I recently booked a trip to Europe and I’m beyond excited! I’ve only really started traveling to places outside of North America in the last two years, and it has certainly been eye-opening. I’ve only been to Europe once before when I went to Iceland (thank you, cheap flights!), so I’m stoked to get a better taste of what everyone is talking about.
That said, traveling can also cause a lot of stress. From packing to airport lines to avoiding pickpockets, there’s a lot you need to know. We’ve come up with a little list of travel hacks that’ll hopefully help you out when you need it most.
1. Packing is probably my least favorite part.
Actually, I lied. Unpacking is definitely my least favorite part. I almost never bring jewelry because I find it gets tangled all the time. Her Packing List suggests using a straw to stop dainty necklaces from tangling.
2. And if you’ve got a lot of jewelry and no straws, try this instead.
You can use two pieces of Press N Seal wrap and lock your jewelry between the two layers. Seal around the edges, then roll it up! Now those babies aren’t going anywhere. Thanks to Andrea Dekker for this tip.
3. Have the same suitcase as pretty much everyone else?
Toss a brightly colored ribbon on your bag so it’s easy to tell which one is yours when you’re waiting for the luggage to come down the carousel. Thanks to @captain_misa for this idea!
4. I don’t know how true this is, but if it is, I need to try it!
I think everyone hates waiting in lines, especially at the airport. You’re either desperate to get where you’re visiting, or you just want to get home.
5. Use a binder clip to keep your headphones untangled.
Bite Sized Adventures came up with this idea and I think it’s super smart! I hate trying to untangle any of my cords when I’m half asleep on a plane.
6. Want to bring multiple vitamins, but not the whole bottle?
Kristen says to use another empty bottle and put all your pills in there instead. Just remember which one is which if you need to take more than one!
7. Have a collar you want to keep nice and stiff?
Put your belts inside the collar to help them keep their shape. This is a super easy way to save some time ironing after you’ve gotten to your hotel!
8. Use a dryer sheet to keep your clothes smelling fresh.
The longer I travel with the same clothes, the more damp and musty they start to smell. About A Mom says that using a dryer sheet is a smart way to fix this!
9. A binder clip is a great alternative to a razor cover.
If you’ve lost the cover to your fave razor (don’t worry, it happens to the best of us!), cover it with a binder clip. Then you’ll avoid cutting your luggage and your fingers.
10. Get yourself a bar of laundry soap and cut it up!
You can use laundry soap a lot like regular soap, but it’s meant to be especially gentle on clothes. Plus, Stacie reminds us that it can be taken in your carry-on since it’s not a liquid.
11. Hide small valuables inside a bar of soap.
Sometimes, you gotta do what you gotta do. Use a small zipper top bag or plastic wrap and cover your money or jewelry before putting it into your soap.
Just cut out a trench, put the money in, add the shavings back on top, and wash it under the sink.
You can use a spoon or your hands to get it back to its original shape, then use a dryer to seal it. Good as new! Just don’t forget which bar that $$$ is in. Thanks Ashish for sharing.
12. If hiding your money in a bar of soap seems silly, try this.
As a woman, I know most people don’t want to fiddle around with a sanitary napkin. It’s easy to hide money or other important documents in there, just don’t let anyone take your purse!
13. Use some plastic wrap to stop bottles from leaking.
The last thing you want is a leaking bottle of shampoo all over the clothes in your suitcase. You can add a piece of plastic wrap between the bottle and the cap to stop leaks.
14. Turn an old DVD case into some entertainment for your kiddos!
Remove the plastic part that holds in the DVD with an X-Acto knife, then put all sorts of cool things inside.
Chas created this fun drawing book that is perfect for trains, planes, and automobiles!
I love the choice of fabric for the pencil pouch. This is definitely an adorable travel hack!
15. If you’re trying to save space while packing, roll your clothes!
This works even better if you put wrap a pair of socks on either end! With the price of carry-on and checked luggage these days, this is key.
16. Worried about your clothes getting wrinkly during a long trip?
Add pieces of tissue paper between each layer of clothing to help it stay fresh. If it works for fancy dresses, it’ll work for anything!
17. My jewelry always gets tangled when I pack for a trip.
This is a great way to keep things from tangling, but it’s also great for preplanning what you’re going to wear every day of your trip.
18. Phone cords are prone to breaking, especially when they’re scrunched up in a bag for a long period of time.
Take the spring out of a pen and wrap it around the cord. This will protect the connector from fraying or breakage.
19. We all know the dreaded liquid rules for carry-on items on flights.
And even if we check our bags, taking the whole bottle of a product is silly. Use a straw filled with your product instead! Just use a lighter to seal each end with heat.
20. Storing a hair straightener or curling iron while on road trips is no easy task.
I’m always worried about burning something down! You can use an inexpensive pot holder and wrap your device in there. What a great suggestion from Your Creative Juices !
21. I love going on hikes and walks when I’m traveling, but when you get hungry, you often have very few choices.
Section Hiker recommends packing a ton of healthy snacks into a zipper-lock bag before heading out.
22. I don’t love traveling with my laptop, but sometimes it’s necessary!
GrrrlTraveler recommends traveling with your laptop in a bubble envelope mailer. The bubbles will keep it safe from physical harm, and it discourages stealing, too.
