A group of fishermen made waves a few years back, after revealing that their secret weapon while out at sea is none other than condoms. Several news outlets reported that the Kenyans are relying on little latex sheaths to protect themselves. But not in the way you might expect. The fishermen said they put their cell phones in the condoms to keep them waterproof. If disaster strikes, they are able to call for help. It’s a lesser-known hack that could also be used by some travelers. And it’s one of many apparently.
Someone recently asked, “What’s the one travel hack you swear most people don’t know about?” And netizens didn’t disappoint. Travelers unpacked the secret tried-and-tested tricks that help save them time, money and stress. From using baby diapers to disguise their belongings at the beach to rubbing Tiger Balm under their nostrils as protection against stinky fellow plane passengers, some of the hacks might surprise you.
Bored Panda has put together a list of the top ones, for you to scroll through while you plan your next dream vacation. Don’t forget to upvote your favorites, and let us know in the comments below if you have any genius travel hacks of your own.
#1
Pre-download offline Google maps for the area you’re going to be in so you can still navigate, even if you don’t have cell service.
Image source: tatertotski, Rawpixel / Envato
#2
I don’t know if this will count, but I’ve traveled with people who get extremely and overly annoyed about flight delays, hassles, hiccups, etc. Their responses and attitudes for me, are often worse than the situation.
My “hack” is that I go into the airport with the mindset that my only goal is to eventually arrive at my destination. In the meantime, it will be easier if I check my ego at the door until I get off the plane.
That means understanding that I am not important. My needs and desires are irrelevant. I am little more than a sheep or cattle being shuffled to and fro until I grab my bags and get off the plane at my destination. I paid for this and the airline and whatever s****y circumstances I’m exposed to do not require me to respond with aggravation.
Basically, just shut off your ego and let what happens, happen. Screaming, whining, and getting irate aren’t going to solve much at all.
Image source: squintobean, envato
#3
Walk 3 blocks away from the tourist attraction for lunch. Food will be 3 times better, at 1/3 the price.
Image source: wetback, freepik
#4
Ear plugs. I can’t tell you how many people complain about noise and that it ruined their vacation, etc, etc. I wear them nightly b/c my husband snores, and I take them everywhere. Long flight? Noisy hotel? Irritating music at the beach? Cheap ear plugs are in all my toiletry bags.
Image source: PalmBeach4449, Lightitup_now / Envato
#5
Take a picture of all important documents such as passports, insurance, driver’s license. If you don’t have cloud storage, send it to yourself in an email!
Image source: YoungFlackos, freepik
#6
Stash a few different sized ziplocks in your suitcase. Dirty hotel remotes? Stick it in a ziplock. Soiled clothes and no way to wash? Keeps them separated and smells contained. Shells from the beach. Trash bag. Snack holder. Purse organizer. Barf bag. Ice pack. Coin holder. Leak prevention for liquids. Keep a change of clothes rolled up tight in your backpack. Keeps sand off an e-reader at the beach. Endless possibilities.
Image source: Pure-Remote9614, freepik
#7
In a foreign country, grab a hotel business card to show locals/taxi if you need directions or a ride.
Image source: popcorn2share, envato
#8
If you’re traveling with a partner share your clothes between suitcases, then if one goes missing you can still manage for a few days while you track it down.
Image source: arnie789, freepik
#9
Study stoicism. Sometimes you’re going to miss your bus, other times the bus might leave without you due to no fault of your own. Sometimes the restaurant you try will be bad and still expensive, and other times the one you walked a mile to find won’t even be open. Either way, you can get upset or anxious in those situations and ruin your day/week/whole trip, or you can just accept it’s part of the experience and figure out how to proceed from there.
Image source: Kitchen-Customer9671, APchannel / Envato
#10
Everyone learns local language words for hello, goodbye, thank you, please. But one that always makes people happy:
Delicious.
Image source: TomassoLP, freepik
#11
Pack a power strip with an appropriate adapter for wherever you’re going. Not every place has enough outlets to charge your devices. This is particularly handy if traveling with a group.
Image source: EmeraldVine, Rimidolove / Envato
#12
This is going to be controversial. If you have the poor misfortune of sitting next to someone that reeks of body odour, a little bit of tiger balm around your nostrils will mask every smell around you. Use small quantities and reapply as required.
This worked great when I had to sit next to someone through an 8 hour flight. Every time they laughed their whole body would shake and release what can only be described as sewer.
Image source: huybecool, reddit
#13
If you’re lost, go to a hotel for directions, not a gas station.
Hotel employees are so knowledgeable, and often have access to maps and google and can help you with directions, where to eat, etc.
Image source: morganpotato, freepik
#14
Get some compression stockings for city trips where you walk a lot. Don’t be afraid that those are only for old people and get some that are made for exercising like running.
Your feet will hurt much less and will recover faster.
I can recommend this brand.
There are also cheap versions on Amazon, but those feel just like tight socks and even hurt my feet.
Image source: Safe-Beyond-4731, realsportsphotos / Envato
#15
-I’ve seen someone use an AirTag for their suitcase, just in case it gets stolen. Also too, take a photo of your luggage just in case the airlines lose it, which has happened to me before.
-make a paper copy of your passport and pack that too, in case your passport gets stolen.
-If you struggle with packing, make + keep a default list of items you’d normally pack so you don’t forget anything.
-If you have multiple bags/suitcases, bungee cords are an easy and compact way to bundle bags on top a wheeled suitcase.
-Zip up your suitcase and keep it closed if you’re not actively using items. I had a terrifying spider crawl out of my suitcase once bc I used to just keep it open.
-obtain foreign currency before you travel, at a legitimate foreign currency exchange.
Image source: Awkward_Point4749, reddit
#16
ESIMs are a time-saver—skip the hassle of getting a physical sim, and you can connect as soon as you land if you set it up ahead of time.
Also, not sure if this is a travel hack, but I always do a deep clean of my house and put fresh, pressed sheets on my bed before I leave. That way, when I get back, all I have to do is throw my clothes in the laundry and not stress about cleaning. It’s such a nice way to come home to a clean space!
Image source: pri_ya, nakaridore / Envato
#17
When checking out of your hotel, before they charge your credit card for the full price, use some or all of your local currency/pocket change towards paying the bill. Saves you bringing home foreign currency and avoid currency conversion charges.
Image source: BantryBound, Iakobchuk / Envato
#18
Packing cubes.
Whenever I mention them, the recipient seems to say “yeah, I use those!“. But I don’t see anybody else actually using them.
#19
Carry more than one debit card. If one gets eaten by an ATM and you have no way of getting in touch with the operators, you’ve still got another one.
Carry more than one credit card just in case fraudulent charges show up on one while you’re traveling and you need to cancel it.
I’ve had both situations happen to me. Having multiple cards saved me a lot of time and hassle.
Image source: Magickj0hnson, freepik
#20
Learned this from reddit, but have a “mistakes” fund. Give yourself say 100$-500$ (depending on the trip) where your mistakes cost will go to, for example a missed train ride, or flight change fee, tourist scams, etc. It will help you not get one bad thing ruin the whole trip, especially if you are traveling with a travel partner or group.
Image source: kopikopiko, MargJohnsonVA / Envato
#21
ALWAYS carry on anything you can’t afford to lose, both monetarily and sentimentally!!
Image source: -lover-of-books-, freepik
#22
If you’re staying in place with a kitchen and plan to be cooking a lot, I get one of those Monday-Friday pill organizers and fill them with cooking spices and put them in my luggage.
Image source: cheeeeeeeeeeeeeky, freepik
#23
If you’re alone at the beach and want to swim, put your belongings in a sealed diaper. Very few will gamble.
Image source: LazyIntroduction9379, Netfalls / Envato
#24
I keep a journal while I travel as I usually forget the details.
Image source: anon, uriArcursPeopleimages / Envato
#25
I’m sure plenty of people know this “hack” but I’ve surprised my friends quite a few times with this knowledge: I had a friend who was trying to go to Ireland somewhat short notice and the flights were crazy expensive. I told him to look into London and then fly to Ireland from there. He saved $300 on the flight to London and a flight to Ireland was £19.
This works for a lot of places in Europe as well. I’ve flown into London for trips to Ireland, Spain, Italy, France… etc.
Image source: DefNotReaves, metod_ma / envato
#26
AirTags in every luggage you have whether checked or carry on. They helped us finding a suitcase Air France lost, and was sitting in the terminal in Paris for a few days. Hi you guys lost my suitcase. Ok we’ll have to find it. It’s in terminal 2E, in the blah blah building. How do you know? AirTag. Hi, Bucharest, when is my luggage arriving? We have to look for it. It’s in the logistics building. How do you know? AirTag. Can you tell which part of the building? Yes, closer to the car rental agencies. Great. Hours later found.
#27
I take a travel pillow, remove the pillow, and refill it with socks/undies/bathing suit/pjs. More space in your carry on!
Bonus points; I pack all my old stuff that I need to throw out anyway, and throw it out after I wear it. (My husband hates this hack).
Image source: no_tori_ous, freepik
#28
Never buy your flight thru a bucket shop or second vendor i.e. expedia. If you have a flight canceled or delayed you will have to go thru them to get a refund which will never happen.
You can look at the schedules and prices online, but always buy directly with the carrier and have no shame about asking for the same price online. If it’s $50 more, worth it.
Image source: nursebad, freepik
#29
You’re allowed to empty your pockets before you get to the belt with the bins!
Image source: legalcarroll, freepik
#30
Use a prepaid Mastercard! I don’t know if they are available worldwide but I’m from the uk and I used a revolut card whilst travelling the world. I would load it with £250 at a time on the app so if it got stolen or copied that was the most I could possibly lose and it isn’t connected to my main bank account so no issues with major cancellations etc. it also works in almost any currency as a payment card and you can get money out of ATMs. Plus the exchange rates are great. It was literally the best when travelling, cannot recommend it enough.
Image source: hippyburger
#31
Look up a hotel’s number based on their booking.com listing and contact them directly either with a phone call or on WhatsApp and ask for their price, cash and credit card, and often times, it’s cheaper.
Image source: _whataboutbob, wayhomestudioo / Envato
#32
Noise cancelling headphones on planes, etc.
Image source: hotbutteredtoast
#33
Cans of shaving cream can be bulky to pack. So, I leave the shaving cream at home and use conditioner at the hotel in place of the shaving cream to shave. Works great.
Image source: Hell_Camino, freepik
#34
Bring homemade sandwiches/snacks on the plane with you. Airport food is very $$.
Image source: MotherShabooboo1974
#35
Hotel lobbies are perfect for any type of pit stops and other needs. Nobody really cares if you hang out there, toilets are free. If you need a charger or have lost yours – ask for one at the reception – 80% of the time, they have a massive drawer with a full selection.
Image source: arf_arf1
#36
You can bring frozen water through TSA…don’t buy some s****y $9 12 oz Aquafina. Freeze a liter of essentia before you leave, drink whatever turns to liquid before you hit security.
scubaninja24:
Or any empty drinking container. I always travel with an empty water bottle.
Image source: copper678, reddit
#37
In addition to a travel adapter, bringing a power bar with your native outlet can save you from fighting for outlets in hotel rooms with your travel companions. Also good for airports where plugs are scarce.
Image source: AccomplishedRain9
#38
Merino wool underpants, socks and t-shirts.
Two, maybe three of each and I can travel forever. They wash in a bathroom sink and will be dry by the morning.
Saves a ton of space vs packing 6 of each for a weeklong trip, allowing use of carryon only – which is the goal.
Image source: Pjpjpjpjpj
#39
Depending on where you are going, i either wrap my passport in a plastic bag or zip bag, for protection against heavy rain or if you are going out hiking, for protection against river crossings. A damaged passport is a pain, and it can be protected easily.
Image source: Kodiski
#40
Wear a utility vest with all the things you’ll want at hand during the flight. Cords, extra battery, etc
Once I started wearing one bulkhead seating was no problem.
Use nasal saline spray to keep your nose from drying out or xylitol sprays to prevent illness.
Image source: YinzerChick70
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