You’re gearing up for holiday vacations and we’re getting you ready by doing a whole week of stories on travel. The Rossen Reports team travels a lot. Each time we crisscross the country, we pick up new tricks that make traveling so much easier. So we (Jeff, Kelley and Sarah) are digging into our bag of secrets to share them with you.Jeff’s trick: Don’t leave valuables behindIf you tend to take off your wedding ring, watch, or jewelry and leave it on a countertop in the hotel or Airbnb, bring a brightly colored container to drop it in, so it doesn’t blend in with the countertop and you never forget it. You can use a brightly colored lid like one from a peanut butter jar or you can buy a collapsible tray that packs flat. Here are a couple of options: Folding tray for $14 Small folding tray for $10Kelley’s trick: Protect your stuff from germs on an airplaneFlight attendants say those seatback pockets don’t get cleaned often. They’re one of the dirtiest spots on an airplane. Bring a gallon Ziplock bag to store things like your phone and headphones. This will also help if you tend to put a lot of stuff in there and then it’s all in one bag when you’re ready to go. If you don’t want to bring a bag, you can buy a protective cover. Seatback organizer for $26Sarah’s trick: DIY stuff your shoesStuff your shoes with socks to keep them from getting smushed in your luggage. If you’re not packing socks, use tissue paper or newspaper.Jeff’s trick: DIY pillowsI’ve learned some easy hacks from other travelers, too. Don’t want to carry a large neck pillow? Take a sweatshirt, roll it and tie it with a rubber band. Want to carry on more clothes or make space in your luggage without putting your sweatshirt in? Take the cover off your neck pillow and stuff it with shirts/clothes. Another trick I’ve learned from fellow travelers: if you don’t want to wear your winter coat on the airplane, bring a pillowcase folded up in your carry-on and stuff your coat in there and use it as a pillow during the flight. It also keeps your coat from getting dirty if you decide to shove it under the seat.Kelley’s trick: Get bonus milesDelta Airlines offers a baggage claim reward. If you’re checking a bag, when your flight gets to your destination, if your bag takes longer than 20 minutes to get to the baggage claim, you get bonus miles! The clock starts when the boarding door opens. You submit your name, SkyMiles information on this website form within three days of your arrival and if you qualify, you get 2,500 bonus miles. Delta Bags On TimeSarah’s trick: Storing Your LuggageHotels will let you stash your luggage if you get to a destination too early or if you need to check out but want your bags to still be safe while you finish your vacation. But if you have a rental that won’t allow it or you have another reason, there are apps that let you do that, like LuggageHero and BagsAway. Sarah, personally, likes Bounce. The app partners with local businesses that have dedicated a room or space for this. You go on the app and say when you need to check your bags in and then it will give you locations that can do that for you. When it comes to the cost, it’s a flat rate of $5.90 per bag for the whole day. (Although, we’ve seen the rate go up to $6.90 a day in New York City.) You pay through the app with either your credit card, PayPal, Apple, or Google Pay. Then you drop your bags and you have a safe place to store your stuff. The app even vets each location to make sure your items are safe and offers a $10,000 insurance guarantee for your stuff.