Travel hacks

Ted. Over the last year and a half, I have come across a few little tricks that help us to have better experiences and save a bit of money. Many concern travel outside the US but some are for travel anywhere. I will share them and hope that you`may find one or two to be helpful.

Airline flights

Google.com/flights

When you enter your departure city and destination, google flights lists the airlines, approximate fares and who does nonstop (always my preference). Once we decide on our dates, I shop the airlines directly for times and dates for best rates and then book right away. I try to avoid early departures, late arrivals and connecting flights.

Seatguru.com

I use this site to select our seats for each flight.

Airline credit cards

You get a pile of miles to join and then accumulate miles when you use them. You also get to check bags for free. After the first year, you usually pay $95/year but, in our case, the benefits far outweigh the costs.  

Accommodations

Airbnb.com

We usually book long term stays at this site but also check out Homeaway.com. Our main criteria are price, location and reviews. For quick stays or in certain instances, we book hotels or B&B’s. Note that you usually get small discounts for weekly stays, and big discounts for monthly stays.

sleepinginairports.net

When we do have to arrive at an airport late or depart early, I often book a hotel right at the airport. They are usually nice, quiet and surprisingly affordable. You can quickly find out the nearest ones at sleepinginairports.net. This is also a great source for info on wifi, dining, lounges and other services at airports around the world.

Tripadvisor.com

I always check out prospective hotels here. I list by ratings and then scroll down to find an affordable one in the neighborhood I want. If I am concerned about the neighborhood, I walk it virtually using “street view” on googlemaps.

Booking.com

I find this to be a reliable website with good rates and great customer service if there is ever a problem. Sometimes the rates are better here and sometimes better when booking direct with the hotel.

Prepaying

We prepay for the room if the savings are good.

Hotel loyalty plans

I mostly use IHG properties (Holiday Inn, etc) in the US and around the world. We occasionally get little extras and have had several room upgrades. After a while, you can get free rooms with the points.

Rental Cars

Enterprise.com

In the US and Canada, this is the only company I use. The prices are usually the lowest, they have lots of locations and customer service is great (free pickup and delivery). As a loyalty member, I usually get free upgrades. In Europe I use Europcar.

Book in town

Renting cars at airports is very expensive because of added taxes. Sometimes it cannot be avoided but if possible, take a taxi or public transportation into town and rent there. You can save $20 - $50/day!

Consider prepaying

As with hotels, sometimes you can save a bit.

Check the rates again a week beforehand

Rates fluctuate. Sometimes (if you didn’t prepay) you can save money by making another reservation and then cancelling the first one.

Take photos of your car

When you pick your car up, take photos of any blemishes so you can document they were there before you took possession. If you return your car after office hours and can’t do a walk around with a rep, take photos of each side documenting it was in good shape when dropped off.

General

Senior discounts

If you are 65, always ask for a senior discount wherever you go. In some countries, they don’t offer this to Americans but it never hurts to ask. The savings (like trains in Spain and buses in France) are substantial.

Museum free days

Check the websites. Lots of museums have free days or evenings.

Public transportation

We often use Uber but it is not available in every city. City buses and subways can often be a simple and cheap way to get around - especially for seniors. There is lots of info available online so arrive informed. We only use taxis when we need to get downtown from the airport and there are no good alternatives.

Use your camera to make notes

If you see a train schedule, concert poster or anything you want to remember, take a photo. If a church is closed but has the hours posted, take a photo. I even take a photo of my car’s location in a parking garage.

Tipping

Tipping policies really vary from one country to the next. Just google “tipping policy in…” for advice.

Things to do

We rarely travel with a guidebook. When we want to know what towns to visit in a certain area or what to do in a certain town, we usually check out one or more of the following websites; tripadvisor.com, lonelyplanet.com, roughguides.com and ricksteves.com. Want to visualize a place you are considering? Just type in a city or country in YouTube and you’ll be amazed how many good videos are out there.

Say “Thank You”

When traveling in a country where they speak another language, at least learn how they say “Thank You.” It’s the quickest way to get a smile.

Google translate

You can download an app for google translate (or another translator) into your phone to help with on the spot translations. This is especially useful in a train station after midnight.