European Bed Sizes
A double bed in most European hotels refers to two (American) twin sized beds pushed together. A single bed is a twin.
Off-Season Airfare
Try to plan travel between the final week of August and the final week of March. This is the “off-season” in Europe and flights will generally be dramatically cheaper and less crowded.
Hotel Cancellations
Too late to cancel your hotel room without penalty? Many hotels will be flexible on their cancellation penalty if you call in advance to reschedule for a later date, rather than cancelling outright.
Codeshare Flights
Two quick ways to tell if you’re about to book a codeshare/partner airline flight: if the itinerary contains the words “Operated by,” or it’s a 4 digit flight number (1000-4999 generally indicate a regional carrier; 5000+ generally means a flight on a different carrier).
Frequent Flyer Programs
Always register for the frequent flyer program of any airline you’re flying on (even if you’ll likely never fly them again). This way you can log in and choose seats, check flight status, and see if there are any special perks available to you that you might not otherwise know about.
Carry On Toiletries
After your trip, you’ve probably got a ziploc bag full of half-empty toiletries from your carry-on luggage. Don’t toss them or try to use up the last of them at home. Put the bag in your desk drawer or your car’s glovebox for those emergency situations where you need to freshen up unexpectedly.