September 17, 2014

Forget Traveling Light...How about Luggage Free??


via
As much as these photos idealize traveling with a complete set of gorgeous leather luggage, the reality is that traveling these days is hardly glamorous.


Countless articles and blog posts have been written about the virtues of packing light...something I have working on my whole life and still haven't quite mastered. However, there are other times when packing light is simply not an option - moving to a new country, an extended trip, a golf or ski vacation, or traveling with young children. For those times, why pay huge airline fees for multiple bags and schlep everything yourself (because let's face it, the photos are a complete fantasy)?

 Luggage Free offers an excellent alternative. Just pack your bags as if you were taking them to the airport, then call to arrange a time for your bags to be picked up at your home, office, hotel or cruise ship. Luggage Free does the rest - they will arrive at the specified time (often within 6 hours of your call), wrap your luggage in their special plastic covering and deliver it to your destination where it will be waiting for you when you arrive! Everything is tracked and guaranteed to be delivered on time. How easy is that?!


Even better Luggage Free is offering my readers and clients $25 off their services. Use code "2032935" to receive your discount or e-mail me and I will send you the coupon.

Smart travelers, pack light...even smarter travelers, travel Luggage Free!

(I was not compensated for this post...I just wanted to share what I believe is an ingenious service and the $25 coupons. However, if Luggage Free wants to offer to ship my bags on my upcoming trip to Asia, I wouldn't argue!)

September 15, 2014

Why Do We Travel??



One of my highlights of Virtuoso Travel Week was attending a lecture presented by the esteemed travel writer, Pico Iyer, on "Why We Travel".  Prior to this event, I had not heard of Mr. Iyer but his talk was incredibly inspiring. I couldn't find a video version of the talk he gave to us, but I did find this Ted Talk which is excellent:

 
Go here if you cannot view the video.
 
His essay on "Why We Travel" can be found here...it is definitely worth a read. And, if that leaves you wanting to learn more about this amazing writer, traveler and man, then check out his web site, Pico Iyer Journeys.


Now I ask all of you...Why Do You Travel?? 

 

(All photos are of Kyoto, Japan, Mr. Iyer's adopted home and a city where I am thrilled to be visiting later this fall. )

September 12, 2014

On My Radar Screen


Happy Friday!! What are you all up to for the weekend? We have family arriving tomorrow for a couple of days so I am hoping the nice weather sticks around through the weekend. As it is still technically summer for another ten days, I intend to squeeze every bit of sunshine out of each of those days! 
via
Here is what is pinging my radar screen this week....

There are quite a few interesting movies opening this fall...
 
go here if you cannot view video.

I hope to see The Trip To Italy tonight...it looks hilarious and the food and scenery look incredible!


 go here if you cannot view video.

Doesn't Hector and the Search for Happiness look great?? It opens next week.

Do you have any new movies you are looking forward to??

via
I really enjoyed Veronique's (French Girl in Seattle) post on why she loves traveling in France...I agree with her on all counts!

via
In defense of looking nice for your flight...the hat may no longer be necessary but I think it is just simple respect to the crew and your fellow travelers to dress well for your travels. Your thoughts??


 
Go here if you cannot view video. 

The part of the plane you never get to see...How do I get an upgrade do one of those areas??


Have you heard of Trover yet?? I still need to explore it more, but it appears to be a "Pinterest" type app for sharing travel photos...could become a new addiction for me! 

What has YOU intrigued this week?? 

Have a fantastic weekend, my friends...wherever you may be wandering...

xoxo


September 10, 2014

Pack Your Bags...Introducing the EMME Bag!

Illustration by Inslee Haynes via
It has taken me a while, but I feel like I finally have packing somewhat down to a science...I will never be the person who takes a two week trip with just a carry-on, but, for the most part, I do pretty well. Until recently, there has been one exception - my toiletry bag.  I have struggled with finding one that will keep everything organized without taking up too much space in my luggage. And, it always seems like I have used the last quart sized zip-loc bag the day before I need to put all my 3 oz. liquids in one too meet TSA guidelines (not as much of a worry now that I have TSA Pre-Check but that is a whole other post!). 


Enter the EMME Bag...a toiletry bag designed by a
Emily Constantini, a frequent business traveler, who finally gave up trying to find the perfect solution and created one herself!

When I read about this bag, it seemed like Emily had indeed created the ideal toiletry bag, so I reached out to her and she very generously sent me one to review. To say that I love this bag is an understatement...here's why:
 -It folds up and zips into a neat compact bag which fits perfectly into my suitcase. And, it is expandable, so it will fit more for longer trips.

-It hangs. Sometimes (especially in Europe) hotels have very little counter space - you can hang this bag from a towel bar.

-It has clear compartments to keep everything organized...everything has its own place AND you can see where it all is.

 
-There is a clear bag that zips off for all your 3 oz. TSA compliant liquids...it is so easy to remove the pouch with your liquids to put through the scanners and then zip it back onto the larger bag when you get to your destination...no more zip-loc bags!!

 -She has thought of everything - the bag is made of high quality nylon (think Longchamp bag type material) and non-toxic plastic, and includes 12 TSA approved bottles and containers (including a spray bottle).

I love supporting small enterprises...this is a labor of love for Emily and she has really hit it out of the park with this bag. She hopes to expand the line to include other colors and materials - I can just envision EMME bags collaborating with the likes of Kate Spade to create some really fun colors and designs. In the meantime, you can't go wrong with the chic black bag!

Emily is offering a 20% discount on EMME bags for my blog readers...just enter the code "Wander" when you order here.