40 travel hacks for ninjas of the road

That's right – they're here! Read on to learn 40 travel hacks that'll make your trips easier and more pleasant. And you just might save some money while you're at it.

	Contents
	Packing travel hacks
	Travel hacks for a smooth flight
	Cost-saving hacks
	International travel hacks
	A final hack for germaphobes

Packing travel hacks

⭐ Use packing cubes. Not only do they make it easier to store clothing, but they also help you stay organized.

⭐ Bring outfits that you can mix and match to save space. Three outfits can easily become nine.

⭐ Leave room for souvenirs – even little trinkets take up space! (Also consider putting them in packed shoes.)

⭐ Bringing a dress shirt? Keep your belt in the collar.

⭐ Choose clothes that dry quickly (especially in summer) and plan on doing laundry at least once. 

Look for laundromats if your accommodations don't have washing machines – and see it as a chance to meet the neighborhood!

⭐ If you plan on doing a lot of walking and aren't used to it, buy some high-quality insoles and slip them in whatever shoes you're wearing – suddenly your discount shoes feel like walking on a cloud.

⭐ On that note, do you really need all those shoes? Invest in a pair of inexpensive, light walking shoes that take up minimal space. Then wear a nicer pair on the plane, and you're ready for most situations.

⭐ Put a dryer sheet in your luggage to keep your clothes smelling fresh (especially if that pair of shoes you pack isn't new!).

⭐ Buy TSA-approved bottles (no more than 3.4oz/100mL allowed!) to store your creams, soaps, and conditioners in. 

⭐ To keep liquids from spilling all over your things, put plastic wrap under bottle caps before screwing them back on. No more leakage!

Label the contents on each bottle before you travel. TSA might not care which liquid is which, but we're not all Marta Cabreras: who trusts themselves to notice the difference between foot cream and toothpaste after a long red-eye?

⭐ Use your socks to fill random nooks and crannies. If you're traveling in summer time, invisible (no-show) socks are ideal. They take up almost no space and weigh hardly anything, so you can bring extras without sacrificing other items.

⭐ Pill organizers aren't just for your granny's daily doses! Store your easy-to-lose jewelry in one, or use a contact lens case. No more coming back from the beach thinking someone stole your earrings just to find them buried among nuts and wrappers in the bottom of your purse.

⭐ Bring a packable day bag that folds into a pouch. That way you can leave your primary bag in the hotel and bring just what you need for the day. Find a super lightweight one, so it won't affect your luggage limit, like the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil – made with paper-thin siliconized Cordura nylon.

⭐ Wear or carry anything heavy or bulky. There's no shame in looking a little like Joey wearing ALL of Chandler's clothing. You can take off your extra layers and use them as pillows on the plane. 

Travel hacks for a smooth flight

⭐ Do your darndest to avoid checking luggage. See if you can limit your packing to a single carry-on bag and a personal item. Plus, it's a lot easier to take public transport (and you'll save money by avoiding expensive airport taxis) when you travel light. 

Whenever possible, stick with a personal item that fits under the seat in front of you. This is more of an issue on small low-coster flights, where you often pay extra to put your carry-on in the overhead compartment. (Check out our article on carry-ons vs. personal items for more info.)

Option #1: use a good ol' backpack. Nowadays, you can find one with a laptop sleeve and a water bottle pocket on the side. It will fit a week's worth of clothing (as long as you're willing to wear a few items more than once) plus your absolute essentials, from toiletries to electronics. And if you shop for lightweight pants (that's "trousers" to you, Shakespeare), you'll save space.

Many backpacks can fit under airplane seats (the max is about 18x14x8.5 inches, or 45x35x22cm). Check out travel backpacks by Peak Design, Tortuga, Aer Travel, and Osprey, or save money with one by AmazonBasics.

To fit in the overhead compartment, a bag needs to be under 21.5x14x9 inches (55x35x23cm) or so.

Option #2: get a roller bag with a front pouch for your laptop and documents. 

This makes your life easier in multiple ways: 

• The front pouch makes it easier to access your electronics and passport at security.
• Those smooth, smooth wheels may spare you some shoulder and neck pain.
• Hardcase four-wheel spinner bags will help prevent you from overpacking because they're harder to squeeze shut.

⭐ If you absolutely need two bags, a backpack with a handle sleeve will save you a lot of frustration. It has a pass-through strap that slides over the extendable handle on your roller bag to keep it in place.

⭐ Bring a collapsible/foldable water bottle. And depending on where you're going, consider a filtered bottle. Not all cities have drinkable tap water, so a filter can go a long way. Otherwise, a lot of airports have clean agua. Fill up after you get through security and stay hydrated throughout your trip.

⭐ If you do check luggage, always bring a change of clothes in your carry-on.

You don't want to arrive without a spare set of undies when the airline loses your bags. Better yet, throw your swimsuit in too. You can relax on the beach while the airline tracks down your bags.

⭐ Wear compression socks to make your flight more bearable. You'll enjoy better circulation! Alternatively, just take off your shoes (but spare your fellow passengers the odor: bring a plastic bag to keep them in).

⭐ Carry your liquids and electronics in a tote bag. If you want, you can put everything back in your carry-on after you get through security, and your tote will roll up super compact – you don't have to worry about it taking up space.

Put your belt, wallet, and anything else that might set off the metal detector in your tote, too.

⭐ This travel hack's controversial, but you do you: specify your luggage as “fragile” on the tag, even if nothing inside is. Your bag will be one of the first to arrive on the baggage carousel and crews will (hopefully) be extra careful with it.

Cost-saving hacks

⭐ Get a travel credit card that has airport lounge access. You pay an annual fee to sign up, but you can use the miles you get from purchases to save money on flights. If you travel regularly, perks can cover half or more of the annual fee. If you're interested, look into Chase, American Express, and Capital One.

The amount of money you save by not paying for airport food domestically and internationally can cover how much you spent on the card in the first place. Dreaming of a trip to Stockholm? Enjoy NOT spending 20 euros on a coffee and yogurt!

⭐ Buy an eSIM and forget international roaming. If you can't get an eSIM from a provider that gives you a local number, companies like Airalo will give you high-speed internet just about anywhere in the world. You won't be able to make local calls, but between Skype calls and messenger apps like WhatsApp, you should be able to make do.

⭐ Invest in a handheld luggage scale and you'll never have to worry about exceeding the carry-on weight limit. (Airlines in North America don't tend to check, but low-costers in Europe and elsewhere, like Pegasus and Ryanair, can be more strict.)

⭐ A portable scale is extra helpful if you are traveling with checked bags. Take it with you to avoid packing too many souvenirs.

⭐ Never never NEVER exchange money at the airport. Visa and MasterCard will give you a much better deal at the ATM, but if you really need local currency, seek out the best exchange rates once you get into town.

⭐ Avoid privately operated ATMs like the plague. This travel hack is equally applicable in NYC and in Paris: if it isn't owned by a major bank, expect to get charged an outrageous fee.

⭐ Bring a tiny first-aid kit. You don't want to get price-gouged at the airport or local pharmacy. 

International travel hacks

Tired of vacationing in Kansas? Head over the rainbow!

⭐ Get your documents in order ahead of time. Passports normally take up to 13 weeks to receive, or nine if you're willing to pay more.

⭐ Check if your destination requires a visa. The last thing you want is to miss a great travel deal because you're still waiting for your documents. Some countries issue e-visas which you should print out or download to your mobile device, but you can often save money by buying yours at the airport, so research in advance.

⭐ The same goes for international driver's permits. Since AAA stubbornly sticks to ancient tech, US citizens need to order IDPs by mail. It's a pain in the rear wheels, but lots of countries require US drivers to carry one, so get this process out of the way early.

⭐ Scan your documents, email them to yourself, and print out copies. You can also save pictures of them to a "Documents" folder in your phone.

⭐ Instead of using the hotel safe, keep your valuables in your carry-on with your luggage lock. This is especially useful if you need to leave your bags at the front desk. Hotel staff often hold them in a locked storage room, but the extra peace of mind is priceless.

⭐ Bring a portable charger to make sure you're connected when you land. Planes don't always have outlets or USB ports, and you might not have time to use the charging station near your gate.

⭐ Pack a universal adaptor and never worry about foreign sockets again.

⭐ Download useful apps before your trip. 

• WayAway for booking transportation, with comprehensive guides to 150+ cities. Subscribers get cashback on all travel purchases, and there are also helpful tools like price alerts to help you save money on flights.

• Citymapper for navigating cities.
• Find out which taxi app works at your destination and install it before your trip.
• Download your destination's Google map so you can find your way around offline.
• Don't know the local language? Download it to Google Translate so you can communicate when you don't have an internet connection. 
• If you're not sure how much to pack, download a packing app to calculate exactly what you need based on the length of your trip.
• You're on vacation to escape stress, but Murphy's Law will strike when you least expect it, so find a meditation app that helps you keep calm and carry on.

Google Translate's photo function is a game changer. No more awkwardly typing in words you don't know!

⭐ Set a travel alert with your credit card company before going abroad, so they don’t block your card due to suspicious transactions. 

⭐ Buy a transport pass to get the most out of public transport wherever you go. This will generally give you access to bus, metro/subway, and trams. The time and energy saved is well worth it. Figure out what options your destination has (day, weekly, or monthly passes) and choose what's best for your trip and budget. 

⭐ Checking out of one hotel at 11 and can't check in to your next until 2? Find a luggage storage company. They can usually store one large suitcase or a couple small roller bags.

Sure, railway stations often have huge lockers that you can rent for hours or even days, but unless you're near a train station, you'll need a luggage storage company. This is another reason to travel light – more bags = more money = more problems!

A final hack for germaphobes

⭐ When you're traveling without the comforts of your home bathroom, use a hair/clothes pin to prop up your toothbrush instead of lying it down by the sink. After all, it's going in your mouth.

Level 33 achieved!

Try out the travel hacks above, and Master Traveler status is just around the corner!