This video is closed-captioned. Travel is one of the most rewarding experiences
in the world. Exploring a new city, culture, and region's history offers insights that can't be
gained from a book or television—even with a legend like David Attenborough narrating.
But it can also be a drag. A ton of planning, decision-making, troubleshooting,
and prioritizing goes into each trip. And if you're traveling as part of a group or
family....the challenges are multiplied. I'm Anthony, and I'd like to welcome you to
my channel, especially if you're a first-time visitor! Today I'm rounding up 30 must-know
hacks for making travel easier. Once you've got a system, you'll be eager to re-pack
for another trip as soon as you get home. 1. Packing cubes. If you're going for efficiency,
packing cubes are an excellent solution. Compartmentalizing your items will make
it easy to find what you're looking for and can even keep your clothes looking fresh.
2. Pack dryer sheets. Chances are you aren't bringing a separate bag for
dirty clothes or stinky shoes. To keep your clean items smelling fresh and mitigate any
stench from sweat-soaked clothing, place dryer sheets in shoes or on top of dirty clothes.
3. Rack up those points! Credit cards offer so many perks these days—bonus points for signing up,
cash back, and miles. A credit card geared toward travel is a must if you travel
regularly. Some cards offer complimentary travel insurance, access to premium airport lounges,
and a hefty points system that can be redeemed for flights, hotels, and more.
4. Travel during the shoulder season. No matter where you go, there will be a peak, shoulder,
and off seasons. While you probably don't want to visit somewhere in the height of the monsoonal
rains, you could target the month before or after, when the weather isn't guaranteed,
but you still have a great chance of experiencing idyllic conditions. In
addition to weather-related concerns, you'll likely save quite a bit on your accommodations
and possibly food and other purchases. As a bonus, you'll have a more intimate experience
with your destination without all the crowds. 5. Plan to keep the kiddos busy. Similar to a
go-bag when you're ready to go to the hospital and welcome your new family member, a busy bag
can be used to keep your kids entertained. We all know how fickle kids can be. They want what they
want NOW. And substitutions are rarely acceptable. Keep a small bag packed with favorite activities,
toys, and anything else you think might keep their attention and energy contained.
6. Pack your smart devices with media before you leave the house. Yes, airports and
airplanes have Wifi these days. But thousands of travelers are vying for the same connection,
so it's slow at best. And once on the plane, not always free of charge. If you try downloading
something on such a sparse connection, you'll spend the flight groaning in frustration instead
of cracking up at repeats of The Office. This goes for kids and adults - plan ahead with a
few downloaded options you can access offline. 7. Have a copy of critical documents with you.
I know more than one person who has lost a passport, driver's license, or other
essential identifying documents while traveling abroad. It will always be a pain when it happens,
but you can mitigate the stress. In a separate bag - your carry-on is a great option - keep a
copy of your passport, vaccination documents, medication lists, and anything else that would
be difficult to work around if lost. Pictures are one way to do this, but a physical copy
is always best. What if you run out of battery or lose your phone entirely?
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8. Have an offline version of your maps. Similar to having a backup of essential documents,
you'll have a tough time navigating if you are somewhere with no service. We
rely heavily on our smart devices, but they do have the potential to backfire. Forget asking
for directions in a foreign language! 9. Use price alerts. Apps are constantly
being developed to help users save money. If you're wondering when the cheapest time
is to buy your plane tickets, an app like Hopper can help. No one can tell the future,
but it can signal when price drops hit. 10. Take advantage of federal protections.
Did you know that if you find a cheaper flight within 24 hours of booking, it's a federal
requirement that you can get a full refund, including booking fees? Yep. You're welcome.
11. Be sneaky with your browser. If you use Incognito mode on your browser,
you'll have the upper hand with airlines. Airline webpages use cookies - aka data - to learn about
the people on their site. If their algorithm understands your travel plans, they can boost
prices accordingly. Keep them out of the loop. 12. Purchase luggage scales. Airlines are getting
more and more strict with their weight limits on luggage. If you get caught on
the upper end of the scale, you'll be charged extra. Having scales on hand ensures you aren't
blindsided at the ticket counter. 13. Pre-order your meal. Again,
apps to the rescue. Several apps like Grab allow you to pre-order your favorite meals to skip
the wait and avoid tired sandwiches and trail mix from the newsstand.
14. Roll your clothes. This is the next best thing if you aren't using
packing cubes. Rolling and layering your clothing will give you extra packing space.
15. Refill your travel-sized toiletries. Wasting space with full-sized shampoo, lotion,
and hairspray is easy to avoid with mini bottles that you can swipe from your hotel room or buy at
your local big box store. Take it a step further by refilling them when you get home, so you don't
waste money or plastic on fresh sets each trip. 16. Book in advance. Having some flexibility in
your travel plans is always a good idea. You might miss opportunities if you don't allow
yourself to veer off course occasionally. But not booking popular excursions means you
might miss them altogether. A cruise on the Nile River is an excellent example - if you
plan on making day-of reservations, you'll be left bereft of the experience of a lifetime.
17. Bring a small Bluetooth speaker. Maybe you're traveling for a bachelor or bachelorette party.
Or even by yourself. Chances are, at some point, you'll want to rock out to your favorite getting
ready, wake up, or wind down song. A mini speaker will increase volume and clarity. Don't have one?
Just cut a slit in a toilet paper center roll, slide your phone in, and instant speakers!
18. Keep power cords in a sunglasses case. Even when you diligently coil headphones and
charging cables, they end up a mangled mess in the bottom of a bag. Use a sunglasses case to
keep everything tidy and tucked away. 19. Pack an empty water bottle. Liquids
of more than an ounce or two are prohibited through security. But airports have joined the
sustainability cause and started installing water refill stations. So bring your empty
bottle through security and fill it up inside to avoid dehydration or an expensive new bottle.
20. Keep a first aid kit handy. Over-the-counter meds like Motrin are easy to remember. But
bandaids for a bad hangnail, antacids, and even digestive aids aren't usually considered until
they're needed. Have a few staples on you for yourself or anyone else in your group.
21. Choose your travel companions wisely. Are you an early bird that
likes to maximize every moment of the day? Probably best not to travel with
someone who wants to catch up on sleep during vacation or lounge by the pool all
day. Make sure to match your interests and habits with your travel partner.
22. Mark your luggage as fragile. Have you ever watched the airline staff load luggage on the
conveyer belt? Chances are you've seen some pretty impressive acrobatics if so. They work
hard to move lots of heavy bags, so who can blame them? But marking your items as fragile will help
ensure they don't play catch with your suitcase. 23. Catch a cab at the departure gate. Instead
of battling it out with the crowds of travelers that just deplaned with you,
snag an empty cab that's just dropped off someone at the departure gate. A win for
your wait time and efficient for the driver! 24. Battle jet lag with a jog. Jetlag can feel
crippling, depending on how many time zones you've just jumped. Moderate to
intense exercise has been shown to help get your internal clock back on track.
25. Pack a change of clothes in your carry-on. Lost luggage is a fact of life when you travel
regularly. In the unfortunate event that you have to wait for the rest of your belongings, you'll
at least have a change of clothes available. Or if you spill your pre-flight margarita all over your
shirt, you won't have to sit in a tequila-stained state until you reach your destination.
26. Bring a jacket. I don't care if you're going to Phoenix, Arizona, in the summer
when it's regularly 104 degrees. You might have a chilly night or a surprise wind event. You'll
be glad you have at least one additional layer and that you don't have to spend $50 or more on
a cheap sweatshirt you'll never wear again. 27. Buy a universal adapter. This is an easy
problem to solve but remains overlooked by many travelers. You can find them in airports,
but the price will be much steeper than sourcing one before you leave.
28. Add a buffer when you get back. You've just come home after an epic week-long vacation.
Bedraggled and jetlagged, you get home late Sunday night. And have to go to work the next day. Plan
an extra day off or come home a day early to give yourself time to ease back into reality.
29. Miss your flight on purpose. If you're flexible, allowing yourself to
be bumped from an overbooked flight might result in an upgrade or travel vouchers
you can use on airlines and at some hotels. 30. Eat like the locals. Unless you have dietary
restrictions, one of the best ways to enjoy a new culture is through local food. You'll
discover new ingredients, textures smells, and tastes you wouldn't otherwise experience.
You might even find a new favorite meal! What hack will you use on your next vacation?
Did we miss a tried and true favorite of yours? Let us know in the comments below!
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