Your best little travel hacks for newer travellers

1. If you have a makeup bag, toiletries, etc., get either significantly different ones so you can remember what's in them, or get see through bags.
2. Save your plastic bags from the grocery store at home and bring them on the plane (I fold them and use a binder clip) - that way you can toss your garbage in them, esp if the FAs take awhile to come around to you (there's a story in here about yogurt on my flight to London, but you can imagine).

I buy those black electric zip ties in the hardware stores, inexpensive, to secure bags especially if a travel lock breaks or gets lost.
Also in the hardware store, I buy a cake of Fels Naptha soap to remove stains. I cut the cake in half to take along. This is a very old and useful product, one my grandmother used! It works very well.
For hand laundry washing, I go to an outdoor/ hiking store like REI, and buy small bottles of concentrated liquid soap. If they have a large bottle, I buy it and transfer to several small bottles.
Buy blow up hangars to dry shirts, they dry much faster. Buy mini clip hooks to dry socks, underwear.
I use packing cubes, can’t travel without them. I always know where everything is during my trips.
Pack extra pair of prescription glasses or bring your RX specifications for new glasses along.
Print out your prescriptions. My doctor’s website has a place I can sign in to get mine.. One time in France, the doctor did not know the popular brand name of an rx, wanted the scientific names for all RXs.
Give a relative or friend a copy of your passport. It came in handy when ours were stolen in South America. Our daughter faxed the passport info, photos of content, to us to take to the US Embassy. We had new passports in six hours.
Do not have an accident in Rome ( or probably most places) on New Years and expect competent medical care.
If you need medical care in a foreign country, try to find a local who speaks English and have them accompany you. A hotel doorman did this for me in Egypt. Exceptional care received in Luxor.

Oh here's another, obvious but took me a dozen trips before I figured it out.

If you are storing luggage and can fit some of your bags inside of other bags, do that. We often have bicycle touring parts of our trips where we load some of the contents of our bags into bicycle paniers and then leave the bags behind. Just recently I started stuffing bags into bags so that we can leave one bag instead of three or four. Cheaper if you're paying by the bag, and seems easier for them to not lose something.

I like the tip above about document and passport redundancy! Can't hurt to have multiple ways to access images.

I also like the plastic bag tip above. I always throw in a couple of gallon ziplocs and a couple of quart ziplocs. They weigh next to nothing and take up almost no space, and though I have no idea what I will use them for I invariably use them and am glad to have them.

1. The plastic bags newspapers come in make great "shoe wraps". I wrap my shoes when packing and then when i am traveling and have to repack them, no issues because the bag keeps them from getting the clothes dirty.

2. Always have a small amount of the country’s currency, in small denominations, with you ahead of time. This way, when you land, you are ready to go in case you need to quickly get something or get somewhere, and cash is the only thing accepted at that time.

3. Bring a bunch of rubber bands. They come in handy for wrapping, tightening, fixing many things in a pinch.

I use contact cases for small amounts of liquids and pills. Label each side with a piece of tape. To reduce weight and space in the 3-1-1- bag I bring solid conditioner, cleanser, deodorant, and sunscreen. I use the hotel shampoo/body wash for sink washing clothes. I ask the housekeeper for extra towels for wringing out hand washed clothes. I also bring several safety pins in different sizes.

I always bring a flat rubber drain cover so that I can do laundry in the sink. I’ve been in hotels that do not allow the sink to be plugged up, which makes it difficult to wash things.

With regards to passports, I just take a photo of the identification page and email it to my daughter. It’s easier than making a copy. It’s also stored in the cloud so that I can access it with my phone.

I buy shower caps by the dozen. Not only are they great in the kitchen for covering up bowls with food, but they’re also great for holding shoes. Just put the shoes in first, sole side down, snug them up and slip them in your luggage.

1 - I have saved plastic shower caps over the years and put them over the soles of shoes when packing. When removing, I roll them up with the dirty side inside and keep reusing them.
2 - I travel with a carryon tote bag and a rollaboard... the limit on most airlines. I pack my cross body purse inside my carry-on tote and remove it once on board to have my essentials easily accessible.
3 - I like to have water readily available in flight, but not a plastic cup from the flight attendant that might easily spill while I'm sleeping. I pour the cup of water from the flight attendant into a small, wide-mouth plastic bottle with a screw cap to drink from when I'm thirsty.

Drain cover is new to me - clever! I usually make due with a sock and a plastic bag but might be worth it to not MacGyver.

Pack a sturdy garbage or large trash bag big enough to slip over your roller bag and tear a small hole in the bottom just big enough for the handle to fit through. Great for keeping your bag dry if having to walk it some distance in the rain, and can also be used for hauling laundry to/from laundromats. The hole shouldn't be big enough for clothes to fall through.

The clear, zippered pouches that some sheets and pillowcases are sold in can be repurposed as packing cubes. They're also good for packing wet/damp clothing.

Dr. Bronner's liquid pure castile soap is great for cleaning almost anything, although I personally wouldn't brush my teeth with it even though you can. A little bit goes a very long way; I buy the travel-sized bottles at Target.

Drain cover, pillowcase, door jamb, ziplock bags
( quart and gallon sizes), coin purse, twist ties, safety pins, clothes pins, clorox stain remover pen, washcloths, bandana, rubberbands, ear plugs, ear buds, scotch tape from 99 cent store, cheap, lightweight travel journal ( for emergency, contact intel and business cards) st christopher medal, deck of cards, small plastic or wooden spoon, packet of matches, couple of tea candles, small flashlight with xtra batteries, reusable water bottle, nylon reusable grocery tote bag…..

ONLY do carry on no matter how long I’m gone. 23 inch Roller and small back pack.

Tripit and WhatsApp on phone.

Oh The Apps! Might deserve their own thread.

But here's an app related tip that has served me really well:

In your mapping app, download ahead of time the local area maps where you will be traveling. That way you don't need mobile data to be working to be able to reliably navigate with your phone.

Toss a binder clip or clothespin (the springy kind) in your bag. I've used my baby-shower-souvenir clothespin more times than I can count to close the gap that hotel drapes so often have.

If you have a page-a-day calendar on your desk, save a week or two of pages and take them on vacation. So handy for writing notes to yourself, making to-do lists, or writing down directions or an address.

I echo Hank's advice about opening the safe the night before. I've twice experienced dead safe batteries at really inopportune moments!

when you leave your hotel for the day grab a business card from the front desk - its handy to show a "cab" driver or to ask for directions back if you find you've wander from your plans

pack a wash cloth as many European hotels won't have them

add a name tag with contact info to your day pack

Great thread!
To avoid packing a drain cover, though they don't weigh much; you can plug a drain in a pinch with a plastic bag and a handful of coins to keep it in the drain.

Bring a brightly coloured lid from a PB jar or cottage cheese container, and put your watch and jewelry in it at night.
It's easier to see when you're packing up to leave.
Speaking of colours, I love the mention of brightly coloured zip ties....I've only ever seen black or white ones.
Must get some orange and green ones!

Bring a couple of lightweight reuseable shopping bags from home, saves on plastic when you're shopping.

Copy every single one of your documents, email them to yourself, and also leave copies at home with a friend or family member.
Also keep with you the emergency numbers of your financial institutions to be able to call them right away if you lose a bank or credit card.

Find out before your trip where you would go in case of illness or accident.
I keep a note of English speaking doctors and hospitals or clinics in every town I will be staying.
And I have used that info, so it's not overkill.
Good idea to also note where your Embassy or Consulate is in the country you are visiting, in case of emergency ,loss of passport, etc.

Always keep some cash for the country you are in, along with a note of where your hotel or rental accom. is, and your emergency contacts.
I keep all that in a very small ziploc bag in deep storage.
If you are unlucky enough lose everything, at least you have a temporary backup plan, someone to call, and some cash to be able to eat!

There are so many more tips, all useful!

1. Ziplock bags. Bring a bag of various size ziplocks. The huge ones are great for laundry - put your items and soap in there, seal, and knead away without splashing. Also can hold wet or dirty clothes so as not to contaminate the rest of your suitcase. Small ones can corral misc items, keep snacks for picnics, help you carry small items in a big purse, hold your phone or wallet in the rain to keep it dry…uses are endless.
2. Do not bring everything everyone suggested on this thread. Some will be useful to you, some won’t and that varies by person and travel style. Taking 1000 “small” items adds up! Pick what sounds helpful to you, leave the rest
3. Do not overpack your suitcase. Stuffing it full to the brim and using every space saving hack is all well and good…until it comes time to repack. Repacking comes with dirty laundry, souvenirs, and a general expansion of your stuff. Leave room for that. More if you plan to move every night or two, less if you are staying in one place the whole trip and are fine going through the packing challenge once.
   

To avoid carrying too many liquids, I bring solid, bar shampoo and conditioner, laundry soap sheets, insect repellent wipes, and toothpaste tablets. (I bring the shampoo and conditioner if we're renting apartments, but if we are staying in hotels, I don't bother.) Many of these items don't need to be duplicated between my husband and I. We can share the shampoo, conditioner, and the bottle of Toothy Tabs.

As others have mentioned, I always bring empty ziplocs, and they always come in handy.

An extra packing cube or empty pillowcase can be useful for keeping dirty clothes separate from clean, until there is time for laundry.

I create a "group" in my contacts for the trip, including the addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of all accommodations, consulates or embassies, and tour companies, as well as the emergency number for each country (if different from one another), etc. for the trip. To this I add the international phone numbers for lost/stolen bank and credit cards, and for our health insurance provider.

I have copies of all important documents and the information mentioned above backed up in the cloud. A lot of it is also entered into Trip It. In the cloud, I also have copies of my glasses prescription and medication info.

I always register my travels with the "Registration of Canadians Abroad" Government of Canada service. https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration (I'm not sure if there is something similar for Americans.)

I use those clear page pockets, one for each country, to carry any paper documents I need to carry.

I always carry a few days extra of any prescription meds, in case of an unexpected delay in my return.

When I travelled in the winter and needed to bring bulkier clothing, I bought a travel pillowcase and stuffed it with a hat, mitts, and a couple of sweaters, and used that as my travel pillow.

Since I started using my phone more instead of a camera for photos, I bring a small, back up power bank and use it to charge my phone when we stop for lunch.

I have a plug that can charge three items at once, and I bring long charging cords.

I always travel with a sleep mask and earplugs. I don't always need them, but I'm glad to have them when I do.

I'm sure there's more, but that's what comes to mind at the moment.

Oh and - the US Embassy is a contact in my phone, as well as all public info - email, address, etc.

And sort out your water situation - I make sure to bring enough flavor sticks for my water for the trip (plus a couple of extra) and as I love the pink stuff in my coffee, I bring some of those as well.

OP suggests "buying a euro-plugged phone charger". This is only a good idea when cellphones are your only devices. This actually makes less sense than buying a single multi-outlet device.

I have a computer, a camera battery charger, and 2 phones. What is needed is a US-format multi-outlet charger. That way, I get 1 euro-plug converter, and plug everything into the multi-plug outlet.

In addition, get a small holder for all electrical cords. I always have a little "discussion" with my wife about this. She wants to hold her own cords, but this is not sensible. Put all cords in one place, so that they can be checked while packing up.

• I too open the safe the night before. I also let my travel partner know the combination in case of an emergency.
• Stuff your extra shoes with items such as socks to maximize space usage.
• If travelling with kids, pack spare charging cords. I can't count how many times Dad saved the day.
• Put your phone on airplane mode before your flight leaves.

Digging the tip to not bring everything listed just what works for you.

Also the advice to pack your luggage under stuffed-full capacity. It's so much easier to not wrestle the zippers and your stuff doesn't get squashed

Yes, we did not mean that new or first time travellers need to bring all these things with you!🤣
Just filter out what is important to you on your trip.
I think we have frightened off any newbies here......as none have chimed in!
I hope not.

BB in Calgary: I also do all the things you have added to the thread.

"Is that worth it?" - The neighborhoods around train stations can be noisy throughout the night and have fewer dining options than choosing a hotel in a neighborhood closer to the city center. Many also warn about train stations being common pickpocket traps.
Packing -If checking luggage... I pack my carry on tote bag and roll aboard to the maximum weight allowed. I use large bubble wrap and air pillows to fill the unused space in the checked luggage and then use the bubble wrap to secure souvenirs for the return trip.
Also - maybe someone already mentioned - "cross packing" with a fellow traveler. Half of my things go in my husband's bag and vice-versa. If one bag is lost/delayed we still each have half of our clothes available.

Buy some of the small foldable hangers that Amazon sells-they take up almost no space and are useful when the hotel only has pants hangers.
Make sure your personal item has a sleeve to go over the handle of your carryon-my recent trip was the first time I did this and I loved it.
I take silk long underwear for an extra layer on trips anywhere other than in the summer in southern Europe. It weighs little and takes up little space in luggage and under clothes.

A phone case like this is a game changer and they can be found in all kinds of styles and ranges from feminine to masculine.

Here’s why:

1. No digging in bags frantically for phones when a photo op presents itself or you need a QR code/ticket.
   
2. Also great for when you are using Google maps for walking. You can drop the phone and get on the bus or run for it without taking it in and out of your pocket at every turn.
3. You don’t have to hold the phone in your hand the entire time you’re juggling other things boarding a plane or standing in lines in the heat with sweaty hands.
4. If you get a cut-resistant tether, it’s relatively theft proof unless you are full on mugged.
5. You (and your kids) won’t drop it over the edge of a scenic view or into a sewer drain or even just crack it on a floor.
6. This type has straps that adjust easily and don’t slip so you can wear it like a long cross body or up tight against your chest.
7. No leaving phones behind on planes, trains, taxis (!)

https://tinyurl.com/yvrxhx7n

Our postal service agent told us to print 2 copies of our passport photo and destroy any others. Use one for the passport application, keep one on you somewhere other than where your passport is. (If authorities doubt your scanned documents, having the original passport sized photo helps verify your identity and that the passport in question is yours.)

Make the bank cash machine give you small bills. When getting local currency from the cash point machine enter €80 or €120 instead of €100.

I get travel insurance for medical evacuation. It is not expensive and can given you some peace of mind. I know people who had to use it and would have been stuck without it

I like the small bills tip - PITA to break a 100 euro note ...

In today's world..AirTags, Airtags, Airtags! - in your backpacks, wallets, passports pouch, luggage....

If you have an Android phone you can't use Apple AirTags.
Which tags or trackers does anyone here recommend for Android use?

Poo-Pourri to keep the bathroom smelling fresh

No problem breaking a 100 Euro note in Germany. I just ask the front desk, be it in a small Pension or a big hotel, for two 50 Euro notes. That's it. I don't want to test their patience after that. After all, they are doing you a favour. Vendors always take 50 Euro notes, whether buying groceries, eating in train stations, purchasing train tickets, etc.

If you have an Android phone, you can use a Tile. I think my husband purchased it at Costco. I used it for the first time a couple of weeks ago when I had to check a bag to go to California and it worked great.

Helpful tip Fred, thanks

@ Hank...you're welcome. Regardless of the vendor I never have had any difficulty, ie met with a refusal, paying in Germany with a 50 Euro. Most of the time I do ask first if the " fifty " is going to be accepted, "they" always say yes; say, your purchase is 11, 40 Euro and you hand over a fifty.

I always take a brightly colored microfiber hair drying towel. I have long curly hair and that is my usual method of getting the water out so it dries quickly. It is also useful to wring out water from sink washed clothes. Just don't take a white one because it might get mixed up with the hotel towels and get taken away by the cleaning crew. I also take a photo of everything I have in my wallet. I don't take all of my usual stuff when traveling, so I probably wouldn't remember which cards I had in it if it gets lost or stolen. I can get the numbers to call off each card form the photos if needed. And my favorite souvenir is a reusable grocery bag from the local store, so I go shopping early in the trip and use the bag while there. Just got a cute one from ReWe in Munich last week!

@lab, I bought a bag from REWE as well. I like useful souvenirs!

Wear clothes that you will want to see later in your photos. I'm not saying you need to dress fancy, but do you really want to be wearing your Labor Day 5K t-shirt in your best family photo that you decide to use for your Christmas card? I am always amazed at how some travelers dress! If you want to have nice photos, look nice, not sloppy. You can still be cool (or warm) and comfortable, and look nice.

Wow! I just bookmarked this for my next trip! Great thread!
My only advice after all these good ones would be to get some anti fogging wipes if you wear reader glasses. I bought some on Amazon worrying that the masks and eyeglasses might be an issue. I want to be sure to wear my mask and have encountered issues wearing with my “readers” I’ll test them out and let you know!

Sibdaisy, that’s too funny. Over half of my photos from Italy three years ago show me wearing the same shirt. You’d think it was the only shirt I took. While it’s a nice shirt, it is staying home this trip. I can’t bear seeing it in another picture

Well, Rick always seems like he's wearing the same shirt...

Well, Rick always seems like he's wearing the same shirt...

In production terms, that's called "continuity". That allows them to splice segments from 1989 to ones from 2022 without any visible change.

I’m really sensitive to lights in a dark room - like the annoying green led lights on tvs, microwaves, thermostats, routers, etc. I bring these little blackout stickers and cover up all the lights.

LightDims Black Out Edition - Light Blocking LED covers/Light Dimming Sheets for Routers, Electronics and Appliances and more. Blocks 100% of Light, in Minimal Packaging. https://a.co/d/1l7Lhw9

I also bring a few mini binder clips to close the gaps in curtains.

Bring a little coin purse in your day bag. You’ll need coins for the bathrooms in many places.

I use brightly colored duct tape and make a little sleeve that I wrap around the handle of every piece of luggage in our group (family of 4), including somewhere on every backpack/personal item. This way if we ever have to put luggage on a train, or store it at a hotel, we know we have “x” pieces with that color on the handle. You can buy something similar.

I bring a fine point sharpie pen with duct tape wrapped around it. It goes in my personal item on the plane. There are always forms to fill out on a plane.

I also use a brightly colored micro fiber towel for my hair.

My makeup bag is a BRIGHT pattern (hot pink with Eiffel Tower!) so I don’t leave it somewhere by mistake.

Bring a tiny bag in your day bag that functions as an emergency bag: band aids, tweezers, tums, Tylenol, eye drops, allergy pills, etc. I have a tiny bag that is a key chain that works perfectly and clips in my day bag.

Put an index card inside your luggage that includes at least two cell phone numbers for your group and your itinerary. Take a picture of your luggage in case something goes missing.

If multiple people are sharing a bathroom, you might have very limited counter space. I bring a shallow, cloth folding box (from the $ store) for each of my teens. They put all their toiletries in the box (things that don’t go in the shower). That way if they need to clear out of the bathroom for someone else to use, they grab their box and have their comb, deodorant, toothbrush, etc and can continue getting ready elsewhere. If you are blessed with a lot of counter space, the box can be a catch all for air pods, cell phone, chargers, etc so stuff isn’t strewn everywhere and likely to get left behind.

@Travel4fun, I keep the airline sleep mask and have used it a few times when the curtains were too sheer, letting in street light.

I use the hotel shampoo to wash my clothes in the sink and also bring along a few sheets of Earth Breeze laundry detergent- looks like a dryer sheet, in a Ziploc bag. I tear them in fourths to use in the sink.

When purchasing train tickets on-line, take a screenshot photo of the stops the train will make - at least a view with the last five before your stop. Then it’s easy to know when to get ready to get off the train. (I ride a lot of Regional trains that have quick stops.)

Also for train travel, write down the next train # and time that will leave from train connections you’re making during your trip. If the first train is running late, you know exactly which Regional to board when you arrive at the connection train station.

I bring a small lightweight flashlight with me. It’s on the nightstand; otherwise, in my purse in the evening. Some of the hallway sensor lights of palazzos haven’t turned on at night, the walk back from a restaurant has uneven cobblestones, or we can’t see the keyhole at the door. (I don’t want to use my phone as a flashlight.)

Many of the older hotels have room keys that you return to the lobby each time you leave the building. Take a photo of your room key. It helps to remember the room number, and you can practice saying the number in their language to request it.

I like the larger Lifesaver mints that are individually wrapped. I can put one in my mouth without touching it. Also, the singles of Purell are great for travel; fold it in half in your hand to use.

Instead of a small flashlight like Jean, I pack a lightweight head lamp I bought from Amazon for $5 or $6. That leaves my hands free for other things. We have used it when power has gone out (twice), going down cistern in Greece, and many times going up and down steps and to roof top decks where motion sensors don’t work as well as they should.

travel4fun, thanks for the tip about the light blocking stickers! At home, I paint those things with dark red nail polish. When I'm travelling, I turn the item to face away, or hang a scarf over it, or something. But these stickers look like just the thing!

So many good tips here! I always have a tiny first aid kit, one that I received for free somewhere. I make sure it’s stocked with a few different OTC remedies, pain reliever, motion sickness medicine, and band aids.

On the plane, I like to keep a small zippered pouch with essentials like hand sanitizer, a pen, my headphones, gum, etc. Then I’m not constantly having to get in and out of my personal item bag.

Most of the time I am traveling with kids, so I always bring hand wipes. They are great for cleaning sticky gelato hands since those tiny paper napkins do nothing! They are also good for cleaning up a spill or treating a stain. With kids, I also pack a small bag of activities (wiki sticks, crayons, post it notes, stickers, etc.) for when kids get restless on a long flight or train ride. Also, I find that a well timed gummi bear or sucker at the end of a long hike can do wonders for tired legs. :)

Yeah Tom good tip, that is a p i t a when it happens.

To wipe down airplane tray tables as well as my hands, I use small alcohol wipes. These are the ones medical folk use to wipe your skin before giving a shot. Why these over larger wipes or liquid hand sanitizer? They are wrapped in individual packets and you can buy hundreds for a small sum (Sam's Club and Costco sell them). It may take two or three to thoroughly wipe down something, but that is the only disadvantage.

Even before covid, I would bring a sandwich-sized ziplock with bleach wipes on the plane. I wipe down the tray table, the ac blower, the arm rests and the seat belt buckle. Who wants to get the flu on the plane before your "trip of a lifetime." I have also learned to bring a small bottle of saline spray on the plane---so good for the dry air. Almost as good as having the noise canceling headphones. With those last two, I can fly any distance and feel okay. We also bring plastic utensils (usually the RS ones) and a collapsable fabric cooler (available at sporting goods stores) for picnics!

Don't take fancy clothes. The less you schlepp, the best.

Take a couple of sanitizer wipes for your hands along with toilet paper or wipe in a ziplock. Not all restrooms have paper or soap/water

scented, large kitchen garbage bag for your dirty clothes

Here's one from yesterday.

If you have the time and it is convenient, it can pay off to go to the ticket window (for transit, museums, etc).

Was going to book train tickets online for a family of four. Phone wouldn't finalise transaction. Went to the station ticket window. Was cordial and respectful of the lady working there. She gave me same price, but then hang on a minute. Here's a special on a two day family Loire pass for 40 euro less. I used that pass again today for half our trip back Paris. Nice lady saved me over 100 euros total. The 2 day pass option wasn't at all apparent online.

Second one from a day previous. Went to the ticket machine at Chenonceau and was disappointed to see that was more than 2 hours wait to get inside the building. I said forget it. My wife said I'm gonna wait in the ticketline and talk to somebody. The person at the counter told my wife yes the wait was more than 2 hours, but if we coughed up 20 more euro for audio guides it would be less than 15 minutes. No brainer!

Europe is a more baroque in it's commercial beuracracy than the US, so sometimes having in live person to guide you works out best.

Thanks everyone I've thoroughly enjoyed this thread!
1) I really hate hotel pillows, so I pack one, zipped into a Claritin allergy lining with a bright blue pillow case so I don't forget it in hotels. I then squeeze it into the smallest size Swiss Gear space-saving packing bag. (you roll it up / push all the air out & seal like a large plastic bag).
I carry a separate larger one for my clothes & an extra one for dirty laundry, not really to save space at the beginning of a trip, but to fit everything easily at end.
2) Early morning departures - I put my bits of jewelry into a small ziplock bag inside my money belt the night before, just to be safe. If I have time I can put the few items I've brought on, but if not there's no risk of leaving it behind.
And now I will also open the safety deposit box the evening before!