Every travel problem, one toolkit
Packing, planning, saving money, and getting out of trouble. Pick the topic you need and you're off. No fluff, no 47-item checklists.
Every sticker on that case is a lesson we learned the hard way.
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This is the front door to everything practical on the site
Every hub, every guide, every hard-won lesson we've picked up getting things wrong first. Whether you're booking your first trip or your fiftieth, start with the topic that matches your current problem.
Not sure where to begin? Planning a trip is the logical first stop. Already booked and panicking about what to pack? Skip straight to packing. Something's gone wrong mid-trip? Travel problems has you covered.
Pick a topic and you're off
Planning, packing, saving money, and fixing travel problems. Fourteen hubs, all of them practical.
Travel tips articles
Fresh guides as we publish them, grouped by what you're trying to sort out.
Do the boring bits in about a minute
Five free planning tools we built because we got tired of doing this by hand.
Itinerary Generator
Tell it where and how long. It gives you a day-by-day plan you can actually follow.
Build an itineraryBudget Calculator
Work out what a trip will genuinely cost before you commit, in GBP, USD or EUR.
Run the numbersEntry Requirement Checker
Visas, ETAs and passport rules for your nationality and destination. Checked, not guessed.
Check requirementsWhere Should I Travel Next?
A short quiz that matches your mood, budget and dates to somewhere you'll actually enjoy.
Take the quizPacking List Generator
Pick your trip type and get a list that makes sense, instead of the same generic 47 items.
Build your listEight tips that fix most trips
If you read nothing else on this page, read these. Each one has saved us real money or real hassle.
Sort insurance the day you bookCancellation cover only starts when the policy does. Book the trip, buy the policy, same afternoon.
Get a fee-free travel cardForeign transaction fees quietly add 2 to 3% to everything. Wise or Revolut charge nothing.
Book flights 6 to 8 weeks outToo early and prices are inflated, too late and they spike. Set a fare alert and book the dip.
Power bank in your carry-onNever the hold. Airlines confiscate them, and you'll only find out at the gate.
Photograph every documentPassport, insurance, bookings. Email them to yourself so you can reach them from any device.
Download offline mapsGoogle Maps saves whole cities. Do it on hotel Wi-Fi before you head out for the day.
Always choose local currency at the card machineDynamic currency conversion adds 5 to 10%. The "helpful" option is never the cheap one.
Know your compensation rights before you flyUK and EU delays over three hours can pay out up to £520 / $650 / €600. Most people never claim.
Travel tips FAQs
The questions that come up most across every hub on this page.
Where do I start if I've never planned a trip before?
Destination and budget, in that order. Once you know roughly where you want to go and what you can realistically spend, everything else follows. Our how to plan a trip guide walks through the whole thing in ten steps, and the free itinerary generator will rough out the days for you.
How far in advance should I book everything?
Flights 6 to 8 weeks out for short-haul, 3 to 6 months for long-haul. Accommodation can wait longer unless you're travelling in peak season or to somewhere small. Insurance, though, buy that the day you make your first booking, because cancellation cover only kicks in from the policy start date.
What's the single biggest money-saver when travelling?
Honestly? Travelling in shoulder season. You'll pay 30 to 50% less for flights and accommodation, deal with far fewer crowds, and often get better weather than peak summer. After that, a fee-free travel card is the easiest win, since foreign transaction fees add 2 to 3% to every single purchase otherwise.
Do I need travel insurance for a short trip?
Yes. A weekend in Europe can still involve a hospital visit, a cancelled flight or a stolen phone. A single-trip policy typically costs £15-35 / $19-44 / €18-41, which is less than the taxi to the airport. Our travel insurance hub compares the options.
What should I do first if something goes wrong mid-trip?
Document it, then report it. Photos, times, names, reference numbers. Almost every claim (insurance, airline compensation, card chargeback) hinges on evidence gathered in the first hour. Then work out who owes you what. Our travel problems hub covers the common ones step by step.
Can I claim compensation for a delayed flight?
Often, yes. Under UK and EU rules, delays over three hours on covered flights can pay out up to around £520 / $650 / €600 per passenger, depending on distance. It has to be the airline's fault rather than weather or air traffic control. Full detail in our travel compensation hub.
How much should I budget per day?
It varies hugely by region. Southeast Asia runs around £25-30 / $33-40 / €29-35 a day as a backpacker. Western Europe is closer to £80-120 / $100-150 / €93-140 mid-range. Australia, Japan and the Nordics sit higher still. The free budget calculator will give you a proper figure for your specific trip.
Is it cheaper to book flights and hotels separately or as a package?
Usually separately, and you get far more choice. Packages win when you're going somewhere with limited flight options, or want the legal protection that comes with a package holiday in the UK if a company collapses mid-trip. For most city breaks and independent travel, booking separately is cheaper.
Get your free Travel Starter Kit
Step-by-step planning checklists, free guides, and a stack of money-saving tips to help you plan your trip like an expert. Everything on this page, in one download.
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