Travel Hacks That Will Save You Money and Time

What You Need: BagsAway account
Est. Cost: $1 per item per hour, starting price*  

When you book online at the BagsAway luggage storage website, you have the freedom to go anywhere you want, while knowing your suitcases are safe. If you can’t check into your hotel yet but want to do some sightseeing, BagsAway will connect you to reliable storage locations for your luggage.

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This includes hotels, cafes, local shops, and more. BagsAway has connections to storage locations all around the world, with overnight storage rates starting at just $1 per item per hour for some locations.

What You Need: Airline tickets, hotel bookings, etc. 
Est. Cost: Cheaper than average, usually 

Shoulder season is a term you may have heard when it comes to traveling, as it is the period of time between low and high season when tourism is at a lull. Spring and autumn fall into shoulder season, for example.

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Traveling is far cheaper during the off-season, as the demand is lower. According to Fare Compare, “dead zones” are the least expensive times of the year to book flights and hotels. Though the weather can be dicey, if you’re not bothered by the cold, traveling in the off-season is a smart idea.

What You Need: Trusted House Sitters account
Est. Cost: $199 annual fee for Trusted House Sitters*  

“Free travel” is a phrase that is almost impossible to achieve, but there are plenty of hacks to help score low-cost accommodations. For example, sites like Trusted House Sitters connect homeowners to verified house-sitters.

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These house-sitters get free accommodation, while homeowners get peace of mind. This is a great option for couples or solo travelers who don’t mind having to water the plants, feed pets, and look after the home. Rather than spend a lot of money on a hotel or ABNB, this is a valid cost-saving option.

What You Need: Travel rewards card
Est. Cost: Annual fee, possibly 

If you’re someone who travels a lot, consider opening a travel rewards card. This card operates like a regular credit card, except it gives you rewards points, cash back, and more when you are traveling.

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According to Forbes, some cards stand out among others, such as the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, and the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card. Be sure to compare rates and fees before signing up to ensure you’re getting the best deal. 

What You Need: Luggage scale 
Est. Cost: $10-$20*

We’ve all been there before; you go to the airport, place your bag on the luggage scale, and watch with dismay as your bag is “overweight.” You then either have to shuffle your items around or pay the excess-weight fee many airlines charge.

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Prepare ahead of time with a luggage scale, a handy gadget you can pick up on Amazon for $10 to $20. This scale lets you weigh your bag at home, letting you know then and there whether your luggage makes the cut.  

What You Need: Necessities 
Est. Cost: $0*

According to the BoT, carriers handled almost 400 million bags in 2021, and they lost more than two million of those bags. This percentage increases during the busy holiday travel season, according to Fox News.

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When you’re packing, be sure to bring a change of clothes, extra underwear, and must-have medications in your carry-on bag. That way, even if the worst comes to pass, you’ll have what you need to survive a night or two until you get your bag back.

What You Need: Netflix/other streaming account 
Est. Cost: $0 to download*

This hack is an especially good idea for parents who need to keep their kids entertained while on a flight. You might not know this, but you can download movies and television shows from your streaming services to watch offline.

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Netflix, Hulu, and other streamers offer this for free to their subscription-holders. Be sure to download these shows and movies when you’re at home and have strong WiFi, as opposed to waiting until you’re in the boarding line at the airport.

What You Need: Pacifier 
Est. Cost: $2-$6*  

A major reason that babies cry while on flights is because of the change in air pressure, which can be bothersome to their tiny eardrums. Children are more susceptible to this pain than adults, and they handle it, well, like kids.

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If you have a baby, a pacifier can actually help mitigate ear pain during landing and takeoff. If you have older kids, giving them a piece of candy, like a Tootsie Roll, to suck on can help, as it will relieve pressure in their ears. 

What You Need: A copy of your driver’s license, passport, etc. 
Est. Cost: $0*

This hack costs nothing, and it will give you major peace of mind. Not only that, but this is a wise hack, even if you’re not traveling. It is important to keep a copy of your tickets, travel insurance, passport, and other must-have documents in your carry-on.

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That way, you’ll always have them with you, even if the airline loses your luggage. Yes, this info can be stored on your smartphone, but it is good to have physical copies in case you lose your phone, break it, or your battery conks out.

What You Need: Book in advance 
Est. Cost: It’ll be likely cheaper 

Last-minute booking is never a good idea when you’re traveling and want to save money. It’ll cost more to book last-minute, and booking in advance is always a smart idea. Now, obviously, this hack only applies to situations that aren’t emergencies.

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When you’re tired and jet-lagged, the last thing you want to do is figure out even more logistics. Booking transport in advance is a surefire way to save you money and lessen the stress of traveling, no matter whether you’re traveling via a Greyhound or Spirit Airlines.

What You Need: Smartphone
Est. Cost: $0 to download*

Picture this stress-inducing scene: you’re about to board your flight, but your phone isn’t receiving a signal, so you can’t download your boarding pass. This scenario is easy to avoid when you download your pass offline ahead of time.

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Most airlines’ apps allow you to store your pass offline, making it accessible even if there is no WiFi. So long as you have your phone with you and the app on it, you will be good to go when you step up to the gate.

What You Need: Flight alert app
Est. Cost: $0 to download, usually*

If you want a cheap flight hack, you can’t go wrong with downloading a flight alert app on your phone. This app will let you know whether your flight has changed or slowed down, as well as if it is on time, too.

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These services also can send you price alerts when prices drop on flights to your destination (this works if you are flexible on when you leave). For frequent travelers, downloading this app onto their smartphone is a must.

What You Need: Noise-canceling headphones 
Est. Cost: $10-$200 per pair*

Chatty seatmates, crying babies, the drone of the airplane, and more are all sounds that conspire to disrupt your peaceful flight. Luckily, noise-canceling headphones from brands like Bose, Apple, and more are there to save the day.

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When you have these headphones (which vary widely when it comes to price), you will only hear the audiobook or music that you want to hear. Though many pairs aren’t cheap, they are worth the investment for those who want to travel in peace and relative quiet.

What You Need: Portable charger 
Est. Cost: $10-$30*

If you’re on the go a lot, then you know the frustration that ensues when your phone dies and you don’t have a charger. This is why a portable charger is a good investment, as it can help re-charge your phone in a bind.

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Yes, these chargers do work a bit slowly, but they will get the job done eventually. You can find these chargers at stores like Target and Walmart, along with, of course, Amazon. Generally, they cost between $10 and $30.