The travel world has been abuzz with Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) program changes and a new credit card – here’s why I’m not as enthusiastic. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. How […]
Which Countries Does The US Warn Against Travel To? (Full List)
The list of counties which the U.S. State Department advises against travel to increased from 34 to 151. Which countries are on the “do not travel” list?’ May 11, 2021 UPDATE: The United Kingdom has dropped from Category 4 to Category 3 while Israel has dropped from Category 4 to Category 2. State Department “Do […]
Will Biden/Harris Re-Open Cuban Relations?
With the Biden/Harris administration in the White House, will there be an effort to re-open Cuban-US relations as we saw under President Obama/Biden? If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. Cuban Change of […]
Is Bitcoin An Answer For Struggling Airlines?
Digital and cryptocurrencies have come a long way over the last decade. Could Bitcoin be the saving grace for struggling airlines? If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. Tesla Made History, Money Two […]
U.S. Tightens The Screws On Cuban Tourism
The United States is targeting tourism in Cuba with new sanctions on leased aircraft from the USA. Citing its repression of its own people and support for the “illegitimate” Maduro regime in Venezuela, the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security, an office in the Department of Commerce, announced new sanctions on Cuba’s access to commercial […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: August 05, 2018
After a lot of domestic travel last week, it has been nice to spend the last two days at home. Another trip, however, is on the horizon. More details on that in the days ahead. Here’s a review of the week’s top stories as well as a look back at every story that appeared on […]
T-Mobile Becomes Even More Valuable
T-Mobile is adding 55 countries to its international data plan while slightly raising the cost of international calls. Yesterday afternoon I received a text message from T-Mobile: Important msg from T-Mobile: We noticed you make calls while abroad. We’re updating our Simple Global calling rates and including more countries beginning on 8/1/18. Visit t-mo.co/2LdhBB3 to […]
Would You Visit North Korea?
As North Korea and the US sit down for talks in Singapore this week, I found myself wondering if it would be possible to visit under normal circumstances in the future, and if so, would I go? If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: May 13, 2018
Greetings from Tokyo Narita. I’ve been overseas the last several days and will provide further details on my trip tomorow. Over the last week, United has announced network updates including changes in Mexico service and a re-tooling of its Newark and Washington hubs. We also learned of new service fees coming to Alaska Airlines and […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: April 08, 2018
Buona sera from Milano. I’m in the midst of a fast-paced business trip through Italy. I’ll provide some detail on it in the days ahead…it will not be a typical trip report. It was a fairly light week of blogging and the coming week will be no different as I continue to travel in Europe […]
The 10 Least Expensive Cities in the World
Yesterday I shared the 10 most expensive cities in the world. Today, we’ll explore the 10 least expensive cities in the world. Each year The Economist publishes a list of the most and least expensive cities in the world. Figures are derived from the metrics I outline below. Here are the 10 cheapest cities in […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: March 11, 2018
Another week spent entirely on the ground…this is really something out of character. But I’ve cherished the time spent with my wife and son lately: the little one is growing up so fast. I hope to finish up my 2013 Australia trip report in the week ahead. Here’s a hint: I had a very bad […]
The Airline in Which Pilots and FAs Are Too Afraid to Come to Work
Times are grim for Kam Air, the main private airline in Afghanistan. Fearing for their safety, foreign workers are fleeing the country, forcing the carrier to cancel the majority of its flights. Last week a deadly terrorist attack rocked Kabul. Masked gunmen stormed the Intercontinental Kabul (not part of IHG), killing 22 people. Nine of […]
What You Need to Know About New USA Travel Ban
The White House has released new travel restrictions, indefinitely banning travel and emigration from several countries and severely restricting it from others. From the NY Times— Starting next month, most citizens of Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Chad and North Korea will be banned from entering the United States, Mr. Trump said in a proclamation […]
How to Obtain a Visa on Arrival in Tajikistan
There is a lot of conflicting information on the internet about whether you can obtain a visa on arrival in Tajikistan. If you’re flying into Dushanbe International Airport (DYU), the answer is YES. I am shocked at how much misinformation lurks on the internet concerning Tajikistan visas. Even some of the top google search results […]
Which Countries Are Covered by T-Mobile International Plan?
Kyle wrote a great piece yesterday on why he is sticking to T-Mobile despite its flaws. I share in his assment, even as I spend this week in two countries that are excluded from T-Mobile’s international “Simple Choice” plan. Which countries are covered under T-Mobile’s international plan? Here’s a list of countries, grouped by region, […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: July 30, 2017
Greetings from Southern California. My family is now re-united in LA and I’m happy to remain on the ground this week as I prepare for my next big trip. My RTW trip report stalled this week — the photos have taken an extraordinary amount of time to edit and organize. But it will pick-up again […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: June 04, 2017
Although it has been a relatively quiet week, I find myself tired on this beautiful spring Sunday. I’m trying to rest up because travel picks up later this week and then again next week. I hope to see some of you at the Frequent Traveler University (FTU) in Minneapolis next weekend (June 9-11th). There are still tickets available […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: March 4, 2017
Hello from Santa Monica, CA. I dined with some very dear clients who have become friends last night. Not knowing LA traffic, I hedged my bets and left early. Thankfully, traffic moved much better than my GPS suggested and I made it early. So now I’m writing the week in review in my car as I wait. I […]
United Loosens Award Routing Rules Between North America and Africa
Fearing that United Airlines had further tightened up award routing rules to Asia based on a new and restrictive revision of the fine print, I warned in May that if enforced, United’s draconian new routing rules would mark a stealth devaluation of the MileagePlus program. Though the new rules remain in effect (published), they have thankfully […]
