I’ve been traveling a lot the last few years and I’ve learned a lot on these trips on how to travel efficiently, affordably and comfortably. I love traveling and do so as much as I can. I’m also a big planner and researcher so I’ve probably read every travel tip out there. Today, I’m sharing all the tips that I think are worth the effort plus a bunch that I’ve discovered on my own. I’ve read a lot of travel tip blog posts and after a while there’s nothing really new. So, I tried to fill this list with the tips that you don’t hear anywhere else. Read on to learn from my mistakes and discover my road (or rather plane) tested tips.
My 25 best travel tips for traveling affordably and comfortably
1. Subscribe to Scott’s Cheap Flights newsletter (for US departure locations only)
Scott’s Cheap Flights is a newsletter that alerts you to awesome deals on mostly international flights. Basically, they’re searching for cheap flights all the time and then let you know about them. You just sit back and wait too see what comes up.
There’s a free version and paid premium version. I’ve found great deals via the free newsletter but the premium sends even more deals (I get about five a day). The other great thing about premium is that you can set your departure airports so that you only get flights that you (or your family members) will be able to easily use.
I recently bought tickets from LAX to Rome for $360 roundtrip on American/British Airways. And that includes an upgrade so that I can select my seats!!! The premium membership is only $39 per year so even if I only do one trip a year, it totally covers the cost of the tickets. I’ve also gotten great deals to go to Copenhagen and Barcelona. I seriously love this newsletter and it’s my top tip for affordable travel.
A couple caveats. First, it’s easier if you’re a little bit flexible with your schedule. Second, bigger airports, like LAX or SFO, will have more deals than regional airports.
2. Travel in shoulder or off season for better prices
Flights and hotels usually cost less in the off season. Plus, crowds will be less intense. Sometimes, though sites will have limited hours so make sure to research your fave sites before you book.
3. Instead of trying to go everywhere in one trip, stay in one place for a longer period of time.
There are a few reasons I recommend this. First, you can often get a discount at hotels or Airbnb’s if you stay longer than a certain number of days. Second, staying in one place means you’ll get to know the city better. Lastly, it’s less tiring to stay in one city. I really like having a home base where I can just keep all my things and not spend a lot of time traveling between locations. Most cities also have a lot of fun day trip opportunities.
4. Your credit card may pay for you to get TSA Precheck.
TSA Precheck will save you a lot of time standing in line at security and it’s even better if it’s free. (I actually got this tip from someone I was chatting with in the security line!) I used my United credit card to pay my TSA precheck fee and the cost was waived from my bill. Check out this site for a list of credit cards that credit you the fee.
5. Wear compression socks or compression leggings on the plane to prevent swelling and blood clots.
6. Wear a watch on the flight and set it to your destination time.
This will help you start thinking in the destination time zone as soon as possible. I’ve also read that to fight jet lag you should put your bare feet on dirt or grass as soon as you can after landing. Something about circadian rhythms? I haven’t tried it but it sounds intriguing.
7. Bring noise canceling headphones to use on the plane.
Planes are really, really loud and these headphones will eliminate a lot of the noise. My favorites are in-ear (like ear buds). They work surprisingly well and are super tiny and easy to pack.
8. Before you board the plane, download (or update) your airline’s app to your phone and tablet (or other watching device).
Some airlines require you to have the app downloaded to your device in order to watch entertainment. Airline apps are also a handy way to keep track of your flight, boarding pass and sometimes even your luggage. Bonus tip! You can also download things to your tablet before you leave in case you can’t find anything of interest in the on-flight entertainment.
9. Pack lightweight and non-bulky items.
Everyone always recommends to pack fewer items but it’s just as important to pack lightweight, non-bulky garments. It takes a lot less room in your luggage to pack lightweight, form fitting garments. I learned this when I packed a big midi-length gathered skirt on one trip. It ended up being too cold to wear the skirt and took up a ton of room. However, a form fitting knit dress can easily be worn over leggings for warmth and rolls up much smaller.
Fibers like merino wool and cashmere (if you’re allergic to wool like me), are great for travel because they’re very lightweight and very warm.
10. Pack medicines for common ailments
Depending on where you’re traveling, you may or may not recognize the medication in the local pharmacy. Plus, pharmacy hours may be more limited than you are used to. I recommend bringing small packs of medication for pain, cold, allergies and upset stomach. When you get sick on the road, It’s comforting to know that you have access to medication that will perform the way you expect it to.
11. Bring tea and/or instant coffee.
You never know if your hotel room or Airbnb will have a working coffee maker but there's usually a way to get hot water. Bring your own tea and instant coffee and you’ll be sure to have that morning cup of coffee and evening tea as usual.
12. Save the places you want to go in Google Maps.
As you plan your trip, look up the sites and restaurants that you want to visit in Google Maps and then save or favorite the locations. You’ll be able to see which places are near each other and easily find things on the road.
Plus, did you know that GPS works even if you aren’t connected to wifi or data? Download the maps for the city you’re visiting and even if you’re in airplane mode, you’ll still be able to see where you are located.
13. If you have food intolerances or allergies, research restaurants and grocery stores before you go. Save them in your Google Map so you can easily find them while you’re traveling.
14. Download Google Translate and download the language or languages you’ll need to use.
The coolest feature of Google Translate is that it will translate words in a photo. Just take a photo using the app, run your finger over the words and it will translate it. It’s not 100% accurate but it’s better than nothing.
15. Don’t want to lug your guidebook with you during the day? Take photos with your smartphone of the pages that you’ll need. It’s lighter and you won’t look quite so much like a tourist.
16. Bring an umbrella. It will protect you from rain and from the sun.
17. Bring a collapsible water bottle.
This will save space in your bag and keep you hydrated. Not all cities have easy access to public drinking fountains so you may want to fill up your water bottle at your hotel before heading out for the day.
18. Check the open/closed hours for attractions.
A lot of museums are closed one day a week and it’s a total bummer if you accidentally planned to go to a certain site on the day it happens to be closed. Years ago, I was in Munich for one day and it happened to be the day everything in town was closed. Also check to see if certain attractions stay open later than others. If you’re trying to pack a lot in one day, you can go to that attraction after others have closed. When I was in Stockholm, I noticed that while most attractions closed by 5 or 6pm, the ABBA museum was open to 8pm. It was the perfect thing to close out the day and maximize the short time I had there.
19. Also check to see when museums or attractions have free days. It might be more crowded but you’ll save some money.
20. If you’re spending a few days in one city, see if they have a special tourist card.
Different cities have different offerings and will cover museums, attractions and often also public transportation. They are often a really affordable way to see a lot of things and can make public transit tickets much easier to navigate because you just swipe your tourist card. You may even get to skip lines at certain attractions.
21. You will likely be walking a lot so make sure you bring your most comfortable shoes.
I generally bring one pair of tennis shoes and one pair of booties. Then I alternate days that I wear them. It’s also a good idea to bring a pair of insoles that you can swap out in case your feet are getting tired and sore. If your feet are swollen at the end of the day, try to elevate them while you sleep. And remember that it’s ok to take a break and rest. Find a nice, outdoor cafe where you can people watch and rest your feet.
22. Eat balanced, regular, nutritious meals.
You’ll be on the move a lot and it’s important to keep your strength up. When I was in college, I went to New York City for a week and would buy a bag of bagels in the morning and then just eat bagels all day. I suppose it was cheaper and easier but by the time I got home, I was craving protein and vegetables. In more recent years, I’ve had a bad habit of delaying lunch too long and getting too hungry and grumpy. Don’t be like me! Eat regular, healthy meals.
23. One way I like to ensure that I start the day off well, is to stay at a hotel with breakfast buffet included.
I like a big breakfast and it’s a great way to (hopefully) try local cuisine and build some energy before you head out for the day.
24. Cut down on equipment.
Most electronics are heavy and unless you’re a professional photographer, you probably don’t need to bring a fancy camera. These days smartphones often take better photos than a lot of cameras. I’m still rocking an old smartphone so I did some research to find the smallest, lightest weight, yet best quality point and shoot camera possible. I settled on the Canon PowerShot G9. It takes great photos, fits into my super tiny cross body purse and connects to my phone via bluetooth. The bluetooth capability is awesome because I can upload photos to my smartphone to post to social media while traveling. I also use it for IG photos when I’m at home too.
Bonus! Don’t bring extra charging cords. Many electronics will use the same micro-USB cord so you only need to bring one of those.
25. Keep a travel journal.
Your trips are something that deserve to be recording and a journal is a great way to record the things you saw and experienced. I love using a travel journal as a kind of scrapbook. They’re a great place to save tickets, cards, stickers and other paper souvenirs. I like to cover the outside of the journal with a map from my trip to customize the book.
These are all the tips that I’ve gathered over the years of traveling around the world and I hope that you find them helpful. If you have any tips of your own, I’d love to hear them. If you’re looking to add to your travel gear make sure to check out my favorites in my Amazon influencer shop.
