Have someone flying in to visit this summer? No more tracking them online or trying to figure out if they’ve been delayed if you use this hack.
Early flights, cheap seats, less trauma
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Thinking about a summer getaway? Whether you’re dreaming of golden beaches or a family battle royale at Disney, it’s officially “stop refreshing and actually book your flight” season.
Let’s break it down.
🗺️ For international trips
If you’ve got your sights set on Europe, Asia or anywhere outside the U.S., the sweet spot is two to six months in advance, depending on the destination. Not seven anymore.
Airline prices fluctuate faster than ever, and waiting too long means you’ll likely be hit with high demand and fewer seats. Then again, you might be able to score a last-minute deal if you don’t mind the last seat near the toilet.
Use tools like Google Flights, Hopper or Skyscanner to set fare alerts. Just plug in your destination and dates, and you’ll get notified when prices drop below a threshold you set. It’s like having a personal flight hacker in your pocket.
🇺🇸 For U.S. travel
The best time to book a domestic flight is 28 to 35 days before takeoff. Yep, just about a month ahead. Booking too early, say 90+ days out, can actually cost you more. I know, it sounds backward, but data backs it up.
- Book on a Sunday: You can save around 15% compared to buying midweek.
- Fly on a Wednesday: It’s consistently the cheapest day to travel, especially for round trips.
- Skip Fridays and Sundays unless you love crowds and overpriced tickets.
- Shop one-way tickets: For example, Phoenix to New York City round trip was $523. But booking a one-way ticket from Phoenix to NYC and then booking a separate ticket from NYC to Phoenix was $413.
🛫 Insider secrets
Always book the earliest flight your cranky self can tolerate. Flights after 3 p.m.? Up to 50% more prone to cancellations. Delays pile up throughout the day, and those afternoon and evening flights get hit the hardest.
📍 TL;DR
Something in the water
🥤 Whether it’s hot tea or chilled wine, these are gadgets you’ll actually use.
- This tumbler (33% off) clips right to your key chain when you’re on the go.
- Pop your bottles in a pinch with an electric wine opener set (34% off).
- No stove? No prob, grab an electric kettle (20% off) to boil your water fast.
- A portable countertop ice maker (22% off) always keeps you stocked up. Perfect for summer!
- Toss these chilling stones (5% off) into your drink without watering it down.
🔥 Hot n’ cold: Bring a portable cooler and warmer (14% off) on your road trips to flip between 130 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit at the press of a button.
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🚢 Summer is here: Start the party with my summer playlist, “Yacht Rock with an Edge!” Such a crowd-pleaser. Put it on for your next barbecue or lake day and be the hero.
Smart sprinklers are smart
Your summer water bill doesn’t have to skyrocket. The right smart sprinkler can cut usage by 30% and keep your lawn looking great.
🚀 NASA+ is coming to Netflix: Starting this summer, you’ll be able to stream rocket launches, astronaut spacewalks and views of Earth from the ISS right on Netflix. More details and schedules will drop closer to launch. Psst, you can watch NASA+ for free on the agency’s website with no ads.
In which major U.S. city do Uber drivers make the most money?
$7.2B spent on Prime Day
That’s just Day 1 of Amazon’s big summer sale — 210% more than what’s spent on a “normal” day. The average spend per order on the first day was around $60, up from last year. I, uh, spent more than that.
📖 Your summer reading list: Bookworms, you’ve got to check out Amazon’s Best Books of 2025 So Far. It’s packed with page-turners across every genre, so there’s something for everyone. After all, reading is a novel idea.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Splash into summer
- Reusable “water bombs” have a light, magnetic reseal, which means endless hours of water fights without the balloon mess. An 8-pack is 25% off.
- Forget the lame inflatable tube. This pair of floating chairs is 20% off.
- It’s a drink holder, a snack holder, a rainbow and it lights up. It’s your new favorite pool accessory.
- Bring your playlist to the pool with a floating light-up speaker, a deal at 44% off.
- Don’t want your bum on the hot concrete? Use a poolside mat to cushion your tush. This one is 12% off.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
💻 RIP, blue screen of death: After nearly 40 years, Windows is ditching the classic BSOD error message. You know, the one with the frowning face and QR code? It’s being replaced with a black screen that shows the stop code and the system driver that caused the crash. The update rolls out later this summer.
🦴 Help for arthritis is here: A 58-year-old woman got a tiny bio-implant that stopped her symptoms cold. It sends signals through the vagus nerve to calm inflammation, so no more pain or swelling. The best part? She only needs one minute of treatment a day. If all goes well, the FDA could approve it this summer.
🚢 Summer is here: Officially? No. But who cares? Start the party early with my summer playlist, “Yacht Rock with an Edge!” Such a crowd-pleaser. Put it on for your next barbecue or lake day and be the hero.
🥳 Airbnb’s anti-party tech: This summer, they’re once again cracking down on high-risk bookings. The system looks at length of stay, how close you live to the rental and whether it’s last-minute. If you get flagged, you’ll be blocked and sent to a different listing. Don’t believe it? Last year, they stopped over 50,000 people.
DIY on the cheap: Some local libraries rent out power tools. Who knew? If you’re planning a summer project, it’s worth stopping by your nearest branch to ask.
Don’t know what to watch? Hit up moviewiser.com. Type in the mood you’re going for in their AI tab. It’ll spit out a list of movies that fit the bill. I searched for “summer love story,” and the winners include The Notebook and About Time.
📵 Phones down, eyes up: That’s the YMCA’s new water safety campaign for parents this summer. Why? Drowning is the number one cause of death for kids ages 1 to 4, and it often happens within 25 yards of a distracted parent. It’s usually silent, with no splashes, and can happen in 30 seconds or less. I know there’s someone you need to share this with.
🌲 Moose on the loose: A Swedish TV station is livestreaming moose as they cross the Ångerman River to warmer spots for summer. Over 30 cameras show peaceful forests and rivers (with night vision, too). Sometimes a moose strolls by. Sometimes … nothing happens for hours. It’s like Netflix for people who breathe essential oils. Watch it here.
Stop annoying political texts
Cyber crooks are hiding behind legitimate-looking political messages to lead you to dangerous websites. I also get into online job scams, five signs your phone might be tapped, and how to rent a pool for your summer vacation.
Just sell it: Nike, Ralph Lauren, Levi’s and Zara are taking over resale sites like Depop and eBay. Easiest to sell? Brown, beige and multicolored outfits and Nike shoes, which are the No. 1 sellers. Check your closets and make some summer travel money now!