Travel Hacks To Make Your Next Big Trip A Breeze

Whether you’re currently trying to book a future expedition or are a regular traveler, these travel hacks are worth having in your backpocket. From planning and packing, tricks to make the airplane ride more comfortable, to hotel hacks to make it feel more plush, this article will help make your travel experience a breeze.

The Transportation Security Administration allows passengers to bring their drinks on board the aircraft provided these are frozen, and we mean solid like a rock. You can drink up when they eventually melt during the long hours of travel.

Prepare an assortment of goodies for the long trip, packed separately in a plastic bag to avoid having to delve into your handheld luggage. Feel as if you’re just snacking in the living room while watching a movie on a Friday night.

Many travelers have cut themselves on a stray razor while rummaging through a bag of toiletries. Use binder clips as a substitute for its easily misplaced cover. Keep some handy as these clips have plenty of other creative uses as well.

It won’t take long for your clothes to smell in a humid atmosphere, especially once you’ve changed and put used items in your bag. Simply pack a dryer sheet in your belongings so it can absorb odor while keeping everything fresh for longer.

These items can be used as a cushion if you think you’ll need one later, creating padding between your head and the wall. You get to lighten your load and feel more comfortable – wins all around!

This is especially true when flying during the holidays as this is a time when everyone seems to be going somewhere. Stay alerted regarding the waiting time in security lines by using the MyTSA app.

This is because the cookies installed in your browser notify travel websites of your previous searches. They know you’ve been looking into certain flights with given rates, and they’ll use this as a starting point for an increase. To start fresh, clear your browsing history and delete cookies. Then, remember to always search for flights in an incognito window to prevent this from happening again.

The good thing about early morning flights is that airlines are likely to offer cheaper tickets during these hours. Planes are rarely delayed at these times too. Data also shows that flights are less likely to experience turbulence in the morning compared to late flights that are hit with irregular air motion and thermal convection.

Charging outlets can be found in many places at the airport, but with so many travelers around, these are often either broken or in high demand. If you’re really stuck, look for a television set and plug your cable into its USB port to recharge your phone.

Mark luggage as fragile to keep the bag from being mishandled. Even if you don’t have breakable items in it, at least you won’t have to wait long at baggage claim as they see to it that these items are prioritized.

Instead of bringing the whole bottle on a long flight, store portions of it in vials. This way, you can bring a range of scents and other useful products like aftershave.

The FlightBoard app is a lifesaver in this situation, keeping you updated from wherever you are. It sends information to your phone, so you won’t have to stand up just to know what flight is up next.

A duo should book both seats and leave the middle for someone else. Chances are, no one’s going to take it as long as other seats are still available. If you’re lucky, you’ll get the whole row to yourself. If someone takes the seat, at least the two of you still have the best seats possible.

If you’re seated in between a couple who followed the tip above, you could be faced with the odd experience of being their third wheel. Arrange to be notified through ExperFlyer.com of any ticket cancellations and seat reassignments, so you can move out and settle in a better spot.

If you want to be prioritized on the next plane out, either on a connecting flight or a rerouted trip, skip the long lines at the airport counter. Call the airline’s hotline or your travel agent instead, and get it done in minutes.

Wear clothes that allow you to stretch when you need to, rather than unwieldy ones. Go for something comfy and smooth, which allows you to sleep well, in contrast to using rough fabric that makes you feel enmeshed in an already cramped space.

Keep wipes handy to sanitize surfaces around you. Make sure not to miss the handles, even the aircraft window where someone before you with a virus might have sneezed or rested their head. As of now, face masks are also required on flights, but this too can help keep you from catching something on your next trip.

Cancel out all the fuss around you with headphones, and say goodbye to noisy chattering, sneezing, and snoring. Play music that improves your mood, or just use it as a prop to avoid unnecessary conversation. Noise cancellation headphones are even better!

Ventilation is necessary for your health and safety in the air, and the constant flow ensures the air from other rows doesn’t reach you, acting as a barrier against microbes. So, if you can, keep the air on for comfort and safety.

Your situation could get even worse if the ice served comes from water tanks – as is often the case in air travel. These tanks may not be entirely clear of bacteria. The vacation time ahead of you could be ruined if you pick up a stomach bug, so it’s worth saying no to ice!

Even if you’re a dedicated coffee or soda drinker, it’s best to pause your drinking habit and choose water on flights. If that’s too much, try coconut water or fruit juices. Bonus tip: Avoid having them served over ice.

Takeoff and landing are the most crucial stages in any flight, so it’s always best to stay awake at these times. It is also necessary to avoid airplane ear, which is caused by the rapid air pressure change. It can be relieved by swallowing, but you won’t know to do this if you’re asleep.

The only problem is that sometimes our beloved sandals choose the worst time to break. If you’ve often found yourself in this situation, it’s time to consider carrying a bread clip with you in your wallet. If such a situation occurs whether you’re at the beach, at the airport, or elsewhere, simply use your handy bread clip to save your flip-flop.

Bring your own sealed snacks to save money. You can even bring your own travel mug and some sealed tea bags or sachets of coffee to make your own drinks at the airport. Empty mugs won’t be a problem passing through security.

Staying fresh and comfortable is key in a situation where you’re practically tied to a chair for so long. Change your clothes, bring extra underwear, freshen up, and avoid drinking liquids other than water. You wouldn’t want to wake up the next morning smelling like yesterday.

Have the passport and its contents scanned for backup, stored in an email inbox for safekeeping. Who knows when such records may be needed for validation and further documentation.

These can be rich sources for microbes unless they are sealed tight. The worst scenario could be that your blanket has been re-used without being washed and merely been neatly folded to appear fresh. Bring your own lightweight travel blanket if possible, and only use one offered by the airline if it is completely sealed in plastic.

The most stable seats are located close to the wings of the aircraft. Sitting a little forward is also a quieter spot, best chosen for long flights.

This will only dehydrate you more, and when flying, you’re already being subjected to the dry, cold, thin air of the cabin. Drink water instead, going for an average of eight ounces per hour.

Entertain yourself with books, an e-reader, saved music, podcasts, movies, or even meditation. If you find you’re never really interested in what’s available on the flight, download some content you know you’ll love a few days before you’re scheduled to depart.

Phones have become indispensable, so it makes sense to bring a portable power source to ensure your lifesaving device never dies. Choose one that’s light and sleek to bring along during long flights.

Feet may be swollen as a result of body fluids collecting around them, and the knees may feel strained, depending on one’s sitting position. It is best to stretch and move whenever possible. Roll your neck and shoulders, raise your knees, and take short walks.

While a cap and waterproof jacket will keep you from getting soaked if it rains, you need to protect your luggage too. If it’s not already waterproof, seal the inside with a bin liner. That way, your clothes and water-sensitive devices will be kept secure.

You could also score even better deals by joining their loyalty program. Most major hotel chains have one, and most are free to join! Hotels typically offer a wide range of benefits for loyalty program members who book directly, such as free night stays, room upgrades, or complimentary meals.

Chances are, you’ll get a free room upgrade, or they’ll give you a special gift like a bottle of champagne. After all, the hotel would want nothing more than to make your stay extra memorable so you will talk to your friends and family about it!

Even if you don’t use them right away, they will surely come in handy for camping trips, sleepovers, or long plane rides. You can also place them in little bags to donate to the homeless.

If your room doesn’t have a safe, you can hide your money in your hairbrush. Just peel the rubber portion of a flat hairbrush then place your cash underneath. Put the rubber part back into position, then keep your brush in your suitcase.

To remedy this, grab a few hangers from the closet and use the clamps at the bottom to keep the curtains tightly closed. You’ll never have to worry about unwanted light entering your room ever again!

Aside from using the ironing board as an extra shelf, you can also use it as a work desk or as a dining table. Just remember to cover the ironing board with a towel to avoid staining it!

First, grab a plastic bag and some coins. Next, place the plastic bag over the drain then drop a few coins inside to hold the bag in place. Finally, start filling the tub with water. Now, enjoy your bath!

Just fill your sink with ice from the hotel’s ice machine or a nearby convenience store and carefully place your food and drinks on top of the ice. This will keep them nice and cool for several hours.

If you’re really super paranoid about germs and want to go the extra mile to get rid of them, just head on over to a nearby supermarket or convenience store and grab a travel-sized bottle of dishwashing liquid and a sponge.

Simply get a mug or bowl and place your phone inside it. While you can’t expect the same sound quality as a high-end Bluetooth speaker, the sounds will surely be louder! Just don’t play the music too loud to avoid disturbing the other guests.

That’s right, rolling a tennis ball along your body on longer flights will help stimulate blood flow throughout the trip and help prevent blood clots. Sitting down for hours on a flight at high altitudes has been known to cause blood clotting. That’s why it’s often advised to get up, walk around, and stretch your legs once in a while. However, with a simple tennis ball, you can also get your blood circulating by massaging it along your arms and legs. Doing so may even save your life!

The answer is simple! Head into the bathroom and look for an unused shower cap. Simply wrap the shower cap around the soles of your shoes, toss your shoes into your luggage along with the rest of your stuff, and you’re good to go!

You can use the laundry bag to separate dirty clothes from unused ones in your luggage. You can also use it to store snacks or act as a trash bag to keep your car clean during the long drive home.

The remote control, for instance, is one item that rarely gets disinfected. Just think about how often you clean your remote control at home! To reduce your chances of getting sick, simply wrap the remote control in a clear plastic bag.

Leaving the “Do Not Disturb” sign at the door can also keep away thieves who might try to break into your room while you’re away. Consider doing this if you’re checked into a hotel with rooms that have doors on the outside of the building.

This way, if an intruder jiggles the handle and enters your room, the glass will fall and break. The sound of the breaking glass acts as an alarm system for yourself to alert you that someone has entered the room. It may serve as an alarm for the culprit as well. The noise may scare them away or perhaps they’ll immediately step onto the broken glass within the room, giving you more time to act.

Use the band-aids to cover any open electrical outlets to keep your children safe from electrocution. You can also use them to keep electrical wires or extension cords pinned down so that your kids won’t accidentally trip and injure themselves.

If you want to keep this from happening, try putting the small packs of butter on top of the toaster while you’re warming up your bread. The heat from the toaster will help melt the butter and make it easier to spread.

If you want to get rid of those wrinkles, simply hang your clothes in the bathroom while you take a hot shower. All that steam can help get rid of most (if not all) of those wrinkles in no time!

Just flip a paper or plastic cup upside down, then poke a hole in the middle using the toothbrush handle to create a makeshift toothbrush holder. Now, you no longer have to worry about the toothbrush bristles touching the countertop.

Here’s a fun fact: a matchbook’s striking surface is mostly made of the same material as a typical nail file, so this should be perfectly safe to use on your nails!

If this isn’t an option, try dropping by the front desk to ask if they can lend you a charger. They most likely have a bunch of chargers in the lost and found that you can borrow.

Step outside and slow jog in the morning sun. Run your pace, and don’t strain yourself. This will help the body adjust as you’re exposing it to the new daytime hours, leaving you energetic for the rest of the day.

If your room has a sturdy chair, try placing it right in front of the A/C vent to redirect the flow of air. You can also do this using other objects like a couch, an ironing board, or a piece of luggage.

To block out the light, take one of the used bath towels in the bathroom and place it under the door. Depending on how thick the towel is, this can also be a good way to muffle the noise coming from outside.

All you need to do is to untuck the top end of your bed sheet and rewrap it to create a horizontal pocket. Now you have a nice little storage space to keep everything you need within your reach.

Just drape the towel over the luggage rack and place it near the A/C unit. If you want to keep your room properly humidified through the night, just keep one end of the towel soaked in a bucket of water.

If you want your clothes (and other personal items) to stay dry, take the plastic bag in the ice bucket and toss your wet swimsuits inside. Make sure that the top of the bag is properly tied before placing it in your luggage.

Just plug in a Chromecast device (or something similar) and watch a movie or TV show from whatever streaming service you’re subscribed to. You can also connect your laptop to the TV using an HDMI cable.

First, prepare the sandwich as usual and wrap it in aluminum foil. Then, press the hot iron against either side of the sandwich. This should be ready to eat in a matter of minutes!

If your pillow is too low, take a few towels from the bathroom and place them underneath the pillow. Add more towels if necessary. As for those extra-fluffy pillows, fold a towel and stuff it inside the pillowcase – this should help add a bit more firmness to your pillow.

The answer is simple – grab some duct tape or electrical tape and use it to cover those pesky blinking lights. These can easily be removed the next day after you’ve enjoyed a good night’s sleep.

Simply open the packet of sugar and empty the contents into the bottle of lotion to make a facial scrub. Gently apply the mixture to your face, leave it on for several minutes, then rinse. This should help make your skin feel nice and smooth in an instant.

If you need to charge your phone while you’re at the pool, just replace the key card with a business card or loyalty card and the power should stay on. This may not work in all hotels, but it’s worth a try!

Aside from using it to boil water to make instant ramen or oatmeal, you can also use the kettle to boil some corn or hotdogs. You can even chop up some veggies and make soup!

If you want to pay less for that same meal, get yourself out of bed and go down to the restaurant to eat. You can also order it to go instead if you’d rather enjoy your meal in the privacy of your room.

If you want something healthier instead, get some fruit like bananas or apples. You can also pick up some packs of yogurt for the fridge – just don’t forget to bring disposable spoons.

If the gym offers free water from a dispenser, for instance, be sure to fill up your water bottles before you check out. If they have complimentary bottles of water, go ahead and take a few. This will help you save money as you won’t need to buy some water while you’re on your way home.

Although the chances of hotels having a bedbug infestation are relatively low, if you’re worried you can temporarily place your luggage safely in the bathtub as you search the bed, mattress, and box spring for bed bugs. Once your search is complete, move your luggage to a luggage rack. Placing your bags on the bed or hotel floor can be dangerous since if bed bugs are present, they may crawl into your luggage and cause an infestation when you return home from your travels.

This will serve as a warning to others when they enter the bathroom to see the strange set up. It’s a sign to help them realize there’s no more toilet paper left, thus stopping them in their tracks. A red plastic cup can also serve as a bright colored warning.

Some people believe that placing a cup of water with salt and vinegar under or by the bed can rid the room of negative energy by absorbing that negativity. Some even report that it helped them sleep better and feel more refreshed. It’s your choice whether or not to believe it, but at the very least trying out this hack can’t hurt!

The last reason has to do with emergency situations. If you need to write a note reliably, a crayon will always work. It’s not a marker or pen that may run out of ink or a pencil that may break and need sharpening. If you need to write a note whether on a parked car or something more serious like in a hostage situation, your crayon will work, and the color will make it stand out to others in case of an emergency.

Baking soda is a great household trick when it comes to deodorizing spaces or absorbing moisture. If you’re concerned about how clean your hotel mattress is, simply sprinkle some baking soda on the mattress and let it sit for about an hour. This will give the baking soda time to shine as it absorbs moisture, odor, and mold particles. Now vacuum the baking soda up, and your hotel mattress will be clean and odorless!

If you spot a phone charger left in the room, you’ll want to report the issue immediately. Items like this may seem ordinary, but they can also be hidden cameras infringing on your privacy. To check for other cameras, use your smartphone’s flashlight to scan your room in the dark and see if any objects reflect the light to identify possible camera lenses.

Thankfully, apps like Backpackr and Travel Buddies allow you to meet other travelers for these exact reasons. You can chat, meet up, and travel together if you wish. At the very least, you can swap travel hacks and advice.

Download the map when you have the chance for a quick study. That way, if Google Maps can’t be accessed when in the field, your offline version can be pulled out, allowing you to navigate to wherever you want to go.

There’s magic in knowing you’re going places unplanned, without the typical restraints. Enjoy a trip without an itinerary and see where each day takes you. You may be surprised at how relaxing and enlightening such an adventure can be.

Party with a Local is an app that allows you to get to know the locals, and of course, party with them. It also gives updated suggestions on where to hang out when you’re in the area.

You don’t have to unload your bag at every hostel you visit for a quick stay. Only take out what is needed, and plan what those items will be. Place them in easy reach in your bag to save time getting prepared for the next adventure.

With this in mind, it might be best to be your own tour guide. If you haven’t done this before, now is as good a time as any. Use the Google Goggles app to take pictures of landmarks and other beautiful locations, and the app will send you interesting facts about them.

Tire yourself out. Hitting the gym or going for a run can burn off any extra energy. You may even fall asleep on the flight faster. But exercise affects your mood too. Working out boosts endorphins, which will help keep your mood upbeat and positive during the stressors of travel.

This is supported by science too. Since thunderstorms and lightning require warm air that is heated by the sun, these are more common in the afternoon or early evening. For this reason, traveling in the morning hours brings less chance of turbulence.

While it’s just overall good advice, it can also produce some rewards too. When you are kind, flight attendants are much more likely to return the favor. This could mean added refreshments or perks.

If tea isn’t your jam, powdered drink packets may do the trick. Not only will these fit in any pouch or pocket, but all you need is an empty bottle and some water from a fountain. Your flight just got a little more delicious.

Paying for this experience will give you a far more enjoyable trip. Choose a comfortable seat, charge your device, and knock out some work. Food and alcohol may also already be included in this price. If you are on a budget, look for the chapel or prayer room. Although it won’t grant any of these benefits, this location provides a low-cost place to relax, escape, and enjoy some silence.

Calling customer service from the airport is the quickest way to get help. This little-known secret can save you a lot of hassle. They will rebook your flight in only a few minutes. This sure beats standing in line for hours.

Essentially, with TSA PreCheck, you are joining a process where a global network of fliers have passed through security ahead of time. All airports have designated lines at security to expedite these travelers. You can learn about this process on TSA’s website.

Generosity is often rewarded by way of more perks, like being bumped up to business class. You can even save money with offers of free meals and overnight accommodation.