Using a credit card to save you money

We all know the dangers of credit card debt, but if you are the type of person who never carries a balance, you can take advantage of some of the benefits that these cards offer and you can find some tremendous upside in the value of using them. For example, Delta offers several credit cards that come with bonus miles offers when you first sign up (many of which more than cover the cost of the card), companion certificates, and an enhanced way to increase your status with them which can include benefits like free upgraded seats and no baggage fees. The baggage fee benefit alone more than pays for my card on an annual basis.

Golf travel bag with ample room for more

Speaking of baggage on your flight, there’s nothing worse than getting hit with massive fees when your luggage is over the allotted weight limit.  To combat this, consider buying a golf travel bag that has ample space to pack some of those additional items that may be the difference between you having those extra fees or not.

Also, these extra pockets can be a great spot to store your dirty clothes on the flight home as there is nothing worse than unpacking and having all your clean clothes now smelling like the clothes that you played 36 holes in during your trip.  If you’re looking for a new travel bag with ample space, check out the T-10 Travel Cover from Bag Boy as we’ve found this one to be a huge help with packing additional items.

Earbuds are a must

I’m a bit of a stickler on this one as I have a pair of wireless earbuds, a backup pair of my older wireless earbuds, and a corded pair of earbuds so I can plug it into the headrest screen as most planes do not have a Bluetooth feature on these screens yet.  Once again, it’s all about comfort and relieving stress before you embark on your epic golf trip and on your return flight home, so a little pre-planning here can go a long way.

To ship or not to ship

If you haven’t tried Ship Sticks for a golf getaway, then we suggest giving them a try on your next golf vacation.  The process is extremely simple to use, and not having to deal with hauling your luggage around the airport and in a rental car and ensuring that they are at the course upon your arrival is extremely satisfying.  Head over to Ship Sticks and give it a try as we think you’ll be surprised with how convenient this service is for your travels.

Charge all of your devices

Is there anything worse than showing up to the airport for a 5-hour flight only to realize you forgot to charge your iPad before the trip?  Many airplanes come with screens on the headrest for you to enjoy media during your flight these days, but as many of us know, these have been known to not work during your trip, so having a backup plan is always a great idea.

Add charging your devices to your pre-flight planning routine, and it will save you some stress on the day of your flight.

TSA PreCheck is a must

TSA PreCheck is one of the best expenses you will ever have if you are a frequent traveler.  For an application fee of $78 for five years of coverage, this is a huge benefit that will save you countless hours over the years of dealing with airport security lines, as well as being able to get through those lines with less stress by being able to keep your shoes on and not having to remove your laptops from your bag.

It’s a simple process that requires filling out an online survey and a brief in-person background check, and several credit cards include covering this fee for you so be sure to check the benefits on your current cards to see if this applies to you.

Airport parking fees or Uber

This one all depends on your personal preference and where you live, but it’s worth considering whether parking at the airport is worth it for your trip.  For example, the airport I live closest to is nearly $20 per day and on a recent weeklong golf getaway I went on I opted to get dropped off and picked up at the airport by my significant other saving me $140 on the trip.  It may not seem like much, but that money meant I ended up with two more logoed polos from a couple of bucket list golf courses, so I count it as a win.  The other option would have been an Uber ride, and for me it’s about a $40 Uber ride there and back so had my wife not been able to give me a ride, this option still would have saved me about $60.

With that being said, usually my trips are 2-4 days long and the convenience of having my car available at the airport upon landing and getting me home as soon as possible is a great option. And at this length, it’s usually not worth taking the Uber and another car ride service as the variable rate fees have been known to get me from time to time.

This all comes down to a case-by-case basis, but it’s worth at least considering when you are planning your trip to the airport.