Packing for a vacation can be quite the headache. Often, we try to cram as many possessions as possible into a suitcase that’s far too small. We’d rather overpack rather than risk leaving something behind, which is especially true when visiting a location for the first time. But filling a suitcase doesn’t have to be like a game of Tetris. Packing can be stress-free if you learn how to pack like a pro and avoid these six common packing mistakes.

Folding Clothes Instead of Rolling Them

While you may be used to neatly folding clothes at home, when it comes to packing, you should actually be rolling up your clothing before placing it in your suitcase. Rolling your shirts and pants into tight cylinders maximizes the available space in your luggage. As an added bonus, the rolling method also leads to fewer wrinkles than folding. You can also buy a pack of rubber bands and secure each item to prevent it from unfurling before you’re ready to wear it. Many travelers also swear by packing cubes to maximize space within your luggage. 

Packing Clothing You Never Wear — or Won’t Have Time For

Of course, some outfits are reserved for special occasions — like a tropical vacation at an upscale resort. But most of the time, if you don’t wear an outfit back home, then odds are you won’t all of the sudden be wearing it on vacation. It’s important to be realistic about what you bring abroad, rather than fantasizing about all the clothing you could potentially wear. Prioritize the comfortable shirts you wear on a daily basis and leave those ill-fitting pants in the back of your closet at home.

When packing, be realistic: How many days are you traveling for? Whatever the answer may be, a good rule of thumb is to pack just one outfit per day. Forget about all the costume changes you could theoretically make and limit yourself to just the essentials. If your accommodations have a washer and dryer, bring even less clothing and send it out or do a load of laundry during your free time.

Bringing Backups “Just in Case”

You don’t want to be caught abroad without a phone charger or your favorite toothpaste. That’s why so many people pack backups just in case they lose something. But packing multiple chargers and tubes of toothpaste only eats up valuable luggage space, and you’re likely never going to need those extra items. So, stop overstuffing your luggage with emergency supplies and travel light — you can always make a purchase at a local store if you lose something.

Traveling With Too Many Shoes

Different outfits require different footwear, but the more shoes you bring, the heavier your luggage will be. Try and keep your shoes to a minimum when traveling. Consider packing no more than a comfortable, lightweight pair of shoes for walking around and a nicer pair for fancy dinners. Also, try to wear your bulkiest shoes on the flight, as doing so frees up valuable suitcase real estate. Lastly, stuff items like socks and underwear into your shoes to maximize your available packing space.

Not Leaving Room for Souvenirs

While traveling, you’re bound to pick up a souvenir or two to bring home. But if you’ve packed your suitcase to the gills, then where are you going to stash those keepsakes? Rather than panic at the last minute, arrive prepared by leaving extra room in your luggage before setting out on the trip. That way, you’ll have plenty of room for all of the additional items you purchase during your travels.

Forgetting to Check the Weather

Don’t just assume that your beach destination will be warm and sunny every day. Instead, be sure to check the weather several times before leaving, as there’s always a chance of rainfall or other unexpected weather. Look at the forecast a week before departure to see if you’ll need a rain jacket or anything similar, allowing you plenty of time to prepare and set things aside. On the day of your departure, check the forecast one final time to see if anything has changed and adjust your luggage accordingly.

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Every day, more than 45,000 flights and 2.9 million passengers fly in and out of U.S. airports. In the short time between flights, cabin cleaning crews move quickly to keep things tidy on board. But does moving hundreds of people between airplanes on tight schedules actually leave time for a proper cleaning? From sanitization procedures to air filtration and the truth about the places in the cabin we come into contact with the most, here are the facts on just how clean your airplane really is.

Take a Deep Breath — Airplane Air Is Actually Pretty Clean

Some travelers might think of sitting on a plane as a surefire way to spread germs and get themselves sick. After all, you’re in a small, enclosed space, and the overhead vents aren’t really doing much, right? Not exactly — in fact, the air in the cabin is much cleaner than you think. 

The International Air Transportation Association (IATA) says the air filtration system used in airplanes uses the same technology that sanitizes the air in hospital operating rooms. Half of the air comes in fresh from outside the aircraft, and the rest of it is filtered through a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) system. It’s also refreshed every two to three minutes (or about 20 to 30 times an hour), meaning that sitting in an airplane cabin is actually more likely to be a breath of fresh air compared with going out to dinner or shopping in a store. 

How Does an Airplane Cabin’s Air Filtration System Work?

But what does a HEPA filtration system actually do? These systems use high-quality filters made up of clusters of fibers that filter out ​​pathogens (germs) when air is forced through them. They also nab dust, pollen, mold, and other particles that could cause irritation or illness. The system is surprisingly effective, managing to filter at least 99.97% of particles with a size of 0.3 microns (about one-thousandth of a millimeter) — which is considered the most penetrable size of particle.

The cabin air comprises half of this HEPA-filtered air and half fresh air piped in from outside the moving aircraft. This ensures not only the cleanest air possible, but also the proper cabin air pressure. Air is forced out from ducts in the ceiling and sucked back in through ducts where the cabin meets the floor. Some of the air is re-filtered through the HEPA system, but about half of it is pumped back outside so new air can be brought in.

Which Parts of the Airplane Are Dirtiest?

Common sense would suggest that the dirtiest areas of an airplane cabin are the highest touch points. That instinct proves correct: In various cabin tests, many items were swabbed and analyzed, with some unsurprising results. The seat back tray, bathroom door handle, and bathroom sink tap handle were discovered to be the dirtiest parts of an airplane cabin, with traces of bacteria, yeast, and mold present. Arm and headrests are also often found to contain E. coli and staph, and airline blankets and pillows (unless sealed in plastic) are also regular offenders.

Seat belt buckles, air vent nozzles, and the seatback pocket were also determined to have high bacterial content. It makes sense — these are also high-touch points, but they may not receive the same level of cleaning as the lavatory. While the cabin cleaning crew makes sure to empty seatback pockets of any waste when possible, it doesn’t receive any additional cleaning that the other surfaces get. In an interview with the CBC, microbiologist Jason Tetro advises travelers to wipe down surfaces before they touch them and apply alcohol-based hand sanitizer after touching these germy surfaces.

Which Parts of the Airplane Are the Cleanest?

Some of the cabin’s high-touch points receive more attention than others when it comes to cleaning. Case in point: the toilet flusher. Studies have found flushers to be among the cleanest parts of an airplane cabin. An executive with Charm Sciences, who manufactures a rapid diagnostic test that has been used to detect airplane cleanliness, suggested in an interview with the Washington Post that the few flushers on board were likely to be an area of focused disinfecting, unlike the many trays and air nozzles. 

The instruction card found in the seat back pocket has been counted among the dirtiest parts of a plane, according to flight attendants, but beyond the anecdotal evidence, the Washington Post report actually found it to be the cleanest when swabbed. They might not be included in the flight crew’s cleanup, but it’s likely they’re not being handled too much in the first place.

How Often Are Airplane Cabins Deep Cleaned?

It might surprise you to learn there are no regulations around the cleanliness of airplane cabins. Each airline determines its own protocols and cleaning schedules, but they typically all follow the same industry standards. A “turn clean” is for domestic or shorter flights that typically have a faster turnaround time before the next flight. Flight attendants who spoke to CBC said that crews typically have less than 15 minutes to clean — this time is spent doing a more superficial clean, often focusing on removing trash, cleaning the galley where staff prepare food and drinks, and checking lavatories. That leaves little time to wipe down those grimier high-touch surfaces. (Only cleaning solutions that are not detrimental to aircraft materials are allowed on board.)

A deep clean is most often done overnight, and, though it will vary by airline, usually takes place anytime a plane is sitting for eight or more hours. These procedures focus more on the passenger seating areas, as well as the lavatory, galley, and storage areas. So, it seems that not only are early-morning flights usually a good bet for avoiding delays — they might also give you the cleanest cabin.

We embark on our travels with optimism, but even the best-laid plans can occasionally go awry. Travel insurance is the best way to make sure that you are covered for the unexpected, but it can be expensive. In particular, seniors or travelers with pre-existing medical conditions, can find it tricky to source an affordable policy. As such, it might be tempting not to take out travel insurance in order to save money. Wondering if you really need to buy travel insurance? We weigh the pros and cons and offer tips for buying travel insurance on your next getaway.

What Are the Main Benefits of Travel Insurance?

Perhaps the greatest benefit of travel insurance is peace of mind on a vacation. On most basic trip cancellation travel insurance policies, you’re covered for events such as canceled trips, flight delays, lost baggage, or damaged personal items. More comprehensive options cover things like necessary emergency medical treatment abroad, medical evacuation, and accidental death. 

If you’ve been traveling for a while and never had to make a claim on your travel insurance, you might be tempted to save the cost of the premium. But if things go wrong, the costs incurred can soon rack up. Unforeseen medical treatment is perhaps the biggest bill you potentially face while traveling. Even if you receive emergency treatment after an accident, you may need to be transported to another hospital. The cost of medical evacuation services varies considerably, depending on distance and the level of medical care required, but can run over $50,000 internationally. And many regular health insurance plans don’t cover that cost. 

When You Probably Don’t Need It

When planning your travels, it’s a good idea to consider the worst-case scenario. If you’re traveling within the U.S. and your domestic flight is canceled, you might simply be able to toss your luggage in the car and drive to your destination instead. And it’s helpful to know your rights as a traveler in case of delays and cancellations — in these cases, the airline is almost always responsible for putting you on the next available flight. Yet, if a delayed international flight might cause you to miss an expensive cruise or a prepaid international guided tour, chances are you’d feel differently — and find yourself considerably out of pocket. 

Instead of buying basic trip cancelation travel insurance, you can also look for other options that will help increase your flexibility for a potentially lower cost. For example, you could book a refundable airfare (or one without change fees) or hotel rate that would offer similar peace of mind. When considering comprehensive travel insurance, remember that most health insurance policies will cover reasonable medical costs, even abroad, but if you have a more serious issue, there’s a risk it won’t be covered.

Watch Out for Common Exclusions

Like standard health insurance plans, travel insurance policies vary widely in the amount and scope of coverage they provide, and any pre-existing medical conditions need to be declared. Most standard travel insurance policies won’t cover adventurous sports ,unless you increase your premium — something to think about before signing up for activities like zip lining, rock climbing, white water rafting, or horseback riding while on vacation. However, some providers also class activities such as hiking or cycling in that category, so you might need to upgrade your policy to ensure you’re covered. 

Additionally, specialized travel policies can give you the option to tailor your cover to the destination for different circumstances, such as cancelation in the event of a natural disaster or for costs incurred if you contract illnesses such as coronavirus. It’s a way of achieving peace of mind, leaving you free to enjoy your vacation without worrying about what might go wrong.

Are You Covered in Some Other Way While Traveling?

Before you purchase a travel insurance policy, check that you’re not already covered in some other way. For instance, your existing home insurance policy might already cover lost valuables such as portable electronic devices while you’re traveling. Some credit cards offer travel insurance and other travel protection perks as part of their benefits. You might also be covered in many circumstances through your pre-existing health plan through work, which sometimes covers an employee’s leisure travel as well as business trips. If you think that might be the case, dig out the policy and check the small print, as deductibles vary widely. 

Check Government Advice

The Department of State recommends U.S. citizens buy travel insurance for overseas travel, offering a reminder on their website that “the U.S. government does not provide insurance for U.S. citizens overseas. We do not pay medical bills or unexpected costs.” Some countries may require you to have adequate insurance as a condition of entry. If you require a Schengen visa, for instance, it stipulates that insurance to the value of at least 30,000 euros for medical treatment is mandatory. However, rules and requirements change frequently, so plan to keep abreast of the current situation.

How to Save on the Cost of Travel Insurance

Travel insurance policies can be expensive, and the average cost of plans varies considerably. However, the good news is that there are ways of saving money without compromising on coverage. An annual policy could work out to be a better value than single-trip insurance if you’re a frequent traveler. Shop around using comparison sites to compare what you get for your money and tailor your policy so that you don’t pay for what you don’t need. For instance, you could choose to reduce the amount of baggage coverage if you usually travel light or ditch coverage for electronic items already covered on your home insurance policy. 

For many travelers, choosing the perfect souvenir is a highlight of any vacation. They can be a heartwarming reminder of fond vacation memories or a gift for loved ones to show them the new cultures and experiences encountered along your journey. The choice of which souvenir to buy is highly subjective and personal, but the process isn’t always simple. Do you go for a cheap magnet or splurge on an expensive piece of artwork? And what can you realistically bring home on the plane? Keep these eight helpful tips to keep in mind when looking for the best souvenirs to bring home from vacation. 

Take Note of Local Specialties

The value of a souvenir is to remind you of a place you visited, but if it offers a connection to a local culture, all the better. You can research local crafts or specialty items ahead of your trip and plan where to buy them — or learn about them as you go. Either way, they will be a great reminder of a destination you visited and the culture you experienced. Often, the best places to find local handmade crafts are markets and street stands, where you also get a chance to interact with locals and find out more about the goods they are selling. As an added bonus, you can feel good about supporting local businesses or families who rely on tourism for their income.

Consider Starting a Collection

As they make their way around the world, many travelers like to collect souvenirs with a particular style or theme. Whether you’re into snow globes or painted pottery, adding to the collection as you visit each new city or a country can be an enjoyable way to document years of traveling and showcase all the different destinations you’ve visited. 

Follow Your Passions

Some of the best souvenirs connect to our personal passions. If you’re an art lover, you might cherish a painting purchased near the Eiffel Tour. Enjoy cooking? Consider bringing home an apron from Spain to wear in your kitchen at home. And if you’re a sports fan, local team jerseys can also be a cherished keepsake. The more personal the souvenir, the more you’ll appreciate it.

Shoot for Something Useful

Souvenirs don’t just have to sit on a shelf collecting dust. It’s even better if you can actually make use of them when you return home. Espresso cups from Italy, chopsticks from Japan, a bottle of perfume from France, a handmade wool sweater from Peru or a sarong from Thailand are all practical souvenirs that have long lasting value, in addition to being an instant reminder of our past travels.

Consider an Edible Souvenir

This type of souvenir won’t be long-lasting, but foodies or those who love to cook will appreciate lingering on memories of local tastes for weeks after they have unpacked their bags. A morning cup of coffee from the beans you brought back from Colombia, honey from a local farm in Slovenia, fleur du sel from France, wine from Italy, or spices purchased at a Moroccan medina can all bring back great travel memories every time you use them in your kitchen. 

Snap a Great Photo

Souvenirs don’t always have to be something you purchase. Travel photos are some of the best reminders and connections to our past travels. To make them more souvenir-like, consider printing out the most special photo from each new place you visit and create an ever-expanding travel wall at home. Or start a travel photo collection by capturing the same pose or a fun selfie in different places around the world you visit. 

Be Practical

It might go without saying, but it’s important to consider how you will get your souvenir home. That’s especially true if the item happens to be bulky, heavy, or highly breakable — or if you plan on traveling to several other countries before your flight home. You can also choose to have your purchases shipped home, but make sure you’re aware of the total cost (shipping, packaging, and insurance) and any regulations before doing so.

Make Sure It’s Legal

Fridge magnets or coffee mugs won’t be a problem, but taking certain items out of a country and bringing them into another could be a problem. A shell you took from a protected beach in Costa Rica to remind you of your perfect vacation might be confiscated at the airport as you go through security, since it is considered a national treasure. Reptile skins, tortoise shells, plants, seeds, or coral are other examples. Another thing to consider is quantity. For instance, wine lovers should double check the regulations on how many bottles they’re allowed to bring home before purchasing their favorite vintages.

All too often, travelers encounter unexpected and unwanted costs. These range from airline baggage fees to Wi-Fi fees and — when it comes to staying in hotels — the dreaded resort fee. Many hotels offer a low nightly rate to catch the buyer’s eye, only to add those costly fees at checkout. Resort fees often range between $20 and $50 a night. They are charged to cover the cost of amenities that were once included in the price of a nightly stay, such as Wi-Fi, gym access, and pool usage. In many cases, these fees are mandatory even if you don’t plan to use those amenities, but it’s also possible to avoid paying these fees altogether if you prepare ahead. Here are a few helpful tips on how to avoid paying resort fees.

Shop Around Online

When shopping for hotels on booking sites such as Expedia or Booking.com, resort fees are not usually reflected in the prices on the initial results page. If a hotel charges these fees, you typically won’t see them until you click through several pages to book. The price will also rise due to local taxes.

These mandatory extra fees, which are often hidden in initial price results, have not only drawn the ire of travelers but have also attracted attention from politicians in recent years. As of 2023, however, at least one major hotel chain is finally making some customer-friendly changes. Marriott is now showing travelers the all-in pricing when booking directly on the hotel chain’s website (thanks to a 2021 settlement).

At the end of the day, remember that not every hotel charges a resort fee — by some estimates, only 6% of hotels in the U.S. levy them. And certain properties may even waive the fee upfront in order to incentivize travelers to choose their location. But it can be difficult to find those more attractive listings, especially if you’re not particularly tech-savvy.  

Fortunately, websites like ResortFeeChecker.com compile a list of which hotels do and don’t charge resort fees. Just enter the name of the city that you’re planning to visit, and the site will compile a list of your options, allowing you to avoid the hotels that are charging these extra fees. Just take the time to do some online research before making your booking.

Book With Hotel Loyalty Points or Credit Card Points

One easy way to save on resort fees is to use the points you’ve earned at your preferred hotel chain. If you’ve accrued enough points for a free night, certain loyalty programs such as Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt will waive the resort fees. That’s not the case for all programs, though, so be sure to comb the checkout page carefully. Earning points also requires signing up for a hotel’s loyalty program and staying at one of their properties enough times to rack up the rewards. Alternatively, you can open up a new credit card such as the Hilton Honors American Express Card and World of Hyatt Credit Card, both of which offer attractive welcome bonuses for new members. 

Other travel rewards credit cards — such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Capital One Venture X — offer travelers points or even statement credits that can be redeemed to help cover the cost of resort fees and their hotel stays in full. Though these cards require an annual fee, it can be a small price to pay for savings on hotel stays. Many credit cards are also transfer partners with major hotel chains, allowing you to instead transfer your credit card rewards points to book an award stay.

Unlike other major hotel resort chains, Hyatt will also waive resort fees for paid stays — as long as you’ve earned top elite status in their loyalty program, which is known as the Globalist tier. While lower tiers such as Discoverist and Explorist offer perks of their own, Globalist members won’t have to worry about resort fees, even on hotel nights that are in high demand. If you end up earning a total of 1 million points with Hyatt, then you’re granted Globalist status for life. This is no easy feat, but those who achieve lifetime Globalist membership will never have to worry about paying resort fees again.

Speak Directly With Hotel Employees

Politeness can go a long way in life, and that includes when you arrive for your hotel stay. During check-in, you may want to speak to an employee and request that the hotel fees be waived. There’s no guarantee that they’ll have the power to waive the fees, but you may get lucky in certain cases — especially if you tell them that you don’t plan on using any of the hotel’s amenities. Just be prepared to pay the resort fee if necessary, and hope that you encounter a generous employee along the way.

If All Else Fails, You Can Always Dispute the Charges

In extreme circumstances, you can always dispute resort fees with the hotel or even your credit card company. In some cases, such as inoperable Wi-Fi or other amenities being unavailable during your stay, you can speak with the front desk at check out to ask if they can waive or reduce the resort fees. 

Sometimes, however, hotels fail to make their resort fees known during the booking process and surprise you at the last moment. If this is the case, compile documentation of your booking and screenshots of the deceptive advertising. Present the evidence to your credit card company, and they may reimburse you. While it’s a drastic measure, you can also file a case with the attorney general or take the hotel to small claims court if you feel you’ve been wronged.

Featured image credit: martin-dm/ iStock