Wherever you’re heading to in 2017 and beyond, there are a number of travel hacks you may not be aware of. With this in mind, here at MEEM we’ve compiled some of the best travel tips to help you travel like a pro.

Booking

Planners book flights as soon as they are available when they are often cheapest. Otherwise wait until the very last minute, and book on a Tuesday. Flights are often cheaper on Tuesdays. Also, no one likes 4am so look for early morning flights. Booking two one-way flights might save money too.

Websites love keeping tabs on people and adjusting the price to what they think you’ll pay. Use an incognito tab to foil them.

Packing

When packing, roll your clothes and stuff socks into shoes to save them getting squashed. Then pop your shoes into shower caps to keep the soles off your other clothes. Packing dark clothes can be a good move if access to laundry facilities is limited, as they don’t tend to show the dirt as easily.

When it comes to non-clothing items, stretch cling film over bottle tops before screwing the lid on to prevent leaks and hide money in old marker pens or lipstick tubes – no one is going to bother stealing them.

Keep jewellery, especially earrings, safe in a pillbox and stop tangles by putting cables in an old glasses case or clipping them together with bulldog clips. It’s also wise to consider packing a small power-strip in case of emergencies and don’t forget your MEEM cable – the only two in one cable that allows you to charge & back up your phone without WiFi.

Finally, when putting everything into your case, put the heaviest items at the bottom of your bag, as this makes it less likely to fall over. Also, scan your passport and other ID so you have a record of all the information if it gets lost or stolen.

At The Airport

If you arrive at the airport by car, take a photograph of your airport parking space to remind you where you parked – a week away can do a lot to your memory. Take another photo of them accepting hold baggage to remind people of what it looks like if it gets lost.

When checking in, note this tip – bags labelled fragile should be placed on top of the pile, which means they’ll be first off the plane and first onto the carousel.

Thirsty, but don’t want to pay airport prices for a bottle of water? Bring an empty water bottle. You can take empties through security and refill them on the other side.

A strange one, but when going through the airport, keep left. For some reason people tend to keep right so security queues are often shorter to the left.

In The Air

Stuff everything you can into overhead lockers. Your legs will thank you at the end of the flight and use a clear plastic bag to hang your phone or tablet from the headrest in front for hands-free viewing.

Room Service

When it comes to relaxing in your hotel, there are a few hacks to help you do it better. Forgot your charger? Some hotel TVs have USB ports that will charge your phone if you plug it in. Saves you a trip to the local shop or having to ask reception if they have some to loan.

When it comes to sleeping off your jetlag, why not use a clip hanger for trousers or skirts to hold curtains together. Or a bulldog clip…

Finally, leftover soap gets thrown out. Drop it into your dirty laundry to keep smells at bay and you’ll arrive with a more fragrant case.

With the tips above, travelling can be a breeze – which ones will you use for your next trip?