For travelers, getting around these days is incredibly easy. As long as your phone has internet access and enough battery, that is. Once one of the two is gone it’s a totally different story. And to think that there was a time when that’s all there was! Traveling sure did look different and travelers had to rely on other skills or items to help them on their journeys. Most of those items are now absorbed into our smartphones but they are still fun to look back at:
Maps
Reading a fold-up map was a skill back in the 90s. GPS wasn’t available, so travelers had to check paper maps and, depending on where they were going, even a compass. Common sense and some basic geographical knowledge were essential to avoid getting lost. Lonely Planet guidebooks were handy in giving advice and ideas as to where the best tourist spots and some more secretive locales could be found.
Music players
People entertained themselves with music played on a Discman or a Walkman. As you might remember, Sony Discmans were portable, battery-operated CD players with a set of headphones that allowed music to blast the wearer’s ears without the need to connect directly to a power supply.
Cameras
Photographs felt like opening a present. Since digital cameras didn’t emerge until later in the decade, people had to wait until their pictures were developed to see if the outcome was blurry or beautiful. Some used disposable or single-use cameras for their photos. Others carried around rolls of film for their reusable cameras. Apple later released the QuickTake, one of the first digital cameras, sold on the market from 1994 to 1997. This camera cost around $700 (about $1000 today).
Postcards
Postcards were used to keep in touch with family and friends. With overseas calls being too expensive, travelers opted to buy postcards from hotels and souvenir stores. On the back of the card were six lines allowing for a handwritten message.
Cash
There were no credit or debit cards in the early days of travel, so tourists had to carry around large amounts of cash. Traveler’s checks were also popular. Fanny packs and belt bags were commonly used to stash banknotes. Others became creative and thought of different methods to hide their wads of cash.