After years of tough rules on liquids and footwear, US air travel may be on the cusp of a new era
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Buzz Feed
3 minutes ago
- Buzz Feed
31 Travel Products For Anyone With An Upcoming Trip
A set of Tide sink packs if you have a goal to pack fewer clothes and re-wear more of the items you're bringing. These will make it so simple to do so. No washing machine required! A suitcase cover because you didn't spend your hard-earned spot bonus on swanky new luggage just to be too scared that baggage handlers might nick it that you never actually put it to use. Plus, thanks to the fact that it's clear, your fellow travelers will still be able to 👀 you have expensive taste. A pack of EarPlanes — earplugs designed to help ease the pain that comes with the sudden pressure change during takeoff. These are also great if you're driving to a destination at high altitude or if you're simply just trying to drown out the sound of a crying baby so you can sleep. A portable digital luggage scale because the year is 2025, and it's time we put an end to that gut-wrenching moment the airline counter tells you your suitcase is a few pounds over the weight limit. Being forced to transfer your things from your suitcase into your carry-on in the middle of the terminal for everyone to see is dreadful. A TSA-friendly toiletries kit featuring a pack of four travel bottles, three little jars, two toothbrush caps, a set of labels, and a clear pouch to store them all away in. Keeping all of your liquids contained in this kit should help make getting through security a bit smoother. And if you already have miniature toiletries, then just get this set of three TSA-approved clear cases perfect for holding your travel-sized beauty/hygiene essentials. You can use one case for your shower products/shampoo, another for your skincare items, and another for your cosmetics! A set of packing cubes to not only make packing feel less overwhelming (because all your stuff will have a place!!!) but also make unpacking a breeze because you'll actually know where your stuff is! Think about how nice it's gonna be to open your suitcase and see some order rather than an overflowing mess! Or a portable hanging travel shelf that will allow you to organize your clothes before packing them away — now all you have to do when you get to your hotel is take it out of your suitcase, hang it in the closet, and you're all set! And a shoe bag capable of holding up to three pairs of footwear. Think of how much less clunky it'll be to place this compact cube in your luggage than have to make space for three separate pairs of shoes. Don't even get me started on sand or dirt from the bottom of your shoes getting over all of your other belongings!!! A genius airplane window tray (if you're a window seat kind of traveler) that you can use to hold your drinks, headphones, etc. if you hate keeping the seat back tray down or want to use it for something else like setting up your laptop and playing The Sims 4. A universal travel adapter you're gonna be grateful for if your travels involve hopping to various countries that all use different outlets. Now, you won't need to buy and pack different adapters for each country you plan on visiting. Phew! A phone mount so you can watch your favorite downloaded shows/movies on your flight — because sometimes the airline doesn't offer your comfort characters on their entertainment menu or no television at all. A super smart reusable bottle bag to help protect wine, perfume, olive oil, and more in your checked bag. Whether you're bringing back a souvenir for a loved one or going on a cruise where you can bring on a bottle of your favorite vino, this will def come in handy! A pair of compression socks for potentially bringing sweet relief to feet that tend to swell during air travel. A portable door lock that'll provide some extra security and peace of mind in hotel rooms, hostels, and Airbnbs. A seat-back organizer if the thought of putting your personal belongings like glasses, drinking bottles, and tech items into the provided seat-back pouch makes you squirm. A belt bag for a small but mighty solution to carrying around your essentials on your vacay excursions. You won't have to lug around heavy tote bags (or put any strain on your shoulders, for that matter) thanks to its compact size, but it's just big enough to keep your wallet, phone, room key, sunnies, medications, and a snack right in front of ya for easy access. An RFID-blocking wallet designed to hold all of your important travel documents because every time you're at the airport, you swear you'll have your license, passport, and boarding pass easily ready to show and every time you're at the airport you end up fumbling all of those things and holding up the line. An AirFly Pro wireless transmitter so you can connect your wireless earbuds to the airplane entertainment system. Watching your favorite shows/movies with clear sound is a heck of a lot better than the static that comes with the junk headphones the airline tries to sell you. A pet backpack with wheels to make getting through the airport with your tiny BFF a more seamless experience. Not to mention, thanks to the compact size, it'll fit comfortably underneath the seat in front of you once you get on the plane, and the mesh window will allow you and the little fluffer to keep an eye on one another. A pair of jogger-fit leggings because spending hours in a plane, car, train, etc., calls for a comfy outfit, and there's no better way to begin your travel ensemble than with these soft and breathable pants. BRB, ordering one in every color. A travel shawl that can be used as a light blanket to cozy up with on your flight, a scarf in chillier climates, and can even come in handy if you'll be visiting tourist sites with a covered shoulders dress code in place (like European cathedrals). An ultra-supportive neck pillow to make the whole "falling asleep while sitting upright" thing possible (and comfy). Is there any better way to pass the time on a plane, train, or roadtrip than with a nice long nap? I don't think so. A foldable jewelry organizer that'll take up less space in your bag than a clunky jewelry box AND also serves as a better method than just tossing your jewelry into your bag and having to untangle it once you reach your destination. A carry-on case designed to comfortably fit under your seat. Sure, you might be lucky enough to have plenty of room in the overhead bin, but there's just something really humbling about having to fight your way out of your row and into the aisle just for everyone behind you to watch you have a wrestling match with your carry-on. We're leaving those days behind thanks to this genius invention. A compact pill organizer complete with six compartments for keeping your medications separate and preventing you from having to pack multiple pill containers. An inflatable footrest for making your next flight the comfiest one yet. So comfy, you might actually somewhat *enjoy* flying. PS — if you're traveling with kiddos, this can help turn their airplane seat into a bed. A pack of foldable hangers because the five hangers (if that?!) the hotel provides just isn't enough. You shouldn't have to risk getting your favorite blouse all wrinkled up because all the hangers are already being used to hold the dresses you brought. An anti-blister balm to apply before putting on your shoes so you can prevent those painful annoyances from even trying to happen. Whether you're walking miles at a cruise excursion or dashing from tourist attraction to tourist attraction, your feet will be happy you prepped them ahead of time. A little white-noise machine because you don't wanna be the person asking the hotel front desk for a room change, but you also reallllly don't wanna be in the hotel room next to the elevator AND the ice machine. A waterproof, satin-lined Hairbrella that'll ensure your hair stays dry on your trip and your hands stay free to hold more important things (like a yummy snack or a fun souvenir).
Forbes
4 minutes ago
- Forbes
Rob Higgins' Leadership Drives Tampa Bay Sports Commission To Set The Pace
Tampa Bay Sports Commission executive director, Rob Higgins, at Amalie Arena prior to the 2023 ... More Frozen Four. Rob Higgins was attending College Football Playoff meetings in Atlanta earlier this year when he shoehorned a side trip into his itinerary. He boarded a 6 a.m. flight Saturday, two days before the national championship game, and flew to Vegas for that evening's preseason soccer match between Messi and Inter Miami against Club America. Higgins flew back after the game and, with the time change, landed at Hartsfield-Jackson International at 6 a.m. Sunday. He attended the championship game between Ohio State and Oregon the following evening. 'It was not the brightest thing,' he said. 'It was a brutal trip that took a toll, but I was so glad because I did it.' It was a trip he took less than one month after completing treatment for colorectal cancer. 'While I didn't do anything without my doctor's permission, I also did not let it affect the things I love such as my family and the opportunity to showcase our hometown,' he said. It is that drive and determination that serves as the bedrock of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, of which Higgins has been executive director since 2004 when he joined the private non-profit entity. Sporting events flock to Tampa Among other events, the Tampa Bay Sports Commission has brought five Super Bowls, four women's Final Fours and three Frozen Fours to Tampa. Higgins and his team are in discussion with the College Football Playoff committee about hosting the 2029 championship game at the end of the 2028 season. It would be Tampa's second CFP championship joining the memorable 2017 clash between Clemson and Alabama. 'I would categorize us as being in the red zone and we are making sure we dot all of the i's and cross all of the t's," he said. 'This is a community that loves college football, and it is something we have been anxious and eager to host again. We are doing everything we can to punch it across the goal line.' Such events could not continue to take place in Tampa if the commission was busy highlighting what it did yesterday. Indeed, there is something that has not and will take place as long as Higgins is at the helm: patting oneself on the back. To that extent, Higgins credits the late Leonard Levy, a titan when it came to getting Tampa Bay included on the major-league sporting landscape, for imparting lessons on how impetrative it is to improve a product so that it grows into something more and more appealing. Certainly, you will not succeed all of the time, but one should operate with that mindset. 'He would always say, 'If they like us, they will leave us, but if they love us, they will come back,'' said Higgins. 'We don't ever deem an event successful unless it decides to return. We have to continue to make sure that we are executing with excellence and not resting on our laurels.' Hence, Higgins felt the need to squeeze Messi into his schedule so that he could get a feel for the mega-watt spectacle that would surround the mega-watt star when Inter Miami played a preseason game in Tampa in a matter of weeks. 'With our resume of hosting, I think a lot of times we feel fearless when it comes to having seen a lot of different events,' said Higgins, whose first day on the job was June 7, 2004, the day the Tampa Bay Lightning won their first Stanley Cup. 'With Messi, that was an event we truly had not seen and I was glad that we went through the due diligence of it all, no matter how hard it was. In the lead-up to the event, I could tell our community stakeholders that this is a different deal. I know we have hosted five Super Bowls and a variety of college championships, but Messi has a magnetic draw that we have to prepare for in a different way.' Having traveled so soon after an appointment that concluded a six-week string of daily treatments, the whirlwind of activity served to supply Higgins' sails with bursts of fresh air that guided him and his staff through a packed calendar. It was a stretch that included Messi's appearance at Raymond James Stadium, the Savanah Bananas for two games at the sold-out venue in March and the women's hoops Final Four in April at Amalie Arena, which is a centerpiece of activity in a downtown that has flourished post-pandemic with its Water Street development. 'To have the greatest soccer player of all-time playing here in February, the Bananas playing in an NFL stadium for the first time in March, and then our fourth women's Final Four in April, those are all things that communities would give anything to host once in five years and we had all three in 50 days,' said the 46-year-old Tampa native and University of South Florida grad, whose experience at the school ranges from being an eight-year-old ball boy with the men's basketball team to event management responsibilities under the late, great Lee Roy Selmon, the university's athletic director from 2001 to 2004. While it has been par for the course for the commission to attract major professional and collegiate events, not to mention a bevy of other sporting interests such as club soccer and travel softball that do not attract billboard-type promotion, but are vital to a community's vibrancy, perhaps the course would be more challenging to traverse if not for a staff that has a combined 90 years with the commission. National champ UConn, Baylor, South Carolina and UCLA participated in the 2025 Women's basketball ... More Final Four. It was the fourth women's hoops Final Four at Tampa's Amalie Arena. After all, it helps to know what others on a team are thinking and neither player is bashful about promoting ideas and the like especially as Tampa, and the aforementioned downtown community in particular, continues to evolve into a top-shelf destination. 'When I think about how much continuity plays a role in this, I mean, we took lessons from the 2008 women's Final Four and made the 2015 women's Final Four even better,' said Higgins. 'From there, we rolled those lessons into the 2019 women's Final Four, and then 2025. It is all on a parallel path with the growth and transformation of our community. You have the acquired knowledge, thought process and innovation that we can continue to snowball while working consistently side by side with a transforming community. It has been a perfect combination that helps elevate our game.' Dream Team Higgins was recently inducted into the Sports Club of Tampa Bay Hall of Fame. He saw the achievement as a nod to the lean, mean, machine of a team he works with each day. 'It is incredible recognition for our team,' he said. 'We are so fortunate to have seven individuals on our staff that pour their heart, soul and time into this to bring as many events of all shapes and sizes to our community.' One of those individuals, Claire Lessinger, overlapped with Higgins in the USF athletic department where she spent 16 years as a volleyball coach, the last eight as head coach. It was during her time leading the Bulls that Lessinger served as a member of the host committee for the 2009 NCAA volleyball championship in Tampa. It was in that role that she worked side by side with the commission and caught Higgins' attention for 'how dynamic she was as an administrator.' He brought her on board in 2012. Being part of a tight-knit team that will go above and beyond to accomplish its goals, or at least put forth its best effort, is the cloth from which the commission has been cut on Higgins' watch. It is also what appealed to Lessinger. 'It's a direct reflection of Rob's leadership and the culture he creates,' said the Clearwater native, who played volleyball at the University of Florida. 'All of us bring a different skill set to the table and he provides opportunities for us to grow. We joke that we can throw our titles out the door because we do whatever is needed to get the job done and make sure that we are elevating on every opportunity we get. It's the mission that we are all so passionate about.' Continuity allows for a firm grasp of an evolving sporting and community landscapes. It helps when the NCAA, the NFL and other entities deal with familiar faces who have provided a winning formula for a number of years. 'I am biased, but I feel we have the best person in their respective positions anywhere in the country working for us,' said Higgins. Major events will continue to make their way to Tampa. The lineup includes NCAA tournament first- and second-round men's basketball games at Amalie Arena next year, which will be played less than two months after Raymond James Stadium hosts an NHL Stadium Series game between the host Lightning and Boston Bruins. 'We have a pretty good recipe for success, so we do not necessarily change the way we do business,' said Lessinger. 'What we do is that we are always making sure we are elevating and raising the bar, thinking creatively and outside the box. That allows us to continue to grow and continue to attract major events to our community.' TAMPA: Rob Higgins of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission and his father, Jack, on Hockey Fights Cancer ... More evening prior to a game between Victor Hedman's Tampa Bay Lightning against Nathan MacKinnon's Colorado Avalanche at Amalie Arena on November 25, 2024. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images) Health scare provides priceless lessons Incredibly, Higgins' cancer diagnosis was five weeks after his father, Jack, learned he had a form of cancer. "I never thought I would be in the scenario where I go in for treatment, then walk back into the waiting room and my dad would be sitting there waiting for his treatment,' he said, noting Jack is doing well. 'It was a surreal father-and-son journey that I don't think any of us could have ever imagined.' It was a time that provided Higgins an opportunity to take inventory and learn from what he had not done, but needed start doing. Immediately. 'Listen, everybody is really busy and certainly I stay ultra-busy when it comes to what we have an opportunity to do for our hometown while being committed to my wife and kids,' said the husband of Casey and father of Lainey and Landon. 'If you have a health challenge, it is too easy to want to fight through it. I wore the never-going-to-the-doctor as a badge of courage whereas it was a badge of stupidity. Now that I am in the clear, I feel I am stronger and better because I have learned a lot from my mistakes. I now have the opportunity to share those lessons with others.' What Higgins has shared and will continue to share, in part, is the simple things may prove to be not so simple, as he can attest. Sure, a cough or headache may dissipate, and rather quickly. But is there something much larger at work? There is one way to find out, and it is not complicated. 'There is a smart way to approach it and that is to prioritize your mental and personal health,' he said.
Forbes
4 minutes ago
- Forbes
A Niche Travel Agency Creates Memorable Mah Jongg Vacations
Close up of Mah Jongg tiles getty It was their shared love of Mah Jongg that brought two female entrepreneurs together. Jill Fox and Susan Bishop, both of whom lived in Parkland, Florida, are co-owners of a boutique travel agency called Crak Your Bags (Crak is a playful nod to one of the game's tile suits). For the past five years, this unique business has created memorable travel experiences for enthusiasts of the game. Crak Your Bags Co-Founders Susan Bishop and Jill Fox Courtesy Jill Fox When they first met, Jill was writing local news for NBC and started 'dipping her toes into the Mah Jongg world,' she says. She was passionate about the game and began hosting moms' nights out in her community as a hobby. Susan was an experienced travel advisor who not only planned bespoke trips for her clients but had also personally visited more than two dozen countries. Also a devotee of the game, she always took her Mah Jongg set on her travels as a way to meet people. Living in the same suburb, the two women had crossed paths over the years but weren't close friends until the pandemic. 'I was hosting a Mah Jongg night at a neighborhood coffee shop, and in walked Susan to check it out,' says Jill. Susan confessed to Jill that she always dreamed of combining her love of the game with her travel expertise. 'Lucky for me, I got to come along for the ride,' says Jill. Riding The Wave Of Mah Jongg Mania Mah Jongg players on AmaCerto Courtesy Jill Fox Mah Jongg is currently enjoying a renaissance. A version of the game had its roots in 19th-century China, but the American game of Mah Jongg (as it is played today) has been around since the 1920s, writes Nicole Wong, author of Mahjong: House Rules from Across the Asian Diaspora . Once played primarily by mothers and grandmothers in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, Mah Jongg is now enjoyed by women and men of all ages and ethnicities. Games and lessons are held in libraries and community centers, as well as at coffee shops, hotels, resorts, and country clubs, on cruise ships, and in private homes across the U.S. Pop culture has contributed to the game's popularity. The 2018 romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians , which broke box office records, featured a memorable scene involving a Mah Jongg game between the movie's star, Rachel, and her boyfriend's mother. Whether mentioned on TV or published in People Magazine , the list of celebrities fawning over the game keeps growing, including Savannah Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager (of the Today Show), Julia Roberts, Jessica Parker, Mindy Kaling, Amy Poehler, Meagan Markle and more. Technology has also helped spread the word, too. The game is trending on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. Eventbrite data shows Mahjong searches on its site are up 365 percent. Gen Z and Millennials are embracing Mah Jongg as one of several 'hands-on, nostalgic activities in search of community, analog joy, and a break from digital fatigue,' says Paige Dudley a spokesperson of the ticketing platform. The Launch of Crak Your Bags Bespoke Mah Jongg tiles and table pads Courtesy Jill Fox As people yearned for in-person connections during and after the COVID pandemic, Mah Jongg's popularity surged, virtually going 'viral.' Simultaneously, the travel industry was experiencing a spike in 'revenge travel' as people sought to catch up on lost time. Jill and Susan decided to start small by hosting a trip to an all-inclusive Club Med about two hours from their home in South Florida. 'We floated the idea to our friends and friends of friends,' says Jill. 'With the help of social media, we booked 50 women within a week, and that's when we knew we were on to something.' Since that time, Crak Your Bags has hosted dozens of cruises, ranging from Fall Foliage cruises in Nova Scotia to sailings throughout the Caribbean. Who comes on these trips? Mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters, neighbors, coworkers, friends and cousins. Solo travelers who have never traveled alone. Couples, some with husbands who play the game and others who don't. Participants generally range in age from their 40s to 80s. The trips aren't competitive like Mah Jongg tournaments, but they aren't geared toward teaching the game, per se. Most participants already have some basic knowledge of how to play. Some trips offer strategy sessions for those seeking to improve their game. Every trip allows for informal games for guests who prefer to skip other planned activities. While participants can count on nightly Mah Jongg games and mini-tournaments, the specific inclusions on these mostly-inclusive getaways vary. They typically include meals, beverages, activities, excursions (on ships), gratuities, and creative extras tailored to the group's interests and the destination. Mah Jongg sets and tables are set up in public spaces, so the only game gear someone has to bring is their up-to-date Mah Jongg card. Jill and Susan ensure that the ambiance is festive with themed decorations and prizes. Crak You Bags chartered the AmaWaterways river ship, AmaCerto , last May, taking a group of 140 Mah Jongg players on a tulip cruise in Amsterdam. 'We removed the furniture from the lounge and added 25 tables complete with tulip-themed Mah Jongg mats and commemorative dice to match,' says Jill. These Mah Jongg packages take the hassles out of travel planning, offering participants not only convenience but a chance to recharge and connect with like-minded people. 'Our guests love the convenience of unpacking once on a floating hotel with the opportunity to play Mah Jongg whenever their hearts desire,' she says. Upcoming Crak Your Bag Mah Jongg events in 2025 and 2026 include cruises on Oceania Allura , Celebrity Edge, and Celebrity Beyond , as well as an AmaWaterways river cruise to Paris and Normandy, and trips to Miraval Austin Resort & Spa. Forging Friendships One Game At A Time AmaWaterways Mah Jongg Tulip Cruise Crak Your Bags Although Mah Jongg is relatively easy to learn, it is an engaging game because it couples luck with strategy. Once they start, many players find it 'addictive.' Each game is typically played with four participants, so it is inherently social in nature. Annalise Heinz, author of Mahjong: A Chinese Game and the Making of Modern American Culture, explains that different generations play Mah Jongg for various reasons. Retirees, for instance, are drawn to the game as a means of social reconnection after leaving the workplace. For some others, the appeal lies in the nostalgia of playing a game they heard about or recall from their childhood. Young mothers may seize it as an opportunity for restorative 'me-time' when they can interact with other grown-ups and relax from the stresses of parenting. 'Having an affinity group on a trip where everyone shares the same passion is very special. The group comes together organically, creating memorable experiences, friendships, and connections along the way,' says Jill Fox of Crak Your Bags. Anna Rosen of Winter Park, Florida, an avid traveler, has been playing the game for more than three decades. 'Your Mah Jongg friends become your friends for life, forming a bond that is close and hard to break,' she says.
