1- Booking your flights online is cheaper the first time you view the flights. Airlines track how many times you look at the page and increase the price over time. If you clear your browser history, cache, and cookies you will be able to get huge discounts in some cases. It is worth a shot. Not all airlines do this, but many do.
2 – Sometimes it can work out much cheaper buying two individual one-way tickets, to and from your destination, rather than simply just buying a return ticket. Prices vary by airline and by day, you may save money by flying with two different airlines. It is not as convenient but could be a big price difference if you are lucky.
3 – You never know how good your phone signal is going to be when you are in a new place. Getting caught without a phone signal can be a real pain, especially when trying to find your way around a foreign environment. Downloading Google maps offline can be a real lifesaver. Make sure you download a map of the area you will be visiting at home before you leave for the airport just in case.
4 – Just like you may need a map, you may need a dictionary. If you are stuck without phone service you won’t be able to google translate signs or menus, you may need help but not have anyone you can communicate with. By downloading google translate’s offline version, you will still be able to perform all your translation needs.
5 – If you have your phone charger cable, but don’t have the correct plug shape for the foreign country you are visiting, don’t worry. If your hotel room has a TV, there is a good chance it has a USB slot on the back of the TV. If you are caught in a pinch this could be a good solution, one that doesn’t end in you buying an overpriced adaptor.
6 – If you are travelling via plane you will be familiar with how easy it is for your luggage to get lost. Sometimes you arrive and it is days before your luggage follows you. Just in case you lose your luggage, temporarily or permanently, it is a good idea to pack one or two outfits into your carry on luggage. If you are travelling with a partner or friend, it can be a good idea to pack half of each person’s belongings into each bag. This way, if one person loses their bag their holiday is not ruined by losing all their belongings. Having to replace an entire wardrobe can make your getaway very expensive.
7 – Stuff as much clothing into your shoes as possible to save space. A good choice is balled up socks and underwear. When packing a suitcase, every bit of space matters. You should use this as a way to maximize the number of belongings you can bring. Rolling your clothes, not folding, can also save space.
8 – Airport lounges are not as exclusive as you might think, or as they might, want, you to think. Many of them, even the specific airline affiliated ones, sell day passes you can use. These may not cost much at all. If you are a regular traveler, you could always purchase a yearly lounge pass. Some companies such as priority pass offer you access to lounges all over the world.
9 – Jet lag is a pain! Doing everything you can to minimize it should be a priority, to make your holiday as enjoyable as possible. The best ways to minimize it are eating and sleeping at the correct time for your destination, not where you are currently. If you are flying from New York to London, eat your food on the plane at London meal times. If your plane arrives early in the morning to London, that means you are flying through what would be London night time. In this situation, you should sleep on the plane as much as possible. If you are arriving at night, that means you are traveling through would be London day time and should remain awake for the entire flight.
10 – Mark your luggage as fragile, even if it isn’t. It may not make a huge difference in how your luggage is treated by the airline’s staff, but it might. It is a simple, free, extra precaution that takes very little time on your part. No harm in trying, right?
