A Texas woman took to Facebook after her 9-year-old left his stuffed gorilla at a California hotel. A stranger saw the post, went an hour out of her way to pick it up, then documented the gorilla’s journey home. Absolutely watch this if you need a smile!
A travel money mistake way too many people make
I’m going to Japan in March and have looked up flights on a few different sites. Roundtrip prices vary as much as $900 depending on where you look. Oof!
Here’s the twist
One place I checked was my credit card rewards site. I get points and perks, so total no-brainer, right? Not so fast. Do a little digging and you may find that it’s not the bigger, better deal.
Lots of credit card companies offer fancy booking tools as a perk to justify the hefty annual fee, but they’re not always as … perky as you’d think.
The long and short of it: Prices through your credit card company are often higher than booking directly. Airlines and hotels want to drive customers to book through them, so you’re way more likely to snag a deal through their sites.
Nope, it’s not ‘free’
You probably spent a ton of money to get those points in the first place. When you put it that way, it doesn’t seem so free. And if you don’t have enough points to cover the entire trip, you’ll still have to shell out some cash to settle the bill.
Pro tip: I often cash in credit card points for gift cards to places where I’m already shopping or want to buy someone a gift.
Pricing predicament
Your credit card company doesn’t set hotel room or plane ticket prices through their portals. Most don’t even manage the travel booking features at all.
- Expedia is behind the American Express travel site.
- The popular Hopper tool manages Capital One’s offering.
Keep in mind, too, that hotel and flight prices fluctuate, and websites don’t update their pricing at the same time. If you don’t check around, you could wind up paying the older, more expensive rate.
3 clever ways to use your hotel or rental's TV
We can recommend many travel tips, including using the hotel’s safe, bringing an emergency door-stopper and blocking the peephole in your room. Tap or click here for five clever tech steps before you hit the road.
But how many travel tips do you know that focus on the hotel TV? These devices are notorious for being expensive ways to relax between outings. The good news is they can be so much more than that.
Safety first
I bet you or someone you know has a scary travel story. These gadgets are no-brainers to bring on your next trip to protect yourself and your stuff.
- Major security flaws have compromised a huge portion of keycard hotel locks. Easy fix: This doorstop with a built-in alarm (17% off).
- Traveling with valuables? Bring your own safe. Hotel rooms don’t always have one. This little portable option is under $24.
- Whether you’re traveling abroad or just going out at night, take a personal alarm. This sleek option is 20% off and goes right on your keychain.
- Only one in four U.S. homes has a carbon monoxide detector. Bet your Airbnb doesn’t. This one’s 33% off!
- Two words: Fanny pack. Wear it across your chest for extra street cred (I do!). This one’s inexpensive and looks great.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
🏨 I have no reservations about this travel tip: Google Wallet now lets you add hotel keys directly to your phone. Open the hotel’s website, app or email, and hit the Add to Google Wallet button. When you reach your room, hold your phone near the door handle to unlock it.
3 weird things you can book online
Sure, you can get an Uber or a hotel stay, but there’s so much more you can rent. I have a list of some of the craziest ones.
Bravo! Samsung has a new TV that comes with a free 8K TV, valued at $8,000. The 114-inch “ultra-premium” set costs $132,630 and uses Micro-LED display tech for enhanced colors, brightness and response times. They’re also throwing in a discount on a new pair of speakers and a $2,200 hotel stay. Sorry, but this offer’s for Korea only for now.
4-hour videos
Getting millions of views on YouTube. You may wonder, “Who the heck watches them?” They’re especially popular among a more nerdy audience. A four-hour critique of the Star Wars hotel has over 6 million views.
Google will pay you the difference if your flight price drops
When you’re looking for a hotel, travel discount sites like Kayak, Expedia and Hotels.com are good places to start, but you won’t always find the best prices there. There’s one more step to take that’ll help you undercut even the lowest price you find online. Here’s what you need to do.
Don’t make this major privacy mistake when renting a car
The holiday season is a time of togetherness. Here are a few pro tips to save time and money if you have a long drive ahead.
Are you staying in a hotel? Don’t sign into your room TV to access the streaming services. Here are three hacks to help you get the most out of your temporary TV.
Airbnb won't stop hidden cams
At this point, I don’t even want to risk it. There are just too many scary stories — and I once stayed in a place loaded with cameras! Luckily, I was savvy enough to spot them.
Over 69% off!
- Rug grippers: Put these grippers on all your rugs, whether they’re on hardwood floors or tile, to help keep the rugs from moving or causing a fall. This pack of 16 grippers is on sale for $7.99, 69% off the regular price ($25.99).
- Outdoor solar lights: Light up the night with these waterproof lights for just $26.99 — 85% off (they’re normally $180!). Solar-powered for up to 12 hours, their elegant design is perfect for the patio or walkways.
- New pillows: Sleep like you’re in a luxury hotel with this cozy pillow set from Cozsinoor for $32.99, 72% off their original price of $120. Designed to perfectly balance and support your neck and back, these pillows come with a cooling cover that hot sleepers will love!
- Car vacuum: Get rid of all the dirt, grime, food and who-knows-what-else in your car. This bestselling vacuum is now $25.99 — that’s 80% off the regular price of $129.99.
- Bedroom update: Whether it’s for your room or the guest room, I really like this lightweight soft cotton quilt that includes two pillow shams for $43.10, a whopping 80% off (originally $219.99).
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Hotel thermostat hack
Is it too hot or cold in your room? Here’s how to override your hotel room’s temperature controls.
Override your hotel thermostat: This site compiled videos of all the ways to hack the most common hotel thermostats. For some, it’s as simple as holding down a couple of buttons.
Bonus episode: The Kim Komando Show, April 20
One tech CEO thinks AI girlfriends are the next billion-dollar biz. Meanwhile, a tragedy: an 81-year-old man kills an Uber driver he mistook for a scammer. Plus, what your hotel card key reveals about you.
Hotels come back big time at VRBO & Airbnb's expense
How hotel hackers get your info
Are you on a legit hotel website? In just one minute, I cover the tactics criminals use to scam you.
What your hotel key holds about you
Ever wonder how your hotel key opens up your door? I have the details, in 60 seconds.
Tiny cameras are watching you
Open/download audioStories about guests discovering they are being watched by cameras in Airbnbs and hotel rooms are rising around the country. Blame the increasingly tiny sizes of cameras.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices