36 Travel Hacks That Will Save You Time and Money

Save time and money by comparing all the accommodation options at your destination in one place. Opt for hotel price comparison sites instead of searching for each hotel individually.

Location matters. If you find cheap accommodation outside of town, but you have to pay more in total due to increased transportation costs, it won’t be worth it. Instead,pick a location with easy access to public transport, the airport and popular attractions.

Book accommodations with flexible cancellation terms. This way, if you find a better deal, you can change your reservation without hassle or penalties.

When you arrive, grab a business card of the hotel you’re staying at, just in case you get lost. That way, you will have the name and address of where you’re staying in the local language.

If you’ve filled up all the outlets with your electronic devices and still need to charge your phone, check if there’s a USB outlet behind the TV.

When you anticipate that you won’t have access to Wi-Fi, plan your route ahead of time. Use offline maps or screenshots from Google Maps to help you get around.

Lunchtime is the best time to visit attractions, as most sites tend to empty out after the tour groups leave, so you’ll have fewer crowds to fight.

Don’t over plan your trip. Spend more time in fewer places and only schedule two or three things to do per day to avoid rushing around the city.

Learn a few common phrases of the native language, such as “please” and “thank you”. The locals will appreciate it and will be more willing to help you figure out where you need to go.

Avoid flying on holidays and weekends to save yourself from lengthy queues and delays. Try to travel during off-peak times, like a weekday or during shoulder season.

Instead of using expensive currency converters at the airport, save yourself money by getting local currency from an ATM.

Take an empty plastic bottle with you through security at the airport. This way you can avoid having to purchase expensive airport drinks.

Avoid expensive data roaming fees by picking up cheap SIM cards from your new location.

Taxis are often budget busters, so research if the city has ride-sharing services like Uber available, or travel like a local on public transportation.

Visit the local tourism office of the place you’re visiting. They will know about the area’s free activities, like walking tours, and are the best resource for up-to-date information.

Use credit card points and miles for free travel. Pay for everyday things like gas and groceries to earn money that can go towards your travel fund.

Book a window seat, so you can rest your head on the bulkhead. Book a seat at the front to reach passport control first. Book a seat over the wing to experience the least amount of turbulence, or in the back of the plane if you require multiple bathroom breaks.

Visit seatguru.com to see the seating plan for your flight. It offers reviews of individual seats, making it easy to pick what will be the most comfortable seat for your journey.

Get a full row of seats when travelling in pairs by booking a window and aisle seat. If the flight is full or another passenger picks the middle seat, they will most likely be willing to switch with you.

Bring a pair of comfortable shoes. You’ll be walking around a lot at your new destination, so don’t sacrifice comfort for fashion, or you’ll risk the chance of not being able to explore the next day.

Search for flights online with private browsing enabled. Some sites will track your visits and boost prices because you’ve visited before.

Set up price alerts for your desired flight route. Do a search on Google Flights and if the price isn’t what you want, set up an alert to notify you when the price has dropped.

Search one-way flights, even if you’re returning to the same location. You’ll often find a variety of options with prices, airlines and times, allowing you to customise your journey.

Check if your flight has a stopover option. This way, you can experience another city for a few hours or up to a week, without spending any extra money.

Download your favourite shows on the Netflix or the Amazon app on your phone or tablet to watch during the flight. Many budget airlines have limited entertainment options onboard, so these shows will be a lifesaver.

Bring face wipes. It’s guaranteed that you’ll feel a bit grimy after a long flight and face wipes offer a quick way to feel refreshed.

Pack hand sanitizer. You are not guaranteed to find soap and water when you need it, so it can be helpful before eating in foreign restaurants.

Wear compression socks on longer flights. It will keep your blood flowing and help you avoid blood clots.

Pack a reusable water bottle, as being dehydrated makes it much tougher to handle jet lag. Take some water purification tablets with you if you’re worried about the water quality.

Travel with a mini first aid kit. Pack a bag with medicine like aspirin, Benadryl, cold meds, Tums, cough drops and bandages, or other items you might not have easy access to when travelling.

Sleep is important. Recharge your batteries after a long day and your mind and body will thank you.

Use packing cubes. Arrange your clothes by type, then save space by rolling them up and putting them in individual packing cubes.

Put a shower cap around your shoes. This way your dirty soles won’t touch your clean clothes.

Separate your sources of money. Don’t keep all your cash and cards in the same place. Ensure that you have a backup credit/bank card in case something happens to your wallet.

Bring portable chargers. Nothing is worse when travelling than a dead battery in the middle of the day.

Put your electronic devices, medications, toothbrush and an extra outfit in your carry-on bag. If your luggage gets lost in transit, you’ll still have access to essential items.

Print extra copies of your passport and important documents and put them in your travel bag in case of an emergency. You can also email a copy to yourself.