Travel Tips Tuesdays: 7 Worst Things to Buy on Vacation

Plus, we're releasing our 2026 trip to Croatia and offering you the best travel shoe ever.

Author

Jeannie Edmunds
May 06, 2025

Travel news for our favorite travelers.

Greetings Travel Tip-Seekers!

Here are this week’s tips curated for you from our reliable sources in the travel industry and from general interest newsletters, websites, and publications.

Airport Lingo

The other day I landed in Denver at Frontier’s farthest gate. We had to disembark down a covered, 3-tiered walkway to the ground, where we were on the “apron.” Then we entered the terminal at the ground level, passing the “red line” into the SRA. There are “imaginary” areas of an airport too, and these change from time to time. But they apply to all airports, all over the world.

Airport Areas Explained - Airside, Landside and Apron.

The Airport is a huge, complex area. If you work there, you'll need to know what these are. And who controls access and training

Seriously? Dried Coconut?

6 Things You Should Never Pack in Checked Luggage

Packing mindfully can take much of the stress out of the start of a vacation, ensuring you pass through the airport without a hitch. Regulations governing what passengers can and cannot carry vary considerably between checked and carry-on baggage. To help you prepare for your next trip, here are six things you should never pack in your checked luggage.

Eggplant Toothpaste. It’s a Thing in Japan.

I know someone who buys toothpastes whenever she travels. She has a huge collection with all kinds of weird flavors. My mother, rest her soul, collected condoms from 44 countries. Leave it to the Japanese to make them with tortoise shell or animal horn. In a word…OUCH!

7 of the Worst Things to Buy on a Vacation

From collectibles to clothes, we all have our favorite items to bring back from a trip. But that doesn’t mean anything goes when it comes to souvenirs, especially when traveling to another country. Here’s what to avoid when you’re in the mood to splash some cash on a vacation abroad.

Uh Oh. Pray You Don’t See This On Your Next Trip!

The dreaded SSSS: What you need to know if you get this TSA tag on your boarding pass

Everything you need to know about why you might get the SSSS enhanced screening tag on your boarding pass and what you can do to smooth the TSA process.

We Need Longer Layovers for This

These 10 International Airports Are Taking Dining to New Heights

Forget sad, overpriced sandwiches — some airports have stepped up their food game in a big way. The 2025 Global Tastemakers list highlights airports where travelers can enjoy everything from handmade sushi to sizzling shawarma. If you have a flight to one of these hubs, consider it a culinary layover worth savoring.

You Don’t Have to be OCD to Love These Capsules

Coolest Travel Containers

Customizable, leakproof, magnetic travel containers designed to fit together easily for convenience and more space.

Shoe of the Moment

Jeannie Ralston has recommended hundreds of products based on her travel experience, including the most comfortable, versatile shoes for sight-seeing around the world. Her favorite of all shoe brands is Sorel, particularly this style here.

KINETIC™ Impact II Lace Women's Sneaker | SOREL

Jeannie R. has 12 different pairs of Sorel shoes, and 3 versions of this particular style. So yeah—she likes them.

Happy Trails—

Jeannie Edmunds
Chief Operating Officer

Upcoming Trip Previews

Mark your calendar for our upcoming Trip Previews (each at 6:30PM ET).

May 19: Perfect Seattle Weekend RSVP here. 

May 28: Rocky Mountain Adventure RSVP here.

June 19: Best of Portugal RSVP here.

June 24: The Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu RSVP here

Just Released!

Only 4 spots left!

This trip is almost sold out after our Lifetime Members and Members got first peek at it. (If you want to get priority access on future trips, sign up as a member here.)

This year’s remaining trips: Filling up Fast!

Click on a square to see our trip listing.

Reserve your spot: $500 for international trips/$300 for domestic trips

REMEMBER: We offer interest-free monthly payments

SOLD OUT

Last minute openings with a RARE discount.

One of our most adventurous trips

New this year, with some great activities

You’re gonna want to move here!

Nobody does Paris like our Trip Leader, Ellen!

If you love beauty, food, and Georgia O’Keefe

Mother’s Day Gift to Yourself?

No tent camping this year!

2 spots just opened on our Deluxe Day of the Dead trip.

Our own private villa for the week

ONLY 1 SPOT LEFT!

We just can’t quit Italy!

Join the Journey Next Year. Save Your Spot for $500!

A leisurely pace in a beautiful place.

Tagines and shopping and camels, Oh my!

By popular demand, our 7th time returning!

Plus a Galapagos add-on!

ONLY 1 SPOT LEFT!

A complete insider experience.

Almost sold out—can you believe it?

***

Share NextTribe, Earn a Reward

Note: When you click the link below, you’ll be redirected to your Referral Progress page. From there, you can copy your unique referral link and share it with friends or colleagues.

You can also track your progress anytime on that page, so be sure to bookmark it! 🌟 

What Counts as a Successful Referral?

  • A referral is only counted as successful when:

    1. Someone signs up using your unique referral link

    2. They confirm their subscription by clicking the confirmation link in the opt-in email they receive

  • Once they confirm, one successful referral will be recorded.

Why Do We Require Confirmation?

To keep the referral program fair and meaningful, we only count referrals from real, engaged subscribers. This ensures that rewards are earned by genuine participation, not bots or fake signups.