Welcome to The Morning Shave for Monday, November 17, 2025. The FAA is lifting flight restrictions while airlines and airports work to resume capacity. Is it better to book directly with a hotel or through a third-party site? What is Travel Tuesday, and how can I save money on next year’s vacations? Visit BaldThoughts.com/tms to read all the stories.
We read a ton of travel articles each day for our research to share the best travel tips, tricks, and news with you. Here are the articles we think you should read.
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The Morning Shave
FAA Lifts Flight Restrictions.
During the government shutdown, 40 airports across the U.S. had flight restrictions due to a lack of flight traffic controllers. These cancellations caused a cascading effect that impacted travelers across America. Fortunately, the shutdown stopped in time before the busy Thanksgiving travel week. As of now, all flight restrictions are lifted, and the airlines & airports are working to bring back ATCs and ramp up capacity as we enter the busiest travel seasons of the year (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve).
Is It a Better Deal To Book a Hotel Directly or Through a Third-Party Site?
Choosing where to book means more than just finding the right hotel for your trip. Hotel loyalty programs differ greatly from airlines. Travelers earn airline miles, receive elite status benefits, and make progress toward status whether they book direct or through an online travel agency (OTA). While you can book a room through a third-party site, most reservations won’t earn elite status credits, perks, or points unless you book directly through the hotel’s app or website. However, there are exceptions, like Rove (earn 500 miles through my link), where you will earn hotel elite perks and points when booking through another site.
Trump administration ditches Biden plan to compensate travelers for airline delays.
Speaking of delayed and canceled flights, the current administration has canceled plans for the U.S. version of EU261. This passenger’s bill of rights would have required airlines to compensate travelers when flights are delayed or canceled beyond a reasonable limit. Impacted travelers would have received compensation starting at $200 for eligible delays, with a maximum compensation of up to $775 for delays that lasted at least nine hours. Until we can get these rules implemented, it is more important than ever to have one of the best airline credit cards (or premium travel cards like the Amex Plat, CapOne VX, or CSR). These cards reimburse you for unexpected expenses when your flight is delayed or canceled, like meals, hotels, clothing, and rebooking a new flight.
What Is Travel Tuesday? Everything You Need to Know.
Get ready for some of the best travel deals of the year. While you may be tempted to splurge on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, save some cash for Travel Tuesday. If you plan strategically, you can book all of your 2026 vacations and save a ton of money without having to dip into your miles & points stash. Airlines, hotels, OTAs, and other sites will start hinting about upcoming deals, so pay close attention and gain inspiration for next year’s trips.
5 Countries With Simple Digital Nomad Visas – and 7 That Are a Nightmare, Data Shows.
No matter your reason for leaving the country, a digital nomad visa can give you an escape plan to work in a foreign country while earning a U.S. salary (or running your business remotely). These temporary visas vary in length, but can last for several years in certain countries, depending on your income and status. Explore your options carefully. While some countries are amazing to visit as a tourist, they may not be so welcoming if you plan on working during your stay. And be sure to meet with a tax professional to discuss your tax obligations – to the U.S. and the host country – while working abroad.
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