AARP membership, available to anyone 18 and older for $15 in the first year, offers a wide range of benefits including travel discounts, restaurant savings, insurance options, entertainment, health resources, financial tools, advocacy, shopping deals, and magazines, providing significant value and savings for members of all ages.
JetBlue has increased checked bag fees for the second time in 2024, with varying charges for off-peak and peak travel dates, affecting flights within the U.S., Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada. Travelers flying during peak dates will pay higher fees, with peak season pricing applying to specific travel periods. Ways to save on bag fees include airline credit card perks, adding a checked bag early for a slight discount, and earning elite status for complimentary perks.
As travelers seek to save money without compromising their trips, "shoulder season" travel, booked between high and low seasons, is becoming increasingly popular, with some destinations experiencing longer high seasons and fewer distinct low seasons. However, as demand for travel remains strong even during off-peak times, the savings are diminishing. An analysis of hotel rates in five popular destinations revealed that traveling during shoulder seasons can still result in significant savings, particularly in the Maldives and Rome, where avoiding peak season can save hundreds or thousands of dollars in hotel charges alone.
Fall is a better time to travel than summer, offering significant savings and a more enjoyable experience with fewer crowds. Domestic airfare in the US for fall is down 29% from peak summer prices, while international fares to Europe are down 31%. Popular destinations that were scorching hot in summer will finally be cooling off, and rates for accommodations in summer resort areas start to dip. Traveling in September and October also benefits local communities by generating sustained economic impact. Some recommended fall destinations include Italy's Piedmont Region, Yellowstone National Park, Northern California, North Fork in New York, Lisbon in Portugal, Outer Banks in North Carolina, Hawaii, and South Africa.