17 Expert Travel Hacks To Know
The Booking Hacks
“For long‑haul flights, the cheapest deals tend to appear ten to 11 months in advance, while eight to ten months ahead is usually best for European trips. If you miss that window, you can still find good long‑haul fares in January and February when demand dips. It’s also worth searching for one‑way tickets, which give you the flexibility to mix and match airlines rather than being tied to a single carrier and its pricing. You’ll usually see more flight options at different times of day, too. Just make sure the luggage allowances align across the airlines you choose.”– Gavin Lapidus, director at eShores
“Proactive planning is the key to a seamless trip. I recommend checking in ahead of time – ideally at the 24‑hour mark, or as early as possible for international flights. When it comes to finding affordable fares, use tools like Google Flights and Kayak, which can send automatic price alerts. Going is another useful option, curating deal notifications so you’re only pinged when there’s a genuine price drop.”– Jiayi Wang, founder of The Diary Of A Nomad
“Sunday hotel bookings are one of the best-kept secrets in luxury hospitality. With fewer guests checking in, weekend guests heading home and business travellers not yet arriving, the lower demand offers the most flexibility in room allocation, meaning Sunday guests are more likely to be upgraded or placed in premium rooms.” – Raphael Herzog, GM at De Vere Tortworth Court
The Pre-Travel Tips
“It’s usually easiest – and often the best value – to swap your pounds for local currency before you travel. Exchange rates vary between travel‑money providers, so it’s worth shopping around for the best deals. Good providers won’t charge commission and will offer click‑and‑collect or secure home‑delivery options. Never leave it to the airport to exchange your money. While convenient, airport bureaux de change pay high rents for their locations and recoup the cost by offering poor rates to travellers who are essentially a captive audience.” – Simon Phillips, MD at No1 Currency
“Budget airlines can no longer charge for basic hand luggage in the EU, but they’ve found new ways to catch you out. Larger carry‑ons still cost extra, and I’ve seen passengers charged because their bag’s wheels pushed it just 1cm over the limit. Always check your airline’s official carry‑on dimensions and weigh your bag before you travel. If you’re flying with someone else, compare the cost of one large checked suitcase versus paying for two larger carry‑ons. Being aware of these details can easily save you around £46-£60.” – Hannah Mayfield, travel money expert
“I love finding and following people who actually live where I’m traveling. Locals tend to lead me to the best dinners, hidden spots, and even packing inspiration in a way travel accounts sometimes don’t. I still love seeing ideas from other travellers, but I enjoy trips so much more when I’m grounding my plans in a local perspective, rather than chasing trends.” – Naomi H, SL Community member
The Flying Advice
“You can reduce the effects of turbulence simply by choosing the right seat. Seats over the wings usually offer the smoothest ride, and the further forward you sit, the less you’ll feel any bumps. Because you’re closest to the aircraft’s centre of gravity, you’ll experience less movement and vibration than you would further back.
“The ideal spot is around five rows from the front or five rows from the back. Cabin crew typically work front to back, or run two carts from the front of economy, so sitting five rows from the front gives you a better chance of getting your first meal choice. It’s also the calmer place to be during turbulence, and being nearer the front means you’ll disembark quickly.” – Spokesperson at AllClear
“After visiting more than 100 countries, I’ve realised the biggest difference between a stressful trip and a great one is how you handle the first day. I choose flights that land outside peak airport times – even if they cost more – because arriving calm is worth far more than saving money and losing half a day to queues. I like to arrive early to remove pressure, use lounges for space and quiet, travel with a backpack so there’s no need to rush boarding, and let the baggage‑hall frenzy pass. Travel becomes far smoother when you stop trying to go faster and start designing calm into every stage.”– Lee Thompson, co-founder of Flash Pack
The Apps
“The TimeShifter app is great to help you quickly adjust to time zones and get over jetlag. It tells you when to sleep, have caffeine and go outside – and even if you should have sunglasses on or not! I think the first use is free.” – Jodie Rogers, SL Community member
“One of my favourite travel apps is Bounce, a brilliant luggage‑storage service that lets you drop your bags at vetted locations in cities around the world. It’s ideal if you’ve arrived hours before check‑in or have a late flight home – you can explore properly without dragging a suitcase around or hunting for a café that won’t mind you parking it under the table. Most spots are open for long hours, which makes it one of those small but genuinely game‑changing hacks that transforms a stopover or city break.” – Sherri Andrew, SL’s Travel & Lifestyle Editor
The Packing Essentials
“When travelling to Australia last year, packing cubes made things so much easier. I also always pack a small plastic pouch with plasters, paracetamol, hydrocortisone cream, Compeed etc. A fold-up laundry bag is super helpful, and I sleep really well on flights using the Trtl travel pillow.” – Sarah P, SL Community member
“My packing essential is a sarong. It’s my ultimate ‘Swiss army knife’ – a blanket for the plane, picnic rug, beach cover-up, towel and even a fashion number. Plus, it takes up barely any space in your luggage.” – Alex Oldfield, co-founder of Curated Spaces
“Feather pillows are brilliant for travel because they compress down far more easily than synthetic ones – you can squeeze all the air out, tuck them into your bag and they’ll spring right back to shape with a quick fluff. Beyond sleep, they’re surprisingly versatile – perfect for lumbar or neck support on the plane, a comfy headrest by the pool or even padding for fragile souvenirs on the way home.” – Sarah Rodrigues, travel expert at Avanti Travel Insurance
“It takes a bit of forethought, but I like to bring a collapsible water bottle to fill up at the airport and have my own snacks to save on time and money. Compression packing cubes is great for organisation, while a portable door lock will help you feel that bit safer on your trop.” – Jiayi
“I’ve found that irons and ironing boards aren’t a given in all hotels. I invested in a compact travel steamer because in the summer I wear a lot of cotton and linen. I also bought a couple of travel coat hangers that fold down flat and have clip attachments. Perfect for hanging clothes on when steaming.” – Lisa Hodges, SL Community member
“A silk pillowcase and my own pillow are my non-negotiables. I also bring my favourite pillow sleep spray to signal to my brain that it’s time to rest, no matter the time zone. A hydrating facial mist and good lip balm keep me feeling fresh, and I always pack a cashmere wrap as it doubles as a blanket, shawl, or even a makeshift seat cover.” – Harriet Webber Jamieson, founder of Party Planners
SHOP THE EDIT
Do you have your own travel hack to share?
DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at info@sheerluxe.com.
/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Fwebsite-images%2F2025%2F03%2Fsign-up-pop-up.jpg?itok=zlMvamfa)
