Travel Hacks That Make Life Easier

No one knows travel like AAA travel advisors. Vacation planning, exploring the world and sharing their firsthand experiences is not just their job, it’s their passion. So, when it came to gathering the best travel hacks, we went straight to the source.

From beating jet lag and surviving long flights to navigating solo travel and packing smarter, we’ve rounded up a list of tips from more than a dozen AAA travel advisors.

Pre-Trip Planning

• Check weather and pack accordingly. Review your destination’s forecast within a week of your departure and plan outfits based on climate.
• Enroll in safety programs. Sign up for the U.S. Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for added security while abroad.
• Verify passport and entry requirements. Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your return date and review visa requirements.
• Confirm banking details. Use a credit card without foreign transaction fees; carry a small amount of local currency for immediate expenses.
• Look into SIM and data planning. Contact your carrier about international plans or consider a local SIM card.
• Download useful travel apps. Install airline apps, offline maps and translation tools before departure.
• Get your documents in order. Take photos or screenshots of important documents including your passport, health insurance card and plane tickets and store copies in your email or cloud storage.
• Share your itinerary. Provide a trusted friend or family member with a copy of your travel plans, passport and insurance documents.
• Leave valuables at home and skip bringing expensive jewelry to reduce risk. Even so, it’s smart to consider protecting your trip and possessions with travel insurance. From delays and cancellations to emergencies, knowing you’re covered provides invaluable peace of mind.

The Best Time to Book

• The best time to book peak-season travel is always as early as possible. Flights and hotels sell out quickly around major holidays, and the longer you wait, the fewer options you’ll have. Booking early means better selections of flight times, seating assignments and room categories.
• August and September are the best times to book — no later than October, because that is when prices rise.

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The Best Ways to Get Upgrades

• Join an airline or hotel loyalty program. The higher your loyalty status, the more likely you are to be offered an upgrade.
• Book the class or category of cruise ship cabin or hotel room that you’ll be happy with to avoid disappointment if an upgrade is not provided. Remember, upgrades are the exception, not the norm — particularly for those without top-level loyalty status.
• Bid for an upgrade. Some airlines and even cruise lines now allow you to bid for upgrades after booking. It can be a great way to experience business class or a balcony cabin at the fraction of the cost if your bid is accepted.  
• Being flexible — whether it’s with your travel dates, flight times or even the hotel property — can improve your chances of an upgrade. Off-peak demand leaves more room for better opportunities.

Packing Tips

• Travel light. Avoid checking bags when possible and leave room for souvenirs.
• Use packing cubes for organization and zip-close bags for toiletries, medications and spare socks.
• Don’t forget smart tech. Always bring fully charged power banks, which are essential for long travel days and tours. It’s also a good idea to place AirTags or tile trackers in your bags, just in case your bags go missing.
• Bring a comfort kit. This can include a neck pillow, eye mask, blanket/scarf, noise-canceling headphones, lip balm and lavender spray for relaxation. Compression socks can also reduce ankle swelling and improve circulation on long flights.
• A reusable water bottle is essential. These can be filled at airport restaurants or lounges after security. Reusable tumblers and metal straws also come in handy at resorts.
• Healthy and portable snacks like nuts, protein bars and fruit help you to avoid relying on airline meals.
• Bring spares. Keep a change of clothes, medications and toiletries in your carry-on in case your luggage gets delayed.
• Just-in-case items. Bring outlet converters if you are traveling abroad. A luggage scale could help reduce airport anxiety. Pack a poncho or extra dry socks in a zip-close bag to be prepared for wet conditions.

Travel Hacks for Jet Lag

• Avoid planning activities on the day you arrive. Jet lag is real and often unexpected. See how you feel and go from there.
• Eat, drink water and rest.
• Adjust your sleep schedule a week before travel.
• Get sunlight upon arrival and avoid taking long naps, which could be difficult to recover from.

Long Flight Survival

• Sleep prep. Align your rest with your destination’s time zone; use eye masks and noise control to sleep better.
• Strategize your seating. Choose an aisle seat for mobility, window seat for sleeping or exit row for legroom.
• Layer clothing. Planes fluctuate in temperature, so dress in breathable, comfortable layers.
• Stay hydrated. Start drinking extra water the day before your flight. Avoid alcohol and excessive caffeine.
• Keep moving. Stretch or walk every one to two hours on long flights.
• Plan your entertainment. Download movies, shows and books. Think of the flight length in terms of movies instead of hours.

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Traveling Solo

• Always be aware of your surroundings. (This applies to all travelers, but especially for those flying solo.)
• Use trusted transportation companies. Never get into a car with a random person who approaches you at an airport.
• Do not hint to anyone that you are traveling alone.
• Give your family and friends a general itinerary of your trip, so they know where you should be and when.
• When you arrive at the hotel, ask for two room keys.
• For international travel, don’t accept gifts” of bracelets or talk to someone with a petition. These are often scammers.

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More Travel Hacks

• Keep patience in mind. Travel delays happen; focus on enjoying the journey.
• Carry important documents and cash in a travel belt or secure location. Did you know that foreign currency exchange is available at select AAA branches? Learn more.
• Photograph your luggage and video your rental car before and after use.
• Put a shoe in the safe the night before you leave so you don’t forget your valuables.

What’s your best travel hack? Share it with us in the comments below.