Comments on: Quick Travel Tip: Bring Things You Can Throw Away

By: Emily Gerson

Emily Gerson — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:28:23 +0000

Thanks for chiming in, Jennifer! I can see how this would be misleading. I should probably have titled this “Bring things you can leave behind” rather than “Bring things you can throw away.”

For toiletries, I personally do use reusable travel-sized containers and refill them. I used to buy travel-sized ones at the drug stores and toss them when empty, but once I started traveling more, I decided to use the refillable ones. So I’m with you on that one — if you travel frequently, tossing out plastic every time certainly would be wasteful.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:03:32 +0000

When I saw the title of this post, I jumped to the wrong conclusion – I thought you were going to be promoting wastefulness. In fact, you’re not – those books do get reread, and clothes that we may considered ill-fitting or worn may be just what another family needs.

For toiletries, though, I don’t really like buying those travel sized containers. Frequent travelers can go through a lot of plastic that way! Better, and less wasteful, to buy a travel-size container and decant a little of our own shampoo (or whatever) into it.

Thoughtful post.

By: Jack - eyeflare travel

Jack - eyeflare travel — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:21:57 +0000

I do the same. You always have a few ratty things around and I don’t see a reason to bring a book back that I probably paid less then $5 for and have read cover-to-cover…

I’ve even done this with shoes. Mine tend to take a real beating, and I don’t buy pricey ones to begin with.

By: Emily Gerson

Emily Gerson — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:46:37 +0000

Glad you both agree! While it may be slightly wasteful, if they were items you were going to discard sometime soon anyway, it can’t hurt to do it in a time when you want to free up some space while traveling. A book-exchange program at a hostel is a wonderful idea!

By: Nancy

Nancy — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:52:13 +0000

I’ve definitely left books behind, especially at hostels with a book-exchange program going on. I often times I will not pack toiletries and just buy the smallest size possible when I get to the locale. Works out well.

By: paula pozmantier

paula pozmantier — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:35:59 +0000

Good idea! I have a friend that always takes tee shirts and jeans that she’s ready to discard and leaves them for hotel housekeepers, particularly in third world countries.