Top travel insider tips for a smooth and stress-free holiday

Going away soon? Every traveller would want to know how to make their holiday so much easier and less painful, but not everyone knows all the tips and tricks, especially if you don’t go away often.

To help you make the most of your airport and in-flight experience, here are some expert-approved tips to ensure your journey is as seamless as possible.

Bring your own headphones

The complimentary headsets provided on flights may be wrapped in plastic, but they’re not brand new. They’re reused after a basic cleaning process, so for better hygiene and sound quality, bring your own.

Remove old flight tags

It may seem like a minor detail, but leaving old baggage tags on your luggage can cause delays at check-in and even result in your bag being misrouted. Get in the habit of removing them before your next trip

Buy and fly on a Tuesday

Looking for the best flight deals? Studies show that Tuesday afternoon is the cheapest time to book flights, while the most budget-friendly days to travel are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

Put your pet’s name on a carrier

If you’re flying with a pet, write their name on the carrier. Airline staff often try to comfort anxious animals, and knowing their name can help ease their stress in the noisy environment of an airport.

Sink plugs are essential

A universal sink plug is a handy travel essential. It allows you to do laundry in a hotel sink or use a bathtub that otherwise wouldn’t fill. You’ll thank us later!

Invest in VPN

Protect your personal information when using public WiFi by investing in a Virtual Private Network (VPN). For around $5 a month, a VPN ensures safe online transactions, including banking and hotel bookings.

Pack smart: The 5-factor rule

Consider these 5 factors when packing clothes and aim to have each piece you bring satisfy at least 3 of them:

• Comfortable for daytime, but can be dressed up for the evening
• Is appropriate for cool or warm weather
• Doesn’t show stains
• Folds up small
• Coordinates well with other clothes.

Avoid overpacking with the “what if” test

Before finalising your luggage, review each item and ask yourself why you’re packing it. If your reason starts with “what if” or it’s something you’ll only use once on a long trip, you probably don’t need it.

Carry dried gingerroot

If you’re prone to motion sickness, taking 1,000 mg of dried gingerroot (available at health stores) before a flight or cruise can help ease nausea naturally.

Download guidebooks to your phone

Use the Kindle app or even just your Kindle to save weight, space and money.

Check your plane’s seating configuration

Before you get on board your flight and you want to have a sticky beak at what type of plane you have, check out seatguru.com, which has up-to-date seating charts for every single flight in the world, and tells you which rows don’t recline and rates the seats based on reviews.

Bring a power board

This is my number one travel tip! Take along a power board – you’ll be thanking us later. Instead of having to charge one thing at a time with your travel charger, charge 5 or 6.