Travel 101: Five Things Worth Spending Extra On
Travel 101
Treat yo’ self! I think we can all agree that there are some things that are just worth the extra money especially if it improves comfort or saves time. Here are five things I think are worth the expense.
Things Worth Spending the Money On (YMMV)
1. Global Entry! Breeze through immigration coming back into the US and enjoy the benefits of TSA Pre-check all in one fell swoop. It is $100 for five years but many credit cards offer reimbursement as a perk. Never take your shoes off in a US airport again! The wait for an interview can be quite long once you are conditionally approved, so sign up ASAP. There is an option for “interview upon arrival,” too. Basically, after you clear regular customs and immigration you swing by the office and see if they have time to interview you. You can also keep checking the website for cancellations at your home airport.
2. A decent airline seat is 100% worth spending the extra money. 36B is a bra size, not a comfortable seat on an airplane. Premium economy is a good sweet spot between the cheap seats and the fancy seats at the pointy end. The seats are wide like a domestic first class seat, have more recline and a footrest. I’ve found I can get decent rest in these seats. If you have the money and/or credit card points, by all means splurge on business class. I certainly do from time to time. We approve of being fancy here! There is nothing like laying flat and getting actual sleep while you fly over an ocean. I usually buy premium economy and will upgrade if the airline is offering a good deal in the days leading up to the flight. It is worth reading a few reviews of the cabin for the aircraft and route you will be taking. Some planes are better than others. Seat Guru helps strategize choosing a seat.
3. Pre-arranged transport from the airport to your hotel is worth spending on especially if you are not used to public transit. You have just rolled off an 8 hour fight, you have no idea what time of day it is because your body says one thing and the clock says another, and you are in an unfamiliar city where you may not understand much of the language. (Though in most areas there are signs in English.) It is nice to have a driver waiting there to take you to your accommodation. Rideshare and taxis can be options but your hotel may also offer airport transfer, which is slightly more expensive but infinitely more reliable. I strongly encourage you to use public transport to get around after, but sometimes it is nice to not have to figure out another country’s system immediately upon arrival. There are loads of YouTube videos on how to used public transit in a given city.
4. A high-end credit card. I am talking the Platinum AmEx or the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Yes, that annual fee is quite the pill to swallow, but I think if you use the perks that come with it, the card more than pays for itself. Points can pay for flights, hotel rooms, and rental cars. Card perks can include reimbursement for some travel expenses, Uber credit, discounts at many retailers and streaming services, and most importantly lounge access. Lounges have free food and adult beverages and sometimes even showers and gyms! The Virgin Clubhouse in London Heathrow had Peloton bikes last I was in there. These cards are absolutely worth it if you take advantage of all the perks.
5. Tours! You are a tourist. Embrace it. Learn about where you are. Walking tours are the perfect way to orient yourself in a city. Bike tours are fun because you can cover more ground than a walking tour. Museum tours can be great for large, intimidating places like the Louvre. Food and drink tours/pub crawls are very social, so really nice if you’re traveling alone. TripAdvisor, Viator, and GetYourGuide are aggregators of tours but you can also find local tour companies and work through them.
