I love traveling! But, let's be honest, who doesn't? I traveled a lot as a kid, and I travel for work, so I'm pretty good at getting great deals. For today's blog post, I've put together some of my best travel hacks and tips. Enjoy, and let me know if you used any of them in the comments! I'll be using an example trip for this blog post. My example trip will take place from exactly four weeks from today, from Salt Lake City to Phoenix round trip.
1. Timing isn't everything, but it helps. Earlier bookings can be better deals, specifically six weeks before on a Tuesday. Flights don't change a lot until about two weeks before, then they shoot up. I usually try to book three to eight weeks ahead! Last minute flights can also be great deals, but, since flights often sell out now-a-days, they can be hard to find. Priceline.com is the best when it comes to last minute flights. I always check there first.
2. Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines. If you can survive without a carry-on or checked bag (just a backpack or purse), you can save a ton. Their fares are super cheap, but add-ons are where they get you. Stick to the cheapest option, and don't choose a seat when they ask you. It's always extra. Unfortunately, Spirit doesn't fly out of SLC, so we have to hack our flights a bit. We fly Frontier from SLC to Vegas, then fly Spirit out of Vegas. Right now, if I booked my flight to Phoenix from Vegas, it'd be $39 each way. Crazy cheap, right? Adding in the Frontier flights to Vegas at $29 each way makes it $136 round trip. On Frontier only, flights are $88, so the Spirit trick didn't work this time. It seems to work better for longer flights, and more last minute flights. Frontier is great! Daylen and I got one way tickets to Atlanta for $30 each with their 75% off sale. Sign up for their email list so you can get their deals in your inbox!
4. Travel on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, and at odd times. Business flyers often leave on Mondays and come back Thursdays, while vacationers tend to leave on Fridays and come back on Saturdays and Sundays. Airlines spike up prices on these days, so Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best days to fly cheap, Tuesdays being the absolute best for Priceline and Wednesday for Frontier. For example, my trip on Spirit Airlines had $39 fares one-way on Tuesday, while on Thursday that same week they were $117. Booking on a Tuesday can also help. To get the absolute best fares, you may also need to leave and return at odd times like 10:55pm and 2:00am. If you can dedicate your Tuesday to traveling only at odd times, you will find cheaper flights. My example flight through Spirit arrived in Phoenix at 1:24am. If you can handle these times, you will pay less.
5. Take a backpack, and that's it. I can't even remember the last time, if ever, I've checked a bag. It gets too expensive! If I'm flying on an airline that allows carry-ons, of course I'll bring one, but budget airlines like Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant charge extra for checked bags AND carry-ons. They allow a small personal item that fits under the seat in front of you, such as a purse or backpack. I have a backpack that I use for these flights that has a huge main pocket and one small pocket on the front for my ID, money, ticket, and phone. Backpacks with too many pockets and dividers won't work for this. First, I roll all of my shirts and place them vertically on the bottom. Next, I fold my pants and bottoms flat and place them on top of the shirt rolls. Then, I put socks and underwear in a Ziploc and place them on top of the bottoms. Usually this takes up about half of my backpack. If we are traveling for photography, I'll fit Daylen's clothing in this backpack so that he can take my camera backpack by itself. If not, I'll fill the other half with toiletries, my camera, snacks, and anything else I may need. I'll wear a light jacket so I don't have to pack it and only bring the shoes I'm wearing. I wear Chacos on trips because they are so versatile that I don't need any other shoes. Bam! Everything's in my backpack ready to go. I can usually travel about a week on a backpack before we need to visit a laundromat. I fit a lot of shirts in the bottom.
6. Eat Light. When we travel, we hate spending a ton of money on food. Usually we eat out at a restaurant or buy a grocery store meal once a day for dinner, skip lunch, and I bring granola bars or oatmeal for breakfast if we don't have free hotel breakfasts. I buy these before so we don't have to risk them being more expensive at our destination. Usually we are too busy having fun to notice lunchtime, or we'll get a snack. I love trying new places, and I'm kind of a foodie so I always leave extra time and money for some good dinners at new places!
7. Prepare for airport security. I have flown enough to know a few tricks for getting through security super fast. First, don't bring a ton of liquids. Most people know that they can't bring a liquid over 3 oz, but did you know you can only have up to seven at most airports? Yes, they will make you throw them away if you have over seven 3 oz bottles. Second, bring an EMPTY water bottle. If you bring a full one, they will make you throw it away. Bring an empty one and refill it in the airport after you get through security, so you don't have to buy a $4 water in the airport. Third, don't wear sandals, or, if you are, bring a pair of light socks. Since I wear my Chaco sandals traveling, I bring a pair of light socks in my backpack to grab in order to avoid walking through security barefoot. Gross. Fourth, have your ticket, ID, and electronics pulled out before you get to the front of the line. Your electronics, like a laptop and phone, will need to be put in a separate bin, so don't pack them so far down in your luggage that you have to pull out all of your clothes to get to them. Fifth, if you have an EpiPen and inhaler that can't be checked in a suitcase like I do, tell TSA beforehand. I have special permission to bring them on my person, and I've never even been questioned about them since I went online and told the airlines they were necessary. Sixth, don't wear unnecessary jewelry or bobby pins that you'll have to hurry and take off. And, lastly, pay attention to what you have on you. There are no fireworks, knives, firearms, weapons, etc. allowed, so make sure you don't have them. If you carry a pocketknife, don't bring it. It'll make your life easier.
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