no matter where I travel, I’m not a fan of staying in high-rises. And after seeing videos (many embedded below) from the powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake in nearby Myanmar (about 800 miles away), that sentiment has only strengthened. Here are the videos. |
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🌎 Top 12 Travel Stories of the Week 1 Myanmar's earthquake death toll jumps to more than 1,000 as search efforts continue
2 Collision warning sounds in cockpit of Delta plane due to close call with Air Force jet near Reagan National Airport
3 United Flight Forced to Divert After Pilot Realizes They Forgot Their Passport
4 Princess canceling full season of Galveston cruises
5 Republicans look to abolish TSA in favor of private security at airport
6 Amsterdam stabbing: 5 seriously wounded; suspect in custody
7 US travelers wrongly arrested for fraud in Mexico, lawyer says
8 Canada changes rules for residents traveling to United States
9 Dominican woman arrested over bomb ‘joke’ at Miami airport
10 South Korea wildfires: Centuries-old Buddhist temple destroyed as ‘unprecedented’ wildfires kill at least 24
11 Your United Airlines Credit Card Is Going to Cost More
12 Italy curbs citizenship rules to end tenuous descendant claims
Read it all here as well as the 84 other top travel news stories from this past week! |
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🧵 TRAVEL THREAD OF THE DAY @dadsaysjokes: Instead of water, I put redbull in the the back of my coffee maker this morning. I was halfway to work before I realized I forgot my car. |
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✅ Currency Exchange 🇪🇺 €1 Euro = $1.08 USD
🇬🇧 £1 GBP = $1.29 USD
🇨🇦 $1 CAD = $0.69 USD
🇦🇺 $1 AUD = $0.62 USD
🇲🇽 $1 MXN = $.049 USD
✅ Calendar Countdown 🐰 28 days until Easter
🎖️ 61 days until MD Weekend
🗽 103 days until 4th of July
🛠 162 days until Labor Day
🎃 222 days until Halloween |
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✈️ More featured products |
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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.
$11.99: Phone mount for travel
Go hands-free the next time you're flying with this handy universal phone mount with 360 degree rotation. When you're not traveling, you can attach it to various surfaces around the house. The regular price is $13.99 but it's currently on sale for $11.99. Buy here.
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