Those who enjoy traveling are yearning to return to the skies after a few years of staying at home. With so many places to go and so many things to know, it is hard to know where to begin planning your post-pandemic vacation in the not-too-distant future. We’re here to help you knock off the rust with some travel advice that will liven up your next trip.

Planning your trip is vital, but we got your back. Here are some travel hacks that will make it easier for you to see more on your vacation.

Travel Tips for Your Next Great Vacation

Pack your clothes in a carry-on bag.

Traveling is expensive, but one of the ways to reduce some of your travel spending is by getting rid of baggage fees. Pack all your clothes in a carry-on bag so that you will avoid this fee when flying with an airline company. This might not be practical for more extended stays, but for a quick getaway, this should be fine.

Bring an empty water bottle.

Instead of purchasing expensive beverages at the airport terminal, take an empty water bottle through security and fill it up at a drinking fountain. This is less costly and environmentally friendly than the alternatives.

Get the right phone apps.

Many airlines have apps that let you track your progress to your destination. Hotels offer discounts and other perks if you book through their app too. So make sure to download the right app for the trip and save yourself some money.

Bring a power strip.

Finding wall outlets to charge your electronics can be more challenging. Bring a power strip to charge all your devices instead of sharing one outlet.

Wear slip-on shoes.

You don’t want to have a moment where you’re rushing through the airport and trip over your shoelaces. Wearing slip-on shoes is an easy way to avoid these embarrassing moments and the stressful times when you’re late for boarding.

Carry on your electronics.

You don’t want to lug around a heavy bag of books and have it stolen. Tuck away your electronics in a backpack so that you can read or listen to them during the flight instead of having to wait until you arrive at your destination.

Bring a portable charger.

Your phone is probably one of your most essential travel accessories, so make sure it’s charged for the whole trip. Bring a portable charger to avoid begging strangers for an outlet or running out of battery in the middle of that perfect Instagram shot.

Make copies of your passport, visa, and other vital documents.

Make copies of your originals before leaving on your trip in case something happens to them while you’re traveling. If anything goes wrong during your trip, you’ll still have some proof to present.

Get travel Insurance.

Don’t forget to buy travel insurance! It’ll cover you against sickness, injury, loss, and postponements while you’re traveling. The low cost of a travel insurance policy ensures that your itinerary will remain intact.

Always check your hotel’s website.

Some hotels will give you cheaper rates on their own websites than if you book through a third-party vendor. Checking the website is easy to save some money for your vacation budget.

Travel reward credit cards.

Find out whether or not your credit card has any kind of rewards program associated with it that would help save money while traveling abroad. This is an easy way to get paid for doing something you’d be spending money on anyway.

Avoid International ATMs fees.

Some ATMs charge excessive fees when you use them outside your home country. Obtain a debit card or credit card that doesn’t charge international transactions or atm fees.

Bring a travel pillow

There are some perfect pillows explicitly made for flying. These can make a huge difference in your comfort level. If you don’t want to spend the extra money on one of those pillows, just stuff some clothes into a scarf or tie it around your neck with something that will serve as support when sleeping upright.

Bring noise-canceling headphones.

Noise-canceling headphones are a lifesaver for long flights. If you’re not into spending the money on those, bring some earplugs to help reduce noise and distractions from other people around you.

Pack extra snacks with you.

Keeping your blood sugar levels stable is essential when traveling because it helps ensure that you don’t get sick or have any bad reactions to your food. Bring extra snacks with you so that if the airline doesn’t feed you, at least you’ll be able to eat something else.

Download offline maps for when there’s no Wi-Fi available.

Staying connected during traveling is vital in case of an emergency. Download an offline map of the area on your phone to navigate and stay safe even when it’s difficult to locate a signal if you’re traveling somewhere with no Wi-Fi.

Bring hand sanitizer with you everywhere.

This is especially important for places like cruises or amusement parks with lots of people and germs. Keeping your hands clean will help prevent sickness while traveling to different places to enjoy yourself without feeling sick or getting anyone else sick.

Get a TSA Precheck Membership if possible.

TSA Prechecks allow passengers who have been pre-screened to go through security without removing shoes, jackets, or belts. It’s a great way to save time at the airport and get on your flight hassle-free.

Take pictures of your luggage.

If something happens to your luggage while away, having pictures of it will speed up getting your belongings back. Plus, if you don’t have any photos and can’t remember what was in your suitcase or bag, someone else at the airport may be able to help you out.

Have a hassle-free vacation.

Whether you’re looking to save money on your next vacation, get more out of the experience or make sure that everything goes as planned, these travel hacks should help. Use them and avoid those embarrassing moments where you can’t find an outlet at the airport or can’t get any sleep because the person next to you is snoring.

While traveling abroad is exciting and brings all kinds of new memories home, sometimes things go wrong–but that doesn’t mean they have to stay like that! With some simple planning ahead of time (and maybe even one or two items from this list), you’ll be able to enjoy yourself without worrying about anything going wrong.