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Hello Reader,

🧭 Where in the World?

Are we coming or going? A bit of both. Looking ahead to Italy next week, but also to the great unplanned travel after that. Other than our return flight in December, we haven't booked a thing other than the last two weeks of October in Rome, Florence, and Venice. Will we approach Montenegro from the north or south? Will we stop in Athens? Will we treat ourselves to a spa day in Baden-Baden? We have a lot of ground to cover in October and November, and little desire to put a fixed itinerary to it. We shall see.

🧳 Our Latest Posts

Kris had a lot to think about after her trip to Mallorca. Why, she asks, have we not traveled there before? It turns out Mallorca has a lot more to offer than the beaches, and Kris's tiny notebook was bursting with ideas for visitors. Short take? Travel off season and head for the interior. Read her Mallorca post now, and stay tuned for more about Menorca.

🗞️ Travel News From Around the Web

• There are 19 US National Parks that you can visit for free year round. Did you know that? We didn't. Of course, getting to some of the remote ones in Alaska (and one in Minnesota) can be a challenge.
• A researcher from University College London won an Ig Nobel Award for showing that “Blue Zones” — areas where people are said to live well past 100 at unusually high rates — are not what they seem. In reality, clerical errors and pension fraud led to those (erroneous) conclusions.
• The most complained about airline according to travelers we know, Spirit Airlines, is reportedly on the verge of bankruptcy. You might want to rethink your next budget flight.
• The Travel Conservation Auction closes October 16. The Adventure Travel Conservation Fund (ATCF) auction gives travelers and adventurers the opportunity to win incredible trips and high-quality gear, while supporting global conservation efforts. The folks behind that auction, from ATTA (Adventure Travel Trade Association), report this week on the big rise in cycling tourism. ATTA members are our go-to companies for soft adventure and small group travel. You can search these companies by visiting the ATTA member site.

💸 This Week's Best Deals in Travel

Our favorite travel (and walking) shoes Xero shoes is having a big sale. They are offering up to 70 percent off some styles (and at least 10 percent off most.) Use their cool Find Your Shoe feature to find the best styles for you. Don't waste time, though, because a lot of styles are already sold out – including the one Tom wanted.

There's a new version of Cotopaxi bag Tom has been using for a couple of years. Some small, but very nice improvements include a water bottle pocket, a better waist belt, and an extra outside pocket or two. You can read about our travel bags here.

Now is the time to book your trip to Antarctica! Polar Latitudes has marked down their remaining inventory for the season – now through March 2025. Mention TravelPast50 for an extra 20% savings! Don't delay; do it today. Some dates are already sold out. Exciting news from London: The Expedition Cruise Network awarded Polar Latitudes Best Small Expedition Cruise Operator overall and Best Expedition Cruise Operator for polar destinations. We knew it! Congrats! On top of that, founder John McKeon was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award. It's a great story. Listen to our interview with John to learn more about travel to Antarctica.

Are you using your AARP membership for travel savings? (Ain't too proud to admit our age.) We see the annual fee is going up to $20, but that's a pittance compared to the savings you'll get on car rentals, hotels, and more. Enroll now, while the annual fee is still only $12.
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✈️ Points and Miles News

Free Travel! For the first time ever, the best beginner travel card has unveiled a unique welcome offer that combines points with cash for travel. Right now, you can earn 60,000 UR points and a $300 cash credit after spending $4,000 within your first three months. Learn more he​re. The points plus the travel credit are worth up to $1050 in free travel. That, along with the card's multiple other benefits, is a great deal for the $95 annual fee. Or, if you want to go straight to the application, click here.

For all you Delta Airlines fans (like us): all of the Delta cards have increased their welcome offers. They range from 80,000 Delta miles to 100,000 miles, depending on the card. Delta has a sometimes laughable reputation in the miles and points world, but 80,000 miles can actually get you far (like Tokyo far or 8 domestic flights, far) Check out the offers for yourself here.

📖 What We're Reading

After three or four previous false starts, Tom is now fully engrossed in My Brilliant Friend, by Elena Ferrante. My Brilliant Friend was recently named the best novel of the 21st Century in a poll of writers done by the NY Times. It is lovely.

Kris is still talking about The Fifth Risk, by Michael Lewis, While she recovers her emotional footing she's started Horse by Geraldine Brooks. And there are several books on the table...but the top two are Europe Through the Back Door by Rick Steves, and Broken by Jenny Lawson. Which will she finish first?

❝Travel Quote of the Week❞

To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.– Freya Stark

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Happy travels,

Kris and Tom

​ Tom Bartel and Kristin Henning ​Travel Past 50​ ​ Connect with us: Facebook, Threads, Instagram, ​ Join our Facebook community.

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