

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Climbing (yes, climbing, it's steep!) the Great Wall of China before it's gone." They tame my frizzy curls and come in handy in a surprising number of packing and hotel dilemmas." The Handy Item I Always Pack: "Plenty of extra thick hair elastics. She's been quoted as an expert travel source by CNBC,, MarketWatch, The Washington Post, USA Today, and more. Her educational background is in journalism, art history, gender studies, Spanish, and film. Her stories have also appeared online on USA Today, The Sun, Huffington Post, Business Insider,, , and more. Travel trends, news oddities, and her visits to up-and-coming destinations are some of her favorite things to write about.

On a mobile boarding pass, you should see TSA Pre along with a green checkmark in the top right corner of the QR code. If you’re a member of TSA Global Entry, you’ll receive a PASSID, a 9-digit number that can be used interchangeably as a KTN. There is a 100 non-refundable application fee and the approval process requires a little work and time, but it may be worth it if you are a frequent international traveler. Click on the Login button in the top-right corner of Southwest’s homepage. A former news reporter, she's lived in the south of Spain, spotted elephants in Sri Lanka, gone spelunking in the Caribbean, hiked Jordan's Petra Basin, interviewed Sao Paulo's Michelin-Star chefs, and explored China via bullet train. Global Entry allows you to expedite the process of going through customs and be done in a matter of minutes as opposed to potentially hours. Follow her on Twitter and on Instagram joined SmarterTravel in 2015. Editor Shannon McMahon is always planning her next trip and often writing in her travel journal.
