9 Summer Travel Tips 2023

With the Covid-19 public health emergency officially over, this summer travel season is going to be busier and more expensive than ever. Everyone from families to solo travelers and anyone in between is looking for an escape, which is bound to create a few bottlenecks.

Luckily, you don’t have to stay home this summer and miss out on a great vacation to avoid the chaos. Below, CNBC Select shares eight tips for a smooth, and hopefully, more economical, summer travel experience.

Airports are projected to see record passenger numbers this summer, which means security lines could be longer and slower. If you haven’t signed up for a trusted traveler program yet, now is the time. And by getting through security faster, you’ll be able to spend more time in the airport lounge and relax before your flight.

Another option is to sign up for a CLEAR® membership on the spot. Agents are eager to sign up travelers and you’ll get access to expedited security right away. CLEAR® costs $189, but you may be able to get that waived if you’re a top-tier Delta SkyMiles or United MileagePlus elite member. The Platinum Card® from American Express and American Express® Green Card also offer up to $189 in CLEAR® credits annually. Terms apply.

Stateside, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has a page outlining passengers’ rights. For example, consumers are entitled to a refund if the airline cancels a flight and the consumer chooses not to travel — even for non-refundable tickets. Be sure to read through the full protections before your trip and claim compensation if your trip is delayed.

Knowing your rights is important, but sometimes you don’t want to line up with hundreds of other passengers to claim a hotel voucher when your flight is canceled. Or perhaps the airline lost your luggage and you need essentials fast. With the right credit card, you can get reimbursed for things like hotels, meals and essential purchases when things go wrong without needing to purchase a separate policy. Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay coverage, auto collision damage waiver and luggage insurance are all included when you charge your travel to a credit card with these benefits.

Be sure to read our guide to credit card travel insurance for our top picks, which include the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express. Many of the best travel cards also come with other valuable perks like no foreign transaction fees.

For many, summer means road trip season, which often sends rental car prices soaring. If you’re looking to hit the road, be sure to start your search through AutoSlash. The free site specializes in tracking and rebooking rental cars to secure lower rates. By constantly monitoring prices, Autoslash helps users find the lowest prices across major rental car companies. Autoslash will even search for discounted rates based on the types of credit cards you carry and any memberships that would qualify you for savings (i.e., AAA, AARP,  Costco, etc.).

If you already have a reservation, you can set an alert with Autoslash to notify you in case of price drops. Setting up only takes a few minutes and can save you hundreds of dollars on your rental car. Overall, Autoslash is a valuable tool for travelers looking to save money on rental cars by finding the best rates and tracking reservations for price drops.

Remember to pay with a credit card that comes with *primary car rental insurance, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. This way, you won’t need to go through your own auto insurance provider in the event of an accident or theft and can simply submit a claim through your card issuer.

With hotel prices predicted to skyrocket this summer, HotelSlash could be a great way to save money. HotelSlash is the sister site to Autoslash and charges a $29.95 annual membership fee, though you can easily recoup that cost if you frequently stay at hotels and find a good deal.

The site scours the web for the best possible deals on hotel bookings. Not only can you conduct a general search for hotels by city, but you can set up alerts for individual hotels. The rate monitoring service applies to hotels booked directly through HotelSlash and third-party bookings. Setting up alerts is easy, requiring you to specify the hotel, travel dates, number of guests, and room preferences. 

You’ll get an email alert when the search is complete and you can review the available rates. HotelSlash will notify you if rates drop further. The nice thing about the site is that the checkout page will display the total price, including resort fees (which some hotels leave out until it’s time to check out).

HotelSlash can also come in handy here, allowing you to put the monitoring process on autopilot. Once you find a lower rate, simply submit proof and wait for the claim to be processed. This simple step alone can save you hundreds of dollars on your hotel stay this summer. Just remember that the lower rate must be publicly available, be for the same room type and have the same exact cancellation policy.

While airlines generally don’t offer any guarantees of this sort, if your ticket allows for free changes, you may be able to rebook it and get the fare difference back as a travel credit. Alternatively, if you’re a Capital One cardholder, you can book through the Capital One Travel portal, which automatically gives you credit back if the flight cost drops after you book it. 

Summer can be a stressful time to travel, but it doesn’t have to be unpleasant. With a bit of planning and forethought, you can prepare yourself for possible hiccups and make sure you’re not overpaying. More importantly, being aware of your rights as a passenger ensures that you won’t be left stranded in case of flight delays and luggage issues. With the right travel credit card, you can earn heaps of rewards that can help offset the cost of your vacation and unlock valuable perks like airport lounge access and travel protections.

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*For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

For rates and fees of the Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Green Card, click here.