Why TSA PreCheck is THE BEST

I have 5 weeks of travel this year, three of which will start and end at the airport. Last year we made the decision to sign up for TSA PreCheck (shown everywhere as Preü), because as much fun as it is to stand in line with a hundred other people and take half the stuff out of my bag and take off my shoes and get x-rayed, we decided we traveled enough to spend the $85 each to apply for it. 

Listen, I understand why the TSA exists and why the procedures are so important. The above inconveniences don't really even bother me, except when I'm stuck behind the person who hasn't done any research or read the 48373602 signs in the airport and in the line and on their ticket and haven't taken out their laptop, put their liquids in a bag at all, taken off their belt and emptied their pockets or even gotten their ID out to show the security desk. Come on, people! They make it easy to be prepared. Just because it's annoying doesn't mean that they won't make you do it.

So, considering I would rather spend less time waiting in line and more time waiting at the gate (or, more likely, eating, shopping, people watching and scrolling Instagram), spending that money was a no-brainer. Did you know that if you are approved for PreCheck that you are able to breeze through security for FIVE YEARS  at any American airport that supports it without taking off your shoes, belts, hats or jackets, without taking out your laptop, without segregating your liquids from your other toiletries?! For real. 

The PreCheck lines are crazy short. The most we've ever seen was 10 people and usually there are even less. Your pass-through time is cut down considerably, too. In fact, you basically get through the metal detector and wait for your bags to be scanned. It's fast, but not nearly as fast as you are not having to take off shoes and watches and remembering to take that random tissue out of your pocket. Plus, you don't have to wonder exactly what the agents are seeing on he screen that makes you look like a terrorist. 

Eric took his hat off as we wee coming back home from Vegas and it fell out of the coin bowl - you know, the one that looks like a dog dish - and was annoyed that he didn't just put it on the conveyor belt. The agent, never looking away from the screen, just said "you should have just left it on." I'm not sure we actually knew you could until that point. This is still our first year of having it, but the second time we've used it and have had no issues at our home airport (PDX), Orlando (ORD) which is one of the busiest airports or Vegas (LAS). Later this year we'll also use it to come home from New Orleans and Anaheim. 

Now, you're probably wondering what happens when you travel internationally. We do every few years, but didn't think it was enough to do more than PreCheck at this point. If you do,then instead of PreCheck, you'll want to apply for Global Entry, which automatically includes PreCheck and only costs $15 more. I actually didn't think I knew that when we applied, and probably would have done that instead had I known. So, if you travel at all internationally, just head to your nearest PreCheck office (we visited the one in McCarran Airport when we were already on vacation) with your passport, ID and credit card. 

You may need an appointment, so call ahead before just showing up. They take you back one at a time to answer a bunch of background questions. They're all easy and gives the government insight in who you are, so they can check you out and make their decision. It takes up to four weeks to hear if you're approved. We got our approval letters in just two weeks and were really surprised by how fast it was. These letters contain your new travel number, which you enter every time you book an airline ticket. 

Whether you use a paper ticket or an eticket on your phone, you'll see PreCheck designated on it and can go directly to that security line and get on your trip faster. You should still get to the airport as early as you would without it though, because you never know if the PreCheck line will be closed (this doesn't usually happen) or there will be some other annoying delay. I say two hours for a domestic flight and three for an international flight. Traffic may suck or the airport may be crazy packed, so you need that bit of padding.

I don't regret for a second having spent the money on PreCheck and will immediately sign up for Global Entry once it expires, even if I only plan two weeks of travel a year. Some people pay that amount per trip to check a bag, so why not get five years of frustration-free airport visits instead? Have you signed up for or used PreCheck on your trips?

How to Make Friends when Traveling Solo

Traveling alone doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be lonely. There are travelers and friendly people all over and if you want to meet them, you only need to seek them out and be open to new experiences. Don’t live your vacation life in a bubble. Get out and have fun while making new friends along the way.

Solo travel has become very popular. People are leaving their lives behind and traveling full-time and just as many are taking relaxing getaways alone in order to have a little me time. If you’ve never traveled alone, it can be very freeing, since you don’t have to answer to anyone and can do whatever it is you want. Maybe you don’t have a travel companion and want to get out and see the world. Don’t let that stop you, because you’re never alone when you travel. Here are some ways to make friends while you’re jet setting around the globe.

Use Social Media

You use it for making friends around the world, asking for suggestions on where to have dinner and to discuss the latest episode of The Walking Dead, so why not use it to find people to hang out with when you travel? If you aren’t sure where you want to go, see where you have Facebook friends in cool places and message them about what they would recommend doing on your visit and suggest getting together when you are there. They probably would jump at the chance to show you their city and meet you in person. Turn those virtual friends into real ones!

Hook up with friends’ friends

Just because you don’t have friends in vacation destinations doesn’t mean your friends don’t. Ask them if they have a friend, cousin or sister there that might be interested in meeting you. Chances are your awesome friends have equally awesome friends and family. Expand your social circle and maybe do a favor for your friend by delivering a gift for them. It’s almost certain that your friends will have talked you up and their friends will be psyched to meet you and possibly play tour guide for you while you’re there.

Volunteer

You like to do good deeds, right? “Voluntourism” is huge right now and it’s a great way to help people and travel at the same time. Join a group of volunteers anywhere in the world where you can do things like build houses, teach English or work on a farm. There are tons of ways to give your time and often you can stay and eat for free in exchange for your labor. You just need to come up with money to get there and back and for any outside activities you want to do while you’re there.

Take a tour

Sightseeing all day by yourself can be fun. You can go at your own pace, see everything you want to see, stop to take as many photos as you wish or sit in the park all day watching people. Book a city tour and meet a bunch of like-minded people who are interested in the same things you are. Not all tours are created equal, so if you have taken one before and didn’t like it, try again. Walking tours are perfect ways to meet others and also get exercise while you do it. Make friends with your fellow tourists. It’s also a way to get some better photos of yourself at your destination.

Meetup

There are solo people everywhere. Use Meetup to find people who are interested in the same things as you are. Someone starts a meet-up and gathers fun people through the website to enjoy an activity. These can be locals or tourists or a mixture of both. It’s hard to be anti-social when you’re hanging out with a group of people who you have something in common with. Heck, you can even use Meetup at home, too.

Invite for a Bite

Plenty of people don’t like eating alone. There’s no shame in that. There are only so many meals you can eat while reading the newspaper, surfing the Internet on your phone or doing a crossword puzzle. Getting take-out is an option, but wouldn’t it be more fun to have a dining companion? Log onto Invite for a Bite and find other solo ladies looking to meet for a meal. You can use it for other activities as well. It’s a safe and easy way to meet friends around the world and share your travel stories with someone. They may even be able to give you ideas on what to do next.

Sit at the bar

When you eat out alone, sit at the counter or the bar and talk to locals, wait staff and bartenders. It’s a great way to learn more about your destination, get suggestions for other good places to eat and maybe even find someone who would like to do it with you. You can really get a feel for a city by hanging out with people in local pubs and eateries. You’d be surprised how many people will strike up a conversation with you seeing you there alone. It’s definitely an easy way to meet people, since the most outgoing people sit at the counter.

Take a class

Maybe you always wanted to learn how to make coq au vin or macarons. Maybe you want to learn the hula or how to make a traditional lei. Whatever sounds fun to you, there is probably a class you can take when you travel. It’s also another fab way to meet locals and even other tourists. You’ll be learning a skill you hoped to acquire and be able to chat with others doing it too.

Go all-inclusive

If you’re worried about being alone when you travel solo, surround yourself with people who are interested in doing similar activities by going to an all-inclusive resort. You’ll meet other travelers who enjoy being catered to and you can hang around the resort with them. This also works on a cruise. Because most ships have dining arrangements, you have the chance at talking to other cruisers at each meal. Find your table curiously empty? Your wait staff is thrilled to talk about real life with passengers. They might be from one of your port cities and, even if they’re not, it’s fun to exchange suggestions on what to do in your hometowns. Talk about your favorite TV shows and books, in case they are looking for something to do on their downtime. When away from the dining room, connect with others during ship activities like bingo, trivia, classes, alcohol tastings and even excursions on port days.

There are heaps of ways to make friends while traveling if you don’t want alone time. You just need to be willing to put in the effort or know how to meet like-minded tourists and locals. Make some new acquaintances or even lifelong friends just by having the courage to get out and do it on your own.

I'll be writing a more in-depth post about where and why to travel solo, so stay tuned for that.

Do you like to travel alone?

Super Useful Travel Posts

Happy Friday, Everybody! There's a lot of strife happening in the world today, but that shouldn't stop you from traveling. In fact, now is actually the best time to travel,  especially to the UK with the pound hitting a 30-year low. It matches the rate of the Euro now. Woo! Of course, if you can't get out of the country, there's plenty of awesome places to check out in North America, too. 

Let's look at why you should keep your passport looking as new as possible. If there are too many stamps, not enough room for new stamps, close to (like a few months from) expiring, you may not be let through TSA to actually go on your trip. Actress Chelsea Peretti was all set to go on her honeymoon when new husband Jordan Peele was held back for a battered passport.

This isn't the only mistake you can make at the airport. There are lots of things you should and shouldn't do when you travel and these start at the airport. I mean, know the security procedures, your carry-on allowance, have your 3-1-1 bag easily accessible, wear easy-on/off shoes, get there with plenty of time to spare. Afar rounds up their top 10 mistakes people make at the airport.

I'm a lover of coffee. It makes my morning complete and helps me get ready for the day. I know I'm not the only one. I'm not dependent on coffee to get going, but the relaxing aspect of having a delicious, steamy cup when I get up is very enticing to me. You'll see me getting a cup randomly during the day as the urge strikes to. Want a great cup of coffee? Gogobot has a round-up of the best cities for coffee.

Perhaps you aren't into coffee, but you are a foodie. I'm both. I love a delicious cup of coffee, but I will plan a whole day around where I want to eat in a city. If you're a foodie, too, then check out this list of ultimate foodie destinations from PureWow.

Want to travel somewhere, but not sure where? You can take a quiz to figure out your next destination based on your personality. Apparently, I should be headed to Japan. I think that's a bit out of my budget right now, but it's definitely on my list. I mean, I have to check out Tokyo Disney, as well as the rest of the city while I'm there. Where are you destined to go?

Ever wonder what happens at the museum after hours? I do! It's probably not like Night At The Museum, but how will I know if I don't get to see? Did you know they have programs where you can spend the night in a museum? Travel + Leisure found a dozen museums where adults and kids can stay after hours and enjoy slumber parties or cocktails while perusing the exhibits without the crowds. 

Obviously, this sign has been "improved", but in the best way.

Do you ever travel and see a weird travel sign? They are normal for where you're traveling, but fun for tourists. My favorite from my travels is just the blue sign with a white question mark. Apparently, that means there's a information center nearby. How would anyone know that? I had to Google it. I guess I need more information. Ha!

Castles are awesome. I know most of us have really only ever gotten to see the one at Disney, which is cool, but not the same as a real castle. I have been to the Tower of London, which is a real castle, but I'd love to visit more. While you may think that you have to travel across the ocean to see a real-life castle, you don't! Travelzoo has a list of 10 castles you can hit up in America.

That's what I have for you this week. Have you found anything online that's fun, crazy, creepy or otherwise interesting that you'd like to share? Post it in the comments. Also, let us know the destination you got in the quiz, or where your next vacation will take you. I'm on my way back from Vegas! Happy travels and have a great weekend!