Summer is coming and that means it’s almost vacation season. Whether you’re dusting off your passport or gearing up for domestic travel, I’m here to share some travel hacks that will transform your vacation from good to great. From travel insurance to polite inquiries, credit cards, packing & more, these tips are designed to save you time, and money, and maybe even snag you a luxurious upgrade! So, pack your bags (using the light-packing tricks below!), buckle up, and get ready to take your travel game to the next level.
Travel Insurance: Your Safety Net for Unexpected Bumps
Life throws curveballs, and travel is no exception. A missed connection due to bad weather, a sudden illness, a worldwide pandemic (I’m looking at you Covid-19), or even a lost or expired passport can wreak havoc on your carefully planned trip. Travel insurance acts as your safety net, reimbursing you for covered expenses in case of unforeseen circumstances, including lost luggage, and medical.
In my junior year of college, my friend had a freak accident on the first night of her study abroad program in Italy. She fell on a cobble stone road and broke her leg. Her trip may have suffered, but her wallet didn’t. Luckily for her she had travel insurance and was able to get reimbursed for most of her expenses, including her taxi and bus rides, pre-paid excursions, and grocery/food deliveries. Now could her trip have been better? Absolutely, but without travel insurance, it could have been a lot worse.
Travel insurance won’t just save you money, it’s also an investment in peace of mind! For the best plan for your upcoming trip, check out Forbes Magazine’s list of the Best Travel Insurance Companies for 2024.
Credit Card Magic: Your Travel MVP
Credit cards are the ultimate travel companion! Many offer built-in travel insurance and rewards programs that let you earn points for flights, hotels, car rentals, tours, restaurants, and more. Plus, you continue to rack up points while traveling (unlike debit cards that sometimes get declined internationally). Remember if you choose to use your debit card, ATM fees add up, and there are limits to how much you can withdraw, especially if you are traveling internationally. Save your money and use a credit card.
If you’re new to traveling or traveling with a credit card, look for credit cards with travel insurance, airport lounge access, and points you can redeem for amazing travel experiences!
The Upgrade Game: Choose Your Player
If you have champagne taste on a beer budget, pay close attention. Airlines often offer upgrade opportunities via email. Airlines are used to travelers missing their flights. Be it a cancellation, missed flight or connection, or a change in travel plans, booked tickets are not always fulfilled. This leads to empty seats, seats which could very well be in business or first class. To fill these seats, the airline will send out an email giving you the chance to upgrade.
You can also call the airline directly and see if they can offer you a cheap/cheaper upgrade. The cost varies but the last time I used this tactic, I upgraded to a luxurious business class “sleeping pod” on Qatar Airways for $500. I may have spent $500, but the Qatar business class ticket at the initial booking was almost $3,600 more. That’s a win in my book, and a bucket list memory I’ll never forget!
Ok, it’s the day of your flight and you never got an upgrade email, and over the phone, an airline agent said there are no upgrades. Guess you’re stuck in coach. Maybe not…
The Upgrade Game: A Polite Inquiry Can Go a Long Way
This upgrade secret is one of my favorite travel hacks and comes straight from my mom who worked for a major airline for 17 years. While there’s no guarantee, a polite inquiry at the check-in counter about upgrade availability can work wonders! But this way requires a few things:
- Strict Dress Code: Since you would not be a full-price first class ticket, airlines will be more strict with your dress code. To to help your case, dress professionally.
- Kindness: Be kind and courteous, Remember, you’re asking your new friend for a favor. In addition to a warm greeting and smile, I like to start with a compliment. Something like, “I like your nail polish,” Or, “Your hair is so pretty.” Think of some way to make them feel good and happy, so they want to help you and make you happy too.
- The Squeaky Wheel…: Lastly, smile and explain that you’d be interested in an upgrade if there’s any possible availability. You don’t NEED to give a sob story as to why you deserve to get an upgrade, but it can’t hurt.
My mom always says, remember, the person at the counter is a human being with human emotions. If you are nice to them and make their day that much better, you have a better chance of upgrading then the next person. I do this every time I fly from LA to Philly for Christmas. It hasn’t worked every time, but I’ve been upgraded many times to first class for FREE doing this. The last time I had to pay $50 bucks, but hey, I was flying across the country sipping FREE champagne for less than my rideshare fee to the airport!
Remember, there are no guarantees with this hack, so don’t get upset if they can’t upgrade you, or ask for an astronomical fee to do this. But hey, at the end of the day, you haven’t lost anything. You still have your seat in coach, and you may have made someone’s day.
Bonus Tip: Hotels also have human beings at the front desk. I worked at a major global hotel for two years, and I upgraded guests almost daily. Again, if they were nice to me, gave me a compliment, and a smile, and most importantly they asked for an upgrade, whenever I could, I did.
TSA PreCheck, Clear & Global Entry: Your Time-Saving Allies
I thought I knew most travel hacks, but apparently I missed the memo on this one…
Nobody enjoys the long lines at airport security. And I was always told TSA PreCheck, Clear, and Global Entry can be absolute lifesavers, expediting your security screening process. Yes this may be true, but did you know that TSA does not go by the airport, but instead depends on your airline. And there are airlines at U.S. airports that do NOT abide by TSA PreCheck. For example, many European airlines although here at a U.S. airport, will make you stand in a regular security line. If you’re planning a Dallas travel itinerary, it’s worth checking ahead to see if your airline participates in TSA PreCheck to avoid surprises. Understanding these details can make a big difference in how smoothly your trip begins.
In August 2024 I was traveling from LA to Morocco. My flight left from LAX and then made a stop in NY at JFK before heading to Morocco. At LAX, I flew through security with TSA PreCheck. And just as I thought I would breeze on through security at JFK, I was blindsided when I learned that not only did I have to go through security again, but Iberia, the airline I was flying on, didn’t participate in TSA. So when I thought I would be skipping on through like I did at LAX, I was horribly wrong. Instead I had to wait in one of the longest airport security lines I’ve ever seen, and then had to race to the gate which of course was no where near where I needed to be.
I barely made my flight. I didn’t have a chance to relax before boarding or have a glass of wine which is my calming ritual to ease my flying jitters. So this is a travel warning and hack in one: Get to the airport on time. AND, to make your airport security experience faster, enroll in TSA PreCheck, or at least enroll in Clear (a private company that also expedites your security experience bypassing the airport security line and verifying your identity at a separate Clear kiosk). BUT understand, like TSA PreCheck, Clear is not always offered, and if you get to the airport late thinking you can breeze through security, you may miss your flight or give yourself a mini heart attack. And if you are traveling internationally, Global Entry is worth it. Not only does it automatically include TSA PreCheck, but you get expedited clearance back into the U.S.
Bottom line, save yourself unwarranted stress and get to the airport on time, AND enroll in an expedited security plan. Check with your credit cards because many of them cover your enrollment fees.
Packing Light: More Adventure, Less Baggage (Fees!)
Travel should be about experiences, not lugging around a heavy suitcase, and I learned this on my college graduation trip to Europe. Being young and dumb, I packed two heavy suitcases, not realizing that I would have to lug those things everywhere, even up and down flights of hotel stairs, #neveragain. Avoid this mistake and save baggage fees by packing light. Here’s how:
- Packing Light = Managing Laundry: In some areas, laundry services are affordable, and if you have limited clothes or have an accident with a glass of red wine, you should always bring a travel-sized detergent or stain remover. My globetrotting Aunt also told me about disposable underarm sweat pads (a lifesaver for re-wearing tops)!
- Space-Saving Travel Hacks: Invest in space-saving travel vacuum bags to pack your luggage. Large gallon size sandwich bags work too. Sucking out the air from the bag will flatten your items, allowing you to fit way more items in your suitcase. Plastic laundry clips and those handy folding clothes hangers from the dollar store are also a great purchase. They’ll help you maximize suitcase space and minimize wrinkles.
- Bath and Beauty: If you love a hot shower with a washcloth, listen up. Hotels in other countries often do not provide a washcloth. Exfoliating bath gloves are a great travel accessory for their cheap cost, effectiveness, and ability to dry overnight.
Travel with Confidence, Explore with Joy
Well there you have it. By incorporating these travel hacks into your routine, you’ll be a more prepared, efficient, and budget-savvy traveler. Remember, the world is waiting to be explored – so get out there, adventure awaits!
Do you have any favorite travel hacks? Share them in the comments below!
