Secrets of Overpackers
March 20, 2012 by Scott Applebee · Leave a Comment
Generally in our blog, we recommend packing light and being very efficient in what you travel with — to reduce fees 
when you fly and cut down on clutter in the hotel room or wherever you’re staying. Many travelers share our views, either out of thrift or preference, judging from the shortage of available overhead-bin space.
But not everyone shares our opinion. Travel is a highly personal thing, and for some people, having clothing options and the comforts of home is an absolute must.
A reporter from the Sacramento Bee recently interviewed “overpackers” from all over the country about why they do what they do…and how to successfully overpack, if there is such a thing.
One traveler insisted she needed at least eight pairs of shoes for almost any trip; another packed 10 towels just for drying her hair. One man needs a separate suitcase just for his scuba gear when he travels to the Caribbean. Another learned a hard lesson when he was hit with a $90 overweight-baggage fee for his bag being 6 pounds too heavy.
If you’re prone to packing a lot, there’s a chance you’re also a heavy packer. No one wants to be one of those people redistributing and repacking items at the counter — avoid those huge overweight-bag charges entirely by weighing before you head to the airport. You could always bear-hug your suitcase and step on your scale, but you can also use a luggage scale from Austin House to weigh your luggage before you ever leave for the airport.
The article also mentioned carry-on size and weight restrictions and cautioned that carry-on space remains at a premium (but that gate checking is a surprising plus for travelers on very small aircraft).
We have one solid recommendation to add: Even if you are an overpacker, don’t overstuff your bag. Leave room for souvenirs or purchases. Or, if there’s absolutely no room left in your bag when you’ve finished packing, stick a low-profile duffel bag or tote in a suitcase pocket so you can still bring home those spur-of-the-moment purchases.
The article’s bottom line — and our line of thinking, too: Pack what makes you happy, but be cautious about your bags becoming overweight.
Related articles
- Tips for People with Baggage (leggotunglei808.wordpress.com)
- Choosing Luggage: Hard-Side Versus Soft-Side (travelproluggageblog.com)
- Unpacking (bingtobaklava.wordpress.com)
Choosing Luggage: Hard-Side Versus Soft-Side
March 15, 2012 by Karen Amin · 4 Comments
When choosing a new suitcase today, it’s not just about the size, capacity, number of wheels, or TSA compliance level: 
You also get to decide what you want your stalwart travel companion to look like. One big decision is whether to choose a soft-side or hard-side bag. Here’s a look at both types and why you might choose one or the other.
Choosing Soft-Side Bags
Obviously, these bags boast huge flexibility. Because the tops aren’t rigid, it’s easier to squeeze them into tight spaces like crowded overhead bins, even when you’ve overpacked a little. To add to their inherent flexibility, many of TravelPro’s models even come with 2½-inch expansion capability to allow for even more packing capacity.
Their flexibility makes them durable in a different way than their hard-side counterparts. They won’t yield to pressure from being tossed onto luggage conveyers and the like, so you won’t have to worry about the occasional bag handler getting rough with it, because it can withstand many of the bumps and bruises.
Inside the bag, there are generally more opportunities for organization, from pockets to special dividers for different items you may need to pack.
Finally, as you might expect, these bags also tend to be lighter weight than their rigid counterparts because the fabric is considerably lighter than the plastic needed to build a hard-side bag, though it all depends on the other components of the suitcase, from the frame and hardware to the accessories included with it.
Choosing Hard-Side Bags
Hard-side luggage can be made from a variety of materials, including ABS plastic and highly durable polycarbonates. In many ways, their features are the same as the soft-side bags — fairly light weight, durable, designed for easy organization.
The biggest reason people buy hard-side luggage these days is to show off their individuality and personality. Many find these bags more visually exciting than the standard, business-class black roll-aboard models.
They’re available in all kinds of colors, with flashy printed patterns, solid colors or actually textured; their surfaces can come in gloss or matte finishes. Some models really stand out, reflecting how travelers see themselves as well as making their lives easier at baggage claim.
The downside to these surfaces: They can be more prone to scratches, surface blemishes and bigger structural damage, both from others handling them and from normal wear and tear, pushing them into overhead bins and more. And your belongings will usually be safer from harm inside a hard-side suitcase because they don’t flex as much. (But your best guarantee is carrying on all breakables in a separate container!)
What is Adventure Luggage?
March 13, 2012 by Karen Amin · Leave a Comment
Last year, Travelpro launched its own line of Adventure Luggage, the T-Pro Bold collection. Luggage you can use when conservative, business-style luggage just isn’t appropriate. Think deceptively large duffels on rollers, rugged uprights and roomy backpacks.
This type of luggage has a more casual look than business-style luggage, with visual features that aren’t included on typical suitcases: compression straps, reflective piping, handy external pockets for multiple uses, wet pocket areas, storage for umbrellas, keys, etc. close at hand.
Travel writer and Travelpro blog contributor Mark Eveleigh sporting his TPro Rolling Duffel.
The T-Pro Bold line from Travelpro is a perfect example of adventure luggage: It’s sporty and stylish looking, but it’s designed to be durable and practical, with convenient access to all the things travelers need: cell phones, laptops, tablets, MP3 players and even snacks.
The bags are made with a durable polyester fabric, treated with with DuraGuard, a coating that protects the fabric from stains, water and abrasion. The zipper pulls are extra strong, and the wheels are oversized and have been tested over 30 miles for maximum durability.
On the outside
Inside, it’s all about efficient storage and protection for the adventurous traveler’s things.
Upright models’ main compartment expands 2½ inches for heavy loads, with multiple interior pockets to keep accessories and clothes organized. There are accessory pockets for umbrellas, shoes or last-minute storage, and foam pockets on some models are great for protecting laptop computers and tablets.
A lined, moisture-resistant pocket keeps food and drink safe, or separates wet swimsuits or sweaty clothes from the rest of the bag’s contents. There’s even a carabiner and bottle opener to help keep you hydrated.
The Bottom line: Adventure luggage pieces are designed to get up and go with the adventurous traveler. They’re light, durable and easy to maneuver through busy airports, city streets and rough terrain alike. And they look great, too — because being adventurous shouldn’t mean sacrificing style.
4-Wheel Spinners Versus 2-Wheel Rolling Luggage: How Do I Choose?
March 8, 2012 by Scott Applebee · Leave a Comment
There are a lot of options when you’re shopping for a new suitcase. Size, shape, color, material — they’re all important
considerations to make. But once you’ve stripped away aesthetics, once you’ve decided how large and how durable, you’re left with the question of how effectively that luggage moves you from Point A to Point B.
Maxlite 2 20" Expandable Rollaboard, a 2-wheeled bag.
That, of course, is where we come in. Bob Plath, founder of Travelpro, was the original creator of Rollaboard® luggage, which revolutionized the way we travel. If you’ve ever pulled a suitcase behind you on two wheels, you have Bob to thank for that.
And today, you’ve even got options beyond “to roll or not to roll.” Now you can get two-wheel rolling luggage or four-wheel spinner luggage, and there are some definite advantages to each type. Let’s take a look:
Two-wheeled suitcases
Speed is the name of the game here. In a two-wheel design, the wheels tend to be larger than the wheels on 4-wheel models, so they roll forward better thanks to the sheer physics of their size. Definitely a better option when you need to get from point A to point B quickly, pulling the luggage across large expanses.
When it comes to overhead bins, two-wheel bags generally are a better fit. The wheels tend to be recessed and are nearly flush with the profile of the luggage case. In addition, since they don’t protrude as much as 4-wheel models, the wheels are less susceptible to damage by baggage handlers and general wear and tear.
Airline fight crews and frequent travelers tend to use two-wheel carry-on bags.
Four-wheeled suitcases
“Spinner” suitcases are all about agility. A four-wheel design gives you 360 degrees of motion, which make them great for zig-zagging through turnstiles and long lines at check-in and security.
This wide range of movement means you’re not pulling only one way — you can even push them, — which can decrease the pressure you’re putting on your arms, shoulders and back.
You won’t get the speed or precision of a two-wheeled suitcase with a spinner bag, but the freedom of motion is unmatched, so from the taxi to the door, through security and all the way to your seat on the plane, you’ll be able to maneuver around whatever obstacles you encounter along the way.
In the end, the luggage best suited to you will be a matter of how you like to travel and sheer personal preference, but it’s always good to understand your options before you make a decision — your bag will be your constant travel companion for quite some time.
Business Travelers, Venture Off the Beaten Path to Improve Your Experience
March 6, 2012 by Karen Amin · Leave a Comment
For many people, business travel brings the same picture to mind:
Staying in an airport hotel next to the convention center, eating at Applebee’s and Chili’s, and returning to your room at night to watch MSNBC or the latest Hollywood blockbusters in the comfort of your sterile, corporate quarters. Don’t resign yourself to this fate — it’s not always your only option.
Yes, many business travelers are more interested in logistics and choosing the most efficient, inexpensive and easiest hotel locations so they can focus on doing their business in a timely fashion. And still others have all their arrangements made by their employers, who have relationships with big hotel chains and need to keep things standardized. That’s completely fine for them.
But if the company you’re working with isn’t dictating every aspect of your travel, and you have a little flexibility in your plans, there are plenty of ways to add a bit of individuality to your business travel and spice up an otherwise humdrum, workday experience.
Image via Wikipedia
Some big hotel chains also own smaller hotels that offer that boutique feel. Look into those options, and remember you can still snag loyalty-program points for these spots.
If you’ll be out on client visits all across a metropolitan area, do your homework about hotels. You may find an independent hotel that’s centrally located and offers you great views and access to a new place.
If you’ll be attending a convention or other one-stop shop event, take yourself off the beaten path and try to experience a bit of the local flavor while you’re out. Sites like Yelp and CitySearch offer a local’s perspective on the best places to eat and drink, and you may find your new favorite spot completely by accident.
Traveling on business to somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit? Tack on a couple of personal days or a long weekend to your work trip, and find an inn or bed-and-breakfast to extend your stay.
You may just surprise yourself, too; if you start looking into flats and other vacation-rental spots in the places you’re traveling, you could find a fantastic deal that ends up saving your business a pretty penny. Then, not only will you have a unique travel experience that’s more comfortable and more exciting, but you’ll also earn big points with the boss when you help the bottom line.
Related articles
- Business travelers opt for homier digs (cnn.com)
- Discovering Historic Bed & Breakfast Travel (yapanowtravelblog.wordpress.com)
- Key West Luxury Oceanfront Bed & Breakfast Honored (prweb.com)
- Hotels: Behold the Truly Incredible Beagle-Shaped Bed and Breakfast (curbed.com)
- Why Choose B & B Over a Hotel (fartravel.wordpress.com)
Travel Trends & Trips for 2012
February 28, 2012 by Scott Applebee · 1 Comment
Looking for some ideas to fuel your travel plans for 2012? It never hurts to find out what other people are thinking. . . With that in mind, TripAdvisor.com recently did a survey of more than 2,500 travelers, and they came up with some interesting findings and trends for the year ahead:
Image via Wikipedia
Finding the Funds Keeps Getting Easier
Despite the perpetually down economy, it seems travel spending is going up — but people are being smarter about the money they spend. The Internet has made it easier to seek out fantastic deals that offer more bang for the buck when traveling. (Check out our post on 11 websites to help save you money when you travel!)
Sticking Close to Home
Though it’s great to get away to somewhere foreign, many people still love exploring their home country. The top three U.S. travel destinations for 2012 are New York City, San Francisco and Las Vegas — all of which offer fantastic cultural opportunities and international flavor without leaving the country.
NYC: Top of the Rock is a popular tourist destination these days, far surpassing the Empire State Building — in part because you can actually see the iconic skyscraper from Rockefeller’s rooftop observatory. Broadway shows and tours of the West Village and Lower East Side were also cited as favorites.
San Francisco: Tours of Alcatraz, the views of the Golden Gate Bridge and riding the cable cars up and down the city’s majestic hills were named the best things to do in San Francisco.
Las Vegas: The gambling and big productions were an obvious draw for TripAdvisor survey respondents, but travelers also love trips out to Red Rock Canyon for a glimpse of the world outside Sin City.
Bed & Breakfasts — No Place Like (Almost) Home
Vacation rentals are rising in popularity, in part because people are traveling with families and looking to save a little money on accommodating everyone. These larger places are better-equipped to handle large groups, with many of the comforts of home including a kitchen and common spaces where families can congregate. (If you have small children, you’ll also be doing fellow travelers a favor by keeping their noise a little more isolated…)
For travelers headed to small cities, inns and bed-and-breakfasts are offering a unique alternative to chain hotels. Often located in off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods, they can give travelers a glimpse of a new part of the city, which can be the key to all kinds of new restaurants, bars and other things to do.
Related articles
- Hot Places to Go in 2012 (foxnews.com)
- 11 Websites for Travel Savings in 2012 (travelproluggageblog.com)
- Falling In Love With San Francisco (ronmedlin.com)
Top Travel Trends for 2012
February 23, 2012 by Karen Amin · 1 Comment
With one month of the new year under our belt, we’re getting back into travel season, which can mean only one thing. . . the final trickling-in of predictions about what trends will tickle travelers’ fancies and entice them to dip into their savings for that big trip in 2012.
A recent article in USA Today looked at some travel trend predictions around the world, and we wanted to look at some of our favorites.
Special Event Travel
There are quite a few events this year that will bring a lot of foreign visitors to their host cities, including the 2012 Summer Olympics and Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee (that’s 60 years on the throne!) in England, and Expo 2012, the next World’s Fair, in the South Korean city of Yeosu.
Image via Wikipedia
Destinations
Travel Leaders, a network of travel agencies all over the world, surveyed more than 600 of their members and named Croatia, Vietnam and Panama as the top up-and-coming destinations for 2012. And here are the top 10 international destinations, based on 2012 booking data: Caribbean cruises; Cancun and Playa del Carmen, Mexico; Mediterranean cruises; Rome; London; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Paris; Montego Bay and Negril, Jamaica.
Technology
For 2012, it’s all about smart phones. For one thing, it’s an essential tool for any traveler. The day you travel, you can keep tabs on your flight’s arrival times and airport delays, and even create an electronic boarding pass to use as you go through security. When you’re abroad, you can use it as a means to keep in touch with your world back home without incurring ludicrous roaming charges. Check out our post about keeping in touch while you’re abroad.
A few other technological goodies: Community-sourced travel tips from sites like gtrot.com; Frommer’s travel guides customized to your preferences, available online; and many travel guides available in uber-portable e-book format for your Kindle, Nook or iPad.
Related articles
- Olympics, Titanic, Cuba shape travel in 2012 (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
- Gtrot Gives Instant Social Travel Advice (allthingsd.com)
- Travel and leisure marketing: Industry leaders identify the latest luxury travel trends (5to9branding.com)
- London TravelWatch welcomes launch of TfLs Olympic customer information campaign, Get Ahead of the Games (londontravelwatch.org.uk)
- London Olympic Travel Plan: Be Patient, Drink Beer (abcnews.go.com)
Airlines Must Include Taxes and Fees in Ads
February 21, 2012 by Scott Applebee · Leave a Comment
Anyone who’s booked air travel recently knows the prices are all over the map. And if you’ve ever been lured to an airline’s website by a slick promotion touting insanely low fares, only to find that the fare actually isn’t that low after you’ve already envisioned yourself on that faraway beach while the snow falls outside your window…
You aren’t alone.
Right now, most airlines require that potential customers go at least halfway into the booking process to see the full cost of their flight. Most advertised fares are shown with a tiny asterisk near the fare that connects to a paragraph of fine print with all the taxes and fees the airlines neglected to mention early on.
Image via Wikipedia
Well, comparison shoppers of the world, rejoice! That asterisk is going down.
The government has passed new legislation that requires airlines to add all mandatory taxes and fees to their advertised fares, starting in January 2012.
A New York Times story from late December highlights Spirit Airlines’ recent $9 fare campaign It turns out Spirit was actually fined for that campaign, but not before many would-be travelers were disappointed to find out they’d been pulled in by a too-good-to-be-true ploy to drive traffic to their site and book flights that were actually no cheaper than any others once all the government fees, baggage, and seat-selection costs had been tacked on.
All this boils down to one thing: Airlines now have to be more transparent about the real cost of a plane ticket. All mandatory extra costs will need to be included in any advertising, which will make it easier on consumers to compare prices.
A few airlines have filed appeals, saying the law violates commercial free speech, but until then, this legislation is going to save savvy fare shoppers a lot of time, and perhaps some money, too.
Related articles
- Bill would upend new airfare advertising rule (cnn.com)
- Spirit Airlines Fights New Consumer Pricing Protections (moneyland.time.com)
- Spirit Airlines lashes out against new airfare rule (cnn.com)
- Airline fee rules herald return of honest price tags (redtape.msnbc.msn.com)
Pack Patience for Air Travel Amateurs
February 16, 2012 by Karen Amin · Leave a Comment
We’ve talked in the past about how seasoned travelers can best navigate their airport during their journey to avoid newbie travelers, large families, and other slower paced folks who can make a day in the terminal feel like a life sentence. But today, we’ve got a reminder for the seasoned travelers:
Pack a little patience next time you head to the airport.
Traveling may seem second nature to you at this point, but every day, there are thousands of people who are traveling by plane for the first time in their lives. Whether they were born in a small town with limited access to an airport, or have been financially limited in some way, or there’s a family flying with a newborn baby for the first time, the anticipation of flying alone can be a lot to deal.
Image by Getty Images via @daylife
(And that’s without worrying about all the stresses of bag-check fees, the TSA checkpoint or feeling like they’re in the way of other travelers.)
Still other travelers may be getting a bit older and moving naturally slower as they head toward their destination. That’s not their choice; it’s the natural progression of things. Cut the elderly a little slack.
In fact, we’ll go one better and suggest that instead of simply being polite and casting a smile these people’s way when you pass them cordially on the left, you actually make an effort to help them.
If you see a single mother struggling with her Baby Bjorn or stroller as she’s taking her shoes off or loading her laptop into a bin, offer to hold her baby or place the laptop for her. If you see an elderly woman struggling to lift her carry-on into an overhead storage area, help her out and let her relax into her seat.
There are some travel frustrations that are inevitable, but families, the elderly and other slow-moving passengers don’t have to be among them. Remember that you’re all trying to get somewhere and use the expertise you’ve developed from your travels to help everyone get there a little less painfully.
Related articles
- Pack patience for air travel amateurs (cnn.com)
- 7 Strange Airport Security Moments (abcnews.go.com)
Five Reasons to Have Trip Insurance
February 14, 2012 by Scott Applebee · Leave a Comment
A blog post by HCC Medical Insurance Services brought up some interesting points on why companies should invest in corporate travel insurance. But even if you’re just on your own — maybe especially if you’re on your own — getting travel insurance for yourself might not be such a bad idea.
Here are five reasons to consider travel insurance:
Medical Emergency
If you fall ill or have another kind of medical emergency shortly before your trip — whether your anniversary dinner gave you food poisoning or your kid broke a leg at soccer practice — the last thing you’re going to want to do is get on a plane, if that’s even possible.
If you get sick on the way to your destination or while you’re there, some travel insurance even provides medical coverage when you’re away. Be sure to look into this if it’s something you’re interested in!
Personal Tragedy
Definitely pick up some travel insurance if you have a family member who’s ill, or even a pet that’s not doing so good… But tragedy is never really timed well, so it’s a good idea more often than not to have insurance in place. This way, if you have to cancel a trip for any reason, your trip is covered, and won’t be a total loss.
Weather
Satellite view of a hurricane. Image via Wikipedia
Remember that bizarre cloud of volcanic ash that settled over Europe back in 2010? Or the freak snowstorm that pummeled the Pacific Northwest earlier this year? Climate change is wreaking all kinds of havoc on our meteorological systems, and having good travel insurance is one way of making sure you won’t be left in the cold because of any crazy weather.
Political Unrest
Travelers who had business of some sort in the Middle East last year may have had their travel plans upset by a little thing called the Arab Spring. Even something as simple as a mass-transit strike in Paris can derail (pardon the pun) the activities of an entire city and really mess up your travel plans. Travel insurance provides security for travelers headed to politically volatile locations, too.
Work-Related Changes
Suppose your project falls through, or gets cut short — or is extended. (Or, heaven forbid, you lose your job before your trip!) Travel insurance provides much-needed flexibility for business travelers with unpredictable situations.
Bottom line: If you can afford to splurge a few extra dollars for that bit of security on your plane ticket and other accommodations, it’s worth it. All it takes is one situation where you need it but don’t have it to realize how valuable it can be.
