Traveling is one of the most therapeutic experiences for the mind, body, and soul. Whether you’re a road trip person or someone who’s all about catching flights instead of feelings, there’s a high chance that your travel experience will shape who you are as a person and how you perceive life. For me personally, traveling is an opportunity for me to think outside the box, unleash my true potential, learn about different cultures, spend some time with myself, and truly appreciate everything life has to offer.
A major element of ensuring an exceptional travel experience is what you do to plan your trip and how seamlessly you navigate through it. Nobody looks forward to being late for their flight or paying extra for exceeding their baggage limit last minute. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to pay close attention to travel hacks that may save you time, money, and trouble on your next trip. Despite the availability of so many guides on traveling for tourists and vacationers, there are some hacks barely anyone talks about.
Fortunately, my travels have taught me substantial lessons that I’m going to use for the rest of my life. If you’ve landed on my page right before planning for your next local or international trip, make sure you try some of the following traveling hacks that I’ve penned down for you.
Book Your Flights a Month Before
Airfares are tricky to navigate and track. One thing that I find the most annoying about air travel is that a flight could cost you $400 or more even if it was half the price a few days before. I was always confused at the idea of airfares increasing by the minute until I took matters into my own hands and tried to learn about this strange pattern.
According to my research, airfares are relatively low and affordable a month or so before the flight date. However, as the date gets closer, the prices begin skyrocketing incredibly fast. The best way to avoid spending so much on your flight tickets is by always booking your flights beforehand.
Reserving your favorite seat a month before will get you a good air travel deal for you and your family, allowing you to save money for other travel aspects like on-ground transportation, car rentals from the airport, and more. You can also use the online flight booking tool to track flight timings and their prices and plan the dates of your departure and arrivals accordingly. This requires efficient research, vigilance, and the ability to make steadfast decisions.
Always Make the Best Use of the Points System for Big Discounts
While we all learned the ins and outs of traveling through the internet, I still don’t understand why nobody told us about the magical points system and how it works for frequent travelers. Let me tell you a little secret. Airline companies, travel agencies, and international hotels have a wide range of reward programs that allow travelers to reduce substantial amounts of travel costs. In fact, if you understand these programs right, you may even get to travel for free.
Start by looking up some online resources and videos that help travelers easily collect the rewards they need to game big discounts. The guidance you receive from these platforms will play a significant role in helping you strategize the best way to gather points for hotels, restaurants, airlines, and more.
Multiple independent reward programs frequently help people travel at affordable rates by helping them find the most suitable challenges. All you need to do is enter your travel dates and location to see what they have available for you.
This is such an excellent opportunity for people who like to take family vacations now and then but can’t do so due to the lack of affordability and financial resources.
Pack like a Pro With Buildable Outfits
I’m a big hoarder, so I always find it hard to pack when I’m about to travel. It’s because I always end up overpacking and keeping everything I have, even when I know I won’t be using much of those items. However, what I’ve learned from my travel experience is that you don’t really need that many clothes, even if you’re out and about for a week or two. Some basics can significantly help you plan buildable yet classy and statement-making outfits.
This tip is especially for girls who always struggle to pack for their trips. All you need is a pair of your favorite jeans, some shorts, a couple of bathing suits, a jacket, and some basic T-shirts that you can mix and match with other items to create multiple outfits. Furthermore, this will ultimately save you the baggage space for the items you might buy when exploring new destinations.
Buildable outfits aren’t only easier to manage and pack and look stunning if you style them correctly without layering them up extensively. I remember when I went to the smoky mountains in Tennessee, I got some of the most Instagrammable pictures with breathtaking views in my black cargo pants and graphic T-shirts. Smart casual is always the way to go when you want to look effortlessly stylish on your vacation.
Download Movies and Shows to Prepare for Delays
The world would be a better place if flights started taking off and landing at the designated time. However, that’s usually not the case with overbooked flights. Therefore, I always suggest my reader be prepared for long flight delays when planning for their trips.
This means you should keep the toiletries you’ll need during the waiting hours, snacks to keep you well-fed, a playlist that you can always count on, and a bunch of movies, shows, and documentaries to stay entertained during unexpected flight delays. This is especially for those who travel without company. I’ll always remember how I started a Twilight marathon at the airport during a 5-hour delay before my LA flight. I promise you that time flies when you’re watching your favorite movies before or during a flight.
Always Make Space for Postcards
While most people use Instagram and Snapchat to keep their followers and loved ones updated with their whereabouts and travel memories, I’m a bit old school in this case. I’d rather collect souvenirs and make postcards from my favorite places to send to my friends and family members to help them enjoy the experience with me too.
Every destination in the world is worthy of a stamp on a postcard. You can choose to be as creative as you can when making one. Personally, I like taking polaroid photographs and using them as postcards for my mom and other relatives. This is an excellent way to rejoice in your trip and let everyone else know about your travel experience.
A significant portion of my postcard inspiration comes from Pinterest, so make sure you browse through it to see what matches your aesthetic.
Designate a Separate Storage Space for Passports and Identification Documents
My biggest fear when traveling abroad is losing my passport and documents that will help me enter or exit a country. This problem has the power to completely ruin your trip if you don’t take care of it beforehand. My advice to you would be to designate a separate space in your hand carry for your passport and identification documents.
Remember to keep these items in that space without losing them at any point. This will always give you peace of mind, knowing that your travel documents are in a safe place and you can always get them wherever you need clearance.
Make a List of Electronic Essentials to Pack
I always get a mini panic attack when I realize that I forgot my phone’s charger or power bank at home before hopping on a flight. This can be a costly problem, making you buy a separate set of electronic items as soon as you land at your travel destination. A good way to avoid this issue is by creating a list of all the electronic items you need and using it to pack them safely in your bag.
Save Your Itinerary on Your Phone
Manual itineraries have become significantly outdated today. Getting a piece of paper out to know your next step is too much trouble when you’re already handling so many things at once. A digital copy of your travel plans can help you access the details you need to determine your upcoming activities during your trip. All you need to do is save your itinerary on your smartphone, and you’re all set.
Document Everything
Lastly, photographs are everything when it comes to making every trip count. Therefore, never shy away from taking pictures of the things that fascinate you during your travels, regardless of how silly they might seem.
For more insight on similar topics and so much more, feel free to follow my blog at Irina Bukatik. I am always excited to share my personal experiences with my readers as a foodie, adventurer, traveler, thinker, dreamer, and someone who likes to live life to its fullest.
Share your comments and concerns with me today!