Let’s be honestand recognize that traveling is a two-sided coin. There is a side full of adventure, new experiences, exotic food, and memories that will last a lifetime. The other side consists of overpriced tickets, travel scams, overstuffed suitcases, and sometimes a little stress.
If you want to travel more, save money, and stay safe in the process, read on to learn travel hacks from veteran travelers who’ve been through it all.
Hacks to save money on flights
Flights can often be one of the biggest expenses while traveling. On the same subject : How to Choose a Business Credit Card. Here’s how to save money on flights.
Use Incognito Mode with a VPN. Ariel Sheen, a travel journalist, emailed BGN and shared her experience finding cheaper flights. He shared his experience when his friend who lives in the US was looking for a flight to visit him in Colombia. “We learned that browsing for flights in incognito mode is not enough for them to get the same prices that I saw in Colombia. When they combine incognito mode with a VPN to spoof their IP addresses to appear to be looking at flights in that country, the prices drop significantly.
Choose flights based on price, not destination. If you use Skyscanner for flights, it has a great feature called “anywhere.” which will show you the cheapest places to travel. And usually, where there are low-cost flights there is a lower cost of living, which can save you money when traveling within the country.
Track flights with price alerts. Janelle “Jash” Cooper emailed BGN and shared the benefits of looking up flights with Google Flights. “[It’s] a great way to find different flights, and you can set notifications for specific flights. It’s a great way to see price fluctuations and see what day is best to travel. There’s a similar feature on Kayak. com and other travel sites.
Travel hacks for packing light
Packing is one of my favorite parts of traveling. I always seem to pack too much or too little. Trying to fit a week’s worth of clothes into one small suitcase feels like an Olympic sport. This may interest you : Yuen: How to travel with carry-on only — and some tips if you can’t. However, a tried and true technique that helps me is rolling my clothes. I often layer outfits on top of one another, roll them up, and then put them neatly in my suitcase or backpack to save space.
Dirty laundry. Another packing hack recommended by Valerie, owner, and luxury travel consultant for Cultured Travel LLC. He sent an email to BGN to remind travelers to pack extra bags for dirty laundry. She says, “You can get an inexpensive mesh laundry bag for a convenient place to store all the clothes you use while on vacation. I also recommend throwing a few dryer sheets in their luggage. This will help keep your clothes smelling fresh like they just came out of the wash.” .
Rope Organizer. Another great suggestion from Valerie is to get a travel strap organizer. This will save you time and prevent the frustration of trying to untangle the cable every time you need to charge the device.
Make a packing list. Andrew Sean Ryan, a humanitarian who lives across Europe and North America, emailed BGN with this suggestion. “Make a standard list for the trip and save it in your notes app. To make sure I never forget anything important when I’m packing, I just go to the checklist on my phone and mark off everything I need to bring.
Hacks to save money while traveling
The easiest way to save money while traveling is to create a budget and have an idea of what you want to spend your money on. Read also : Quick summer travel ensnares Cleveland airport directors, and many others. With an idea of where your money is going, it will be easier to follow these money saving tips.
Load up on snacks before you go: If you grew up in the 90s like me, you probably remember the time you went to the movies with a bag full of snacks to avoid paying exorbitant movie theater prices. This same trick works for traveling. Instead of loading up on chips and Twizzlers, try packing snacks with more sustenance. Things like cereal bars, sandwiches, whole grain crackers, dried fruit, and other healthy snacks. These snacks can also double as a quick breakfast when you have early excursions planned. I also often travel with empty water bottles as many airports now have water fountains and stations to refill your water bottles.
Travel Hacks to get a local experience
Travel experiences can be great, but sometimes you want something that hasn’t been created before. Here are some suggestions from digital nomads to get a more authentic experience.
Use different modes of transportation. When traveling in a country, most tour companies will take you to the usual tourist spots. If you want a more in-depth and daring experience, you can try renting a car or motorbike to travel to unknown places.
James, founder of thetraveldeck.com and Asian travel expert, wrote to BGN and suggested getting an international driving permit. He explained: “IDP is the only form of insurance of any kind that will help you if something unpleasant happens.”
If you are not too enthusiastic about driving in a foreign country you can still get around in a cheaper way by using local transport, walking, or riding a bicycle. On one of my first solo trips to Mexico, I spoke to some waiter at a restaurant where I had breakfast who told me I could take a local bus for less than $1 to a more remote beach outside the main city. .
Chat with the locals. Whether you’re staying in a hotel or Air BnB, talk to people who live in the country you’re visiting. Share with them what kind of experience you’re looking for, ask where the best street food is, or where to find an arsenal store.
Safety hacks and tips
Safety is the number one priority, especially for solo travelers. Remember these tips for planning your next solo trip.
Hide Money and Backup Copies. Shawn Anderson, a cross-country skier, emailed BGN suggesting not only hiding backup copies of important documents like passports or hotel reservations but also hiding cash. If you’re staying in a safe location, it’s a good idea to stash emergency cash in your suitcase or hotel safe. While you are out and about, you can hide money in yourself by tucking a few dollars into a secret pocket, in a bra or socks, to avoid becoming a victim of petty theft.
Beware of strangers. Jermaine, a travel photographer, also emailed BGN and suggested: “Keep your phone, wallet and backpack in front of you. Don’t let random people hug you on the street and keep your hands in your purse or pocket when in public.
Preparing for your next adventure can be easier than you think with these simple hacks.
Kiersten is a freelance writer and coach. As a writer, she has written for Travel Noire, Passion Passport, BAUCE mag, and several travel and lifestyle blogs. As a writer, the goal is to write content that inspires others to take action. As a coach, her goal is to empower women to be their most authentic selves. In her free time, you can find her dancing to any song anywhere.
