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Forbes
11 hours ago
- Forbes
The Best Beach Chairs To Keep You Comfy On The Sand In 2025
There's really nothing like a day at the beach—hot sun, cool drinks, crashing waves and catching a nap while kids engineer sand castles. But sitting directly on that hot sand isn't especially enjoyable, so we've rounded up the best beach chairs that will have you kicking back in comfort on many a lazy summer day. Many beach chairs, like our top choice, the Shibumi Beach Chair, offer more than just a place to park your personage. Many beach chairs have built-in cupholders, padding and pillows, shades and more. The best beach chairs offer you comfort ad relaxation on those sunny summer days. There are a lot of beach chairs out there, but we found that the best beach chairs—the ones we've covered here—have a few things in common, such as comfort, support and easy portability. That's certainly the case with our pick for the best lightweight beach chair, the Helinox Beach Chair, which weighs in at less than 3.2 pounds. To round out this list, we selected a variety of chairs of varied types with a range of features, and we checked in with some travel experts who are true beach lovers to help make sure we were on target with our best beach chair recommendations. Amazon Weight capacity: 300 pounds | Weight: 8 pounds | Seat height: 12 inches | Cupholder: Yes | Reclining: Yes For several years, the company Shibumi was known primarily for its beach shade, which has a clever design using even a gentle breeze to billow the shade out and block the sun. Clearly, this company knows its way around beach hardware, because the Shibumi beach chair is masterfully well-designed and very highly rated. It's made using rust-resistant marine-grade aluminum for the frame and breathable fabric that offers support and comfort. The chair reclines at multiple different angles, and it has a cupholder on one side and a pocket perfect for a phone and snack on the other. Shibumi's beach chair is on the pricier side, and its seat is a bit too low for some people's preference. But on the whole, this is a beach chair that scores high marks for its comfort, durability and its many clever design elements. Amazon Weight capacity: 250 pounds | Weight: 5.3 pounds | Seat height: 10 inches | Cupholder: Yes | Reclining: No The Coleman Utopia Breeze Beach Chair proves that you don't have to spend a lot of money to get a compact but comfortable beach chair. It weighs a mere 5.3 pounds but can support up to 250 pounds, and it folds down for easy transport or storage. The chair has a pouch on the back where you can stash a book, towel or sandwich, and it has a built-in cupholder (as good beach chairs usually do). This chair sits very low to the ground with just a 10-inch seat height, so people with mobility or balance issues may find it hard to get into and out of the Utopia Breeze. That said, people like me will love that this low seat makes it easy for you to stretch out your legs and relax. The sturdy steel frame will hold up to regular use, and the included carrying bag makes it easy to tote and store your seat when you're not using it. Amazon Weight capacity: 320 pounds | Weight: 3.2 pounds | Seat height: 7 inches | Cupholder: No | Reclining: No It's amazing to say, but this beach chair from Helinox has a staggering 1:100 weight to capacity ratio. That's because the chair, which packs down small enough to fit into a backpack or a drawer, weighs just 3.2 pounds but can safely support adults weighing up to 320 pounds. That's largely thanks to the same DAC aluminum alloy frame material and rugged 600D polyester used in so many other Helinox products, such as cots and tables. The setup and breakdown process has a bity of a learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, it will take all of a minute to deploy or pack up this portable chair. And while it was designed with the beach in mind, it's also great for camping, the park, a concert and much more. Amazon Weight capacity: 350 pounds | Weight: 11.1 pounds | Seat height: 8 inches | Cupholder: Yes | Reclining: Yes The Hondo Beach Chair from Yeti is far and away the most expensive model in this list. But for that elevated price tag, you get a beach chair of impressive quality and durability. For example, it also has the highest rated weight capacity at 350 pounds, it's generously wide at 26.5 inches and deep at 29.4 inches and it has a rugged frame and features UV- and weather-resistant materials. The Hondo offers four reclining positions and has a built-in cupholder and a handy carrying strap. It's on the heavier side of chairs in this category at a little over 11 pounds, but you can feel how sturdy this thing is when you plop down into it. If you're a larger adult (height or weight), then this chair should be near the top of your list. Amazon Weight capacity: 250 pounds | Weight: 8.6 pounds | Seat height: 11 inches | Cupholder: Yes | Reclining: Yes If GCI Outdoor's Backpack Beach Chair were an affordably-priced and easily portable backpack beach chair and nothing more, it would probably still have made the cut. But it's all the clever extras that truly secured its place in this story. First, consider the main elements. As the name suggests, this chair has a pair of backpack straps that make it laughably easy to transport it—not that carrying it by hand is all that hard, though, as it weighs just 8.5 pounds. It can support a load of 250 pounds, offers a few reclining angles, and it's both comfortable and supportive. Now for the extras. The chair's cupholder has a drawstring top so you can cinch it tight and protect whatever you're drinking, which is a nice touch. There is also a drawstring on the storage pouch on the back of the chair, which is welcome and clever. And finally, the chair features a pillow that can be adjusted up or down for custom comfort, and that's the real cherry on top. Amazon Weight capacity: 275 pounds | Weight: 10.2 pounds | Seat height: 12 inches | Cupholder: Yes | Reclining: Yes Many of the beach chairs in this list have reclining backs, but this is the only one that can go fully flat, letting you lie down and relax in true comfort. And whether it's for comfort or to even out that tan, you can even lie face down atop this beach chair. That's because the pillow that cradles the back of your head can be flipped out of the way to reveal a cutout area for your face. There are also two cutouts you can stick your arms through, making it even easier to be comfy while you're face down. A removable padded lumbar cushion is a welcome feature while you're seated, as the adjustable footrest. A 12-inch seat height is ideal for kicked back relaxation without much difficulty standing up, and the sturdy wooden armrests and included cupholder are thoughtful details. Tommy Bahama Weight capacity: 300 pounds | Weight: 17.8 pounds | Seat height: 9 inches | Cupholder: Yes | Reclining: Yes The Tommy Bahama Marlin Palms Ultimate Beach Chair is all about making you as comfortable as possible while you're kicking back at the beach. That's thanks to its adjustable back, which reclines almost to flat, the pillows at the lumbar and head, a built-in cupholder and bottle opener and even an included folding table you can use as a footrest. But what really sells this beach chair is the adjustable sun shade, which can keep the sun off of your face and out of your eyes. After pouring through scores of reviews left by verified customers, we did encounter multiple people who reported small imperfections with the chair, such as table legs that would not lock in place or a sunshade that kept disconnecting. But we also found excellent customer service from the brand, which seemed willing and able to remedy every issue. The team of writers and editors on the gear team at Forbes Vetted have dozens of years of combined experience researching, testing and reviewing hardware of all sorts, including outdoor furniture, the best beach coolers, the best running shoes, and much more. To be sure we recommend the best beach chairs, we focused on several variables. Here's how we made our selections: All beach chairs are ready to be popped down on the sand and to hold a person as they take a seat, but to find the best beach chairs, you need to look way beyond the basics. Here are the factors we had top-of-mind: If it's a hassle to get your beach chair to the beach, there's a chance you might just leave it behind. Look for beach chairs that are lightweight, fold up and ideally that have easy carrying mechanisms like straps or handles built in. 'Lightweight frames with carry straps [are] essential for portability,' says Carter. You need a beach chair that can more than comfortably hold your weight. Make sure to choose one that is rated for a person a good deal heavier than its likely user or users. And keep in mind you might have a kid in your lap sometimes. 'When choosing the perfect beach chair, I look for chairs that have a solid cupholder and a firm cushion for my head,' says Kennealy." Consider also things like storage pouches, footrests and more. While we did feature a couple of beach chairs that do not recline, such as the ultra packable model from Helinox, most beach chairs. Do you have a bag that goes down, just make sure it is enough of a reclining angle for your comfort and preference. 'Travelers I have led regularly comment on how much of a difference a fully reclining chair can make,' says Montes. There's a good reason that even the least expensive beach chair on our list cost $50: they are all durable. 'Choose weather-resistant materials likes marine-grade teak, aluminum, or quick-dry mesh," says Carter. If you go too cheap on a beach chair this summer, you may well be replacing it next summer. How Do I Choose The Right Seat Height For My Beach Chair? If you prefer to stick your legs out straight and lean back, semi-reclined, and totally at ease, then go with a lower seat height, something below 10 inches above the sand. However, if you have any mobility issues, you want to choose a beach chair with a much higher seat height, so it will be easy to lower yourself into it and get back up. What Weight Is Too Heavy For A Beach Chair? According to our research, the sweet spot for a beach chair's weight is between seven and 10 pounds, but if you're comfortable with a bit more weight to carry and you want a heftier chair, it's not like there is a hard and fast rule. What Are Some Beach Chair Care And Maintenance Tips? There are really only three things you need to do to take care of your beach chair. The first is to clean it off after use with freshwater, and perhaps with a little bit of detergent if any parts are soiled. The second is to ensure that it dries completely before you put it away for storage. And the third is to keep the beach chair out of direct sunlight as often as possible, ideally at all times when you are not actively enjoying it on the beach.
CNN
4 days ago
- Business
- CNN
The ‘golden summer of cheap flights': Now's the time for last-minute deals
Still haven't pressed 'purchase' on your summer vacation? There's some good news for procrastinators this hectic travel season. If you have yet to book peak summer airfare to popular destinations in Europe, among other places, you can expect to find lower prices and more award availability than the norm for this typically busy time of year, travel experts say. The indications of a slowdown in global travel, paired with ongoing economic uncertainty, are resulting in some bargain international and domestic airfares. And now might be the sweet spot for finding a last-minute summer travel deal. Travel expert Katy Nastro, with airfare tracking site Going, says that while it's hardly an exact science, there's typically a 'Goldilocks' window for booking flights during peak travel times, such as summer. It's usually recommended to lock in peak-season domestic airfare at least three to seven months out from the date you plan to travel. For international flights, the experts at Going suggest booking four to ten months out for peak dates. But this summer has 'sort of flipped itself on its head,' Nastro says, adding that even for close-in travel dates to destinations near and far, there are still summer airfare deals to be had for people booking just one to three months out. For non-peak travel periods, the Goldilocks window is one to three months in advance for domestic fares and two to eight months out for international flights. It's not only domestic destinations with deals, says Nastro, calling this summer 'the golden summer of cheap flights.' 'Typically, at this point, you'd be hard-pressed to find something over to Europe in the $400s, round-trip, from major cities in the US … We're still seeing that, which is really incredible,' says Nastro. She cited a deal spotted on May 28 showing mid-July round-trip airfare from New York to Dublin for $392 on Aer Lingus, and select July and August dates for round-trip airfare from Los Angeles to Paris for $579 on French Bee. On May 29, round-trip domestic airfare deals spotted by Going included Miami to Las Vegas in August for $175; Cincinnati to Charleston for $78 (June-August availability); and New York City to Nashville for $127 (July and August availability). This summer is unique, Nastro says, because there's still 'abundance and availability' for flights to destinations in Europe, as well as Canada and Mexico, and Latin American destinations such as Brazil and Peru. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, data collected from third-party sources (primarily online travel agencies) indicates bookings from major US cities to major European cities made between the end of January and mid-May are down by about 10% for travel this June, July and August. Bookings made in the opposite direction, from the Europe to the US, are down 12%. The drop in international arrivals into the US appears to be having a bigger impact more broadly for airfares on European carriers than US carriers, Nastro says. She suggests looking for deals on airlines such as Aer Lingus, SAS, Lufthansa, Norse Atlantic Airways and Icelandair. 'That doesn't mean that you can't find something on Delta, United, etcetera. (But) what we've noticed is more so the deals are coming from these European carriers,' she says. For the best deals to Europe this summer, staying flexible is the key to success, says Hayley Berg, lead economist at the travel platform Hopper. Berg says airfare to Europe from major US hubs this summer is comparable to what it was during the summer of 2019, which was one of the cheapest summers in recent memory for travel to Europe thanks to low fuel prices, competition and the entry of new lower-cost airlines. Hopper's 2025 International Travel Guide reports airfare from the US to Europe is averaging $817 per ticket this summer — down 10% from last summer's prices, despite the fact that, overall, more international flights are scheduled to depart from US airports to global international destinations this summer than in 2024. Consumers who can stay flexible about where they fly and when they go to Europe can expect to get the best deals, Berg says. That means traveling on weekdays and taking the deal-seeking approach. 'Where I most frequently see low prices are Dublin, Stockholm, Copenhagen. And then … depending on when in the summer you go, the trifecta of London, Paris and Rome,' Berg says. 'Just because there's so much volume that flies into those (three) destinations, you are likely to find a deal if you kind of do your homework.' When it comes to the best travel dates for cheaper fares to Europe, the last two weeks of August is the sweet spot for savings, she says. 'The average airfare is $300 cheaper if you travel in the last two weeks of August versus the peak in June and July,' she says. As an added bonus, once you're there, you can also expect fewer crowds, cheaper accommodations and shorter lines at major European attractions like the Vatican at that time of year, Berg says. Domestic airfare within the US is down about 3% for bookings this summer over last summer, she adds, in particular to big US city hubs like New York City, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Dallas and Los Angeles. But travelers who shop around and aren't locked into specific dates can find significantly more savings. 'If you use some of our advice around being flexible, you can shave a couple hundred dollars off of a domestic trip for a family of four, or even a couple,' Berg says. Jack Ezon, founder of EMBARK Beyond travel agency, says Europe's summer of savings goes beyond airfare. He points to Greece, in particular, as being full of relative summer bargains right now. 'Mykonos, Santorini, there's opportunity on the mainland, pretty much everywhere. We're seeing guaranteed room upgrades and lots of great programs at hotels trying to promote it,' he says. While this summer's surprise season of cheaper airfares might make it tempting to roll the dice and wait before booking anything, dragging your feet too much longer into June isn't likely to pay off if you're looking to score a deal, says Nastro. People who were hesitant to book anything because of uncertainties surrounding travel and the markets are likely to start making plans sooner rather than later, she says. As a result, airfares are expected to go up. 'I don't want people to get in the thinking that, 'Oh, I could just book something for July 4th at the end of June, and I should be safe,'' she says. 'Our age-old wisdom, and just knowing what we know about airfare, that's not going to be the case — even in this unique summer that we are in.' Frequent travelers and credit card holders sitting on a pile of loyalty points and miles should tap them for unexpected summer deals, says Tiffany Funk, co-founder of award flight search tool, 'How award seats work is they are distressed inventory,' she says. 'For the most part, these are seats that airlines have acknowledged they're probably not going to sell. Those are the ones that they really let their loyalty programs leverage.' And while there's not exactly a 'glut of award seats' available this summer, Funk says there are more options for redeeming awards now compared to last summer. Being open — to award options that pop up last-minute and to flying in the back of the plane — is one way to score a deal. 'For people who, like myself, have not put together their summer travel plans yet and are able to be opportunistic, that's always a good way to use your points,' says Funk, adding that the best awards pricing has seen for travel this summer has been in economy class. 'Prior to 2021, pretty reliably, airlines did not really sell a lot of their premium cabin seats. Now they sell the majority of them,' she says, leading to more award inventory available in economy class. Recent one-way economy class award airfares booked on include New York to Paris in August on Virgin Atlantic for 9,600 miles plus $75 per person and Phoenix to London in August on American Airlines for 15,000 miles plus $6 per person. Points also have the advantage of being much more flexible than cash when it comes to changes and cancellations, says Funk — something travelers might particularly appreciate in more uncertain times. 'So if you see something, book it. You can always change it later. For most of these programs, there's not a fee to do that,' Funk says. The time to strike is now. 'I think we've all been holding our breath, but really, what the population is showing us is they want to go on vacation and they're willing to pay for it. And if there are great deals, they're going to find them so that they can get more for that budget.' Terry Ward is a Florida-based travel writer and freelance journalist in Tampa who is guilty of hoarding her Star Alliance miles.
CNN
4 days ago
- Business
- CNN
The ‘golden summer of cheap flights': Now's the time for last-minute deals
Still haven't pressed 'purchase' on your summer vacation? There's some good news for procrastinators this hectic travel season. If you have yet to book peak summer airfare to popular destinations in Europe, among other places, you can expect to find lower prices and more award availability than the norm for this typically busy time of year, travel experts say. The indications of a slowdown in global travel, paired with ongoing economic uncertainty, are resulting in some bargain international and domestic airfares. And now might be the sweet spot for finding a last-minute summer travel deal. Travel expert Katy Nastro, with airfare tracking site Going, says that while it's hardly an exact science, there's typically a 'Goldilocks' window for booking flights during peak travel times, such as summer. It's usually recommended to lock in peak-season domestic airfare at least three to seven months out from the date you plan to travel. For international flights, the experts at Going suggest booking four to ten months out for peak dates. But this summer has 'sort of flipped itself on its head,' Nastro says, adding that even for close-in travel dates to destinations near and far, there are still summer airfare deals to be had for people booking just one to three months out. For non-peak travel periods, the Goldilocks window is one to three months in advance for domestic fares and two to eight months out for international flights. It's not only domestic destinations with deals, says Nastro, calling this summer 'the golden summer of cheap flights.' 'Typically, at this point, you'd be hard-pressed to find something over to Europe in the $400s, round-trip, from major cities in the US … We're still seeing that, which is really incredible,' says Nastro. She cited a deal spotted on May 28 showing mid-July round-trip airfare from New York to Dublin for $392 on Aer Lingus, and select July and August dates for round-trip airfare from Los Angeles to Paris for $579 on French Bee. On May 29, round-trip domestic airfare deals spotted by Going included Miami to Las Vegas in August for $175; Cincinnati to Charleston for $78 (June-August availability); and New York City to Nashville for $127 (July and August availability). This summer is unique, Nastro says, because there's still 'abundance and availability' for flights to destinations in Europe, as well as Canada and Mexico, and Latin American destinations such as Brazil and Peru. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, data collected from third-party sources (primarily online travel agencies) indicates bookings from major US cities to major European cities made between the end of January and mid-May are down by about 10% for travel this June, July and August. Bookings made in the opposite direction, from the Europe to the US, are down 12%. The drop in international arrivals into the US appears to be having a bigger impact more broadly for airfares on European carriers than US carriers, Nastro says. She suggests looking for deals on airlines such as Aer Lingus, SAS, Lufthansa, Norse Atlantic Airways and Icelandair. 'That doesn't mean that you can't find something on Delta, United, etcetera. (But) what we've noticed is more so the deals are coming from these European carriers,' she says. For the best deals to Europe this summer, staying flexible is the key to success, says Hayley Berg, lead economist at the travel platform Hopper. Berg says airfare to Europe from major US hubs this summer is comparable to what it was during the summer of 2019, which was one of the cheapest summers in recent memory for travel to Europe thanks to low fuel prices, competition and the entry of new lower-cost airlines. Hopper's 2025 International Travel Guide reports airfare from the US to Europe is averaging $817 per ticket this summer — down 10% from last summer's prices, despite the fact that, overall, more international flights are scheduled to depart from US airports to global international destinations this summer than in 2024. Consumers who can stay flexible about where they fly and when they go to Europe can expect to get the best deals, Berg says. That means traveling on weekdays and taking the deal-seeking approach. 'Where I most frequently see low prices are Dublin, Stockholm, Copenhagen. And then … depending on when in the summer you go, the trifecta of London, Paris and Rome,' Berg says. 'Just because there's so much volume that flies into those (three) destinations, you are likely to find a deal if you kind of do your homework.' When it comes to the best travel dates for cheaper fares to Europe, the last two weeks of August is the sweet spot for savings, she says. 'The average airfare is $300 cheaper if you travel in the last two weeks of August versus the peak in June and July,' she says. As an added bonus, once you're there, you can also expect fewer crowds, cheaper accommodations and shorter lines at major European attractions like the Vatican at that time of year, Berg says. Domestic airfare within the US is down about 3% for bookings this summer over last summer, she adds, in particular to big US city hubs like New York City, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Dallas and Los Angeles. But travelers who shop around and aren't locked into specific dates can find significantly more savings. 'If you use some of our advice around being flexible, you can shave a couple hundred dollars off of a domestic trip for a family of four, or even a couple,' Berg says. Jack Ezon, founder of EMBARK Beyond travel agency, says Europe's summer of savings goes beyond airfare. He points to Greece, in particular, as being full of relative summer bargains right now. 'Mykonos, Santorini, there's opportunity on the mainland, pretty much everywhere. We're seeing guaranteed room upgrades and lots of great programs at hotels trying to promote it,' he says. While this summer's surprise season of cheaper airfares might make it tempting to roll the dice and wait before booking anything, dragging your feet too much longer into June isn't likely to pay off if you're looking to score a deal, says Nastro. People who were hesitant to book anything because of uncertainties surrounding travel and the markets are likely to start making plans sooner rather than later, she says. As a result, airfares are expected to go up. 'I don't want people to get in the thinking that, 'Oh, I could just book something for July 4th at the end of June, and I should be safe,'' she says. 'Our age-old wisdom, and just knowing what we know about airfare, that's not going to be the case — even in this unique summer that we are in.' Frequent travelers and credit card holders sitting on a pile of loyalty points and miles should tap them for unexpected summer deals, says Tiffany Funk, co-founder of award flight search tool, 'How award seats work is they are distressed inventory,' she says. 'For the most part, these are seats that airlines have acknowledged they're probably not going to sell. Those are the ones that they really let their loyalty programs leverage.' And while there's not exactly a 'glut of award seats' available this summer, Funk says there are more options for redeeming awards now compared to last summer. Being open — to award options that pop up last-minute and to flying in the back of the plane — is one way to score a deal. 'For people who, like myself, have not put together their summer travel plans yet and are able to be opportunistic, that's always a good way to use your points,' says Funk, adding that the best awards pricing has seen for travel this summer has been in economy class. 'Prior to 2021, pretty reliably, airlines did not really sell a lot of their premium cabin seats. Now they sell the majority of them,' she says, leading to more award inventory available in economy class. Recent one-way economy class award airfares booked on include New York to Paris in August on Virgin Atlantic for 9,600 miles plus $75 per person and Phoenix to London in August on American Airlines for 15,000 miles plus $6 per person. Points also have the advantage of being much more flexible than cash when it comes to changes and cancellations, says Funk — something travelers might particularly appreciate in more uncertain times. 'So if you see something, book it. You can always change it later. For most of these programs, there's not a fee to do that,' Funk says. The time to strike is now. 'I think we've all been holding our breath, but really, what the population is showing us is they want to go on vacation and they're willing to pay for it. And if there are great deals, they're going to find them so that they can get more for that budget.' Terry Ward is a Florida-based travel writer and freelance journalist in Tampa who is guilty of hoarding her Star Alliance miles.
CNN
4 days ago
- Business
- CNN
The ‘golden summer of cheap flights': Now's the time for last-minute deals
Still haven't pressed 'purchase' on your summer vacation? There's some good news for procrastinators this hectic travel season. If you have yet to book peak summer airfare to popular destinations in Europe, among other places, you can expect to find lower prices and more award availability than the norm for this typically busy time of year, travel experts say. The indications of a slowdown in global travel, paired with ongoing economic uncertainty, are resulting in some bargain international and domestic airfares. And now might be the sweet spot for finding a last-minute summer travel deal. Travel expert Katy Nastro, with airfare tracking site Going, says that while it's hardly an exact science, there's typically a 'Goldilocks' window for booking flights during peak travel times, such as summer. It's usually recommended to lock in peak-season domestic airfare at least three to seven months out from the date you plan to travel. For international flights, the experts at Going suggest booking four to ten months out for peak dates. But this summer has 'sort of flipped itself on its head,' Nastro says, adding that even for close-in travel dates to destinations near and far, there are still summer airfare deals to be had for people booking just one to three months out. For non-peak travel periods, the Goldilocks window is one to three months in advance for domestic fares and two to eight months out for international flights. It's not only domestic destinations with deals, says Nastro, calling this summer 'the golden summer of cheap flights.' 'Typically, at this point, you'd be hard-pressed to find something over to Europe in the $400s, round-trip, from major cities in the US … We're still seeing that, which is really incredible,' says Nastro. She cited a deal spotted on May 28 showing mid-July round-trip airfare from New York to Dublin for $392 on Aer Lingus, and select July and August dates for round-trip airfare from Los Angeles to Paris for $579 on French Bee. On May 29, round-trip domestic airfare deals spotted by Going included Miami to Las Vegas in August for $175; Cincinnati to Charleston for $78 (June-August availability); and New York City to Nashville for $127 (July and August availability). This summer is unique, Nastro says, because there's still 'abundance and availability' for flights to destinations in Europe, as well as Canada and Mexico, and Latin American destinations such as Brazil and Peru. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, data collected from third-party sources (primarily online travel agencies) indicates bookings from major US cities to major European cities made between the end of January and mid-May are down by about 10% for travel this June, July and August. Bookings made in the opposite direction, from the Europe to the US, are down 12%. The drop in international arrivals into the US appears to be having a bigger impact more broadly for airfares on European carriers than US carriers, Nastro says. She suggests looking for deals on airlines such as Aer Lingus, SAS, Lufthansa, Norse Atlantic Airways and Icelandair. 'That doesn't mean that you can't find something on Delta, United, etcetera. (But) what we've noticed is more so the deals are coming from these European carriers,' she says. For the best deals to Europe this summer, staying flexible is the key to success, says Hayley Berg, lead economist at the travel platform Hopper. Berg says airfare to Europe from major US hubs this summer is comparable to what it was during the summer of 2019, which was one of the cheapest summers in recent memory for travel to Europe thanks to low fuel prices, competition and the entry of new lower-cost airlines. Hopper's 2025 International Travel Guide reports airfare from the US to Europe is averaging $817 per ticket this summer — down 10% from last summer's prices, despite the fact that, overall, more international flights are scheduled to depart from US airports to global international destinations this summer than in 2024. Consumers who can stay flexible about where they fly and when they go to Europe can expect to get the best deals, Berg says. That means traveling on weekdays and taking the deal-seeking approach. 'Where I most frequently see low prices are Dublin, Stockholm, Copenhagen. And then … depending on when in the summer you go, the trifecta of London, Paris and Rome,' Berg says. 'Just because there's so much volume that flies into those (three) destinations, you are likely to find a deal if you kind of do your homework.' When it comes to the best travel dates for cheaper fares to Europe, the last two weeks of August is the sweet spot for savings, she says. 'The average airfare is $300 cheaper if you travel in the last two weeks of August versus the peak in June and July,' she says. As an added bonus, once you're there, you can also expect fewer crowds, cheaper accommodations and shorter lines at major European attractions like the Vatican at that time of year, Berg says. Domestic airfare within the US is down about 3% for bookings this summer over last summer, she adds, in particular to big US city hubs like New York City, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Dallas and Los Angeles. But travelers who shop around and aren't locked into specific dates can find significantly more savings. 'If you use some of our advice around being flexible, you can shave a couple hundred dollars off of a domestic trip for a family of four, or even a couple,' Berg says. Jack Ezon, founder of EMBARK Beyond travel agency, says Europe's summer of savings goes beyond airfare. He points to Greece, in particular, as being full of relative summer bargains right now. 'Mykonos, Santorini, there's opportunity on the mainland, pretty much everywhere. We're seeing guaranteed room upgrades and lots of great programs at hotels trying to promote it,' he says. While this summer's surprise season of cheaper airfares might make it tempting to roll the dice and wait before booking anything, dragging your feet too much longer into June isn't likely to pay off if you're looking to score a deal, says Nastro. People who were hesitant to book anything because of uncertainties surrounding travel and the markets are likely to start making plans sooner rather than later, she says. As a result, airfares are expected to go up. 'I don't want people to get in the thinking that, 'Oh, I could just book something for July 4th at the end of June, and I should be safe,'' she says. 'Our age-old wisdom, and just knowing what we know about airfare, that's not going to be the case — even in this unique summer that we are in.' Frequent travelers and credit card holders sitting on a pile of loyalty points and miles should tap them for unexpected summer deals, says Tiffany Funk, co-founder of award flight search tool, 'How award seats work is they are distressed inventory,' she says. 'For the most part, these are seats that airlines have acknowledged they're probably not going to sell. Those are the ones that they really let their loyalty programs leverage.' And while there's not exactly a 'glut of award seats' available this summer, Funk says there are more options for redeeming awards now compared to last summer. Being open — to award options that pop up last-minute and to flying in the back of the plane — is one way to score a deal. 'For people who, like myself, have not put together their summer travel plans yet and are able to be opportunistic, that's always a good way to use your points,' says Funk, adding that the best awards pricing has seen for travel this summer has been in economy class. 'Prior to 2021, pretty reliably, airlines did not really sell a lot of their premium cabin seats. Now they sell the majority of them,' she says, leading to more award inventory available in economy class. Recent one-way economy class award airfares booked on include New York to Paris in August on Virgin Atlantic for 9,600 miles plus $75 per person and Phoenix to London in August on American Airlines for 15,000 miles plus $6 per person. Points also have the advantage of being much more flexible than cash when it comes to changes and cancellations, says Funk — something travelers might particularly appreciate in more uncertain times. 'So if you see something, book it. You can always change it later. For most of these programs, there's not a fee to do that,' Funk says. The time to strike is now. 'I think we've all been holding our breath, but really, what the population is showing us is they want to go on vacation and they're willing to pay for it. And if there are great deals, they're going to find them so that they can get more for that budget.' Terry Ward is a Florida-based travel writer and freelance journalist in Tampa who is guilty of hoarding her Star Alliance miles.
CNET
18-05-2025
- CNET
Booking a Flight Soon? This Google Flights Data Will Tell You the Cheapest Time to Buy
Google Flights has the data on the best time to book your flight without breaking the a vacation is stressful and it can get pricey fast, especially if you're traveling during high-traffic intervals like Memorial Day weekend. The good news is our CNET experts have compiled and explored a ton of travel tips on how to find affordable flights and properly prepare like a travel pro. This exploration includes reviewing key Google Flights data to help you make smarter decisions when reviewing airfare. Google Flights has released a robust travel report after aggregating four years of airfare data and trends to provide US travelers with an overarching guide on finding the cheapest flights and the best times to book them. I have reviewed this report thoroughly and highlighted the most important take-aways below to help you find a flight in your budget and let you relax while traveling instead of stressing about money. For more key travel tips, explore these travel essentials you need for every vacation and then take a look at this travel checklist. You should also review CNET's roundup of the best headphones for travel. What days are the cheapest to fly? CNET If you're planning to book a flight, you're likely trying to find the most budget-friendly option. According to Google Flights, the cheapest flights are available when flying on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with Tuesday being the cheapest day, according to the historical flight data. Flying early- to midweek can save travelers 13% to 20% on airfare compared to flying on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, with Sunday the most expensive day to fly. Do layovers on flights save you money? It may come as no surprise that flights with layovers are cheaper than nonstop flights but you may not realize just how significant those savings can be. The Google Flight data shows that travelers can save 25% by booking a flight with a layover instead of a nonstop flight. Which day of the week is the cheapest for booking flights? There are certainly cheaper days to fly, there aren't really cheaper days to book. "There's not much benefit to buying your tickets on a certain day of the week," according to the Google report. Google Flights does state that Tuesdays are typically the cheapest day of the week to book, according to the data, but Tuesday bookings are only 1.3% cheaper than the most expensive day, Sunday. Is it cheaper to book flights far in advance? To wait or not to wait? According to Google, it's better to book your travel far in advance, especially if you need to fly on a specific day or time. There are some patterns you can analyze to decide whether it's better to wait for lower prices or book now based on specific scenarios, destinations and dates of travel. For domestic flights, the prices are generally at their lowest between 21 and 52 days before your trip -- with 38 days before departure being the cheapest day to book on average. For international flights, the prices are generally lowest between 50 and 101 days before your trip, but it's generally best practice to book as early as you can. According to Google, "Average prices don't meaningfully drop anytime before departure but they usually do start to rise within 50 days of the flight itself" for international travel from the US. Never miss out on the cheapest airfare again./Gianmarco Chumbe/CNET When is the best time to book a flight in every season? Here's what Google says about the best times to book holiday flights and vacation trips to certain popular destinations. Spring break: The cheapest domestic flights in March and April are available between 33 to 59 days in advance, with 44 days before departure being the cheapest time to book on average. Summer break: The cheapest domestic flights in July and August are usually available 13 to 43 days in advance, with 21 days before departure being the cheapest day on average to book. Thanksgiving: The cheapest domestic flights over the Thanksgiving holiday are usually available 26 to 59 days in advance, with 45 days out being the cheapest -- meaning it's best to book Thanksgiving flights in early October. Christmas: The cheapest domestic flights over the winter holidays are usually available 36 to 72 days in advance, with 58 days out being the cheapest. It's best to book Christmas or holiday travel in the latter half of October. When is the best time to book a flight to Europe? International flights to Europe from the US are usually cheaper 50 or more days before departure, with 94 days out being the cheapest day to book on average. As with all international travel, it's generally best practice to book as early as you can. When is the best time to book a flight to Mexico or the Caribbean? International flights to Mexico and the Caribbean are the one exception to the broader international trend, according to Google. That's because flights are generally at their lowest between 26 and 68 days in advance, with 44 days out being the cheapest. For more, check out CNET's picks for the best travel credit cards in 2025. You can also explore the 12 travel essentials you always need to pack and the worst airlines for flight delays and cancellations.
