Travelling is an exhilarating escape from the ordinary, but it can also come with its share of challenges. From packing to navigating unfamiliar streets, every minute counts when you're exploring a new destination. That's why we're here to share a collection of time-saving travel tips that will not only streamline your journey, but also allow you to make the most of your time spent holidaying. Whether you're a seasoned globetrotter or a first-time explorer, our staff's recommendations will help you optimise every aspect of your travel experience, so you can focus on what truly matters.
Terry
- Prioritise Destinations: The classic trap with destinations like Europe, is people form a massive bucket list and tend spend their whole holiday on trains & planes trying to do absolutely everything. Save time & money on your holiday by picking some key destinations & doing them well, without rushing around.
- Touring & Use of Guides: If you want to do and see it all, use the experts! A tour guide is essentially an expert travelling with you, planning your itinerary & helping you make the most of your time at each destination. This is a 2-for-1 deal, everyone should use to their advantage!
- Book CBD Accommodation: Yes, they do cost a little more, but think about what you gain from it. You have better access to public transport, which results in less Uber or taxi fees plus, food & activities are often a quick walk from your hotel.
Paul
An often underrated component of travelling is booking “priority” or “fast lane” tickets. This is an absolute no-brainer when it comes to saving time whilst travelling (especially for families going to theme parks). By booking a “skip the line pass” to major attractions like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, you can spend the additional time you would’ve spent waiting in a mammoth queue exploring further.
Allanha
- Checklists: I always like to prepare for my journey by creating a packing checklist. This not only assists in streamlining my packing process, but it ensures I have everything I need for a hassle-free holiday! And I always like to make sure everything has been packed & ticked off the list the night before I depart so I am not rushing around in the morning.
- Plan Clothing & Outfits: One thing I like to do when packing is planning the outfits I will wear for each activity or occasion. If I’ve booked or am planning on going out to multiple restaurants for dinner, I’ll ensure I have packed a few dresses or outfits that are appropriate for the location. However, I also like to ensure when touring throughout the day, I am comfortable and can move easily in clothing. If I know I have a few days of being on foot and touring all day, I’ll ensure my outfits are comfortable.
Peter
- Beat the Airport Rat Race: Something that’s often not thought about until the day of departure is online check-ins! Checking-in online before your flight is an amazing way to save time at the airport & beat the queues, but it is also a wise idea to get to the airport early enough before your flight.
- Research Your Destination: Another element to travelling that not enough people think about is passports, visas & any other relevant documentation needed to enter some countries. Obvious I know, but many countries won’t let you in if there’s less than 6 months on your passport. So double check your dates and make sure you’re good to go! Unfortunately, since the pandemic, it’s harder than ever to hop from one country to another. Some up-front planning will be required, and you’ll need to check both the entry and visa requirements for the countries you plan to visit. It’s always a wise idea to do this well in advance to departing, as we all know how long it can take to get a passport or visa delivered!
Margot
Plan your transfers! There is nothing worse than arriving at LAX in the middle of the night and trying to get an Uber or taxi whilst your half asleep. Try and organise some return airport shuttle services through your hotel if you can. Booking and coordinating return hotel transfers for day touring or sightseeing cruises is also a great way to stay “stress-free & relaxed” whilst on holiday.
Hannah
- Utilise Packing Cubes: These handy things have been a life saver for me when travelling! Packing cubes help to compress and separate your clothing whilst keeping everything neat and organised. I no longer sit on the ground of an airport and rummage through my carry-on or suitcase for a specific item. With packing cubes, I can easily find what I need, and I know exactly where I put it, with no messy piles of clothes in my hotel room.
- Tag Your Luggage: If you’re a smaller sized person like me (or maybe you hate crowds), tagging my suitcase/luggage with a standout ribbon, keyring or label has been a great way to identify my bag quickly when visually scanning the baggage carousel. This not only saves me time in the airport upon arrival, but it also ensures I haven’t accidentally picked up the wrong bag if someone’s suitcase is the same as mine!
Dani
If it’s a weekend trip, I would suggest just taking carry-on luggage, so you don’t need to spend time checking in & collecting your luggage. And I will quite often choose seats at the front of a plane so I can make a quick exit. I try to avoid travelling in peak season as I like to avoid lines as much as possible. There’s nothing worse than waiting around in a line when you could be doing other things!
We hope you found our staff’s time saving travel insights helpful for your future or current expedition!
Please contact us on 1300 854 897 or holidays@holidaysofaustralia.com.au to speak to one of our travel experts about your next getaway or visit our website here to find out more.
