Travel Smart, Not Hard

Life hacks for your holiday escape

I've always believed that the journey to self-improvement includes making life easier wherever possible. From my own adventures (and misadventures) around the world, I've gathered these travel hacks that have genuinely changed how I experience holidays, turning potential headaches into smooth sailing.

Beat the liquid limit with “Click & Collect”

This is an absolute game-changer! About 2 weeks before your flight, order all your toiletries and essentials online from Boots and select click & collect at your departure airport terminal. I do this regularly at London Gatwick. When you pass through security, just swing by Boots to collect your order. Avoiding the liquid limit stress and no inflated airport prices. This works at 15 UK airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Edinburgh. The best part? You can order most things to collect after security, including products over 100ml!

Just remember to order at least 3 days before your flight to give them time to prepare your parcel. I’d recommend ordering two weeks in advance to be absolutely certain it'll be there waiting for you.

The extension cable trick

Why buy multiple travel adapters when one will do? Pack a multi-socket extension cable along with a single travel adapter. Plug the extension into your adapter, and voilà! You can charge multiple devices simultaneously. This has saved me countless times, especially when hotel rooms seem to have outlets in the most inconvenient places.

Banking without borders

Gone are the days of calculating conversion rates or carrying wads of cash. I personally use Monzo, but services like Wise work brilliantly too. These online banks offer excellent conversion rates. Monzo uses the Mastercard exchange rate with nothing added on top. You can track your spending in real-time, split bills with friends, and avoid those sneaky ATM fees. It's transformed how I manage money abroad.

The VPN flight booking hack

This might sound like something from a spy movie, but using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) when booking flights can save you serious money. Airlines adjust ticket prices based on your IP address and browsing history. By masking your location with a VPN like ProtonVPN or NordVPN, you can check flight prices from different countries and often score better deals.

Timing is everything

According to recent data, booking your flights on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday can save you around 12%. Airlines often release sales starting from Monday night or Tuesday morning, so if you're searching for flights on a Tuesday, you're more likely to catch those fresh deals. However, remember that finding a cheap flight is less about the booking day and more about how popular your route is—flights are priced based on supply and demand.

Let technology do the work

Set up price alerts on Skyscanner or Google Flights for your desired destinations. When prices drop, you'll get an instant notification. It's free, easy to set up, and could save you hundreds. Simply search for your preferred destination and dates on Skyscanner, click "Get Price Alerts," and let the app do the work. You can even use Skyscanner's "whole month" search feature to identify the cheapest days to fly.

Luggage protection

Before checking in your luggage, take pictures of both the interior and exterior. If it gets damaged, these photos will be invaluable for your claim. Also, slip an AirTag into your suitcase. It's a small investment that provides incredible peace of mind if your luggage decides to vacation somewhere different than you do.

Pamper in the air

Aircraft air is notoriously dry, stale, and filled with carbon dioxide… basically a nightmare for your skin. I know you might look a bit ridiculous wearing a sheet mask on the flight, but trust me, arriving with glowing skin instead of dull, dehydrated skin is worth the strange looks.

Stay connected without the stress

Share your flight number via iMessage (for iOS users) or a link to your flight on FlightRadar with loved ones. They can track your journey in real-time, and you'll avoid the barrage of "Are you there yet?" messages. It's a small gesture that provides comfort on both sides.

The cable tie bumbag hack

If you're bringing a bumbag (fanny pack), bring some cable ties too. Thread them through the buckle for extra security. This makes it nearly impossible for someone to snatch it off you quickly... unfortunately, I learned this one the hard way.

Travel should be about creating memories, not managing stress. These hacks have genuinely improved my travel experiences, allowing me to focus on the destination rather than the journey's logistics.

Have you tried any of these hacks? Or do you have your own travel wisdom to share? I'd love to hear about your experiences and tips, they might make it into a future edition!

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In a while, crocodile! 🐊