https://ift.tt/s387XJZ to Visit Europe in 2023? You Might Need an ETIAS Travel Authorization https://ift.tt/rmQj1OK

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Recent data from TripIt showed that nearly one-third of Americans are headed to Europe for Memorial Day weekend—and that’s just the start of the summer travel season. Indeed, as the pandemic wanes, more and more people are returning to Europe for personal and business trips alike. 

But soon there will be a new requirement for those planning trips to Europe. Starting next year, many non-European citizens, including Americans, will need to apply for and receive approval for a visa waiver—i.e., an ETIAS travel authorization—in order to visit. 

Haven’t heard of an ETIAS travel authorization, or feel unsure about the process for applying for one? Not to worry! You can find all the need-to-know details, below. 

What is ETIAS?

The European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS, is a visa waiver program created by the European Union (EU). The program was created with the goal of protecting the Schengen Area—i.e., the 26 European countries that have adopted a common visa policy and eliminated the need for passport or border control among them—from visitors arriving from outside the region. By requiring visitors to register, the EU will be able to better identify any possible threats or risks associated with travelers coming into the area. 

By the start of 2023, all visitors—i.e., tourists and business travelers—who do not need a visa to enter Europe will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization. An exact effective date has not yet been announced. 

What is an ETIAS travel authorization? 

The ETIAS travel authorization is a visa waiver, similar to the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) visa waiver. All eligible visitors (i.e., those who do not need a visa) will be expected to present an approved ETIAS when traveling to any of the Schengen Area countries.

Approved ETIAS visa waivers will be valid for three years, and will allow people to enter the Schengen Area for periods of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

How do I apply for an ETIAS travel authorization? 

To apply for an ETIAS travel authorization, you must have a valid passport, internet access, and the financial means to pay for the fee. 

The cost of an ETIAS has not yet been announced (but you can check back here when it is). Travelers will be required to pay for the cost of ETIAS when they complete their online application form. 

In addition to a fee, travelers will be required to provide their personal information, and answer questions about the country they intend to enter and public health risks, disclose any criminal history, as well as provide information as to whether they’ve previously been refused entry or been ordered to leave a member state.

Applications should take approximately 10 minutes to complete, and most applicants will receive their authorization in a matter of minutes. 

What countries will I need an ETIAS travel authorization to enter? 

You will need an ETIAS to visit any member country of Europe’s Schengen Area. 

Currently, that includes Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, as well as the microstates of San Marino, Vatican City, and Monaco.

At the time of publication, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Cyprus are in the process of joining the Schengen Area. Once they’re approved, travelers will be required to have an ETIAS travel authorization to visit those countries, as well.

The post Planning to Visit Europe in 2023? You Might Need an ETIAS Travel Authorization appeared first on TripIt Blog.

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https://ift.tt/9sKprTq Break: London https://ift.tt/oas6gfz

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City break (noun): a short holiday spent in a city, such as when on business travel.

Before there was bleisure travel, there was the city break—the short space of leisure time that grants you access to the cultural and culinary amenities that big cities offer. In this series from TripIt, we explore some of the world’s best cities for planning a quick getaway or extending a work trip.

Here are our tips for making the most of your city break in London. 

Where to fly in

The London metro area is served by five major airports: Heathrow Airport (LHR), Gatwick Airport (LGW), London Stansted Airport (STN), London City Airport (LCY), and London Luton Airport (LTN). As you choose which airport is best for you to fly into, consider factors like price differential between destination airports, your ultimate destination in London, and how long—and how much—you want to spend traveling via ground transportation.

Speaking of ground transportation, once you’re on the ground, Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted airports offer express trains that connect travelers to Central London. The Heathrow Express transports passengers to Paddington Station in just 15 minutes, where travelers can then change to a taxi, bus, or the Underground (also known as the Tube) to reach their final destination in the city. Travelers can now also ride the new Elizabeth Line to Paddington, or a number of other (in some cases, new) stations.

The Gatwick Express transports passengers to London Victoria Station in about 30 minutes, where travelers can then change to the Tube, a taxi, or bus. The Stansted Express runs every 15 minutes and transports passengers to London Liverpool Street. The journey takes about 45 minutes.

Travelers flying into Luton can take a train to Central London; trains depart from the Luton Airport Parkway train station.

Finally, travelers flying into London City Airport have the advantage of flying into the airport closest to Central London. Travelers can take the Tube directly from the airport’s Docklands Light Railway stop. 

Cabs are available upon arrival at all airports, but they cost the most of the ground transportation options. As an example, a cab ride from Heathrow to Central London can range between £45 and £70 and takes about an hour. Comparatively, the Heathrow Express costs about £25 and takes 15 minutes; the Tube costs just £5.50 and takes about 30 minutes.

Where to stay during your city break

Across every budget and borough, there’s a London hotel to fit your needs. In town to catch a glimpse of the royals? Book The Stafford London to stay close to Buckingham Palace and The Mall to catch any comings and goings. 

Looking to explore the literary side of the city? Stay at Leonardo Royal Hotel St. Paul’s for an easy walk to the Tower of London—a must-see for history and historical fiction lovers alike. 

If a hotel in a prime Central London location is what you’re after, look no further than The Clermont, Charing Cross. The hotel is just a few minutes walk from Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, and the Thames.

In London on business? Need space for an event? The trendy W London offers over 1,300 square feet of meeting and event space, a WIRED Business Center, and individual event studios that can also be combined to create larger spaces.

Vacation rentals, such as Airbnbs, are also available throughout the city—and are ideal for group or family trips where you might want a bit more space (and your own kitchen). 

How to get around

Much like navigating other large international cities, getting around London requires you to prioritize two of the following: time, money, or convenience. Taking the Tube, for example, is your least expensive option. The Tube runs on a zone system, meaning you pay a variable price point based on the length of your journey. Depending on the duration of your stay, you may want to purchase a pay-as-you-go Oyster card to avoid purchasing multiple single ride passes.

Your Oyster card also gives you access to the city’s bus system. While the red double-decker buses move infinitely slower (thanks to increased stop frequency), they also travel where the Tube doesn’t. Here, you’re choosing convenience and low cost over time.

Also available above ground—the iconic black cab. Hail one, call out your destination to the driver, and away you go. Grabbing a cab is typically convenient, but cost can greatly fluctuate based on your destination—especially if you’re heading to or from the airport.

Both cabs and Uber are available in London and are a reliable option for getting around the city if you’re staying in an area far from a Tube station. 

Want to navigate London on two wheels? The city’s public bike-sharing program, Santander Cycles, has 800 docking stations and 12,000 bikes in circulation, and is available 24/7/365. A Santander Cycle costs £2 for unlimited journeys up to 30 minutes within a 24-hour period. For journeys longer than 30 minutes, rides cost £2 for each additional 30 minutes.

Pro tip: Use TripIt’s Navigator feature to search transportation options available to you. It will show you the estimated costs and travel times for each option, so you can decide which works best. For example, if you add a restaurant reservation to your itinerary (more on where to eat, below), Navigator also helps you find the best transportation options for getting to your table. You can find Navigator within your plan details screens. 

Where to eat

From pub grub to Michelin stars, London has it all. 

SUSHISAMBA blends the flavor of Japanese, Peruvian, and Brazilian cuisines into a memorable dining experience. The Covent Garden location is ideal for business lunches or dinners, or for grabbing a bite after you’ve explored the market. Or, check out the Heron Tower location for stunning views from the 38th and 39th floors.

Speaking of views, head to OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar & Brasserie to enjoy seasonal British fare while overlooking the River Thames, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and really, the whole of London. Don’t have time in your itinerary for a multi-course dinner? You can stop in for a drink, afternoon tea, or weekend brunch… and to snap that IG shot, of course.

In pursuit of wine and cheese? Head to Gordon’s Wine Bar. This cavernous wine bar is cozy in the winter and spills out to the outdoor patio seats in the summer. With over 20 cheeses to choose from, you might need to bring a friend or two to help. (Just let us know when you’re headed over.)

Looking to check out newcomers on the London restaurant scene? The Princess Royal in Notting Hill offers Mediterranean-inspired dishes. Seafood fans will love the impressive raw bar, and those with a sweet tooth will fawn over the dessert list. 

The newly opened Dipna Anand at Somerset House is also well worth a visit. Serving up Punjabi and South Indian dishes and Indian-inspired drinks, Anand’s latest venture delights taste buds—complete with a view overlooking the River Thames. 

What to do on your city break

Looking to get some sightseeing in while you’re in town? Both London Shell Co. and City Experiences offer a unique way to experience London’s sights—by boat! Ever-changing views, entertainment, plus dinner and drinks, add up to a memorable night on the town.  

Planning a kid-friendly trip? London is a playground for the imagination, just ask Harry Potter. Kids will love discovering all of the Harry Potter-inspired attractions across the city, especially a visit to Platform 9¾. Or, get up close and personal with nature at the ZSL London Zoo, where kids can partake in the daily Meet the Animals experience or be a Junior Keeper for a Day. 

Adults only? The West End is the place to head for theater shows at a discount. You can buy tickets online or head to the TKTS booth in Leicester Square for discounted tickets. Or, get your culture fix at any of the city’s world-renowned museums, including the British Museum, National Portrait Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate Modern, or Tate Britain. 

Looking for something a little less curated? Head south of the river to Brixton where you can explore Pop Brixton, Brixton Market, the famed Electric Avenue, and the unique boutiques lining the borough’s lanes. Finally, be sure to check out the public art installations while you’re there, too.

Note: As destinations reopen around the world, be sure to consult and adhere to all local guidelines and travel restrictions, as they vary widely and will continue to change. One way to stay on top of changing guidelines is to consult the COVID-19 travel guidance feature in the TripIt app for destination-specific information, including testing and vaccination requirements, current infection rates, quarantine rules upon arrival, and other information you need to know before visiting the area.

The post City Break: London appeared first on TripIt Blog.

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https://ift.tt/vPif0bI Places: A Conversation with Lee Abbamonte https://ift.tt/34rbd5g

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Going Places is a new series from TripIt that highlights frequent travelers to showcase their unique travel styles and insider tips. 

For world-record holder Lee Abbamonte, picking where to travel to next is not only about the destination, it’s also about deciding how to get there, who to invite, the time of year, and weighing variables like: should he spend points and miles, or cash? Does he want to rent a car, or rely on ride shares? 

All of these factors matter when you’ve already visited every country in the world—and you’re the youngest American to ever do so. 

Of course, there are myriad other variables to consider when traveling during a pandemic. “Before COVID-19, I would travel internationally to 30 or more countries per year,” shared Lee. “Due to the uncertainty around travel restrictions, I took just three international trips in the past two years. But, in the meantime, I’ve traveled a lot more domestically—and thought about what’s next on my bucket list.” 

So, what are those bucket-list destinations at the top of his list? “Tripoli, Libya; and Socotra, an island off the coast of Yemen.” 

Lee is no stranger to getting off the beaten path when he travels—even if reaching his destination requires multiple attempts. 

“My favorite place I’ve ever visited is the South Pole. It’s so unique, so difficult to get to, and so few people have done it,” he said. “My first expedition in 2013 failed; the conditions just weren’t right for us to complete the trip.”

But Lee had his eye on the prize, and the next year, he was able to complete his expedition. 

Stats on stats on stats

While not every trip can be as memorable as visiting the South Pole, when you’ve visited every country, U.S. state, national park, baseball stadium—and the North Pole, for that matter—you still want to keep track of everywhere you’ve been. 

So, how does Lee stay on top of his past and future travels? “TripIt, of course! I’m a stats nerd, so naturally, I am obsessed with TripIt’s Travel Stats feature,” he said. 

Lee also uses TripIt to keep all of his travel bookings and confirmation numbers in one place. 

“I use TripIt—religiously—to build itineraries for all my trips. From tee times to restaurant reservations to tours, I rely on the app to keep me organized. Plus, it’s just so fun to look at; to see what I’ve planned, and where I’ve been.” 

Expert tips for dream trips 

Using TripIt to stay organized aside, Lee shared some other tips for fellow travelers. 

First up, where to go: “Africa, in general, but the country of Namibia, specifically. It’s a beautiful country with wide-open spaces, gorgeous beaches, and sophisticated cities. It’s an under-the-radar destination I can’t recommend enough,” he said. 

As for tips on how to get there (or anywhere)? “It comes back to weighing those different variables. Think about what makes more sense for your travel budget—do you want to book with cash, or do you have points and miles to use to help you offset costs? Do you want to spend money to rent a car for a week, or can you get around on public transit or ride shares?” 

Lee also recommended comparison shopping, i.e., not booking the first flight or hotel option you find. “Shopping around for your flights and accommodations can save you hundreds of dollars,” he said. “And when you do decide on a flight, use TripIt Pro’s Fare Tracker feature to find out if the price of your airfare drops after you’ve booked.” 

Lee’s also a big fan of leveraging the sharing economy when he travels. 

“The sharing economy has changed the way we travel,” he said. “Whether it’s vacation rentals, like Airbnb, or ride-share programs—these options give you more flexibility to save money, making travel more affordable and accessible.”

His final tip? “When it comes to travel, there’s nothing to it but to do it,” he quipped. 

Indeed, Lee is an inspiration to all of us travelers to go after our travel dreams, be persistent when a plan doesn’t work out the first time, and to reflect on where we’ve been—whether it’s with the help of travel stats, snaps, or something else. 

Want to keep up with Lee’s future travels? Follow him on Instagram and Twitter to see where he’s off to next (hint: palm trees are definitely on the horizon!).

The post Going Places: A Conversation with Lee Abbamonte appeared first on TripIt Blog.

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https://ift.tt/yYl5LZT Data Shows One-Third of Memorial Day Weekend 2022 Flights Headed Abroad  https://ift.tt/VPjKLfZ

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The start of the summer travel season in the U.S., better known as Memorial Day weekend, is always a heavily trafficked holiday. And despite soaring prices, our data shows that this year will be as busy as ever. 

TripIt analyzed U.S. origin flight, rental car, lodging, and vacation rental reservations made by our TripIt users for Memorial Day weekend 2022 and compared the findings to the equivalent booking period in 2021.  

We found that, whether it’s due to the mask mandate being lifted, falling COVID-19 infection rates, or just plain old spring fever, travelers will be out with a vengeance. All the categories that we analyzed show significant increases compared to last year’s volume, though some more than others. International travel will see the largest increase by far with nearly a third of all fliers heading overseas and close to a 500 percent increase compared to last year. Memorial Day weekend 2022 seems to be both the official start of summer, and the unofficial return of the international vacation. 

Current Percentage of Flight Reservations Compared to Year Prior

	2022 Flights (All)	2022 Flights (Domestic)	2022 Flights (Int’l)	2022 Car Rentals	2022 Lodging	2022 Vacation Rentals
Compared to 2021	253%	207%	466%	191%	184%	134%

The unofficial return of the international holiday vacation 

Each recent holiday has seemingly been more traveled than the last, with airport security checkpoint numbers continuing to break pandemic-era records. Memorial Day 2022 will not stray from this trend. 

We expect the busiest airports to be:

1. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) 
2. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) 
3. Denver International Airport (DEN)
4. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) 
5. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
6. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
7. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DWF)
8. Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
9. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
10. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

Those departing from these airports should allow extra time to get through security, especially if their flight is on Friday (5/27), the busiest day for departures, or Thursday (5/26), when nearly as many will also depart. For the top-five most popular airports, the busiest hours for departures (and when you should be extra careful to allow extra time) will be: 

Busiest Airport Hours Based on Departure Reservations

Airport	Date	Departure Time (Local)
SFO	May 27 May 26	8 a.m. 10 a.m. 8 a.m. 4 p.m.
LAX	May 27 May 26	8 a.m. 1 p.m. 8 a.m. 1 p.m.
DEN	May 27 May 26	11 a.m. 12 p.m. 12 p.m. 10 a.m.
ORD	May 27 May 26	8 a.m. 7 a.m. 7 p.m. 1-2 p.m.
JFK	May 27 May 26	8 a.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 8 p.m.

While flights overall saw more than a 2.5X increase, the biggest surprise in the data for this holiday is that a third of flights are to international destinations, a dramatic increase from last year when less than a fifth of flights were headed outside the U.S. While testing requirements are still in place for travelers entering the United State from abroad, it seems that other lifting restrictions and open borders are driving the impressive return to long-haul flights. International destinations in the top 25 include London (#5), Paris (#13), Cancun (#14), and Dublin (#25).  

Of the remaining domestic flights, nearly a third are to destinations in either California (15%), Florida (12%), or New York (6%).  

Flight Destination Rankings and Rank Changes

2022 Ranking	City, State	2021 Ranking	Rank Change (2021 to 2022)
1	Orlando, FL	2	1
2	Denver, CO	4	2
3	New York, NY	12	9
4	Las Vegas, NV	1	-3
5	London	77	72
6	Chicago, IL	7	1
7	San Francisco, CA	11	4
8	Boston, MA	13	5
9	Los Angeles, CA	8	-1
10	Seattle, WA	10	0
11	San Diego, CA	20	9
12	Phoenix, AZ	5	-7
13	Paris	92	79
14	Cancun	3	-11
15	Dallas, TX	9	-6
16	Newark, NJ	26	10
17	Washington, DC	48	31
18	Honolulu, HI	16	-2
19	Atlanta, GA	21	2
20	Miami, FL	17	-3
21	Nashville, TN	19	-2
22	Portland, OR	23	1
23	Fort Lauderdale, FL	15	-8
24	Austin, TX	28	4
25	Dublin	108	83

Rising gas prices won’t slow road trip popularity 

Rising gas prices won’t slow car rental demand for Memorial Day weekend. With nearly a 200% increase in volume compared to 2021, rental cars remain the darling of pandemic-era travel. Similar to past holiday travel periods, nearly a third of car rentals have been booked in California (13%), Florida (10%), and Hawaii (8%). And while it does seem that drivers are seeking sunshine, they also seem to be opting for big cities like Denver, San Francisco, Boston, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Seattle—all of which saw a rise in ranking—over beach destinations like Honolulu, Lihue, Kailua-Kona, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and Fort Myers—all of which declined in ranking. 

Car Rental Destination Rankings and Rank Changes

2022 Ranking	City, State	2021 Ranking	Rank Change (2021 to 2022)
1	Denver, CO	3	2
2	San Francisco, CA	10	8
3	Orlando, FL	2	-1
4	Kahului, HI	1	-3
5	Boston, MA	9	4
6	Las Vegas, NV	4	-2
7	Honolulu, HI	6	-1
8	Los Angeles, CA	18	10
9	Phoenix, AZ	5	-4
10	Chicago, IL	21	11
11	Lihue, HI	7	-4
12	Kailua-kona, HI	11	-1
13	Salt Lake City, UT	8	-5
14	Dallas, TX	23	9
15	Seattle, WA	40	25
16	Portland, OR	17	1
17	Fort Lauderdale, FL	13	-4
18	San Diego, CA	15	-3
19	San Jose, CA	52	33
20	Tampa, FL	12	-8
21	Philadelphia, PA	29	8
22	Austin, TX	37	15
23	Fort Myers, FL	20	-3
24	Nashville, TN	26	2
25	Houston, TX	31	6

Travelers take a big bite out of The Big Apple 

While hotels and vacation rentals saw the smallest increase in volume compared to last year, they saw impressive increases nonetheless, of 184% and 134% respectively.  

Big cities continue to call it a comeback, with New York City reclaiming its number one spot for hotels, and New York (#3) and Brooklyn (#10) making massive jumps for vacation rentals as well. Other big cities like Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, and Portland also held their ground on both lists. Meanwhile, the vacation rental top 25 also saw outdoor adventure destinations hold their own, including Bend, OR, Moab, UT and Sedona, AZ. 

Indianapolis will see crowds return for the Indy 500, climbing 16 spots from #31 to #15 for hotels and 18 spots from #40 to #22 for vacation rentals.  

Yellowstone continues to be a hot spot for hotels, perhaps thanks to the popular television show. After setting records last year, Yellowstone made an appearance on the top-25 list for lodging at #25 this year.  

Miami Beach (#11), Savannah (#12), and Nashville (#13) are new arrivals to the vacation rental top 25 this year as well. Perhaps as a popular spot for rescheduled bachelor and bachelorette parties? 

Lodging Destination Ranking and Rank Changes

2022 Ranking	City, State	2021 Ranking	Rank Change (2021 to 2022)
1	New York, NY	4	3
2	Las Vegas, NV	1	-1
3	Chicago, IL	7	4
4	Orlando, FL	2	-2
5	Boston, MA	13	8
6	San Diego, CA	5	-1
7	San Francisco, CA	14	7
8	Seattle, WA	15	7
9	Denver, CO	10	1
10	Honolulu, HI	3	-7
11	Los Angeles, CA	17	6
12	Nashville, TN	9	-3
13	New Orleans, LA	8	-5
14	Washington, DC	51	37
15	Indianapolis, IN	31	16
16	Atlanta, GA	41	25
17	Anaheim, CA	34	17
18	Austin, TX	11	-7
19	Lahaina, HI	6	-13
20	Portland, OR	23	3
21	Philadelphia, PA	43	22
22	Miami, FL	26	4
23	Houston, TX	36	13
24	Phoenix, AZ	32	8
25	Yellowstone, WY	53	28

Vacation Rental Destination Rankings and Rank Changes

2022 Ranking	City, State	2021 Ranking	Rank Change (2021 to 2022)
1	San Diego, CA	1	0
2	Seattle, WA	2	0
3	New York, NY	18	15
4	Chicago, IL	35	31
5	Austin, TX	7	2
6	Kissimmee, FL	11	5
7	New Orleans, LA	5	-2
8	Miami, FL	17	9
9	Denver, CO	30	21
10	Brooklyn, NY	832	822
11	Miami Beach, FL	91	80
12	Savannah, GA	29	17
13	Nashville, TN	49	36
14	San Francisco, CA	16	2
15	Palm Springs, CA	3	-12
16	Bend, OR	24	8
17	Lahaina, HI	14	-3
18	Moab, UT	28	10
19	Asheville, NC	9	-10
20	Kihei, HI	6	-14
21	Tampa, FL	89	68
22	Indianapolis, IN	40	18
23	Portland, OR	19	-4
24	Sedona, AZ	8	-16
25	Honolulu, HI	10	-15

Methodology: TripIt looked at  U.S. origin round-trip flight reservations made between April 24, 2021, and April 24, 2022, for travel during Memorial Day weekend (Thursday, May 26 – Tuesday, May 31, 2022), and equivalent booking periods  in 2021, 2020, and 2019. Reservation data in TripIt is provided by users and is booking provider agnostic.  

The post TripIt Data Shows One-Third of Memorial Day Weekend 2022 Flights Headed Abroad  appeared first on TripIt Blog.

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https://ift.tt/8Jcu4xs Tips for Booking Budget-Friendly Air Travel https://ift.tt/GMNxs5q

TripIt is teaming up with our friends at Thrifty Traveler, a site that helps you travel more for less, to share ideas for booking budget-friendly air travel.

You’ve probably been hearing a lot about how summer travel is heating up—and forecasted to be at levels we haven’t seen since the start of the pandemic. While we’re excited to see travelers returning to the skies, we also know they’re going to be up against some challenges, including increased airfare prices and demand.

There’s no question flights are more expensive right now than they’ve been in years. That’s why we’ve rounded up five ways to book budget-friendly air travel—to help you plan a trip now (or down the road) that leaves some travel funds left over for your next adventure, too. 

1. Follow the flight-first rule

The flight-first rule is exactly what it sounds like—search for flights before you block off your calendar, book hotels, reserve a rental car, or plan, well, anything. If you give yourself the flexibility to shift plans by a day or two, you can often find major savings by letting the price guide your booking dates. This is the key to finding the biggest savings on travel, especially if you are multiplying across several tickets for family members or friends. 

Tip: Book at least 30 days in advance for domestic flights and 45 to 60 days beforehand for an international trip. Once you get inside those windows, airlines are more likely to charge more. 

2. Book a flight deal

While you’re at it, forget all the travel myths. There is no best day to book flights. It’s all about flexibility and timing. The more flexible you are and the quicker you can jump on a good deal, the more you can save.   

Related reading: 6 Tips to Stretch Your Travel Budget

Yes, flight prices are getting higher with renewed travel demand, but that doesn’t mean prices are sky-high for flights everywhere. At Thrifty Traveler, we’re finding some great flight deals this spring, summer, and fall. So why not plan your trip around somewhere that’s going to be cheaper to get to?   Alaska stands out with some regularly discounted fares on major airlines, as does Belize, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, and Portugal. Plus, some of these destinations are cheap once you get there, too!  

Tip: No matter where you decide to go, remember to add your flights to TripIt, and TripIt Pro’s Fare Tracker feature will notify you if you’re eligible for a refund or credit when your airfare price drops after you book. 

3. Lean on your points and miles 

Now is a great time to lean on your balance points and miles for flights—and travelers seem to have more of them than ever after continually swiping their cards while staying at home during the pandemic. Even when fares are high, the award rates to cash in your miles might be more stable. That makes now the perfect time to use your miles. 

Tip: TripIt Pro’s Point Tracker lets you monitor your reward accounts and get notified when points or miles are about to expire. 

4. Plan to travel with a carry-on bag only

It seems daunting, but the reality is that you’re likely packing way too much in your checked bag anyway. Plus, packing only a carry-on bag won’t just save you money in checked bag fees, it’ll also save you the stress of worrying about lost bags and time at the airport, where bag drop and reclaim lines seem as long as ever. 

Traveling with only a carry-on bag takes up less space in your rental car or hotel room, too. 

Tip: Looking for another way to expedite the airport experience? Be sure to check out TripIt Pro’s four-month free trial and discounted membership to CLEAR—another way being a Pro member saves you money. 

5. Learn how to avoid checked bag fees

If you must check a bag, consider flying with airlines that give you free checked bags, or on an airline that you also have a co-branded credit card with—and thus, a first-checked-bag-free benefit.

No card? No problem. The above travel credit card perk can stretch far beyond the traveler with the card in their wallet, as most airlines also give a free bag to at least two (but as many as eight!) other travelers booked on the same reservation. 

Tip: If you do check a bag, make sure you also have TripIt Pro, which will send you a Baggage Claim alert with carousel information when you land. 

By following these five tips, you’ll be well on your way to planning more trips with fewer hiccups—and more wiggle room left in your travel budget.

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