The Best Travel Hacks

And off we go!!!

Over the years, I have travelled with many different people, friends, family members, and also as part of a team. Have you ever wondered how some people just make travelling look so easy, pretty much with all aspects of travelling, from getting the best deals when planning their holiday to booking, packing, and flying (often through multiple time zones). It doesn’t matter if it is simply a relaxing weekend trip, or an epic non-stop multi-country adventure, whether it is the first day or the final destination of their journey, they never seem to get stressed, they are always well organised, and forever bright eyed and bushy tailed.

How do they do that so effortlessly, while for others the entire exercise is a real struggle?

Well I decided to put the question to several friends and family members, and came up with a collection of ideas for simple things you can do in an attempt to be one of that organised, bright eyed and bushy tailed group.

Travel Hacks for Booking

Frequent Flyer Programs

Zero cost… great benefits

If you are going to spend the money on flights anyway, because lets face it, even if you don’t have to travel far like I do (from Australia) it is still a considerable amount of money, then make use of the many Frequent Flyer programs available. All of them are free to join and most of them are part of a group so they incorporate several airlines giving you the flexibility of choice and you might as well be gaining points while you fly. You never know it may provide a heavily discounted flight in the future. Depending on how much you fly and what tier you are on, you may have access to extra benefits like lounge passes or the ability to earn extra points. If you plan on travelling a lot it is often worth looking at a credit card that gives you extra points with certain Frequent Flyer programs, once again you would be gaining points without spending more money.

Loyalty and Shopper Programs

Always be on the lookout for freebies…

Along the same lines as above, remember flying is not the only option when it comes to reward programs, keep an eye out for hotel, dining or other travel loyalty programs like Expedia, Starbucks or Accor Hotels. These will often get you room upgrades, discounted meals, transport etc. The other thing to consider is that there are some shopper programs where you may gain cashback on purchases from participating businesses, I recently discovered that Shopback (this is only in Australia, but I am sure you would have similar in your own country) offers their members a cashback on all manner of travel booking sites from accommodation bookings to transport options.

Travel Insurance

You know what they say about ‘Best Laid Plans’

The answer is simple, Travel Insurance. It is very important that you acquire Travel Insurance as soon as you pay your first deposit, that way you are covered right from the beginning. If something unforeseen happens and you need to cancel, as long as you already have your insurance in place you are covered and will be able to recoup the cost of your deposit (provided your insurance policy covers you for cancellation, which I highly recommend, together with personal liability and loss of luggage). Also be sure to check with your bank the inclusions on your credit card as many of them will actually include Travel Insurance (there may be a requirement for you to pay for a certain amount of your holiday with your credit card to be eligible but it is certainly worth looking into), and it will save you not only money, but lots of time and effort comparing and researching the different options.

Travel Hacks for Packing

Pack your Carry-On wisely

If you cannot afford to lose it, DON’T check it in

If you only take notice of one of these hacks then this is the most important one to heed. Anything that is irreplaceable, necessary for your health, or vital for you to get from one place to another should NEVER be in your checked luggage. The reality of travel is that bags do go missing and you don’t want to be caught with no medication, cash, travel documents etc. I would also advise that you pack a complete change of clothes in your Carry-On bag as well… just in case!!

Packing List

A must have if you are forgetful (like me)

So we know that everybody packs differently, and many of us do have a detailed packing list that we strictly go by before we leave home. But as somebody who always manages to leave something behind (mainly chargers and power banks) when I am travelling, I strongly encourage you to have a packing checklist that travels with you, either written down or on your phone. This is particularly important if you are going to visit many places, and constantly packing and unpacking. This will be very handy to do a quick check before you depart each destination.Medication

Travelling with important medication?

In addition to the note above about taking medication in your carry-on, if possible ask your pharmacist to give you your medication in blister packs, it means carrying less but also it is clearly marked exactly what the medication is.

Room for Souvenirs

So you have your packing list, you are feeling pretty good as you have not forgotten anything, and everything fits perfectly in your suitcase.

BUT - have you left any room in your bag for the souvenirs that you are sure to want to buy, particularly if you are going on a long holiday. Well lucky for you I have the perfect solution, and this is one of my favourite hacks, ensure you leave room in your suitcase by packing some bubble wrap, how much will depend on how many souvenirs you plan on buying. This benefits you in two ways, it stops things moving around in your now partly empty bag and if you happen to buy anything fragile, you can then wrap it in the bubble wrap to safely transport it home. Another way to make room in your suitcase is to take older clothes with you and literally leave them behind in the waste basket. This is especially true in the case of lower economic destinations where these clothes may very well be recycled by local charities providing assistance to poorer communities.

Straighteners or Hot Irons

So as somebody who always travels with a hair straightener, this was a game changer for me. Buy a cheap oven mitt, sew up the thumbhole and turn it inside out, you now have a handy holder for your straightener or hot iron that is heat resistant. So even if you are in a hurry and don’t have time for it to cool completely before you depart from a destination, the remainder of the contents in your suitcase will be protected from the heat.

Packing Cubes

In every blog or travel page at the moment we see recommendations for packing cubes…

Personally at this point in time, I have not used them myself, I do have friends however who swear by them, so on my next trip I will certainly be giving them a go. Organise your entire suitcase so you know exactly what is where, particularly I imagine with underwear as they seem to end up all over the place. I have been advised to have a cube as well for laundry so that your dirty clothes are always separated from the clean ones.

Luggage Scales

An absolute must if your budget doesn’t allow for excess luggage fees

Most of us will pack our bags and check the weight before we leave home, and it is definitely a good idea to do that as airlines these days are very particular about passengers not exceeding their allocated weight limit. I would however encourage you to go one step further and buy a set of hand held luggage scales that you can keep with you on your travels, they are certainly not expensive, and are available at most bag shops or anywhere you can buy travel accessories as well as online. When you have spent a month or more travelling through various countries and you have some incredible gifts to bring home for your family and friends, it gives you peace of mind to keep track of the weight of your suitcase throughout your journey, then there are no nasty surprises when you check in for that final trip home. Trust me you will be glad you did.

Travel Size Toiletry Bottles

Save space and avoid the stress over the weight of each of your bottles

One of the best purchases I made prior to my last trip overseas was a set of silicone travel size toiletry bottles, they were super easy to refill and take up so much less room than the full bottles of shampoo, conditioner etc would have. Just be sure to check when you purchase them that they are definitely not going to go over the allotted 100ml limit for carry-on liquids, all of the sites I looked at when I purchased mine were very clear in stating what the exact size was.

Fold Dirty Laundry

Dirty Laundry… what do we do with it

This is a very simple trick but will save a lot of space in your suitcase. Rather than just shoving dirty laundry in a bag, fold it first. You will be surprised how much less room it takes up, and how much more room you have for shopping.

Ziplock Bags and Plastic Wrap

Sometimes the simplest things make the biggest difference

You would not believe how handy it is to have a couple of ziplock bags or some gladwrap in your suitcase. Use one of the bags to take half used toiletries with you for future use, rather than throwing them away, waste not want not. If you only partly eat a packet of crisps or snacks then you also have a bag to put the remainder in. Gladwrap comes in very handy to keep your jewellery separated and avoid necklaces getting all tangled up. Open the lids of your travel toiletries and place a small piece of gladwrap over the hole, replace the lid and you not only avoid spills but it will stop the bottles from exploding due to air pressure.

Emergency Kit

For this one I go back to the Girl Guide motto from my youth… ‘Be Prepared’

A simple ziplock bag (or if you are a regular traveller you probably have spare amenities bags that the airlines give you) will be a lifesaver. Include in your emergency kit sticky tape, string, sewing kit, cable ties, bulldog clip, rubber bands, spare luggage tag, a padlock, safety pins, pen, tissues, ear plugs, universal bath plug, mini LED torch, tweezers, mini scissors, mini calculator (ideal for bartering). Do bear in mind that for the flight itself some of these items will need to be in your checked in luggage as they are considered dangerous. You may not need any of them but they don’t take up much space and they could certainly save the day if you are ever caught off guard.

Clothespeg or Bulldog Clip

For your toothbrush of course…

In todays age of heightened awareness to cleanliness and contamination, no matter whether we stay in fancy hotels or budget hostels, we really have no way of knowing how much effort is put into their cleaning regime. When it comes to the most vulnerable of our personal items for me that is of course my toothbrush, packing a clothespeg or bulldog clip in your toiletry bag means you can use it as a toothbrush holder, effectively keeping it off the sink, and therefore clean and dry.

Carry a Quick Dry Towel

Caught in the rain!!

We can plan almost everything for our trip, but we have no way of planning for the weather, so having a quick dry towel in your bag will be a godsend on the occasion you are caught out, they take up no room whatsoever and weigh next to nothing.

The Absolute Best Accessory

A good old scarf!

The one accessory in your packlist should always be a big square scarf… it will be your saviour in so many cases, as a travel pillow for the plane or in the airport, a rug for warmth, a blanket for picnics, to cover your head if you go somewhere that has a strict dress code, or to dress up a simple outfit for a night out (you really don’t want to be wearing your daytime adventure jacket)

Clothes for the flight

Comfort is key!!

I received this handy hint when asking for ideas, and I think it is brilliant… If you can get hold of leggings with a pocket, they are absolutely fabulous for a long flight. They are super comfortable because they are so stretchy, great for keeping your legs warm, and your phone doesn’t fall out of the pocket.

Travel Hacks for Flying

Master the Art of Jet Lag

Jetlag… a travellers nightmare!

The biggest enemy of travel and in particular long haul flights is jetlag, according to experts it takes one day to adjust for every time zone you have crossed which does not sit well with us here in Australia as everywhere is so far away, and the older you get the longer that adjustment will take. If family and work commitments allow, it is a good idea to gradually shift in the few days leading up to your departure by moving meal and bedtimes to the schedule of your destination. This is particularly important if you are travelling Eastward as you are losing time and it is harder to adjust. When you board your flight set your watch to your destination time, regardless of what time you depart, sleep when it is sleep time at your destination and wake similarly. The other important thing is to stay hydrated as you will feel the effects of jetlag less, including avoiding caffeine and alcohol, as both promote dehydration. While we are led to believe that caffeine keeps you awake and alcohol helps you sleep, in fact both can actually disturb your sleep. The downside of keeping hydrated is that you will find yourself running to the loo more often, a good way to avoid this is to have in your carry-on luggage, some sort of electrolyte drink that keeps you hydrated, many of your local brands have powder alternatives that you can simply add to your water bottle.

Spruce up your Suitcase

Now it is time to have some fun… get creative!!

There is nothing fun about standing at the luggage carousel stressing when you cannot find your suitcase among the multitude of black and brown. If you travel a lot, it is probably a great idea when you are ready to upgrade your suitcase to choose a different colour that stands out from the crowd, which is what I have done (mine are now a pretty purple lol). If however that is not an option or your suitcase is in perfectly fine condition, add some ribbons or a bright luggage tag, something that you will notice from a distance as it travels along the carousel.

Getting the Best Seats

The best seats in the house… almost!

Most airlines will allow you to choose your seat when you check in, and that can be done sometimes up to 48hrs prior to departing, so get in early to have the best chance of getting the optimum seats. Seasoned travellers will have figured out which seats will get you the most leg room and avoid restrooms, crying children etc, but if you are unsure I highly recommend checking out SeatGuru. This will give you the seating plan of all airlines and their fleet, as well as a fantastic guide to in-flight amenities and airline information.Keep Moving

As my friend Rhonda would say… Stretch Max Stretch!!

It is very important that you keep the blood flow moving when you are on long haul flights to avoid DVT, get up and walk around, this is why the point above is important if you don’t want to feel like you are forever stepping over the person in the seat next to you. I found this out to my detriment when I travelled to Europe in 2017, I had to buy a brand new pair of shoes for my son's wedding as the ones I planned on wearing would not fit my swollen feet. Another good idea is to invest in a pair of compression socks, which is what I did prior to departing for home and I had no problem on the return flight, and have not had an issue on any flight since.

Noise Cancelling Headphones

Be totally oblivious to the noise around you…

The next thing that I highly recommend investing in is a good set of noise cancelling headphones. In the past for me long haul flights have seemed to last forever, I have never been able to use the headphones they give you on the plane as they don’t fit properly (maybe I have a funny shape head lol). The other reason is that I have a slight hearing issue and they really don’t stop the plane noise, I find myself holding them so hard against my ears to try and listen to a movie that I end up with such a headache and a numb hand. I absolutely love my new headphones, I can connect to watch a movie or TV series with the in-flight entertainment, or I can listen to my own audiobooks which I have already on my phone, this certainly makes the flight go a lot quicker.

Travel Hacks for Travelling to Foreign Countries

Learn Basic Words and Phrases

Show the locals you are making the effort, you will be surprised at the response

Despite most of us having good intentions prior to travelling overseas, it is not always an easy thing to learn a new language, and in all honesty you really don’t need to with so much technology at our fingertips, however I do encourage you to learn some basic words and phrases. You will find that locals appreciate you at least knowing how to say “please”, “thank you”, “hello”, “goodbye”, “how are you”, and if you plan on doing much shopping, maybe “how much does this cost”.

Translate App

Where would we be without technology…

It is a good idea to have a good translate app installed on your phone before leaving home. I use Google translate as it is super easy to use and also has a camera option so you can actually take a photo of a menu or road sign and it will immediately translate it for you.

Make Sure to Check any Vaccination, Visa or Drivers License Requirements

Don’t be caught out…

In the current Post Covid world it is of the utmost importance to check any government requirements prior to visiting other countries. While restrictions have eased a lot and most countries don’t require proof of Covid vaccination, it may be necessary to be vaccinated against other diseases. It certainly can do no harm to be prepared and do your homework ahead of time, the other thing to take into account if you plan on driving in another country is whether you will require an international drivers license.

Advise your bank of travel plans

A Cancelled Bank Card could ruin your trip, or at the very least give you a big headache!!

Make sure you advise your bank that you are planning to travel overseas, that way they will not cancel your card if they see unusual charges from another country. The last thing you need on your holiday is to have your card cancelled, particularly if that is your only form of spending money. You can do this over the phone and with most banks you the option of doing it within their app, it is well worth the time and effort.

Plenty of Water

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!!

It has been said before with regards to flying, but also when it comes to travelling in general, you will most likely be doing a lot more walking and possibly climbing than what you might normally do, so make sure that you keep up your intake of water. Check to see what is available where you are going, Life Straws are amazing for anyone with a sensitive tummy or in 3rd world countries. You can also benefit from a reuseable water bottle with a built in filter. Just make sure it is empty prior to going through airport security, or you will surely lose it.

Travel Hacks in General

Back up your Documents

Email your documents to yourself…

Taking the stress out of travel is planning ahead, and one thing you can do to give you peace of mind is to have copies of all of your important ID and travel documents backed up. Email them to yourself or a family member at home, or back them up to the cloud, but make sure that, in the unlikely event that they get stolen or lost, you will still be able to access them.

Write a journal of your travels

A picture doesn’t always tell the story…

No matter how much you think you will remember these travel moments forever, the finer details are forgotten very quickly once we get home and back into the mundane. This is why it is really important to write a journal of your travels as you go. Maybe you are not a big writer, and that is fine as well, but at the very least have a notebook that you can quickly jot down a couple of dot points at the end of each day. For me as a very passionate scrapbooker, I need to have all of that information when I am ready to put all of my photos into scrapbooking albums so my journal is always a high priority when I travel. The other thing you can do if you don’t want to write is to take photos of any signposts, information boards, or anything for that matter that will jog your memory when you try and explain to your family and friends of the extraordinary places you visited.

Its all about the Photos

Camera, charger, spare battery - check

Whether you have a fancy DSLR camera, a compact Point and Shoot or simply take your photos on your phone, it is vital that you have at least the camera/phone and charger, and if your camera is separate to your phone then I advise having a spare battery. But lets not forget the reason we have spent all of this money to travel in the first place, it is all well and good to get epic photos of your adventure but don’t forget to enjoy the moments. You don’t see nearly as much if you are always behind a camera, make sure to put it away long enough to laugh with the locals, eat that bizarre local dish, make friends with fellow travellers,and most of all truly ‘feel’ the experience.

Do it the Old Fashioned Way

Oh no the phone is flat!!

Trust me this is a trick that is so easy and will make all the difference if you get stuck. Write down in a notebook… yes I am talking the old fashioned way, the name and address of your hotel. We have all been in the position of our phones going flat at the most inopportune time, the last thing you need is to get into a taxi, and not remember the name and address of your hotel, because it is on your booking app… on your phone, which is flat! This simple trick will be a lifesaver, trust me, if you are ever in that situation. Another handy thing to jot down if your memory is not the best, is your hotel room no, once you are checked in.

Google Maps

Satellite Coverage is not always the best…

When my sister and I travelled around Scotland a few years ago, we decided that we really didn’t need to add the extra price of navigation when we hired our car, we had organised plenty of data, we would just use Google Maps. Well… talk about famous last words, when travelling around the Highlands of Scotland there is virtually zero coverage, and we can laugh about it now but it gave us quite a few stressful moments believe me. The solution I am told is to download the Google maps of the places you will be journeying to onto your device when you have wifi (in your hotel the previous night etc) and you will have no issue.

Feeling Hungry

We all have to eat, and it can be tricky on a budget

Depending on what your accommodation is you may be able to save money by cooking yourself, if not you can still grab snacks to eat during the day rather than going to restaurants for every meal. If however you don’t have much choice due to schedule, if you eat at or near the biggest tourist attractions you will always pay premium prices. It can save you money and be a lot of fun to wander a few blocks away from these areas to find more reasonably priced options, and you may be surprised what hidden gems you actually manage to find.

So now your trip will be stress free, simple and fun, I do however want to leave you with my own personal travel tip.

Do not ever leave home without your patience, tolerance and good humour.

Keep in mind that on your travels you will come across an incredible array of people from a wide range of countries, cultures and backgrounds. Be tolerant of people around you, you have no way of knowing from a glance if they have travelled for many hours through multiple airports, or what the reason for their journey might be, they may not be on an epic adventure like you, but rather travelling for much more sombre reasons. Next remember to be patient, you are not the only one who is in a foreign place, or in a hurry to get somewhere, that man trying to push forward to claim his bags may have a young family waiting in the background. Does it really matter if you have to wait a wee bit longer in the queue at customs, or for an attraction or a taxi.

The most important thing however, that you bring with you is a sense of humour, be able to laugh at yourself and not sweat the small stuff. We all know it takes far more energy to frown than it does to smile, and you are going to need all of your energy and positivity for the fantastic adventure you are on. Try to speak some words in the local language, even if you sound funny, just laugh at yourself and you will find that those around you will laugh with you. Speaking to many friends and family who have travelled extensively, I have learnt that there are very few things that cannot be fixed fairly simply, and I assure you that further down the track there are not many travel adventures that cannot be laughed at later.

Enjoy your travels!!!

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Max

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