Frequent Travelers Reveal Their Best Travel Hacks—and Some Are Downright Genius

With the summer travel season quickly approaching, travelers may be on the lookout for tips and tricks to help things go smoothly.

In a viral new Reddit thread, travelers are sharing their top travel hacks they wish they had known sooner. From saving precious time and money, to clever ways of making long flights in economy more comfortable, there’s a travel tip for just about anyone. Best of all, there are quick tips for virtually every step of a traveler’s journey, from heading to the airport to checking out of a hotel.

First, when going through airport security, one traveler recommends placing all personal items such as a phone or wallet directly in your backpack or purse and not in the bowl or tray that moves through the security checkpoint. This prevents them from accidentally being knocked out, or caught in the machine. “The more loose items you have in a bin, the greater chance of missing something, especially if you feel hurried,” the frequent flier shared.

Travelers also recommended some of the top items they pack such as a travel fan, which offers cool air in warm climates and also creates white noise. Another traveler recommended packing a beach ball, which can be partially inflated and double as a pillow on an airplane, and then be used for a fun activity on the beach.

The thread also recommends immediately going on a free walking tour upon landing in an international destination to get a lay of the land and also stretch the legs after a long flight.

While phones and computers can connect travelers to all of their reservations, having a backup copy on paper can be helpful to prevent getting caught off guard. “Physically print out all reservation information and a small map with directions from train station to accommodation and keep in manilla envelope in my backpack,” one traveler shared in the thread, a tip that they say has helped when the internet went out or even if an electronic device battery dies.

While most of the tips focused on convenience and time saving, some of the travel hacks also can help save money. One traveler recommends choosing a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, which can quickly add up when traveling abroad.

The top travel tip, with over 400 upvotes, is keeping a travel bag with toothbrush, toothpaste, sunscreen, and other daily necessities ready to go, and not dipping into that bag when back at home. While it may seem obvious, many travelers will use the same toiletry bag throughout their day to day, which can mean items go empty faster and have to be restocked.

For hotels and Airbnbs, several users shared tips such as using clothing hanger clips to help keep curtains shut tightly, which keeps the sunlight or streetlights out of the room. Travelers also recommend pulling out the ironing board to be used as an extra shelf and storage space in a small room.

Multiple travelers also shared the wise advice of packing less, and not packing for “what if” scenarios. The lighter suitcase will make the journey more pleasant and easy, according to multiple posts.

One final tip, which is also a Travel + Leisure favorite travel hack, encourages hotel guests to put a shoe in the safe with their passport and belongings so they don’t accidentally leave their valuables behind when checking out.