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Our Favorite Packing Tips, as Seen on Reddit

Ashley Rossi

Ashley Rossi is always ready for her next trip. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram for travel tips, destination ideas, and off the beaten path spots.

After interning at SmarterTravel, Ashley joined the team full time in 2015. She's lived on three continents, but still never knows where her next adventure will take her. She's always searching for upcoming destination hotspots, secluded retreats, and hidden gems to share with the world.

Ashley's stories have been featured online on USA Today, Business Insider, TripAdvisor, Huffington Post, Jetsetter, and Yahoo! Travel, as well as other publications.

The Handy Item I Always Pack : "A reusable filtered water bottle—it saves you money, keeps you hydrated, and eliminates waste—win-win."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience : "A week in a bamboo beach hut on India's Andaman Islands."

Travel Motto : "Travel light, often, and in good company."

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat : "Window—best view in the house."

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Reddit is an online community platform that happens to be a goldmine for travel advice, particularly when it comes to hacks and packing. After landing on a subreddit (the name for an individual topic forum) when researching a story, I often find myself checking back for more great ideas. Here are some of the best packing tips I’ve found while researching on Reddit.

For more minimalist packing advice and hacks from Reddit, follow the subreddit, r/onebag . You’ll be hooked too.

Carry-on and Personal Item Size Limits for 32 Airlines

Packing Tip #1: Dry Bags Can Do It All

“Always carry a dry bag ~20L to do laundry on the road, as detailed  here . Throw in clothes, add detergent (or a spoonful of dishwashing liquid), and shake or let soak for 30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Wring clothes out with a towel to speed up drying. This is the easiest way to wash clothes on the road – hotel, hostel, or wherever – without hogging an entire sink. Plus, the dry bag comes in handy for adventures and protecting your laptop in storms.” – ABrotherAbroad

How to Do Laundry on Vacation

Packing Tip #2: Migrate to One Cable

“All in all, I went from seven different charging cables (or battery) to  just a single one.  All devices are at least an upgrade from the previous one, with some offering a  major  upgrade. The devices include:

• Action Camera
• Mirrorless Camera
• Bluetooth Earphones
• Portable Battery
• Portable Storage
• Bluetooth Keyboard
• Bluetooth Mouse
• Wireless Charger
• Travel Adapter
• Flashlight/Headlamp
• Electric Razor/Beard Trimmer

13 devices  that make use [of] the same type of cable

I can charge all devices from a single power adapter that offers three USB-A outputs and 1 USB-C output but it never happens – at worst I have to charge two at the same time as most devices have a fast charge.” – MarcusForrest

Packing Tip #3: Pack Like You Can’t Buy Anything for 24hrs

“What would you want/need? Personally, I’ve lost track of the number of endless bus rides, delayed flights, power outages, and rental car breakdowns I’ve had to deal with. I wouldn’t carry a huge first aid kit, but I would absolutely carry a mini-bottle of Advil and a roll of antacids. I carry a Vapur bottle that I fill and use all the time. I usually have a Cliff bar in my bag somewhere.” – Hakote

Packing Tip #4: Fabrics Are Your Friends

“Always pack at least one quick-dry outfit. Ideally, pack ALL quick-dry items. Nothing you take should require more than 12 hours to dry.” – Hakote

“In my opinion, the combination of merino and bamboo is really nice. Makes the merino stronger, softer and airy. I tend to sweat in it less and just like the feel. My favorite shirt of last year was a Pally’Hi with 60 percent merino and 40 percent bamboo. There is a discussion going on that the bamboo origin doesn’t really matter since it is merely the source for the cellulose to create viscose (meaning things that are often called modal or bamboo are simply viscose) but there is a difference in the way the fibers are treated after spinning. Which means that with a better-quality viscose you get a stronger and lighter fiber.” – ormagon_89

“Invest in at least one item of merino wool. T-shirt, socks, underwear, or button-up shirt. Merino is a game-changer for packing light. They are wrinkle-resistant, and don’t smell after wearing it multiple days.” – GeoffMeetsWorld

Packing Tip #5: Make a Decoy Wallet

“I always pack a fancy looking wallet with a 20 Euro bill and old credit cards. If somebody mugs me that’s what I give them.” – inthenameofmine

Packing Tip #6: Have a Travel Drawer at Home

“I travel enough for work and often with so little notice that I have a ‘Travel Drawer’, with my pre-packed toiletry bag, a pouch with charging cables and other handy stuff, and a packing cube with leggings, a t-shirt, and some socks and underwear in it. I basically corralled that stuff together because on a couple of occasions I had to ask my boyfriend to grab my stuff and meet me at work or the airport, and it was easier to say ‘grab the stuff from the travel drawer’ than to give him a full packing list … Eventually, I added a document folder to that drawer with my passport, social security card, some cash, and other stuff.” – Hakote

Packing Tip #7: Swap Your Liquid Toiletries for Bars

“I use the Neogen green-tea face stick when I travel as a joint face/body wash. It comes in a tube-like a large stick of lip balm, it’s easy to use with or without a washrag, and it lasts forever. It’s also very affordable and doesn’t count as a liquid for TSA purposes. I use one in my gym bag as well.” – violtetviceroy

“I just bought my first Lush shampoo bar and love it, but plan [on] buying a bar of dr. Bronner’s for my body. I personally love the tea tree one, and both bars will fit in my stainless-steel soapbox.  Someone else mentioned their soap turning to mush; I don’t store my soap in the shower and keep the box on the outside edge so water doesn’t get in it, or place it outside of the watered-down area right after using it and it stays together fine.” –bohemianmarie

Packing Tip #8: Rolling vs. Folding

“Folding lacks organization unless I put them in packing cubes. Ranger roll is too finicky and doesn’t save me any space. The bundle method is ok for wrinkles but is a pain for getting individual items out. It would work better for me in situations where I stay in one place for longer periods of time, I.e. long enough to unpack and live out of a dresser/closet instead of my suitcase. I think my new go-to might be a combination of rolling with rubber bands or hair ties and packing cubes or clear bags.” – katmndoo

The Best Packing Cubes Ever

Packing Tip #9: The One Item That Surprised Even Us … The Linen Towel

“As for linen itself, I greatly prefer my towels to both cotton and also to the microfiber camping towel I used before my linen towel. It’s not as soft as a plush cotton towel but it dries me well, dries itself quickly, and folds down much smaller. Linen is also supposed to be much more durable than cotton although I can’t say I ever wore out a cotton towel.” – chackoc

How to Pack a Suitcase: The Ultimate Guide

“Basically, this thing folds up so thin, doesn’t take much space, and most importantly dries up quickly (ie. no bad smell). I tried the microfiber quick-dry towel, and they were not quick-drying, especially in humid weather. They also smell really horrible if not dried properly, and I could never get used to the grippiness of the towel. The only drawback I say for the linen towel is the price and that you have to get used to the roughness initially. After a few uses, the roughness will be gone and it will become smooth.” – polarium

You Tell Us: What are your favorite lesser-known packing tips?

Travel Products Suggested by Reddit Users

Shop the look.

Linen Travel Towel

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Collapsible Water Bottle

Merino Wool Socks

Green Tea Facestick

More from smartertravel:.

• Ingenious Packing Tips Every Traveler Should Know
• The  Essential  International  Packing  List
• The  Essential  Carry-on  Bag  Packing  List

Ashley Rossi is always ready for her next trip. Follow her on  Twitter   and  Instagram   for travel tips, destination ideas, and off the beaten path spots.

Editor’s note: Some posts have been edited for clarity.

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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Seasoned travelers pick up their own arsenal of tricks to ensure their travels are smooth and easy. From a packing hack that saves space in your luggage or a mobile app that helps cut down on time in the airport, there's a number of unique tips that can help you have a fantastic trip. Whether you're an experienced traveler or are embarking on your first vacation in a while, here are 25 travel tips that will make your vacation stress-free.

Print Out Important Documents

These days, it’s normal to rely on your phone for getting around. But when you travel, that dependence comes with a risk. Your phone battery might die, or, if you're traveling internationally or in a remote area, your cell signal may not be quite as strong as it is back home. If you're using maps on a phone or other device, take screenshots before you head out, in case you lose signal. But to fully secure yourself, go old school and print out a map. This also goes for your itineraries, schedules, reservations, or any other important information you may need.

Read the Local News

It's tempting to completely disconnect from the real world while you're on vacation. But you will want to keep up with the news, especially in the destinations you're visiting, so you can stay safe during an emergency. If you don't know the local language, consider downloading an app like OZZI , which tracks international alerts to keep travelers informed of developing threats.  

It should come as no surprise that airplane travel is a dehydrating experience, but did you know that dehydration affects more than just your thirst levels and skin appearance? Dehydration can increase the effects of jet lag since the high altitude of the pressurized cabin lowers oxygen levels in the blood. This makes it even more difficult for your circadian rhythm to make the adjustment. Staying hydrated keeps the blood flowing at an even pace and smooths out the transition.

Bring a First Aid Kit

Pack a small first aid kit with the essentials — bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain medication, and antidiarrheals for easy access if you get hurt or fall ill on the road. If you’re traveling through villages or remote areas, these basic items won’t be readily available. And if you're in a city with higher tax rates, you might save money by purchasing these items at home.

Pack One Complete Outfit in Your Carry On

If you plan on checking your bags, then be sure to pack one complete outfit in your carry on in case your baggage is delayed. This way, you’ll have a spare set of clean clothing ready to go. Even if your bags make it safely, accidents can happen while in transit, and you'll have a nice clean shirt handy for any spills that may occur.

Back Up Critical Documents

Scan and store copies of your passport and identification cards in a cloud-based folder so they're accessible should they be stolen. Having copies on hand will significantly expedite the process of replacing your stolen documents. The same goes for itineraries and reservation information.

Bring Several Different Forms of Money

Not having access to money can put anyone in a bind so be sure to bring more than one form. Certain debit or credit cards may not work in the destination you’re visiting so you’ll want to bring a backup or two. Keep an emergency card somewhere other than your wallet and carry some local cash as well. Store bundles of cash in multiple places, including your carry-on, a checked bag, and somewhere on your person. That way, if you’re separated from your luggage, you won’t lose all your budgeted money.

Become a Loyalty Member

Frequent fliers should pick one airline and stick to it in order to accumulate points. Earning status with a particular airline yields results such as free upgrades. Similarly, earn points with a chosen hotel chain and you’re more likely to be upgraded to a venue’s best available room upon check-in.

Learn the Language

Pick up key phrases in the language of the country you’re about to visit. By learning how to thank someone or ask where the bathroom is in the local language, you show respect as a tourist. You don't need to be completely fluent, though. Bring along a translator app to help you navigate the more complicated requests.

Get Familiar with the State Department

Before stepping onto new land, do some research. You don't need to learn the entire history of your destination, but it helps to at least know some information in case of an emergency. A lot of what you're looking for is available through the U.S. State Department . Where is the nearest U.S. embassy? What phone number is used for emergency services? Are there any neighborhoods to avoid? Write down or save that information and keep it on you at all times while traveling. You should also register with the U.S. Embassy if you're traveling overseas using the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

Bring Travel Size Laundry Detergent

In order to avoid high laundry fees at hotels, carry a few travel size detergent packets so you have the option of doing your own laundry in the bathroom sink  of your hotel room. This works especially well if you just need a few more pairs of clean socks and underwear during your trip.

Keep an Emergency Card Accessible

Write down (ideally, laminated and also on your phone) a list of emergency contacts as well as any medical conditions, health issues, medications, or allergies you may have. Keep the printed copy with your ID in case of an emergency. It's also not a bad idea to look up the translation of any medical considerations ahead of time, in case you need to quickly convey information to a foreign official.

Beat Jet Lag

When the plane takes off, set your watch to your destination’s local time and stay awake until an appropriate bedtime. Similarly, when you arrive at your destination, refrain from taking a nap until the sun goes down in order to reset your internal sleep clock. If you're struggling to adjust to your new time zone, melatonin supplements can help .

Bring Ear Plugs

If you’re a budget backpacker roughing it in twenty-bed dorm hostels, there’s bound to be at least one snorer who will keep the room awake throughout the night. Bring ear plugs to ensure you catch some Z’s. We even found you an inexpensive pair with over 2,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.

Get TSA PreCheck or Global Entry

It requires extra leg work, but signing up for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry is one of the best ways to sail through security lines at the airport. TSA PreCheck is explicitly meant to speed up the airport security process. You'll need to apply online, then in person, and it costs you $85 for a five-year membership. Global Entry is a different program meant to make it easier and quicker to move through customs when re-entering the United States. This will cost you $100, which might sound like a lot, but there's a bonus: Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck. If you think you may fly internationally, it's generally worth the extra $15 for the extra convenience. Not only will you get through security faster, but you'll bypass the lengthy U.S. customs line when you return from that fabulous trip abroad.

Bring an External Phone Battery and Power Strip

Bring an external phone battery to keep your mobile charged especially if you rely on Google Maps to navigate new cities. It’ll also save you when your mobile shuts down just before you show your cab driver the address of your final destination. Another great tool to bring is a power strip is a tool, which will make you instant friends at a hostel or while waiting for your flight at the airport. When there’s only one available outlet but a dozen people needing to recharge, you’ll be an instant hero with a small power strip .

Use Recyclable Bags

For avid hostellers, pack your items in a tote bag instead of plastic bags. Aside from being more environmentally friendly, if you need to rummage through your backpack early in the morning or late at night, using a tote will save you from making lots of rustling noises that’s sure to wake your roommates.

Be Nice to Gate Agents

In the event that you miss your flight or there’s a delay, gate agents are likely the first people you turn to in order to be rebooked or rerouted. They handle numerous complaints filed by impatient travelers throughout the day, and understandably will not sympathize if you’re rude. Ask politely for help and you’re much more likely to receive a stay at a hotel or a seat on a reassigned flight.

Pre-download Entertainment

Don’t depend on free Wi-Fi to help stock your movie collection at the gate. Often times the network is too slow for downloading. Make sure you’ve got your favorite series and films ready to roll so you can block out the chaos around you. Same goes for non-digital entertainment. Don't wait to buy a book or magazine at a store in the airport. Not only will these be marked up with airport prices, but you'll risk running late or losing your seat at the gate.

Talk to the Locals

Locals are experts on the destination you’re visiting, so don’t be afraid to befriend some and ask for suggestions on what to do or where to eat. They often know better than the guide books on where to uncover hidden gems and get off the beaten path. You must first know the people to know the country.

On Rental Cars

Rent from an establishment a short cab ride away from the airport instead of picking up your vehicle directly at the airport to save up some serious cash. Airport rentals inflate their prices due to high demand and convenience, so search for a pick up location that’s just a few minutes down the road to save big, and be sure to book your car with a credit card that offers good rental car insurance.

Airport Currency Exchanges

Redditors recommend visiting a local bank or withdrawing money from an ATM instead of exchanging money at the currency exchange when you land at the airport, as it charges a hefty fee. If prompted at an ATM, always carry out the transaction in the local currency to avoid incurring unfavorable exchange rates set by the bank.

Don’t Check Bags

If you can, pack light and travel with a carry-on only. Not only does that prevent the airline from losing your luggage, but traveling with a carry-on also eliminates the need to wait for your bags at the carousel after a long flight. If you miss a connecting flight or wish to catch an earlier one, then you don’t have to worry about arriving to your destination without your checked luggage. With a carry-on, you’re able to deplane and hop into a cab for your accommodation without skipping a beat.

Act Like a Local

Not a tourist. Dive into the daily life of locals by visiting supermarkets when traveling internationally. In destinations where supermarkets are geared towards middle class shoppers, then opt to visit marketplaces. Though it sounds mundane, you get to observe and understand the popular local ingredients and common dishes of the destination you’re in.

Keep Records of Your Rides

Always double-check your Uber driver's name and license plate before getting inside of a vehicle. If you take a taxi, text or take a photo of the taxi ID number. These won't just keep you safe, they'll also come in handy if you leave something behind in the car.

Featured image credit: SimonSkafar / iStock

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According To Reddit: These Are The Best Travel Hacks We Should Know About

Thanks to Reddit, we have access to tons of tips about how to make traveling as convenient, easy, and stress-free as possible.

There are some people who travel like pros and have so much wisdom to share. While the rest of us struggle with packing too much (it just seems so important to have several outfit changes a day), these people know how to bring light carry-ons, pack the right snacks, and make any trip feel like a breeze.

Thanks to Reddit, we have access to tons of tips about how to make traveling as convenient, easy, and stress-free as possible. Here are the best travel hacks we should know about, according to people on Reddit.

Ask For An Earlier Flight And You'll Get Perks

For a lot of people, flying is a huge stressor and it feels like it's best to just grin and bear it (or download some good music or podcasts to distract yourself the whole time). Other people enjoy finding flight deals and figuring out how to get the most out of their travel time.

This travel hack comes straight from  Reddit  and it's really smart: talk to someone who works for the airline at the gate and ask if you can be on an earlier flight. They'll have a waiting list for people who are interested in doing this. This person wrote, "The upside to taking a bump is tremendous; there are typically financial incentives and sometimes upgrades on your next flight. If you have to stay an extra night in your location the airline will put you up in a hotel."  They also shared that they've been bumped to an earlier flight that was a direct one, so they didn't have to deal with a layover. Someone responded to this Reddit post and said they once got bumped into business class and even got a voucher for a free round-trip flight.

This sounds awesome because you can save time and get home earlier or start your trip earlier than you thought that you would. And since not everyone knows that you can do this, you'll probably be successful. (And then you'll be the one in your friend group with the clever travel hacks.)

Buy Plane Tickets To Europe Or Outside The U.S. For Thanksgiving

When we think about the craziest, busiest times to be at an airport, we typically think about two major holidays: Thanksgiving and Christmas. These are the times when people want to be with their families and people definitely want to fly home.

This travel hack from Reddit is also great: someone shared that they find super cheap plane tickets when they book them for Thanksgiving Day. They said that this works if you're in the U.S. and want to somewhere else. They wrote, "Ticket prices go WAY down if you are leaving the country. Few years ago I wanted to go to Ireland and booked my tickets 2 months in advance. Tickets were around 1,200 dollars every day except thanksgiving which dropped to 550. Have done this every thanksgiving since."

This is a really smart idea since chances are, you've already got some time off work booked if it's Thanksgiving or even Christmas. It would be a good time to go on an epic vacation (if your family doesn't mind you missing Thanksgiving one year, of course).

RELATED:  12 Instagram Photos That Show Just How Disappointing Travel Can Be

These Hacks Help Make Your Hotel Feel More Like Home

Then there are the travel hacks that help make you feel like you're at home when you're staying in a hotel for the weekend or the week. Whatever you can do to feel more comfortable will help a lot. According to this post on Reddit, there's a way to make sure that you can sleep in a dark hotel room: "keep a couple of clip devices (binder clips, chip clips, clothespins, etc) in your cosmetic case or Dopp kit. Quite often hotel curtains don't close completely and you can secure them with the clips."

This hack involves the Continental breakfast that is often available at hotels: take the ingredients and enjoy a lovely sandwich. Someone wrote, "If they have bagels or English muffins, you can make breakfast sandwiches. I don't know why this doesn't occur to people in hotels, but nobody ever makes them. But one day I saw my coworker make one and it just seemed too obvious."

The final thing that you can do in a hotel: if you're given the choice to stay in an upgraded room but would have to pay for it, you can say no. This way, you might be granted this upgrade anyway and it won't cost you anything extra at all. Hotels can book too many people in rooms just like airlines can oversell seats.

If you're curious about some useful travel hacks, these ones from Reddit are really helpful. From how to sleep better in a dark hotel room to getting on an earlier flight, these hacks should make your next trip much smoother.

NEXT:  24 Common USA Travel Tips That Are Actually Really Unhelpful

The Best Travel Subreddits

I love Reddit.

It’s like the world’s biggest forum, with Subreddits for every category you can think of.

If you’re planning a sabbatical, it’s a great place to hang out to get advice from the experts.

But which ones are the best travel Subreddits?

Scroll down to see 8 of my favourite:

1) r/Travel

It’s an obvious place to start but the r/travel  Subreddit is the hub for travel on Reddit. with over 600,000 members at the time of writing there is a big community to call on.

They have travel city or country of the week where they ask for the communities experience of a place which quickly turns into an incredible guide to a destination. These then get archived in the ‘ topic of the week wiki ‘ and become and invaluable tool for travellers.

They have loads of guides and FAQs in the sidebars and on the rules page, loads of amazing information to keep us travellers interested.

2) r/Shoestring

r/shoestring is the perfect travel Subreddit if you’re on a budget. They describe themselves as “a resource for those planning a trip on a shoestring budget. Whether you want to cheaply travel to a destination you already have in mind, or brainstorm your next frugal vacation, we hope this website will help you plan an affordable and amazing vacation.”

Post up your destination, budget and plans and the community will give you advice on your plans whilst trying to keep you from going bankrupt!

3) r/MapPorn

If you’re like me and a lot of travellers I know, you’ll love maps. They bring back trips I’ve been on or set my mind racing with future plans.

If that sounds like you then r/mapporn  is a travel Subreddit for you!

They have maps of everything you can think of; historical empires, the tallest buildings in the world, languages spoken, life expectancy, Columbus’s travels and even just beautiful maps of the world itself.

And if none of this is what you are looking for, there is even a ‘ weekly map request ‘ thread to get you what you need!

4) r/SoloTravel

If you are a solo traveller r/solotravel is perfect, but if not this is still a really useful travel SubReddit to be part of.

With just under 100,000 members at the time of writing the advice from the community is fantastic. There are so many great threads I find myself constantly copying and pasting reminders into Evernote for future trips.

There is also a weekly post giving you the opportunity to meet up with fellow travellers to make your solo trip a little less lonely.

5) r/TravelPhotos

It really is as simple as it sounds.

r/travelphotos is for two things:

• Sharing your amazing travel photos
• Being jealous of (or feeling inspired by!) other people’s photos

6) r/DigitalNomad

r/digitalnomad  is a community of people who use their digital skills to allow them to travel or live abroad. 

It has great threads running about learning digital skills, finding remote working jobs and answers questions about what it’s like to live in certain destinations.

For many people, constant travel is the dream, if so this is the travel SubReddit for you.

7) r/OneBag

What’s the number one regret of first-time long-term travellers? Packing too much!

Step in, r/onebag  a subreddit about living out of a backpack.

These guys are packing experts who are conditioned to a life on the road, and have refined their kit down to the essentials.

You may not be planning to go quite as minimalist of some of them, but you will still pick up packing tips and gear ideas that will be really useful ahead of your trip.

8) EarthPorn

r/earthporn is pure. Any photos with people, boats, houses, dogs, volley ball courts, spaceships (you get the picture!) will be taken down.

This is naked, natural landscape photographs at their best.

If you’re looking for some inspiration for your next trip, then look no further!

As recommended by the guys at ScrewTheAverage.com in the comments below.

Related posts:

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• Can You Bring a Blanket on a Plane? (TL;DR – Yes!)
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AUTHOR – BEN REEVE

Reeves Roam , is a first-hand travel blog. The Reeves have lived in the UK, South Africa and Australia and have travelled extensively in Europe and Southeast Asia.

Booking your trip via the links on this page earns us a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

You can also buy us a coffee . 

Thanks – Ben, Becca and Gracie

Fantastic list! We hadn’t heard of r/MapPorn before and are going to check it out! We also follow r/onebag and r/heronebag for single bag lightweight travel, r/longtermtravel for great conversation on longer travels (we travel full-time), r/AwardTravel and r/churning for cheaper travel on points and rewards, and for great images we enjoy r/earthporn and r/ArchitecturePorn.

Reddit is such a great forum for travel advice, tips, and ideas!

Thanks guys! I will add some of these in to the article. Funny you mention r/onebag, I started to follow that one about a week ago as we have just started to pack ahead of our Southeast Asia trip at the end of April!

Thanks for listing all these! I knew about some but was happy to discover more subreddits to help me travel

Thanks Justin. Glad you enjoyed it. Are these any more you use?

• Smart Living

15 Travel Hacks You Need For Your Next Trip

The one travel hack nearly everyone agrees on? Avoid checking a bag at all costs! Sometimes you simply have to, but one of the most common tips from expert travelers is to bring your luggage on board in order to avoid lost or damaged baggage, baggage delays, and general travel nuisances. Reddit users from all over the world offered tips and hacks based on what they've learned through their own extensive travels, so read on and wise up before your next trip.

• Make your baggage stand out with tape. "I put coloured tape on all the corners of my checked luggage. It makes identifying your luggage at the carousel so much easier. Duct tape sells lots of distinctive patterns, or painter's tape if you're cheap," said Reddit user imperfectchicken .
• Always try to carry on your luggage instead of checking it! "Any time you can, travel with a carry-on only. Not only do airlines charge for your first checked bag fairly often now, but you also don't risk having your luggage lost. A lot of people won't travel with a carry-on because they think you can't bring enough liquids or essentials like contact solution and razors," says Reddit user emellee89 . "Anything like contact solution is considered medicated though so you can bring a large bottle and not have it count towards liquids. As far as razors, you can bring the ones where you can't remove the individual blade, so anything disposable or where the head is disposable is fine."
• Have a copy of your passport and important documents. Photocopy or take a photo on your phone of your passport/other documents, or have images of them saved somewhere on the Cloud or Dropbox so that if you lose anything important, you'll have backup copies.
• Have backup clothes in your carry-on if you check a bag. Pack a complete outfit in your carry-on. Delayed baggage is common and it's best to ensure you have backup clothes so you can at least wash them without having to hang around a hotel in a robe half of the day just to have some clean underwear. "Don't forget to ask the airline what they offer for delayed luggage compensation on the spot," says Reddit user Colonel-of-Truth . "You can usually get at least a first-class toiletry/travel kit (especially for international travel); if they already know your bag will be delayed at least overnight, you might be able to get reimbursed for the purchase of a change of clothes (obviously ask first, and keep your receipt. They should give you a claim form.)"
• You can use your phone's GPS even if you don't have data. If you're traveling internationally, you may not have data or service, but there are ways to access your GPS/get directions even without WiFi or data. "GPS doesn't use cell towers to parse location; it uses satellites. No data required, bit of a battery hog though. I download terrain maps and use GPS sometimes when I'm out backpacking in the wilderness and need a quick fix on my position," says Redditor heartbeats . You can use Google Maps to do this, as well as CityMaps2Go app, Caltopo , and Maps.me .
• Travel quickly in expensive places; take your time in cheaper ones. If you are traveling for an extended period of time to different places, consider spending more time in the less expensive areas so that you can see something new while saving on hotels, food, and activities.
• Know how to get back to where you're staying at all times. "You always have to know how to get back to your hotel, hostel, etc. Make it your first priority or else you end up lost," says Reddit user phaylinsok . If you stray far from your home base, always keep the address on you in case you don't speak the language and need to ask for help by showing somewhere where you're trying to go. If the hotel has a card, take one and keep it with you!
• Post your rough itinerary on r/travel before your trip. "Before you travel anywhere post a rough itinerary and ask for suggestions. You'll get awesome tips from people that have been there and might suggest some towns you might not have ever heard of. Obviously you'll get some people who have negative things to say but filter that out and do your own research and see what tips apply to you," said Reddit user mosdefinite09 .
• Pack a backup compass. Don't always rely on technology to steer you in the right direction; technology can fail you. "I carry a $10 compass, thankful for it 10 times a day," says cosine5000 . It's always smart to have a contingency plan.
• Know the weather before you go. Being unprepared for bad weather can make a great trip go wrong quickly. Make sure you know what temperatures to expect, and be prepared for whatever Mother Nature may throw at you while you're traveling so that you can soak up the sun (or shelter yourself from the rain) wherever you go.
• Be flexible and keep an open mind. "When traveling, allow yourself to be flexible. Have general ideas of things you want to do and places you want to go to, but keep an open mind. You will meet people that will give you advice on places to go and things not to be missed, and from my experience, theses are always the best," said Reddit user AndreeAnneP .
• Bring extra battery packs! . Bring backup portable battery chargers so that you can power up your devices no matter where you are/how long you've been away from an outlet.
• Get your body on the time of the your destination. One of the best ways to avoid jet lag is to set your clock for the time of your destination and start to acclimate to that zone. "Once the plane takes off, set clocks to destination time. Try to stay awake until something like a normal bedtime at your destination (this will be easy or hard depending on direction of travel and the time you leave)," said Reddit user LaunchAllVipers .
• Keep your essential medicines with you in your carry-on. "Pack up a small first-aid kit that includes pain meds, anti-diahhrial, laxatives, Benedryl, cold meds, Tums, sore throat treatment, bandages, disinfectant, and other things you'd want if you were sick and didn't have easy access to them. Always keep this in your bag," says mdowney .
• Look at everything as an adventure. "Things will go wrong. Museums will be on strike, trains will break down, you'll forget to pack something you always bring. It is far better to look at these things as opportunities to change plans and do something different," says Redditor RioOnTheWestrnFront . "Going into every situation with that attitude makes a major difference in having a bad day and having a funny story to tell when you get home."
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Since its launch in 2005, Reddit has become the go to place on the internet to discuss everything from politics to sport to global disasters. In 2018, it ranked as the third most visited in the United States , and boasted more than 200 million unique visitors every month. It uses a bulletin board system to discuss topics, while its subreddits are communities of users that focus on specific themes. A particularly common theme for subreddits is travel, where people can find information on nearly every location imaginable, as well as discovering itineraries, getting tips and advice or simply just gaining inspiration by looking at the photos and first hand experiences posted by the millions of users. Functioning much in the same way as a forum, anyone can post their thoughts and comments on each piece, adding their own opinion to create a more comprehensive and all-inclusive space for discussion. They are great alternatives to resources such as guidebooks, as they are constantly updating with the latest trends and come from millions of travellers with different perspectives.

For that reason, we have put together a complete list of the top ten subreddits concerning travel-related topics , from ones on camping and hiking to freelancing while on the go. Knowing where to find the communities containing the most useful information on all things travel can be a great resource, whether planning, or already on, a trip, offering an alternative to travel guidebooks and documentaries . They can be accessed by anyone with an account, which is free to sign up to, meaning it does not discriminate against those who are more budget-conscious. We took into account a range of different factors when reviewing each subreddit to ensure that we were only presenting the most helpful ones available, picking out each one’s highlights, what makes it unique, and its potential drawbacks. The pros and cons are also listed in an easy-to-read set of bullet points below each review.

One of the first factors that was considered when reviewing the various subreddits was the variety of content featured on the feed. Scrolling down a page full of text only, although maybe informative, is not considered one the most engaging ways to learn about a topic, and can make the website appear dull or monotonous. Instead, subreddits that feature a wide range of content, including text, images, photos and videos will make it far more interesting for its users, who can gain knowledge without having to read the entire time. Often, a photograph can say more about a place than someone describing it, allowing the viewer to make their own mind up about whether they would like to visit or not, while at the same time making the subreddit more stimulating in general. That being said, r/travelphotos is, as the name suggests, choc-a-bloc with fantastic, inspirational photos, however as a place to gain details, tips and advice on places, it is lacking. Hence, when assessing the subreddits, we made sure to take a look at the content on offer and how varied it was.

Another factor that was taken into account when assessing the subreddits were the guidelines that had been put in place by the admin of the group. As a platform to which anyone with an email address can sign up, the content that is shared is largely uncensored and can vary significantly from group to group. Therefore, it is the role of the subreddit administrators to put in place a set of rules as to the type of content that can and cannot be posted. One of the typical rules on travel subreddits, in addition to the most obvious, is one against the sharing of poltiical propaganda or discussion. This is to prevent the group from alienating certain people and helps keep the content focused on travel-related themes rather than going off on a tangent. A group that is seen to adopt a particular political leaning is not only largely irrelevant to travel, it makes it also appear exclusive and can damage its reputation as a whole. Be that as it may, some subreddit administrators take the job of creating guidelines beyond the call of duty and end up creating a list that is far too longwinded and pedantic. The subreddit DigitalNomad, for example, features a very strict set of rules that doesn’t give the users room to assume anything and that would almost have to be printed off and kept by your side in order to avoid breaking them. For that reason, we looked at the guidelines of each to ensure quality control, as well as to make sure that there was a degree of flexibility to keep the content interesting.

Recommending subreddits that were only relevant to one particular group was something that we tried to avoid doing by finding the ones that appeared, instead, to the widest demographic. Upon reading through various travel blogs, we discovered that many only appeal to those who have the funds to engage in ‘ luxury travel ’, such as staying in boutique hotels , eating out at expensive restaurants and doing activities like skydiving. Hence, we strived, when assessing the various subreddits, to find the ones that catered to all budgets and backgrounds, be it a French traveler on a shoestring or a retired American couple who have just sold their law firm. The subreddit r/freelance was one example of a group which, although useful, seemed mostly to provide for those based in the United States , as the majority of the tips and advice concerned topics such as paying tax in the US. While this is to be expected from a US website in which the vast majority of its users are from North America, the subreddits that featured a more varied and inclusive selection of content tended to be ranked higher in our list than those that accommodated just one particular group.

Finally, we looked at the number of links to other useful websites and groups were included on the subreddit, as well as how useful they were to travelers. Reddit is a fantastic place to gain insight into a variety of topics, however you will sometimes need to acquire more detailed information elsewhere and make bookings on other websites, therefore a good supply of external links is always a useful thing to have included on a subreddit. Groups that had drop down menus with links to the best accommodation or flight reservation sites , for example, were considered as particularly good, while others offered the best places to buy items such as traveling equipment like tents, boots and sleeping bags. The subreddit, Solotravel, has a number of recommendations for travel-related websites, as well as links to other threads on subreddit containing useful information. As a consequence, it was ranked higher in the list than those without external links.

Overall, this list features the top ten subreddits for getting a range of information on travel-oriented topics. Not only does it offer groups that encourage the posting of inspiring photos and helpful tips and advice, it also has related discussion groups dedicated to themes such as freelancing and how to prepare for a move abroad. Reddit, with its simple layout and easy to use features, has been for a number of years, a brilliant place to gain insight into a variety of topics, and travel is no different. Taking into consideration the aforementioned factors, we scoured the website for only the very best subreddits to compile a list of what we believe to be the most resourceful places for travelers, where you will find content sourced from the millions of people who use Reddit everyday. Although we don’t recommend throwing away your guidebook just yet, with this selection of subreddits, you’ll be able to find out almost any information you need, while you can even post your own questions if you don’t see it already featured.

Travel | Travel Troubleshooter: Expedia said it would…

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Travel | father, two children identified as victims in fiery fatal pleasanton car crash, travel | travel troubleshooter: expedia said it would refund my tickets four years ago. help.

DEAR TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER: I need help getting a refund from Expedia. I booked two round-trip Air Transat tickets from Toronto to Paris through Expedia back in 2020. I had to cancel the flights, and under the refund rules during the pandemic, Expedia said I could get my money back. Expedia said it would process the refund in a matter of weeks.

I waited a few months, but the refund never showed up on my credit card. I contacted Expedia in early 2022, and they told me to contact Air Transat for my refund. I did, and an Air Transat representative said the airline had already sent my refund to Expedia.

I’ve contacted both Expedia and Air Transat on numerous occasions since then, and I’ve also asked my credit card company for help. It says that there’s no record of a refund from Expedia or Air Transat. I would love to get my refund. Can you help me?

— Keith Dawe, Toronto

ANSWER: Expedia should have refunded your money four years ago. I believe this is a new record for the longest airline refund case. (Congratulations, Expedia!)

Air Transat is a relatively small charter airline, so that might explain the initial delay. But at some point, Expedia should have taken ownership of this problem and helped you get a refund. Instead, it looks as if you bounced between Expedia, Air Transat and your credit card company for years. Literally, years. You must be exhausted.

What happened? It looks as if Air Transat refunded part of your purchase with a check, which appears to only cover taxes and fees. This left an outstanding balance of about $1,002. Air Transat claims it sent the money to Expedia, but Expedia said it never received the money.

You were way too patient with your airline and online agency. You should have received the promised refund promptly, and if you didn’t, you should have filed a credit card dispute to recover your funds.

I list the names, numbers and email addresses of the Expedia executives on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org . A brief but firm email to one of them might have motivated Expedia to find your missing money.

I contacted Expedia on your behalf. In response, the company apologized and admitted that there was “an error with the refund.” “The refund has been processed,” a representative said. Expedia also added $200 worth of points to your loyalty account as an apology for the delay.

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy , a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at [email protected] or get help by contacting him at elliottadvocacy.org/help/ . (c) 2024 Christopher Elliott Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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Forget the beach: How you can experience the real Maldives

I was on a boat in the middle of the Indian Ocean, about to taste real life in the Maldives .

A crew of fishermen from Sun Siyam Iru Veli , located in the Dhaalu Atoll, set up the fishing lines. We were anchored off the shores of the nearby local island Bandidhoo, where people fish tuna for money and smaller reef fish for their tables. 

The task seemed simple enough: bait attached to a hook tied to the end of a fishing line, which I was to hold by hand. As the line dropped to the reef, I was to wait for the feel of a fish nibbling on the bait. Then I’d just pull the line by hand, and voilà: a catch. No poles or spears required. 

Long-line fishing is a generations-old tradition in the Maldives, a way of life for its people. Living in an island nation where not much grows, Maldivians sustain themselves off of fish and coconuts. Not only is it an ancient practice, but long-line fishing is sustainable, taking just a few fish at a time with minimal damage to coral reefs or bycatch. 

I quickly learned that I was not a natural long-line fisher. For the next hour, I mistook the moving current for a gullible fish when I was actually the gullible one. Other times, the fish was stealthy enough to take the bait without me feeling anything at all. 

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Instead, I watched the fishermen work their magic. The line danced in their hands, flying up and down. Sensitive to the slightest movement going on 65 feet underwater, they knew the exact moment to start pulling the line up and win the battle against the fish. 

As the sun set over the water, we caught a total of nine fish, including emperor fish, batfish and humpback snapper. 

Although the rest of the fish went to the fishermen to enjoy at home, one snapper would make a reappearance the following day. For lunch, I enjoyed the red snapper, grilled to perfection and sliced raw into sashimi. 

While the Maldives is renowned as a romantic, luxurious destination where people can enjoy the sunshine, soft white sand and gentle lapping turquoise waters, it’s also packed with history and culture. While everyone should spend some time relaxing at the beach , the atoll nation offers way more for travelers to do – and learn more about life in the Maldives. 

Like most things in the Maldives, most activities are unfortunately pricey, especially since booking through a resort is pretty much your only option.

Long-line fishing is just the beginning. Here are eight other activities in the Maldives beyond simply lounging on the beach.

Go fish, Maldivian-style

Sunset fishing was hands-down my favorite excursion in the Maldives. Watching the fishermen in action was exhilarating, even though I couldn’t get the long line fishing down myself. Partaking in the ancient fishing tradition was a peek into real Maldivian life – and against the most gorgeous of backdrops: the sun setting over the ocean. To pick which fish to eat the next day and how it would be prepared made the experience extra rewarding.  

Check out the marine life

The Maldives is rich in marine biodiversity. Guests can snorkel and dive with whale sharks in southern waters and alongside manta rays in the north. At Sun Siyam Iru Veli, I went on an afternoon snorkeling tour, a 20-minute boat ride from the resort, and swam along the reef, an uninhabited island. Dropping about 100 feet, the reef was overflowing with marine life. I spotted a plethora of tropical reef fish along with three Hawksbill turtles – the most common type in the Maldives – and a white-tip reef shark. 

Even on resort grounds, travelers have plenty of opportunities to easily witness marine life – I spotted a pod of dolphins swim past me on my sunset fishing excursion and baby reef sharks around the shoreline by my villa at Sun Siyam Iru Veli in the mornings. 

Are there blind scuba divers? Here's the accessible way anyone can explore the ocean.

Explore the ocean … at night

Most resorts in the Maldives also have a house reef, where colorful clownfish and triggerfish swim around anemones and soft coral. At Sun Siyam Iru Fushi , guests can request a nighttime snorkeling activity, where they dive in after the sun sets to see the reef in another light, literally. 

The gear was simple. I slipped an orange filter over my snorkel mask, secured with a band, to eliminate the fluorescence caused by my blue light flashlight. This light source would make all the difference, as the soft coral and anemones absorbed the blue light, casting neon greens and reds back. The bright red anemones swayed in the dark and soft coral glowed, showcasing intricate brain-like textures and patterns not noticeable in daylight. 

Help restore some coral

Coral reefs play a critical role in the very existence of the Maldives; without them, the islands would be damaged by strong waves. Maldivians also rely on the fish from reefs for their livelihoods. Guests can participate in coral restoration alongside on-staff marine biologists at multiple Sun Siyam Resorts with coral planting. In this activity, I fastened coral fragments to a metal frame that’s later placed in the ocean to hopefully regrow and thrive. 

Visit a local island 

Sun Siyam Resorts offers travelers the chance to get off the resort island and witness everyday life for Maldivians. Guests can sign up for a local island tour, which takes them to a local fishing village to meet community members and see the school and local shops. I went on a local farm tour, where I got to see how some of the produce, such as papaya, that’s served in the resorts are grown. 

Watersports galore

In the Maldives, the ocean is the main attraction. Siyam World Maldives way offers more than the typical jet skis, paddleboards and kayaks. Guests of all ages can clamber around on the Indian Ocean’s biggest floating waterpark, made up of inflatable obstacles. There are also electric surfboards, kite surfing, banana boats and underwater jetpacks. I rented a seabob, a diving scooter that let me glide up and down underwater like a dolphin at up to 13 miles per hour. It was a strange sensation, but definitely took snorkeling to the next level. 

Visit an uninhabited private island

Over 83% of the Maldives’ 1,192 islands are uninhabited, allowing travelers to bask in unspoiled tropical landscapes. At Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, I was able to enjoy untouched nature and be the only present human there. Sun Siyam Iru Fushi and its sister resort, Siyam World, also share a small private island where only palm trees exist (and a restroom facility, so don’t worry about that). Guests can book the private island for picnics and photoshoots, which willand it’ll be exclusively theirs for the entire time. During the picnic, staff set up a tent for respite from the afternoon sun and served lunch and even champagne. No roughing it here.

Learn more about Maldivian culture

Every Friday night at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, Maldivian staff share a piece of their culture with guests through traditional song and dance – of course, guests are invited to learn the dance, too. In Boduberu , dancers move energetically to the beat of coconut drums and folk singing. The dancing style is said to have come from African sailors who reached the Maldives many centuries ago, and is typically performed at special occasions and celebrations. The resort also offers cooking classes, where guests can learn how to make traditional Maldivian dishes, and free workshops such as making your own coconut oil, a staple product for cooking in the country. 

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at [email protected] .

U.S. tourist faces 12 years in prison after taking ammunition to Turks and Caicos

An Oklahoma man faces up to 12 years in prison on a Caribbean island after customs officials found ammunition in his luggage.

Ryan Watson traveled to Turks and Caicos with his wife, Valerie, to celebrate his 40th birthday on April 7. They went with two friends who had also turned 40.

The vacation came to an abrupt end when airport staff members found a zip-close bag containing bullets in the couple's carry-on luggage. Watson said it was hunting ammunition he had accidentally brought with him — but under a strict law in Turks and Caicos, a court may still impose a mandatory 12-year sentence.

"They were hunting ammunition rounds that I use for whitetail deer," Watson told NBC Boston in an interview conducted last week that aired after their first court appearance Tuesday.

"I recognized them, and I thought, 'Oh, man, what a bonehead mistake that I had no idea that those were in there,'" he said.

The couple were arrested and charged with possession of ammunition. Authorities seized their passports and explained the penalties they faced.

Valerie Watson said in the interview: "When I heard that, I immediately was terrified, because I was like we can't both be in prison for 12 years. We have kids at home, and this is such an innocent mistake."

The charges against her were dropped, and she returned home to Oklahoma City on Tuesday after the court hearing to be reunited with her two young children.

"Our goal is to get Ryan home, because we can’t be a family without Dad," she said.

The couple also spoke about the financial burden of a much longer-than-planned trip. "This is something that we may never recover from," Ryan Watson said.

The U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas issued a warning to travelers in September about a law that strongly prohibits possession of firearms or ammunition in Turks and Caicos, an overseas British territory southeast of the Bahamas that is a popular vacation spot.

It said: "We wish to remind all travelers that declaring a weapon in your luggage with an airline carrier does not grant permission to bring the weapon into TCI [Turks and Caicos Islands] and will result in your arrest."

The embassy added: "If you bring a firearm or ammunition into TCI, we will not be able to secure your release from custody."

The embassy and the government in Turks and Caicos did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The same thing happened to another American, Bryan Hagerich, of Pennsylvania, who was arrested after ammunition was found in his luggage before he tried to board a flight out of Turks and Caicos in February. He said he accidentally left it in his bag.

Hagerich was on a family vacation with his wife and two young children but has now been in the country for 70 days. He spent eight days in prison before he posted bail.

"It’s incredibly scary. You know, you just don’t know what the next day may bring — you know, what path this may take," Hagerich told NBC Boston.

"You know, it’s certainly a lot different than packing your bags and going away with your family for a few days. It’s been the worst 70 days of my life," he said.

Hagerich, once a professional baseball player, was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the MLB 2007 June amateur draft from the University of Delaware.

His case goes to trial May 3.

Patrick Smith is a London-based editor and reporter for NBC News Digital.