My Rolling Carry On Luggage Excursions

Five Tips on Having your Important Luggage arrive with you.

2010-04-08T10:19:00.000-07:00

Have you ever found yourself at your point of destination without your luggage? Was the suit you were going to wear while delivering an important speech in said lost luggage? And, were you wearing your rattiest jeans?
Always consider the possibility that your luggage may not arrive with you and may, in fact, not be located in due time. The following tips will help:

1) If your trip is a short one, consider using a carry-on case that is large enough to hold all your necessary gear, while still coming in under the size guidelines for carry-on luggage. (Generally 115 cm or 45 linear inches adding height, width and depth.)
2) At the very least make certain that items which absolutely cannot be lost even for a few hours are packed in your carry-on case.
3) Make sure the person checking your luggage through affixes the correct airport code for your destination.
4) If at all possible, fly direct. Transferring increases the likelihood of luggage being lost.
5) Try to make your luggage stand out from the rest. Any personalizing addition to your luggage makes it less likely someone will accidentally mistake your luggage for their own.

Keeping these points in mind and adhering to them will greatly reduce the chance of you having to purchase a new suit on the fly or delivering your speech dressed in your rattiest jeans.

Don't leave home without it.

2010-04-03T10:35:00.000-07:00

Guess what three items are absolute 'must packs' for me when traveling, no matter whether for a day, a week or a month. A good book? Yes, but if I forget to pack one, I can still purchase one along the way. Puzzles? Yes, but most dailies easily fulfill that passion as well. What is not so easily fixed along the way is first: Good, light weight luggage, second: my own music, and third: my Canon digital camera.
Good luggage needs no explanation. Good, light weight, rolling luggage simply makes traveling easier! My own music? It's difficult in strange surroundings to find a radio station that suits my tastes. My iPod, on the other hand, holds more music than I can comfortably listen to in quite a while. Most important, though, my DSLR camera!
For the duration of the trip my camera becomes an extra appendage - two legs? Check. Two arms? Check. One head? Check. One camera? Check.
I've lived and traveled this way for quite a few years. Proof is easily produced by the stacks of photo albums and, of late, the wonderful collection of images that slides across our monitor whenever our computer is not being used. Both my husband and I love to test our memory by standing in the doorway for a few moments and calling out the pictures' location: St. Augustine! Venice! Berlin! The Rockies! On good days it may even be: Jasper, 2006. Dresden, 2005. Riviera Maya 2004.
My heart absolutely melts, of course, when I see photos of the grand kids, who are growing up way too quickly. O, they were so cute! The older they get, the cuter they seem to us now, but every time they're over for a visit, they still make tempting photo objects.
On our daily walks in the park we often encounter camera crazies, who seem to enjoy taking pictures of everything around them. Some carry tripods and huge extra lenses, with which to zoom in on the tiniest treasures of nature. Others look for the best landscapes, or record their dogs bouncing after sticks, balls and Frisbee.
This prompts the exclamation: Aren't digital cameras the best thing since sliced bread? Isn't it a fantastic option to be able to experiment with your camera in all kinds of lighting, in all sorts of surroundings, with any object you choose, and then to be able to check over the results and discard what you don't like and save only the best? In the times of 35 mm film that would have been an expensive undertaking.
Years ago American Express coined the slogan: Don't leave home without it. That's exactly what I want to say about your camera. "Don't leave home without it," and you will sing like Bob Hope, "Thanks for the memories."

If you would like to create your own memories, go here:
http://www.squidoo.com/CanonEOSRebelT1iCMOSDigitalSLRCamera. "Finally... Learn How To Work That Darn Digital Camera Like A Pro"

If you Love to Travel, you will Love this New Special Interest Travel Web Page!

2010-03-29T15:35:00.000-07:00

If you love to travel, here is a new web page you should bookmark. It is very new, and because of that, it is still free. Free is good, isn’t it? It gives you the opportunity to take it for a test drive and then decide whether to keep it in your favorites list or not.

I’ve looked around in it and would describe it as a good substitute for having a willing and very knowledgeable friend or relative at your destination, one who can and will make certain you get to see not only the customary points of interest, but also the special places and events appreciated by locals.

Here are three examples:

Farallon Island Whale Watching from San Francisco – offered by the Oceanic Society
“Eight-hour, naturalist-led, boat trips leave from San Francisco and head to the Farallon Islands, spotting whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, and marine birds.”

Taal Volcano Trek offered by Cultureight Travel
“Drive south of Manila and visit one of the most dangerous underwater volcano’s on the planet - Taal Volcano. Stay overnight at a family-run farm and partake in an authentic Batangeno meal. Learn how to fish atop bamboo stilts and take a pump-boat ride and trek to the warm crater lake.”

Painting in Provence – offered by Ellen Greenberg and Bill Ternay
“If you want a great vacation and a chance to take a crack at expressing the hidden artist in you, this is an extraordinary way to start--- or if you just want to escape and take an exceptional fascinating journey (much more to do than paint!) then join Bill and me for wine, food and special exclusive excursions in the south of France!”

The page offers many more adventures. You can actually book anything that appeals to you right there. Payment is via paypal.

And here is another great feature! Should you have an adventure of your own, one you would like to offer online, that opportunity is also given. Really, check it out! It’s definitely worth a look
http://www.ooh.com/

Driving Long Distances.

2010-03-23T19:08:00.000-07:00

Driving long distance, traveling thousands of miles by car, has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are getting to know new surroundings, people, customs, foods etc. The disadvantages are the need to pace oneself, to not overdo what can be done in a day and not to over estimate one's ability to stay alert.
Always try to plan ahead, check your route, investigate possible points of interest and turn every day into a bit of an adventure even though the goal is to reach a certain destination at day’s end.
Driving home long distance can thus be used to extend the holiday by a few more days, but here’s the shocker. Not everyone feels that way. Far more often than we like we meet people along the way, in rest stops for example, who make us feel like we’re crazy. “Six days to go home?” they blurt in amazement, “we do the same distance in three!”
Then they outline how they rise at 3:00 a.m. and have already traveled 350 miles before stopping for breakfast somewhere.
That is a shocker, isn’t it? Think about it. Here you are pacing yourselves, taking turns driving, asking the other whether he/she would like to be relieved, and there, in the oncoming lane, is someone who has been driving for hours like an automaton, and surely is not the most alert driver on the freeway. How often do we hear of accidents, where the description includes the statement, “road conditions were good at the time of the accident and are not believed to have been a factor; alcohol also is not believed to have been the cause." So, what else is there? Is it paranoid to suggest that driver fatigue might be responsible far more often than we all realize?
Please, take this to heart. Especially when roads are dry and straight, and the center line hypnotically guides you along. When road and weather conditions are challenging, it’s easier to stay alert; the most dangerous stretches are the ones that don’t demand much of anything beyond holding the steering wheel and keeping the gas pedal depressed. Even worse, of course, is driving with cruise control engaged.
I beg you. When driving long distance, don’t use cruise control for hours on end. Don’t drive such long stretches that you and your partner must take turns sleeping while the other drives. Four eyes are better than two. Conversation helps keep the driver alert. Sing! Munch away on carrots and celery sticks! - And don’t plan tours that involve driving day and night.
Driving long distances can be fun, and if you take your time, all benefits of the holiday will not be lost by the time you are home again.

Photography and Travel - a natural fit.

2010-01-24T18:13:00.000-08:00

"Finally... Learn How To Work That Darn Digital Camera Like A Pro"

When I think of the photos my parents had collected in boxes - small, black and white - and then see my colorful digital images slide across my monitor (Can you think of a better screen saver?), I marvel at the technological progress I have been able to experience in my own life.
I also began with black and white snap shots, which quickly became colored, when we could afford them. Stacks of photo albums give witness to our love for travel combined with our love for photography.
We also took 8 mm movies, then video, then transferred the movies to video. Progress happened so fast, we could barely keep up.
Nothing has made taking photos more enjoyable for me than the change to digital photography. The ability to take as many pictures as I like - because I can decide instantly whether or not they are worth saving - is huge for me. The Ebook "Learn Digital Photography now" was exactly what I needed to help me take even better shots than the ones I occasionally produced by accident.
Click Here!
Quite possibly it'll be exactly what you need as well.
Lis

Finally!

2010-01-21T16:22:00.000-08:00

Great news for Canadians traveling by air to the USA. You are - as of today - once again allowed your one carry on luggage item in addition to your purse or camera or other small carry on. Pheeew! What a relief.

Traveling with Kids

2010-01-06T19:43:00.000-08:00

http://1adanac.joyfulkids.hop.clickbank.net/

At present traveling by air appears to be more stressful than ever. Traveling with children can make it even worse, unless you are prepared and have prepared them.
Traveling with Kids helps you to prepare the children, whether it be a road trip or an airline flight, whether you travel to new surroundings or to visit with unfamiliar faces. Both you and the children will find the trip less stressful, because unexpected happenings are not quite so unexpected, and possible delays have been taken into account ahead of time.
Just think back to a past family adventure; one that did not quite turn out as you had envisioned. Is it possible that the children also had other expectations? Even Disneyland may not live up to your or your children's mental image, if the odd TV commercial is all you base it on. Preparing every one ahead of time by creating realistic expectations and stocking up on ideas on how to pass the time on long car rides or waiting around in airports makes every trip more enjoyable for the entire family.
The abundance of thoughtful tips offered in Traveling with Kids helps parents put themselves into their children's shoes. Children, on the other hand, are empowered to cope with new 'adventures.'

Restrictions not so temporary --- or so it seems.

2010-01-06T12:47:00.000-08:00

International travelers flying to the US still have to cope with the following regulations:.

• Reduced carry-on baggage. Passengers may carry only limited personal items, including one or more of the following items: small purses, laptops, cameras, coats, medication or medical devices, baby care items, crutches, canes, walkers, life-sustaining items, a special needs item, musical instruments or diplomatic or consular bags.
• Additional security screening.
• Full-body pat-downs and other enhanced screening for people travelling to the U.S. from or through 14 countries deemed “state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest”: Afghanistan, Algeria, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The screening also applies to Canadians holding passports from these countries.
• The additional screening is causing delays and passengers are advised to arrive at the airport three hours before their flight.
(These were compiled by Jill Mahoney for the Globe and Mail.)

New (temporary?) regulations for Carry-On Luggage

2009-12-29T11:03:00.000-08:00

Carry On Restrictions:
(Of interest to international travelers)
Once again, just when we began feeling a little more secure, an attempt was made to blow up a passenger airliner. It's particularly galling that it happened on Christmas Day. Fortunately the attempt failed. Still, there are consequences. There always are consequences!
At present no more real carry on luggage is allowed. You may carry on a diaper bag, if traveling with an infant, a medical supplies bag, a camera, laptop case or purse. Please make sure they don't contain any items, which might be on the not permitted list, as all carry on items will still be hand searched.
For now the resulting extra checked luggage will not cost you an added fee.
Be prepared to spend extra time in line and arrive at the airport keeping that extra time in mind. Touchmaster may just help the time pass a little faster.

Great Advice for Holiday Travelers

2009-12-21T11:43:00.000-08:00

With so many of us trying to get together with family and friends to celebrate the holidays together, our present weather conditions are not very helpful. It's difficult having to cope with being stuck in an airport because our flight has been canceled. It's also difficult to sit at home and worry about a loved one stuck in an airport somewhere.
Nothing helps more in such situations than planning ahead. Planning ahead helps us focus our minds on what can and very well may go wrong and doing the practical preparations necessary to make it easier to cope with any unexpected travel adventures; in fact, planning ahead makes any so called adventure a little less unexpected and easier to endure.
Claire Newell has written a jewel of a book for travelers. It's full of great advice and costs mere pennies. Take a look at Travel Best Bets: An Insider's Guide to Taking the Best Trips Ever.

Is this really your luggage?

2009-10-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

Several years ago, a friend of mine went to the airport to pick up a relative coming in from Germany. Everything went like clockwork. The flight was on time, customs were quick, her suitcase came onto the carousel as one of the first, and before they knew it, they were back at home. Since the relative had a nice surprise in her bag, she was eager to share it, but ‘dang,’ the suitcase wouldn’t open. The keys didn’t work; the latches didn’t work. Reluctantly, they finally used the screwdriver. You guessed it. The contents were someone else’s. Nothing in the suitcase belonged to the relative.

This little intro makes clear how important it is to make certain the luggage you pick off the carousel is actually your luggage. Having luggage tags with your name and address is always useful, but that alone may not always be sufficient. Luggage tags have been known to get lost or, in your rush to get out of there, you forget to check them altogether.

For years now black has been the preferred luggage color, and black luggage tends to look very much alike. Luggage identifiers to the rescue! Some people crochet their own – colorful little pompoms, which they attach to their bags.

Others attach neon colored grips to the handles on their bags.
Others again attach stickers to the sides of their luggage.

Personally, I’ve been making good use of colorful belts that rap around the case, but that also is not the perfect solution, because the Automobile Associations sell them to other people as well. Nevertheless, the combination of luggage look, size and identifier will make it less likely for you to pick someone else’s suitcase off the carousel.

A look at the little picture at the beginning may convince you that crocheting your own identifiers will give you the most unique product, but if you don’t know how to crochet, and you don’t know anyone who can do it for you, one of the commercially produced identifiers may catch your eye.

Good luck. Use luggage identifiers, and don’t pick a stranger's luggage off the carousel

An Ode to ‘Guess What’.

2009-09-23T19:56:00.000-07:00

Having just returned from a short but sweet holiday, I must once again stress how great it is to have good luggage items. Good luggage is important no matter whether your holiday lasts 5 weeks or 5 days, no matter whether you fly or drive. Coming to think of it, even if you hike or bike you need good luggage to make your trip comfortable and definitely more enjoyable. Does it need to be rolling carry on luggage? I suppose, if you hike or bike that would actually be a hindrance. For a flying holiday rolling carry on luggage would likely be ideal, but don’t think it can’t help with a driving holiday, also.

The more I travel the more I realize how accommodations have changed. Yes, there still are a few of the old one or two story motels around, and nothing beats parking right in front of your unit! If you find yourself on the third or fourth floor, however, you may not want to hop back and forth between your unit and your car. You definitely want to have a good rolling carry-on case along for those endless inside hallways

Our little trip was a driving holiday, and we actually were fortunate enough to be able to park right in front of our unit. Nevertheless, we had packed one of our rolling carry-ons with what was required. Now I ask you, which packing item do you suppose I appreciated the most this time around? It’s actually one I have appreciated for several years in several countries already. When I first purchased it six years ago, it was a desperation purchase. I needed a new one; I had to fly to a funeral. Thinking about advantages and disadvantages of a ‘toiletry bag’ was the last thing I was inclined to do at that time. And I didn’t. I grabbed the bag, thinking I would probably not like it, but whatever ….

Well, I not only learned to like it, I very quickly learned to love it. What an improvement over my former one zipper one compartment bag! Picture a longish bag with three smaller compartments - and one larger, expandable one at the end – all of them zippered and see-through. It’s like traveling with a nicely organized, four level, medicine chest. Depending on how you pack your suitcase, this bag can be folded in three. Most of the time mine is folded in two – one slightly deeper and one slightly thinner side. That’s how it fits best into my rolling carry-on bag.

Wherever we go, it hangs from its coat-hanger type contraption, either on the shower curtain rod, the towel bar, or a hook placed strategically somewhere in the room. The coat-hanger contraption can easily be removed to make the bag washable. So, you see, rolling carry on luggage can actually be upstaged by a toiletry bag. Since you’re probably curious about the make of my bag, it’s a MaggiB. The closest one I could find to compare is a Tepper Jackson Mariposa Roll-up, strictly based on looks. So, this has been my ‘Ode to a toiletry bag.’

How to pack with pickpockets in mind

2009-09-17T10:54:00.000-07:00

Rolling carry on luggage makes travel easier; money belts, security belts, travel pouches, neck wallets, security wallets etc. make travel safer.

On September 14th TripAdvisor pointed out the 10 worst places for pickpockets. I’ve experience with pickpockets in only one of them, Rome, Italy. While taking a train from the Colosseum back to the main train station – standing room only – hanging on to one of the straps installed for that purpose, just before the final stop, someone swiped my cousin’s wallet from his back pocket. He noticed it immediately, but the culprit had already disappeared in the crowd leaving the train. My cousin was not well prepared for such an occurrence. Had he planned ahead, he could have saved himself a lot of grief. As it was, we spent hours at the police station, all documents in his wallet had to be replaced and his money was gone.

How do you plan for such an event? Actually you should consider two questions:

 How do I try to prevent it from happening in the first place?
 How can I make it the least troublesome, if it should happen?

Here are my suggestions:

1) Leave everything you cannot bear to lose at home. This will also help you keep your luggage to a minimum.

2) Before you leave home, make copies of all important documents, which you will have with you. Leave one copy with a trusted person at home, and take another copy with you, stored separately from other documents.

3) Bring a set of extra passport photos with you, just in case you do need to replace important documents, and don’t forget to bring emergency contact numbers.

4) Divide your valuables. Don’t keep cash and credit cards together. If you keep your cash safely pinned in one pocket or money belt and credit cards in another, chances are you won’t lose everything at once. Speaking of pinning items inside pockets, take along an extra set of safety pins.

5) Pack as few things as possible. You will not have to carry more than you can handle, and it is easier to keep an eye on your belongings.

6) Try not to look like a tourist. The more you fit in with the locals, the smaller the chance that you’ll be targeted. Buy something in a local grocery store or drug store and use their bag to carry some items.

7) Never keep your wallet in your rear pocket. Never pay by showing a wad of cash.

8) Avoid getting into confrontations with anyone. Stay in areas that are populated and well lit. Don’t take shortcuts down alleyways.

9) Don’t listen to sob stories. Even people who seem to be no threat can be scam artists. That includes women with babies, children alone, even other tourists.

10) Watch out for tag team distractions. Always have your guard up when someone asks directions, accidentally spills something on you or other such diversions, while a partner steals from you or cuts your purse straps.

Following the above advice will protect you from having your holiday spoiled by events, which can leave you stranded in foreign surroundings.
Finally, there are products on the market, which are an added protection against theft: Money belts, security belts, travel pouches, neck wallets, security wallets etc. Consider that you may occasionally fall asleep. Therefore, never forget the Boy Scout motto: Be prepared.
And just in case you’d like to know the 10 worst cities for pickpockets, here they are in order:

1) Barcelona, Spain
2) Rome, Italy
3) Prague, Czech Republic
4) Madrid, Spain
5) Paris, France
6) Florence, Italy
7) Buenos Aires, Argentina
8) Amsterdam, Netherlands
9) Athens, Greece
10) Hanoi, Vietnam

Everyone loves a parade

2009-09-08T22:08:00.000-07:00

One thing which makes travel exciting for me is living like the locals do. You know, “When in Rome, do as the Romans!” Yesterday, while peeling carrots and turning them into carrot sticks, I suddenly remembered a local parade I experienced in Holtville, California, when they were celebrating Carrot Festival. Everything revolved around carrots. The people accompanying the parade floats went so far as to throw carrots at the crowd. Coming to think of it, that was exactly the reason why a week or so later we opted not to attend the neighboring town’s Tomato Festival!
Parades are wonderful! I come from a city with a famous annual parade, the Calgary Stampede parade. Hundreds of thousands of spectators line up hours before the official start, just to obtain a good vantage point from which to observe the floats and horses and countless marching bands.
The first parades that I participated in personally were religious ones for the feast of Corpus Christi in Germany. People built altars laden with flowers throughout town and created a long carpet of flower petals leading back to the sanctuary at the church. The local Brass Band accompanied our singing and kept us in step. All the children attending catholic schools participated with flags, banners and flowers, and adults marched alongside as well.
Imagine our surprise, when on a trip through New Mexico we happened to stop in Santa Fe on the precise day when they were doing their Corpus Christi procession. Needless to say, we went along. It was hot. People carried umbrellas as shields against the sun. We felt just like the locals, especially when we realized that they also had their individual groups who did their own thing, not necessarily as planned by the organizers. People will be people, no matter where you are.
Another surprise parade, two actually, came about because of Carnival. Having just missed the parade in New Orleans, we were more than pleasantly surprised to have one go along the sea wall in Galveston, Texas, right in front of our hotel room. Our balcony probably granted us the best parade view ever. Another carnival parade happened in Estepona, Spain. This one made us realize that even catholic regions don’t all follow the same rules. Germany, which also has super Karneval hot spots in the Rhine region, stops celebrating on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season. Ash Wednesday puts an end to all the shenanigans. Not so in Spain, since the carnival procession in Estepona happened at least 2 weeks after Ash Wednesday.
There’s nothing like a parade, not just to observe people, but to help us realize that we all belong to one human family.

More than Rolling Carry On at Heathrow Airport

2009-08-28T09:27:00.000-07:00

The other day it occurred to me that having talked quite a bit about Rick Steves’ globetrotting ways and his personal preferences for certain luggage, especially his Convertible Carry-On, I should give a nod to his travel books. I especially like Rick Steves Italy 2009 and a companion Italian phrase book. There are many others, however: Paris 2009. Rome 2009, European Christmas, Europe through the Back Door, and Great Britain 2009.

Speaking of Great Britain, did you see a week or so ago that London’s Heathrow Airport has appointed a writer-in-residence. What a great idea! His name is Alain de Botton. He is a popular philosopher and has set up shop in the airport’s new terminal 5.

Alain de Botton writes on a laptop, and as he does so, his thoughts are displayed on a screen behind him Alain de Botton claims to always have been mesmerized by airports, stating that all the big themes of life can be found encapsulated in the daily occurances of an airport: the power of technology, globalization, the environmental debate, consumerism, the frenzy of the modern workplace and the dreams of travel.

Many of us share his sentiments, I’m sure, and we won’t be surprised to learn that, ultimately, Mr. De Botton’s thoughts will be published in a book, entitled: “A Heathrow Diary.” Printing is scheduled for next month, with 10,000 copies to be set aside for distribution to Heathrow airport passengers.

One more time: What a great idea!

Eagle Creek's and Rick Steves' Luggage Side by Side

2009-08-24T20:35:00.000-07:00

As stated in my last blog, I spent some time comparing two luggage systems: Eagle Creek and the Rick Steves line of luggage.
Both seem well designed and constructed. Both will make any trip more comfortable and enjoyable.
Both systems fulfill the necessary requirements for light weight and easy maneuverability.

For ease of movement rolling carry on luggage is extremely popular, because weight is thought not to be quite so important. Still, the thinking that it is easier to pull a case than to carry it disregards the many situations, which require lifting even wheeled carry on luggage. Remember that besides being able to lift your luggage into the airline overhead bin, you also need to handle transfers between stations of public transport such as cabs, trains and buses.

Which size one chooses depends on the length of the trip, the reason for going, and whether one only has one piece of luggage, or other luggage items are being checked through for the same destination.

Both Eagle Creek and Rick Steves have a small carry-on overnight bag, 15” in the case of Rick Steves’ line and 13.5” from Eagle Creek. Both are quite roomy and will fit under your airline seat, thus allowing for access to everything you want within reach. Price wise the Rick Steves Avanti Tote comes in at the lower end - $ 70.00 to $ 100.00 compared to $ 115.00 to $ 165.00 for the Eagle Creek tote..

For short trips, the Eagle Creek Tarmac 20 carry-on bag might well be all you need. Its compact size makes it easy to fit into overhead airline luggage bins. The case is lightweight and rolls easily without twisting or turning.
Netted, zippered compartments keep everything organized, yet visible. There's a special compartment for shoes. Several additional handles, in addition to the retractable one, make for easy pick-up and lifting.

The 21” Convertible Carry-On in the Rick Steves line is possibly even more versatile and useful, as it doubles as a backpack. For this reason it has comfortably curved, padded shoulder straps and a padded waist belt. It converts easily from suitcase to backpack and still fits within airlines’ guidelines for carry-ons.
Should you require a rolling carry-on, there is also the 21” Roll-Aboard model.

Both the Eagle Creek Tarmac 20 carry-on bag and Rick Steves Convertible Carry-On are designed to be used in conjunction with their super useful packing cubes and other pack-it system items.

As regards price, the Eagle Creek Tarmac 20 comes in at $ 200.00 to $ 250.00, while the 21” Roll-About in Rick Steves’ line is priced between $ 100.00 and $ 140.00.

Finally, a quick look at the larger bags: Eagle Creek Hovercraft 25 - 25" Rolling Expandable Upright vs. Rick Steves' 24" Roll-Aboard

The Eagle Creek model delivers dual exterior pockets for travel necessities and is designed to fit Pack-It kits and cubes. It features a protective kick plate and wheel housing, protecting the bag from urban obstacles. It has an ergonomic telescoping handle, soft, easy grab top and side handles and a slip away luggage tag.

Rick Steves’ model comes with honeycomb frame, full lining, non-slip handle, smooth rolling wheels, 3 exterior pockets, 1 large side pocket, clip-in security pouch and the possibility to expand the depth by 2”.

Price: Eagle Creek $ 180.00 to $ 250.00, Rick Steves $ 135.00 to $170.00.

Are the Eagle Creek bags constructed more durably? The higher price tag makes you wonder.
All prices quoted were taken from Amazon.

Where would I take my rolling carry on luggage, if money were no object?

2009-08-21T20:40:00.001-07:00

Phewee! It’s been hot, and I have been doing some pretty serious research on the great selection of new luggage that’s out there. Rolling, lightweight, carry-on luggage. Now I want to go somewhere.
Where do I want to go, you ask? Well, if money were no object, I’d like to go to Asia – more specifically, China and the Great Wall. If money were no object and I actually could travel to China, I must admit to certain reservations. I see myself staying in hotels and touring in organized groups. I confess, the Chinese Food I like is a bit of a ‘hybrid’ already, somewhat americanized. I have a squeamish stomach. I greatly admire people who can go anywhere in the world and quite gregariously adjust to new surroundings and new foods.
I, unfortunately, can do that only in specific parts of the world. Take me to Italy, and I’ll eat and drink anything, anywhere.
Nevertheless, just in case you also like a somewhat ‘hybrid’ version of Chinese food, I’d like to share my favorite recipe for Sweet and Spicy Cashew Chicken, which is to be served with rice, of course, and the Mandarin Salad. Recipe also below.

Sweet and spicy cashew chicken:

Sauce: ½ cup ketchup
4 tsp soya sauce
½ tsp salt
2 tbsp worcester sauce
3 tbsp sugar
1 ½ tsp sesame oil
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
½ cube chicken broth in 1 cp of boiling water - mix together.

Cut 3 whole chicken breasts into ¾ inch cubes
Coat cubed chicken in a ziplock bag filled with
2 tbsp cornstarch
½ tsp sugar
½ tsp salt
Stir fry the coated chicken in ¼ cup of oil.
Add in order:
2 to 3 tbsp of minced fresh ginger root
½ tbsp of minced garlic
1 small onion, chopped
2 red bell peppers (cut into small pieces)
2 carrots (sliced diagonally)
2 cups of fresh snowpeas
1 to 1 ½ cps of cashew nuts
Add sauce.

Serve with rice.

Mandarin salad:

Dressing: 1/3 cup of oil
3 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp sugar
½ tsp salt
½ tsp dry mustard
1 garlic clove, crushed

1 head of leaf lettuce
½ cp sunflower seeds
½ cp of slivered almonds
2 green onions, chopped
1 can mandarin oranges
optional: 1 avocado

brown sunflower seeds and almonds in some butter, mix with onions, lettuce, mandarin oranges and avocado and toss in dressing just before serving.

I know you will very much enjoy this dish. Meanwhile I will dream of The Great Wall of China. I see myself on the Wall with a cute little backpack, but back at the hotel I’m toting one of Rick Steves Carry-On cases, or perhaps the Eagle Creek Tarmac 20 Carry-On bag. Let’s dream together.

When traveling light, it's best not to 'roll.'

2009-08-17T20:07:00.000-07:00

Nothing can make travel easier and 'shlepping' one's belongings around a little less of a chore than rolling carry on luggage. Hard as it is to believe, though, there are times when rolling is not the way to go. Backpacking is!

Luggage on wheels is actually a hindrance when you're hiking, for example. Can't you just see yourself traipsing through the woods, dragging your rolling carry on luggage behind? Or how about climbing the nearest mountain with your luggage bouncing along beside you? Even in quite civilized regions like European cities, it's sometimes easier to backpack your belongings than having them dance every which way along the cobblestones. On such occasions the answer is a good backpack. You may ask, why not simply use a rolling backpack?

Good question! In some situations that may actually be the perfect solution. However, if you see yourself trekking more than half of the time, you are probably better off without the wheels altogether. Not only do the wheels and the contraptions that secure them add considerably to the weight of the luggage, they may also not feel good on your back. A backpack without wheels also weighs less and allows for more content in your backpack.

The backpack you choose should have ergonomically curved and padded straps, a breathable back panel and a full side access pocket. You should also expect several outside pockets for important documents and electronic gadgets, which may need to be removed at check points.

Rick Steves, the renowned globetrotter who believes in always traveling light, prefers his Convertible Carry On backpack/suitcase with zip-away shoulder straps. Undoubtedly, Rick Steves has more than once observed other travelers attempting to roll their luggage under less than ideal circumstances, i.e. on unpaved roadways, cobbled streets, going up and down stairs and into trains and subways. On tiled airport floors wheeled bags are wonderful, but even in airports you can encounter circumstances that make it easier to backpack your belongings.

Weight becomes even more of an issue, when you carry your luggage on your back. If you plan on backpacking your luggage for long stretches, it's actually advisable to take your fully packed bag on a test run. You don't really know how heavy it is, until you carry it around for an hour or longer, not only window shopping, but climbing stairs as well. Nothing teaches you the value of traveling light, or the non-value of certain stuff, as quickly as carrying all your belongings on your back for a while.

On our continent children learn to live with backpacks quite early in life. In the past I would watch them shoulder their backpacks or drag them through the mud behind them. Not many children had wheeled backpacks then. Lately, I see them more often, but the non-wheeled backpack still predominates.

Since very few children live close enough to their school to go home for lunchbreaks, there must be room in their backpacks for packed lunches, that is, if they don't want to carry a separate lunch box.
One such backpack is the Jansport Hex Backpack. It contains an insulated area for keeping food and drinks cold. This makes it a great multi purpose backpack for students.

The Jansport Classic Big Student Backpack may be the answer for students with too heavy a book load. It also comes with inner pockets for pens, phone, calculator, small notebook etc. The straps are thick, wide and harder than previous Jansport packs. This makes them comfortable for bigger sized students, not so much for smaller ones.
And, yes, there is also a student bag with wheels. The JanSport Classic SuperBreak Wheeled Backpack might be a good alternative for anyone who needs to roll rather than carry.

Choosing a Carry On Case

2009-08-12T14:02:00.000-07:00

Today's travelers need to consider the ever more stringent limitations on luggage size and weight. Thus, the more an empty piece of luggage weighs, the less actual baggage one can transport with it. Seeing as one also needs to think about having to lift the carry on bag into the overhead bin by oneself, weight must be an important consideration for that reason alone.
More than ever, today's luggage pieces should be lightweight, yet sturdy, possibly expandable and wheeled. Ideally further, the pull handle should be operable with only one hand, and since not all travelers are the same height, the length of the handle must be adjustable.

Briggs and Riley offer a 22” “vertical pullman” with telescoping handle and inline skate wheels.
It’s not the cheapest luggage available, but the reviews are impressive. Actual users of this luggage praise the quality of design and the materials used in its construction.
One reviewer terms this luggage ‘bombproof.’ Another calls it a ‘godsent.’ Both are frequent travelers and ‘carry on.’ The first compares Briggs & Riley’s ‘Baseline’ series very favourably with the Travelpro Platinum series, and both agree that the warranty is the best in the business.

A 20 inch upright suitcase may be the safest choice for carry on luggage which can be stored in the overhead bin. Some airlines may accept 22 inch suitcases, but it's best to check with the airline ahead of time. There are 22 inch vertical pullmans on the market that weigh no more than 10 lbs.
Choosing a bag that can be expanded via a special zipper or via some other system may offer more packing space, but your luggage item may no longer qualify as carry on luggage in its fully expanded form.

A rolling backpack can be your best choice if you need a bag that can easily be carried on board and stored under the seat. They often come with concealed straps for backpacking, as well as a telescoping handle and wheels for towing.
Some are expandable, others have a separate day pack which can be piggy-backed onto the backpack. This might be your prefered option, if you carry a laptop or other electronic gadget, which must be removed at security checks.

Several other pockets may be available for anything from important documents to umbrella or travel blanket. Women might appreciate a separate compartment that will hold their purse or some device, which allows them to attach the purse firmly and securely to the carry on case.

Before you purchase your carry on luggage you must ask yourself whether you usually have other luggage that you check through, or whether you try to get by with only carry on
Just how often do you travel? There will be more wear and tear on your luggage if it is checked through than there will be if you keep it with you
Are you fashion conscious? Is a certain color or style important to you?
Quality of construction, style, as well as the number of extras offered with a particular luggage item will add to the cost of production, resulting in a more expensive carry on case.
Choose well and have an enjoyable flight!

Road trips then and now

2009-08-11T14:12:00.000-07:00

Speaking of road trips I cannot resist to say a few words about how we used to travel when we went camping with our children. This would almost feel like kneeling in the confessional, if I didn’t know for certain that there are thousands (millions?) of people, who share these memories.
How many of you don’t recall being tossed into the back of the station wagon? If you were lucky, it was lined with a mattress, some sleeping bags and pillows.
We always made sure that all items that might become projectiles in case of a sudden stop were firmly secured, but kids were not. I would guess, though, that they were a lot more comfortable than our now firmly secured grandchildren are.
Yes, I admit, I now strap in and firmly secure my grandchildren, too, but when their parents were little, that just wasn’t done. Actually, it’s a miracle they ever grew up, because on top of all that, we smoked. Please note the past tense!
Even before the station wagon, we turned the Volkswagen Beetle into our own little wagon by removing the back of the rear seat and thus creating a somewhat larger resting area. In order to protect the children against falls (and because we needed the space) we planted upright, fully packed, soft-sided airline suitcases behind the driver’s and passenger’s seats. The resting area was further lined with sleeping bags and pillows.
You’re probably wondering where on earth we put everything else that was needed for our camping weekend. Good question! Two luggage racks – one on top, one angled away from the back of the vehicle. We would actually fasten the folded tent to the underside of the carrier at the back. That way there was room for other things on top.

I can just hear you groan. Frankly, we loved it.
Now, when just two of us are traveling, we have more room than we ever had before with five, but then, our house is bigger than it ever was when all the kids were home. How did we ever manage?

Free Original Clipart at Designed to a T

Road Trips

2009-08-09T07:08:00.000-07:00

Road trips are still my very favorite form of travel. Road trips put you in charge of destinations and how you get there. Even hours of road travel are not boring, because the traveler is part of his surroundings, can soak up the atmosphere, can stop anywhere and in no time strike up a conversation with a perfect stranger. A road trip allows you to imagine what it would be like to live in any number of regions. Stopping at local diners very quickly makes you feel like one of the locals as well. I’ll never forget the waitress in a restaurant called ‘Cousins’ telling me, “Eat your peas, cousin!”

Packing for a road trip is determined somewhat by whether you fly somewhere first and then use a rental car, or else drive all the way from home. The last is easiest, because packing everything you purchase along the way for the return flight home is not an issue. If airline travel is part of the plan, extra space for purchased gifts and mementos must be planned for in advance.
For the road trip part of the excursion, just as for a lengthy airline flight, I always pack a rolling carry on case. If a stop is planned only for one night, a change of underwear and socks is often sufficient plus the toiletries and may be a fresh T-shirt. On a road trip you also don’t have to be concerned about the size of toiletry containers. Since the old Motel with parking directly in front is not the norm anymore, a carry on case is always great for overnight.

Road trips allow you to learn as much or as little as you want about the history and culture of any given region. I have seen professional musical productions along the way but also have fond memories of a college production of ‘Fiddler on the Roof’, as well as a high school performance of ‘Annie get your Gun.’ On a road trip a simple garment bag can hold a few things for dressier events so you won’t feel out of place.

Should your road trip take place in Europe, you must also be prepared for not being able to drive your vehicle right up to the hotel due to their love for traffic free zones. You may in fact have to push, pull, carry your luggage for blocks sometimes. On long driving holidays in Europe we have found it very convenient to line our trunk with boxes, which kept socks, underwear, t-shirts etc. separate. The Europeans have collapsible ones made of heavy duty plastic, which they use for shopping trips. Keeping our belongings in such boxes enabled us to quickly pack a carry on bag with just the necessities for one night. Sure beats ‘schlepping’ everything or rummaging through all your bags.

The right luggage and a little bit of planning and foresight can make a huge difference in whether you truly enjoy your trip or not.

Airline Travel Then And Now

2009-08-07T15:15:00.000-07:00

Is airline travel something you dread? I used to look forward to it very much. So did our kids. The air travel part of the holiday was something we would not have wanted to do without; even though rolling carry on luggage still needed to be invented. Now? I’m not so sure. Airline travel has changed!

Thinking back, one trip in particular stands out. It was just I and the three children, 3, 8 and 10. One would think the quicker we got that over with the better, but no. In those days there was legroom even in economy. Flight attendants – we called them stewardesses – were picture book perfect in appearance and customer service. Meals were served on real china and the cutlery was silver.

There were no movies, but we could listen to music, read, do puzzles or sleep. I remember getting to know my seat neighbors quite well during the course of an 8 or 9 hour flight. Children often got to know other children. They would colour together or play cat’s cradle or cards. Adults would move together so they could visit, while children socialized across the aisle.

All this has changed. The expectation today is for cheap airline travel. It is no longer anything we expect to save for until the necessary funds are in place. In the past, the only cheaper rates available were through a registered group that chartered an airplane. Often that also involved a whole lot of red tape. Today all airlines try to cut costs because that is what the customer seems to want. They cut costs often at the expense of quality of service.

Once upon a time, there used to be more legroom and not all seats were filled. Today’s airplanes, by comparison, seem to have shrunk. ‘Bums in seats’ have become an important statistic. Additional controls put in place after 9/11 have not helped either. Having to be at the airport hours before take off really adds to the time needed to get from point A to point B. More stringent weight restrictions make packing and deciding what to pack an ever more ominous chore and lightweight quality rolling carry on luggage plays an ever greater part in making airline travel bearable.

Being aware of airline luggage restrictions has become more important than ever, and checking airline exemptions ahead of packing is more than just a good idea. Fortunately today’s more lightweight materials help keep the weight of the empty luggage in check. That helps in making airline travel bearable. More neighborly interaction with fellow passengers would make it more enjoyable.

Some airlines do try very hard to reinvent customer service – no meals, but very entertaining flight attendants. Screens built into the back of the seat in front of you permit TV watching and game playing. What suffers, in my opinion, is communication between passengers. Unfortunately!

Purchasing the right Luggage for the Job

2009-08-06T20:38:00.000-07:00

There are people who plan everything down to the minutest detail. These people will always be prepared, and every trip will begin with only the best and most convenient luggage items to make the trip a sheer joy. Well, that’s one sort of people.
We were not such people!

Our suitcases often were already full when we left home, and more than once we had to purchase extra bags or suitcases along the way. Ditto for umbrellas, by the way.
One such extra was a beautifully constructed, expandable leather suitcase on wheels. In those days we still traveled with three children, so weight restrictions were not an issue.

One thing we had not considered though, and were reminded of very soon: Small wheels don’t work very well on cobblestones. A reminder that it is important to take into account the reason a piece of luggage is bought, the purpose it must serve, and the conditions under which it must perform.

If you want a school bag or backpack, a review like the following sure sounds good:
“Seven years of daily use by my daughter and then son, the telescoping handle did not break until it was backed over by a truck.” Sounds like a great rolling backpack, don’t you think?

If, on the other hand, you are an executive who travels frequently, this review might appeal to you.
“Unbelievably light weight yet fully featured. Lightweight graphite copolymer frame.
Trolley cases feature a Travel Sentry TSA Approved combination lock for convenience and security while traveling. Recessed locking Trolley handle made of industrial aluminum with easy access push button to lock and release (One hand operation) – protected and recessed Velocity in-line skate wheels for an easy roll and long lasting service.” And there’s more!
Both these items are featured in this blog. Olympia 19” Rolling Backpacks and Delsey Helium expandable suiter.
Of course, the vintage trunks would come in handy for a move to outer Siberia, but if you like it where you are, they’re quite decorative, don’t you think?

Why Rolling 'Carry On' Luggage?

2009-08-04T15:10:00.000-07:00

Why rolling carry on luggage with the emphasis on “carry on?” Because the carry-on tote, carry-on bag, carry-on case, regardless what you call it, is the most important member of your luggage family. The carry on tote, -bag, -case stays by your side like a trusted friend. While you have checked all your other luggage and won’t see it again until you get to your destination - if you’re lucky! - the carry on stays with you like a best bud. Of course, it can also be a real pain.

What is the difference between the carry on tote, the trusted friend, and the carry on bag, the hated nag?
For one thing, the carry on bag that turns out to be a nag very likely does not have wheels. If it does, they won’t work. It’ll be a bother to lug around. You never know where to find things, and it’ll just barely fit into the size requirements. Very likely at least one zipper is stuck and one seam ripped.

The good carry-on tote, by comparison, will be the friend with a place for everything and everything in its place. The wheels will run smoothly, the handle will fit into your hand just so, there will be compartments for important documents, space for your Sudoku or crossword puzzles, and space for your novel. In a pinch it’ll even act as your footstool, if you need to take a nap during an airport layover.
Should you need to take along a laptop, the carry on tote, the good bud, will make room for that, also.

Of course, trusted friends are rarer than the hated nags. One needs to be a little selective in choosing them, but if you choose well, you will always be able to rely on them, even when they lose some of their newness and instead become more like favorite slippers. Quality is built in.

Free Original Clipart at Designed to a T

Rolling Luggage for Peace and Harmony

2009-08-03T15:35:00.000-07:00

In Tijuana we witnessed our very first (and also our last) bullfight. After we left the arena half way through, we discovered the restaurant “Old Heidelberg.” We allowed the name to raise our expectations for a long missed German dish. Unfortunately, our ‘Sauerbraten’ must have come from a very tough old bull, one that had won a few fights before finally meeting his end.

We had been advised to leave our car on the American side of the border and walk across. It was also Sunday, and when I look at the old 8mm movie film I see myself dressed in a suit, wearing heels, carrying a lovely leather purse, ‘window’ shopping the leather bags in the open market. Not one rolling carry on bag in sight, though.

Our trip home had to be hurried along, because our holidays were running short, and both of us were expected back at our places of employment. Disneyland then was closed on Monday and Tuesday, but Santa Barbara beckoned. So did San Francisco with its Golden Gate Bridge, China town, Golden Gate Park, the Cable Cars and Fisherman’s Wharf.

One evening, still in California, we splurged on another motel room. Our room had a vibrating mattress, providing you dropped a quarter into the coin slot. Since we were almost home, we thought we’d treat ourselves. Nothing happened. In the middle of the night, however, the mattress, which had been on a timer, started to rock ‘n roll. In California!!!
What would you have thought? Earthquake! Grab the suitcase! Head for the hills!
Once we had left Napa Valley behind, we drove almost non-stop.

Thinking back to post war train travel with my parents I remember it all as a bit of a nightmare. Things were disappearing all the time. People were desperate, and while some never lost – in fact increased – their caring manner, many people were downright criminal. It was not unusual then for us to be reminded constantly to sit on the suitcases and guard them with our lives.

If it turned out that we were on the wrong platform, dad would grab a suitcase in each hand, strap another one around his neck with a leather belt and rush ahead, while mom grabbed onto us kids, pulling, shouting, running. It would have done wonders for family peace and harmony to have had rolling luggage! Dad’s life would certainly have been easier.
Rolling carry on luggage for peace and harmony!

.

Rolling Luggage On A Leash

2009-08-03T15:23:00.000-07:00

Before our children were born, my husband and I traveled from the province of Alberta in Canada through the Western States all the way down to the border region of the USA and Mexico. This was a delayed honeymoon – delayed, because we had to wait until we could afford to buy a car, a Volkswagen Beetle, to be precise. And yes, you guessed it, we packed some sleeping bags, a camp stove, a cooler and stuffed the tent under the hood, since the engine was in the back, remember? We could not have afforded to spend every night in a motel. We still had no rolling carry on luggage, but in anticipation of an eventual visit back to Germany, we did own our first lightweight airline suitcase.

We enjoyed that trip immensely, and to this day I love road trips. It was May 1960. Chestnut trees were blooming in Salt Lake City. We knew chestnut trees from Germany, but had not really missed them in Alberta until seeing them again in Utah. Then we missed them!

Rolling carry on luggage would have been very handy the odd evening when we chose to stay in a hotel and only needed a change of underwear and our toiletries to take to our room. Instead we used the bag our oranges had come in – the ones we had to eat or else leave behind before being able to cross into Nevada.

Wedding chapels in Las Vegas were quaint, little structures, but quite prominent with the help of neon lights. I must admit, they did not impress us much. We observed people move into the big hotel/casinos, some of them pulling their rolling airline luggage on a leash. Of course, we did not dare enter. We had little extra money, and the thought of just walking through the casinos never even occurred to us.
Hoover Dam! – Now, that was something!

In San Diego we spent days in Balboa Park. We pitched our tent right on the beach and, rather than obtaining a healthy tan, got badly sunburned while relaxing in the shade. A wonderful couple – locals from La Jolla – had their camper on the same beach and acted as our medics. Thank you Blanca and Matt! May you always be blessed with rolling luggage.

My Rolling Carry On Luggage Excursions

2009-08-03T15:00:00.000-07:00

If you’re anything like me, you love to travel? What kind of traveling do you do or dream of doing? Is your idea of travel satisfied by throwing a tent, a sleeping bag, a cooler and a camp stove into the car and heading for the nearest hill, valley, stream or lake? In that case rolling carry on luggage certainly is not a requirement. If, on the other hand, you feel drawn to foreign shores, then rolling carry on luggage is a wonderfully welcome luxury. I now own nothing but rolling luggage, carry-on or otherwise, but it took years of interesting adventures with all sorts of more or less useful bags, before I got there.

My very first personal luggage consisted of two hand-me-down vintage trunks, freshly refinished by my mother, because my first major trip as a young adult was also my immigration to a new continent. These two antique steamer trunks contained the bare necessities of life: toiletries, towels, sheets, cutlery, dinnerware, tablecloths, and clothing for all seasons - and a ‘Siemens’ tabletop radio. Seeing as my trunks had to be carried on to the boat, they certainly qualified as carry on luggage, but fortunately they did not roll. My boat, the MS Seven Seas, did quite enough of that on her own.

Coming to think of it, my very first piece of personal luggage was a leather school bag, worn like a ‘rucksack’. My fondest memory – tongue in cheek - is of shouldering it, filled with grapes, for a trip home from Oma’s house. This happened just after WWII, when food of any type was scarce and trains were packed to the point of people sitting on the roof and hanging from the sides. Inside was standing room – squeezing room – only, and the grapes slowly turned to grape juice. There was nothing I could do to prevent the juice from trickling down my backside!

Rolling carry on luggage! What a wonderful luxury! But I did without that luxury for a long, long time. Stay tuned, and I’ll tell you more in the days and weeks to come.