I use Reddit a lot.
In my opinion, it has the best voting system out of all social media platforms. There are travel hacks Reddit users have used and found great success.
Even I take some notes from time to time. Reddit is just unique.
However, not all tips are properly explained. Some are even outdated.
Let me compile a list of some of the best hacks that Reddit has come up with for traveling that are still relevant in the current landscape.
#1 Here is how to cancel hotel reservations for a refund
I’ve been there many times.
Something comes us, and I am unable to visit the hotel. Raise your hands if you’ve been there.
Usually, you cannot get a refund because it’s not allowed by the cancellation policy.
However, many hotels allow you to get a refund if, AND ONLY IF, you have a reservation that was created just a few hours ago.
So, what you do is:
Call the hotel to move the reservation to a later date, like next week. Even though asking for a refund when you were booked for days may be against the cancellation policy, most hotels allow you to move the reservation date.
Once you’ve done that, wait a couple of hours so that you have a different hotel representative behind the phone and cancel your “new” reservation.
Be aware though!
It does not work with every hotel, nor every time. Some hotels are aware of this hack and they take notes of reservations that were moved.
Nowadays, some hotels even update their software to prevent these kinds of cancellations.
However, if you truly cannot make it to the hotel, why not try it out.
It’s not against the law – it’s a workaround so that your money doesn’t go to waste by paying for a hotel where you won’t even be sleeping in.
If it won’t work, at least you gained the knowledge and tried everything you can.
Be nice about it though. Whatever hotel rep tells you, it’s never bad to share positive vibes, especially if hotels suffer from a shortage of guests.
Who knows, they may even meet you halfway because of that.
Credit to u/peacockblue11.
#2 Be smart with renting cars
Oh, you can be sure that the closest car rentals will have their prices inflated due to high rental demand from tourists.
Every single one and their mother will use rental cars close to airports.
That is why you should call a taxi instead of a rental car. Call a cab, type in “best car rent” and pick one that is not too close and not too far away.
Show the location to the taxi driver and that’s it.
You can literally save hundreds of dollars by doing just this simple trick.
Credit to u/mtg-Moonkeeper.
#3 Take Advantage of Cruise Line prices
By the way, save this page by sharing it on social media! You’ll find travel hacks easier that way in the future.
So, back to business.
Unlike hotels, most reputable cruise lines don’t worry if you decide to cancel and get a refund (except the last day).
That means this.
Search for awesome prices that you can book. Don’t be afraid to book well in advance.
This is where the game begins:
Once you have the check, keep your eyes open for days when the price drops dramatically.
It happens more often than you think.
Once it does, immediately refund your payment and buy the ticket at the bigger discounted price. As with hotels, before you do that, make sure what the refund policy is for cruise ships that you plan to travel with.
That way there won’t be any surprises and everything will be according to the correct policy.
#4 Use shipping to ship the biggest weight to the destination
When I started traveling around the world, there was something that was always bothering me – like I couldn’t properly enjoy my adventures.
Then I found what weighed me down – the weight itself.
The weight of all my luggage and travel items was one of the reasons I didn’t feel rested.
That is why I created this 4,500-word article on what you can do to lighten the packing weight for travels.
To take one hack out of it, an extremely useful tip that I used was to send the bulkiest items beforehand. That way you can take your trusty backpack and truly enjoy the trip to your destination.
I think you can imagine how big of a difference it makes when 10kg (at least) is off of your shoulders.
Not only does your body and mind relax, but you save time and money from not having to wait for checked luggage and luggage fees.
#5 Make use of local transport cards
For example, if you were to visit Hong Kong, the first thing to do is to get an Octopus Card.
According to Wikipedia, the Octopus Card is used by 99% of the Hong Kong population aged 18-65.
Once you see that kind of monopoly, you better pay attention. I, personally, haven’t had the pleasure to visit Hong Kong yet, but I do take notes from people that have.
According to them, you should put a couple of hundred bucks/euros on that card, and then use it in trains, buses, trams, ferries.
Even fast-food places like McDonald’s and regular supermarkets use this card for transferring money.
For Hong Kong visit, these types of cards are really making life more comfortable, and most of all, faster.
#6 Take note of what sim-card you use
There is no question that you will need internet access at some point during your travels.
You can’t rely on Wi-Fi all the time.
But, mobile networks are expensive! Your network providers may offer foreign country discounts, but they may not be cheap enough.
Best solution?
Buy some local sim cards. If you don’t know where to buy, ask a random kiosk. They usually always have disposable sim cards.
If they don’t have it, they can point you towards malls that have them.
#7 Use Google Flights the right way
Google Flights is very powerful.
It was launched in 2011 and is used by millions worldwide. That’s the power of Google.
So, to make sure you know the company that offers the best prices, you better check the Google Flights price graph regularly:
There is also an option to get an email if the price lowers, but it only works for specific dates.
To see prices with huge flight discounts with no date restriction that Google Flights has, I would recommend a website that specializes in finding the best deals.
Check out ScottsCheapFlights.
By signing up there, you basically get flight information that real people monitor every minute, so you don’t miss out on discounts that come and go.
I personally use it as well.
#8 Do not overpack
We sometimes have a tendency to be overly prepared.
It’s understandable but completely unnecessary in terms of items that you plan to take.
“Do plan ahead, but don’t plan with your luggage.”
I remember moments in my early travel days where I took way too many items with me.
All together it was about 23kg, give or take. Now, I’ve lost about 80% of that weight.
Do you know the best part of doing so?
You really start to enjoy traveling. It doesn’t make it as stressful as it usually does. See, in the back of our minds, a little devil sits and tells us that if we miss our transport, we will carry all this heavy and awful weight with us for HOURS.
But as soon as you lose the luggage weight, all your problems will seem much more manageable just because you can manage the weight you carry with ease.
It’s quite psychological, but it’s true!
Your body is not the only body part that needs rest. Your mind is crucial for vacation enjoyments!
#9 Consider timelines and setting clocks
One of the smartest things to do, when flying long distances, is setting the clock up to destination time.
So, for example, if the country you visit is 6 hours behind, make sure that you go to sleep at 5 AM local time.
I’ve tried to sleep in planes numerous times to avoid jet lag.
It’s not fun feeling tired and having sleeping problems. That is why it’s best to counter jet lag in any way you can.
#10 Don’t forget to check hotel prices, as it might be even cheaper compared to Airbnb
Lately, people are so stuck on using Airbnb as their main booking site, that they forget to check hotel prices.
In fact, Airbnb prices are steadily increasing, especially with additional fees (once you’ve chosen the place you like).
Yes, I am talking about the cleaning fee. It might cost you $10 to get a good night’s sleep, but the cleaning fee might turn out to be $150.
As I’ve found out, whether all the associated fees show up on the listing, depends on the country. Some countries demand the site to show all the information from the get-go.
So, if you want to save money, just make sure to check out hotel prices as well. Depending on the location, you may find a pleasant surprise.
#11 Use “Best Rate Guarantee” in hotels to get an even cheaper price
That’s a useful hack if you have a couple of minutes to do slight research on prices.
What is “Best Rate Guarantee”?’
It’s what hotels use to make sure they have the lowest rate out of all third-party sites.
So, for example, let’s say that 3 nights at a Marriott hotel is going to cost you $1,000. If you find a lower price on ANY site other than Marriot’s where the price is lower, you should make a screenshot of the page, and send a claim to Marriott after booking. If it is approved, they will not only MATCH the price but will lower the total cost up to 25% (as far as it says at the time of publishing).
Where should you check the prices for hotels? MillionMileSecrets has a nice list:
Marriott isn’t the only one, there are many hotels that have “Best Rate Guarantees”. Some have a very strict policy to avoid cheaters, so it may not always work. But as with everything, trying doesn’t hurt.
#12 Be Respectful
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve got from Reddit is actually to be nice to people.
I’ve had stress levels raised to great heights, and because of that, it was easy to be moody.
But, when I sought advice on Reddit on various topics back in 2011, I stumbled upon one single tip that changed my whole demeanor on travel.
After all, everyone can be stressed.
However, when people see your bubble of great energy, their attitude changes also.
Being respectful to people is contagious.
On top of all that, when you show respect, they might even be forthcoming and reach out to you.
I’ve witnessed many situations where my respect for others paid me back multiple times over.
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