Friday, September 9, 2022

Sorry I didn't send a newsletter yesterday. It was a crazy day since it was my daughter's first day of preschool and then news broke of the Queen's passing. I figured no one wanted to read my travel tips when they could learn more about a remarkable traveler on every news station yesterday. Did you know Queen Elizabeth traveled to at least 117 countries?


The Time I Met Prince Charles, Princess Kate and Watched Queen Take Off

I never got to meet the Queen but I did see her motorcade a number of times and saw her take off in her helicopter (photo above) a few years ago. However, I am fortunate to have met King Charles III (then Prince Charles) and it was a pretty funny story. You can read about that encounter here

Video: British Airways Pilot Announces Death of Queen Elizabeth II Mid-Flight
I’ve been on multiple flights when the pilot has announced something shocking, from the final score when the New England Patriots beat the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl (the Pats were heavy underdogs) to letting us know we were escorting a fallen soldier. Yesterday, a British Airways pilot announced the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on his New York (JFK) to London Heathrow flight. Here's the short video.


A Lady in London Shares Her Best London Travel Tips

A couple of days ago, I just happened to interview my friend and London travel expert, Julie, who writes the blog A Lady In London. Julie was kind enough to share her best London travel tips, which you can read, listen to on my podcast or watch the interview on YouTube. Here's the interview

Olivia's First Day of Preschool
I gotta tell you: Sending your baby to school for the first time is emotional. Olivia was doing great until some of her classmates just started bawling as their parents said goodbye and then there was a domino effect. A few minutes later, everyone was in tears, including the parents. 

You would think that having both your little kids in school you would get more work done but so far, it's been the opposite. It feels like more work than when they were home. I seriously don't know how single parents do it. My hat goes off to them because even with two of us, it's exhausting. From getting them up early, making sure they brush their teeth, eat breakfast, get dressed, pack their lunch, drive to school, pick them up, take them to soccer practice, make and eat dinner, do bath time, read to them and then starting the merry-go-around again the next day. How am I supposed to get any work done? No, seriously? Regardless, we are adjusting to a new normal over here and though tiring, we are cherishing every minute of these special, precious days with our little ones.


U.S. Air Travel Outlook Today
The good news is flights in the U.S. seem to be getting back on track. Yesterday, only 109 flights were canceled and today there have only been 129. Here's the up-to-date status and a live look at the FAA's National Airspace System. Here's what to do in weather delays and flight cancellations.


Travel Deals
Breeze Airways Now Selling Cheap Flights to Las Vegas from 11 U.S. Cities
Great news for travelers heading to Las Vegas and looking to score a deal. Breeze Airways, the United States’ newest budget airline founded by David Neeleman, who also founded JetBlue, is continuing to expand, this time, with cheap flights to Las Vegas from 11 U.S. cities. Here's what you need to know.

Apple AirPods Are Under $100 on Amazon – Their Lowest Price Ever
I spend my days sharing great travel deals, travel tips and travel news. Well, this touches on all three of those things: Today, Apple AirPods are at their lowest price ever, officially coming in at under $100. Regularly $159, they’re on sale for $99.99.


Travel Tips
-The Best and Worst U.S. Airports for Finding Cheap International Flights 
-How to Follow the Private Jets of Your Favorite Celebrities and Sports Teams
-Discover Hidden Gems in Santa Barbara, The American Riviera  


LAST WEEK'S TOP TIPS
-DID YOU KNOW: Some Tylenol Products and Other Over-the-Counter Drugs Are Illegal in Some Countries?
-This is Why You Should Be Extra Cautious When Transiting Through Countries You Can’t Enter

-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
— Photos: The world reacts to the Queen's death
— Retailers pull lobster from menus after 'red list' warning
— Google is reportedly cracking down on employee travel, telling managers to nix happy hours and other team meetups
— Flight instructor, student killed in Santa Monica plane crash
— New York City schools will no longer have snow days: 'Sorry kids,' official says
— Ryanair to quit Brussels Airport as CEO Michael O’Leary warns of ‘extremely challenging winter’
— For Russians, vacations aren't what they used to be. But they still have options
— Most stylish new hotels and spas for 2022 revealed
— Oahu lifeguards save some 2,400 people a year. They rescued 2,100 over four days in July.
— 40% of Americans say they’ll never travel for business again + happiest cities to visit 2022
— Texas Drought Exposes Dinosaur Tracks
— 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
““You've all seen pictures of the earth taken from space. Unlike all the other planets in the solar system, earth shimmers green and blue in the sunlight and looks a very pleasant place to live.” ~ Queen Elizabeth

Travel Tweets of the Day
@darrenmccaffrey: In Brazil, the giant statue of Christ the Redeemer overlooking Rio de Janeiro was lit up in the red, blue and white of the UK's flag. Brazil is now observing three days of mourning #QueenElizabeth 

Travel Product of the Year

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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