Travel is an incredible experience. The sense of freedom is exhilarating as you escape the confinements of your job and monotonous everyday. But unfortunately travel can be just as expensive as it is exciting.

Of course you want to look good as you wander the streets of Paris, or relax on the beach in Phuket, but purchasing high-end designer labels can really eat away at your travel budget, and less budget usually means eating ramen noodles out of a youth hostel!

So we’re in favor of ditching the designer for the destination, and thoroughly enjoying your travel experience. There have been many experiments conducted that prove spending money on experiences instead of things result in more overall happiness. And a great place to start is with your sunglasses.

The Best Cheap Sunglasses for Travel: Spend More on Travel and Less on Material Things!

Your face is by far your greatest feature. It shows the world who you are and allows you to communicate your uniqueness. Your sunglasses are not only an extension of your face and personality, but they also protect your stunning eyes.

Our favorite brands for sunglasses, Sunglass Warehouse or https://goodr.com/ recognize the importance of travel and how expensive it can get, and have created a fabulous range of designer-like styles at budget prices (under $15) to address this.

Travel can be adventurous, fast paced, and even a bit rough at times. I can’t tell you how infuriating it is to lose or break a pair of sunglasses that cost the same as a night in a 5-star hotel. I’ve made the mistake of falling into the designer label trap and always end up leaving them on planes, in hotel rooms, and one is probably being worn by a very stylish crab which I lost swimming off Bondi Beach. Never Again!

So choosing cheap sunglasses allows me to stock up on the latest styles so I can easily and affordably bring several pairs on every trip. This not only saves a lot of cash by not buying designer labels, but means you avoid the dreaded trip to the local gas station to grab a replacement pair (we’ve all been there!).

Why Sunglasses are So Important

Of course a good pair of sunglasses will have sex appeal, but what’s even more attractive are the health benefits they bring. Sunburn of the eyes is a real thing, and it’s PAINFUL!

Travel has a way of putting us in environments that can be harsh on the eyes whether it be a beach escape, snow skiing vacation, or high altitude mountain trek. And protecting your eyes while you’re traveling is vital for making sure you can continue to see the world with clarity.

We all know the importance of applying sunscreen, but equally important is having a quality pair of sunglasses with UV protection. Our eyes are particularly susceptible to sun damage, especially light-colored eyes. Long hours in the sun or the reflecting rays of a lake, beach, or the pavement during a road trip can all lead to some nasty eye complications.

Vision loss, cataracts, eye related cancers, and even blindness can be repercussions of not wearing eye protection. Even if you’re traveling on a winter getaway, you should travel with proper eye protection, as snow blindness is a thing (and it sucks!!!)

UV 400 Prtotection

With eye protection in mind, it’s important to look for sunglasses that are rated UV 400. UV 400 sunglasses have been optimized to block both UVA and UVB radiation, and are capable of blocking the smallest of light rays thereby blocking 99-100% of the sun’s harmful radiation.

All styles from the Sunglass Warehouse range come equipped with UV 400 protection. The following are a couple of things to consider when you’re making your pick.

Polarized Sunglasses

Polarized sunglasses block out intense light reflection and glare, improving both comfort and visibility.

Those who enjoy outdoor recreation such as golfers, skiers, runners, and bikers will benefit from having polarized lenses. They can aid with sport performance and safety.

Size and Fit

It’s of course important to choose a sunglass style which fits your face and doesn’t cause any physical stress. Sunglasses which are too tight can cause ear and nose discomfort as well as inflict nasty headaches.

Choosing sunglasses with larger lenses or ones that wrap around your face will provide better coverage against the sun’s rays and its ill effects.

Why Buy From Sunglass Warehouse

No matter what your loveable face shape is, Sunglass Warehouse offers the perfect shades to match your personality. Their easy to use website allows you to search for and select the style that is truly right for you. Easily choose your preference of shape, lens color, lens type, frame color, material, size, and of course style.

I’ve seen countless sunglass ads claiming their brand is made for travel with indestructible material design and gimmicks such as “Sportsflex”, “Prizm technology”, or “Pro Ultra- UV Protection”. While travel can be rough at times, you’re not going into battle, and at a cost of hundreds of dollars you could break or lose dozens of Sunglass Warehouse styles for the same price.

Purchasing a pair of quality shades at a low price also allows you to easily and affordably change up your style or keep up with the latest fashion trends.

While the low price alone was enough to grab my attention, their easy ordering and returns process along with wide range of shipping options both within the U.S. and internationally really sets them apart.

The Sunglasses I’m Sporting

Soprano: Cat Eye Sunglasses

Always a sucker for a classic, I chose Sunglass Warehouse’s Soprano design.

Made famous by the legendary Audrey Hepburn in her role as Holly in the iconic film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, they have continued to grace the faces of celebrities today. You’ll see the style worn by stars like Selena Gomez, Katy Perry, Miranda Kerr, and Scarlett Johansson to name a few.

The cat eye style of today has come a long way from the 60s version which had far more exaggerated details. Today’s cat eye sunglasses have bigger and rounder lenses that flatter just about every face shape imaginable. This makes them a prefect option when you are unsure of what style will suit you.

Sleek, stylish, and extremely affordable make for the all-around perfect pair of travel sunglasses.

Rowdy: Matte Flat Metal Front Sunglasses

As I’m not one to cause a big scene, the Rowdy design was perfect as it isn’t too flashy and goes well with just about anything. It combines an image of the cool cheerleader captain with the quiet but confident librarian.

Sadly if you were hoping to copy my style, you’re a bit too late. The Rowdy has been discontinued and will not be restocked. It proves the importance of jumping on Sunglass Warehouse styles while you can. Many designs are made exclusively for SW and are available in limited quantities.

 Shipping

If you happen to be travelling through Greenwood, Indiana you can pick a pair from Sunglass Warehouse’s actual warehouse, otherwise you’ll have to settle for your shades being shipped to you. Online ordering is easy although you can order over the phone if you’d like to talk to someone.

Whether you’ve scored an impromptu trip or tend to procrastinate a bit when it comes to packing, Sunglass Warehouse has you covered. Within the contiguous U.S. you have the option to get your shades in as little as 1-2 days with the reasonably priced Priority Mail Express option. Even the Standard Priority and First Class Mail options should get your sunglasses to you in under a week.

Even if you find yourself overseas, don’t let that stop you from glamming up your eyes with SW’s awesome styles. You can have your new collection of shades shipped internationally with the Priority Mail Express International option which will have you looking great in approx 5-10 days.

For more information visit sunglasswarehouse.com.

SPREAD THE WORD! PIN THIS TO YOUR TRAVEL PINTEREST BOARDS ↓

Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild; a website dedicated to opening your eyes to the wild & natural world.

Committed to bringing you the best in adventure travel from all around the globe, there is no mountain too high, and no fete too extreme! They haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on their list.

If you enjoy getting social, you can follow their journey on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram.