Smash and Grab
Stop Meltdown Madness
Here's a half-dozen ways to make sure that the airlines don't melt down again and strand millions of flyers.
Will Allen III
Hardest "get" in travel? South Africa flights. Business class is north of ten grand. Award seats? A million miles.
Meena Thiruvengadam
As a traveler of color, I’ve never felt as welcome or as seen as I did in the city of Zaandam in the Netherlands.
Joe: Unfair Fares
Airfares are insanely high thanks to a confluence of factors. There are some tactics to fight back, though.
Will Allen III
I've just slept in three inns of different styles and experiences. Not one was perfect. All were too expensive.
Phil Baker: Drive > Fly
Flying is so annoying and expensive now that driving is a more pleasant and viable option even for long trips.
Cashback is the New King
I am adding a new credit card to my wallet this year. Not for more travel points, but for the cash back.
Points Are Out, Cash Is In
Figuring out the "best" credit cards for you now is much harder than you may think. But miles cards are surely out.
Points Paradigm Lost
After 40 years spent chasing miles, Covid made Will Allen realize points-earning cards may no longer be useful.
Frequent Flying Suckers
We created billions of dollars of value for airlines via frequent flyer plans and they treat us like suckers.
Joe: What Is in Your Wallet?
The pandemic scrambled wallets, too. It's time to check if you're carrying the right card--and see if these fit in.
Meena: Beyond Amsterdam
Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities. But there is more to the Netherlands than its charming capital.
Deb Bernstein: Waterloo
Waterloo is bucolic. It's hard to believe a bloody battle was waged here 200 years ago. But clues remain in the dirt.
Deb Bernstein: Belgium
As Europe slowly opens again, why not consider Belgium? It's a gem too many overlooked in the before times.
Deb Bernstein: Champagne
Since France is one of the places where we can travel, why not celebrate with a visit to Champagne?
Chris Barnett: Hawaii
Prices are zig-zagging in Hawaii. The good news? Airlines are discounting heavily to keep flights filled.
Carol Pucci: Farms
Farms in the Pac Northwest hope to attract pandemic-weary travelers with cider-sipping, music and more.
Chris Barnett: San Francisco
Don't leave your heart--or an auto--in San Francisco. Both might disappear in an instant.
David Danto: Atlantic City
The sun is out and the masks are off in Atlantic City. But the visitors seem just a bit off-kilter.
Carol Pucci: Cascades
Forget Portlandia. Forget heat waves. There are amazing reasons to visit the Cascades and Oregon this summer.
Deb Bernstein: Switzerland
Here are three of my favorite must-see secret destinations in tiny, surprising Switzerland.
Joe: Crazy Credit Card Gods
Why would Amex lose a customer for $50, incur $600 in fee losses, then try to win him back with a $750 bonus?
Carol Pucci: Old News
Use online reviews and guidebooks? Proceed with care. Most are outdated, reflecting pre-pandemic realities.
McGarvey: Burner Lifestyle
Time to start living a "burner" lifestyle on the road. Assume that everything or everyone is out to swipe your data.
Barnett: Rapacious Rentals
Car rental prices have skyrocketed and travelers are being quoted hundreds of dollars a day. Here's why.
McGarvey: Sheraton? Still?
Does anyone really care that Marriott redesigned its Sheraton brand? Who wants more communal space?
Delta Goes Wheels Up
Wheels Up private jet options include three membership tiers and app-based rentals. You earn Delta miles, too.
JSX Says Small Is Beautiful
JSX believes small aircraft with just 30 passengers a flight is the right formula for pandemic travel.
Private Jets: Cost & Benefit
Private jets help you avoid the worst aspect of commercial flights. But you will pay--a lot--for the privilege.
• Aircraft in the Air• Airport Delays Now
• Airport Status (FAA)
• Airport Web Cams
• ATC Live Radio
• Delays/Cancels (FlightAware)
• Europe Air Trafic Control
• FAA Airspace System Status
• FAA Daily Air Traffic Report
• FAA Command Center Map
• Flight Radar (Real Time)
• Flight Tracker (Any Carrier)
• Flight Aware Misery Map
• Luggage Tracker
• Ships at Sea Now
• Train Tracker (Amtrak)
• Train Tracker (VIA RailCanada)
• Trains, Europe Direct Links
• U.S. Customs Border Wait Times
• U.S. Customs Wait Times
• Airport-Specific Forecasts (USA)• Airport-Specific Forecasts (Canada)
• Aviation Weather Center (NWS)
• FAA Airspace System Status
• FAA Daily Report
• Canadian Local Forecasts
• County-Specific Forecasts (USA)
• Snowfall Reports (NWS)
• World Weather Forecasts (BBC)
• Brent Crude Oil Prices• Jet Fuel Spot Prices
• Canada Gas Prices (CAA Average)
• U.S. Gas Prices (AAA Average)
• WTI Crude Prices
• Airline Trade Group Stats
• CIRIUM Aviation Updates
• Dollar Values
• Daily Pax Traffic (TSA Screening)
• Eurocontrol Daily Traffic
• Gasoline Prices Nationwide (AAA)
• Historic On-Time Ratings
• Hotel Data Dashboard (STR)
• Hotel Trade Group Stats
• Johns Hopkins Covid Maps/Stats
• RadarBox.com Flight Tracking
• Track The Recovery
• U.S. Weekly Transportation Trends
• Worldmeter
• CIRIUM Aviation Updates
• Dollar Values
• Daily Pax Traffic (TSA Screening)
• Eurocontrol Daily Traffic
• Gasoline Prices Nationwide (AAA)
• Historic On-Time Ratings
• Hotel Data Dashboard (STR)
• Hotel Trade Group Stats
• Johns Hopkins Covid Maps/Stats
• RadarBox.com Flight Tracking
• Track The Recovery
• U.S. Weekly Transportation Trends
• Worldmeter
Find What You Need Fast
Our carefully curated collection of links will help you find everything you need about airlines, airports, hotels and more.
At U.S. Airports
While international airports rushed to get testing in place, U.S. airports hung back. Now they are moving individually--and a former airport-spa chain has remade itself as a testing company.• Alaska Airports
• Atlanta (Concourse E)
• Boston (Terminal E & C)
• Burlington, VT (Garnet Health)
• Chicago/Midway (Parking Level 3)
• Chicago/O'Hare (Two locations)
• Cleveland (Ticketing)
• Dallas/Fort Worth (Terminal D)
• Denver (Concourse B)
• Ft. Lauderdale (Terminal 3)
• Grand Rapids, MI (Economy Parking)
• Hartford, CT (Baggage Claim)
• Honolulu (Baggage Claim 31)
• Houston/IAH (Terminal 4)
• Los Angeles (Terminals 2/6/Intl.)
• Memphis (Terminals B Ticketing)
• Miami (Central & South Terminals)
• Minneapolis/St. Paul (Terminal 1)
• New York/JFK (Terminal E)
• New York/LGA (Terminal B Parking)
• Newark (Terminals B & C)
• Oakland (Two locations)
• Orlando (Terminal A Atrium)
• Philadelphia (Terminal E)
• Phoenix (Terminal 4)
• Pittsburgh (Concourse A)
• Portland, Maine (Level 1)
• Portland, Ore. (7000 NE Airport Way)
• Salt Lake City (Concourse A)
• San Diego (2357 Airlane Road)
• San Francisco (International Terminal)
• Seattle-Tacoma (Central Auditorium)
• Tampa (Main Terminal)
• Tulsa (Concourse B Baggage Claim)
• Washington/DCA (National Hall)
• Washington/IAD (Baggage Claim)
At Canadian Airports
Since the early days of the pandemic, Canada has had more stringent testing rules. Airports have been quick to react.• Calgary International
• Halifax Stanfield
• Montreal-Trudeau
• Toronto/City Island
• Toronto/Pearson
• Vancouver International
Test and Fly
Airlines were slow to adopt Covid tests. As the pandemic dragged on, however, carriers began offering testing programs to encourage travel.• Air Canada
• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• JetBlue Airways
• Porter Airlines
• Southwest Airlines
• United Airlines
• WestJet Airlines
Barnett: Doing Business
When in Rome (or Milan), do as Italian businesspeople do. Here's my guide for how to do it.Firpo: Forte Dei Marmi
There is something about Versilia in Tuscany that reminds me of Central California's coastal line up of beaches.Pucci: Torino
Torino is an Italian city you don't hear about from travelers. But the culture and food are great and the prices fair.Firpo: Coffee Culture
Venice is steeped in the coffee culture and boasts some of the most beautiful and historic coffee shops in the world.Allen: Bologna
How do the "less-popular" Italian cities of Bologna and Milano compete with the glories of Rome?Pucci: Genoa
Genoa is ignored by tourists. It means you will have its seafronts and stacked-atop-itself attractions to yourself.Firpo: Rome
When I plan my days meandering in Rome, I am led by my stomach. First food and then art. Well, duh ...Firpo: Venice Spritz
The Venetian spritz has taken over the world, but do you know the real story behind Venice’s iconic aperitivo?Barnett: Harry's Bar
Sitting at the plank in Harry's Bar, made famous by Fellini's classic La Dolce Vita, reminds me how special the place is.Mister Meatball: Pesto
I have traveled all over Liguria, but the very best pesto is in my home town of Portland thanks to a Ligurian chef.Firpo: Modena
Welcome to Modena and Italy's Motor Valley. It's where the world's best (and handcrafted) cars are made.Joe: Luggage Explained
Luggage by any other name may come from Samsonite, the industry's leading player, or a ghost factory in China.Baker: Post-Pandemic Bags
Business travel has changed since the pandemic. So have the travel bags and other gear we need to survive.Meena: Backpack Paradise
It took more than a decade, but I finally found a perfect travel backpack. Even the straps land in the right places.McGarvey: Cheap Bags
I'm a travel bag cheapskate. I doubt I've spent more than $1,000 on luggage in a lifetime of travels. Time for a new one.Meena: Weigh This Bag
Chances are you've frantically repacked a suitcase or 12 at the airport. But a new Delsey bag helps you weigh as you go.Barnett: Military Grade
Before he jumped into the travel-bag business, Jim Markel packed parachutes during a four-year tour in the Marines.Meena: My New Best Bag
I finally found the rolling bag I was looking for mid-pandemic: the Monos Carry-On Plus.Firpo: Up, Up and Away
Carry-on luggage should be functional, durable and economical. Away bags suit my needs.
Global Restrictions
Coronavirus has forced most nations to impose entry restrictions. Here are links to places where you can research the "new normal" of travel.• CanITravel.net
• CDC Travel Recommendations
• Coivd Pass Certificate
• Europe Travel Rules
• IATA Travel Regulations Map
• SchengenVisaInfo.com
• Tourist Board Directory
• Universal Weather Covid Blog
• U.S. State Department
• WendyPerrin.com
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