If you are looking to travel more often, utilizing these 5 best travel hacks will help you build rewards, save money, and seamlessly organize your adventures. These are 5 of my best travel hacks that I always take advantage of with every purchase and adventure.
Join Every Free Loyalty Program:
One of the best travel hacks is to join every free loyalty program out there. They're free and you're accruing points every time. I am still an advocate for utilizing the best service you can get for the cheapest price, so I don't allow loyalty programs to dictate my adventures. But, when you join the loyalty programs, you are also going to be in line for free perks: free upgrades, better rooms, faster check-in, etc.
Utilize a Credit Card with Travel Rewards:
In the same way you should be utilizing the free rewards that come with a loyalty program, you should absolutely be utilizing rewards from a credit card. If you use a credit card for your spending, then take advantage of cards with points! Not all of them charge an annual fee. My favorite place to compare travel card perks is through Nerd Wallet's Best Travel Credit Cards.
Also, pay attention to promotions that various travel cards are running. A promotion that Delta SkyMiles American Express was running last year has now resulted in two flights for my boyfriend and I purchased with Delta SkyMiles. The points can really add up and save you a ton of money!
Use TripIt for Organization:
TripIt is amazing, and it's free. TripIt is a helpful app that will organize each piece of your adventures once you've connected it to your email address. What makes this one of the best travel hacks is that it's useful, but requires very little effort on your part. When your confirmation emails come in for transportation, accommodations, tickets, etc; they will automatically be transferred to your TripIt app and when you click on your specific trip, you will see each piece of your adventure in chronological order. All of your confirmation details will be right there as well.
Exchange Currency at Your Bank:
You have probably gathered, that I like saving money, and this travel tip is no exception. Whenever I travel to other countries, I always like to take local currency with me. Plan ahead and order currency from your local bank before you travel. Banks will typically require two weeks to get the foreign currency in that you're ordering. (This is a post-covid change as banks used to carry common foreign currencies on hand.)
Exchanging money at your bank, you will be given the best exchange rate and you will avoid foreign transaction fees. If you run out of foreign currency while you're traveling, utilize an ATM over a currency exchange location. The ATM will still utilize the best exchange rate and your only fee will be the ATM transaction fee which will be less than the fee of a currency exchange company.
AVOID Currency Exchange kiosks at the airport. They will absolutely charge you for the convenience and their exchange rates will work in their favor and not yours.
If you're unsure what the exchange rates are, utilize the website or app, xe.com.
Pack Light:
We all know people who traveled without their luggage because it didn't make it to their intended destination and they had the stress of having to spend some of their adventure purchasing items needed for their trip and then spending time with the airlines after their trip to try and get reimbursed for what they had to buy. Using a carry-on for your adventure will automatically alleviate the potential for your luggage being lost. This has been a travel hack that I have followed for the last 18 years, whether it's a weekend away or a month long trip through another country! Check out 10 Tips for Packing Light to start making this part of your travel practice as well!
Comment below with some of your best travel hacks! Happy Travels!
I really enjoy the credit card perks. I have enjoyed quite a few FREE flights due to those perks.