Travel Hacks, Part 2: Packing Tips & Techy Tricks

In Travel Hacks, Part 1, we explored several genius packing hacks tested and favored by the savviest of avid travellers.

We’re back with Part 2, in which we’ve continued our list of travel tips proven to make your next trip more comfortable and convenient. After all, a little bit of thoughtful planning ahead really does go a long way. Use these tips to make your next travel day a little bit easier–so you can enjoy your trip that much more.

What To Pack and Techie Hacks

Ever checked your phone battery mid-travel day and realized with dread that it’s about to die? We’ve all been there. Here’s a step-by-step tech tip to help preserve the battery life of your smart device (phone or tablet):

1. Download everything you want to watch or listen to (movies, TV episodes, podcasts, etc).
2. Fully charge your device the night before your trip.
3. Close all open apps. Then, open only your most essential apps needed for traveling, waiting at the airport, and mid-flight (maps, streaming platforms, airline app for boarding passes, and so on).
4. Go to Settings, turn off Wi-Fi, turn off Bluetooth, then turn on Airplane Mode.
5. Turn off all notification sounds.
6. Set to Dark Mode with solid black wallpaper (only relevant for OLED screens).
7. Turn on Low Power Mode.
8. Turn off automatic brightness. Set it to the lowest brightness level.
9. Turn the entire device off before unplugging it.
10. Do not turn your device back on, use Wi-Fi or cellular data, or turn off Low Power Mode until you’re ready to use it.

One simple flight and hotel booking hack: book directly through your selected airline and hotel, rather than a third party group. Their customer support staff are trained to solve any issue for you, whether you call, email, or directly message them. Third party vendors are not incentivized to offer the same level of customer service. The airline or hotel itself, however, will bend over backwards to show they value your business and keep your booking experience positive.

Tired of having to toss out your water bottle at airport security? Instead of bringing one filled with water, fill it with ice right before heading to the airport. While TSA does not allow liquids, they do allow ice through security.

Bring a plane survival kit with items in each of these four categories: wellness (moisture eyedrops, lip balm, moisturizer, menthol nasal stick, tissues, baby wipes, sanitizing wipes), comfort (eye mask, ear plugs, sleeping pills, travel fan, gum, cough drops, hair ties, bobby pins, lavender fragrance spray), food and beverage (electrolyte powder, healthy snacks); and technology (ear buds or headphones, extra charging cables).

A few nifty hacks at your accommodation of choice: want to make your room feel a bit more private and secure? First, bring a chip bag clip to clip together curtains, should you need extra help blocking out light. Second, pack a small rubber door wedge, super space efficient but still sturdy enough for emergency backup security.

Finally, pack a Wi-Fi router and connect it to your room’s or your host’s router upon arrival. Conveniently, all of your devices will auto-connect to the Wi-Fi network.

Lastly, one last tip on getting around: download Google Maps offline for the area where you’re staying before you travel. This way, you can still access a map from your smart device without having to rely on internet access.

We hope some of these travel hacks will serve you on your next journey. What are some of your cleverest tricks on the road? Share yours in a comment below.