Here’s What You Should Not Buy While Traveling

Thanks to high gas prices, airfare at a premium, high demand and inflation overall, travel is now a massive financial task.

Luckily, according to a new report from Travel + Leisure, there are some easy-if not obvious-ways travelers are good at saving money. And, spoiler alert, it has to do with what they are hindi buys when they travel.

According to Kristen Gall, retail and shopping expert at Rakuten, souvenirs are a big money. “When it comes to travel, it’s hard to resist buying things so you have a piece of that memory at home,” he says. “However, it’s important to remember that you don’t need every souvenir that catches your eye.”

“When traveling abroad, I only recommend buying things you can’t take home, or small enough so as not to affect the weight of your luggage. If you are scheduled to take home a souvenir, save for something special, instead of wasting your money on a bunch of trinkets that you will not think about when you get home, ”he added.

Another benefit of not being proud of souvenirs is that you also don’t have to worry about squeezing it in your suitcase when it’s time to go home. That’s important if you have a tendency to overpack-even a few souvenirs can push you to exceed the luggage weight limit. And even if you don’t exceed the weight limit, items can be lost in transit or confiscated at customs.

Beyond removing souvenirs, you can pass on travel insurance depending on the type of your trip. While travel insurance may be useful for mitigating certain issues, it is not covered all (read fine print). I, for example, have never bought travel insurance and, knock on wood, I don’t need it either. It’s important, especially in climate, sure – but not entirely important.

There is also, according to experts, a lot to say for booking in advance. Whether it’s hotel rooms or rental cars, you’ll always pay more on the spot than if you made arrangements in advance.

Finally, consider using a credit card that offers cash rebates and/or no foreign exchange fees, and avoid tourist traps, which are, in general, more expensive than other places. Again, this isn’t particularly revealing as travel tips go, but in this economy, every little help.