I’m here with another blog post on interesting and useful travel hacks that you probably don’t already know! You may have already read my post about flight and hotel hacks to save you money (that you probably don’t know), so here are 15 more traveling and vacation hacks that may help you out!
15 Interesting & Useful Travel Hacks:
1. If you have leftover local currency after traveling in Mexico, the UK, Canada, US, or Australia, head to a Starbucks before you leave the country and put it on a Starbucks gift card! You’ll be able to use the gift card interchangeably at any of the above-listed countries.
2. You can take your drinks through TSA IF they are frozen — so freeze those water bottles instead of buying them overpriced at the airport! (Just make sure you drink the excess melted water before going through security.)
3. Use contact cases for products you only need a little bit of, such as a facial serum or eye cream. Every bit of space counts when packing!
4. If you have a disability (including Type 1 diabetes), you get a free pass to every US National Park.
5. Fourth graders can also get free passes to national parks.
6. If an airline changes your flight (even by just a few minutes) you can cancel and get a full refund OR modify your flight for free even if it’s to a more expensive departure or on the following day or two. Also works if there is a weather waiver on the flight. (Note: Different airlines have different rules but it’s always worth trying.) For this reason, don’t be quick to cancel a non-refundable ticket! Wait it out and see if you’re entitled to a refund or change.
7. Baby powder will get sand off of you and everything else. It works better than water (which just makes more sand cling.)
8. Many local libraries in the US will let you check out free passes to national parks, museums, zoos, etc. If you live or are traveling in the US, call the local branch to see if this is something they offer.
9. For car rentals, use autoslash.com. Once you book a car, enter the confirmation number and the company. It will monitor the price drops there or elsewhere for you so you can cancel and rebook, or get a price adjustment.
10. Want to find even more deals on car rentals? Check to see Turo is offered at your destination. Turo is a service that allows people to rent out their cars and it’s often cheaper than going through a car rental agency.
11. For leftover currency, most airport shops will take more than one payment type. So you can use up all your cash/coins at duty-free and pay any remaining balance with a card.
Related: The Best Money-Saving Flight & Hotel Hacks
12. Always purchase a local sim card at a cellphone kiosk when you land at a foreign airport to avoid crazy data and roaming fees. (Make sure your cellphone is “unlocked” and paid off.)
13. Download local maps on Maps.me for countries (like Cuba) where you won’t have cell/wifi reception, or if you’re going on a road trip in a foreign country where you don’t know if you’ll lose service, and be able to get directions even if offline. You can also do this on Google Maps, but Maps.me will also show you hiking and walking paths, too.
14. Use the camera icon on Google Translate to translate written text from other languages (such as signs), or use the microphone icon to be able to speak and have it translate into another language. Conversation mode will even allow you to speak back and forth in different languages.
15. Bothered by turbulence? The best place to sit on the plane is over the wing. Bonus tip: Use Seat Guru to check the seat map of your plane before selecting your seat. It will tell you if it’s a good seat or if something is undesirable about it (i.e. it doesn’t recline, etc.)
More Travel Tips & Hacks: The Best Hotel & Flight Hacks for Saving Money Flight Attendant Shares Her Best Flight Tips Solo Female Travel Tips