Latest news with #WildPacksAmericanSummerCamp
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
I'm a travel expert - there's a £1.50 supermarket item that you should always pack to maximise space in your luggage
Packing luggage can sometimes be the most stressful part of a holiday for tourists. It's often difficult to balance overpacking, sticking to the baggage weight limit and making sure to bring enough clothes for the trip. In fact, 58 per cent of Brits experience 'Packing Induced Travel Stress', according to research by ASDA Money. This is the panic some tourists feel when packing for their holiday, with expensive checked baggage fees on their mind. But one travel expert, Jamie Fraser at Wild Packs American Summer Camp, has a solution to help maximise space in luggage. He recommends tourists pack laundry detergent sheets, which are just £1.49 at Wilko. Jamie explains how travellers could avoid overpacking and instead, wash the clothes they bring with the detergent sheets on the go. 'Lots of clothing items can be reused and are easy to wash simply by using the sink in your accommodation and some laundry detergent sheets,' he says. 'Laundry detergent sheets are perfect to include in your suitcase compared to overpacking with clothes and risking an overweight luggage fee.' Lightweight and affordable, the sheets are a perfect way to freshen up a holiday wardrobe while keeping luggage low. Jamie adds: 'Costing less than £2 at certain stores like Wilko, detergent sheets take up barely any room, weigh next to nothing, and are perfect for freshening up clothes throughout your trip. 'Unlike liquid or powdered detergent, these sheets won't leak or cause issues at airport security.' The expert reveals how the simple hack can reduce the amount travellers need to pack massively. Jamie shares: 'Bringing a few detergent sheets means you can halve the amount of clothing you pack and simply wash and rewear as needed. 'Even on longer trips, it's possible to manage with just a carry-on, which is a huge bonus considering checked baggage fees can be as high as £65, depending on which airline you use.' Jamie describes exactly how to wash clothes in a sink and recommends completely submerging the items in water and adding the sheet. He advises to stir the water until the sheet has dissolved and work the soapy water through the garments before soaking for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, Jamie advises rinsing with clean water before pressing out any excess water. He says to 'avoid wringing' and to then allow the items to dry out.
Daily Record
15-05-2025
- Daily Record
Experts warn fliers 'never' charge phone at the airport
Charging your device at the airport can lead to an increased chance you will be be a target for cyber criminal activity After a long day at the airport or while waiting during a layover, it can often be tempting to plug your phone into a public charging station at the airport to get it back to 100%. However, travel experts are now warning flyers that this seemingly harmless habit could come with serious risks. According to specialists at Wild Packs American Summer Camp, using public USB charging ports at airports could put travellers' personal and banking information at risk of theft. A prior warning by the FBI revealed that cybercriminals have "figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware" into phones, thereby compromising your data. Alarmingly, 40% of smartphone users are already running their devices with known vulnerabilities, making them more likely to be targeted. Jamie Fraser, travel expert at Wild Packs American Summer Camp, has explained exactly why you should avoid charging your phone at a public plug and what protective measures you should take. He reveals: "It might seem harmless to plug your phone into a public USB port while waiting for a flight, but doing so could put your data at serious risk." "Authorities like the FBI have previously warned travellers not to use these charging points in public places such as airports, hotels, and shopping centres - and there are three serious reasons why." Hidden Malware Threats "Public USB ports can be compromised by cybercriminals to install harmful software onto your phone without your knowledge," the expert states. Once installed this malware can operate silently in the background "including your passwords, banking details, and personal files." The expert warns: "You wouldn't know it's happening until it's too late." Juice Jacking The tactic known as 'juice jacking' involves hackers tampering with public charging stations, so when you "plug in your device malware is installed". "This tricks your phone into trusting the connection, giving criminals access to your private data. Once your phone is infected, it remains at risk even after you leave the airport," the expert says. Data Leaks Even if the charging station hasn't been tampered with there is still a risk. The expert explains: "Even if the charging point hasn't been altered, there's still a chance that your phone could share data unintentionally. Some public charging stations can transfer both power and data, and your phone might not properly distinguish between the two." "This opens the door to potential data interception, with stolen information being used for identity fraud." How to safely charge your phone at the airport Bringing a portable charger along next time you are travelling, Jamie says: "These gadgets can keep your phone charged throughout your journey, so you're not left risking your device on unfamiliar charging stations." If you need to charge your phone at the airport and have forgotten a portable charger, then it is best to use a regular wall outlet and your own charger. The expert warns against USB ports, saying: "USB ports can be tampered with more easily and may pose a greater security risk." The expert also recommends using a USB data blocker, explaining: "A USB data blocker is a small gadget that attaches to your charging cable and stops any data from being transferred, only power gets through. It's a simple way to protect your phone if you have no choice but to use a public USB port." Another hack for charging your phone at the airport would be to turn your phone off before plugging it in. Jame expresses: "Switching your phone off before plugging it into a public USB port won't eliminate the risk completely, but it can lower the chance of malware being installed in some situations." You should also disable data transfer, when charging your phone inside the airport. Jamie explains that this "ensures the cable is only used for charging and not for sharing personal information. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Daily Mirror
24-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
'I'm a travel expert - don't make expensive holiday mistake with four simple tips'
Travel experts have warned that there are certain dates in July when Brits should avoid flying due to sky-high prices, packed airports and "limited choices" A travel expert has warned British holidaymakers should avoid making a very expensive mistake when planning their holidays this summer. Jamie Fraser of Wild Packs American Summer Camp has pinpointed the reason behind extortionate prices for flights. His advice comes as travel company Expedia highlights the three dates families should avoid taking to the skies due to costs. All three dates land in July, perhaps unsurprisingly, given they fall at the start of the school summer holidays. Jamie says airlines are clued the fact parents are confined to a "short holiday window" and "tend to bump up their prices" accordingly during peak times. This is despite the fact that two-thirds (66 per cent) of Brits already struggle with the cost of holidaying abroad. Moreover, there's been a 4.2 per cent increase (or £50 per person) in prices. The three dates to avoid are July 22, 23, as it proves to be a time when demand skyrockets, according to Jamie. He explained: "July marks the start of the school summer holidays, which is when demand for flights takes off. "Parents with school-aged children are mostly limited to this short window, which makes it one of the busiest times to travel. Airlines know this and tend to bump up prices during these peak dates. "This not only hits your wallet, but can make the travel experience more stressful. With so many people flying at once, terminals are at max capacity, and you're more likely to face long queues at each stage of the airport, causing more delays. "With the school summer holidays, you're likely faced with limited choices when it comes to flight times, baggage options, and where you sit. It's much harder to find convenient flight times, especially if you've booked late." Jamie also shared four tips to help you save cash when you're flying in July, reports Belfast Live. The first of these is setting up flight alerts using sites like Skyscanner or Google Flights. These sites will send you a notification when the price drops. Secondly, he suggested flying on a Saturday, highlighting how Friday and Sunday are often the most expensive days to fly, with Tuesday usually being the cheapest. If you're planning a weekend trip, flying on Saturday and coming home on Monday means you will miss one work day. However, you will probably pay "much less" when compared to a Friday-to-Sunday journey. Jamie also said it's worth checking out other school holidays. He said: "Even if you're tied to school holidays, it's worth looking at when schools are off in other parts of the country. For instance, London schools might break up at a different time to those in the Midlands or the North, which could mean cheaper flights from a London airport if their term hasn't finished yet." Finally, he recommended comparing the prices of smaller airports to the larger hubs. Airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester often have the most significant price rises during peak times.
