Showerthought: my $30 travel towel from a shop in Bangkok was the best thing I ever packed

I almost didn't buy it because it seemed like a silly extra thing, but it dried so fast after beach days in Koh Lanta that I never had a wet, sandy mess in my bag. It packed down to the size of a soda can and saved me from paying for overpriced rentals at three different hostels. Has anyone found a specific item like that which seemed small but saved a bunch of money?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_cora1mo ago

But what if you just used a regular towel? I've traveled with a normal one for years, roll it up tight and it's fine. Those special travel towels can feel weird, like they don't really soak up water. I've seen people drop way more than $30 on stuff they use once, like a special neck pillow or packing cubes. Sometimes the old way is cheaper and works just as well.

jason_wood1mo ago

I packed a regular towel for a trip to Lisbon last year. @the_cora is right, it dries you off way better than the fancy microfiber ones. Never saw the point in buying a worse towel.

bettywilson27d ago

Try packing a regular towel inside a plastic grocery bag before you roll it up. It keeps the damp towel from touching your clothes and takes up less space than you'd think. I did that on a two-week camping trip and never had a mildew problem.