✈ Virus-Fighting Hotel Bed, 9 Things to Know About National Park Visits & More Daily News From TPG ✈

Also: 6 ways staying at a hotel is better than an Airbnb [The Points Guy]( WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY Aug 17, 2020 VISITING NATIONAL PARKS Before the pandemic, I had somehow only managed to visit a single national park — [Yosemite]( after a fantastic weekend in [Napa Valley](. It was as incredible as I'd imagined, and I immediately began plotting out stops [on a U.S. tour](. While that trip didn't materialize as quickly as I'd hoped, I did get to visit my second park this August, with a month-long trip to [Acadia]( on [Maine's Mount Desert Island]( pictured above. Judging by the crowds we've spotted this summer, many other Americans [had the same idea]( but that isn't the case at every national park — while TPG's Katie Genter encountered full hotels and packed parking lots at [Rocky Mountain National Park]( she had much better luck at the [Grand Canyon](. A trip this summer may require more planning than in the past, though, so I'd be sure to check out: - [9 things to know about visiting a national park right now]( - [You may need to make a reservation before visiting]( - [TPG's list of 8 survival tips for wilderness hikes]( Looking for some more end-of-summer inspiration? Head over to our recap of the [19 national parks]( every traveler needs to see at least once. Zach Honig, Editor-at-Large Posts in this newsletter contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, [visit this page](#). TODAY'S TOP STORIES [Not all heroes wear capes: The new hotel bed that fights viruses and bacteria]( The travel industry has scrambled to implement hygiene and sanitation policies to keep travelers safe away from home. [Read more]( [I traveled on Amtrak during the pandemic — here are 5 things that have changed]( Taking the train has typically been a more niche alternative to driving and flying. [Read more]( [You can now earn up to 30,000 points with increased Amex referral offers]( TPG values Membership Rewards points at 2 cents each, making the bonus worth an impressive $600. [Read more]( [The 4 reopened Disney World character meals are better than ever — here’s why]( Guests can expect a much less intrusive and forced way of seeing characters than before. [Read more]( [6 Ways Staying at a Hotel Is Better Than an Airbnb]( It makes sense that rental platforms are becoming more popular among certain travelers, but hotels may be a better pick. [Read more]( THE LATEST 1 [TPG reader credit card question: Which credit card should I use in shopping portals?]( 2 [21 tips and tricks that will make your first cruise go smoothly]( 3 [Earn 65,000 bonus points with new sign-up bonus offers on these Southwest credit cards]( 4 [How to retroactively credit flights to your frequent flyer account]( 5 [Flying solo: Airline unaccompanied minor policies and fees in the US]( 6 [Earn more miles, MQMs with these Delta Amex offers]( 7 [Second to none: Here’s what makes Southwest’s generous change policies so good]( 8 [UPDATED: When will international travel return? A country-by-country guide to coronavirus recovery]( 9 [Google adds new features to help with your travel plans in the COVID era]( 10 [Iceland adds strict requirements for entry — and US travelers are still not welcome]( [fb]( [insta]( [yt]( [tw]( [in](#) [mail](#) You are receiving this because you opted in at [thepointsguy.com](. Where to find us: The Points Guy 100 5th Ave., 16th Floor New York, NY 10011 USA0 USA Changed your mind? You can [unsubscribe]( at any time. Advertiser Disclosure: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which [ThePointsGuy.com]( receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Please view our [advertising policy page](#) for more information. Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. THE POINTS GUY © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2020