{"id":24916,"date":"2025-08-02T15:38:43","date_gmt":"2025-08-02T15:38:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalsetup.com\/?p=24916"},"modified":"2025-08-02T15:38:43","modified_gmt":"2025-08-02T15:38:43","slug":"travel-hacking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalsetup.com\/en\/know\/travel-hacking\/","title":{"rendered":"Travel Hacking: Explanation + 12 Hacks for your next trip!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Some love to travel, while others find it exhausting. Travel is not for everyone, but you can definitely improve the quality and comfort of your trip significantly. How? Through travel hacking.<\/p>

Therefore, here is the full explanation on the topic of travel hacking and the 20 best tracks you absolutely need to know if you want to take your travel to the next level.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What is travel hacking?<\/h2>

What is travel hacking? Travel hacking is a modern term that describes increasing the quality of travel and, above all, reducing costs through clever and creative tricks. Those who practice travel hacking usually do not pay the full price for business or first class, get free upgrades in hotels, and sometimes eat breakfast for free in the airport lounge.<\/p>

Travel hacking is an important element for many when it comes to travel, especially for permanent travelers and digital nomads. But even as an occasional traveler, you can benefit significantly from travel hacking.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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TOP 20 Travel Hacks<\/h2>

Here are the 20 best travel hacks that will take traveling to the next level. Depending on your budget and preferences, some hacks are more appealing to you than others. It always depends on your own situation, and you can also combine hacks.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Credit card<\/h3>

The first and most important hack is definitely using the right credit card. In Europe, credit cards are still largely underestimated, while in America there are sometimes entire seminars and courses dedicated to them.\u00a0<\/p>

The reasons are quite varied, but once you\u2019ve used the right credit card, you\u2019ll find it impossible to do without its main benefits. Here\u2019s an overview of the most important benefits of specialized travel credit cards:<\/p>

Points<\/strong><\/p>

The first point, which some people already know, is points. Depending on the credit card, they are also called miles. You get these when you spend money. As a rule, 1 point per euro spent. These points can then be redeemed again for free upgrades to Business or First Class, hotel suite upgrades, and sometimes also tangible goods like a Smart car, headphones, and notebooks.\u00a0<\/p>

Example: You spend \u20ac3,500 a month on all sorts of things. By the end of the year, you\u2019ll have automatically earned 42,000 points. That\u2019s enough for a free upgrade to business class from Munich to Dubai! And you get that every year with no extra effort. Credit cards are the most effective way to earn miles.\u00a0<\/p>

Lounge Access\u00a0<\/strong>Another important point is lounge access. Strong credit cards provide worldwide access to airport lounges. No more miserable waiting in crowded gates or bad food in overpriced restaurants. Lounges offer peace, comfort, and free food and drinks. A true blessing, especially during delayed flights or stopovers.<\/p>

Insurances\u00a0<\/strong>Everyone knows the annoying insurances you are offered when booking flights, hotels, or rental cars. These are not only annoying, but also very expensive. Sometimes you even need them. This is where credit cards come into play again. With the right card, you get free travel insurance included.\u00a0<\/p>

Hotel Status\u00a0<\/strong>Another powerful perk offered by credit cards is automatic status upgrades at hotels. Hilton or Marriott Gold Members enjoy significant benefits with every booking, such as early check-in, late check-out, a free suite upgrade, a welcome gift, and keyless entry via smartphone.\u00a0<\/p>

Travel Credit\u00a0<\/strong>Depending on your credit card, you may even receive free travel credits, such as hotel or flight vouchers. These typically amount to 200\u20ac per year.<\/p>

Gourmet Voucher<\/strong> In addition to the travel credit, you may also receive gourmet gift certificates for the same amount.\u00a0<\/p>

So, which credit card is the best? Explaining them all would go beyond the scope of this article, but here are the best credit cards for earning miles<\/strong><\/a> and travel<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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*There's currently a free sign-up bonus of 30,000 points for Platinum members!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2. Hand luggage<\/h3>

Cabin baggage is often a miserable discussion with the flight crew. Basically, airlines have an international standard for hand luggage unless otherwise specified. However, there are major differences in hand luggage from manufacturers, and you often waste important space.<\/p>

If carry-on luggage is the only luggage you travel with (which is the case for many digital nomads), making the right choice is all the more important.\u00a0<\/p>

Therefore, here are the best backpacks and suitcases in accordance with the international maximum carry-on guidelines.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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3. eSIM Providers<\/h3>

Another essential consideration when traveling, especially outside the EU, is using an eSIM provider. An eSIM is a digital SIM card that you activate so you can continue to make calls and browse the internet in your destination country without incurring roaming charges in your home country.<\/p>

Above all, the internet is extremely important for thinking in many countries and you save yourself exorbitant roaming fees.<\/p>

Saily is a previously very good provider for worldwide e-SIMs. The company was founded by the largest VPN provider, NordVPN\u2014more on that in a moment\u2014and impresses with flexible tariffs, worldwide network coverage, and fair prices.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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4. VPN<\/h3>

In addition to the eSIM, another useful\u2014and in some cases necessary\u2014tool is the VPN. Short for Virtual Private Network, a VPN allows users to freely choose their IP location on both laptops and smartphones.<\/p>

This is generally necessary when foreign countries such as Russia, China, the UAE (e.g., Dubai), or Cuba block services like WhatsApp, Telegram, or YouTube. These apps and websites are taken for granted by us Europeans, but there are numerous countries that do not allow their use.<\/p>

To still have access to it, one must activate a VPN. This changes the IP address location of the device to a desired country, such as Germany, even though one is already abroad.\u00a0<\/p>

Meanwhile, there is a large number of providers for VPN services. One of the best-known of these is NordVPN.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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5. Airline Programs<\/h3>

If you want to fly Business or First Class but don't feel like paying, you can try various ways to do so.\u00a0<\/p>

The direct way, besides payment, is the upgrade to First or Business Class using frequent flyer miles or points. These are accumulated, as previously described, with the corresponding credit cards.\u00a0<\/p>

Frequent flyers can also consider booking regularly through the airline portal, as this grants status, much like with Emirates. The higher the status, the greater the likelihood of an upgrade. In addition, airline status provides other benefits such as discounted rates, lounge access, etc.<\/p>

The simplest, but most unlikely, possibility is simply to ask for a free upgrade. That really happens rarely, but it also costs nothing except a brief moment of mustering the courage to approach the airport staff at check-in.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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6. Hotel Programs<\/h3>

Hotels are preferable to Airbnb because they offer loyalty programs. If you book 100 times through Airbnb, you get nothing. However, if you book regularly with certain hotel chains, you\u2019ll earn status, just like with airlines.<\/p>

These statuses are extremely interesting and provide the following advantages:<\/p>