Disposables get all the attention at the counter. Bright packaging, bold flavors, no buttons, no refills. Marketers push them as the easiest way to vape on the go, and for a quick trip that's true. You don't have to carry bottles, coils, or chargers beyond the device itself. The trade-off is that you're paying for that convenience with a higher cost per puff and a sealed battery that dies when it dies.

Pod kits, on the other hand, make a quieter pitch. You buy a device, snap in a pod, and refill with e-liquid. The upfront cost is higher, but you control the ongoing expense. That's the loud feature nobody talks about: the long-term savings. It's not flashy, but for a budget traveler, it's the number that matters.