Top 7 travel hacks to help you plan a memorable, less costly trip
(WSPA) – Do you love travel but hate the headaches that can come with it? From tools that save you time to tricks that save you money, we have expert advice on the Top 7 travel hacks.
Jacque and Bill Foster in Greenville have taken their four children to far-off places like the grasslands of Africa, the castle tops of Scotland and the scenic coast of Croatia. Along the way, Mrs. Foster has become a bit of a travel guru, collecting priceless tips that help to make any vacation go smoothly.
'Country-specific Facebook pages can really help you connect with locals in that country. For example, when we were traveling to Costa Rica I found a local travel planner who works out of Costa Rica,' Foster said.
She added while you're at it, check out popular travel profiles like 'Travel With Kids' and 'Girls Love Travel' which are great resources for key advice before your next trip.
On a long layover in Paris, Foster booked this scooter scavenger hunt after finding it on one of her three favorite sites:
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Viator.com
Airbnb Experiences
They help you plan brag-worthy activities and are budget-friendly.
Ahead of her Caribbean trip, Justine Jenkins learned some useful tips for anyone getting a passport.
'The standout rule is you must have a black pen. And if there's one mistake on the application you have to do it over,' she warned.
She also recommends you book an appointment well in advance on the USPS site. If you can't, some like the Greenville Post Office on West Washington Street take morning walk-ins, but be sure to print out the application ahead of time, since they may not have hard copies.
The stress of lost luggage can ruin a vacation and the Aviation Data Specialists at SITA found 7 in 1,000 bags get lost. That's 100,000 a day!
Foster said she only uses carryons, even for their three-week trip to Croatia and two-week journey to Africa.
'The less you pack the less you will be stressed on a trip. I have never gotten on a trip and thought, I wish I had brought more stuff,' Foster said.
Speaking of packing, in the weeks leading up to travel, it's helpful to keep a packing list on your phone where you can add things as they pop into your head. Then double-check that list before you leave so you will never forget your charger or toothbrush.
Having a knowledgeable planner can take the load off, plus they're free.
'They can usually save you a lot of money because they know where to go within your budget and they get paid by the places that book,' Foster said.
You'll usually save time in line with TSA PreCheck, and won't have to take off your shoes or unload liquids and devices for 5 years. Plus, the GM of Clear at GSP, Ed Schottmiller, said you might not even be stuck with the nearly $78 cost.
'There are 65 credit cards that offer a statement reimbursement or statement credit for TSA precheck,' Schottmiller said.
Check to see if your card is on the list.
Foster books airport parking ahead of time to save, uses credit card points for flights and often packs food to avoid eating out.
And when booking accommodations she loves this tip.
'When you find an Airbnb or a VRBO that you like, you drop the photo into Google Image (press the Google image icon in the search engine bar, then drag and drop) and it might come up on another site, and then you're saving all those fees with Airbnb or VRBO,' Foster said.
And that shores up money, for more memories in the making.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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