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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

ArthurHuskie
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

The number to call if you lose bank cards IS ON THE BACK OF THE LOST CARD!!!

Make a note of these numbers.

Margare_1991422
SMARTY Rookie
SMARTY Rookie

Take photos of all important documents and send them in an email to yourself. Easy to access if you lose them or your phone 

MikeBel_1620097
SMARTY Enquirer
SMARTY Enquirer

Create a dedicated holiday washbag and leave it in your suitcase along with other items like, coat hangers, hairdryer, charger and cables, sandals etc. Zip it up and do not remove them when you return from holiday. This will remove a lot of anxiety when packing your case nearer the time to go again.

Sycamore_lass
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

If you're on a budget and planning car trips out with kids in the back, buy a hanging shoe organiser and unscrew your car headrest and pop it over the back of the seat. Fill it with lots of little activities for the kids to do for road trips and this will also help reduce screen time. One of the things our family love to do is car spotting bingo and you can make your own bingo games up. 

AnnCONG_2686795
SMARTY Rookie
SMARTY Rookie

Keep important meds in hand luggage in case main luggage is delayed or lost.

JamesDa_2799249
SMARTY Enquirer
SMARTY Enquirer

How do I get into please 

JamesDa_2799249
SMARTY Enquirer
SMARTY Enquirer

How does work then?

NickMUK
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Take an empty set of packing cubes, put your dirty washing into them as you go to keep it separated from your clean clothes and keep your bag tidy. 

ClivePe_1422830
SMARTY Enquirer
SMARTY Enquirer

keep your passwords saved on your phone as a seperate copy in case you lose your phone

ClivePe_1422830
SMARTY Enquirer
SMARTY Enquirer
  • Keep aseperate copy of passwords saved on your phone in case you lose your phone

ClivePe_1422830
SMARTY Enquirer
SMARTY Enquirer

keep a seperate copy of passwords saved on your phone in case you lose your phone

ClivePe_1422830
SMARTY Enquirer
SMARTY Enquirer

keep seperate copy of passwords in case you lose your phone

AbaS
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Look up what charger you will need for your electronic devices to ensure you're able to charge your devices 💪🏼

Richard_2263144
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Don’t buy loads of adapters … I take one extension lead with 3 UK plug inlets, 5 USB inlets and 2 USB inlets. It hardly takes up any space and then you’ll only need just one adapter and you can charge everything all at once. 

Elizabe_2202868
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Go on trip advisor to find the best restaurants 

Frieder_1417446
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Consider anything from wild camping, youth hostels, sofa or couch surfing for cheap or free accommodation. Personally, my favourite is house and pet sitting. 

JennyDOW_999306
SMARTY Rookie
SMARTY Rookie

Travel light; clothes are overrated

JohnGib_2522308
SMARTY Rookie
SMARTY Rookie

A simple way to remember small items like plasters/sewing kit/paracetamol/ a few emergency euros/etc is to put them in an old glass case. Keep ready at hand in your suitcase then grab & go! Great for the environment too - recycling rather sending to landfill!

SusanFl_2648751
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Roll your clothes instead of folding, to give less creases, make more room in your suitcase & protect fragile items inside rolled items

MaxwellB_300044
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Everyone you are travelling with should take a photo of all passports just incase you lose your passport, at least you will have your passport number and it might make things a bit easier to sort out. 

TIMGOMM_681307
SMARTY Rookie
SMARTY Rookie

The best summer hack is to always have a spare wash sink plug in your wash bag. It has saved me on a number of occasions. 

MaxwellB_300044
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Take a photo of all your parties passports and get them to too. Just incase any get lost or stolen, at least you will have your passport details and it might make it easier in the long run. 

VN9
SMARTY Rookie
SMARTY Rookie

If you're flying somewhere and there is a connection somewhere (eg. UK to Costa Rica, with a stop in say Colombia or the USA), instead of searching for a direct return flight to your destination, choose a multi-city option with a one night layover in that city where you have a flight change.  Often you can get the flight much cheaper, because there are more flight options some of which will be cheaper. The added benefit is that you get a day (or 2 or 3) in a new city.

Georgie_1696200
SMARTY Rookie
SMARTY Rookie

Take clear mail varnish to paint on bites and stings . Stops the itch and keeps the swelling down . 

dinogemma10
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

To put a paper towel under my fruit and vegetables in my fridge and have them lasting much longer by absorbing the natural release of water from them

JulianS_1905063
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

take snacks on short breaks

Carolin_1643699
SMARTY Enquirer
SMARTY Enquirer

I usually try to travel with hand luggage only - so to save space on toiletries I keep the tiny product sample containers which I’ve been given in shops and refill them with my usual toiletries and it’s always enough for at least a 5 night break ☺️

KeithGy
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Roll clothes to take up less space in bags

ElliotL_2014388
SMARTY Rookie
SMARTY Rookie

My best summer hack is to plan for the weather! It changes quickly here. But being ready for it all keeps the vibes in check, and always having something to do! A full on raincoat set works, can still enjoy our country in the rain. Plus I always love a little picnic in a park or by a river!! Or a West Coast sunset 

Oleksandr
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Here everyone writes about such banal things. All inclusive, hot offers, Skyscanner... It's so banal and simple. You all have a carefully planned and clear travel schedule. What about a place for improvisation and adventure? All this can be combined. Ask yourself, what do you want from this vacation? Do you want the beach and the sea and you know the approximate dates of your vacation? Open Skyscanner and select "Any country" in the search. Choose flights to beach towns and resorts on your dates. Make a list of cities and resorts where you have found cheap flights. Go to housing search services and see the price for your selected dates. Estimate the cost of flights and accommodation and make a choice. And that's all. You bought your tickets and booked accommodation. You don't have to plan anything anymore. Leave room for improvisation. And do on your vacation what you want at the moment, because you are not tied to plans.

Did you want to rent a car and go somewhere on Monday? Do it.  Because you don't have All inclusive and you won't regret missing a whole day of unlimited food and alcohol. Enjoy this moment.

Were you just walking down the street past a pool bar on Tuesday and you wished you were right now in that same pool with a beer? Do it.  Because you don't have a planned excursion for today, which you paid for a couple of months ago. Enjoy this moment.

Do you want to go out for dinner in the evening, but you saw a street vendor and wanted to eat a regular kebab? Do it.  Because you don't have a trip to a restaurant planned and you can afford to do exactly what you want at the moment. Enjoy this moment.

What did I mean by that? Perhaps the "BEST HACK" is when you do what you want at the moment. Not when you wanted it 2-3 months ago when planning your trip. Right now, at this moment. You are doing what you want now and you are happy about it. Isn't this the "BEST HACK"?

MaryBow_1647840
SMARTY Enquirer
SMARTY Enquirer

Go in UK winter to somewhere having their summer and get 2 summers every year!

LynPhil_1510461
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Pack one of everything important at your destination in case your hold luggage goes missing: sun block, mozzie repellent, swim cossie, one long and one short sleeve T, trousers and shorts - wear the rest on the flight including hiking boots if that’s what is key to your trip - things you need immediately and can’t easily replace :)!

HelenRog_595979
SMARTY Enquirer
SMARTY Enquirer

Place all your holiday clothes on a bed , then take away half of them & only pack the remaining half in your suitcase . I bet you’ll never miss the extras you left at home.    !

Ma_284036
SMARTY Enquirer
SMARTY Enquirer

Don't forget to pack a pair of binoculars

HelenRog_595979
SMARTY Enquirer
SMARTY Enquirer

Lay out all your clothes on a bed , then put half of them away & only half in the suitcase . I bet you won’t miss the extra items ! 

SoniaBr_1745080
SMARTY Observer
SMARTY Observer

Take one travel plug and one extension lead with USBs on it.

Clarenc_1240138
SMARTY Rookie
SMARTY Rookie

Don't forget your smarty roamer  phone

IanHagg_1561232
SMARTY Maverick
SMARTY Maverick

Use compression packing cubes 

SimonHa_1124528
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

Take a photo of your passport so you have all the details for an emergency replacement if it's lost or stolen.

ARTURJAG_649738
SMARTY Pioneer
SMARTY Pioneer

The best way I can only dream of is a vacation with nature. There is less and less of it, so let's appreciate what there is.