Not all flights provide inflight entertainment, earphones, power outlets, drinks, or meals, so prepare adequately and bring your items from HOME, unless you want to pay top-dollar at the airport. Low budget airlines heavily-enforce bag limits & fees; and they WILL consider items purchased at the airport terminal as part of your carry-on weight limit, so throw a coat over your arm or pretend you are pregnant and hide your stuff! Don’t let them get you!

Wear your heaviest items (e.g. jeans, hiking boots, headphones, thick socks..etc); dress in layers: leggings under jeans, two scarves, stack-up hats on your head, and wear a tank-top, a tee, and a sweater on your flight. Insert heavy items (e.g travel-size hair styling tools, bendable shoes, umbrellas, accessories..etc.), into all your jacket pockets, including the neck area; carry bulky and heavy items in your personal bag (shoes, steamer, cameras, electronic equipment..etc), hang your travel pillow from your bag, so it leaves room for other items, and if you are bringing a towel, use it as your blanket. Once you board the plane—not before—you can remove all your extra layers of clothing!

Roll your soft garments and arrange them against the sides. Fold thick garments, stack them up, and place them inside a travel compression bag (don’t forget to roll the air out). Squeeze socks and underwear into the corners and the inside of your shoes. Wrap your shoes with shower caps, lay them on their side, and wedge-in the gaps. Place your sun hat upside down in the middle of your bag and fill-it in and around the sides. ONLY bring TSA size approved reusable containers (under 3oz/100ML), and refill up to, and as needed. And lastly, place dryer sheets in between your items to keep them smelling fresh. **I don’t recommend you take make-up caboodles, brush cases, or toiletry hanging bags—they take up too much space**

First and foremost, hit Ctrl+Shift+N on your browser to open an incognito search engine! Go to google flights, enter your departure airport code, select explore destinations, and move the map around to view your options; OR go to Skyscanner, enter your departure airport code, type-in EVERYWHERE as your arrival destination, click on the departure date tab, select the ‘whole month,’ and then pick your option to view amazing deals! You can also change your VPN location, to view and compare potential savings for the exact same route. To take it a step further, I also encourage you run the same routes, but instead try two (2) one-way ticket options to compare pricing. And lastly, ALWAYS take a carry-on! **Servicemembers: Inquire into Space-Available flights (MAC flights) or use your MWR discount through American Forces Travel, for feasible savings**

If you are on social media all day, want to post all your cool pics, or you are required to be logged on to work at all times, enroll in data plan (VZW offers the travel pass), ensure that your phone is unlocked, and that your roaming capabilities are turned on. Never ever use an open unsecured network, but if you MUST, ensure that you completely sign out after usage; preferably, I recommend that you use YOUR hotspot! If you do not want to purchase a data plan or incur international fees while traveling abroad, then keep your phone on airplane mode at all times, and log on to WiFi, when possible. Download WhatsApp, so you can communicate with others for FREE. The Skyroam wireless router is another great option to save you some cash, as they offer pay-per use WiFi plans.

If you are traveling abroad, ALWAYS take foreign currency with you, as many local spots do not accept USD. Get your currency from an ATM (at your arrival destination), obtain at a currency exchange, or order from your bank a couple weeks before your departure. Also, request small bills (or take single USD bills) for tips! Bottom line: you WILL get more for your dollar if you pay with foreign currency. IMPORTANT: There are places and countries that will NOT take your USD (Cuba), if it is creased, scratched, ripped, written on, or old-looking (Bolivia). Fun Fact: US Territories and other countries (e.g. Panama, Belize, El Salvador) handle the USD as their national currency. Alternative: If you do not like cash, and want to pay with a card, do NOT use your debit card; instead, apply for a credit card that will NOT charge foreign transaction fees and will reward you with points.