If you want to travel more, learning new travels hacks is going to become your new favorite thing to do!
What’s up Lost Travelers!
Every serial traveler knows that a good travel hack can save you hundreds of dollars, eliminate hassle or headaches while traveling, and aid you in your overall travel experience, during and after your trip. So, to get you right, today I will be sharing 6 Travel Hacks that’ll change the travel game for any Solo Traveler.
1. Clean Yo House
This first travel hack is to be done before you even leave for your trip! Please Clean Yo House!! 🙏🏾
If you’re anything like me, I’m sure you have extra clothes, products, gear, and some mo-stuff that didn’t make it into your suitcase, but is thrown all-around your room.
There ain’t nothing like coming home to a clean and fresh house after a long vacation.
When you finally walk through your front door after a long travel day, you want to be able to kick off your shoes, throw your bags to the side somewhere and just sit down and relax for a second!
So yeah… Clean That House Folks!
2. Onward Ticket
Many times, solo travelers often purchase a one-way ticket to their destination without a return flight. We tend to do this when we don’t necessarily have an end date for our travels or know where we're going next.
The problem with this is that airlines require you to have a return flight when you are traveling internationally… which I didn’t know at the beginning of my travel journey. 😒
When I was in Miami for my layover, on my way to Cartagena Colombia, I learned about this the hard way. I showed up at the airport and got all the way to my gate. When it was time to board, the ticket agent asked me for proof of my return flight and I did not have it.
She literally told me that I had 12 minutes to book a return flight or I was not permitted on the plane.
Long story short, I missed that flight because I was so flustered, I didn’t even know where to book the flight to, and time ran out for me.
She ended up rescheduling me for the next available flight, which was 3 days later! I was stuck in Miami and had to book an Airbnb for those days.
After sharing this story with another solo traveler, she told me about a company called Onward Ticket.
When you use Onward Ticket, you pay a simple $14 fee for a 100% real reservation from a legit travel agency. Your reservation will be good for 48 hours, which is more than enough time to present it to a ticket agent or immigration. If you need more time with your reservation, you can extend it up to 2-weeks.
3. The Ribbon Trick
When traveling internationally, you will often be advised not to drink any tap water. This also means you should not use tap water to brush your teeth.
When I traveled to Egypt, I was advised not to drink tap water. Although I did not drink the water, I was constantly using the tap water to brush my teeth at my hotel.
After a few days, I started experiencing the worst stomach pain. I was constantly running to the bathroom and let’s just say there was some not-so-pleasant stuff coming out of both ends!!! TMI…?? 🤢🤮😷
I felt so sick to my stomach, I couldn’t even stand up. I even had to cancel one of my excursions because the pain was so bad.
After explaining my symptoms to my tour guide, he asked me if I had been using the tap water for anything. That was the moment I realized that even brushing my teeth with the water was a big no-no!
To avoid this, I started using the Ribbon Trick.
All you have to do is tie a piece of ribbon or string around the faucet in the bathrooms so every time you see it you will be reminded NOT TO PUT THE TAP WATER IN YOUR MOUTH AT ALL.
4. Put Your Flight On Layaway
Flights to your favorite destinations can be expensive, but there are ways to make them affordable, no matter what the price!
Many airlines and third-party travel agencies now offer travelers the option to book now and pay later. This allows you to secure your flights and pay for them in affordable monthly installments.
You will see airlines and travel agencies such as United, Delta, Southwest, Lufthansa, Alaska Airlines, Volaris, Priceline, and many more offering this option.
Now, when using this option through the airline, many of them will do a soft credit check to see if you are approved before you’re able to take advantage of this.
If your credit is not the best, another option would be a company called Airfordable.
Airdordable allows you to book your flight for a fraction of the upfront cost. They create a payment schedule for you, which you will see and agree to before finalizing your payment plan.
Airfordable does charge a one-time service fee, however, they do not run a credit check... so you’re APPROVED!!
If you are interested in using Airfordable to book your next flight on layaway click here. You’ll get $25 off your first booking just by signing up.
Make sure to read the FAQ before booking so you have a full understanding of how their process works.
5. Purchase A SIM Card
If you are traveling internationally, you should definitely purchase a SIM card for your cell phone once you arrive at your destination. I would suggest that you do this before you exit the airport. Just look around for the kiosk. They are always there!
This is important because when you arrive at your destination, there is a big chance that your service will not work. Not all airports offer free wifi and you don’t want to find yourself stuck with no service. You won’t be able to pull up directions to your accommodations or order an Uber amongst many other things.
6. Always Bring Cash
Before you leave for your trip, make sure you have some cash on you. If you wait to hit up an ATM when you arrive at your destination, you could find yourself in a bind. You may go to the ATM and find that your bank is declining your transaction. This happens a lot. 😅
If you’re in a place that does not offer Uber, you will be catching a cab or bus, and most times you will need to pay cash.
If you did not purchase your visa in advance, you may have to pay for it at the airport. Some airports, such as the airport in Cairo Egypt, only take cash to pay for visas.
Imagine not having cash and then going to the ATM and having your transaction declined… on top of that, you don’t have any cell phone service to contact your bank…
You see how quickly you’re falling down the rabbit hole here. 😩
This actually happened to my brother when we went to Egypt. Since we arrived at different times, I had already made it to my accommodations and was patiently waiting for him.
Long story short, he had been stuck in the airport for hours and I didn’t know because he had no service to contact me. He could not pull cash out of the ATM and no one would let him use their cell phone to contact me.
Hours went by before one of the security guards finally let him use their phone. I had to catch an Uber back to the airport just to give him $25 for the visa!
After flying for almost 24 hours and spending an additonal 5+ hours stuck in an airport, you can imagine how exausted and frustrated he was. 😂
Don’t be THAT GUY! Lol… Always have some extra cash.
These travel hacks are timeless and I have been using them over and over to ensure I have the smoothest travel experience. If they work for you or you have any travel hacks of your own, definitely drop them in the comment box below!
That's all for now my Friends!
Stay Safe. Stay Free. Stay Lost.
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