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The 15 Biggest Travel Scams, and How to Avoid Them

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You know that old saying “there’s a sucker born every minute”? Don’t be one of them. Stay ahead of these surprisingly effective travel scams to keep your vacation plans from falling apart. The schemes below may be just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to travel cons, but preparing yourself for these common swindles is a good place to start.

Vacation Clubs

Wholesale travel clubs claim that you’ll have access to incredibly cheap vacations if you join. However, once you pay the joining fees, you find that the deals offered aren’t any better than what you can find for yourself online—for free. Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott , whose book Scammed lays out a helpful roadmap for being a responsible and effective shopper in a world of corporate swindles, has told SmarterTravel: “I’ve never come across a legitimate travel club. My advice is to run, don’t walk.”

Elliott advises that anyone considering joining a travel club do research with a very critical eye beforehand. Simply doing an internet search for the name of the travel company plus “travel scam” will usually reveal a host of problems experienced by other members. Also check the Better Business Bureau for complaints about the specific service before you buy.

Timeshare Sales

Ed Perkins, a longtime contributing editor at SmarterTravel, calls the up-front fees for selling your timeshare the biggest travel scam out there.

“Scammers promise to get you out from under, saying they have buyers, but all they really do is take a fee, upward of $400, and do nothing,” says Perkins.

Never pay up front to have someone help you sell your timeshare. If you want out, go to a licensed company and check them out with the Better Business Bureau before listing with them. If you’re having trouble getting out of your timeshare , work with a rental company and rent it out to recoup some of the money until you can sell.

Vacation Certificates

Ed Perkins also warns against prepaid vacation certificates: “Travel scams promise really great prices but deliver nothing. The idea here is to get the up-front money, then keep stalling: ‘Sorry, these dates are sold out; try again soon.’ They delay until people just quit trying.” Or the company charges huge additional fees to redeem the certificates, and the trip is considerably less luxurious than promised. Before prepaying for a vacation package, be sure to research fees and blackout dates, as well as the company’s reputation.

“Travel-Agent” Card Mills

Ah, the life of travel agents. Cheap hotels and airfares are thrown at their feet once they pull out their travel-agent ID cards, right? Wrong. Don’t believe the hype from outfits that promise to issue you a travel-agent ID that provides access to discounts. Scammers charge hundreds of dollars for these cards, but victims who shell out will quickly find that no place will accept the fakes, and they never see any discounts. The only way to avoid this travel scam is to not buy a travel-agent card if you’re not a travel agent—there’s really no legal way to get around it.

Car-Rental Collision Damage Waivers

Rick Steves calls the car-rental collision damage waivers (CDW) a “collision damage waiver racket” for a reason. When you rent a car, the company often pressures you to buy a CDW supplement, which will prevent you from having to pay a high insurance deductible if the car is damaged. (The deductible can be thousands of dollars before insurance kicks in.)

But most major credit cards already include deductible collision coverage for free , so check your credit-card terms and pay for the rental car with your credit card. Then you’ll be covered without having to shell out extra cash for phony insurance. Most credit-card collision coverage is secondary, meaning you have to claim from your regular insurance first. If you don’t want a claim on your insurance, you can buy third-party primary collision coverage from the booking agency for about $10-$11 a day. Or, if it’s pricey, you can instead buy coverage from an independent outlet; sites like Bonzah.com offer rental coverage from $7.99 per day. That’s about one-third of what the rental companies charge.

“You Won a Free Trip!”

If you’ve ever dropped your business card in a “win a free trip” drawing at a restaurant or signed up to win at a fair, you may have gotten a phone call, letter, or email claiming you’ve won a free vacation. These days, the hustle is often via robocall. Be wary—many of these “prizes” are actually booby traps in which you’ll have to pay hefty fees to claim the vacation or give your credit card number to “verify your eligibility,” resulting in identity theft. After a recent lull in monitoring these robocalls, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is again cracking down on them. If you’re scammed, get the names of resorts and airlines included in the prize and call them independently to verify the trip. Never give credit card information to someone who cold-calls you, and be sure to get details of the prize in writing before accepting.

Fake International Driving Permits

The FTC also warns against fake International Driving Permits (IDPs) . Some countries require tourists to have an IDP in addition to a U.S. driver’s license. However, there are only two American associations that are legally authorized to issue IDPs—the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA). Fraudulent companies sell fake IDPs over the Internet, but you’ll pay hundreds of dollars for a permit only to face legal problems for using the imposter IDs in another country.

The Bait and Switch

The hotel you’re thinking of booking is suspiciously cheap, but the property’s website makes it look beautiful and centrally located. When you arrive, the hotel is run-down, missing amenities, and in a deserted part of town—and it won’t refund your money. Avoid this travel scam by using websites like Oyster (one of SmarterTravel’s sister sites) and TripAdvisor (SmarterTravel’s parent site) to read real customer reviews and see honest photos of the property.

“Grandparent” Travel Scams

Even if you’re not currently traveling, you can still be the victim of a travel scam: The State Department warns that scammers will call an older relative or friend of someone who’s away on vacation and pretend to be the traveler in desperate need of help. The scammer usually poses as the traveler or a foreign government official and directs the victim to wire a large sum of money, citing an array of things: They have been robbed and need money to return to the United States, or they have run into legal trouble and need bail money. Sometimes the scammer will even pretend to be someone from the U.S. embassy calling on behalf of the relative for money. Never wire money in response to a suspicious phone call; instead contact the State Department to ask if the situation is legitimate, or call your relative directly. If you encounter this scam, the FBI advises you report it to local authorities or a state consumer protection agency. You can also file a complaint with the FCC .

The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) offers the following advice to prevent “grandparent” travel scams:

Never give out personal information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, mothers’ maiden names, passwords, or other identifying information in response to suspicious calls or to callers demanding immediate action. Scammers can spoof the caller ID of their number to make it appear to be from a trusted source. If a caller claiming to represent a company or a government agency asks for personal information, hang up and verify the authenticity of the request by contacting the company or agency yourself, using information found on its official website or through other means such as the phone book. If a caller claims to represent a company with which you have an account—such as a utility or a bank—hang up and check the contact information on a recent bill or statement, then call the company back yourself.

Rental Property Scam

Rule of thumb: Never go to Craigslist (or anything similar) for a rental home. Scammers will place an ad and ask the victim to wire money to secure the vacation rental—and then disappear. Or they’ll have you send money to them rather than to the actual property owner. Avoid the rental scam risk by going through a reputable vacation rental site with protections and insurance guarantees such as Airbnb , HomeAway , or SmarterTravel’s sister site FlipKey , all of which will protect your money from fraudsters.

Bogus Travel Agents

Don’t trust a tour operator or packager you don’t know of or can’t find reviews of easily online—especially with a big payment. An even more worrisome version of these travel scams in the U.S. is fake versions of websites: You search for a hotel or tour and get through to what looks like a legitimate website from a known company. But it isn’t: It’s a copy-cat version run by a scamster who paid a lot of money for a good search engine position. At best, after you make a payment, the hotel will honor your reservation—but probably at a higher price than you should have paid. At worst, you get nothing.

Take a close look at the website’s URL. Unsure if it’s right? Do a new search to find the company’s homepage and compare it to the first half of the link—any rogue characters, numbers, or symbols might mean it’s a fake. You should also never pay for a service via wire transfer, or any other irreversible money-transfer system.

Currency Short-Changing

A longstanding travel scam relies on tourists’ unfamiliarity with a foreign currency. This can take various forms: counterfeit bills, miscounting change, mixing smaller bills into what should be a pile of larger notes, etc. Get to know the bills of any country you visit, and limit the amount of foreign currency you exchange and have with you at any time. Get your foreign currency from an ATM, and put all your big-ticket purchases on a credit card.

Counterfeit Event Tickets

These days, high-tech forging can make almost any piece of paper or cardboard look authentic. Don’t buy a high-priced ticket (or even a low-priced one) to a sold-out event from someone on the street or via an unfamiliar website. You might be turned away at the gate. Buy from an authorized source—the box office or an online dealer that’s a verified reseller.

Fake Tour Guides

Have you ever been walking in a tourist-frequented area and had someone approach you offering to be your guide? Of course, you would have no idea in this situation whether this person has any useful knowledge of the city, but you may be coaxed into a nearby store that they claim offers the “best” prices on local specialties.

Pre-arrange a guide through an official tourism office or a local travel agency so you can compare prices and know what you’re getting. I once arranged the best local guide I ever had through an American Express agency. A university history professor showed us the fantastic National Museum of Damascus in Syria.

Credit Card Fraud

One of many potential credit card fraud risks is the familiar “verification call” gambit. In this travel scam, within a few hours of checking into a hotel, you get a call from someone claiming to be at the front desk to “verify” the details of the card you used. Of course, that caller is a scammer with no connection to the hotel who just wants to get your card data. In this and any other situations, be highly suspicious of anyone who calls you asking for credit or debit card information, no matter how plausible the excuse may seem. Tell the caller you’ll be right down to settle the problem, and instead call a known number, like the hotel’s direct line, to settle whatever account is involved.

More from SmarterTravel:

• How to Avoid Counterfeit Money While Traveling
• 6 Cruise Scams You Should Never Fall For
• Europe Travel Scams to Watch Out For

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2012. It has been updated to reflect the most current information. Caroline Morse Teel and Ed Perkins contributed to this story.

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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10 travel memberships that are worth the money

November 11, 2021 // By Leila Najafi

By Leila Najafi November 11, 2021

We live in a subscription-obsessed world and there’s a subscription for everything you can imagine, from razors to clothing and even hot sauces. Travel memberships are on the rise, providing new ways to ease some of the stress that comes with traveling these days and help make the journey more seamless.

Whether you’re willing to pay a premium for exclusive travel experiences that provide a little more privacy or you're more budget-conscious and want to find the best travel deals, there’s a membership for every type of traveler. Here are 10 travel memberships that are worth considering.

Wheels Up offers private jet charter memberships so travelers can access a fleet of aircrafts, including a King Air 350i, an 8-passenger Citation Excel/XLS, and one of the fastest aircrafts, the Citation X. Wheels Up uses a dynamic pricing model offering competitive rates, so members can book flights on-demand with the flexibility to pay as they go.

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Additional m embership benefits include invites to signature events, President’s Circle status with Hertz, a complimentary trial of Inspirato Club subscription for 12 months (Core members only), certain perks at select Waldorf Astoria hotels across North America, a partnership with Delta SkyMiles, dedicated partnership rates with Porsche and more.

Membership cost: Three membership options are available – Connect, Core and Business. The Connect membership requires a one-time initiation fee of $2,995 and annual dues of $2,495 which begin on year two. The Core membership has an initiation fee of $17,500 and annual dues of $8,500 which begin on year two. The Business membership requires an initiation fee of $29,500 and $14,500 for subsequent years and includes up to six lead passengers.

Getting through airport security lines can be a drag, especially during holiday weekends and a pandemic that has increased the demand for more seclusion when traveling. PS (formerly known as Private Suite) is designed for first and business class travelers who are seeking privacy and convenience, allowing them to bypass LAX altogether.

Travelers check into a private terminal where they can relax in a fully-stocked luxury private suite that includes complimentary in-suite meals catered by h.wood Group , as well as additional services upon request such as in-suite massages, manicures and detailing services for personal cars. PS also provides a designated on-site TSA and Customs agent for expedited screening.

Upon boarding, travelers are transported across the tarmac directly to their aircraft in a BMW 7 Series sedan. Earlier this year, the Salon at PS launched, which features a new full-service lounge at the terminal for travelers who want the same benefits of PS but seek a more social experience.

Membership cost: Annual membership costs $4,500, which gives members access to a preferred rate of $3,250 for a one-way Suite experience for up to four travelers. The Salon is available to members and non-members for $695 per use per person.

Inspirato is a subscription-based luxury travel service that gives members exclusive access to over 150,000 luxury vacation homes and resorts around the world that are staffed by Inspirato. There are two membership types: Inspirato Club and Inspirato Pass. The former gives you access to the luxury residences and hotels around the world, on-site concierge and daily housekeeping with additional benefits such as late check-in and check-out, room upgrades, spa credits and more. However, members also pay nightly room rates.

With the Inspirato Pass, you automatically get the benefits of Inspirato Club plus nightly rates are already factored into the price of membership, so you can book as many vacations as possible in one month with one active reservation at a time. There is also no long-term commitment, so you can cancel the membership at any time.

Membership cost: Inspirato Club membership is $600/month plus a $600 enrollment fee and you pay nightly rates as you go. Inspirato Pass is a flat rate of $2,500/month which includes all hotel stays.

Scott’s Cheap Flights

A membership to Scott’s Cheap Flights includes flight deals and “Mistake Fares” accidentally published by airlines sent straight to your inbox. The team scours the internet for the lowest published airfare rates to popular destinations and shares them with members.

Subscribers can also track deals from a specific airport close to home or destinations of interest. A membership to Scott’s Cheap Flights is best for travelers who have flexibility on the destination and dates and are willing to fly based on low airfare rates. Flight deals don’t last long so you’ll have to act fast.

Membership cost: There are three membership tiers including Limited which is free, Premium costs $49/year and Elite $199/year.

PRIOR was started by a former travel editor who saw a gap in the market for travelers wanting a more immersive experience during their vacation. A team of experienced travel editors and local tastemakers on the ground design itineraries for curious travelers.

A PRIOR WORLD membership includes access to curated destination guides, unique local experiences in cities around the world, pre-planned group trips led by experts and for an additional fee, the team can create a custom itinerary based on your interests.

If you're a frequent traveler, PRIOR BESPOKE might be the membership better suited for you. For a flat fee per year, members get unlimited trip planning by their expert team of travel editors and membership managers.

Membership cost: PRIOR WORLD membership costs $249 per annum. PRIOR BESPOKE is $5,000 per annum.

Priority Pass

Airport terminals may have come a long way in the last decade, but killing time for a three-hour layover in a crowded airport isn’t exactly on anyone’s list of things to do, especially on vacation. Trade the busy terminals for private lounge access with Priority Pass and enjoy guaranteed Wi-Fi and snacks.

Members of Priority Pass receive access to over 1,300 airport lounges globally, including several airline lounges such as Virgin Atlantic, Air France and Turkish Airlines. Several credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, American Express Platinum and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express offer free Priority Pass memberships as part of their member benefits.

Membership cost: Choose from three membership tiers which start at $99/year for the Standard membership plus $32 per visit and go up to $429/year for the Prestige membership which includes unlimited lounge visits.

TSA Pre-Check and Global Entry are services that allow travelers to expedite the security screening process upon departure and arrival. With CLEAR Plus, enrolled members get escorted to the front of the security line once they’ve been verified using facial recognition or fingerprint scans, so they no longer have to verify identification at security. However, for expedited clearance through security screenings, TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry are still required.

CLEAR uses biometric identifiers to create a unique ID assigned to each member that is used for verification at stations across airports, stadiums and other major venues nationwide.

Membership cost: A CLEAR Plus membership is $179 per year. American Express Platinum Card Members receive a $179 statement credit and United MileagePlus members receive a discounted membership rate.

Well Traveled

Well Traveled is a members-only social and booking platform that allows members to connect with friends to find and share travel recommendations. The community-driven platform is intended to make travel planning easier by allowing you to follow people in your network that you trust, in addition to other like-minded travelers who share similar budgets and travel preferences.

Members can also take advantage of the personalized booking service that includes perks like exclusive rates, room upgrades, food & beverage credits, complimentary breakfast and more. Currently, membership is invite-only but you can also apply to be considered.

Membership cost: $150 per year.

Travel + Leisure Club

Travel + Leisure Club is a new travel subscription service offered by Travel + Leisure Group. Members can pay a monthly fee for access to preferred pricing on curated itineraries and an average of 25% savings on hotels, resorts, car rentals and activities that are listed on Travel + Leisure GO, the online travel booking site. Plus, members get a subscription to the glossy print magazine.

Members also get access to a personal concierge that can assist with travel planning, scoring tickets to sold-out events, making dinner reservations and more.

Membership cost: Travel + Leisure Club is currently offering an introductory rate of $9.95/month.

Exclusive Resorts

Designed for families who value privacy, Exclusive Resorts is a small community of members (only 150 new members accepted each year) that get access to over 350 luxury residences around the world including the Amalfi Coast, Barcelona, Deer Valley, Kaua’i, Los Cabos, St. Barts and more.

Guests enjoy a more personalized experience with a dedicated on-site team who can assist with pre-trip planning details such as stocking the fridge with your favorite snacks, booking a massage or private chef, and housekeeping services.

Membership cost: There is a one-time, non-refundable initiation fee of $150,000 for a 10-year membership. Annual dues are $1,395/night and members travel 15-30 nights per year.

About Leila Najafi

Leila Najafi is a luxury travel writer based in LA who is a member of more subscription services than she'd like to admit.

Read more about Leila Najafi here.

Connect with Leila via: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok

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This Members-only Travel Club Is Full of Insider Secrets — Here's How to Apply

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Samantha Patil is on a mission to change the way you see the world.

As an avid traveler, Patil often found herself on a plane, train, or in an automobile to some of the coolest destinations on Earth. Though she always loved the destination, the journey getting there was starting to rub.

"I love experiencing new places and cultures, however, I've found that trip planning is time-consuming and frustrating," she told Travel + Leisure . "Finding relevant recommendations I can actually trust is especially challenging."

So, she did something about it. Patil founded Well Traveled , an exclusive community of travelers, foodies, and adventure seekers all sharing their best tips, tricks, and hidden gems they've found on their own journeys.

Specifically, Patil hopes that her platform can help serve a group of travelers that are often stuck in the middle between budget trips and luxury experiences.

"In reality, most modern travelers fall somewhere in the middle," she said. For example, what if I want to go camping for three days and end with a bougie night at a luxury resort? What if I want to book a budget airline for my flight and a Michelin star restaurant for dinner? The majority of our members prioritize food, culture, and local experiences over price and I'd argue in today's world that's the norm, not the exception."

Well Traveled members must go through an application process and be approved for entry, however, Patil says the company's goal is to be inclusive rather than exclusive.

"We took this approach primarily to help manage our growth and also ensure the people joining the community actually want to be there because we've all seen what happens when social media sites go unregulated and I think people are getting increasingly frustrated and overwhelmed by traditional social media platforms," she said.

Interestingly, Patil noted, while the site isn't built exclusively for women (it welcomes people of all genders, ages, backgrounds, and orientations) its member base so far is predominantly female.

Patil said Well Traveled members are people who "typically prioritize spending on experiences over physical goods. Our members are conscious travelers, often voting with their dollar, and prefer to travel more like a local and less like a tourist."

In many ways, Patil added, the company operates similarly to a "review platform" like Yelp or TripAdvisor, but with a more modern, sophisticated edge. Travelers can follow one another like a social platform and share tips one on one, or post about their finds so everyone can see. The company also curates content for members so they can discover destinations they may never have considered before.

"We also provide a booking service for members where we help members find and book accommodations that are right for them," Patil said. "That service also includes exclusive members-only perks like room upgrades, special offers, food and beverage credit, and complimentary welcome goodies when booking through the platform."

At the company's core, it's aiming to build a travel company for those who are not being served by the current travel ecosystem.

"We're building Well Traveled for a new generation of conscious travelers who work hard and want to enjoy life but also care deeply about where and how they're spending their hard-earned cash, and time," Patil said. "They identify as 'local tourists' and are intentional about the choices they're making when they travel."

See more about the platform, and apply for entry, here .

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Your personal vacation consultant is waiting to make planning travel simple, easy and hassle-free. You can rely on USAA Perks and Member Travel Privileges’ unmatched customer care for all your travel needs.

Travel how you want, when you want, with no restrictions on popular dates such as major holidays or peak travel times. If there’s availability, the vacation is yours!

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Even if you’re budget conscious, travel expenses rack up quickly and some can be completely out of your control. For instance, costly roaming charges for your phone are probably the last thing you’re thinking about when planning a trip. And you can’t blame yourself for surge pricing on a ridesharing app. Either way, it all adds up and you could face a shocking total at the end of your adventure.

A great way to avoid surprise credit card charges is to sign up for travel subscription services that save you money up front.

Here are our favorite travel subscription services:

Priority Pass

• TSA PreCheck/Global Entry

1. Blade Plus

If there’s a way to get to and from the airport in minutes, wouldn’t it be wise to take it?  Blade  gets passengers to LAX and all the major New York City airports via helicopter in record time for $195 a person. Considering how car services, taxis and ridesharing apps can charge around $100 a ride, the view from the sky might be worth an extra $95. Plus, shaving at least an hour off your schedule is priceless.

For travelers committed to the idea, there’s an annual  Blade Airport Pass  for $795, which saves you $100 per helicopter ride—knocking the fare down to $95. It also includes $50 off one companion seat, as long as you’re both coming from the same flight, and a dedicated specialist 24/7. All in all, the pass pays for itself if you use it five times in one year.

Blade also offers a Hamptons pass, commuter services, passes you can gift to friends and other options.

2. Priority Pass

Not only do airport lounges have free Wi-Fi, but those spaces are your chance to get away from crowded gates and overpriced food and drinks. With  Priority Pass , flyers can escape for as little as $99 a year, which keeps the entrance fee at over 1,400 participating locations worldwide to $35 for members.

The next tier up is the Standard Plus annual package at $329 that comes with 10 free visits for members and lowers entrance fees to $35 on each subsequent visit. And for $469 annually, you can go for the Prestige option, which makes all member visits free. All guests are $35 each for each membership.

Getting into a United Club lounge is $59, and a proper meal at an airport restaurant can cost more than $35, ultimately proving there’s plenty of savings behind every Priority Pass membership. Still, most frequent flyers likely receive free lounge access depending on their status, but it becomes valuable for the times you’re not traveling with your go-to airline.

Top Benefits of Airport Lounges and How To Get In for Free

3. lyft pink.

For some, $9.99 a month is worth it for 5% off Standard, Preferred, XL and Lux car rides through  Lyft Pink . You'll also get free Priority Pickup upgrades with the subscription, which Lyft values at $3-$4 per ride. The company estimates most users save around $23 per month with the subscription, but that doesn't take into account the monthly fee, so your mileage may vary.

A few other perks of the subscription includes a limited number of free bike or scooter unlocks in select cities, surprise offers and relaxed cancellations.

4. Google Fi

Just because you're traveling abroad doesn't mean you want to be totally off the grid—or charged an arm and a leg to make phone calls. The good thing is that with a plan from Google Fi , you won't be. Google Fi's higher-tier plans offer robust international features for frequent travelers, including free phone calls from more than 50 countries that span the globe from Australia to Ireland to Peru and many places in between. What's more, these plans offer free data in 200 locations.

The higher-level plans also come with unlimited hotspot tethering in case you need to get some work done on the go, along with 100 GB of Google One storage, so stashing those vacation pix should be a breeze.

5 Reasons the Chase Sapphire Preferred Should Be Your Go-To Travel Card

5. inspirato.

Inspirato's subscription service starts at $2,550 per month, and with the membership, pass holders can choose from thousands of five-star hotels, experiences and luxury cruises.

The monthly fee is inclusive for all nightly rates, taxes and fees on Inspirato Pass trips, and the best part is there’s no limit on the amount of trips you can take. If you want to go on an unbelievable South African safari, a scenic cruise along France’s Seine River and more all in the same month, Inspirato can make that happen.

Note, you are responsible for all airline tickets, rental cars, food, activities and other trip add-ons. Regardless, since one night on these luxury getaways is  valued at thousands of dollars , you’ll quickly make up the price of the membership. That said, the starting price is relatively high, so this service is really only ideal for certain types of travelers.

6. TSA PreCheck/Global Entry

For many travelers, a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry membership is practically essential. Both of these programs help flyers get through security lines faster at the airport for a smoother and less stressful process.

Global Entry—typically better for international travelers as it helps you get through customs faster—costs $100 for a five-year membership. TSA PreCheck—often great for domestic flyers as it helps you breeze through security lines—comes in at just $78 for five years. And with the right travel credit card, it's fairly easy to get a free membership to the program of your choice (often redeemed as statement credits).

Best Credit Cards for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry Reimbursement

If you're the type who loves to jump in the car and go for a road trip across the state—or across the country—a membership with AAA is a smart thing to have in your back pocket. AAA is known for its roadside assistance benefits, like help with flat tires, jumpstarts, tows and more.

As important as those services are when you're in an emergency, the motor club offers even more benefits, such as motorcycle and bicycle services. Plus, members can also take advantage of a plethora of discounts on things like rental cars, restaurants, theme parks, movie tickets, museum admission and more.

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Member Travel Services

Member travel services reviews ( 3 ).

Revdex.comEMissouri AvePhoenix, AZ 85014January 23, Complaint ID # [redacted] To Whom it May Concern:We are in receipt of your correspondence dated January 19, regarding the above referenced complaint Please be aware that our firm, Hadlegal Services, LLC, dba "In Compliance Service" is not affiliated with "Member Travel Services" nor do we market or provide travel related services to the general public.Our company provides transaction settlement services to direct sales organizationsWe monitor the sales transactions during the state mandated rescission period for customer cancellations If the customer does not cancel during the rescission period, we settle the transaction and the selling organization receives funding on the deal In this particular instance, the customer purchased on August 30, in California We did not receive notification of their intent to cancel until November 23, 2016, substantially outside of California's five day rescission period for the type of product purchased Hence, by the time the customer contacted us, the deal had long since settled and the selling organization was fundedAny remedy the customer would have at this point would be directly through the selling organization

Revdex.com1010 E. Missouri Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85014January 23, 2017 Complaint ID # [redacted] To Whom it May Concern:We are in receipt of your correspondence dated January 19, 2017 regarding the above referenced complaint.  Please be aware that our firm, Hadlegal Services,... LLC,  dba "In Compliance Service"  is not affiliated with "Member Travel Services" nor do we market or provide travel related services to the general public.Our company provides transaction settlement services to direct sales organizations. We monitor the sales transactions during the state mandated rescission period for customer cancellations.   If the customer does not cancel during the rescission period, we settle the transaction and the selling organization receives funding on the deal.  In this particular instance, the customer purchased on August 30, 2016 in California.  We did not receive notification of their intent to cancel until November 23, 2016, substantially outside of California's five day rescission period for the type of product purchased.  Hence, by the time the customer contacted us, the deal had long since settled and the selling organization was funded. Any remedy the customer would have at this point would be directly through the selling organization

I am 68 years old and the letter I sent on September 1st was by snail mail. That's how I'm used to corresponding. I guess that was the mistake I made, trusting that the company would cancel on the note I sent them. I didn't know that it had to be by email. I also waited too patiently for my refund. Do I need to get a lawyer? Is there still such a thing as small claims court?

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• Royal Caribbean International

USAA Member travel- Anyone else use?

By Amanda31 , June 15, 2020 in Royal Caribbean International

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Not sure what forum this really belongs to but I have a Royal Caribbean cruise booked through USAA. Booked several months ago, have changed room category several times and last week changed from Allure to Symphony all emailing my agent. I've spent more $$ each change and he's been very pleasant. Few days after changing I noticed prices went down so I called the main number and asked whoever answered to reprice my room. My agent just emailed me wanting to know if I called and talked to someone else? How would he know and why would it matter ? It went down $200 so shouldn't cut big into commission. I feel like something fishy is going on. Any thoughts? Thanks!

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56 minutes ago, Amanda31 said: Not sure what forum this really belongs to but I have a Royal Caribbean cruise booked through USAA. Booked several months ago, have changed room category several times and last week changed from Allure to Symphony all emailing my agent. I've spent more $$ each change and he's been very pleasant. Few days after changing I noticed prices went down so I called the main number and asked whoever answered to reprice my room. My agent just emailed me wanting to know if I called and talked to someone else? How would he know and why would it matter ? It went down $200 so shouldn't cut big into commission. I feel like something fishy is going on. Any thoughts? Thanks!

He'd know because they use computers and since he booked your cruise, he's your agent that would be in the system.  Plus, he probably gets an automated email about any clients who call in.  What exactly are you suspicious of?  Why would you think commission had anything to do with anything?  

We've been USAA members for 39 years for insurance and car purchasing.  We've never use their travel service.   We also have credit cards through USAA.  Never had any issues with them.

6 minutes ago, BND said: He'd know because they use computers and since he booked your cruise, he's your agent that would be in the system.  Plus, he probably gets an automated email about any clients who call in.  What exactly are you suspicious of?  We've been USAA members for 39 years for insurance and car purchasing.  We've never use their travel service.   We also have credit cards through USAA.  Never had any issues with them.

In the past when I called to reprice a sold out category they have to put me on hold to call and check with RC to see if there really is a price drop. This time the other agent didn't call, he just said I can take $200 off. Then when the original agent emailed to see if I had talked to someone else it just seemed odd, but thanks for the explanation!

10 hours ago, Amanda31 said: Then when the original agent emailed to see if I had talked to someone else it just seemed odd

That is a bit odd - have never had one follow up, even when requested.

Please note that we are not allowed to discuss travel agents in this forum.

2 minutes ago, 1025cruise said: Please note that we are not allowed to discuss travel agents in this forum.

This is no different than people mentioning superstores for booking, etc which they do.  If an admin disagrees, they can remove it.  You do  not appear to be an admin.

1 hour ago, 1025cruise said: Please note that we are not allowed to discuss travel agents in this forum.

General discussions regarding the TYPE of AGENCY to be used to purchase a cruise will be allowed, as long as no recommendations for any source of purchase are posted.  

• 3 years later...

This was the second time I used the USAA MEMBER TRAVEL PRIVILEGES. I tried booking directly but when I put in payment info, it asked me to call. The site is easy to use. But this time, I had to speak with an agent.   

Ellie was my agent. I believe she is in Texas. She was patient, thorough, kind & spoke clearly. She found the fare I had identified on the website (which was lower than the one listed at the time of my call). Her effort saved me $ & made me feel appreciated as a customer. Never thought that spending $3000 would be a good experience; with Ellie, it was.

Thanks for replying to a three year old post with this...

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Explore Cruise Travel For USAA Members

Review Highlights

“ We had to cancel one cruise a week before sailing because of family illness and within 3 weeks we had a full refund. ” in 2 reviews

“ When I called the number on the instructions, nobody could figure out which division or entity was able to cancel it. ” in 2 reviews

“ The representative that I worked with did a great job of finding a great deal for us compared to what I could find on my own with Expedia, Orbitz, Priceline , etc.. ” in 4 reviews

Location & Hours

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Scottsdale, AZ 85260

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So I was unsure if USAA dropped the ball by permitting Explore Cruise and Travel have the exclusive rights to USAA members - many of whom have served the people of America with every fiber of their being - and discovered that yes, USAA dropped the ball by outsourcing to Explore Cruise and Travel. The poor reviews are because there are 2 different divisions within Explore Cruise and Travel offerings to USAA members. Because the explanation is long and detailed - you have a clue at the complexity of doing business with Explore Cruise and Travel for USAA members. If you only book quality hotels using their website, no problem. you will get confirmation of your booking in writing by email. The room you get probably won't be the best in the hotel. Each hotel sets aside a certain number of rooms for online sales like Hotwire, Priceline, Expedia, and so on. Hotels typically save the best rooms for full paying customers. For customer service after the sale, I prefer Hotwire's customer service. But - these online discount sites do not replace real travel agents who are dedicated to pleasing you. One division - I use that word loosely - is the online website where members sign up for hotels and air flights. Because I a have a lot of experience booking hotels and flights online, I was shocked at the difficulty of booking flights using the Explore Cruise and Travel website. As other reviewers have complained, as I tried to book flights, I lost seats as I was entering data. finally in frustration I called Explore Cruise and Travel. After being disconnected while talking to the first agent, I was connected to an amazing representative who helped me understand the process and booked my flight. I caution readers to be extremely careful booking flights online with Explore Cruise and Travel and other discount sites. Why? Online travel booking sites lose money if you cancel your booking so they often will not issue a refund even if your reason for canceling is genuine. Booking hotel rooms is easy but - check and compare prices with other sites. Read the hotel reviews on tripadvisordotcom. Secondly, if you have connecting flights, the cancellation policy of the most restrictive airline or hotel will be used. This fact is the cause of many complaints about difficulty getting refunds from Explore Cruise and Travel. Explore Cruise and Travel Certificate prgram. There are different levels of Certificates. For example $2000 Certificate. The certificates are for cruises and resorts. After a $200 downpayment, you pay almost 100 to 200 dollars a month until you pay it off. Truly, if you have the cash or credit, you will get a better deal for cruises and resorts elsewhere. I cruise a lot so I know what I am talking about. If you have a cruise certificate, do comparison shopping before you use that certificate. There is an extra fee for using this company that you won't see if you book your cruise directly through the cruise line. You will be offered a free resort Certificate. There are extra expenses when you arrive. I regret buying the Certificate package because the package is not a good deal. The certificate package is like a savings account for your cruise. If you must cancel your cruise, there is no refund. If prices drop - we don't get that difference in cost refunded. A certain number of cabins on a ship is saved for travel agencies to fill. They are not necessarily the best cabins. a better cabin may cost more. None of the Explore Cruise and Travel travel products offer refunds. Our service members need flexibility. Using Explore Cruise and Travel is a lot of extra work. If you get a great agent, you will have a better experience. I have experienced the difference between great and sub par service. Our service members and veterans need great service consistently. Complaints are coming when USAA members are receiving less than what they thought they were receiving. The blame for this is with USAA. USAA should use its power to insist that those who buy Certificates get an explanation by email and in writing what we can expect. I cannot reach Explore Cruise and Travel without going through the USAA website so USAA is responsible for introducing it's members to Explore Cruise and Travel. I am concerned when Yelpers and other members say they booked through Explore Cruise and Travel but their hotel rooms and seats were cancelled. I have a resort and flight to Mexico scheduled by Explore Cruise and Travel. I will report back on my experience.

Do not use USAA member perks! There was a mistake in my booking and my money was kept without me staying at the hotel. I will never do this again

I almost booked a cruise thru USAA's Member Travel Privledges(MTP). There was a savings to book thru MTP but I was speaking with a third party located in Potugal. After putting a hold on a cruise cabin I checked the reviews on the Internet. MTP has 11/2 stars. This is very low considering you must give one star to do any revue. Problems with communication, areangements and general errors on almost all bookings thru MTP. Check them yourself. I immediately cancelled my hold thru Member Travel Services and booked thru AAA. I am surprised USAA would refer members to such an incompetent third oarty but very difficult to send complaint.

I needed to report fraud against Travel Member Services when this company charged my card without my knowledge. I paid for travel insurance and they added thousands to the paid cruise booking! Beware this is a scam company...not USAA. Reporting them to USAA didn't help one bit and I love USAA! Robert

Worst travel experience ever and we have done over 50 cruises. Took five contacts and 2 1/2 hours with different agents none of whom could answer simple questions and we knew what ship, what date, what room type and it was a family event. The fifth finally got the cruise set up but somehow convinced me to just make the minimum payment ( we can remember only once ever doing that we always pay the full amount up front). Was told they would pay the amount due with our credit card and let us know when it was due. There was more dealing with a second cruise tied in with this cruise but with supervisors lack of response we made it with a different agency in 15 minutes. Now the really bad part. They did not pay the remainder and did not contact us to make payment so the cruise line cancelled the reservation resulting in a loss of deposit, trip insurance and payment to this company amounting to 886.72 dollars. They claimed to have called and left messages and email with no response. I have all emails and phone messages from the dates they gave and none arrived. NO Refunds or even an apology. Ask for a supervisor and was blown off again. Never again USAA dump this scam service company. Clint E

Buyer Beware! Do not jump to purchase the World Wide Protector Plan insurance that USAA offers with their cruise package. You must pay for the plan with purchase of the cruise but have only 14 days to cancel. Over the past 55 years I've trusted USAA to look out for me. So I failed to read the Policy's reviews (read those of customers who make claims) or to examine its details. I'm a. senior (79yr.) who ended up cancelling my trip early because of a physical problem. By cancelling the cruise 120 days before the sail date, Viking only penalizes $100/per person. But the insurance premium (mine was $1891) is totally nonrefundable. Take the time to examine other travel insurance polices before purchasing USAA's offering. Do not trust while succumbing to pressure as I did!

Ellie was my agent. I believe she is in Texas. She was patient, thorough, kind & spoke clearly. She also found the fare I had identified on the website which was lower than the one listed at the time of my call. Her effort saved me $ & made me feel appreciated as a customer. Never thought that spending $3000 would be a good experience; with Ellie it was.

Just plain BAD experience. I received a phone call from Stephanie Gallegos (855) 515-4190 x4041 on 10/17/2022 regarding what I believed to be excessive charges for two staterooms/five people on a cruise I booked 09/13/2022 with Our Vacation Center of Scottsdale AZ (aka OurVacationStore.com, dba USAA Member Travel Privileges). She offered to issue cruise credits into each of our two stateroom accounts. So far: NOTHING. Multiple phone messages have been left for her: NO RESPONSE. I will NOT be conducting business with USAA Travel, Member Travel Privileges, Our Vacation Center or OurVacationCenter.com ever again.

Made a reservation for a cruise, the sales person was more concerned about the commission (seriously he said "wow" when he looked the commission and so unprofessional) than helping me. Several mistakes made, one costing me about $1k. In I applied credit that I lost. Have used in the past and had good customer service (8 years ago) Not using again.

Very deceptive. Their site listed the cruise line's price, and then their price as a $1200.00 savings. However, after booking with USAA, I went to the Princess site. The Princess fare that USAA used as comparison was the upgraded Perks Plus fare. What they sold me was the standard fare without any of the extra perks. And what they charged me was actually the same as the Princess standard fare. However, if I had gone thru Princess, I would have also gotten an on board credit, which USAA did not give e. The agent started out by saying that my USAA vacation credits were about to expire. Unfortunately, I trusted and booked right away. No where in the cost did that vacation credit come into play--no discount, because the cost per room was the same as the Princess advertised price.

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Everything you need to know about Costco Travel — and why I love it for saving money

Costco isn't just the place where you can buy toilet paper in bulk, inexpensive gas, cheap hot dogs and gift cards. You can also book great trips via the company's online travel agency, Costco Travel.

I know, I know: At TPG, we're often staunchly against booking travel through third-party sites , as there can be tradeoffs versus booking directly. But in recent years, I've become a big fan of the travel deals I can find via Costco Travel.

When planning our annual beach trip back in 2022, my best friend found a few options for Mexican all-inclusive resorts on Costco Travel and shared the links with me. I promptly told her we'd probably be better off booking directly and brushed off the idea of booking through Costco — neither of us even had a membership at the time.

However, comparing the prices and benefits at a few of the resorts proved my initial reaction wrong.

I actually got a Costco membership to book the deal since the cost of the membership was less than what we'd save by booking through Costco. We saved around $300 on a three-night stay at TRS Coral near Cancun (one of TPG's best all-inclusive resorts in Cancun ), not including the free hydrotherapy spa circuit and the $241 Digital Costco Shop Card included in the package.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Madison Blancaflor (@madison_ave18)

Our stay was fantastic, and I officially became a Costco Travel convert.

If you're curious about how to use Costco Travel to find deals, here's everything you need to know about Costco Travel — and why I love it for saving money on travel.

What is Costco Travel?

All Costco members have access to the Costco Travel booking platform, where you can find and book a wide range of travel — from vacation packages to hotels, cruises and rental cars. You can even book theme park vacation packages to Disney and Universal or specialty vacations such as an African safari.

Related: Costco cruise deals: How to save money booking travel at a warehouse club

Once you log in to Costco Travel, you can search for specific dates or destinations or browse through available deals and featured destinations. I personally love perusing the limited-time deals when I know I want to plan a getaway but don't have a specific destination in mind.

Trips booked through Costco Travel are often discounted and/or include perks and benefits you may not get by booking directly or through other booking portals. Usually, a trip booked through Costco Travel will also include a Digital Costco Shop Card (essentially a type of Costco gift card) of varying value.

What travel can you book through Costco Travel?

You can book hotels, cruises, rental cars and vacation packages through Costco Travel. Vacation packages range from hotel-only offers to all-encompassing packages that include airfare, hotel stays and rental cars. You can even build your own package.

However, one thing to note is that you can't book stand-alone flights via Costco Travel. There is an option to book flights through some vacation packages, but if you're only looking for airfare, you'll want to head to Google Flights to check out your options and book.

You can book Costco Travel offers both online and by phone.

Do you have to be a Costco member to use Costco Travel?

Yes. Costco Travel is an exclusive service for Costco members.

There are two personal membership levels: Gold Star and Executive. Gold Star costs $60 per year, while an Executive membership costs $120. The basic membership will give you access to all of Costco's services, including Costco Travel, while the Executive membership also comes with a 2% reward on all Costco (and Costco Travel) purchases.

I've found that the Costco Travel deals alone are worth paying the $60 Gold Star annual membership fee, even though I don't regularly use Costco for my grocery store runs.

Check sites like Groupon for discount Costco memberships, as you can sometimes save on that rate — or get an included gift card that helps offset the cost.

Is Costo Travel worth it?

Costco Travel has its pros and cons, but there are definitely times when it's worth it.

For example, let's look at a five-night stay in Maui in early April. At the time of writing, Costco is currently offering a hotel and rental car package for Hotel Wailea, a Relais & Chateaux affiliated property and one of TPG's favorite Maui hotels .

Here's one cost comparison breakdown of Costco Travel's deal versus booking directly:

Even without including the additional benefits, you're already saving more than $400 via the Costco deal. Add in the value you get from the card, daily breakfast and resort credit (which is more than $1,000 in value if you maximize all benefits), and you're looking at $1,442.45 in savings by booking through Costco Travel versus directly.

And since Hotel Wailea isn't a member of any major hotel loyalty program, booking through Costco Travel wouldn't mean missing out on elite night credits or other loyalty program benefits.

Here's another example — this time for a Universal Orlando theme park trip from June 4-6 for one adult and two children from Houston. The total cost when booking each part (hotel, tickets and airfare) individually came to $2,701.35, while booking it as a package via Costco saved just over $300.

That's a fair amount of savings you could use for some frozen butterbeer or even a new wand inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter .

When is Costco Travel not worth it?

Not every offer on Costco is worth booking.

For one, you won't necessarily find the same availability on Costco Travel. For example, flights booked through Costco may have some seats blocked off, and certain dates for hotel stays may be unavailable. Additionally, not all rental car companies are bookable through Costco Travel (such as Hertz*, which is my preferred rental car company due to the perks I get through my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card ).

Plus, some hotel stays have a minimum stay requirement. If you're on the hunt for a long weekend getaway, you may not be able to take advantage of some Costco Travel deals.

Even when you do find availability, you should always price-check what you can find by booking directly or through your credit card travel portal and hotel programs.

After booking our fantastic stay at TRS Coral just north of Cancun through Costco, I looked at booking through Costco again in 2023 when planning our annual beach vacation.

While Costco had a deal available for the same resort, we happened to be booking when the resort chain was having a Mother's Day sale for anyone booking directly. We were able to try out a new TRS resort closer to Playa Del Carmen, TRS Yucatan; we saved more than $100 on an even nicer suite than Costco Travel offered by booking directly (even when considering the Digital Shop Card we would have gotten by booking with Costco).

Something else to consider when booking hotels through Costco Travel is loyalty program rewards and elite status. There are a lot of hotels available to book through Costco Travel that are part of major loyalty programs, from Hyatt Honors to Marriott Bonvoy to IHG One Rewards and more. But booking through Costco Travel — just like booking through most other third-party services such as Expedia — means you likely won't earn loyalty rewards, elite night credits or have any elite night benefits honored.

You'll also have to use Costco customer service if you run into any issues rather than going directly to the brand. This is especially important when considering booking a vacation package that includes flights, given the higher potential for delays or cancellations.

Why I love Costco Travel

I am typically a staunch proponent of booking directly, but Costco Travel is an exception. I've found that the benefits I can get by booking some trips via Costco outweigh the cons (some of which include having to go through Costco for any customer service help or occasionally losing out on elite night credits).

Digital Costco Shop Cards

My favorite thing about booking trips through Costco Travel is the Digital Costco Shop Card I get after booking. The card's value varies from trip to trip (generally depending on how expensive the package you book), but you can get hundreds of dollars back to use at Costco.

The Digital Costco Shop Cards can be used for Costco warehouse purchases (a game changer with grocery prices so high due to inflation), but you can also use them toward future Costco Travel bookings. And remember — Costco doesn't just carry bulk grocery items. You could use a Digital Costco Shop Card to buy a new flat-screen TV for movie nights and game days, a new outdoor patio setup ahead of summer or even Costco Pharmacy prescriptions.

I admittedly don't use Costco for groceries often (buying in bulk doesn't make a lot of sense for someone who lives alone), but I have used shop cards to help pay for Christmas presents and future Costco Travel trips. I've actually been looking into using my most recent Digital Costco Shop Card on a new pair of AirPods and a new TV mount for my living room.

Deals on non-points hotel stays and all-inclusive resorts

When I'm looking at booking a hotel stay at a brand like Hyatt or Marriott, I generally choose to book directly in order to earn elite night credits and points. However, when looking at properties not part of a major loyalty program, Costco Travel is often a go-to anytime I can find a deal.

Costco Travel has a nice deals section, and I usually look there first if I'm not sold on a specific destination for a getaway. While deals found on Costco generally have a narrow booking window, I've found that many offer a lot of flexibility for the actual trip dates.

A few examples of limited-time deals for January include Hotel Wailea from the example earlier in this guide, all-inclusive resorts in Mexico's Riviera Maya, and Disney and Universal theme park packages.

Simplifying group vacations

I'm often the travel planner in my friend group (which makes sense, considering what I do for a living), but not everyone is an avid points and miles user like myself. For group trips where we're splitting the cost of hotel rooms among multiple people, it often doesn't make sense to use points and miles to book.

Costco Travel vacation packages offer a way for all of us to save money, and it makes narrowing down potential destinations and hotels easier. Rather than everyone having to spend hours researching ideas and prices from across the internet — which might be my idea of a fun Wednesday night but isn't for some of my friends — I typically just send them to Costco Travel to see if any of the featured deals catch their eye.

Having reservation information for multiple aspects of a trip, such as a hotel and rental car package, makes sharing and saving the itineraries a breeze.

Bottom line

Whether or not you currently have a Costco membership, you shouldn't dismiss Costco Travel as just another online travel agency.

If you know where to look and are willing to price-check the deals you find, you can save a lot of money with Costco Travel deals. I've personally had a lot of success booking friends getaways to popular destinations like Mexico through Costco. Using the service has helped me save on other expenses with the Digital Costco Shop Card I've gotten with my bookings.

For me, the $60 annual membership fee to Costco has been more than worth it to utilize Costco Travel.

*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through Dec. 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

Related reading:

• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you're a beginner or expert traveler
• The best travel credit cards
• How my Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi is a workhorse when it comes to cash back
• Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can't travel without

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