Especially if you have never traveled much before or not yet, you always make mistakes. But in the course of time you will learn from these mistakes. I also made a lot of mistakes in the beginning and even today I still make mistakes, but these can be avoided by simple Travel Hacks

I wrote down my personal Travel Hacks and Secrets here, with which you can save a lot of time, nerves and money. Whether you’re traveling for the first time or for the hundredth time, maybe you’ll find some helpful tips here to make your next trip a little easier.

Book your flights with Skyscanner or Google Flights

Get the best flight deals at Skyscanner or Google Flights. You only enter your departure and landing airport and the dates you want to fly. The pages then search for the best and cheapest flights with different airlines. With Skyscanner I have had only good experiences so far. I’ve never used Google Flights, on the other hand.

Bring empty plastic water bottles to the airport

If you spend several hours at the airport waiting for your next flight, you can quickly get thirsty. But buying small water bottles at the airport is not always cheap. Simply bring an empty plastic bottle, which you can always refill at the tap. The good thing about the plastic bottles is that they don’t weigh anything and you can also carry them in your hand luggage. So you can always get water for free even on a transit flight. (Just find out if you can drink the water easily in the respective country).

Avoid highways to save tolls

Especially in Europe, such as France or Italy, it is often the case that you have to pay tolls on highways. To avoid these, it is advisable to drive on country roads. The route on the highway or toll-free road usually takes longer, but you can also see much more of the countryside. With Google Maps you can easily choose whether you want to avoid paying routes.

Always have clothes for three days in hand luggage with you

More often, luggage is lost or does not land on the right aircraft. You may then be in a foreign country at the airport without any clothes or cosmetics. That’s why I always recommend that you carry clothes for about three days in your hand luggage. This should be enough until your luggage arrives at your destination.

Write a packing list

Especially for larger trips it is advisable to write a packing list. However, you should not just write the list one night in advance, but ideally start it a week in advance. You’ll notice over the course of the week you’ll come up with more and more things you shouldn’t forget and you can write them down right away on your packing list.

Roll your clothes to save space

One of the Travel Hacks I’ve never tried myself, but I’ve read many times, is to roll your clothes in your suitcase instead of folding them. This way you can save a lot of space. Another way to save space is to fill the shoes you have in your suitcase with small items (such as socks).

Join Group Tours if you travel alone

If you are traveling alone, I highly recommend you to join a group tour. So you are not alone and quickly get to know people from different countries with the same interests. In most cases you will also encounter people who travel alone on group tours.

Book your accommodations with Hostelworld and Airbnb

Find the best accommodation deals on Airbnb or Hostelworld. If you want to have a small apartment for yourself, I recommend you book your accommodation through Airbnb. If you are open to multi-bed rooms, bunk beds and new people, then a hostel is perfectly sufficient. On Hostelworld and Airbnb you can find great accommodations at great prices.

Scan your important documents and email them to yourself

One of the most important Travel Hacks is to scan your important travel documents (such as your passport) and send them to you by email. In case you lose your luggage, you can still identify yourself. If your phone gets lost, you can still access your email account from someone else’s phone and your documents.

Mark your suitcase with a red ribbon or similar

Especially if you have an inconspicuous suitcase like a grey or black suitcase, you should mark it. For example, with a small red ribbon. This way you will find your suitcase at the airport between all the similar-looking suitcases faster.

Use Facebook Groups to meet new people

On Facebook there are numerous groups for backpackers or solo travelers and all for different countries. Just drop by in one of these groups and you will very quickly come across people who are close to your location. This way you can make many new friends.

Buy a sleep mask and earplugs

Seriously: Thank me later for this two Travel Hacks. So far, I have never used a sleep mask or earplugs, but I will never go on a journey again without those two things. Not only in the plane but also in the hostel are a sleep mask and earplugs very helpful. It will happen very often that there are people who come back from a party in the middle of the night and make a big noise without regard for others. They will also turn on the bright ceiling light and wake up the whole room.

Have a neck pillow with you for long flights and bus rides

With a neck pillow you can not only sleep better but also avoid a stiff neck.

Use deodorant as pepper spray

Especially for women who travel a lot alone, it may be useful to be able to defend themselves in case of doubt. A small deodorant bottle that fits in every jacket pocket can serve as an alternative to pepper spray. A small bottle of hairspray is of course also fine.

Wake up early to avoid crowds

There are so many beautiful places, lookout points and places that are so well known that they are so crowded with tourists. Even if it is difficult, I can only recommend you get up as early as possible and visit these places early in the morning. So you have these places all to yourself in most cases, without the constant hustle and bustle and noises of tourists.

Travel with a backpack instead of a suitcase

One of the most important travel hacks I can give you is: Travel with a backpack instead of a suitcase. Both are incredibly heavy, no question but a backpack can sometimes be transported easier than a suitcase. Especially when it’s a lot uphill or downhill, you’ll notice that a heavy suitcase can take up your powers quite a bit.

Wash your laundry with other people’s clothes

Especially in the hostel it is very expensive to do the laundry. With washing, drying and washing powder you can get to 10$ for a laundry very quickly. If you wash your laundry with someone else’s, you can easily share the cost.

Take the bus instead of a taxi

If you do not take a taxi, you will need more time to get to your destination and it is also much less relaxed, but much cheaper. Depending on the luggage you have with you and the distance you have to cover, you can also walk. This way you will also see much more of the surroundings.

Wear thrombosis socks on long bus drives and flights

Although normal socks may be a little more comfortable on such a long journey, it is still better to wear thrombosis stockings on long-haul flights. There is no cheaper and more convenient way to avoid thrombosis. Nothing would be more annoying than if you arrived at your destination and need to see a doctor first.

Buy a drinking bottle that you can use over and over again

Especially in countries where it is safe to drink the water from the tap, it makes sense to buy a drinking bottle that can be refilled again and again. So you never have to worry about where to get some water next time, because these bottles can be refilled in any toilet. Besides, you’re saving yourself so much money.

Have a toothbrush in your hand luggage

Especially on long flights or bus journeys it makes sense to have a toothbrush with you. If you travel for 12 hours, where you eat, drink and sleep, you’ll be very happy if you can brush your teeth in the meantime.

Use Facebook, Workaway, Gumtree and Backpackerjobboard to find a job

If you plan to make some money during your trip, there are countless ways to get a job. On Facebook you can easily join specific groups and browse through the offers. You can also get great job offers around the world at Workaway and Gumtree. The backpackerjobboard, is specially designed for backpacker jobs in Australia and New Zealand.

Always have a small travel pharmacy with you

You never know where you’ll be next and how far away the nearest pharmacy is. That’s why you always have a small supply of medicine like headache pills, nausea pills or whatever else you personally need with you.

Take more photos of people instead of just landscapes

Sure: you will see beautiful landscapes where you can’t stop taking pictures. But if you look at the pictures again weeks later you will notice that all the pictures in which people (whether your friends or yourself) are seen are much more interesting.

Plan as less as possible and just see where you go

One of the biggest mistakes I made in the beginning was to plan my trip down to the last detail, months in advance. I can only recommend to you: Plan and book as little as possible, because plans change so quickly. Plus, you’re much more flexible: you can stay in one place longer than planned or continue traveling with people you’ve just met.

Live in the moment and don’t worry to much about tomorrow

And my last Travel Hacks: Just live in the moment! Enjoy the food, enjoy the view over the sea or nature, make new friends, be open to new experiences, put your phone aside and laugh! Just live in the moment and don’t worry about what tomorrow will be.