It’s why flea markets have long been part of my travel plans: I coordinate Sunday flights with flea marketing hours, booking to fly either late enough to hunt for finds the next morning or super-early to arrive before a good one closes. In cities where a flea market isn’t held weekly—like Miami, where Lincoln Road’s version is held mostly on alternate Sundays, and only in the cooler months—I deliberately schedule travel dates around attending.
Over years of long-distance flea marketing, I’ve developed some techniques along the way. I travel with a flea marketing outfit: comfortable shoes of course, but also accessories that don’t look flashy, as much to keep prices down when haggling as to ward potential pickpockets away. I always carry a couple canvas tote bags for purchases, one loaded with essentials like water, hand sanitizer, and, depending on the weather forecast, an umbrella or sunscreen. On a smartphone, pre-downloaded navigation, translation, and currency calculating apps come in handy. Cash is king at flea markets, so it’s best to come with plenty of small bills for inexpensive finds.
Low prices can make purchases tempting, but it’s important not to get too wrapped up in the moment. “Don’t buy something just because it’s cheap,” says Virginia Chamlee, author of the book Big Thrift Energy: The Art and Thrill of Finding Vintage Treasures. “The number one thing to do is to check for quality. That’s a mistake I see people making all the time: they’ll buy something that’s maybe a little dinged or a little damaged, and it’s really, really inexpensive. They think, ‘I’m going to get it home and I’ll fix it.’ You know what? You will never fix it: you will end up with a garage full of broken things.”
To get precious purchases home, I pack a foldable carry-on tote and wrap breakables in clothing for cushioning. (I’ve found that underwear and socks—even if they’re dirty!— are particularly effective to protect china cups and dishes.) Sometimes, shipping things back—which many vendors can help with—is the best way to go, especially when things are bulky.
Also essential? Come with a spirit of discovery, as well as flexibility.
“You can’t always make a shopping list when you go to a flea market,” Chamlee says. “You can say, ‘I’m looking for a coffee table,’ but you might not find the exact coffee table you’re looking for, so I do think it’s important to keep your mind and eyes open for surprises.”
