Pro Tips for Digital Nomads

While it may sound like a fun idea to hop on a plane with your laptop to cruise the world while working, there are things you should keep in mind. 

• Always check visa requirements and potential digital nomad visas
• Ensure reliable internet before committing to a location
• Consider co-working spaces for networking and reliable work environments
• Have a backup plan and travel insurance
• The time difference between the location and where the rest of your coworkers are located. If there is a huge difference, it can make arranging meetings difficult. 
• Make sure you check with your employer that it is ok that you work around the world, especially regarding the time differences. Check the policies of your company to ensure working from anywhere in the world is allowed. 

The Best Spots for Digital Nomads

Here are some excellent destinations for digital nomads, considering factors like cost of living, internet connectivity, quality of life, and community:

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Length of stay without Visa: 60 Days
Length of Stay with Visa: 5 years
Minimum Salary: n/a (but proof of $14,000 is needed)
Time Difference from NYC: 12 hours

The cost of living is on the forefront of most people’s minds, so Chiang Mai’s low cost of living and affordable housing make it attractive to many digital nomads. There are many co-working spaces, like Punspace, which has several locations throughout Chiang Mai. Libraries and cafes are also popular spots to work, with reliable internet. Nomads can immerse themselves in the rich Lanna heritage, with numerous temples and festivals like Yi Peng and Songkran. Surrounding the city, you’ll find lush jungles and mountains, which provide opportunities for outdoor activities like hiking and ethical elephant encounters. The unique and delicious northern Thai cuisine, featuring dishes like Khao Soi and Sai Oua, fresh markets, and abundant street food, means you’ll never be without a tasty meal. 

Thailand has a Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) available for digital nomads. You need proof of employment and financial evidence of no less than 500,000 THB (about 14,000 USD). Once approved, the visa is valid for five years. With a twelve hour time difference to the east coast in the US, it may mean late nights or early mornings for any meetings you have to attend. 

Bali, Indonesia (specifically Ubud and Canggu)

Length of stay without Visa: 30 Days (Visa on Arrival issued)
Length of Stay with Visa: 1 year
Minimum Salary: $60,000 (and proof of $2,000 in bank account)
Time Difference from NYC: 12 Hours

Bali is a destination most people think of when thinking of honeymoon or yoga retreats; however, it’s becoming increasingly popular for remote workers. This tropical paradise has affordable living costs with fantastic cafes offering reliable Wi-Fi. Freelancers won’t be able to settle here, as you have to have proof of a full time employer. When not working, you can take in the beauty of one of the many iconic waterfalls like Banyumala Twin Waterfall or Aling-Aling, explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Tegalalang Rice Terraces, hike Mount Batur, relax on the beach, or take a yoga class. 

Indonesia has a E33G KITAS Remote Worker Visa available for digital nomads.You need proof of employment and financial evidence of no less than $2,000 USD. Once approved, the visa is valid for one year. Like Thailand, there is a twelve hour difference between Indonesia and the east coast of the US, so keep that in mind if you work for a company that has any meeting requirements. 

Lisbon, Portugal

Length of Stay Without Visa: 90 Days
Length of Stay with Visa: 1 – 2 years 
Minimum Salary: $3,400/month (and proof of 1 year rental agreement)
Time Difference from NYC: 5 Hours

If you want to live in Europe without the high cost of living typically associated with it, consider Lisbon. I have a friend who moved to Lisbon a few years ago, and has never looked back. (Granted, this does not make him a digital nomad as he stayed there). Portugal has an excellent quality of life, plenty of high speed internet, and to top it off, is absolutely gorgeous. Lisbon has a thriving co-working scene with spaces like Outsite, Village Underground, and Hub Criativo. When not working, you can explore the historic streets, visit sites like Jerónimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Belém Tower, a 16th-century fortress. You’ll often find digital-nomad-friendly events like a language exchange, where you can practice your Portuguese, or digital nomad Meetups. 

Portugal allows you to stay for 90 days without a visa. Otherwise, it has a D8 visa available for digital nomads. You need proof of employment, a bank account with a Portuguese bank, and proof of at least $3,400 USD of monthly income. You can apply for a temporary stay visa, which is valid for twelve months, or a long-term visa, which is valid for up to two years. There is a five hour time difference to NYC, which may mean having to work when everyone else is out having a good time in the evening. 

Medellin, Colombia

Length of Stay Without Visa: 90 Days
Length of Stay with Visa: 2 years 
Minimum Salary: ~$1,000/month 
Time Difference from NYC: 0 Hours

Looking for a spot that has gorgeous weather all year round? Look no further than Medellin Colombia. It’s super affordable, and has a growing digital nomad community. Housing costs are low (like this gorgeous apartment for just $52/night), public transportation is efficient, and you’ll find Wi-Fi throughout the city. You’ll love the vibrant culture, nightlife, and friendly locals. Explore the street art in Comuna 13, go on adventure at Parque Arví, where you can hike or take a cable car for stunning views, or learn about traditional Colombian culture at Pueblito Paisa, a replica of a traditional Antioquia town.

Colombia  has a Visa V for Digital Nomads available for digital nomads.You need proof of employment and proof of around at least $1,000 salary per month. You will also have to prove you have health insurance through your employer. Once approved, the visa is valid for two years. There is no time difference between Colombia and the east coast of the US, so that is a huge plus to working here. 

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Length of Stay Without Visa: N/A
Length of Stay with Visa: 90 Days 
Minimum Salary: N/A 
Time Difference from NYC: 12 Hours

For digital nomads wanting to head to Asia, Ho Chi Minh City is the perfect choice. It’s extremely affordable, has fast and cheap internet, and the city is hopping with delicious street food and rich cultural experiences. Digital nomads can find numerous co-working spaces, trendy cafes with reliable Wi-Fi, and affordable housing. The city’s diverse neighborhoods, from the historic district of District 1 to the trendy district of District 2, offer a variety of experiences, from exploring ancient pagodas to enjoying that delicious street food. For those seeking outdoor activities, nearby beaches and mountains provide opportunities for hiking, swimming, and surfing.

Vietnam does not offer a digital nomad visa, so you have to apply for a regular tourist visa, which is valid for 90 days. You will not need to provide proof of employment or salary. Another twelve-hour time difference to the east coast, which gives it a slight disadvantage to some US employed nomads. 

Mexico City, Mexico

Length of Stay Without Visa: 4 Years
Length of Stay with Visa: 180 Days 
Minimum Salary: $2,600/month 
Time Difference from NYC: 1 Hour behind

Don’t want to go too far from home? Try Mexico City. The affordable living costs, convenient time zone for North American employers, and plenty of things to do make it attractive to many digital nomads. Digital nomads can explore the city’s historic center,  and visit world-class museums like the Museo Nacional de Antropología. For those seeking outdoor activities, nearby mountains and lakes offer opportunities for hiking, biking, and water sports.
Mexico has a Temporary Resident Visa available for digital nomads.You need proof of employment and financial evidence of no less than $2,600 USD. Once approved, the visa is valid for four years.You must also have proof of health insurance that is valid in Mexico. An hour behind EST, it’s a great option for anyone who has employers that require meetings throughout the week.

The post Discover the Best Places to Work Remotely Around the Globe appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Whether you’re a remote employee looking to work from a home-away-from-home or want to make the most of your next business trip, these gadgets are key to a successful workcation.

Laptop Backpack

The Brevite Bag is designed for maximum versatility, making it the perfect work bag for travel. It has a safe, cushy sleeve for laptops up to 15 inches, a spacious compartment large enough to store spare clothes or work essentials, a water bottle holder, and an exterior organization pocket perfect for notebooks, pens, passports, and wallets.

Laptop Screen Shield

An anti-glare shield serves two purposes. First, it can keep prying eyes away from sensitive work up on your screen. Second, it can deflect the harsh rays of the sun if you’re trying to fire off a few emails by the pool.

Portable Power Bank

Keep your setup mobile with a portable charger capable of handling multiple devices. The BioLite Charge 100 Max can charge five devices at once, from phones to laptops. It’s carry-on compliant and weighs just 1.3 lbs, a small weight in comparison to its power. It’s perfect for working on planes and trains or in busy spots with no outlet in sight. 

Portable WiFi Hotspot

Don’t drain your battery and international data by using your smartphone as a hotspot. It’s better to have a dedicated portable WiFi hotspot that will let you access the Internet wherever your work takes you.  

An International Phone Plan

While not a physical item, an international phone plan may be the most essential component of your workcation packing list. MintMobile’s Minternational Pass is an affordable option for staying in touch with friends and colleagues, letting members choose from 1-day, 5-day, or 10-day plans for less than $20. Check with your cellular provider to see what international options they offer.

VPN Subscription

A good VPN will keep your data secure while surfing the web in your hotel or on a public network. Popular options like Express VPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark all provide top-tier protection, a free trial period, and discounts on multi-year subscriptions. 

Plug Adapter and Voltage Converter

You may not be stuck in an office, but you will need to stay plugged in. Most laptops are dual voltage, meaning they can operate in various countries with just a plug adapter. However, other devices like hairstyling tools are not equipped to make the transition, so a voltage converter is a necessary gadget to have on hand. 

Notebook and Pen

Old school but necessary, the classic notebook and pen combo will serve you well when you’re on the go. Tuck a few mini versions into your laptop bag and suitcase pockets to jot down notes and ideas while you’re AFK. 

Tablet Keyboard

Lugging along a laptop isn’t always an option when traveling. Turn your tablet into a functional replacement with a detachable keyboard. These come in a range of formats and prices, from full keyboard cases to standalone Bluetooth options. Some can even fold down to fit inside a pocket for travelers who are always on the move. 

Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Block out distractions while working in a shared space or airplane cabin with noise-canceling headphones. A top option on the market is the Bose QuietComfort set, which offers high-quality sound, noise-cancelling and ambient modes, and 24 hours of battery life. You can also find plenty of affordable refurbished options on Back Market.

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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So, it’s clear you can’t count on the TSA to reimburse you for such losses; the agency denied more than half of the claims. Are luggage locks the answer?

The Benefits of Luggage Locks

Locking your suitcase doesn’t just make it more difficult for opportunistic baggage handlers or security officers to root through your stuff at the airport. A lock can also help hold your bag’s zippers together so they don’t work their way open while in transit, leaking socks and underwear all over the baggage carousel.

You might also want to lock your bag if you’re staying in a hostel with strangers or while traveling on a crowded bus or train. Some travelers even lock their suitcases during the day at hotels to deter theft by housekeepers.

The Limitations of Luggage Locks

Putting a lock on your suitcase isn’t a guarantee that your stuff will be safe. Do a quick search on YouTube, and you’ll find a trove of videos explaining how to open a combination lock without the code or how to break into a locked suitcase with nothing but a ballpoint pen. Nor is it difficult to slice through a soft-sided bag. Locks discourage casual thieves, who will move on to easier targets, but they’re flimsy protection against those who are truly determined to get into your bag.

That’s why you should always keep any valuables in your carry-on, not your checked luggage. As noted above, the TSA is unlikely to pay you back if something is stolen from your checked bag, and airlines typically don’t accept liability for the loss of expensive items such as jewelry, electronic equipment, or fragile souvenirs.

TSA-Approved Locks

If you do decide to secure your suitcase, choose one of the many TSA-approved locks available, such as these combination locks from Master Lock or TravelMore. You can also buy keyed luggage locks such as these from Lewis N. Clark, though it’s worth considering how likely you might be to lose track of a tiny key while traveling. You can even purchase suitcases with built-in TSA-approved locks.

The TSA has master keys that allow agents to open all TSA-approved locks if they determine that your bag needs extra screening. If you use a non-TSA lock, they’ll simply cut it off your bag. Note that not all security officers outside the U.S. have the same master keys, so even a TSA-approved lock could be cut off if you’re traveling internationally.

Alternatives to Luggage Locks

Some travelers prefer to wrap their suitcases in plastic, which makes bags harder to break into, protects their exteriors from dings, and keeps them from bursting open if a zipper fails. This bagging service is offered at select airports by companies such as Seal & Go and Secure Wrap. Though security agents will cut off the plastic if they need to inspect your luggage more closely, some wrapping services offer a complimentary rewrap post-security. One disadvantage to this method: By generating so much plastic, it’s the least environmentally friendly way to protect your bag.

Looking for Luggage With a Lock?

“Sold separately” isn’t statement when it comes to the carry-on from Away. While including a TSA-approved lock in its design, this bag also comes with 360° spinning wheels, and a super hard exterior shell—this bag is built to be your last.

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The post Luggage Locks: Should I Lock My Suitcase When I Fly? appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Bedbugs can be found in hotels and vacation rentals worldwide, plaguing both luxury hotels and budget motels, regardless of cleanliness. But where are bedbugs most likely to be found in the United States? 

Pest control company Orkin has released its annual list of the worst cities in America for bedbugs. Orkin ranked the cities based on where the company performed the most bedbug treatments from December 1, 2022 through November 30, 2023. 

When booking a hotel in any of these cities (or anywhere, really) you might want to search the Bedbug Registry first to see if the place you’re considering has been reported for bedbugs. Also, consider searching TripAdvisor and other hotel review sites for the words “bedbugs” and “bites.”

To avoid bedbugs when traveling, place your luggage on a tile surface (such as inside the bathtub) as soon as you check into a hotel room or vacation rental. Then, thoroughly inspect the mattress, box spring, and headboard of your bed for signs of bedbug infestations, such as actual bugs or spots of blood. Read our full guide to spotting bedbugs in your hotel here.

If you spot evidence of bedbugs, immediately alert the front desk and ask to be moved to a room on another floor. When you return home, isolate your luggage outside or in a sealed bag, and wash and dry all your clothing at hot temperatures to eliminate any potential stowaways. 

The Worst Cities in America for Bedbugs 

According to Orkin, these are the cities with the most bed bugs.

1. Chicago, IL
2. New York, NY
3. Philadelphia, PA
4. Cleveland-Akron, OH
5. Los Angeles, CA
6. Detroit, MI
7. Washington, D.C.
8. Indianapolis, IN
9. Charlotte, NC
10. Champaign, IL
11. Columbus, OH
12. Cincinnati, OH
13. Atlanta, GA
14. Grand Rapids, MI
15. Denver, CO
16. Baltimore, MD
17. Richmond, VA 
18. Greensboro, NC
19. St. Louis, MO
20. Youngstown, OH
21. Pittsburgh, PA
22. Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX
23. Flint, MI
24. Raleigh-Durham, NC
25. Milwaukee, WI
26. Charleston, WV
27. Greenville, SC
28. Norfolk, VA
29. Davenport, IA
30. Nashville, TN
31. Tampa, FL
32. Toledo, OH
33. Dayton, OH
34. Knoxville, TN
35. Las Vegas, NV
36. Omaha, NE
37. South Bend, IN
38. Houston, TX
39. Cedar Rapids, IA
40. Ft. Wayne, IN
41. San Francisco, CA
42. Buffalo, NY 
43. Harrisburg, PA
44. Seattle, WA
45. Miami, FL
46. Orlando, FL
47. Minneapolis, MN
48. Oklahoma City, OK
49. Louisville, KY
50. Lexington, KY 

The post America’s 50 Worst Cities for Bedbugs appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Rideshare Safety Tips for Travelers

Make these 11 rideshare safety tips part of your routine, whether you’re traveling around your hometown or in a new and unfamiliar destination.

Share Your Trip

When traveling alone, especially at night, always share your trip with others. It’s the easiest and quickest way to let someone track your whereabouts in case something happens during your ride. The person you share your trip with will get a notification to their phone and be able to follow along via GPS. To do so, hit the “Share trip status” option with Uber and “Share ride details” with Lyft.

Give Feedback

This is an often overlooked part of rideshare safety, but an important step to take once your ride is complete. Post-trip, make sure to rate your driver and leave helpful feedback so you can keep good drivers on the road and bad ones off.

Keep Your Personal Info Confidential

There’s no harm in exchanging pleasantries with your driver, but avoid giving them any personal information, like how long you’re traveling for, where you live, your phone number, or any other contact information.

Request Your Ride While Inside

If you can, request your ride while indoors to avoid lingering outside too long with your phone out, which may attract thieves or pickpockets.

Confirm Your Driver and Car Before Getting In

There are some reported cases of scammers posing as rideshare drivers, so always confirm the license plate and name of your driver before getting in, and check their appearance against the photo in the app. And, if you’re getting picked up in a popular area, like an airport, this will also avoid accidentally taking someone else’s ride. 

Pro tip: Always ask a driver for the name of the passenger before you get in the car instead of saying your name first. This way, you can be 100 percent sure that person is your driver.

Wear Your Seatbelt

Just because you’re in someone else’s car or riding in the back seat doesn’t mean you’re at less of a risk of being in an accident. Always buckle up—drivers appreciate it. Under Uber’s description of “Your Rating” you’ll find that wearing your seatbelt is listed as an item that helps your passenger rating. 

Sit in the Back Seat

If you’re traveling alone, always choose the back seat. According to Dave Sutton, spokesperson for Who’s Driving You?, a public safety campaign from the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association that promotes for-hire vehicle safety, “Many of the incidents that we’ve seen … have happened to passengers riding up front.”

Check Your Driver’s Rating

Both Uber and Lyft allow passengers to rate drivers on a scale of one to five. Always double-check that your driver has prior experience and a rating as close to 5.0 as possible (over 4.8 is generally pretty good). Uber and Lyft may deactivate drivers whose ratings fall below a certain standard.

Never Pay Cash

A driver should never ask you to pay cash for your ride. Both Uber and Lyft give you an option to tip through the app after your trip, so there’s no need to have your wallet out during a rideshare.

Know Your Surroundings

If you’re in an unfamiliar city or area, make sure to track your route on your own maps app to ensure the driver is following the correct route. If you’re getting picked up from the airport, be sure to follow the prompted instructions when you open the rideshare app.

This also goes for the neighborhood and time of day you’re requesting a ride. Be smart and aware of open businesses around you and avoid calling rideshares alone late at night. If you’re getting picked up from a bar or restaurant, pay extra attention to these tips.

Call for Help

Both Uber and Lyft have emergency buttons that let you call 911 directly from the app if something goes wrong. The apps will display your current whereabouts so you can share them with the dispatcher during your call.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2017. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.

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The 6 Best Flight-Price Trackers

Several options generally rise to the top of most evaluations. Here are the top five, in no particular order, plus what makes each one stand out, followed up by some broader flight-tracking options:

• KAYAK
• Skyscanner
• Hopper
• Airfarewatchdog
• Google Flights
• Going

KAYAK

KAYAK (part of the Booking.com empire) is a robust flight price tracker. You can tailor the tracking filters as tightly as you want: by destination, class of service, number of stops, and more. KAYAK can also track hotel prices. Both are possible by selecting the “Track Prices” switch on the left side of the results page once you’ve searched for your specific dates.

Pros of Kayak: It shows Southwest if it is an option for the route you are searching, but does not show you the price is, have to click through to the southwest website. 

Cons of Kayak: Does not offer a loyalty program, so if you book through them there is no incentive for points. 

Skyscanner

Skyscanner, a London-based metasearch system, operates in much the same way as KAYAK. The “Get Price Alerts” button on the search results page enters your trip(s) into the system, and you can manage your account for details. 

As with KAYAK, this flight price tracker doesn’t include Southwest fares. And although it can search hotels, it does not offer a tracking function for them. Skyscanner’s “Get Price Alerts” option on the left side of the results page allows you to choose from email, Facebook, and Google to create an alerts account and start getting emails easily—all you have to do is enter an email address for them to be forwarded to.

Pros of Skyscanner: Real time fare comparison is like no other site, advanced search options. 

Cons of Skyscanner: Displaying of ghost fares that are no longer valid. 

Hopper

According to SaleCycle, the majority of travelers browse for flights on their phones but book them on their computers. Hopper may change that as a mobile app for iOS and Android phones, perfect for those glued to their phones. When the price of a fare drops, you will receive a notification directly on your phone, which you can click on to review the fare. There are no emails to check; just click on the alert. 

They have a great prediction model that tells you if the fare is high and when they think it will drop, so you know when to be on the lookout for those alerts and get ready to book. 

Pros of Hopper: Best tracking when using your phone to book airfare. 

Cons of Hopper: Filters are not as extensive as other sites. 

Airfarewatchdog

Airfarewatchdog, SmarterTravel’s sister site, will send you an alert the instant a price goes down so you can snag it before it is gone. Choose from a specific route or all deals from a specific departure city. 

Adding cities and routes is straightforward and simple, even after you have signed up- you can easily update your alerts without having to dig around. You can choose how often you want to get alerts, either up to seven times a week, three times a week or once a week.

Pros of Airfarewatchdog: Their Do-Not-Send Airlines option. Hate Spirit? Have a disdain for American? You can easily add the airlines you don’t want alerts from under your account settings.

Cons of Airfarewatchdog: Some fares you get alerts for are hard to find on the site.

Google Flights

Lastly: Not a website so much as a broader platform built into the internet giant Google, Google Flights provides an outstanding range of choices for tracking flight prices. For any trip of interest, you can enter an origin/destination, travel dates, how many tickets you want, and class of service, plus screening for the number of stops and other variables to track as many individual flights as you want. notifies you if the fare goes below the value when you first entered the search. It covers most airlines except for Southwest, which does not provide its fares to any metasearch systems. It notifies you by email on as many specific searches as you set it to. Google Flights does not include hotels. As an added bonus, Google Flights will also tell you the cheapest time to fly to a given destination, or the cheapest place to fly in a given time period, if you’re unsure of where and when to travel.

Pros of Google Flights: You can choose if you want to get alerts for specific dates or just for the route you are searching for in general, no matter the date – you just want the best price. 

Cons of Google Flights: They don’t always display the lowest price available. 

Going

Going, (previously Scott’s Cheap Flights) is a membership-based model. You can choose from three tiers: free, premium, and elite. The higher your status, the more deals you will be sent, and the more likely you will get the best deal for the routes/cities you choose. The paid memberships only make sense for people who travel a lot, otherwise, if you are just looking for a good deal, there is no need to pay for a membership. 

Going is by far the most aesthetically pleasing airfare site out of all the ones we have mentioned. Each deal is accompanied by a photo of the destination (or of an airplane) and has a generic price range listed, making fares seem cheaper than they might be but making the user feel like they are getting a deal. 

Pros of Going: Easy step-by-step alert sign-up. 

Cons of Going: They make it seem like you need a paid membership to continue, but you don’t. A Skip button is in the upper right-hand corner of all the sign-up pages as you set up your account. 

For premium fares (premium economy, business, and first-class), you can use any ITA Matrix-based site, which covers all fare classes. Those who want more detailed information on first—and business-class deals, however, can subscribe to several paid sources like First Class Flyer and Notiflyer, starting at $99 per year. Read more about where to find deals on premium airfare here.

Additional Tips for Finding Cheap Flights

• Be flexible with your travel dates and times. Weekdays and off-peak hours are generally cheaper than weekends and holidays.
• Consider flying into budget-friendly airports or nearby regional airports.
• Sign up for email newsletters from airlines you prefer to receive updates on promotions and sales.

Following these tips and leveraging flight price trackers can significantly increase your chances of scoring the best deals on your next airfare purchase.

The post Flight Price Trackers: 6 Sites That Will Find the Cheapest Airfare for You appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Flight connections allow one-stop service from almost anywhere to almost anywhere else, but that process also puts you at risk of missing your connection. Here’s how to protect yourself.

Know Your Airport’s Minimum Time for Connecting Flights

Each airline sets standard minimum connecting times at each hub it serves. It can be difficult to find this information on an airline’s website, but with any connecting flights you book as a single itinerary, through either an airline’s website or a travel agency, the airline’s system automatically adjusts for minimum times at your connecting point. If you miss your ongoing flight, the airline is obligated to put you on the next available flight with no additional charges.

Some of those minimum connecting times are incredibly short for a big airport, as low as 30 minutes in some cases, and usually less than 60 minutes for domestic connections. International times are usually more than an hour, and can exceed two hours at airports with separate international and domestic terminals. Some airlines add even more time for connections involving jumbo jets.

Pad Your Schedule for Airport Connections

Keep in mind that just because your airline will sell you an itinerary with a tight connection, that doesn’t mean you should buy it. Getting off a plane and walking to a distant departure gate can easily condense a 30-minute connection into almost nothing. Even if you make it in time, the experience can be stressful and leave you with no time for things like visiting the restroom or buying a meal before your next flight.

That’s why many travelers deliberately pad their schedules by booking a longer layover than the minimum at a connecting hub. Consider allowing at least 60 to 90 minutes for a U.S. domestic connection, and at least two hours for an international connection. Airlines usually allow you four hours or more maximum connecting time.

Travelers with special needs—such as those with physical disabilities or families with small children—might need even more time when getting around a large airport. You may also want to allow for a longer connection if you’re traveling at a busy time of year (such as Thanksgiving or Labor Day weekend).

Finally, consider how likely your first flight is to be delayed. Could your itinerary be affected by snow in the winter or afternoon thunderstorms in the summer? Is your first flight on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s list of chronically delayed flights? If so, build in a little extra wiggle room.

Fly on a Single Ticket

Typically, any connecting itinerary you arrange on a single ticket conforms with whatever connecting times apply. That’s true even on tickets that involve two airlines, as long as those airlines have interline agreements. The booking systems automatically incorporate requisite times. And single tickets usually provide for checking baggage through from origin to destination, including interline transfers.

Stick to One Airline or Alliance on a Flight Connection

Where possible, book connecting flights on a single airline or on airlines that are partners in an alliance. Typically, at big hub airports, airlines try to make sure that their gates and partner gates are close together. If not, they provide inside-security people-movers or shuttles to any gates they use.

Even with a valid interline ticket, however, connecting at some big hub airports involves leaving security at one terminal and re-entering at another. And, at a few airports, a single airline may use two different terminals. Airlines should build time necessary to connect through separate terminals into the itinerary.

Avoid Two-Ticket Trips When Connecting Flights

If at all possible, avoid an itinerary consisting of two separate tickets on separate airlines. Minimum connecting times apply only to itineraries on through tickets. If you’re on two separate tickets, your first flight is delayed, and you miss a connection, the second airline treats you as a no-show; it can cancel your reservation and make you buy a new ticket for its next flight. Sometimes, you can argue your way onto a later flight without penalty, but that’s not a guarantee.

If you check baggage on a two-ticket itinerary, you almost always have to check it just to the connecting point on the first airline, exit security, claim it, haul it to the second airline’s counter, re-check it, and go through security again. Obviously, you need to allow a lot of extra time for that process.

Allow lots of extra time for your flight connection whenever you’re on a two-ticket trip. I always allow at least three hours. Four is even better.

Avoid the Last Flight Connection of the Day

One of the world’s oldest travel tips remains as valid as when it was first pronounced, probably more than 60 years ago: Avoid booking the last flight of the day out of your connecting airport. The reason is obvious. Yes, the airline has to put you on its next flight, but if your original connecting flight is the last of the day, the next flight will obviously require an overnight stay at the connecting hub and arrival a day late.

A corollary, based on the same principle, is to book a connection as early in the day as is practical. The more “next available” flights, the better your chance of arriving on the day you planned.

Pick the Right Hub for Your Flight Connection

Often you have a choice of hubs, and you can avoid some white-knuckle hours by avoiding the hubs that are most prone to delays. According to current data, the worst big U.S. hubs for delays are the three New York-area airports, Chicago O’Hare, San Francisco, and Boston Logan. The sunbelt hubs generally do better.

Unless you’re on a single airline, avoid U.S. hub airports with separate terminals that lack inside-security or “airside” people movers. The worst airports for this are Dallas Fort Worth, Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles, and New York JFK.

In Europe, London Heathrow crops up on almost everyone’s “avoid if at all possible” hub airport lists, along with Paris de Gaulle and Frankfurt. Travelers generally prefer Amsterdam (Sky Team) and Munich (Star Alliance), along with such secondary hubs as Brussels, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Madrid, Rome, and Zurich.

Have a Baggage Plan for Your Connecting Flight

There is no one-size-fits-all “right” way to deal with baggage on connecting flights. Checked baggage can miss a tight connection or even go astray for a few days, but dragging a carry-on bag from one end of a huge terminal to another, even a carry-on bag with wheels, can slow you down and tire you. Decide for yourself which approach fits you better.

Sit Near the Front of the Plane

If you know you have a tight airport connection, try to get a seat toward the front of the cabin on your first flight. Even if you have to pay, being near the exit door can shave 5 to 10 minutes off your deplaning time—especially on larger planes.

Use Apps to Make Your Flight Connection

Download one or more apps that can help you with the airport connection process by tracking delays and posting up-to-date information on departure gates. WeatherBug (iOS | Android) will help you check the weather at your connecting hub, and FlightStats (iOS | Android) will keep you abreast of delays and flight status. If you’re worried you might have to spend the night at a connecting airport, HotelTonight (iOS | Android) could help you locate a bed. You’ll probably also want your airline’s app, too.

Direct Flights Are Still the Best Option

A nonstop or direct flight is still the best way to avoid connection problems. Figure that a connecting itinerary adds a minimum of two hours to your total trip time, and more likely three, so driving up to 200 miles to/from a different airport to catch a nonstop is often a good idea. As has been noted many times, the best way to deal with O’Hare is at 30,000 feet above it.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2015. It has been updated to reflect the most current information. All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The post Tight Airport Connections: What You Need to Know About Making a Connecting Flight appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Lounges were first launched in 1939 by the then-giant airlines as facilities for VIPs and recognized frequent flyers. The no-fee airport lounge membership system was by invitation only. Following a legal challenge in 1966, though, the lines switched to annual paid memberships.

Entrance to most airport lounges usually comes free for those carrying a first- or business-class ticket (and often, for economy-class flyers carrying an active military ID). But for the rest of us stuck in the back of the plane, there are ways to gain access to these comfy inner sanctums without shelling out thousands of dollars for an upgrade. When you’re the one sinking into a cushy armchair instead of clamoring for a seat at the gate, you’ll be glad to have airport lounge access as a respite from the usual airport irritations.

How to Get Into Airport Lounges

Following are seven ways that savvy travelers can get into airport lounges, even if their tickets read “coach.”

Buy a One-Day Airport Lounge Pass

Several airlines sell day passes to their airport lounges, allowing you to relax in comfort without a long-term commitment. Alaska Airlines sells day passes for the airline’s lounges for $60, while American charges $50 and United charges $59 per day. (As of recently, Delta no longer sells single-day airport lounge passes to the general public.) Keep in mind, however, that most of these airline passes are limited to U.S. domestic airport lounges.

If you’re traveling internationally, check out Lounge Pass, which sells day passes to hundreds of airport lounges worldwide, including several at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Admission to these airport lounges typically ranges between $30 to $60 (with a few outliers to the north and south), and most of them restrict the amount of time you can spend there. Some only offer access to passengers flying within that country, so check before you buy.

Best for: Casual travelers.

Invest in an Airport Lounge Membership

It used to be that all business travelers worth their salt carried a lounge membership card with their preferred airline, often purchased on their company’s dime. Those perks are mostly gone now, with road warriors finding more flexible ways to gain access to airport lounges (see the “Elite Status” and “Credit Card” sections below).

If you fly one airline exclusively, however, an airline membership is still something to consider. Airline club memberships also give you access into alliance lounges, including the Star Alliance and Oneworld airlines, which will help a lot if you’re traveling internationally. Of the airlines based in North America, Air Canada, Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, and United currently operate lounge programs, with one or more locations at each major airport they serve. WestJet arranges lounge access at its major terminals. Allegiant, Frontier, JetBlue, and Southwest do not operate their own lounge programs, though JetBlue partners with programs in Montego Bay and Kingston, Jamaica. JetBlue also partners with American Airlines to allow Admiral Club members who are flying JetBlue to access AA lounges.

If you go the membership route, expect to pay $350 to $650, plus an “initiation fee” between $50 and $100, for an annual membership. Before shelling out, check to make sure that the destinations you visit the most actually have airport lounges; as a rule, you’ll only find these types of clubs in the world’s busier airports.

Best for: Frequent travelers who rely on one airline or alliance.

Try a Third-Party Vendor for Airport Lounge Access

If you have a hard time sticking to just one airline, an airport lounge membership purchased through a third party might make more sense. A company called Priority Pass offers access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide for an annual fee. Participating lounges include a mix of airline, airport, and independent locations, mostly in international departure areas.

What’s nice about Priority Pass is that you can choose from several membership levels. For $469 per year, you get free, unlimited access to all of the airport lounges in the network. If you don’t travel that often, you can pay $329 for 10 free airport lounge visits, with additional visits beyond that costing $35 each. Or you can buy a $99 membership, then pay $35 every time you access an in-network airport lounge. In addition to entry to traditional lounges, members receive a one-time per-visit credit of $28 – $30 toward food and beverage bills at participating airport restaurants and bars. Top airline credit cards, AmEx Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve credit cards, and several other premium cards include Priority Pass membership.

Another nice thing about the Priority Pass is that it includes many of the airlines’ own lounges, such as Air France’s airport lounges at JFK, O’Hare, and San Francisco. The pass doesn’t guarantee that you’ll gain access to all of the airlines’ lounges, however, so you’ll have to check in advance to make sure. For that purpose, Priority Pass offers a smartphone app (iOS | Android) that makes it easier to find your airport lounge and learn whether you can access it, whenever you’re on the go.

Best for: Frequent air travelers who take different airlines.

Pay for a Public Airport Lounge

Who needs to worry about those airline-owned clubs? In some airports, public lounges—which let you pay a fee for comfortable chairs, snacks, Wi-Fi access, small meals, and non-alcoholic beverages—are giving the legacy airport lounges a run for their money. Their business model depends on two revenue sources: pay-to-play visits by individual travelers and per-visit charges paid by individual airlines with insufficient traffic to justify their own lounges for premium-ticket flyers. Day rates can start at around $20; some rates are hourly.

At Cleveland’s airport, for example, you can enter The Club CLE after security in the main terminal and pay a $50 flat rate for the day. Similarly, guests can relax in the Aspire Lounge in Terminal 2 of San Diego International Airport for up to 8 hours for $45.

At Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, you can buy a day pass to The Club, which proffers shower facilities, free Wi-Fi, and complimentary snacks and beverages for $50. The Club also has lounges at 20 other U.S. airports (including in Boston, Las Vegas, Orlando, and Seattle) as well as at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

In addition, a few smaller chains and one-off lounges operate at a range of other North American airports. For the most part, these programs operate on either a day-fee or airline-referral basis rather than on annual memberships.

International travelers can consider Plaza Premium, which offers buffet meals and drinks; some lounges even offer massage and spa services for an extra fee. Current locations include various airports in Canada, China, Australia, Malaysia, India, and more. Rates vary by location.

Best for: Travelers who want more flexibility than airline lounges provide.

Attain Elite Status

Loyalty does have its privileges. Most airlines offer airport lounge access to their customers who make elite status, with benefits that extend throughout the network.

Make Aeroplan Elite status on Air Canada or Premier Gold on United, for example, and you’ll get access to most of the Star Alliance airport lounges around the world (there are limitations, however, as some lounges restrict Gold access to passengers flying internationally). The SkyTeam Airline Alliance, made up of Delta, Air France, KLM, and other airlines, offers airport lounge access for certain elite members, as does the Oneworld alliance, which is spearheaded by American Airlines.

Best for: Frequent travelers who fly exclusively, or almost exclusively, on one airline or alliance.

Use Your Credit Card to Access Airport Lounges

Getting a credit card that offers airport lounge privileges is perhaps one of the easiest ways to ensure that you’ll never be stuck on the concourse again, although some of these cards carry hefty annual fees.

Take the American Express Platinum Card. For a $695 annual fee, the card gives you VIP access to hundreds of airport lounges around the world, through Priority Pass, Airspace, and Escape Lounges, as well as access to American Express Global Lounges. The card also provides free entry into Delta Sky Clubs, waives foreign transaction charges, and gives you $200 in credits toward airline fees, such as those imposed for checked bags.

Airline credit cards can come with airport lounge perks, too. The United Explorer Card, for example, gives you two one-time-use passes to get into United Clubs, plus other travel extras; there’s no fee for the first year, and then you’ll pay $95 per year thereafter. Select credit cards from Air Canada and Delta also include free or discounted day passes.

Caveat: Before you apply for any credit card, read the fine print to make sure that your spending and traveling habits make getting a card worthwhile.

Best for: Big spenders who don’t mind paying annual fees for perks, as well as occasional flyers who are willing to pay a smaller annual fee for a limited number of airport lounge day passes.

Be a Guest at (or Buy Your Way into) Airport Lounges

And finally, there’s always the kindness of strangers. Some people on travel forums such as FlyerTalk say that they gained lounge access by simply standing outside the door and asking people going inside if they would be willing to bring them in as a guest. You can also check for airport lounge guest passes for sale on eBay.

Best for: People who don’t mind asking strangers for favors.

How to Use Airport Lounges: Rules and Resources

Regardless of how you get in, most lounges follow a few base rules. Most are located airside of security, although a few big airports also have landside arrivals lounges. Typically, you need to show a boarding pass for a flight on the day you enter.

The main problem you might encounter is at a large airport with separate terminals: If you can’t find an airside lounge in the terminal you’re using, you may have to go outside security to a different terminal, go through security there to gain access to the lounge, then repeat the process to get back to the terminal you’re using.

Presumably, you don’t need to be convinced that airport lounge features are desirable, but you might have to be convinced to pay up to $450 a year to take advantage of those features. Annual deals look pretty good if you travel often: Check out programs on the airlines you fly the most and on premium credit cards. And if you aren’t sure, try a day pass somewhere to see if you find it worthwhile.

Several websites focus on airport lounges, including locators, prices, and even advance booking of day-use entry. Check LoungeBuddy or LoungeReview, where you’ll find everything you ever wanted to know about lounge access.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2017. It has been updated to reflect the most current information. Chris Gray Faust, Ed Perkins, and Margaret Leahy contributed to this story.

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Editor’s note: Save these ideas for when it’s safe to travel again, and always follow all COVID-19 restrictions, rules and safety regulations both at your destination and upon returning home.

The Las Vegas Strip Isn’t Actually in Las Vegas

The Las Vegas Strip is a paradise for many. In actuality, the Las Vegas Strip is in Paradise.

Most of the 4.2-mile Las Vegas Strip (a drag that includes popular Las Vegas hotels like MGM Grand, Caesars Palace, and Wynn Las Vegas) is actually in the neighboring town of Paradise.

Sex Work is Illegal in Las Vegas

Despite the many signs promoting the sex industry in Las Vegas, sex work is in fact prohibited in Sin City and the rest of Clark County.

It isn’t only illegal in Las Vegas, it’s also banned in Nevada’s other major city, Reno. Cities in other Nevada counties, however, permit sex work.

Las Vegas Hotels – 150,000 of Them!

There are 147,238 Las Vegas hotel rooms, according to figures supplied by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The average nightly room rate is currently $129.

With those figures and without inflation, it’ll take a Las Vegas aficionado nearly 404 years and $19 million to stay in every Las Vegas hotel room.

Las Vegas Casinos Swap Competing Casino Chips

For those feeling a hot streak coming on while at Caesars Palace but who have only a pocketful of MGM Grand chips, fret not–it’s likely the house will take your “foreign chips” just the same.

While most Las Vegas casino hotels will swap out competitors’ casino chips, this privilege is only honored in Nevada.

Las Vegas: Bright Lights, Big City

An icon on the Las Vegas Strip, the Luxor Light Beam at the Luxor Las Vegas is now operating at only half-strength from what it illuminated in its 1993 debut. Not that this distinction is visible to the naked eye.

Arguably the brightest light beam on Earth, it’s said that the beacon is visible from as far as 100 miles away.

The House Wins; Powerball Players, Not So Much

You’ll catch nary a sight of a Powerball or scratch ticket in the self-proclaimed Gambling Capital of the World. Why? Despite legalizing casino gaming in 1931, the sale of lottery tickets is still prohibited in the state of Nevada.

You Can Get Married Pretty Much Anywhere in Las Vegas

A stack of flapjacks and a quickie wedding may both sound like great ideas after a night of partying in Las Vegas. Luckily, the breakfast food chain diner Denny’s offers spontaneous couples a side of nuptials with their Grand Slams.

At $199, the wedding package includes a wedding officiant, use of the diner’s chapel, a pancake wedding cake, a Champagne toast, and two breakfasts.

More from SmarterTravel:

• 7 Best Las Vegas Day Trips
• What to Wear in Las Vegas
• 10 Things That Need to Be On Your Las Vegas Packing List

The post 7 Crazy Las Vegas Facts That Will Surprise You appeared first on SmarterTravel.

If you’ve never heard the term ‘fifth freedom flights,’ you might be missing out on a lucrative way to snag a deal or use your frequent flyer miles. But to explain why, we have to start from the early days of airline regulation:

Back in 1944, airlines and governments from around the world got together in Chicago and designated a series of five official “freedoms of the air,” including that states have control over their own air space and ground landings. The fifth freedom, however, is an airline’s “right to fly between two foreign countries on a flight originating or ending in one’s own country.”

One example of a fifth freedom flight, according to SmarterTravel’s sister site Airfarewatchdog, is: “Singapore Airlines operates a flight from Houston (IAH) to Singapore (SIN) that heads eastward with a brief stop in Manchester, UK (MAN). With fifth freedom rights, a passenger can fly only the Houston to Manchester segment of that flight with no need to travel onward to Singapore.”

These rights are not automatic: They’re negotiated between governments. And coupled with the third and fourth freedoms—flying between an airline’s home country and a different country—negotiated fifth freedom flights can benefit both airlines and travelers in a few ways:

Airline Benefits of Fifth Freedom Flights

On some very long flights, airlines make midpoint stops to refuel, maybe change crews and, often, to serve travelers headed to/from the midpoint stop: In the above example that’s Manchester, U.K. Fifth freedom rights allow an airline to gain extra revenue by selling fifth-freedom tickets from the midpoint to the final destination.

Example: On its Auckland-London flights via Los Angeles, Air New Zealand sells fifth-freedom tickets from Los Angeles to London along with its third-freedom tickets from Auckland to Los Angeles and London.

On other flights, traffic might be insufficient to support nonstop flights from an airline’s home base to a single distant city—but sufficient to support service to two cities by flying nonstop to one point and then a short connecting flight onward to a second, more distant city. Which then justifies selling fifth-freedom tickets between those two distant points.

Example: KLM sells fifth-freedom Buenos Aires-Santiago tickets on its flights running from Amsterdam to Buenos Aires to Santiago.

Traveler Benefits of Fifth Freedom Flights

Here’s why that all matters: Frequent flyer seats are often easier to come by on fifth-freedom flights than on local lines. Conversely, fares on fifth-freedom flights are sometimes (but not always) lower than local-line fares, which you might be more loyal to.

Here are some things to remember when checking for an advantageous fifth freedom flight to use your miles on or snag a deal:

In a few cases, a fifth-freedom flight is the only nonstop between two distant cities. See our original example: Houston to Manchester, England, on Singapore Airlines. In that case, you’re less likely to find a deal.

In other cases, a long-haul international flight may operate a short connecting flight with a wide-body plane, while local airlines use only smaller 737s and 320s. This difference is important mainly to travelers in business class, where long-haul planes typically have roomy, lie-flat seats while competitive single-aisle planes have only standard economy with a blocked middle seat.

Example: Emirates Airlines flies large Airbus A380s between Sydney and Christchurch, N.Z.

Search engines typically list fifth-freedom flights along with third-freedom flights, but there’s no way to identify a flight as fifth-freedom unless you know the airlines’ routes.

Are Fifth Freedom Flights Going Extinct?

Here’s a complete list of fifth freedom flights operating to/from the U.S. courtesy of RewardExpert.com. Overall, in the long run, the availability of fifth-freedom flights is a moving target. As long-haul planes gain additional range, tech-stop flights are disappearing.

Example: Air New Zealand will eliminate the Los Angeles stop on its Auckland-London flights later this year, and last year Cathay Pacific eliminated a Vancouver, B.C., stop on a New York-Hong Kong flight. As smaller planes stretch their range, separate nonstops are likely to replace multistep long-haul flights, and local airlines will start flying nonstops where only fifth-freedom flights operate now.

More from SmarterTravel:

• 7 Expert Airplane Seat Hacks to Boost Comfort on Long Flights
• 9 Places Where the U.S. Dollar Goes Furthest in 2020
• The 10 Airlines That Charge the Most Fees

Consumer advocate Ed Perkins has been writing about travel for more than three decades. The founding editor of the Consumer Reports Travel Letter, he continues to inform travelers and fight consumer abuse every day at SmarterTravel.

The post What Fifth Freedom Flights Are, and How They Could Save You Money appeared first on SmarterTravel.