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You know how you check the price of a flight, then go back a day later — and the price has gone up? That seems to happen less often if you use the Incognito function in Chrome. I also love Kayak, because it gives you advice on whether to book your ticket or wait for a better price. Kate Torgovnick
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Try Airfarewatchdog.com. You put in a destination, and get emails with updates on fares so you know when there are deals. Geneva is my spot, and I get excited when I see a round-trip flight for $650 instead of $1,200. Hailey Reissman
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I always Google Map the place I’m going, to see the streets. Then I switch to Earth view, so I can look at the topography, understand nearby towns and see if there are any blue spots that might be secluded beaches. I also see if National Geographic, Outside or The New York Times Travel has written anything and jot down all the stuff I want to do. If it’s a city, I also see if Anthony Bourdain has eaten anything cool there. Thaniya Keereepart
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Sitting down for two hours to figure out what you want to do really can improve your trip 30 to 40%. If you’re too busy, post on Facebook asking about things to do and places to eat. Everyone loves to recommend their favorites. Tom Rielly
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Research your hotel. Look on TripAdvisor to see which rooms people prefer, and make requests. If you need help before you arrive, don’t speak to a reservations office that might be in a call center — always ask for the front desk. My trick: if someone asks if I’m calling about a reservation, I say, ‘No, I have a question for the front desk. Tom Rielly
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I found out about the Global Entry program last year, and knew I needed to sign up. It’s like TSA PreCheck for international travelers. Instead of standing in line for a customs officer after an international flight, you use an ATM-like machine to process re-entry. It takes your photo, scans your fingerprints and prints a receipt in minutes — and you don’t have to fill out those little declaration cards on the plane. Isaac Wayton
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You can never be sure if you’ll have the Internet on your trip, so research this ahead of time. I like Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree forum for transit tips, but you can also just type in ‘how to get from X to Y’ in Google. Sometimes you’ll end up with a bus or train schedule, or sometimes you’ll land on some blog post that tells you to grab the van at the corner of the market and wait until it’s full. Either way, write down the names of the companies that operate the transportation — along with a few sentences in the native language on how to ask for directions. Thaniya Keereepart
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If you are traveling with friends, especially for the first time, have a conversation in advance about how you like to do things. For example, I hate being rushed at art museums, but other people get really bored, so we make a plan to meet later. Ask how long people like to stay at the beach, what their budget preferences are for meals. And make a pact that if one of you is frustrated, you talk about it right away. It can save so much drama. Tom Rielly
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Watch a movie or read a book based in your destination. Preferably fiction. It makes the place feel romantic. Anyssa Samari
A - Crowdsource suggestions
B - Do your research
C - Follow local Instagrammers
D - Go beyond booking your hotel online
E - Hype yourself up
F - Know how to get around
G - New town? Plan but keep your options open
H - To receive a quick go-ahead upon arrival
I - Talk it over before you set off
J -
K - Track prices with fare watcher alerts
KEY:
1K 2B 3A 4D 5H 6F 7I 8E
