Named 11 travel life hacks to avoid in 2024

When it comes to traveling, both frequent and occasional travelers are looking for ways to save money and time or make the trip the best it can be.

Before you book your next trip, here are 11 travel hacks to avoid in 2024, according to experts, GOBankingRates writes.

Skiplagging

"Booking a flight with a stopover at your actual destination and then missing the connecting flight will backfire because the airline will cancel the remaining portions of your ticket, leaving you stranded or facing additional fees," said Kat Fleischman, luxury travel expert and CEO of Do-Tell PR.

Buying a cheap airline ticket instead of a more expensive train ticket

You can save money by purchasing a cheap plane ticket instead of a train ticket, but money isn't everything when it comes to travel. You could save money, or at least break even, by taking a train instead of a flight. Baggage fees can increase when you fly, and many airports are located far from the city center, which means you have to spend more money on taxis or public transportation to get to your destination.

Exchange money at the airport

"Using currency exchange services at airports or hotels can be convenient, but they charge higher and hidden fees with very poor exchange rates compared to local banks or ATMs," Fleischman said. "It is better to withdraw local currency from ATMs or exchange money at local banks."

Travel only in the off-season

Traveling in the off-season is often cheaper than at any other time, but not always.

"There's been a lot of talk lately about the benefits of off-season travel, presenting it as a travel hack to get the best prices. In some cases, visiting during these quieter periods can offer a unique and more affordable experience. However, sometimes it's just a less popular time to visit for a specific reason," said Jan Luscher, CEO of luxury travel social network ASmallWorld.

Advance booking of non-refundable rooms

"While early booking can ensure lower prices, committing to non-refundable accommodations up front inhibits flexibility," Fleischman said. "Plans can change, and sometimes unforeseen circumstances arise, leading to potential financial losses. It's always better to book a hotel with a flexible cancellation policy if you're booking in advance."

Buy cheap airfare, but don't consider stopover time

"Traveling onward often means catching a connecting flight, and a typical tip for planning an indirect trip is to check the stopover time to make sure it gives you enough time to get off one flight and onto the next," said Luscher.

But even if you take stopover times into account, you may forget a very important detail: the size and layout of the connecting airport.

Earning a lot of airline miles

Airline miles, or frequent flyer points, are accumulated for those who travel frequently. When you have enough of them, you can redeem them for future discounted flights, car rentals, accommodations, and more.

But don't buy them in bulk to try to get more points quickly.

"Airlines prohibit buying airline miles or loyalty points at a discounted price, so there is a risk of your account being suspended or worse," Fleischman said.

Search for flights in anonymous tabs

"A common travel tip that people have been following for years is that you should search for flights in private anonymous browsing mode and clear your browser's cookies to see the lowest fares," said Mercedes Zack, travel expert at ASAP Tickets, part of the Trevolution Group.

A price drop for a particular flight doesn't mean it's because of the way you searched for it. If you want to get the best fares, set up alerts on Google Flights or a similar platform.

Using free Wi-Fi

There are many hidden fees when it comes to traveling, so you might be tempted to find even small ways to save money. One of these ways is to use free Wi-Fi, but there are many types of scams that can end up costing you a lot more money.

Booking flights on Tuesdays

If you've booked flights on a Tuesday, hoping to save money, chances are it doesn't work.

"I've been working in a ticket booking agency for several years now and I can't say for sure that Tuesdays are cheaper than other days. Airfares are dynamic and constantly fluctuating," said Shreya Patel, marketing manager at Lowest Flight Fares. "A flight from Austin to Boston can cost about $114 on a Tuesday and $89 on a Saturday."

Wear nice clothes to get an upgrade

Some travelers swear by this travel hack, but there's no evidence that it really works.

"What you wear at the check-in desk has no effect on the agent. In addition, the airline decides where its passengers will sit before they even leave home," Patel said.

As TravelWise wrote, earlier experts told about a life hack that allows you to take extra luggage on a flight for free.