Summer travel tips: How to prepare for a flight delay
Points Guy editor-in-chief Clint Henderson said taking the time to download airline apps could help you rebook if your flight is delayed due to weather.
With the summer travel season in full swing, editors at Forbes Advisor have revealed the best and worst cities to spend your summer vacation in.
More than 200 million Americans are expected to travel by land or air to summer destinations, with beaches and national parks emerging as popular choices.
The group looked at several factors, including crime, cost of living, ease of getting around and extreme weather in 43 cities across the country.
Jacksonville, Florida, topped the list with a perfect score on the list of places no city wants to be on.
The group found River City to be poorly walkable, lacking public transportation, having a high crime rate and extremely uncomfortable temperatures in the summer.
Historical data from NOAA shows that most of the summer is spent in the low to mid 90s Fahrenheit, but the heat index often exceeds 100 Fahrenheit.
Forbes did not say whether it took into consideration nearby beaches, where many tourists flock to escape the heat.
Topping the list of least livable cities were Colorado Springs, Colorado; Fresno, California; Memphis, Tennessee; and Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Thunderstorms occurring hundreds of miles away wreak havoc on air travel
Cities at the top of the list all had one thing in common: high crime rates, a lack of highly ranked restaurants, and poor transportation.
The most recommended US city for summer vacations was Minneapolis, followed by Long Beach, California, Washington DC, Seattle and Omaha, Nebraska.
Many of the top spots have high walkability scores, and the weather tends to be less extreme than in southern regions.
The survey did not look at which international travel destinations are expected to be popular spots in 2024.
“International travel to the United States is increasing rapidly but is still far from a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels,” the U.S. Travel Association said earlier this year.
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According to TripAdvisor, the most popular international destinations this year include Cancun, Mexico; London, England; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Paris, France; and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Interest is high in Paris due in part to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will be held from late July to September.
Officials estimate that more than 15 million people from 206 countries will visit the City of Light and nearby areas during the games.
For the first time, the Summer Olympics will not kick off in a stadium, but on July 26 with an outdoor event along the Seine river, with the iconic Eiffel Tower as a backdrop.
PARIS, FRANCE – September 13, 2017: The Olympic rings are unveiled at Trocadero Square in front of the Eiffel Tower after the city of Paris was officially announced as the host city for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. For the first time in history, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has simultaneously selected two cities to host the Summer Olympics, with Paris to host the Olympic Games in 2024 and Los Angeles to host the Olympic Games in 2028. (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images)
The Olympic rings are displayed on the Eiffel Tower in Paris on June 10, 2024, ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. (Photo by Adnan Farzat/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Workers set up tents at the construction site of Concorde Urban Park, the site of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in Paris on June 4, 2024. As part of a new phase of infrastructure development for the Olympics, which will run from July 26 to August 11, 2024, the police precinct has ordered the closure “to all traffic” of Paris's largest square in its entirety, which will host urban sports events (BMX freestyle, breakdancing, skateboarding, 3×3 basketball) and the opening ceremony of the Paralympics (August 28 to September 8, 2024). (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP via Getty Images)
BAYEUX, FRANCE – MAY 30, 2024: Gaelle Lot d'Aigremont carries the Olympic Torch in triumph through Bayeux's busy main street, where crowds gather to witness the historic moment. This took place during the 20th leg of the relay in Calvados, Bayeux, Normandy, France. The journey of the 20th Olympic Torch Relay begins at revered sites of remembrance, Omaha Beach and the beaches of the Normandy landings, before continuing to Lisieux. It then travels to Cabourg, Dives-sur-Mer and Houlgate before arriving in Bayeux and Falaise and finishing in front of Caen City Hall. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
