Our Proven Tips on How You Can Travel Smarter, Better. See the World Cheaper and avoid our mistakes!
This Post Was First Published on June 18, 2017 and its been updated today. Enjoy
“Mom, where are we going this summer?” She asked with barely reined in excitement. We usually went to town for the January sales and bargains. While there we also picked up holiday catalogs from Thomas Cook, and Direct Holidays (Both Now Closed), etc.
Honestly, we didn’t know there were other ways to travel smarter then! We just felt blessed to be able to get away for a week!
We always looked for the cheapest beach family holiday and settled for what fitted our budget.
We could see the sad look on our daughter’s face as we flipped past the All inclusive resorts and told her; “We cant afford that.” (The worst thing you could say to yourself or your child.) The lesson you grind inside that young mind can hold them back from their success for years. Can you relate?
Thank God those times are long gone…today we can find the best deal to a 5-star destination in minutes….
We now do consider ourselves smart travellers.
Unlike those days when we simply googled stuff and chose whatever was available and got on with it?
You do know there is a better way, right?
A way to travel smarter and save your cash to spend on more of the things you love! Having travelled extensively over the last 18+ years, we’ll share with you our ultimate smart travel hacks. You already know why travel matters to you and if you don’t then you are in for a treat here!
You know it’s most people’s dream to travel abroad or see more of your country. In our case it’s always been to show the hidden mysteries of faraway lands to our children.
Unfortunately, many people think that this could be an expensive proposition. So today we want to share with you tips and ideas on how you can travel smarter and get your wanderlust on. These smart travel tips will help you bring down the costs of your vacations, business travel or just travel while creating enriching life experiences!
See we just returned from a business trip to Cardiff and Paul had a Burger the size of Liverpool and it cost him $0… See image below!
That’s how outrageous it can be for your kids too. But you gotta be open to how the other half does things without paying the price with your credit card!
So let’s get into the meat and potatoes of our tips to travel smarter below:
Ground Zero – Smart Traveller Tips:
Secure your home…! You wanna come home to your beautiful palace all intact! Well if in winter leave your heat settings on a minimum heat so your home doesn’t freeze over and cause your pipes to burst, or you coming home to a freezing house.
Both the above happened to us you can read about it here!
Don’t forget to turn your fridge to low or Holiday setting for newer digital Fridges.
Leave a timer light on that comes on at set times during your time away.
You could also leave your PC on as a DIY security webcam… Or ask a friend, family member or good neighbour to keep an eye and put away your mail so it’s not lying about for anyone to see that you aren’t home. Do buy them a nice gift for when you return… You are a smart traveller after all! 😉
You Can Download These tips as a PDF Below.
Smart Traveller Must Dos:
Don’t you forget your passport, or even worse don’t forget to check that you have the right visas or Leave to stay.
For some EU residents travel to USA requires an ESTA as opposed to a Visa. ESTAs last for at least 2 years and cost £14 per application in UK (An application can be for an individual or a group/family application of up to 50 people, the fee is the same!) You can apply online here it takes less than 5 mins! With your documentation sorted…
Know what travel habits will enhance your trips and learn a few phrases of your destination so you can communicate with locals better. When you get there Respect their cultures and traditions and why not try out the local cuisine.
Be sure to try out the non-tourist zones. 🙂 And your health matters absolutely so don’t forget to look after number one. Don’t forget your medicines and beware of the places you can’t take non-prescription meds like Dubai!
Smart Travel Tip #1 Clear Your Browser Cache Before Booking
Now this can be tricky on a phone or tablet yet it’s still doable if you use apps to help you out. You must be asking; what’s this got to do with how to travel smarter or cheaper? Well bear with…
Do you remember to browse privately Or to clear your search before you do the next search for that flight or hotel and after every search? We thought not.
Well from now on Open a “New Incognito Window” before you do any searches. DO IT. When we are searching for bargain European flights online, we do this.
In fact, we like to use the www.google.com/ncr and NCR stands for Non Country Redirection. And how does this help? You get to receive results that include other countries bargain deals esp. in Dollars even if you are browsing from outside USA.
Browse Incognito Or clear your search before you do the next flight or hotel search.
Super tip: Travel companies keep a record of what you have already seen online, and won’t deliver the real bargain offers for hotels or flights which they can. Instead your searches will return offers at or close to the prices you’ve already seen. Thus browse incognito or clear browser cache, AFTER EVERY SEARCH until you find that sweet deal.
Don’t forget the best day and time to book your flight. This is the smart way to book your travel!
Travel Smarter Tip #2 – How Long is your Trip?
Okay we do short trips often like weekenders, bank holiday getaways and overnight business trips. Are you like that or have a vision to do this often? The thing is we love Booking.com a platform for anyone really who loves to travel better for less.
BUT if you don’t have access to the benefits we do, then listen up…When you search for and book accommodation, don’t avoid the big name business hotels but think about this: will you really use all the facilities on offer & which you will pay for? Think pools, conference rooms, spas, health and fitness centre or gym, the shop etc.?
If the answer is NO, remember it’s a short hop over. Then our advice is; Look for the B&Bs, smaller boutique hotels like Holiday Inn Express, Premier Inns, small Best westerns.
We like to just spend a weekend in a best western here in Liverpool Sefton Park, a hidden Gem. It is a typical B&B with old world king size beds, Free wi-fi, a massive breakfast, Free Parking for guests and very helpful staff who always remember your preferences and have a great knowledge of Liverpool – a home away from home.
Another favourite for us in UK are; the DoubleTree by Hilton brand and Holiday Inns.
Look for the B&Bs, smaller boutique hotels like Holiday Inn Express
Travel Smarter Tip #3 – Refreshments & Snacks For your trip
This is essential for flying and road trips alike esp. if you travel with children. It may be common knowledge but not for first timers or infrequent travellers.
This NEXT bit if traveling within your home country e.g. UK, may be a non-issue. Don’t underestimate it for International travel.
Remember DON’T TAKE liquids in Hand Luggage through airport security unless it’s under 100mls, which ain’t much! BUT you can get as many drinks over 100mls or water as you like once through security from the Duty free shops onto the flight.
On a road trip absolutely pack as much as you can carry in terms of water or healthy non fizzy drinks. We love to take a Super Green Smoothie on road trips as a healthy snack! We have a cooler bag just for that.
This helps in keeping us hydrated and saves us buying overpriced drinks and snacks at Service and rest places along the motor way.
Snacks are another matter, as long as they are sealed. Airport security don’t mind them apart from dairy products, insects, and meat products.
So we pack some sandwiches in seal-able sandwich bags. We sometimes buy healthy fruit snacks, dried fruits. I’m gaga about nuts and take them with us.
I don’t know about you, but airline food is often horrible or simply not enough for a full grown adult! Short haul flights don’t even offer meals anymore irrespective of the time one spends to get on that flight between meals or even early morning. So be sure to pack something healthy & filling to eat on your road trip or flight; independent of airlines and airports.
Travel Smarter Tip #4 – Do check-in online or use an App
So you are travelling by air and booking online, why not go the extra mile and do check-in online or use a travel app! We Downloaded ours direct to our phones and you can check-in on a mobile device and save our boarding pass on there, real cool? In some cases this saves us lining up at the airport for ages!
You can do this on the internet within 24-30 hours before your flight. If you live close by or decide to stay overnight by the airport, you can check in at your terminal electronically by using the convenient kiosks.
You don’t need a paper boarding pass if you got it on your phone or tablet. And by the way choose your seats when you book your flight and double confirm when you check-in! Especially important if you travel as a family with wee kids or couple. You don’t wish to seat a mile away from your children or beloved. This is a digital age, right and a real cool way to travel smart by air!
Travel Smarter #5 – Keep Entertained
Be it adult or children if it’s longer than 2 hrs then its definitely a long trip in our book. If you’re taking a trans-Atlantic or long haul flight, you could be in the air or transit for hours, so make sure to pack plenty of things to do in your carry-on luggage.
We have made sure and advise you to get this done. Make sure your handheld devices comply with in-flight safety regulations and have extensions that will let you charge them on the flight as well as connect to the system to play or free flight wi-fi.
We always take a pack of playing cards, download games on our tablets, a couple of Books, puzzles and magazines to pass the time. We also add some cool meditation downloads (Many free on YouTube) for a stress free calm take-off, flight and landing experience.
Plan some chill out, relaxing, even sleep if you can on your long haul flight. Chances you are flying across time zones, so give your body a chance to rest. And always moisturize lots on the flight or you will be puffed up for 24+hrs on landing and it ain’t a great look!
Make sure your handheld devices comply with in-flight safety regulations.
Travel Smarter today #6 – Pack light, pack smart, Go Hand luggage
We have found that when we travel light aka just hand luggage or an overnight bag, we get where we are heading faster.
Leave that kitchen pantry behind when you pack. 🙂 Unless you are going away for a month, pack light.
Roll your clothes up and place little items inside of shoes.
If in doubt don’t pack it period! Yes it’s tempting to match every outfit with a shoe and handbag…but guess what, you won’t use them trust us on that.
Lighter bags make traveling to and from the airport considerably easier and your road-trip lighter too.
If you gotta use public transport at any point, lugging around several heavy suitcases won’t be such fun and you will find getting down then underground on and off buses or trains a upper nightmare.
Also lighter bags will save you from potentially expensive excess baggage fees. Pack like a flight attendant and you will be traveling smarter too! We got above suitcase from an Amazon Store we recommend it!
Fortunately most airlines permit passengers to bring one bag of up to 12kgs on board the aircraft for free. Make use of this by packing the essentials.
Don’t chance your electronics getting damaged in your checked in luggage, pack your equipment rolled in socks if it fits in your carry-on bag e.g. tablet, laptop, games console, chargers, camera etc. For that road-trip keep em close esp. on public means.
If in doubt don't pack it period! #traveltips
Travel Smarter #7 – Take Your Camera & Power Pack
This may sound like a given to travel smarter… After all this is a digital era and everyone, their aunt and pet dog own an android phone, right! WRONG.
Take your camera and capture those moments you will have forever with Clear images, as opposed to those on a tablet or phone.
Yes these days’ phones and tablets have high quality cameras but consider this scenario that happened to us before. My iPad battery run out while we were sightseeing in Rome at the Colloseo. (We have been Twice in 2 years, couple images below).
We could have missed out on some of the most treasured moments of our trip, if Paul hadn’t insisted on bringing our Go-Pro camera along. So do yourself a favour and take your trusty Nikon or Panasonic with you too.
Also absolutely buy a portable power pack. We got one that cost us £8 from Matalan and it keeps our phones and tablets going longer with battery juice. OR take spare batteries with you and carry them while out.
Do Not forget your universal outlet plug. We have like 4 scattered in different suitcases lol! They are different for Europe and USA. They cost like $20+ at the airport, yet less than a tenner in shops. 🙂 This is how you travel smarter as a digital nomad!
Visit Rome Colloseo the smart way! Book in Advance!
Everyone, their aunt and pet dog own an android phone right! WRONG.
Travel Smarter Tip #8 – Check Your Technology
And we’re talking your phone roaming, zoom, WhatsApp, wi-fi etc.
Way back in 2008 we travelled to Greece and I forgot to check with my mobile/cell phone services provider on a roaming plan. Suffice to say we weren’t best pleased with the bill when we got back to UK.
These days when we travel we take a tablet with us so we can use Zoom, WhatsApp, Facebook message, which are also available on our smart phones. Use these options with hotel free available wi-fi abroad as much as possible for phone calls/chats.
Super Tip: Fully charge your gadgets before your trip terra firma or flying. And if you’re flying, know that most security require your electronic devices to be charged up so that you can demonstrate them powering on, on request. So don’t take that chance of a drained gadget. You could miss your flight…
Travel Smarter Penultimate tip #9 – Use your Travel Points
Now if you are a frequent flier you should definitely travel smarter.
You may be accumulating travel points and benefits and you don’t even check…! Those loyalty programs are there for a reason.
If you aren’t a frequent traveller we absolutely encourage you to sign up for any travel company or club loyalty programs you think you may utilize in the near future today. Do it now.
Some that we are members with are: Flying Blue, Jet air, British Airways, Emirates, Booking etc. 🙂 Now the trick is to ensure your benefits or points don’t flush. i.e. you lose them by non-use.
If you are a budget conscious person consider changing loyalty… Airline reward programs have changed dramatically lately, and so have the benefits they offer.
Most airlines have shifted from rewarding you by how far you fly to; how much you spend. So if you buy cheap international flights, you’ll earn far lesser miles.
Here’s how to hack the system. You don’t necessarily have to switch loyalty programs and you don’t have to bank your air miles with the airline you use. There are still some airlines that award miles based on distance flown for instance Alaska Airlines.
So why not fly Delta but earn Alaska miles, then redeem them on partner airlines like KLM/Air France! Learn how you can do this via elite status match here!
Airline reward programs have changed dramatically lately, and so have the benefits they offer.
Travel Smarter Penultimate tip #10 Compare Travel Styles
How do we mean by that? Well consider this; how long is that ride to the airport? There is checking in and security checks, your flight waiting times, transit times etc. We recently visited Florence in Italy and met a young couple that had driven from Croatia! They said it had taken them 6 hours tops!
We kinda wondered how that was even possible! When we totted up the time it took us to get to Manchester Airport 40 mins, plus check in and boarding time 3hrs, the flight itself was 3 hrs, plus the 2 hrs transit thru Munich and finally grabbing our cases and we had opted for the Airport Shuttle as the ride to our hotel.
Our journey was almost double time and cost more in the bigger picture. Would a road trip have been shorter and more enjoyable via Dover, channel crossing, drive to Italy? YES cheaper & more scenic, EVEN in time costs!
BUT, and this is a big but, it could have been exhausting for the Driver/s. even with a SatNav.
That said, it could be your next trip. Consider the alternative time and cost savings and how you would feel if you drove to your next vacation!
Smart Travel Tip #11 – Use a Smart Card Have a Lighter Wallet!
Yes, today we can say that instead of taking your 6 cards plus all your loyalty cards on that trip, and worry about losing them. Get yourself a Smart-card.
This is a Bluetooth smart card with Technology so cool most people will want one. So why not be one of the first few to rock it!
You can learn more about Smart Cards go google it and check out YouTube videos too. Compare what suits your needs and try it.
#12 What to do When Traveling Alone
We are sure there are numerous tips for Solo Travelers out there. We would like you to understand that Your Personal safety is down to YOU. So take it as a serious job in order to enjoy your travels. More so for the female solo traveller. So we recommend that you Read our Full Article on Solo Travel dos and don’ts below
[RECOMMENDED – Solo Travel Traveling alone DO’s and DON’TS!]
Smart Travel Tip #BONUS TIP – Shopping Tip
On some bank and credit cards, your normal weekly shopping at Walmart’s, Target etc. and most online stores, your occasional gift shopping, that large item shopping earn you points that you can use to travel anywhere.
If you don’t have such benefits, well many stores do give tourist discount cards e.g. Macys. And you don’t have to be on holiday, just ask, many offer 5-10% discounts on your purchases.
You must show your ID (out-of-state) and you’ll get the card. We usually try the department stores and larger retailers. And while doing so or once done with your shopping don’t worry about bigger items. Ask about shipping policy, tax and costs and simply ask them to ship your stuff directly home so you don’t have to worry about paying extra baggage cost!
Most stores will ship your bigger items home for a small fee. Many have do it, don’t leave that gorgeous rug behind that you will never find back home at that price even with shipping costs.
We can tell you this list is not exhaustive even from our own experiences so we will keep updating it regularly. So keep an eye out and/or subscribe so you’ll know when we have done so. TWEET BELOW Now you Rock 🙂
Our Travel Smarter List is ever changing, so We'll keep updating it regularly!
Nomadic Matt dives deeper into how to travel on a budget so we didn’t wanna reinvent that wheel. He is an Authority on that so check out his travel blog.
Now for assistance in locating the best Travel package or advise on Flights and Hotels, feel free to reach out to us. You can Contact Us and we’d be more than happy to pull up some options for you.
By the way every image and text is socially shareable, simply highlight, right click and share away! 
Try It Now… And we definitely want to know your tips on smart travel and any Faux pas you might have had…Hope you enjoyed ours and if so do go ahead and like, use the share buttons esp Share on Facebook…
After you’ve left a comment, let’s CONNECT and bond some more on Facebook or on Twitter, Instagram and Google. We also Podcast on iTunes and you’ll definitely want to check out our amazingly helpful Travel Club to help you plan your next life changing 5 Star trip like a VIP.
See. Do and Be more
Julie Sylvia Kalungi
Find and Follow me on:
Facebook: Pkjulesworld-Travelswag
Twitter: @pkjulesworld
Instagram: @pkjulesworld
Email: julie[at]pkjulesworld.com
Need Help with creating your own travel blog? Contact Us we have a multitude of tips and tools and we Help People Everyday.
I love travel tips, unfortunately I forget most of them when I need them. Thanks for the reminders. Even using one of these will make travel easier.
Thanks for sharing some useful information. I never clear my cache before booking tickets. I will try this next time for sure.
Great traveling trips. All of these are important if you are going to be traveling frequently.
These are all great tips for traveling. And i have to agree most in keeping travel documents in check as it will be a hassle if you loose any especially when your traveling internationally.
love this topic! every single one of them is such an important guide. Thanks so much for sharing
I love this topic, always gives me a little bit of sense what I need to do and be prepared for. Thanks!
I hope you can use some or ALL of these tips at some point 😀
I love all of this information and they are so simple and easy to implement! Thank you.
I didn’t know about the travel deal searching in an incognito window. Great tip, thank you!
I hope it works for you next time Alexis 😀
Those are all great tips and points to remember when traveling. I love how informative this post is and that you compiled it in a way that is easy for us to understand. Will definitely keeping those in mind for future help.
These are all great tips! I always check small hotels as well when I am searching for the perfect place to stay, very often they are not advertised on Booking.com (think Premier Inn, Travelodge, etc). I only travel with a hand luggage these days, it is so much more convenient.
Yes, I always put on my reminder about the liquid thing because there were couple of times we had to dump bottles of water and juices before we get inside the security check. Thanks for all these great reminders.
Love these travel tips ! Will be sure to read them again when I plan a trip!
Thanks for reading Sonya, hope the tips come in handy 😀 !!
Excellent tips for travelers. I tend to always overpack clothes. Never thought of clearing the cache when looking for deals and prices. Thanks for the post.
over packing is a problem of the past Mayuri!! 😀
These are helpful tips for people who are always travelings. So important to travel smart.
Snacks are so important for traveling! We always make sure to have enough for everyone or we’re all miserable.
Snacks can stop us from eating with our eyes and wasting our money. 🙂 lightly snacking when we need to can save us from this.
These are really great tips. Keeping track of travel documents is key for me. It’s so easy to lose them and it would be a nightmare.
You got this right Tonia. Keep an eye on your documents, Have copies to walk around with as opposed to the originals. Every local authority and police allows on time to produce required docs. So they are safe in a Hotel Safe! And of course Insurance is a must!
These are all awesome tips to guarantee a stress free travel. I always have an issue of over-packing. This is something I need to learn – to pack only the essentials. I also agree with you about taking a camera. Sometimes no matter how high end your smartphone is, it just doesn’t do justice when you are shooting scenery.
Hey AnneMarie, Glad we agree, and guess what, if packing more makes you happy…go for it 🙂
I recently was introduced to the worlds travelers club and want to learn more soon. I can’t wait to start using the tips you recommended.
Hey Betsy,
feel free to ask, if we can help. Welcome to The World Travel Club 🙂
These are some great travel tips! Travelling can be so stressful at times.
Travel can be and is what you make it Eileen 🙂
Thank you for these tips. I haven’t done much traveling lately, but yes, I agree. There should be a lot of research and planning done before buying that ticket! If I were traveling alone, I could tag it as an “adventure” but to travel with kids and not have a plan, that would be a “disaster.”
We have to do the needful, we have to learn more about where we are heading off to. Its for our own good as well. So more research yes please 🙂
I assume it is because I don’t travel often there seems to be many rules and regulations. I won’t be going to Dubai anytime with my list of prescriptions! Clearing my cache is something I would never have thought of. So many great tips and information!
Hey Gladys,
Indeed some countries get struck off one’s bucket list when we realise just what we may have to go through for a few days in a destination. When the world is our oyster 🙂
I finally took my first flight for the first time in 16 years. Now of course it was by myself, not with kids, but It was so cheap to fly from Denver to Phoenix to see my friends and family. Flying solo is definitely cheaper, but now that we live in a different state than everyone we know, I’ll probably end up flying maybe once a year. Thanks for the tip about clearing your browser’s cache.
Hey Heather, So happy for you and indeed make more of the chance to travel! You are most welcome! 🙂
These are all great tips on how to travel and plan for a trip. I realized when I cleared my cookie it did save me some money.
Exactly Kristal. We do it EVERY TIME and we go Incognito too 🙂
Pingback: How To Travel for FREE, Does this even exist?| Pkjulesworld
In our current climate of anxious traveling, these tips are a must for everyone who wants to have a stress free trip. I completely agree.
Thank You Elizabeth, I am glad you agree 🙂
This has to be the best travel smarter list. Lots of things that I have never thought about. The tip to clear the cache is awesome in helping get the best prices.
Kathleen
Blogger’s Pit Stop
Hey Kathleen,
Thanks for stopping by from the Pit Stop. Glad we served you today! 🙂
This guide seriously has everything! I am going to keep this as a reference for me when I go on my next trips.
Hi Coleman,
Its an honour to serve you and enjoy this Smart Travel guide. Happy travels! 🙂
Thank you for the tips, Julie. I usually take with me a snack, because I do not like in-flight meals. It is better that I take a sandwich with me than to go hungry.
OMG talk about airline food AnneMarie. I dont know where they make it. cutting corners is the order of the day. Yes take a snack and be safe!
I think these are good suggestions. We never head out without a plan. OMG, we’d be at a loss if we did not have any. Thank you for all the information Julie.
Planning, preparation is 99% the success we mostly seek in life and travel is no different!
I have always heard about clearing your cache!!! I do it every time 🙂
Glad you do GiGi, thanks for swinging by! 🙂
These are such a great tips you have here. I’m bookmarking them and thanks for sharing.
Hi Rocky,
You are most welcome, Book mark away. Glad you got value from our Smart Travel Ultimate guide! 🙂
Pack light is my favorite. There is always a way you can maximize the little space you have in a suitcase, and there are so many tricks to compress your necessities into one bag, while leaving room for souvenirs.
Yes Lisa,
You could be surprised at the amount if stuff one can get into a small suitcase so yes, We often times carry too much! 🙂
Great tips! Some of these I didn’t even think about. Love that your suggestions go beyond you actual trip but include things like securing your home.
Happy Travels!
Hi Nadalie,
Many of us get super excited about traveling we forget the simple common sense things before and after we travel! So we gotta help y’al out from our experiences! 🙂
I’m giving myself a pat on the back because I’ve been doing all these except maybe the part where I have to pack light. Whenever we travel to Korea, we usually stay there for a month so I maximize the baggage allowance. 🙂
Hurray Czjai.
Glad you are a Savvy traveller Jeep doing ya thing!
So many great tips! I never thought to browse incognito. Good call! I always use an app to check and look over my flights, as well as only take carry on luggage. It really does make it cheaper and easier to fly. You really can take vacations you just have to know how to advantage of deals.
Going Incognito is absolutely essential for getting the best deal in your budget or way below. Try it next time Kait! 🙂
We love traveling and practice many of the tips provided but it is nice to hear other perspectives and experiences thanks for sharing.
Hi Adriana,
Glad you are a Smart Traveller. We love hearing others affirm that what we say is the beesnees 🙂
Awesome tips on how to travel better! I think I’ve gotten used to packing light through the years, it used to be hell for me, lol. It’s really important to get everything in order before you leave. Organization is key!
Packing light has been a learnt habit for us. I used to pack the kitchen and bathroom sink lol! Thanks carol for stopping by!
Julie
These are great tips! We tend to travel close to home, but I didn’t know about some of these like clearing your cache before booking a hotel stay. I had no idea and now I’m going to tell my husband when he gets home.
Clearing your cache before you do any online buying esp. before you purchase is essential. Going incognito is even more interesting. The difference in prices will shock you!
Great tips for an affordable, fun and stress-free trip! I had no idea about the stores giving discount cards, that’s really good to know! Thanks!
Thanks Sarah, Glad you find our Smarter Travel Tips Great. 🙂
Pingback: Beat Jet Lag Fast with our Expert Proven Tips and tricks!
These are super, super tips Julie for any year! Not sure if I will be travelling outside of Canada this year but will surely keep them in mind! Thanks.
They are just as good for internal travel Claudette and enjoy Canada for sure. We love Ottawa and Paul has been to the Niagra, absolutely breathtaking. he will be telling us about it soonest 🙂
PKJW~
These are some really smart ideas of traveling. I always think of packing lighter. But, never ever succeed in the mission. Lolz!!
Teheheeee we feel your mission goal, its a work in progress for Julie..Shhhhh dont tell her 🙂
PKJW~
We travel at least twice per year and try to make our travels as easy and light as possible. We have two small boys with us so taking snacks on board is essential. This post also covered other points to travelling that I had not thought about. Very helpful tips and will use for future travel.
Hi Bismah,
Glad you got some value from our Guide to Travel smarter. enjoy the lil ones they grow up so fast!
Thanks for your time.
PKJW~
I want to tell you something about the cache. I booked a trip to Sri Lanka for a month and for 4 people 3 days ago and I wanted to test the browser cache I checked 3 times the price on 3 different days and after checking for 3 days I cleared cache and on the 3rd day without doing anything with cache I got a better deal. $3140 for all of us. And I went on checking again on my phone for the same price as a new customer and I saw the same price for the same flight. Even though I believe about the browser cache this time I got lucky maybe?
Hi Marc,
We are glad you got a good deal for your family, and we wish you an amazing journey! Definitely like everything in life nothing is set in stone 🙂
Enjoy your month in SriLanka
PKJW~
Ok so I just found out about clearing cache and I couldn’t believe how different my results were when I did that, not to mention I had less ads popping up for the destinations I searched when browsing incognito. One thing I’ll be using now is google.com/ncr had no idea I could get bargains deals from other countries! Thanks for sharing these tips!
Our pleasure Nayrha and thanks for that quick proof right there that these tips DO work. Awesome 🙂
PKJW~
These are all great tips and a lot of them people didn’t even think about, like the clearing the browser cashe when searching for flights and hotels. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!!
You are most welcome Becky, thanks for your time 🙂
PKJW~
Clear Your Browser Cache Before Booking…. Totally did not know this was a thing. Your tips are really useful, saving for my next big adventure. 🙂
Glad you learnt something new Anna, holler at us for your next big adventure 🙂
PKJW~
These are some great tips, thank you. When it comes to traveling I don’t think I can ever been too prepared.
Teheheheee We are always prepared Michelle. After years of travel, we have it down pat apart from what is out of our control 🙂
Thanx for swinging by
PKJw~
What wonderful tips you have here Julie. The things that struck me that I often don’t think about: Snacks — you never know when you’re going to be delayed or when facilities are closed. This avoids eating candy bars and chips which you may not want. Insuring that you have batteries and connections for your electronics as well as making sure they are charged before leaving home. And another “biggie” — you are absolutely correct that sometimes ground travel can be much more effective and enjoyable than air travel. That can also work the other way around. Thanks for sharing these and other great ideas.
Hey Carol,
We are super pumped you fund our post useful and that you agree with our experiences and smart travel tips.
Thanks for your time 🙂
PKJW~
Julie,
THANK YOU for these awesome tips. I’m about to head off on a trip soon and I completely needed the reminder to clear my browser when searching for flights!
Yup it works Areefa in fact we would be glad of some feedback on how that worked for you 🙂
PKJW~
I’m so glad that I discovered this wonderful well of smart ideas…I hadn’t thought of some of these at all. I’m going to follow these closely.
Glad you found our well Brian, Keep diving in and enjoy the abundance here 🙂
PKJW~
These are awesome tips Julie. I’ll definitely be book marking this page for sure. Thanks for sharing 🙂
You are most welcome Stephanie glad you got value 🙂
PKJW~
Whew! I already do a lot of these, but hadn’t even thought of some of them. What great tips! My biggest issue is packing light. But you’ve just given me a litmus test: “If in doubt don’t pack it period!”
I’m going to paste that on my carryon! Thank you 🙂
Awesome Susan,
Glad you did pick up a tip or 2, thanx for your time 🙂
PKJW~
WOw you covered a lot of ground here. Most of it I do except the cache thing but now I will. How ever you left me hanging on what is the best time to book. I’ve heard many different advice so what is your experience with this?
Hi Rebecca,
Glad you are a smart traveller. We actually wrote a full blog post on “what is the best time to book” simply follow the link in the post and enjoy new and better rates with our tips. Research has proven that Tuesdays arent the best days now…
PKJW~
These are some great tips! I travel a lot and I found this article really helpful for me!!
Glad you got value Jasmine 🙂
PKJW~
Wow Julie!! Im Bookmarking this Because I Plan on Traveling A LOT Soon and This blog post Covers Everything i need to Know!! I really Appreciate This so much!
We are glad you fund the information useful Tara, Absolutely enjoy your travels and DO holler at us for nay help you may need.
Thanks for your support and keep rocking 🙂
PKJW~
I love the idea of leaving on the PC as a security measure. I never thought of that. We’ve been thinking about getting cameras for the house but that will work till we do.
Glad you got value Krystle, and thanks for your time 🙂
PKJW~
These tips are so great and so handy. So many things can go wrong so quickly while travelling so it’s definitely better to be safe than sorry!
Exactly Steffi, glad you agree thanks for swinging by 🙂
PKJW~
Excellent guide and tips to travel smarter. Love the one about ‘clearing cookies’ before going to a travel website for deals. Thanks Julie!
Glad you got value Rory 🙂 Thanx for your time
PKJW~
Some great tips, I am going to try these as we really want to take our son to Disney Land but don’t think we can afford it. Maybe we can!
Dainty,
I m sure we can work something out & see how you could afford it…have you checked out our Travel club page? You would be surprised how much Disney Fun our club members enjoy esp. state side peeps. Many visit Disney on a monthly basis the deals are that good. So Yes You Can! Give us a shout and we can show you how! You will be your son’s hero 🙂
PKJW~
Awesome pictures and great tips on traveling!
Glad you likes Nestor!
PKJW~
[ Chuckles ] Great article!
By the way, I do not think that the average person would go on a vacation without their digital camera.
And, even though they my own an android smartphone, the quality of pictures that it produces cannot come close to the quality of what a good digital camera provides.
Oh yes they do go on vacation without their trusty ole camera Renard!
The average person believe it or not, we have met many on our travels and we have done it ourselves! Its so much easier to pull out your phone, and tablets take such wide images they give us a sense of false security. Many simply want to whatsapp, Facebook and social share their images…Snapchat, Instagram, Pinterest, you name it NOW Immediately.
Some of the Things you cannot do with a camera after taking that glorious picture. We humans love to share and show off a lil…:)
PKJW~
There’s lots of great tips here. I never thought of clearing my browser cache before booking. Thanks for sharing this.
Our pleasure Jasmine, glad you got value 🙂
PKJW~
Awesome tips you share here Julie!! Thanks so much for sharing them.
Our total pleasure Lena 🙂 Thanx for your time!
PKJW~
Great and informative. I love the tip about clearing your Web browser. I had no idea that not doing so could impact what other sites show you!
It sure does Barb, the internet is full of cookies and big bro type bots, yo check something you are gonna get served with all kinds of ads on that topic…same way you make a general search and never cleared your cache from your last trip you will find yo get similar if not higher prices 🙂
PKJW~
Wow! So many awesome tips in one place! 🙂 I don’t get to travel very often and so many of these were things I would never, or have never, thought about so I’m thrilled that you took the time to share! I’ve saved your post to go over again this summer before out road trip to the beach.
Hey NYG,
we are sure glad we have inspired your next trip with some ideas. Feel free to share this site, Keep rocking and thanx for your time 🙂
PKJW~
These are some great tips! I used to travel a lot when I lived in Europe and it was amazing how many deals there are for travelers. It makes it so much more affordable to do!
Europe travel puts other continents to shame Kelly. There are so many deals its a joy to live here. Flights are cheaper than a bus ride from Liverpool to London…why wouldnt one explore. And when you have access to 5 Star Hotel deals, the deal gets sweeter. We love to travel and we shall soon share some of our Bucket List Items for 2016 in our next episode 🙂
PKJW~
Wow! Thanks for including so many smart travel tips in one place.
Our absolute pleasure Mike 🙂 thanx for your time.
PKJW~
I just got back from a four day road trip with my toddler and preschooler. I recommend having a plan before you set out. Winging it might work for a solo traveler, but, with kids, you got to have a plan!
Hi Heather,
Winging it definitely isnt on our list of Smart Travel tips lolol and we agree with you Heather. Our Son started traveling at 4 weeks old so We can tel you some real fun and wierd stories about travelling wit wee ones! Bottom line you gotta have a plan even when you are backpacking… 🙂 thanks for your contribution and time!
PKJW~
Anyone who does any amount of travelling should read this post. Planning and preparation is necessary as once you hit the airport its out of your control. smart things like packing a lunch of food you like, entertainment, checking in advance, making sure you give yourself lots of time to get through security. So many things here that people don’t think about. Thanks for sharing Julie.
Wow Thank You David,
We very much Appreciate your endorsement of our Travel Smarter Tips and your continued support. We truly love to help people enjoy life more..its our destiny to do so!
Keep rocking 🙂
PKJW~
Thank you so much. I didn’t realize you had to clear your cache and cookies before you search for deals. I am traveling to New Orleans soon!
Yes Lorraine its like if you are doing any other search that requires comparisons:be it car insurance, home insurance, car sales etc..anything you are looking to buy online and are checking various websites do it one at a time with a document to note the results or prices you get…you will be surprised. Try it just for the heck of it 🙂
PKJW~