The Luggage Blog

The holidays are a joyous time of year. It’s a time of year where families unite to enjoy a wonderful feast filled with turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce. It’s a time of year where your grandfather falls asleep before and after dinner. These times can produce a ton of wonderful memories, or if you travel, they can also produce nightmares. I would like to share with you the top ten tips for Thanksgiving travel this year. So for all you holiday flyers out there, get you pencils ready and take some notes.

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Jackson Hole, WY

Area Profile
Teton Village, Wyo., and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort rise from a great “hole” or basin 12 miles northwest of the town of Jackson. Skiers and riders do their things on 2,500 acres of in-bound terrain and taunt the mountain’s 4,139-foot vertical (the greatest continuous rise in the U.S.) There are two mountains: Apres Vous and Rendezvous. and an open backcountry gate system giving skiers and free-heelers access to more than 3,000 additional acres of high-country magic. There are 111 named trails and many other unnamed routes known to skiers who have skied here for years. Twelve lift systems serve the mountains and snowboarding is allowed on 100 percent of their terrain.

Lodging Profile
The Jackson Hole Valley has over 10,000 units available for guest accomodations - everything from backcountry yurts to luxury hotels. The Four Seasons Resort in Jackson Hole is a favorite, boasting 125 rooms, 40 unit Residence Club, and 17 slope-side penthouse suites. The Crystal Springs Lodge is also new and has 18 condos available. Ski in/ski out lodges and condo units are available at the base of the ski area: luxury properties to a backpacker hostel. Full range of accomodations in Teton Village. Additional accomodations available the town of Jackson located ten miles away.

Services Profile
Restaurants, lounges within walking distance, many of both in Jackson. Ski shop, boutique, specialty, drug, liquor, cleaners and post office at area. Clinic at area, St. John’s Hospital, 12 miles. Kids Ranch for ages 2 months-5 years. Ski and snowboard school for ages 6 and over. Ski and cross country rental and repair available at slope and in Jackson. Ski classes offered for racing, cross country, powder, Junior and children, steep camps, women’s camps and snowboard camps. New this year: the new Bridger Restaurant atop the Bridger Gondola (Elevation 9,095’), will open Christmas 2006. It will have incredible valley views of Jackson Hole and the famed on-mountain Corbet’s Couloir to the south.

Area Recreation Profile
Climbing, mountaineering, biking, kayaking, rafting, paragliding, fishing, sightseeing, tram rides, hiking, horseback riding, and concert with various musical genres.

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Here’s some helpful tips that we recommend one to take before or while travelling abroad in order to have a safe enjoyable trip.  Some of these steps might seem like common sense but you never know and it can’t hurt to familarize yourself with these precautions before you take that trip to a foreign land that you are not used to.

Health

• Look up any illnesses of the country you are traveling to and make sure you’ve taken any necessary precautions
• Make sure you keep any medications you need in your personal bag, rather than checking them
• Find out if there are restrictions on any medical supplies you plan to bring and get a note from your doctor if necessary and always check with your airline to be sure
• Bring empty bottles of water to the airport than you can fill after you pass through security to avoid dehydration on a long flight
• Whenever possible stretch during long trips and before hauling heavy luggage

Theft

• Don’t let your luggage out of sight or ask anyone you don’t know to watch it for you. This may seem like a no-brainer, but plenty of people do it!
• Use concealed money holders
• Don’t leave magazines with your name and address on a plane because you never know who may be phishing for information
• If you’re going on a long trip don’t forget to secure your home
• Keep important documents on you, rather than in the overhead compartment. Passports are a common stolen item overseas
• Like anywhere else, always stay alert
• If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is
• In case you are robbed, keep a small amount of traveler’s checks on your person or make sure you can access your bank account or you have someone who can send you cash [Read more →]
  
  

Nothing’s worse than forgetting the memory stick for your camera… except maybe forgetting your passport! CNN posted a really helpful checklist of things to do before you start packing.  Our favorite tip:

Record the contents of your suitcase
Take pictures of your clothes, shoes, and jewelry, which will serve as documentation if your bag is lost or stolen. Download the shots onto your home computer, just in case.

Check out CNN’s entire list and make your trip go a lot smoother.

More great packing tips:

• Packing Tips from the Pros
• How to Get it All in One Carry On
• Free Downloadble Packing List
• Packing Tips for 1 Bag Trips (video)

The Rough and Tumbler test, which entailed filling carry-on suitcases until they weighed 20-25 lbs and tumbling them up to 1,000 times, is among one of the tests done by Consumer Reports. The tests determined which of 12 brand suitcases were the toughest of travelers.  The report was quite interesting and you can see the chart to the left of what was found in terms of durability, capacity and convenience. 

The bottom line is, Tumi was rated best overall with more room than most brands! Highest in quality and price, the Tumi Alpha 22″ Carry-On costs $595.  It was also determined that there are other brands that cost less and are still good quality but didn’t perform as well in every test category.  It comes down to your preference and price range as to what bag is perfect for your needs. So don’t overlook the Victorinox NXT, Hartmann Stratum and Briggs & Riley Baseline or any of the other top carry-ons!

Toddlers/Pre-School:

• Always Bring One Extra Outfit…because you just never know.
• Use gum or chewy candy (ex: gummy worms/bears) for older children and mints for younger children to chew during take off and landing for the pressure in their ears
• Recommend not bringing your child’s favorite toys on plane just in case they get lost.
• SURPRISE: Fill up a bag of goodies from the $ store.  Don’t let the children see or play with them until you are on the plane.
  • It will keep their interest because it’s new and different.
  • You could even wrap the toys to “buy” you a little more time.
  • If you forget any of these on the plane, don’t worry it was only a $1.
• What to Buy:
  • Stickers, crayons, coloring books, play-doh, party favors, bubbles, silly putty, etc…(things to keep hands busy).
  • But don’t buy toys that make noise…your seatmates will hate you!

Babies/Infants:

• While taking off and landing give the baby a pacifier, bottle or nurse them and this should elevate any ear pressure problems that may occur.
• With very young infants do take the time to get on the plane early and get settled.
• Ask for the bulk head.  You will want/need the extra leg room.  Some airlines do have bassinets that can be secured to the wall (international).
• Mothers tend to over pack, but unless your baby spits up a lot or makes messes in their diaper often, don’t pack more than necessary!  It will take up too much space and you will be the one who needs to carry it around.
• An Extra outfit and onesies in your diaper bag should do the trick along with what you normally pack.
• Babybjorn/slings will be your best friend…they will keep your baby close and your hands free!

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