Whether you’re planning a trip soon, or won’t be traveling for a little while, it’s always a good idea to find ways to save money and time and keep things easy and simple. Well, you’re in the best possible place: in our guide below, we give you the lowdown on how to pack, fly, save money, and have a great time on your next holiday. Are you ready for your best vacation yet?
The Travel Hacks That Can Ensure a Successful Trip
1. Try Private Browsing To Find Cheapest Flights
We’ve all been there. One day, you’re looking at flights to your vacation destination, and the next day those same flights cost almost twice as much, especially on international trips. Surely, you’re not just imagining it?
The good news is no, you’re not hallucinating. The bad news? Flight prices do skyrocket based on the cookies in your browser, regardless of whether they are part of national or international travel routes.
It’s a well-known sales tactic: your browser notices that you are interested in a specific route, and it communicates it to the website you are visiting. Then, the website reacts by bumping up the prices to rush you to book those tickets ASAP.
But we have some more good news for you: you can avoid all this by simply searching for flights in your browser’s private mode. This will enable you to always see the lowest — and most genuine — prices.
2. Roll Your Clothes To Save Packing Space
Another common woe that even the most seasoned traveler often must deal with is packing. Regardless of where you’re going and how long you’re staying, the chances are that you want to travel as light and comfortable as possible.
The answer? Packing smart. It’s actually much easier than you think: instead of spending hours neatly folding your clothes, roll them up. This will save you a ton of space as well as ensure that your clothes are not creased when you unpack them.
3. Perform Currency Exchanges at ATMs or Cash Machines
We’ve all done that — forgot to exchange foreign currency before we set off on our trip, and ended up having to do that at the airport or, even worse, at our destination. The result? Last-minute stress and crazy inconvenient exchange rates and travel expenses that we could have definitely done without.
So, next time you book a vacation abroad, make sure you set an alert on your phone to remind you that you need to exchange some money. The best place to do so is an ATM or a cash machine, as these usually keep their rates lower than places like airports.
4. Check Your Credit Card for Unredeemed Travel Points
Most frequent travelers are familiar with this next hack. Do you have a credit card? Check if it comes with membership points for travelers. If it does, have a look at whether you have any unredeemed points, and use them toward your next journey.
Cards like American Express, Citi, and Chase even combine flexible points with other bonuses for both you and a travel companion, which often means you can get free flights AND hotels. Now, that’s another alert that you should definitely set on your phone, right?
5. Purchase a Ticket Bundle To Save on Multiple Attractions
Another smart way to save money while traveling is to buy ticket bundles. You can do this online through travel sites or once you reach your vacation destination. Ticket bundles are awesome tools that allow you to get access to several different attractions — including museums, festivals, and art galleries — at a discounted price.
You'll save money and time and spare yourself the hassle associated with having to purchase multiple, separate tickets for all the attractions that you are planning to see. A definite win-win.
6. Invest in a Public Transport Pass or Travel Card
Are you visiting a big city and have no intention of renting a car when there? Buying a public transport pass or travel card is the way to go. Most of these cards get you unlimited access to local services, which often include more than one type of transport — think bus, train, and metro, for example.
But there’s more. The majority of these passes also include free or discounted access to some of the coolest tourist venues and attractions in the town you’re visiting, as well as lower fees on airport transfer coaches and sightseeing buses.
7. Mark Your Luggage as "Fragile"
We bet you haven’t done this before, which is why we had to include this trick in our list. Have you ever thought about marking your luggage as “FRAGILE”? It doesn’t matter if nothing inside it is actually fragile — what matters is that your bags will be looked after with a lot more care if they are marked as such.
Another plus: any bags with the “FRAGILE” sticker are sent out first when they reach their destination, and that can reduce travel times. The bottom line? More peace of mind that your belongings have been kept safe, and a lot less time waiting for them at arrivals.
To get your sticker, just ask for it at departures — you won’t even have to pay for it!
Travel for Less When You Buy a Ticket Bundle
We all want to save some cash whenever we can, and this is particularly true when we jet off on a long-awaited holiday. No matter what your destination is or how long you're going to be there, there's a lot you can do to save yourself money, time, and stress when traveling.
We hope you found our travel hacks helpful! Here’s one last tip: If you plan on visiting attractions on your trip, check to see if there’s a CityPASS® ticket package for your destination. CityPASS® tickets offer discounts on admission to the top attractions in many North American cities, plus discounted theme park tickets in Southern California and Orlando. It’s a great way to keep costs down while you have a blast on your vacation!