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July 1, 2024

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10 of the best Prime Day early deals you can shop right now

How to get the best deals during Prime Day 2024 in 7 easy steps

Your guide to finding the best deals, earning additional savings, and getting the most out of your Prime Day 2024 shopping.

Page overview

Access the best deal ever on Amazon Music Unlimited

Prime members who haven’t tried Amazon Music Unlimited can get five months free —the best deal ever from Amazon Music for Prime Day—in honor of Amazon Music’s 10-year anniversary. Amazon Music Unlimited includes access to more than 100 million songs and top podcasts ad-free, on-demand, and in high-quality streaming audio.

Prime members receive access to a selection of titles to rent and buy at up to 50% off. Customers can also get early access to deals on select channels via Prime Video Channels . Subscribe to channels like Crunchyroll, STARZ, and MGM+ for $0.99 each per month for up to two months, and get 50% off for up to two months on AMC+ and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.

Starting now, Prime members can get Amazon’s lowest price ever on select devices including:

• Ring Battery Doorbell Plus
• Blink Outdoor 4 multi-packs
• Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)
• Kindle Scribe
• eero Max 7 mesh wifi systems

Prime members can also save up to 68% on select devices including:

• Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)
• Fire TV 2-Series
• INSIGNIA 50-inch Class F30 Series Smart Fire TV with Alexa Voice Remote
• Fire HD 10 tablets
• Fire HD 8 Kids
• Luna controllers
• Amazon Smart Plugs

Starting July 16 through July 17, eligible Prime members can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for $0.00.

Explore the latest releases and enjoy popular books and authors right now with Kindle Unlimited, our binge-worthy literary subscription service that offers unlimited reading and listening.

From June 26 to July 15, Prime members can get coupons for $15 off a $75+ total purchase when shopping at Amazon Fresh physical stores . Prime customers and those with a registered EBT card who have not previously signed up can get three free months (instead of one) of the new Amazon grocery subscription —unlocking unlimited grocery delivery on orders over $35 across Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and a variety of local grocery and specialty retailers on Amazon.com as well as more convenient delivery and pickup options.

This Prime Day, Prime members in the U.S. can shop more small business deals than ever before. Early access to deals starts now from small businesses like Brilliant or BS , Solawave , Toyish , and Lyrically Correct . Members can also discover more deals and products from small businesses by visiting the small business storefront to explore Black-owned, women-owned, military family-owned, Hispanic-owned, AANHPI-owned and LGBTQIA-owned businesses.

Starting now, Prime members can save up to 40% off on select sailings with Carnival Cruise Line and when booking through the Amazon Travel Deals page , up to 30% off, plus 10% back in an Amazon.com Gift Card, on Avis rentals.

Megan Thee Stallion sings ‘It’s Priiiiiiiime Day’ as she announces the Prime Day 2024 dates in her catchy new song.

From July 8 through July 17, U.S. Prime members can shop additional deals directly from participating brands’ websites like HEYDUDE, PopSockets, Carbone Fine Food, and The Woobles, using Buy with Prime , a shopping benefit for Prime members. Discover brands offering Buy with Prime .

Prime members can get a $200 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval for Prime Visa (from June 27 through July 24) or Prime members can get an $80 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval for Prime Store Card (from July 12 through July 17). Plus, cardmembers with an eligible Prime membership earn 10% back or more on Prime card exclusive deals with Prime Card Bonus or you can earn 5% back year-round at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market (in-store code required for Prime Store Card at Whole Foods Market)—all with no annual credit card fees. As an extra Prime Day perk, Prime cardmembers can also earn a total of 7% back on eligible Amazon.com purchases when they choose No-Rush Shipping (with an eligible Prime membership), subject to availability, and terms and conditions .

Prime members can get their first three months free of Audible Premium Plus . Membership includes a massive selection of new releases and bestsellers, plus unlimited listening to thousands of included Originals, audiobooks, podcasts, and more. Auto-renews at $14.95/mo. after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

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First Buc-ee’s building in Luling burns near newly opened travel stop

New luling building is largest buc-ee’s location.

Julie Moreno , Executive Producer/Digital Content

Ken Huizar , Photojournalist

LULING, Texas – Firefighters in Luling said it was “all hands on deck” Monday morning as the first-ever Buc-ee’s travel stop went up in flames.

A Luling Volunteer Firefighter official said the fire started at about 10 a.m. at the structure, which is currently being demolished. More than a dozen fire departments responded to the scene and the fire was extinguished by about noon.

That original store was built in 2003.

Buc-ee’s opened a new store last month on the adjacent property. The new travel stop spans 75,000 square feet, making it the largest Buc-ee’s in the country .

The Caldwell County Office of Emergency Management said in a Facebook post that the new store was not affected by the fire.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Copyright 2024 by KSAT - All rights reserved.

About the Authors

Julie moreno.

Julie Moreno has worked in local television news for more than 25 years. She came to KSAT as a news producer in 2000. After producing thousands of newscasts, she transitioned to the digital team in 2015. She writes on a wide variety of topics from breaking news to trending stories and manages KSAT’s daily digital content strategy.

Before starting at KSAT in August 2011, Ken was a news photographer at KENS. Before that he was a news photographer at KVDA TV in San Antonio. Ken graduated from San Antonio College with an associate's degree in Radio, TV and Film. Ken has won a Sun Coast Emmy and four Lone Star Emmys. Ken has been in the TV industry since 1994.

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Original Buc-ee’s travel center building in Luling catches fire

The old buc-ee’s building was in the process of being demolished after a new travel center opened last month.

Christian Terry , Digital Content Producer

LULING, Texas – A building which was home to the first ever Buc-ee’s travel center in the country caught fire and burned Monday.

• Man arrested for using artificial intelligence to undress teen in Montgomery County

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The building in Luling, which is east of San Antonio along I-10, caught fire around 10:30 a.m. Monday, according to Southeast Caldwell County VFD.

According to KSAT , the fire was extinguished around noon.

The old Buc-ee’s building was built in 2003 and was in the process of being demolished after a brand new travel center opened last month on an adjacent property.

• Huge crack closes a portion of I-10 headed from Beaumont into Houston

The new travel stop spans 75,000 square feet, making it the largest Buc-ee’s in the country , according to KSAT. Officials say the new travel stop was not affected by the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.

About the Author

Christian terry.

Christian Terry covered digital news in Tyler and Wichita Falls before returning to the Houston area where he grew up. He is passionate about weather and the outdoors and often spends his days off on the water fishing.

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I’m Tired of Using An App For Everything

Who goes on vacation feeling excited to fiddle with their phone more .

On a recent vacation, the United Airlines app staunchly refused to load my boarding pass. After waiting in a long line for a desk agent, I used Hilton’s app to check into my hotel remotely, which was convenient right up until I went to my room and found the app-based digital key Hilton had been promoting didn’t work, making me trudge down to the lobby for a keycard. Then, with the restaurant’s menu behind a QR code and the hotel’s Wi-Fi struggling, I had to eat roaming fees just to decide the duck sounded nice.

None of these were crises, but they were all annoying, a reflection of a world where every service has been crammed into an app or hidden behind a QR code regardless of how little benefit it offers consumers. Every airline, hotel chain, bank, transit system, and pizza joint has its own app. My apartment requires three—one for building and parkade access, one for my thermostat and front door, and a third for making maintenance requests and paying rent. The latter, despite my building strongly encouraging its use, refuses to recognize my bank account, and no one seems to know how to fix it.

It’s handy to view gate updates at a glance or adjust the thermostat from the couch, but analog options being downplayed or phased out is a headache-inducing development. Apps can break, or be suddenly discontinued , or just be badly designed. They can flood you with notifications you don’t need amid the ones you do. And they’re often simply tedious, forcing you to once again pull out your phone even though we’re all trying to spend less time staring at them. Who goes on vacation feeling excited to fiddle with their phone more ?

Airlines and apartments have long had apps, but they’re rapidly evolving from a sometimes handy, sometimes annoying alternative to the only viable option. Physical tickets to concerts and sporting events are gone. Paper airline tickets are on the brink of extinction. Even laundromats are going app-based, lest we make it too simple to wash clothes.

For companies, the benefit of locking you in is obvious. “The main reason companies push consumers away from web pages and into apps is control,” security and privacy specialist Bruce Schneier tells me by email. “I have lots of control over how a webpage appears. I can, for example, employ an ad blocker. Sites like the New York Times hate that. If I read the Times in their app, I can’t block ads.”

You can’t, in fact, block anything. Airlines and hotels want to constantly remind you of their loyalty program, and only their loyalty program. And if you’re studying your tickets in an app, a lot of screen real estate can be used to sell you on your next vacation or concert. But what if your phone dies? What if it’s out of date and an upgrade isn’t in your budget? What if this crap flat-out doesn’t work?

Those aren’t hypothetical concerns. There are plenty of examples of people who can no longer control their thermostat because their phone is too old to run the app or who keep getting locked out of their apartment because their key app never works and their landlord won’t offer an alternative . And here are the good people of r/laundry griping that the CSC GO Laundry app that’s mandatory in their apartments keeps breaking or stealing their money.

The death of analog options is also an accessibility nightmare. As ubiquitous as the smartphone has become, 1 in 10 Americans still doesn’t own one . Among people over 65, that number grows to 24 percent. And not everyone who does own a smartphone will have the technical acumen or physical capability to juggle all these apps and their perpetually shifting interfaces. New York’s Viscardi Center, which works with people with disabilities, notes that deteriorating vision and motor skills can make app use difficult.

“The aging process can gradually transform once simple digital tasks into daunting obstacles, contributing to feelings of frustration, isolation, and exclusion among older adults,” Viscardi’s CIO Michael Caprara writes. “For many seniors, the inability to access digital platforms means being left behind in an increasingly interconnected world.” App CAPTCHAs (the anti-bot security feature that makes you transcribe distorted letters or identify traffic lights in an image), as just one example, can be a nightmare for anyone with vision issues .

That frustrated demographic will be left to customer service lines that are increasingly staffed by unhelpful robots . And we’re all stuck with this app-based reality, as their creators have no incentive to change. Still, I recently purged many of the travel apps that have been forced on me, and now I feel saner whenever I look at my decluttered phone. United and Hilton may one day make me use their apps again, but until then, they’ve been banished to the digital purgatory where they belong.

Americans seek out cooler destinations for July 4 travel as temperatures sizzle

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Blake Lively Shares Snaps from Her Stylish Italy Vacation: ‘When I Travel I Make Friends’

The actress posted photos of the restaurants and boutiques she visited during a trip to Capri

Gabrielle Rockson is a staff writer-reporter for PEOPLE. She joined PEOPLE in 2023 and covers entertainment and human interest stories. She's interviewed David Beckham, Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet and many others. Her previous work can be found in OK! Magazine, MyLondon, GRM Daily, and more.

Blake Lively/Instagram

Blake Lively is sharing the highlights of her travels in Italy.

On Sunday, June 30, the actress, 36, revealed that she loves to make friends during her vacations as she posted photos of the new people she met during her stay in Capri.

In the first snap shared on her Instagram Stories, Lively posed beside jeweler Carlo Eleuteri from the vintage jewelry boutique, Eleuteri.

“When I travel I make friends,” Lively wrote across the photo of her flashing a beaming smile. “Italy was no exception. Here are some of my favorites. Starting with Carlo of the iconic @eleuteri.”

She continued, “Anyone who knows me knows I’m a truffle pig for vintage treasures and delicious food.”

“While I didn’t nibble anyone at @eleuteri I can confirm they deliver on vintage treasures,” she added.

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The Gossip Girl alum then shared another snap of herself posing in an ice cream parlor with a new pal.

“Frabizo and family! We literally treated this gelateria as our nightclub,” her caption read as she played the Bee Gees song “Stayin’ Alive” over the top of photo.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now !

“Dancing and scooping daily,” she added while holding up a scoop and a cone filled with ice cream. “Gettin’ crazy on pistachio and salted caramel. As you do.”

Lively then tagged the Bar Grotta Azzurra Anacapri 1970’s Instagram handle “@bargrottazzurra.”

The It Ends with Us star continued her travel highlights with a photo of herself and friends at the restaurant Aurora.

“The wonderful Mia and her stunning daughter,” Lively wrote before thanking film director Paul Feig, who directed her in A Simple Favor , for introducing her to her “new favorite place, Capri and, the most delicious and spectacular time at @auroracapri.”

Lively then shared a solo shot of herself posing by a gate outdoors. Placing one hand in her pocket, she gushed about having a “fab meal” at Villa Margherita Capri.

“My Capri fashion got real specific and fab,” she wrote alongside a laughing face emoji.

“Get after those patterns girl,” she added while sharing another picture of her outfit and tagging Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Magnolia Pearl Clothing and Gucci.

Lively also gushed about Farella Capri making “the most spectacular handmade sweaters” and a patterned bag from Fiore . "It made give some major moody face," she wrote.

"Insanely beautiful patterns and colors that mix and match so beautifully. It's like joy, in thread form," she added of her sweater while tagging @farellacapriofficial.

Lively's trip to Italy comes after she and her husband Ryan Reynolds  watched their close friend Taylor Swift 's  Eras Tour  show in Madrid, Spain at the end of May, with the couple filmed sharing a smooch as Swift performed her track "Lover."

Related Articles

Instagram may be the best social app to get your flight issues fixed. Here's why.

• Instagram is an important tool for airlines and travelers these days.
• Flyers looking for customer service help on social media are more likely to be successful on Instagram.
• When a flight gets canceled or delayed for travelers, it’s often best to take the “throw everything at the wall” approach.

By now, it’s a pretty well-known “hack” to reach out to an airline on social media if you’re experiencing a disruption to your trip.

Most U.S. carriers have a robust social media presence and use the messaging feature to help with customer service requests. It can be a good way to avoid long hold times on the phone or extended waits to connect with an agent through the airline’s own app.

According to data from Emplify, a social media customer engagement platform, Instagram is an especially important tool for airlines and travelers these days.

Flyers looking for customer service help on social media are more likely to be successful on the ‘gram.

Representative please! You can still get airline customer service here | Cruising Altitude

Emplify’s data shows that 27% of customer questions get answered on Instagram, compared to 24% on X and 20% on Facebook.

Airlines also typically have the most positive interactions with their customers on Instagram. According to Emplify, Instagram interactions with airline brand accounts have been “overwhelmingly” positive for the last four years, while only 34% of comments were positive on Facebook and just 15% on X.

When a flight gets canceled or delayed for travelers, it’s often best to take the “throw everything at the wall” approach. Social media can be a great arrow in the quiver for getting customer service help, but it’s also a good idea to call or reach out on other platforms – or pursue in-person customer service. 

How long does a flight have to be delayed for compensation?

No U.S. airlines guarantee cash compensation in the event of delays, but JetBlue and Southwest both offer travel credits if a flight is delayed for more than three hours for reasons in their control. Those controllable reasons usually include things like mechanical or staffing issues but not weather or air traffic control disruptions.

The Department of Transportation has a dashboard that lists the commitments all airlines have made in the event of controllable delays, including rebooking assistance and hotel or meal vouchers.

American Airlines social media accounts

• X (formerly known as Twitter)

Delta Air Lines social media accounts

United airlines social media accounts, southwest airlines social media accounts.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected].

The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .

These Two-In-One Convertible Bags Are a Travel Necessity

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

When it comes to picking the perfect travel bag , versatility is key. With that in mind, it’s well worth investing in one—or more—of the best convertible bags. As you can likely tell by the name, these innovative accessories can be worn at least two ways—and in some cases, three or four. Some examples of great options for travelers include a tote that transforms into a backpack to help more evenly distribute weight (and avoid an achy shoulder in the event of overpacking), a purse that turns into a clutch to take you from day to night, and a shoulder bag that can also be worn crossbody . When you've only got a carry-on suitcase to work with, having bags that serve multiple functions can help trim down your packing list.

When selecting this edit of the best multi-purpose bags, I looked for ones designed with durability and functionality in mind, be it in the form of several pockets, a waterproof exterior, sturdy straps, and so on. Keep reading to discover 16 excellent convertible backpacks, purses, and weekenders from Traveler -approved brands like July, MZ Wallace, and Béis, broken down by category.

The best for travel days

The best for parents, the best for day to night, the best for commuting.

This endlessly versatile bag from Tumi can be carried as a backpack (the padded adjustable straps provide plenty of support) or a tote bag, making it especially convenient for sightseeing. It also has a removable leather top handle, two front zip pockets, and a dedicated pocket for your smartphone.

I took the older version of this belt bag-slash-fanny pack everywhere on my two-week Hawaii honeymoon. The updated version, available in 15 colors and patterns, is just as impressive with its water-repellent construction, extendable strap, and an exterior zippered compartment with interior pockets for small but necessary items like keys, credit cards, and lip balm. Wear it around your waist, across your chest, or on your shoulder.

This convertible bag—which features a fully removable bottom compartment that doubles as a packing cube —works exceptionally well as a weekender and an everyday bag. The removable padded laptop sleeve is just the icing on the cake.

Few travel bags are as innovative as this tiny-but-mighty crossbody option. When emptied and not in use, it can be easily stored away or conveniently carried in hand (or via wrist) using the attached strap.

Ideal for on-the-go families, this diaper bag easily converts from a backpack to a shoulder bag. It has plenty of pockets to help you stay organized and an insulated pouch for snacks or bottles.

This workhorse of a bag—which can be worn as a traditional backpack or shoulder bag thanks to its long strap—is equipped with dedicated spots for all your (and your kids’) essentials, including diapers, wipes, bottles, toys, and more. Its waterproof nylon construction is a bonus.

This chic quilted backpack is unique in that it doubles (er, triples) as a crossbody or shoulder bag. The 18 pockets(!) ensure you stay organized while on the go, while the built-in luggage sleeve allows for hands-free carrying—a must when trekking through an airport with little ones in tow.

As you can guess by its name, Calpak's convertible stroller caddy crossbody seamlessly converts from a crossbody bag to a stroller caddy (and vice-versa). Don’t be fooled by its small size: The bag features two insulated bottle pockets plus expandable sides for extra storage.

Designed to be carried everywhere, this miniature hardshell case from Traveler -approved suitcase brand July stands out for its detachable strap (which converts it into a clutch) and durability.

Read a full review here .

Made from 100 percent Italian leather, this timeless accessory can be worn as a shoulder bag or crossbody simply by adjusting the strap length. Its internal double compartments, center zippered divider, and back slip pocket are equally impressive.

This sleek leather bag is named for how the buckled tabs embrace its size—adorable, I know—and it’s just as functional as it is cute. The adjustable shoulder strap can be removed, allowing you to carry it as a clutch for a formal event.

Behold, your new summer wardrobe staple : the Staud Bean Convertible Leather clutch. Thanks to its clever convertible and removable strap, the purse can be worn as a clutch, shoulder bag, or wristlet.

The aptly named Transform Tote from Pond Los Angeles is a favorite of associate commerce editor Meaghan Kenny , who describes it as “the most functional tote I've ever used” thanks to its roomy interior, sleek design, and water-resistant construction. Plus, it can be worn not two, not three, but four ways: as a shoulder bag, a crossbody bag (thanks to its longer adjustable strap), a backpack, or on top of your carry-on courtesy of the built-in trolley sleeve.

This office-appropriate backpack will garner some compliments thanks to its structured silhouette and textured leather construction. The padded laptop compartment and multiple storage pockets add an extra-functional touch. Simply pull and extend the back strap to wear it as a crossbody or over the shoulder.

Whether worn as a backpack or carried as a briefcase, this convertible Timbuk2 bag was designed with savvy professionals—looking at you, business travelers —in mind. The luggage sleeve, which allows for hands-free carrying, is a bonus.

During the workweek, carry this Mark & Graham bag as a traditional work tote and stash your tablet inside the matching laptop sleeve. Come the weekend, switch things up by wearing it as a shoulder bag (there are built-in double shoulder straps) or a crossbody bag (I love the style of the attachable twill crossbody strap). Best of all, it can be monogrammed with your initials.

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Traveller shares little-known trick to find out how full your next flight is

This is perfect if you're not a fan of having a seat neighbour.

Rhiannon Ingle

We're finally in July and I'm sure many us can't wait to stock up on SPF, pack our suitcase and jet off to somewhere hotter for our summer holidays.

However, it's sadly a fact of life that you need to go through the absolute chaos of the airport and the plane ride in order to do so.

So, to help ease the process, one traveller has shared her little-known trick to find out how full your next flight is.

The online check-in usually opens 24 hours before the flight's departure time.

Many airlines offer add-ons including buying a specific seat and it is here where you'll be able to see just how many open seats are available the day before your flight.

All you have to do is simply take a look at the seat map during the check-in process to see if you'll end up having a seat or row neighbour next to you or not.

The woman shared that you can also always just contact the airline's customer service to see if they can share with you just how full the flight is.

What's the point of knowing, you may ask?

Well, in some countries, you may be allowed to switch to a new flight free of charge if your current one is looking a tad too chock-a-block.

In the UK , however, this is far less common so be sure to check with your specific airline ahead of time!

In other travel news, it's clear that those who suffer from flight anxiety and prefer to know all they can about planes before they take the plunge and soar the skies at 30,000 feet.

So, it makes sense that such people are eager to know which seats are statistically the safest to plonk yourself down in.

The general long-held belief is that the back of a place is the safest place to sit.

An aviation safety researcher at the University of North Dakota, Daniel Kwasi Adjekum, explained a little more about the fundamental physics all planes seemingly adhere to.

Adjekum explains: "The front section, obviously, is comfortable because it's away from the engine and the noise.

However, the expert notes: "That's normally the first point of impact. And so it’s a high vulnerability area."

And if you're needing some cold-hard stats to back it up, Time magazine once analysed 35 years of crash data in a 2015 study and also found that the safest place to sit on a plane is in the back.

According to the study, those sitting in the back of a plane had a 32 percent fatality rate while the middle rear was 28 percent, the middle was 39 percent and the front was 38 percent.

"The rear section often will break off," Adjekum adds. "Lots of that kinetic energy goes with the front of the aircraft and leaves the back intact."

Topics:  Advice , Travel , Life , Hacks , Life Hacks , Plane Etiquette

Rhiannon Ingle is a Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from the University of Manchester in 2021 in English Literature. Alongside her studies, she was the Lifestyle Editor of The Mancunian, the largest student newspaper in the United Kingdom. Her favourite topics to write about include sex and relationships, bizarre lifestyle trends and all things travel.

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