Greetings, Travel Tip-Seekers!

Here are this week’s tips curated for you from our reliable sources in the travel industry and from general interest newsletters, websites, and publications.

How has the US government shutdown changed flying? It’s really not that bad out there, based on my own and our travelers’ experiences since the government shutdown. Planes are full, but most flights arrive on time and on our trips to Peru and Greece last month (and my side trip to Virginia). TSA lines were no longer than usual. Give yourself plenty of time at the airport, and in case your flight is delayed or cancelled, here’s what to do.

A Denver hotel is turning leftovers into compost for Colorado farmers. Big bulging buffets are being rethought or eliminated. Chefs at a Four Seasons in Costa Rica cut food waste in half in just four months, with AI. Some cruise ships, resorts, and even airlines are working towards zero-waste, and nose-to-tail style dining can now include such delicacies as fish-scale crackers. YUM!

After passengers complained about not getting automatic refunds for long flight delays or cancellations, the Department of Transportation decided to make it easier to….file a complaint. Wow! Thanks for that! This applies to lost luggage, accessibility, encounters with employees, broken TV monitors, bumpy landings, whatever made your trip unbearable. It probably won’t get you a refund, but it gives you a place to vent. Or offer a compliment if you’ve had a great travel experience. (Eye roll emoji here.)

My friend Teri Citterman has drunk the pickle juice, so to speak. She’s co-authored a charming book about it. More specifically, it’s about how to play with your partner and keep your relationship intact. She’s organized a stay in a 5-Star villa with a private chef and pro-level coaching for a couples’ pickleball retreat at the Coco Bay Beach Club next year, Marcy 5-9. Get all the details here. Maximum 6 couples and it will sell out fast.

As you readers already know, neither of us NextTribe Jeannie’s check a bag unless we have no choice. Last month I bought so much stuff in Greece and the plane was so full, the side eye from the gate agent told me I’d be gate-checking whether I wanted to or not. Picking up my bag from the carousel in Austin I paid no attention to the AUS destination tag, but I also didn’t rip it off and cut it up. Maybe I should have. This checked bag scam is going around again. Thieves are ripping old tags off of checked baggage, then filing claims with the airlines for missing luggage. Does this affect you or me? Only if it happens often enough to lead to increased airfares.

The answer is complicated. Two one-way tickets can sometimes unlock cheaper fares and help travelers maximize points and miles—if you know when to use the strategy and how to avoid the risks. Here are the benefits, and the pitfalls.

Remember that snarky comment I made about Rick Steves in the last newsletter? About how he was dorky looking and his PBS show was boring? As my father used to says, “everybody is entitled to their own stupid opinion.” Turns out, my opinion is not shared by everyone. A Canadian reader, Cynthia Bowden, gave me a good reason to rethink my position and I am humbled.

“I’m a 71 retired  Canadian lawyer, who raised 2 girls as a single mom.  I started going to Europe with my girls when they were 4 and 6 - and Rick Steves made my trips a lot easier.  His blue and yellow guidebooks were not only a way to plan a trip, but also offered helpful tips that seemed to make the journeys smoother….I suspect that without his PBS shows and books, many people, especially Americans, would have never got a passport. And his shows highlight the importance of trying to engage with local businesses and using local guides.”

Thank you, Cynthia, for giving me permission to use your name and quote from your email. It sounds like Rick’s travel philosophy is very much aligned with ours, and I am so happy you enlightened me.

Enjoy the journey!

Jeannie Edmunds
Chief Operating Officer

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