Experienced travellers know that everything from overpriced flights and foreign transaction fees to the dreaded middle seat can put a serious damper on an otherwise perfectly planned trip.

Travelling can be complicated – but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re scouring the internet for the best flights or landing at a destination for the first time, there’s a hack to help you out.

We asked a collection of leading experts and professional frequent fliers for their best tips, tricks and shortcuts to make your next travel experience a cheaper, smoother and more relaxing one. If you’re in it for the long haul, here’s what you need to do…

Land On The Booking Sweet Spot

“A good rule of thumb is that Tuesdays are usually the cheapest days to book air travel,” reveals Phil Bloomfield of Cheapflights.co.uk. “Generally the best fares are advertised 50 days ahead of departure, with the most expensive being three days beforehand. Always fly in the evenings when you can. Aside from Fridays, the most affordable flights tend to be those which take off between 6pm and midnight.”

Break Your Journey, Not The Bank

“Flying indirectly with a short stopover to simply switch planes can often save you large sums, while adding relatively little to your journey time,” says Bloomfield. That means more spending money for a better hotel at the other end too.

Ditch The Wheelie Bag

“Holdalls make better cabin luggage than wheelie bags,” says Lee Thompson, co-founder of solo adventure travel specialists Flash Pack. “Many budget airlines are now getting stricter with their carry-on rules, and wheelie bags are always the first to get checked. A holdall is much more flexible when it comes to onboard storage and you can often fit more possessions inside them from the outset too.

“The real trick is to invest in a one with hidden wheels, like the Eastpak Strapverz, for the best of both worlds.”