Learn how to pack smarter and lighter with actionable tips to save money, avoid fees, and travel stress-free.

What travel gear can you stop packing to cut costs? How much money can you save by packing your luggage the right way? Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle discuss smart packing tips that could have a real impact on your travel spending. But first, Meghan covers the latest travel headlines with NerdWallet’s Tess Vigeland, including Southwest's free Wi-Fi trial for Rapid Rewards members, Alaska Airlines’ new routes to Europe, and Hyatt’s limited-time status match offer with American Airlines.

Then, Sally and Meghan dive deep into smarter packing habits, with tips and tricks on minimizing baggage fees, staying flexible on the road, and cutting out unnecessary items without sacrificing comfort. They also discuss how to access essentials from your hotel, when to rent clothing instead of buying, and what to leave behind to make space for souvenirs. They share how carry-on-only travel can lead to unexpected benefits, how to include hotel perks in your packing list, and when to splurge or skip based on your itinerary. 

Take the Smart Travel Podcast Listener Survey 2025 and enter to win a prize! https://nerdwallet.com/travelsurvey 

Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews:

Cathay World Elite Review 2025: Is It Worth It for Asia Miles Earners? https://www.nerdwallet.com/ca/p/reviews/credit-cards/cathay-pacific-world-elite-mastercard 

Resources discussed in this episode:

5 Best Credit Card Points Programs and Who They Partner With https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/heres-how-you-can-transfer-your-points-from-any-major-credit-card-issuer 

Airline Credit Cards That Offer Free Checked Bags https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/airline-credit-cards-free-checked-bags 

Want even more tips and tricks to get the most out of your travel dollars? Subscribe to TravelNerd, our free newsletter designed to help you crack the code on spending less on your travel.  

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In this episode, the Nerds discuss: how to avoid airline baggage fees, how to pack light for travel, packing tips to save money, Alaska Airlines new international flights, carry-on packing tips, credit cards with free checked bags, elite hotel status match, laundry while traveling, what not to pack for vacation, how to pack a personal item only, travel freebies from hotels, hotel toiletries and freebies, hotel baby kits, how to use clothing rental for travel, what to leave behind when packing, carry-on vs checked bag costs, lightweight packing for Europe, reusable plastic bags for travel, using credit card rewards for flights, travel tips for frequent flyers, saving money on checked bags, packing minimalist travel, essentials vs just in case items, hotel perks for elite members, how to rent clothing for vacation, Rent the Runway for travel, and Nuuly clothing rental.

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