Everyone loves the idea of travelling. But, not everyone is in love with the concept of booking expensive flights, losing your week’s worth of luggage and being denied accommodation at a foreign country you’re not familiar with. How do you save money and still get to enjoy your travel experience? These travel hacks from professional travelers got your back:
1. Clear your browser’s cookies
Booking websites usually store your browser’s cookies so they know how many times you’ve looked for a hotel or flight deal. Since they want you to book quickly, they show you higher prices for you to take the bait. Prevent this from happening: clear your cookies and use an incognito browser window.
2. Track your airfare
Websites such as Yapta and Skyscanner allow you to monitor your airfares and give you alerts every time it changes. Just give them your email address and strike while the iron is hot! If the airfare seems cheap enough for you, book it already. You may not have the second chance in the future.
3. Fly Red-Eye
Don’t want airport hassles? Choose red-eye (overnight) flights so you avoid rush hour, long lines and grumpy personnel. You can always sleep on the plane and wake up energized when you arrive at your dream destination.
4. Pack your luggage “Russian Nesting Doll” style
One of the famous travel hacks is to fold your clothes. Why don’t you take it one step further? Rolled up socks and underwear go inside your shoes. Rolled up shirts can safely store your digital camera or sunglasses. Put the items you’ll frequently need (liquids and items you’ll use mid-flight) at the very top.
5. Wear your extra luggage
Wear the bulky items that you will need but you don’t want to pack – a jacket, a pair of boots, a hoodie or your gym clothes! If you’re really extreme about it, you can also try Jaktogo so you can wear your luggage literally.
6. Make your luggage stand out – in a good way
Consistently checking every luggage that moves is not easy so you want your own luggage to be noticeable at first sight. Don’t use ribbons or bows because these can get stuck. Instead, put colorful and bright stickers on your luggage.
7. Choose your security line
Don’t line up behind senior citizens and children as they tend to take the most time in getting through security. Instead, look for people in business suits; they tend to move more efficiently as compared to others.
8. Go through priority lines anyway
If you see that the line is excruciatingly slow, go to the empty line for priority/first-class passengers. You can actually ask them if you can just go through, or if you want, you can always pass by and they’ll wave you in. More often than not, you won’t even need to flash your frequent flyer card anyway.
9. Request shopping bags from airport gift shops
Ask for a big shopping bag and put all your remaining stuff there. Because everyone will assume that you just bought this from the airport’s gift shop, you won’t get charged for an extra carry-on baggage. If it’s not free, consider buying it. A shopping bag price is still cheaper than an overweight fee.
10. Bring an empty water bottle with you
Pass through security by making sure your bottle’s empty. Once you’re in the holding area, fill it up at the tap or water fountain and smile. Now you don’t need to shell out to pricey airport stores just so you can quench your thirst! If you’re extra cautious, you can bring an empty water bottle with a built-in filter.
11. Roll back your computer’s clock
Only given one hour to enjoy the free WiFi? Before the one hour is up, roll back your computer’s or smartphone’s clock. This way, you get more Internet time.
12. Consider house-sitting
You can technically live rent-free if you do house-sitting. Join a house-sitting membership sites like TrustedHousesitters.com, sign up for notifications and reply quickly to any messages. Also, make sure to have a written agreement with the homeowner so that you know what and what not to do while living in their house.
13. Join free local guides
You can check out the Global Greeter Network for free local guides. You get free tours, new friends and perhaps even free meals, if your “greeter” is generous enough!
14. Make one meal the highlight of your day
Don’t splurge for every meal – you’ll spend more money faster if you do this. Instead, use one meal and make it the highlight every day. For example, for breakfast, stick with cheese and bread, yogurt or affordable fruits that you can buy in your nearest supermarket. Then for lunch, look for scrumptious yet cheap lunch set deals. For dinner, you can either eat street food or even make do with the food that you took home with you. You don’t need to eat like a king every time to enjoy your travel.
15. Have your USB stick with you
One of the most-ignored travel hacks is about safety: in an encrypted USB stick, include your ID pictures, bank/insurance company phone numbers, insurance policy, credit card statements and passport photos. This way, if you ever get robbed, you can immediately get back on your feet and take action.
Which of these travel hacks are you familiar with? Share in the comments below and let’s talk!
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