--- title: "Category: Travel Tips" url: "https://viatravelers.com/travel-tips/page/5/?format=markdown" type: "archive" --- # Category: Travel Tips > General travel tips covering the cross-cutting basics — booking strategy, packing principles, dealing with delays and cancellations, currency and tipping by region, and the small habits that separate experienced travelers from people who think they are experienced. - [How to Get Cheap Last Minute Flights (Step-by-Step Guide)](https://viatravelers.com/how-to-get-cheap-last-minute-flights/) — Last-minute flights aren't always expensive — if you know where to look, you can score deals that beat prices booked weeks out. - [New Mexico vs Colorado: Which Is Better?](https://viatravelers.com/new-mexico-vs-colorado/) — New Mexico and Colorado share a border and not much else — one is ancient and unhurried, the other is big, cold, and relentlessly outdoorsy. - [12 Best 10 Dollar a Day Car Rentals](https://viatravelers.com/10-dollar-a-day-car-rentals/) — Car rentals near $10 a day are real — if you know where to look and what traps to avoid before you book. - [10 Ways to Book the Cheapest First Class Flights](https://viatravelers.com/cheapest-first-class-flights/) — First class doesn't have to cost first class prices. These 10 strategies can get you to the front of the plane for far less — or free. - [20 Must-Have Tips to Avoid Having a Boring Vacation](https://viatravelers.com/boring-vacation/) — A boring vacation isn't bad luck — it's a planning problem. These 20 fixes work before you book, not after you land. - [What is Customs at the Airport? Here’s What to Know](https://viatravelers.com/what-is-customs-at-the-airport/) — Customs isn't complicated — but knowing what to expect before you land makes the difference between a smooth arrival and a stressful one. - [Why Is Amtrak So Expensive? 6 Reasons to Know](https://viatravelers.com/why-is-amtrak-so-expensive/) — Amtrak costs more than a flight on most routes. Six reasons explain why — and none of them are accidents. - [Can You Use Data on a Plane? Essential Tips to Know When Flying](https://viatravelers.com/can-you-use-data-on-a-plane/) — Using phone data on a plane is legal — but whether it actually works depends on your airline, altitude, and what you do before boarding. - [How to Use Google Flights to Find Cheap Flights in 2026](https://viatravelers.com/google-flight-search-anywhere/) — Use Google Flights to compare dates, nearby airports, baggage-inclusive fares, price trends, and self-transfer risks. This 2026 guide shows how to find a lower fare without booking a bad itinerary. - [What Does Domestic Travel Mean? Definition + Examples](https://viatravelers.com/what-does-domestic-travel-mean/) — Domestic travel is any trip that starts and ends within your own country's borders - no customs, no currency exchange, though U.S. flyers now need a REAL ID or another acceptable ID to board domestic flights. - [Clear vs TSA Precheck: What’s Better?](https://viatravelers.com/clear-vs-tsa-precheck/) — CLEAR speeds up ID checks. TSA PreCheck skips the shoe removal. They solve different problems — and serious travelers often use both. - [How to Maximize Booking.com Genius Levels Loyalty Program](https://viatravelers.com/booking-genius-levels/) — Booking.com Genius levels stack up fast — and most travelers leave real perks on the table by not knowing how the tiers actually work. - [22 Best Ways to Get Cheap Flight Alerts](https://viatravelers.com/cheap-flight-alerts/) — The best flight deal I ever booked came from an email alert. Set these up once and let the deals come to you. - [9 Types of Concierge Services for Travel](https://viatravelers.com/types-of-concierge-services/) — A good concierge can book your table, reroute your transfer, and handle your laundry — knowing which type to hire changes everything. - [14 Best Websites for Cheap Flights and Hotels](https://viatravelers.com/best-websites-for-cheap-flights-and-hotels/) — If you're not using a flight aggregator, you're leaving money on the table. These 14 sites changed how I book every trip. - [How to Pack For a Camping Trip [Step-by-Step Checklist]](https://viatravelers.com/how-to-pack-for-a-camping-trip/) — Forget one thing at Tettegouche and the nearest store is an hour away. Here is how to pack so nothing gets left behind. - [16 Best Airports for Layovers Around the World](https://viatravelers.com/best-airports-for-layovers/) — Some airports are worth booking around. These 16 have rooftop pools, indoor gardens, and amenities that make a layover feel intentional. - [Free Travel Rewards and Credit Card Spreadsheet Template](https://viatravelers.com/credit-card-spreadsheet/) — Juggling five travel credit cards without a tracking system is how you miss an annual fee or let 80,000 points expire. - [How to Travel the World as a Virtual Assistant](https://viatravelers.com/how-to-travel-the-world-as-a-virtual-assistant/) — A VA career is one of the few jobs where your office can be Lisbon on Monday and Chiang Mai by Friday — and the travel industry is hiring fast. - [Eurostar Standard vs Premier: What’s Better?](https://viatravelers.com/eurostar-standard-vs-premier/) — Eurostar Standard gets you there. Premier gets you there with champagne and a meal. Here is when the upgrade is actually worth it. - [How to Pack Formula for Air Travel [Step by Step Guide]](https://viatravelers.com/how-to-pack-formula-for-air-travel/) — Packing formula for a flight is easier than it looks — once you know the TSA rules and the right containers to bring. - [Tour Operator vs Travel Agent: What’s the Difference?](https://viatravelers.com/tour-operator-vs-travel-agent/) — Tour operators build and own the trip. Travel agents sell it. Knowing the difference could save you money — and a lot of frustration. - [12 Essential Travel Tips for Flying with Vitamins](https://viatravelers.com/flying-with-vitamins/) — TSA won't flag your vitamins — but how you pack them can save you time at security and keep your supplements intact the whole flight. - [Vienna vs Munich: What’s the Difference?](https://viatravelers.com/vienna-vs-munich/) — Vienna and Munich are two hours apart but feel like different worlds. Here is how they actually compare before you book.