If affordable travel is your goal, and accomplished in part through a careful review of cheap travel options, including cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, and cheap vacation packages, then the last thing you want to do is waste money and luggage space on travel products you dont really need.
The following are travel products not worth purchasing, according to Smarter Travel:
Alarm clocks are not needed if you are staying at a hotel because most hotels already have them in their rooms or guests can request a free wake-up call from the front desk. Your back up option is always to use your cell phone as an alarm clock.
Money belts are not recommended because they tend to make people stand out as tourists, albeit ones with weirdly shaped torsos. If you want to carry the bulk of your cash in something other than a wallet, consider wearing an updated version of the money belt from the Clever Travel Companion clothing line.
Cameras can be left behind unless you own a very high end camera that has desirable features that cannot be found on your cell phone. Using your cell phone camera will mean that you have less to carry and your photos will be easier to upload and share.
Travel towels made of quick dry material tend to not adequately dry off the user and often remain wet when you have to pack them in your luggage.
Instead of purchasing packing cubes use Ziploc bags which are lighter and cheaper to organize your luggage. Ziploc bags can be thrown away after being used to pack dirty clothes separately in your bags. Another downside of packing cubes is that they tend to take up too much space and can prevent the most efficient utilization of limited space. Instead roll clothes and stuff things in corners.
Passport covers tend to be more of a hindrance than a plus given that you have to take your passport out of its holder at customs. Most covers do not protect passports from damage caused by water or a spilled drink in a bag.
Guidebooks are a thing of the past in the era of smartphones, tablets, and e-readers. Download an electronic version of a guidebook or use a guidebook replacing app.
Non-Transportation Security Administration (TSA) locks are a waste of money since airport security will often break or cut a non-TSA lock open during inspection.
Travelers checks are widely considered outdated and a hassle. Many places no longer accept them and those that do sometimes charge hefty fees and give poor exchange rates. Instead rely on credit cards for expensive items and debit (ATM) cards for cash.
www.cheapfares.com