vacation Archives

5 things that make you a target online

Too many people share just about everything online. That’s a one-way ticket to Scamtown. Some info makes you an especially prime target. Keep these close to the vest.

1. Your relationship status

Widows and widowers are big targets. Crooks want to get their grimy hands on inheritance money. Take Rosalie Douglass, who tried her hand at online dating and listed “widow” as her relationship status. Two different scammers connected with Rosalie and swindled her out of a staggering $430,000.

Pro tip: If you’re a widow or widower, keep it off your dating and social media apps. You never know who’s watching.

2. Your vacation plans

Tiffany posted about her family’s upcoming Carnival cruise on Facebook by sharing shots of her tickets. She didn’t think about the fact her booking reference number was included. The same day, a scammer created a new Carnival account using Tiffany’s confirmation number. They canceled her booking and ruined her $15,000 trip.

Pro tip: Announcing your vacation plans before or during your trip screams “Rob me!” Take tons of pics on your vacation, but don’t share them until you’re home.

3. Videos of you talking

AI tools make it cheap and easy for anyone to create a deepfake video. Recently, on TikTok, a woman named Sam said a shady brand stole her face and used it to promote their product. They did it all with a video from her social media account and some deepfake software.

Pro tip: Limit the personal information you share online, especially high-quality photos and videos of you talking. For most folks, setting your social media accounts to “private” is the way to go.

4. Expensive electronics you’re selling

A South Carolina man listed a limited-edition PlayStation on a Facebook buy-sell-trade group. The “buyer” he met up with pulled out a gun and made off with the PlayStation, plus the man’s phone, wallet and watch. Scary.

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🛠️ You can fix that

Solve common household headaches for less than $25 with these DIY helpers:

Spraying WD-40 can be messy, but the pen version makes precision super easy. Grab a pack of three for 17% off.
Fix wobbly furniture or creaky doorframes — you name it — with these plastic shims. A 30-pack is on sale for $13.99.
Calling all DIY decorators! Stop guessing where you should hang things with this magnetic stud finder. It’s so simple and 8% off.
This compact steamer, at $21.99, is great for all kinds of fabrics. It fits in your suitcase for that relaxed, unwrinkled vacation look. Get it for 37% off!
Retire your bag of plastic grocery bags and stick ‘em in this reusable organizer. This summery print is on sale, but they’re all under six bucks!

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Hide your Instagram Stories: If family members or coworkers follow you on IG, you might not want them to see those party vacation pics. In the app, tap your profile picture in the bottom right, then tap the three lines to the top right > Settings > Privacy > Story > Hide Story From, and select anyone you want to hide your story from. They’ll still be able to see your profile and posts!

Free video editing software

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Just back from vacation and ready to create a family movie? You don’t need expensive editing software — these free tools will do the trick!

Am I the a-hole? A Redditor wants to know after not taking away their 3-year-old’s iPad on a flight. A nearby family with a kid the same age asked if the Redditor would put away their child’s iPad since they weren’t allowing iPads on vacation. The Redditor said no, and the other kid cried for the rest of the flight. Cue the dirty looks. I’m with the OP (original poster): Parent your own kid. Reply and let me know what you think!

About 75% of travelers agree cleaning before a trip is at the top of the to-do list. Is the No. 1 priority … A.) Doing the dishes, B.) Laundry, C.) Mopping the floors or D.) Emptying the fridge?

Click here to find the answer! →

Up to 15% tax refund

When you buy something while on vacation in Italy. By the way, this article says 22%, but that’s not quite right. Still, what a deal. I’d look for a designer handbag; they’re way cheaper there compared to stores here in the U.S. I always have Trevi saying goodbye to Rome.

Windows upgrade: Setting up multiple desktops means you can keep life, work, vacation and your hobbies separate. To make them easy to navigate, customize each. Now you know blue is work, yellow is home and orange is for DIY projects.

Stop annoying political texts

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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.

Get a little space: Virtual desktops on Windows let you keep work, play, vacation planning and whatever else separate. Hit Windows key + Ctrl + D to create a new virtual desktop. Use Windows key + Ctrl + the left or right arrows to move between your desktops. When you’re done, hit Windows key + Ctrl + F4 to close your current virtual desktop.

📍 Where am I? Ask your smartphone! So handy on vacation or if you’re lost. You’ll get your address and location on a map, which you can then share. Just say, “Hey, Siri” or “Hey, Google,” followed by, “Where am I?”

Photo tricks to look younger and slimmer

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Everyone wants to look back at their vacation photos and feel great. Do you know your best selfie angle? Here’s how to find it.

🎨 Give the kids (and yourself) some culture: Bank of America customers get free admission to museums nationwide for the first weekend of every month. Perfect for summer vacation!

38% of millennials and Gen Z

Love travel agents. Turns out, planning a trip takes a lot of work. After nearing extinction, travel agents are making an unexpected comeback. Only 12% of Gen X and 2% of baby boomers felt the same. I hear you: “I need six months of vacation twice a year.”

50% of employees

“Quiet vacation” over the Fourth of July weekend. It’s not just you; no one’s getting work done the week of Independence Day. Instead, nearly half of workers are playing hooky without telling their managers, aka “quiet vacationing.”

🚢 Shipwrecked: A Kentucky family of six’s $15,000 Carnival Cruise vacation was a no-go just two days before setting sail. Why? The vacation-ready mom posted the cruise itinerary to Facebook — including the booking number. Some troll then used that number to make a Carnival account and cancel their penthouse suite reservation. PSA: Post your pics only after your vacation.

Author and Austinite Nick Gray had the crazy idea to combine a blind date with a vacation — his treat. He went viral when he posted his proposal on X, and over 400 women applied. Where did he take the lucky lady: A.) Rome, B.) Tokyo, C.) Las Vegas or D.) Sydney?

Find out here! →

Getting cash is annoying: Split the check for drinks, a concert, vacation — whatever — through Venmo. Open the Venmo app and add your pals as contacts. Choose Pay/Request at the bottom of the screen. Tap the names of the people you want to split the check with. Enter the amount and click Split. You can customize the amount for each person.

29% of remote workers are logging in from a vacation destination

And doing it without telling their bosses. If there’s no explicit rule against it at your company, it’s fair game to work from wherever you want. But calling in from Margaritaville? You may not be telling, but your new tan and conveniently blurred background are dead giveaways.

Airbnb, Vrbo and fed up Americans

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Ready for a vacation? You might think twice about booking with popular home-sharing platforms.