Travel

Because I want to glide through airports like a smug little travel goblin and never get stuck behind someone unpacking their entire life at TSA again.

So, I’ve caught the travel bug. Not the “oops I ate something sketchy on the street in Bangkok” kind of bug, but the “I literally browse Google Flights like it’s Netflix” kind. My new favorite hobby is jetting off to random places and pretending I’m starring in some indie movie about self-discovery (complete with dramatic airport walkaways and mysterious background music that only I can hear).

And because I’m extra like that, I started collecting travel hacks like Pokémon cards—especially from those magical beings known as frequent flyers. You know the type: people who somehow look fresh after a red-eye, know which airports have the best bathrooms, and pack like they’re playing 3D chess.

So here are some of the best travel hacks I’ve picked up from those well-seasoned sky nomads, complete with personal notes, mild chaos, and the occasional over-share.

1. TSA PreCheck (or Global Entry) Is Not a Luxury—It’s a Sanity Saver

I used to be one of those people doing the frantic laptop-sneaker-liquids strip dance at security. Not anymore.

Get. PreCheck. I swear this is the most life-changing $78 I’ve ever spent (and yes, I’ve bought LED shower heads and an emotional support water bottle—this still wins). Global Entry is even better if you do international travel; it includes PreCheck and gets you through customs like a boss.

Bonus: no more side-eye from TSA agents while you untangle your backpack like it’s a fishing net.

2. Packing Cubes Are Your New Religion

I used to scoff at packing cubes. I mean, how organized could one person really be?

Then I tried them. And now I evangelize.

They keep your stuff from exploding all over your suitcase and make living out of a bag feel… weirdly peaceful? I organize by category—shirts in one, underwear in another, questionable impulse purchases in their own “what was I thinking” cube.

You can also play Tetris with them in your suitcase and feel like you’ve got your life together. It’s deeply satisfying.

3. Always Pack a Change of Clothes in Your Personal Item

I learned this the hard way, friends. My checked bag once took a surprise vacation to Toronto while I landed in Paris, smelling like airplane and regret.

Now I keep a change of underwear, socks, and a fresh t-shirt in my backpack always. If my bag gets delayed or goes rogue, at least I’m not wandering around a foreign city looking like a disheveled travel zombie.

Also handy if someone spills tomato juice on you mid-flight. (It happens. I have stains to prove it.)

4. Roll Your Clothes, Don’t Fold Them

Another tip that sounded dumb until I tried it. Rolling = more space + fewer wrinkles. I even roll my socks and shove them into my shoes like a travel gremlin storing treasures. You’d be amazed how much extra space that frees up.

Especially important if you’re like me and can’t resist buying “just one more shirt” while abroad. (Spoiler: it’s never just one more.)

5. Use Google Maps Offline Like a Local Wizard

Before you leave, open Google Maps and download the area where you’ll be staying. It’ll still work without Wi-Fi or data. You can wander around confidently while pretending you know what you’re doing—even if you’re hopelessly lost and just trying to find an ATM that doesn’t charge you $12 for withdrawals.

Bonus: if you star restaurants and museums ahead of time, they’ll show up on the map like magic little breadcrumb trails.

6. Hydrate Like Your Life Depends On It (Because It Kinda Does)

Flying dehydrates you more than you think. One frequent flyer told me they drink a liter of water before boarding and avoid caffeine completely.

I… don’t go that far. (I’m not giving up my airport latte, let’s not be dramatic.) But I do bring a collapsible water bottle and fill it up post-security. It’s way cheaper than paying $6 for airport water, and my skin doesn’t feel like it’s been sandblasted midair.

7. Hotel Hacking: Ask for a Corner Room or a Higher Floor

This one’s gold. When checking in, ask (nicely) if they have any corner rooms or higher floor options. A lot of times, you’ll get a quieter, larger room with better views without paying extra. Politeness goes a long way—and if you’re traveling solo, they sometimes even bump you up just for being easy.

Worst-case scenario? They say no. Best case? You’re sipping tea in a skyline-view room like a smug little travel cat.

8. Noise-Canceling Headphones Are Not a Luxury—They’re Armor

If you’ve ever sat near a screaming child, a loud snorer, or a guy watching TikToks at full volume, you know the pain.

Get noise-canceling headphones. Trust me. Not only do they make flights less rage-inducing, but they also double as a universal “please don’t talk to me” sign. Slip them on, cue your travel playlist (mine’s a weird mix of lo-fi beats and synthy 80s pop), and just vibe.

9. Screenshot Everything

Hotel reservations, flight info, local directions, that weird voucher email you swore you’d print but didn’t—screenshot it all. Don’t rely on Wi-Fi or battery life when you’re panicking at a check-in desk in a country where you barely speak the language. I keep a “Travel” album in my photos app just for this stuff.

You’ll thank yourself when you’re running on two hours of sleep and trying to remember if your hostel is called “Casa Luna” or “Luna Casa.”

So… Why Am I So Obsessed With Travel Hacks?

Honestly? It’s partly control-freak energy, but it’s also about making travel feel good. I don’t want to just _get through_airports and hotels—I want to enjoy the whole dang thing. I want to glide through security like I belong there, pack like a minimalist ninja, and arrive at my destination feeling human, not feral.

Travel’s already chaotic. A few good hacks make it way less stressful and a lot more fun.

So if you’re also out here pretending to be a glamorous world explorer when in reality you just got toothpaste on your hoodie… welcome. You’re my people.

P.S. If you have a weirdly specific travel tip (like how to smuggle bananas through customs—I’m not judging), drop it my way. I’m always collecting.