Traditionally Memorial Day is thought of as the kick off to Summer. Pools open for the season, and the warm weather is encouraging everyone to get outside. It’s also a great time to consider your Summer travel plans.
Whether you’ve already decided on a location but are waiting on flights, or you’re just getting started it’s not too late to plan and prepare for your summer travels. Prepping in advance may not feel sexy and in some cases requires paperwork, but it will make your travels much smoother and stress free when the time comes. We’ve put together a list of things you need to know to get ready for your Summer travels.

Travel Checklist

1. Check your passport for expiration dates and ensure you have a Real ID. We all know getting a DMV appointment is a pain in the a**, so schedule it now and thank yourself later. If you’re waiting on your appointment to update your ID, always travel with your passport. Make sure you’re not within 6 months of your passport expiring, as they may not let you use it once you get to the airport.
2. Book your flights and choose your seats now. Google Flights is a great resource to track pricing and availability. If you’re within a few months of your trip though, just know you’re taking a gamble that the price will go down. Google Flights it will tell you if the price is a good one or if you should wait. I also always recommend booking your seat in advance, especially if you have a preference on where to sit.
   • When looking to save money on flights, try booking travel dates mid week if you can. There’s not really a magic day to book cheap flights anymore and honestly it’s not worth the hassle trying to find the perfect time. The actual dates you fly are what’s important
   • Not a hot take but a favorite tip of ours – fly home on a Friday. This will give you the weekend to recharge and get back into your routine.
3. Get TSA Pre-check and Global Entry if you travel abroad. If you travel overseas at least once per year, Global Entry is well worth it. When you apply for GE, you also automatically get TSA Pre-check which has become a must for travel through larger hubs. Some travel credit cards will actually give you credit towards your GE application (shout out Capital One!)
4. Download and use airline apps. It’s must easier to keep up to date on everything going on with your flight and to get your boarding pass quickly. With some airlines, this is actually how we find deals for cash upgrades but you’ll need to check it often especially as you get closer to your travel dates.
   • Note: You cannot upgrade once you’ve checked in and received your boarding pass.
5. Get lounge access. Your best bet for access to many different lounges is going to be Priority Pass. We recommend getting a travel card that gives you immediate membership instead of paying for it separately. Then it’s a win win as you get the travel points and automatic lounge access to ones that are participating.
6. Do your research on National Holidays, major civil events, or travel warnings before leaving. While most of the time you won’t be affected, these things can cause delays or cancellations and make your travels more stressful than if you had come prepared.
7. Go ahead and book any popular activities or restaurants. While we’re big believers of doing it when you get there and seeing how you feel, some bigger non-negotiables you’ll want to book in advance so you don’t miss out.

Other Travel Tips We Love

• Clean your house and wash all of your bedding before you leave. You’ll thank yourself when you get home
• Charge all electronics and download your shows to watch before you leave your house. There’s nothing worse than getting on a plane and they don’t have chargers.
• When buying souvenirs check the tags and product to ensure it’s actually local and authentic before you buy
• Book flights out of major international hubs if you’re able. Then book a quick domestic flight to that hub separately on the day of travel. It will save you thousands on long haul flights.
• Always book your flights first, then follow with hotels and activities. If you’re using points or rewards, you’ll need to be flexible on dates, times and airlines.
• Pack your smaller carry on strategically. This is the bag you keep with you at your seat, so think things like vitamins and medicine in a travel case that’s easy to access, headphones, eye mask, your skincare, charger, snacks, and anything else you may need to get to so you don’t have to get into your bigger bag mid flight or even in the airports.
• If you are checking bags, make sure to pack at least 1-2 extra outfits in a carry on. While you can get an AirTag to track your luggage, it won’t help you when it is lost and you’re without clothes until it gets to you.
• Wear leggings on the plane for compression. Compression socks also work if you have feet that swell easily but leggings will do the trick.
• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Pack electrolytes to drink on the plane. Bring a water bottle with you so we can be environmentally friendly.