Achieving a seamless travel experience involves years of trial and error, extensive research, and personal experiences. Alternatively, you can leverage these essential travel hacks from my blog – learned through my 20+ years of travel – to streamline your adventures without the initial struggle and wondering where to start and how to make your trips better. Arming yourself with the travel hacks everyone needs to know can help you navigate travel challenges, elevate your comfort, and save money. Whether you’re well-traveled or a novice explorer, these hacks can help you navigate the world of travel with ease.
Travel Hack #1 – Take Advantage Of Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
One of the best ways to travel more while saving money is to take advantage of credit cards and their sign-up bonuses. Depending on which credit cards you apply to, there is usually a sign-up bonus where you’re rewarded with points or a certain dollar amount for free as a way to entice or incentivize you to bank with them. These bonuses often equate to enough points for at least a one-way flight, and sometimes even more, coupled with additional perks like a Companion Pass where you buy 1 ticket and the other person travels for free or even complimentary access to airport lounges. Keep in mind that in order to qualify for these bonuses, you’ll typically need to meet a minimum spending requirement within a specific timeframe, such as $3,000 within the first 3 months of the credit card being opened. Be mindful not to purchase unnecessary items just to meet these requirements, as it defeats the purpose of saving money through these bonuses!
Additionally, here’s What To Look For In Travel Credit Cards.
Note: I strongly advise only doing this if you can pay off your credit cards every month in full – this is not so that it can get you into debt or have you in a situation where owe money that you don’t have
Travel Hack #2 – Plan Your Trip Backwards
What I mean by planning your trip backwards is that instead of starting with a location you want to visit, start by looking at flights instead by using Google Flights (or Skyscanner), select your departure apart and leave your destination and dates open-ended and search. This will show you all the cheapest flights within the next 6 months and it helps you save quite a bit of money and leaves room for adventures you may not even have thought of going on. If you can be more flexible with your schedule, this is a great way to save and be able to spend more at your destination instead of using it to get there.
Travel Hack #3 – Get Cheap Flights With Price Errors
If you’re lucky, sometimes you can get cheap flights with price errors as there are glitches or mistakes on travel websites that have “too-good-to-be-true” pricing. You’ll need to act fast as companies will fix them as soon as they realize the error or there’s a limited amount available up for grabs. Websites like Airfare Watchdog and Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) can help you find really cheap flights or send alerts to your email inbox on these kinds of deals.
Travel Hack #4 – Create A Frequent Flyer Account For Every Airline You Fly With
I learned this from my dad when I was younger and we would travel together as a family where he always made a frequent flyer account for everyone anytime we flew with a new airline. These accounts are free to create and they’ll either send you a physical card or digital card where you can accumulate points that can be used towards your next flight, hotel, or other travel perks for being loyal to their airline. So I’m personally not loyal to a specific airline, but I will create that frequent flyer accounts for my husband and I just in case I do fly with that airline again. The airlines I fly with most often are Air Canada and American Airlines, but I have about 20 accounts with other airlines and have been able to redeem for free flights or hotels several times. I remember I once flew round-trip with Cathay Pacific from Toronto to Hong Kong and was already able to redeem a very nice hotel night in Vietnam and since my parents also had their frequent flyer accounts, I ended up getting 3 nights for free. Something to note is that most points do expire within a certain timeframe but these frequent flyer accounts are good to make just in case you do fly with them again.
Travel Hack #5 – Consider An Alternate Destination Airport
Sometimes major cities have multiple airports or airports that are an hour away which decreases the flight prices by a pretty good amount. As you search for flights, you can set the filters to include “Alternate/Nearby Airports” so that you can see the price differences. Just remember to see how far it is from where you need to go and calculate whether the cost of ground transportation is still less than the total price of flying directly to your intended destination. For example, when I want to fly into Miami, I usually choose to arrive and depart from Fort Lauderdale as it can be $50-100 cheaper and it’s only about 30-45 minutes from where I need to go.
Travel Hack #6 – Use Skiplagged
This is a travel hack that you’ll need to use sparingly as you can get flagged. Skiplagged helps you find cheaper flights and hidden-city flights to your destination. Basically, you’ll be booking a longer route and your intended destination will be during the layover flight and not the final destination of the flight itinerary. You’ll want to disembark during the layover and miss your next flight. Why? Because it’s cheaper to get to your destination that way rather than to book directly to that destination. You will need to be careful with which airline you do this with and how often as they can flag/ban you from future flights for taking advantage this way.
Travel Hack #7 – Install The Travel Arrow Extension On Your Browser
Travel Arrow helps you get the best deals on your travels and reveals hidden deals and discounts to help you save money. For example, any travel site you go on, this extension will show you the deals that are going on or if you use websites like Hotwire where they hide which hotel you’ll be staying at but only show the general location and price, it will reveal which hotel it is. It also allows you to easily compare flight prices on different websites and automatically earn cashback when you shop at certain stores online which can be used towards your next vacation.
Travel #8– Use Rakuten For Extra Cashback
I’ve been using Rakuten (formerly eBates) since 2014 and I’ve accumulated more than $1,000 back for any type of online shopping I do including booking flights and hotels, and much more. Depending on where you shop, you get a certain percentage back and Rakuten will either deposit the cash quarterly into your PayPal account or have a cheque mailed to you. If you do a lot of online shopping like me, this is something definitely worth signing up for. Plus, it’s free! Here’s $40 USD (Rakuten USA) and $30 CAD (Rakuten Canada) just for signing up.
Travel Hack #9 – Take Advantage Of Layovers and Stopover Programs
Long layovers and stopover programs let you get the best bang for your buck when you travel as you can see more, visit another location on your trip, and sometimes, even stay for free. When I travel to further destinations, sometimes I’ll even choose flights with a 6 to 12+ hour layover as a way to see another city for a day before or after I get to my main destination. If I have no choice but to have a layover, I might as well make it a longer one and make it worth it!
Stopover programs are provided by certain airlines (which I list in a reel on Instagram) and allow you to stay for an allocated number of days for free or at a very significant discount as these countries’ airlines want to bring more tourism to them.
Here’s How To Visit More Destinations In One Trip.
Travel Hack #10 – Think About Where Your Seat Is Depending On Your Flight
For short flights, I prefer aisle seats so that I can get off the plane faster – claustrophobia anyone? Plus, it’s also easier to access the restroom if needed. When they’re shorter flights, they’re usually also smaller planes and it’s more comfortable to be able to stretch my legs or know that I can move easily. For longer flights, window seats are more comfortable and allow you to look at the views outside the window as you’re flying across so much distance, that there’s bound to be a lot to see! Of course, this all depends on your own personal preferences but it might be something you want to think about when flying.
You can also check SeatGuru, AeroLOPA, SeatMaps for how your seat will look, how much room you have, what other features come with your specific seat, and more if you’re looking for the ultimate comfort.
Travel Hack #11 – Do A Little Planning Ahead Of Time
For me, I plan full-out all day itineraries as you can see from my many destination itineraries here and you don’t need to do it like me, but it’s always helpful to do just a little planning ahead of time and not completely wing your trip so that you can make the most of your trip (unless the latter is your intention). I also like to use Google Maps and Google My Maps to plan out my daily itinerary so that I can see the distances and how long it will take to get to each location and how to order it in a way where it will be a smooth sailing trip. I’ll even print this out for reference and as a backup just in case.
You can download my Free Pre-Trip Planner & Checklist to help you get started.
Travel Hack #12 – Your Special Occasions Matter
If you’re planning a birthday, bachelorette, honeymoon, anniversary, or some other big life event, let your hotel, cruise, restaurants, etc. know ahead of time as they will often give you free upgrades and/or other special gifts and perks to celebrate with you. Sometimes, if there is room and the gate agents or flight attendants are nice enough, they’ll even do this for your flight. This doesn’t happen everywhere, but it doesn’t hurt to try!
Travel Hack #13 – Use Turo To Rent A Car If Available
In doing my part to ensure I get the best deals for when I travel and need to rent a car, I do my due diligence to check all the car rental options including Turo. It’s like Airbnb except for cars and it costs much less than car rental companies I find. It’s super easy to use on both desktop and their app and you can even get picked up at the airport which makes it super convenient – and there’s a larger variety of cars to choose from too.
Travel Hack #14 – Exchange Money Ahead Of Time If Possible
Most of the time, it’s better to exchange money where you are before you even head to your destination. I like to use Interchange Financial in Toronto as they usually have better rates than the major banks. But of course, there are countries like Cuba with a closed currency and you can only exchange money there or even Japan’s 7-Eleven ATMs have a good exchange rate as well – just do a little research before you head off to your destination! But I would avoid exchanging your money at airports as the rates are usually much higher.
Travel Hack #15 – Always Have A Photocopy Of Your Passport
I always have a photocopy of my passport in my travel wallet and sometimes even an extra one in my carry-on luggage, as well as a digital copy on my phone. I have been doing this for years just in case my original passport gets lost or stolen. If you ever need to replace your passport at your country’s embassy, the photocopy will help expedite the passport replacement process. It won’t necessarily act as an ID if you lost everything, but at least there’s a chance it can help.
Travel Hack #16 – Download Offline Maps On Google Maps
One of the biggest travel hacks I tell people is to download an offline map of your destination when possible. This allows you to use Google Maps without the Internet as well as save battery on your phone by not having to keep your Wi-Fi or data on. This has even helped me on local road trips where there isn’t reception but I was still able to navigate because I had an offline map.
Travel Hack #17 – Download Google Translate or DeepL For Language Translations
When you’re visiting a foreign country, you’ll most likely know little to none of the language unless you’ve really studied beforehand but Google Translate or DeepL allows you to translate in many languages as well as even take photos of the image with the translation in your language on top. This has helped me in many different countries to understand menus, labels, instructions, and much more. Although not always accurate, I still find that this tool helps immensely when you don’t know the language.
Travel Hack #18 – Get A Travel Wallet
When I travel, I have a different wallet from my everyday one – call it a travel wallet if you will. I like being able to have a wallet that is also big enough to hold my passport. I’ve been using a Kate Spade one for years (as I don’t tend to bring my nicer designer wallets on trips) and it fits my passport, money, and cards perfectly and it even has a coin pocket. Some travel wallets even have RFID features that protect your credit card information from being stolen.
Here is are some ideas for a travel wallet that can hold it all: Béis Travel Wallet (here’s $15 USD off)| Tumi Belden Travel Wallet
Travel Hack #19 – Don’t Cancel Non-Refundable Tickets (Until The Last Second)
I usually book non-refundable tickets as they’re much cheaper and thankfully I’ve always gone on my flights (except one in May 2020 to Japan when the pandemic hit but I was able to get a refund through my credit card who resolved it with the travel company) – it’s a risk but one I’m willing to take as I also have travel insurance. Flights don’t always go as smoothly as we’d like – there are oftentimes, delays and even cancellations. But the upside is that if you don’t cancel your ticket (until the last second if you really need to cancel your flight), there’s a possibility that you can get a flight credit or even a refund should there be a flight cancellation, delay, or even schedule change on the airline’s part. If you ever cancel your ticket, you won’t be entitled to anything and sometimes it’s better just to miss your flight and have the chance you’ll get compensated if you booked a non-refundable flight.
Travel Hack #20 – Get TSA Pre-Check
One of the best things I ever did was getting TSA Pre-Check or the Nexus card. This has helped speed up the security and customs process so much! In the past, I was always getting questioned by customs, waited in long lines, and even missed my bus home. Getting TSA Pre-Check was such a relief and gave me peace of mind when crossing the borders and I’m usually one of the few that are in line so I don’t have to worry about having to arrive at the airport too early or missing my bus. Plus, it’s only $50 USD for 5 years – totally worth it!
Travel Hack #21 – Keep Your Boarding Pass
I’ve always kept my boarding passes as a souvenir for every trip I’ve taken. It was also inspired by my cousin who once showed me when I was young, her collection of movie tickets. This also comes in handy should you need to make a claim with an airline for missing points on your frequently flyer account or to even file a complaint for flight delays or damaged luggage. Your boarding pass has your specific ticket number to help you with this process.
Travel Hack #22 – Monitor Delays And Canceled Flights
Whenever I get flight delays, I make sure I get compensated! Whether it’s food vouchers at the airport, or having to file a claim to get reimbursed. Depending on the airline and country, you’re entitled to a specific dollar amount in compensation. For example, in North America, if your flight is delayed by 3 hours and it’s the airline’s fault, you could get several hundred dollars back – you just need to file a claim. Surprisingly, a lot of people don’t know this but you are absolutely entitled to it! Even if your bags are delayed at baggage claim, you could be qualified for thousands of travel points. Just be sure to check the compensation rules of the airline you fly with. For example, Delta Airlines will give you 2,500 bonus miles if your bags don’t come to you within 20 minutes of landing – just start your timer!
Travel Hack #23 – Take The “Volunteer To Be Bumped Off Your Flight” Compensation If Possible
Airlines tend to overbook seats on a flight – I’m not exactly sure how that happens, but all I know is that they will compensate you for volunteering to remove yourself from the flight and help you book the next one out. If you check in at the kiosks, sometimes they’ll even share this information with you before you get to your gate and will offer you certain dollar amounts for not taking this flight as it’s overbooked. There are usually 3 options (for example: $200, $400, $600) – obviously, take the highest amount of compensation (I’m not even sure why anyone would choose the lowest amount). Or wait until you get to the gate as this amount can be raised to above $1,000 depending on the flight and airline. Of course, only do this if you are flexible with your travel plans. I’ve been tempted a few times to do it but my schedule was more important – so hopefully I can capitalize on this in the future.
Travel Hack #24 – Only Travel With A Carry-On
One of the best travel hacks is to only travel with a carry-on and a personal item. I love that I can skip baggage claim and know that my belongings are safe with me at all times when I travel. Although I do tend to pack a lot, I still prefer this method of travel when I’m not overseas for a long time. I almost always travel with a carry-on and I just find it safer and more convenient for me. But keep in mind, that if you’re boarding past Group 5, you might be required to check in your luggage (for free at the gate) if there are too many people with carry-ons. Sometimes, the plane may also be too small to store certain carry-on luggage and they’ll require you to gate-check your bag but it will arrive at the jet bridge or gangway area so you don’t need to go all the way to baggage claim.
Travel hack #25 – Use A Luggage Protector
Good luggage is not cheap and the last thing you want to do is to have it come back to you all dinged up, scratched, and even broken after your first use. Yes, that’s happened to me a few times and it sucks, especially if it’s a light color! I now use a clear luggage protector for all my luggage if I’m checking any bags and I have one in my carry-on luggage just in case I’m forced to check it in.
Travel Hack #25 – Use Compression Packing Cubes
I didn’t believe in packing cubes for the longest time, but that’s because they weren’t the compression ones! Once I tried the compression packing cubes on my first 2.5-week trip to Japan and was able to only travel with a carry-on and at least 2 outfits for every day I was there, I knew it worked. Non-compression packing cubes are only good for organizing your clothes, but compression packing cubes truly maximizes space in your luggage – just please pack it as much as you can otherwise it doesn’t really compress that much and you’re just wasting space! I keep seeing packing videos where people only put a few items in and everything is just shaking around inside and it drives me nuts because it’s not being used for what it’s meant to and you could still put so much into it. Don’t be afraid to pack it until it’s busting – that’s when you know it works!
Travel Hack #26 – Use A Packing Checklist And Coordinate Your Outfits
This may be a little intense for some people, but I find that coordinating my outfits ahead of time according to the weather, my itinerary, and the activities I’ll be doing helps me to pack exactly what I need and how much of it I need so that I don’t overpack and I’m completely prepared. I’ll always write down my outfits for each day with just a couple of back-ups and this also helps me save time when I’m at my destination so I don’t have to think about what I’m wearing or what will match each day.
Here’s a free download of my Ultimate Packing Checklist to help you get started and stay organized.
Travel Hack #27 – Bring An Extra Change Of Clothes In Your Carry-On
Something I’ve learned over my many years of travel is to bring an extra change of clothes in your carry-on if you’re checking in bags. If your bags get lost or delayed, at least you’ll be able to change into something else for the rest of your day and to sleep in, or even for the next day. I remember going to Venice, Italy with my extended family one year and all of our bags were delayed until the evening and the only person who actually had a change of clothes and essential items was my brother as he packed them in his carry-on. You don’t necessarily need to do this if you would rather buy clothes as travel insurance (or your credit card’s policies) can reimburse you for it but sometimes, there’s a lack of choices or even availability depending on where you are.
Travel Hack #28 – Pack Your Favorite Snacks
One thing I’ll always do when I travel is I’m going to pack snacks! I would rather be able to have my favorite snacks with me than have to buy something at the airport for triple the amount – or sometimes even more – with minimal selections. Whether it’s candy, chips, cookies, cup noodles (I’m on vacation don’t judge) – I like to have a variety of choices. For road trips, I find this snackle box to be super convenient, secure, and offers space for 8 different types of snacks that you can share (or not). It’s also less messy especially when you’re driving. For flights, I just bring the snacks in their original packaging as it’s much easier to just throw it all away afterward. Packing your own snacks is a lifesaver especially when you go on hikes as well and need some nourishment and energy.
Travel Hack #29 – Take A Travel Water Bottle With You
Along with snacks, taking your own water bottle with you helps you save money on having to buy expensive water at the airport, allows you to refill it and be environmentally friendly, and ensures you have water with you at all times. I like to take a collapsible water bottle and Stanley Iceflow Tumbler as it’s easy to hold with a handle and doesn’t leak.
Travel Hack #30 – Easy Souvenirs
If you’re not big on souvenirs, hotel key cards, ticket stubs, and plane tickets are easy souvenirs and “free” souvenirs to take home with you. And they don’t take up much space at all. The only things I buy when traveling that I’d want to take home are food items and some beauty products usually. Otherwise, all the memories I capture on my camera are good enough for me! Plus, I really don’t need more stuff. If you’re the same, this type of travel souvenir is actually quite satisfying.
Travel Hack #31 – Bring A Portable Charger With You
I can’t go without my portable charger even when I’m at home, and it’s essential to have with you especially when you’re traveling – and even more so when you’re using your GPS to navigate the city! With how much we use our phones, I’m sure it dies faster than we’d like and when we’re on the go, it’s so important to be able to keep it charged at all times. We rely on our phones for so much – Google, photos, messaging, watching videos, emailing, etc. and it’s hard when you’re not able to access what you need. Of course, don’t forget your charging cables if it’s not built-in.
Travel Hack #32 – Pack An Extra Foldable Bag
For the times that you end up bringing home a lot more than you expected, it’s always good to bring a foldable duffel bag that you can pack right into your luggage. This has come in so handy for me when I tend to overpack or when I do a little too much shopping and ensures that I don’t need to waste money on buying an extra piece of luggage when I know I already have many at home!
Travel Hack #33 – Always Pack Your Flip Flops / Sandals With You
One thing I always pack when I’m traveling are my flip flops – no matter if it’s a summer or winter vacation. That’s because I wear them in the hotel room, use them at the pool, or occasionally even in the bathtub if it looks like it’s necessary. It also gives me peace of mind to know that I can be clean and hygienic wherever I go.
Travel Hack #34 – Don’t Miss Your Shots
Sometimes you only have a split second for a good shot without people in the background (if that sort of thing matters to you), and having your camera phone set on burst mode or your camera on continuous shooting can really help you capture the moment. Yes, you may have a lot of more photos and less storage space, but at least you’ll have choices and you can delete the ones you don’t like when you get a chance!
If this was useful, see more of my Travel Tips and Shop My Favorites – Travel!