Underrated Travel Hacks To Use For Your Summer Vacation

Travel seems to be measured in extremes—either you go for the road trip with budget-friendly Motel 6s along the way to your destination, or you book a pricey main cabin flight and an expensive hotel stay for your vacation. And in the current K-shaped economy, the ground for middle-of-the-road travel budgets seems to be shrinking. The good news is that there are still travel hacks you can utilize this summer, as simple as buying a new travel gadget to make life easier or optimizing your credit card rewards so you don’t have to compromise on comfort or price. Here are some little-known hacks that can make your travel plans a bit smoother

Tired of stuffing everything into your suitcase in a hurry right before you leave? Packing cubes are an underrated way to organize. They’re compressible and come in varying sizes, acting like mini drawers for you to easily retrieve items. No more frantically searching your suitcase for a specific item. Packing cubes are an easy way to create more space in your suitcase. This eight-piece set from BAGAIL is water-resistant and comes with cosmetic and shoe bags.

Did you know that credit card companies typically offer extra miles if you book through their travel site? Banks like Capital One, Chase Travel, American Express, and others offer travel booking assistance and additional benefits if you book through their travel portals. Depending on the card, you can earn more than double the amount of your regular miles when booking through the bank’s travel portal. 

Booking through your credit card’s travel portal often has the same protections as other third-party booking sites, such as refundable tickets and travel insurance. Add the concierge service for the highest level of most travel credits, and you can make the most out of your miles. 

If you anticipate that you’ll be out for a while without access to a phone charger, then carrying a  power bank is essential. In the absence of an outlet, you can charge your device on the go. Depending on the size and your needs, you can charge up to multiple devices at once, and some power banks are even solar-powered. For phone charging, Her Agenda recommends this fast-charging power bank with built-in cables compatible with iPhones, iPods, and Android phones that can charge up to four devices at a time. 

Instead of spending between $10 and $20 for a morning coffee and breakfast, consider putting that money into a buffet-style breakfast if your hotel offers it. While most hotels offer free access to a coffee machine, buffet breakfasts come for an additional charge upon booking. Plus, if you take advantage of a large breakfast, you can save a bit of money on a smaller lunch.