Key Travel Tips You Need To Know — Whether You’Re A First-Time Or Frequent Traveler
Editor’S Note
The Transportation Security Administration has indicated that seven of 10 busiest days for the Screening of passengers OCCURRED in the past month.
As millions of travelers take trips by plane, cruise ship or car, we’ve gathered some essential travel tips on how best to book and enjoy your journeys.
These top travel tips from tpg can help you avoid unnecessary headaches when you’re away from home.
How Can I Find Great Travel Deals
Flexibility is key when it comes to finding cheap airfare any time of year. Changing your arrival or departure date by a single day can save you hundreds of dollars on airfare. If you don’t mind altering your family’s plans slightly, consider booking travel directly on major holidays like the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas for cheaper prices and thinner airport crowds.
One of TPG’s favorite tools for finding deals is Google Flights. You can use the search field to find the cheapest (or best) flights. Google will also give you a historical view of past price ranges, and it will even send you email alerts if fares jump or drop on specific routes you’ve selected.
By clicking the explore button on the sidebar and entering your Departure airport google Flights will show you a map or list of the Most Budget-Friendly destinations.
However, Google isn’t the only place to find deals: TPG publishes regular deal alerts. You can sign up for and subscribe to our daily newsletter for the latest deals news.
Don’t sleep on mileage awards, either. If you’ve been hoarding miles since the beginning of the pandemic, it’s time to spend them. Cash prices are high, so it can be a good time to burn those miles.
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No matter how much you think you know about redeeming miles for flights, there are always new tips and tricks for turning those earnings into dream trips. Turn to TPG for guidance on sweet spots for redemptions. Sites like (owned by TPG’s parent company, Red Ventures) supply additional redemption ideas or even business-class upgrade inventory.
Travel agents can sometimes get discounts on hotels or even cheaper business-class airfares to your dream destination.
Be Your Own Best Advocate
Because there are still shortages of air traffic control and there’s little room for error in the system these days passengers have to be their own best advocates.
There are ways to get ahead of any possible travel nightmares.
Try to find a nonstop Flight rather than one with a connecting flight even if it costs a little more you’ll eliminate the risk of missing connections and lessen the chance of an airline misplacing your luggage during a transfer.
You could also take one of the first flights of the day, as those are least likely to face afternoon thunderstorms and most likely to depart on time. We’ve even compiled five reasons to book the first flight of the day with all the data.
Your Flight has been canceled or delayed here’s what you should do next.
Download your airline’s mobile app to keep track of potential flight delays in real time. The airline app is a secret weapon in case things go wrong. Not only will you know when boarding starts, but you’ll also learn of any delays first. Some airlines even allow you to rebook yourself in the app.
If your flight is canceled, you’ll want to beat everyone else on your flight who is also looking to get rebooked.
You have to use every tool at your disposal when things go wrong.
Many airlines now have the ability to use live chats for navigating delays and cancellations.
I always have an alternate plan or two in my head in case a flight gets canceled or delayed and i also LOOK for other airlines flying the route i booked in case something goes awry this way i can know What to ask for if.
Keep all the receipts for the expenses you incur during delays or cancellations you’ll want excellent documentation in the event of meltdowns like those experienced By Southwest airlines passengers during the 2022 holiday season.
If you’re stuck at an airport for an extended period, seek out your airport’s secret quiet spaces for a brief escape from the travel chaos.
Get Global Entry And/Or Tsa Precheck
One of our favorite ways to speed through the airport and avoid those summertime megalines is via Trusted Traveler programs like TSA PreCheck and Global Entry.
Essentially, the government prescreens you for security, saving you a bit of time during your travels. You’ll need to apply ahead of time and pay a fee. The great news is that many credit cards will give you a statement credit for these fees. TSA PreCheck is a $78 application fee for five years, and Global Entry is $100.
Related: Ways to get Global Entry, TSA PreCheck and/or Clear for free
TSA PreCheck allows you to speed through airport security without removing your shoes, laptops or liquids. With Global Entry, you can breeze through customs when you return from an international trip.
If you have the time, it makes sense to go for Global Entry rather than simply TSA PreCheck. Global Entry requires an interview with Customs and Border Patrol ahead of time, but once you’re approved, TSA PreCheck will be included.
One other hack to mention is Mobile Passport. You don’t even need to be preapproved for the service, and it can speed you through customs at some airports.
Here’S what you should know about the mobile Passport Application.
Get Clear For The Ultimate Security Trifecta
The other safety tool we recommend you put in your travel belt is Clear.
The expedited security program allows you to bypass long security lines by using a separate lane at many airports. You’ll approach a kiosk that confirms your identity via an iris scan or fingerprint. A Clear employee will then escort you to the front of the security screening line.
A Clear membership combined with TSA PreCheck will enable you to go to even shorter lines at some airports with designated Clear/PreCheck lines. Clear isn’t perfect at all airports where it’s very popular and there are now long lines (cough, Atlanta). However, it will still lead to shorter lines overall.
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Make Copies Of Your Important Documents
Make digital and hard copies of all your important travel-related documents. Start by photographing your driver’s license, your state ID and/or your passport.
You should have copies of your IDs in your phone’s library in case you get separated from the actual document. Sometimes, it also helps in a pinch if you are asked for ID but didn’t bring the hard copy. For example, I was recently asked for my ID to enter One Vanderbilt to have dinner at the new American Express Centurion Lounge in New York. The receptionist would have accepted a photograph of the ID if I didn’t have the physical document.
TPG also recommends having an actual photocopy in a separate place. TPG editor Kristy Tolley said she stores a hard copy in a separate place from where she keeps her passport in case she loses a bag. “I also leave a copy of it at home if I’m traveling alone,” she said.
Check expiration dates
If you aren’t 100% certain of the expiration date of your passport and other travel documents, go check them now. Renewing passports takes time, and some countries of future passport validity to allow entry. Remember that child passports expire every five years, which can sneak up on you.
Double-checking the expiration dates for driver’s licenses and state IDs is also a good idea. Remember that TSA checks the expiration dates on your documents when they screen you for security. Don’t forget to check the expiration dates for your Trusted Traveler programs like Global Entry, Clear and TSA PreCheck, too. It can take a while to get a Global Entry interview appointment if you need one to renew.
No one wants to get into the front of the line of security only to realize that the precheck mark has been removed from their boarding pass.
Check entry requirements if you travel internationally some countries require Visas that you have to acquire before your arrival.
Consider Travel Protection
When booking your travel, try to use a credit card that offers some built-in travel protection. Many cards, including TPG favorites like , offer this when you use those cards to purchase your airfare and similar travel.
Related: Best credit cards for trip delays and cancellations
If the coverage offered by your credit card isn’t enough, you might also want to purchase travel insurance. These policies can sometimes go beyond trip cancellations to cover things like medical evacuations. Warning: Carefully read the fine print on any extra policy to ensure it covers the situations that matter the most to you.
Those who frequently travel abroad may want to consider purchasing an annual travel insurance policy instead of buying one on a trip-by-trip basis Some TPG employees purchase annual policies because of the cost savings for multiple trips.
Tips For Your Luggage
First and foremost, try to be on Team Carry-On whenever possible. If you don’t check baggage, you are much less likely to become separated from it. Many of us at TPG refuse to check luggage except under extreme circumstances.
Of course, other folks with families or those embarking on long journeys may still want to check bags. If that’s the case for you, you can still do many things to lessen the chance you get separated from your stuff. For example, make sure your luggage is in good working order, your contact information is attached and the bag is within the weight limits. You should get to the airport early (but not too early) to check your luggage and confirm it is tagged to the right destination or connection.
Tips For keeping an airline from losing your luggage.
After recent baggage delays and luggage disasters, we strongly suggest you put Apple AirTags (or the Android equivalent) into your luggage to track your items if they go missing.
If you check a bag, keep extra medicine or medical supplies in your carry-on bag in case your luggage goes missing or gets delayed. “As a diabetic, I keep a tiny emergency kit in my backpack with enough supplies to keep me going in an emergency,” TPG writer Tanner Saunders said.
Former TPG credit card writer Ryan Smith also offered words of advice regarding luggage. “The last items you pack in your carry-on will be most accessible, so use this for your passport, ID, ticket, headphones or whatever else you need during the trip,” he said. By making sure those items you’ll use most are easiest to reach, you’ll save yourself the hassle of having to dig around (or partially unpack) your bag to grab what you need.
Finally, be sure to get compensated if your bags are late or lost. Many airlines will give you points or even cash for delayed bags, and the government has rules on compensation if your bags are lost.
Keep It Safe On The Road.
When you’re away from home there are many scenarios that can arise from being robbed while on the road to experiencing bad weather or natural disasters while traveling.
The american government often errs on the SIDE Of caution With its warnings but it is still best to Know what you can face during your visit to this country.
Also, know the local number in case of emergencies. In many places, including Mexico and much of Europe, dialing 9-1-1 on your cellphone will connect you to emergency services like in the U.S. However, you should know the local emergency numbers of whichever country you visit.
Let people know your itinerary and stay in touch with them throughout your trip if something Goes wrong at least someone knows where you are supposed to be or what you’ve just seen.
If you come at night contact your hotel or homeshare host to ask about the best way to get there and the safest ways to travel in this area.
Also, be strategic about how you check into a hotel. Some solo travelers request two keycards to imply someone else is on the trip. Giving thought to the hotel room’s security swing bar can also make sense; some travelers place a hand towel over it to make it harder to dislodge from the outside.
Some final tips
- For cruisers, TPG principal cruise writer Gene Sloan suggests arriving in port at least a day in advance (if not several days ahead of time). This will eliminate the risk of missing your ship’s departure time and help you acclimate to the local time zone.
- When taking road trips to out-of-the-way destinations, go old school and bring paper maps or download offline maps from Google. Using a paper map or an offline version means you always have a way to navigate around your chosen destination, even if you lose cellular service.
- You should reserve airport parking ahead of time during peak travel times Some airport parking spaces fill up fast around holidays so reserving your spot ahead of time will save you from wasting time looking for a space when you need to catch a.
Bottom line
Whether you’re fresh to the world of traveling or a seasoned expert, you can always learn new tips to maximize your time away from home. The more research and preparation you do before your trip, the better your experience will be — especially if things go wrong, as they sometimes do.
Some of our favorite tools are deal alerts, Google Flights, sign-up bonuses and credit card rewards. Learn those tools and use them for better travel every time.
Remember that when things go wrong these days you have to be your own best advocate.
- Your flight is delayed or canceled: Here’s what to do next
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- if your flight is canceled or delayed there are 5 strategies you can use.
- 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
- Here’s how to get through airport security faster
