The Old-School '80s Travel Trend That's Becoming Super Popular Again

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As someone who grew up in the 1980s, I remember my friends and I getting excited about all the new technology that was on the horizon. If it had flashing lights and made beeping sounds, it was a good bet that we wanted to own it. However, decades later, technology has taken over our lives for better or for worse, and the younger generation is looking back in time for trends and items that were popular in a more analog world. That's just as true for travel as it is in other areas. In fact, objects like physical travel journals rather than live videos on Instagram are among the analog and low-tech travel items finding new life with younger people. Another '80s travel trend that is gaining in popularity is the disposable camera. According to a report from Global Growth Insights, the market for disposable cameras reached nearly $1 billion in 2025 and is on its way up. It's all part of the Gen Z trend of embracing physical media, according to Forbes in 2026. 

If you've never used film in a camera, let alone a disposable one, it's a very different experience than using your phone. You have to be selective about what you shoot and wait for days (unless you use an instant camera) to see what comes out after the film is developed. You're also limited by the number of exposures. I distinctly remember going to London with a disposable camera that only had 24 shots and planning my pictures before I left home. Disposable cameras mean you can't touch up your images or put them right on social media to share with the world before you even leave the place you took them.

If you're planning on using a disposable camera for the first time on your next vacation, you may want to get one to practice with beforehand so you're familiar with how they work. While waiting for your pictures to be developed takes patience, it'll pay off once you have something to hold in your hand and post on a wall, rather than an image that disappears into the thousands of photos stored on your phone. Since you don't actually have to rely on this sort of camera, and they're limited in terms of the number of images, use them for photos you may want to save in an album or frame in your house.

If you're flying with disposable cameras, put them in your carry-on bag and request a hand inspection rather than sending them through the machines at the TSA checkpoint or putting them in checked baggage. While lower-ISO film may be able to stand up to a single pass through a carry-on scanner, some newer scanners can damage them. The strong CT scanners that checked baggage goes through can destroy undeveloped film as well. Better safe than sorry.

If you want to try this '80s travel trend out, disposable cameras are easy to come by, like the Fujifilm QuickSnap Flash 400 One-Time Use Camera on Amazon. And you don't have to stop there. Pick up a few postcards to send home with a stamp rather than sending a text, or book your next vacation through an actual travel agent. Finally, if all of this has you feeling nostalgic for a time long ago, here are 10 old-school U.S. cities with attractions that feel stuck in the 1980s.