10 Useful Travel Hacks for a Successful Trip

1. Plan Ahead

Start planning your trip 2-3 months in advance to get the best prices on flights and accommodations. If you find a good deal, buy all the tickets you can. Non-refundable tickets are a great motivator to stick to your travel plans.

2. Take Photos of Important Documents

Get into the habit of photographing any documents that pass through your hands during the trip—receipts, tickets, boarding passes. Keep them on your phone as a backup in case you lose or have the originals stolen. You never know when this might come in handy.

3. Claim Compensation for Flight Issues

Few people know that buying a plane ticket guarantees a comfortable flight. However, flights are often canceled or delayed. If this happens, you may be entitled to compensation of up to €600, regardless of the ticket cost, even if it was bought on sale for €30.

You can receive compensation if:

• You weren't informed of the cancellation at least two weeks before the flight.
• The cancellation was the airline's fault.
• Your flight was from a European city or operated by a European airline.

You can claim compensation even if the incident happened three years ago. Just contact a good lawyer to help you.

4. Use Instagram for Travel Tips

Instagram is a treasure trove of travel information. Find photo locations, aesthetic places, and spots to enjoy local cuisine. You can also connect with photographers, bloggers, and like-minded travelers from your country.

5. Make Your Luggage Identifiable

Attach bright tags, ribbons, or stickers to your luggage to easily spot it in the baggage claim area among dozens of similar bags. This also makes it easier to describe and find if it gets lost. Attach tags with your contact information to your luggage so that if it's found, someone can quickly reach out to you.

6. Clear Cookies to Save on Airfare

Cookies track your online activities and interests. Travel sites can see which flights you’re interested in and may raise the prices. Clear your cookies (CTRL + F5) or use incognito mode (CTRL + SHIFT + N) to avoid this.

7. Carry Digital Maps

Instead of paper maps, use the maps.me app, which works offline. This saves you from paying for expensive roaming data. Mark important points with flags and navigate from one place to another with ease.

8. Compensation for Delayed Flights

If your flight is delayed for more than three hours, you may be entitled to compensation of €250 to €600, depending on the flight distance. The rules are similar to cancellations: the delay must be the airline's fault, and the flight must be from a European city or by a European airline.

9. Book Hotels and Apartments in Advance

Want to return to a wonderful hotel? Make a reservation for next year. You might even get a discount. Be sure to ask about the cancellation policy and any fees associated with it.