Sunday, March 9 I hope you had a great week! For our new subscribers, this is our weekly round-up of our daily travel tips. Since I was sick yesterday, I didn't have the energy to send out a newsletter, so today's travel news round-up combines news from today and yesterday.
💩 Routine colonoscopy
Not only was I sick but earlier in the week, I had a routine colonoscopy; my mom died of colon cancer so I get one every five years. I have to tell you, the worst part about getting one isn't the fasting for 24 hours, drinking the unpleasant solution, or having a snake with a camera put you know where. It's having to sign all the scary waivers, confirm you have a Living Trust and all that jazz just before you go in. When I woke up from my medicated 20-minute nap, I was just so thankful to be alive and have no polyps. BTW: The last time I had a colonoscopy, I took notes about the whole experience. Here's how it went.
✈️ Flight delays
It was also a rough week for flight delays and cancellations thanks to a couple of nasty storms and also for those in Florida and the Caribbean affected by Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket blowing up.
🇩🇪 Germany Industrial Action
It looks like it's going to be a rough couple of days for travelers in Germany as the Germans are going on strike again. United Airlines issued a travel waiver for March 9-10. The waiver allows for voluntary changes for travel to, from and through Berlin, DE (BER); Frankfurt, DE (FRA) and Munich, DE (MUC).
💁Reader tip
Last week, I wrote this tip: Diners beware: Miami Airport restaurant pulls gratuity and tip trick. One of our readers, Joe S., had this great suggestion: "I just read the post on tipping at the Miami airport. I also have seen scams of servers changing the tip left by someone adding a "1" in front of the actual tip. A good practice is to take a picture of your signed receipt so you can dispute any unapproved charges."
🎮✈️ JetBlue unveils new Super Mario-themed plane: See it here
Now for some fun news! I’m a certified aviation geek who loves spending time in international airports, daydreaming about all the different airlines. My favorite planes to spot are from Air Tahiti Nui, Qantas, Fiji Airways, ANA's "Flying Honu," and their Star Wars-themed planes. Well, you can now add JetBlue's newest plane to the list—it's a Super Mario-themed plane that has all the avgeeks (including me) buzzing with excitement!
🦅 The California bald eagles have had their chicks!
Good news! The California bald eagles have had their chicks. The livestream webcam, which we’ve featured a couple of times, including again last month, crashed this week due to the high volume of people trying to log on.
🏨 Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane
We've just published our story about the Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane where we stayed when we were in Australia. Read our review here.
🍁Will Americans be welcome in Canada?
I have a couple of quotes in a Los Angeles Times article titled: "Will Trump's tariffs affect your travel plans to Mexico and Canada?" One of the questions writer Chris Reynolds asked me was if Americans would be welcome in Canada. "Will Americans be welcome? All my Canadian readers said they will be, unless they wear a MAGA hat or ‘51st state’ shirt. They don’t think that’s funny at all. And I don’t blame them.” Here's the story. |
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✈️ Today's Travel Outlook
As of 11:25am PT, there have been 139 canceled flights to, from or within the United States and 2,630 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
Don't leave home without them
Apple AirTags are still on sale. Snag a four-pack for $69.99 or a single one for $22.99.
Anti-theft classic slim crossbody bag
If you scroll down to Saturday's tip, you will see the brazen pickpockets in Europe in action. When you're traveling (and even at home), it's advisable to keep your valuables (cash, credit cards and phone) concealed. Women can opt for an RFID-blocking anti-theft crossbody bag like this one (currently 45% off), which also features slash-resistant straps.
RFID-blocking bag for men
A reader asked us for a recommendation for a good crossbody bag for men. This one features 20 compartments to keep you organized and features RFID-blocking technology to prevent your credit card and ID information from being stolen.
A money belt (53% off) is another great option to keep things hidden but easily accessible.
I also wear a Scottevest jacket when I travel. It has 20+ pockets to keep all of my valuables safe and on my person at all times. They make lots of men’s and women’s styles to choose from.
Other great deals
✅ 34% off Anker 5-in-1 hub
✅ Waterproof AirTag holders ($8.54)
✅ 50% off ($6.99) 10-pack lithium coin batteries
✅ 41% off ($9.98): 6-Foot Surge Protector Power Strip
✅ 53% off ($7.91) RFID blocking money belt |
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😴 Monday
How to get better sleep (and more of it) when you travel and at home
If you’re one of the many who struggles with getting enough high-quality sleep, then World Sleep Day (Friday, March 14) is the perfect time to stop and think about sleep’s vital role in your overall health and well-being and to foster habits that can help you get better sleep. Here's how to get better sleep when you travel and at home.
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👀 Tuesday
The travel night light you didn’t know you needed
I’ve talked before about how night lights can be a game-changer for travelers but I’ve also shared my gripes about them. Whether they’re helpful or annoying really depends on the situation, which I’ll get to in a moment. What inspired this post was something my buddy and tech expert Rich DeMuro recently wrote. He tested a simple motion-activated night light and highlighted how useful it can be when you’re on the road. Here's why it's an essential you'll be glad you packed.
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🧳Wednesday
8 ways to make sure an airline doesn’t lose your bag
The busy summer travel season is fast approaching and you know how it goes: You plan a trip and when the time comes, you carefully pack your bags with everything you think you'll need. The last thing you need is for the airline to lose your bag. But there are some things you can do to prevent an airline from losing your bag for good and more importantly, to prevent getting robbed or stalked. Here's what you need to know.
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🩹 Thursday
Why every traveler should pack mini rolls of gaffer tape
There’s no doubt duct tape is amazing and serves a multitude of purposes. I once saw someone drive by me with duct tape holding their front fender together! However, the big problem with duct tape is that it leaves a residue behind, which is a real pain to clean. That's why I highly recommend gaffer tape for travelers since it can be used in so many ways when you're traveling and can solve many a problem. Here's what I use it for.
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🕵️ Friday
6 expert tips from the Unclaimed Baggage Center for avoiding lost luggage
Have you ever wondered where lost luggage goes when it can’t be reunited with its rightful owner? It typically ends up at the Unclaimed Baggage Center (UBC) in Scottsboro, Alabama after a three- to four-month period. Since UBC has over 54 years of experience in handling lost and unclaimed suitcases, they know a thing or two about the process. So, if you want to avoid your items ending up in their shop, take note of their advice on how to reduce the risk. Here are their tips to help travelers avoid lost luggage.
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🦹🏻 Saturday Watch: Brazen pickpockets in action on the Metro
I know I’ve said this before, but I’ll continue to post warnings, especially when I come across educational videos like this one, which shows a group of three young women (pickpockets usually work in groups of three) trying to rob a man as he boards the metro. Here's the short video and some tips. |
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💬 TRAVEL QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Canadians are not angry at the American people for this. We don't have anything against Americans, Americans are our neighbors, our friends ... this is a policy decision by the American govt designed to go after the Canadian economy. This is a trade war ... we're gonna choose to not go on vacation in Florida ... and yeah we're probably gonna keep booing the American anthem. But let me tell Americans: we're not booing you ... we're booing a policy that is designed to hurt us." ~ Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau |
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📺 Travel Videos of the Week
Video of ‘space launch debris’ raining on the Florida coast and Caribbean Sea.
Last night, the FAA issued a surprising reason for flight delays in parts of Florida and the Caribbean. SpaceX lost another Starship (Starship 8) shortly after its launch from Texas, prompting flight diversions due to the risk of debris off the coast of Florida into the Atlantic. Some of the eyewitness video was surreal.
Gene Hackman’s unforgettable role in United Airlines’ famous ad
If you watched the Academy Awards last night, then you would have seen Morgan Freeman’s tribute to Gene Hackman. There’s no denying that Gene was an incredible actor, but few remember that he also voiced one of the most memorable airline commercials of the 1980s.
Watch: Cheeky monkey steals French tourist’s iPhone—and takes a selfie!
If you’ve ever traveled to a tourist hotspot known for its monkey population, you’ve probably heard the same warning from local guides: Keep your belongings out of sight, especially food. And for good reason. I’ve been lucky enough to visit places like Bali, Gibraltar (pictured above) and South Africa, and I’ve seen my fair share of monkey mischief firsthand. A French tourist just shared a video with the caption “Monkey Hill Attack,” capturing the moment a young monkey grabbed her bright blue iPhone with its prehensile hand while in Thailand. Here's the video and story.
NASA’s stunning Mars panoramic video: A jaw-dropping glimpse of the Red Planet
For some, the ultimate travel experience is going up in space or to another planet. It’s definitely not for me, but it could be possibly in the future. However, I’m still fascinated by space and other planets and so is my eight-year-old son That’s why yesterday when I showed him this panoramic video (embedded below) of Mars that NASA just released and his mouth literally opened wide I knew I had to make this our travel video of the day. |
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🌎 Top 12 Travel Stories of the Day 1 FAA to step up small plane scrutiny after close-call between Southwest plane, business jet
2 24-hour strike at German airports on Monday to impact half a million people
3 Multiple Asian airlines ban power bank usage mid-flight
4 Delta, JetZero partner to design the future of air travel by advancing first-of-its-kind
5 Trump administration plans new travel ban. Here's who could be affected.
6 US military's mini space shuttle returns to Earth after orbiting for 434 days on a secret mission
7 United starts adding Starlink Wi-Fi to regional fleet
8 Teen charged after trying to board plane with gun at Melbourne’s Avalon airport
9 Air France potential merger could seriously shake up the industry
10 Emily in Paris bump? Air France-KLM sees boost from American TV shows
11 Delta honors woman behind its name during Women's History Month
12 National parks had a record year. Trump officials appear to want it kept quiet
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 @jimbyerstravel1: Porter Airlines says it's cutting back on marketing US flights to Canadians given the tariff dispute. Don't want to seem "tone deaf." Porter also reducing fares from Canada to US. Flair Airlines is cutting US capacity. Air Canada has said its US flights are being trimmed this month. |
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✅ Currency Exchange 🇪🇺 €1 Euro = $1.08 USD
🇬🇧 £1 GBP = $1.29 USD
🇨🇦 $1 CAD = $0.69 USD
🇦🇺 $1 AUD = $0.65 USD
🇲🇽 $1 MXN = $.049 USD
✅ Calendar Countdown 🐰 42 days until Easter
🎖️ 75 days until Memorial Day Weekend
🗽 117 days until 4th of July
🛠 176 days until Labor Day
🎃 236 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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