Prisma Health’s tips for summer first-aid travel kits


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Prisma Health's tips for summer first-aid travel kits

Red Cross

The summer travel season kicks off with Memorial Day weekend, and Prisma Health encourages everyone to create travel first-aid kits before heading out since even small injuries, if left untreated, can derail a vacation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 44% of Americans do not have first-aid kits even though having a well-stocked and maintained kit is essential in being prepared for accidents. 

“We all like to think that nothing bad is going to happen to us, but injuries can happen anywhere at any time and to anybody,” said Dr. Nathaniel Mann, a Prisma Health emergency medicine physician who is also fellowship-trained in wilderness medicine. “Being adequately prepared by having all vital medical products in one accessible location may reduce the severity of an injury, save your vacation or even help save a life.”

He suggested that people create their own kits instead of buying pre-packaged ones. Augment your kit with items specific to you and your family’s needs.

Mann recommended starting with these essentials:

  • Stop-the-Bleed kit, to include compression dressings or a tourniquet you’ve been trained to use
  • Even if you don’t have severe allergies to bees or wasps, consider carrying an EpiPen. Familiarize yourself with its use ahead of time.  
  • Include something sugary like gluose tablets or even gummy candies to treat episodes of low blood sugar
  • Adhesive bandages of assorted sizes to cover minor cuts and scrapes
  • Sterile gauze pads of various sizes
  • Medical adhesive tape to attach gauze pads to skin around wounds
  • Antiseptic wipes to disinfect wounds
  • Non-latex gloves
  • Pain relievers: ibuprofen (Advil), acetaminophen (Tylenol) and aspirin
  • Antihistamines to relieve allergies or itching
  • Dramamine or an anti-nausea medicine for motion sickness
  • Consider an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection in open wounds
  • Calamine lotion/hydrocortisone cream for bug bites or poison ivy
  • A list of emergency phone numbers and allergies of family members

“The more remote you plan on going, the more prepared you should be to handle minor injuries by yourself. Remember that some of these medications can do double duty – for example, you may not be prone to motion sickness in a car, but Dramamine could mitigate vertigo or dizziness from an unexpected sinus infection,” said Mann.

Not every sickness or injury can or should be treated at home, said Mann. “Get as much training as you can, but trust your gut and know when to seek help.”

Prisma Health offers On Demand Video Visits for around-the-clock urgent care for everything from suspected strains, minor burns and cuts, dizziness, fever and minor head injuries. Learn more at PrismaHealth.org/VirtualCare.

For a complete list of first-aid kit supplies recommended by the American Red Cross, visit https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/anatomy-of-a-first-aid-kit.html..

 

 

 





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Will airport chaos continue into the summer? Top tips from industry insiders


We’re all hungry for a holiday. With entry rules coming to an end in many countries and anxieties around travelling easing, a lot of people are hoping to get away this summer.

But the excitement of going abroad has been marred by airport chaos, cancelled flights and hours-long queues. Though travel restrictions may be easing, the recent problems at airports are leaving many uncertain if they should book at all.

So with airlines saying it is very difficult to predict what will happen in the next 12 months, we went to Routes aviation conference to find out their thoughts on travel in the next year.

Will airport chaos continue this summer?

The bad news is that the chaos seen in airports across Europe in recent months looks like it is set to continue.

Airlines are working hard to reshuffle their teams to have enough staff on-hand but as passenger numbers increase over the summer, the problem may get worse. And they say it is mainly to do with staff shortages at the airports where they operate.

Managing director of Airlines For Europe Thomas Raynaert says there is no short term solution. People left the industry during the pandemic for other sectors with better pay, more satisfying work and better conditions. There’s little chance that they will come back.

Because it takes time to train staff in roles like security and baggage handling that are currently lacking people, the problem won’t be fixed quickly.

Rafael Schvartzman, the International Air Transport Association’s regional vice president for Europe, said the situation must be addressed urgently “to avoid frustrating customers.”

He added that it was “unprecedented” to see an airport asking airlines to cancel bookings and reservations into the future – as happened at some airports during the chaos earlier this year.

Why is there so much disruption at Europe’s airports?

Passenger numbers in March were up to 75 per cent of what they were pre-pandemic, IATA says, showing the aviation industry is recovering. Schvartzman explained that this could mean a return to 2019 numbers as early as 2023.

“This is a sign of what is to come this summer,” he said, with projections for a very strong season. But it doesn’t seem like some airports are ready for this increase in traffic.

Many industry experts pointed to Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam as an example of this under-preparedness. The airport authority here has warned that it will be very busy there every day up to and including summer due to staff shortages.

Staff are threatening strikes due to the working conditions, queues have led to outbreaks of violence and Dutch flag carrier KLM has had to temporarily suspend ticket sales due to the chaos.

“People have waited two, sometimes three years for a holiday and that should not be ruined by a lack of preparedness,” Schvartzman added.

Why is airport chaos a big problem for tour operators?

For those who have booked their flights directly with airlines, delays and cancellations are often fixed by taking another flight. But for people booking packages with tour operators, the situation can be a bit more tricky.

Rex Nikkels, airport procurement specialist for TUI, says that because hotels, transfers and other parts of the trip are booked together, it makes it hard to reschedule. It means that tour operators like them – and the people that book through them – have been some of the hardest hit by chaos at airports.

“We also had to get rid of people,” he says, explaining that they lost workers during the pandemic just like airports. “We are also short of staff for now, but we can manage.”

Nikkels says it means tour companies have taken a hit to their reputation because people are quick to blame them when all of the moving parts of a package holiday can’t be changed.

“This summer, we will face the same problems,” he adds.

Should you plan to arrive early when you fly?

It’s easy to think that arriving super early for your flight is the solution when queues are ridiculously long.

But according to Nikkels, arriving too early can cause as many problems as arriving too late. People shouldn’t show up more than three hours before their flight as those turning up five hours or more before departure are simply adding to the queues, he says.

Most airlines are advising passengers not to arrive before the earliest time their check-in allows. It’s also worth making sure your passports are still valid – especially if you are travelling from the UK where post-Brexit rules are adding to the confusion and there have been delays on renewals.



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Summer air travel picks up as revenge travelers ignore high prices


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  • Airlines have been taking advantage of strong consumer demand to pass on some of the additional costs of oil and inflation with higher airfares.
  • Consumers have turned away from discretionary goods, but they’re not willing to give up travel even as airfares surge.
  • But if you’re a budget-conscious traveler, there are steps you can take to get you better prices.

Summer’s heating up and so is inflation. But even with airfares soaring, people are determined to take what they see as a much-needed vacation after two years of pandemic stress. 

Air travel bookings turned sharply higher in March after the omicron wave faded and many destinations eased entry requirements, especially if you were fully vaccinated. Consumers were so eager to travel again, they did so even after oil prices rose to their highest level in about 14 years and faced the highest overall inflation in 40 years.

Fuel is the second-largest expense for airlines at around 30% of operating costs and has doubled in price from a year ago, according to the Energy Information Administration. And airlines have been taking advantage of strong consumer demand to pass on some of those additional costs with higher airfares.

“My coach ticket from Chicago to Phoenix was $1,300, which is over three times the usual fare,” said Tom Blew, who took his trip last month to visit family and friends. “I guess pent-up demand isn’t price-sensitive, and there are very few options unless you want to fly in the middle of the night.”

Travel: No longer optional but a necessity 

Consumers have recently turned away from discretionary goods amid surging inflation to afford everyday necessities like groceries and rent, but there are no signs they’re willing to give up travel even as airfares surge. In April, airline tickets jumped by 8.6 %, the largest one-month increase since the Bureau of Labor Statistics started tracking this in 1963.

In the first three months of this year, travel spending exceeded spending on general merchandise (think stuff you can buy on Amazon), which is tapering off. In March, consumers spent $1,290 on average for travel compared with $819 on general merchandise, data from wealth management firm Personal Capital showed. 

“In March, we saw what’s possible, with surging demand brought on by reduced infection rates, relaxed restrictions and tremendous pent-up demand for people to travel,” said Robert Isom, chief executive officer at American Airlines in its earnings conference call. “Demand is as strong as we’ve ever seen it.”  

Delta’s President Glen Hauenstein agreed, saying in an April earnings call profit margins are looking good “as fuel prices have continued to run up and demand continues to remain strong.”

That’s because people want to spend time with family and friends, a Deloitte survey of 4,233 Americans fielded March 23-30 showed. That desire is likely to boost travel above both 2021 and pre-pandemic levels, with six in 10 Americans planning trips, up from 50% last year, Deloitte said. Of those, half said they planned to fly and 28% expected to pay “significantly more” for their trips than they did in 2019 due partly to inflation and more savings.  

“After two years of the pandemic, we were long overdue to make up for lost time with family,” said Andres Olarte who recently returned with his family from a five-week trip to Costa Rica. It was his first trip back to his hometown since 2019 and the first time many of his family and friends got to meet his youngest son, born in 2021.

“We booked our flights months in advance but did splurge getting direct flights,” he said.

POST-PANDEMIC LIST: 100 things we can’t wait to do when the pandemic ends: Hug friends, go to concerts and more

BRIGHTER SUMMER: What will COVID-19 look like this summer? Health experts say the virus won’t be endemic, yet.

Price insensitivity 

Airfares are also likely to continue rising, boosted by ongoing strong demand and elevated oil prices. World benchmark Brent crude was last above $117 per barrel, and JPMorgan analysts see prices above $120 this year. 

But none of that has deterred consumers. 

“They’re planning and anticipating for it and paying the higher price,” said Matthew Howe, senior manager of travel intelligence at research firm Morning Consult. “Revenge travel is definitely a real thing. People have been waiting and are ready to get back out and experience the world.” 

RECOVERING TIME: Didn’t travel at all during COVID-19? How to make up for lost time and lost opportunities

FLIGHT BOOSTS: Southwest is changing its in-flight experiences: 5 things coming this year and next

Although Ed Bastian, Delta chief executive officer, is optimistic air travel will stay strong into the fall, he warned on the earnings call he’s always on the lookout for consumer price resistance.

“When we start to see pricing, particularly with high input costs like fuel, starting to challenge our demand and supply assumptions, then we’ll take the next step up,” Bastian said.

To ensure operations go smoothly this summer, airlines have trimmed their flight schedules to give themselves some wiggle room if something goes awry. On Thursday, Delta joined American, Spirit Airlines, Alaska Air and JetBlue in cutting some flights to its summer schedule so it could “minimize disruptions and bounce back faster when challenges occur,” it said in a statement on its website.

While consumers may benefit from better service, fewer seats will likely mean more competition for existing seats and even higher prices.

Don’t want to pay up? Tips for finding lower airfares 

For those who want to fly but avoid chasing ever-increasing prices this summer, Expedia travel expert Christie Hudson offers some tips: 

► Timing travel

Of all the summer months, August is the cheapest. The “sweetest spot” is the last two weeks of the month as some schools go back in the south and it’s right at the end of summer before Labor Day, she said. 

Mid- to early-week travel days are the least expensive with Fridays the most expensive. 

Avoid traveling on summer holidays like the 4th of July, which tends to be the most expensive. 

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► When to book

Usually, booking airfare is the cheapest two weeks to a month in advance of your travel days. If you’re a planner and that seems too close for your comfort, Hudson suggests booking further out while using a price match guarantee service. 

► Package booking 

If you’ll also need a place to stay, Hudson recommends booking all your travel in one place to get a package rate. These are deals on airfare and lodging that are only available through packages, she said.

The bonus is that you can still get your airline miles and rewards. “So, you’re saving money and collecting rewards,” she said. 



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On the road again: summer travel resumes in big way | Local News


The unofficial start of summer is off to a roaring start this Memorial Day weekend, despite rising travel costs and COVID-19 concerns.

“We’re going to have 1.2 million more people traveling,” said Jim Garrity, director of public affairs for AAA. “It’s almost 7% more than last year. Consumers are ready to travel again, especially those who didn’t make a trip last year, maybe haven’t seen certain members of their family or friends for a couple of years. They’re thinking to themselves, ‘This is the year I’m going to get back out there.’”

Of course, those who want to get away are dealing with a few factors that may cause some hesitation, such as the price of airfare and gasoline.

According to figures released by AAA, the lowest average airfare is 6% more than last year and mid-range hotel rates have increased by about 42%.

And gasoline prices have eclipsed 2021’s numbers in a big way.

According to AAA, the average price of gasoline in Western Pennsylvania the week of May 22 was $4.70 per gallon. The average price during the week of May 24, 2021, was more than $1.50 less – $3.178 per gallon.

This week’s average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline was $4.699 in Washington and $4.687 in Uniontown.

“Airfare and gas are out of sight right now,” said Sandy Davis, owner of Davis Travel Agency in Monongahela. “I was looking for someone for airfare to Florida and it was $800. That’s crazy. It’s just ridiculous.”

Still, she said, more people are booking trips this year than the last two years. COVID fears seem to be less.

“I just came back from Europe and you would never know it,” Davis said. “I was in five countries in 12 days, and really you would never know it.”

Carl Brandtonies, owner of Worldview Travel in Washington, also said more people are traveling but said the rising gas prices may curtail that a bit.

“We’re seeing more people going out, but the gas is going to start affecting it and airfares are starting to grow,” he said. “They’re looking to book trips, but the airfares are starting to increase pretty good right now.’

Garrity said AAA conducted a survey in February as gas prices began to climb.

“What we found is that around the $4 mark is when consumers would start making changes in their daily habits and behaviors so they could still prioritize things like travel, summer road trips, vacations, going to see family and friends, maybe now more than ever for consumers who haven’t been able to do so over the last few years,” he said. “Despite those higher gas prices, more people are traveling.”

Something that did occur during COVID was the rediscovery of the outdoors. Local attractions such as Mingo Creek County Park should be quite popular throughout the summer.

“If the weekend turns out to be a beautiful weekend with the weather, I have no doubt that Mingo is going to be packed with people,” said Lisa Cessna, Washington County planning director.

Cessna said permit applications for Cross Creek Park Lake have increased, especially for motorized boats, paddle boats and kayaks. Plus, shelter rentals are going strong.

“It used to be just the fisherman’s lake, but now we have a lot of people doing some recreational activities that we had never seen before,” she said. “You’d be hard-pressed to find a shelter on the weekend throughout the summer. There are still some available during the week. We’re pretty much booked solid with all of our shelters on the weekends throughout the summer.”

Bret Moore, Greene County’s recreation director, said there was solid participation in outdoor events, as well as good crowds at the Greene River Trail during the pandemic. Now, it’s picking up even more.

“Most of our events are very well-attended,” he said. “The drag races are scheduled for the airport (Sunday), and we’re assuming there’s going to be a very large turnout.

Moore also said pavilion rentals and pool parties are booked throughout the better part of the summer.

It does seem as if people want to be out and about again.

“Our travel advisers have been very, very busy, and a lot of the time it’s just people calling in and asking what’s available,” Garrity said. “The wanderlust is starting to take hold and the urge to go out and go anywhere – a lot of people are starting to feel that again. It’s exciting to see.”



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Travel is booming ahead of summer, but it’s more expensive


As the calendar moves toward Memorial Day — the unofficial start of summer — AAA is predicting a 25% increase in air travel this year compared to last.

Manuela Mocan, a travel advisor at World Wide Travel of Cornwall, knows how travelers can save some money on their next family trip.

While many people stopped traveling during the pandemic, Mocan said that’s changing.

“The pent-up demand that we’ve seen over the past two years with the lifting of restrictions at many destinations, travel simply exploded,” Mocan said. “People cannot wait to get out of the house and travel.”

People in the travel industry call it revenge travel.

“Throughout the pandemic, the only little bit of travel we’ve seen was domestic, very little international,” Mocan said. “Now, all of a sudden, everyone is ready to go back to Europe.”

Business is booming again at Worldwide Travel.

AAA predicts over 39 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home this Memorial Day weekend, an eight percent increase from last year.

Whenever there is a long weekend, people like to use the days off and build around it. But if you’re traveling on busy holiday weekends, you can also expect to find higher prices on flights and hotels.

Mocan, who has 20 years of experience in the industry, said there are some ways to save money.

“Do a little bit of preparation,” Mocan said. “You want to stay away from the peak season. If you can travel in the shoulder season, always better prices. If you tend to travel Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, the prices tend to be a little less.”

Mocan said prices for flights have also increased over the last year.

“Oh my gosh, there’s no comparison,” Mocan said. “Last summer, it was such a good time to travel everywhere because you got some really, really good deals, both on hotels and on your airfare. Right now, if you look for July, airfare going to Mexico or Jamaica, $1,100 for tickets. It’s really, really expensive.”

She also suggest buying travel insurance in case of emergency and checking the COVID-19 requirements for your destination.

If you’re hitting the road this summer, the gas prices might leave you with a little sticker shock.

“It’s more expensive than in France,” said Guillaume Pareau, who traveled to the U.S. from France.

It’s been his dream to road trip throughout the United States.

“I’ve seen a lot of American movies, American soap and horror, and I like this country,” he said.

So these high gas prices, aren’t stopping him?

“No, no, no. It’s OK,” he said.

Whether you’re traveling somewhere near or far, Mocan said everyone should take some time off and get away.

“For me, I think this is what traveling means first and foremost, making memories with my family,” Mocan said.



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Business Highlights: Inflation gauge, summer travel costs


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Key inflation gauge slowed to still-high 6.3% over past year

WASHINGTON (AP) — An inflation gauge closely tracked by the Federal Reserve rose 6.3% in April from a year earlier, just below a four-decade high set in March and the first slowdown since November 2020. The report added to other recent signs showing that while high inflation continues to cause hardships for millions of households, it may finally be moderating, at least for now….

READ MORE

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Key inflation gauge slowed to still-high 6.3% over past year

WASHINGTON (AP) — An inflation gauge closely tracked by the Federal Reserve rose 6.3% in April from a year earlier, just below a four-decade high set in March and the first slowdown since November 2020. The report added to other recent signs showing that while high inflation continues to cause hardships for millions of households, it may finally be moderating, at least for now. The report also showed that consumer spending rose by a healthy 0.9% from March to April, outpacing the month-to-month inflation rate for a fourth straight time. The ongoing willingness of the nation’s consumers to keep spending freely despite inflated prices is helping sustain the economy.

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Prepare for sticker shock if you are traveling this summer

DALLAS (AP) — If you haven’t booked your summer vacation plans, you are already too late to snag the best deals, according to travel experts. Airfares are up, hotels rates are up, and airlines are bracing for a big summer. High prices are not the only thing travelers need to worry about. Airlines have thousands fewer employees than they did before the pandemic, and that means they could struggle to handle the expected crowds. Consumers seem to be taking it all in stride. Airlines say bookings are running at record levels, and spending on U.S. flights is running ahead of 2019 levels.

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Wall Street breaks 7-week losing streak, longest since 2001

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rose on Wall Street Friday and closed higher for the week, breaking a seven-week losing streak, the longest such stretch since 2001. The S&P 500 rose 2.5%, increasing its gain for the week to 6.6%. That’s the biggest weekly gain for the benchmark index since November 2020. Technology stocks were a big factor pushing the market higher. That sent the Nasdaq composite up 3.3%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.8%. Retailers also made solid gains. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which helps set mortgage rates, slipped to 2.74%. U.S. crude oil prices rose.

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‘We don’t have food’: African leaders meet as crises grow

DJIBO, Burkina Faso (AP) — African leaders have gathered for a summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, to address growing humanitarian needs on the continent, which is also facing increased violent extremism, climate change challenges and a run of military coups. Leaders on Friday called for increased mobilization to resolve a humanitarian crisis that has left millions displaced and more than 280 million suffering from malnourishment. For people in Djibo in northern Burkina Faso, help can’t come soon enough. The city in the Sahel region has been besieged since February by jihadis who prevent people and goods from moving in or out and have cut water supplies. Residents are suffering with no food or water, animals are dying and the price of grain has spiked.

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G-7 pledges put coal on notice, could boost climate aid

BERLIN (AP) — Officials from the Group of Seven wealthy nations have announced they will aim to largely end greenhouse gas emissions from their power sectors by 2035. The move makes it highly unlikely that those countries will burn coal for electricity beyond that date. Ministers from the G-7 countries meeting in Berlin on Friday also announced a target to have a “highly decarbonized road sector by 2030.” That means electric vehicles would dominate the new car sales by the end of the decade. The G-7 also recognized for the first time the need to provide developing countries with additional financial aid to cope with the loss and damage caused by global warming. The agreements were largely welcomed by climate advocates.

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Biden renews sanctions license for Chevron in Venezuela

MIAMI (AP) — The Biden administration has renewed a license partially exempting Chevron from sanctions on Venezuela so it can keep operating in the oil-rich, socialist-run nation. The license issued Friday by the U.S. Treasury Department allows the California-based Chevron and other U.S. companies to perform only basic upkeep of wells it operates jointly with state-run oil giant PDVSA. Some in the Biden administration had been pushing for an expanded license so that Chevron would be allowed to resume exports and ease pricing pressure at American pumps.

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Tribal request to halt Arizona copper mine work is denied

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — A federal judge has rejected a request by Native American tribes to stop Toronto-based Hudbay Minerals Inc. from preparing a planned new Arizona copper mine’s site in the Santa Rita Mountains near Tucson. U.S. District Judge James Soto refused to issue a temporary restraining order and dismissed the lawsuit filed by the Tohono O’odham, Pasqua Yaqui and Hopi tribes and the group Save the Scenic Santa Ritas. Soto’s ruling Monday said Hudbay’s surrender of a suspended Clean Water Act Permit for a nearby project named the Rosemont Mine removed the lawsuit’s legal basis because the projects were not legally related.

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Alaska’s largest natural gas utility being sold for $800M

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The owner of the largest natural gas utility in Alaska says it is selling the company to Canada-based TriSummit Utilities Inc. The Anchorage Daily News reports the deal is worth $800 million. AltaGas Ltd. says the sale will include Anchorage-based ENSTAR Natural Gas, its associated pipelines and ENSTAR’s majority ownership in a gas storage facility. AltaGas is also based in Canada. It acquired Enstar in 2012. TriSummit has about 133,000 customers in Canada. ENSTAR has about 150,000 customers in Anchorage and parts of south-central Alaska. The companies expect the sale to close by early next year. ENSTAR Natural Gas has about 200 employees.

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The S&P 500 rose 100.40 points, or 2.5%, to 4,158.24. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 575.77 points, or 1.8%, to 33,212.96. The Nasdaq surged 390.48 points, or 3.3%, to 12,131.13. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies jumped 49.62 points, or 2.7%, to 1,887.86.

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5 Hot Tips for Saving on Summer Travel


HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) – Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of Summer. Summer is meant for adventure, but don’t let your money melt away during your trip.

WAFF talked with LeJuan George at Redstone Federal Credit Union. He offered these five tips for saving while still enjoying the journey and the destination.

  1. Pack light: Most airlines charge for checked bags, so keep your luggage light. Bring only a carry-on. You’ll speed up the check-in and arrival processes and start your summer fun sooner. Remember to review the airline’s policy for luggage weight and dimensions to avoid unexpected delays or fees.
  2. Use surcharge-free ATMs: Redstone gives you access to surcharge-free ATMs across the globe. Go to redfcu.org/location to find one near you.
  3. Plan ahead: If you’re planning on a road trip, schedule a routine checkup for your vehicle before heading out. Taking precautions helps you avoid a roadside breakdown. You don’t want to spend your vacation, budget, or time in a repair shop!
  4. Find the free stuff: You may be surprised how many free, fun activities you can find with a quick Google™ search. Look for “free activities” where you’re vacationing.
  5. Limit restaurant meals: Choose one meal each day to enjoy at a restaurant and purchase the rest of your food at a local grocery store. At a hotel, take advantage of any complimentary breakfast items and snacks. If you’re driving, pack food in a cooler.

Bottom Line: With a little forethought, you can save on expenses while savoring summer.

For more ways to save, be sure to tune in at noon every Friday for WAFF 48′s “Financial Friday” segment.

Copyright 2022 WAFF. All rights reserved.



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Prepare for sticker shock if you are traveling this summer


DALLAS (AP) — Airlines and tourist destinations are expecting monster crowds this summer as travel restrictions ease and pandemic fatigue overcomes lingering fear of contracting COVID-19 during travel.

Many forecasters believe the number of travelers will match or even exceed levels in the good-old, pre-pandemic days. However, airlines have thousands fewer employees than they did in 2019, and that has at times contributed to widespread flight cancellations.

People who are only now booking travel for the summer are experiencing the sticker shock.

Domestic airline fares for summer are averaging more than $400 a round trip, 24% higher than this time in 2019, before the pandemic, and a whopping 45% higher than a year ago, according to travel-data firm Hopper.

“The time to have gotten cheap summer flights was probably three or four months ago,” says Scott Keyes, who runs the Scott’s Cheap Flights site.

Internationally, fares are also up from 2019, but only 10%. Prices to Europe are about 5% cheaper than before the pandemic — $868 for the average round trip, according to Hopper. Keyes said Europe is the best travel bargain out there.

Steve Nelson of Mansfield, Texas, was standing in line this week at a security checkpoint in Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, ready to board a flight to Nice, France, with plans to attend a Formula One race in Monaco.

“I decided it’s time to work on my bucket list,” Nelson said. “I hadn’t even considered Monaco until this year.”

Although many countries have eased rules for travel, there are still restrictions in place that add to the hassle factor. Notably, the United States still requires a negative COVID-19 test within a day of flying to the country.

“We only realized that a couple days before coming here. We kind of panicked to find a place to get tested,” said Jonny Dawe, a software engineer from Bath, England, who was in Dallas for a conference — his first major trip since the pandemic started. “You have to check all the testing requirements for the countries you are visiting, and you have to worry about contracting the virus.”

Online spending on U.S. flights eased in April after a torrid March, but it’s still up 23% from spring 2019 mostly because of higher prices, according to Adobe Analytics.

Airlines blame the steeper fares on jet fuel roughly doubling in price over 2019. It’s more than that, however. The number of flights has not returned to pre-pandemic levels even though demand for travel is surging.

“We have more travelers looking to book fewer seats, and each of those seats is going to be more expensive for airlines to fly this summer because of jet fuel,” says Hopper economist Hayley Berg.

When travelers reach their destination, they will be greeted with hotel rates that are up about one-third from last year. Hotels are filling up faster, too. Hotel companies blame the higher prices on increasing cost for supplies as well as workers in a tight labor market.

Rental cars were hard to find and very expensive last summer, but that seems to have eased as the rental companies rebuild their fleets. The nationwide average price is currently around $70 a day, according to Hopper.

Jonathan Weinberg, founder of a rental car shopping site called AutoSlash, said prices and availability of vehicles will be very uneven. It won’t be as bad as last summer, but prices for vehicles will still be “way above average, if you can even find one,” in Hawaii, Alaska and near destinations such as national parks.

Even if you drive your own car, it’ll still be pricey. The national average for regular gasoline hit $4.60 a gallon on Thursday — more than $6 in California. Those prices have some people considering staying home.

“You don’t really get used to $6 gas,” said Juliet Ripley of San Diego as she paid $46.38 to put 7.1 gallons in her Honda Civic. The single mom of two has no summer vacation plans other than an occasional trip to a nearby beach.

For those determined to travel, however, it is an open question whether airlines, airports, hotels and other travel businesses will be able to handle them.

More than 2.1 million people a day on average are boarding planes in the United States, about 90% of 2019 levels and a number that is sure to grow by several hundred thousand a day by July.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has tapped nearly 1,000 checkpoint screeners who can move from one airport to another, depending on where they are needed most.

“We are as ready as we possibly can be,” says TSA chief David Pekoske.

Airlines that paid employees to quit when travel collapsed in 2020 are now scrambling to hire enough pilots, flight attendants and other workers. The largest four U.S. airlines — American, Delta, United and Southwest — together had roughly 36,000 fewer employees at the start of 2022 than before the pandemic, a drop of nearly 10%, despite aggressive hiring that started last year.

Pilots are in particularly short supply at smaller regional airlines that operate nearly half of all U.S. flights under names like American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express.

Airlines are trimming summer schedules to avoid overloading their staffs and canceling flights at the last minute. This week, Delta cut about 100 flights a day, or 2%, from its July schedule, and more than 150 flights a day on average, or 3%, in August. Southwest, Alaska and JetBlue previously reduced summer flights.

Cancellations aren’t limited to the U.S. In the United Kingdom, easyJet and British Airways scrubbed many flights this spring because of staffing shortages.

Air travel within Europe is expected to recover to pre-pandemic levels this summer, although visitors from outside the region will likely be down 30% from 2019, according to a new report from the European Travel Commission. The group doesn’t expect international travel to return to normal until 2025.

Russia’s war in Ukraine does not appear to be hurting bookings to most of Europe, according to travel experts, but it will reduce the number of Russian and Ukrainian travelers, whose favorite destinations include Cyprus, Montenegro, Latvia, Finland, Estonia and Lithuania, the commission said. Russian tourists tend to be big spenders, so their absence will hurt tourism economies in those destinations.

Also largely missing: Chinese tourists, the world’s largest travel spenders, who remain largely restricted by their government’s “zero-COVID” strategy. Some European destinations report that the number of Chinese tourists is down by more than 90% from 2019.

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Kelvin Chan in London and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles contributed to this report.



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Black-Owned Travel Company Black & Abroad’s Travel Tips For Summer


We caught up with Black-owned multi-platform travel and lifestyle company, Black & Abroad, to help our readers prepare for their summer travels. The award-winning platform is transforming travel with these easy travel tips and their newly-launched first-of-its-kind Black Elevation Map.

The award-winning platform curates and empowers international, culturally conscious luxury and adventure travel moments for Black travelers. The Black community spent an estimated $101.9B on leisure travel pre-pandemic. With travel numbers projected to trend upward during a post-pandemic travel boom, Black & Abroad co-founders Kent Johnson and Eric Martin discuss how to better prepare for vacation and offer resources to guide you on your journey.

Black & Abroad is known for their award-winning “Go Back to Africa” campaign. Now, the Black Elevation Map is taking it up a notch, providing an interactive community sourced and aggregated online guide that showcases Black-owned businesses across the country to spark further inter-community support, discovery and connection.

Learn more about how to prepare for your next vacation below.

1. Research & Tips On How To Plan

Black & Abroad Black Elevation Map

Source:Black & Abroad

Eric: When choosing a destination there’s only one thing you need to remember—keep an open mind! I always say that when planning travel there are 5 seasons to consider: spring, summer, fall, winter, and last but not least, shoulder season. Shoulder season is the time between a destination’s high and low visitation periods. During these times flight & hotel prices are way less expensive than usual making it ideal for someone looking to kick back & chill without the hassle of the usual large crowds. Not to mention, it’s a perfect way to travel during a pandemic.                                                                                                                            

Not sure where to start? Say less. For good flight deals I usually hit up at least four sites: theflightdeal.com, faredealalert.com, skyscanner.com, and skiplagged.com. For good deals on top tier hotels & Airbnbs, remember it’s shoulder season, so prices usually fall anyway due to the decrease in demand.

2. Destinations That Champion & Celebrate the Black Experience and Culture

Black & Abroad Black Elevation Map

Source:Black & Abroad

Kent: Weekends are perfect for quick getaways in locations that thrive in the summer heat. For example, foodies should make their way to cities like New Orleans for restaurants at every corner that feature Creole & Southern cooking. Even your more popular destinations like Miami can be havens for food from the diaspora. Not far from the shores of Miami Beach you’ll find Little Haiti with its bevy of restaurants to choose from, as well as restaurants throughout the city that are steeped in Afro-Cuban & island influence due the city’s close ties to the Caribbean.

For longer summer trips, you can’t go wrong with visiting cities in Colombia (which has the 3rd largest population of Black people outside of Africa), like Cartagena or Cali. These two cities are full of cultural experiences that speak to the many facets of the Black experience.

There are also many island destinations that host Carnivals in the summer, like Bermuda. Although it’s one of the younger Carnivals, it’s also the fastest growing one in the world, and everyone’s beginning to take notice. But don’t worry, Bermuda’s Carnival is a perfect place to begin your Carnival journey as a newbie, as it’s not as intimidating as the ultimate experience in Trinidad & Tobago, but just as fun & inclusive as any other Carnival experience. This week-long experience is a great way to experience the island, which also has plenty of opportunities for taking in the island’s Black history and its relaxing atmosphere.

3. Building An Itinerary

Black & Abroad Black Elevation Map

Source:Black & Abroad

Eric: The most lit itinerary has three elements: variety, flexibility, balance. Whether you’re tripping solo, or with a group, an equal mix of these ingredients into your journey can afford you more time enjoying yourself and taking in the experience. Variety is very important because it introduces you to so many cultural intersections. Take a map of the city, divide it into four quadrants and make it a point to visit a restaurant, museum, historic site, beach, or club in each quadrant over the course of your trip.

Ensure that your dates and times are flexible by keeping the itinerary loose. Weather, commute times, and most importantly jet lag can be unpredictable at times, so always build time into the itinerary for those instances—especially if traveling with your squad! Speaking of jetlag, it’s important to also build a few hours/days of rest into said itinerary. There’s nothing worse than not being able to remember much from the trip because you were sleepwalking throughout the entire experience. That’s where the concept of balance enters the picture. You want to return home feeling energized & refreshed, not like you just ran a marathon.

4. Airbnb vs. Hotel

Black & Abroad Black Elevation Map

Source:Black & Abroad

Eric: Of course, it all depends on the circumstances, but I’m generally team both. If I’m traveling with a group of good friends or family, I’m always down for a [Air]BNB. It makes the group experience much easier. Now for solo travels on the other hand, I’m team hotel for a few reasons. I once rented a BNB on a solo trip to a small European island and instantly realized from the neighbors’ reactions that I was the only melanated brother that small town had seen in a long time. I ended up canceling after a few days and booked a hotel a few miles away where the guests were much more diverse. I also like the fact that hotels have common areas where you can eat, have a drink, and socialize with others.

5. Resources Once You’ve Arrived

Black & Abroad Black Elevation Map

Source:Black & Abroad

Kent: If you decide to vacation stateside, using our Black Elevation Map (blackelevationmap.com) is a great way to identify things to see, eat, and experience in a city. The website takes cultural data, such as Black population data, historical markers, Black-owned businesses, and social media activity, and visualizes points of interest on a searchable elevation map of the United States, city by city. The platform allow you to bookmark and save any places you find, to create an itinerary you can send to yourself or anyone joining your trip!

Wherever you venture, a great way to discover great places in a city is by searching hashtags on social media (ie, #bestfoodinAtlanta #BlackownedChicago, etc.). We all love to share our experiences, so social media can be a great place to see how others have experienced a city as a way to prep for your own visit. Platforms like Pinterest, YouTube & Instagram are perfect for spotting trendy or local favorites.

6. Approaching The Locals & Understanding The Culture

Black & Abroad Black Elevation Map

Source:Black & Abroad

Eric: I would always recommend doing your research on the cultural differences beforehand. For example, here in the US a firm handshake coupled with eye contact is a sign of respect. Do that in Japan and you’re going to have a major problem where a bow is a much greater sign of respect. You also want to do some digging into the language of the people beforehand. You don’t have to be fluent, but I’ve found that it’s always a great way to spark conversation with the locals to learn more. It’s also a sign of respect to them that you’re willing to make an attempt to communicate with them in their native tongue.

One other thing to always remember is how and when to use your camera, particularly with the locals. When taking pics of/with them, you always want to ask for permission. It might not be a big deal here in the US or Europe, but in some parts of Africa, I’ve witnessed people walk up to groups of children and use them as props for an IG moment. Before taking that pic always ask yourself, would this be ok in Europe or America? It’ll really help put things in perspective.

7. WFV (Work From Vacay)

Black & Abroad Black Elevation Map

Source:Black & Abroad

Kent: Remote work has jumped significantly in the last two years, and for the Black community, the number of professionals switching the cubicle for the cabana has seen a spike as well. Airbnb recently did a survey on remote work and vacationing and found that 72% of Black remote professionals who were surveyed have lived in at least one different location since 2020 and were actively planning to take better advantage of workplace location flexibility in the near future.

When considering where to stay for a “workcation,” Black professionals are most drawn to beach towns and major cities over mountains or rural areas, and according to survey data, the Caribbean was the top location choice for Black professionals looking to work remotely.



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