The WanderWise Monthly — June 2026

Subject line: The WanderWise Monthly — June: Making Summer Count Preview text: Peak season travel doesn't have to mean peak spending. Here's your summer playbook.

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Hi Friend,

Summer is here. The days are long, the schedules are loose, and somewhere in your mind, a voice is saying: "We should go somewhere."

Listen to that voice.

Yes, summer is the most expensive time to travel. Yes, the airports will be busier and the hotels more crowded. But it's also when the world is at its most alive — when Scandinavian sun doesn't set until midnight, when the Mediterranean is warm enough to swim, when national parks are green and thunderstorms roll through like clockwork.

The trick isn't avoiding summer travel. It's being smart about it.

This month, let's talk about how to make summer work — on points, on your terms, and without the stress.

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✈️ DESTINATION OF THE MONTH: The Canadian Rockies (Banff & Lake Louise)

If you want summer mountain scenery that stops you mid-sentence, the Canadian Rockies deliver like nowhere else in North America.

Turquoise lakes. Snow-capped peaks in July. Elk grazing at the roadside. Air so clean it almost hurts. And because it's Canada, not Colorado, the crowds are manageable — especially if you visit in June before Canadian school holidays begin.

Here's the points math:

Round-trip flights to Calgary: ~30,000 Aeroplan miles per person (transferred from Chase or Amex) 4 nights at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise: ~200,000 Marriott Bonvoy points (or explore Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts for added perks like room upgrades and breakfast) Cash equivalent for two: $5,500+ Points cost: ~$180 in taxes and fees

The drive from Calgary to Banff is 90 minutes. The drive from Banff to Lake Louise is 40 more. Along the way, you'll pass through some of the most stunning landscape in the Western Hemisphere.

Bring a camera. You'll use it.

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💳 CARD OF THE MONTH: Amex Platinum®

Annual fee: $695 Current sign-up bonus: 80,000 Membership Rewards points (after spending $8,000 in the first 6 months)

I know the number. $695. Let me explain why serious travelers call this the best card in their wallet anyway.

The Amex Platinum comes with up to $200 in airline incidental credits, $200 in hotel credits, $240 in digital entertainment credits, and $155 in Walmart+ credits each year. Add those up, and the effective fee drops to roughly $100.

But the real value is in the perks:

Lounge access. Centurion Lounges (Amex's own, and they're exceptional), Priority Pass, Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta, and Plaza Premium lounges worldwide. For international summer travel, this transforms the airport experience.

Hotel status. Automatic Gold status at Marriott and Hilton. That means room upgrades, late checkout, and complimentary breakfast at many properties — perks that can easily be worth $50–$100 per night.

Fine Hotels & Resorts. Book luxury hotels through Amex's FHR program and receive guaranteed upgrades, breakfast, late checkout, and a $100 property credit. All at the standard rate.

This card isn't for casual travelers. It's for the person who has decided that travel is a priority — and wants every trip to be a little more comfortable.

👉 [Read our full Amex Platinum review →] # (Affiliate link — supports WanderWise at no cost to you.)

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💡 POINTS STRATEGY OF THE MONTH: Beat Peak Season with Flexible Dates

The single most powerful thing you can do for summer travel on points: be flexible by even two or three days.

Here's why. Airlines release award seats in blocks, and peak-season availability fluctuates wildly from one day to the next. A Tuesday departure might have two business-class award seats wide open. The same flight on Saturday? Sold out for months.

The strategy:

Search a range, not a date. Most airline search tools let you view a calendar of award prices across an entire month. Look at United, Aeroplan, or Southwest's "Low Fare Calendar."

Shift your trip by one or two days. Leaving Wednesday instead of Friday can save 30,000–50,000 points per person on international flights. That's not a rounding error — that's an entire second trip.

Consider midweek returns. Flying home on a Tuesday or Wednesday is almost always cheaper in points than a Sunday return.

The destinations don't change. The experiences don't change. The only thing that changes is which day you leave — and how many points it costs.

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🗣️ COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

[This month's spotlight comes from the WanderWise community.]

"We moved our Alaska trip from Saturday to Tuesday — four days' difference. Saved 60,000 miles for the two of us. Same flights, same airline, same experience. We used those saved miles for two nights at a lodge in Denali. Still can't believe how much that one small change was worth." — Robert and Jean H., Colorado

Summer travel win? Reply and share it. These stories help everyone.

Not in the community yet? → [Join WanderWise Travelers →]

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📅 UPCOMING DATES & DEALS

• Now: Last-minute summer point bookings are still possible for flexible travelers. Midweek departures have the best availability.
• June 15: Airlines start releasing fall schedule award seats. If you're planning September or October travel, start watching now.
• Late June: Hotels often release promotional point offers for August shoulder season (the quiet weeks before Labor Day). Watch for "buy points" sales from Marriott and Hilton.
• July 1: Our next newsletter covers peak season smart booking — how to find award availability when everyone says it's "impossible."

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❓ ASK MICHAEL

"We're trying to fly to Europe in August on points, but every search comes back empty. Are we too late?" — Janet C., Massachusetts

Janet, you're not too late — but you might need to be creative. First, check Aeroplan (Air Canada) and Flying Blue (Air France/KLM), not just United. They often have different award availability for the same transatlantic routes. Second, try flying into a secondary city — Lisbon, Dublin, or Oslo instead of London or Paris — and taking a budget airline or train to your final destination. Third, consider flying one leg in business class and one in premium economy. Mixing classes can open availability that all-business searches miss. Reply with your specifics and I'll take a look.

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Summer doesn't wait. And neither should you.

The days are long, the world is warm, and your points are ready. The only question is where you'll be when the sun sets tonight — and whether next month, it'll set somewhere extraordinary.

👉 [Book a Free Summer Trip Consultation →] /concierge

Until next month — travel well.

Michael

P.S. — A personal note: my favorite summer travel memory is a Tuesday evening in the Canadian Rockies, sitting on the shore of Moraine Lake as the light turned the water from turquoise to emerald. Nobody else was there. I didn't plan it that way — I just happened to arrive midweek. Sometimes the best travel strategy is the simplest one.