Frequent travelers say these 6 things are always worth the splurge

Whether you scored a stellar deal on a hotel or used credit card points to cover a flight , saving money can be the cherry on top of a great trip. But some expenses are simply worth the splurge — at least according to regular travelers. 

From breezing through security lines with TSA PreCheck to upgrading their flight or hotel room , there are certain expenses that frequent jet-setters say they never regret. Whether they're worth it to you, of course, depends on what you value — and what you're willing to spend to boost your trip.

1. Top-tier travel pillows

"I could never get standard airplane pillows to work for me," says Yahoo Travel staff writer Dana Yewbank. "I find them uncomfortable — and honestly, pretty pointless — so for years I just didn't bother with neck pillows at all. But when I started researching better options, the Ostrichpillow came out on top."

The pillow costs $69, which is significantly more than most neck pillows on the market. But Yewbank says she believes it's well worth it if it means getting some shut-eye on economy flights to visit her partner in Norway. Once she used the pricey pillow for the first time, she knew she had made the right call. "It's comfortable and soft, yet firm enough to actually hold my head in place," she says. "Now, I see investing in a good-quality travel pillow as a no-brainer."

The Ostrichpillow isn't the only expensive neck pillow some people swear by. Other popular options include the Trtl ($46) and the Pluto Pod ($145). 

2. Flexible flights

Flights are expensive these days , but travel writer Katherine Fan says she never books basic economy. Yes, jumping to the next level may be a "money grab" from the airlines in terms of costs, but what you save isn't worth the "little flexibility" you get with basic economy.

"You typically can't change anything, and you won't get any money back if you have to cancel for any reason," she says. Plus, most of the time you don't get to pick your seat, which is especially difficult for people traveling with kids, who want to ensure they'll be placed together.  

Exactly how much it costs to go from basic economy to main cabin economy varies by airline and route, but the difference is typically about $100 per flight.  

3. Vacation wardrobes

Rebecca Tribelhorn, whose website Roam Free Rebecca highlights adventure and solo travel, knows how important it is to pack right — especially when you won't have easy access to laundry services. That's why her vacation wardrobe now consists mainly of merino wool pieces. 

"There's no material that's more elite for travel than merino wool," she says. "It's breathable and it resists odor. Back when I was traveling full-time, it was a lifesaver. You can wear a merino shirt like five times in a row and sweat your butt off all the way through Thailand, and it's only on the fifth or sixth day that you even notice any smell at all. If I were wearing cotton, it would immediately be so gross."

4. Upgraded rooms

If cruises are your favorite way to travel, upgrading your room can make your vacation even more special, Ashley Kosciolek , a travel writer and cruise industry expert, tells Yahoo.

"If you're someone who likes to drink their morning coffee alfresco without the crowds, you're going to want a balcony when you sail," she explains. "Whether that comes in the form of a standard balcony cabin or a suite — which might include access to exclusive onboard areas, priority embarkation and disembarkation and butler service — is up to you, but the added perks and fresh air sure are nice." 

She says that it's particularly great to get a balcony in areas like Alaska and the Norwegian Fjords, where "scenic sailing is as much a part of the itinerary as port calls are."

So, how much will this cost you? Depending on the cruise line, you can expect to spend 50% to 100% more per night than with a standard accommodation.  

5. Travel rewards credit cards

Brandi Fowler, founder of the travel website Destination Fab , tells Yahoo she loves booking travel with a rewards credit card, which can offer plenty of perks that help offset a steep annual fee. That includes airport lounge access, statement credits for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck and CLEAR+, plus built-in travel insurance.

But Fowler's favorite perk from the card is how it helps her level up her hotel experiences. Her card offers benefits like early and late checkout, complimentary breakfast and a room upgrade, when available, at select hotels. 

"I was staying in South Beach and I had a regular room, but they upgraded us to a suite that overlooked the ocean," she explains. On another trip to St. Lucia, Fowler says she was upgraded again, this time to a suite with a pool overlooking the ocean. "We would have had to pay hundreds more to get that," she says. 

6. A comfortable ride home

There's nothing better than getting home after a long vacation, which is why finding your ride can feel so exhausting.

Tori Simokov, a travel writer and creator of the newsletter Window Seat , tells Yahoo she likes to splurge on a fast, easy way to get back home from the airport after a long travel day. 

"When you land, any fatigue is amplified by the post-trip comedown," she explains. "But what then stands between you and collapsing into your own bed might be any number of insane obstacles: a seemingly never-ending line for taxis, a scavenger hunt to even locate where the rideshare pickup has inexplicably moved to [during construction], or, worst yet, public transit to shuttle you off to some unknown, offsite parking lot."

Simokov bypasses all of that chaos by ordering an Uber Black. Her home airport, LaGuardia, has a dedicated priority pickup zone specifically for premium rides. Airports like LAX have these too. 

"If there's one travel tenet I swear by, it's that reducing decision fatigue on travel days is always worth the cost. You'll get predictability, immediate physical comfort and mental bandwidth — three genuinely priceless things," she says.