Best and Busiest Times to Fly and Stay This Summer

NEWS
Best and Busiest Times to Fly and Stay This Summer

According to Expedia’s Summer Travel Outlook

• “Cheapest Time to Travel and to Avoid the Crowds: Late August offers the most affordable fares and fewer crowds for both domestic and international trips, as peak summer vacations wind down.

• Most Expensive Time to Travel: Late June and early July are the priciest and busiest times.

• Peak Busy Periods: Early to mid-June marks the busiest travel period, with many Americans starting their summer vacations. Thursday, June 19, is one of the busiest travel days, coinciding with Juneteenth.” ¹

Best Times to Fly

• “The most affordable domestic travel dates are Tuesday, August 19, and Monday, August 25, when demand drops as summer winds down.

• Travelers aiming to avoid peak prices should steer clear of Thursday, June 27, and Thursday, August 26, when airfare reaches its highest levels, coinciding with the onset of summer vacations and back-to-school travel.

• The least busy days for air travel fall on Wednesday, August 25, and Thursday, August 26, allowing for a more relaxed airport experience.

• The busiest travel dates, Thursday, June 19, and Thursday, August 5, align with high-traffic periods, particularly around the Juneteenth national holiday and peak summer break.

• For international flights, a similar trend emerges, with the cheapest dates around mid-to-late August and the busiest dates falling in early to mid-June as the summer rush begins.” ²

Best Times to Stay

• “For domestic stays, the cheapest dates fall on Sundays, June 1 and June 8, making early summer a prime window for affordable lodging.

• As the summer progresses, prices climb significantly around major holidays, with Wednesday, July 2, and Thursday, July 3, standing out as the most expensive dates due to increased demand surrounding the 4th of July celebrations.

• Travelers looking to avoid the crowds and save should consider booking stays in late August, as Monday, August 25, and Tuesday, August 26.

• Conversely, weekends leading up to key summer holidays, like Friday, June 13, and Thursday, July 3, are among the busiest dates for accommodations.” ³ 

More news to know:

✈️ Indian airlines are rerouting flights to Europe and North America to avoid Pakistani airspace, adding up to 4 hours and requiring fuel stops. The closure follows rising tensions, affecting carriers like Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, leading to longer travel times and some route suspensions.

🚶‍♂️‍➡️Munich has been named the most walkable city in the world, thanks to its safety, extensive bike trails, and abundance of car-free areas. The study ranked cities based on factors like public transport, trail access, and safety, with Milan and Warsaw following closely behind.

⚡Power outages caused by extreme weather disrupted flights across Spain and Portugal, closing major airports like Madrid and Lisbon. Airlines, including easyJet and TAP, canceled or delayed flights, advising travelers to check updates.

HOTEL TIP
Why You Should Be Locking Up Your Toothbrush in Hotel Safes (No, Really)

If you thought your passport was the only thing worth locking up in your hotel room safe, think again. Your humble little toothbrush deserves VIP treatment too. Yes, your toothbrush. The thing you shove in your mouth twice a day like it’s no big deal? Turns out, it is.

Why all the drama? Well, let’s just say some hotel staff have reportedly gotten creative with guests’ toothbrushes. And by creative, we mean "used them to scrub the bathroom." Cue the collective gag reflex.

Still think leaving it on the sink is safe? Think again. Hotel bathrooms are basically petri dishes with throw pillows. Thanks to toilet plumes (that delightful mist of invisible germs launched into the air when you flush), your brush could end up catching more than just plaque. Gross.

So what’s a germ-conscious traveler to do? Easy. Follow the golden rule of hotel hygiene: if it touches your teeth, it goes in the safe. Just make sure your toothbrush is dry and covered—because while the safe protects from prying hands, it’s also a cozy germ cave if you toss in a wet brush and call it a day.

Too paranoid? Maybe. But would you rather explain to your dentist that you caught E. coli from your holiday brushing routine? Yeah, we didn’t think so.

OFFER ALERT 

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CRUISE
Explore Asia the Easy Way—By Cruise!

Why battle airport chaos or pack and unpack every few days when you can cruise through Asia in comfort? On Viking Cruises’ 15-day Southeast Asia and Hong Kong itinerary, you’ll visit Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Hong Kong—all while unpacking just once.

From sipping cocktails at Bangkok’s Mandarin Oriental and exploring ancient temples to tasting exotic fruits and fried spiders in Cambodia, this trip blends luxury with adventure. Highlights include Vietnam’s vibrant Ho Chi Minh City, the serene beauty of Ha Long Bay, and Hong Kong’s dazzling skyline.

With guided tours, onboard spa time, and cuisine inspired by each destination, this cruise takes the stress out of travel and turns your Asia bucket list into reality—all in one seamless, unforgettable journey.

TODAY’S VIDEO
A New Way to Pack Your Suitcase!

🧳We came across this cool video where someone packs their suitcase standing upright, and it actually fits a lot! But does it beat the classic flat-packing method?

Check it out and see which style works best for you! ✨