79 Travel Hacks Most Frequent Flyers Don’t Know
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In 2017, Mike and I left it all to travel the world. We’ve met some of the coolest people, seen the neatest things, and.. had some “interesting” experience along the way.
Through it all, we’ve learned a lot of lessons. Some that were fun and exciting, and others that made us what to go home and never travel again (just kidding 😉).
The other day, I decided to brain dump my best travel hacks and unknown tips that could change your entire trip for the better.
You might know some of these already, but there are 80 of these tips, so you’ll certainly find something that will make you think, “wow, I can’t believe I didn’t think of that sooner.”
Packing and Luggage
1. Cross-pack with your travel partner.
Put a packing cube* of your clothes in their bag and a cube of theirs in yours. If one bag goes missing, neither of you is left with nothing to wear.
Note: Oh, and when I say, “packing cube” I’m referring to vacuum packing cubes, not the standard packing cubes. The vacuum packing cubes can do everything the standard ones can, AND they can be vacuum sealed, creating TONS of space in your suitcase.
2. Always carry a full change of clothes in your personal item.
This means underwear, too. And even if you are taking a direct flight. Bags get lost all the time, and the day this happens to you, you’ll be relieved that you have a backup set of clean clothes.
Important Note: This is ESPECIALLY true if you have children. Trust me on this. Bring a change of clothes for yourself and each one of your children.
3. Keep meds, valuables, and chargers in your carry-on. never check Them.
If your checked bag goes missing, you still have the things you can’t replace at your destination.
4. Pack a foldable duffel or reusable tote.
This trick will cost you an ounce or two in your checked bag, and it’ll give you a place to put day trip needs, beach accessories, and any souvenirs or overflow items you’ll need to bring home from your destination.
I also tend to travel with a drawstring backpack or a packable backpack for hiking or day trip excursions. If you’re not sure what I’m referring to, here’s an example of a packable backpack. They really come in handy!
5. Tuck an empty shoe box into your checked bag.
I actually don’t do this because I don’t really buy a lot of things while I travel, but my close friend does this and it helps her reserve space for purchases.
She told me she has an issue with overpacking, so this protects space for breakables on the way back.
6. Use packing cubes, ideally the vacuum compression kind.
I mentioned this above, but it deserves its own “tip”. Several years ago, I purchased these vacuum compression packing cubes, and it has changed our lives. Who knew packing cubes could change lives?
I have since converted my mom, sisters, and in-laws to this travel style/hack.
7. Leave the suitcase’s expansion zipper section empty.
We use this space to pack dirty laundry for the return home so our clean clothes and our worn ones never intertwine. Yuck!
8. Pack clothes on wire hangers inside a plastic bag.
This is something we do when we won’t be moving around a lot during our trip and when we know we’ll have closet space for our clothes. This is especially helpful on cruises where space is very limited. If you know, you know!
When you get to your destination, just lift the hangers straight into the closet. Boom, you’re done unpacking!
9. Pick one base color and build around it.
We used to travel for back-to-back months with just carry-on luggage, so we needed to understand how to be semi-fashionable while packing extremely light.
Pick a base color like black, navy, charcoal, or olive, and interchange your outfits. This allows you to pack half as much and still have various outfits for days.
10. Cover your shoe soles with shower caps or grocery bags.
I can’t be the only person to think that your shoes thrown inside your organized luggage is disgusting, right?
If you cover your shoe soles with shower caps or bags, you’ll keep whatever you stepped in off the clothes packed right next to them.
11. Snap a photo of your checked bag and what’s inside.
Mike and I actually take a video of what’s inside our suitcase. This helps us understand how we packed when we left home (so we can do the same when we go back). And if we ever lost our bag, we’d know exactly what went missing.
12. Lock everything, even backpacks and carry-ons.
Bags do get pilfered, and it sucks.
A few solutions include a small lock or twist ties. There are even some suitcases that come with a built-in lock.
Here’s an example of a highly-rated suitcase with built-in locks.
In Your Hotel Room
14. Clip the gap in the blackout curtains shut.
A binder clip, pants hanger, chip clip, or hair claw all work for this, and in the morning, you’ll be so happy you did.
This is the single most useful hotel hack there is hands down.
15. Put one shoe in the hotel safe with your valuables.
This was a recommendation from a friend who regularly uses the hotel safe to keep her valuables. She leaves a shoe in the safe with her important documents and things, and when she goes to pack to leave, she notices a shoe missing. This reminds her the safe still has her passport and cash in it.
16. Set a phone reminder for checkout morning to empty the safe.
Sure, you’ll need an alarm to get up for check-out, but even better if you can also remind yourself to check your hotel room’s safe as you pack.
17. Cover the glowing LEDs for true darkness.
Mike is a stickler for a room being dark while he sleeps. Not only does he need EVERY light off, but he also wears an eye mask. Don’t ask me why he needs to double-down, but it’s that serious for him.
When lights in a room are exceptionally bright, he puts band-aids, sticky note, or a scrap of tape over them for complete darkness. If you’re like Mike, give this a try.
18. Bring a small motion-sensor or battery night light.
When you’ve stubbed your toe in a new environment as many times as we have, you’ll learn how smart it is to pack a small motion-sensor night light. If you need to head to the bathroom at 3am, this will be your guiding light.
19. Forgot your charging block? Check the back of the TV.
Did you know that most hotel TVs have a USB port you can use?
We’ve asked the front desk for charging blocks before, and they always swear they’re out. But your TV just might save your (phone’s) life.
20. Sanitize the remote.
I’ll say this loud and clear.. SANITIZE THE REMOTE.
TV remotes are one of the dirtiest, least-cleaned things in any room.
21. Pack a rubber door stopper.
According to security professionals, this is the simplest foolproof lock there is. It’ll buy you peace of mind wherever you sleep.
23. Keep an old key card for the lights.
When you’re in a room that requires a card in a wall slot to run the power, a spare card lets you keep the AC going while you’re out.
You could also use an old ID, credit card, or thin slab of paper for this. It doesn’t need to be a room key specifically.
24. Bring a satin or silk pillowcase.
My daughter has some of the finest hair I’ve ever seen, and cotton pillowcases are rough on her hair.
Satin or silk pillowcases are much kinder to her hair and skin, and it makes a strange room feel a little more like home. It also takes up almost no space in your suitcase, so for us it’s worth bringing.
At the Airport
25. Go to your gate first, then double back for food.
Gate changes happen ALL the time. If you go to your gate first, you can confirm that the reported information you’re going off of is accurate. From there, you can find the best food spots nearby.
We’ve also been noticing lately that planes are leaving ahead of schedule. And according to the terms and conditions of most airlines, this is completely legal, and they will leave you. It seems a little crazy to me, but it’s true.
26. Type your flight number into your browser or texts.
When you do this, you’ll often get gate and status updates before the agents announce them.
You can, and should, sign up for text message alerts from the airline itself. They’ll send you immediate notifications about changes, etc.
27. Carry a small power strip or two-outlet adapter.
Finding an open outlet at an airport is like finding a four leaf clover. Bring a small power strip or charging block for your electronics.
Also note that power strips are not allowed on cruises, so leave them at home for that.
28. Freeze a water bottle solid and bring it through security as ice.
This was something a friend recommended to me when I was trying to get some refrigerated food through security for my baby.
Of course, liquids get tossed, but a fully frozen bottle is allowed (surprisingly), and it’ll melt into cold water.
29. Drop your change and keys into a ziplock before security.
I’m thinking this doesn’t happen to as many people now since carrying around change isn’t as common as it once was.
But if you’re someone who brings cash on trips, I recommend bringing a ziplock baggy with you through security so you can put your change, keys, wallet, etc. inside. Toss the bag in the bin, then grab it back in one go instead of fishing coins out of the tray.
30. Run the whole family through PreCheck on your status.
If you have TSA PreCheck, take the kids and all the carry-ons through with you. Global Entry includes PreCheck and is worth it for any international travel.
Note: Many of the higher travel credit cards offer TSA PreCheck for free. If you’re a frequent traveler, it’s so worth having a good travel credit card, even with a higher annual fee.
31. Re-clear security to use PreCheck on international returns.
After you re-check your bags, exit and come back through the normal checkpoint, since the transfer security line often has neither PreCheck nor CLEAR.
It’s important to know that this might not always be the best option for you, so weigh your options at the airport.
32. On a long layover, ask about free perks.
Some airports run free city tours for long international layovers, and some airlines will comp you a hotel for layovers over six hours. You usually just have to ask.
I believe Qatar Airways and Icelandair offer some type of free perks, so check before booking!
33. Check in early where you can.
Airports like Changi, Dublin, and Manchester let you check in or drop your bags hours, and sometimes even a night ahead of your flight.
On the Plane
34. Order a special meal.
Most airlines have the option to pick between a vegetarian, gluten-free, or other special option and you’ll be served before the entire rest of the cabin. You’ll also often have fresher food, which is always a plus.
35. Buy the empty middle seat on a long leg.
This trick is frequently cheaper than upgrading.
We also try booking the aisle and window seats and hope the middle stays open, then swap if someone takes it. About 75% of the time the middle seat stays open.
36. Bring an empty pillowcase and stuff your jacket in it.
This turns into an instant pillow, and it keeps your coat clean at the same time. I usually use this makeshift pillow on my tray table.
37. Wear compression socks on long flights.
For years I didn’t know swollen ankles from sitting was a thing. That was until we spent 17+ hours on delayed plane headed to Bali from San Francisco.
Compression socks aren’t just for grandmas. They are for everyone! Get yourself some, and you’ll be thankful you did.
Here are a pair of highly-rated compression socks for airplane travel.
38. Do a mid-flight refresh in the lavatory.
I learned this trick from a fellow travel blogger and my flights have never been the same.
Although we often fly business class on long-haul flights thanks to miles and points, there are many flights where we are forced to fly economy.
I know, I know.. boo hoo, right?
Well it was boo hoo until we realized that your flight is what you make of it. Even the long ones. Pack things in your personal item that helps you stay refreshed throughout your flight.
Here are a few of my favorite refreshers for long flights:
- Face moisturizer (planes are dry as a desert)
- Eye drops
- Travel toothbrush & toothpaste
- Lip balm
- Travel deodorant
- Travel washcloth
39. Pack a saline nasal spray.
In addition to keeping your skin and eyes moisturized, I recommend bringing nasal spray, too. As we noted already, airplane cabin air is dryyy.
A quick spray keeps your nose and sinuses from feeling like sandpaper.
40. Keep ginger chews or an alcohol wipe handy for nausea.
Sure, you can pack Dramamine, but if you’re already feeling nauseous, there is little that it can do for you.
That’s where I recommend popping a ginger chew or sniffing an alcohol wipe. This tends to take the edge off and settles your stomach until you land.
41. Bring a packable blanket or down jacket.
I will never forget requesting a third blanket on my first trip to Europe in 2014. I was on Icelandair, and I swear I could see my breath because it was so cold on the plane.
From that point on, I never got on an airplane without a packable jacket or blanket.
Note: A down jacket is so easy to pack, and it’s great for bringing along on excursions at your destination.
42. Line the seat-back pocket with a gallon ziplock.
At this point, you might think I have a phobia of germs, and if you think that, you’re 100% accurate. But come on.. the back pocket of any airline seat IS gross. You don’t know what people are putting in them.
If you put a ziplock bag there, it lets you use the pocket without your phone and snacks touching whatever was in there last.
43. Put your carry-on one row forward, not directly above you.
This way, you can keep an eye, which makes it far harder for anyone to walk off with it.
44. Switch to your destination’s time zone the moment you board.
If you’ve ever found it confusing to understand what time it is in your goal destination, you’re not alone. That’s why I change my timezone ahead as soon as I get on the plane. This helps me figure out my sleep schedule on board.
Money, Cards, and Points
45. Get a fee-free debit card that reimburses ATM charges.
Get a card like Charles Schwab that lets you pull local cash from any airport ATM and refunds the fees. This way you will skip the awful currency-exchange counters, which we all know are scamming us big time.
46. Always pay and withdraw in the local currency.
When the machine or terminal offers to “convert” it to your home currency, decline. Pay and withdraw in the local currency.
47. Carry at least two cards on different networks, in different places.
I’d also go as far as saying that you should add a backup ATM card too.
The last time we were in Thailand in 2023, Mike left his card at the ATM, and my ATM card was stolen. YIKES.
And this isn’t an uncommon circumstance. Cards get declined and go missing. When you have a spare stashed separately, your emergency is no longer an emergency.
48. Use your card’s rental car coverage.
Many travel cards include rental car coverage, and some Amex cards offer primary coverage for around twenty-five dollars if you register in advance.
Always check the exclusions, since places like Italy and Ireland often aren’t covered.
Note: Always check that your travel credit card offers PRIMARY rental car coverage. Many just offer secondary coverage, which will put you in a bad place if something ever happens while driving.
49. Buy travel insurance with medical and evacuation coverage.
Your card’s protection usually isn’t comprehensive, and an evacuation abroad can cost more than your house.
I recommend Allianz Travel Insurance or SafetyWing (my go-to).
50. Route your online shopping through Rakuten for points.
Look, I know you probably have a certain way you’re purchasing anything travel-related. Whether you have specific travel credit cards or certain portals you use, you should still always start with Rakuten.
It’s a free online shopping portal that will not only allow you to rack up points the way you already might, but always double-dip with their platform and earn even more.
You’d be silly NOT to start with Rakuten.
Sign up for Rakuten for free here!
51. Watch your fare after you book.
This is a trick I haven’t heard many people use before.
If the price of your flight drops, ask the airline for a flight credit for the difference. It works far more often than people realize, sometimes even more than once per trip.
52. Use status to get a status match.
I didn’t know this was a thing either, but a new friend of mine insists this is the most underutilized travel hack there is.
One airline’s elite status can often be matched into another program, which can mean lounge access and free bags across alliances. Of course, it’s recommended to concentrate on one alliance and its cobranded cards.
53. Order a little local currency before you leave.
Your bank can send you local currency, and it’s nice to have it once you’re in said destination rather than scrambling to find a sketchy ATM machine or exchange counter.
Booking and Flights
54. Take the first flight of the morning.
With morning flights, you’ll experience fewer delays and less turbulence, Basically, the system hasn’t had all day to fall apart yet.
It is the most reliable departure you can book.
Note: We’ve found that our toddler tends to do better with morning flights than evening flights. Her nap coincides with the flight, which means she sleeps through 80% of our flights. It’s fantastic.
55. Book an extra hotel night on an evening-flight day.
If you are flying out at night, instead of rushing an 11am checkout, book for another night so you can have all day in your room. It’s a place to relax before your flight. And if your flight gets delayed, well you have a hotel room already!
Note: Some hotels even offer day rates. Be sure to ask!
58. Compare two one-way tickets against the round-trip.
We almost always book two one-way tickets instead of roundtrip fares. Splitting it up, even across two different airlines, is often cheaper and gives you better connections.
Note: Always book through the airline directly (after signing into Rakuten, of course). Not only will you get way more airline miles by booking direct, but you’ll also have customer service help if anything goes wrong.
59. Hunt for free stopovers on foreign carriers.
Airlines like Icelandair, TAP, Turkish, Qatar, and Copa all let you stop in their hub for free, so you see two destinations on one ticket.
60. Go To museums at opening or just before closing.
If you’re visiting museums, or really any attraction or landmark, show up right when doors open or 30 to 40 minutes before closing to skip the lines.
61. Claim EU compensation when a flight falls apart.
If an EU flight is cancelled or badly delayed, you can claim hundreds of dollars under passenger-protection rules, and you have years to do it.
62. Message the airline instead of calling.
When I needed to call Delta to have my mom’s flight changed during an unexpected illness, I sat on the phone for FOUR HOURS.
If you’re in the same predicament, try using the airline’s app text feature or messaging them on their X account. This is usually WAY faster.
Health, Sleep, and Jet Lag
63. Beat jet lag on purpose.
Jet lag never used to be an issue for me when I was a young traveler, but now that I’m “middle-aged,” jet lag makes me feel hungover. And I don’t even drink!
A workaround is to use an app like Timeshifter, or start shifting your sleep a few days early, then lock onto local time when you land and refuse the nagging nap.
64. Arrive in the morning and power through.
Honestly, this isn’t as easy as it sounds, but if you can hit the ground running as soon as you arrive in your destination, it resets your clock faster.
So drop off your bags, walk the city, and go to bed at a normal local hour.
65. Pack a small just-in-case medicine kit.
Note: This is especially important if you’re traveling with kids. I swear kids get sick out of no where at any moment.
For the rest of us, stomach remedies, pain relievers, allergy and cold medicines, and a few bandages are all you need. That way you’re not hunting an unfamiliar pharmacy.
Keep your prescriptions in your carry-on in their original bottles.
66. Bring An eye mask.
Mike can attest that hotel curtains don’t typically block out all sunlight. And trying to get some sleep on a long-haul flight? Forget it.
He brings his eye mask from home wherever he goes and he swears it’s the best travel hack you can plan for.
67. Travel with a portable carbon monoxide detector.
We’ve read way too many sad travel stories of families that were poisoned by carbon monoxide, so we’ve started to travel with a tiny portable carbon monoxide detector.
One quick note though.. the first time we traveled with it, we forgot that it would need its own wall adapter, so we had to buy another wall adapter when we got to our destination. Bring an extra wall adapter for the detector!
68. Toss a mini rechargeable fan in your bag.
Whether you use a fan for white noise, to keep air moving in your hotel room, or to keep you cool at night, a small rechargeable fan is a smart move.
Fans also help keep mosquitos away if you’re in a destination where they’re prevelent.
Note: If you are going camping, be sure to bring a battery-powered fan with you, unless you have access to electricity hook-ups.
Laundry and Clothes Care
69. Bring laundry sheets or pods and wash in the sink.
We almost always do laundry on our trips. Mid-trip laundry sessions mean you can pack half the clothes. So if you’ve ever wondered how people can travel with only a carry-on.. laundry!
70. Refresh clothes with a vodka-and-water spray.
My aunt mentioned this trick to me a few years ago. Create a 50/50 mix of vodka and water in a small spray bottle and it helps de-odorize your clothes between wears.
It’s the same trick theme parks use on costumes they can’t wash every night.
Note: You can even use this spray in your shoes if they get stinky!
71. Use the hotel laundry bag for dirty clothes.
Whenever a hotel offers a laundry bag for dirty clothes, I’m taking it!
Once I get home, I unload the bag directly into my washer, and I never have to worry about contaminating my clean clothes.
72. Drop laundry at a local wash-and-fold on your last day.
This is one of the best parts of travel, especially in places like Bali or Thailand.
Local laundromats often offer wash-and-fold services, and they’re typically very low-cost. I highly recommend getting your clothes washed professionally. It’s worth every penny.
Tech, Maps, and Documents
73. Download offline maps and a language pack before you go.
I’ll never forget the trip I took with my friend Kristina to Switzerland. We went without cell service and when we were dropped off in Interlaken at 1am, we couldn’t find our hotel. We walked for miles in the dead of night before a stranger finally spotted us and helped guide where to go.
I highly recommend a local sim or to download offline maps before you leave for your destination. It’ll save you many headaches.
74. Pre-pin your map before the trip.
My favorite tip of all time. And also the most disorganized tip ever when you have 1,000+ pins stored for each destination – HA! s
Use saved markers on Google Maps for your hotels, must-see sights, restaurants, and luggage storage, so you’re not searching your phone when you should be out exploring.
75. Photograph your passport and cards, and email the copies.
This one is an obvious one, but take pictures of your passport photo page and the barcode page on the back, plus the front and back of your cards. Once you’ve done that, send them to yourself and a trusted person.
76. Store documents in a password manager.
This one was added to the list by the request of my dad. Every time we travel to a new destination, he asks us to put copies of all of our passport photos, IDs, and cards somewhere so he can find them if there’s ever an emergency.
78. Keep your passport in a ziplock bag.
My friend had her passport completely soaked by a rainstorm, and the airport she went to the next day wouldn’t accept it. What a nightmare!
Always have a waterproof bag handy for your passport, and anything else you want to keep dry.
Clever Odds and Ends
79. Carry a variety of ziplock bags rolled flat.
Ziplock bags are useful for so many things: snacks, wet swimsuits, leaky bottles, dirty shoes, and so many other things you might not see coming. We always pack 5-10 plastic bags or reuseable bags, and they take up almost no space in our suitcase.
The Wrap-Up
None of these tricks are magic, but they have helped us immensely over the past 10 years, and I think they could help you, too. Enjoy!
