Traveling, even to well-known vacation hotspots, means leaving your daily comforts and learning how to navigate the unexpected. From searching for the best ticket prices to preparing for worst-case scenarios, the process is full of challenges.
Sure, destination guidebooks will share location-specific tips and must-sees. But, they generally fall short when it comes to educating readers on things that are more common to international travel or diverse destinations.
Because much of the most useful information is learned by experience, many travelers like to tell tales of their past trips. (Knowing that the lessons you learned might help save someone else the same pain also helps lessen the burn.) However, anecdotal evidence isn’t always accurate—or applicable to every destination.
Our travel tips and articles attempt to fill the gap left by location-specific guides and acquaintances’ cautionary tales, with a collection of articles that spans every step of your trip:
Articles on how to find the cheapest plane tickets are in abundance online. Some advise early-bird tactics that involve waiting up into the wee hours, while others may suggest stalking airline prices multiple times throughout the week.
These supposedly fool-proof formulas might save you a few bucks. However, they demand a high investment of your precious time.
What about applications such as DealRay or Flighthub, which promise subscribers that they can find cracks in an airline’s pricing system? The problem is that, if an airline really is goofing up and publishing absurdly low prices, they’re likely to correct the mistake or change the pattern once people have caught on.
That being said, there are some tips that do work:
Shop in stealth mode. Ever notice an airfare price go up after you’ve checked it a few times? While you should always shop around early, do so in incognito mode. That’s because airfare websites are known to leave cookies on your browser, alerting them to repeat searches so that they know you’re serious about buying—and that they can hike up the price.
Consider the low season. If you’re willing to risk less-than-desirable weather and potentially limited tourist attractions, traveling in the low season can bag you a great ticket price.
Don’t fly out on a Friday. Airlines know that you only have so many vacation days and that you’ll likely try to get the most out of your trip by bookending it with weekends. That’s why flights that fly out on a Thursday or Friday and return on a Sunday, are always the most expensive.
Be flexible. Being willing to suffer through a few small inconveniences, such as multiple flight legs, red-eyes, or secondary airports, can also offer bigger savings.
However, sometimes the slight savings just isn’t worth the trouble. Depending on how few days you have to travel, ask yourself, is it really worth arriving exhausted from a 26-hour journey instead of a non-stop flight? Wouldn’t you rather pay the extra hundred bucks to have those additional days to enjoy your trip?
In our experience, the best advice when shopping for airfare is this: Know how much you’re willing to pay for a flight and book that ticket when you find it. There will always be someone who’s paid less than you, no matter how diligently you shop around.
There are a few tricks to getting a great deal on accommodations for your next trip, and unlike trying to win the airfare game, these aren’t too complicated or time-consuming.
First, use websites such as Kayak or Google to get an idea of prices in an area that you’re traveling to. Then, narrow down your search using filters until you find a hotel that you like. However, don’t book on those third-party websites!
Doing so can cost you more—while limiting your flexibility to change or cancel a booking. Namely, that the hotel isn’t responsible for what’s promised by those third-party websites, and sometimes doesn’t even have the amenities that you’ve been promised.
Instead, visit the hotel’s website or call them directly. They’ll usually match the price that you saw advertised, and can sometimes offer you a better deal.
Pro Tip: Equally important to knowing bargain hunting tips is recognizing when it’s best to enlist the services of a professional travel agent.
In the wake of AirBnB’s success, droves of vacation rental websites have surfaced—and with them, the scammers looking to take advantage of your long-distance booking.
Unlike brand-name hotels, or even boutique accommodations, both of which depend on their reputation and reviews for business, enterprising homeowners and renters can easily create accounts to rent out their homes or properties to vacationers without fear of reprisal.
Scams run the gamut from advertising images that are far from accurate to listing properties that don’t even exist!
Even big name hotels and resorts are guilty of doctoring images. To protect yourself from disappointment, learn how to spot altered or unrealistic images.
There are tricks to recognizing vacation rentals that are out-and-out scams as well. We share what questions to ask, how to reverse search images, and other verification tools in “How to Spot a Scam Vacation Rental.”
Third-party websites offering fake bottom-dollar savings on hotels are also a growing problem. Check out how to check up on any hotel website in “How to Spot a Hotel-Booking Scam.”
Depending on where you’re going and what you’re bringing, there are a few different methods to most efficiently stuffing your suitcase. Whatever your style, follow these steps to strategize what you’re packing:
From checking in and weighing your luggage to navigating security, the airport experience is notoriously frustrating due to the abundance of rules and regulations that seem to limit the ease with which you can get from A to B.
Remember to:
Here are our favorite tools and tips on surviving long hours in the air:
Use handy seat-mapping websites, such as SeatGuru.com or SeatExpert.com to learn ahead of time which seat offers the closest proximity to the bathroom, a quiet nook, or the legroom that you so desperately need.
Prepare your carry on with all the necessary supplies to endure a multi-hour flight. Pack a smaller satchel, such as a reusable shopping bag, to sling over the seat in front of you so that important things are never out of reach or left in the seatback pocket.
Pack a healthy meal (or three) that will sustain you throughout the flight, without leaving you feeling bloated and broke from onboard offerings.
Stretch, stay hydrated, and take care of yourself so that you arrive feeling as refreshed as possible.
While 90% of lost luggage is eventually found, the absence of your carefully packed belongings can still put a damper on any vacation. However, all’s not lost!
If your airline can’t find your luggage for more than a set amount of time, they’ll often give you a payment to purchase backup items until your things arrive.
If an up-front cash payment isn’t available, or if your luggage appears to be lost for longer than you can stand, learn how to recover quickly in “How To Deal With Lost or Delayed Luggage.” We also share tips on how to help prevent your luggage from pulling a disappearing act and what to expect during the filing process.
Did you know that the price of travel insurance is affected by where you’re going, how long you’ll be gone, and what you need to insure? To help negate the loss of items and precious time, learn crucial steps to “Choosing Travel Insurance That Keeps You Covered.”
While so many tourist attractions costing an arm and a leg, there are still fun and free ways to explore any destination. In “6 Awesome Tourist Activities That Cost Less Than 15 Bucks” we share tips for cheap activities, including:
When you do decide to open your wallet, it’s nice to know that the souvenirs you bring home will do more than gather dust. In Vacation Shopping: How to Buy Only What You’ll Love we share tips on doing just that.
Need to get around and don’t fancy the bus? Check out Ten Tips for Saving on Your Next Car Rental to save while experiencing the freedom that comes only with having your own set of wheels.
Don’t come home to a sky-high cell phone bill, either! Learn how to shop for SIM cards or an international plan that ensures you aren’t faced with any unexpected surprises in How to Travel With Your Phone.
Learn about classic street scams around the globe, so you’ll never again fall for a scammer attempting to grab your wallet through means of distraction.
The holidays bring more travelers than most other times of the year, and with them, scammers come out to reap the rewards of their naivete. Stay alert to these 6 Scams & Rip-Offs to Look Out for During Holiday Travel during your next holiday vacation.
And, while every destination is unique, one thing isn’t: Taxi drivers are notorious for attempting to trick travelers out of their money. In “Your Step-by-Step Guide to Avoiding Taxi Scams,” we share how you can stay safe in cabs around the world.
Our collection of travel articles below will help you become a smarter traveler, save money when possible, and avoid scams around the world.
Using research from leading travel data sites, we identify the best and worst days to fly during the Thanksgiving season. We point out which days and airports have the worst delays, and how you can reduce the chance of a delayed flight.
Visiting family for Christmas? First step: Get there safely. We asked experts how to best prepare your car for winter driving. These seven tips will make sure that from wipers to tread, your vehicle is in top condition.
In today’s modern world, more people are using planes to get around than ever before, and yet, many of us still deal with an irrational fear of flying.
Getting robbed at home is bad enough, but at least you know how to proceed. Here are six steps to take if your possessions and passport are stolen abroad.
Evacuating because of a hurricane is a stressful situation that requires tons of quick decisions. Our hurricane evacuation tips will help you know what you need to do and when you need to do it.
Summer travel doesn’t have to be complicated. Check out our 7 tips to help you get the most bang (and enjoyment!) for your vacation bucks during peak season.
Costco Travel promises members big savings on car rentals, vacation packages, theme park bundles, and cruises. Learn how their prices compare to the competition and how to spot a great deal.
Learn the tools that can help you explore budget destinations before booking your flight, including accurate data on costs, safety, and family-friendly fun.
From packing lists to DIY laundry, learn the necessary steps to traveling with only a small backpack or carry-on bag and never check your luggage again!
Learn how to bargain like a pro, including where it’s ok to do so, how to get any merchant to make the first offer, and why it’s best done with a smile.
