Category - Latest Articles

Delsey Helium Aero Review: Surprisingly Spacious

6 days ago

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

1 week ago

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:

What to Pack for a Cruise: Travel Advice

3 months ago

Lara Morrison

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What to Pack for a Cruise

My heart beat with anticipation as our shuttle made its way to our departure port. The excitement of a first cruise, the knowledge that I would soon be in a small floating city on the high seas, brought out my inner traveler. When I started preparing for this trip, the last thing I wanted to think about was what to pack.

But that’s just part of the pre-trip fun! Depending on what sort of cruise you take and where you will be sailing, choosing your wardrobe and what to pack for a cruise only lends itself to the excitement.

To be on a huge ship where you can look out onto the endless blue water, and not feel hardly any swaying, is a unique experience. The sun shining down on crystal waters where the rays bounce up from the ocean; it’s truly like being in another world. Then I watched as my floating hotel approaches the shore at some exotic destination. And the best part? I got to visit several fabulous destinations without schlepping my bags. The scenery keeps changing, and yet your stuff stays in one place. Genius!

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

July 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 just to 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 a picky sleeper that needs the temperature to be just right, but as it turns out, I’m not the only one.

Temperature is easily one of the most significant obstacles to getting quality sleep. Studies have found that the optimal temperature for the best quality sleep is colder 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 and 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 four different options for staying cool when sleeping. Some are electric cooling blankets; others are cooling pads.

YnM Cooling Weighted Blanket

Size: 48”x72′ | Weight: 15 lbs

After I wrote this article earlier this year, a friend of mine reached out to me on social media about this blanket. The YnM Cooling Weighted Blanket wasn’t apart of my original article, but it should have been.

As I mentioned in the intro, I don’t kick all the blankets off when I’m sleeping because I like the feeling of the weight of the blankets on my body. Turns out that’s not an uncommon thing. Weighted blankets are a very popular new sleeping item these days, and a cooling blanket that also has weight is fantastic.

How does it work

The YnM cooling blanket features breathable SMART fabric and moisture wicking management for year round comfort enabling hot sleepers to stay drier and cooler. The cold to the touch bamboo fabric and glass beads feature high specific heat capacity which will keep you cool through the night.

My Take:

I think the approach to this blanket was different than all the other options listed in this article. Where most cooling blankets have the goal to keep you cool, I’d say the goal of the VnM Blanket is to keep you at an ideal temperature, so you don’t get hot. I know that sounds like the same thing, but it isn’t. If you can remain in the perfect temperature zone than you remain asleep, undisturbed, and fully rested. Imagine a good night’s sleep where you spent the whole night at the ideal perfect temperature. You would probably never wake up hot or cold and spend more time sleeping. The quality of your sleep would improve, thereby you would need less of it.

It sounds funny, but to this day I still remember staying at this five-star hotel in Chicago. It was just a random trip, but we decided to upgrade our room for something special. I don’t remember thinking the room was all that nice, but I never slept better than I did that weekend. I remember waking up early and feeling completely rested. I always thought that the bed or mattress must have been the reason, but now that I think about it, it was the fact I that didn’t overheat when sleeping.

Travel Tips: How to Decide On Where to Go Traveling

June 27, 2018

Adam Lewis

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How to Decide On Where to Travel?

As one who makes traveling a priority, people often ask me how I decide where my next trip will be. Well, that is a loaded question! Answering it includes many factors. Among them: how much time do I have? What’s my budget? Are there currently good deals on a place I’m interested in? These and many more questions invade my mind when choosing where I’ll go next.

With the advent of social media, the world seems to have shrunk dramatically, but I assure you, it still has quite a bit of surface area to cover! If you have limited time to see the world, it pays to make your choices wisely. Destination fads come and go.

The current hot destination seems to be Iceland, and everyone is flocking there. But are YOU really interested in going to Iceland? If not, don’t bother just because your cool friend at the office went.

What I Look for in a Destination

What are your interests? Hobbies? Are you a history buff? Go to Washington D.C., Rome, or Petra to name a few. Are you a shopaholic? New York, Paris, and London are perfect for that. For the outdoor lover, the options are pretty much endless. Chances are you’ll find a place to go pretty easily if you do any daily news reading and have a healthy curiosity about the world.

As for myself, I love the outdoors – activities such as hiking, camping, spending time in the mountains and along the water. Where I live in the Pacific Northwest is great for that. So when I have limited time, I’ll steal away for the weekend to somewhere within 300 miles, which makes it easy to plan a quick trip. But when I want to branch out, I like to research my next destination based on the activity I’m interested in.

Pinterest is a great starting point for my travel planning. In recent months, travel bloggers and the industry, in general, have exploded on Pinterest, with tons of great ideas to get the adventure juices flowing. From there I can access a wide range of resources that will further help me in planning my next trip. I’ve found that simply Googling an interest or destination casts too wide of a net and I have to sift through a lot of unnecessary web hits.

Best Lightweight Waterproof Jacket: Columbia Switchback Review

June 26, 2018

Liane Corbin

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In this article, I review the Columbia Women’s Switchback II Jacket. There are a lot of rain jackets on the market, but I believe I’ve found the best lightweight waterproof jacket for women in terms of value, style and price point.

Best Lightweight Waterproof Jacket

On a recent spring trip to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, I boarded a ferry to the city of Victoria from Port Angeles, Washington. Sunny skies suddenly turned to cloudy drizzle are caught me by surprise. I found myself wrapping my inadequate sweater jacket around myself. I really wanted to spend this ferry trip at the helm, marveling at the passing Olympic Peninsula waters, instead of hunkering down inside and drinking stale coffee.

The temperatures were mild, but the incessant drizzle was soaking my jacket. I realized I had made a mistake: I did not bring along a suitable light rain jacket on this trip, something that was pointed out to me my by some locals as a rookie mistake to the Pacific North-West, as it randomly rains a lot.

But a little post-sailing shopping spree never hurt anyone, right?

Vancouver is a very trendy modern city, with a down to earth nature vibe to it. Home to such brands as Lululemon and RYU, the friendly people are active and tend to dress in layers often due to random rainy drizzles much like the one I found myself in.

If there is one thing a lady needs, it’s a high-quality, durable waterproof jacket. Whether I am walking the city streets, or going for a hike on a forest trail, having a light wind-breaking rain jacket is a must. I needed one that was waist-length for ease of movement, fashionable and functional. A warm-weather coat that spoke to my adventurous side when traveling, and to also be an everyday jacket.

5 Must-Have Items To Include In Your Travel Outfits For Long Flights

June 22, 2018

Julie Buckingham

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In this article, Julie Buckingham gives away her favorite tips for building the best travel outfits for long flights. The key to surviving a long plane ride doesn’t involve an aisle seat or in-flight movie, it’s about staying comfortable.

Travel Outfits For Long Flights

I dread long flights. In fact, I try not to travel anywhere for a short period of time if the destination requires a long flight. I would much rather find a way to stay an extra week on my trip or vacation if it includes an eight-hour flight or longer. The reward of course, is an amazing adventure, sandy white beach or visiting a culture in a city you’ve never been to before. Despite our discomfort, it’s worth the time stuck in a seat in the sky.

However, your mood could easily change if you were uncomfortable. Travel outfits for long flights are not just fashionable, their practical and even essential for an extended period of time on a flight. The fabrics you wear, the shoes on your feet are all important decisions in making your long flight tolerable.

In this article, I talk about 5 items to include in your Travel Outfits For Long Flights along with some items of clothing that you should avoid.