I recently read an article on Travel Hacks. While I am not really sure I understand how hacks can be good, I did find some things I wanted to share with you all. Some were awesome and relevant and others….not so much. I made a list of what I deemed to be useful. So whether you travel a occasionally or all the time, here is my choice for travel tips you will love!
Typically if you are flying domestically Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday are the least busy days to travel. To get more people to fly on those days the airlines will offer slightly lower fares. Internationally Monday – Thursday travel is typically a tad less expensive than traveling Friday – Sunday. In additon, the further out you book your tickets, like 50+ days, there could also be lower airfares. And lastly, if you can take a connecting flight over nonstop, you may find extra savings there as well. But beware of the ‘super low airfare deals’ that the 3 big carriers offer. Those are bare bones and you get no perks, no seat assignments, no bonus miles and no upgrades!
Not traveling alone? If there are 2 of you flying together, book the aisle and window seat and if it is not a full flight, there is a good chance the middle seat will remain open, giving you more space. Again, the further out you purchase your airline ticket, the better choices of seat selection you will have. If you have status with any carrier you frequently fly, you have a good chance of even scoring preferred seating for free.
That brings up a general good rule of thumb to follow. Frequent travelers know that you will gain extras by using the same airlines, staying in the same hotel chains and using the same rental car companies. Get a membership with the airline and start earning miles. Have a frequent rental car membership? Add your airline frequent flyer number into your profile preferences and earn airline miles there as well. Same with the hotel frequent guest memberships. Hilton Honors for instance lets you ‘double dip’ by earning both hotels points and miles. Win win!
Before heading out to the airport, there are a few packing tips that make a lot of sense. The free shower caps you get in hotel rooms make great covers for your shoes to keep dirt off your clothing. One thing I have learned to do, and highly recommend, is to roll your clothes when packing. They will take up less room. Roll them around delicate items like razors, toothbrushes and hairbrushes for protection. Throw in a fresh dryer sheet so your clothes will be wrinkle free and smell great! Also, make sure you download a map of your destination on your cell phone. Google maps will work without mobile data and it will be very helpful to have some idea of where you are going.
Try to get in a couple of good nights sleep before you travel. This helps with the jetlag. To avoid getting sick try using a saline nasal spray before and during your flight. To stay hydrated while in the air, bring your own empty water bottle to the airport and fill it will good water before boarding. Don’t ask for water during the flight as you never know if it is filtered water or tap water that has been through not so clean pipes in the aircraft.
If you always have carry on luggage, trying using a duffle bag or backpack instead of a rolling bag. Rolling bags will be the first to get gate checked. Also, they don’t fit under the seat in front of you very easily. As a side note, if you forget your phone charger, get a USB cable that fits your phone and look for a USB connection in your hotel room. Most hotels have upgraded their TV’s to flat screens and there is a USB connection on the back. Nice tip!
Okay, your finally at the airport. Yay! Don’t let going through the security check lines stress you out. If at all possible, try to get in a lane that looks like experienced travelers or business travelers are going through. That way you won’t end up behind someone that can’t see to get their shoes off. Better yet, sign up for TSA Pre-Check and you can avoid the newbies most of the time. Click this information link if you want more information on Pre-Check.
If you plan on getting a rental car, understand that you don’t have to take the high cost rental insurance the car company will offer. You only need to take the basic, bare minimum to cover yourself. A lot of credit card companies include some kind of rental car coverage as well, so it would be a great idea to double check with your card company before traveling.
Okay, you have reached your destination and you’re ready to explore. Oh boy! To save on using your mobile data, try using free wi-fi in cafes or coffee shops. If you are on a cruise, just follow the crew. They usually head to the spots that offer free wi-fi. Be careful though, it won’t be a secure connection. Don’t do any banking or important personal stuff. I have Norton Security on my cell phone, but it still makes me a bit nervous. Just be cautious and you should be fine. Here are a few Wi-Fi Finder Apps you may want to check out.
Good to knows for cruise lovers, and most probably realize this already, loyalty to one cruise line gets you lots of goodies. Most cruise lines give you minimum status with the first cruise. The more times you cruise with the same cruise line, the higher the category of cabin you book and the longer length of the cruise you take all helps you earn status to the next tier faster. What do you get for higher tier status? Free wi-fi, free gratuities, free shore excursions, cocktail parties and even up to a free cruise! Win win!
So there you have it. Some great travel tips that I hope you love! Traveling can and should be fun ~ you’re on vacation! Time to chill, relax and experience. Take these tips to help make your time away better. We are ready to help you with your next vacation. Click the button to contact us and get started today!
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