WIN BIG THIS SUMMER

[YulianK]

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

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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.

[DennisM_2080855]

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.

[Anthony_1961704]

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

[JillOsb_1096631]

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 

[DavyR]

Keep a small suitcase packed with essentials so you can grab it and go as soon as you find a deal.

[JillOsb_1096631]

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.

[Vanessa_1906198]

Always know how you will be getting to your accommodation and which ticket to buy if you are going my public transport

[gerardr_1641325]

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 .

[Ahmed23121996]

Work hard during the week and travel during the weekend

[DanniFo_2839422]

Always keep a swimsuit in your cabin bag Incase your luggage gets lost!

[Anthony_2393804]

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.

[anaaa]

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! 

[Frieder_1417446]

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. 

[ARTURJAG_649738]

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.

[SimonHa_1124528]

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

[IanHagg_1561232]

Use compression packing cubes 

[Clarenc_1240138]

Don't forget your smarty roamer  phone

[SoniaBr_1745080]

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

[HelenRog_595979]

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 ! 

[Ma_284036]

Don't forget to pack a pair of binoculars

[HelenRog_595979]

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.    !

[LynPhil_1510461]

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 :)!

[MaryBow_1647840]

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

[Oleksandr]

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"?

[ElliotL_2014388]

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 

[KeithGy]

Roll clothes to take up less space in bags

[Carolin_1643699]

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 ☺️

[JulianS_1905063]

take snacks on short breaks

[dinogemma10]

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

[Georgie_1696200]

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

[VN9]

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.

[MaxwellB_300044]

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. 

[TIMGOMM_681307]

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]

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. 

[SusanFl_2648751]

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

[JohnGib_2522308]

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!

[JennyDOW_999306]

Travel light; clothes are overrated

[Frieder_1417446]

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

[Elizabe_2202868]

Go on trip advisor to find the best restaurants 

[Richard_2263144]

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. 

[AbaS]

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