16 Forgotten ’90s Travel Fads That Feel Outdated Now
This article features 16 travel trends from the 1990s that were once popular but now feel outdated and amusing.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
Travel in the ’90s looked very different from today. People relied on paper maps, cassette tapes, and camcorders to document their trips. Some trends were practical at the time, while others now feel a bit silly. This list takes a fun look back at how travel used to be.
1. Bedding on the Roof Rack
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Before cargo carriers became standard, families often tied mattresses or pillows directly to the roof rack. It was a balancing act of straps, knots, and prayers that the bedding would not take flight on the highway. Looking back, it was equal parts resourceful and slightly reckless.
2. Travel Agent Essentials
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Booking a trip in the ’90s meant calling a travel agent, not clicking a website. These agents handled every detail, from flights to hotel vouchers, often handing over a neatly stapled itinerary. It felt like having a personal trip planner — because you literally did.
3. Guidebooks Galore
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Guidebooks were the traveler’s lifeline long before online reviews took over. They were filled with highlighted pages, folded corners, and handwritten notes in the margins. Owning the latest Lonely Planet meant you were serious about exploring.
4. Faxed Hotel Confirmations
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Yes, people used to fax their hotel reservations, and that was considered high-tech. Many travelers carried printed faxes just to check into a hotel without issues. It was slow, clunky, and oddly satisfying when that confirmation page printed out.
5. Polaroids & Camcorders
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Capturing memories meant dragging around bulky camcorders or snapping Polaroids with instant film. Every picture was precious because you only had a limited number of shots. You knew someone took travel seriously if they packed backup film rolls.
6. Road Trip Cassette Tapes
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Curating the perfect mix tape for a road trip was practically a pre-vacation ritual. Popping in a cassette and hitting the open road created a vibe that playlists just cannot copy. Rewinding by pencil was part of the experience.
7. Map Sprawls
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Before GPS, car rides involved folding and unfolding massive paper maps across the dashboard. One person always struggled to figure out which way was north. Once you fold it wrong, good luck ever getting it back into shape.
8. Airline Smoking Sections
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Airplanes once had smoking and non-smoking sections — even though the smoke didn’t exactly stay put. It was common to see a haze mid-flight and ashtrays in the armrests. It sounds wild now, but back then it was just another part of the flying experience.
9. Collectible Luggage Tags
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Airlines used to hand out branded luggage tags that travelers proudly attached to their suitcases. They became tiny trophies that told people where you had been. Some folks even kept them as souvenirs long after the trip ended.
10. Travel Charts & Hostel Walls
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Hostels and budget hotels used to post chalkboard charts listing local events, train times, or roommate tips. These low-tech message boards were packed with scribbled advice and doodles from past travelers. It was social media before smartphones were even a thing.
11. Tourbook Brochures
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Gas stations and hotel lobbies overflowed with glossy brochures advertising quirky attractions. Collecting them was a mini-hobby on the road, especially if you were hunting for the weirdest roadside stop. Half the time, those little pamphlets led to the best memories.
12. Beeper Check-ins
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If someone needed to reach you while you were traveling, they sent a beep. You would then find a payphone and call back, hopefully before the other person gave up. It sounds exhausting now, but it was considered convenient back then.
13. Mini Travel Guides
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Airports and bookstores sold pocket-sized travel guides that tried to cram entire cities into a few pages. They were helpful for quick sightseeing tips, even if the translations were questionable. Every serious traveler kept at least one tucked into their daypack.
14. Hotel Phone Books
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Before smartphones, travelers used hotel room phone books to find restaurants, call cabs, or even get weather updates. Some guests even used them as makeshift trip planners. They were bulky but surprisingly useful when you had no other options.
15. Physical Tickets & Boarding Passes
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Paper plane tickets came in little booklets, and boarding passes were printed at the airport desk. People often saved them as souvenirs tucked inside scrapbooks or travel journals. Losing one was a nightmare, but having it in hand felt official.
16. Souvenir Pez & Trinkets
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No trip was complete without grabbing a small souvenir like a novelty Pez dispenser or a snow globe. Airport gift shops were filled with keychains, magnets, and random knickknacks. These tiny treasures now sit in drawers, but they once meant everything.