Every other person I’ve run into lately is heading out on vacation. Maybe because we live in a beach community people have waited out the good summer weather and now they are antsy for adventure. I know that September and October are some of my favorite months to go wandering, as the crowds and temperatures in most places have both decreased in those months. And I can usually avoid bad flying weather (the occasional New England hurricane not withstanding). It has me thinking about travel items: what I need to buy and what I can buy on thrift. So I’m sharing my short list of the best thrift travel items with you today.
Luggage is Among Best Thrift Travel Items
Let’s start at the very beginning… as the song goes… “It’s a very fine place to start.” And when it comes to travel, the suitcase is the beginning. If it’s airport travel, you’ll want one with wheels. If you’re not checking a bag, you’ll want one that conforms to the size requirements. And if you know anything about airport luggage handlers, you’ll want something that can take a beating. Enter the consignment or thrift shop. These places are a great resource for luggage. And the prices are so far off regular retail. My brick-and-mortar store, Consignments Ltd. always has suitcases for sale. And you can often snag great name brand bags for so much less.
No luck at consignment on the perfect bag with a wonderful warranty? Amazon has a great price on the Briggs & Riley Spinner that comes with a lifetime repair/replacement warranty.
Travel Bags Are A Steal at Thrift
Other great things to buy when you’re at the thrift or consignment shop are travel bags. I’m talking about makeup bags, toiletry bags and coin purses (for they pesky foreign coins that are actually worth real money). Most of these bags are in new or like-new condition at good shops because people consign or donate these bags when they don’t like the color of the item or they already have one that they really like. If you tend to compartmentalize as you pack, this is the best and most economical way to do it.
Travel Handbags and Wallets Are Great at Thrift
A good cross-body bag is worth it’s weight in gold. It keeps you hands-free for all the sightseeing and shopping you’re doing on vacation and keeps your valuables protected. Consignment and thrift stores are rife with handbags and cross-body styles are readily found. Hell, if you buy them on thrift you can afford one to go with each of your outfits! Don’t tell my husband I said that, however, as he’s the king of packing light. LOL.
Travel wallets are also a great buy at thrift and consignment. You don’t really need to stuff that massive wallet from your purse, with every credit card you own, into the adorable travel purse you just scored. Downsize your wallet to the essential cards. Buy it at thrift. You’ll thank me for it.
On a related note, check out my previous blog: How to Avoid Being Picket Pocketed on Vacation.
Water Bottles: A Travel Essential
OK, so you can’t go through airport security with water, but you can go through with an empty water bottle and fill it once you’re through. Bringing your own water saves so much money whilst traveling and it also puts that much less plastic into the environment. But water bottles can be expensive, especially for a good one. So thrift can be a perfect place to go for one.
Brand Insider Tip: My favorite is the Zulu Insulated Water Bottle because the bottom unscrews for easy cleaning on-the-go. I also love Yeti and have found them occasionally on thrift, as well.
For more good reads on travel, check out my previous blogs: Travel Items to Avoid Buying Second Hand and Be Good To The Environment When You Travel.
And Now For Some Music Before We Go…
Happy travels, my friends. Marianne
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