22-07-2024 01:38 AM - edited 02-09-2024 12:20 PM
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:
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:
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.
22-08-2024 15:17 PM
Consider sofa or couch surfing or, even better in my opinion, house and pet sitting for a cheap alternative way of finding accommodation. Although I am still using Youth Hostels and bunk houses, too, despite my advanced age, if needs must.
22-08-2024 15:19 PM
Check the weather before heading to you destination and pack accordingly! This will also help you plan outfits and pack light so that you're able to have extra room for souvenirs from your trip!
22-08-2024 15:19 PM
Plan ahead and get a fee free credit card for your overseas payments, always choose to pay in local currency for a better exchange rate.
And download the local maps for offline use before you leave the UK, to save your data.
22-08-2024 15:16 PM
Always keep a swimsuit in your cabin bag Incase your luggage gets lost!
22-08-2024 15:14 PM
Work hard during the week and travel during the weekend
22-08-2024 15:14 PM
Take photos of all your paperwork on your phone camera , including drivers licence ,id documents , passport , insurances . Saves time looking for them if needed later as they'll all be in one place . Happy holidays .
22-08-2024 15:08 PM
Always know how you will be getting to your accommodation and which ticket to buy if you are going my public transport
22-08-2024 15:07 PM
If you are in the UK, download a treasure hunt trail to find lesser known places and spot interesting things in the area you are visiting.
22-08-2024 15:04 PM
Keep a small suitcase packed with essentials so you can grab it and go as soon as you find a deal.
22-08-2024 15:03 PM
If you are in the UK, download a local treasure hunt trail as it will take you to some of the lesser known places in the area you are visiting and encourages you to observe different features
22-08-2024 14:59 PM
When on holiday take a picture of yourself outside you accommodation. Use as your wallpaper while there. If you lose you phone, hopefully someone will return it to your accommodation
22-08-2024 14:55 PM
Take a travel router, you can use this to connect all your devices to a single hotel or AirBnB Wifi, it's so easy.
If you buy the right router you can even tether from your mobile phone using your Smarty SIM when there is no WiFi available.
22-08-2024 14:52 PM
Keep your shorts at the top of your bag, so when you arrive in your hot destination country you can easily switch out of those stuffy jeans.
22-08-2024 14:50 PM
Get a debit card (for ATM withdrawals) and credit card (for everything else) that don't charge foreign transaction fees
Martin Lewis (MoneySavingExpert) site has a list of of the best
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/destinations/
22-08-2024 14:49 PM
Make sure you have a water proof suit case incase of freaky weather
22-08-2024 14:47 PM
consider annual policies (like travel insurance and hire care excess) if you travel more than once a year.
22-08-2024 14:40 PM
If you have an old working phone stuffed in a drawer somewhere, dig it out, dust it down and stick another Smarty sim in. Copy across as much important stuff as you can. The pickpocketing and phone snatching epidemic is relentless across all countries, never mind simply losing or breaking your primary phone especially if it has all your travel data.
22-08-2024 14:42 PM - edited 22-08-2024 14:43 PM
-International/Europeanl Health Card
-emergency contacts in your phone updated and with international prefixes, all health relevant information
-revolut with destination currency already exchanged
- smarty APN well configured for roaming
- cabin bag with essential in case of delays
- offline information downloaded in your phone like local maps
- if you take sports equipment, never forget to mark as fragile, otherwise will be handled by default as a non-fragile item. So avoid surprises
- can't fly without my noise cancelling headphones 💤😴 for a little recharge before landing, traveling/transfers are tyring
-do not let your immune system down, last thing you want is to be ill whilst on holiday! Rest, eat well, drinm plenty of water.
-sunscreen!
22-08-2024 14:36 PM
If you need more than one continental adapter, then buy a cheap 4 socket electrical extension bar and a continental plug ( plugs available on online market places). Swap the plugs and- Hey Presto- everyone can use all their electrical items
22-08-2024 14:35 PM
Put suitcase inside an empty suitcase when travelling out. Use empty suitcase whilst abroad to fill with anything. Maybe gifts for family, trinkets, memorabilia. Then travel back with 2 cases.
22-08-2024 14:26 PM
Don't pack all your toileteries, order through Boots week before and pick up once past security at airport terminal
22-08-2024 14:26 PM
Always travel with insurance. Buy it at home before you go. Annual often about the same price as single trip and mostly less than paying as part of your holiday package.
22-08-2024 14:24 PM
Pack the noise - cancelling headphones = Less Malarkey!
22-08-2024 14:22 PM
Have travel insurance! Buy your travel insurance at home. Annual policy usually only a tiny bit than single trip and often less than paying as part of your holiday package.
22-08-2024 14:23 PM
Get someone else to pay for it lol
22-08-2024 14:19 PM
Noise - cancelling headphones = Less Malarkey!
22-08-2024 14:16 PM
I keep a travel adapter in my rucksack permanently. This hack has probably saved me £25 per trip, and over time about £250 since I started doing it.
22-08-2024 14:13 PM
22-08-2024 14:13 PM
Find the best pubs in the area your visiting
22-08-2024 14:12 PM
Be ready to go off at the drop off a hat if the opportunity presents itself.
22-08-2024 14:11 PM
Take a snap of your passport, u just never know 🫣
22-08-2024 14:09 PM
Sign up for a bank account / card that doesn't charge you to use it abroad. Oh and use Smarty as your network provider 😉
22-08-2024 14:04 PM
keep clothes colours simple 2/3 for a micro wardrobe that can be day and evening and makes less suitcase weight/size.
22-08-2024 14:02 PM
In this world of global warming check out the average climate in your destination and pack accordingly. Hat, sunglasses, reusable water bottle. Stay safe and enjoy
22-08-2024 14:03 PM
Don't believe every review. Do your own research before booking.
But most of all enjoy your break you deserve it - wherever you decide to go
22-08-2024 13:58 PM
Select an are in the UK that you have never been before. Plan a weeks’s holiday visiting special areas of interest, country walks, visit the nearest town to see what they have to offer and explore. You may find new avenues of interest for future visits or holidays.
22-08-2024 13:52 PM
Save on exchange fees with a debit card which allows cheap, fast currency conversion.
22-08-2024 13:48 PM
?
22-08-2024 13:45 PM
Put any liquids in small cheap sandwich bags and tie them tightly so if there us a leak your stuff won't be damaged. Take some ex5ra with you for the return journey.
22-08-2024 13:44 PM
Best hack just travel