Travel Tips

Remember these 90s vacation essentials? 9 Classics everyone brought on vacation in the 90s

Remember vacations before smartphones? From Walkmans to fanny packs, here are 9 classic 90s vacation essentials that will make you laugh, cringe, and appreciate how easy travel is today.

Travel prep in the 90s wasn’t just about booking flights and hotels. We also had to acquire a long list of “essentials”… things we wouldn’t dream of packing today.

That’s right. Well before smartphones and lightweight gadgets, we’d lug around bulky cameras, fold-out maps, and enough AA batteries to power a small village.

In this throwback, we’re revisiting 9 of the most common things to pack for vacation in the 90s. Some will make you laugh, others will make you cringe, but all of them will remind you just how fun (and slightly chaotic) travel used to be.

Ready for some serious 90s travel nostalgia? Let’s dive in!

Walkman and mixtapes

Walkmans were bulky and awkward to use, yet they were the ultimate 90s travel flex. They didn’t fit in your pocket, so you’d either have to have it in your bag (with the zip slightly open for the headphones cable) or as I often did, walk around holding it with pure pride!

And then there were the mixtapes we’d spent hours recording from the radio. Looking back, the audio quality was terrible, but blasting them out in the car while on a road trip was 100% vibes.

Disposable camera and film rolls

As a kid growing up, my parents would treat me to a new disposable camera before each summer vacation. I’d get so excited (especially if I got one with a funky design!) and took my role of family photographer VERY seriously.

With the limited number of photos those film rolls allowed for, I’d try to ration the shots to make it last the entire vacation, all while praying none turned out with a giant thumb in the frame!

Then the moment of truth… A week later, receiving the photos back from the lab and seeing how good (or, in my case, bad) they had turned out!

Folded maps and Lonely Planet guidebooks

When I decided to take my first backpacking trip around Australia in the 90s, the very first thing I did was purchase a Lonely Planet guide. Before Google and social media, these were the go-to resources for planning trips and finding travel recommendations.

And what about using actual paper maps, which were always ridiculously big?!

I don’t know what tested my patience more… Trying to work out where I was or attempting to neatly fold the map back up!

International calling cards

Remember international calling cards?! Calling home from abroad in the 90s was a mini-adventure in itself.

You’d scratch off the card, punch in about 27 numbers, and cross your fingers that it worked.

But hey, at least with these cards, you wouldn’t be hit with an eye-watering phone bill, as once the card’s credit ran out, the call automatically terminated. And they kept us connected with our loved ones (eventually!). If you’re curious about today’s options for staying in touch abroad, here’s a quick guide on how to make international calls.

Printed flight tickets and hotel vouchers

In the 90s, one of the most critical pre-travel tasks was printing your plane tickets and hotel booking voucher.

And back then, most of us didn’t have printers at home, which meant we had to go to the library (and often, book a slot) the day before our trip to complete this crucial duty!

Cash (a lot of) and Traveler’s Checks

Before ATMs were on every corner and multi-currency accounts were a thing, we’d have to create a budget for our vacation. We’d then take that exact amount of cash to the post office or bank, and exchange it for the currency we needed.

But because carrying a large amount of cash like this was not the safest option, many of us would opt for traveler’s checks, AKA THE “credit card” for the 90s.

These were a much more secure alternative to cash. You could exchange these checks for local currency at your destination or sometimes use them to pay for goods and services directly.

Fanny packs (the OG belt bag)

Because 90s travel involved carrying around a lot of cash and important documents, fanny packs (also known as belt bags) became the height of fashion.

Fanny packs were one of the trendiest 90s vacation essentials, and they came in all kinds of bright colors and wacky designs.

You’d wear them around your waist like a belt with the bag slightly to the side, resting on your hip. This kept your valuables safe and gave you easy access to your maps, travel guide, and all the other millions of things you’d have to carry around with you!

Travel alarm clocks

With the many conveniences we now have thanks to smartphones, it’s easy to forget all those little things to pack for vacation in the 90s… like travel alarm clocks!

Because setting an alarm on your phone wasn’t a thing, we’d have to take a physical alarm clock on vacation with us. Thankfully, they at least made travel versions, which were much smaller than the ones we typically had on our nightstands!

Magazines, books, and Game Boys

While today our phones can hold e-magazines, e-books, and video games, back in the 90s, these were all separate (and let’s be honest, bulky) items.

I specifically remember that for my family vacations, we would pack a huge ‘car bag’ full of things to keep us entertained. Yet somehow, my siblings and I would always end up fighting over the Game Boy!

In this article

Travel hacks we wish we had in the 90s

Looking back, it’s wild how much effort went into simply getting through a trip. Today, these gadgets make things much easier:

Maps vs. Google Maps – Every family vacation back in the day involved getting lost at least once, despite my dad claiming to be ‘a great navigator.’ Fast forward to today, and Google Maps allows us to pinpoint our exact location in seconds. Sure, it sometimes makes mistakes, but it still beats three hours of driving in circles while arguing over the right exit! Also, don’t forget to check how much data Google Maps really uses on a road trip before you hit the road.
Mixtapes vs. Spotify – Back then, making a road trip mixtape took hours of carefully recording songs off the radio. Now, Spotify puts every song imaginable in your pocket, ready to stream anywhere. Honestly, how would you even explain Spotify to your 90s self? And if you’re wondering how much data Spotify burns through on a long drive, here’s a quick look at Spotify’s data usage.
Alarm clocks vs. smartphones – It’s crazy to think we once had to bring an alarm clock on vacation. The smartphone alarm clock function is surely one of the most underrated modern conveniences.
Calling cards vs. eSIMs – Forget that complex 10-step process of speaking with your friends and family. eSIMs now allow you to connect instantly, so you can make calls, send messages, and update your loved ones the moment you land.

No calling cards, just instant data

While you don’t need calling cards anymore, you do need instant, reliable data. That’s where Holafly eSIM comes in.

With unlimited data plans in over 190 destinations, you can land, scan a QR code, and connect instantly. Holafly makes modern travel as effortless as those trusty 90s fanny packs (only way more stylish).

→ Shop Holafly eSIM destinations and choose the best plan for your next trip.

Love smart travel hacks? Follow Holafly on Google Discover for more tips to make your trips smoother.