How to travel smart

Everyone loves a holiday! But whether you want to escape the daily grind or explore a whole new world, you need to travel smart to make the best of your break.

Here are a few handy hacks to guide you on your way…

Use Skyscanner to save money

Although flying can be pricey, flight comparison websites like Skyscanner can help you uncover great deals to your favourite destinations. If you’re feeling adventurous, Skyscanner will even choose you a country to travel to – you’ll find some absolute rock-bottom-priced flights to places that you would never have thought to explore. But it doesn’t end there; using Skyscanner you can save money on your car hire and hotels too!

Get a USB charger

Oh no… your battery’s low, there’s no sockets and you need the map on your phone to find your hotel. To avoid being left without a working phone when you’re traveling, a fully charged portable charger should be your number one travel essential.

Let your bank and credit companies know you’re traveling

No phone on holiday sound like a nightmare? Imagine no money. If your bank or credit card company doesn’t know that you’re traveling, they may decide to freeze your cards to avoid potential fraud. Contact your bank ahead of your trip and let them know when and where you’re going, they’ll make a note to expect overseas activity and also give you advice on the types of charges you can expect when using your card abroad.

Always get insurance

Nobody wants to think about things going wrong when they’re on holiday. But if you get ill, or injured, or have to pull out of your trip at the last minute, you’ll need insurance. If you’re looking for a straight-talking insurance company, Pluto are sure to make things easier for you.

Pre-book an airport transfer service

Airport transfer can become a hassle, especially if you’re in a new city. Instead of trying to find the closest shuttle route to your destination or haggling with a local taxi driver, you can book a ride with a private transfer company and maximise your comfort for roughly the same price as a taxi. For example, if you ever visit Turkey, Fat Taxi is a very good transfer option with high-quality service, reasonable prices and a professional team.

Take a pillowcase

It may sound strange thing to take with you. But if you have a pillowcase you can make a pillow whenever you need one. Just shove any clothes or blankets into the case and there you have it, a place to rest your head. The best thing about doing this is that it takes up hardly any space in your luggage and you’re not left having to carry a massive pillow everywhere you go.

Bring an empty water bottle

Avoid jet lag thirst, bring an empty water bottle with you in your hand luggage. Filling up your own bottle is a lot cheaper than buying it, and you’ll find lots of spots in the airport to top up.

Download Google Translate for offline use

If you’re not so hot on the local lingo, don’t get caught out. Google Translate is great for deciphering anything from menus to street signs, and if you can’t pronounce the words you want to say, you can always show a native speaker the screen. We’d recommend having Translate already downloaded on your phone. That way, if you don’t have an internet connection, you can still use it.

Get your phone sorted

With SMARTY’s Unlimited data SIM you can forget having to worry about data usage in Europe. But if you’re heading outside the EU, you may want to switch to a pay as you go SIM to make sure you don’t get stung by a big bill on your return.

Oh, and remember to set up SMARTY roaming before you get on the plane so that your SIM works wherever you go!