The speed in which technology has evolved over the last few years has been nothing short of supersonic, and we can use this tech to our advantage when it comes to planning, and booking your vacation.
Some people may think they already travel smart enough, but in reality they’ve only just scratched the surface of what’s available to them. Did you know that by 2019, it’s projected that 1.5 billion mobile boarding passes will be delivered? That’s an increase of 750 million from 2015. And in 2018, stats compiled by Statista show the main inspiration and planning for travel in the UK is via Search Engines (30%) and Review Sites (28%), showing that web plays a huge part in booking your vacation.
Even the evolution of travel tips and tricks can help to make you think about how to travel smarter, whether it be how to maximize your luggage space, saving cash, avoiding peak travel hours, or using the perfect app to find the best location to head for food.
Save Yourself Some Dough
If you’re looking to save money on your trip, then there are plenty of tips you can take on board. From booking and paying early, to keeping your travel options open in order to avoid the costs of travelling to a popular airport in your destination.
Saving money is always a smart move, why pay $50 for something, if you can pay $20 less by shopping around. Comparison websites and mobile apps have been developed to keep the savvy Traveller at front-of-mind, putting all the best deals in one place for convenience.
Make the most of this technology. Sign up for push notifications, keep your options open, stay loyal for big savings and maybe most importantly—set yourself a rough-budget so you’re not sucked in to waiting for price drops and the “what-ifs” that come with it.
Pay a Little, Expect More
Sometimes, you may find a deal which seems too good to be true. Some of the time, that proves to be correct. Airlines have started a trend of removing baggage options from the price of your standard ticket. Meaning, they can up the premium of adding a checked bag to your booking and squeeze a few extra dollars out of you when you have no other option but to bring hold-baggage with you.
Some airlines haven’t removed baggage from their basic ticket options, but reduced the maximum size and weight, and we’ve all heard tales about the price you pay when you’re stung by excess baggage charges. Be sure to check luggage requirements before purchasing your ticket to make sure they’re compatible with your luggage needs. If they are, it’s cheaper to purchase additional baggage at the time of booking.
Insure You Don’t Pay the Price For Not Paying
A study conducted in 2017 showed that 41% of American citizens didn’t bother to take out travel insurance before their trips outside the US—amazing. Of those who didn’t travel with insurance, 42% claimed it was too expensive to purchase a policy, even though the average cost of treatment was $1,295. Those findings intrigued us, and we set about explaining the benefits of being covered.
You may like taking risks. You could be a glass-half-full optimist. Or, you could just think that travel insurance is an expensive addition to your holiday and “probably” won’t need it. But let us assure you, accidents happen, and illness, injury of theft could happen to any of us at any time. Travel Insurance company Columbus Direct stated that between July 2017 and May 2018, 35% of claims they receivedwere declared as medical emergencies - proving that travel insurance is a small price to pay in retrospect.
It’s imperative that when purchasing your travel insurance that it includes all the activities you wish to participate in—it’s no use purchasing a policy, only to find out you weren’t covered after all.
Too Close For Comfort
Airports are becoming busier every year as air travel continues to grow, meaning that the jostle for space is becoming more difficult. People are beginning to stick their elbows out, and put their backpacks and duty-free bags on the spare seats and in walkways simply to increase their personal space in an otherwise crowded area. This type of behaviour is making the airport departure seating area somewhat of a free-for-all.
The demand for airport lounges is increasing as Travellers seek solace from the crowded terminal. Priority Pass is a good place to start as it’s the world’s largest agnostic lounge provider with over 1,500+ lounges.
Travel Smarter And Reap The Benefits
Being a Priority Pass Member unlocks a whole world of benefits which help to enhance your airport experience. Did you know these benefits stretch past the four terminal walls? If not, don’t worry. It’s relatively new.
The majority of airline passengers consider the airport to be a crucial, if not enjoyable, part of their journey. People generally like to experience all the food, drink, lounges and shopping outlet options an airport has to offer.
And, by the way, you can now do all these things with your Priority Pass card. (Sorry, shameless plug) Enjoy lounges, an array of dining options and special offers from retailers included in the price of your Membership. Get discounts on accommodations and car rentals too to enhance your travel experience.
‘appy ‘olidays
As we mentioned above, not only can apps help you to find the best deals when you’re booking your next trip, but they can give you useful guides and tips for getting around. And, provide endless hours of entertainment.
Different people look for different things. You may be spontaneous and want to explore a destination by yourself. Or, you may err on the side of caution, learning the best touristy spots as well as those areas to avoid.
As the Apple commercial used to say, “There’s an app for that.” Admittedly, in this day and age that statement is probably 99.999999999% correct. We outlined some of the best travel apps which will help you to get the most out of your vacation. Check them out here.