Jennifer Merin
Although it’s advisable to travel very light these days, there are several gadgets that are well worth their extra weight in comfort and security, and can easily be stowed with the rest of your essential travel gear.
You’ll find that everything on this roster of suggestions is easy to find, if not at your local luggage or convenience store, at airport boutiques and kiosks and, perhaps most convenient of all, via online and mail order.
Luggage Strap: Most airlines require you leave checked bags unlocked for possible hand-inspection by TSA agents. That, of course, means that luggage handlers have access, too. And, there have been many incidents of theft reported. A sturdy luggage strap with a secure TSA approved lock will allow for hand-inspection by the authorities, but should prevent luggage handlers from pawing through the contents of your bag. Additionally, in case your bag pops open while it’s being lurched along a conveyer belt or if it’s dropped by a luggage handler, the strap will prevent the contents of your bag from spilling out entirely, although you may still lose small items that have been packed last minute, squeezed into the bag near the perimeter.
Luggage straps come in a wide variety of colors, and with various fasteners. They range in price from about $4 to $25. They weigh next to nothing. Luggage stores sell them, as do convenience stores, and they’re available at airport shops or kiosks. Or, you can order from Magellans.com or a plethora of other online sellers.
Collapsible luggage carts are invaluable when porters are scarce or carry-ons are to heavy to be toted on your shoulder. There are plastic and metal varieties, and before buying one of them, consider how much it weighs -- because you will have to tote it when you’re not using it to tote your stuff. Make sure your model is sturdy enough to meet your needs, with a wide enough base and balanced wheels that prevent tipping over. Luggage carts are sold at travel gear stores and airport shops, but a good selection is available online from ebag.com for $24 to $40.
Packing light requires using packing accessories that let you stuff a lot into a little bit of space. Compression is the key. Clear plastic compression bags flatten bulky sweaters and squish a stack of shirts into a flat and packable shape. Best of all, the flattened items spring back to their regular shape when the bag is opened. Sets of two or three bags in various sizes are sold in most hardware stores, or online at amazon.com.
Eagle Creek’s packing cubes are invaluable organizers that will sort out essentials so you can instantly find them. They also allow you to sort clean and soiled items, and help you keep the inside of your luggage clean. A good selection is available online from Backcountry.com
For safeguarding travel documents and vouchers, credit cards, travelers or personal checks, different currencies and keeping your receipts in order, you’ll need an organizer wallet. Of course, there are a variety available at a wide range of prices, but LL Bean’s passport wallet is a good bet, with pockets for everything and a sturdy strap that fits around your neck or will loop over your belt. For $25 at llbean.com.
Depending on your itinerary and planned activities, a good alternative is a waterproof case that keeps documents and other valuables safe and dry. You’ll find a wide selection -- including those that you can hang around your neck -- online at thewaterproofstore.com.
To relieve concerns about preventing pilfering of your expensive clothing and other valuables in your hotel room, keep them in a locked drawer. Safetycentral.com has a drawer travel lock for $20. To prevent anyone from entering your hotel room -- with or without a key -- at a sensitive moment, use a portable door lock. A good model is available online from corporatetravelsafety.com, for $11.
Second to only safety in travel is comfort, and that’s becoming harder and harder to find. On crowded planes, little is offered to make the environment accommodating. Seats are small and uncomfortable, and most carriers no long provide even pillows or blankets in coach class. The solution is to bring your own. There are lots of models to choose from, but go for the best and most comfortable you can afford. Tempurpedic.com offers a range of travel pillows that feature the manufacturer’s form-fitting foam. They’re a bit pricey, but they’re so comfortable you may decide to use them at home, as well.
Fleece travel blankets are lightweight and warm, but they’re a bit bulky. A good alternative is the silk travel blanket, available from magellans.com for about $45. Along with the silk blanket order the silk DreamSack, a lightweight silk sleeping bag (from $70, depending on size) that you can use on the plane -- or in your hotel -- to assure yourself a clean wrap.
Clean and potable water, too, is an issue on airplanes and in many travel destinations around the world. To make sure you have plenty of it, bring along a portable water purification system. There are tablets, purifying bottles and steripens to choose from. All can be purchased from magellans.com.
Even if you want a total escape from the work and worries you face at home, you’ll want to bring a notebook, laptop or pad computer with you. In any variety, these are invaluable travel assistants: they keep your calendar for you, store copies of your travel documents that can be printed out if necessary, and you can use them for Skyping or otherwise keeping in touch via email or social media platforms. And, they serve up your own selection of entertaining movies, games, books or other media, as you wish to enjoy them.
Of course, there’s a daunting range to choose from. Before you buy make a lot of comparisons regarding size, weight, programs, battery life and the time it takes to recharge it, and the range of available applications. Ask a lot of questions and compare prices, and whether repairs and replacements can be made while you‘re on the road. . Best advice on selection is to ask a lot of questions, including whether a model is compatible with overseas servers, whether there are extra charges for use at long distances from your home and/or overseas, which apps are available for travelers, battery life and length of time it takes to recharge, and how much it weighs.
You’ll find that everything on this roster of suggestions is easy to find, if not at your local luggage or convenience store, at airport boutiques and kiosks and, perhaps most convenient of all, via online and mail order.
Luggage Strap: Most airlines require you leave checked bags unlocked for possible hand-inspection by TSA agents. That, of course, means that luggage handlers have access, too. And, there have been many incidents of theft reported. A sturdy luggage strap with a secure TSA approved lock will allow for hand-inspection by the authorities, but should prevent luggage handlers from pawing through the contents of your bag. Additionally, in case your bag pops open while it’s being lurched along a conveyer belt or if it’s dropped by a luggage handler, the strap will prevent the contents of your bag from spilling out entirely, although you may still lose small items that have been packed last minute, squeezed into the bag near the perimeter.
Luggage straps come in a wide variety of colors, and with various fasteners. They range in price from about $4 to $25. They weigh next to nothing. Luggage stores sell them, as do convenience stores, and they’re available at airport shops or kiosks. Or, you can order from Magellans.com or a plethora of other online sellers.
Collapsible luggage carts are invaluable when porters are scarce or carry-ons are to heavy to be toted on your shoulder. There are plastic and metal varieties, and before buying one of them, consider how much it weighs -- because you will have to tote it when you’re not using it to tote your stuff. Make sure your model is sturdy enough to meet your needs, with a wide enough base and balanced wheels that prevent tipping over. Luggage carts are sold at travel gear stores and airport shops, but a good selection is available online from ebag.com for $24 to $40.
Packing light requires using packing accessories that let you stuff a lot into a little bit of space. Compression is the key. Clear plastic compression bags flatten bulky sweaters and squish a stack of shirts into a flat and packable shape. Best of all, the flattened items spring back to their regular shape when the bag is opened. Sets of two or three bags in various sizes are sold in most hardware stores, or online at amazon.com.
Eagle Creek’s packing cubes are invaluable organizers that will sort out essentials so you can instantly find them. They also allow you to sort clean and soiled items, and help you keep the inside of your luggage clean. A good selection is available online from Backcountry.com
For safeguarding travel documents and vouchers, credit cards, travelers or personal checks, different currencies and keeping your receipts in order, you’ll need an organizer wallet. Of course, there are a variety available at a wide range of prices, but LL Bean’s passport wallet is a good bet, with pockets for everything and a sturdy strap that fits around your neck or will loop over your belt. For $25 at llbean.com.
Depending on your itinerary and planned activities, a good alternative is a waterproof case that keeps documents and other valuables safe and dry. You’ll find a wide selection -- including those that you can hang around your neck -- online at thewaterproofstore.com.
To relieve concerns about preventing pilfering of your expensive clothing and other valuables in your hotel room, keep them in a locked drawer. Safetycentral.com has a drawer travel lock for $20. To prevent anyone from entering your hotel room -- with or without a key -- at a sensitive moment, use a portable door lock. A good model is available online from corporatetravelsafety.com, for $11.
Second to only safety in travel is comfort, and that’s becoming harder and harder to find. On crowded planes, little is offered to make the environment accommodating. Seats are small and uncomfortable, and most carriers no long provide even pillows or blankets in coach class. The solution is to bring your own. There are lots of models to choose from, but go for the best and most comfortable you can afford. Tempurpedic.com offers a range of travel pillows that feature the manufacturer’s form-fitting foam. They’re a bit pricey, but they’re so comfortable you may decide to use them at home, as well.
Fleece travel blankets are lightweight and warm, but they’re a bit bulky. A good alternative is the silk travel blanket, available from magellans.com for about $45. Along with the silk blanket order the silk DreamSack, a lightweight silk sleeping bag (from $70, depending on size) that you can use on the plane -- or in your hotel -- to assure yourself a clean wrap.
Clean and potable water, too, is an issue on airplanes and in many travel destinations around the world. To make sure you have plenty of it, bring along a portable water purification system. There are tablets, purifying bottles and steripens to choose from. All can be purchased from magellans.com.
Even if you want a total escape from the work and worries you face at home, you’ll want to bring a notebook, laptop or pad computer with you. In any variety, these are invaluable travel assistants: they keep your calendar for you, store copies of your travel documents that can be printed out if necessary, and you can use them for Skyping or otherwise keeping in touch via email or social media platforms. And, they serve up your own selection of entertaining movies, games, books or other media, as you wish to enjoy them.
Of course, there’s a daunting range to choose from. Before you buy make a lot of comparisons regarding size, weight, programs, battery life and the time it takes to recharge it, and the range of available applications. Ask a lot of questions and compare prices, and whether repairs and replacements can be made while you‘re on the road. . Best advice on selection is to ask a lot of questions, including whether a model is compatible with overseas servers, whether there are extra charges for use at long distances from your home and/or overseas, which apps are available for travelers, battery life and length of time it takes to recharge, and how much it weighs.
Copyright 2011 Jennifer Merin
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