As 2020 starts to wind down, there have been plenty of announcements from airline and hotel loyalty programs designed to keep members engaged. The first salvo revolved around reducing the requirements needed to earn elite status. This was at a time when it seemed like we might get back to some level or normalcy fairly quickly. Heck, at that point I thought I’d be home for 3 or 4 weeks and then back on the road. Little did I know then that I probably wouldn’t get on another plane this […]
Hyatt Announces (Mostly) Customer-Friendly Extensions And Changes
Hyatt has announced some more changes and extensions to key benefits that should benefit most travelers. In light of the virtually unprecedented financial impact of COVID-19, travel brands have had to quickly adapt. Back in April, Hyatt moved to extend elite status and other key benefits such as free night awards. At that point, nobody was really sure when travel would rebound. The big chains made the decision to wave the white flag on getting loyalty members to qualify for status in 2020. Now, Hyatt is tweaking a few things […]
Uber Will Be Allowed To Continue Operating In London
Uber will allowed to continue operating in London. For years, Uber has tussled with Transport for London, the major regulatory agency for car transport in the UK city. Uber has been on a series of shorter extensions of their license. They’ve been seeking a 5-year license in London. Back in November of last year they had lost a ruling to extend their license, though they filed an appeal. Now, they’ve won that appeal. Uber Wins Transport For London Appeal Uber announced this morning that it had been granted an 18-month […]
Even If You’re Not A Disney Fan, This Stat May Surprise You
Disney World is one of those places that most people love or hate. I happen to fall into the former category, but even if you fall into the latter, or don’t spend time focusing on Disney, a recent statistic I heard really surprises me. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic over the past 6 months, travel is down significantly. Disneyland in California hasn’t even reopened yet, though Disney World has been open for a few months now. For the past 20 years, Disney has had their own timeshare program, dubbed Disney Vacation […]
My First Travel In 5 Months Shows Why Details Matter Right Now
I boarded a plane in New Zealand in early March, bound for the United States. While I sat on the tarmac the US announced they were closing the borders to pretty much all travelers arriving from Europe. At the time, it seemed surreal. When I landed in the US, I spent a few days working in Las Vegas. While I was there, school was cancelled for two weeks at our home in Virginia. I finished my work and headed home. At the time, I expected to stay home for a […]
WHOA: A Week In A Maldives Overwater Villa For $2,000 (Refundable)
There have been some insane travel deals the past few months, but most of them have been for travel now (or in the near future). Now, my buddy Richard Kerr has found an incredible deal on TravelZoo. For $2,000 you get 7 nights in an overwater villa, including all taxes and fees. It also seems to have pretty generous refund rules. The resort appears to be called You and Me. And, it has a pretty awesome looking underwater restaurant (which you get to dine at once for free). Two things […]
American Express Begins Reopening Centurion Lounges
American Express has been able to boast some of the best airline lounges in the United States since they opened their first Centurion Lounge in 2013 at Las Vegas-McCarran International Airport. When the pandemic began halting most travel in March, American Express closed all 12 of their lounges worldwide. While American, Delta and United Airlines temporarily closed a number of their lounges in the United States, they did keep some open. Additionally, the Big 3 US airlines have slowly been reopening lounges and have also recently announced increases in the […]
Bring Your Kids To School At The Four Seasons And Sneak Away To Disney World
School will take on many different meanings for students across the country this year. If your child’s school is in online learning mode (or you’re home schooling) and you have cash to burn, the Four Seasons in Orlando has a new package you might be interested in. For $50 per day, the Four Seasons will provide a desk in a quiet work environment for your child on school days. They’ll also feed them lunch. Dubbed “schoolcation”, Four Seasons has introduced a variation on the traditional kids club that I don’t […]
What I’m Thinking About On 9/11
The last 5 months have gone by incredibly fast and incredibly slow for me, if that makes sense. So many things continue to change, and at a sustained pace I don’t recall seeing in the past. Amidst that backdrop, I’ve been thinking about 9/11 and what it means to me and to the country as a whole. It seems impossible to me that we’re only one year away from 2 decades since the twin towers fell. Growing up in New York, the towers were an iconic part of the skyline. […]
I’m Probably Not Getting On Another Plane In 2020
How did it get to be September? I’m sure many of you have gone through something similar. Time seems to be crawling along, and yet it’s September. The last time I got on a plane was in mid-March. I haven’t checked my records, but it’s been at least 10 years since I’ve been home this long. I’m guessing another month or so will be my longest streak since I was in college. You probably think I’m desperate to get back on a plane. While I do love to travel, I’ve […]
