For all the joy that travel can bring, sitting in a cramped economy seat for hours on end isn’t something to look forward to. Tight quarters can inhibit circulation, leaving passengers feeling uncomfortably achy at the end of a long journey. To prevent these aches and pains, some people get up mid-flight and walk around the aisle, while others splurge for business class so they can spread out and relax. But those solutions aren’t necessarily convenient or affordable — here’s a clever one that is.

An Ace of a Solution

Feeling achy during or after a flight is often the result of poor circulation that comes with sitting in a confined space without much room to move. Impeded blood flow can also cause swelling, which can lead to deep vein thrombosis. Potential solutions to this issue include everything from compression socks to loose-fitting clothing, staying hydrated, and walking up and down the aisle to improve circulation. But there’s one other, often overlooked strategy to consider: packing a tennis ball in your carry-on and using it to give yourself an acupressure massage.

Tennis balls are not only permitted under TSA regulations but also take up very little space in your carry-on. Think of the ball as a personal masseuse sitting right next to you — only one that’s small, circular, and lime green. You can use the ball to provide acupressure to certain areas on the body, which can help stimulate blood flow, keep the muscles loose, and prevent potential stiffness or swelling. (Just be careful to keep your movements confined within your own personal space so as not to disturb your neighbor or anyone else on the aircraft.)

One technique is to place a tennis ball between your back and the seat, and then roll it up and down the muscles along your spine or around your shoulders. These areas can really stiffen up if you find yourself sitting for a long time, and a tennis ball can help relieve some of that tension. Alternatively, kick off your shoes and roll the tennis ball under the arch of each foot — loosening up the arches will help to loosen up your legs in general.

Personal trainer Laura Coleman offered a recommendation of her own on Instagram. Bring not one, but two tennis balls with you, stuff them in a sock, and place the sock between your back and the seat above the hips and below the shoulders. During the flight, press into the tennis balls in order to break up the muscles in your back and provide a bit of relief.

While this tip is perfect for the tight confines of an aircraft, it’s also worth considering when taking a long journey aboard Amtrak or riding as a passenger on a cross-country road trip. Even though you don’t have to worry about TSA checking your luggage in either case, you may find it’s worth having a tennis ball on hand, given how little space it takes up in your bag. 

Other Stretches To Help You Stay Loose

Whether or not you bring a tennis ball with you in your carry-on, there are other recommended stretches to help improve circulation on long-haul flights. For the lower body, try:

• Ankle circles: Lift each ankle off the ground one at a time. While raised, turn your ankle clockwise, then counterclockwise, and repeat as needed.
• Knee lifts: Raise your knee upward and slowly place it back on the ground, alternating between each leg. This helps activate muscles in the upper leg toward the hip.
• Calf raises: Remain seated and lift your heels off the ground as high as possible, hold, and then lower them back down. Repeat several times to encourage better blood flow.
• Figure-four seated stretch: While seated, cross one foot over the other knee and lean forward for several seconds. You should feel tension in your upper thighs. Alternate legs and repeat as necessary. (However, be careful to avoid crossing your legs when simply sitting still, as doing so can impede blood flow.)

For the upper body and spine, here are several helpful stretches:

• Neck rolls: Begin by relaxing the shoulders. Then, lean your head down toward either side and slowly roll your neck from shoulder to shoulder, repeating several times.
• Shoulder rolls: Keep your neck steady and rotate your shoulders in circular motions. Begin by rotating them clockwise, then switch directions and turn counterclockwise.
• Arm stretches: Bring each arm across your body (one at a time) and hold it to your chest with the other arm for 10 to 15 seconds before releasing. 
• Spinal twists: Remain seated with both feet flat on the floor, and place one arm onto an armrest. Twist your back toward the direction of the armrest, hold for several seconds before releasing, and repeat by twisting the other direction.

In addition to these stretches, it’s advisable to stand up and walk around the aisle every hour or two in order to keep the blood flowing. Remember to always be cognizant of others on the aircraft — you may find that some of these stretches are easier to complete in the airport before your flight or after you get to your hotel.

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With more people flying through U.S. airports than ever before, it’s not unusual for more than 3 million travelers to pass through TSA checkpoints on the busiest travel days. This inevitably leads to long lines at airport security, but fortunately, many airports are investing in potential solutions to ease congestion. Soon, one U.S. airport plans to test a first-of-its-kind pilot program in which travelers will be screened off-site before being securely shuttled to the terminal. Here are all the details.

Logan Airport’s Remote Terminal Pilot

In 2024, Boston Logan International Airport handled a record 43 million passengers. While this is an impressive accomplishment, it meant that the airport was more congested than ever before, which led to longer lines at security checkpoints. In an effort to alleviate the problem, Logan plans to test out a new remote terminal pilot program. Peter Howe of the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) shared with CBS News that the goal is “reducing the stress of getting to the airport and through security.”

Instead of heading directly to the airport, passengers who choose to use this service will begin their journey at a remote TSA screening facility in Framingham, located about 22 miles west of Logan Airport. The facility will be built in a parking lot along Flutie Pass on the Massachusetts Turnpike, and travelers will need to reserve tickets in advance.

Upon arrival, passengers will check their bags and undergo TSA screening with their carry-on luggage, then board an hourly bus with roughly 15 to 30 other passengers. Carry-ons will be allowed aboard the bus, but all checked bags will be stored under the bus in a separate, secure location. The bus will then drop off travelers airside at either Terminal A or Terminal C — bypassing those long checkpoints and allowing folks to head straight to their gate.

Why Framingham? Well, many frequent flyers are already familiar with the area because Framingham serves as a departure point for the Logan Express, a popular airport shuttle bus service. While those who take the existing bus service still have to undergo security checks upon arrival, this new program will get those checks out of the way early, while still utilizing the same bus route that many travelers are familiar with.

When Will It Start?

Massport aims to implement this pilot program in summer 2026 once the agency receives TSA approval. One of the chief roadblocks in implementing the pilot program is the concern that prescreened bags could be tampered with during the journey from Framingham to Logan Airport, which can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours, depending on traffic. Massport’s Peter Howe told WBUR that they are working with the TSA to “make sure that everything follows the correct standards and regulations.”

Buses will run once per hour for four or five hours each morning, though the service could be increased based on demand. If successful, Massport officials expect to expand the program to other areas such as Woburn and Braintree. 

As for the cost, Massport CEO Rich Davey shared with WBUR that the price of the service (bus included) will be the same as a ticket on the Logan Express, which currently costs $9 to book online.

Similar Programs

While Boston Logan’s pilot program is the first of its kind, it takes inspiration from an existing program run by American Airlines: the Landline bus service. This shuttle bus connects Chicago’s O’Hare Airport and Philadelphia International Airport with smaller regional airports nearby.

Landline connects O’Hare to Chicago Rockford International Airport and South Bend International Airport. In Philly, travelers can take a Landline bus to or from Lehigh Valley, Wilkes-Barre Scranton, Atlantic City, Trenton-Mercer, or Wilmington. Rather than pass through security at both airports, passengers need to do it only once before boarding the bus.

However, this program is reserved for American Airlines passengers, whereas the Logan pilot program is meant for anyone flying on any airline out of Logan. Also, tickets aboard the Landline bus must be booked as part of your airline reservation, while bus tickets out of Framingham can be booked separately.

Have you ever gone on vacation in a new city and enjoyed it so much that you dream about living there full-time? Or maybe you’re just looking for a part-time getaway in a spot where the weather is always warmer than back home. Whatever the case may be, it’s important to do some research about local property taxes before making any big decisions. The property tax rate in some U.S. states may seem prohibitively high, but others are known for lower tax rates. Based on recent data compiled by the Tax Foundation — a nonprofit research group specializing in tax policy — here’s a look at the 11 U.S. states with the lowest effective property tax rates, as of 2025.

10. Colorado (tie)

Effective property tax rate: 0.50%

Colorado is tied with Delaware for the 10th-lowest effective property tax rate in the U.S. This makes cities such as Denver a particularly attractive place to own property. According to an analysis by the Colorado Sun, the property tax on a $550,000 house in Denver would be just $2,860 — far less than the $5,059 tax bill for an identically priced property in Atlanta, $6,379 in Los Angeles, or $14,243 in Portland, Oregon. 

On an individual county level, Colorado’s rates are lowest (0.21%) in Jackson County — a sparsely populated county of just over 1,200 people located in the north along the Wyoming border. Because of high home values, though, Coloradans still pay the 15th-highest total amount of property taxes per capita in the country, at $7,263 annually, according to additional data provided by the Tax Foundation.

10. Delaware (tie)

Effective property tax rate: 0.50%

Like Colorado, Delaware has a 0.50% effective statewide property tax rate. However, the exact rate you’ll pay varies depending on which of the state’s three counties you own property in. For instance, in New Castle County — home to major cities such as Wilmington and Newark — the tax rate hovers around 0.74%. In Kent County (home to the capital city of Dover), the rate drops to 0.46%, while in Sussex County it’s just 0.33%. 

Despite the low tax rates, Delawareans still pay the 13th-highest total amount of annual property taxes per capita in the country, at $7,693 per household. The Delaware Legislature passed a bill in August 2025 to help provide property tax relief to any locals facing increased tax bills in the wake of a recent statewide property reassessment. And fortunately, Delaware is one of only a handful of states not to charge a statewide sales tax.

8. Nevada (tie)

Effective property tax rate: 0.49%

Nevada is one of two states with a 0.49% effective property tax rate. While that is the average statewide, in terms of individual Nevadan counties, the tax rate is lowest (0.40%) in Storey County, which is located east of Reno and is home to just over 4,000 full-time residents. 

If you’re eyeing property in Las Vegas (located in Clark County), the property tax rates are slightly higher but still affordable. Despite the city’s association with glitz, glamour, and wealth, the property tax rate in Clark County is just 0.50%.

8. Tennessee (tie)

Effective property tax rate: 0.49%

While Tennessee’s effective property tax rate recently rose from 0.45% to 0.49%, it remains in a tie for the eighth-lowest rate in the country. Locals also pay an average of just $4,731 in annual property taxes per capita, which ranks second-lowest among U.S. states after Alabama. 

Tennessee’s property tax rates are their lowest (0.31%) in Cumberland County, a community of more than 65,000 residents located halfway between Knoxville and Nashville. Notably, there are ongoing efforts to ban state property taxes altogether in Tennessee, with a vote set to take place in 2026.

6. Idaho (tie)

Effective property tax rate: 0.48%

Idaho claims the sixth-lowest effective property tax rate in the U.S. in a tie with West Virginia. The lowest rate is just 0.29% in Clark County; however, very few Idahoans get to take advantage of such a low number, as there are fewer than 800 people who call the county their full-time home. When it comes to total taxes paid per capita each year, Idaho ranks the ninth-lowest among U.S. states, with a total of $5,173 per person.

6. West Virginia (tie)

Effective property tax rate: 0.48%

While West Virginia’s effective property tax rate is 0.48% statewide, those rates on a county level drop as low as 0.30% in Summers County, which is located toward the southern part of the state and includes the city of Hinton. But even at their peak, countywide property tax rates in the state of West Virginia remain quite low. The highest tax rate is 0.68% in Kanawha County, home to the state capital of Charleston. In total, West Virginians pay an estimated $5,335 annually in terms of property taxes per capita, which is the 16th-lowest statewide average in the country.

4. South Carolina (tie)

Effective property tax rate: 0.47%

South Carolina is another state where the average property tax rate comes out to 0.47%. South Carolinians also pay the seventh-lowest amount of total property taxes per capita, at just $5,052 annually. 

The lowest effective property tax rate (0.34%) among individual counties in South Carolina can be found in Horry County, which includes Myrtle Beach and is located along the Atlantic Coast. The rates jump a bit higher in places such as Allendale County, which levies a property tax rate of 0.88%.

4. Utah (tie)

Effective property tax rate: 0.47%

On a statewide basis, Utah is one of two states tied for having the fourth-lowest effective property tax rate in the country. However, rates creep up in places such as San Juan County (0.84%), which makes up the southeastern part of the state and includes parts of Canyonlands National Park. 

But generally, Utah’s property tax rates are quite low, especially in Rich County (despite what its name might suggest). Bordering both Idaho and Wyoming in northern Utah, Rich County has an effective property tax rate of 0.29%. Per capita, Utah residents pay around $6,277 in property taxes, which is right around the midpoint for all states.

3. Arizona

Effective property tax rate: 0.44%

While Arizonans pay an average property tax rate of 0.44%, the 9,500 residents of Greenlee County, which is located along the New Mexico border and contains parts of the Apache National Forest, are subject to a property tax rate of just 0.36%. The average homeowner in Arizona shells out around $5,232 in annual property taxes, which is the 11th-lowest such number in the United States.

2. Alabama

Effective property tax rate: 0.36%

Alabamans not only pay the second-lowest property tax rate in the nation, but also pay the lowest amount of property taxes per capita each year, at just $4,722. When you break it down by county, the property tax rate is lower than 0.30% in 18 of Alabama’s 67 counties, with the lowest total dipping below 0.20%. That rate can be found in Choctaw County, which borders the state of Mississippi and imposes a property tax rate of just 0.18%.

1. Hawaii

Effective property tax rate: 0.32%

Hawaii has the lowest property tax rate of any state. The most affordable rate on a county level is in Maui County, where residents pay just 0.17% on property taxes. But this rate can be deceiving — as noted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, property taxes are assessed based on total property value, which is extremely high across the board in the Aloha State. In fact, the average Hawaii resident spends $9,503 in annual property taxes, which is the fourth-highest amount in the country, after New York, California, and Connecticut.

Summary of States With the Lowest Property Taxes

Ah, the confusing world of TSA rules. Are we meant to remove our shoes or aren’t we, and do electronic devices stay in our luggage or go in the bin? The answer seems to change frequently and perhaps arbitrarily, but there are some airport security tips that never go out of style. Chief among them, according to a conversation-starting viral video, is to never put a certain item directly in the TSA bin. Find out more about this important travel tip below.

Ring, Ring

Travel vlogger Tiffany, who publishes under the name Travel.by.the.Books, recounted in a viral TikTok video an incident that occurred at a TSA checkpoint during a recent trip. After she placed her cellphone in the bin, the TSA agent on duty looked at her and said, “You don’t like your phone?” After Tiffany replied that she did indeed, the agent told her that putting it directly in the bin on its own is “the fastest way to get it stolen.”

It’s easy to see why: Depending on how many people are going through security at the same time as you, there’s no telling whether you’ll make it through before your bag is scanned. If you don’t, there’s nothing stopping a quick-fingered traveler on the other side from swiping a loose phone and bringing it along to their final destination while you’re stuck frantically looking for it. 

“The number-one thing [TSA agents] see stolen on a regular basis is phones,” Tiffany claims. “They’re left out and available, the lines get backed up, and people don’t notice until it’s too late.”

A Simple Solution

To avoid sending your phone on a different flight, simply put it inside your bag before your luggage goes through the scanner — and be sure to zip it up. The odds of theft are considerably lower when the would-be thief in question has to unzip other travelers’ bags in the hopes of finding a phone to plunder, especially with so many other people — including and especially TSA agents — around. Putting away your phone gives you one less thing to worry about. 

Even if your device isn’t stolen, you may accidentally leave it behind. You won’t be alone: The TSA estimates that 90,000 to 100,000 items are left behind at security checkpoints each year. If you notice your device is missing, you have 30 days to make a claim with the TSA by visiting the TSA’s Lost and Found section of its website.

And now, there’s one less thing for travelers to worry about with security screening: taking off their shoes. In July 2025, the TSA amended this long-standing rule, first introduced in 2006, citing new security technology. The agency hopes that the move — along with several others like the addition of dedicated family lines and new eGates — will speed up security processing times. Just be sure to do your part and avoid these seven common mistakes travelers make at the TSA checkpoint. 

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