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.
Get the best vacation deals, without getting scammed
Aloha! I’m so excited. I just booked a trip to Hawaii. I scored a great hotel, a fabulous room and a knockout price (hello, extra night free!), so I figured there’s no better time to share my tricks.
And, because cyber creeps are everywhere, I have travel scams to warn you about, too. Let’s book your summer vacay or upgrade the one you have the right way.
Ask and you shall receive
Booking a hotel online is easy, but don’t do that. The best way to find a deal and score the perfect room is to drop by the hotel’s website, look for specials, then pick up the phone. Call the hotel — not the main reservations number, but the specific property.
I saw a “get the fourth night free” promotion on the website. I always ask for the room number that gets the most requested. I want no elevator sounds, no pool noise, no ballroom music and no long hike to get to my room.
Now, this is interesting. I first called Amex to book the room. They couldn’t get the free night from the hotel, so I booked directly. Then, I called Amex to take over the reservation. That means I got the credit card amenities — free breakfast, free room upgrade, late checkout and $100 credit during my stay. Mahalo!
🌴 Pro tip: When you book on the phone instead of through a website, you’ll probably get a better deal than online (and better customer service).
Keep tabs on your stuff
Lost luggage will ruin your trip. Lots of major airlines, including United, American, Delta and Air New Zealand, let you track your luggage in real time through their official app, so download that before you hit the road.
🌴 Pro tip: Searching the app stores can lead you to copycat apps. Go to your airline’s official website and look for a link to their app in the header or footer.
I throw an Apple AirTag in checked bags for extra peace of mind.
- AirTags are ideal if you have an iPhone, Mac or iPad.
- The Tile Essentials four-pack comes with enough tags for your keys, wallet, luggage or whatever else you want to track. Nice option for Android.
The worst airlines for losing luggage
I bet you or someone you know has a luggage horror story. Here’s mine: On one trip to Paris, everyone got their luggage when we landed … except for Barry. I called British Airways at least a dozen times, asking when he’d get his bag. They couldn’t find it.
I’m leavin’ on a jet plane: Don’t wait in line for a bad passport pic. Head to Passport Photo Online and follow a few steps to take the perfect shot. It’s easy, and the site tells you exactly what to do. That means you won’t get rejected once you submit the pic.
Check before you travel: A Florida man was hit with a whopping $143,442.74 phone bill from T-Mobile for roaming costs when traveling in Switzerland. He thought he was covered. Nope. They reversed the charges. Pro tip: There’s a $50-per-month T-Mobile travel plan to prevent stuff like this. Most providers have something similar.
$12,000 in flights
To one winner in Frontier’s free-airfare-for-a-year contest. Another 100 folks will win a $1,000 voucher. You have until July 2 to enter. Hope you win!
‘Hey, have you landed yet?’
Don’t wait for them to call or text. There are better ways, friend!
- My favorite option is FlightAware. Type in the flight number and you’ll see where that plane is in the sky. You’re not limited to tracking their flight; you can even see if rain might delay them with the weather radar overlay. Try it on the web or your phone.
- Flightradar24 is fun. Open your camera and point it at any airplane. You’ll see its flight number, departure point and destination. It’s powered by ADS-B receivers and can get signals from the aircraft. Download it here.
- For the basics, Google Flights gets the job done. Search for a flight number on Google and a box with details like arrival time and gate info will pop up.
10 best travel apps to plan your next adventure
Some things may have changed since your last excursion if you haven’t traveled in forever. You might even run into sticker shock regarding airfare and hotel accommodations. Tap or click here for the best budgeting apps to help get your finances in order.
Don’t fall for this Uber airport trick - It cost me $20
My ears are always perked for life hacks or time-saving tricks. I like to try them out so you can know whether or not they work. I’m sad to report that a new way to reserve an Uber comes with a $20 fee you may not know about.
How to find hidden GPS trackers
Nervous that there might be someone following you? Here are five ways to spot sneaky GPS trackers in your car.
$6,000 per ticket
To fly BarkAir. The dog-first airline sounds like a joke, but it’s totally real. It’s a private charter where you and your best friend are treated like royalty. Routes are super limited, but you can request one if you and the pup need a getaway. Hmm … How do I get them to sponsor Abby and me?
4 steps
To fall asleep on a plane. The “going-over-the-alpha-bridge” method is going viral on Instagram thanks to psychologist Erica Terblanche. Think it’d work for you? Watch the vid!
🛫 Get me outta here: Sharing this again because I always get a hearty “Thank you!” from someone who saved money on a flight. Based on average round-trip ticket prices, you can save up to 15% when you book on a Sunday. The cheapest day of the week to travel is Wednesday.
30 years without losing a bag
Japan’s Kansai International Airport (KIX) has gone that long without a single lost bag. Yup, officials there say they haven’t lost a customer’s bag since 1994. The workers confirm it but say it’s NBD; they’re just doing their jobs! I wish U.S. baggage handlers had the same idea — then, we wouldn’t need an AirTag in every bag!
105 million air passengers
Passed through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in 2023. ATL is the busiest airport in the world. Dubai International Airport came in second, with 87 million passengers. You know the old saying: “When you die, whether you’re going to heaven or hell, you’ll connect through Atlanta.”
When your suitcase is jam-packed: Fancy credit card lounges (paywall link) loaded with workspaces, restaurants and more are popping up at U.S. airports. New perks include Peloton bikes, caviar and nap pods. I saw an ad for a new Singapore Airlines flight that has a full workout area in the first-class cabin. That’s something!
✈️ Heads up, jet-setters: If you book a trip with Google Flights’ price guarantee badge and the fare drops, you could get refunded the difference. The drop must be over $5, there’s a $500 cap per year, and you must be signed in with the region as the U.S. (with prices in dollars). You’ll also need Google Pay to claim your cash back.
$20-$70 fee increase
Starting Oct. 1 for customs-expediting programs Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI. Global Entry (U.S. airports) application fees will go from $100 to $120, NEXUS (U.S. land borders from Canada) fees will rise from $50 to $120, and SENTRI (U.S. land borders from Mexico) fees will cost ya $120. Mark the deadline to save some bucks. Yup, I’m air-mazing to pass this along.
Travel often? Stop tearing apart the house for chargers before every single trip. Grab an inexpensive tech bag and buy duplicates of all your most-used chargers (or find them in a drawer). Before you leave, think, “Phone, watch, headphones,” and just grab and go.
3 map apps that are better than Google if you have multiple stops
When you get in the car for a trip, work meeting, or run an errand, it’s never as simple as traveling from Point A to Point B. Sometimes, there are also points C, D, E, F, and G. To make matters more complicated, the route you take could mean a massive difference in time and money.