Category - Latest Articles

Rockland Luggage Review: Quality Meets Affordability

October 31, 2018

Rockland Melbourne Luggage 3 Piece Set

Have you ever had your luggage stolen or lost before? Well, my 67-year-old Mother has. My mom took a two-week vacation to Hawaii and when she returned home, her luggage didn’t come with her. It was misplaced. Weeks later the airlines found her lost bag, but when it was delivered to her, the suitcase looked like it had gone through a wood chipper. Most of her belongings were fine, a few things broke, but one thing was for sure, she was going to need new luggage

My mother is a sweet old lady that doesn’t like to spend much on things. Most of the prices of the luggage sets she looked at seemed too expensive for her, despite being a regular traveler now retired. I helped her look for a quality luggage set and what we decided on was the Rockland Melbourne Luggage 3 Piece Set.

After much research on what is the best luggage set for traveling, we liked the features and price point for this Luggage 3 piece set. It was this combination of value and features that made her choose the Rockland Melbourne Luggage set. Since then, it’s made its way through several airports and she is happy with my selection.

Here’s a closer look at the Rockland Melbourne Luggage set and why it’s a great option for travelers.

Rockland Melbourne Luggage Set Review

– 1047 Amazon Reviews

Initially, a luggage set wasn’t something she considered when we first started looking, but I convinced her on buying the three-piece as it gave options for each trip she would take.

The three bags are 28” (71cm), 24” (61cm) and 20” (51cm) tall respectively, with two larger bags suitable for checked baggage and one cabin bag. As an individual traveler, I appreciate having the choice between the two sizes depending on the length of my trip, and using the three also works very well for holidays with my husband as well. In fact, we’ve found that for shorter trips, just one bag can fit both of our belongings.

Hauptstadtkoffer Luggage Review

October 26, 2018

Charles Balbuena

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Hauptstadtkoffer Review

Having carried around my plain old soft-case suitcase for years, I finally had to admit defeat on a recent multi-week trip to New York. Not only was my suitcase starting to look a little rough around the edges, but the frustration of trying to drag it with its faulty wheels and hold it upright to stop it from tipping over became too much. Clearly, suitcases had come a long way since I’d purchased my first bag several years ago, and my outdated option no longer did the trick.

I accepted it was time to upgrade my luggage and set about doing some research to find the best suitcase for traveling. I wanted to invest in something that was good quality but wasn’t going to require a small personal loan to pay for. It soon became apparent that a luggage set was going to be the best value option – plus, there’s a certain appeal of having a cohesive, stylish luggage set as you make your way to your destination.

When I finally decided to trade in my old bag and upgrade, it left me wondering why I hadn’t done it so much earlier. It certainly made navigating the airport much more pleasant and I love the look of my new case! I also decided to opt for a hard-shell case, which has given me a lot of peace of mind about carrying my beloved camera equipment through the airport and leaving it in the care of the airline staff.

Gone are the days of just throwing all my belongings into my case and hoping for the best. My new suitcase is much better organized, which means everything is easier to find, and I can fit more in (perfect for when I can’t choose between two pairs of shoes). Finally, it’s great to have a suitcase that’s up to date with modern TSA standards so I no longer have to choose between leaving my bag unsecured, or risking damage if it is opened by baggage handlers or security.

So, what bag did I settle on?

Delsey Helium Aero Review: Surprisingly Spacious

October 15, 2018

Adam Lewis

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This article is a review of a specific Delsey Luggage suitcase, a company we have covered in the past. This particular model, the Delsey Helium Aero 29 has been very popular as of late, so we decided to feature it in its own review article.

Delsey Helium Aero Review

The trend in luggage seems to be hardsided luggage these days. While most people will admit hardside suitcases can appear cold and lack visual appeal, Delsey has put a twist on the design that a lot of people seem to like.

Liane Corbin wrote an article on Delsey Luggage earlier in the year that a lot of readers seemed to enjoy. In that piece, Liane talks about some of the best tips to keep in mind while targeting a suitcase set to buy. Aside from obvious protection, which of course is the number one priority when it comes to your valuables, surprisingly it’s the wheels and handles that are equally as important when purchasing a high-quality suitcase for finding value. The handle and wheels are the first things on your suitcase that could break, so investing in luggage with quality features is a great first step to get the most shelf life out of your purchase.

Delsey has made a conscious decision to create luggage with high-quality elements, even if the customer isn’t fully aware that they need them as much as they do.

The Delsey Helium Aero 29 is lightweight and durable. It is made of 100% Polycarbonate, which is a material that is extremely resilient to cracking or breaking, with a deep metallic finish. Polycarbonate is a soft material that flexes with the goal to absorb impact when thrown or dropped. This material is also present in contact lenses. It’s difficult to scratch polycarbonate easily, which makes it a perfect material for hardside suitcases.

As I already mentioned, the design of Delsey’s suitcases not only has curve appeal but come in made options and colors to choose from. There are over 9 different color and size options to choose from, all have small design differences, but an overall branded look by Delsey.

Best Travel Blanket for Flights

October 12, 2018

Mike Patch

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Best Travel Blanket

Although they say getting there is half of the fun, it’s not very enjoyable to be part way through a flight and absolutely freezing. Not only does it make for a very unpleasant flight, but it can also stop you from getting crucial hours of sleep, meaning you arrive at your destination feeling tired and grumpy.

Some international airlines do provide blankets for long-haul flights, however, they’re often not terribly comfortable, not to mention that it’s best not to think about how many people have used them before you! Honestly, when do they wash those things? Even if that doesn’t bother you, there’s certainly no guarantee that a free blanket will be provided for you as there is sometimes a limited supply. Instead, do what I do, pack a travel blanket. You’ll be surprised how often you use it.

Be Proactive: Get a Travel Blanket Before Your Flight

Well-crafted travel blankets ensure that your temperature is regulated perfectly (working to keep you warm when needed, as well as cooling you down if necessary) and that you are comfortable in flight, all at an affordable price.

The best travel blankets have a number of other uses as well. Of course, they’re great for different types of travel like on buses, trains, and boats as well as flights. They can also double as picnic blankets or pillows in a push, or replace hotel linens that look just a little bit questionable. All in all, it’s no wonder that frequent travelers swear by a good quality travel blanket as one of the travel essentials.

Not sure which to go for? Here are our two favorite travel blankets for the serious traveler who wants to stay warm and comfortable:

5 Reliable Electric Cooling Blanket Options To Get A Perfect Night Sleep

October 11, 2018

Julie Buckingham

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Electric Cooling Blanket: Sleep Better

Even in the winter when I have blankets on to stay warm there are times I wake up too hot and need to cool down. I hate sweating when I sleep so I’ve learned over the years to stick my feet out from the covers to get my body temperature just right. Obviously, this doesn’t allow for too many comfortable sleeping positions; that was until I got myself an electronic cooling blanket, and life has been so much better.

I used to travel a lot for business and hated hotel beds. I could never get adjusted to the heat of the room or the thickness of the blankets. My boyfriend would always tell me to just kick the blankets off, but that didn’t work either as I prefer the comfort of having covers on my body as I sleep. I’ll admit, I’m just a picking sleeper that needs the temperature to be just right.

Temperature is easily one of the biggest obstacles to getting quality sleep. Studies have found that the optimal temperature for the best quality sleep is cooler than you may think, around 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit (15-20°C). Temperatures that fall too far below or above this range can lead to restlessness. Temperatures in this ideal sleeping range help facilitate the decrease in core body temperature that in turn initiates sleepiness. Getting into that perfect sleeping temperature zone can be difficult due to warmer climates, the heating of your home or simply laying next to someone who naturally sleeps hot and warms the bed.

There is a wide range of sleeping products that market themselves as solutions for staying cool in bed. I started with a Cooling Pillow, which actually worked pretty good at first, but as I mentioned, do a lot of traveling. Packing a pillow is a waste of space in your luggage.

My goal was to find a quality electric cooling blanket that would keep my whole body at the right temperature. I quickly realized, though, you get what you paid for. I tried a few affordable cooler blankets before overpaying for a portable air conditioner. The air conditioner wasn’t worth the money and my partner didn’t like freezing every night. He asked me to return it and continue to search for a blanket that would keep me cold, not the entire room.

The following are 5 different options for staying cool when sleeping. Some are electric cooling blankets, others are cooling pads.

Human Creations: Gel’O Cool Mat Gel Topper

Size: 24 x 59 Inches for Standard Queen, King Beds

I used this cooling mattress pad for years. I got it as a gift from my parents who knew I would be traveling a lot for work and was not a morning person if I didn’t get a good night sleep. Unfortunately, I left it behind in a room in Portland. I ended up picking up something else, but would highly recommend this cooling mattress pad. This sleeping pad does not need to be plugged in.

How does it work