Ironically, holidays can actually turn out to be a rather stressful experience! From trawling through endless price comparison websites for the best deal to being charged a nightmare excess baggage fee at the airport, getting to your holiday destination can sometimes be hard work.

Luckily we’ve compiled a list of 15 handy travel hacks that will make your journey a breeze, including advice on how to get the cheapest possible prices on flights and where the best place is to change all of your travel money. There’s no need to dread the planning and travel part of the trip anymore with these genius tips…

1. Fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday

If you’re planning to fly out somewhere this summer then you might want to reconsider which day of the week you head to the airport. There is a price drop of approximately 15-20% on flights leaving the airport on Tuesdays and Wednesdays! Always use a flight comparison site like SkyScanner to be sure that you’re getting the best possible deal.

2. Choose unsociable hours to fly

OK we know that nobody likes getting up at 03:00 to head to the airport, but it might just mean that you have a little extra spending money once you arrive at your destination. Red-eye flights can sometimes end up saving you a lot of money, so just make sure you have a cup of coffee on hand to get you through the early morning wake up!

3. Book in advance, but not TOO far in advance

People generally assume that the earlier you book, the better. However, SkyScanner have discovered that on average it’s best to book just 7 weeks before you fly. This estimate differs based on where you’re flying out to, so check out the list below to work out how long you need to wait before booking:

  • Barcelona = 8 weeks (14% saving on average flight)
  • Palma = 4 weeks (13% saving on average flight)
  • Malaga = 7 weeks (12% saving on average flight)
  • Faro = 5 weeks (10% saving on average flight)
  • Alicante = 5 weeks (10% saving on average flight)
  • New York = 18 weeks (9% saving on average flight)
  • Tenerife = 7 weeks (6% saving on average flight)
  • Bangkok = 18 weeks (5% saving on average flight)

4. Switch on private browsing

This one is a very handy tip to be aware of. When you’re searching for deals on a website and the warning comes up to accept those pesky cookies? Don’t accept! This means that the website will know what flights or hotels you’re looking for which can cause the prices you’re shown to rise simply because you’ve searched for them before.

5. Get a villa or Airbnb to save money on group holidays

Planning on going away with friends? It’s usually much cheaper to book a villa or large house on Airbnb rather than staying separately in hotel rooms. Plus if you have your own kitchen facilities you can save a bit of money rather than eating out every night. Also we have to admit that Airbnb have some of the coolest locations and most unique holiday homes!

6. Pack your suitcase like a pro

Don’t just shove everything in your suitcase at the last minute! If you learn the pack like a pro then you’ll fit so much more stuff in your bag – think about rolling up your clothes and investing in some packing cubes. Then you can travel with hand luggage and avoid any extra baggage fees!

7. Get the best rate on your travel money

Don’t bother exchanging currency at the airport and think twice about relying on old favourites like M&S or The Post Office. This handy website endorsed by Martin’s Money Saving Tips will find where in your area has the best possible exchange rate.

8. Mark your bag as fragile

This is a bit of a cheeky one, but marking your suitcase as ‘fragile’ means that your bag will be handled with tender loving care throughout the duration of your journey. Apparently the airport workers will also store it on the top of the pile in the plane’s storage compartment, so it’ll be first out on the carousel when you arrive at your destination. Nice!

9. Avoid queuing up behind an army of children

If you’re choosing between two different queues for the airport duty free or a café/restaurant then opt for the one that has the least kids. It’s almost definitely bound to move along quicker – look for businessmen and women or couples who will keep the queue moving nicely.

10. Arrive early to snag any free upgrades

If you get to the airport early enough, you might be treated to free premium seats or other upgrades! The airline staff waiting behind the desk will know about any offers hours in advance, so the earlier you get there the more chance you’ll have of snagging a bargain.

11. Weigh your luggage before check-in

It’s always better to check how much your suitcases weigh before heading to the airport, otherwise those nasty luggage fees can be a killer. You can invest in some handy portable suitcase scales or get on your own bathroom scales with and without your luggage. Either way, you’ll appreciate avoiding any unexpected charges at the airport.

12. You can always just ask for an upgrade!

Yep, rather than waiting in hope for an upgrade that might never come, you can simply ask airport staff and hotel receptionists if there are any free upgrades available for the taking. Remember – if you don’t ask, you don’t get!

13. Don’t be part of the arrivals/departures board scrum

Sometimes it can be hard to relax in the departures lounge when you’re constantly straining to check the live departures board. Download the Flightboard app, which contains live departures boards for any airport in the world. Then you can sit back and enjoy your pint rather than worrying about the board changing at any moment.

14. Counteract turbulence by having a wriggle around in your seat

If you really don’t like turbulence during a flight, then travel experts advise you to jiggle about in your seat to counterbalance it! If you don’t mind looking a bit odd then apparently it does work like a charm.

15. Nab the free Wifi – anywhere!

Need to access wifi in a hurry? Travellers often leave the Wifi passwords for cafés and restaurants in the comments section of each venue on FourSquare, so you can access free internet in no time.

So there you have it! 15 genius travel hacks you need to know about – if you have anymore then let us know in the comments below!