Travel Resources

From practical planning tools to the little things that make life easier, these are the things we use, recommend, and reach for when we’re traveling.

Explore Our Caribbean Holiday Guides

Tropical anchorage with sailboats: Best Caribbean Islands for New Year's Eve Celebrations

Read our guide to the pros and cons of visiting the Caribbean in December before deciding when to go.

Learn a Language Before You Go

We’ve used the Pimsleur language program for years and have a lifetime membership. It’s part of how we prepare for trips to places where we don’t speak the local language. We try to study every day (some weeks more successfully than others!), and it’s our go-to resource for building language skills before a trip.

You don’t need to be fluent to make an effort. Learning a few everyday phrases can make getting around easier and help you connect with the people you meet along the way.

✈️ Make Airport Travel Easier

A few travel programs can make getting through the airport significantly easier, especially if you travel frequently. We use Global Entry and TSA PreCheck, and honestly, we wish we’d signed up for Global Entry sooner!

🇺🇸 Global Entry

Our pick for international travelers.

Global Entry provides expedited processing when entering the United States at most airports. When you’re approved for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck is included at no additional cost. You don’t need to apply or pay separately for TSA PreCheck.

Global Entry currently costs $100 and membership is valid for five years. Many travel rewards credit cards reimburse the Global Entry fee, so check your existing card benefits before paying out of pocket.

We got Global Entry in 2023, and it’s a travel upgrade we now wonder how we lived without. If you travel internationally, it’s definitely worth looking into!

👉 Check Global Entry eligibility & apply

Already have Global Entry? You don’t need to apply separately for TSA PreCheck. Just make sure your Known Traveler Number is added to your airline reservation so you can receive your TSA PreCheck benefits.

🛫 TSA PreCheck

For domestic U.S. travel.

TSA PreCheck provides expedited security screening at U.S. airports. We’ve had it for several years and use it whenever we fly within the U.S.

👉 Learn more about TSA PreCheck

What about CLEAR?

CLEAR+ is a separate program that uses biometric identity verification to provide access to dedicated CLEAR lanes at participating U.S. airports.

We don’t currently have CLEAR because we live outside the U.S. and only travel to the States about once a year, so the annual cost doesn’t make sense for us. For travelers who fly frequently through airports with CLEAR lanes, though, it may be worth considering.

👉 Learn more about CLEAR+

Travel Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture X is our go-to travel card and our primary spending card. We earn miles on everyday purchases and travel, and no foreign transaction fees is a must for us since we live internationally. The travel perks are an added bonus, including benefits that can help cover the cost of Global Entry.
Best for: Rewards, lounge access, travel perks

😴 Sleep Better While Traveling

I am the type of person that needs a good night’s sleep to function. After years of hosting guests in my floating home, and much trial and error, I found my perfect sleep routine for any environment.

From airplanes and hotels to boats and homes, here are a few things I personally use to sleep better anywhere:

Noise-Canceling Headphones

My Bose QuietComfort headphones are one of my most-used travel items. They help me sleep on flights, block out hotel noise, and create a little bubble of calm when traveling.
Best for: flights, hotels, noisy environments

Sleep-Friendly Earbuds

While I love my Bose headphones for travel days, they’re not great for sleep. For bedtime, I prefer Soundcore Space A40 lightweight earbuds that don’t get in the way when I’m lying on my side.
Best for: sleeping, side sleepers, nighttime use

Light-Blocking Eye Mask

A simple cotton sleep mask is one of those essentials I didn’t realize I needed until I started using one. By blocking out the light, it helps me sleep more soundly and stay asleep longer, especially on those bright mornings.
Best for: flights, boats, bright environments

And a face mask for a little extra humidity in that dry cabin air ✈️

My Sleep Routine Anywhere

One of the biggest changes I’ve made while traveling is creating a consistent bedtime routine. I listen to a sleepy-time story, then transition into a 10+hour, quiet sleepy playlist. It helps my brain recognize it’s time to shut down (even when we’re somewhere new)

💤 Click here for my favorite sleepy-time Spotify podcast

⛵️ Planning a Sailing Trip?

If you’re headed out on the water, our Caribbean Sailing Packing List covers what to bring (and what you can leave at home) when you’re packing for a week aboard a sailboat.

🎒 If you’d rather the full guides:

🛟 Our floating dock for playing on and in the water, and for doing boat work that requires a steady platform 🛠️

🇻🇬 Planning a Trip to the British Virgin Islands?

The British Virgin Islands are a favorite of ours, whether you’re exploring by land or sailing between islands. These guides cover what to see and do, where to swim and snorkel, and how to plan your visit.

Explore Tortola

Beaches, Snorkeling & Island Adventures

🚧 Work in Progress Ahead

Just like every great adventure, this page is still coming together.

As we continue building Waves & Wander, we’ll be adding our favorite travel resources, planning tools, destination guides, sailing resources, and products we’ve actually used and loved along the way.

For now, think of this page as an empty suitcase waiting to be packed.

Check back soon because we’ve got lots to come!

What’s Coming Soon

✈️ Travel Planning Resources

🌴 Caribbean Travel Guides

⛵ Sailing & Charter Resources

🎒 Travel Gear We Actually Use

💰 Travel Budget & Planning Tools

Thanks for your patience while we get everything organized. We’d rather spend our time exploring and creating helpful content than making things look perfect before they’re ready.

Happy wandering,

Mandy & Joe