Never Buy This Comfort Item At The Airport If You Can Avoid It

We've all experienced the sinking feeling brought on by arriving at the airport and realizing we've forgotten something important. While forgetting a passport, a wallet, or cell phone is true cause for panic, leaving behind other items is just an unfortunate nuisance. And this is where airport shops have you in a chokehold. From adapters and power banks to miniature shampoos, these ubiquitous stores have it all. However, there's one thing you should never buy at the airport.

Unless you're in serious danger of a tweaked neck, avoid buying a neck pillow at all costs. These U-shaped travel pillows are usually made of memory foam or soft stuffing and prevent your head from falling to the side if you fall asleep. Any experienced traveler will tell you a good neck pillow can easily make or break an international flight. However, not all neck pillows are created equal (in quality or price), and there's no guarantee the limited selection of pillows at an airport shop will yield an accessory that meets your needs. 

Although these pillowy comfort accessories feel like a godsend on a transatlantic flight or a redeye from San Francisco to New York City, they're extremely overpriced at the airport. The same neck pillow that costs less than $12 on Amazon or through another retailer might sell for two or three times that price at the airport. While we're all familiar with the law of supply and demand, overpaying for a neck pillow when you know you can find it much cheaper elsewhere (or worse, when you already have one at home) is a tough pill to swallow. 

While it may sound gross, another reason not to purchase a neck pillow at the airport is hygiene. Think of all the sweaty necks and dirty fingers that touched that pillow before you purchased it — it's enough to make any germaphobe shiver and reach for the hand sanitizer. Instead, try out this sweater hack that proves you don't need to buy a travel pillow to sleep well on a plane (FYI, it also works with hoodies). Or consider buying an inflatable neck pillow and leaving it in the outside pocket of your go-to carry-on bag. 

Although it can be tempting to browse the airport shops, especially on a long layover, there are a few things you should leave on the shelves. First, don't buy electronics at the airport. Lindsay Sakraida, the director of content marketing at DealNews recently told Reader's Digest, "Electronics are, on average, 34 percent more expensive at the airport than what they would be online." The main takeaway: Those headphones probably aren't worth it. 

Another item we urge you not to buy at an airport is bottled water. Not only is that tiny bottle incredibly overpriced (imagine how many you could buy at a grocery store), but it also contributes to plastic waste. Instead, pack a reusable bottle and refill it in the terminal. However, before you start bringing all your own goods, check out these unexpected things you can't take through TSA.

Last but not least, try not to be sucked in by souvenirs. That kitschy T-shirt, those magnets, or the dog plushie are likely much more expensive than their non-airport counterparts. Although these markups are due to a variety of reasons, the overall cost of running a shop in an airport and having an audience with no alternative are both contributing factors. Want to save money in the terminal? These budget travel hacks for how to travel cheap will help keep cash in your wallet.