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Favorite travel tips/tricks/hacks?

Posted by PapaDels User icon on November 5, 2026, 10:35:21

I feel the need to improve our travel habits. With the nest empty we plan to do more. What are the things you do / own that make travel easier / more enjoyable? Anything from favorite portable charger to packing to how you plan and book.

I have schweppervessence and wessonality.
Live your best life, and leave other people alone as they try to do the same.
I am 31 flavors and then some.

A few things, some repeated ones from below others new

Posted by ATL User icon on November 5, 2026, 18:50:42, in reply to "Favorite travel tips/tricks/hacks? "

1. Create a travel go bag with a charger and cables you need for charging your electronics. Each traveler should have one.
2. Packing cubes.
3. The US 120V plugs on planes suck so take advantage of the fact that they’re universal ports and use a travel plug converter to charge on planes. Anker has a slim one with 2 USB C charging ports.
4. Pick a preferred airline that works for you and get their credit card to increase upgrade likelihood, improve award ticket availability, and reduce your baggage fees. Stick with the same airline or alliance to maximize your points and improve your experience due to loyalty.
5. Think about a cards and points strategy that aligns with your preferred airline. For example Amex is the only one that transfers directly to Delta but others transfer to Virgin and AF/KLM which can book delta flights often for fewer points.
6. I prefer to go to the airport early and avoid the stress of potentially missing a flight. Lounge access makes that much nicer. Consider a card with priority pass or an airline card that gives you access to their lounge if you travel regularly.
7. AirTag your bags. I use Elevation Labs’ AirTag holders to fix them on my bags.
8. If you travel a lot get good luggage. I have Briggs and Riley. The TravelPro Platinum line recommended below is also pretty good.
9. Don’t be afraid to check bags. I have checked bags on every single flight for probably two decades and I fly a lot for somebody who’s not a consultant. In that time I think they’ve lost my bags one time. Checking bags substantially reduces stress at the airport.
10. Consider a membership to a site like Thrifty Traveler.

I’m sure I’ll think of more.

“We are old and tired and just want to be taken care of.” - Republican voter, Dec. 2024.

We’ve saved hundreds or even thousands by taking long layovers in European hubs. We explore cities

Posted by ATL User icon on November 5, 2026, 19:45:31, in reply to "A few things, some repeated ones from below others new"

that way. Did AMS on the way to Croatia and LHR on this trip to Asia. On this trip it had the added benefit of reducing jet lag. European airports will hold your bag for a few bucks and public transport makes it easy to get into the city.

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“We are old and tired and just want to be taken care of.” - Republican voter, Dec. 2024.

Good call. An overnight in Amsterdam is fun*

Posted by Nobster User icon on November 5, 2026, 19:59:31, in reply to "We’ve saved hundreds or even thousands by taking long layovers in European hubs. We explore cities "

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We did 8 hours. So checked our carry ons for safekeeping, boarded the train and hit the museums

Posted by ATL User icon on November 5, 2026, 20:49:07, in reply to "Good call. An overnight in Amsterdam is fun*"

we just did the Van Gogh as I’d been to the Rijksmuseum already.

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“We are old and tired and just want to be taken care of.” - Republican voter, Dec. 2024.

TL;DR*

Posted by bbonb User icon on November 5, 2026, 18:58:19, in reply to "A few things, some repeated ones from below others new"

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Anybody had any luck using AI to find low airfares?

Posted by DT User icon on November 5, 2026, 13:01:07, in reply to "Favorite travel tips/tricks/hacks? "

I’m hoping to plan an anniversary trip next year and was wondering if any AI tools could work to do all the tedious trolling through airline websites trying different permutations to find low fare date combinations.

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yes*

Posted by bbonb User icon on November 5, 2026, 18:02:25, in reply to "Anybody had any luck using AI to find low airfares?"

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my brother sort of did. instead of a lower fare per se, he got an itinerary for a greece trip that

Posted by torinese User icon on November 5, 2026, 13:08:40, in reply to "Anybody had any luck using AI to find low airfares?"

allowed him to add a madrid visit on the return end for the same price.

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i don't know how the prices are now, but if you travel a lot, the travelpro platinum elite line is

Posted by torinese User icon on November 5, 2026, 12:35:17, in reply to "Favorite travel tips/tricks/hacks? "

awesome if you like 4 wheeled rollers. seem well made, and they glide though the airport.

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I like solgaard. compression closet. No zippers*

Posted by Nobster User icon on November 5, 2026, 20:04:46, in reply to "i don't know how the prices are now, but if you travel a lot, the travelpro platinum elite line is"

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awesome if you like 4 wheeled rollers. seem well made, and they glide though the airport.

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second this. they've also got a 2 wheel dragger, if that's your bag baby.*

Posted by illinibone User icon on November 5, 2026, 18:23:12, in reply to "i don't know how the prices are now, but if you travel a lot, the travelpro platinum elite line is"

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awesome if you like 4 wheeled rollers. seem well made, and they glide though the airport.

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Step 3 - Add/modify user list

I’ll put this here. Spring break travel prices are bonkers

Posted by CWR10 User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:30:44, in reply to "Favorite travel tips/tricks/hacks? "

Starting to shop around warm weather options and it’s like $800pp airfare + $600+ a night for a middling Marriott resort. I ain’t paying that for a trip to fucking Florida.

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Last year we got $700 tickets to New Zealand with a 12 hour fun layover in sf*

Posted by Nobster User icon on November 5, 2026, 20:06:10, in reply to "I’ll put this here. Spring break travel prices are bonkers "

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Starting to shop around warm weather options and it’s like $800pp airfare + $600+ a night for a middling Marriott resort. I ain’t paying that for a trip to fucking Florida.

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All travel prices are bonkers. Prices of everything are bonkers. We just had an election about it. *

Posted by doubledown User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:51:17, in reply to "I’ll put this here. Spring break travel prices are bonkers "

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Starting to shop around warm weather options and it’s like $800pp airfare + $600+ a night for a middling Marriott resort. I ain’t paying that for a trip to fucking Florida.

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Personally, I’d be fine never going to FLA ever again. (nm)

Posted by Waka User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:42:32, in reply to "I’ll put this here. Spring break travel prices are bonkers "

🤷🤷🤷

I've been all over that state; Jacksonville to Key West, Pensacola to West Palm

Posted by KingTalkyTiki User icon on November 5, 2026, 12:38:31, in reply to "Personally, I’d be fine never going to FLA ever again. (nm)"

Gainesville to Ft Myers and all points in between..and I'm fine with never going back. It's as if Fox News was its own state...

Hell, after Tuesday, I'd be MUCH more likely go to Texas than there, something I never thought I'd say.

LBK would like to take a short cruise in the spring and my main sticking point is they all leave from Florida, and I'll be damned if I'm going there even for a night.

"You must own the honor of being the whitest, military vet, fat, multiple state property owner but most of all the one who hates their own country the most in our country."

I don’t disagree but it is reliably warm in March and is easy with young kids

Posted by CWR10 User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:50:44, in reply to "Personally, I’d be fine never going to FLA ever again. (nm)"

Before kids, there are thousands of places I’d look to first

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🤷🤷🤷

Valid. Much different equation. (nm)

Posted by Waka User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:57:20, in reply to "I don’t disagree but it is reliably warm in March and is easy with young kids "

Don't marry mrs. Effin...she's a horrible overpacker.

Posted by EffinIllini User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:29:58, in reply to "Favorite travel tips/tricks/hacks? "

...and has converted me to one as well and I hate it but can't help myself.

Probably doesn't help that we often take trips with different sets of goals in mind, which results in packing way too much clothing.

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Also, IMO, driving is preferred to flying to a vacation destination within ~12 hours.

Posted by EffinIllini User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:38:04, in reply to "Don't marry mrs. Effin...she's a horrible overpacker."

Maybe it's the Midwesterner in me, but I like having my own vehicle, stuff, and not dealing with airports.

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yeah no*

Posted by Tortillini User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:39:32, in reply to "Also, IMO, driving is preferred to flying to a vacation destination within ~12 hours."

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Maybe it's the Midwesterner in me, but I like having my own vehicle, stuff, and not dealing with airports.

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You also likely don't live almost 2 hours from the nearest airport to add 4 hours to a round trip.

Posted by EffinIllini User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:51:16, in reply to "yeah no*"

My wife flew to visit a friend in South Carolina last week. We've driven the route door to door in about 10 hours. She flew STL to GSP with a 70 minute layover in BNA. She left our house at 12:30 PM CDT and arrived at their house 10:15 EDT, 8:45 of travel in which she almost missed her connecting flight because the door on the plane landing at BNA wouldn't open.

On the way home, the best flight we could get had a 4 hour layover at BWI. So she left their house about 6:30 AM EDT and got home at 5:30 PM CDT, about 90-120 minutes longer than it has taken us to drive.

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Maybe it's the Midwesterner in me, but I like having my own vehicle, stuff, and not dealing with airports.

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Indeed I do not.*

Posted by Tortillini User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:54:57, in reply to "You also likely don't live almost 2 hours from the nearest airport to add 4 hours to a round trip."

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Maybe it's the Midwesterner in me, but I like having my own vehicle, stuff, and not dealing with airports.

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I may have a different opinion if we lived closer to a major airport.*

Posted by EffinIllini User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:59:15, in reply to "Indeed I do not.*"

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Maybe it's the Midwesterner in me, but I like having my own vehicle, stuff, and not dealing with airports.

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Samesies. I can get to ORD in like 45 mins on CTA. (nm)

Posted by Waka User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:56:28, in reply to "Indeed I do not.*"

When Mrs Mishawaka and I started dating, we went to OK to visit with her family.

Posted by Waka User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:50:20, in reply to "yeah no*"

She asked me how I wanted to get there and proposed that we could drive. I got a good laugh out of that. Of course we’ll fly, cmon.

But to Effin’s point, 6ish hours is probably my cutoff to drive vs fly just based on the time spent getting to the airport, flying, and then getting a rental car or figuring out transportation on the other end.

Backpack or small bag with trolley sleeve for secure stacking on your luggage*

Posted by CWR10 User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:27:03, in reply to "Favorite travel tips/tricks/hacks? "

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I tend to find the lowest flight prices on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. And if you are

Posted by BradUnderwoodforprez User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:11:52, in reply to "Favorite travel tips/tricks/hacks? "

Shopping for flight do it from incognito mode on your browser.

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Get Global Entry or TSA Precheck if you don’t already have it. It makes the security process

Posted by Waka User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:04:18, in reply to "Favorite travel tips/tricks/hacks? "

much less of a PITA. TSA Precheck is $77 for 5 years, money well spent IMO.

and if you go int'l once, the global entry over just precheck is usually worth it.

Posted by torinese User icon on November 5, 2026, 12:28:35, in reply to "Get Global Entry or TSA Precheck if you don’t already have it. It makes the security process"

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much less of a PITA. TSA Precheck is $77 for 5 years, money well spent IMO.

You can get away with a lot of contraband if you pack a giant dildo on top. *

Posted by doubledown User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:03:32, in reply to "Favorite travel tips/tricks/hacks? "

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Plus, with the new wave scanners, you can't get away with hiding it ... uh ... on your person.

Posted by complainant User icon on November 5, 2026, 12:38:34, in reply to "You can get away with a lot of contraband if you pack a giant dildo on top. *"

Or so I've heard.

That’s not my bag, baby.*

Posted by DocWalk20 User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:14:15, in reply to "You can get away with a lot of contraband if you pack a giant dildo on top. *"

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keep a separate set of cables/adapters in whatever personal bag you take

Posted by IlliniSax05 User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:03:15, in reply to "Favorite travel tips/tricks/hacks? "

ie, a backpack or whatever that can fit under the seat in front of you (in case you have to gate check your larger carry on). So you know it's always there and you don't have to worry about forgetting to pack cables.

Similar if you have any medical necessities. I have a small makeup-case sized bag in my backpack to organize stuff. and again I know I can keep it with me in case my larger carry on gets checked.

packing cubes. They help condense things to save space. and pack socks inside any shoes.

Why do you hate me, Sammich?

MAJOR UPDATE: "Maybe you're not such a bad egg, Lisle-y"
-Sammich, 1/15/2011

Along those lines, get a 6 ft charging cable*

Posted by Herman Blume User icon on November 5, 2026, 12:58:49, in reply to "keep a separate set of cables/adapters in whatever personal bag you take"

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If you take any international trips the single use disposable tooth brush thingies are great

Posted by IlliniSax05 User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:07:04, in reply to "keep a separate set of cables/adapters in whatever personal bag you take"

for when you land in whatever country

these things

Why do you hate me, Sammich?

MAJOR UPDATE: "Maybe you're not such a bad egg, Lisle-y"
-Sammich, 1/15/2011

what? this seems like a waste. how much space does a toothbrush take?*

Posted by torinese User icon on November 5, 2026, 12:33:33, in reply to "If you take any international trips the single use disposable tooth brush thingies are great"

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for when you land in whatever country

these things

I find this easier to use on the plane when I wake up from the overnight trip

Posted by IlliniSax05 User icon on November 5, 2026, 12:42:38, in reply to "what? this seems like a waste. how much space does a toothbrush take?*"

or in an airport bathroom or something. this helps to freshen up when I first arrive.

of course I take my normal toothbrush with me for the rest of the trip

Why do you hate me, Sammich?

MAJOR UPDATE: "Maybe you're not such a bad egg, Lisle-y"
-Sammich, 1/15/2011

unless your bags are already easily identifiable make sure to put something on to make them so

Posted by IlliniSax05 User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:17:05, in reply to "If you take any international trips the single use disposable tooth brush thingies are great"

like a brightly colored luggage tag (I have orange Illinois tags on mine). helps if you need to pick them up at baggage claim

Why do you hate me, Sammich?

MAJOR UPDATE: "Maybe you're not such a bad egg, Lisle-y"
-Sammich, 1/15/2011

What’s a baggage claim?*

Posted by Herman Blume User icon on November 5, 2026, 12:59:32, in reply to "unless your bags are already easily identifiable make sure to put something on to make them so"

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like a brightly colored luggage tag (I have orange Illinois tags on mine). helps if you need to pick them up at baggage claim

AirTag luggage; vacuum pack clothing; bring disposable slippers; most importantly

Posted by bbonb User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:01:55, in reply to "Favorite travel tips/tricks/hacks? "

lay out all the clothes you think you’ll need for the trip, then reduce them 50%

1pr of underwear for every four days on travel*

Posted by timmer User icon on November 5, 2026, 12:03:52, in reply to "AirTag luggage; vacuum pack clothing; bring disposable slippers; most importantly "

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lay out all the clothes you think you’ll need for the trip, then reduce them 50%

(for rent)

Dumb question re: vacuum packing clothing.

Posted by EffinIllini User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:56:57, in reply to "AirTag luggage; vacuum pack clothing; bring disposable slippers; most importantly "

What do you do on the other end of the trip to vacuum pack clothes for the way home? Or do the bags have their own pump?

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lay out all the clothes you think you’ll need for the trip, then reduce them 50%

compression bags do the same without a vacuum. just squeeze the air out. i believe wirecutter liked

Posted by torinese User icon on November 5, 2026, 12:27:58, in reply to "Dumb question re: vacuum packing clothing."

the eagle brand?

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What do you do on the other end of the trip to vacuum pack clothes for the way home? Or do the bags have their own pump?

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lay out all the clothes you think you’ll need for the trip, then reduce them 50%

I’ve done both. Prefer the vacuum*

Posted by bbonb User icon on November 5, 2026, 18:48:46, in reply to "compression bags do the same without a vacuum. just squeeze the air out. i believe wirecutter liked "

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the eagle brand?

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What do you do on the other end of the trip to vacuum pack clothes for the way home? Or do the bags have their own pump?

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lay out all the clothes you think you’ll need for the trip, then reduce them 50%

the bags come with a rechargeable vacuum. Amazon. About $30*

Posted by bbonb User icon on November 5, 2026, 12:26:49, in reply to "Dumb question re: vacuum packing clothing."

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What do you do on the other end of the trip to vacuum pack clothes for the way home? Or do the bags have their own pump?

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lay out all the clothes you think you’ll need for the trip, then reduce them 50%

if going to the beach or on a cruise, bring towel clips to keep your towel from blowing

Posted by bbonb User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:09:08, in reply to "AirTag luggage; vacuum pack clothing; bring disposable slippers; most importantly "

away. Or just bring chip clips

Packing cubes. *

Posted by doubledown User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:01:49, in reply to "Favorite travel tips/tricks/hacks? "

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take laundry bag from hotel room

Posted by Poldark User icon on November 5, 2026, 10:54:35, in reply to "Favorite travel tips/tricks/hacks? "

keep it and use it to separate your dirty laundry from clean laundry on future trips.

Social Misfit who wants to coach Illinois women's basketball.

"The game was fun and glad that Fitzee decided he'd had enough football and wanted to go slap asses in the shower room."

Get to the airport early and then you can relax post-security while awaiting your flight*

Posted by bjl63 User icon on November 5, 2026, 10:53:05, in reply to "Favorite travel tips/tricks/hacks? "

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Diff’rent strokes and all, but I find nothing about the airport experience relaxing.

Posted by Waka User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:11:24, in reply to "Get to the airport early and then you can relax post-security while awaiting your flight*"

I try to get to security about an hour before my flight leaves. With Precheck, that’s enough time to get through security and get to my gate by the time the flight is boarding.

I know most people like sitting down and having some drinks before a trip, that just doesn’t do it for me.

pack less*

Posted by torinese User icon on November 5, 2026, 10:37:34, in reply to "Favorite travel tips/tricks/hacks? "

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My Wife and I try to book airbnbs that have a washer + dryer.

Posted by Waka User icon on November 5, 2026, 11:14:24, in reply to "pack less*"

That helps me pack less for longer trips especially.

we started that when we had small kids for that reason and proper dining space*

Posted by torinese User icon on November 5, 2026, 12:27:06, in reply to "My Wife and I try to book airbnbs that have a washer + dryer."

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That helps me pack less for longer trips especially.

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