The Luggage Blog

Over packing luggage is a common problem among many travelers. Over packing tends to occur when a person packs at the last minute, is afraid to leave something behind, or is trying to make sure they will be as prepared as possible on their trip. If you have a tendency to over pack, the following are a few tips you may find useful to help you pack more efficiently:

• Consider the number of days you will be on your trip, the temperature of the location where you will be traveling, and pack clothes accordingly. You don’t need to take two sets of clothes for everyday – one outfit should suffice. Likewise, if you will be attending formal occasions, pack only the amount of formal attire needed for these events.

• Make the most out of your clothing. You can wear pants, such as jeans, more than once, which will allow you to pack fewer of these items since they can be used for more than one day. Try to pack as much versatile clothing as you can to reduce the number of garments you need to take.

• Pack two pairs of shoes, one casual and one formal. This doesn’t include the shoes you wear on your feet during travel, which leaves you with three pairs of shoes for your trip.

• Take travel-sized toiletry products as they will take up less space and create less weight.

Finally, use your suitcase space wisely. Don’t just stuff your belongings in your luggage. Keep your shoes on the bottom, store your toiletries, socks and undergarments in provided compartments where applicable, and neatly fold your clothes. By doing this, you will stay organized, and help determine the amount of room you have left in your suitcase if you intend to bring something back from your trip.

Regardless of where you travel or of the method you use to reach your destination, it’s important that you make sure you the luggage you take with you can be easily identified as yours. Although it’s a good idea to purchase luggage that is brightly coloured or that has an interesting design, there are different ways that you can make your simple black or solid coloured suitcases, totes, backpacks or any other baggage you take unique, so they will stand out and not get lost in the crowd.

Consider the following ideas:

• Tie colourful tags, strings or ribbons to the handles of the suitcases. This will give the bag a punch of colour that will be easier to spot. Just make sure what you tie on is secured and short, so it is less likely to become caught on conveyor belts or other bags.

• Attach suitcase straps. These straps can often be found in a variety of bright colours and prints. They are not only a useful way to identify your luggage, but also to keep the lid of the suitcase secure in the event the zippers break, preventing the case from opening.

• Handle wrappers. Available in different colours and designs, they also provide cushioning for your hand for increased comfort.

Remember, regardless of how you choose to make your luggage more identifiable, make sure you use the same colors or patterns for each bag, that way you will always know what you’re looking for.

Laptop cases are necessary for anyone who owns a portable computer. The  reason is that these devices need to be provided with a protective storage  space when they are not in use or are being transported. Although you may be under the impression that any bag will do, the reality is that if the product you provide for your laptop doesn’t have the necessary padding and other features that help secure one of these devices in place, it can easily become scratched or damaged.

Laptop cases are available in a diverse range of colors, sizes and styles. Therefore, whether you are aiming for a professional appearance or one that is chic, casual, sassy or fun, you’ll be sure to find what you are looking for. That said, the overall look of the case isn’t nearly as important as the features, design and material of the product itself.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you are hunting for laptop cases:

• Handles – make sure the case is equipped with the handles you find most comfortable (i.e. back straps, shoulder strap, top handles, push-pull handle with wheels, etc.)

• Interior – Make certain one of the compartments is padded for the laptop; it may also contain a strap to secure the computer. If pockets are important to you, look for a case that features many.

• Material – Leather, nylon, polyester, neoprene, and polycarbonate are just some of the materials available. Find one that is of high quality and is waterproof.

Finally, make sure the laptop cases fit the size of your computer.

Tall flier? Used your knees as a bumper on a plane before? Knee Defender to the rescue! Knee Defender is a compact set of rubber grips that attach to the seat-back tray in front of you. They prevent the seat in front of you from reclining back crushing your knees or even your laptop.

According to the Knee Defender website the device doesn’t break any FAA regulations as it is only used during the flight and not during take offs and landings—when your tray table must be up and locked. Knee Defender is available directly from the manufacturer at the link be below at a cost of $14.95 per pair.

Ever have this issue on a plane? Would you use this device on the plane? Write us back below and let us know about your experience.

Knee Defender

Check this out Facebook fans. Delta Airlines has launched a new App that will allow you to find flights, book them, share and plan your trip all while never leaving Facebook.

The goal is to streamline the booking process for the customer. Delta being one of the largest commercial airline in the world and it is facing more and more competition from smaller, more web-friendly airlines like Virgin and Jet Blue.

It looks like they are one of the first airlines to allow a full travel booking on the social network. And Delta says that it will expand the Ticket Window, which is powered by Alvenda, to other social media sites, including online banner ads to allow full booking capabilities within the airline’s advertisements. It’s unclear if Facebook gets a cut from any of he flights booked on the platform.

Do you think that you’re ready to start booking flights on Facebook? Leave us a message and let us know how you feel about the idea.

When ever traveling especially in places that are hard to access and ATM’s or have cash-only shops taking cash with you is the only way to go. Protect yourself with the Multi-Stash method.

At the ‘Living Large on a Small Budget’ blog Wise Bread they have come up with an smart and simple way to prevent ruining your vacation and budget all at once. Safely traveling with money can be a daunting task, but with the multi-stash method you prevent yourself from falling victim to losing it all at once.

Carrying all your cash in one place (usually a wallet) puts you at the biggest risk of losing the whole enchilada if somebody lifts (or if you lose) your wallet. In addition, when you whip out your wallet to pay for something and are sifting through large amounts of money, you will immediately become a formidable target for theft.

So carry your cash in a few different places. Put the day’s spending money in your wallet (this can also be an effective budgeting technique), and then stash some cash in a few other places which you don’t access in public; maybe a money belt, lock some in your luggage (an unlikely place like with your dirty clothes is good), and/or put a few emergency bills in your shoe (underneath the insole is great).

This method can not only prevent your funds from being lifted but also help to keep your day-to-day travel expensive on track. Have a favorite tip for keeping cash safe on the go? Share it with us in the comments.

How to Get and carry Cash Safely and Securely [Wise Bread]