Today's NYT Strands is live for Sunday, June 21, 2026 (Puzzle #840). Stuck on today's Strands? We've got progressive hints, from gentle nudges to full solutions, so you can solve at your own pace.
How Strands Works (New Players Start Here)
Strands hides themed words inside a 6x8 letter grid. Your mission: find every word connected to the day's theme. Letters link in any direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) and words can twist and turn. Every letter gets used exactly once.
The spangram is the key word or phrase that captures the theme and stretches across the entire board, touching opposite edges.
Need a boost? Find any 4+ letter word (even non-theme words) three times, and the game reveals a hint highlighting theme word letters.
Theme Decoder
Today's Theme Prompt: "That's included!"
What It Really Means
Every word in this puzzle is something you'd find included as part of a hotel stay. Think beyond the room itself -- amenities, services, and perks that come with the booking.
Think About...
- Items you'd find inside a hotel room or on the property
- Services hotels advertise as complimentary or available
- Features that make a hotel stay more convenient
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Snake pattern (down, across, then up and across)
Letter Count: 14 letters
Starting Zone: Begins near the first letter of the third row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): Think of the umbrella term for everything a hotel provides to make your stay comfortable.
Hint 2 (Warmer): This word combines the place you sleep with the services and extras that come with it.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is H, last letter is S
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HOTELAMENITIES
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A secure place to store valuables during your stay.
Closer: You'll find this lockable box in the closet or inside a drawer.
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 4 letters total
Answer
SAFE
Word 2
Vague: A connection most hotels now offer as a standard amenity.
Closer: You use this to browse the web, stream shows, or check email from your room.
Letter Clue: Starts with I, 8 letters total
Answer
INTERNET
Word 3
Vague: The morning meal many hotels include in the room rate.
Closer: Often served in a lobby area or a dedicated dining room, this is a complimentary start to your day.
Letter Clue: Starts with B, 9 letters total
Answer
BREAKFAST
Word 4
Vague: A service for keeping your clothes clean during an extended stay.
Closer: Hotels offer this as a same-day or next-day service, often with a bag and price list in the closet.
Letter Clue: Starts with L, 7 letters total
Answer
LAUNDRY
Word 5
Vague: An appliance in the room for keeping drinks and snacks cold.
Closer: Usually stocked with mini bottles and snacks, this is a compact version of a kitchen essential.
Letter Clue: Starts with F, 6 letters total
Answer
FRIDGE
Full Answers
Spangram: HOTELAMENITIES
Theme Words:
- SAFE
- INTERNET
- BREAKFAST
- LAUNDRY
- FRIDGE
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: SAFE (The shortest word on the board and easy to overlook, especially since it can read as a common adjective rather than a hotel feature.)
Our Take: A clean, satisfying theme that covers the essentials of a hotel stay without being overly obscure. The spangram HOTELAMENITIES does the heavy lifting of setting context, and the word list rewards players who think about what actually comes with the room. Nothing too punishing, but SAFE and FRIDGE can blend into the grid if you are not looking closely.
