Top travel hacks for 2017

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By sophieharrison

From faking perfectly ironed clothes to out-smarting online pricing, here are a number of surprising travel hacks that will help you enjoy more relaxed and affordable holidays in 2017.

We all know planning and maintaining a seamless holiday can prove to be a lot of pressure. However, Hotels Combined – the world’s leading hotel price comparison platform – has developed a comprehensive list of the very best yet simplest travel hacks to help you save some dosh and travel smarter. Why not beat the crowds, one step at a time…

Book outside of local events for better-quality and more affordable accommodation – Popular events at your holiday destination create demand for accommodation. Hotels, therefore, are unlikely to offer deals or last minute discounts, which many travellers rely on. Booking outside of these times can mean a 50% difference in hotel pricing between the full standard rate and an unmissable deal. These are not to miss!
Book a premium hostel room – For a quality room at a really good deal, consider booking a private room in a hostel – these are as low as 30% of a regular hotel room price. Better value, with the chance to meet new people, why not have a little more fun? Note that it’s best to book these rooms months in advances, as they book out early!
Take advantage of amenities at other hotels – If you are staying in an average hotel, but want to enjoy five-star amenities, ask to use the pool, gym or outdoor areas of the nearest luxury hotel. If you don’t ask you don’t receive!
Don’t let your location or internet search history increase the price of your online flight booking – Did you know that the location from which a flight is booked can affect the price you pay? Try using a different address when booking to take advantage of potentially lower prices. In addition, always clear your search engine, including your cookies, before checking ticket prices. If an airline forecasts that a flight is likely to be in demand, prices may increase.
Don’t get stuck in lines if you have issues with your flight – If your plane is cancelled or delayed, phone the airline from the airport to resolve the issue rather than waiting in a long queue. You will likely speak to someone much quicker.
Get three seats for the price of two – Score yourself some extra room when travelling in pairs by booking the aisle and window seat. Unless the flight is full, you’ll likely have all three seats in the row between the two of you (if not, the person assigned to the middle seat will likely switch with you during the flight).
Give your belongings the highest level of protection and TLC – Mark Mark your baggage as ‘fragile’ to ensure that it’s handled better as it goes through security. Luggage labelled as fragile are always the first to be released on to luggage carousal, helping you get out of the airport quicker. In addition, use mobile phone apps such as Trakdot, which use GPS tracking for your luggage to prevent them from getting lost at the airport.
Save yourself money when changing currency – Currency converters located at airports tend to have high conversion fees. For a more affordable rate, use ATMs to withdraw money directly from your bank account when you have landed at your destination.
Save data when overseas – Using maps via GPS to help find your way around overseas holiday destinations can leave you with a mobile phone bill in the thousands back home. Save data on your phone by downloading offline maps via Wifi while still in Australia.
Keep your hotel room as cool or warm as you like it – Popping out, but don’t want to return to a sweltering hotel room? Some keycard sockets in hotel rooms might be sensitive to any type of card. Keep the temperature just the way you like it when you return by popping your business card in the power activation outlet to keep the air conditioning on.
Fill up your mini bar for free – Eyes bigger than your stomach? If you piled too much fruit on your plate during brekky, why not take the leftovers back to your room and store in your mini bar for a quick snack later?

Can you think of any more?

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