MY #1 Travel Must-Have

My absolute must have travel item isn't actually an item.  It's a service.  I have a lot of good gear that I  recommend, but the thing that saves my sanity, trip after trip, is Global Entry.  Frequent travelers can feel free to ignore the rest of this post - you already have Global Entry and PreCheck and know how wonderful it is.  It's occasional, recreational travelers that need to read this.

Global Entry allows you to bypass the customs desk and use a kiosk to re-enter the country.  On a large flight this can add up to over an hour of time saved going through customs!  As part of the program, travelers with Global Entry also receive TSA PreCheck, which saves you time going through airport security.  Even in airports with short security lines I find it nice not to have to remove my shoes or take out my laptop and liquids.

Global Entry costs $100 for 5 years.  I signed up long before I traveled for business, figuring I could derive $20 of value from the program each year pretty easily.  These days, it's invaluable to me.  After years of watching me fly through security, my sister, who flies 3-4 times a year, just signed up as well.  I think this program is a good fit for anyone planning on going through large customs areas at busy airports at least twice a year and/or flying domestically at least 4 times a year during peak times at busy airports.