Travel Hacks To Be A Better Traveler
1. NEVER PAY FOR WATER AT THE AIRPORT
Things have got rather strict with bottles of liquid recently. Doesn’t matter whether it looks as if the seal has been tampered with or not, a bottle with liquid in it is a no go. So, instead of bringing a full bottle, bring an empty bottle to the airport and refill it after you’ve passed through security.
2. TURN ON ‘PRIVATE BROWSING’ FOR CHEAPER FLIGHTS ONLINE
Airlines and travel sites can record your visits by installing cookies on your browser, which can cause the prices you’re shown to rise simply because you’ve searched for those flights before. This is to trick you into buying your flights sooner and encourage impulse buying, the cheeky beggars! Avoid it by switching to ‘Private Browsing’ whenever you book flights.
3. ROLL YOUR CLOTHES FOR MORE SPACE
One of the most simple but effective travel hacks there is. Rather than folding your clothes, roll them up into a little tube. This will save a ton of space and stop creases and wrinkles – all in all, pretty sweet!
4. CHARGE YOUR ELECTRONICS THROUGH A TV
Lost or forgotten your wall plug for your charger? No worries, most modern TVs have a USB connector on the back or side. Simply plug in your electrical device and watch that little battery icon charging.
5. BUY A PORTABLE PHONE CHARGER
Yeah, alright, this one might seem a little simplistic, but it’s very useful. Essentially these act as an external battery you can charge separately using a USB connector or even replenish with a store-bought battery. Worth having one of these in reserve in case an emergency arises while your phone is out of juice.
6. USE A BINDER CLIP TO PROTECT RAZORS
This is one I can’t advocate enough! When traveling America by train, I was fumbling in my wash bag for some sleeping pills and, hey presto, managed to drag my index finger across the entire length of all three blades of my shaving razor. Cue profuse bleeding and stained train seats. Cover your blades, people.
7. EMAIL YOURSELF A SCAN OF YOUR PASSPORT
You’ll thank yourself if you’re ever a victim of theft or loss. It’s also worth taking a screenshot of any journey confirmations. If you’ve booked any flights, buses or trains, whether you’re on your phone, laptop or tablet, make sure you screenshot them while you have Wi-Fi or internet access so you can access them when you’re no longer connected. So much easier than lugging around printouts. As travel hacks go, this is one you don’t want to ignore in case anything goes wrong.
8. MAKE YOUR OWN AIRPLANE TV
If your plane is somehow lacking in personal TVs, you can create your own with your phone and a clear plastic bag. Simply insert your device, position it, then hook it onto the back of the tray-table. Apparently, you can also use the metal bits from the sick-bag, though I’m not sure how that works… maybe you can work it out from the instructions.
9. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE VIBER, WHATSAPP, AND SKYPE
Unless you’ve lived under a rock for the last couple of decades, or recently left the Amish community, you probably know about all the wonderful apps out there that let your phone, video call, text, and instant message your friends and family for absolutely free. Viber lets you make free calls, send texts and pictures over the internet, while WhatsApp lets you an instant message.
10. MARK YOUR BAGGAGE AS FRAGILE
Not only does this mean your bag is more likely to be handled correctly, but it’ll also find itself at the top of the pile in the storage compartment of the plane. The result? Why, you’ll get your bag back first, of course. Jackpot.
