December 9, 2021

Good morning! I was supposed to be sending today’s newsletter from an epic, family-friendly California road trip. We were going from the beach to the mountains to wine country to the desert, all in the span of four days - one of the many incredible things that makes California so amazing. Unfortunately, when I got sick in October with a respiratory virus (not Covid), it messed up my lungs. I have asthma, so I already have problems with my lungs. So, while 6,700 feet up on Big Bear Mountain, I was having a difficult time breathing. It’s a real shame because it was our first time to Big Bear and we were really enjoying our cozy cabin and looking forward to snow tubing and many other fun activities. But even during our short stay, we got a taste of the mountains, which you can read about here.

Today Only: 55% Off One of the Best Gifts for Travelers
On Black Friday, I wrote about Mixtiles' incredible 55% off sale. Since I’m a sucker for a great deal I ordered, not one, not two but three sets! One was for my dad, since the walls in his long-term care facility were depressing and these make the perfect gift since they don’t require nails or tacks. Mixtiles are so lightweight and the adhesive on the back is so remarkably strong, you can move them around without leaving any marks. We have some up from 5 years ago and they're holding up as strong as the day we mounted them.

My order arrived three days later. I just hung them last night and they look great. You order straight from your phone or computer and it takes just minutes. The deal I took advantage of was 16 photos for just $109. Their deal for today (Dec 9) is even better: 20 framed photos for $99. I’m seriously thinking of getting more because these stylish, framed photo prints are the perfect way to get those photos from your travels finally off your phone and onto your walls. You can also use this deal to purchase a gift card, which makes a great gift for the holidays. Here’s the code: 20FOR99DEC9. Get the deal here or read more about Mixtiles here.

Uh-Oh: Delta Just Made Two Major Changes to Basic Economy Tickets
Bad news for budget travelers, especially those who fly Delta Air Lines because they just made a major change and I hope other carriers don’t follow suit. Here's what you need to know.

12 Things in Travel You Need to Know Today

— Travel like it’s 2019: U.S. air traffic nears pre-Covid level
— Hilton Honors is permanently extending its Points expiration policy
— New Zealand to ban everyone under age 14 from ever buying cigarettes in their lifetimes
— Feds warn it could take months to get a passport due to large backlog
— Allegiant Air just announced 9 new routes targeting leisure destinations with fares starting at $39 — see the full list
— Court filing: Hertz continues to falsely report cars stolen, get customers arrested
— Officials investigate claims that a passenger carried a loaded handgun on an American Airlines flight to Miami
— This ‘bizarre’ creature is a massive sunfish spotted near Laguna Beach
— I'm a regular at Disney World and Disneyland. Here are 12 things the Florida park does better.
— New Los Angeles Covid cases up more than 100% in past 10 days
— Pfizer says Omicron can beat 2 vaccine doses but a third shot will 'neutralize' it
— 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!)

12 Reasons to Stay at the Omni La Costa Resort Carlsbad
The La Costa Resort & Spa is a hotel I’d heard about for years from my Uncle Joe who used to go often to play golf, tennis and of course, hit the spa. My uncle is very holistic and has been for decades, long before it was a fad. If you’re going to take a couple days off, this is not a bad place to do it! Here are 12 reasons to stay at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa.

Visited App Helps Travelers Keep Track of Their Journey
Ever wonder how many countries you have visited? Maybe you lose track of that place or country you want to travel to but keep forgetting to check out? Visited can help you keep track of your travel journey and inspire you to complete your travel bucket list.

Travel Quote of the Day
“To get to know a country, you must have direct contact with the earth. It’s futile to gaze at the world through a car window.” – Albert Einstein

Travel Tweet of the Day
@TSA_Northeast: JUST IN: @TSA expects pre-pandemic travel levels for Christmas/New Year's holiday period; shares current employee vaccine data (93% have entered their vaccine status; 86% reported as fully or partially vaccinated). Plenty more details in this news release.
 
Credit Card News/Offers for Travelers
-New card! This airline card earns up to 3x points in popular categories, complimentary elite status, plus 2 Welcome Flight Rewards (worth up to 100k points) after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months from account opening. 

Travel Contests
-United Cruises - 1,000,000 Mile Sweepstakes (Dec 31)
-Win a trip to Puerto Rico, Florida, or St. Croix (Dec 31)
-Win an eight-day Viking cruise for two (Dec 31) 
-Win a Caribbean cruise for two (Jan 16)
-Win a five-night getaway for two to the Dominican Republic (Jan 17)
See all contests here.

In Case You Missed It  
Air Travel Tips
-Warning to Travelers with Clear, TSA PreCheck and Elite Status
-How to Get Free Upgrades and Points on American Airlines
-A Brilliant Trick to Save Huge on Airfares
-A Simple and Genius iPhone Hack to Track Flights.
-Toronto Pearson Airport Warning 
-Sorry T+L, You Got This One Wrong – Here’s How You Can Really Get Upgraded to First Class
-Which Trusted Traveler Program Is Right For You?
-Why You May Want To Avoid This Major U.S. Airport
-The Most Unreliable Airline in North America?
-The Real Reason Flight Attendants Tell Passengers To Hold On To Their Phones During Takeoff and Landing
-The Quickest Way to Get In and Out of LAX 
-How To Make Sure the TSA PreCheck Checkmark is On Your Boarding Pass
-9 Tips For Avoiding COVID-19 On Planes and In Airports 
-8 Ways to Make Sure an Airline Doesn't Lose Your Bag ... And That You Don't Get Robbed or Stalked
-How to Speed Through Airport Security
-How To Find Out If The TSA PreCheck Lane Will Be Open
-How To Reach an Airline's Reservations Agent Without Waiting
-My Number 1 and 2 Travel Tips

Road Trip Tips
If you're planning a road trip, then be sure to follow these tips:
-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 2021
-How To Prevent Car Rental Companies From Ripping You Off

International Travel
-A New Vaccination Requirement All International Travelers Must Consider
-To Spain and Back: The Do’s and Don’ts While Traveling During a Covid Surge
-The Must-Have App For Travel to Europe
-12 helpful pandemic travel tips for the EU and the UK

Lodging
-And The Best Hotel In The World Is ... 

Safety
-10 Things to Have in Case of an Emergency
-How To Always Have Clean Water
-The Pocket Thermometer You Should Never Leave Home Without
-Life-Saving Car Emergency Tips 
-5 Places an Infectious Diseases Doctor Begs You Not to Go
-My Somewhat Freakish Travel Habit Might Just Save Your Life
-11 Tips for Traveling During Cold and Flu Season. 
-What I Keep In My Carry-On First Aid Kit
-The Most Dangerous Places to Be During a Lightning Storm
-Car Seat Tips For Keeping Your Children Safe
-Sadly, It's That Time Again: Where to Buy N95 and KN95 Masks