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The Best Days to Book a Flight and When to Fly

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Believing there’s just one optimal day a week to save on flights — and that day is Tuesday — is the stuff of legends. And like all good legends, there is some truth to it … but it’s not the whole story.

The reality is that flight prices change constantly and at all hours of the day, adjusting to real-time demand. Airlines don’t restock on the same day every week like a grocery store, so you won’t find deals by waiting until Tuesdays to book. However, you might find some modest savings if you’re willing to fly on Saturdays or midweek, when there’s less demand than usual.

Here’s what the data shows on the best days to book a flight and when to fly.

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Best day to book a flight

No single day of the week is best to book a flight. You can find deals any day of the week since flight prices fluctuate with demand.

Airlines might offer sales, increase the number of seats on a route or even lower prices to match a competitor, so there’s no actual pattern in what day of the week has the best deals.

Best day to fly

Hopper — a travel booking app — collected flight booking data from October 2023 through April 1, 2024 for May 2024 departures. Here are the findings about the best day to fly.

Tuesday and Friday flights can help you avoid the rush earlier in the week

Sundays and Mondays are the most expensive days to depart for domestic trips. If you can’t fly on the cheapest days, flying on Tuesdays or Fridays might also be a good option. The average airfare is about 12% lower than peak Sunday prices on these days.

Mondays can still be a relatively expensive day to fly domestically. By departing on Monday instead of Sunday, you can expect to save only about $9, or about 3%.

Wednesdays and Saturdays are the cheapest day to fly internationally

Meanwhile, international flyers would also be wise to leave on Wednesdays or Saturdays, usually the cheapest days to depart for an international trip. That said, there isn’t a huge difference in price across the days of the week for most international routes.

Hopper estimates that leaving on a Wednesday for Europe will only save you about 10% compared to the most expensive day (Friday).

Fly on the holidays (or as far from it as possible)

Holidays are an entirely different beast, no matter whether it’s the Fourth of July or Labor Day. There are generally more people flying in the days around a holiday, so there are fewer airplane seats available and higher prices.

To get the best deal, book as early as possible. Because many airlines have flexible cancellation policies, it doesn’t hurt to lock in a decent rate ahead of time and rebook if the flight price drops in the months after. According to Google Flights’ 2023 insights, the best time to book a mid-December holiday flight is 71 days before departure.

In many cases, the best day to fly will be further out from the holiday. If the holiday falls on a Monday, flying the Tuesday before will likely be cheaper than flying the Friday before. You can also look at flying on the holiday itself. For example, flying on Christmas Day or Thanksgiving Day is usually much more affordable than flying on the days before or after.

Here are our recommendations for when to fly around some of the major holidays based on recent checkpoint data from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA):

The best days to fly around Memorial Day .

The best days to fly around Fourth of July .

The best days to fly around Labor Day .

The best days to fly around Thanksgiving .

The best days to fly around Christmas .

The best days to fly around the winter holidays .

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Tips to find cheap flights any day of the week

Book one to three months in advance.

Even though no day of the week consistently has cheaper flights, there is a time period during which you should book before prices go up.

Going, a flight deals aggregator, recommends booking domestic flights one to three months in advance to avoid any price surges in the weeks leading up to the departure date. Last-minute flight deals aren’t super common and you risk not getting a seat at all because your desired flight might ultimately sell out. If you’re flying internationally, you’ll want to look two to eight months out.

It doesn’t hurt to look at flight prices before the ideal booking window. Google Flights, for example, sometimes shows in the search results when it expects prices to be the lowest based on historical data for your route.

Set a price alert

Let a computer program do the work for you. Instead of checking flight prices every day, set a price alert on the travel search engine of your choice — whether it’s Google Flights , Hopper, Skyscanner or Kayak . They’ll send you an email when they see the price drop.

Rebook if you find a cheaper price

Most airlines have adopted more flexible change and cancellation policies , which make it easier to rebook your flight and save money.

First, you’ll have to make sure that the original flight you booked will not have change or cancellation fees. For most airlines, that applies to most main cabin and premium class tickets on domestic flights and some short-haul international flights. You usually cannot change or cancel basic economy tickets for free.

If you can cancel or change without fees, set a price alert. When the price drops, you can cancel your flight and rebook (on the same airline or a different one) to get the cheaper price. Be aware that you might only get a travel voucher or credit if you cancel, so you should only use the option if you are fairly confident you will fly with the original airline again within one year.

Be flexible with destination, airport and dates

The golden rule of cheap travel remains: Be flexible . Use Google Flights to see if there are cheaper places to go by leaving the destination field blank when you search. Check nearby airports if you’re set on a destination and use the calendar views to find lower prices on different dates. Maybe embrace a long layover as a chance to see another city on your trip.

After all, the best day to book a flight and the best day to fly is when it’s cheapest, and that could vary depending on when and where you are going.

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Ultimate Guide to the Best And Worst Days to Fly & Book Flights

Jeff Brownson

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Cash Tickets vs. Award Seats

Holidays and school breaks, large festivals and sporting events, shoulder seasons, the best days of the week to fly, the worst days of the week to fly, the rules don’t always apply, the best day of the week to book flights, help with researching prices, final thoughts.

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No matter where I am or who I am with, the conversation eventually turns to travel. It’s what I’m passionate about, it’s what I know the most about, and it’s what I do for a living. Travel is also something that most people would like to do more.

When talking with friends and relatives, or even with new acquaintances, certain questions come up again and again.

How do you travel so much? How do you travel for so little money? When is the best time to travel for less? How do I save money on flights?

The first two are easy to answer. I make travel a priority in my life and use miles and points to cover as much of the cost as possible.

When it comes to the last two questions, the answers get  a bit more complicated. That’s what we are going to take a look at today.

Below, we will go over the best and worst times of the year to fly, the best and worst days of the week to fly, and the best times to book your flights. By the end of this post, you should understand how to save a bit of money when booking your flights, so you have more to spend at your destination.

When we talk about saving on your flights, most people think only about cash tickets. This is, however, a site all about using points to travel, so we should probably talk about saving points, too.

Fortunately, most of the time, the two go hand in hand. The times of year and days of the week when you will find lower prices often match up with the days you are more likely to find low-level award seats.

Because of this, we will be using examples from both cash bookings and points bookings in our explanations below. We may show cash prices or award availability calendars, but when we talk about saving at certain times, we are generally talking about both.

The Worst Times of the Year to Fly

You can probably guess the worst times of the year to fly. The best times to fly are the days with less demand for the seats, so that means the worst times of the year to fly are the times with the most demand.

These generally include the days around holidays or festivals (in the U.S. or at the destination), sporting events, and any time kids are out of school. Sometimes, holidays and time off from school line up. Those are typically the worst times to fly.

Of course, you may not always have a choice in when you travel. Maybe you have kids in school; perhaps you work at a school, maybe you only get holidays off from work.

If that’s the case, there are a few things you can try to make paying for your flights less painful. For example, try flying to less popular destinations. Instead of a beach trip in January, check out a city you’ve never seen before. You can also try varying your flight dates by a day or two. By taking an extra day off or giving up a day of your trip, you might be able to save significantly.

To help you know when you may need to try these techniques, below are some examples of the worst times of the year to fly, when you will almost definitely find higher airfares and fewer award seats.

Carnival/Mardi Gras

Significant celebrations in New Orleans , Rio de Janeiro, and many other Caribbean and Central and South American countries occur for Carnival and Mardi Gras. People travel from surrounding areas to celebrate before the beginning of Lent. Celebrations last up to two weeks or more before but typically are the biggest and most crowded the weekend and days before Ash Wednesday.

Oktoberfest

Although smaller festivals happen all over the world, Munich is the place where millions of visitors come together between the end of September and the beginning of October for this massive carnival/fair/beer drinking event. People come from all over the world, so expect higher fares during this time to Munich and surrounding cities.

Christmas markets

In Europe, the Christmas markets take place from the beginning of September up until the beginning of January, with dates varying depending on the location. Many Americans fly over for a long weekend just to go to the markets, so you can expect higher fares especially around the weekends during this season.

Every 2 years, alternating between Winter and Summer Games, the Olympics take place in a different country each time. If you plan to attend, your best bet is to get your flight as soon as possible (especially for award seats) or fly into a neighboring city and take a train or drive to the host city.

Every 4 years and in a different country each time, the World Cup is one of the most significant worldwide sporting events. It typically takes place from the middle of June to the middle of July with schedules varying slightly.

Qatar is hosting the 2022 World Cup, and due to the country’s climate, will take place from November to December. Expect fares to be elevated from a few days before the first games until a few days after the final, as fans fly from city to city and back to their homes.

Taking place on the first Sunday in February, the Super Bowl is one of the most significant sporting events in the United States. Hosted in a different city each year, you can expect significantly higher airfares to the host city for the few days before the game and away from the host city for the few days after the game.

World Series

Two cities host the World Series, those of the teams playing. Since no one knows what two cities those will be until the previous round of the playoffs is complete, airfares can shoot up quickly as soon as the final teams are confirmed. If you want to see your team, it might be in your best interest to speculatively book some refundable tickets before the final teams are known. If your team doesn’t make it, you can cancel and start hoping for next year.

The Best Times of the Year to Fly

Finding the best times of the year to fly is not just as simple as avoiding the dates listed above in the worst times of the year to fly. Sure, if you can do that, you will likely find lower prices, but we want to find the lowest prices. We want to look at the best times of the year to fly.

To find the lowest prices, we need to find the flights with the least amount of demand. Traveling to less popular locations and at less popular times of year is the best way to do so.

Of course, destination matters, too. We all want to see the Eiffel Tower and the Sydney Harbor Bridge, but we don’t need a show-stopping attraction like that on every trip. Choosing less popular locations can save you a lot of money. You might be surprised how fantastic your trip will be.

Once you’ve picked a destination, it’s time to figure out when you should fly there.

Most destinations around the world have a high season and a low season. It’s easy to understand that the high season would be more popular and therefore have higher flight prices. The low season would be cheaper, but there is probably a reason it is the low season. Most often, that reason is the weather.

Hot Tip: What many people don’t realize is that in between the high and low seasons, there are what is known as the shoulder seasons. Times of the year where the prices aren’t as high as the high season, but the benefits of traveling in the high season are still mostly there. The weather may be a few degrees cooler on the beach, but it will still be plenty warm enough to enjoy.

The shoulder season is what you want to find. Flights will be cheaper, and the destination will still be a great place to visit. Shoulder seasons are not always obvious, but you can get a little help finding them in some locations.

Check local hotels, buses, and tour prices. Often, they will have different pricing listed for high season and low season. In the middle of those two, you will find the shoulder season. We would advise you to go right on the edge of when things are cheaper to get the best of the high season at low season pricing.

Taking a trip to Nicaragua in the fall, for example, can be a fantastic adventure. Within the span of a few weeks, you can scuba dive with hammerhead sharks, climb a volcano and go boarding back down, whitewater raft through canyons, and see monkeys in the forest. The best part? There are cheap flights , plenty of availability, and since it is a shoulder season in Nicaragua, everything at your destination will be less expensive, too.

Similarly to the best times of year to fly, the best days of the week to fly are those with less demand. The fewer people who want to fly on a major route on a specific day, the lower your price will generally be.

For our best and worst days of the week, we will be concentrating primarily on domestic U.S. travel. International travel doesn’t tend to follow the same patterns in pricing. In fact, it is tough to find any pattern at all in international flight pricing.

Domestically, Tuesday and Wednesday are often the cheapest days to fly, with Thursday coming in slightly more expensive. This makes sense if you think about it.

These are the three days in the middle of the week. Business travelers are usually coming and going at the beginning or end of the week. Leisure travelers are rarely looking forward to the middle of the week, so they can enjoy their days off. Not that many people have a reason to fly on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

Hot Tip: If you can move your plans around so that your flights are mid-week, you are likely to save a bunch on your tickets. The same goes for award seats. You are much more likely to find an award seat to New York City midweek on a Tuesday than at the start of the work week on a Monday.

In a nutshell:

• Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are the best days to fly domestically
• Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday are the days with the highest cost and lowest number of award seats.

There are two reasons for this, and both of them are relatively simple: business travel and vacations.

Domestically, business travelers who spend the week on location are either heading out on Sunday if they want to get a jump on the week or early Monday morning if they’re going to make the most of their weekend at home. Business travelers typically fly back to their home base at the end of the workweek on Friday, unless they need to work a full day on location and end up flying home Saturday.

Business travel is a huge part of domestic air travel, so you can understand why these travel patterns would lead to more demand and thus higher prices on these days of the week.

Vacationers, in a similar manner, most often take a full week of work off. If possible, they will sneak out and take a flight on Friday to take advantage of two full weekends at their destination. If they can’t do that, then Saturday is the next choice of day to fly to maximize vacation time.

On Sunday, it’s time to head home and get ready to go back to work on Monday.

Vacation travel sometimes extends to two or even three weeks, but most Americans take vacations in full week blocks, and they end up flying on these days. Again, more demand equals higher prices and fewer award seats.

Although this is the definitive guide, there aren’t any absolute rules. For every guideline, there are plenty of examples to contradict it.

In our days of the week sections, we only dealt with domestic flights. That is because those same guidelines don’t usually apply to international flights, as you can see in the pricing screenshot above.

When it comes to awards, a route with either abundant seats or too few seats can throw the rules out the window as well. If you want to fly 6 people to Australia in business class, for example, it doesn’t matter what day of the week you go; it is going to be nearly impossible to find those award seats.

Other routes have so many flights that there will consistently be award seats available. Almost any day you consider, you will be able to get one or more people on those flights with miles, even on the toughest days to fly.

This is an outline of general rules and suggestions for finding cheaper airfare and more available award seats, so these suggestions will not work every single time you try to book a flight.

They will, however, help some of the time. If you can save money some of the time, that is far better than always paying a higher price.

Over the years, there have been several answers to this question. People used to say Sunday night was the best time to book. Then it was widely reported that Tuesday was the day you would find the cheapest fares.

Some places have even argued that the best day for domestic flights is different than the best day for international flights.

Unfortunately, there is usually not a whole lot of data behind these reports. Sure, they will often point to a particular study or a survey or maybe even a well-known travel website, but if you look at the sources, the information they use is often not very convincing.

The first problem is that when media reports on this topic, it is always a big hit. Everyone wants to know the answer. Increased interest in booking on a particular day can influence pricing.

The second problem is that there will never be a single day of the week where all airfare is cheaper than usual. If there were such a day, nobody would ever book on other days of the week.

Airlines are continually adjusting airfares based on dates of travel, the popularity of the flights, and a variety of other factors. Each flight has several different fare buckets, and if one sells out, that price is gone. The airlines aren’t going to wait until Wednesday to change the price.

The same goes for lowering fares. It happens when the factors dictate it should happen. So if you are looking for a magic answer here, you aren’t going to find it. Sorry.

Bottom Line: The most accurate answer we can give you is this: the best day of the week to book your flight is the day that the price is lowest. Unfortunately, there are no consistent patterns, despite what you might have heard or read! 

A great way to find the lowest prices for flights to your destinations is to do a little bit of research ahead of time.

If you need to travel on specific dates, there isn’t too much you can do, but if you are flexible with your dates, looking at pricing history and setting up alerts can be quite helpful.

Google Flights is a great tool for looking at pricing. As you can see in some of the images we used above, you can see the pricing of flights for 2 full months at a time. This makes it quite easy to see which days of the week are going to be the best. It also can save you a lot of money by showing you that a day or two after or before your flight will be cheaper.

Hot Tip: Another helpful thing Google Flights does is allow you to track prices for specific flights. Once you have done a search and selected a particular flight, you will see a Track Prices button. Selecting this will save the flight, and you will get an email every time the price goes up or down. This is a great way to get an idea of pricing trends for a future trip.

In addition to Google Flights, services like Hopper and Kayak offer suggestions about whether it is the right time to buy a flight. They use past data to try to predict whether a flight price will rise or fall in the next week or so. Although these predictions won’t always be correct, they are data-based and can help with your confidence when booking flights.

As finding cheaper airfare is such a vast topic, this is by no means an exhaustive list of services and sites that you can use to research flights. There are plenty of others out there, and with a little digging, you may find one you like even better than what we have listed.

Finding the best and worst days to fly is far from an exact science. There are so many factors affecting flight pricing that you will never find a definitive formula that can be applied every time you want to book a flight.

With that in mind, however, what we have outlined in this post should help you get a broad idea of certain times when it would be possible to save a bit of money on your flight prices.

You should also now have an idea of a few times of the year when you will have a better chance of finding the award seats you need.

With award seats, as with cash bookings, flexibility is critical. The ability to fly on a Tuesday instead of a Monday might mean that you can find the award seat you want. It could also mean you will save 25 percent if you pay for the flight with cash.

Flying in shoulder seasons or to less popular destinations gives you a much higher chance of lower prices and plenty of award seats.

Keep these suggestions in mind next time you are booking, but above all, make sure you are comfortable with the price you are paying. If you are happy with the price, book the flight. Worrying too much about saving 10 or 20 dollars will add unnecessary stress to your life, and that’s the exact opposite of what you are hoping to achieve with a vacation.

Bottom Line: Find a flight you like and a price you can afford, book your trip, and spend the rest of your time concentrating on the time at your destination. Whether you’re relaxing on a beach, hanging from a zip line, or stuffing yourself with street food, we hope that this post helps you save some money and makes your next trip a reality as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best days to fly.

Generally speaking, for domestic travel, Tuesday and Wednesday are often the cheapest days to fly.

What are the worst day to fly?

Generally speaking, for domestic travel, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday tend to be the most expensive.

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About Jeff Brownson

Since discovering miles and points in 2010, Jeff has traveled to over 35 countries, flying in first class, business class, and sometimes even in coach. Whether he’s staying in a hostel dorm, or in a luxury suite at a 5 star hotel, Jeff is constantly looking for the best deal to make travel as close to free as possible.

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The Best and Worst Days to Fly

Caroline Costello

Caroline Costello's travel accomplishments include surviving a 2 a.m. whitewater rafting excursion in the Canadian wilderness, successfully biking from Dusseldorf to Cologne without a map, and gaining access to a covert pizza speakeasy in New Orleans.

Caroline is an active member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW). Her work has appeared on USA Today , the Boston Globe , AOL.com, MSNBC.com, ABC News, TODAY Travel, and CruiseCritic.com, among other publications.

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Airfares jolt up and down like a plane caught in turbulence. The airlines use computer systems to set ticket prices based on a complicated mix of factors, including competition, demand, the state of the economy, seasonality, taxes, the number of views on a YouTube cat video—you name it. That’s why it’s nearly impossible to predict exactly where ticket prices will fall on any given day of the year, and which will be the cheapest or best days to fly.

Thanks to a handful of websites that compile data based on everything from direct bookings to historical studies of published fares, it’s possible to analyze fare models and get at least a rough idea of the most expensive and cheapest days to fly during the year. Use this information to figure out when a potential flight will cost you top dollar—and when you can fly for a song.

The Worst Days to Fly

Thanks to high demand and correspondingly high fares, the following times of year are usually the most expensive days to fly.

Christmas and New Year’s

The Christmas and New Year’s holiday travel window is more or less a 17-day period that overlaps the two holidays by about five or six days, according to statistics gathered from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Peak days always depend on when the weekends fall in relation to the holidays, since lots of people want to travel over convenient long weekends.

Note that it’s not unusual to see flights departing on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and sometimes the days immediately following or preceding the holidays that are cheaper than departures a few days out, depending on how they fall during the week. If you’re booking a holiday trip, use your booking engine’s flexible dates option to see which days will save you the most money.

Spring Break

Spring break peak travel dates vary by destination but generally extend from late February through the beginning of April. Most colleges and universities have spring break in March or even late February; meanwhile, families with school-age children vacation around Easter, which is usually in late March or April. Watch out for higher fares to beach and family destinations like Florida and the Caribbean during this time. (See Top 25 Ways to Save on a Caribbean Vacation for more help.)

If you’re visiting a destination that attracts the college set, such as Cancun or Punta Cana , but you’re looking to avoid wet T-shirt contests and noisy parties, here’s a tip. Take a look at this list from STA Travel , which outlines the spring break dates for American colleges and universities each year. Avoid planning your beach vacation around those dates.

Summer is high season for numerous destinations, and fares are accordingly driven higher by demand. The crest of summer travel is from Memorial Day to Labor Day, during which fares to most U.S., Canadian, and European destinations are at their peak. Three-day weekends around summer holidays like Memorial Day or the Fourth of July are particularly expensive times to fly.

If you can put off your trip until mid-September or go in May instead of June, you’ll likely pay less than you would over the summer (not only for airfares but also for hotels once you arrive).

There are some exceptions to this rule. Summer is low season for U.S. mountain towns, the Caribbean, parts of Mexico, Costa Rica, and many places in the Southern Hemisphere like Australia and New Zealand.

Thanksgiving

Peak Thanksgiving travel dates are predictable year after year, as the holiday always falls on the fourth Thursday of November. The period from Wednesday through Sunday around Thanksgiving wins the award for Busiest Travel Time of the Year.

So when’s the best time to depart for the big family feast? The busiest and most expensive days are the Wednesday before and the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Flying on Thanksgiving Day itself typically offers the cheapest possible fares; the day after is often a pretty good deal as well. As with Christmas and New Year’s, you’ll save by zigging when others zag; while everyone else plans to be back at work the Monday after Thanksgiving, you could save by extending your long weekend and flying home that day instead of Sunday.

The Best (and Cheapest) Days to Fly

So what is the cheapest day to fly? Read on to find out when travel demand tends to be lowest.

Winter/Low Season

Speaking of seasonality, here’s a hard, fast, and simple rule: The cheapest days to fly are low-season, non-holiday travel dates; this will vary based on your destination, largely because of weather. Because summer is the popular tourist season for an abundance of vacation spots, winter is a great time to seek out rock-bottom airfares. Look for amazingly cheap tickets to places that draw big crowds in summer, like Europe , Canada, and most U.S. destinations (except ski towns, Florida, and Hawaii). Excluding spring break and Thanksgiving, spring and autumn are also excellent occasions to find affordable shoulder-season fares to these destinations.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Unless you are the amazing Zoltar, it’s impossible to predict what the single cheapest day to fly will be. Even if you could gauge data from previous years to determine which day offered the lowest prices for your particular route, there’s no telling if the same pattern would happen the following year.

Travel experts generally agree on the cheapest travel days of the week. Fare tracker site Airfarewatchdog, SmarterTravel’s sister site, notes that Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the two best days of the week to fly if you want to save some coin.

Thursdays and Saturdays

The next cheapest days of the week to fly are Thursday and Saturday. Saturday might sound like a popular—hence expensive—day to fly. But in truth, most travelers prefer to come back from vacation on Sunday to maximize their time away. The most popular days for business travelers, meanwhile, are Monday and Friday.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Ultimately, your best day to fly all depends on your route and your airline. I see plenty of airfare sales that restrict discounted dates to Tuesdays and Wednesdays only or Mondays through Thursdays. I’ve also seen international fare sales that tack on weekend surcharges and require a Saturday night stay. Airline, seasonality, current demand, and a barrage of other factors can completely overthrow the Tuesday/Wednesday rule of thumb … which brings me to my next point.

How to Do Your Own Flight Research

There’s that old saying about teaching a man to fish. I can give you scores of statistics, but you’re still going to want to know how to find the least expensive flights that work with your particular travel itinerary. Below are some useful resources to get you started.

SmarterTravel Tips and Advice for Finding Flights

To learn the basics, start with 10 Tips for Finding Cheap Airfare , which offers 10 tricks for grabbing the cheapest possible tickets available. It’s a must-read for flyers. Other useful stories include 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Booking a Flight and Want the Lowest Fare? Here’s When to Book . SmarterTravel has also put together a list of The 10 Best Flight Search Sites for Booking Cheap Airfare .

Airfarewatchdog for Fare Alerts

I love Airfarewatchdog because it does the work for you. Sign up for free fare alerts from your local gateway, and the site will send you email notifications when fares for your itinerary drop.

Predictive Services to Determine When to Book

When you search flights on Kayak.com , the site typically offers a prediction for whether you should buy or wait, along with a chart of recent fare trends for that itinerary. The site uses data to predict whether the fare is likely to rise or fall in the next seven days.

The Hopper app ( iOS | Android ) offers a similar predictive service, telling you to buy or wait once you enter your itinerary. It will alert you when the price drops and its prediction changes from “wait” to “buy.”

What to Wear on Your Flight

Women’s comfy outfit to wear on a flight with girlfriend collective leggings, shop the look.

Moisturizing Cream

High-Rise Legging

Ribbed Cardigan

Cotton Crew

Wool Loungers

Men’s comfy outfit for an airplane with ugg shoes.

Half-Zip Sweatshirt

Noise Cancelling Headphones

Jogger Pants

Weekend Bag

More from smartertravel:.

• What Not to Wear on a Plane (and What’s Perfectly Fine)
• 10 Ways to Get the Best Airplane Seat
• 10 Ways to Survive a Long-Haul Flight

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2017. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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Simple Flying

A 'peak' at the busiest & quietest days in the week to fly.

It's nice to be able to avoid congestion if possible.

Arriving early at the airport can be fantastic if there is no one else around. There’s time to do duty-free shopping, grab a bite to eat, or even relax in the lounge . But there is nothing more frustrating than arriving in plenty of time, only to find that bag drop and security queues are so long that you end up sprinting to your gate.

Other days, you can plan to arrive just in time and find yourself sailing through an almost deserted airport with plenty of time to spare. So which days should you look to avoid if you want the airport to yourself?

Weekend vs weekdays

When it comes to which day of the week is the quietest, there isn’t a definitive answer. It is worth doing some research into the airport you are flying from. However, Tuesday and Wednesday are often less busy. This is because you have to take more days off work to fly mid-week, which people are usually reluctant to do. Upgraded Points notes that these days are also often cheaper.

Stay informed: Sign up for our daily and weekly aviation news digests.

In contrast, traveling close to or at the weekend is typically more expensive, as well as busier. Leisure travelers looking to enjoy a weekend away tend to go Friday and Monday. At the same time, passengers who commute every week for work also travel Monday and Friday to return home for the weekend. As such, Sundays can be busy as business travelers try to get a head start on the week ahead.

Similarly, people traveling for extended vacations tend to travel during the weekend to maximize holiday time. Friday nights and Saturday mornings can see some airports busier than ever, so Office Needle advises traveling before 4 PM on Fridays. Weekend flights are more in demand and subsequently more expensive.

The exception to the rule

There is one big exception to the rule: package holiday companies. For some tourist destinations, a large percentage of flights are operated by, or in partnership with, package holiday companies. In these cases, if you aren’t traveling with one of these companies, the quietest day is just whatever day isn’t changeover day.

The airline industry is always full of new developments! What aviation news will you check out next?

Generally, there is a standardized changeover day (or days), when holiday companies carry vast numbers of passengers over two days. Typically, this is the weekend, but if they want to allow passengers a whole weekend at the destination, changeover day can be mid-week. If the changeover day is a Tuesday, then this will become the busiest day, while the weekend might become very quiet.

The best time

As the old saying goes, the early bird gets the worm. If you can’t fly on one of the quieter days, then getting up early is your best option. If the flight leaves before 8 AM, meaning you have to arrive around 6 AM, you should be in for a quiet time. This is because fewer people bother (or at least prefer) to travel that early.

However, not everyone can function that early. If you’re more of a night owl, then flying late is also a good option. It may be busier than morning, as many people who fly for business will fly overnight to arrive in time for meetings the next day. So, while you will have to deal with more travelers, they are more likely to be frequent flyers who are familiar with the airport routine, reducing congestion.

In general, traveling on Tuesday or Wednesday will mean you avoid the highest fares and the busiest times. However, you will have to take more time off work if your job conforms to the normal working schedule. If you don’t have a choice, then an early morning flight will reduce the chance of having to queue for hours.

If you are less of a fan of waking up early or staying up late, and prefer to travel in the middle of the day, then you will typically be more likely to have to be prepared to face the crowds. Of course, if you’re flying over a holiday period or to a major event, busier airports and flights are to be expected at most times.

Do you have any tips or tricks for a smooth airport experience? When do you prefer to fly? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

Sources: Office Needle , Upgraded Points

The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare in 2024

• The best days to fly for the cheapest domestic and international fares are midweek.
• Aim to book domestic flights one to two months ahead of time. 
• For international flights, plan on booking three to five months ahead of the trip.

At TPG, one of our key goals is to help you find the cheapest airfare . However, your ability to find valuable airline deals depends on a few factors.

Flights during spring break, the peak of summer and, of course, the holidays are often much more expensive.

We're all looking to find the best deals we can. That's where some of our next tips come in.

Have you ever heard that booking a flight on a certain day of the week will yield the cheapest results? Perhaps you're thinking of a cousin who claims he found a great deal when he checked on airfare prices at 12:01 a.m. on a Wednesday. Maybe your friend swears by setting a reminder on their phone for 1 p.m. on a Thursday when they're shopping for flights.

While there is no shortage of rumors (and "studies") out there, here's what airfare experts say about how timing influences airfare prices so you can maximize airfare savings.

Is there a day that's cheaper than others to book a flight?

It's a question we get asked all the time: "What is the cheapest day to book a flight?" There's a common misperception that certain days are better for finding flight deals. However, research shows that this is a myth.

There is no magic day to book, but there are some sweet booking windows when airlines lower prices, according to Lindsay Schwimer, a consumer travel expert at the booking app Hopper .

Hopper relies on 10 years of data and 80 trillion flight prices to recommend the best time to book specific routes and dates.

"Typically, we tell travelers for domestic trips to start monitoring prices three to four months in advance of a trip," Schwimer said. "Expect to book one to two months in advance."

For international trips, the window is a bit larger. You should start monitoring six to seven months prior to the trip and book it three to five months in advance. That's the recommendation from both Hopper and TPG.

"When you're traveling internationally, planning ahead is key to getting the cheapest airfare," Hayley Berg, Hopper's lead economist, said in another interview. "Travelers often book international flights too far in advance or too last minute, overpaying significantly for their tickets."

Remember that the strategy changes pretty dramatically if you book with points and miles . Airlines often open award space for coveted business- and first-class seats either when the schedules open or at the last minute.

As for whether there's a particular day that's cheaper than the rest for booking, Schwimer mentioned that "there's no one day or golden rule when to book."

Berg echoed this sentiment.

"There's a common myth that 'booking on a Tuesday' will guarantee a traveler the best price," she said. "The reality is prices change so often and depend on the route, the travel dates, etc., that there isn't one day that guarantees you the best price."

What's the best day to travel?

Although airfare prices fluctuate based on when you book, midweek travel is generally cheaper than flying on weekends. That said, Sundays can also be a sweet spot.

"Flying midweek can save you nearly $100 off your ticket," Schwimer said. "So when you're thinking about when you want to travel, try shifting your dates midweek versus flying over the weekend. If you can be flexible and book either a Tuesday or Wednesday versus a Friday or Saturday, you're gonna save significantly off your trip."

Berg had similar thoughts.

"Travelers who fly midweek, usually Wednesday, can save an average of $56 per ticket on domestic airfare throughout the year," she said. "Midweek savings spike over $60 per ticket during busy spring break and summer vacation months while flying midweek over the holidays can save you $100 or more."

Schwimer also had some good advice to price the first flight of the day. Often, you'll find those early departures can save you some big bucks. It's not easy to set the alarm for 4 a.m., but it's easier to wake up when you know you're saving money.

"We always recommend booking the first flight of the day, not only to avoid delays and cancellations but also in terms of price," she said.

Additionally, according to Bob Harrell — an airfare consultant at Harrell Associates who analyzes airline pricing — you might also find airfare prices fluctuate Monday through Friday. That's because airlines look at customer demand and monitor booking trends to decide whether to open or close certain types of fares and whether to raise or lower existing fares.

So, how can you use this information to your advantage when buying airline tickets?

Try using a price monitoring tool to get real-time updates to help you decide when to travel for the lowest fare. Tools like Google Flights and Hopper's "Watch This Trip" can help you track the price of your desired route before booking and indicate or directly notify you when prices are at the lowest for your trip.

When to book holiday travel

Best time to book flights for spring break.

The best time to book your spring break trip is very soon. You should already be monitoring prices for where you want to go, and you should be ready to pull the trigger soon if you haven't done so already, depending on when your (and your family's) time off falls.

For example, if your spring break falls in March, the ideal time to book is by early February.

That said, if you see a deal, jump on it. We've seen a lot of deals pop up around spring break, and if you can score one, it's all the better. Flexibility will also help here.

Remember that demand surges during the spring break period after the doldrums of winter. Many people wait too long to book those trips and end up paying more than they need to.

Hopper says prices for airfare will fall between one and three months before departure, and prices will rise rapidly in the last three to four weeks before spring break.

Best time to book flights for summer trips

As spring draws nearer, it's not too early to start planning ahead for summer holiday travel.

"If you're booking a trip over Memorial Day weekend, you'll want to start monitoring prices now and book as soon as you see a good deal," Berg said. She also noted that prices tend to drop on average one to two months before departure.

If you are planning on staying closer to home this summer, Hopper recommends monitoring flight prices a minimum of three to four months in advance and then booking one to two months before the intended travel date.

"Prices will change frequently," Berg said. "Don't wait too long to book, and prices can increase by almost double in the last three weeks ahead of takeoff."

If you plan to head abroad this summer, the booking window is naturally further out, particularly for longer-haul transpacific flights.

"For trips to Asia and Oceania, we recommend booking five to seven months before takeoff," Berg said. "For Europe and other regions of the world, we recommend booking anywhere from three to six months before departure to get the best prices."

Best time to book flights for Thanksgiving and Christmas

The cheapest holiday airfare deals are generally available in September and October.

"We tell people to start monitoring in August," Schwimer said, "but our typical book-by date is mid-October, so usually around the 14th of October." She added that "no later than Halloween is usually our book-by date for both Thanksgiving and Christmas."

Similarly, a Google Flights booking trends report suggested that average flight prices around Christmas were lowest 71 days before departure.

Prices will only rise as the holidays approach, so your best bet is to book sooner rather than later.

Best time to book flights for New Year's Eve

Like Christmas flights, Hopper says you should try to lock in bookings for New Year's by Halloween at the latest.

That is true for "really any of the major winter holidays," Berg said. "We recommend booking further in advance. I would book that New Year's Eve trip as well before Halloween."

What about hotels?

Hotels are a special category where you can often wait until much later to score good deals.

"We often see good deals last minute for hotels in big cities. Something to keep in mind ... especially for those holiday weekends," Schwimer told TPG. "And you know that [during] the Christmas holiday period, you can often find some really great last-minute deals in big cities if you wait.

"Obviously, that's not always ideal in terms of planning," Schwimer continued, "but we have seen some really great deals in that last-minute window in big metro cities."

Bottom line

While there is no magical time or day to book airfare for the best prices, your best bet is to fly midweek, specifically on Wednesdays, for both domestic and international travel. Flying over the weekend can come at a significant price premium, though Sundays have occasional deals.

Also, try booking domestic flights one to two months ahead of time.

For international flights, your best bet is to aim to book three to five months ahead of the trip.

If you are using airline miles , remember that it's never too soon to start checking and booking.

Related reading:

• Best airline credit cards
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• What are points and miles worth? TPG's monthly valuations

• Media Assets

19 October 2022

Today,  Expedia ®  released its 2023 Air Travel Hacks Report, providing the latest essential tips to save travellers time and money on flights. Created in partnership with the  Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC)  and leveraging insights from its massive air ticket database, the annual report has become an authority for eight years running on air travel trends, revealing data-backed hacks for travellers, including:

• Best day of the week to book airfare and catch the lowest prices
• The sweet spot for booking airfare
• How to minimize the risk of being impacted by delays and cancellations
• Cheapest day of the week to depart

View the full 2023 Air Travel Hacks report on the Expedia blog, including more ways to avoid flight delays, maximize loyalty and rewards programs and save on every trip.

Top tips from the 2023 Air Travel Hacks report include:

• Book airfare on a Sunday to save on average 15%. 1  Travellers who book on Sundays instead of Fridays tend to save, on average, around 15% on domestic flights and 10% on international flights.
• Book at least two months before domestic flights to save 40%. 2 Travellers that booked during this period saved nearly 40% on average compared to those who waited until a month prior to departure.
• Book at least three months before international flights to save 10%. 2 Travellers that booked during this period saved nearly 10% on average compared to those who waited until two months or less prior to departure.
• Depart  before  3 p.m. to reduce chance of cancellations. 3  Based on year-to-date flight status data, flights that depart between 3 a.m. and 3 p.m. are the least likely to be cancelled. Flights departing after 3 p.m. have a 15% higher chance of cancellation on average than those that depart earlier in the day.
• Depart on a Friday to save up to 20% on domestic flights. 4  For domestic travel, avoid departing Saturday – Monday, which are the priciest days to start a trip. Departing on a Friday versus the beginning of the week saved travellers 20%. Thursday is a great alternative where travellers saved 10% on average overall. For international travel, Thursday is cheapest, while Sunday and Monday are most expensive respectively. Departing on a Wednesday versus the beginning of the week saved travellers 5%.

“This report does more than save people money,” said Jon Gieselman, president of Expedia Brands. “It’s about the time savings and peace of mind that comes with knowing you have industry leading data-based tips at your fingertips to inform booking decisions.”

“While it has been a volatile recovery, our data indicates travel is beginning to normalize with travellers taking advantage of flying again,” said Chuck Thackston, managing director of data science and research at ARC. “Airlines have improved their performance while both capacity and traveller demand continue to increase. We’re also starting to see business travellers return to the skies following the surge of leisure travel in the first half of 2022.”

1  Best day of the week to book recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through August 2022, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.

2  Ideal booking window recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through August for 2022, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.

3  How to avoid flight cancellations based on January through August 2022 flight status data for flights originating in CA sourced from  OAG’s  global flight data platform. Percentages noted are averages.

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The Best Time to Buy an International Flight

Astrid was the Senior Special Projects Editor at TripSavvy.

Courtesy of CheapAir.com

The Best Time to Buy a Ticket to Central or South America

The best time to buy a ticket to canada or mexico, the best time to buy a ticket to europe, the best time to buy a ticket to asia, the best time to buy a ticket to the caribbean, the best time to buy a ticket to the middle east or africa, the best time to buy a ticket to australia or the south pacific.

The best time to buy international airfare is not a “one size fits all” approach. Instead, international flights are affected by many different variables, with data showing some destinations benefit more from long-term planning while others don’t need as much booking lead time.

This year, the best time to buy an international plane ticket is between one month to six months before departure for Europe, one month to five months before departure for the Caribbean, and ten months before departure for Asia. Of course, this isn't true for every destination—we've highlighted the best time to buy an international flight by world region below.

A top tip to keep in mind is to beware of seasonality when booking international flights. Unlike domestic flights, international flights often have a massive disparity between the price during the low tourist season and the high tourist season, with high season flights possibly going for double the price.

Also, those who decide to travel with friends and family may want to book especially early if everyone wants to sit together. You might pay a bit more, but you’re more likely to have this luxury if you get the booking in early. For those flying solo and have some itinerary flexibility, they might be more willing to gamble on nabbing a last-minute sale.

• Best time to buy tickets: One and a half to four and a half months before departure
• Best day to buy tickets: 79 days before departure
• Average airfare: $522 for Central America, $707 for South America
• Cheapest months to travel: September and October for both, and May for South America
• Most expensive months to travel: July and December
• Best time to buy tickets: One month to three and a half months before departure
• Best day to buy tickets: 205 days before departure for Canada, 70 days before departure for Mexico
• Average airfare: $363 for Canada, $459 for Mexico
• Cheapest months to travel: January and February for both, March for Mexico
• Most expensive months to travel: August and December
• Average airfare: $992
• Cheapest months to travel: October and November
• Most expensive months to travel: May and June
• Best time to buy tickets: Ten months before departure
• Best day to buy tickets: 314 days before departure
• Average airfare: $1,514
• Cheapest months to travel: January and April
• Most expensive months to travel: December and August
• Best time to buy tickets: One and a half to five months before departure
• Best day to buy tickets: 75 days before departure
• Average airfare: $513
• Cheapest months to travel: September and October
• Best time to buy tickets: Two months to ten months before departure
• Best day to buy tickets: 94 days before departure
• Average airfare: $1,002
• Most expensive months to travel: December and July
• Best time to buy tickets: Nine and a half to ten months before departure
• Best day to buy tickets: 309 days before departure
• Average airfare: $2,898
• Most expensive months to travel: October and November

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Best Days & Times to Book Flights & Airline Tickets in 2024

Contrary to popular belief, there is no best day to finding cheap flight deals . While many myths say Tuesday or Wednesday mornings are the best days, there is no evidence to support such claims. The good news is you can find cheap flight prices any day of the week. Read on to see where this myth may have originated plus other tips on scoring the best flight deals.

Table of Contents

The Best Days To Book Flights are Not Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Previously, airlines manually inputed new flight prices. That meant prices were actually cheaper after new prices were uploaded. That lead to the myth that Tuesday or Wednesday mornings were the best days to book. While you can find a great deal on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning, there is nothing special about those times.

• Airline prices are decided in realtime by complex algorithms.
• Great prices are available every day of the week and at every time
• You no longer have to wake up at the crack of dawn on Tuesday or Wednesday to search for flights.

The Best Time to Book Flights is Not Very Early in the Morning

The Tuesday and Wednesday myth also claims you must search very early in the morning. While great prices may exist at 4am or 5am, there is no truth to those times being special. Search for flights when you have time as opposed to sticking to a rigid schedule. That ensures you will not miss a great deal since a Friday night or Saturday afternoon may actually offer the best price for your flight.

The Best Days to Book Holiday Flights (Thanksgiving and Christmas)

The same rules apply to Thanksgiving and Christmas flights. While it may be harder to find great deals on holiday flights, it is possible. Search as far in advance as possible. You should book as soon as you find a price that is within your budget because there are only a limited number of holiday flights available. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are not special, so do not give those days any extra attention.

Read our complete guide on The Best and Worst Days to Fly for the Holidays more information. Additionally, our When to Book Thanksgiving Flights guide and When to Book Christmas Flights guide goes into further detail.

The Best Days of the Week to Fly

Screenshot: Google Flights – Calendar view showing the best and worst days to fly.

While there is no best day to book flights, there are better days of the week to fly. Generally, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the cheapest days of the week to fly. Saturday is usually the cheapest weekend day to fly.

Mondays, Fridays, and Sundays are generally the most expensive days to fly. While business travel is still slow due to Covid-19, Mondays and Fridays are popular days for such travelers. Sundays are popular because that is the day many personal travelers fly home after their vacation.

If possible, schedule your trip to fly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays for the best prices.

Further Reading: See our Best & Worst Days to Fly and our Best & Worst Times of Day to Fly guides.

The Best Websites to Book Cheap Flights

While many tools and websites exist to book cheap flights , some are better than others. Here are our picks. Also see our Worst Seats on a Plane guide and our Best Seats on a Plane guide to know which seats to avoid and how to avoid them.

Google Flights

We recommend starting and ending your flight search with Google Flights. It offers powerful filtering options and shows prices from just about every airline. It is an aggregator, so you book your flight directly with the airline as opposed to with Google. Its price alerts feature allows you to track prices for a particular date so you know exactly when to book. Its calendar view allows you to see the cheapest days for your flight, so you can quickly see fare differences for entire months.

See our complete guides on Using Google Flights to Find Cheap Flight Deals and Google Flights Now Shows When The Best Time is to Book Flights

Directly With The Airline

You can also search for prices directly on the airline’s website. This is especially important when booking Southwest Airlines flights since it does not appear on Google Flights and other aggregators. For other airlines, we recommend just using Google Flights since it shows the lowest prices from a variety of airlines at once.

Further Reading: What to Do if Your Airline Cancels or Delays Your Flight and How to Avoid Airline Flight Delays & Cancellations .

Online Travel Agencies (OTAs)

Popular OTAs include Expedia , Travelocity , and Orbitz . With an OTA, you book directly with the OTA as opposed to the airline. In some cases, OTAs may offer cheaper flight prices, but there are drawbacks. If you need to change or cancel your flight, you must contact the OTA instead of the airline. While major OTAs usually have good customer service, they are essentially a middleman between you and the airline. Additionally, OTAs may prevent you from taking advantage of the 24-Hour Cancellation Rule.

Aggregators

Popular flight aggregators include Google Flights (see our full Google Flights guide ), Skyscanner (see our full Skyscanner guide ), and Kayak (see our full Kayak guide ). Aggregators show flight prices from airlines and/or OTAs. With aggregators, you do not book directly on the aggregator’s website. Instead, you will book with the airline directly or with the OTA.

Take Advantage of The 24-Hour Cancellation Rule

We recommend immediately booking a cheap flight when you see it. Prices change regularly, so the great price you find may not last long. That means do not wait until Tuesday or Wednesday if you find a great deal on a Saturday. Remember, there is no best day to book flights, and the best price may be available when you least expect it.

The 24-hour flight cancellation rule allows you to book with confidence. This rule allows you to cancel non-refundable flights within 24 hours of booking that are arriving to or departing from a United States airport. The flight must be booked seven or more days before departure.

There is no best day to book cheap flights. Common myths claim Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best days to book flights, but there is no truth to such claims. Buy your airline tickets when you see a price that works for you.

There is nothing special about booking flights on Tuesday mornings. While Tuesday may have cheap flight prices, it is not more likely to have the best deals than other days.

The same rule applies to holiday flights. There is no best day to book Thanksgiving and Christmas flights. Great deals are available every day of the week.

There is no best time to book flights. You can find low prices any hour of the day, so do not limit yourself to a specific time.

Generally, the best days of the week to fly are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

The Vacationer’s Final Thoughts

Great flight prices are available every day of the week, so do not focus on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. You should also book a cheap flight right when you see it. The 24-hour cancellation rule allows you 24 hours to cancel it, so you will not be locked in. As always, start your flight search with Google Flights. Consider using an airline credit card to get the best price on airfare as well as seat upgrades and other benefits. After booking, read our how to get through TSA airport security faster guide. For specific summer information, see our how to find cheap summer flights guide.

Editorial Disclosure:   Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.  

By Phil Dengler

In addition to being a co-founder of The Vacationer, Phil Dengler is also the head of editorial and marketing. Previously, he ran a popular holiday deals website where he was a trusted source for all things Black Friday. With The Vacationer, Phil combines his knowledge of deals with his love of travel to help you plan the perfect vacation.

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April 26, 2024

15 Things To Do Before Traveling Abroad – The Ultimate Checklist

You’ve booked your international flight, scored a unique Airbnb, and your anticipation is at a fever pitch. There’s nothing left to do than count down the days until the trip of a lifetime, right? Wrong. There are so many things you need to do.

I’m here to help. I’m an avid international traveler and have curated a list of essential things everybody should do before traversing the globe. If you can complete everything on this list, consider yourself ready to travel.

1. Secure Your Passport

The most important thing to worry about while traveling is the physical possession of your passport, so keep your passport safe before and especially during travel.

If you still need to get a passport (or yours has recently expired), the clock is ticking. In the past few years, the processing time for new or renewed passports has been longer than usual, so take that into account if you still don’t have your physical passport.

2. Buy Travel Insurance

If you have health insurance in the United States, you may be surprised to discover that it does not cover health emergencies that may happen overseas. Fortunately, international health and travel insurance is more affordable than you think.

Thanks to a digital nomad plan that costs about $60 per month, I’m fully insured, no matter where I travel in the world. That’s not bad for complete peace of mind.

3. Research Your Destination

It’s best to familiarize yourself with where you’ll call home for the next days, weeks, or months. Research your destination thoroughly using all the tools at your disposal. Go down an internet rabbit hole and get all the details concerning where you’re going.

By researching ahead of time, you’ll find yourself infinitely more comfortable living in an unfamiliar location, and cultural differences won’t surprise you as much.

4. Learn To Speak a Few Key Phrases

No international locale research is complete without learning a few essential phrases in a new language. I advise you to learn common phrases like hello, goodbye, and “Where’s the nearest restroom?”

It’s time to think back to when you were bored in your high school foreign language classes and recall everything you can. You’ll find that knowing how to say crucial phrases makes your experience more enjoyable and garners much-needed respect from locals.

5. Make Copies of Documents

Although nothing beats having important physical documents (passport, driver’s license, credit cards) in your possession at all times, even the most seasoned traveler occasionally loses something. Protect yourself by making photocopies of essential documents before you leave.

If you somehow misplace your passport or it gets stolen, at least you’ll have something to work with as you attempt to rectify that particular situation.

6. Obtain an International Driver’s Permit

I admit it; I was woefully unprepared to travel through Europe the first time I went. “I don’t need an international driver’s permit,” I told myself. “I’ll just walk everywhere.” That was a bad decision.

Don’t get me wrong, I had an unbelievable time. But I would’ve loved to drive through the Italian countryside at least once or twice. Fortunately, I obtained my IDP through my local AAA location, and I’ve been driving through Europe ever since. Don’t overlook this often-forgotten checklist item.

7. Tell Your Bank Your Travel Plans

Imagine traveling halfway across the globe, attempting to buy something like toothpaste, and being horrified and embarrassed when your credit card won’t work. This situation happens more than you think.

Fortunately, all it takes is a quick phone call to your credit card issuer (or a few taps on your smartphone app). Your credit card use will remain unencumbered by “Wait, why is this card suddenly being used in Croatia?” alerts. Doing so will make using your card overseas far easier.

8. Give Pertinent Information to Family

Families worry. You know it, I know it, and the best way to put their minds at ease is to give them a few tidbits of information about your travels. I usually provide my parents with my Airbnb addresses and a light itinerary (“Oh, we’re going to Amsterdam that weekend.”), and that keeps their stress in check.

I advise against telling them every detail about your upcoming trick; offer just enough information to appease them (and whoever else who wants to know where you’ll be). Someone needs to know your basic schedule in case of an emergency.

9. Get a Travel Credit Card

Applying for (and receiving) a travel credit card has two significant benefits. First, you won’t be saddled with backbreaking foreign transaction fees that add a few dollars in conversion fees to every purchase. Perhaps more importantly, a sound travel credit card enables you to earn points on every purchase that can be redeemed for even more memorable travel.

I live and die by my travel credit card (the Chase Sapphire Reserve), and thanks to my diligent use, I often travel for free more often than not.

10. Download Essential Smartphone Apps

Before you leave for your overseas adventure, download every smartphone app you think you’ll need. Uber, Google Maps (with pre-downloaded local maps), and a solid translator app are good starts.

With any luck, you’ll already have these apps installed on your phone. Still, it’s always a good idea to double-check what apps you already have and what new apps have been created since the last time you traveled. Who knows — the app that transforms your travels could be only a few taps away.

11. Pack Light

When packing, I follow the “one week’s worth of clothes, max” rule. I also forgo packing toiletries like shampoo and full-size versions of toothpaste and deodorant because I can easily buy those items once I arrive.

Your shoulders and back will appreciate that you decided to pack so little. You’ll feel physically better and have plenty of room left in your luggage to bring home clothes and keepsakes you purchase along the way. Not only that, but the packing process itself will be a breeze.

12. Create a Rough Itinerary

One of the biggest mistakes a traveler can make is overplanning and creating a schedule that’s so hectic that finding a moment of quiet is nearly impossible. My advice is straightforward: plan one or two daily activities and wing the rest of your trip. Doing so will inject excitement into the proceedings.

You never know when an unexpected adventure will present itself. By keeping your itinerary open-ended, you can take advantage of golden opportunities for fun.

13. Clean Your House

I’m one of those travelers who can’t have fun if I know my home isn’t clean when I return. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. Cleaning your house before embarking on your trip prevents pests (like ants) from invading your home, and it will put a smile on your face when you finally walk through your doors after a great adventure.

I know it sounds trivial to recommend this, but I can’t stress it enough: you’ll enjoy your trip more if you know you’ll eventually come close to a clean home. Trust me on this.

14. Double-Check Baggage Requirements

Unfortunately, in 2024, there is no “one size fits all” rule governing individual airline baggage rules and restrictions. In other words, a bag that may be allowed as carry-on luggage on one airline may be considered as checked baggage only on another. This can be a pinch point for many travelers.

Thankfully, a little research goes a long way. Familiarize yourself with your airline’s baggage policies and avoid paying unnecessary fees at your departure gates.

15. Arrive at the Airport Early

When the magical day finally arrives, the last thing you want to do is put yourself in a position where you could miss one of the most important flights of your life. Arriving at your departure airport is paramount. Don’t tempt fate by cutting it too close.

While missing your flight and taking a later one probably won’t ruin your trip, it’s nonetheless the worst possible beginning to something that should be fulfilling and wonderful.

Chris Phelan

• Chris Phelan https://technabob.com/author/chrisphelan1gmail-com/ Avoid Buyer's Remorse: 15 Key Inspections Before You Buy a Used Car
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11 Dream International Vacations That Are Surprisingly Affordable

From Portugal to Panama, here’s where you can get the most bang for your buck.

As the world becomes more connected by air travel, international vacations are increasingly affordable — but you have to know where to look and when to book. Typically, if you're hoping to save money, you should plan your trip around a destination's off-season. As a bonus, you're bound to have a better travel experience when you don't have to jostle your way through crowds to get to the top attractions.

Whether you're dreaming of a vacation as far from the U.S. as Australia or as close as Toronto, the actual cost could surprise you (in a good way). Using data from the booking platform Kayak , we've compiled a list of 11 international destinations where your dollar will go the furthest, plus when to book for the cheapest airfare and accommodation.

Toronto, Canada

Just north of the U.S. border is a growing city bursting with culture, a diverse culinary scene, and activities catering to a range of age groups and interests. Often mistaken for the Canadian capital, Toronto is sometimes known as "Hollywood North" for its wealth of celebrity residents. Foodies will want to make stops in Little Italy, one of several Chinatowns, and Little Portugal for a gastronomic jaunt around the world. Tourists may also be inclined to catch a hockey game, sample craft beer, and take a trip to the famous CN Tower to get unmatched views of the city.

Kayak data indicates that Toronto's low season runs from October to March, with the exception of December because of holiday travel. The cheapest flights can be found for about $180 from New York's JFK Airport in October. A direct flight from JFK to Toronto takes less than two hours.

Hotels downtown seem to be cheapest in January and February, when you can expect to pay as little as $33 per night for three-star accommodation. They're most expensive in September, going for an average of $371 per night.

Grand Est, France

The area formerly known as Alsace (now officially part of the larger Grand Est region) is beloved by French travelers. It doesn't attract nearly as many visitors as Paris or the Cote d'Azur, so you'll get a quieter experience. Kaysersberg, once featured on the TV program Le Village Préféré des Français as the French's favorite village, exemplifies many of the characteristics that have endeared Alsace to locals. It's got architecture that dates back to the 13th century, world-renowned wine cellars, and hearty Alsatian cuisine.

Fly to Strasbourg, the capital of Grand Est, in February or March for the best price. From New York City, round-trip flights can be found for less than $700, and you can stay in a three-star hotel for as low as $89 per night in the off-season. Kayak says the cheapest months for accommodation in Grand Est are August (an anomaly) and October.

Armenia attracts tourists with its rich arts scene, upscale shopping, and history museums packed with treasures. Though the capital, Yerevan, is a popular destination, no trip to this Asian country is complete without stepping into the gorgeous and rugged countryside. Head out to Khor Virap, a monastery first established during the 600s, for mountainside views and ancient architecture about 45 minutes away from Yerevan. It's worth the additional hour it takes to drive out to Garni Gorge, topped by a Roman temple, along the way.

Winter is Armenia's low season. The cheapest month to fly from NYC to Yerevan is November ($838 for a round trip, on average), though flights from January through March aren't much more expensive. Three-star hotels average $90 per night in January, the cheapest month for accommodation.

Brisbane, Australia

The capital of Queensland on Australia's east coast is arguably the country's design capital. Drop by the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (colloquially called QAGOMA , one entity) or the Institute of Modern Art ( IMA ) to get a sense of Asian-Pacific art. Go shopping in the Fortitude Valley district, where you'll be able to pick up pieces from local and international designers. And, of course, because it's Australia, it's easy to get in touch with the local wildlife. Visit the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary , just about 20 minutes from the city, to hang out with more than 100 critters (not just koalas, either).

In general, Australia doesn't exactly fit the bill of "budget travel" for Americans, considering the absolute cheapest round-trip flight from NYC to Brisbane on Kayak costs almost $1,000. However, relative to other Australian destinations, this waterfront city is one of the more affordable entry points. The cheapest month to book a flight to Brisbane is September, the first month of spring in the Southern Hemisphere. Three-star hotel stays average in the $150 range from April through July, then spike in August.

Madeira, Portugal

It's been 600 years since the Portuguese colonized Madeira, and the archipelago continues to astound visitors with its natural beauty. Trek along miles of rugged coast to see the Atlantic at its most paradisiacal. The capital of Funchal is home to a number of hotels offering glamour, glitz, and stiff cocktails. Speaking of drinks — be sure to check out the famous fortified wine named after the island where it was made.

Typically, a round-trip flight from NYC to Funchal will set you back anywhere from $650 to $1,100, with the lowest prices offered November and January to May. Hotel prices fluctuate on a similar schedule and range from about $150 to $330 per night for a three-star property.

If you're looking for a cheaper Mediterranean vacation , hop to the sea's southern side and try out Tunisia. The country has history (with a Roman colosseum — the Amphitheatre of El Jem — some say is even better than Rome's), miles of beautiful, sandy beaches, and bazaars with carpets, ceramics, and metalwork.

Kayak data indicates that the cheapest time to fly from NYC to Tunis , Tunisia's capital, is November (about $560), then September to October and January to May ($608 to $768). Prices for a night in a three-star Tunis hotel range from around $100 to $200, with the cheapest months on Kayak being September and December through March.

Etyek, Hungary

Budapest gets the majority of Hungary's visitors, but if you want to delve deeper into the country's culture, drive 18 miles west of the capital to Etyek, often called the "vineyards of Budapest." This area has been producing grapes since the 18th century and has been likened to Champagne for its excellence of crisp wines like chardonnay and sauvignon blanc. The town is also a pilgrimage for film buffs, with huge movies like "Blade Runner 2049" and "The Martian" having been shot there.

Etyek is about a 30-minute drive from Budapest. September through November and January through April are the cheapest times to fly to the Hungarian capital from NYC, according to Kayak data . Outside of the busy summer season, round-trip flights can be found for $524 to $620.

While September is a cheap time to fly to Hungary, it happens to be the most expensive month for accommodation. Book your trip in January, February, or March to snag a three-star hotel for $160 a night or less.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

That St. Vincent and the Grenadines were the last of the British colonies in the Caribbean to gain their independence (only in 1979) could be a reason why the islands have lagged behind other big players in drawing tourists. The upside of that, however, is the lack of crowds at beaches and on trails leading through lush rainforest to dormant volcanoes.

Visitors will fly into St. Vincent's Argyle International Airport, open only since 2017, and ferry over to the smaller islands of the Grenadines. The route is run several times a day from Kingstown.

Round-trip flights from NYC can be found for under $600 in March, May, and November. Hotels on St. Vincent remain surprisingly cheap throughout the year, showing the same sporadicity as flight prices. Go in January, May, June, August, or December for average nightly prices under $200 for three-star properties. The cheapest month for accommodation is December, when you can find a good hotel for about $50 a night.

Panama City, Panama

Meander through Panama City's old quarter where Spanish-style houses line cobblestone streets. Eat your way through Panamanian cuisine — yuca, plantains, empanadas, sancocho de gallina (chicken stew), and fish soup are among the most-loved dishes — and then top it all off with a tour of the city's thriving cocktail scene. The rainforest is easily accessible from Panama City if you're eager to swap the urban jungle for real jungle scenery.

Even though Panama is located in the Northern Hemisphere, its seasons — of which there are only two — are opposite of the U.S.'s. "Winter" (aka the wet season) lasts from around May to December and "summer" (the dry season) lasts from December to May. It's cheaper to go during the wet season, when the climate is least comfortable.

Prices for a round-trip flight from NYC to Panama City's Tocumen International Airport range from $339 to $659, with the cheapest times being April to June and September to October. The most expensive flights are in December. You can often stay in a three-star property for under $130 per night if you go between June and September.

Nicholas Schmidt/Travel + Leisure

Guatemala is consistently ranked a Travel + Leisure reader favorite for its combination of natural beauty and historic wonders. Visitors can wander through ancient Mayan ruins, hike the mountains and jungles, or explore the historic streets of the UNESCO World Heritage site, Antigua. Guatemala also boasts a thriving arts scene, perfectly preserved Spanish architecture, and unique cuisine like chuchitos (Guatemala-style tamales).

Book a trip for May or September for the cheapest flights ($269 to $344) on Kayak . Three-star hotels during that time should cost in the $120- to $140-per night range, while stays during August — the cheapest month for accommodation — cost, on average, $108 nightly.

Hanoi, Vietnam

You get a little bit of everything from a trip to Hanoi: vibrant culture, thousand-year-old history, a food scene that spans world-famous street carts to Michelin-starred restaurants, and a touch of jungle evidently seeping from the outskirts into the city. With $1 USD converting to about 25,000 Vietnamese dong, roughly the cost of a delicious banh mi , you should find it easy to stick to your budget and still live indulgently in this bustling capital.

Round-trip flights from NYC to Hanoi cost about $870 at their cheapest, from September through November, which is Vietnam's transitional period from the hot and humid wet season to the dry (and touristy) season. During this time, three-star properties go for about $125 to $150 a night.

FinanceBuzz

16 Best (and Worst) Times To Book a Flight

Posted: June 15, 2023 | Last updated: June 15, 2023

Air travel is expensive and more precarious than ever before, with cancellations, delays, staff shortages, and route mergers now the norm.

By knowing a few general rules and guidelines for how tickets are priced, along with the likelihood of being delayed at different times and days, you can spend less money on flights that are more likely to leave and arrive with no issues.

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Most expensive day to fly

Mondays and Fridays are the most expensive days to fly because business travelers want to fly on work days so they can be home on weekends, so demand is higher for those days.

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Cheaper days to fly

Wednesdays and Thursdays are the cheapest days to fly during the week, simply because there’s less demand on those days, especially for business travelers. 

Saturdays are the cheapest day of the weekend to fly because business and leisure travelers all want to be at their destination on Saturdays and not leave it again until Sunday.

Pro tip : Check out our top travel credit cards to maximize your rewards.

Most expensive time to fly

The most expensive times to fly are in the middle of the day, from around 10 a.m. to around 7 p.m. 

Travelers do not want to have to wake up super-early and fight rush hour traffic to the airport, nor do they want to arrive late at night when they’re tired and hungry.

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Cheaper times to fly

Early-morning and late-night flights, plus red-eyes, are the cheapest flights because these flights are not in demand. 

Some travelers claim to love flying red-eyes because they can sleep during the flight and not waste daytime traveling. But this is not a majority opinion, so red-eyes are a cheaper choice.

Pro tip: If you need to fly during more expensive times and days of the week then consider earning some extra cash to cover the difference.

Most expensive times of year to fly

The most expensive times of the year to fly are holidays without a lot of wiggle room for scheduling of events. That means that Thanksgiving weekend is the single worst time to fly in the United States, followed by Super Bowl weekend.

The days right around Christmas and Easter week are horrible for domestic and international flights. Year-end holidays have the added complication of weather that may cause extra delays, cancellations, and equipment issues on top of the high demand.

Cheapest time of year: Shoulder season

The “shoulder season,” in travel industry jargon, is the week or two between the switch from peak season to the off-season. Shoulder season almost always corresponds to times that kids are starting or finishing school, which is a big reason demand is down then.

Working parents tend to schedule business trips for other times, and families can’t travel for leisure then. As a result, that decreases demand significantly bringing prices down. 

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Cheapest time of year: Off-season

The other cheapest time of year to fly is off-season, whatever the season is. It’s always cheaper to go to a ski resort, whether domestic or international, during the summer when there’s no snow. By the same token, it’s cheaper to go to beach locations when it’s warm and sunny everywhere else.

Destinations that rely on tourism to support the local economy have created other things to do during their off-seasons, so you can still have a great vacation by going when the crowds are staying home, and it’ll be a much cheaper great vacation.

Most delayed day to fly

The worst day of the week for delays is Friday. Almost a third of scheduled flights going out on Fridays go out late. If you're already paying more to fly on the day you don't want to be delayed as well. 

Pro tip : You could save even more by booking your overseas flights with one of the best credit cards for international travel .

On-time days to fly

Saturday flights tend to be on time, possibly because there are fewer travelers in general on Saturdays and fewer business travelers with intense needs and demands on that day.

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Most delayed time of day to fly

Flights scheduled for the evening around 6 p.m. is the time of day with the most delayed flights.

Any delays from earlier in the day have snowballed, and there are so many flights scheduled for this time of day that delays cause more delays on runways and gates that are often scheduled tightly for use.

Times of day to fly on a regular schedule

Flights that are scheduled to leave between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. are more likely to be on time than later flights are. If you're on a strict schedule then you may want to aim for a flight during the early hours. 

Most delayed time of year to fly

The most delayed time of year to fly is when the weather is bad in any part of the airline system. This means that flying from Chicago to Paris is more likely to be delayed in January. That makes sense.

But so is flying from Dallas to Miami. Why? The equipment and staff for a flight can be stuck someplace in the system because of inclement weather anywhere in the system.

In general, winter in the location you’re flying from or to will be more likely to have delayed flights than summer will.

It’s worth noting that some airports tend to have more delays all year long than others do. Jakarta and Newark are at the top of  the international and domestic lists of most delays .

On-time times of year to fly

The time of year with the most on-time flights is whenever it is clear and moderate in temperature in both your departure and arrival destinations and for the rest of the airports in your airline network. 

For domestic flights, that means May, June, September, and October.

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Worst overall time to fly in the U.S.

The worst overall time to fly in the U.S. has got to be Thanksgiving weekend. 

But other factors added to the holiday may increase delays: On routes that can be frozen or hit with a blizzard, the delays are compounded because the airport may be difficult for pilots and flight attendants to get to in inclement weather.

If your flight is at 6 p.m., you’ll probably wait. And if the airline you’re flying doesn’t have another flight on your route that day, you’ll wait.

Worst overall time to fly on international flights

The worst overall time to fly internationally is any time the residents of the country you’re going to are on holiday or have other obligations (civic or religious), and weather can cause delays, cancellations, and equipment problems.

Many Americans try to fly to Europe in August, but the entire continent is on vacation during the month of August. For travelers, resources are stretched tight and that can affect flights, not to mention accommodations and activities at the destination.

The same is true of other times of the year such as Ramadan for primarily Muslim countries such as Indonesia, and hurricane season in August and September in the Caribbean.

If August is the only time you can go to Europe, Ramadan is the only time you can go to a Muslim country, and hurricane season is the only time you can go to the islands, make sure to have a credit card with no foreign transaction fees in case banks and currency vendors aren’t fully staffed.

Best overall time to fly

And the best overall time to fly anywhere at any time of day is when you don’t have to be there at a specific time, so delays or cancellations don’t really affect you. 

And these days, airplane seats are in such demand that you may be able to take advantage of an airline’s offer to get a voucher or cash for giving up your seat.

If you happen to end up on a day with clear, good weather that isn’t too hot, you won’t have to suffer through turbulence. The flying off-season can increase your chances of having smooth flights, as can avoiding local holidays and events.

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Bottom line

The best way to plan a trip involving air travel is to be flexible about when you can fly, build in enough time so that snafus don’t ruin your trip, and then consider buying your tickets on a Tuesday around six weeks out from the trip.

Flying airlines with more flights to your destination and a better record of making up for delayed and canceled flights will decrease the chance that you’ll be stuck without recourse or delayed longer than necessary.

Also note that travel insurance can help you if you get sick, injured, or robbed on a trip because the insurance will pay to get you home ASAP. 

For a high-stakes trip or a trip far from home or with greater-than-normal potential for injury, consider springing for trip insurance, or using one of the best credit cards for travel insurance to help you out if you get in a jam.

More from FinanceBuzz:

• 6 genius hacks Costco shoppers should know
• 9 things you must do before the next recession.
• Can you retire early? Take this quiz and find out.
• 9 simple ways to make up to an extra $200/day

We may receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies .

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I've been to 54 countries and have lived in 10. These 5 underrated places are worth the trip.

• Kate Boardman has visited 54 countries around the world and lived in 10, including the US.
• She's enjoyed spots like France and Bali but says people should visit underrated places like Oman.
• In Guatemala, she climbed an active volcano, and in Ecuador, she swam with hammerhead sharks.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kate Boardman , a 36-year-old former teacher and current content creator from Massachusetts who has lived and traveled all over the world. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I first lived abroad when I was 15, when I participated in an exchange program in Germany. I lived there for a year, attending school and staying with a host family.

That was my first exposure to living overseas and truly immersing myself in other cultures. From there, the travel bug hit me hard. It inspired me to study international business in France while I was at university, and future trips after that.

I've been to 54 countries and lived in 10, including the US. The sense of freedom and self-growth that comes from traveling is unbeatable. I also love being able to see the world in a different way.

The most popular destinations are popular for a reason.

Everyone talks about Paris, London , Bali — all travel destinations that are super popular, in part thanks to social media.

I visited Bali in early 2012 and saw it expand firsthand. There was a lot of construction — with many beach clubs being built — and it became overcrowded by foreigners. It's led to locals being priced out of their homes.

I also think spots like Cancun are super overrated; there are way cooler places to visit in Mexico. Many tourists spend a week in an all-inclusive resort and think that's fun — but that couldn't be more unattractive to me.

Obviously, there's still beauty in places that are oversaturated and famous. But I think that there's an excitement that comes from experiencing places that are off the beaten track.

It's often in those places that you can have the most surprising experiences.

I was treated like family in Iran

I would say my favorite country that I have visited is Iran. I went in 2018 and was there for 10 days.

Normally, when I'm traveling, I backpack alone and stay in hostels as a solo traveler. However, in Iran, if you're American, Canadian, or from the UK, in order to get permission to enter the country, you need a set itinerary and a licensed travel guide.

It was a very coordinated trip and a bit more challenging to visit, but it was so rewarding because I was welcomed with the warmest hospitality.

One of the unique aspects of this trip was how close my guide and I became. He went above and beyond, inviting me over to his family's house for dinner, where I got to meet and hang out with his friends and family. It was truly special.

Because I had a guide, everything was kind of set for me in Iran. He arranged different accommodations, including a road trip through the country, where we stayed in various cities at different guesthouses.

It only cost me around $1,000.

The nature and landscape of Iran are absolutely beautiful and amazing. The sights, attractions, and history are mind-blowing. You've got these gorgeous mosaics everywhere. All of the architecture had my jaw dropping in awe while walking around.

The food is also delicious, and the markets are incredible, each filled with gorgeous textiles, jewelry, turquoise, and rugs.

I would totally visit there again. I hope the political situation changes because that would definitely be one of my group trip destinations. I think it's just incredible.

Georgia took me by surprise

Georgia is just one of those countries that's not on a lot of people's radar. And then they go there and they're like, 'Whoa, that's awesome. Why didn't I know about this before?'

I knew very little about Georgia before I visited in 2018. I spent only five days in the country, but I was completely blown away.

I stayed in Tbilisi, which is the capital city. It's a really beautiful, trendy, and artsy kind of city. It has amazing wine and incredible food.

Probably one of my favorite things about the trip is that I stayed in this hostel called Fabrika . It was an old Soviet Union sewing factory that they turned into a super cool, industrial, hipster hostel.

In Tbilisi, I also went on a pub crawl throughout the Old Town, which featured a bunch of underground cellars and bunkers that have been turned into trendy nightclubs and bars.

During my time in the country, I took a trip out to the countryside to an area called Kazbegi, which is absolutely stunning. There were gorgeous and breathtaking mountains, hills, and massive churches.

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In the city, I also had a Turkish bath, which is a big thing in Georgia. I got a full scrub down.

Guatemala has something for everyone

When most people from the US think about going to Central America, they're focused on Mexico or Costa Rica. Guatemala seems to be a place that kind of gets overlooked.

But life is great in Guatemala.

You've got beautiful weather all year round, the jungle, rainforests, and the Caribbean's white sand beaches, while the Pacific side has its black sand beaches. It's got a little bit of everything.

I first lived in Guatemala in 2021, where I worked as a teacher at an international school. They provided housing in Guatemala City. However, after I finished working for them, I moved to a beach town on the Pacific coast and lived there for about six months.

I've traveled there on other occasions too, staying for periods of four or five months.

The typical salary for a Guatemalan is about $500 a month, with a good salary being $1,000. I would say that $2,000 a month is more than enough to live there extremely comfortably.

There are a lot of digital nomads moving there, especially to Antigua — an old colonial town with a lot of charm, cobblestone streets, and painted buildings.

There's just so much to do in Guatemala; it's so magical.

The biggest must do is hiking the active volcano called Acatenango . Sometimes, you can see it erupting right from its base camp. There's not many places in the world where you can experience that.

Another good place to visit is El Paredon, a super up-and-coming hippie surf town. The surfing is great, and you've got these black volcanic sand beaches. It's just a really laid-back place.

Lake Atitlan is also an incredible spot. It's surrounded by volcanoes and several Mayan villages, each with its own personality and vibe.

Oman's deserts are magical

Oman is in the Middle East, bordering the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. I've been there three times between 2016 and 2018.

The country is culturally rich, and the capital city, Muscat, is really beautiful. It has old traditional marketplaces and gorgeous architecture — the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is definitely worth checking out.

The deserts there are incredible, so doing a desert trip is a must. I camped out in the desert with the locals, rode camels, and drove Jeeps over the sand dunes.

Having tea and watching the sunset in the desert was magical too.

Oman also has wadis, which are basically big canyons in the middle of the desert with swimming holes. There, you'll find bright turquoise water contrasting with the orange rock.

The country's islands are also beautiful and incredible for snorkeling. They look like you'd be in the Caribbean, but you're in the Middle East.

The Galapagos Islands are truly like nowhere else in the world

I visited Ecuador last year for about six weeks. I was leading a gap year program with a group of high school students. We split our time between the Galapagos Islands and the mainland, which consisted of cities and the Amazon.

Because Ecuador has incredibly unique biodiversity that doesn't exist anywhere else in the world, The Galapagos Islands are an absolute must. I've never seen such incredible wildlife in my life; so many species exist only on those islands.

While visiting The Galapagos, my group went snorkeling with 50 to 100 hammerhead and Blacktip sharks. We also swam with sea lions and saw giant tortoises.

Another amazing aspect of Ecuador is learning about the Inca culture. My group did a homestay and lived with a family for about 10 days and learned about their way of life.

We experienced how connected they are with Mother Earth, whom they refer to as Pachamama, and learned about their traditional medicine: They grow their own food and seek out plant medicine when they're sick, rather than relying on processed foods.

Learning about and sharing their way of life was truly special.

I want to show people how to travel the world

There are many beliefs people have about different countries and cultures, sometimes considering them too dangerous, expensive, or unattainable.

I want to inspire more people to explore, step out of their comfort zones, and experience more of the world. I am hosting group trips with the goal of bringing people to these countries and showing them why they are so life-changing.

Watch: From Nepal to Kosovo, here's how countries are celebrating Pride

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10 Best Places to Travel in August

Celebrate the arts, relax in nature, and embrace peak summer with lively fests this month..

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Picture your ideal summer . Is it heading to an idyllic far-flung island for some enriching R&R? Perhaps it’s heading to the wilderness of Canada ’s easternmost reaches to hike in bracing, salty air and sunshine? Or could it be a short-haul jaunt to boogie down to some disco classics off-season in the Caribbean ?

Well, we have you covered if you crave any of these trips for your summer vacation—and we have more ideas, too, with our top picks for the best places to travel in August.

Come to Curaçao for its small, secluded beaches and its music.

Photo by Tony Dunn

August is great for: Retro-minded music fans ready to boogie

It’s back, after a five-year, pandemic-sparked hiatus: The North Sea Jazz Festival returns to this Dutch Caribbean island for a three-day event over the last weekend of August. The name is a misnomer, as it’s really a retro-minded fest, aimed at offering crowd-pleasing performances from classic artists across all genres.

In 2024, expect to see Seal and Marc Anthony recapture their 1990s glory days, and hustle through the sets of disco pioneer Nile Rodgers and redoubtable soul diva Gladys Knight. There’s even a performance scheduled for Eros Ramazzotti, the heartthrob who’s Italy’s answer to Enrique Igelsias. The music plays across three different stages, right by the water, so you can stroll to the beach if you need a break from the dance floor.

Where to stay: Dreams

• Book now: Dreams

Indulge a little and stay at one of the new all-inclusive concepts cropping up all over the Caribbean. In Curaçao, try the outpost of Hyatt-owned Dreams, right on Piscadera Bay next to the concert venue.

How to get to Curaçao

This is a vacation hub, so the air connections are fittingly convenient: Try United Airlines from EWR or Delta from Atlanta, among others.

Tea farming earns Sri Lanka more than a billion dollars each year.

Photo by maheshg/Shutterstock

2. Sri Lanka

August is great for: Adventures in the misty highlands

In August, Sri Lanka’s monsoon months of June and July recede but the occasional shower keeps the vegetation of this wild island in full bloom. Many of those plants, of course, are the camellia sinensis , whose budding shoots are turned into world-class tea across the countless Sri Lankan plantations. Explore the history and culture of tea via a visit to farms, many in the central highlands (sample some of the finest at Nuwara Eliya Plantation).

And this month is also a chance to glimpse the Buddhist traditions of the island. From August 10 to 20, the Kandy Esala Perahera takes place, or the festival of the tooth of Lord Buddha. It’s one of Sri Lanka’s most important festivals and will feature musicians and dancers partying in celebration, all in honor of the procession where Buddha’s tooth is carried through the streets of Kandy, which sits on a plateau amid those tea plantation highlands.

Where to stay: Kotiyagala Luxury Villas

• Book now: Kotiyagala Luxury Villas

The brand 12-villa, all-pool, resort opens in Yala National Park in June, with a sustainable design by local, award-winning architect Mano Ponniah—the hotel sits elevated above the canopy level of the forest so as to minimize the intrusion of the local environment.

How to get to Sri Lanka

It’s a long trip to reach Sri Lanka, wherever you start out stateside. Try one of the Middle Eastern carriers, like Qatar: From Chicago, for example, you’ll take a 13-hour first leg, breaking in Doha, before the second, five-hour hop to Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital.

Spot performers on the Royal Mile during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Photo by Jan Kranendonk/Shutterstock

3. Edinburgh, Scotland

August is great for: Spotting the next Oscar winner making a live debut.

Think of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe as a combination of Broadway, Saturday Night Live, and the Groundlings —a comedy-skewing live performance fiesta with more than 3,000 shows taking place across 250 venues over almost four weeks (from August 2 to 26 this year). The dizzyingly full schedule is constantly updated, so download its app for the easiest planning.

By far the world’s largest performing arts festival, the Fringe was established soon after World War II. Since then, it’s proved a spotting ground for future superstars at the earliest stages of their careers. It cost intrepid festivalgoers just a few pounds to see the likes of the late Alan Rickman (aka Professor Snape from the Harry Potter film series), Mr. Bean actor Rowan Atkinson, and comedian turned chat show host Graham Norton make their debuts here in the past. Many of this year’s emerging talents will likely follow in their fame-finding footsteps.

Where to stay: Prestonfield House

• Book now: Prestonfield House

The location alone, right next to Arthur’s Seat, makes this 23-room boutique hotel compelling, but its lush, maximalist decor and the romance of crashing in a building that dates back to the 17th century—not to mention its own, 20-acre gardens —are the clinchers.

How to get to Edinburgh

You’re in luck: There’s a range of options in summer for direct nonstop flights, whether United from EWR, Delta from BOS, or even Virgin Atlantic from MCO.

The crashing waves and thrashing currents of the north Atlantic barrel into Africa right here, and create superb swells as they do.

Photo by Karol Kozlowski/age fotostock

August is great for: Catching a wave in the Atlantic

Morocco’s northern coast, facing the Mediterranean, is well known; indeed, we tipped you off to the renewed buzz on Tangier. But the lesser-trafficked east coast, overlooking the Atlantic, has an appeal all its own, especially for anyone interested in surfing.

Consider Oualidia if you’re keen, but not pro: A lagoon there allows the ocean to squeeze in through a narrow opening, which better paces the wave patterns or venture to Sidi Kaouki, on a mile long stretch of sand where the waters are equally manageable. More practiced Hang Tenners can try Les Tomates, a renowned spot a little further south, or even try to catch a tube wave near the fishing town of Safi, where the swells are widely recognized as among Africa’s finest.

You could also head to Essaouira, which offers superb kite-surfing as well as surfing, thanks to a confluence of sirocco winds from the Sahara and seasonal Atlantic trade winds. Otherwise, consider Taghazout, where there are facilities for all levels, be it mellower options around Panorama, or Anchor Point, a world-class break first popularized by adrenaline-chasing Australians in the 1960s.

Where to stay: La Sultana Oualidia

• Book now: La Sultana Oualidia

Hide out in this oasislike hotel, a reimagining of a one-time Moorish fortress with just a dozen rooms, each with a private terrace and Jacuzzi.

How to get to Morocco

The easiest option is to fly to Casablanca, where most long-haul flights touchdown. Try national carrier Royal Air Maroc, which flies non-stop from cities including Miami and New York City. The spiffy new high-speed train, Al Boraq, can shuttle travelers up and down the country.

Gdańsk is located on Poland’s Baltic coast.

Photo by Zbigniew Guzowski/Shutterstock

5. Gdańsk, Poland

August is great for: Attending a fair older than America itself—and then some

St Dominic’s Fair is one of the largest and oldest open-air markets in the whole continent; this year, it’s running through August 18. The tradition dates back eight centuries (yes, more than 750 years) when the then-Pope extended leeway to locals around the founder’s feast day. That indulgence eventually resulted in a month-long fair where treasures like silk, spices, cloth, and other goodies were traded, all against a boisterous backdrop full of parties and performances. It was largely abandoned as a result of World War II, but was revived in the 1970s. It’s now bigger and better than ever, with more than 1,000 artisans and traders shilling their wares, mostly suitcase-sized, souvenir-ready trinkets like picture frames.

Combine a trip to this traditional fiesta with some time by the sea: Gdańsk, a longtime shipping hub, sits on the Baltic in a region once known as the Polish Riviera. Try the family-friendly Stogi Beach, or take a short taxi ride outside town to the Sobieszewo promontory for a quieter, more nature-forward afternoon by the water.

Where to stay: Gotyk House

• Book now: Gotyk House

Fittingly for a centuries-old fair, bunk down in this 15th-century family home that’s been converted into a shabby chic boutique hotel, with antique-filled rooms and a cozy vibe.

How to get to Gdańsk

Hop on national carrier LOT’s direct, non-stop service from JFK to the capital. From there, it’s a four-hour drive from Warsaw to Gdańsk.

Come to Washington D.C.'s wharf area for some jazz in August.

Photo by AevanStock/Shutterstock

6. Washington D.C.

August is great for: Celebrating the city’s signature musical style

DC JazzFest , which runs over two days from August 31, is celebrating its 20th anniversary and pays homage to the city’s connection with this musical tradition; composer Duke Ellington lived here, and the jittering, intense Bebop style of music and dance emerged here. It takes place on the wharf, where there are restaurants and shops aplenty, and you can even watch performances for free from the promenade there. Last year’s lineup included the smooth-voiced crooner Gregory Porter among its headliners,

Even better, for bargain-minded travelers, the event coincides with D.C. Restaurant Week, a chance to sample its toniest eating spots at a bargain with lunches from $20 per head and dinners from $40.

Where to stay: Pendry Washington D.C.

• Book now: Pendry Washington D.C.

New restaurants and hotels have reinvigorated Washington, D.C.’s wharfside, including the 2022-opened Pendry Washington D.C. With minimalist rooms and a prime location near restaurants, bars, and activities, it’s a great choice, especially for those traveling with kids.

How to get to Washington, D.C.

Take your pick on flights—the city’s well-networked across the country—but also consider Amtrak if you’re in the Northeast, espeically its sleek, reliable Acela service.

Head to Big Sky for the Wildlands Music Festival, which runs from August 2-3.

Photo by thierry dehove/Shutterstock

7. Big Sky, Montana

August is great for: Big Sky Country, literally.

It’s Big Sky Country for sure this month, thanks to the Wildlands Music Festival , on the first weekend in August. It lures major names from the country music circuit to perform here, with headliners for 2024 including Maren Morris and Dierks Bentley; Wyatt Flores and Lukas Nelson will also perform.

This festival is expressly staged as a conservation event, with profits earmarked for wildlife and river preservation in and around the area. Last year, more than half a million dollars was generated and donated to the Gallatin River Task Force and American Rivers, which aim to safeguard waterways. Just make sure to bring some rainwear: Last year’s al fresco bash was bedeviled with unseasonal showers, though it didn’t stop headliners like the Foo Fighters from taking the stage.

Where to stay: Montage Big Sky

• Book now: Montage Big Sky

The three-year-old resort sits just an hour from Yellowstone National Park . Luxe but rugged rooms feature stone and wood detailing, a natural nod to the log cabin lifestyle that once dominated here.

How to get to Bozeman

Fly into the fireplace-festooned Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, which is around an hour’s drive from Big Sky. There are direct nonstops on United (Chicago), Delta (Los Angeles), American (Dallas), and JetBlue (New York JFK).

The dramatic highlands of Cape Breton Island are often likened to those in Scotland.

Photo by Wally Hayes/Nova Scotia Tourism

8. Nova Scotia, Canada

August is great for: Dark skies, bright days and midtempo music

Cape Breton Island has a thrillingly diverse cultural heritage, with a palpable Acadian presence from the settlers who came from France in early colonial days—try rappie pie or rapûre , the chicken-and-potato dish that’s one of their signature hand-me-downs. The Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival from August 8-11 offers a program of folk music that emphasizes acapella singing and acoustic instruments as well as the Clare Bluegrass festival over the same period, where the program’s intended to reflect and highlight the Acadian traditions here.

Come in summer, and you can stroll those wild hillsides by day or by night. Nova Scotia was the first North American destination to receive a Starlight Certification by the U.N. tourism-supported foundation , a nod to the pristine, light pollution-minimized state of its night skies. Join a walk in Kejimkujik Park, especially over Dark Sky weekend, this year from August 2 to 4.

Where to stay: Cabot Cape Breton

• Book now: Cabot Cape Breton

The perfect summer hideaway, this 72-room lodge has ocean views from every room, as well as 46 holes of golf and a mile or more’s worth of sandy beaches, right near the Cabot Trail, the 186-mile-long hiking path that quilts Cape Breton Island.

How to get to Cape Breton Island

The best international airport to access the island is YHZ, or Halifax, which has direct non-stops to Philadelphia and Washington D.C. on American Airlines. From there, it’s a 3.5-hour drive to the tip of the Maritimes. If you’d rather fly all the way, connect to YQY airport out east via Toronto or Montreal .

Don’t miss the chance to check out the city of Cork on Ireland’s southwestern coast.

Photo by Madrugada Verde/Shutterstock

9. Cork, Ireland

August is great for: Kissing the Blarney Stone, whoever you are

This month there are several events that make this town appealing, notably the Pride festival takes place on August 5th, a reminder of Ireland ’s newfound acceptance of LGBTQ+ communities (it legalized equal marriage mere months after the USA, in 2015, and by popular consent, to boot, via a national referendum on the issue). There’s also the Cork on a Fork Fest later in the month, with five days of food demos, masterclasses and talks. Don’t leave town without a pint of two—Guinness or otherwise—at one of the historic pubs in town, like the Mutton Lane Inn, a dark wood-lined den that’s almost 200 years old.

Remember, even though it’s midsummer, a light sweater or two will come in handy in Cork: Its position on the Atlantic means that even this month, there can be crisp spells.

Where to stay: The Montenotte

• Book now: The Montenotte

This four-star, 107-room modernist hotel sits on a hill just outside the city center, with spectacular views over the harbor—don’t miss lunch or dinner at the hotel’s flagship restaurant, Panorama, which relies heavily on locally sourced Irish produce.

How to get to Cork

There are no direct long-haul flights to Cork from the USA. Instead, fly to Shannon or Dublin—all of DHS paperwork’s completed before you board, which means you land stateside as if you were a domestic passenger. There’s ample service on Aer Lingus to either airport from the USA (it serves 14 U.S. airports). The three-hour drive from Dublin down to Cork is a bonus chance to soak up the countryside.

Think Maine, think lobster—and come to the seaside town of Rockland this month to truly relish in the state’s popular dish.

Photo by Wangkun Jia/Shutterstock

10. Rockland, Maine

August is great for: Forgetting the summer diet for the best possible reasons.

For five days, Rockland becomes a crustacean celebration with the Maine Lobster Festival (this year, from July 31 to August 4), with more than 70,000 visitors to gorge on freshly caught, fresh-cooking lobster overlooking Penobscot Bay: Take your pick between turnovers, rolls, salad, bisques, deep fried dumplings, and more.

There’s more to the bash, with a cooking festival for those keen to show off their kitchen prep schools, and a 10K road race . The highlight, though, is Sunday afternoon’s Great Crate Race , where anyone foolhardy and athletic enough can sign up to try to scamper across 50 lobster traps strung together like a bobbing obstacle course across the harbor. This is a true community effort, staffed almost entirely by local volunteers and run by a nonprofit that siphons all the money made back into Midcoast Maine community programs.

Where to stay: 250 Main Hotel

• Book now: 250 Main Hotel

The 26-room hotel right in the heart of town means you can walk to or from the festival (and dry off more quickly if you tumble during the Crate Race). It’s refreshing contemporary, featuring bright accent colors and flat screen TVs.

How to get to Rockland

The only flight to Rockland’s airport is operated by regional carrier Cape Air, from Boston. Hacking the trip, head to Portland, ME, which has seasonal service to a range of cities including Washington D.C., Baltimore, and Charlotte. Then drive up to Rockland, a scenic detour that takes around 90 minutes.

65 Mother’s Day Gifts for Every Travel-Loving Mom

By Meaghan Kenny and Paris Wilson

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, it's high time to start shopping for the moms, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and mother-in-laws in our lives again. Whether you're celebrating with a large family brunch or taking your mom out for a spa day , a well-thought-out gift is always appreciated. For those who can’t be with their mothers this year but still want to send something to make her smile—we’ve got you covered. Below, we've rounded up dozens of thoughtful Mother’s Day gift ideas for all kinds of moms, from the ones who taught you to love the great outdoors to the ones who appreciate a trip to a winery, and the ones whose ideal vacation is sitting in a beach chair with a good book in hand.

As a reminder, Mother's Day is on Sunday, May 12, this year, so be sure to give a week or two of buffer time if you're shipping a gift directly to mom, or need to wrap it yourself at home.

Find the best gifts by interest:

For the outdoorsy mom, for the organization guru.

• For the spa devotees
• For the homebody
• For the beach lovers

For the the environmentally conscious mom

• For the mom who loves to cook
• For the green thumb
• For the wine connoisseur
• For the bookworm

For the coffee or tea lover

• Even more gift ideas

This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Madison Flager.

The Daylite Backpack is simple, durable, and comfortable—all the attributes for a great hiking backpack . It features a large main compartment, a hydration reservoir, and an internal laptop sleeve. It's made from recycled polyester and comes in 12 colorways your mom will love.

These lightweight sunglasses block 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. While protecting your eyes from the sun’s beaming light, they manage to eliminate a harsh glare, too.

Treat mom to a new pair of hiking shoes for your next trek together. Merrell designed this pair with KineticFit Advanced footbeds that contour to the foot to create a custom comfort for rugged terrain and more support in the ankles. The outer shoe features a Vibram outsole, rubber heel, and toe cap—so you're protected from harsh weather conditions. It’s also made from 100 percent recycled laces, webbing, and mesh lining—making this the most eco-friendly Moab boot Merrell has released.

If your mom feels most at home on the trails and in a national park , she'll appreciate a US Park Pass. The annual card grants access to all national parks, monuments and, battlefields in the United States. At parks where per-person fees are charged, passholders can bring three adults in, so her friends or your family can tag along, too.

For the mom who swears by Marie Kondo, make the organizer in her happy with Bellroy's Tech Kit; it's filled with loops and pockets to give every cord and earphone its proper place.

Packing cubes are a game changer—and our editors love this personalized set from Paravel. It come with four cubes—a large, a medium, and two small ones—all of which are easy to wipe clean and even easier to store (just nest them all into each other).

No one wants to lose valuable jewelry while in transit or arrive at their hotel with a bag full of tangled necklaces. This pretty case from Mark & Graham will hold all her earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets the next time she travels for a special occasion.

This chic Metro sling bag from Monos will let mom move hands-free at the airport while still keeping her smaller essentials easily accessible. It can be worn across the chest or around the waist.

For the mom who picks hotels based on the spa

This spa-like duo promotes full body blood circulation with each glide. The Shape Shifter expertly works into muscles and aids in lymphatic drainage. The Featherweight Body Gloss assists with each movement, delivering intense hydration and collagen-enhancing goodness that plumps and smooths the skin.

The brand was started by Helen Yin and is deeply rooted in both her family's approach to stress relief and research that she’s done on ancient herbal bathhouse practices. The nutrient-rich bath blends feature hojicha tea, mugwort, jasmine flowers, and other ingredients that will help to release tension in the body with added skincare benefits.

Your mom can contour, tone, and firm her skin without even visiting the spa with the NuFace facial toning kit. It gently massages the face to smooth skin and decrease wrinkles over time. Use it with the gel primer daily for the best results and instant de-puffing.

We love a good robe here at Traveler , especially when it reminds us of something we'd find at our favorite hotel or spa. Parachute's waffle robe has long sleeves and hits around the knee, and is lightweight enough to wear year round, regardless of the climate.

Silk pajamas , without the hassle of having to wash by hand—a dream. This Lunya set, now available in a limited-edition light green hue, is the kind she'll want to wear to bed every single night. It's also a great set for hot sleepers as the silk keeps you nice and cool.

This bamboo bath caddy will elevate anyone's at-home spa experience . Not only does this one look pretty, it's so functional and easy to set up. Grab a book, some tea, and a candle to set up a spa-worthy bath from the comfort of your own home.

If she's not a Tatcha fan yet, this starter kit will convert her. Meant to soothe dry skin, it comes with a cleansing oil, polish, hydrating serum, skin cream, and eye cream.

La Mer's beloved serum, which moisturizes and smooths skin, makes a great gift for mothers who want a little extra pampering this year.

A spa gift card will help her support her favorite spot and have a reason to book an extra appointment or two. SpaFinder makes it easy to search for places by location and service, so she can book something close to home or on her next vacation.

Buying skincare products for someone else can be risky, but this starter set lets her sample some of the latest beauty trends to see what works. It comes with a micro-needle Dermaroller, Cloud Whip face moisturizer, a mud mask, and vitamin C serum.

For the homebody mom

Nothing makes a room feel as cozy and warm as lighting your favorite candle. Beloved candle brand Voluspa, known for its sleek glass candles with delicious signature scents, recently launched a refill system that adds an additional 60 hours of fragrance. Instead of mom buying a brand new candle every time she burns through one, she can simply refill the same gorgeous candle with her go-to scent, from Baltic Amber to French Cade Lavender.

Traveler readers went wild for these hotel-quality sheets, recommended by Jonathan Webster, the vice president of lodging at Geronimo Hospitality Group. If mom's in the market for an upgrade, we bet she'll enjoy this silky smooth set.

There's a good chance your mom is ready for a new pair of house shoes . Made from 100-percent Turkish cotton terry, Parachute's plush slippers are soft and breathable, with rubber soles for a solid grip.

Give your mom the best sleep of her life with these luxurious silk pillowcases from Brooklinen. Not only are they comfortable, they are also better for your skin and reduce hair frizz. Sweet dreams!

This dreamy sleep mask is soft, noise-reducing, and the wide elasticized band prevents hair creases. Mom can throw it in her tote to get some rest on her next flight.

For the mom who wishes they were on the beach

Petoskey stones are found deep beneath the sands of Michigan shores and are calcified remnants of ancient coral reefs. Shinola pays homage to the mitten-state with its Petoskey collection that features polished stones that are one-of-a-kind (just like your mom). The stacked beaded bracelet has been crafted with a silver closure and features a variance of tan colored stones that have the unique six-sided “sunray” pattern.

The canvas material makes this tote incredibly durable for the beach . The colorful stripes and leather metallic detailing gives it a playful yet striking look. It’s super spacious so it can hold all the necessities for a perfect beach getaway.

The vibrant and sunny memory of a walk along a sandy beach is hard to forget. The scent notes include bergamot, coconut milk, and musk—transporting mom to her favorite place.

Bring the smell of salty sea air to wherever she may be with Homesick's beach cottage candle, made with bergamot, plumeria, cedarwood, sandalwood, tonka bean, amber, and musk. And while you're at it, grab one that smells like her home city or favorite vacation destination, too.

There's no better feeling than getting home from a day at the beach, taking a hot shower, and slipping into a silky smooth robe. Whether or not the afternoon on the sand is in her immediate future, you can at least help her achieve that level of after-sun comfort with this Lunya robe. For silk, it's remarkably easy to maintain, given it can be tossed in the wash.

As summer approaches, consider upgrading your mom’s current ride. Bluejay’s Premiere Edition electric bike is made for paved bike paths. It can reach up to 20 miles per hour and provides 75 miles of cycling before it needs a charge. Although it looks like a blast from the past, the bike itself is loaded with the latest technology such as a control panel with USB charging ports that displays speed, battery life, lights, and mileage.

Traveler editors practically live in Girlfriend leggings when we work from home, so we can strongly vouch for their comfort level. Another plus: Each pair is made out of recycled water bottles, and comes in a reusable pink pouch instead of plastic wrap.

This Tree Napper blanket blends the benefits of a weighted blanket—better sleep, peace of mind—with the comfort of a big, cozy knit sweater. Plus, it's made with a plant-based tree fabric (Tencel), organic cotton, and a little bit of spandex for stretch.

Made entirely from bamboo and recycled plastics (even the laces come from recycled plastic bottle threads), Cariuma sneakers are eco-friendly and extremely comfortable. Moms will like this rose knit pair for city vacations and puttering around town alike.

For the Ina Garten–obsessed mom

It comes as no surprise that the Always Pan has a cult following: This all-in-one pan does the work of eight traditional pieces of cookware. It will save space in your mom's cupboards and make cleaning the dishes a breeze (what better gift is there than that?).

Upgrade mom's kitchen counter with a gift set from Brightland. Our friends at Epicurious categorized the design-forward brand's Awake oil as a top-tier olive oil; this set comes with a bottle of the good stuff, plus champagne vinegar, California orange blossom honey, and the spout.

There's no greater gift for a home chef than something from Le Creuset. The French cookware company makes the best of the best when it comes to pots, pans, and Dutch ovens. This essential oven will last forever. The hardest part? Choosing a color.

While Tartine's bread cookbook got a lot of love as everyone hopped on board the sourdough train in 2020, the San Francisco bakery's other cookbook is worth reading through, too. It comes with well over 100 recipes for breakfast pastries, cakes, cookies, tarts, and more.

For the mom who wishes she had a British passport, this loud and proud Smeg toaster will get a laugh. Like most Smeg products, it has a retro look and practical features, including six browning levels and a removable stainless steel crumb tray.

With Rifle Paper Co.'s recipe tin, your mom will have a much prettier way to store all those family recipes floating around in her brain, and any new ones she can't wait to try this summer.

For the green thumb mom

You know her birthstone and zodiac sign, but did you know every month has a birth flower, too? Satisfy her gardening itch in a low-key way with this all-in-one kit. It comes with seeds, a glass bottle to grow them in, potting mix, and instructions, plus a cork lid that doubles as a coaster for the bottle.

Blundstone's iconic Tasmanian boots have been around for 150 years, and can withstand anything from slushy winter sidewalks to afternoons stomping through the garden. The Chelsea boot is a favorite for being fairly light and super comfortable, with a leather upper and durable, slip-resistant TPU outsole. If she spends most of her time outdoors, these boots will become a go-to.

We've never seen a watering can as chic as Hay's—its matte color and sleek design are too pretty to keep hidden away in a closet or garage, making it both functional and decorative.

Bloomscape describes this plant's care level as no-fuss and carefree, making it a great pick regardless of her skill level. Plus, it's pet-friendly and will thrive even with partial lighting.

For the mom who loves to visit wineries

The Wine-Down tote is made from upcycled leather that is durable and both water- and stain-resistant. The unique design features a knot that serves as a handle. It's the perfect gift for a wine connoisseur who is always introducing a new bottle during dinner parties or girls’ nights.

For a zero-fuss way to make red wine taste better, she needs a decanter like this one. It's easy to use and easy to clean (it's dishwasher safe), and comes with a travel bag for the aerator, which can sit on top of any wine glass when using the large decanter isn't an option.

If a visit to wine country isn't in her near future, a wine delivery is the next best option. Sign her up for a subscription, or pick out a handful of bottles based on her favorite varietals or wine regions.

This is, by far, the most ridiculous gift on this list, but there is a mom out there who will absolutely love it. It is a suitcase meant specifically for bringing home wine safely, whether she's returning from California, South Africa, or Spain.

Traveler transportation editor Jessica Puckett found these vintage-inspired wine goblets that remind her of the ones she drank from in Italy on Amazon. Spruce up your mom's tablescape with a colorful set of her own.

For the bookworm mom

For the women in your life that have small scale libraries in their home, this scanner will help them to catalogue their books and stay organized. When paired with an app like Libb , users can set up their own library system on a phone or computer.

There are dozens of classics to choose from here: Adventures of Tom Sawyer , David Copperfield , Little Women , and The Call of the Wild among them. Any one of them would look great hanging in a study or bedroom.

It by no means replaces the feeling of strolling through a gorgeous library or bookstore , but a Libro.fm subscription does give her access to a boatload of books to be listened to whenever—on walks, while cleaning, working on a puzzle , coloring , you name it—all of which come from independent bookstores.

Our favorite e-reader for travel , the Kindle Paperwhite has an exceptional battery life, pairs with Audible to play audiobooks, and has a familiar, page-like quality book purists will appreciate.

Decorated with quotes from the greats, from Virginia Woolf to Oscar Wilde, she'll enjoying sending off these postcards to fellow literary friends (and keeping a few to use as bookmarks).

The sentimental mom who's not going anywhere near a Kindle will love stamping her collection of books; customize it to say “from the desk of,” “from the library of,” “ex libris,” or “with love from.”

This gift set is a sweet introduction to Big Island Roasters. The brand works with Puna farmers in Hawaii to create these alluring blends. This set includes Kona coffee, Ka’u coffee, Māmaki herbal tea, espresso bites, and an organic coffee lip balm. Hazelnut, honey and, chocolate are very present in the blends so it’s perfect for those with a sweet tooth.

Since there's nothing better than curling up on the couch with a good book and a cup of coffee, we're all for upgrading said coffee experience with a Nespresso machine. This version is a little more versatile than most, pouring both espresso and coffee (in five, eight, and 14-ounce increments), and comes with a milk frother, which really makes all the difference in upgrading at-home coffee .

This electric kettle won't only look pretty in your mom's kitchen—it's a game changer. It has to-the-degree temperature control, a 60-minute mode to keep things hot, a precision spot, and weighted handle.

More no-fail gift ideas

A cashmere cardigan is always a great gift for a mom that’s far away. The cashmere and slightly oversized fit of this Banana Republic cardigan feels like a warm hug. Plus, for a mom on the go, it’s a travel essential—easy to pack, easy to layer, and easy to dress up or down.

She's either a flower mom, or she's not. There's rarely an in between. But if she does appreciate a bouquet of flowers showing up at her doorstep, UrbanStems is your best bet for easy, fast delivery. The Good Vibes bouquet, part of UrbanStems' Mother's Day collection, is filled with peach and pink roses, delphinium, veronica, aster, ruscus and more.

She’ll notice her juicing time cut short—with 43 revolutions per minute to mimic the motion of a hand squeezing juice, the natural nutrients are retained while reducing the need to finely chop and prep ingredients. Plus, this slow juicer is equipped with an Easy Clean chamber set that simplifies (and speeds up) the cleaning process.

One of New York City’s most renowned and beloved bakeries has expanded on its famous banana pudding recipe, turning them into delicious cookies. Magnolia Bakery is a must-visit while in the city, but for the mothers who can’t make their way to the Big Apple—send a piece (or a few) to them.

Hamilton Princess & Beach Club Resor t just launched its first custom fragrance with Bermudian perfumery Lili Bermuda. Island Rose is inspired by the roses that bloom in Bermuda on the grounds of the iconic pink palace. It has notes of mandarin, pink rosa damascena, and soft white orris.

Add a little spice to everyday recipes. The Variety Pack features three sauces that will serve as your mom’s introduction to the world of Jamaican flavors and cuisine.

If you won't have a chance to see your mom in person for Mother's Day and want to send her an ongoing gift to make up for it, Vellabox allows you to customize a candle subscription based on your mom's favorite scents. Choose from woodsy, floral, citrus, and fresh notes in three different candle sizes. These can be sent monthly for six months, one year, or as a one-time-only gift.

A major upgrade from the traditional bouquet of flowers you usually gift your mom, these elegant eternity roses last a full year (yes, you read that correctly). Your mom can enjoy these on her desk at work or kitchen table until next Mother's Day rolls around.

Whether your mom is a beginner at the gym or a regular hiker , she needs to try the Bala power rings for herself. Press, hold, swing, and squat with these 10-pound props that evenly distribute weight for a user-friendly workout.