As a frequent flyer and traveler, I have some tips and travel hacks for first-time travelers or those who want to optimize some of their strategies. Some airlines, such as Gulf Air, offer free layover tours, but you can also create your own. Traveling with carry-on bags only can save you money and waiting time at the luggage belt. Plus, your luggage won’t get lost unless you leave it on the plane.
Search Wikipedia for Alternative Airports and Airlines
Wikipedia has articles on every imaginable topic. One of them is airports. You can find information on international airports in a certain country, and on that airport’s site, you’ll find the names of local airlines that may not show up in the usual flight search engines, such as Skyscanner or Kayak, saving you some money for your trip.
Use Transits to Your Advantage
And see another country on the way 🙂
Have you ever failed to find a flight connection and price that appealed to you? I often only have a rough idea of where I want to travel next and I’m mostly open to adapt this idea for a good flight deal. Here’s another travel hack for you.
When I traveled to the Philippines in January 2024, I just couldn’t find a connection that was good value for money. As a digital nomad, I normally have enough time for long connections, but I’m frequently not in the mood to hang around Rome Fiumicino for 16 hours. So in this example, I bought a bargain flight to Kuwait via Istanbul with Pegasus, and took the most interesting day trip of this small country with a local guide, basically reinvesting my savings. But isn’t this so much better? The next leg was Kuwait to Manila via Bahrain with Gulf Air, allowing another short dip into a second Gulf country.
Hand Luggage Travel Hacks
Whenever I travel, I like to make a point of getting the best travel deals. But unless you opt for trains or busses, your luggage and hand luggage will be limited. When you fly, however, you can save a lot of money by flying only with hand luggage. I usually even manage to fit all my stuff into a personal item or at least a bag that sneakily passes as one.
Optimize Your Liquids
This may sound like the biggest challenge, but with a few small tips on the 100 ml rule on planes, you can fit all your products into a compact ziplock bag. My ultimate tip for traveling with hand luggage is using contact lens cases for creams, deodorant and other drugstore articles that you need in small quantities. I’ve also started bringing soap and shampoo bars because they don’t count as a liquid. For longer term traveling, you can always find some travel-sized or even full-size products that others left behind to refill yours. I love sifting through those free shelves and finding cool things that I didn’t know I wanted. One time I saw snail slime cream for rejuvenation but decided that this was one step too far. Would you have dared?
Wear a Coat and Use Its Pockets
The times of people wearing 10 layers to save money on low-cost carriers are long over, but I still like to reminisce about those days by making a point of wearing my scarf, sweatshirt and coat. My best tip for traveling with carry-on is to make good use of those pockets and stuff them with heavy or bulky items, such as a power bank or an apple. That way you’ll also have fast access to things you may need during the flight.
Go for a Square Bag
If you use a rectangle bag made from soft material, you’ll make the best use of your luggage allowance. I often see people traveling with school-style backpacks that aren’t very high but have a depth of almost the same length.