TravelBaes: Smarter Travel Is Your Ticket to the Soft Life

Camille Davis
3 hours ago
4 min read

This week, Expedia dropped its 2026 Air Hacks Report on February 17, and if you’re a Woman for the Culture who believes in leveling up every area of your life (including how you move through the world) this is news you can absolutely use.

We don’t just encourage our women to travel.

We give you the tools to do it effortlessly, especially if you’ve been telling yourself travel is “too expensive.” This is your sign to rethink your strategy. Today, we'll teach you how to plan accordingly to yield the best deals!

The Cheapest Months to Travel

We know more than anyone how much you need a break; however, the first lesson is to train yourself to stop booking emotionally and start booking strategically.

August is the most affordable month to travel; flights are 29 percent cheaper than December, saving about $120 per ticket.

January is the cheapest month to fly domestically (post-holiday dip).

July, October, and November have the most deals available.

The Day You Book (and Fly) Matters More Than You Think

This is one you may have heard before. "Book your flights on Tuesdays," they say, but does that truly work? We know your value your time just as much as your pocket. We have the easiest way for a TravelBae to choose peace over chaos and reduce your stress by saving. Write it down. Print it out or set the calendar to search for flights on Friday... yes, Friday!

Friday is the cheapest day to book flights.

Tuesday is the cheapest day to fly domestically; about 14 percent less than Sunday departures.

Flying Friday instead of Sunday can save up to eight percent!

Tuesday is the least busy day to fly.

Friday is the busiest!

The Month You Fly Matters Most

If it's the soft life you're after, we want you to avoid and skip lines at the airport and the destination. Why travel when everyone else does? Expedia notes the busiest month to travel and July and February as the least busy month to travel. Expedia even drilled it down to the exact days of rhe year where destinations and airports are least crowded. Those dates are:

February 25
March 4
November 18

While the busiest travel dates are:

May 22
July 3
August 29

“Micro-cations” Are Going Mainstream

What started on TikTok is now becoming a lifestyle shift. Did you know, 25 percent of Millennials and Gen Z plan to fly somewhere for just 24 hours? A reset doesn’t require PTO approval for a week. It requires intention. This is a trend you should jump on!

Imagine:

A 24-hour Miami recharge
A one-day NYC culture fix
A spontaneous Toronto food run

Sometimes leveling up means normalizing joy in small doses.

Book Closer Than You Think (But Not Last-Minute)

Women win when we move with information. If you takeaway nothing else, know that it is time to unlearn booking in advance. Yes, we know you're a planner as well as a perfectionist. But trust us, sis; the data says it isn't beneficial.

For Domestic flights:

Book 15 to 30 days before departure.

Sounds crazy, right? We guarantee, you'll average savings of $130 vs booking six months out!

For International flights:

Book 31 to 45 days ahead.

You'll average savings of $190.

Want to be bold? Try booking 8 to 15 days out. Believe it or not, you can save up to $225

Your Departure Airport Can Make or Break the Price

All of this goes out the windows if you're departing from mainstream U.S. departure airports; however, there are some that are still affordable, such as Las Vegas and Orlando, which are about 25 percent lower than national average fares.

While it may be inconvenient to book airports nearby as you'll end up spending more on ground transportation, keep in mind that these mainstream airports are listed as the most expensive to departure from:

Washington Dulles
San Francisco
New York’s JFK

Expedia actually recommends a short drive to a different airport as it can potentially save hundreds.

Saver Routes You Should Know

Keep it simple, ditch the research and opt for routes that are guaranteed the cheapest.

There are domestic routes under $160 average:

Orlando → Fort Lauderdale
Las Vegas → San Diego
Los Angeles → Las Vegas

There are International routes under $275 average:

Fort Lauderdale → Nassau, Bahamas
Houston → Comayagua, Honduras
Orlando → Toronto, Canada

Want to know why everyone traveled to Tokyo in 2025? Prices are dropping up to 25 percent each year to travel to Tokyo and the same for flights to Honduras, and Morelia (Mexico). Watch how 2026 will be a standout travel year for those destinations!

This is how women build passports that reflect expansion.

In-Flight Habits Are Evolving (And So Should Yours)

Exhale. Your soft, travel life is activated. Here are a few tips from travelers that we dare you to consider to make your trip even more effortless:

48 percent of travelers now fly carry-on only.
26 percent plan long layovers to explore another city.
37 percent would wear extra layers to avoid baggage fees.

Travel is not a luxury for “someday.” Travel is exposure, a networking opportunity, cultural literacy, a soft-life strategy and a mental health investment. That's what we mean by leveling up in every aspect of you life. With this information, we hope you'll find a life of stravle easier to attain that you thought!

From Expedia:

Your journey to the soft life starts with smart planning today! 🌟 Remember, the most memorable adventures come from thoughtful preparation. Start dreaming, researching, and saving now so you can fully immerse yourself in these magical destinations come 2026. Your future self will thank you for the strategic investment in unforgettable experiences! ✨🧳