The Sunday Round-Up | June 12, 2022 Greetings! It's been a busy week in travel and arguably the biggest headline was the Biden administration announcing they would drop the COVID-19 test requirement for international travel. It took effect this morning so no more scrambling to get last-minute tests.
However, it doesn't mean your international travels will be hassle-free. With airport and airline staff shortages happening around the world, you better hope to have a little luck on your side and follow these tips to avoid the madness and mayhem of summer 2022 travel.
If you scroll down to 12 Things To Know in Travel Today, you will see today's and the week's top travel stories. You will also find all of this week's travel tips.
On a personal note, I'm in Toronto so my family and I can spend time with my wife's Canadian relatives. It's nice to be back and we're just laying low. I'm getting a lot of work done with the exception of playing Wordle and a spinoff each day with my wife and my mother-in-law. I've discovered a website that allows you to play any past game of Wordle so if you've missed a game because you were traveling or too busy, don't fret and don't let your friends tell you the word as you can still play. And if you think Wordle is too easy, then I highly recommend giving this game a go.
UPDATE: My dad is hanging in there.
Reader Question
After reader Mike read my post on How to Make Coach Feel Like First Class he asked: “I’m interested in knowing the brand/size of carry-on you are using in the picture.” Here's my answer.
Travel Tips/Stories from This Week Monday:
-Don't Get Ripped Off When Traveling Internationally
Tuesday:
-Bring This to Avoid Hotel Room Accidents When You Travel
Wednesday:
-The Inflation Vacation: Read This if You Plan to Travel This Summer
Thursday:
-How to Make Coach Feel Like First Class
Friday:
-USA to Drop COVID-19 Test Requirement for International Travel
-Welcome to Alaska: Caution – Construction Zone
Saturday:
-How to Minimize the Chaos of Summer 2022 Travel
-Leo Laporte's The Tech Guy
Travel Quote of the Day
"Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.” ~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Travel Tweet of the Day
I love watching local foreign weather forecasts as it makes me feel like I'm traveling to far-off lands. Here's a perfect example of this morning's fix:
@7NewsSydney: Sydney Forecast: Sydney will dip to a low of 8 tonight followed by a top of 16 tomorrow. Thankfully winds will remain nice and light under partly cloudy skies. Tuesday will be a cold morning with 1 degree in the west.
12 Things to Know in Travel Today
— Why Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt say hotel prices are only going up
— IPW 2022: U.S. Travel predicts full recovery by 2025
— Uber's lost and found 2022 report includes tater tots, teeth and slime
— Woman gets 5-year ban from Grand Teton for false report on missing hiker
— Aviation regulators investigate an airline whose CEO appeared to urge pilots to fly despite feeling fatigued
— Two massive great white sharks located off the coast of South Florida
— What is it? Texas zoo captures 'strange image' of an unidentified creature
— A negative COVID test has never been so meaningless
— Florida leads nation in COVID deaths, CDC data shows
— How resort fees can drive up the cost of a hotel stay
— Vacation rentals: Do Airbnb and Vrbo really back up their guarantees?
— Yesterday's TSA checkpoint numbers The 72 other top travel news stories from this past week!
Travel Product of the Week
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.
Miles & Points
Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card Offering Five Free Nights
While in Connecticut, I cashed in all of my Marriott free nights at the Stamford Residence Inn thanks to one of my credit cards. I also depleted the rest of my Marriott points because I drained the bulk of them on our recent Ritz-Carlton Waikiki stay. So just as I was trying to figure out how I was going to replenish my account, Marriott came out with a couple of incredible credit card offers, including one offering five free nights (a 250,000-point value). Here are the details.
-The Best Premium Credit Cards in 2022
-Best Credit Cards for Dining, Restaurants, Takeout, & More 2022
East Coast Trip Reports
-Trip Report: Los Angeles to New York on American Airlines Flagship Business
-Trip Report: New York to Toronto
-My Wife Got Randomly Selected For Covid Testing on Arrival at YYZ
-Delamar Hotel in Greenwich, CT
-Watch Hill Inn in Rhode Island
Need a reliable and professional car service?
Use my Blacklane code JOHNNY15JUNE22 to save 15% off your first ride when booked in June for future rides.
Travel Tips from Last Week:
Monday:
-Why You Should Travel with This Inexpensive Entertainment Device
Tuesday:
-How to Find a Hotel Pool to Cool Down in on a Hot Day
Wednesday:
-How to Sleep on a Plane
Thursday:
-Don't Try This for the First Time on a Plane
Friday:
-Woman Claims She Was Kicked Off American Airlines Flight for Having Abnormally Large Breasts
-WOW: Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card Offering Five Free Nights
Saturday:
-When Searching Hotels Don't Make This Common Mistake
-Leo Laporte's The Tech Guy
Sunday:
Reader Mike sent me an email asking: "Tell us about your two color suitcases. Where did you find them? Tell us also about plastic or fabric durability and weight." It's a great question! These hard-sided suitcases are from ROAM Luggage and are fully customizable. They've been great on our travels and, most importantly, they're durable and have stood up to a lot of hard knocks. I also love how easy they are to spot and identify in a sea of black bags. Read our full review here and use this link to get $50 off your purchase.
Air Travel -Taylor Swift’s Clever Tip for Flying Southwest Airlines
-How to Get Your Travel Credits Extended
-12 Ways to Save Money on Baggage Fees
-How to Save Money With a Secret Carry-On
-Warning: Summer Travel is Going to Be Chaotic - Here's Why and Here's How to Minimize the Chaos
-If an Airline Severely Delays or Cancels Your Flight, Are They Obligated to Cover Your Hotel Accommodations?
-How To Reach an Airline's Reservations Agent Without Waiting
-8 Ways To Make Sure An Airline Doesn’t Lose Your Bag
-10 Airport Security Hacks
-How to Get the Exit Row For Free
-How to Track Airfares By Signing Up for Fare Alerts
-17 Ways to Find Cheap Flights-15 Tips for Surviving a Long Flight-How to Get Upgraded to First Class
-Econophobia: Fear of Flying Coach
-JohnnyJet.com Booking Tool
International Travel -The Service That Makes Covid-19 Testing So Much Easier For Travelers
-6 Packing Tips For When You’re Traveling to a Remote Location
-If Your Flight is Canceled or Delayed, Do You Need to Get Retested for Covid?
-How to Get From Charles de Gaulle Airport to the Eiffel Tower and Paris Travel Tips
-Why American Travelers Should Book International Travel on US Carriers
-Should You Still Travel to Europe This Summer? Rick Steves and Peter Greenberg Weigh In
-Here's what Rick Steves and Peter Greenberg about going to Europe
-Rick Steves’ Solid Advice About International Travel This Spring and Summer
-Where to Get the Best Exchange Rate For Leftover Foreign Currency
-3 Things I Always Pack When Traveling Internationally
-All Your Passport and Visa Questions Answered by An Expert
-Can The US Government’s Free COVID Tests Be Used for Travel?
-12 Passport Tips that Will Save You Time, Money and Headaches
-How To Save An Hour at This Airport
-Which Trusted Traveler Program Is Right For You?
-The Must-Have App For Travel to Europe
Cruising
-An Important Travel Tip for Cruise and Tour Group Passengers
-All of Your 2022 Cruise Questions Answered by a Cruise Expert
-Booked A Crystal Cruise? Here’s How to Get Your Money Back
Road Trips/Car Rentals -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
-You Can Visit U.S. National Parks for Free on These 5 Days in 2022 -15 Tips To Renting A Car in 2022
-Two Great Things to Keep in the Car For Road Trips
-The New Transportation App Hawaii Travelers Should Download
-Never Forget Your Room Number or Parking Spot Again
-How To Prevent Car Rental Companies From Ripping You Off
-The Quick Way Thieves Are Trying To Ruin Your Trip
-How To Find Cheap Parking
Lodging
-How To Avoid Vacation Rental Scams
-Don’t Fall For These Hotel Scams -How to Enjoy Great Hotel Pools Without Booking a Room or Jumping the Fence-The First Thing You Should Do When You Check into a Hotel Room
-14 Reasons to Stay at Town and Country in San Diego
-If An Airline Puts You Up At a Hotel, Don’t Expect This
-The 5 Questions I Always Ask Hotel Front Desk Agents
-My Terrifying Hotel Fire Experience and Tips I Learned from It
-3 Ways to Get a Refund on a Nonrefundable Hotel Room
-Travel Hack: How to Quietly Shut Your Hotel Room Door to Sneak Out
-When To Stay At An Airport Hotel
-Paying It Forward: The Trick To Ensuring The Next Guest Gets Clean Sheets
-The Truth About Hotel Room Key Cards
-Don't Fall For This Hotel Scam
-Book with Expedia or Priceline
Popular Stories
-The Simple Trick to Try When Your Computer Won't Connect to the Internet
-Traveling in 2022? This is How to Save a Lot of Money and Miles Right Now
-5 Tips For Traveling With Medications
-Mugged in Europe: Tips To Help You Travel Safe
-Rick Steves Pickpocketed In Paris -- Here's How To Prevent It From Happening
-Always Wear This When You Travel To Keep Valuables Safe
-10 Things You Don’t Need to Pack
-10 Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Airplane Habits: Are YOU Guilty?
-Fallen Soldier on My Delta Flight
Good To Know
-Don’t Forget to Do This Every Time You Check Out of a Hotel/Rental
-The Easiest Way to Digitize Your Old Photos
-Sexual Assault on Airplanes is Increasing. Here’s How to Protect You and Your Loved Ones from Being a Victim
-Bill Murray and I Have Similar Advice for Couples About to Get Married
-Driving Tour Apps That Are Essentially a Private Guide at a Fraction of the Cost
-Don’t Bring These Types of Souvenirs Home
-Why I Always Travel With These
-Travel Sleep Hack
-Bet You Don't Know What an ATM Skimmer Looks Like
-The Sleep Hack Every Traveler Needs to Know
-WARNING: Watch Out for This Email Phishing Scam Pretending to Be From American Airlines
-Don't Fall For These QR Code Scams
-Traveling? Doctor Recommends These Face Masks
-This Travel Trend Isn't Going Anywhere in 2022 -An Obvious Resource That Many Travelers Don't Take Advantage Of-How Not to Get Scammed by the Bad Guys
-Backup Your Photos Before It's Too Late
-The Best Times to Capture Photographs While on Vacation
-The Essential Email Reminder Service I Use To Manage My Life
-How To Check Hospitalization Numbers
-The Trick to Preventing Items In Your Car From Getting Stolen
-A Lifesaving Tip
-How to Use Your Phone As a Remote Control
Safety/Health
-The Massachusetts State Police Issue Important Reminder for Travelers and Pet Owners
-Get Rid of Bug Bites Naturally With the Bug Bite Thing
-How To Check Hospitalization Numbers of Your Destination
-Should You Change Your Travel Plans Because of Monkeypox?
-This Simple Tip Could Save Your Life
-How Travelers Can Protect Themselves from This Type of Theft
-Violent Crime Targeting Wealthy Increasing – Here’s How Travelers Can Protect Themselves
-We're All Done With Covid But Covid Isn't Done With Us - Here Are 3 Things You Should Still Do
-3 Things to Know About Surviving a Nuclear Bomb
-How to Prevent In-Flight Thefts
-How This Can Make or Break Your Trip
-Travel Adapters for International Travel
-ALWAYS Leave This At Home When You Travel
-This Travel Gadget Will Help You Sleep Worry-Free
-The New International Signal For Help
-These Straps Will Prevent Sore Ears from Wearing a Mask
-4 Things Bradley Cooper Did Wrong Before NYC Subway Knifepoint Hold Up -Warning: This Type of Crime is on the Rise and Travelers Should Take Note -The Portable Air Purifier I Now Travel With to Ensure Clean Air
-What I Keep In My Carry-On First Aid Kit -My Funniest Travel Experience Underscores Why You Should Always Do This in Your Hotel Room-What I Now Pack When Traveling To Fend Off Dehydration
-How to Find a Doctor While Traveling
-How to Save Big On Prescription Drugs at Home and on the Road
-My Somewhat Freakish Travel Habit Might Just Save Your Life
-The Health Tool You Need at Home and On the Road
-A Tool I'd Never Heard of But Have Now added To My Travel Health Kit
Food/Shop
-The best pasta sauce is on sale
-Ted Lasso's Secret Biscuit Recipe is Out
Travel Gadgets/Products -Travel Hack: How to Use Your Wireless Headphones to Watch In-Flight Movies-Use These to Stay Organized When You Travel
-The Portable Charger You’ll Never Want to Leave Home Without
-Do This to Avoid Long Lines When You Travel ... And at Home
-The Unusual Thing I Always Pack and You Should Too
-How to Remove Beach Tar From Your Feet
-Why You Should Travel with Rain Ponchos
-Don’t Make This Easily Avoidable Privacy Mistake
-Never Sleep Through Your Alarm Again
-Round-Up: Travel Neck Pillows for Better Sleep and a More Comfortable Flight
-The Mini Travel Speaker That Works Great at Home and On the Road
-Turn Your Vacation Photos into Wall Art in Minutes
-A Great Gift for Those Who Love to Play Cards But Can’t See Well
-The Blackout Sleep Mask Travelers Need
-The Tech Organizer All Travelers Need
-A Brilliant New Travel Purse for Women
-The Travel Gadget Flight Attendants Never Leave Home Without
Just For Fun
-The Internet's Most Unique Clock Has a Travel Angle
-If You Love Travel and Geography, Then You’ll Love This Wordle-Inspired Game
-How to Go Birding Without Leaving Your Couch
-Test Your Airport Code Knowledge with Airportle
-The Word Game You're Going to Want to Play Right Now
-How to Watch Huell Howser's Travel Shows
-Hands Down the Best Beach Toy for Kids
-The Best Airplane Toy For Any Kid
Face Masks
-How to Prevent Sore Ears Caused By Face Mask Straps
-What to Know Before Wearing an N95 Mask
-The Best Face Masks for Flying During COVID-19
-8 Accessories to Make Wearing Face Masks More Comfortable, More Hygienic and More Pleasant to Wear
Destination Guides
-Big Bear, California
-The California Town You’ve Probably Never Heard of But Should Definitely Visit
-Catalina Island
-12 Things To Know Before Going To The Hollywood Bowl
Podcast/YouTube
-What's it Like For an American to Travel to Thailand Right Now (April 2022)?
-39 Travel Questions with Captain Sandy from Bravo’s Below Deck Mediterranean
-Talking International Travel, Mexico and Day of The Dead with Tech Guru Leo Laporte
-39 Travel Questions: Samantha Brown
-39 Travel Questions with Josh Gates
-39 Travel Questions with Andrew McCarthy
My 2022 Hawaii Trip Reports 🌈
-Los Angeles to Honolulu in United Polaris
-10 Reasons to Stay at Hilton Hawaiian Village
-12 Reasons to Stay at the Ritz-Carlton Waikiki
-Honolulu to Los Angeles in Hawaiian Airlines Economy Comfort
-The Best Coach Seats To and From Hawaii
-How to Save Money and Travel in Comfort to Hawaii
Travel Contests
-Win a free vacation at Sandals Resorts (June 30)
Win a 5-Night Moon Palace Resort Vacation (July 18)
Win a seven-night Caribbean cruise for two (Nov 14)
Win an eight-day Viking river cruise for two (April 30, 2023)
See all contests here
Want to cruise?
If you’d like to speak to an agent, we’ve partnered with Cruise Planners—a top-rated travel agency—to help you plan your perfect trip. Contact Mike Gelman (1-800-724-5868) and tell him Johnny Jet sent you!
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.
Travel Products
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. |
