Having gone on over 100 flights in the last 5 years to visit 18 countries and 30 US States, I’ve learned a thing or two about traveling! I’ll be sharing my best travel tips and tricks to help you save time and money, and avoid the big mistakes I’ve made.
Travel doesn’t have to be overwhelming or super expensive! There are so many ways to simplify your itinerary, and go on your bucket list vacations without breaking the bank.
These travel tips are organized into 5 categories: Flights & Airlines, Money & Discounts, Packing & Essentials, Safety & Travel Smarts, and Lodging & Accommodation.
Even if you’re a seasoned traveler, I bet there are some travel tips in here you’ve never heard of! I still learn something new every week, and especially every time I go on another trip.
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1. Take the first flight of the day to avoid delays.
Yes, waking up at the crack of dawn to rush to the airport is quite irritating. However, not only will this save you money, it’s been shown that this will help you avoid cancellations and flight delays.
According to Expedia’s 2025 Air Hacks report, flights that take off after 9 p.m. have a 57% higher chance of being cancelled compared to those that leave earlier in the day.
2. Sunday is the cheapest day to book your flight.
Tuesday is no longer the cheapest day of the week to book your flight. That day is now Sunday, which is great because it gives you all weekend to plan your trip and then you can solidify your flights on Sunday!
The cheapest days to fly are Saturday (domestic) and Thursday (international).
3. Wait to book your flight to snag the cheapest flights.
Personally, I like to book my flights ahead of time so I can get to planning the rest of my trip. However, flight prices tend to drop closer to departure than you think.
For US domestic flights, it’s recommended to book your flight 1 – 3 months in advance, with the lowest price being 38 days before departure.
For international flights, it’s recommended to book your flight as early as you can to get the best flight. Alternatively, you can wait until 18 – 29 days before departure to score a great deal.
However, this “deal” may include a very long layover, or less-than-ideal departure or arrival times.
I would recommend booking a refundable ticket as far out as you can, then keeping an eye on the flight prices to get a fare adjustment when the price drops.
4. Use a tool like Google Explore to find the cheapest flights to anywhere.
This is perfect for when your trip is flexible, whether that be your destination or timing. I like to use Google Explore, and have also heard good things about Skyscanner.
These tools allow you to set your departure airport and search for the cheapest flights all around the world. For example, here I can search for a 1-week trip in the next 6 months to anywhere in the world:
5. Always check prices at nearby airports.
Sometimes you can find a really great flight deal in/out of an airport that’s nearby that you wouldn’t normally consider!
For example in Los Angeles, instead of flying out of LAX, you can look at nearby airports like Burbank (BUR), Long Beach (LGB), and Orange County (SNA), to name a few.
I’ve also used these airports to reroute my trips in cases where my original flight to LAX got delayed or outright canceled. Always know your options!
6. Look into stopover programs for free flights through major cities.
A lot of major airlines that are based out of a single hub have stopover programs as a way to incentivize you to stay longer and explore that hub city.
Some programs will even give you free tours and/or hotels so you can really explore the city! Some of my bucket list cities you can explore for free are Abu Dhabi (Etihad), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), and Lisbon (TAP Air Portugal).
Money & Discounts Travel Tips
7. Exchange money at your local bank before your trip for the best exchange rate.
And whatever you do, don’t exchange your money at the airport! Those little airport kiosk shops will give you the worst exchange rate.
You can usually just walk in without calling ahead for more mainstream currencies, like the Euro or Australia dollar. I would suggest calling your bank ahead of time to confirm.
8. Get a credit card that earns points / miles on every purchase.
I won’t go into detail on specific credit cards, but this is a huge hack to getting to travel more for a lot less, and even for FREE!
Unless you’re flying every other day for work throughout the year, it’s unlikely that you’ll ever accumulate enough points for status. I reached American Airlines Gold Status this year by putting a lot of big purchases on my credit card.
9. If given the choice, always pay in foreign currency.
This travel tip is referring to when you check out at a store in a foreign country, and the little machine asks you if you want to pay in their local currency or in USD.
Always pay in foreign currency, your credit card/bank will give a better rate than the little machine will.
10. Request a VAT refund form for big purchases.
When you’re shopping in European countries, make sure to request a VAT refund form while you’re IN the shop for any big purchases, usually over $50-100.
Check the VAT refund threshold ahead of time, depending on the country you’re visiting.
And then make sure to actually process that VAT refund form at the airport before you leave the European Union and head back home! Depending on how big your refund is, you may want to give yourself extra time at the airport in case of long lines.
11. You don’t need to be 50+ to sign up for AARP.
I learned this little fact recently; there is actually no age minimum for AARP. Which means that you can sign up today and start taking advantage of their discounted rates and programs!
12. Use airline shopping portals to earn extra miles on your everyday purchases.
Airline shopping portals are another way you can quickly earn status with your favorite airline, without constantly being a plane. Read more about how to take advantage of these portals and other ways to earn free miles here.
13. Many airlines offer student discounts.
If you are a student, there are so many programs you can be using to travel for less! Many of the big airlines, including Delta, American and United, have student discount programs that let you save money on your flights.
Packing & Apps Travel Tips
14. Bring power bars to avoid spending money on snacks.
I always do this on all of my trips – also because I hate being hungry while I’m out and about exploring a new place! Bring a power bar for each day of your trip to save money on snacks.
My favorite is the Aloha Peanut Butter Cup bar – I got hooked on these years ago and haven’t looked back since. This is a small plug, but if you like this brand or want to try them out, you can use code MLE to save 25% on your order.
15. Pack old clothes you’re willing to leave behind.
This is one of my favorite underrated travel tips. I do this for two reasons.
Firstly, I like to have an outfit or two that I “don’t care” about in case my clothes got stolen or lost. And secondly, in the event I go shopping and run out of space in my suitcase, I like to have items that I’m willing to part with or donate to free up space!
16. Always pack an extra outfit and toiletries in your carry-on.
If you’re checking a bag, make sure to always pack toiletries and a change of clothes in your carry-on in case your luggage gets lost.
Even if your suitcase got delayed for a day or two, you’ll be so thankful that you have that spare outfit in the meantime! And definitely always keep your most important valuables on you in your carry-on.
17. Get a Kindle to save space.
This one makes me so sad because I LOVE reading an actual physical book. However, if you are low on space, I definitely recommend getting a Kindle or other e-reader.
18. Use the Timeshifter app to avoid jet lag.
The Timeshifter app is free to download, and will help you plan ahead so you can reduce jet lag! It will tell you when to drink caffeine and avoid sleeping, or vice versa, so you are best equipped to handle the time change when traveling.
19. Use the Calculator app to convert currency.
The iPhone’s built-in Calculator app now has a currency converter feature that you can use while you travel to easily figure out the price of something!
20. Download offline Google Maps to save data.
Before you leave for your trip, download the offline Google Maps area of where you’ll be visiting. This way you can walk around and get directions to where you want to go, without using your precious data.
This is also really great for trips to places like national parks, where cell service may be limited or even unavailable in certain parts.
21. Download Netflix shows before your flight.
You can do this with pretty much any streaming service you use; just use their app before you depart to download your favorite shows and movies.
You can even download YouTube videos and TikToks for viewing while you’re in airplane mode!
Safety & Travel Smarts Travel Tips
22. Always check visa requirements before traveling.
This one seems like it would be easy to remember, but entry requirements are always changing. In some cases, I would even suggest waiting until you get approved before booking your flights.
In fact, as of 2025 the UK now requires an ETA, and it is likely that by mid-2025, the EU will also require a travel authorization.
23. Make photo copies of your passport & important documents.
Before you leave, make sure you take photos of your passport and other important documents. I suggest sending these to yourself via email, as well as to a trusted friend/family member.
In case your passport ever gets lost or stolen, you will have a much easier time at the Embassy getting a temporary passport to get back into the United States.
24. Never eat at restaurants right next to major tourist attractions.
Always try to walk a few blocks away from major tourist attractions for cheaper and better food.
Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. But as a rule of thumb, these spots tend to target tourists and will charge a premium.
Oh and another travel tip I heard – if there are photos on the restaurant’s menu, skip it.
25. Go grocery shopping while traveling.
This is a great way to save money while you travel! It’s really easy for meals to quickly add up while you’re constantly on the go.
I recommend heading to a grocery store right when you arrive to your destination to stock up on your favorite snacks and easy meals you can make at your hotel. For example, getting a loaf of bread and some peanut butter or sliced deli meat.
This is also a great way to check out the local snacks and food options! It’s actually one of my favorite activities when I travel – to see what their grocery stores have to offer, and how it’s different than the options in the US.
Lodging & Accommodation Travel Tips
26. Use clip hangers to keep hotel curtains fully closed.
This is one of the travel tips I learned from a fellow travel blogger – if you’re sensitive to light in your hotel room, use one of those clippy hangers to keep the curtains fully shut.
27. If you think you’re “too old” for a hostel, look into a co-living space.
If you think you’re “too old” for a hostel, try a co-living space instead. These are similar to hostels with shared amenities like bathrooms, kitchen, and lounge area, except you will usually get your own room.
These tend to draw in a lot of digital nomads, and is a great way to meet people with less of the “party” vibe that hostels can have.
28. Book hotels with a flexible cancellation policy.
I like to book my hotels as far in advance as I possible can with a 100% free cancellation policy. Keep checking prices before your trip, and rebook your hotel if prices drop.
This has helped me save so much money on my hotels, while also ensuring I get to stay where I want to!
I’ve also found that a lot of hotels won’t charge your credit card anyway until a few days before check-in, so there’s no harm in booking earlier.
Let me know your favorite travel tips in the comments below! And be sure to follow me on Instagram for more travel content.
mariss
