AIRPORT TIPS (Things you should never buy) | + TRAVEL HACKS 

Your videos are always so packed with tips and facts, with no fluff. I appreciate that you're so respectful of your viewers' time.

LUGGAGE TIPS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Tie three or four colored ribbons around the handle to your luggage to warn others that this is not their luggage. People grab luggage at the turnstile and take it home before you ever see it. Anywhere you put your bag, it could be grabbed in error. Example: overhead compartment, unloaded from the bus, at the hotel lobby, at the airport turnstile... These ribbons make your luggage different and EASY TO SPOT when the piece is surrounded by 35 other cases unloaded from the bus. Using 4 ribbons make it immediately different than other cases with 1 ribbon. Use 1” wide ribbons 14” long and not longer. Cut the ends at 45 degrees. Tie the ribbons as a sandwich, as if they were one ribbon. Use a man’s tie, a half Windsor knot for the best look. After it is tied on, the total length of the ribbons will be about 5 inches from the handle. This is too short to catch on anything such as rollers. Scissor cut trim the ribbons to cascading different lengths after they are tied. Put a drop of Super Glue at the end. If each ribbon is slightly a different length by 1/4” the color layers will all show up no matter how they drape. You can see these ribbons from 40 feet away. Perhaps tie TWO handles or RINGS top and side of the case. Tie using a HALF WINDSOR KNOT to the metal buckle ring of the handle. Learn Half Windsor knot tying: It is the 2nd example in this video ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-X0yh5rKB9lE.html This knot does not loosen. Put your phone number on one ribbon using a fine point permanent Sharpie. Example: “Owner 454-333-7878” No personal name necessary. No address necessary on the ribbon. Choose one ribbon with an unusual pattern or fabric to really make it unique. The 4th ribbon could be black color. Stand by the output port of the turnstile to reduce the chance of someone else grabbing your piece. Tie your skiies, duffel bag, backpack and what ever else with matching ribbons-even your computer case. If you are a Travel Agent, you could hot gold stamp one ribbon with your name and phone number. Send them a set of ribbons, red and blue and BLACK to your customer as a gift. Record this gift in your database so you don’t duplicate yourself. Buy a gold hot embossing machine. Gold emboss your business name on the BLACK ribbon. Put the customer’s name on it if possible. Pleasant color combinations: Red, white and blue Chartreuse and purple and orange Orange and light blue Orange and yellow Gray and pink Green and yellow Red and Green Red and Gold Light blue and light green and white The 4th ribbon could be white, gray, black, tan Tip #2 Take a cell phone picture of the ribbon tied on. Then another picture of the full luggage piece. You now have a way to communicate “what it looks like” if someone is tasked with searching for it. Take this picture outside in direct sun not under neon lights. Tip #3 Place a strip of colored duct tape on the inside lining to your case. Put TWO pieces in DIFFERENT places such as INSIDE a pocket to the case. If you dare, put your phone number DIRECTLY ON THE FABRIC Liner of the case WITHOUT USING TAPE. Or, put your name and phone number on this tape. If all identity is stripped from your case, you have this to show. If someone steals it and rips off identity tags, you can show the police officer the inside tape... To be sneaky about the tape, put your phone number on the STICKY side of the tape. Nothing is on the surface side of this tape. Tip #4 Put your phone number on a 2” x 1/2” piece of fabric or plastic sheet. Use colored Duct tape, such as black or red or neon, to tape this message to the top side of the handle. This message is under the tape hidden from view. The lettering does not touch the sticky part. Wrap it 2-3 times. Also include Tips 1,2,3 above. If you need to prove identity of the case, just unwrap it and show. Tip #5 ADDING UNIQUENESS 4 ribbons 1 designer ribbon colored taped handle stencil spray paint a 2” stencil letter or number or word to the suit case surface in addition to using all the ideas here. Stencil spray paint a letter to the top ribbon. Use ribbons that are wider or more narrow than 1”. Put a travel sticker on the case. ......

I used to make mini toothpaste tubes using aluminum foil. I cut a small rectangle foil, and squeeze 2-3 drops of toothpaste, and roll the foil into a tube. roll down the ends to close. just make sure to pack the tubes into a ziplock bag in case of spillage.

Great ideas! I have a tip when packing any bottled toiletries. Due to altitude pressure, don’t fill your bottles to the top. Leave some space cuz the pressure will pop open some bottles and your shampoo or whatever will leak out or when you open the bottle it will squirt out at you.

Thank you Megan for all those Tips you've shown here! With regards to ATM machines in airports or foreign countries that I'm traveling, one thing I do is to press the "Cancel" button twice before inserting my card, If anyone has set-up the key pad to steal your PIN code, this will cancel that set-up. Every transaction I make anywhere, may it be in Australia or other holiday destinations, I make it a habit to "Cancel" 2 x.

During the peak of covid several international airports shut off the water fountains completely for safety/health reasons. Naively I went through past the security side with my empty water bottle only to discover there was nowhere to fill it. It was 11:30pm and all the cafes were closed except for a single Starbucks that was on the other end of the terminal and almost a 20min walk followed by a massive line. No vending machine in sight

I've use Wifox while I had a 12 hour layover in Chicago O'Hare and sat right outside the Admiral Lounge. Great Tip

Since 1998 I have only travelled with a nylon, flexible carry-on. You can stuff it full of stuff, it's easy to carry, and it's lightweight. I've gone on many 4 - 6 week trips with just that.

Las Vegas last week! Leaving your hotel, fill your water bottle with ice. Before going through security drink the melted water, then you can fill it after going through and have cold water! They did make me open it and turn it upside down but otherwise no problem.

I broke my watch just as I was leaving for a flight ✈. Try to find a reasonable price watch in an airport. The boutique gift shops had them for $100+ and tbe duty-free stores had designer brands for $200. I waited until I got to my hotel and got one at their gift shop for $14.99. It's still working just fine now.

Thank You for your clear, concise very informative video without annoying music or pets to cause distraction.

Excellent tips

That’s why I fly SW. Two free checked bags 👍🏾 Great video TFS

I love your view of it's not about what you can't do but you can do and how to pivot when things go sideways. Thanks for all your great tips, tricks, and hacks that are making traveling again smoother as well as making my first international trip so much easier to plan for and NOT over pack w/what-if items.

Thank you for tips and money savings ideas. I have used contact lens cases for toothpaste for inflight use. I did that for my recent trips. Very handy indeed.

Great video! Full of great ideas and no fluff!

Great tips - thanks!

another nice video lovely lisp. keep em coming!

You do such a great job. Love your videos!

Great content. thanks

Wow, pro tips, thank you so much! We can't wait to travel again :)

More great tips, thanks Megan.

My only tip - is don't move to the side. Move out of the line completely. Nothing more annoying than trying to check your bag but someone is blocking the way with their luggage open and items out on the floor.

Great tips thanks!

In the Bangkok airport you avoid expensive restaurants by going to the food mart in the basement. They'll have delicious Thai food at a fraction of the cost.

Oh God! My friend and I were heading back to our hotel to pick up our luggage and take the subway to the train station to go home from NYC, when she tripped, fell and broke her arm. We went to the hospital by ambulance and as I was trying to contact everyone to let them know what was going on, both of our phones were running down and my charger was in my luggage back at the hotel. Thankfully, I had a battery pack that worked with her phone and I was able to borrow a charger from a nice young man in the waiting room, but MAN, was I desperate for a while. It really added to the stress of an already stressful situation.

Great video really loved it!!

Love how applicable your tips are and especially like the huge gum pack you got from Costco! I wanted to hit So Cal but decided to wait until next year. Instead I went to New Jersey which was still quite enjoyable

Great tips. Also you can get toothpaste tablets that take up less space as well. I will have to try Wifox, thanks. Greetings from london 🇬🇧 and safe travels everyone.

Thanks for sharing

I find airport WiFi pretty reliable. But one of the first things I do when getting back from a trip is to change my email password.

Excellent tips - I practice them all but the frozen water and the WiFox - thanks 😊

wow! this vedio is just amazing 🤩

My most expensive airport purchase was buying gluten free breakfast at the airport in Paris. EVEN THOUGH I had confirmed my special meal twice, and it was showing in the app, they didn't have a gluten free dinner or breakfast on the flight. And since I was returning from India, I didn't have very much of my packed food left (thanks to the three times my teammates insisted on going to KFC, where I could only eat fries). I was SO HUNGRY! I have non-celiac gluten intolerance, so I was able to eat a tiny bit of each onboard meal-some green beans at dinner, and the prepackaged mini yogurt at breakfast-but I didn't dare risk any of the pasta, sauces, or breads. They weren't going to have my GF meals on the Paris to Atlanta leg, either. Eventually Air France agreed to give me a voucher to buy a dinner to take on the plane, but I had to pay for food to take onboard for breakfast the next day, too. That was two very expensive breakfasts, but I had to have food.

Really liking your videos. Especially when I discovered we have twin pups! I thought I was seeing double!

Cheers!

Thanks for all the tips. I have never thought about any of these tips before. I often feel excited anytime I travel, and don’t pay attention to details like you do.

Great tips Megan. I also avoid paying advance seating or seating assignments. When I travel with Southwest, I set a check-in alarm and still get a great seat that I like.

❤️ good tips!

Your videos are so delightful and helpful. New subscriber here!

This video was informative and comical at the same time. I made a lot of these same mistakes as a rookie especially paying $13 for roughly $2 worth in candy in the airport 🤣 I love the puppy too 🐶🐕😁

My most ridiculous airport purchase was last summer on an international flight. I was so disorganized before this trip and I knew I way overpacked. I have a luggage scale but of course I couldn’t find it (did I mention I was disorganized) and my bathroom scale died too so I couldn’t weigh it like I usually would. *AND* in these times of Covid I still hadn’t gotten my PCR test results back and we were leaving for the airport in an hour. This happened to be the Tuesday after a long holiday weekend, exceedingly bad timing. I ended up running out to the pharmacy for a rapid test at the last minute. (I got my results back on the way to the airport). Sooooo…. I was stressed out already, and when I got up to the desk to check my bag it was 8 pounds overweight. The clerk says “Ma’am, your bag is overweight” and looks at me like I can suddenly remove 8 pounds worth of crap from my bag. I just looked at her and said “So, can I just pay some fee and get on with it?” It was $100. I didn’t even care, I was just so happy to be able to actually get on the plane with a negative Covid test in hand.

Good tips. I have a Schwab debit card that reimburses you for any ATM fees at the end of each month. In fact, I left my extra Schwab debit card with the lady in Thailand that takes care of my house. To be on the safe side, I only transfer to that account the amount that I told her to take out at an ATM.

You mentioned about overweight luggage. Not only consider this with checked luggage but also carry-on if you are flying international; they will get weighed and those carry-on overweights get checked!! Invest in a $10 luggage scale to save the hassle.

Cute wave.

Nice tips! Wifox will definitely come in handy 😄

I agree with all of these! Well done! BTW, does wifox work at all (international) airports?

Great Vlog Megan

Great and helpful tips once again Megan. Most expensive airport purchase mistake for me was a neck pillow. I now have several I bought at Goodwill for $1 and can throw them away or leave them when I land.

Regarding the water. I bring a metal tumbler and just learned that you do NOT have to empty your ice at security. So now I make sure mine is full of ice and then I fill it with cold water once I go through security. Very helpful for people like me, who have Sjogren's and are always thirsty!

Great video beautiful

I use Colgate Wisp mini toothbrushes. They are one-use nd waterless. Happy traveling everyone

My best impulsive purchase at the airport was a cary-on white trolley. Of course I overpaid around 20euros, but my backpack was so heavy. Later this wonderful trolley turned out to be my favourite bag for travelling. Did I overpay?- yes. Do I regret it? -no. There's a wonderful saying that says that the most expensive spoon is before dinner. Why should I spend less money later if I don't need it at all?

When I flew to Orlando I. July it was my first time travel by myself. I spent a lot of money at airport for food.

Worst buy/exchange was money at LAX was going to Colombia and had to change $100 in case I couldn’t over there,I was arriving at 2 am .they took 25%.funny thing is they were open when I arrived n only took 2%

Merci

I agree, stocking up on gum is always a good idea; not only for equalizing air pressure my ears while in flight by also for the taste. In addition to that, I've taken to packing snacks in my carry on or personal item - usually dried fruits, nuts, or bbq corn chips. I tend to avoid chocolate because I might eat it right away and then be tempted to buy more from a vending machine in the airport. And using an ATM at the destination is something I agree with whole heartedly. My bank used to provide a foreign currency exchange as an in branch service pre Covid, but as of 2023 have changed the availability to by appointment only. I also recommend adding an exchange rate app to your phone if you don't already have one if only for your own information. Those utility apps are usually free and include various other unit conversions such as measurements and temperatures. (That's handy for places that are on the metric system and/or report temperatures in Celsius.)

I love all your vids, very helpful thank you,, but not the suspicious mini toothpaste bagy 😂

You're absolutely right about the foreign exchange statement, airports are a big ripoff......

When I am visiting another country, I typically order foreign currency from my bank ahead of time.

For me it's always books. I can't resist going into books stores in the airport (even though I bring my eReader with loads of books on it) and then I find it difficult to resist buying some book. I've gotten better over the years, but still.

Gum can be useful with cabin pressure changes✅

Love how you demonstrated with a dog poop bag. LOL

Awesome tips! Was just at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport the other day after a nice vacation to the Grand Canyon. First trip since February 2020. The airport car rental is miles away from the main terminal so plan a bit of time for that if you rent a car. Hoping to transition to international travel in 2022 !

My most ridiculous and expensive purchase was a bottle of water and a personal-sized can of Pringles. It cost me around $6 for both. To put it in perspective, it was Q40. I could have gotten a meal at Mickey D's for that much. Ever since then,I pack my own snacks and take my own water bottle.

I save department samples of make up and toiletries and pack them with almost no weight. Then I purchase regular size items at destination

I train to fast one week before I travel. I eat and drink before going to the airport. At the destination after I leave the airport I look for local food and drink.

I splurged on souvineers in the Shenzhen airport once, one of the stupidest things I've ever done lol. But I can guarantee you they were made in the country I departed from ;)

Nice video Meghan thanks! I actually exchanged my money at the NAIA airport in the Philippines because the exchange rates inside the airport were actually better than a lot of other locations outside and as good or better than the banks. That's just one example though

The best place to buy souvenirs is the thrift store!! When I get home.

I think there is a 12-step program you might look into for your gum addiction! Ha ha! Great tips as always.

I was in the Philadelphia airport going to Jamaica 2 years ago. I managed to break the cord on my wired headphones. I had to buy a pair of cheaply made dollar store quality headphones for about $20 😑

Cebu Pacific is keeping our fares due to COVID.

Book and reading material. Candy and snacks

I almost made a mistake of not getting travel insurance. We let my cousin go buy our tickets. No big deal right..lol. Well, we didn't know if you buy it ahead of time and your bags either checked carry-on goes over, you'll be only paying $1.37 per kilo if the weight is over while checking in before departure. If you didn't buy it ahead of time, you'll be paying at checking in would be $10.96 per kilo. Which we didn't know which causes our carry-on bag on a next cargo flight which is 6 hours later which my uncle had to wait for instead of joining us on our excursions bc my portable charger was on a carry-on bag.

When coming back from Istanbul I went through Las Vegas -- NO water fountains! I will avoid Las Vegas as a layover next time and I will always make sure I have water when leaving the plane.

I once bought noise canceling headphones in the airport at a decent price actually.

A few years ago, I flew w/ China airlines & they did not allow you to board the plane w/ a filled water bottle… We were already in the airport waiting to catch our connecting flight… We had to pour the water out, board, then refill it on the plane. Weird 🤷🏻‍♀️

What's a good amount of foreign currency to take with me before a trip ( and then get some more if needed at the destination) esp if I more than one destination. thx

FedEx non-carryon luggage to beat both airline exorbitant rates & lost bags! When getting drinks onboard, request the whole can due to being dehydrated--works every time 😂😆

You know "Dollar Store" has little toothbrush \ toothpaste combos that will be perfect for your bag that you take on the plane. And the size of the toothpaste is small enough to get you onto the plane.

Megan's "lots of gum" tip...expanded. At Costco, Sam's Club, Amazon, Aldi, Boxed, etc. Any pre-packaged snacks or those you can pack yourself in reusable baggies are much less expensive than airline kiosks, gift shops, vending machines (and hotel minibars!)! Plus, when you're out and about sightseeing, shopping, etc., a small portable snack can keep you from being famished between a meal! 😁

I watch your videos because you are beautiful and I love to watch you talk 😍🥰

I would like to make up some goody bags for the cabin crew. They would have lip balm, chocolates, moisturiser and herbal tea. Can you take them through security? I’m thinking of making about a dozen. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Thank you for wonderful video! It is really interesting and motivating! Cannot wait when all of us start travel again! Thank you for helping to promote tourism! WOW

I can't recall off the cuff a bad purchase at the airport. If anything it would be food. But for money/foreign currency, I prefer to guesstimate how much I will need of a currency before leaving and then going to a foreign currency place like Kantor. I don't work for them, but I have pretty much only positive things to say about them. You may need to put in an order a bit in advance, but they don't charge exorbitant fees like a bank or one of those highway robbery places in the airport. And most places also accept credit cards, so that's easy, too. I don't feel comfortable going to an ATM because I'm scared of getting mugged.

Wifox is an awesome app.

What if you are in a country where the water not from bottles isn't clean like your used to? I remember going to Greece when I was 6 and we wouldn't drink the water but buy bottled water instead for the entire trip.

Yeah. I exchanged money once on an airport. Never again if I can help it!

I have often heard you shouldn’t drink the water on planes (or drinks such as coffee or tea made with it) would you agree or disagree with this?

I did currency exchange at SF airport many years ago. 😭😭Later, I tried many other ways including getting foreign money from my bank before the trip and using the ATM. I went to Argentina this year. I usually try to get as much information about the locals as possible even with a travel group. Luckily I did it because all of the old ways do not work well with Argentina situation because of their crazy inflation. It is very complicated and the rate could be ~2x. I won't talk about details here and give some wrong ideas. But just emphasize how important to check the destination's condition before the trip.

100 milameters water bottles usually go threw sta

A number of years ago, my wife and I went to Italy and I got Italian Lyra from MY bank here in America at no charge and exchanged it back after I came home and had NO fees for currency. Now many European countries have the Euro which can be exchanged here also at your banks.

Make a list and use it before and when you are leaving the Hotel.

Coffe water one time for charger at dubai airport, lipstick n foundation oh lol toooooo expensive///

Hey! I had a question. What do you do with your dog when you have to travel somewhere? Do you leave it home alone?

She is a great source of information - I have traveled widely in my long life and she is dead on! As for banking - yes, but in addition to the more general topic of avoiding fees, see whether your bank has an affiliate bank in your destination country. In most cases, an American bank will have these banks in Europe. I have found such affiliates in France, Germany and England and I obtain the best exchange rates and no fees!

Name the last airport you were in OUTSIDE of your home city 👇 Vancouver for me!

Very helpful overall; thanks! The one thing I disagree with is the idea of taking a water bottle to fill inside the terminal. I have seen too many people put the mouth of their water bottle right on the water spigot. Even before COVID, I didn't want to get anybody else's germs that way. Personally, since I have an auto-immune disorder, I'm willing to pay an exorbitant price for bottled water.

What cards provide free check bags