wcw AUGUST 2022

travel news continued
Rush My Passport
AAA has teamed up
with RushMyPassport
to offer exclusive
rates to AAA members
on expediting services for
U.S. passports and global
travel visas. This new
service is available to all
AAA members nationwide
starting this summer.
Currently, the Department
of State (DOS) is processing passport
applications in 8-11 weeks for routine processing
and 5-7 weeks for expedited. While
these speeds are an improvement over the
last two years during the pandemic, they
could still present a challenge for many international
travelers. And according to the Department
of State, the DOS has processed
approximately 14 million fewer passports in
the last two years than they would normally
in non-pandemic times.
By teaming up with RushMyPassport, a
subsidiary of Expedited Travel LLC, AAA
Travel now provides turnkey passport and
travel visa concierge services to its members
nationwide. This allows members to simply
go online to the dedicated ordering website
to obtain their vital travel documents and
receive exclusive AAA discounts on expedited
services.
RushMyPassport
leverages its technology
to create personalized
application packets and
customized checklists to
ensure each application
is done correctly the
first time. Their online
application technology
walks users through the
entire process stepby-step,
making it easy to use and understand,
while eliminating the confusion and
common errors that often arise by doing it
yourself. Passport advisors are available via
phone, email, or chat to provide personalized
support when and where it is needed.
Other important benefits include full
tracking visibility to keep individuals up to
date on their application status. Plus, AAA
members can also select various add-on services,
including Passport Protection (lost/
stolen/damaged passports), Passports Cards
(wallet sized cards as a secondary ID), and
Rapid Covid-19 Antigen Test Kits.
This comprehensive service offering
combines personalized service, support,
fast processing and more for simplicity and
added peace of mind.
For more information, visit: AAA.com/
Passport.
Travel Tips from TSA
• Start with empty bags. Airline
passengers who pack for
travel with empty bags are
less likely to bring prohibited
items through a TSA checkpoint.
Check for prohibited
items by using the “What Can I
Bring?” page on TSA.gov.
• Know before you go. Plan to
arrive at the airport in plenty
of time to check in, check bags,
and complete security screening
in time to avoid stressful
sprints to the departure
gate. At the TSA checkpoint, have a valid
ID card readily available and follow the
liquids rule of 3.4 ounces or less, except
for hand sanitizer, which has a temporary
12-ounce limit in carry-on baggage.
• Contact TSA for help if there are
questions or concerns. Those who are
preparing to travel and may have special
circumstances, considerations or general
questions about airport screening can get
live assistance by tweeting questions and
comments to @AskTSA or via Facebook
Messenger, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10
p.m.; weekends/holidays from 9 a.m. to
7 p.m. You can also call the TSA Contact
Center at 866-289-9673.
• Enroll now in TSA PreCheck to “Travel
with Ease.” By enrolling in TSA PreCheck,
airline passengers can avoid removing
shoes, belts, liquids, food, laptops and light
jackets at the TSA checkpoint. Most new
enrollees receive their known traveler
number within five days, and membership
lasts for five years. Nationally in April, 94%
of TSA PreCheck passengers waited less
than 5 minutes at the checkpoint.
Hilton Summer Road Trip Hacks for
Stress‐Free Travel
With experts predicting
the biggest
summer travel season
ever, Hilton has some tips to
help travelers make the most
out of their stay, their budget
and their time.
• Tip No. 1: Consider a hotel
that includes a hot breakfast
Booking a hotel that includes
breakfast takes away the stress
of mornings. At Tru by Hilton,
guests will find a new offering –
an automatic, hands-free pancake maker that
magically turns batter into a golden-brown
pancake with the wave of a hand. This joins
Hampton by Hilton’s make-your-own Belgian
waffle machine, a longtime guest favorite.
For families, the added convenience
of breakfast included allows guests the
flexibility to have their morning meal the
way they like it – whether heading down to
enjoy a quick bite while waiting their turn
to shower or grabbing a plate and bringing
it back up to their room. Plus, it satisfies
the need to go to a restaurant, eliminating
travel and wait times vs. dining out while
on the go.
• Tip No. 2: Bring your pet on the road
with you
According to a recent Hilton survey, 55% of
Americans who are pet owners are likely
to travel with their pet this summer. People
are spending more time with their pets
than ever before – and while taking a trip is
exciting, leaving behind the beloved family
pet is not.
Hilton has pet-friendly brands such
Canopy by Hilton, Embassy Suites by
Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by
Hilton, Tru by Hilton, Homewood Suites by
Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton across
the U.S. and Canada. Additionally, through
Hilton’s partnership with Mars Petcare,
guests can access expert advice and tips
via online chat or phone, tailored to reduce
stress and make the travel experience more
seamless from planning through hotel stay.
• Tip No. 3: Book a suite or connecting
rooms to give your family some space to
spread out. After a day on the road, families
crave space and Hilton’s brands such
as Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hampton Inn
& Suites by Hilton, Homewood Suites by
Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton – feature
guest rooms with separate living and
sleeping areas that allow the whole family
to spread out during their travels. This can
come especially handy for families – or pets
– traveling with varying bedtimes.
Plus, budget-savvy travelers know that
dining out for every meal adds up quickly,
especially with a large family or group.
Home-like accommodations feature
fully-equipped kitchens featuring full-size
refrigerators, cooktops, microwaves and
cookware that allow guests to make their
own meals on the road, saving time and
money.
For more information, visit stories.hilton.
com or hilton.com.
Food Festivals
• San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival is a
week-long festival on the San Diego Bay. It
includes chefs, artisans, winemakers, and
talent from all around the country. The festival
is taking place from November 9 - 13,
2022. Location: Embarcadero Marina Park
North, 400 Kettner Boulevard, San Diego.
Featuring dozens of events, hundreds of
domestic and international wineries, the
celebration of craft beer and spirits, local
culinary legends and nationally recognized
celebrities, and a Grand Tasting Finale on
the stunning Embarcadero. https://www.
sandiegowineclassic.com/
2022’s Best Summer Travel Destinations
With nearly 80% of American
travelers planning trips during
2022, the personal-finance website
WalletHub released its report on 2022’s Best
Summer Travel Destinations.
WalletHub compared 100 metro areas
across 43 key indicators of budget- and
fun-friendliness. The data set ranges from
the cost of the cheapest flight to the number
of attractions to COVID-19 cases.
• The average flight to a popular summer
destination costs $356, lasts 3 hours and 34
minutes and has 0.3 connections.
• The Los Angeles metro area is the most
attractive destination on the West Coast and
the Washington, D.C. metro area is the most
attractive destination on the East Coast.
• Florida and Texas are home to the most top
summer destinations in the U.S., each with
at least two metro areas in the top 15. Oppositely,
New York and California have the largest
numbers of the most unpopular summer
destinations, each with two metro areas.
• The Wichita metro area has the lowest
nightly rate for a three-star hotel room,
$36, which is 4.6 times less expensive than in
Santa Rosa, the metro area with the highest
at $165.
To view the full report, visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-summer-travel-destinations/3792
• NYC Wine & Food Festival, hosted by
The Food Network takes place October
13 - 16, 2022. Just four days long and over
50,000 attendees, it is definitely an event
you don’t want to miss. In the city where
dreams come true, chefs and wine experts
from all over the world make their
way here to show the world what they
have to offer.
There are private dining experiences,
wine tastings, live entertainment, and
more. It is one of the biggest food celebrations
America has to offer. Proceeds from
the event go to God’s Love We Deliver and
Food Bank For New York City to help fight
against food poverty and food insecurity.
Celebrate With Us, https://nycwff.org/
22 WEST COAST WOMAN AUGUST 2022