travel hacks moving

The Only 30 Moving Hacks You Need to Pack Like a Pro

Use these genius packing tips to make your next move a breeze

Moving to a new place may be exciting, but packing can be tedious. The task doesn't have to be so bad when you know the right moving hacks and tips. The trick is to prepare for boxing and unboxing your stuff as painlessly as possible. Read on to find incredibly useful packing and moving hacks that reduce the stress and expense of relocating.

The Spruce / Valerie de León

What Not to Pack in Boxes When Moving

It's tempting to toss anything and everything into boxes when moving. But there are quite a few items that should never go in a moving box, including:

• Open packages of perishable food (the box will attract pests)
• Valuables ( jewelry , collectibles, coins, cash)
• Irreplaceable documents (personal identification, medical records, wills, financial documents, etc.)
• Flammable items (paint, solvents, batteries, any chemicals)
• Gardening supplies (weed killer and insecticides)

Keep plants happy during a move by finding them a spot in their new home similar to their current conditions, such as light exposure, humidity, and drafts or vents. Pack them in a box taller than them to protect their leaves.

Start Packing Six Weeks Before Moving

Make a packing plan with a timeline . The sweet spot seems to be six weeks to pack and move. Here's the breakdown: Use the first three weeks to declutter, purge, and gather packing materials . Use the second three weeks to pack.

It can be done if you have less time than that—say you must move in three days. Take one day to purge, the next to gather supplies, and the third day to pack. It also helps to have a packing checklist to keep you on task and moving along.

Choose Between Boxes and Totes

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Plan to use moving boxes and plastic totes. Totes are best if you are packing items that will go into long-term storage. If you prefer having an unlimited array of sizes for packing, boxes are best. Here are the pros and cons of each:

• Pros: Cheaper than totes, efficient to flatten and remove, stackable, more readily accessible and available sizes
• Cons: Fall apart easily (when wet, for example), can get crushed, can't see through, need extra materials such as tape, can't always reuse
• Pros: Long-lasting, reusable, good for long-term storage, durable, stackable (for the most part), transparent
• Cons: Expensive, susceptible to cracks, caves under weight, heavy to lift/move when stuffed, depending on the design, some may not stack well

Purge Before You Pack

The Spruce / Jason Donnelly

You can pack fast if you purge fast. Purging before you pack will substantially streamline your packing time. And don't purge while you pack, or you'll overthink the process.

Where to start? Here are a few types of items (other than what's in your closet ) you might want to toss or donate so you can get packing and have a fresh start in your new digs:

• Throw pillows (they may become misshapen when packed)
• Curtains (ditch the dingy ones for a refresh)
• Decor that doesn't spark joy
• Unread, unwanted, and dusty old books
• Old, stained, and unused rugs
• Chipped dishes and glasses
• Broken small appliances you "want" to fix one day

Donate Large Items That You Don't Want

It's a relief when you get free help from charity organizations happy to remove your couch or furniture pieces and haul them away. Your former treasures take on new life and can help others while removing the hassle of having to move them.

Rent Moving Boxes

Hive Boxx / Unsplash

If you've moved before, you know the cost of boxes, labels, and shipping tape can add up quickly. Scoring free moving boxes is a real money saver, but they're not always easy to find. Renting plastic moving boxes is a smart alternative. Companies like Gorilla Bins offer two-week rental packages based on your home size. Packages typically include:

• Moving bins in both medium and large sizes
• Zip ties (so you don't need packing tape) 
• Peel and stick labels
• Free delivery and pick up

Places that rent plastic boxes usually wash them between rentals. If you're a germaphobe, some companies, like Bin It and A Smart Move, sanitize after cleaning.

Hack a Vacuum Space Bag

Detry26 / Getty Images

Things like pillows, blankets, and puffy goose-down jackets take up lots of space when packing. When you compress these items, you can pack more lightweight stuff into fewer boxes. The problem is vacuum space bags cost money. A set of three large bags runs about $20.

But you can DIY them in a few seconds. Here are the quick steps to making vacuum space bags:

• Place an item in a garbage bag.
• Put a vacuum hose into the bag.
• Create a seal by holding the bag's opening around the hose so that no air gets in and out.
• Turn on the vacuum and watch it suck the air out of the bag.
• Once the bag is flat, secure the open end with a rubber band.

Label and Take Photos as You Pack

Packing and labeling your stuff by room is a smart plan. But if you have 10 kitchen boxes, which one has the vegetable peeler? To avoid this problem, create a detailed spreadsheet that lists each box's contents. It may sound time-consuming, but some unique moving hacks include taking photos of box contents and using a packing app.

• Spreadsheet and photos: The easiest way to pack when moving is to organize by photographing the stuff that goes into a box before packing using your smartphone or tablet. To make this trick work, you'll need to give the photo and the box the same name for easy reference, for example, kitchen box #5.
• Packing app: You can also use an organizing app, like Sortly, designed to make moving more orderly. It lets you create visual inventory lists for each box you pack using photos and printable QR code labels. When you scan the latter using your smartphone or tablet, the app will share pictures of the box's contents.

Make Peeling the Sticky End of Tape Easier

The Spruce / Valerie de León

Locating the sticky end of a roll of shipping tape can be challenging and annoying when the tape tears off into chunks or stringy shreds. You can avoid this problem by using a toothpick to mark where to peel.

• Place the toothpick horizontally on the tape's sticky side about 1/2 inch from the end.
• Fold the end of the tape under so it covers the toothpick.

DIY Cheap Packing Material

Bubble wrap and packing peanuts aren't cheap. You can use towels, sheets, and clothing to protect your breakables, but unless the things you're boxing are squeaky clean, you will have a lot of laundry to do  after you unpack.

If you own a paper shredder, shred your paper clutter. Instead of dumping the shredded paper into the recycling bin, use it to cushion blows. To avoid a big confetti-like mess, stuff the paper shreds into plastic grocery bags before using them to pad boxes and fragile items. Remember to tie a knot at the top of each bag to prevent spilling.

Another packing hack: Save your rinsed-out plastic bottles for packing. Plastic bottles in various sizes can be used to stop odd-shaped items from shifting around the confines of boxes.

Use Ziptop Bags for the Small Stuff

Make your move transparent using zip-top bags. Not only are they ideal for packing and protecting important papers, cords, furniture screws—you name it, but you can reuse them to organize small items after the move. 

The best moving hack advice is to label each bag clearly. Group them by gadget or device in labeled bags.

Create Problem Solving Kits

The Spruce / Margot Cavin

You'll need some bare essentials before, during, and immediately after the move on hand, like clean towels for washing your hands. Creating a few problem-solving kits and keeping them handy in transparent boxes or a large suitcase will remove frustration. Here's a list of suggestions:

• Weekend kit: Include everything you would need if you left town for a few days, including clothing, toiletries, and medications.
• Bed and bath kit: Think basics like toilet paper, towels, and sheets.
• First aid kit: When accidents happen, a small stash of plastic bandages, antiseptic towelettes, and absorbent compresses will be useful.
• Toolkit: Pack what you'll need to open boxes and assemble furniture like screwdrivers, pliers, hex keys, and scissors. You might want to organize and label the screws and nails used to dismantle furniture and put them into this kit so you have everything ready to rebuild quickly.
• Munchie kit: Pack snacks, bottled water, and a few pantry items for the following day, like coffee and your coffee machine.
• Cleaning kit : A few goods include garbage bags, paper towels, and multipurpose spray cleaner.

Prevent Packed Bottles From Leaking

A little kitchen plastic wrap will stop liquid toiletries from leaking in transit. This hack also prevents shampoo and other liquids from leaking into luggage. Here's how:

• Take the cap off and wrap a small plastic wrap over the opening.
• Next, put the cap back on.

Bag Your Wardrobe

Many people reach for white kitchen trash bags as garment bags during your move, but the thin plastic usually rips open before you get your clothing onto the moving truck . A better option is to use heavy-duty outdoor trash bags. They don't tear open as easily, so you can reuse them later for garbage.

Tape Your Artwork and Frames

The Spruce / Michele Lee

Moving art and picture frames is delicate, especially with fragile canvases or glass frames that can shatter if not packed right. Bubble wrap your artwork, but another tip to protect glass frames is to use masking tape directly on the glass.

Use the masking tape to place an "X" across the front of the glass to stop it from shattering from a blow or moving around, dislodging, and damaging the art or photo (if it does break).

Prep Your Mattress the Right Way

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

It takes a few supplies to wrangle a mattress, including a mattress bag and rope or ratchet straps. Other essential tips on safely moving a mattress include dragging it down the stairs with a blanket underneath it and making sure your memory foam or hybrid mattress is moved flat, not on its side. If you turn a memory foam or hybrid mattress on its side for transit, it can damage its structure.

Tape Your Drawers Shut

The Spruce / Sarah Crowley

Taping your dresser drawers shut is a simple packing hack for moving clothes, saving a lot of time and mess when moving (though heavy). The trick is to use tape that doesn't damage your furniture.

Packing tape has too much residue that can affect the finish. Instead, use painter's tape , designed to sit on finished surfaces.

Upgrade to a Wardrobe Box

Mats Silvan / Getty Images

Sometimes, you need more protection for your hanging clothes than bags. That's when a hanging wardrobe moving box comes into play, and the minor expense can be worth it to keep your coats and formal wear clean and safe. These boxes come in various sizes (small, medium, and large) and have a sturdy metal bar to hang your items. Buy this type of box at home improvement stores or moving companies .

Pack Your Suitcases, Duffle Bags, and Backpacks

Israel Sebastian / Getty Images

Don't forget to use your unused suitcases, duffle bags, and backpacks for transporting items. Luggage is sturdy, usually has wheels, and can be an excellent packing receptacle for heavy items like books or fragile items like serving dishes and platters. Ensure you wrap delicate items and label the outside of the container with "fragile" if it contains breakables.

Safeguard Furniture Hardware

Mark Sivak / Getty Images

Perhaps one of the most frustrating things about moving is losing a screw or the parts of one of your furniture pieces. Months later, when you unpack a box, the "aha" can be heard from a mile away.

When disassembling furniture, put all the hardware in a clear, sealable plastic bag labeled with the item it belongs to. Prominently tape it to the piece of furniture, keeping it together for the move's duration. Similarly, tape the remote controls to the TVs, adjustable furniture, or the appliances they control.

Backup Your Computer

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida 

One palpable fear about moving is the possibility of something breaking or getting destroyed. Major items like your computer that may have valuable information stored on it should be backed up to another place like the cloud or another hard drive.

Prepare yourself for the inevitable fact that some items may not remain intact. Rule of thumb: Keep it on you (or next to you) if it's valuable.

Use Photos to Document Wiring

The Spruce / Ana Cadena 

In a rush to hurry along a move, pause a minute before unplugging everything from behind your TV, audio, or computer setup. Snap a quick photo of the wiring before removing all those cords. Photos are a huge time saver for reference if you're not a whiz with electronics or do not want to wrack your brain trying to remember how everything was wired.

Another tip: Keep all the wiring from one setup together in a ziptop bag, labeled, and affixed to the components.

Save Wine Boxes for Packing Items

The Spruce / Michelle Becker

When cracking open a case of wine to celebrate your upcoming move, save the box for your shoes . Many wine cartons or liquor packing boxes use cardboard separators between bottles; these dividers make packing a snap for items you want to keep together in an orderly way, such as fragile stemware, kitchen utensils, or shoes.

Put Away Items in Kitchen Pots

If your pots nest perfectly away, that's one way to transport your kitchen pots and pans. Another orderly way to pack your kitchen is to pack away non-perishable items into pots or containers with lids. Spice jars, baking ingredients, and tools can stay together and get there in one piece.

Wrap the Kitchen Utensil Trays

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

If you have trays for all your kitchen utensils, accessories, or hardware drawers, keep them intact and cling-wrap them to transport them easily to their new location in your home.

Scan the trays for broken items or things you have multiples of. This might be a time to purge some things, lightening the load of items you bring to the new place.

Roll Your Rugs

If you plan to reuse your current rugs, the best way to transport them is to roll and tape them shut. Rugs are not fun to move if they start unraveling in your hands.

Before you roll them, give them a good vacuum; if possible, steam clean them a few weeks before leaving. They need time to dry thoroughly before rolling them tightly closed.

Take Care With Lamps

Remove the lightbulbs from all lamps, wrapping each in paper and gently placing them in a box where they will not be jostled. Wrap the bases in bubble wrap, paper, or towels. Wrap the lamp shades separately, using pillowcases or softer tissue paper. Stack shades if they can nest nicely.

Give Plates a Buffer Zone

Stacking plates may work in cabinets, but stand them up vertically when transporting them. Line the bottom of the box with a towel and wrap each plate with bubble wrap or newspaper.

Make Hand Holes in Your Moving Boxes

Most boxes do not have handles or an easy spot to grab the box other than holding it from underneath. Making hand holes is one of the simplest ways to make carrying boxes easier. Get a box cutter or scissors to cut hand holes on either side of the box, about 1/3 of the way down from the top.

Organize Jewelry Easily

The Spruce / Adelyn Duchala

If you don't have a jewelry box that can be sealed carefully, then an inexpensive but effective packing method for jewelry is egg cartons. Plastic egg cartons work best since they have no slots or holes. Segregate your rings from your other items, or separate your chains in each egg slot to keep them from getting tangled.

Get Help If You Can

 The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

Assess what you can do on your own and if you can afford to get movers or a moving truck or ask for help the day of the move. You may be at a point where you don't want to ask your friends to pack and carry boxes, but if you have children or pets, it might be easiest to lean on friends and family to watch them as you handle the move.

If you have essential documents, like passports, birth certificates, or other valuables you want to keep safe, leaving them with a trusted person while you move might ease your mind.

The fastest way to pack for a move is by making a plan . The extra minutes you spend planning will save you hours down the road. 

List out what you need to do, and the order you need to things. The top priority will be purging, so you're not wasting time packing or transporting items you will donate or trash. Next, pack what's left in the room. Keep packing materials handy, like a stack of newspapers, bubble wrap, or towels to pack each box. Label each box, bag, or container. 

Packing away a home can take four to six weeks; plan on taking about two to three days per room.

The most time-consuming room to pack is the kitchen . From cabinets full of non-perishables to casual and formal dinnerware to all the appliances and utensils, the kitchen will take the longest, so start there. Give yourself time to empty and clean out the refrigerator and freezer. Fill a cooler with perishable items you plan to transport to your new home.

More from The Spruce

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25 Clever Moving Hacks to Make Your Move Easier

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. Read my full disclosure policy here.

From color coding to smart packing tips, these moving hacks are pure genius. Learn how to make moving easier and faster.

Of course, this free printable moving checklist kit is a MUST HAVE. Before trying any of these hacks, you’ll want those printables.

You know who thinks moving is easy? NO ONE, that’s who. Mention that you’re moving and people will gaze at you with pity-filled eyes. It’s been two months since we moved out of state, and we have about 3 more months until we move everything AGAIN. Which means we will have done it twice in under 6 months.

The only way to navigate that without losing your mind is to use these easy moving hacks. They will help make things simpler and reduce the amount of work upfront (and on the unpacking side as well). I can attest that many of these work because we did them ourselves during our first move, and the ones we didn’t try will be tested with our next.

25 Clever Moving Hacks

Let’s just jump into the hacks, shall we? How many of these moving hacks will make you say, “now why didn’t I think of that?!”

1. Seal Drawers

Instead of emptying out your drawers and packing them in boxes, put plastic wrap over the drawers . Make sure the plastic wrap is wrapped around the drawers at least 2-3 times so that things don’t spill out of them.

2. Pad Plates

There is nothing quite as annoying as getting to your destination with broken plates. Place packing paper or paper towels between plates before boxing them to cushion them during the move.

3. Use Disposable Plates And Cups

Pack a first day basket with disposable plates, cups, and cutlery so you can eat without digging out your dishes. You’ll be exhausted after the move! (or order from Amazon Prime and have it waiting for you at your front door like I did.)

4. Fill Nail Holes With Soap

Fill nail holes with bar soap if you’re not handy with spackle. Or use MY FAVORITE 3-in-1 spackle tool that allows you to apply it, spread it, and sand it in one handy bottle!

5. Reuse Toilet Paper Tubes

Use toilet paper tubes to keep wires and cables organized. They are the perfect size and keep all your cords from getting tangled up in the boxes.

6. Seal Toiletries

Put plastic wrap on toiletries under the lid to keep them from spilling during the move—guys, DO THIS! I thought the lids were tight on several bottles and they spilled out and ruined several boxes! Don’t make my mistake!

7. Put The Room Name On The Box

Label boxes with the contents of the box as well as the room it belongs in…or use my printable moving checklists to keep yourself organized.

8. Protect Plates

Pack plates vertically so they’re less likely to break. Make sure you wrap them well! I didn’t know this, but when you stack them horizontally, they are more likely to crack.

9. Pack Clothes On the Hangers

Don’t take clothes off their hangers. Instead, move them in bunches in garbage bags still on the hangers. Easy and way cheaper than wardrobe boxes.

10. Use What You Have

Use all your suitcases and bags to pack clothing and other items in to save money on boxes. It may not seem like much but it can really add up! But don’t stop there—fill every single duffle bag and reusable grocery bag. It’s amazing how much you already own.

11. Pack Appliances In A Basket

Put essential appliances (like your coffee maker) in a laundry basket so you can put them on your counter right away in your new place.

12. Color Code As You Pack

Color code each box according to room so you can identify what needs to go where at a glance. Don’t forget to create a chart that explains what each color is. The less you have to remember, the better. Trust me.

13. Cut Out Handles

This is one of my favorite moving hacks of all because boxes can get super heavy. Take a load off and cut triangles in boxes about 1/3 of the way down to create handles for easy carrying.

14. Change Your Address

Changing your address seems simple enough, but there are lots of places that you need to notify of the change. Use this change of address checklist to simplify things. Don’t you wish this could just happen automatically? Me too.

15. Store Hardware Together

Keep hardware organized in plastic bags. Keep the nuts, bolts, and screws all together with the user manual so you can easily put everything back together when you arrive.

16. Pack The Packing Supplies Last

Keep packing supplies in a basket that you can easily move from room to room. Pack them last because you will probably need those markers and that tape over and over as you find things you forgot.

17. Create A Key

Contain the chaos with a moving room key . This is a color-coded guide that tells you where everything should go. This is also really helpful because you don’t have to sit and bark out orders over and over. Just hand your helpers the key and they will know where things belong.

18. Buy Quality Storage Bins

Invest in stora ge bins for holiday decor and other items that stay in storage for most of the year. Trust me, do not buy the budget bins. They are more likely to crack and break during the move and then you’ll have to buy more anyway.

19. Use Egg Cartons For Jewelry

Pack jewelry in egg cartons to keep it tangle-free and organized during the move. Then, put this egg carton in another box so that it doesn’t get crushed or spill.

20. Sell Your Stuff

Less stuff means less packing (and unpacking!) Have a yard sale to get rid of things you don’t need. You might just make a few extra dollars.

21. Pack Books In Suitcases

Pack books in suitcases with wheels . You’ll thank me when you don’t have to carry back-breaking boxes full of books.

22. Keep Doors Unlocked

Put a rubber band around the doorknob to prevent it from latching every time you carry a box out the door. I use this hack when I am moving into a house. It’s so much easier to open a door with my hip than to try and finagle that doorknob when my hands are full of boxes.

23. Mark Boxes As Fragile

Remember to mark boxes with breakables as fragile . Whether you’ve hired movers or are doing it yourself, you don’t want someone to be too rough with those boxes.

24. Use Plenty Of Padding

Add some padding to your boxes. Plastic grocery bags are great for cushioning your breakables. Don’t leave room at the top without padding because otherwise they may get crushed.

25. Use IKEA Bags

Buy some IKEA bags ! They’re lightweight but tough, so they’re perfect for moving clothes, stuffed animals, blankets, etc., and you can use them for storage when you’re done.

ESSENTIAL TIP: Create a ‘moving day’ basket filled with your important papers, keys, cleaning products, tape, your color-coded list, and anything else you’ll need on moving day and in your new home.

Top 5 Moving Hacks and Tips

This quick video shows you how to organize cords, color-code boxes, create an essential moving crate, and more of our top moving hacks and tips!

Get a FREE Printable Binder to Organize Your Entire Move

Tools you’ll need.

This section contains affiliate links for items we use and love.

Essentials to have on hand when packing and moving

Having the right essentials on hand can make the entire process smoother and more organized. Make sure you’re well-prepared with the following items:

• Sturdy Cardboard Boxes: Gather an ample supply of sturdy boxes in various sizes to accommodate different items. Reinforce them with packing tape for added durability.
• Bubble Wrap and Packing Paper: Safeguard your fragile items by having bubble wrap and packing paper on hand. These materials provide an extra layer of protection during transit.
• Packing Tape : Ensure a secure seal for your boxes with high-quality packing tape. Be sure to tape the BOTTOM of the boxes too for extra support and to avoid moving-day disasters.
• Scissors : Keep a pair of scissors handy for easy cutting and sealing.
• Labels and Markers: Stay organized by labeling each box with its contents and destination room. This simple step will save you time and effort when unpacking in your new space.
• Packing Peanuts or Cushioning Material: For added protection, consider using packing peanuts or other cushioning materials to fill empty spaces in boxes and prevent items from shifting during transport.
• Furniture Covers : Shield your furniture from scratches and dust with protective covers. These covers are especially useful for sofas, mattresses, and other large items.
• Dolly or Hand Truck : Make the heavy lifting more manageable with a dolly or hand truck. This essential tool will help you transport boxes and furniture, especially those dreaded heavy items!
• Toolkit : Keep a basic toolkit on hand for disassembling furniture, removing door hinges, or making any necessary adjustments during the move.
• Boxcutter : Have a boxcutter for easy unpacking once you’re in your new home.
• Trash Bags : Always helpful to have for their intended purpose, they also serve as a barrier in case of leaks or to use as a DIY garment cover to pull over hangers and clothing.

By ensuring you have these key items readily available, you’ll set the stage for an organized and stress-free moving experience. It’s better to be prepared than caught unaware during such a stressful time!

Organize your move with FREE moving printables

This printable binder has everything you need to organize your move from start to finish. Click here to get this free printable moving binder delivered right to your inbox and experience the easiest move ever.

Make your move even easier by shopping the helpful moving supplies below.

These moving hacks may seem little but are HUGE timesavers when it comes to moving. Try them out and let me know which ones worked best. If you’re not moving now, PIN this so you’ll have it handy for when and if you do!

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70 Travel Hacks That Will Change Your Travel Game Forever

With 57 countries under my belt and more than a decade of traveling regularly, I think it’s safe to say that I’m an expert in the field. I’ve made every mistake you could imagine—missed flights, lost baggage, exploding hair irons—but with each disastrous experience, I’ve grown a little bit wiser, and a LOT savvier when it comes to traveling like a seasoned pro.

These travel hacks for flying, packing, saving money, getting hotel upgrades and more are the secrets I swear by. I hope they’ll help make your next trip pleasurable, memorable, and stress-free.

70 Travel Hacks That Will Blow Your Mind

1. use my “contact lens case” hack for makeup and skincare products ..

This is one of my best space saving packing hacks. People tend to take up unnecessary room in their toiletry bags by bringing full-sized products.

Here’s the trick: put your foundation, moisturizer, eye cream , and any other liquid products into contact lens cases. Every inch counts!

2. Be strategic in your seat selection when booking a flight.  

There’s nothing worse than getting stuck in a seat that doesn’t recline, or ending up in a row next to the lavatory with people hovering over you for the entire flight. I avoid these kind of mishaps by checking SeatGuru before I choose my seat on flights.

Occasionally, I’ll even choose a flight based on the type of plane that SeatGuru tells me I’ll be flying on. The website and app shows you photos of the plane’s interior so you’ll know in advance whether you’re booking an outdated 747, or a brand spanking new plane.

Plus, it gives you warnings about seats that have potential issues, like limited recline or a misaligned window.

3. Pack your own DIY amenity kit for long-haul flights.

I loooove the amenity kits that you get when you fly First or Business, but since I don’t always have that luxury, I decided to start making my own. My “DIY kit” stays in my carry-on bag at all times, and includes a toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, sheet masks, moisturizer, hand cream, eye masks , lip balm, and socks.

4. Avoid cankles by wearing compression socks.

They’re basically Spanx for your calves and feet, because feeling swollen after a long-haul flight is the WORST.

5. Consider choosing an “alternate destination” when you search.

If the city you’re flying in or out of isn’t a main hub, consider flying into a bigger city and connecting or finding a flight (or other mode of transportation) out of that city.

Not only will you save money, but you have the potential to earn more mileage points.

6. Download the Google Translate app to help with language barriers.

You can use it to take photos of text in another language, and it will translate the words in real time. (I have a separate blog post featuring the best travel apps for savvy jetsetters , which you should check out as well!)

7. Use packing cubes.

Another space saving packing hack that I swear by? Packing cubes! I truthfully thought these were a scam until I tried them out for myself.

They not only compress your items to give you additional space, but they also help keep you organized—I use a small one for socks and underwear, a medium-sized one for tops, another medium-sized one for comfortable walking shoes and sneakers , and a large one for jeans , pants, and dresses.

8. Look out for price errors.

Often times, there will be glitches on airline or third party sites that offer a ridiculous low fare. Sign up to these sites to keep an eye on them. But know that you will have to act quick, as these companies will typically fix the fare as soon as they catch it. Here are some great resources to keep an eye on for low fare deals.

• Scott’s Cheap Flights (or Jack’s Flight Club for UK-based people)
• The Flight Deal
• Secret Flying (if you’re based out of Europe)
• Holiday Pirates
• Airfarewatchdog.com 
• FlyerTalk Mileage Run (discussion board)

* Bonus Tip: Fill your social media with these sleuths by following them on Instagram and Twitter!

9. Take advantage of generous credit card offers.

The greatest travel hack of all time? Credit cards and points. Open up a credit card that has a sign-up bonus (assuming you can be responsible enough to pay your bills!), and transfer the points to an airline for a pricey international flight.

Check out my full step-by-step guide to using points and miles for free travel if you haven’t already!

10. Be strategic with flight cancellations.

If you book a nonrefundable ticket and your plans change or you know you won’t be traveling on that flight—do not cancel the ticket until the last possible moment.

Or…just don’t show up. Here’s why: in the rare case that there’s a flight cancellation or schedule change, your nonrefundable ticket could entitle you to a credit or refund. Had you cancelled the ticket, you wouldn’t be entitled to anything.

11. Learn how to avoid long airport security lines.

TSA-precheck, Global Traveler, and Clear have been an absolute gamechanger for me, and if you travel more than a few times a year, they are absolutely something worth investing in. If you’re not familiar:

• TSA Precheck enables you to use a separate line for domestic (US) flights, and you won’t be required to take off your shoes or take out your laptop.
• Global Traveler is for international flights and (as far as I know) is for the US only. When you’re returning to the US, you use a machine that scans your passport rather than having to wait in line at customs.
• Clear lets you scan your fingertips at security and then get escorted to the front of line at airports where it is offered.

12. Take a hydration multiplier for long flights.

While everyone will tell you to “drink as much water as possible” and “try to stay hydrated” on a long-haul flights, the reality is that if you’re drinking a liter of water on a plane, you’re going to find yourself getting up to go to the bathroom repeatedly.

My hack for this is to use Liquid IV. It’s a “hydration multiplier” that hydrates you 2-3 times faster than water alone. You pour the little packet of powder into your water bottle, shake it up, and then drink.

It tastes pretty similar to Gatorade (the lemon/lime is my preferred flavor) and will keep you hydrated without sending you to use the restroom every 30 seconds.

13. Keep track of itinerary ideas in Google Docs.

I use Google Docs for all of my itineraries—especially when I’m planning a girls trip and there are multiple people involved. I’ll share the link with everyone I’m traveling with to make it more collaborative. It’s also where I keep a running list of recommendations from people for the destination that I’m visiting.

14. Challenge yourself not to check a bag.

Avoid lost baggage nightmares by packing carry-on only for trips under a week. In need of luggage that actually fits a lot of stuff? Here’s a list of the best carry-on bags that help save space with packing.

15. Order a “special meal” in advance of a long-haul flight.

Most major airlines will offer the option to order a special meal when you book your flight—these include vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, kosher, vegan, low fat, and sometimes even low sodium options.

People who place orders for “special meals” will always get served first, so if you’re hoping to catch some z’s on the flight, you’ll have more time to sleep while everyone else is waiting for their food to arrive.

16. Save local currency from the country you’re visiting as a souvenir.

My husband and I started doing this many years ago, and now we have what we jokingly call a “world bank” at home. It’s a cool alternative to buying a dumb keychain or t-shirt you’ll never wear.

17. Create a framed collage of foreign currency from your trips after you get home.

I often find foreign currency to be incredibly beautiful. We’ve taken some of the best-looking bills from various places we’ve visited, and framed them.

18. Do the same with hotel room keys, airline tickets, and baggage tags.

You can use a place like Framebridge to arrange and frame them for you—they’ll even send you a pre-paid envelope to mail in your items.

19. Talk to taxi drivers.

Often, a simple taxi ride from the airport to your hotel will turn into an impromptu city tour if you ask the right questions.

20. Build your itinerary using Go ogle Maps Trip Planner.

This might be the greatest travel hack of all time. Did you know that there’s a FREE tool within Google Maps that you can use to create an entire itinerary for your next trip? It’s called Google Maps Trip Planner and it’s incredible.  

21. Don’t exchange money at the airport.

Wait and go to an ATM near your hotel for better exchange rates.

22. Take advantage of layovers as often as possible.

Sometimes, I’ll even choose flights with 12+ hour layovers as a way to see another city for a day.

23. Never miss another photo opp.

Take photos in “burst” mode so you don’t need to worry about missing the shot.

24. Carry a photocopy of your passport in your wallet.

Just in case.

25. Speaking of wallets… invest in a good travel wallet.

Trying to keep track of boarding passes, passport photocopies, foreign currency, and receipts can get a bit messy if you’re trying to stuff everything into your regular, everyday wallet.

The best way to stay organized while you’re heading out of town is to use an inexpensive but chic travel wallet that has additional compartments for travel-related items. 

26. Use a travel agent or tour operator for special trips or multi-city itineraries.

They can often get you better rates and preferential treatment at hotels.

27. Become a points and miles pro.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—I’ve learned everything I know about points, miles, and travel hacks from my friend Brian Kelly, aka The Points Guy . Browse through his site for all the secrets.

28. Easily share photos with friends/family.

Start a shared album with your the people you’re traveling with at the beginning of a trip, so you’re able to easily exchange photos.

29. Get the experience of a luxury hotel without staying at one.

Dying to stay at a fancy hotel but can’t afford the nightly rate? Pop in to the lobby bar for drinks instead.

30. Plan your trip during “shoulder season” to take advantage of better hotel rates and less crowds.

Shoulder season = the period between high and low season, when the weather is still great but the destination is less busy. In places like Positano , Santorini , and Mykonos for example, shoulder season is generally April through the middle of June, and September through October.

31. Avoid jetlag by getting onto the local time zone as soon as you board the plane.

If it’s technically morning in the destination you’re going to when you board the plane, do NOT go to sleep—even if it’s midnight where you’re leaving from. If you work on adjusting to the time zone while on the flight, you’ll have a better chance of battling jet lag when you arrive.

32. Hire a local guide during the first day of your trip in a foreign city.

It’ll help you get the lay of the land. Then ask your guide for non-touristy recommendations to hit up during the rest of your trip. Also: if you’re traveling with a big group, DEFINITELY hire a guide. It takes the pressure off of one person being put in charge of the itinerary.

One of the best things I’ve ever done was hire a guide for my five-day trip to Tokyo since I wanted to see as many things as I could in a short period of time.

33. Use a sheet mask on long flights to replenish the moisture back into your skin.

I love using these sheet masks on the plane. Instead of looking haggard when you land, your skin looks super glowy and fresh.

34. Hire a passport/visa expediting service if you’re in a pinch.

I used a company called “It’s Easy” to renew my passport when I was super tight on time, and they were able to get it to me within a few days.

35. Keep a “packing checklist” in your phone.

You can refer back to it every time you’re heading out of town. I have an example of my travel packing checklist here .

36. Always keep your boarding pass.

I usually keep mine until I see that my miles have posted on my frequent flyer account—if you end up having to claim missing miles from your airline, you’ll need to have your ticket number and confirmation number as a reference. Which leads me to my next point…

37. Create a frequent flyer account on every airline you travel with.

There’s no reason not to. If you don’t you’ll be missing out on valuable miles that could potentially be put toward your next trip. I personally have FF account with: American, Delta, JetBlue, United, Cathay Pacific/Asia Miles, British Airways/Avios.

38. Keep your iPhone photos organized.

Save all of your favorite trip photos into an album in iPhoto so that you can find them quickly.

39. Turn your travel photos into cool animations using free apps.

One of my favorite ways to jazz up my photos following a trip is by using apps like KiraKira and Enlight Pixeloop. (For example, I have a little tutorial that shows you how to add falling snow to your photos in 30 seconds.)

40. Use a pants hanger to ensure blinds stay closed over night.

There’s nothing worse than waking up at the crack of dawn on vacation because of a small gap in the hotel drapes. I avoid this by using a hanger with trouser clips to secure the two window shades together.

41. To find cheap flights, consider looking beyond the obvious sites like Kayak and Expedia.

If you set the tab or filter to “everywhere” or “anywhere” and are flexible with your dates and travel time, you can find really inexpensive flights and even earn extra miles if you fly an extra leg.

A few of the best “deals” sites are:

• Sky Scanner

42. Always ask for an upgrade.

Unless you’re on an unlimited budget or celebrating a special occasion, never book the best room at a hotel—but always ask for an upgrade. I did this on a recent trip to Maui , as well as in the Maldives and St Barths , and totally lucked out!

Make sure to join the hotel’s loyalty program before arriving (they’re free), since they usually honor those requests for members as long as a higher room category is available.

43. Sometimes, the budget airlines have even cheaper flights on their sites.

Also, if you sign up for their newsletter and loyalty clubs, you get added perks and insider info. A few that comes to mind are Norwegian, Frontier, Southwest, and Spirit.

44. Be a “country counter.”

Download the “Been” app to keep track of the countries and states you’ve visited.

45. Get a more authentic “local” experience with your accommodation.

Using sites like Air BnB, VRBO, Booking and others gives you the opportunity to live more locally and at a significantly discounted rate. In fact, sometimes the house share experience is more personalized and luxurious.

46. Book a private room at a hostel to save money.

If hostels are an option (check HostelWorld.com), you can book private rooms for a really cheap rate. This is a great way to 1) save money 2) meet new people (perhaps people you could room with in another country on future trips.)

47. Always have a back-up power source.

Charge an external battery before you travel, and have it with you on the plane in case the seats don’t have outlets.

48. Compare flight prices using Airfare Matrix.

AirFare Matrix is something travel agents use. It is a Google tool and allows you to do some great price comparison without the third party interjection (that can sometimes cause you to pay more if you’re not searching in an incognito browser).

You can’t book directly from the site, but can use the codes as a source to get the cheapest price when you call an agent, or even the airline.

49. Try toggling to a different “home” country when searching for flights to get cheaper rates.

If you’re looking to fly a specific airline, set your country (usually in the top right hand corner or in the website’s footer) to one that has a good FX rate (of the countries available, of course).

This will allow you to view and purchase the flights in another currency, and potentially save big! It will take some time and some trial and error, but if you have the time, it’s worth it!

50. Mark your bag fragile.

It’ll be handled properly and make it to the top of the pile, ensuring your luggage comes out in the first batch!

51. Before you pay for an upgraded cabin, see if the flight is full.

If not, put yourself on the upgrade list as soon as you can. Also, offering to get bumped from a flight and wait for the next flight could give you leverage to negotiate a better seat (and maybe even money or points).

52. Use FourSquare for Wifi.

You can find wifi passwords on FourSquare for restaurants, cafes and other places (just be careful, obviously, as not all of these are secure.)

53. Turn on “Private Browser” when searching for flights. 

Prices do, in fact, fluctuate based on the cookies in your web browser and how many searches you’ve performed for a specific destination. Which is why searching for flights in a private browser (also known as “incognito mode”) is an absolute must.

If you’re using Google Chrome, you can enable Incognito mode by hitting Command + SHIFT + N.

If you’re using Firefox or IE, you can enable a private browser by hitting COMMAND + SHIFT + P.

54. Bring an oversize scarf on the plane that doubles as a blanket.

Then wear it as a chic cape during your trip.

55. Save on parking by pairing up with a local.

Garage Pointer is a website that connects you with people who own parking spaces and are willing to rent them (temporarily) to visitors. As of now Garage Pointer is only available in the U.S.

56. Rent a car…from a local.

Ready for the best car travel hack? Look into whether or not Turo is available in your destination. The app and website connects you with people who own cars and are willing to rent them out for a fee that is (usually) much less than traditional car rental.

57. Overwhelmed with what to pack? There’s an app for that.

PackPoint helps you determine what to pack based on where you are going and the length of your trip. It checks the weather in your upcoming destination and then provides a detailed packing list for you. (I would also recommend using my “what to wear” guide if you’re packing for trip to Europe in the winter .)

58. Use a service to ship your clothes ahead of your trip.

Sure, this might not be for everyone, but did you know there was a service that stores, packs, ships and cleans your clothes prior to trips? It’s a company called DUFL . While it’s definitely targeted to a very specific market, DUFL is an incredible concept.

You send them a capsule wardrobe (consisting of clothes you need for every trip, like business travel), and they’ll store the clothes in a “virtual closet,” which you can access through the app prior to your departure. They then send the clothes to your hotel ahead of your arrival, and collect them to dry clean and store when you leave.

59. Use FlightAware to track your flights.

The website and app allows you to track your flight (or the flights of loved ones) in real time. It’ll also keep you up to date on important info, like whether the incoming flight is delayed, or if the flight had to be rerouted for any reason.

60. Invest in a good adapter/plug converter.

I like this one because it works in all countries, and also has USB ports.

61. Book tours and experiences through AirBnB.

Did you know that Airbnb can be a great resource for things other than accommodations? Over the past few years, the company has expanded to include incredible local experiences and tours.

62. Wear a travel outfit that looks super chic—but it secretly comfortable.

I have an entire blog post dedicated to this (linked above!) but in a nutshell, I’m a big fan of looking put together when I travel. However, I also wouldn’t be caught dead wearing jeans on a long flight.

There are a few little tricks I use to turn otherwise sloppy outfits into something that you’d be confident walking into a luxury hotel wearing.

The most important thing? A lightweight fringed scarf (which doubles as a blanket mid-flight) and a leather or denim jacket. 

63. Invest in a great pair of noise-cancelling headphones.

We’ve all been stuck next to a screaming child or chronic sniffler on long flights, and the experience can truly get your trip started off on the wrong foot.

I truly can not tell you how much of a game-changer noise-cancelling headphones are. While everyone else around you is having a meltdown over not being able to sleep or concentrate, you’ll be in your own little zen world.

Pro tip : if you don’t want to spring for the fanciest new technology, buy older or discontinued models of Bose headphones on Amazon for a fraction of the price for latest models.

64. Leverage special occasions for perks.

Celebrating a big anniversary or planning a trip for your honeymoon ? Be sure to let the hotel know in advance. When my husband and I went to Thailand and the Maldives for our honeymoon, we mentioned it to each property that we booked, and ended up with upgrades, bottles of champagne sent to the room, and other extra special perks from hotel staff.

65. Use your h otel’s shower cap to protect your toiletries from exploding.

Nervous about your liquids exploding in your toiletry bag on the flight home? Wrap them in the shower cap provided to you in the room. And if you don’t have a shower cap: use the plastic liner that comes with your ice bucket. 

66. Download the Revolut app.

The popular European banking app recently launched in the U.S., and it allows users to exchange currencies from 55,000+ surcharge-free ATMs nationwide. 

67. Seek itinerary inspiration through social media.

Use Instagram to inspire your itinerary. Browse through hashtags and geotags to see where people took gorgeous photos—and then go to those places! Alternatively, you can google things like “ The Best Instagram Spots in NYC ” or “ The Most Instagrammable Places in London ” for fun ideas.

68. Use AirHelp to get compensated for flight delays or cancelled flights.

We’ve all been there: you miss a connection because of a delayed flight, or your flight get inexplicably cancelled, and you know that the airline has to owe you some kind of compensation.

The problem is that actually getting what you’re owed can be a logistical nightmare that involves long wait times, endless phone calls, and unanswered emails. AirHelp essentially plays the middleman by acting on your behalf.

They do charge a fee (which is a percentage of what you’re ultimately compensated) but as someone who has used the service successfully, I can say that it is VERY much worth saving you the headache.

Plus, Airhelp knows exactly what you’re entitled to based on their expertise, so you’ll often end up getting more than you would have received on your own.

69. Do your souvenir research ahead of a trip.

One thing I always do before I travel is a bit of research about the most unique gifts and souvenirs to buy in the destination I’m heading to. Looking this up ahead of time might top you off to some really cool new boutiques, and it will also guarantee that you don’t end up at an airport gift shop wasting your money on a meaningless memento.

For example, this list of the best things to buy in Paris contains a ton of “hidden gems” within the city you might never have known about otherwise. There’s also something extremely satisfying about going on the hunt for a specific unique item—and then finding it! 

70. Keep a note in your phone filled with travel quotes .

For those times that you desperately want to post an Instagram photo, but you’re at a loss for a caption.

Did you find this list helpful? Are there any travel hacks you love that I didn’t include? Drop them in the comments below!

Thank you to nicole cueto aka @thecubancarrie for her contributions to this piece.

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If you’re traveling with an infant/toddler; bookmark, screenshot AND print the rules for taking things like breastmilk/formula/snacks through security as well as the policy about early boarding for families. It helps to be prepared for any hiccups. And even if you just fly once or twice a year with a child, get TSA Precheck. Your child under 12 can go through the line with you, which makes things SO much faster.

Lindsay Silberman

this is SUCH a good tip (and one i would never have thought of!) thanks for sharing!

I always get a seat on the plane forward of the wings. Any turbulence the plane encounters dieting the flight is less bumpy in the front half.

Charles Loes

these hacks help me a lot thanks for such guidance.

I always get a seat on the plane forward of the wings. Any turbulence the plane encounters during the flight is less bumpy in the front half.

Helen Gaskin

Really a complete guide has never seen such stuff there. I am all the way from Pinterest and your pin is best to attract anyone. And guide too.

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60 quotes about travel that will inspire your wanderlust.

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• 94 Moving Hacks for Faster, Easier, Less Stressful Moves >

94 Moving Hacks for Faster, Easier, Less Stressful Moves

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Moving is a part of life. And whether you move often or are packing up your bags for the first time in a long time, it’s a notoriously  stressful process that can take its toll on even the best of planners. Fortunately, while moving isn’t necessarily easy on anyone, there are some ways to pack and unpack faster, reduce the amount of work, and ultimately make the process go just a bit smoother.

Sound too good to be true? Try our top packing and moving hacks for yourself and discover creative ways to improve your move.

How to move: getting prepared

The best way to pack for moving is to start earlier, rather than later. So before we get to packing tips and tricks, here are some moving hacks that will help you start on the right foot.

Figure out the logistics: DIY or pro help?

Just thinking about all the tasks involved in the move might cause you to feel overwhelmed and panicky. Yes, a lot will need to be accomplished, but start with thinking about whether you are going to hire a moving company or renting a truck. Do you think you need professional help or you can pull a DIY move ?

If you’re using movers, visit our moving company directory to find reliable and reputable movers. If you’re renting a truck for your move, you can use our guide to the best truck rental companies to find one. Either way, get at least three quotes from three different companies. The sooner you accomplish this, the sooner you can move on to other tasks.

Create a moving checklist

Once you have hired movers or rented a truck, figure out what needs to be done next. You can use our moving checklist or create your own, but you’ll need some sort of a list to guide you through the process and leading up to the moving day. As new tasks come, add them to the list. Staying organized will reduce the stress of moving .

Set your budget

Plan out your packing supplies, getting rid of stuff.

We can’t overstate just how much easier your move will be if you organize your belongings and toss, recycle or donate what you don’t need instead of lugging it with you to your new home. It’s an undertaking, but these tips can help you do it.

Go through your belongings room by room

Do a closet purge, get rid of items you wouldn’t buy again, make donation pickup arrangements, consider short-term storage, hire a junk removal company, saving money on your move.

In addition to being a lot of work, moves can also cost you a lot of money. Follow these moving budget hacks to keep your costs down.

Get quotes from at least three different movers

Look at all your moving options  , find free packing supplies  , be flexible, how to pack for a move.

Packing to move might be the most time-consuming part of the whole process . Our best packing tips for moving are all about saving yourself time while still making sure that your belongings are safe. With that in mind, here are the packing hacks for moving you need to know for a smoother move.

Set up a packing station

Gather your packing supplies first. The essentials you’ll want to include are boxes, packing tape, scissors, packing paper, bubble wrap, markers, old towels and blankets, plastic bags of various sizes, including small sealable bags and garbage bags , color-coded stickers , and more.

Pack the packing supplies last

Put your linens, towels and other soft items to use, pack your suitcases, set up boxes as you need them, color-code boxes, put destination rooms on the boxes, mark boxes as fragile, take pictures of box contents, put together a moving essentials bag  , put together a moving essentials box, keep the hardware in a plastic bag, living room packing tips, create a moving inventory list of valuable electronics, gather all product manuals and label the cords, back up your computer hard drive, take a picture of the back of your tv, use a moving blanket to transport a tv if you don’t have the original box, remove light bulbs from lamps, remove what you can from large items, how to move your bedroom, don’t empty your dresser drawers  , leave your clothes on hangers, roll, don’t fold your clothes, use large outdoor garbage bags, use liquor store boxes for shoes, put a fitted sheet on your mattress to keep it clean, kitchen packing hacks, use pots to hold small items, pack plates vertically, put essential appliances in laundry baskets, stack your pots and pans, pack glasses and stemware into boxes with dividers, wrap your utensil tray, wrap knives in dish towels, defrost and clean your fridge, prep your large appliances (if moving them), pack liquids together, use plastic bins to pack liquids, dining room packing tips, disassemble lamps, wrap lamp shades separately, don’t use plastic wrap for table leaves, roll area rugs, fold curtains and drapes, get the right boxes for your art, moving tips: bathrooms, pack your necessities last, keep a first aid kit handy, wrap a small bit of plastic wrap around things that might spill  , pack small items in sealable plastic bags, line the boxes with towels or garbage bags, use towels to wrap fragile items, pack unused towels in garbage bags or heavy boxes, put your jewelry in egg cartons, moving-day moving hacks.

Moving day itself is super tiring — and it can be super stressful, too. These moving hacks will help you get through it.

Be packed up the day  before  moving day

Pack a cooler, have a plan for little kids and pets  , wake up early, use a moving day to-do list, dress appropriately, clear a path for the movers, pack any last-minute items, make sure your cell phone is charged, be there to greet your movers and moderate the move, keep sealable plastic bags on hand, lift boxes properly, stock up on refreshments, don’t skip the final walkthrough, take pictures of your utility meters, take pictures of your empty apartment (if renting), tip your movers, last-minute moving hacks.

Having lots of time to plan, prep, and execute your move is great; however, it doesn’t always work out that way. Follow these moving and packing tips if you’re in a hurry .

Start with logistics

Pack now and sort later, leave some tasks to the movers, unpacking tips.

You’ve finally arrived, but there’s still more to be done. Here’s how to stop procrastinating and speed up the unpacking process.

Unpack only the essentials

Make the kitchen the first room you unpack, give yourself a deadline  , give yourself no choice  , get rid of boxes as you empty them, unpacking hacks, put on some tunes, do a little bit at a time, have a (fun) food plan, take a break from your new home.

If you can’t stand looking at all those boxes any longer, go out to eat or to meet your new neighbors. Explore the new area by taking a walk in the neighborhood. Or stay in and read a book or pop some bubbly to celebrate your successful move. You worked hard!

Related Articles:

• Why Summer Is The Most Expensive Time to Move
• Moving This Summer: What You Need to Know
• Is Moving In the Winter the Right Choice for You? Here’s What You Need to Know
• 25 Packing Tips for Cross Country Moving
• The Moving Essentials Bag: Why You Need It and What to Pack
• Tips for Moving in the Fall (And the Pros and Cons)
• How to Move Quickly: 10 Tips for a Last Minute Moving
• How to Move with a Toddler
• 14 of the Best Tips for Moving Day Success
• 7 Ways to Use Garbage Bags to Move

Author: Laura Mueller

Laura Mueller is a professional writer with nearly five years of experience writing about moving. She is particularly interested in topics around organization, home design, and real estate, and definitely has a few tricks up her sleeve after moving eight times in eight years during her 20s. Laura believes that moving should be as stress-free of an experience as possible, and is always working on new tips and shortcuts that she can share with readers on Moving.com. View all posts by Laura Mueller

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50 travel hacks that will change the way you travel forever

Travel Travel Inspiration Travel Tips & Hacks 50 Ultimate Travel Hacks

Travelling like a seasoned pro is not an overnight miracle. It comes with definite hardships and the trickiest of situations. Want an easy way out? Simple. To save the day from many likely travel disasters, you will need this list of handy travel hacks. That's right, there exists a bunch of secret tips and tricks that will change the way you travel forever! Whether it be never missing a flight again, or hacks to pack better or saving a few extra bucks, these 50 pro-tips and travel hacks will make the journey less stressful and your vacation a whole lot peaceful.

Below are the tips and hacks you're here for. Read on and thank me later!

#1 Email yourself a scan of your passport

Carrying a hardcopy of your passport is important, but forgetfulness or theft and loss can always hit you at the wrong time. By emailing yourself a scan of your passport, you ensure that in case of an unfortunate event, your passport is only a click away. This also goes for any other type of journey confirmations (tickets, etc.), either scan or screenshot the same and save yourself a buttload of trouble in the future.

#2 Roll your clothes for more space

Packing smart does not take too much effort. One of the easiest and most effective travel hacks related to packing is to roll your clothes rather than fold. Not only does this method save you a lot of space, it also keeps your clothes wrinkle-free. Plus, little rolled tubes means you can easily see what you have packed.

#3 Sign up for last-minute deals on Headout

Planned a spontaneous trip and are looking for killer last-minute deals? Sign up on Headout and land great discounts on the top experiences in the city. Remember that great deals don't last too long, and by signing up on Headout you can make sure to grab a few before they disappear.

#4 If you’re jetlagged, run it off

Jet lag can be a real killjoy but there is a way to combat its depressing effects - exercise! It is advised to head out for a run or engage in light exercises like yoga or resistance band training to help ward off jet lag. It is also best not to fall asleep after boarding a flight or after reaching the destination.

#5 Make friends on the road using Travel Buddies and Backpackr

Finding real people to connect with on your trips or making new friends won't have to be a worry anymore. There are apps specifically for that. Download Backpackr or Travel Buddies and you won't ever have to experience the anxiety of approaching groups in person. The app instead will hook you up with travellers nearby based on a personality match. You can also check out each other's itineraries and sync up hangouts.

#6 Put your rechargeable batteries in the fridge

Running out of juice on your rechargeable batteries quicker than you thought can be a real bummer. Well, there is a pretty cool travel hack to help keep your batteries fresher and full of charge for longer - just stash them in the fridge! As strange as it may sound, most rechargeable batteries retain 90% of their full charge when kept in cold temperatures.

#7 Follow a pub crawl party for the best nightlife in town

To experience the nightlife of any destination you don't need to pay extra bucks and sign up for a pub crawl package. Instead, try this foolproof travel hack and locate the most popular pub crawl routes. Here, you are bound to find several fellow tourists and travellers or even one of the organised groups. You then just have to tag along, for free!

#8 Be strategic with flight cancellations

Booking a nonrefundable ticket can be a gamble but there is a silver lining. In the off chance that you change plans or don't travel on that flight, keep this pro tip in mind - do not cancel the ticket or just don't show up. Do this because in the rare case of the flight's cancellation or schedule change, you could be entitled to a credit or refund. Had you cancelled the ticket, you wouldn’t be entitled to anything.

17 Golden Hacks To Snagging Cheap Flight Tickets

#9 carry a handy extension cable, especially if you’re staying in hostels.

Your electronic devices are your BFFs throughout your travelling journey and they need to be looked after, which means constant recharges. Therefore, the biggest travel hacks of them all is to make sure you have an extension cable or a power strip for the same, especially if you're living in a hostel where everyone fights for plug time. An extension cable will also make you the star of the room, without doubt!

#10 Download Google Maps offline

Using an actual map today is obsolete but many think Google Maps without an internet connection is just as useless. But you must know that no access to WiFi, patchy network or throwing away money on data shouldn't be a reason to lose your way because you can go off grid and still use Google Maps! Just download Google Maps - go on the map to the area you want to save, type ‘ok map’ into the search option and then press ‘download’ - you can now use it even when on airplane mode.

#11 Google Translate is god sent in a foreign country. Download it.

A language barrier can put a damper on the best of spirits, so if you know the international country you're traveling to uses a foreign language to communicate, do yourself a favour and download Google Translate . It lets you take photos of text in a different language and translate what it means in real time. Just like Google Maps, Google Translate works in airplane mode too.

#12 WiFi access is a right, not a privilege. Steal away!

WiFi at this point is everybody's birthright and so you deserve access to it, no matter where you are. Like at the airports, find the first class lounge, sign in to the free WiFi and browse to your heart's content. Similarly, if you're on the streets, backup to a fancy restaurant and log into their WiFi without a thought. Some places may use password protection, in that case, you can find wifi passwords on FourSquare for restaurants, cafes and other places.

#13 Purchase skip-the-line tickets beforehand to avoid spending your holiday in queues

Waiting in long lines is a real bummer and you don't want to be that tourist that spends more time queuing than exploring. This can be totally avoided by pre-purchasing skip-the-line-tickets for tours and other activities. Headout has a great selection of skip-the-line tickets and tours in 50+ cities across the world.

#14 Add-ons are cheaper when purchased while booking the flight

A great way to save more than just a few bucks would be to figure out the add-ons you may require - like extra luggage, priority boarding, airport lounges, seat reservation or travel insurance - and customise your package to suit your needs and comfort while booking your flight tickets and not after. Adding add-ons later only means a higher, easily avoidable cost.

#15 Don’t EVER exchange money for local currency at the airport

When ATMs and cash machines exist, you don't have to ever exchange money at the airport or the local currency exchange. Not only do these money converters charge a fee of their own, they also rip-off exchange rates, usually amounts that are highly inflated, worse than your regular bank.

#16 Opt for long layovers to explore a city

Picking a flight with long layovers simply means buying youry more time to explore another city. Best to take advantage of this, most even choose flights with 12+ hour layovers to enjoy a whole day in a new city.

12 Creative Ways To Make The Most Of Your Airport Layover

#17 invest in a good travel wallet.

A good wallet is a lifesaver when travelling. It helps keep you organised - for once you will find all your bills, receipts, boarding passes, passport photocopies and foreign currency in one place. Investing in a good wallet doesn't necessarily mean expensive, there are several budget options of chic travel wallets that come with additional compartments for travel-related items.

#18 Mark your bag fragile (even if nothing’s fragile in there)

By doing this you ensure that your belongings are given the VIP treatment and you won't have to wait for long to collect your luggage - anything marked fragile gets to the top of the pile in storage and sent out in the first batch! To process this, just request for a ‘fragile’ sticker at the counter without paying a penny more.

#19 Shoulder season travel > everything else

Timing is everything when planning a trip and one sure shot way of saving money is to travel during 'shoulder season' aka the period between high and low travel season. The weather is still great but the destination is less crowded this time, plus hotels offer better rates too. In many destinations the shoulder seasons are September-November and March-May. Absolutely avoid picking peak periods like school breaks and holidays.

#20 Make a frequent flyer account on every airline you travel with

This is the wisest thing to do if not you will miss out on valuable miles that could potentially be put toward your next trip, thereby saving you money! Also, always keep your boarding pass until you see that your miles have been posted on your frequent flier account.

#21 Private rooms at hostels are a steal deal

#22 Toggle to a different “home” country when searching for flights to get cheaper rates

One of the more smart travel hacks, whenever looking to fly a specific airline, pick a country that offers a good foreign exchange rate as compared to other countries. This way you can view and purchase your tickets in another currency, and save big bucks! This is an extra, potentially time-consuming step but for what it's worth, you must give it a go.

#23 Invest in travel insurance

Most people do not purchase travel insurance because their credit card perks cover most of it, but it's always wiser to have insurance than not. This is even more important if you're travelling with valuables or changing your plans on-the-go most days.

The Ultimate Guide To Buying Your First Travel Insurance In The Post COVID World

#24 use a shower cap to protect your toiletries from exploding during flights.

Yes, shower caps have more than one use. They will keep the toiletry liquids from exploding and spilling all over your bag on the flight back home. Make sure to wrap the bottles well. In case of no shower cap, you can also use the plastic liner that comes in an ice bucket.

#25 Seek itinerary inspiration through social media

#26 Book overnight flights and buses to save on lodging

The best way to kill two birds with one stone - you get to sleep for free and stay on the move to your destination while sleeping! Essentially booking an overnight flight or bus is a night of free lodging. Make sure to make yourself comfortable with a cosy sweatshirt, good earplugs and an eye mask.

#27 Earn money in exchange for trip research/beta tests

Don't expect big money, but you can earn a little bit of pocket money by taking travel surveys online and testing new products and keeping all the freebies (free meals, films, drinks and more). Make sure to find legit websites that will pay. This travel hack of signing up to be a market researcher hardly takes a lot of time and effort, plus it helps you make a few bucks on the go.

Official Headout Deals, Offers & Promo Codes

#28 make sure to have a card that gives you airport lounge access.

By signing up for at least one travel credit card that includes a 'priority pass' or 'lounge access' you can cut your airport bill in half. The free food and drinks save you so much money and bad food! Additionally, you make your wait more enjoyable and get to relax in an airport lounge.

#29 Tweet your travel troubles. It gets solved quicker

#30 Visit destinations that don’t have a large tourism board. They tend to be cheaper

Locations that do not have a promotional budget or large tourism board tend to be cheaper and as a result less crowded. This means as a traveller you get to explore so much more without going broke. You also get to gloat about going to a lesser known country!

#31 Call the hotel for a better rate and do away with online taxes

Do not waste time browsing a million sites or call multiple reservation numbers. Just call the hotel directly instead, not only will they offer you a better rate devoid of online taxes, they also hold the power to an upgrade! If you're a regular traveller, it’s best to keep cordial relationships with the hotel staff and increase your perks.

#32 Pack a universal adapter that works across nations

If you do not want to end up at a spot with plug points that aren't compatible with your electronic devices, invest in a good universal adapter or plug converter with USB ports that works in all countries.

#33 Inform your credit card company before traveling abroad, so they don’t lock down your account due to suspicious activity

Together with informing your friends, family and employers about your trip, get on a call with your credit card company too. It is important to notify them about when you are leaving, where you are going, and when you plan on arriving home. This ensures they don't freeze your cards while you are traveling due to suspicious activity.

#34 Avoid the city center for staying. It’s always expensive

Travelling is already an expensive affair and where you stay determines where most of your money is spent. Picking prime locations like hotels in the city center is always expensive. It is best to find smaller hotels around or close to the city center, these are comparatively cheaper and not too further away from the hub either. This is also the wise thing to do if you won't be staying in one place for too long.

#35 Opt for hotels with free meals

This travel hack is a no-brainer. It helps save you loads of money. Complimentary breakfast is a common hotel perk, but always call ahead to check so you at least have one meal covered. Some hotels do offer free meals for more than just one meal, so dig deeper!

#36 To keep the money coming while you travel, go on a workation

Workation is the newest way of travelling, especially after spending forever working from home during the pandemic. Portable working or workation allows you to enjoy a whole new destination while you work and make yourself money! This way you get an opportunity to experience travel in a way most others won’t and you won’t have to worry about spending your savings.

Best Workation Destinations – The Digital Nomads Roundup

#37 grab a city travel card for the best bundled deals.

#38 Buy a transport pass (tube, train, metro, bus) and use unlimited public transport to get around the city

This travel hack allows you to travel seamlessly across all modes of transport (tube, train, metro, bus) using the same ticket/pass. A travel pass also means you won't have to wait in long lines to buy a ticket. Sightseeing on a local transport has a different charm, especially when it comes cheap!

#39 Read up about the free museum and tourist-attraction days

It's always best to look up if the destination you are visiting has free museums to visit, this will give you something to look forward to without having to spend a time. Also read up on tourist attraction days and best times to visit, this way you can steer clear of crowds and enjoy a peaceful day exploring.

#40 Try getting yourself open jaw flight tickets

One travel hack that nobody wants to let you in on is the open-jaw tickets frenzy. Open-jaw tickets are flexible and in most cases an inexpensive way of flying. They are priced as round-trip fares, and almost always less expensive than purchasing two one-way flights between the destinations visited. Basically, you book with one airline, into a city and out of another. This hack also allows you to travel in between two amazing cities and still get home/to the main destination!

#41 The right credit card makes or breaks your holiday budget. Choose it wisely

#42 Dinner during happy hours = drinks + cheaper food

Dinners on vacation can set you back a few hundreds of dollars. Thank god for happy hours though! You can take advantage of all the specials on the happy hour menus (most at half the price) plus enjoy drinks. Make sure you head to dinner early and land a win-win, all around including a discounted cheque!

#43 Anti-theft purse/backpack is a clever investment

Whoever decided that money belts are the best to carry cash as a tourist was wrong. It makes you stick out like a sore thumb and susceptible to attack and robbery. Your best bet is to use an anti-theft purse or backpack. These look like normal bags and help you blend with the crowd, thereby keeping you safe from pickpockets. These anti-theft purses not only look cute but also has cool features like like waterproof lining and RFID blocking material protects that IDs and credit cards from hacker scanning

#44 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival countries are a good bet for quick getaways

Visa processes (never-ending paperwork and long queues) are time and most importantly, money consuming. This is where countries that offer visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel snoop in as saviours. There are over 50 countries that offer visa-on-arrival and so many that don't even need a travel visa. Now you can always make impromptu plans and quick getaways whenever the travel bug bites.

#45 Sustainable travel is the way to go (if you still want to travel 10 years down the line)

The world is moving towards sustainable practices in all spheres and travel is joining the bandwagon because if not, you may never get to travel a few years down the line. Sustainable travel takes into account current and future environmental, social and economic impact and imbibes practices that help reduce carbon footprint. So things like bike or walking tours, sailing instead of riding an engine boat, carsharing, public transport or indulging in activities that combine the travel experience and environmental benefits like beach clean-ups.

A Beginner’s Guide To Sustainable Traveling

#46 reserve the aisle and window seats.

Nothing eases a flight journey like strategically reserving a seat based on your preference. If you are one to use the restroom a lot, reserve the aisle seats for easy access. Aisle seats also offer extra legroom (exit row seats room) and are the first to exit. Similarly, if a view and a fuselage to sleep against is what makes it for you, reserve the window seats. Be strategic in your seat selection when booking a flight.

#47 Book with websites that offer cashbacks

If, like us all, money-saving on international trips comes first, make sure to book on websites like Headout, Book It or Make My Trip to find all-inclusive bundles to destinations all over the world or to land exclusive cashbacks. There are quite a few websites like this, make sure to check the one best suited to you before booking anything because you never know what deals you’ll find!

#48 Sign up for airline mailing lists to learn of flight deals

Even before you plan your next trip or start looking for flights make sure you've signed up for a few newsletters. Airlines mailing lists give you access to the absolute best deals when you need it most. Always keep tabs on your email and check these newsletters right away so you don't miss an opportunity. Additionally, airline mailing lists usually offer frequent flier bonuses. If you’re a travel hacker, those points and miles can add up to free flights and awesome upgrades.

#49 Pay the extra amount for refundable bookings

Cancellations can hit at any moment, so to take the pain out of cancelling any ticket, especially a high-priced one, is to pay the extra amount for a refund when first booking. This way all is not lost and you will be able to save your money in case of flight cancellations after 24-hours of booking.

#50 Hide cash in empty lip balm tubes

When travelling, a simple and easy way to hide a stash of emergency cash is in empty lip balm tubes. It's weather-resistant and nondescript, so nobody will know or try to steal it. All you need to do is just roll your cash so that it could fit inside the narrow container.

Lakshmi Menon

Born to parents bit by the wander bug, Lakshmi calls her love for travel "hereditary and habitual". Perpetually ensconced with a book in her hand and a mug of coffee in the other, she has been to over 15 countries in her 23 years of existence and is currently saving miles and money for her solo trip to Iceland. Always hustling towards the least trodden path, she has encountered some wonderful people during her escapades and if you ever meet her, she won't stop gushing about them.

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50 Travel Hacks That Will Save You Time, Space And Money

By: Author Jerric Chong

Posted on Last updated: October 15, 2023

Recently, travel hacks have become quite popular for hiking and backpacking enthusiasts as well as general travelers.

Not only do traveling hacks save you a lot of money but they can reduce the amount of stress you may experience on a nationwide or international tour.

The best travel hacks help with packing correctly, creating a surplus of on-board entertainment, help you book a cheaper flight and plan your trip .

In effect, travel hacks will make your next trip the finest adventure of your life.

Table of Contents

Travel Hacks:

1. create more space by rolling clothes.

Chutima Chaochaiya / Shutterstock

It always seems like there’s never enough room in your luggage when packing for a great journey.

However, one of the top travel hacks for packing is to roll your clothes instead of folding them.

Simply roll each item into a small tube and you will save an amazing amount of space. Furthermore, rolling your clothes will prevent wrinkling and ugly creases.

2. Pack Just Half Your Toiletries

akvarelmed / Shutterstock

Your lightweight backpacking list should not contain cumbersome bottles of grooming products and toiletries. Instead, pack just enough for an overnight stay.

Most likely you will have plenty of “beauty” products. If you run out, buy a miniature sized bottle of conditioner or shampoo.

3. Avoid Packing Bulky Clothes

minianne / Shutterstock

This is one of the most important travel hacks by far. If you’re not planning on traveling to Siberia or climbing Mount McKinley then leave the bulky coat at home.

Instead, try layers of clothes and “smart” apparel choices like flannel, lightweight cardigans and waterproof jackets.

4. Pack A Small Bottle Of Hand Washing Detergent

mdbildes / Shutterstock

When traveling, you never know when you’ll have the opportunity to wash your dirty clothes.

Sometimes it is necessary to hand wash your underwear and socks in order to stay clean and refreshed.

Remember to pack small bottle of hand washing detergent for such occasions.

5. Transfer Fragrance Into Small Spray Bottle

Lamyai / Shutterstock

Instead of carrying large-sized bottles of perfume or aftershave, try downsizing to a small plastic spray bottle. Not only will it save you space but it will eliminate breakage.

Merely pour your perfume or aftershave into a durable plastic bottle the size of an antiseptic spray.

6. Stuff Your Shoes And Wrap Them

Alexandr Googe / Shutterstock

You can save a little bit of packing space by stuffing your shoes with your socks. Likewise, wrap your shoes in a shower cap or plastic bag to help protect your clothes.

7. Use A Pill Box For Tiny Items

iamnoonmai / Shutterstock

Pill boxes are fabulous traveling kits, you can stuff them with all sorts of small items that you need.

For instance, it will hold jewelry, safety pins, bobby pins, tiny batteries, paper clips, thumbtacks and other objects.

8. Place A Dryer Sheet Into Your Bag

malgosia janicka / Shutterstock

Generally your clothes start to smell like dirty socks after a few days of traveling.

On the other hand, the best travel hack is to place a dryer sheet into your bag to get rid of bad odors.

In fact, a dryer sheet will keep your clothes smelling fresh throughout your trip. There are also more natural selections on the market if you’re not fond of dryer sheets.

As well, you can make your own with some cotton balls and essential oils like orange, lemon, lavender or geranium and a touch of white vinegar.

9. Purchase A Portable Power Bank

FotoHelin / Shutterstock

There is nothing worse than having your phone go dead while traveling.

And to top it off, a dead phone means that you have no way to make important reservations or call home to let everyone know you arrived safely.

A power bank is actually one of the ultimate travel hacks for saving you a lot of stress. The device acts as an external battery that charges solely with the use of a USB connector.

10. Book All Your Flights While On The Go

amirraizat / Shutterstock

One of the best apps around for last minute flight deals is SkyScanner . It is a very useful app that will compare every airline for you.

However, do not book the cheapest flight that you see available.

These flights will direct you to a third party like Travelocity or Expedia, which will have a higher price tag due to commission.

Instead, go directly to the site itself and book your flight.

11. Get Cheaper Airline Flights With Private Browsing

Oftentimes, travel sites and airlines will record your browsing history by installing cookies on your browser.

These companies know how often you visit their site and will typically raise the price because of your frequent visits.

In truth, the increasing price is used to trick you into what is called impulse buying.

On the other hand, you can trick the system by using privacy mode or “private browsing” or “incognito mode”.

To use private browsing, just disable your browsing history and clear the web cache.

This will allow you to browse the web without storing local data that can be retrieved at a later date such as with a travel site and airline.

12. Download Your Own Personal Arrival And Departure Board

ImYanis / Shutterstock

Oftentimes, in order to see the departure board you have to do a few yoga positions to view it.

On the other hand, you may be relaxing in the airport bar and need to leave in order to find the board that shows your departure time.

Then again, instead of the constant inconvenience you can download FlightBoard onto your phone. The app allows you to view the departure and arrival time of every airline.

13. Preventing Jet Lag

Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock

Today, evidence suggests that exercise increases arousal levels in people suffering from jet lag or desynchronosis.

Although there is no indication as to which type of exercise is best for jet lag, most experts agree that light to moderate exercise like jogging or yoga can do wonders.

In addition, according to the Washington Post, exercise can also help with travel fatigue.

14. Mark Your Baggage As Fragile

Efired / Shutterstock

Oftentimes your baggage is either lost or it comes back damaged. To avoid lost luggage simply mark your luggage as fragile.

In truth, your luggage will be treated with extra care or at least handled properly. In fact, your luggage will probably be on the top of the pile in the planes storage compartment.

Not only will your luggage avoid being trampled and smashed by being on the top but you will most likely receive your luggage first.

15. Safeguard Your Razors To Prevent Injury

Kris Black / Shutterstock

One of the worst types of cuts is from a razor. To makes matters worse, having a razor cut while traveling can be messy and embarrassing.

As well, razor cuts can cause profuse bleeding and damage everything within arm’s reach like your airline seat or the carpet.

However, a great life safer that safeguards your razors and prevents injury is a binder clip. A binder clip or banker’s clip can be utilized to easily cover most razors.

16. Only Pack What You Absolutely Need

Aleksandra Suzi / Shutterstock

If your backpacking adventures include various destinations, then you probably won’t be in one place to long.

To save room and packing time, take only what you will be wearing in each hostel or destination.

This travel hack is very handy, especially when you are running late for the bus or your next flight.

17. Never Buy Airport Water Again

Bubbers BB / Shutterstock

As time goes by, airport restrictions seem to drastically increase. Oftentimes, it feels like you have no choice but to purchase airport water at a ghastly price.

However, you can save a lot of money by bringing in an empty bottle to the airport then refilling it after it has passed through security.

18. Charge Electronic Devices Through A TV

Sunshine Studio / Shutterstock

One of the most innovative travel hacks is to charge your electronic devices through a TV. This is extremely helpful if you forgot or lost your wall plug for your charger.

The back of most TVs will have a USB connector. Sometime the USB port is located on the side. Basically, plug your device into the USB connector until it is fully charged.

19. Email A Scan Of Your Passport To Yourself

mcjeff / Shutterstock

Having proof of who you are is vital when traveling international flights. This is especially true if you are a victim of burglary or loss.

Just take a screenshot of your passport so it is available on one of your devices. Remember, a screenshot is visual with or without internet access.

This means that you do not have to have an internet connection to view the screenshot of your passport.

Actually, this is one of the most important travel hacks for travelers and hikers as well as the general public. You never know when something may go wrong.

20. Book Your Lodgings With Hostelworld

Hostelworld is renowned for their spectacular international accommodations. Their trendy and budget lodgings are focused on travelers who want the best in a hostel.

They host a variety of epic events plus connect you with outstanding hostels through the world.

In addition, Hostelworld has a new mobile app that makes booking simple. It includes online savings and an in-built map.

21. Make Sure You Have Skype, WhatsApp And Viber

Alex Ruhl / Shutterstock

Skype, WhatsApp and Viber are lifesaving apps that you should definitely have while traveling.

Skype provides video chat and voice calls between various devices. WhatsApp offers instant messaging and Viber lets you make your calls for free.

22. LifeStraw For Safe Water

LifeStraw / Facebook

When traveling, you can never be too careful when it comes to drinking water.

Actually trusting tap water in many countries is an easy way to acquire stomach issues. Bottled water is a good alternative but it can be weighty and expensive.

The best solution is to pack a portable water purifier such as LifeStraw , Steripen Ultra or other quality compact water purifiers.

23. Line Your Backpack With A Plastic Bag

It may sound odd, but lining your backpack with a plastic garbage bag may extend the life of your gear. The plastic bag protects your backpack from any spillage or leakage.

For example, exploding pens and bottle caps not tightened often play havoc on the pack. Likewise, the plastic bag can be used for dirty laundry at the end of the trip.

24. Try Beeswax To Waterproof Your Things

https://youtu.be/Cb-FmQGTq0A

Beeswax is a great way to waterproof many of your things such as your backpack, thin jacket, Converse shoes and other items.

Simply purchase a stick of bees wax. Whatever cloth you want to waterproof needs to be laid flat and turned inside out.

Next, rub the material with the piece of beeswax. Look for some a uniform graying to occur. Your material is now water-resistant.

25. Use Tic-Tac Containers And Straws To Transport Spices

monticello / Shutterstock

When traveling, you don’t have to eat just plain food. You can easily stock your spices and herbs into a tic-tac container or a straw.

For a straw, heat on end with a lighter, fill with spices then repeat process on the other end to seal.

You may also want to bring some tin foil to place on the tip after it is opened. For tic-tac containers, makes sure you wash the mint taste out.

26. Create Your Own Airline TV

Angyalosi Beata / Shutterstock

The bad thing about airline TV is that their selections may not be the best. Instead of relying of the airlines selection of shows you can create your own TV line-up.

First off, you will need to free up some storage on your device, TV shows and movies take up a lot of space (several hundreds of megabytes per show).

Next, download your favorites via iTunes, Amazon Prime, Netflix, YouTubeRed or other digital stores.

One of the greatest advantages of downloading to your device is that you can watch your favorites even when you are offline.

Also, use your earphone out of respect and courtesy of others.

27. Buy A “Fake” Wallet To Fool Pickpockets

Jacob Lund / Shutterstock

Get a dummy or fake wallet to fool those that are dishonest. That way, if the wallet is stolen, nothing will be lost.

Also, make sure that you hide your real wallet somewhere clever and close to you.

Good places to hide your wallet are within a security belt, hidden pockets within a coat or a scarf with a hidden pocket.

28. Bring An Extension Cable Or Power Strip

navee sangvitoon / Shutterstock

If you are planning to stay in hostels, plugins may be minimal. Instead of taking turns to use a plug-in, just bring an extension cable or power strip.

And since there are numerous outlets to share, you will quickly become everyone’s pal.

29. Bulldog Clips Can Protect Your Earphones

A bulldog clip or alligator clip can be used to help extend the life of your earphones.

Basically, use the bulldog clip to wrap the cables for easy storage. As well, the alligator clip can help attach your earphones to a pocket, shirt or backpack.

30. Protect Your Cables With Pen Springs

If your cable connections keep breaking when you travel then try wrapping them in springs from a ballpoint pen.

Remove the spring from the pen. Fit the extended end of the spring to one of the cable ends (the end that meets the plug). Gently wind the spring around the cable.

Fasten the other spring end with pliers so that it does not move up or down. When ready to use the cable, just remove the spring.

31. Hack Into The Best WiFi Available

Oleksiy Mark / Shutterstock

Being without a good Internet connection while traveling can be rather daunting. Instead of being overwhelmed, locate the First Class Lounge while you are at the airport.

Take a seat and then connect to high speed Internet for free. Likewise, if you are on the boulevard or downtown, mosey on up to a classy restaurant and sign in.

32. Use Google Maps Offline

Naritsorn Hirunon / Shutterstock

When exploring an area it is not realistic to stay by an establishment just to get a WiFi connection.

Prior to your journey you can download the lifesaving Google navigation map onto your phone or tablet then view it later without having to rely on a WiFi signal.

In fact, the Google Maps 8 will display distance, travel time, ETA, lane guidance and even public transport.

33. Use ATMs & Cash Machines To Exchange Local Currency

franz12 / Shutterstock

Instead of trying to locate the national currency office or a kiosk try using an ATM or cash machine.

An ATM has by far a lot cheaper rates than the currency exchange bureau or any kiosk “conveniently” located near the airport luggage carousel.

In actuality, most money converters have outrageous fees and exchange rates. Actually, your banks fee will so much cheaper than other venues that offer currency exchange.

34. Place Your Rechargeable Batteries In The Fridge

Photo Intrigue / Shutterstock

Placing your batteries in the fridge will keep them fresher and greatly extend the shelf life.

In fact, most rechargeable batteries retain 90% of their full charge if they are kept in cold temperatures . This means that you do not have to charge them as often.

35. Get Numerous Free Things Just For Traveling

Cookie Studio / Shutterstock

Today, there are numerous companies that are searching for people to try out their products, test their employees and provide feedback.

In exchange, you can get a variety of products like free films, movies, drinks and other amazing items.

Moreover, being a market researcher in the country you are traveling requires minimal work and can actually be a lot of fun.

36. Make Real Travel Friends Via Your Phone

While exploring, it is great to meet fellow travelers. However, while visiting unfamiliar territory, it can be intimidating and daunting when meeting new people.

Instead, you can make some wonderful friends out on the road by using various apps online.

Backpackr and Travel Buddies can assist you with finding nearby travelers and checking their itinerary.

37. Bring A Box Of Crayons Instead Of Candles

When traveling, you never know when an emergency will strike such as the electricity going out.

Since candles are bulky and take up too much room, you may want to consider bringing a box of candles instead.

In fact, one crayon will burn up to 30 minutes of bright light.

Place the crayon in a small holder or on a lid. With the point end up, light the paper around the crayon using a lighter. Enjoy!

38. Create An Instant Lantern From A Water Bottle

This useful travel hack will light up the entire room! To create a lantern out of a clean water bottle or a milk jug, simply fill the jug with water.

Put your headlamp strap around the jug pointing the light into the side of the jug.

The light will actually disperse through the water to create the ideal amount of glow for lighting up a room.

39. Create Your Own Mobile Phone Speaker

An easy and Eco friendly way to make your own phone speaker is with a used toilet roll or empty paper cup.

Just cut a slit on the side of the used roll of toilet paper and then insert your phone. You now have an instant speaker.

Even better, place your phone into an empty cup and the speaker will transform faint and distant sounds into a clear vocal language.

40. Use Your Phone To Meet Locals

Maarten Zeehandelaar / Shutterstock

A fabulous way to get to know a country or to discover the secret getaways is to get to know the locals.

Finding the perfect places to go can also be organized on an app such as Party with a Local .

This app can guide you the local nightlife, favorite local coffee shop, finest restaurants and more.

41. Get Your Own Personal Tour Guide

Ammit Jack / Shutterstock

Good tour guides can be hard to find and very expensive. However, you can try to look for an individual local to be your personal guide.

This is definitely cheaper than attending organised tours.

42. Give Up Your Seat For Upgrades And Free Extras

Viktor Konya / Shutterstock

Many airlines often get overbooked. As well, they often offer numerous benefits if you give up your seat.

Some of these benefits include nearby accommodation, free food and drink and an upgrade on your next flight at no extra charge.

43. Shadow The Pub Crawl Path

Master1305 / Shutterstock

You may want to join the pub crawl path but not pay the high price. Instead, you can research and find the pub crawl route in the chosen city then head on over to the start of the fun.

If you feel uncomfortable following the crowd, you can always take the pub crawl path on your own time. You are sure to meet other fellow travelers along the way.

44. Predict The Sunset Like A Pro

IMG Stock Studio / Shutterstock

When hiking in international lands, it can be a challenge to figure out when the sun will be going down.

This old survivalist trick is a winner when hiking the great outback.

Basically, each finger represents 15 minutes. To know the time, count the finger-width between the sun and the horizon.

45. Don’t Forget About Selfies

DavideAngelini / Shutterstock

When traveling abroad, taking a selfie is not for memories sake but for identity, especially when you start a new SD card on your camera.

The selfie will actually prove that the camera is yours if it ever gets lost or stolen.

46. Learn Annoying Pop Songs

Solis Images / Shutterstock

If you really want to save money, learn how to play a few annoying pop songs. Most pop songs are just three chords.

With these three chords you can play many songs and impress several people. Maybe you song will get you a few free meals or some beer.

47. Learn To Cook Traditional Dishes From Each Country

suriya yapin / Shutterstock

Learning to cook traditional dishes from each country you have visited is a wonderful travel hack for making friends.

Purchase some inexpensive local ingredients and then make a regional classic meal. Most likely you will have a nice feast and a few good laughs and beers.

48. Save Up Frequent Flyer Miles

Nada Sertic / Shutterstock

If you travel often, it is definitely worth your while to join a frequent flyer program. It really does not take long to accumulate the points and miles.

In fact, over time the miles really add up and will contribute to upgrades and discounted flights.

49. Forget The Car And Rent A Bicycle

MRProduction / Shutterstock

The greatest sights are seen when traveling on foot. The second finest option is to take the back roads on a bicycle.

Riding a bicycle will keep you fit plus help you discover the amazing local hangouts and the culture. In truth, many bicycle tours lead you to the roads less traveled.

These places are hidden from the tourist and general spectators. Riding a bicycle is a wonderful opportunity to get to know the locals and their customs.

50. Give Your Spare Change To The Homeless

Alisa24 / Shutterstock

For paying homage, show your appreciation to the country you visited by giving your change to the homeless.

You will be setting the stage for future travelers and doing a great deed.

Hope you find these travel hacks helpful! Remember to share these hacks with your friends!

25 Useful Travel Hacks and Tips That Will Change How You Travel

• Packing / Travel Gear

Looking for the best travel hacks and tips? Use these tips to make your next trip even better.

We’re all about making travel easier and more accessible. Whether flying, road-tripping, or even going on a local adventure, here are some of our favorite travel hacks we’ve discovered over the years of full-time travel.

Thanks to Pilot Flying J  for sponsoring this post. All opinions are always our own. This post may contain affiliate links, where we receive a small commission on sales of the products that are linked at no additional cost to you. Read our full disclosure  for more info. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Local Adventurer possible.

Last Updated: November 30, 2023

− − Content Menu

• Road Trip Hacks

International Travel Hacks

Packing hacks.

• General Travel Hacks

Travel Hacks for Flight Bookings

• Planning Checklist

Road Trip Travel Hacks

1. create a playlist or download audiobooks.

I take my road trip music seriously. The first time we went on a cross-country road trip over ten years ago, I worked on a playlist where no song would repeat for over 24 hours. Even today, I’m still adding and modifying my playlist only to include songs with a good driving beat. You don’t need one that long, but a road trip playlist can help you power through a long drive.

We like switching between music and audiobooks. Just download them so you can still listen to them without cell service.

Pro Tip: We recently discovered Libby , where you can download free audiobooks from your local library and listen to them offline. If you want to listen to classics without waiting through the online library queue, check out Project Gutenberg . However, I’ve only seen popular new books have long waits on Libby.

2. Download Travel Apps

Apps can come in handy when you’re on the road. Here are a few of our favorites.

• myRewards Plus App – We’ve managed long stints on the road (we did Atlanta to LA in 36 hours straight). Regardless of whether we do any overnights, we always make stops for gas, stretch our legs, and pick up snacks. Pilot Flying J gas stations are our top choice on road trips. Not only do they have reasonable gas prices, but the convenience stores are more extensive and facilities clean and spacious (bye-bye dingy gas station bathrooms). Their free app makes it even better because it gives you 10¢ off every gallon of gas and deals to help you save money on snacks.
• Google Maps – This is our go-to map app, and I typically download offline versions of the areas we’ll be in, especially when I know service might be spotty. It helps to be able to search and navigate without cell service.
• GasBuddy – When I forget to watch the meter and need gas immediately, we use GasBuddy to find the cheapest gas near us. It’s straightforward to use. They recently added a gas card, which helps you save money.
• Spotify – As I mentioned above, I take my road trip music seriously.
• Yelp – We love finding random gems for both food and roadside attractions. Since we primarily travel within the states, we use Yelp to find food. Instead of looking at the overall reviews, we also consider the reviewers’ demographics, town size, and specific complaints. I’m a maximizer, so I must see everything before making my ideal choice.

Pro Tip: The myRewards Plus App also has a Plan Your Trip feature to plan stops and export them to Waze or Apple Maps.

3. Be Ready for Emergencies

No one plans to have an emergency on the road, but it’s always wise to prep ahead. We always have a few things in our car ready for them.

• First Aid Kit – in case anyone gets hurt.
• Essential Tools – we have a multitool in our car.
• Meds – we carry some basic meds, like Dramamine , Immodium , and Lactaid
• Portable Air Compressor – you never know when you need air in your tires.
• Wet Wipes / Paper Towels – or all those unexpected spills
• TravelJohn – Ever since we discovered these, we always have a couple in the car in case we’re stuck in traffic or if you can’t find a bathroom for miles. They turn your pee into an odorless gel. It’s wild.

4. Use Home Items in Creative Ways

We’ve found a few home items that we use in the car to make our ride more comfortable.

• Tumblers for Snacks – Pack snacks in food tumblers for easy snack access and fewer spills. Plus, they stay in your cup holder. We’ve heard people use coffee creamer bottles, too!
• Cereal Containers for Trash Cans – We picked up this hack from Pinterest. They keep your trash contained in one spot and make it easy to dump at a stop. It helps to keep a few extra trash bags in the car.
• Dryer Sheets for Air Freshers – Dryer sheets can freshen the air without being too strong (regular car air fresheners can make me dizzy). You can also throw one in your suitcase to keep your bag and clothes smelling fresh. If you want a more sustainable option, use these reusable charcoal bags as a deodorizer. Refill with activated charcoal that you buy in bulk for fish tanks.
• Suction Cup Shower Caddies are great for holding smaller items or snacks on windows. For people with kids, you can keep art supplies or toys in them. Shoe holders strapped to the back of the seat are another great storage option.

If you forget anything or need to make a last-minute stop, Pilot Flying J has you covered!

5. Set Up Your Car for Camping

Even if you don’t like camping, having a car camping setup is handy in case you need a nap or want to make an overnight stop in the middle of nowhere. We use this foam mattress (we cut the foam where the tires go), and it fits nicely in the trunk with our seats down. Finally, we have the perfect car setup with our foam mattress, solar generator , and rooftop storage !

See More: 21 Car Camping Essentials

6. Scan and Email Yourself a Passport

You’ll have your passport, but having a hard copy and a digital copy (either photo or email) of your passport is wise in case it gets lost or stolen. We do this with tickets, confirmations, and other essential documents we may need.

7. Always Pack a Travel Adapter →

We love this travel adapter . It allows us to charge multiple devices simultaneously to keep them all alive! If you’re a light sleeper, keep it away from your bed since the fan can get noisy while charging many items.

8. Download Google Translate

Did you know that Google Translate can use your camera to translate signs, menus, or anything else you scan? Technology is crazy.

9. Don’t Exchange Money at the Airport

It’s tempting to exchange money at your destination airport, but you usually get the worst rates. Having a credit card with no exchange fees or going to local ATMs to withdraw cash is better. Just notify your credit card and bank you are traveling to so the transactions don’t get flagged.

10. Choose Long Layovers to Explore Cities

Sometimes, a long layover is a perfect way to break up flights. Plus, it allows you to explore the layover city without making an extra trip.

11. Roll Your Clothes and Use Compression Bags

Rolling your clothes helps you pack more in the same amount of space. I do this for the clothes in my closet, making them ready to go. When your clothes are dirty, keep them rolled up, too!

Pro Tip: If you need more space, compression bags or packing cubes will compress them even more.

12. Get Double-Sided Packing Cubes →

Packing cubes are great to help you organize your suitcase . I love the ones with a clean and dirty side to keep my clothes separate but still organized.

13. Create a Packing Check List

Even though we travel a ton, I still get anxious about forgetting to pack something on a trip. Because of that, I’ve created a packing checklist spreadsheet that I look over each trip. 

14. Pack Essentials in a Carry On →

We travel light and never check a bag, but sometimes they will take them from you if the flight is full! I get paranoid because they’ve lost our bags for months before in this scenario. If you check your bag, have all your essentials in your personal carry item, including meds, toiletries, and an extra set of clothes. That way, if anything happens to your luggage , you at least have the basics. 

Pro Tip: Be familiar with your credit card benefits. Many travel cards will give you a stipend to replace items if your luggage is lost.

See More: 15 Carry-On Essentials You Need for Every Flight

15. Get Reusable Travel Bottles for Toiletries →

Rather than buying miniature versions of your toiletries or trying to pack the large products, get some reusable travel bottles that you can fill with your favorite items that keep you under the 3 oz requirement. I even picked up a spray bottle for my toner and tubs for makeup.

General Travel Hacks + Tips

16. download offline maps.

We use this rule locally and abroad. Before heading anywhere where we think we might have spotty service, we download Google Maps offline to help us navigate the area. It has been a lifesaver!

17. Talk to Locals

As much research as you can do online, locals always know the best under-the-radar spots. They can tell you about great deals, happy hours, unique experiences, and more. Even if you’re talking to your servers while eating out, find out what spots they like to frequent.

18. Pack Snacks

Being hangry is the worst! We always keep snacks handy on outdoor adventures, flights, and road trips. Our favorite snack on the go is currently Built Bars . I still can’t believe they made protein bars taste like actual candy (Use the Built Bar discount code “LOCALADVENTURER ” for 10% off your order).

Anytime we’re on a road trip, we’ll pick up extra snacks when we stop at Pilot Flying J. Their free app even has deals on food and drinks.

See More: Genius In Flight Hacks to Elevate Your Dining Experience

19. Travel During Off Season

Do some research ahead of time and try visiting spots during shoulder season. Not only will hotels and flights be cheaper, but it’s less crowded too!

Pro Tip: Depending on the location, check to see what’s open during the shoulder and off-season. Some smaller towns will shut down a lot of businesses during this time.

20. Bring a Reusable Water Bottle →

A refillable water bottle (click to see our favorites) is essential for traveling. I used to always feel dehydrated during trips. Now we use them on flights by filling up after TSA, so we have water before the beverage service. Many hotels have water bottle stations in the gym, so we have water in the room anytime we need it. Plus, it’s just better for the environment. We use one of three types of bottles when we travel.

See More: 7 Best Travel Water Bottles Tested on the Road

21. Delete Your Browser Cookies

Airline companies use cookies to track your searches, and flight prices can change depending on the demand and conditions. To avoid this, use an incognito tab or delete your browser cookies.

22. Book Flights on Cheaper Days

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are typically the cheapest days to fly. Of the three days, Tuesday is the best. If you have the flexibility, travel on those days to save money on your flight.

23. Avoid Peak Hours

Similar to the example above, flying during the day can affect the price too! Flights are usually cheaper if you fly between 5-7 am or after 8 pm.

24. Get the Full Row

When traveling with a companion, choose an aisle and window seat in the same row. On emptier flights, you might get the whole row to yourselves. If it’s fully booked, one of us moves to the middle seat since most prefer an aisle or window. But I’m waiting for the day someone wants to sit between us!

25. Spoof Your Location

Regional prices are also a factor when it comes to booking. This trick only works for international flights, but if you have a VPN and a credit card that doesn’t have a high foreign transaction fee, check the flight prices from multiple locations. Often you’ll find different prices from different countries.

That’s our list! What other travel hacks do you use? We love learning more about how you travel so we can all travel smarter.

Special thanks to  Pilot Flying J  for sponsoring this post. When it comes to road trips, they are our go-to pit stop. They are North America’s largest network of travel centers, so we can reliably find them throughout the US. We also love that we know what we’re getting: reasonable prices on gas, clean and spacious bathrooms, and a great selection of food and snacks.

If you download their  free app , you can get 10¢ off every gallon of gas and deals on food and drink. They are investing $1 billion over the next three years to improve their stores.

What are your favorite travel hacks?

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“Discovery consists not of seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes ” – M. Proust

Esther + Jacob

Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.

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103 Travel Hacks to Make Jet-Setting a Little Easier

We’ve put together 103 of these hacks to help upgrade your next trip. From packing pointers to tech tools, these hacks cover all aspects of travel from start to finish.

Leah Jones • Oct 27, 2023

Updated Jan 22, 2024

Hitting the road can be exhilarating, but traveling also comes with its fair share of hassles. Between crowded airports, cramped flights, and language barriers in foreign destinations, getting from point A to point B can involve plenty of headaches. Luckily, there are all sorts of ingenious tips and tricks that can make travel less stressful and more enjoyable. Whether it’s your first time backpacking abroad or you’re a seasoned jet-setter, a few simple travel hacks can go a long way in making your trips simpler and smoother.

We’ve put together 103 of these hacks to help upgrade your next trip. From packing pointers to tech tools, these hacks cover all aspects of travel from start to finish. With these tips at your disposal, you can breeze through annoying logistics and focus on creating memorable experiences. 

Travel Hacks To Help With Packing

• Roll your clothes to save space and reduce wrinkles.
• Use packing cubes to keep your items organized.
• Cover shoe soles with shower caps to prevent dirtying your clothes.
• Bring a lightweight laundry bag for separating dirty clothes.
• Pack a reusable tote for extra items or souvenirs.
• Make a checklist to ensure you don’t forget important items.
• Weigh your luggage to avoid overage fees.
• Pack essentials in your carry-on, including important documents, medication, and a change of clothes.
• Choose versatile clothing that can be mixed and matched.
• Use travel-sized containers for toiletries or buy them upon arrival.
• Consider using rechargeable batteries to avoid disposable ones.
• Carry a mini sewing kit for on-the-go repairs.
• Prevent collar wrinkles by threading a belt through them.
• Use straws to string necklaces and prevent tangling.
• Carry a compact power strip for hotels with limited outlets.
• Protect breakable items by wrapping them in soft clothing like socks.
• Pack a versatile scarf that can be used as a face mask, fashion accessory, or makeshift bag.
• Bring extra Ziploc bags for storing snacks and protecting electronics.
• Place your contact information inside your luggage in case the external tag gets lost.

Travel Hacks To Help With Booking and Planning

• Compare prices on multiple travel websites in incognito mode to find the best deals.
• Clear your cookies and browser history before resuming searches for better deals.
• Use a travel rewards credit card to collect points or miles, and put recurring charges on the card for year-round points.
• Book flights midweek, especially on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for potential cost savings.
• Sign up for fare alerts to be notified when prices drop.
• Consider purchasing travel insurance for peace of mind.
• Pay in the local currency to avoid unfavorable exchange rates.
• Download maps for your destination on Google Maps or other apps for offline use.
• Familiarize yourself with common phrases in the local language.
• Use City Passes for discounts and fast-track entry to attractions.
• Make sure you have the correct visas for your destination.
• Keep photocopies of your passport, ID, and travel documents in a separate, locked location.
• Book early morning flights to reduce the likelihood of delays.
• Avoid peak travel seasons to save money and reduce crowds.
• Download your travel insurance provider’s app for easy access to policy details.
• Use a travel wallet to keep documents organized and secure.
• Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to protect your online privacy while using public Wi-Fi networks.
• Consider booking hotels directly for potential better deals.
• Avoid jet lag by gradually adjusting your sleep schedule a few days before traveling to a different time zone.

Travel Hacks for Airport and Security 

• Check-in online to save time at the airport.
• Expedite security and immigration processes with TSA PreCheck and Global Entry.
• Use a mobile boarding pass to avoid printing.
• Carry a reusable water bottle to refill after security to save money and reduce waste.
• Keep your devices charged during long layovers with a travel-sized power bank.
• Access flight info and entertainment through airline apps.
• Keep your ID, boarding pass, and wallet in an easily accessible pocket.
• Wear comfortable clothing and slip-on shoes for convenience at security.
• Use priority pass lounges if you have a credit card that allows you access.
• Check your gate number as soon as you arrive at the airport to plan your time efficiently.

Travel Hacks for In-Flight Comfort

• Get restful sleep on long flights with a neck pillow and eye mask.
• Block out cabin noise for a peaceful journey with noise-canceling headphones.
• Airlines can get chilly, so pack a lightweight blanket and cozy socks.
• Download movies, books, or podcasts for in-flight entertainment.
• Choose your seat in advance for more legroom or a better view.
• Drink plenty of water during the flight to stay hydrated.
• Avoid carbonated drinks as they can cause bloating at high altitudes.
• Prevent swelling and discomfort with compression socks on long flights.
• Stand up and stretch when possible to prevent stiffness.
• Familiarize yourself with your travel insurance policy’s coverage for unexpected flight delays.

Travel Hacks for Hotel Accommodation 

• Inspect your hotel room for signs of bedbugs upon arrival.
• Store important documents and valuables in the hotel safe.
• Choose hotels that offer complimentary breakfast to save on dining expenses.
• Bring universal plug adapters for international travel.
• Join hotel loyalty programs to earn rewards and enjoy special perks.
• Silence noisy neighbors or street sounds with earplugs.
• Take advantage of hotel amenities like the gym, pool, or spa for relaxation.
• Request a late check-out if you have a late flight to maximize your time at the hotel.
• Consult the hotel staff for insider tips on dining and activities.
• Add an extra layer of security to your hotel room with a portable door lock.
• Use free Wi-Fi in cafes and public areas rather than paying for in-room Wi-Fi.
• Arrange airport transfers in advance to avoid scams and overcharging.
• Communicate with non-English speaking staff using translation apps.
• Take photos of your hotel room before and after your stay for documentation.
• Research hotels on platforms like TripAdvisor or Yelp to make informed decisions.
• Consider using Airbnb or similar services for more space and local experiences.
• Have a list of emergency contacts, including the local embassy or consulate.

Travel Hacks for Health and Wellness 

• Carry basic medications and a first-aid kit for minor health issues.
• Drink plenty of water throughout the day to combat the effects of jet lag.
• Sample local cuisine but be mindful of portion sizes to avoid getting sick.
• Maintain good hygiene by washing your hands to prevent illness.
• Bring motion sickness bands or medication for turbulent flights or boat rides.
• Ensure your travel insurance covers unexpected medical expenses.
• Walk or exercise to keep your energy levels up.
• Enjoy alcoholic beverages in moderation to avoid dehydration and jet lag.
• Use sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat to protect yourself from the sun.
• Communicate your food allergies to the restaurant staff.
• Pack essential medications like pain relievers, allergy medication, and antacids.

Miscellaneous Travel Hacks

• Scan or take photos of important documents and save them in the cloud in case you lose something.
• Download language learning apps to pick up some basic phrases.
• Set up notifications for credit card transactions to detect unauthorized charges.
• Pay with contactless methods to avoid handling cash.
• Pack your favorite snacks for a quick energy boost.
• Pack wrinkle-release spray to refresh clothing on the go.
• Carry a small amount of emergency cash in a hidden pocket.
• Ensure your travel insurance covers activities like hiking, scuba diving, or extreme sports.
• Reduce plastic waste by carrying reusable cutlery.
• Research and respect local customs and etiquette.
• Embrace the unexpected and be open to new experiences.
• Buy tickets to popular attractions online to skip long lines.
• Get a local SIM card to avoid expensive international roaming charges.
• Stay hydrated and avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol before and during your flight.
• Protect your home while traveling by having someone collect mail and keep an eye on your property.
• Familiarize yourself with the local emergency number and nearest embassy or consulate.
• Practice good manners and be courteous to locals.

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87 Unique Travel Tips & Hacks You Can’t Afford to Miss Out On

By: Author Aly Smalls

Posted on Published: October 23, 2023  - Last updated: October 31, 2023

Share with your friends!

After years of travel (and now full-time travel curator), I’ve put together my ultimate collection of unique travel tips, hacks and advice to help you plan your next trip with ease.

You’ll find everything from packing advice, the best travel apps, building the best travel itinerary, in-flight comfort tips, how to get through airport security in a breeze, budgeting & saving money, in-destination advice and more. 

I think these genius travel tips are pretty unique, so here’s the full list!

In this post, you’ll find:

Packing tips, travel planning and trip research, finding things to do, itinerary building, hotel booking tips, accommodation tips, booking flights, airport & security screening tips, in-flight comfort, best travel apps, budget tips, before trip departure, in destination tips, cultural tips.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning if you click through and make a purchase I may make a small commission. I only share information about things I know, love and trust!

DIY Clothing Hack for Packing Light

Mix Febreze and wrinkle release in a travel-sized spray bottle. This method allows you travel with fewer clothes and maximize a compact wardrobe.

It also prolongs the freshness and usability of your garments, which is especially helpful in humid climates.

Packing Cubes Help Keep Things Organized & Easier to Find 

Packing cubes are especially useful if you’re moving hotels every couple of days.

Make sure you get cubes with compression , and you can almost double the amount of clothing you bring.

Also, if your bag gets searched at the airport, everything stays together and it’s so much quicker to repack.

Split Your Clothing Up

If you’re traveling with a partner, split your clothes between both of your checked bags.

That way, if one of the bags goes missing, you both have clothes in the other bag.

Pack a Full Outfit in Your Carry-on

If you don’t want to split up your clothing, pack a full outfit in your carry-on.

 This is one of my favorite travel tips that has saved me more than once. 

In the event your bag does get lost, you’ll still have a full set of fresh clothes.

If I’m traveling to a warm destination, I always pack a swimsuit and a beach/pool outfit in my carry-on.

Even if my bag isn’t lost, sometimes you can’t check into your room for a few hours but can still use the pool/beach area while you wait.

Instead of digging through your tightly packed suitcase, you can quickly pull out your swimsuit from your carry-on and get down to the pool faster.

Pack Slippers

Hotel room floors are never as clean as they look, even the nice hotels.

I always pack a pair of thin memory foam slippers to wear in the room.

Especially helpful if the floors are cold or tile (like in Mexico, Caribbean, etc.).

Use the Rubberized Luggage Tags

Don’t use the belt buckle-style luggage tags which fail more often.

I like these rubber luggage tags that are one piece so you don’t have to worry about it breaking, and they come in bright colors for easy spotting.

Use a Quart-sized Ziploc bag for Packing Liquids in Your Carry-on 

Don’t waste money on “TSA approved” liquid bags (they’re often too big).

All you need is the quart-sized Ziploc bags, which also seal water tight. 

Pack Necklaces Inside Metal Straws

They’ll never get tangled.  

Compeed Blister Patches

If you’re prone to blisters, didn’t get the chance to break in a new pair of shoes you’re brining, or you know you’re going to be walking a lot – get Compeed .

These blister patches will save your vacation and you’ll never travel without them again.

Use Lotion Sticks Instead of Liquid Lotions or Creams

This helps reduce your amount of liquids.

I even do this when checking a bag because there’s no risk of it spilling or exploding in your bag.  

If You’re Going on a Long Trip, Get Yourself a Scrubba wash bag  

You put your clothes, soap and water in the bag, and swish it around for a bit.

Then wring out your clothes and hang and dry.

Sinks aren’t always practical for washing clothes or if you’re camping or backpacking, these work great. 

Use Toiletry Skins

For leak-proofing your bottles and containers, just stretch these toiletry skins overtop of the bottle. Works great for shampoo, sunscreen, micellar water, makeup, etc. 

Refill Travel Toiletries Bag Before You Pack it Away

Your bag will be ready to go for your next trip. One less thing to do when you’re stressed about packing!

Read the rest of my packing guides here:

• 13 Things You Should Never Travel Without if You’re Staying in a hotel
• My best travel tips for packing toiletries if you’re flying carry-on only

People always ask how I plan my itineraries – here’s what I do to get started.

Use Tour Company Websites as a Starting Point

To get me started with a rough idea of what I should include in my itinerary, I always start out by browsing websites like Exoticca, Intrepid Travel, Gate 1 Travel, G Adventures, or whatever your preferred tour operator is.

I scan the itineraries for the destination I’ll be traveling to, and this gives me a really quick rundown of the top places to visit and top things to do. As well as what’s realistic for traveling between different areas. 

Read the YouTube video comments

I always watch a few YouTube videos when I’m starting to plan a trip.

But make sure you read the video’s comments – they’re usually full of additional helpful tips from locals or seasoned travelers. 

Join Facebook Groups

You can find a Facebook group for almost every travel destination out there. In the search bar, type in your destination and then filter by ‘Groups.’

These groups are full of people who have taken trips similar to the one you’re planning, and I always find them so helpful.

If you’re traveling to another country, use an e-sim card 

I use Airalo , and all you do is purchase the sim card for what country you’re traveling to and you can purchase as much data as you want.

If you need more while you’re on your trip, you can reload more data with one click. 

Use Viator to Look for & Book Tours

Not only is this the biggest source of finding all available tours in whatever region you’re traveling to, you can use the “book now and pay later” feature.

This really helps with budgeting.

I’ve booked some of my favorite travel experiences through Viator, such as natural hot springs in Mexico and a sunrise horseback ride through the desert.

The majority of tours also offer free cancellation 24 hours before.

Use Airbnb Experiences

Often you’ll find much more local & immersive experiences.

If you’ve traveled to a destination before and are looking for more unique things to do, you’ll find them here. 

One of my favorite Airbnb experiences was sandboarding in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico !

Use ChatGPT

You can use ChatGPT to help you build an itinerary for free. Here’s a prompt to get you started: 

• “Create a [duration] day itinerary for my trip to [destination]. My interests include [list of interests], and my budget is [budget]. I will be staying at [type of accommodation] in [preferred neighborhood or area]. Please consider the [season/weather] and any [additional information] that might be relevant to this trip.”

Use Thatch Guides

Thatch is where you can browse unique travel guides and services curated by travel experts around the world.

Many of the guides, maps and itineraries are free, or you can purchase custom itineraries.

Check out my Thatch profile for inspiration! 

Maximize your time as it relates to geography

Group your must-visit stops and restaurants together by geographic area.

By planning ahead and mapping out your route ahead of time, you can fit more in your schedule.

The Thatch map feature is great for this!

Build in Flex Time

There is always something that is going to go wrong when you travel.

Whether its delayed flights, lost luggage, bad weather, someone gets sick, etc., it’s important to be flexible.

Leave some wiggle room each day in your itinerary in case something happens. 

The best way to experience a place is through its food! 

Look up 1-3 local dishes before you go so you feel prepared to order something new & delicious.

Choosing a hotel to book is often the most stressful part of travel planning.

Here’s some advice to help you choose the best place to stay. 

Zoom in on Google Maps

Often you’ll want to stay somewhere that’s close to all the places you’ll be visiting and the attractions you want to hit.

Once I have an area narrowed down, I usually do a quick browse on Booking or Expedia to give me an idea of prices.

Then, I open up Google maps and zoom in on the neighborhood I want to stay in. This way I can see all the reviews to help me narrow things down. 

Price Things Out With Uber

If I won’t be renting a car, I usually open up Uber and plug in a few of the places I’ll be traveling to, which gives me an idea of how much the rides will cost.

This helps me choose whether to spend more money and stay closer to the action, or save a ton by staying somewhere a little further out and taking Ubers. 

Here are my best tips & things to do when you check into your hotel. 

Check Your Hot Water 

I like to make sure I have hot water and that the shower works properly as soon as I get to my room.

This way if I happen to take a late night or early morning shower and something doesn’t work, I’m not going down to the front desk at odd hours (especially if I’m on a schedule).

Luggage Storage

If you have a late flight and need to check out of your hotel by a certain time, hotels will hold your bags for you.

This also works the opposite way – if you arrive early but can’t check in. Saves you from hauling your luggage around all day.

Sink Stopper

Pack a universal sink stopper so you can wash your clothes in the sink or fill it full of ice to keep your drinks cold.

I do this in places like Las Vegas that never have mini-fridges in hotel rooms.

Read more of my essential items to pack for a hotel stay to help me feel comfortable and get a good night’s sleep.

You can save hundreds of dollars on flights just by setting cheap flight alerts with Faredrop .

It sends me notifications when flights drop in price from my home airport so it creates a lot more opportunity for budget travel! 

My favorite part is the flight deals on business class flights, like this recent deal for lie-flat business class fares from Calgary to Hawaii for $618, $1200 lower than the average price of $1900. 

Google Flights

If you have some flexibility with travel dates, the Google Flights ‘Explore’ feature shows you the cheapest airfare around the world.

If you’re eyeing up a destination, you can also set free price alerts to be notified when the price changes.

It’s also a great tool to show you the cheapest dates to travel as well as whether or not prices are currently, high, normal or low based on the flights you’re looking to book. 

Flight Connections

This website shows all non-stop flights from every airport to help you plan a long-haul trip. 

Flight Aware

FlightAware provides accurate, real-time flight tracking information.

It will typically show if your flight is canceled/delayed BEFORE your airline sends you a notification.

You can also track where your plane departs from to anticipate delays ahead of time.

Roame.Travel

Roame simplifies credit card rewards – helps you find the best redemptions for your credit card points and airline miles.

Just input your origin and destination airports and your date of travel, and the search engine will show you how many points it will cost to fly via different loyalty programs.

In the example above, it shows that you can fly first class from Las Vegas to New York City for $5.60 and 41,500 points.

Finding Cheap Business Class Flights Without Credit Card Points

While it’s very possible to fly business class solely on credit card points, not everyone wants to accumulate credit card debt or has the necessary credit score to apply for a premium credit card.

And depending on your home country, you might have limited options.

As a Canadian, I don’t get access to nearly as many travel rewards programs and credit cards as my American friends.

So, I wrote a guide on how to score cheap business class airfares like a pro, without having to churn credit card points by comparing the best flight deal tools, apps, websites and services.

If you’re parking at the airport…

Take a photo of which section you parked your car in to easily remember where your car is after your vacation. After a long flight, you’ll be tired and just want to get home.

Security Screening Tetris Tip #1

Put your possessions through the scanner in the order you need them to come out so they can easily be re-packed.

For example, send your backpack through first, so that as your items come out you can just place them right into your bag. 

Security Screening Tetris Tip #1.5

If you have a laptop or a valuable electronic, place it in the middle or second bin.

For example, I sandwich my valuables in between my personal item (first tray), and my carry-on luggage (third tray).

This keeps your valuable stuff safe from getting mixed up with other items, but it also makes it simpler when you need to pack everything back u

Luggage Cupholders are a lifesaver

If you aren’t an octopus and only have two arms, get yourself one of these luggage cupholders .

You just slip it over the handle of your suitcase and you can travel through the airport with ease when you’ve got a cup of coffee, water bottle, snacks, baby supplies, your phone, and anything else you need quick access to – now you’re hands free and not fumbling around.

Beware of Juice Hacking

DO NOT use one of the USB charging outlets at the airport.

Use a power bank to charge your phone instead.

Hackers are now using the public charging-USB ports at airports to infect your phone with malware and then steal your personal information.

The solution?

Use a power bank instead (handy to have when traveling anyway) or a charging-only data blocker cord .

Foot Hammock 

Nothing worse than a long flight where you can’t elevate your feet.

I always pack my trusty foot hammock which attaches to the seat in front of you for an instant foot rest. 

Just make sure you’re mindful of the person in the seat in front of you and avoid swinging your feet or moving them around too much.

Or Bring a Deflated Beach Ball

It packs flat and once you’re in the air, blow it up and now you have a foot rest.

Choose a larger size and only partially inflate it so that it’s a bit flat for more stability.

OR Use a small, folding step stool

As another way to prop your feet up on long plane rides – it feels like you’re in first class (and no risk of bothering the person in front of you).

Try this stool which folds up flat & is lightweight. Easily fits in your carry-on or backpack. 

For long-haul flights, bring a spare pair of dry socks to wear once you’re settled in on your flight. Makes a world of a difference for feeling fresh. 

Brushing your teeth…

is the quickest way to feel human again after a long flight.

Bring your own tea bags for the plane

Cabin air is dry and dehydrating, so bringing your own herbal tea helps so much.

You can usually get a cup of hot water for free (although I won’t be surprised if and when they start charging for that), but then you can have a nice soothing cup of mint or eucalyptus tea.

Emergency Row Exit Tip #1

Are you someone who likes to board the plane first ?

Purchase an emergency exit row seat – not only do you get more leg room, but guests in these seats get priority boarding so you can be first on the plane.

Emergency Row Exit Tip #2

If you’re on a plane with two rows of exit seats, the first row of emergency exit row seats don’t recline because they could obstruct the row behind them.

So if you plan on reclining your seat a bit, go for the second row.

Middle Seat Hack

Try the middle seat hack. If you’re traveling with a partner, try booking an aisle seat and a window seat.

There’s a big chance no one will book the middle seat and you’ll get the whole row to yourselves. 

Overhead Bin Tip

Put your carry on in the bin or rack across from your seat.

It’s much easier to grab at the end of the trip or to keep an eye on if you are nervous.

Here’s a list of my favorite travel apps that are a complete game changer.

Google Maps Offline

Make sure to download your map area to use offline, then you’ll never need WiFi or cell service to access where you are.

Make sure you’ve saved things like your hotel or Airbnb, restaurants and attractions so you can get directions any time. 

Another great use for Google Maps is when you’re on a bus in a foreign country where you’re not familiar with the language or if it’s loud and you can’t always understand the next stop announcement.

You can use maps to put in your destination and follow the route on your phone, so you know when to get off.

I also follow along when I’m in a taxi , so you can make sure you’re going in the right direction. 

Google Translate

Download the language of the country you’re visiting for offline use on Google translate. Just in case you need it and don’t have a connection.

My favorite features are the conversation mode for real-time interpretation and translating text – just point your camera at a sign or a menu and your translated text is displayed overtop.

An audio tour guide app with perfectly timed stories, tips & directions that matches your location.

A must-have if you’re on a scenic road trip, or traveling through national parks.

Faredrop is one of the best flight deals apps on the market. Get notified when flights drop in price from your home airport. 

Thatch 

Browse unique travel guides, itineraries and maps curated by travel experts around the world. 

TripIt keeps all your reservations and bookings in one spot.

Keep track of your flights, hotels, car rentals, confirmation numbers, and other details – all in one place – so you don’t have to search through multiple emails or apps to find what you need. 

PackPoint you organize what you need to pack in your luggage and suitcase based on length of travel, weather at your destination, and any activities planned during your trip.

Timeshifter

The jet lag app that creates a personalized plan to minimize jet lag using the latest sleep and circadian neuroscience.

These are user generated maps to help  you navigate cities like a local – indicating things you should know about certain neighborhoods.

I find it’s useful when I’m traveling somewhere that I have very little knowledge about, and want to know about safety, where the super touristy spots are, or low key spots where locals hang out.

Even if you don’t plan to use Uber, it will give you an idea about how much a typical fare costs for your route.

For example, when I’m traveling in a country where I feel more comfortable using a taxi, I check a few Uber prices before negotiating with the taxi driver about how much the fare will be.

Numbeo is the world’s largest cost of living database.

Use it to help determine how much things cost in any city such as housing, restaurants, transportation, etc.

Use Cashback Programs 

Cashback programs work like a digital rebate where once you make a purchase, you get a percentage of your money back.

Popular cashback sites for travel bookings include WayAway, Rakuten and CapitalOne Shopping. 

Read more details about How to Get Cashback on Flights (+ other travel saving tips)

Sign Up for Flight Alerts

Want to find flight deals with minimum effort?. Instead of searching the internet for flight deals, have someone else find deals for you.

One of the most popular flight alert programs is FareDrop , which regularly sends out deals like this one:

• $516 round trip flights from San Francisco to Tahiti, French Polynesia.

Utilize Positioning Flights

A positioning flight is a separate, cheaper flight taken to reach your main destination, typically from a nearby airport.

Taking one of these flights allows you to access more affordable airfares from larger airports (and maybe snag those flight deals on business class fares from FareDrop ). 

Rick Steves’ Books 

Are a wealth of information, especially for European travel.

He’s got tons of advice on saving money when it comes to booking hotels, free self-guided tours & avoiding overpriced tourist traps.

View his travel guide book collection here

Stay in One Place Longer

Traveling in between locations eats up your budget (the more you move the more you spend). 

Often it’s much cheaper to stay in a central point and focus more on day trips. 

Swiss Half Fare Card 

If you’re planning a trip to Switzerland, you can use the half fare card for all public transportation (trains, trams, buses, etc.) in Switzerland and can also be used for some attractions.

The card does exactly what the name implies, so if you’re doing a lot of train travel you can save a decent amount of money.

Saving on Car Rentals

If you’re renting a car – check to see if there’s a rental agency that’s a short cab or Uber ride from the airport. These places are usually significantly cheaper and have shorter wait times.

Open a Wise Account

If you haven’t yet, open up a Wise account .

The Wise card is a prepaid debit card attached to your Wise multi-currency account – you can load up multiple currencies and pay local like a local when you’re abroad. 

Save money on international travel by changing your money into a different currency without paying a lot of extra fees and getting better exchange rates.

Learn more about Wise here . 

Embrace Shoulder Season

To save money and travel at an affordable price, find out the off season of your planned destination and travel then. You also get the added bonus of fewer crowds. 

Become a House Sitter

Save money on accommodation by house-sitting and pet-sitting for locals while they’re away on vacation.

Trusted Housesitters is one of the best platforms to start house sitting. 

Stay Somewhere With Kitchen Amenities

Even if you book a hotel room or an Airbnb with a small kitchen that’s a little more expensive, you can save a ton of money by cooking your own meals.

Often when we travel, we make our own breakfast and lunch, and only go out for dinner. 

Go Where the Locals Eat

If you’re visiting a popular tourist city, do a little research beforehand to find out where the locals eat.

These restaurants will be a little outside of the main tourist spots, but 9 times out of 10, the food quality is much better and prices are a lot lower. 

Multi-attraction passes can save you tons

If you know you’re going to be hitting several main tourist attractions in the city you’re visiting, it can be worthwhile to purchase discounted access passes to multiple attractions.

GoCity is one of the best and is currently available in over 30 cities around the world. You often save up to 50% vs buying individual attraction tickets.

Do you get anxious or a little nervous leaving for a trip? Here are a few tips that help me feel better about being away from home: 

Get a Wyze Camera

Get an inexpensive camera that you can install either inside or on the exterior of your home.

You can check up on your place from wherever you are in the world for peace of mind. 

Do a weird dance…

when you lock the door so you’ll never forget that you locked it!

For real, do a shake, throw your hands up, whatever you have to do.

(works for other things too, like turning off the stove, etc.)

Confirm With Your Hotel

Email the hotel in advance of travel just indicating you’re double-checking your reservations.

If there are any issues when you arrive, you now have someone you’ve corresponded with at the hotel.

Once you’ve arrived at your destination and you’re officially starting your trip, here are my top pieces of advice to help you enjoy and navigate things smoothly. 

Foreign Currency 

The best way to get foreign currency (cash) is by withdrawing from an ATM on arrival (just avoid the ones at the airport). There will still be a fee, but it’s usually much better than the banks back home or currency exchange offices.

You can also use your Wise debit card for this, or if you’re from the United States, you can sign up for a Charles Schwab account, which gives you a rebate on foreign ATM fees at the end of each month.

Walking Tours & Food Walking Tours are Your Friend

As one of my favorite travel tips, I always recommend joining a free walking tour or food walking tour. 

Make sure to do it early on in your trip.

These are the best ways to get acquainted with the city.

Having a local guide take you to some local food joints is a great way to not only become familiar with the local cuisine, but can help you step out of your comfort zone.

Food vs. Views

When choosing a restaurant, remember that if the view is great, the food doesn’t have to be. 

Finding a Bathroom

If you need a bathroom, find a hotel, and walk in confidently like you’re a guest.

Bathrooms are usually located on the main floor somewhere near the elevators, at the beginning of a hallway or beside meeting rooms. 

Early Arrivals

If you have an early flight where you’re arriving in a city in the morning, take one of the hop on hop off city tours.

They start early and are a great way to spend a couple hours getting a lay of the land and familiar with the main parts of the city. 

Always try the local food! 

It’s often the best and the cheapest. Not sure where to go?

Look for places that have lineups – that also means food will be fresh.

Take Photos of Landmarks

When traveling in unfamiliar places or a busy city that you’ve never been to, use your phone to take pictures of landmarks that stand out.

That way if you want to get back to a certain place you have a picture on your phone to match with your map pin.

This is helpful when you’re getting an Uber or a taxi to drop you off in a certain pickup area – or if you parked your car somewhere.

Works great if you’re traveling around a downtown area and you want to meet back at a certain spot.

Ask for a Sunroof

If you’re renting a car and taking a scenic road trip, try to get a car with a sunroof – you’ll be able to see so much more of the scenery. 

Learn Basic Phrases in the Local Language

Before your trip, try to learn a few key words and phrases in the local language and practice them at home.

Look up basic greetings, please and thank you, and how to ask where the bathroom is located. 

Learn the local tipping customs to show appreciation without inadvertently causing offense.

More Helpful Travel Tips:

My biggest list of Mexico travel tips (that saved me so many times)

How to book a perfect Airbnb/vacation rental every time

How to plan a trip from start to finish (the easy & organized method)

How to Find Cheap Business Class Flights Without Credit Card Points

17 Borderline Genius Moving Hacks That Will Actually Make Your Move Easier

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We tested the most recommended moving hacks and are telling you the ones that are actually worth using during your next move.

Let's be real, we can all agree that moving is not fun. However, these moving hacks will make your life way easier.

Before I moved, I researched all of the most recommended moving hacks. I decided to test them all out as I moved into my new apartment last weekend.

I'm going to be honest, most of them were really stupid. Like really, really stupid. 

So today, I am going to be showing you the moving hacks that were actually helpful and made the move into my apartment wayyy easier.

This post is all about the best moving hacks.

Best moving hacks:.

Below are all the moving hacks that I used and felt like they really worked. I highly recommend you try them out for your next move!

1. Use The Hanger + Trash Bag Trick

This made moving my clothing SO MUCH EASIER. Highly, highly recommend doing this hack!

Not only does this moving hack ensure that your clothes do not get dirty in the moving process, but it also allows you to take them right out of your old closet and directly into your new one. This takes away the time of putting clothes back onto hangers which, believe me, takes a TON of time.

Here's how I made this moving hack work the best:

• While clothes are still hanging, rubberband about 15 hangers together (15 hangers and clothing was the maximum number the trashbags could handle for me). It makes it SO much easier when you rubberband the hangers together.
• Take a trash bag and put a hole in the very middle of the bottom (so opposite side of where the ties are).
• Stick your hand through that hole and put it over the hangers.
• Tie the trashcan at the bottom making sure that all clothes are tucked. That way they won't drag on t he ground and get dirty.

I would also highly recommend watching my Youtube video on moving hacks above because I show exactly how I did it.

By doing it that way, it makes it SO much easier and causes less of the trash bags to rip and clothes to get potentially dirty. 

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2. Have An "Open First" Box

Having an "Open First" box allows you to have everything important that you need for that first night in one easy accessible place.

In my case, I actually used my laundry hamper but another great idea is using a trash can which doubles its use. 

Make sure that you take the "Open First" box with you in your car to ensure it doesn't get lost in the moving process.

Here's what I had in my "Open First" box:

• Toilet Paper
• Paper Towels
• Toothbrush + Toothpaste
• Shampoo + Conditioner + Towels
• Outfit for the next day

3. Before You Move, Purge Everything

Before you move into your new home/apartment, go through every room and closet making sure to get rid of anything you don't want or use anymore.

This allows you to move into your new home with close to zero clutter that you will never end up touching.

I did this and ended up donating six (yes SIX!) big trash bags to Goodwill of clothing. So basically, my old wardrobe is making up my local Goodwill right now haha.

4. Use Clothes/Towels To Wrap Breakable Items

Instead of buying expensive packing paper, use items you already have to protect breakable items during the moving process.

I ended up wrapping all of my bowls, candles, and other fragile items with my new towels I had purchased for my apartment. I was going to pack the towels anyways so it was a win-win situation.

Want to see my Amazon First Apartment Essentials? Click here!

5. Make Your Bed First Thing After Moving In

This is something that I was taught years ago and have done ever since. 

One of the first things you should plan on unpacking in your home is getting your bed setup and your sheets on it. This instantly makes it feel like you are home!

I also found that we were up until 3:00 am unpacking the night we moved in and the last thing I would have wanted to do at that time would have been to find my bedding and make my bed.

6. Label The SIDE Of Your Boxes, Not The Top

THIS IS A HUGE MOVING HACK! And something that I totally forgot to do and instantly regretted.

You have to label the sides of your boxes so that when you set them on top of each other you can still see what is in the box.

Because I labeled the top of the box, when they were all stacked I no longer remembered what was in every box and it made it super annoying to find what I needed.

7. Get Smaller Boxes

Another huge moving hack!! I got large moving boxes and they were too big. 

Like so big that at least two people had to carry them. When things get put in them it gets way heavier and makes it so much more awkward to carry up and down the stairs.

8. Get Free Boxes From Uhaul

Uhaul has an amazing program in place where they allow customers to recycle their moving boxes and let other customers use them. This means that almost always, Uhaul has free boxes that you can use!

And let me tell you, boxes are expensive! I purchased all new boxes and am going to save them in my garage until my next move because of how expensive they were.

9. Send Amazon Packages Straight To Your New Apartment/Home

*this hack may be dependent on if you're moving to a house or an apartment*

Instead of ordering things to your old home and having to find a place to pack them for your new home, start shipping the products directly to your new home before your move. 

This is what I did and when I moved in I had a ton of Amazon boxes waiting there for me. If you're worried about this, call the front desk of your apartment building!

ALSO! If you have Amazon Prime, the week before you move put a grocery list together on Amazon Fresh. The night before you move in schedule the groceries to be delivered to your new home. 

That way you don't have to worry about getting groceries but will still have fresh food when you move in!

10. Get A Free 7-day Trial To Amazon Prime For Your Groceries

If you don't have Amazon Prime, they offer a 7-day free trial that you can use the week you move to your new apartment. 

Click here to get your FREE 7-day Amazon trial.

11. Use Index Cards And Packing Tape To Label Boxes

When labeling boxes, use index cards and packing tape so that you can remove them and reuse your boxes.

If you label directly on the box, the next time you move you will have to cross it off and relabel which will make the box look super messy and confusing.

This also helps if you are packing a bunch of miscellaneous items. On the index card you can write down everything that is in there so you won't forget.

12. Take Out Entire Dresser Drawers

If you're moving shorter distances, I recommend taking out entire drawers from your dresser.

That way all your clothes remains in there and you can simply slide it back in. Easy-peasy.

13. Pack Socks Into Your Boots And Shoes

Socks in general are an awkward thing to pack because they usually end up going everywhere. A way to use them organized and in one place is by actually sticking them in your shoes and boots.

14. Use Suitcases To Pack

I had two hard suitcases that I filled to the brim with things.

You are already going to have to take your suitcases to your new place so you may as well pack them with stuff to save more room.

15. Pack Cleaning Supplies In Its Own Box

Pack cleaning supplies in its own box especially if you are moving out of an apartment.

One of the last things you do when you leave an apartment is some cleaning and everything can get super unorganized and complicated if you have cleaning supplies mixed in with a lot of other products.

16. Use Sticky Notes On Boxes And Walls To Easily Know Where Things Belong

Put the same color sticky note on coordinating boxes and rooms. For example, I would put a blue sticky note on my bedroom door and then any box that is supposed to go into my bedroom also had a blue sticky note on it.

This makes it so much easier to know where things go and will definitely be appreciated by your friends and family who are helping you move. Movers too!

17. Tape Screws And Bolts On The Back Of The Furniture Piece

If you are taking apart furniture, it is essential that you don't lose any pieces for it. 

An easy way to make sure you never lose them is by putting the pieces in a Ziploc bag and duct-taping them to the back of the furniture.

I have done this with my bed for every move and so wish I had a picture of it! But it has always made moving soo much more organized.

This post was all about the best moving hacks.

Moving into your first apartment, read these posts.

• First Apartment Essentials
• Apartment Organization Tips 
• Apartment Cleaning Tips
• Apartment Decor
• All Posts on Apartments

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99 Travel Hacks To Make Your Next Trip A Little Easier

I’ve never cared about brand-name purses or clothing, much less cars or makeup. Instead, I spend whatever leftover money I can on travel. Traveling has exceptional “memory dividends” long after the money’s gone and is the best way to experience all the world has to offer (at least, in my humble opinion).

I’ve now been to 30+ countries and hundreds of cities—from rural northern Thailand to Moorea in French Polynesia to most of the United States—so I’ve picked up quite a few hacks here and there to make traveling the best experience it can be. Below, I’m sharing 99 of my best tips so you can spend less time planning and questioning and more time experiencing and enjoying. Got more? Share them in the comments; we don’t gate-keep here!

Wherever you’re heading—whether by plane, train, or bus—safe travels and happy exploring! 🌍

1. To save time, only pack a carry-on ; no more waiting at baggage claim! 

2. If you decide to check a bag in, throw an Airtag into your suitcase, so you can always track where it is and ensure it’s reached your destination.

3. For the best possible travel deals, be flexible on your destination and dates. I’ve scored deals to multiple European cities for under $200 by leveraging that flexibility.

4. Perhaps the most important tip of all: Always buy travel insurance . Always.

5. Allocate all your spending on a credit card that racks up points which can later be redeemed for travel—my preferred option is Chase Sapphire Reserve or the AmEx Gold.

6. Sign up for credit card bonuses that offer up to 150,000 points once you hit a minimum spending bonus—I like to check Nerdwallet’s top credit card offers (updated monthly) to see the best bonuses.

7. Search for flights leaving at off-peak times (for example, mid-week, red eyes, or with a layover) if you’re trying to save money.

Prioritize early morning flights; they’re the least likely to be delayed or canceled.

8. If convenience is more important than money, prioritize early morning flights; they’re the least likely to be delayed or canceled.

9. Use Google Incognito or a VPN to search for flights. Searching on the same browser and internet connection tells the airline that you’re looking to book and allows them to hike the price up. 

10. Once you find a flight you like—if you’re not ready to book—set up an alert to be notified if the price changes. If it drops, great! If not, you’ll know to book soon or keep an eye on it in case it comes back down.

11. Not sure when to go? Check out apps like Skyscanner or Hopper to find the best prices and times of year to head to your destination.

12. Sign up for loyalty programs with every airline you can; you never know when you’ll need to use them, and you can rack up miles for later use.

13. If you’re used to one specific airline, see if they have an airline-specific credit card for additional bonuses and perks. For example, United Airlines has major hubs in both our hometowns and our current cities so we have the United MileagePlus cards, which offer early boarding, free baggage, and 60,000 points each.

14. Keep an eye out for points sales , like Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals, 30% off transfer premiums, and more. (This is always a good option to keep in mind if you just need a few more points for a mostly-free flight!)

15. Look into mistake fares (deeply discounted fares mistakenly shared by an airline). They can sometimes be canceled or refunded, but many times, airlines will honor them anyway. One time, I was able to travel to Milan, Prague, and Amsterdam for $197 one-way from New York.

16. Subscribe to real-time alerts from The Points Guy , The Flight Deal on Twitter, and more.

17. If you have a few bucks to spare, sign up for flight deals from Going (previously known as Scott’s Cheap Flights). You’ll share your departure airports of choice, and you’ll receive deals right in your inbox.

18. Sign up for TSA PreCheck, CLEAR, or Global Entry to expedite the security process.

19. Once you’re past security but before you get to the gate, check out the Priority Pass, which will give you access to hundreds of lounges around the world. Both Chase and AmEx offer cards with Priority Pass access, and once you get to a lounge, you can stock up on free food, drinks, WiFi, and more.

20. Heading abroad? Use a third-party encrypted program like WhatsApp, Viber, or Signal for international texts and calls—you can avoid extra data and call charges!

Alert your credit and debit card companies about your travel so you don’t get flagged for fraud.

21. If you need access to international calls, buy a SIM card locally—you can usually find kiosks in the airport after arrival, or sometimes your carrier will offer a global SIM card for temporary use.

22. Alert your credit and debit card companies about your travel so you don’t get flagged for fraud.

23. Get a no-fee ATM for international destinations; my favorite is the Charles Schwab.

24. Only ask for ATM withdrawals in the local currency, not your native one.

25. Same for credit card charges; if you’re in Italy, pay with your card in Euros, not USD (for example). Then you’ll avoid fees and often score better conversation rates.

26. Download the airline app before you fly for easy access to your boarding pass, checking in, and seat or meal selection.

27. While you’re at it, you can check out the seat map on most flights to see what’s open and change seats accordingly.

28. You may even find an open seat in First or Business Class—consider politely asking for an upgrade. You never know if they’ll say yes!

29. If your travel plans are flexible, volunteer for a later flight when they’re offering compensation to offset the cost of the airfare.

30. If you decide to volunteer, try and wait to see if they’ll increase the compensation before you agree. Sometimes, you can get thousands of dollars in flight vouchers if you hold out long enough.

31. Buffer in extra time for delays—always.

32. Have a connecting flight? Aim for at least a 90-minute layover in between to avoid missing your flight in case of delays, security issues, etc.

33. Travel during shoulder season (i.e., not quite peak time yet). For example, if June-August is the best time of year to visit Greece, consider going in May or September for lower prices but still preferable conditions.

34. Don’t cut costs over convenience either, though—if you know you suffer from insomnia and back pain, taking a red eye in economy to save $100 may not be worthwhile. Similarly, don’t go for the cheapest hotel without thorough vetting; you don’t want to be stuck three miles from the beach without a bike because you didn’t know how far it was!

35. Check out alternative modes of transport besides the typical plane or car: Trains, bikes, public transportation, buses…the list goes on. These are often cheaper, better for the environment, and more accessible.

Create a default packing list for yourself that you can copy and tailor for each trip.

36. Create a default packing list for yourself that you can copy and tailor for each trip. This way, you’ll know you’ve included all the necessities most important to you, like specific medications, chargers, and toiletries.

37. Wear layers while in transit—it’s easier to pack your luggage, and you can stay warm (or cool) as needed.

38. If you suffer from swollen ankles or potential blood clots when sitting in one place for hours, get a pair of compression socks. There’s a reason many travel pros swear by them!

39. Another must? A reusable water bottle. Perfect for refilling inside the airport after security, carrying with you on tours, and having in case of emergency.

40. Heading to a place without clean, potable water? Don’t forget to bring a water filter or purifier for when you’re on the go.

41. Easily organize your suitcase (and save space!) with packing cubes .

42. If you’re really in need of space, consider vacuum bags to compress all your clothes.

43. If you know you’ll want to shop or bring back many souvenirs, get a secondhand suitcase at your local thrift store for cheap and fill ‘er up.

44. Don’t bring too many valuables. Many women travel pros will wear fake wedding rings to avoid burglaries or attacks.

45. Always tell someone at home what your itinerary is and where you’ll be. Even better if you can tell someone you trust locally in case of an emergency. #safety

46. Turn on location services and sharing, too, for good measure.

Print out extra copies of your passports and travel docs; keep digital copies in your email as well.

47. Print out extra copies of your passports and travel docs; keep digital copies in your email as well. Losing your passport is all too easy! 48. Need to drive worldwide? Don’t forget to pick up an International Driver’s Permit , which are readily available at most AAA locations.

49. Want to save money or avoid excess noise? Stay slightly away from downtown city centers and tourist spots—usually going even two or three blocks away can make all the difference.

50. Another way to cut costs is to consider house-sitting or couch surfing, depending on your level of comfort. 

51. Hostels are another great budget-friendly accommodation option; it’s also a wonderful place to meet like-minded people and organize local tours.

52. Weigh the cost of laundry versus the cost of a checked bag. Sometimes packing light and doing laundry will be far cheaper than paying for an extra suitcase.

53. Pack a capsule wardrobe for easy mix ‘n matching for your daily #lewks.

54. Think about items you may need at a destination that you’ll end up paying a premium for later and see if you can get them beforehand. For example, sunblock at a tropical destination will be far more expensive than getting it in the off-season in the Midwest.

55. Pack an essentials kit in case you need certain toiletries or accessories while in transit—for example, a small bag with spare underwear, ear plugs, eye mask, tampons, and charging wires.

56. Carry a purse or travel bag that you can keep close on your body, closed with zippers rather than buttons or flaps. This will help stop pickpockets!

57. Pack extra snacks. Just trust me on this one! You never know when you may need sustenance and can’t find anything worthwhile.

If you can, take the day off after you get home so you can ease back into everyday life.

58. If you can, take the day off after you get home so you can ease back into everyday life. Then you can finish up any chores or errands like laundry, grocery shopping, and more without worrying about rushing back into the office.

59. In your carry-on backpack or purse, keep an extra set of clothes, a toothbrush, and undies in case your luggage gets lost. (Which is another reason why you always want travel insurance!)

60. If you’re not using data and/or are heading to a remote area, download offline versions of Google Maps and take screenshots of any information you need.

61. If you’re heading to a foreign country and the local language isn’t one you speak, download the Google Translate app. You can then converse with locals, take photos of written text to translate, and more. (This was an invaluable tool when I was stranded in northern Thailand during a downpour once!)

62. Download media a day or two before you leave, so you can access it while traveling—think audiobooks, ebooks, Netflix, etc.

63. Get the best portable charger you can afford if you know you’ll be relying on your phone throughout the trip. You’ll never regret it.

64. Pack a universal adapter so you can use your electronic devices around the globe.

Pack a universal adapter so you can use your electronic devices around the globe.

65. Don’t forget a converter too, if your electronics’ voltage doesn’t match up to the outlets abroad.

66. Getting a rental? Book the reservation on a credit card like Chase or AmEx, which offers auto insurance and collision insurance for rentals.

67. If that’s not an option, it’s well worth getting auto insurance from the rental company. 

68. Take photos of everything important: The condition of your rental when you pick it up/drop it off, receipts if you’re going to be reimbursed or splitting costs, WiFi passwords, and so on.

69. Make sure you’re up-to-date on your vaccinations and shots , which vary by country. (And don’t wait until the last minute to book your appointment!)

70. Read. The. Reviews. Make sure you look for any bots or planted reviews, and keep an eye out for any red flags, whether you’re searching for accommodations, a tour, or restaurants.

71. Similarly, seek out vetted tour groups if you’re traveling alone. A few of my favorites for women include El Camino Travel , Stellavision Travel , and G Adventures .

72. Sometimes DIYing a trip can be helpful, but other times, a good travel agent is the most valuable. They’ll get access to exclusive discounts, tours, or accommodations that you couldn’t leverage otherwise.

73. If you’re considering traveling with a friend or partner, ensure your travel priorities are aligned before leaving. Nothing will be more frustrating than having a companion sleep in when you’re a morning person or dealing with a racket first thing in the morning if you’re a night owl.

74. In the same vein, learn many of your destinations’ cultural nuances and customs—it’s important to be considerate and mindful of the communities you’re visiting.

75. Heading to a faraway destination? Try pairing nearby cities together on this trip so you knock out two at once.

76. Stay hydrated, especially when traveling. We’re already adjusting to new environments, time zones, etc., and hydration is key for our bodies to adapt.

Get sunlight as early as possible when you’re in a new time zone to help reset your circadian rhythm. 

77. Get sunlight as early as possible when you’re in a new time zone to help reset your circadian rhythm. 

78. Napping to adjust a timezone is okay, but try staying awake the whole day and sleeping at night to beat jet lag once and for all.

79. Chew gum while taking off or landing if your ears pop while in flight.

80. Invest in a quality skin mask or moisturizer, lip balm, and lotion during and post-flight when our skin is driest.

81. Luggage scales can be clutch—if your baggage is overweight and you can’t rid yourself of any items, you’ll be on the hook for hefty excess fees.

82. Traveling with kiddos? Bring a “busy bag” to keep them entertained throughout the day, stocked with coloring books, toys, a tablet, snacks, and whatever else your little one prefers.

83. If you’re dealing with long-haul travel, you’ll want a quality neck pillow—this is mine and I’m obsessed.

84. If you can , opt for a backpack over a suitcase or duffel. There’s a good chance transportation carriers won’t bother to weigh your backpack!

Whatever you’re budgeting for your trip, add another 10-20% in case of emergency.

85. Whenever you get samples like shampoo, moisturizers, or sunscreen, throw them in your travel toiletry bag. That way, you don’t need to bring the bulk items or worry about the liquid limit.

86. Throw a lavender satchel or a dryer sheet in your bag to keep things smelling…fresh. 🙂

87. Pack at least two extra large plastic or ziplock bags for shoes, dirty clothes, etc.

88. Opt for a bright-colored suitcase so it’s easy to spot at baggage claim or while in transit.

89. If you’re flying with another person and can book your seats in advance, one of you can take the window and the other can take the aisle. That way, the middle seat will likely be left open for you both to enjoy.

90. Always keep a spare pen on you, especially if you know you’ll have to fill out customs forms or write down directions.

91. Take a picture of your car or write down where it is in your notes app so you don’t forget where you’ve parked, whether at an airport parking lot or a new hotel.

92. Bring extra wipes or a sanitizer spray for when there’s no washroom or when things need some tidying…like your tray table.

93. Whatever you’re budgeting for your trip, add another 10-20% in case of emergency.

94. Check out local walking tours in big cities; they’re often free or pay-what-you-can and are a great way to see the most important sights and get acquainted.

95. Some businesses offer deals if you book with a partner company—for example, United MileagePlus members earn savings if you book a car rental through Avis or Budget.

Travel is one of the most valuable experiences there is in life. Enjoy every moment, be mindful and respectful, and explore as much as you can.

96. Don’t forget to check if you’ll need a visa for specific countries! Or, prioritize countries where you won’t need one for ease of access and to save money.

97. Eat street food (as long as it’s cooked in front of you and looks safe!). It’s often one of the best ways to enjoy a local culture.

98. Make lunch your biggest meal—it’s usually cheaper than dinner while being just as filling.

99. Most importantly, remember: Travel is one of the most valuable experiences there is in life. Enjoy every moment, be mindful and respectful, and explore as much as you can.

Henah Velez (she/her) is a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade as well as the Executive Producer and Operations Lead of  Money with Katie  at Morning Brew, a personal finance brand for women. She’s also the co-founder of  Departure , a quiet travel newsletter for women. Say hi on  Instagram !

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Latest stories, 30 travel secrets pros use to save time and money, because getting to your destination shouldn't be so stressful..

Do you know the secret trick for skipping long taxi lines at airports? What about the ultimate frequent flyers' tactic for shaving precious time off the security wait? And do you know the best way to double the space in your suitcase without forking out money on a second bag? If not, don’t sweat it—we’ve got your back! Because what follow are 30 genius, expert-backed travel hacks that are guaranteed to help you plan your trips like a pro, save money on all of your bookings, and guide you through just about every obstacle you'll face in the high-stress world of summer travel .

1 | Set up a price alert months in advance.

It feels too soon to make plans for Independence Day. Okay, so when is the best (i.e. cheapest ) time to book a flight? Sign up for a travel app like Hopper and let them alert you when the price is right. The truth is that there's no "right" time to buy your flight. Not six months out. Not four months out. Not two weeks ago. Experienced travelers set an alert for great deals and let those deals come to them.

2 | Use the 24-hour rule.

If you want an impromptu trip, go ahead and book your flight with the best rate you can find. But get this: if you find a better price within 24 hours, you can cancel your reservation and get a full refund without any "booking fees." It's a federal rule . And some airlines, like American , will even let you cancel if you've booked just two days in advance of your flight.

But, as always, be sure to read the fine print. If you book with a third party ticketing service, there are likely exceptions. If you book directly with an airline, like United, the 24-hour policy is usually guaranteed.

3 | Score the seat you want.

Nothing ruins a flight like being stuck in a middle seat, or being too close (or far) from the bathroom. Use a seating app like Seat Guru to guarantee the perfect seat placement. If you're traveling with a partner and want some extra leg room (without paying for first class), book the aisle and window seats . Even single riders want to avoid the middle if they can help it, and if your row is their only option, they'll happily trade so you can sit together.

4 | Book your flight in Incognito.

Never check for fares without first going into Incognito mode. (Here's a step-by-step guide to going private in Google Chrome.) Airline websites store your cookies, which gives them too much intel on your travel plans. If they know when you want to fly , they can automatically raise their rates accordingly. Don't give them that power.

5 | Cut your wait time in half.

The moment you leave your house to the moment you find your seat on the plane can feel like an eternity, but it doesn't have to be. Waze can get you to the airport with the least amount of hassle, giving you the absolute fastest route and detours around traffic jams and accidents. And if you're at one of the 150-plus airports covered by MiFlight , that app can give you travel times for all security gates, and alerts when lines are thinning out. Combine the two to minimize your time spent in-transit.

6 | Pre-order your airport meal.

You've planned ahead for everything else about your trip, why not the airport food? Grab lets you order your meal in advance, so you can pick it up as you're on the way to your gate without having to rely on a day-old tuna salad wrap from the Hudson News fridge. No lines, no wait, no problem.

7 | Write down the airport's Wi-Fi password before you show up.

You only have so much down-time at an airport, don't waste it trying to figure out Wi-Fi passwords. This handy Google page gives you the passwords for 266 different international airports and lounges . Visiting the Frankfurt Airport? The network name is "Frankfurt Airport, Hotspot Telekom" and the password is "Internet." At the Zurich Airport? You need to get an access code from an information desk. At JFK, you can get connected instantly whether you're at the Delta Sky Club, British Airway Lounge, or the Etihad Lounge in terminal 4.

8 | Hang out with the locals.

You already know that the best restaurants and bars in any city are the spots where the locals go. Okay, so how does one find them? You either skim dozens or maybe hundreds of Yelp or Google Maps reviews and hope you're not just getting the opinions of disgruntled tourists. Or you sign up for an app, like Eatwith , and get the skinny on where the locals are really hanging out.

9 | Make sure you're not sleeping on somebody's dirty sheets.

Here's a way to find out if you're getting clean linens without using a dark light ( and being utterly disgusted ): Look for fresh crease lines on your sheets. If you see them, that means the bed was likely changed recently, and the sheets were folded a short time ago. But if you can't find any, you should probably call housekeeping immediately.

10 | Don't leave bathroom breaks to chance.

Taking a road trip rather than flying? Good for you. You'll save money and see more of the country. But there's still a price to pay. When you're hungry, almost out of gas, or just downright desperate, figuring out when and where to pull over can be an exercise in futility—unless your phone is loaded with the right apps. SitOrSquat doesn't just tell you where the nearest bathrooms are, but whether any of them are disgusting . You'll also need the iExit app, which alerts you to every upcoming service stop, not just what's advertised on highway billboards.

11 | Get directions without Wi-Fi.

You can't always depend on access to Wi-Fi when you need it. And when you're in a foreign country, the price of staying connected can be exorbitant. Play it safe and download a Google Map of your destination before you get there— here's an easy explanation of how it works —and pull it up later when you're ready to explore.

12 | Get the right soundtrack for 30,000 feet.

Whether you're petrified by turbulence or just can't fall asleep during a long flight, stay away from mood-calming drugs. A better idea: Put on some calming ambient soundscapes and pick up the Travel Halo , a stabilizing headband that blocks out light and keeps your head balanced and upright. You'll be catching some Z's in no time.

13 | Roll your clothes.

If you're not doing this already, you're wasting a lot of valuable real estate in your suitcase. Always roll and layer , never fold and stack. This will allow you to double your wardrobe for your next cross-country outing. It's a total space saver.

14 | Mark your luggage as fragile.

Call it a little white lie. Tagging your bags as "fragile" even if they aren't will save you a lot of time. Most airlines put fragile bags on top for the flight, so they're the first to be unloaded onto the baggage claim carousel. You'll be hailing a cab while your fellow passengers are still looking for luggage carts.

15 | Add some dryer sheets to your suitcase.

Dryer sheets are the most versatile travel accessory. They can keep your clothes fresh while traveling (just slip a sheet or two into your suitcase), deodorize stinky shoes, and freshen up a hotel pillowcase or bathroom.

16 | Refill travel-size toiletries.

Only those who don't plan ahead travel with full-size bottles of shampoo and shaving cream. But buying miniatures for every trip seems insane. So here's a better way: Just refill your tiny bottles and use them again and again and again. And if you really want to save every dime, just lift the bottles that come with your hotel room .

17 | Give your phone's speaker a boost.

The tiny speakers on a smartphone do a good enough job when you're on the go, but when you're looking to set the scene in your hotel room, you might need a bass line with a little more oomph . For better sound, cut a phone-size slit into the middle of a used toilet paper roll, slip your phone inside and presto: instant speakers.

18 | Pack a sunglasses case for your power cords.

Whether you're going through security or trying to use your laptop on board, power chords can be a major inconvenience. It can feel like you're traveling with a garden hose. But with a sunglasses case (or two, depending on the size of your cables), you can keep everything neat and organized .

19 | Store money in a lip balm tube.

If somebody wants to steal from you, they're going to look for wallets or money clips, something that usually contains cold hard cash. They probably won't touch your lip balm. (Unless they're seriously chapped, of course.)

20 | Pick up an any-temperature shirt.

Although it may be sweltering outside, it's likely to be a teeth-chattering 64 degrees inside the airplane. You'll want a shirt that can handle the whole range in style—something like this polo shirt, from Brooks Brothers . It's made out of Supima cotton , an ultra-rare strain of the fabric that's softer and more breathable than any other cotton on the planet. The result? An extremely comfortable polo that's practically temperature-controlled; it'll cool you off when it's warm and keep you snug when it's chilly.

21 | Scan your passport.

Here's something experienced globetrotters know: If you can scan your most important documents and email them to your phone, they'll be much easier to replace than if you hadn't. And yes, we're talking about your passport, your drivers license, and credit cards, too.

22 | Bring an empty water bottle.

You have two options if you want to bring your own bottled water through security and not pay the ridiculous airport prices. One, you can freeze it. Yes, the TSA lets you keep your liquids "as long as they are frozen solid when presented for screening." If that sounds complicated (and it is), just bring your own reusable water bottle and dump it before entering the security line. You'll have to settle for refilling with a water fountain on the other side, but you may just discover that free water doesn't taste so bad after all.

23 | Pack a first-aid kit.

It's easy to remember things like aspirin for headaches. But what about slightly more pressing emergencies that don't exactly require a visit to the ER? Pack Band-Aids, anti-bacterial cream, stomach antacids, cold meds, and throat lozenges. It's not planning for the worst, it's planning for the small health annoyances that at most require a pharmacy visit (but who has time for that on vacation?).

24 | Use ATMs to get local currency.

If you're traveling to a foreign country and need some cash, skip the airport's currency exchange kiosks. You'll just end up paying a fortune in service fees. You're better off using the ATMs. Check with your bank to make sure it has an international branch. If it does, you can withdraw cash without extra charges.

25 | Hail a cab at the departures gate.

There's only one golden rule for traveling: Whenever possible, avoid the crowds . This applies to everything about your trip. When you arrive at the terminal, don't go to the first bathroom, the one with the longest lines. There's probably a mostly empty one a few yards away. And when you arrive at your destination, don't follow the throngs of tourists towards the taxi corrals right outside Arrivals. Instead, make a beeline to Departures, where you'll find plenty of cabs dropping off customers. Just snag one of those.

26 | Fight jet lag with exercise.

Feeling a little sluggish and foggy after an international flight? What you need is a workout. It's been proven by science. A 2019 study published in the Journal of Physiology found that the best way to get your circadian rhythm back in whack is some rigorous, heart-pounding, sweat-inducing exercise.

27 | Charge your phone on the hotel TV.

Forgetting the plug for your phone charger doesn't have to be the end of the world. Just connect it to the USB input on the back of your hotel room TV and you're good to go. If you forgot the cable, you're still not out of luck. Ask the front desk if they have any loaner chargers. Most have extras that were left by guests and never claimed.

28 | Bring a jacket.

A jacket, especially when it's a scorching summer day, always feels like it's going to be a pain. But forgetting a jacket for air travel is like camping without a sleeping bag. A jacket makes going through security easier (it's a great place to store your phone, wallet, keys, glasses, and other loose items during screening), and it's a perfect makeshift blanket or pillow for the flight. Something like  this effortlessly cool, water-repellent field jacket from Brooks Brothers  should do the trick. Look at all those pockets!

29 | Be polite.

You would be shocked, literally shocked, at how much more you can get—from a flight attendant, a hotel employee , or a waiter—by being the person who's polite and doesn't act like a self-entitled jerk. Seriously, try it sometime. You'll get better seats, nicer treatment, maybe a drink on the house, or a room with a way better view. It's like the world opens up to you.

30 | Plan a post-vacation staycation.

Why does everyone think they're going to fly back from a trip and immediately be refreshed and rejuvenated? It doesn't always work like that. If anything, you're going to come home feeling bleary and exhausted from too many miles in transit. Give yourself a one-day buffer to recover. For more ways to make traveling less of a hassle, check out these 25 Genius Trip-Planning Tips—Straight from Travel Agents .

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18 Moving and Packing Tips for Your Smoothest Move Yet

Packing up your life and moving down the street or across the country doesn’t have to be disastrous. Learn how to pack boxes for moving, and you’ll be relaxing in your new space before you know it.

Lauren is a former editor at Real Simple and currently serves as a senior digital editor for Better Homes & Gardens.

Haley is a Wisconsin-based creative freelancer and recent graduate. She has worked as an editor, fact checker, and copywriter for various digital and print publications. Her most recent position was in academic publishing as a publicity and marketing assistant for the University of Wisconsin Press

Moving Tips, Tricks, and Advice

• Packing Tips

Moving—like getting a tooth pulled or driving a very long distance through uninteresting landscapes—is one of those trials almost everyone must face. It's sometimes unpleasant, it's never exactly fun, but it usually leads to a positive outcome. Of course, particularly with moving, the success of the endeavor really depends on avoiding moving mistakes and planning ahead to make the process as smooth as possible.

Fortunately, and likely because almost everyone does end up moving at some point, there are plenty of tried-and-true moving tips out there to make the whole process easier. Following a moving checklist can help you make sure everything's in order before, during, and after the move; another good moving tip is to commit to having a good attitude about all the change to come.

Some moving tips focus on how to pack a moving truck most effectively, while others offer reminders to cancel various services or arrange for things to be prepared at the new house; still more focus on smaller details, such as how to care for pets during a move or what to do when the movers are late. The most important moving tips, though, may relate to the physical move itself.

A lot can go wrong during a move. With all the details and moving parts, there's no one-size-fits-all guide with moving tips for every single scenario that could come up during the moving process. Different people will have specific needs or concerns—such as how to pack china for moving, safely moving valuable wood furniture or delicate heirlooms—but for most cases, this general list of moving tips and tricks will help. Take a look, and prepare for a smoother, quicker, easier move.

1. Get rid of some stuff

Packing all your possessions into boxes, bags, and more can be overwhelming. Make it a little bit easier on yourself by cutting back on clutter as much as possible. Before you pack a single box, do a merciless purge of unused or unnecessary items. You'll have less to pack, less to move, and less to unpack—and you'll start life in your new space with a clean slate.

2. Make a moving folder

Start collecting new address info, rental or purchase papers, moving contracts, and more in one folder. (Consider a hard copy, rather than a digital one, in case computer or phone batteries die during the move.) If any questions come up during the planning process or the move itself, you'll have the answer (and records of agreements, payments, and more) on hand.

3. Pack as far in advance as possible

Ideally, you'll know about a move (even if you're not sure of the final destination) weeks or even months in advance. Start by packing off-season items and the items you won't miss. If you're moving in summer, you can pack winter coats in advance—and likely books and other once-in-a-while items. When it's finally time to move, many items will already be ready to go, giving you less to stress about.

4. Book early

If you're hiring moving services, renting supplies, or hiring professionals such as painters or cleaners to work on the house, book early. Waiting to do so could mean paying a higher price, or not being able to get a truck or movers at all, particularly if it's peak moving season.

5. Schedule utilities for your new place

Once the dates are finalized, contact your utility providers to schedule service at your new home. You don't want to arrive there, tired from the move, only to find that the electricity, water, or heat is off. Schedule it ahead of time, and keep records of your requests in your moving folder. At the same time, request service stops for your move-out date at your current home.

6. Keep the essentials with you

On the night before the move, tuck everyday essentials—a change of clothes, a toothbrush, must-have stuffed animals or toys for the kids, medications, paperwork, etc.—into a suitcase or bag you'll keep with you in the car, the truck cab, or on the plane. If catastrophe strikes and the moving truck gets lost, at least you'll have some essentials with you.

7. Invest in equipment

A few days before the big move, stock up on supplies. The last thing you want is to have to make a run to the store while you're packing moving boxes or making sure everything is out of the house. Order or purchase box cutters, adhesive bandages, permanent markers, packing tape, paper towels, and garbage bags. (If they aren't all used during the move, they'll still be useful afterward!)

For larger moving equipment, considering renting moving tools from a moving company . (If you hire a moving service, they'll likely have their own.) If you move very frequently, you may be better off purchasing these tools. Either by buying, renting, or borrowing, make sure you have a furniture dolly, furniture pads or covers, and tie-down straps or rope at your disposal during the move.

8. Get a truck with a loading ramp

If you're a DIY mover, you absolutely need a truck with a ramp. It may be cheaper to rent a truck without one, but the hassle (and struggle) of lifting every box and piece of furniture high enough to get it into the truck will add hours—plus sore muscles—to your move.

9. Measure, measure, measure

We can't say this enough! Take measurements! Ahead of time! Because if that sofa isn't going to fit through the doorway, it's better to know before the sofa gets there.

10. Snap lots of pics

No, not of your sweaty face—of your old and new place. If there's a security deposit involved, you're going to want photos to prove how you left things and what things were like when you moved in. And sure, you can use them for reminiscing too, if you'd like!

11. Unpack on a deadline

This will not be a process with instant gratification, but consider giving yourself a timeline. Maybe you can do five boxes a day? Or two rooms in a day? Or all the essentials right away? Decide what's realistic and do your best to stick to it.

12. Deal with all those packing supplies

As you unpack, you're going to find yourself with lots of empty boxes and bubble wrap and paper and whatnot. And all of it will junk up your space while you're trying to set it up. Your local library will likely be interested in taking the boxes off your hands. Or you can take to social media (Facebook Marketplace or NextDoor, for example) to see if anyone near you has a move coming up. Chances are, someone will be happy to take these things out of your hands—and out of your way.

Packing Tips for Moving

1. use the right size boxes.

When you pack books for moving, pack them or other heavy items in small boxes; light items, like linens and pillows, can be packed in bigger ones. (Large boxes packed with heavy items are a common complaint of professional movers. They not only make the job harder but also have a better chance of breaking.)

2. And suitcases

Any suitcases you own can (and should!) be put to work. Wheeled luggage can hold heavier items, while weekend bags and carry-ons can be stuffed with pillows, blankets, linens, or clothes. Your hamper and laundry baskets can be filled too.

3. Put heavier items on the bottoms of boxes, lighter items on top

And if you're loading the truck yourself, pack your heaviest boxes first, toward the front of the truck, for balance.

4. Don't leave empty spaces in the boxes

Fill in gaps with clothing, towels, or packing paper. Movers often won't move boxes that feel loosely packed or unbalanced.

5. Avoid mixing items from different rooms in the same box

It will make your packing quicker and your unpacking a lot easier, too.

6. Label each box with the room it's destined for and a description of its contents

This will help you and your movers know where every box belongs in your new place. Numbering each box and keeping an inventory list in a small notebook is a good way to keep track of what you've packed―and to make sure you still have everything when you unpack.

7. Tape your moving boxes well

Use a couple of pieces of tape to close the bottom and top seams, then use one of the movers' techniques―making a couple of wraps all the way around the box's top and bottom edges, where stress is concentrated.

8. If you're moving expensive art, ask your mover about special crating

Understand exactly how to pack artwork for moving to help keep it safe. You should never wrap oil paintings in regular paper; it will stick. When you pack pictures for moving, make an X with masking tape across the glass to strengthen it and to hold it together if it shatters. Then wrap the pictures in paper or bubble wrap and put them in a frame box, with a piece of cardboard between each framed piece for protection.

9. Take special care packing the kitchen for moving

Packing the kitchen involves a lot of different types of items. Learn how pack dishes for moving: Put packing paper around each dish, then wrap bundles of five or six together with more paper. Pack dishes on their sides, never flat. And use plenty of bunched-up paper as padding above and below. Cups and bowls can be packed inside one another, with paper in between, and wrapped three or four in a bundle. Pack them all in dish-barrel boxes.

When you pack glasses for moving, use a box with cardboard dividers to help protect the glasses, and wrap them in plenty of layers of paper to protect them.

10. Grab a cooler

If your move is local-ish and you've got stuff in the fridge and freezer, a cooler is your best bet for getting things from point A to point B. Ideally, you'll do your best to eat down the contents in the weeks leading up to the move, but anything that's left can be packed at the last minute and unpacked right away. As for pantry items, pack them up together and tape open bottles around the caps to prevent leaks.

11. Get your wardrobe in order

There are a few different options to pack clothes for moving—you can pack folded clothes in cardboard boxes, suitcases, or even leave them in the dresser (if it doesn't make the dresser too heavy to move!). For hanging clothes, use a special wardrobe box, so you can hang your clothes right in it. (Bonus: you won't have to worry about figuring out how to pack your hangers for moving!)

You need to protect your shoes from each other when you pack shoes for moving. Wrap shoes individually to keep sharp heels or buckles from damaging other shoes, and to keep dirt from one pair of shoes from messing up the rest of your shoes. You can pack socks into shoes to help them hold their shape.

When you pack jewelry, you can recycle some items to help you—you can string necklaces through straws or toilet paper rolls to keep them from being tangled.

12. Learn how to pack a TV for moving

Some movers treat TVs like any other piece of furniture, wrapping them in quilted furniture pads. Plasma TVs, though, require special wooden crates for shipping if you don't have the original box and can be ruined if you lay them flat. If you're packing yourself, double-box your TV, setting the box containing the TV into another box that you've padded with packing paper.

13. Wrap big or valuable furniture

Professional movers will bring blankets and tape for pretty much everything. If there's anything you definitely want wrapped, make sure to tell them just in case. If you're moving yourself, use your rattiest blankets (they might get dirty) or see if you can rent some from a local moving company. Throw a blanket over that marble-topped coffee table, tape it up, and then carefully get it out the door.

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Packing Hacks: what people always FORGET TO PACK when going to Punta Cana – and you shouldn’t

If you’re currently planning your vacation, packing might be a big issue. And especially the fear of forgetting things at home – particularly some tools or gadgets that might not be so important at first sight – is always present. That’s why I have created this article for you, which lists those things other travelers usually forget – based on a list of answers more than 100 recent travelers gave in a survey in my own Facebook group about Punta Cana. That’s what is called first-hand experience – and of course, I also add my opinion for each item (if really needed or not) after traveling to over 50 all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana.

The best packing hacks for Punta Cana

This article definitely won’t be a full packing list, hence I won’t tell you to pack your passport, phone, chargers, clothes and money. I’d rather want to focus – on the things people tend to forget AND/OR – things people only realize during their holiday that it would have been smart to bring them.

Especially to help you with the latter category, I have analyzed a question one of the members asked recently in my Punta Cana Facebook Group, which received more than 100 comments. The question was:

What are the things you wish you would have brought to Punta Cana?

Of course, not all where genuinely answering the question, but I used all those comments from recent Punta Cana travelers to create this shortlist of things you shouldn’t forget when traveling to Punta Cana.

Before we start with this list, let me outline some more packing hacks which are super important when you’re preparing your trip to Punta Cana :

• Think before you’re booking if you need a carry-on or if you have to buy extra checked baggage (which is usually not included with most airlines) ( read further saving tips for your all-inclusive holiday here )
• Make copies of important documents, as there is always a minor chance that something gets lost
• If you’re traveling with checked luggage, pack a few important clothes (1 set + swimsuits) into your carry-on to have a backup just in case your checked luggage arrives delayed
• Think about snacks and food for the way between leaving home and arriving at the resort. Airport food is expensive and airline food is hardly included anymore.
• Weight your luggage before leaving (both carry-on and checked luggage) and compare it with the baggage allowance of your airline to avoid extra charges.

Packing for Punta Cana: those items people usually forget – and regret it (part 1)

Let’s dive straight into the things other people – AFTER their holiday – would have found helpful to have packed for their Punta Cana vacation. Among the more than 100 comments, there were 44 different items which were mentioned – let’s start with the 30 things that received less mentions.

The following items recent travelers to Punta Cana forgot at home but would have loved to have it packed for their Punta Cana holiday – all of those received either 1 or 2 mentions , so much less than the things you will find further below. But still, you can see some smart ideas among those tips (you can find my opinion about some of those packing items behind in brackets):

• Adapters for big headphones
• Allergy Pills
• Aloe Vera (my opinion: Aloe Vera is a great natural option to relieve sunburnt)
• Baby Powder (my opinion: not sure for what to be honest … )
• Benadryl/Hydrocortisone cream (for allergic reactions and to help after mosquito bites)
• Book (my opinion: good idea if you love to read – maybe even take 2 or 3)
• Clothes that can get dirty (my opinion: great idea if you plan to do buggy excursions or hike in Punta Cana )
• Coconut Oil (my opinion: can help to nourish your hair)
• Cotton Buds
• Day Pack (for excursions in Punta Cana in case you don’t want to take your carry-on)
• External Battery Pack (my opinion: this is in general a great travel gadget if you use your phone a lot)
• Extra Phone Charger (my opinion: one per person should be sufficient)
• Feminine Products
• Firestick (to watch your favorite movies or series in your room after dinner)
• Hydration Packs
• More Underwear
• Night Light (in my opinion not necessary as long as you don’t close the curtains entirely)
• Noise canceling ear plugs (my opinion: good option for the plane and in case you’d like to sleep early in your resort )
• Pool Toys (my opinion: very recommendable if you’re traveling as a family to Punta Cana – sand toys are also a must for kids)
• Salt Packets
• Snorkeling Gear (my opinion: only necessary if you want to snorkel right from the beach, all snorkeling excursions in Punta Cana provide snorkeling equipment)
• Tooth Picks
• Towel Clips (my opinion: a common packing hack)
• Turkish towels (my opinion: also known as travel towel)
• Water Shoes (my opinion: not necessary in Punta Cana in most places)
• Waterproof Phone Case (my opinion: great for the pool, the ocean and any water-based excursion)
• Ziplock Bags

Packing for Punta Cana: important things you should not forget – according to travelers (part 2)

Let’s continue with part 2 of this list with the best packing ideas for Punta Cana. While all items listed above got only 1 or 2 mentions, the following are already considered more important by travelers and got 3 mentions within the survey:

• Damp Rid Bags (my opinion: some travelers complain about the humidity in the rooms (irrespective of the resort) and feel that this is a great idea – in more than 50 all-inclusive resort visits I never had the feeling I needed this)
• Tipping money/1 USD bills (my opinion: small denominations always come in handy for tips)
• Snacks (note that food is included in all resorts, usually 24/7, but most resorts don’t offer the typical chips, peanuts, chocolate or whatever you’re used to as a little snack in between)
• Travel Fan (in my opinion not necessary as there is mostly a nice ocean breeze as long as you’re not sensitive to heat)
• Washcloth (my opinion: are usually not provided by the resorts as this is not a thing in the Dominican Republic)

As you can see, the items on our mutual smart packing list get more and more important – or at least they’re considered more important by more people. 😉

The following items were mentioned 4 or 5 times in our survey of things people would have loved to bring to Punta Cana for their holiday:

• Bandaid (my opinion: should be part of a first-aid kit, which is mentioned further below)
• Extension Cord (my opinion: not really sure if this is necessary – at least I wouldn’t buy one just for the holiday)
• Floats (my opinion: great packing idea especially for those resorts with a lazy river)
• Hat (my opinion: essential for any Caribbean holiday)

Packing for Punta Cana: the TOP 5 must-have items according to recent travelers

No. 5: Mosquito Repellent Mosquito Repellent was mentioned 7 times and is very important for any traveler, it doesn’t matter during which time you visit Punta Cana. There is no general rule about when or where there are mosquitos in Punta Cana – you can be lucky and don’t see a single mosquito for the entire week, but they also might be present in certain places. Having mosquito repellent therefore always is a great idea for your packing list!

No. 4: Plastic or Stainless Steel Straw The reason why this item on our packing list was mentioned 10 times and therefore grabs spot No. 4 is that most resorts are aiming towards more environmentally friendly practices. This means that you most likely won’t get a straw in most resorts in Punta Cana , or just a paper straw which gets wet and unappetizing pretty quickly. Therefore, if you love to sip on your drink all day long, a reusable straw is indeed a great idea to bring to Punta Cana.

No. 3: Medicine / First-aid kit The podium of our 44 things travelers forgot but would have loved to bring to Punta Cana starts with a first-aid-kit respectively medicine, which was mentioned 12 times . While it is obvious that you bring your personal meds with you you would also need in you daily life, a first-aid kit can come in handy for small scratches, wounds or minor injuries. While pharmacies in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic are usually cheaper than in the United States, this isn’t valid for the resort pharmacies, where you pay extortionate prices for even just very small plaster, cremes or items such as band aid or subscription-free meds.

No. 2: Insulated Cup / Tumbler An insulated cup or tumbler, also well known as yeti or travel mug, scores position 2 with 15 mentions . The reason is simple: the oversized tumblers fit more quantity, your drinks stay cold the entire day, you have to go to the bar less often and you don’t use any single-use plastic cups (even though rarely any resorts in Punta Cana are using those anymore). However, note that these tumblers also tend to water down your drinks as they are simply so oversized that it is hard for a barkeeper to fill in the right amount of alcohol as they certainly won’t pour in a quarter bottle. I have never used a tumbler during my Punta Cana resort stays and always had great drinks.

No. 1: Sunscreen (enough!) The most frequent answer on our question “what things you’d missed in your luggage during your Punta Cana holiday” is a surprising one – mainly because “sunscreen”, which was mentioned 19 times , is just a basic item hardly anyone forgets when traveling to the Caribbean. However, there is a catch: most people replying with “sunscreen” added a very important detail – and that’s the amount. The packing hack here is to definitely take more sunscreen than you think you would need as the sun is extremely intense in the Caribbean and it is not uncommon for travelers to use a whole bottle in just 2 days. Therefore pack 2 extra bottles, especially as buying it in the resort shop is extremely expensive.

What do you think about this very special packing list for Punta Cana? Where there items which surprised you? Do you have other travel hacks for fellow travelers which they shouldn’t forget. Feel free to comment with suggestions and ideas.

SHARING IS CARING! IF YOU ENJOYED THIS ARTICLE, PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS – I WOULD APPRECIATE IT A LOT.

Hey, I am Chris, a born and raised German, travel-addictive and Caribbean Soul. Since 2011 I have been living in the Caribbean, among them 5 years in the Dominican Republic. Punta Cana is my home-base here in the country and I’d love to tell you more about how to experience Punta Cana off-the-beaten-track and give you all the advice you want to know for your vacation in Punta Cana.

ALSO WORTH READING:

HM Alma de Bayahibe – a comprehensive review about one of the cheapest all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic

The best couples-only resorts in Punta Cana and the best couple-friendly all-inclusive hotels

Rum Tours in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic

The best all-inclusive adult resorts in Punta Cana for affordable luxury (mid-price segment)

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21 Things to Know Before Moving to Russia

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If you’re seriously considering a move to Russia, you’re set for a фантастика (fantastic) time.

You’ll find a fascinating nation with a difficult history that has an incredible variety of people, great cultural offerings, and a wonderfully low cost of living – not to mention a neverending collection of awe-inspiring sites to see.

4,583 Americans already live in Russia (United Nations, 2020), so you’ll have a ready-made community of expats in this extraordinary nation. But there are still some things you should be aware of before you arrive – and we’ve got you covered.

Fill in this quick form to receive up to six free shipping quotes, and find out how much it would cost to make the move of a lifetime.

In Moscow, you can find the beautiful St Basil’s Cathedral and Spassky Tower

1. Russia is the biggest country in the world

If you think America is big, just wait until you arrive in Russia.

The behemoth is the largest nation in the world – nearly double the size of the US – and covers one-eighth of all inhabitable land on the planet.

It stretches from Norway to Japan, across the entirety of Asia, and sometimes connects Europe with the US – going the long way.

This only happens “sometimes” because despite Russia being at least 55 miles from Alaska, there are two islands in the Bering Strait between the countries – Big Diomede, owned by Russia, and Little Diomede, which belongs to the US.

They’re separated by 2.5 miles of water, but this sometimes freezes over, making it possible to walk from Russia to the US.

If you make the journey, be sure to watch the clock – the International Date Line is between the islands, resulting in a 23-hour time difference .

2. The time zones are bountiful

Speaking of which, look out for Russia’s 11 time zones , or they’ll trip you up while you’re exploring this mind-boggling country.

In the west, you have Kaliningrad, which is separate from the Russian mainland, located between Poland and Lithuania, and is seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST).

And in the further corner of Eastern Russia, 10 time zones later, you’ll find Kamchatka, which is 17 hours ahead of EST.

There’s good news, though: there is no daylight savings in Russia.

3. Religious freedom is a right – but only in theory

Russia enshrined religious freedom in its 1993 constitution, but that principle – though still present on paper – is being eroded by President Vladimir Putin’s government.

Russia’s four most common religions – Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Judaism – are seen as legitimate, while followers of other faiths suffer persecution and imprisonment.

Russian law allows the government to ban religious activities that disturb public order or qualify as “extremist” – a subjective provision that is unfortunately open to abuse.

Jehovah’s Witnesses and various Muslim groups are routinely imprisoned, seemingly just for practising their faith.

228 people in Russia were imprisoned for their religion in 2020, according to the US State Department . The figure stood at 245 in 2019.

Human rights group Memorial, who said the number was likely three to four times higher , was ordered to shut down by the Russian Supreme Court in December 2021.

4. The healthcare system is worse

Russia’s healthcare system is universal, meaning you should pay less per year than you would in the US – but it’s worse in quality.

The country ranks 58th in the world for healthcare, according to a 2018 study published in The Lancet and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

That places Russia below poorer nations like Albania, Belarus, and Cuba – and 29 spots behind the US , which came 29th.

The average life expectancy in Russia is 73.2, which means the 11th-richest country in the world ranks below the global average in 97th place , trailing nations like Bangladesh, Cape Verde, and Libya.

And though your payments will be lower overall, your out-of-pocket costs will make up a higher proportion, at 38.3% of your healthcare spending in Russia. That’s 3.5 times more than in the US, where 10.8% of expenditure is out of pocket.

Check out our guide to healthcare in Russia , and if you’re thinking of moving to this stunning country, remember to consider medical cover for when you’re out there.

We’ve partnered with Cigna for private medical insurance in Russia. With four levels of annual cover to choose from and extra modules for more flexibility, Cigna will sort you out with a plan that suits your needs.

Get a free quote and start building a customized plan to protect your most important assets – you and your family.

5. Learn some Russian

Around 30% of Russians speak English, with the EF English Proficiency Index 2021 ranking Russians as generally having “moderate proficiency” in the language.

This means that it’s in your best interest to learn some of the local language, so you’re not left floundering when someone doesn’t understand you.

Business dealings will likely take place in English – but if you want to make friends, be accepted by Russians, or just go to the cinema, you should learn enough of the local language to communicate basic ideas.

6. It’s not just cold and snowy

Russia’s size means that its climates and temperatures vary enormously from region to region.

The southwestern city of Sochi, which hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics, has an average temperature of 58°F , hits the hot highs of 77°F and above from June to September, and experiences barely any snow.

In contrast, the more northern cities of St Petersburg and Moscow are bracingly cold, at 43°F on average, and typically experience around 100 days of snowfall throughout the year.

And Khabarovsk, which sits just by the Chinese border in the eastern reaches of Russia, has an average temperature of 37°F , though it regularly falls to -10°F during the long, cold winters.

Do some research on the local weather before deciding exactly where to live, as the cold will contribute to any culture shock you’ll feel.

Sochi is home to multiple idyllic beaches

7. The food is delicious and varied

Russian food is often unfairly stereotyped as heavy and bland, when in actual fact there’s a huge amount of diversity and flavor in the nation’s dishes.

Try some of the delicious, gigantic red king crab on the East Coast, then sample all the varieties of borscht , a sweet and sour soup made with meat stock and beetroot.

In Moscow, you can try it with beef, ham, and sausages; in Paskov near Estonia it’s served with dried smelt (a type of fish), and in Siberia, you can have it with meatballs.

All over the country, you can savour pelmeni , a foundational part of Russian cuisine which originated in the mineral-rich Ural Mountains.

These delicious dumplings comprise a thin layer of dough with a filling of minced meat, garlic, and onion.

If you’re ready for dessert, try small pancakes called blini , which come with jam and condensed milk – though they can also be served with caviar or sour cream.

Finish your meal with another kind of pancake called tvorozhniki – fried vanilla offerings with a creamy centre and toppings like apple sauce, honey, and jam.

And wash it all down with a wonderfully sweet Kalmyk tea – made with butter, milk, and salt – or sbiten , a hot, comforting drink composed of honey, water, jam, and spices such as cinnamon and cloves.

8. Living costs are much lower

Russian living costs sit well below what you’re probably used to at home, even without taking into account the money you’ll save from not paying exorbitant amounts for your healthcare.

You’ll find that basically every expense costs about half as much in Russia, from food and beer to clothes, public transport, and house purchases.

The one big exception to this rule is rent, which is three times cheaper in Russia. Outstanding.

If you’re able to secure yourself a salary that’s around the same amount you picked up in the US, you’ll be in a monetary utopia. And if not, you’ll probably still be in great shape.

If you’re about to move to Russia, you’ll probably need to convert some of your savings into rubles.

However, it’s best to avoid using big-name banks for this process, as you’ll usually have to pay high fees, and you won’t get the best exchange rate.

That’s why we’ve done our research and compared all the major money transfer services on the market, so you can choose the right one. Check out our expert ratings and find the best money transfer provider today .

9. Russia struggles with its history

You can view Russia’s history simply.

It was created as the Kievan Rus, was conquered by and then overthrew the Mongols, saw dictatorial tsars expand the borders, changed forever with the 1917 communist revolution, survived the Cold War, and finally emerged as a capitalist, supposedly democratic nation.

But this, of course, skips over all the trauma of a recent history that includes 32.5 million deaths during the two World Wars, and as many as 20 million deaths due to Joseph Stalin’s rule.

Because of this shared experience, it’s often hard to get Russians to accept you as one of their own – and that’s reasonable.

You don’t have the same intergenerational trauma – which many Russians haven’t processed properly, with Stalin still venerated in many people’s minds.

As long as you tread lightly and allow locals to express themselves without judging, you should be just fine.

10. Soccer is the main event…

The biggest sport in Russia is soccer, with over 1.5 million players – so jump right in and give the beautiful game a try.

The country, which hosted the World Cup in 2018, has a league full of passion, increasingly high standards, and fierce rivalries which occasionally spill over.

Go to games, by all means, but preferably with a local who knows how to keep you safe – and if you want to support a team, choose carefully.

11. …but ice hockey is a ton of fun

Depending on where you grew up, you may be able to bond with Russians over ice hockey, which is played in the same ferocious, frantic, fun way it is in the States.

Many incarnations of the Soviet team were legendary, and the current crop is also excellent, and remains in the Big Six with Canada and the US.

Russia has won four of the past 13 World Championships, and its domestic league, the Kontinental Hockey League, is second in quality only to the National Hockey League.

12. Making friends is hard work – but it’s worth it

While America is more individualistic, with most people embracing the capitalist, dog-eat-dog version of society, Russia is more collectivist.

This means that generosity is valued, trust is harder to win, and friendships are created over time, with Russians typically wanting to build a strong foundation before opening up.

On the flip side, personal space is not respected in the same way in Russia, so if you can, get used to people standing extremely close to you while having a conversation.

You can also encourage people you meet to trust you by being direct, honest, and not repetitive. Saying “sorry” or “thank you” over and over comes across as disingenuous, so don’t do it.

13. You should explore this captivating country

Russia is a beautiful nation, with a stunning number of natural and manmade landmarks worth visiting.

The country has 30 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Sites – even more than the US.

This includes wonders from the Red Square, Kremlin, and Kizhi Pogost in the west, to the volcanoes of Kamchatka and Wrangel Island Reserve in the east. The Reserve features polar bears, Pacific walruses, and dozens of endangered bird species.

Make sure you also visit the Virgin Komi Forests and Western Caucasus. These wildlife regions are unaffected by humanity, and as a result are breathtakingly gorgeous.

Go see the stunning Koryaksky volcano in Kamchatka

14. Vodka isn’t the only drink, but it is great

If you drink, you have to start with Russia’s world class vodka.

Ask a Russian friend which brands you should try, or just visit a ryumochnaya, where you can have a shot of the best local vodka and a delicious appetizer before quickly going on your way.

There’s more to Russian drinks than vodka, though. There’s also a roaring beer industry, wine made in the warmer south, and medovukha, a honey drink that’s very similar to mead, but is fermented over just a month.

Try a nastoika or five, too. These flavored drinks, which usually use vodka as a base, come in an amazing variety of flavours, including honey and pepper, cranberry, blackcurrant, and horseradish.

Watch out for Yorsh though. This cocktail of vodka and beer is deceptively dangerous, especially as you usually can’t taste the vodka.

15. There are plenty of national celebrations…

Embrace Russia’s numerous festivals, but be careful – celebrations here are either religious or patriotic in nature, so when you feel like an outsider, take a step back. Follow your friends’ leads.

At the New Year, celebrations will either involve family-centric activities where parents dress up as Grandfather Frost and his granddaughter Snow Maiden, or a great deal of partying, as the festivities of New Year’s Eve is followed by a week off from work.

Orthodox Christmas comes next, on 7 January. If you’re lucky enough to be invited to a family celebration, you can look forward to a feast involving dumplings, salmon pie, Russian salad, and gingerbread cookies.

At the end of February and the start of March, Russians celebrate Defender of the Fatherland Day – Men’s Day, basically – and International Women’s Day, respectively.

Be sure to give the woman in your life an odd number of flowers, as even numbers are reserved for gravesites.

Easter is celebrated even more widely than Christmas, with big Easter Sunday meals up and down the country.

Also watch out for National Unity Day, Russia Day, and Victory Day, which are all patriotic celebrations that will take over the country for a short while.

16. …and loads of days off work

These national holidays mean that you and everyone else in Russia get around 19 days off work per year – but that’s not where it ends.

You’ll also automatically get another 28 days off to use every year, because the government has created a legal minimum amount of leave – like every industrialized nation apart from the US.

You can use this time to go back to the States for a visit, to explore the mind-blowing sites that Russia has to offer, or simply to relax. In any case, it’ll feel like a glorious upgrade.

17. Russian humor can take you by surprise

The classic image of the gruff, humorless Russian is false and unfair – people here are just as funny as they are anywhere.

Be prepared, though. Russian humour is sometimes deadpan or sarcastic, sometimes extremely direct, and sometimes unfortunately relies on negative cultural stereotypes – all of which can knock you off balance.

The key is to stay on your toes, and develop your awareness over time. If in doubt, make a self-deprecating joke, as this will go down well.

18. Punctuality is less important

Russians have a casual relationship with time, which can take some getting used to.

You may be tempted to lock down your plans with someone two or three weeks in advance, but don’t bother – Russians will cancel the day before if a friend or family member asks them for a favor.

Instead, try to make peace with arranging gatherings, friendly hangs, and dates the day before.

If you’re invited to a party for 8pm, don’t get there until 8:30pm at the earliest – though 9pm will be considered late.

It’s also worth noting that Russians tend not to use am or pm. So instead of saying “7pm,” either say “7 in the evening” or “19:00.” Russians understand military time.

If you’re attending a business meeting, it’s still worth being on time – but if your boss is late, no one will comment on it. Don’t say anything yourself!

19. You may face anti-American attitudes

Some may react negatively to you because of the Cold War, but it’s much more likely you’ll encounter hostility because of the current state of relations between the two nations, with Putin having locked horns with successive US administrations.

In a 2020 poll by the independent Levada Center , 82% of Russians said that their country had enemies – and 70% of those people named the US as one of the enemies they had in mind.

A separate Levada poll from 2020 found that 46% of Russians had a negative perception of the US, compared to 42% who held a positive view.

Just try not to bring up politics, or any wars the US and Russia may be engaged in when you go.

20. Communication is direct and honest

In general, you’ll find Russians are direct and matter-of-fact while talking to you.

This can be disconcerting, particularly when you’re facing criticism, as Russians will usually be straightforward and honest, with none of the sugarcoating you may be used to.

This can come across as rude – and often, it is – but at least you’ll know where you stand.

Russians are also more comfortable with swearing in casual situations, so depending on where you stand on that concept, either ready yourself or your best Russian swears.

21. There are so many different peoples

Though the majority of people you’ll meet here are ethnically Russian, this country is home to more than 120 ethnic groups, speaking around 100 languages.

Depending on where you live, you may find yourself living among people who, like many Americans, primarily define themselves by their ethnic group or locality, not their nation.

If you’ve spoken to enough Texans, Californians, or New Yorkers, you’ll have heard some of them say they feel more attached to their state than to the US – and many peoples here feel the same way, like the Tatars.

You’ll find that this is more common the further east you travel – though there’s also plenty of diversity in western cities like Moscow and St Petersburg.

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Mom defends letting baby sleep in shower during vacation: ‘number one travel hack’.

“When we travel, our baby sleeps in the shower,” lifestyle influencer Chloe Molina begins a now-viral  TikTok  clip. 

The 25-year-old mom-of-one quickly followed that up with, “Let me explain,” for all the commenters like me who were like, “HUH?”

Mom defends “number one travel hack”

“Yes our baby sleeps in a shower but he sleeps in a crib in the shower and the reason why we do this is because for us, when our baby sleeps in our room, he smells as he sees us, he just knows we’re there and he’s gonna wake up all the time,” she explains.

So, she and her husband David “give him his own room”, a.k.a. the bathroom. 

The five-month-old’s mom continues, “Usually the bathroom isn’t big enough, so we put the crib in the shower and then we crack the bathroom door open, so it can feel like he has his own room, his own space. He doesn’t smell us, he doesn’t see us, he has his own room.

“It’s honestly just way better to put him in the shower because you can slightly close the curtain and you can still pee without them seeing you there.”

She concludes the clip by saying it’s her “number one travel hack” because “your baby gets their own room without paying for another room.”

“This is sad”

The mom was immediately inundated with comments from concerned followers, with one person saying: “Not my baby, most showers have mold.”

“I’d be too worried about the water pipe bursting in the middle of the night,” said someone else. “Or the hot water turning on.”

“Personally, with the strong cleaning agents that hotel room bathrooms are cleaned with, that is the LAST place I would be putting my baby all night,” a third added, while others had issues with air quality, fecal matter, the bathroom’s temperature and the potential for the baby to crawl out of his crib and onto the tiles.

A fourth person wrote: “Nope, I’d never.”

Then others called it “wild”, “sad”, and even “terrifying.”

However, not everyone was so judgy

A few commenters defended the parents’ decision, with one saying, “They do what works for their family. You don’t have to agree, but you don’t have to judge either!”

“Brilliant (30+ parent here),” another viewer claimed.

Others even admitted to doing the same with their kids.

“Haha, I did this on holidays! We had a suite paid for by my husband’s company, and there were two bathrooms. One turned into baby’s room,” one mom shared.

And someone else replied, “We literally do this every time we go away.”

The mom responds to backlash

Speaking to  PEOPLE , the first-time mom opened up about the unconventional sleeping arrangement.

“I don’t really live in that parenting fear mindset in the first place. We don’t sit and live in fear,” Chloe said.

“My takeaway is you have to do whatever you feel is best. You were chosen to be this baby’s parent, so if you feel that the best decision is to put them in the shower in the bathroom, it’s great.

“Everyone has their own parenting style and you’re able to choose what is right based on what you believe is right for your child.”

Come with me on my travels, as you plan yours

11 Things You Need to Know Before Moving to Moscow, Russia

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Despite all the places I have visited during and after my time living in Moscow, everyone wants to know what is it like to live in Russia. When I accepted a teaching job at an international school in Moscow I knew very little about the country. Of course I did some research, but the United States presents a very skewed view of life in Russia today. Moving abroad is always an emotional experience, but anyone from the USA planning on living and working in Moscow might be surprised about what is and isn’t a challenge in Russia.

After a year living in the country I can say that I didn’t love living in Russia, but I did love the new cultural experience. I already wrote about what it is like to live in Russia in general. In this post I go into the logistics and details of moving to and living in Moscow, Russia.  If you are debating whether or not you should move to Moscow, Russia here are 11 things to know before you pack your bags.

1. The Visa Process is a Hassle

When I was living in Moscow I came across an article about the hardest visas for US citizens to obtain. Russia was one of the top five. Go figure, I decided to move to Russia!

The US embassy website says it best, “The Russian government maintains a restrictive and complicated visa regime for foreigners who visit, transit, or reside in the Russian Federation.” I may not agree with the US government on a lot of things, but they are correct on that!

A Russian-based sponsor is always required in order to obtain a visa. I’m not going to go into details on the process, that could be a whole different post. It’s unlikely that you could move to Russia without a work/school sponsorship, so your new employer/school should help you through the steps. Before accepting a position that is something to check into!

After receiving sponsorship and your invitation letter you will need to apply for the visa and get an HIV test done. Be aware it needs to be the formal blood drawn test that gets sent to a lab and not just a finger prick instant test. I found that out the hard way!

2. Registration is Required Every-time you Return to Russia

Within a specific period of time when returning back to Russia from another country you or your company needs to register you using the migration card you are given at customs. For most of my time in Moscow this was within 3 days, during the World Cup this needed to be done within 24 hours. One guy from my school did not give his migration card to HR within the required amount of time and had to leave the country and then immediately return in order to avoid issues. 

You will need your migration card in order to leave the country. Needless to say keep it in a safe spot!

3. Documentation Needs to Be Carried at All Times

When walking the streets of Russia you need to carry your papers at all times. This includes your passport, visa, and migration card. A police officer can ask you for these for no reason and you can be detained if you do not have them on you. According to the HR department at my school you can also have an officially stamped copy of your passport and visa instead of your originals.

4. The Cost of Living is Low

If you are coming from the USA or Western Europe you will most likely find the cost of living low. My phone bill was about $15 a month and my internet was about $20 a month. I had a monthly membership at one of the nicest two story gyms with various classes and a pool for $58 a month. Taxis cost only a few dollars for 10 – 20 minute rides. Overall if you compare costs to what you paid back ‘home’ you will be pleasantly surprised.

Retail shopping was the one thing I found more expensive than in other parts of Europe or the US. The prices of both familiar worldwide brands and unfamiliar Russian brands seemed pricier. Coming from NYC I didn’t think the restaurants were too expensive, but many of my colleagues thought they also had higher prices.

5. Bill Paying is an Odd Process

It took me awhile to figure out how to pay my phone and internet bills. In the US I always had a set monthly fee due on a specific date. I could easily set up bill pay. In Moscow the way I found out that my phone and internet bill was due was when they stopped working. For my internet I wouldn’t be able to use it on a random day and had to enter my credit card information to pay for the next month. Without having access to the internet to translate this page I had no chance of figuring out the form correctly. Not to mention, it was a guessing game of figuring out how much I owed. Initially I was confused about the conversion rates so I didn’t even know in the ballpark what monthly internet cost.

Oh my goodness did I struggle with my phone in Moscow! The data wouldn’t work. Sometimes it was because I had to ‘top up’ my payment. Similar to the internet, I didn’t know how much I owed or when. There was some other issue with my phone that took three visits to the phone store with Russian colleagues to resolve. I still don’t know what the issue was because according to my co-worker who translated I would have to pay for them to tell me what they had to fix on my phone. I didn’t have to pay for them to fix it, but I would have to pay if I wanted to know what they fixed??? Welcome to life in Moscow! 

I loved how cheap internet and phone service was, but sometimes I wished I could pay a little more just to simplify using them.

6. Many Online Sites are Blocked

Internet and WiFi in Moscow usually work really well. That is unless the site is blocked. Some sites you would never guess would be blocked like Target.com. I found many American online store websites blocked. Also many important financial sites are blocked. M y US bank’s entire website was blocked online, as well as my credit card company. TV shows direct from the networks are often blocked. No watching American Ninja Warrior on NBC or Amazing race on CBS. Hulu is also blocked. Your best bet is through youtube.com or VPN blockers. 

7. Transferring Money is Not Fun

My school set me up with Raiffeisen Bank. It worked well except for when I needed to transfer money. As I mentioned above my bank (Capital One) couldn’t be accessed online and wouldn’t except transfers from Russia. Before moving to Russia make sure you have a bank back home that you can transfer money to if you plan on doing that. It was very difficult to set up once out of the country. Luckily my parents set up a Chase account that was able to except money from Russia. They then transferred the money to my US bank account.

8. Hardly Anyone Speaks English

The hardest part of all the challenges I have listed above is that most people don’t speak English. It’s one thing being a tourist and trying to communicate at an attraction while traveling. It’s another thing to attempt banking, bill paying, grocery shopping and everything else that living and working in Moscow entails. 

Some Russians speak a little English in the city center, but don’t count on it. In other outlying neighborhoods, like mine, it was rare that someone spoke English. I had so many experiences when people would just speak more Russian to me when I didn’t understand. Unlike a lot of countries that attempt to put more things in English for tourists, Russia seemed to have the attitude of, it is your problem, figure it out. 

Have Yandex Translate or Google Translate at the ready if you don’t speak Russian. Also set your web browser to translate web pages into English.

9. Learning Russian is Hard

I knew that learning Russian would improve my life in Moscow a great deal. If you know me personally, you know I am a pretty persistent person. If I set my mind to something, I will do it…..except for learning Russian . My Russian teacher would say a word and I couldn’t remember it two seconds later to repeat it. To be fair I did learn the alphabet, how to count to ten and a few greetings and other nouns.

10. Getting Around Moscow is Easy

The Moscow Metro is very nice, cheap and easy to use. It follows the same basic system of metros around the world. If you are considering learning Russian start with the alphabet, it will help you use the metro. Not all the stops and stations are in English. Have a metro map downloaded on your phone in English. You can use it to help you figure out the stop names in Russian. The metro runs from about 5:30am to 1am.

I took the metro whenever I could, but on off hours, going to the airport or when traveling somewhere not on a metro line I used Yandex taxis . They are the Uber of Moscow and very cheap. Most drivers don’t speak English, so this is a good time to have a translator app handy.

11. Hot Water is Shut Off for 10 Days Every Year.

Between May and August almost all of the apartment buildings have an assigned 10 days when the hot water is shut off for maintenance. You can check online at Oaomoek to see when it will be shut off for your apartment building. If you have a new building you may not have to deal with this (most buildings are old though). 

As an American moving to Moscow, Russia I definitely had an adventure! If you have moved to Moscow let me know in the comments below what your experience has been like. Feel free to leave any questions about moving to Russia below as well. 

More About Russia

• Moscow Things to Do: The Must See Sights , Unique Things to Do ,  Spartak Stadium
• Moscow Markets:  Izmailovsky Market , Danilovsky Market
• Moscow Museums: Moscow City Museum , Victory Museum , Museum of the Patriotic War in 1812 , State Historical Museum ,
• Moscow Life: Malls , Christmas in Moscow , Metro , Learning Spanish , My Russian Apartment , What is Life Really Like in Russia , FiFa World Cup , Russian Winters , and more posts about life abroad in Russia .
• St Petersburg: City Guide , The Hermitage Museum , Kayaking the Rivers & Canals , Peterhof Palace

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33 comments.

The hot water thing happened to me while living (and teaching english too) in Prague! I had no idea that was a thing! Luckily it was for 3 days.

Interesting, I didn’t know it happened in other countries too!

Thank you for such a great article! Moving to a new country is always a stressful process no matter how prepared you are and knowing these little ins and outs of the process really helps. Having to get an HIV test before moving kind of surprised me and registering every time you return to Russia seems like a hassle! I have heard that Russian is a very difficult language to learn. I tried learning the basics when I was travelling through Eastern Europe and the Balkans and almost immediately gave up because I found it incredibly difficult to teach myself from free online resources. I’ve heard that Moscow has some of the most beautiful metro stations in the world and would love to see them one day!

You’re welcome, thanks for reading! I’m terrified of needles, so I really hated having to do an HIV test. Also we had to do them a couple times of year at the school I worked at. I found Russian really hard to learn when I had a private teacher. I can imagine it would be even more difficult to try to teach yourself. Yes, the metro stations are beautiful!

Tell me about it (the visa progress, internet, hot water shut off!), I lived for a while in Moscow many years ago and the paperwork was a nightmare and by the sounds of it, nothing has changed. I learnt Russian pretty fast (had no choice) but I did enjoy my time there. Would I go back? Maybe….

It’s great to hear from someone else who lived in Moscow! That’s awesome that you learned Russian really quick, I’m impressed!

I had heard about a lot of things about Russia and turns out most of them are true! They have this strictest Visa process and paperwork. One of my acquaintances arrived in Russia after visiting some other Central Asian countries. He was apparently deported with no proper reason. He was told if you want to visit Russia, come directly from your country and not through any other country! It was good to know a lot about Russia and Moscow in general from your blog. I hope you had a good and exciting time there.

Oh wow that’s quite the scary story! I traveled to other countries quite a bit when I lived there and luckily didn’t have any problems going back to Russia.

First off – kudos for having managed in this city. It does seem like a challenge to get here and more importantly stay here. The amount of documentation and forms. And to not be able to pay your bills in a jiffy. Oof! Russian only and no English can be hassle if you are staying there for long term. The last point totally put me in a bind – no hot water for 10 days in a cold country! Brrrr….

Hahaha the visa the visa the visa!!!! I was had planned for my trip in December 2019… The hardest part was figuring out how to get an invitation letter when staying at an Airbnb. That took me quite a while to figure out and was a bit costly about $65 but the Airbnb was affordable so the costs balanced out. On arrival don’t be in a hurry, it took about 3 hrs to be cleared at immigration as a first time tourist to Russia. But once that was done i really enjoyed my stay. I love how beautifully decorated it is in December and the fireworks on 31st. Being an African I was a tad cautious but boy are those people kind and friendly… I got so many hugs and numerous people eager to find out more about what I think of Russia and where I’m from. I’d definitely go back. Oh and I visited Voronzeh by bus… Small nice and really affordable town but not as much to do as Moscow though..

The Fearless Foreigner

The visa process and the invitation letter are quite the hassle. Glad you had a good experience in Russia overall though!

This really opened my eyes to some of the things we take for granted in the US, like consistent WiFi, phone service and hot water. And paying bills sounds as though it would be very frustrating. As someone who has a tendency to misplace things, I was relieved to hear an officially stamped passport and visa copy would be accepted. Imagine losing the originals? Ugh. All worth it, I’m sure, to have this incredible opportunity to experience Russia as a resident. These tips are very helpful and I do hope to visit in the near future. Thank you!

That’s so true, we do take a lot for granted in the US. Moving to Moscow was a challenging experience, but still rewarding!

Sheriannekay

I am hoping to visit Moscow in the fall. I know it won’t be my easiest trip and have put off research. This is a great starting point. The tips for apps are greatly appreciated. I didn’t realize language would be as huge a barrier as it sounds so I will do extra prep. Thanks for the heads up on carrying papers with me at all times, I don’t usually do that

As a tourist you will hopefully have an easier time with the language barrier and your hotel will send you the invitation letter to start the visa process. It still is a hassle and takes more planning than other countries though. I have several other Moscow posts, I hope you check them out and let me know if you have any questions!

Most of the “rough” things mentioned are truly in the eye of the beholder – and a matter of simple adjustment. WI-FI is a lot more consistent and readily available in Russia’s big cities than in cities of comparable size in the US. As to cell phones – the vast majority of plans is “prepaid” vs “pay-as-you-go”, which essentially means you can hypothetically run out of money. That said, internet banking is a lot more developed in Russia – so “topping up” your phone is a matter of a couple of clicks on your phone (or, alternatively, and “auto-payment” from your bank account as soon as you hit a certain limit). Back in 2018, I went for 7 days in Moscow and Spb without any cash or credit cards at all – paying for everything with my phone (Samsung Pay, Google pay, etc).

Hot water – yes, that’s something I had a hard time getting used to. Luckily, most rental apartments have a back up water boiler (or in-line water heater) to help you through those 10 days 🙂 If not – you can always get one (costs about $70, no electrical license or skills needed to install – it’s a simple plug and play. Plug and shower, rather 🙂

As to visa – well, yes, it’s a bit of a pain. To give you some perspective, though – the wait times for a (mandatory) visa interview at the US embassy in Moscow back in 2018 started at 1 year (yes, that’s 365 days), and Russians have to travel to the US embassy, regardless of where in the country they reside. If they happen to live, say, in Petropavlovsk, they need to fly into Moscow (a 9-hr flight across 9 time zones)

Linda (LD Holland)

Wow! A move to Moscow is certainly adventurous. I know that visiting requires a whole big process. So I am sure residency is a degree of magnitude harder. I am not surprised that internet is blocked. But the process for paying bills is just bizarre. And I am not sure how to deal with no hot water for 10 days. Some great tips for people wanting to do a longer stay in Russia.

Moving to Moscow was an adventure! Some people tough it out and take cold showers for 10 days. I heated up some water and took showers at my gym some days.

Bhushavali N

Oh wow! That’s quite an experience. Language barrier when you move to a country is indeed difficult, unlike being a tourist for a few days. I know that feeling, coz I’ve been through that! Interesting to know that the cost of living is cheaper than USA or EU! I wonder if the situation of money transfer is difficult only with banks of USA or with any other country! Just like China, I’m not surprised that many sites are blocked in Russia as well!

Most of my co-workers were from the UK or other countries around the world. I talked with them about the money transferring and none of them seemed to have any problem. So I guess it is more of an issue with US banks!

Victoria immigration expert

Thank you for sharing your experience. This is very valuable. I think it is the language barrier that causes many inconveniences. Good luck to you!

Yes, the language barrier was one of my biggest challenges! Thank you.

I loved reading this! I am SO curious about Russia right now. It’s somewhere I really really want to go but as you mentioned, the visa process is a bit tricky. It’s just such an unknown place to me, I don’t really know anyone who has been there. I think it’s very cool that you taught English there! I appreciated your honestly about how you didn’t technically love it nor hate it, it seems like there were many challenges but a great experience overall!

Russia is an interesting place! It is a hassle to get a visa, but if you are intrigued you should visit! It’s unique because it is Europe, but doesn’t feel like the other European countries, yet doesn’t feel like Asia either. Let me know if you have any questions about visiting!

Anton Vasilyev

Just read your article and having traveled to Russia multiple times I think you made it sound a bit too complicated. First, the visa issue – Google an online Russian visa support site and they will do it for you for a modest fee. You all seem to mention that 7- 10 day hot water maintenance. It does take place in the middle of the summer so it’s not that dramatic. When searching for an Airbnb make sure it comes with a water heater. That way you don’t depend on centrally supplied hot water. Most local apartments come with a tankless water heater installed to avoid this exact situation – just ask. And I’ll just ignore your other complaint that English is not widely spoken in Moscow. I actually enjoy that there are not that many English speaking tourists in Moscow and St Petersburg.

Living in a country and traveling in a country is very different.This post is geared to expats moving to Russia and people who like to know all the pros and cons of moving somewhere, even if they are minor inconveniences. For the most part our companies choose where we live and we have no control over the apartment (no AirBnBs). That’s great that you enjoy that many people do not speak English. As I said that is the point of this post, for people to determine if they would like to live in the country or not. Anything that does not pertain to your situation or needs you are free to ignore!

Hey Elizabeth! I came across your blog after participating in the collab about teaching abroad, with Monica from This Rare Earth! I resonated with what you said here — many of the same things happen in China where I work. It is definitely an adventure 🙂

Thanks for stopping by! That’s very cool that you are teaching in China! I’m sure there are a lot of similarities….teaching abroad is an adventure for sure 🙂

It was interesting to read, so let me give you Russian point of view. As for visa, I really can not understand what’s the purpose of such hassle – if I was responsible for Russian visa policy, I would make visa-free regime for the majority of countries. We had quite nice experience during the World Cup 3 years back, so I hope things will be changing. Even now, they introduced new e-visa policy, at least for various European countries. However, they always state that all visa policies should be reciprocal, though it doesn’t make sence for me at all. As for passports I strongly disagree with you – you don’t need to carry it all the time, at least in Moscow. It is not required by law and normally no one will ask it as well, at least if you’re not looking like people from Caucasian & Central Asian republics. Attitude towards foreigners from “rich countries” from police is mostly much better, than towards any Russian. As for internet, it amazes me that you found it problematic. Wi-Fi is all over Moscow, Apple Pay can be used almost everywhere, and the unlimited internet package I have on my tablet is less than 10$ per month – i never found anything like that in other countries, though I am travelling a lot. As for blocked sites – there are some, but target.com is blocked not by Russians, but by target.com itself, because it does not accept our cards and doesn’t provide any services to us. Absolutely same situation applies to Ukraine – you will not open it there either. However, absolutely nobody in Russia uses and even knows about that site, we use other websites for shopping, both local and international. In general, we use local sources – we have our analogues of Facebook, Netflix, Spotify etc, and in some cases they are really much more convenient. In general I am happy to read you report – visit us again!

Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts!

Thank you for sharing so many details living in Moscow ,and i am gald that i have read this article before i go to Moscow ,yes i will study in Moscow for few years and i don’t know what is the life will be there ,i am nervious and at mean time don’t know if it is right for me to live in Moscow ,because i know they have low salary too ,so maybe it’s hard for a student to find a good part time job,anyway ,i will start to my life in Moscow soon,hope everything will go smoothly,thank you for sharing this again!

You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy your time in Moscow.

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Pros and Cons of Moving to Moscow

This guide was written prior to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and is therefore not reflective of the current situation. Travel to Russia is currently not advisable due to the area's volatile political situation.

Rich in history and culture, Moscow is an exciting destination for expats. Nevertheless, they may experience frustrations arising from bureaucracy, a difficult language adjustment and extreme weather conditions. Nonetheless, the city offers an attractive lifestyle with its active social life and vibrant arts and culture scene. 

Accommodation in Moscow

Densely populated Moscow offers a variety of options for accommodation, though lots of competition and high prices make finding the perfect home a bit tricky.

+ PRO: Range of options

There are many different types of accommodation available in Moscow. Expats are just as likely to find themselves in a pre-revolutionary apartment with high ceilings, thick walls and interesting architecture as in a modern apartment block with good facilities and high-tech features. There are also several international compounds with other expats. These gated communities usually offer their own sports facilities and social activities. 

- CON: High demand and expensive 

With so many people living in Moscow, housing is in great demand and can therefore be expensive. Apartments are also often small, and expats may be disappointed with what their money can buy. Realistically, size, quality and location are the most important factors influencing the cost of accommodation in Moscow. Expats with a limited budget may need to compromise on one or more of these factors to find a home that best suits them.

Lifestyle in Moscow

Moscow is a huge city, offering a wide range of activities and events . The expat community is close-knit, giving new arrivals the opportunity to make friends.

+ PRO: Great social scene 

There is so much to do in Moscow, with activities catering for every interest. Most groups and organisations are well-organised and welcoming to newcomers. The expat community is busy throughout the year with balls and charity events.

Nightlife within the city is excellent, with a variety of bars, clubs and restaurants to choose from. The quality of museums, art galleries, theatres and concerts is also outstanding.

- CON: Eating out can be expensive

Restaurants in Moscow can be extremely expensive. Expats may find their social life is limited if living on a budget. Luckily, knowing the right places will help make going out more affordable.

Education and schools in Moscow

+ pro: international schools are available .

There are several international schools in Moscow offering excellent quality education and facilities. There are also good private Russian schools, although only a small percentage of expat children attend these.

- CON: Demand is high and space is limited

The demand for schools outweighs the supply. Therefore, schools in Moscow can be expensive with long waiting lists. Schools are usually located outside of central Moscow. So, unless expats live close to the school, children will have to travel some distance by school bus or car each day.

Climate in Moscow

+ pro: many winter and summer outdoor activities.

The climate in Moscow is quite extreme. Winter weather can be beautiful in Moscow, with blue skies and sunshine on the white snow. Cross-country skiing is popular with expats and ice-skating is possible all over the city as many playgrounds are made into ice-rinks. Summer is a great time to explore Moscow, as the city is generally quieter. There are lakeside and river beaches in Moscow, where expats and locals alike can take advantage of the good weather.

- CON: Long winters 

The extreme winter weather can make living in Moscow challenging for most of the year. Expats should make sure to have enough thick and warm winter clothing to get them through. 

Safety in Moscow

- con: bribery and corruption.

Bribery and corruption are still issues in Moscow, and expats are sometimes affected by this. It's also not uncommon to find incidents of racism.

Healthcare in Moscow

+ pro: medical facilities are of a high standard .

There are many private medical centres in Moscow with well-trained doctors who can, in most cases, speak English. Dental treatment is also of a high standard in the city.

- CON: Healthcare is expensive

Getting medical treatment can sometimes be expensive, although most expats have insurance to cover these costs. Dental treatment is also pricey, although competitive with other European prices. 

Public transport in Moscow

+ pro: comprehensive public transport system.

Moscow has an impressive public transport system . The metro is not only clean, safe, efficient and fast; it is also a tourist attraction. Daily tours explore the metro system, with guides showing tourists through some of the city's most beautiful stations. These stations often resemble palaces, with sculptures, mosaics and even chandeliers. There is also an extensive bus, trolleybus and tram route throughout Moscow. Many of Moscow’s buses now even have Wi-Fi access.

- CON: Crowded public transport during rush hour 

Rush hour on the metro can be unpleasantly crowded. Many of the metro stations and trains also haven’t changed all their signs to show both the Cyrillic alphabet and the Latin alphabet. Being able to read place names in Russian is therefore helpful to avoid getting lost in the rush hour chaos.

- CON: Heavy traffic

Bad traffic can put people off travelling in and around Moscow. Luckily, the metro system is good and expats living near transport stops shouldn't have any issues getting around. The traffic could be a problem for those who choose to drive in Moscow, however. 

Further reading

►For a breakdown of what you can expect to pay for basic goods and services in Moscow, see  Cost of Living in Russia .

Expat Interviews " What I like the most about Moscow is the city itself. It is always clean, vibrant, and full of entertainment and friendly pedestrians. It means that you can walk as far as you want to and feel safe about doing so." Read about Eva's experience living in Moscow as an expat .  "What I like about Moscow is that it’s very dynamic and animated; there is always something to do at any time of the day and of the night!"  Read about Laurent's experience and his likes and dislikes of living in Moscow.

Are you an expat living in Moscow?

Expat Arrivals is looking for locals to contribute to this guide, and answer forum questions from others planning their move to Moscow. Please contact us if you'd like to contribute.

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