Don’t Pack These 10 Items, Buy Them at Your Destination Instead
Packing should make travel smoother, not heavier. Many travelers fill their bags with items they could pick up after arrival, thinking they’re being thorough. But hauling too much weighs you down and makes navigating your trip harder than necessary.
The truth is, several common items are better bought than packed. Some are already waiting at your hotel or are easy to find locally; they just don’t justify their bulk.
Toiletries Provided by Hotels
Credit: flickr
Taking full-size toiletries seems smart until they leak, take up too much room, or get flagged at airport security. Most hotels already stock the basics: shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and soap. Unless you need something very specific, you can skip this whole category. Buying replacements once you arrive takes less effort than organizing your liquids in a zip-top bag.
Jewelry
Credit: Getty Images
Valuable or sentimental jewelry brings stress you don’t need on vacation. Losing it in transit or misplacing it in a hotel room can ruin part of your trip. Even if nothing happens, the constant worry about security isn’t worth it. If you want accessories, you can easily find inexpensive or handmade pieces at nearby shops. Buying on location keeps your valuables safe and supports domestic artists at the same time.
Books
Credit: pexels
A single paperback may not seem like much, but two or three add noticeable weight. Digital versions are easy to load onto your device and allow you to take multiple titles. If you crave something physical, many destinations have book exchanges, and stores stock a surprising variety. Once you finish reading, you can leave it behind and lighten your load again.
Styling Tools
Credit: Getty Images
Bringing your own blow dryer or flat iron causes more trouble than it’s worth. There are hotel dryers that work just fine for quick styling, and your personal tools might not function properly abroad due to voltage differences. Even with a converter, results vary.
Clothes You Only Wear Once
Credit: pexels
Packing for one-off situations—like a themed dinner or sudden weather change—often means carrying clothes you never wear. Clothing stores are easy to find in almost every country, with familiar international brands and retailers offering a range of sizes. Shops near tourist areas also typically stock seasonal items suited to the climate.
Umbrellas
Credit: pexels
In places with sudden showers like Tokyo, London, or Singapore, having an umbrella can be helpful, but bringing one on your travels isn’t the best approach. General stores, pharmacies, and even convenience shops almost always stock compact umbrellas for around $5 to $10. Hotels also lend them to guests during rainy spells.
First-Aid Kits
Credit: pexels
Carrying a full first-aid kit tends to lead to wasted space and inconvenience. Items get flagged at airport security, especially scissors or gels, and digging through your luggage mid-trip just to find a bandage becomes annoying fast. That said, you can always bring prescription medications and any specific over-the-counter products you rely on.
Towels
Credit: Aflo
Beach towels are oversized by nature, which makes them hard to pack well. They don’t fold compactly, and they soak up space quickly. If neither option works, buying one locally is easy and mainly affordable. After the trip, it can serve as a souvenir or be left behind without much guilt.
Snacks
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Packed snacks may get crushed, forgotten, or tossed out due to customs rules. Unless you’re keeping something for a medical reason, it’s easier to buy food once you’re on the ground. Airports and convenience stores have plenty of options, and you might even discover something better than what you packed.
Cash
Credit: flickr
Getting foreign cash prior to your trip usually means higher fees and unfavorable exchange rates. Banks and airport kiosks add hidden markups that chip away at your budget. You’ll have fewer options to adjust once abroad.
Detergent
Credit: flickr
Travelers often throw detergent into their bags, thinking it’ll come in handy, but it brings the same headaches as lugging full-size toiletries. Liquids leak, powders create a mess, and containers take up more space than expected. You can also use the laundry service at hotels or go to laundromats, where they sometimes sell single-use detergent packs for around $1 to $3.
SIM Cards Bought Too Soon
Credit: flickr
Ordering a SIM card before traveling locks you into a plan that might not fit once you arrive. Shops at your destination will sometimes offer cheaper and highly flexible options that are easier to manage. You can pick based on local coverage and data needs instead of guessing ahead of time.
Tripods
Credit: flickr
At first, dragging a tripod with you seems like a smart way to capture steadier and professional-looking photos. They’re great for night shots or long exposures and appeal to anyone who enjoys photography. Still, they rarely get enough use to justify their size and weight. You’re eventually going to end up relying on benches, railings, or backpacks instead.
Sanitizer
Credit: pexels
After COVID, keeping sanitizing products became second nature. It still makes sense to keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer handy during flights and airport transfers. But hauling multiple sprays, gels, and wipes adds unnecessary weight and risk.
Water Bottles
Credit: flickr
If your destination has safe drinking water, it’s better to buy a bottle there and reuse it throughout the trip. There are a lot of travelers who also choose to buy collapsible versions in an attempt to save room.