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WIN BIG THIS SUMMER

YulianK
SMARTY Community Manager SMARTY Community Manager
SMARTY Community Manager

SMR0157_Summer_Giveaway_Featured_Post_600x420px_Opt1@1x.png

WIN BIG THIS SUMMER

From a posh picnic to a grand getaway!

Would jetting off with a friend to Europe for a fabulous 4* city break complete your summer?

Well, it’s one of the BIG prizes up for grabs in our huge summer giveaway – win 3 nights in a 4* hotel for two with return flights, private airport transfers, travel insurance and £200 spending money. And when it comes to choosing the destination, you’re the boss. Take your pick of return flights from selected UK airports to either Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen, Dubrovnik, Lisbon, Paris, Prague, Rome or Stockholm. The prize is worth over £2,500!

That’s not all, there’s loads of these great prizes up for grabs too:

  • Fortnum & Mason picnic hampers x 5
  • Luxury three-piece luggage sets from Rock x 5
  • GoPro HERO 12 cameras x 5
  • Beats SOLO 4 wireless headphones x 5
  • Tile Pro 4 pack (to keep track of your luggage) x 5
  • Tile Pro 2 pack x 10

HOW CAN I WIN BIG?

It’s so easy. Just answer this question to be entered into the prize draw for your chance to bag our grand getaway or one of our other super prizes:

  • What is your best hack for summer getaway?

The Prize Draw opens 22/07/24 at 10:00 and closes on 01/09/24 at 11:59 (“Promotion Period”). 

To enter the Prize Draw entrants must be a SMARTY customer and have an active plan as at the end date of the Promotion Period.  Entrants must have registered for the SMARTY Community within the Promotion Period and be over 18 years of age and a UK resident (“Eligible Entrants”).

Only one entry per entrant. Winners will be selected at random.

For full terms click here

Team SMARTY


UPDATE - COMPETITION CLOSED

The competition is now closed and we will draw the winner from all the eligible entries. Keep your fingers crossed and an eye on your Private Message inbox.

Thanks to everyone who contributed some brilliant entries. We had almost three thousand posts !

Keep up the great work everyone; the SMARTY Community belongs to us all and succeeds because of your great contributions.

2,879 REPLIES 2,879

DebbieG_1496952
SMARTY Rookie
SMARTY Rookie

Always pack a (fully charged) power bank battery, just in case your phone battery runs out. Remember it has to be packed in your carry on luggage

Lorrain_2783743
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Tie something bold on your luggage straps so you can recognise your luggage at the airport carousel, especially if you have black luggage.

Lorrain_2783743
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Tie something bold to your luggage straps so you can recognise your luggage at the airport carousel, especially if you have black luggage. 

JoCoope_2505858
SMARTY Enquirer
SMARTY Enquirer

Get all your stuff together and look at last minute deals or cancellations and grab a bargain!!

JasonGr_1372623
SMARTY Rookie
SMARTY Rookie

Book attractions online if possible, quite often cheaper and can avoid queuing!!!

AlanWri_1856988
SMARTY Rookie
SMARTY Rookie

Photograph your passport 

LornaCo_2508663
SMARTY Rookie
SMARTY Rookie

Use the 54321 rule when packing. Co ordinate 5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 prs shoes, 2 dresses, accessories (jewellery, hat, sunglasses), 1 toiletry bag for toiletries and make up. Scale down for a getaway of less than a week. 

MelvynR_2570917
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Make sure you have roaming WiFi coverage either through your current provider or buy a local chip on arrival - essential for finding your way around using GPS, ordering local rides such Uber, Grab etc,  booking attraction tickets in advance to beat the queues etc

ValerieK_314292
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Take a power bank to ensure your phone never runs out of juice for those endless photos 

Victori_2367720
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Pre book attractions and visits, it can often be cheaper and you won’t have to queue!

Stephen_2484635
SMARTY Rookie
SMARTY Rookie

snap your passport in case of emergensy

KellyGee
SMARTY Rookie
SMARTY Rookie

Take the biggest cabin bag your airline allows and pack a smaller bag in it filled with things you need on the plane. Stow the bigger bag and keep the smaller bag with you

DavidSO_1444303
SMARTY Enquirer
SMARTY Enquirer

This might sound old-fashioned but really just old-skool good sense: get a small zip-lock water-resist clear plastic pouch. Add sewing needles, cotton, spare buttons, hooks, mini scissors, & safety pins. Different sizes to hold up torn clothes. Little eyeglasses repair kit with screws. Plus, a range of sticky pads and strips, double-sided padded tape, Velcro patches, superglue and a little roll of fly catcher - the yukky kind that hangs from a ceiling. You can put in some clearly labelled packs of over-the-counter Aspirin, Ibuprofen, allergy pills & paracetamol but nothing that might need prescription.   Keep prescription meds separate. 

I made a kit like this for my daughter's gap-year travels. On her return home 7 months' later, everything had been used except two buttons!

 

KarenBr_2637147
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Download a map of where you're going  before you travel so even if you're off line you can find where you want to go!

TimLayb_1892277
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Check in all your baggage but carry on a man bag instead with kindle, passport, phone and money

Nichola_1624007
SMARTY Rookie
SMARTY Rookie

Don't go abroad without proper travel insurance, even in Europe. Its just short sighted not too, & may end up costing you in the long run.

William_2275667
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

When on the holiday buy a sim card what is used in the EU to avoid roaming charges and buy a mobile phone that is cheap that has a dual sim holder and leave your expensive phone at home, you still call, text, email, Facebook and messenger. Use the local sim to make calls ect.

RobertK_1533926
SMARTY Enquirer
SMARTY Enquirer

Book airport lounge access 

HelenGle_658056
SMARTY Enquirer
SMARTY Enquirer

Roll clothes instead of folding and they won't crease or vacuum pack for extra space

AndreaK
SMARTY Enquirer
SMARTY Enquirer

Avoid busy holiday seasons. Both, Christmas and summer.

CarinaD_2336577
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

My best hack for a summer getaway, is to take a thermos mug in your hand luggage and get a coffee /hot drink of choice at the airport and you have a hot drink with you on board the aircraft ,instead of having to wait for the hostesses to come  round with the drinks trolley.

AndreaK
SMARTY Enquirer
SMARTY Enquirer

Avoid busy holiday seasons, both, Christmas and summer.

TrishNo_2029497
SMARTY Observer
SMARTY Observer

Roll your clothes like a pancake when packing into a backpack to prevent creases and save tons of space 🙂

NormanS_1189851
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Buy some SMARTY add ons😑

JanetCo_1917056
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Take photo of your passport and have internet security 

Beverle_2268061
SMARTY Maverick
SMARTY Maverick

Be smart(y) and book last month deals. 

DerekYo_2358118
SMARTY Observer
SMARTY Observer

Remember to always carry a spare fully charged battery to charge your watch and phone as well as your ear pods 😉 

KevinMa_2513121
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Take one travel plug plus a short extension lead with four sockets on it 

JeffAnd_1906730
SMARTY Rookie
SMARTY Rookie

Go online and learn as much about your destination before you get there - you’ll be much more relaxed and prepared for your stay!

MrPhili_1980210
SMARTY Rookie
SMARTY Rookie

With everyone wearing the same colour and brand sliders around the pool this summer find yours easily by adding a custom marking with your wife’s nail varnish. It works!!

IanBurto_501205
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Take a screen shot of your boarding passes then you don’t need WiFi or a signal to bring them up at the airport

HILARYF_1972565
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Colour coordinate clothes, saves on space & easily mix/match day to night

4lpiste
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Do not have children!

Swarnav_2331701
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Stay hydrated.

Richard_1236992
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Always pack a small pair of binoculars, there's always something you can't quite see on the horizon.

Nicholas_475981
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Enjoy spending time filling your case like a jigsaw puzzle. Roll up pants and tshirts and shirts and secure with rubber bands , fill your packed shoes with socks, anything left over put in your coat pockets, buy all cosmetics soaps and shampoos at destination. You can fit two weeks worth into a under the seat bag on Ryan Air.😉

The_Button_King
SMARTY Maverick
SMARTY Maverick

My best summer hack is always being prepared. Book ahead of time (Trainpal for cheap trains), always get to the airport 3 hours early, etc.

SallyDe_2838505
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Always pack spare underwear and keep it in your hand luggage in case the worst happens with your case! 

JohnRob_2115992
SMARTY Enquirer
SMARTY Enquirer

Keep smiling!

Sandycan
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Wise card for best exchange rates plus any number of currency plus free ATM plus not taking risks with bank cards plus auto conversion set up plus just a brilliant card plus virtual card