📍 Explore along your route: Make your road trip more scenic with a hidden feature in Google Maps. Enter your destination, tap Directions and press Add stops. It’ll show you the best places to eat, shop and other gems along your drive.
Money-saving secret your cable and internet provider doesn't want you to know
When you’re driving, spotty cell coverage is a drag. Music, GPS, and calls just won’t go through. Here’s a quick guide to boosting your service no matter where the road takes you.
What about a travel pro tip if you prefer to fly to your destination? You can see which flights include the most legroom with the right tools. I tell all my tall friends about this trick. Tap or click here for the secret — it’s No. 5 on the list.
If you’re heading off for a long trip, spending time in a seasonal home, or otherwise away, here’s a smart way to save money: Pause your cable and internet. Yes, you can do this and keep many of your service’s perks.
Here’s why canceling isn’t your best option
When you’re going on an extended trip, there’s no reason to pay for internet service back home. You might think canceling and reactivating is the way to go. That’s a bad idea.
- You’ll often face a cancellation fee.
- Canceling your service is frustrating and takes time. You’ll likely be bombarded with questions about why you’re canceling and offers to keep you. And once you’re through with everything, you’ll have to take time to return equipment to your provider.
- You’ll often pay an activation fee to reactivate your previous service or sign up with a new one.
- Resuming service takes time, too. You’ll need to set up your plan, payment, and equipment.
The good news is many ISPs and cable/satellite providers allow you to pause your service, which is much more convenient. Below I gathered info on some of the biggest providers in the country. If you don’t see yours, check its website or call them.
NOTE: Before pausing any service, speak with a representative to ensure you won’t lose any special pricing or features. For example, if you’re on a price-for-life rate and pause your plan, you might lose that rate when you restart it. You don’t want to give up a great rate that you’re locked into to save a few bucks while on vacation.
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Comcast Xfinity
Xfinity’s Seasonal Convenience Plan lets you put your TV, internet, and voice services on hold while you’re away. You keep your equipment, phone number, and Comcast.net email address, which you can still access during the hold.
If you upgrade to Seasonal Internet Access, you’ll still be able to control your smart devices at home while you’re away, too. There’s no reconnection charge, and you won’t need a service call when you return.
Google will pay you the difference if your flight price drops
When you’re looking for a hotel, travel discount sites like Kayak, Expedia and Hotels.com are good places to start, but you won’t always find the best prices there. There’s one more step to take that’ll help you undercut even the lowest price you find online. Here’s what you need to do.
Record your own voice directions
Forget about robotic voices like Siri. You can guide yourself to your destination with your own narration — here’s how.
7 best beaches of the world
For a relaxing vacation, it’s hard to beat a sunny destination. What’s better than sipping your favorite beverage while catching some rays? The sand, the sun and the clear blue ocean with a nice warm breeze, it’s simply paradise! But how do you know which beaches are duds, and which are worth visiting? I’ve rounded up seven of my absolute favorites!
🗺️ Plot your own route: You can add an extra stop using the Google Maps app. With an active route, tap the three-dot icon in the top right and select Add stop. Type in the second destination and click on it. Make sure the whole route is in the correct order — tap, hold and drag the three lines on each point to reorder, then hit Done.
Get a better Uber price: Put in your destination and pick a car. Close the app, then wait five minutes and reopen the app. I usually get at least a 10% lower price doing this trick.
Get travel advice: When’s the best time to drive from [home] to [destination]? ChatGPT can flag info and considerations like mountain roads that ice over. It’s not perfect, but it’ll give you the basics.