Often, travel plans come with stress. I mean lotssss of stress.
You have to know the details of your flight. You must buy your tickets on time. You also have to spend within your budget. If not, you end up messing up your travel plans.
Following plans is crucial especially when traveling in a group (which I rarely do unless it’s a modeling assignment). You won’t only think of yourself. You also have to think about the rest of the people who go with you.
It’s also tricky to pull off an impromptu vacation if you don’t have a plan in mind. When flying to a foreign land or taking a cruise, you must come up with a plan. So I never travel without a plan. It’s like suicide I tell you.
Traveling by plane or sailing through waters is different than having an overnight stay somewhere close to Barcelona. Thus, you must be aware of a few smart travel tips to lead your group to safety effectively.
Here are some of my travel hacks and must-do to plan and enjoy a spontaneous travel itinerary.
Smart travel tips
1. Subscribe to airline and cruise line websites and their newsletters
Newsletters do not only exist to fill your inbox or to remind you of the subscription you never use. In reality, they exist to bring you the latest news on the brand.
Airlines and cruise lines often issue flash sales and exclusive deals for members only. I take advantage of these deals.
It’s highly useful to sign up to their websites especially if you wish to take a trip but don’t want to think about it in detail.
You can catch airfares and travel bundles in prices that are usually reserved for the last-minute traveler.
Even when I don’t have a travel date in mind, I signed up with flight and hotel booking alerts. It helps me identify the best time to purchase tickets and reserve a room for me to enjoy the duration of my stay.
2. Talk to a travel agent
If I want to take off the stress of planning my trip and organizing my itinerary, then I ask help from a travel agent. I think I have a good network of local travel agents that DM me when something good’s coming up.
Remember, they are experts when it comes to getting the best seats in the house to picking the best routes that allow you to see all the places you wish to visit within the day.
They also understand the ins and outs of booking travels. Therefore, they can assist you in case you get lost among the haze of picking a resort, the airline and looking on how to minimize the costs you incur when you transfer from the airport to the hotel.
Travel agents are the most experienced on bookings and bargaining to get the best prices for their clients like me. With these, they probably have connections you don’t have.
You can leverage these resources by reaching a travel agency near you.
Don’t worry about reservations. Most travel agencies are happy to serve walk-in customers. But, be prepared. Though the fee is manageable, it can bloat your travel expenses.
3. Browse booking sites using the incognito window
Computer programs are now getting smart. I/we should know.
The applications you use and websites you visit can track and keep a record of your browsing habits. It’s not a coincidence that you see the same things or if the same product pops up while you are reading an important piece.
Now that you are aware of this, it’s time for you to be smart about your browsing habits.
When comparing prices, I use the incognito window of my browser. Browsing in incognito prevents the computer from saving data and other information relevant to my browsing experience.
It won’t record the history of my search queries either. Hence, I can book a room or a ticket at the base price.
4. Think about getting a one-way ticket
Sometimes, purchasing separate tickets is much better for you than having roundtrip tickets.
In some instances, when I combine the price of two one-way tickets, I usually find that they are cheaper than returning flights.
You should check out the costs of one-way flights from different airlines to see which one can help you save more when traveling.
If you fly overseas, you should save your proof of return flight and check-in at border control. Make a copy and ensure you have itineraries and receipts.
Smart travelers don’t only think of the present. They also foresee future events.
Though you are going on a cruise or flying without a plan, you must still ensure your passport, tickets, and other supporting documents are ready to prevent any delays.
