How to Plan Smarter and Save More on Summer Travel

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

Learn how to get the most out of your summer travel including when to book your flights and how to stack rewards.

When is the cheapest time to book flights for summer travel? How can you stack rewards points to level up your trips? Meghan Coyle and Sally French take a deep dive into the strategies you can use to optimize your travel budget this summer, including tips on when to book flights, ways to combine rewards perks for a better (and cheaper!) trip, and how to plan if your summer travels involve a trip to a theme park.

But first, Meghan and Sally discuss a new way to get Lyft credits, Southwest’s rollout of dynamic pricing, and the partnership between Marriott and MGM. Then, they talk about some of the most popular summer travel destinations, when to expect the biggest crowds during your summer vacations, what’s coming up at theme parks such as Universal and Disney, and why using standby to fly might be a good option.

Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews:

• 2025 Summer Travel Report
• Chase Sapphire Reserve Adds Monthly Lyft Credit, Slashes Points Earning
• Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX Review
• Credit Cards With Elite Car Rental Perks
• Cheapest European Cities to Fly to in 2025
• The Cheapest Time To Visit Walt Disney World
• The Busiest Days to Fly Around Memorial Day
• The Best Days to Fly Around the Fourth of July
• Universal Epic Universe: How to Plan Your Trip for the Opening

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