Thursday, July 8, 2021

Good morning! I hope you all had a great Fourth of July long weekend. I don't know about you but I kind of feel like it's still the weekend as I've been lounging around the house more than usual. I think it's a combination of the fact that we canceled our Sunday trip to New York and Connecticut at the last minute so I have a wide open schedule, and that there have been a lot of great games on TV.
We canceled our trip because my wife and mother-in-law talked me into not taking the kids back on a plane with the new Delta variant. It's reportedly much more transmissible and too risky for those who are unvaccinated, like our little kids. That's one reason why Japan just announced that there will be no spectators at the upcoming Olympic Games and why the stock market took a hit this morning. People and investors are worried.
Speaking of being worried, do you think Richard Branson is? He's about to make history on Sunday at 9am ET when he launches to the edge of space from his spaceport in New Mexico. I was fortunate to be one of the first people to visit; I was there on October 18, 2011 for the unveiling of the $209 million Spaceport America. It was an amazing experience as you can see from these photos.
If you get my daily travel tip newsletter (you can subscribe here), then you may have read about how one of our writers was mugged in Barcelona, as well as actionable tips to prevent it from happening to you. Here's the story.
I've gone to Barcelona multiple times and to Europe dozens of times and have never had a problem. One reason is because I'm careful, aware, lucky and I wear certain things (see below). I'm not trying to scare anyone. It just never hurts to be prepared.
Rick Steves Pickpocketed In Paris -- Here's How To Prevent It
However, if you let your guard down, you could experience a slight (or major!) hiccup, depending on what the thieves get. And don't think getting pickpocketed or robbed only happens to rookie travelers. It can happen to travel experts, too, including Rick Steves, who wrote about how pick pocketers got the best of him in Paris. Here's the story and his tips.
Always Wear This When You Travel
If you read the stories above, then you know that one of the ways both of those unfortunate robberies could have been prevented was by wearing this. Rick Steves says he always wears one but had forgotten his when he got pick pocketed. Read the story here.
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Update: Air Canada Sinks To New Low
On Sunday, I wrote a post about how our not-so-friendly national carrier to the north pulled one of the greatest airline tricks of all time. If it hadn't happened to me, I wouldn't have believed it. Read the story. Well, I don't know if it was a computer glitch, a chargeback, or whether the folks at Air Canada read my story and did something about it, but I received a refund from AMEX for my seat assignments. Has this ever happened to you?
12 Things in Travel You Need to Know Today
— Tokyo Olympics to Be Held Without Spectators
— Richard Branson is Taking a Big Risk Going to Space
— It Just Got More Expensive to Snorkel at This Gorgeous Hawaiian Spot
— Magic Johnson Sets Sail on a Mediterranean Getaway with Samuel L. Jackson and LL Cool J
— Flair Airlines announces 6 new flights to U.S.
— How Vaccinated Americans Can Travel Safely This Summer
— Glass-bottomed Panda Train Debuts in China
— Flight Attendants Told Us The Wildest Things They’ve Had To Deal With
— Trot the Globe with Virtual Reality Travel Apps
— Yesterday's TSA Checkpoint Numbers
+ More
(Read it all here in today's travel news round-up as well as the 84 other top travel news stories from this past week!)

Travel Contests
-Discover Canada Contest
-Win a seven-night European river cruise for two people
See all contests here
In Case You Missed It
Air Travel Tips
-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 driving, like 91% of travelers will be this weekend (according to AAA), then be sure to follow these tips:
-3 Ways To Save Money on Gas This Summer
-How to Prevent Road Trip Theft
-15 Tips For Renting A Car in 2021
-How To Prevent Car Rental Companies From Ripping You Off
Big American Airlines News
Great news for American elites! Just when I gave up on retaining my Executive Platinum status, American Airlines dangled a warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie in front of me and I'm biting. Read the story here.
Always Pack This For Summer Travel
One thing I love about living in Southern California is that we don't have many mosquitoes here, unlike other parts of the country and world, including my home state of Connecticut, where I was last week visiting family. After being bitten by a mosquito, my cousin turned me on to a device that's all-natural and was one of the top products featured on Shark Tank (all five sharks wanted a piece of it). The best part is that it costs just $10 and is the perfect thing for throwing in your summer travel bag. Read the story here.
Don't Leave Home Without ...
If you're planning to travel anytime soon, make sure you pack a comfortable sleep mask like this one, that blocks out all light and has fully adjustable and deep eye cups. It's also great for anyone who suffers from bad headaches and migraines.

Don't Fall For This Hotel Scam
One thing that irks me about staying in hotels is how they always seem to try and sucker you. First, it started with outrageously overpriced phone calls but then technology advanced and people were able to use their own cell phones. Then, it was the mini bar but even by charging $5 for a small pack of M&Ms, hotels couldn’t make money so they got rid of the those. On a recent hotel stay, I encountered another way that many hotels try to deceive, or at the very least confuse, guests. Don't fall for this hotel scam.

Don't Make This Cell Phone Mistake
When I received my cell phone bill this month, my eyes almost popped out of my head when I saw a charge for an $81 phone call. I thought it must have been an error but it turns out it wasn't. Here's how to avoid making the same mistake.
10 Air Travel Pet Peeves and What You Can Do About Them
After my flights last month, I was reminded of some of my top pet peeves while flying. Here they are, plus what you can do about them. What are yours? Leave a comment and let me know!
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