Toast and Travel's Travel Hacks
/I’m pretty sure every travel blogger has a list of their own travel hacks and maybe some of the items on my list are nothing new. But these are the hacks I use on a regular basis to travel efficiently and travel affordably. I hope you find them useful!
Plan Ahead- I usually plan how I will allocate my vacation days around the beginning of the year so I don’t run out towards the end of the year. If there are so bigger international trips I want to go on throughout the year, I want to ensure I have enough days for them. Planning ahead also allows you to book the activities you want to do before they sell out. Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdam books up months in advance and if you end up with no ticket there could be a 1-2 hour wait to enter!
Use a Travel Credit Card- I know every one has the Chase Sapphire Reserve, but as a Houstonian I’ve found that the United Airlines Mileage Plus Explorer card is much more useful. Houston is a United hub, which means that most of the direct flights that leave are from United Airlines. These are some of the most efficient and affordable flights so even though I’m not a huge fan of United, I always end up on these flights. However, United’s basic economy tickets don’t allow even a carry on bag and on a 3-4 day trip not having luggage just isn’t possible for me. With the Explorer credit card, I not only get to bring a carry on bag onboard the place, but I’m also allowed to check a bag for free and even have priority boarding (thus ensuring that my bag always has space in the overhead bins). My card also reimburses the Global Entry $100 fee (similar to the Reserve card) and has an annual fee of $95 (instead of the hefty $450 that the Reserve charges). Travel cards aren’t one size fits all so finding the right one for you requires research and thought on how you personally travel.
Hotel vs. Airbnb vs. Hostel- All 3 accommodations are viable options when it comes to affordable travel, but the key is doing your research well in advance. The best accommodations that give you the most bang for your buck obviously fill up first. Hotels are not always the most expensive choice. Sometimes based on location and amenities hotels just make the most sense because it will allow you to save on other things like, transportation. Hostels usually appear to be the most economical option, but be careful, sometimes they are just as pricey as Airbnbs and offer a lot less privacy and cleanliness. The best advice I have when selecting where to stay on your trip is to research and compare and prioritize what you’re looking for. For hostels, I used the Hostelworld website to find the one that best suited me. I read a lot of reviews and looked at the location of the hostel and really focused on the cleanliness and safety of the hostel.
Check Flight Prices Often- Flight prices are a mystery to me because they fluctuate so drastically. The same seat can cost $99 one day and $300 a few days later. So once you’ve chosen a destination and maybe even a date, constantly go online to websites like Travelocity or Google Flights to compare prices. Using travel deal sites like Scott’s Cheap Flights or Escape Houston is a good idea as well.
Exchange Money in the U.S- Unless you have a card that allows you to withdraw from any foreign atm without transaction fees, you’ll need to have cash ready upon arrival. The currency exchange counters at the airports usually have long lines and transaction fees as well. I always have around $200 already exchanged at my bank in the U.S so I’m prepared once I arrive and not stressed about how I’m going to pay for things like cabs or food. Some countries (like China) are cash based so having a credit card isn’t going to be too helpful. Your own bank is not going to charge you transaction fees so you can exchange freely. Try your best to use up any exchanged cash before returning home- having to exchange your money back to US dollars devalues your money even more.
If you have any other travel hacks or secrets, let me know! I love learning and testing out new things.
