Essential Summer Travel Tips: How to Plan The Perfect Vacation

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On a recent episode of Bon Voyage Besties, hosts Rachel and Rosa broke down everything you need to know about traveling during peak season. Here are the biggest takeaways.

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Start With the Dates, Then the Destination

For a lot of travelers, summer isn’t a choice — it’s a necessity. Teachers, parents with school-age kids, and anyone locked into a work schedule during the year simply don’t have the luxury of traveling during the quieter shoulder seasons. And that’s okay. The key is to work with your constraints rather than against them.

The first summer travel essential? Locking in your dates early. Once you know your travel window, move fast on flights. Rosa’s approach is to identify the destination, nail down the dates, and book flights before anything else — hotels and attractions can follow. Rachel takes a slightly more flexible approach: she’ll search broad regions on Google Flights (like “Newark to Europe”) and let the prices guide her to a destination. If a city she’s been curious about pops up at a great price, that’s the one.

Both strategies work. The point is to start early and stay flexible where you can, such as midweek flights, nearby airports, and open-minded destination choices can all unlock significant savings.

Use Every Tool to Fight Peak Season Prices

Flight prices during summer can feel like a personal attack (Rachel’s words, not ours — but relatable). The good news is that there are smarter ways to search. Google Flights lets you track prices and set alerts so you’re notified when fares drop to your target range. The Hopper app is another fan favorite for monitoring price trends before you commit to booking.

And don’t forget your points and miles. If you’ve been hoarding them for “someday,” summer peak season is exactly the right moment to use them. Rachel knocked her Paris flight down from $800 to $500 using miles — a direct flight during August, guilt-free. There’s no such thing as a bad redemption when it means stretching your budget on a trip you’re actually taking.

Research Your Destination’s Summer Reality

Not every destination is at its best in June, July, or August and knowing this ahead of time is one of the most underrated summer travel essentials. Brazil and New Zealand, for example, are in their winter months during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer. Japan’s rainy season in June can actually work in your favor: Rachel visited Nikko and found it lush, green, and refreshingly uncrowded compared to the fall foliage or spring cherry blossom rush.

Do your homework. Think about the type of trip you want — relaxing beach vibes vs. active sightseeing — and then match your destination to that energy and the seasonal weather reality. If you hate the heat, there are cooler destinations waiting for you. It’s not summer everywhere.

Beat the Crowds by Going Off the Beaten Path

Crowds are the price you pay for peak season, but you don’t have to accept them at every turn. Rosa’s tip from her Italy trip: yes, Rome in August is hectic — but a short detour to the fishing village of Camogli near Genoa was calm, charming, and far more affordable. In Greece, she skipped an overtouristed Santorini in favor of Crete and, on another trip, the Peloponnese town of Nafplio. Both were stunning and far less chaotic.

The formula: spend a couple of days at the “must-see” spots, then branch out to smaller towns and villages nearby. You’ll likely find better prices on accommodations, shorter lines at attractions, and a more authentic experience overall.

Pack Smart for the Heat

No list of summer travel essentials would be complete without packing advice, and this is where the details really matter.

Breathable fabrics are non-negotiable. Leave the jeans and heavy layers at home. Pack light dresses, linen pants, moisture-wicking tops — anything that lets your skin breathe. Rosa recommends prioritizing comfort over style (though ideally you get both). After sweating through Japan in July, she and Rachel both agree: in extreme heat, you’ll need to do laundry mid-trip. Pack accordingly and don’t expect to rewear anything without a wash.

Key items to bring:

• A wide-brim sun hat and UV-blocking sunglasses
• High-SPF sunscreen — and reapply every two hours, no exceptions
• A portable fan (a game-changer at theme parks and outdoor attractions)
• Comfortable walking shoes that won’t leave your feet wrecked after a 20,000-step day
• A reusable water bottle to stay hydrated

Also pack with cultural norms in mind. What’s fine to wear in New Jersey might raise eyebrows — or get you turned away at the door — in religious sites or conservative destinations. Rachel overheard this lesson in Venice: cover your shoulders and knees before entering churches. As one basilica worker loudly reminded a crowd of tourists: “It’s a church, not a discotheque.”

Book Accommodations Carefully — and Ask About the AC

If air conditioning is important to you (and for most Americans, it is), don’t assume every hotel or Airbnb abroad will have it. Europe in particular doesn’t rely on AC the way the U.S. does. Rachel’s advice: read hotel reviews written in July or August specifically. If past summer guests mention sleeping comfortably, you’re in good shape.

Rosa learned this the hard way in Porto — their Airbnb listed AC, but it only covered the downstairs living area. On hot nights, they had to choose between the heat and the noise from open windows. When in doubt, ask the host directly before you book.

Make Reservations — for Everything

Restaurants, popular attractions, tours — book them ahead of time. Rosa’s two-hour wait outside a restaurant in Rome because she forgot to make a reservation is a cautionary tale we should all take to heart. Most popular spots during summer will be packed, and showing up without a reservation is a gamble. Plan ahead, but leave a little breathing room in your schedule for spontaneity. Hidden gems have a way of showing up when you’re not over-scheduled.

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Summer travel is absolutely worth it. The key is going in prepared: book early, pack smart, stay flexible, and wander a little off the map. The memories you make — sweaty, sun-kissed, and wonderfully imperfect — will be worth every crowded piazza and expensive flight.
Bon voyage, besties.