17 Best Travel Hacks I Personally Use as a Full-Time Traveler

I’ve been a full-time traveler since 2016, which means I’ve had plenty of time to make mistakes and learn from them. And I’ve also been able to figure out some of the best travel hacks that have made my life a whole lot easier.

From packing hacks for travel to figuring out the most enjoyable way to get from Point A to Point B, I’ve been able to make traveling just a bit easier (and more fun). The travel day doesn’t have to be high stress and high drama. You really can arrive at your destination and not feel like you need a vacation from your vacation.

And if you plan on traveling in 2026, then I have a few tips and tricks that’ll make packing, airport time, airplane travel, destination exploration, and other travel logistics a lot simpler.

This is my quick playbook for keeping things chill on travel days, so scroll, write a few of these travel hacks down, and enjoy your vacation!

Related: 5 of my best pieces of advice on how to travel on a budget.

1. Always Negotiate Airbnb Rates

If you’re staying in an Airbnb, then make sure you’re always negotiating the rate. This allows you to stay in prettier spaces and nicer neighborhoods for a whole lot less money.

Will you get people saying “no”? Yes. But will you also find people who are willing to bargain with you? Also yes.

Here’s how to do it right:

1. Always be polite; the old saying “you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar” is right. Here’s an example of a kind + polite message you could send, “Hello [insert host’s name], I was looking at your place and would love to stay for [insert amount of time]. However, the price is just a bit too expensive for me. My nightly budget would be [insert price]. Would this be something you’d be willing to work with? If not, then I completely understand. Thanks!”
2. Decide on a specific (low) number instead of letting the Airbnb host decide on a discount rate. If you start off a bit lower than what you’d actually be willing to pay, this will make it so that you have more room to negotiate a smaller price. Also, sometimes the host will be willing to work with that first low price you asked for. You just never know.
3. Even if the Airbnb host does say no to the first and second price you ask for, you can always finish things off with, “Would it be possible to come down just a bit more in price?” Sometimes the host might not like the rates you’re asking for, but they will be willing to give a special discount that they think is fair.

And that’s it! This really is one of my favorite travel tips on this list because I’ve been able to stay in some amazing locations for a whole lot less.

2. Pack Snacks Intentionally

If you’re packing your own food, then I know how easy it can be to grab your favorite comfort snacks for the flight. Or maybe you’re just gonna depend on whatever snacks or dishes the airline provides.

But I would highly recommend packing healthy + very tasty snacks for your flight.

So think dark chocolate, your favorite nuts (I love pistachios and walnuts), dates, your favorite healthy bars/chips/cookies, personalized trail mix, or anything else that you see at the store that looks nutritious plus fun to eat.

You’re going to be satisfied, feel better when you arrive, and even save money.

Last travel tip when it comes to packing food: Don’t just think about your health, think about quality too. So for instance, airline coffee is pretty bad so you can just keep some Trader Joe’s instant coffee in your bag or purse and ask for hot water on the plane.

3. Only Bring a Carry-On

Packing travel hacks are one of the best ways to kill stress on a travel day, and one of my top packing tips is to only use a carry-on.

For one, it makes it so that you’re never waiting at the luggage carousel and you can just grab an Uber to get to your Airbnb or hotel and relax. But it also helps you figure out what you legit wanna bring.

My husband and I used to pack two carry-ons and two huge travel backpacks, and we kind of hated our lives. We had way more than we needed, and we realized how very few things we actually used or wore.

And when you only use carry-ons, it forces you to actually be thoughtful and intentional with what you’re packing. It makes you look at each item on your packing list and think, “Will I really need this on my 1 week vacation?”

4. Read Tips for Your Travel Location on Reddit

One of my favorite things to do before heading to a travel location is to Google “[insert destination] travel tips Reddit.” You’ll normally see people asking for really good recommendations that aren’t just the usual famous landmarks or eateries.

I love finding good tapas bars, beautiful historic spots, pretty roads, and scenic locations that locals and non-locals both highly recommend. Oh, and if you wanna know what to avoid or the best times to check out a certain spot, Redditors are great for that too.

Also, I accumulated some of my favorite Reddit answers for different travel locations if you wanna check them out!

• People Are Sharing Their Favorite Things to Do in Paris (And It Doesn’t Disappoint)
• 14 Real Traveler-Approved Things to Do in Edinburgh
• Real People Share What’s Actually Worth Doing in London
• 12 Things to Do in Barcelona That Travelers Say Are Totally Worth It
• 10 Things to Do in Tokyo (According to People Who’ve Been There)
• Things to Do in Rome: 11 Real Tips from Travelers Who Loved It

5. Look Up Airport Lounge Rates

If you have a long layover in an airport, then I would definitely recommend checking out the prices for lounges.

I used to think that lounges were ridiculously expensive and didn’t give them an extra thought. But then one year my husband and I decided to ask how much it would be for the day and were pleasantly surprised. I think we spent around $50-$60 for the both of us, and while you might think, “That’s not a small amount of money,” let’s break this down.

We were gonna be at the Brussel Airport for hours (I think it was 7-8 hours) which meant we’d probably both eat at least 2 meals each, and we all know how expensive airport food is. Also, we had a place to sleep, a quiet place to work, and we never had a shortage of good food and nice drinks. All in all, I’d say we saved money and had a much better travel experience.

6. Join Local Facebook Groups

Whether you wanna meet up with locals and try spots only locals go to, or you want advice from people who have lived in that location for years, Facebook groups are a great place to ask your questions.

Just look up the name of that city or country on Facebook and filter it for groups.

7. Hydrate On the Days Leading Up to a Long Flight

As stated by Clinic Barcelona, “You should drink water regularly before, during and after your flight. Liquid loss can worsen jet lag symptoms and affect sleep quality.”

So while you can enjoy that nice coffee in the lounge or at a good coffee shop on the way to the airport, make sure you’re staying hydrated!

8. Book the Red Eye for Long Haul Flights

This is definitely one of my favorite travel hacks for long flights.

You take off around 9:30 PM, they feed you dinner around an hour later, lights get turned off, you sleep on the plane, and then you wake up 1 hour and 30 minutes out from your destination.

It’s kind of like you bought tickets for a 3 hour flight instead of an 8 hour flight.

9. Keep All In-Flight Essentials Easily Findable

Whether it’s in your purse or a small tote bag, keeping essentials like cords, portable chargers, and snacks is one of the best traveling hacks.

You’ll never need to get up out of your seat to rummage through your suitcase while on a flight.

10. Send Your Flight Number

It doesn’t matter if it’s a cousin, an in-law, or your dad picking you up, you can just text them your flight number so they can keep tabs on the status of your flight.

We used to give updates to whoever was picking us up at the airport. But now, as long as they have our flight number, they can just look up gate information, delays, and other important details. It doesn’t matter if the airport you’re at has bad Wi-Fi and you can’t message them, they’ll always know what to expect.

Probably one of the most simple but helpful travel life hacks.

11. Wake Up at Dawn for One of the Days

I have a lot of good memories of waking up early in Taipei and just enjoying the quiet streets as the sun was rising. Or getting to relax in the stillness of the courtyard in a traditional Moroccan inn before all the photo-takers came out.

I know that sleeping in feels so nice during your time off, but I would highly recommend working in a sunrise walk at least once into your itinerary.

12. Take Trains When Possible

I’ve given plenty of travel hacks for flying, but now I’m gonna give one for train travel.

If you’re going to be traveling in between cities or countries while on vacation, see if there are any trains that go on scenic routes. I have so many good memories of traveling between Moroccan cities or taking trains from Istanbul to Vienna. Was it as fast as a plane ride? No, but I did get to see ancient villages, castles, and beautiful mountains.

13. Look Up the Airport Restaurants Ahead of Time

Airport and airplane food can sometimes be a bit questionable, so one thing I really like to do is look up the restaurants in my terminal ahead of time.

I can see what eateries, coffee shops, and snack stations have good reviews and ignore the others.

14. Pick Seats Where There’s Less Turbulence

If you kinda hate turbulence (like me) then this is something you’ll want on your list of travel hacks and tips.

Sitting by the wing or at the front of the plane is where you’ll experience the least amount of turbulence. Just make sure to avoid the back of the airplane because that’s where you’ll feel it the most.

15. Download the Local Apps

Whether it’s for getting around the city or finding new restaurants, I highly suggest downloading the apps locals use.

Sometimes Google Maps isn’t so accurate for certain locations, or there are apps that’ll make your trip more enjoyable. So do a bit of research, ask locals in forums and Facebook groups, and have your arsenal of apps ready before take off.

16. Download Your Travel Destination on Google Maps

Just in case you’re left without data, always download the map for the location you’re visiting on Google Maps. It’s a great way to have piece of mind just in case things go wrong and you can’t access the internet.

17. Wear All Your Heavier Pieces in the Airport

If there are pieces you wanna take that are bulky and take up a lot of room in your luggage, then I would wear them in the airport. Also, if they’re outerwear like coats or jackets, you can just drape them over your suitcase handle so you don’t overheat.

It’s a great way to not spend more on luggage if your suitcase happens to get weighed and they see that it’s too heavy.

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