Travel Tips for Smoother Trips

At PreFlight, we are passionate about travel and personally travel multiple times yearly. Over the years, we have encountered a wide array of travel situations, each presenting its own unique challenges and learning opportunities. We have seen everything from navigating bustling airports to dealing with unexpected delays.

 

Through these diverse experiences, we have created a collection of our favorite travel hacks—insider tips and tricks that help us streamline our travel process and help make our overall experience. These hacks range from packing efficiently to finding the best deals on flights and accommodations.

Bring Extra Cords

Keep a cord in each bag you’re carrying just in case you lose one. You will have backups and won’t need to pay the expensive airport or hotel costs for a cord, which can be 2-3xs more than what you originally bought it for.

Migraine Relief Caps

It sounds weird, but hear us out! Being sick on vacation is the worst, whether from heat stroke, food poisoning, or having too much fun the night before. Bringing a migraine relief cap has been our holy grail because it can be heated and cooled and helps relieve head pain.

 

It also makes a fantastic sleeping mask when you’re flying and helps block out noise. It also makes sure your wireless earbuds stay in while you’re taking a nap.

Carry Earplugs

Airports can be very loud, and if you're traveling and not expecting to be in a loud space, having earplugs can be a lifesaver for your ears and your mental health. You can find foam earplugs at any pharmacy or store; if you like to plan ahead, we recommend using Loops, which can be reused and are great for your ear health. They are lifesavers if your headphones die, and you feel overstimulated.

Carry a Small First Aid Kit

Buying new shoes for vacation is always a cute choice until you realize they aren’t broken in and they give you blisters. Just in case, pack a first aid kit with moleskin, bandaids, painkillers, tums, or any general pain relief items.

Avoid Currency Exchanges at the Airport

When journeying overseas, you might pay more in fees than if you settle your travel expenses via your credit card or bank. Therefore, try to steer clear of ATM withdrawals to conserve funds. Instead, check your bank's charges for travel or explore your credit card benefits. With specific credit cards, you can earn extra cashback on travel expenditures, or the costs may be lower than exchanging for cash.

Packing Cubes can Make Great Pillows in a Pinch

If you get hit with delays or cancellations at the airport, pulling out one of your travel cubes can make for a quick pillow if you didn’t bring a travel pillow.

Bring Compression Socks

If you’re planning on walking a lot, even if you don’t think you’re going to swell, trust me, having them can save your legs at the end of a long day. The fact they come in fun colors adds to the fun!

Bring a Plastic Bag to Separate Clothes.

Often people bring travel bags, and they are fantastic, but they don’t always help with separating your clean and dirty clothes. It’s also nice if you’re worried you have some extra hitchhikers, keeping your clothes sealed until you get home to wash them can help make sure they don’t start multiplying.

Check Your Bedding for Bugs!

It's always better to be safe than sorry, so bring home some extra passengers. Check furniture, beds, and corners of carpeted rooms for small black or brown specks along the creases or folds.

Don’t Walk Barefoot Around Public Places

It's great being comfortable on vacation, but you shouldn’t have to pay for the consequences when you get home. Wear socks around your hotel or at least flip-flops in public places. If you can, try to keep your shoes within reach if you’re in a pool.

Use Price Trackers for Flights

Apps like Hopper will actually forecast the cost for flights and hotels so you know when the best time would be to buy flights at the best prices. The forecasts are based on historical data from previous years and general flight price trends, so you always know what to expect.

 

 

Our goal at PreFlight is to share these insights and best practices with fellow travelers, helping them to travel as smoothly and enjoyably as possible. With the right preparation and mindset, we believe anyone can turn their travel experiences into memorable adventures. Happy Travels!