Travel Essentials Blog

by Nancy Bestor

I know, I know. Las Vegas is supposed to be this exciting city—a city of fun, a city of sin, etc., etc. I guess I just don’t get it, because every time I’m in Las Vegas, I must admit to being taken aback by the excess—the excess of resources (electricity, water, and such), the excess of alcohol (no explanation needed there), the excess of food (one word here, buffet), and more.

Bob and I were in Las Vegas last month for the Travel Goods Show. It’s a good place for a convention, easy to get to, good convention center, lots and lots of cheap hotel rooms, but I wonder if I’d be happier flying somewhere a little further but lots nicer? We stayed at the Las Vegas Hilton, which is virtually attached to the convention center, and the first thing that greeted us when we walked in the door of the Hilton was the smell of cigarette smoke. Some Las Vegas hotels can mask the cigarette smell better than others (newer ventilation system perhaps?), and while the Hilton doesn’t smell as bad as some older hotels in old downtown Las Vegas, my nose is sensitive (sounds silly I know), and to me, it reeked of cigarette smoke. Las Vegas, Strike One.

There are a lot of good restaurants in Las Vegas. In fact, I stewed long and hard over eating at CraftSteak, Tom Colicchio’s high-falutin’ steakhouse (www.craftrestaurant.com). I’m a huge fan of Tom (I’d like to think we’re on a first name basis), as well as the Bravo channel show Top Chef, and would love to eat at one of Tom’s restaurants, whether in New York at Colicchio and Sons (read the New York Times review here)  or Craft in New York, Dallas, Los Angeles or Atlanta, but I just couldn’t pull the trigger. Why, you ask? Maybe because these famous restaurateur’s palaces in Las Vegas feel contrived. I am sure the food is good and the service is probably excellent (service is one thing that LV often does very well) but it always feels like something is missing. There is a certain indefinable feel that one experiences in great eateries at any price range that Las Vegas simply cannot recreate (should you eat at an Emeril’s restaurant anywhere but New Orleans?).  But if I’m totally honest, I just couldn’t pull the trigger on spending $48 for a 16 oz. dry aged New York Strip Steak at CraftSteak in Las Vegas. All their side dishes and salads are extra (at $12-24 each) and when it comes to wine, I would have had to look long and hard for a “cheap” bottle of wine under $75. I like Tom, but I’m not sure I like him that much. Las Vegas, Strike Two.

Bob and I did walk to a good Indian restaurant, Gandi Cuisine, just off the Las Vegas strip (www.gandhicuisine.com) .  We’ve eaten there before, and the food is good, and the restaurant full of Indians (always a good sign). The trouble here? We walked. And walking on the Las Vegas strip earns Las Vegas Strike Three. At points, it’s littered with trash, a lot of it business cards and fliers advertising “Girls, Girls, Girls.” (You get the point here I’m sure.) Then we walked by multiple bars—bars where waitresses (giving them the benefit of the doubt) are dancing (I use that word loosely as well) on top of the bar, scantily clothed. And of course there are the people on the strip, so many carrying alcohol and quite a few extremely intoxicated, barely able to walk, and in some cases belligerent.

I know what some of you may be thinking. A weekend in Las Vegas—gambling and seeing the “sights”—can be fun. Perhaps you’re right. I think however, I’ll save my travel/fun dollars for somewhere other than Las Vegas.

Bamboo 3/4 Sleeve Top

Every year, about this time, we offer our fabulous Bamboo Clothing from Dreamsacks at 20% Off. Why? Because we love this line, and we thing Bamboo clothing makes an incredible Valentine’s Day gift for that special lady in your life!

This silky-soft bamboo clothing is not only luxuriously soft and comfortable to wear, but it also offers myriad travel benefits. It packs up small, dries quickly, and it’s practically impossible to wrinkle – if your garments do suffer a few creases in your suitcase, all you have to do is hang them up for a couple of hours and the wrinkles fall out on their own. Plus, the comfort of these incredible tops and pants doesn’t ignore style. You can easily wear the bamboo tops with a pair of jeans to go casual or pair them with a skirt or nice slacks for a more formal situation. This means you can pack fewer items in your luggage, making more room for souvenirs on the return trip.

Bamboo Clothing also offers the advantage of being produced in a sustainable and earth-friendly manner, meaning you can feel good about purchasing as many pieces as you need for your next trip or just to fill out your at-home wardrobe.

Visit www.TravelEssentials.com to check out the whole line and read more about each piece in the line.

Weighing a mere 2.4 ounces, the new Ultra-Sil Keychain Daypack from Sea to Summit is an amazing piece of travel technology. Made from an ultra-light and ultra-durable siliconized Cordura fabric, the pack is strong enough to handle any load while packing down small enough to fit in your pocket. And if you ever get caught in the rain, fear not, it’s water resistant.

When packed in its handy pouch, the Ultra-Sil is just larger than an egg and weigh’s far less. But, when you need the space the pack easily expands to give you about 20 liters of packing space. So throw one in your purse or pocket or glove box and you’ll always have extra packing space at your finger tips, whether you’re grocery shopping, traveling the world, or going on a picnic, the Ultra-Sil Keychain Daypack will never let you down when you need space.

Comes in Five Fun Colors!

Visit www.TravelEssentials.com to check out all the colors and order one today!

The Ultra-Sil Backpack in Use

Need gifts to get to you before the 25th? This week, Travel Essentials is offering a free shipping upgrade to any order placed before Friday, December 18th at noon*. All you have to do is place an order and choose “UPS Ground” shipping. We’ll automatically upgrade you to UPS 3-Day select, so you’ll get your presents in plenty of time!

Visit our website to see what we’ve got available this holiday season! www.TravelEssentials.com

*Offer excludes wheeled luggage.

Photon II Microlight

With the holidays fast approaching, it seems that everyone is in search of the perfect gift. Here at Travel Essentials we like to to find cool gadgets and practical gifts (but not so practical they won’t love them!) Every holiday season we compile a list of our favorite gifts to share with our customers – here are some more items off that list.

Photon II Microlights – This nifty little key-chain light may be small, but the light it emits is anything but! These powerful little lights are strong, long lasting and even have an on-switch for prolonged use. A great stocking stuffer, everyone loves a Photon Microlight! Click here to check out the available colors (including red, which preserves night vision!)

GoToob

GoToobs – I know we’ve touted the virtues of the GoToob before, but that’s only because we love them so much (and so do our customers!) These amazing, squeezable travel bottles are easy-to-use, easy-to-fill, easy-to-clean, and they’re all carry-on friendly. Click here to read our full review. And click here to visit our site and pick some up!

The 40 Blinks Eye Shade – From Bucky, this eye shade is both fashionable and comfortable. In snazzy colors and patterns, you’re sure to find a style to fit everyone. And the silky, contoured mask does an incredible job of blocking out the light – so you can catch some z’s, whether you’re on a plane or just sharing a bed with a late-night reader. Click here to see the colors and patterns available.

Travel Scrabble

Travel Scrabble – This classic game can be a little delicate to play, usually requiring a steady flat surface and gentle players. But, if you want to play on the go, this excellent travel version will accommodate your needs. The tiles snap into the squares on the board, keeping them safe and secure. And the whole thing zips up into its own tidy case, so you can throw it in your back-pack and finish the game later. Click here to pick one up now.

Anne McAlpin Coast & Cruise Purse – This handy hand-bag is deftly designed to hold everything you need whether you’re in a foreign land or down the road at your local mall. Stylish and functional, this purse-style bag converts quickly and easily to a small backpack using hidden loops on the bottom of the bag. An organizer panel in the front of the bag will help you organize your glasses, phone, camera, pens, cards, and more – so you’ll always know where to find what you’re looking for! The adjustable strap can be worn over-the-shoulder, across-the-body, or as a backpack. A handy external slip pocket is an easy place to stash stuff accessibly or to free your hands. Click here to learn more.

No Jet Lag – These homeopathic pills are a scientifically proven remedy to relieve the symptoms of jet lag, from fatigue to nausea. One package of pills contains 32 jet lag tablets, good for 50 hours of flying time. Click here to buy some today!

With the holidays fast approaching and shopping to be done, we went through our favorite and best selling items and picked out a handful of products that we think make great gifts, and they’re all under $50!

GorillaPod

GorillaPods – These amazing, flexible tripods are great for travel photography. You can hook them to fences, posts, set them on flat or uneven surfaces. Set your timer and you can be in every picture, even if you’re traveling alone! And, they come with an easy detachable clip that you can leave on your camera instead of having to screw the tripod on each time you want to take a photo.

Ogon RFID Protective Wallets – These chic and modish wallets make a great addition to any purse or pocket, and while they look great, the main appeal of these Ogon aluminum wallets is that they block RFID (radio frequency identification) signals that some newer ID and credit cards contain. That way, there can be no electronic identity theft.

Thermasilk Long Underwear - These silk undergarments have long been a favorite at Travel Essentials. See our recent blog post for more information on these Mens and Women’s tops and bottoms!

Balanzza Digital Luggage Scale

The Balanzza Digital Luggage Scale - A useful piece of technology, the Balanza Digital Scale is easy-to-use, easy-to-read and helps travelers to avoid overweight-baggage fees.

First Class Sleeper – Everyone knows that airplane seats aren’t always the most comfortable places to sit – and the discomfort gets even worse when you’ve got a long flight ahead of you. Thus, the First Class Sleeper was born. Easy to inflate and deflate, the sleeper cushions your entire body, providing comfort, even on the stiffest airline seats.

Petzl Head Lamps – Petzl head lamps are perfect personal lighting, whether you’re riding your bike home at night, taking a walk in the woods, spelunking, or even reading after your friends or family have gone to sleep in the hotel room. Different styles offer variety in size and lighting power, but all of them live up to Petzl’s excellent standard of quality.

Petzl e+Lite Head Lamp

Visit www.TravelEssentials.com for more great gift ideas!

3 Ounce GoToob

And they’re now in stock! The amazing, fabulous, handy GoToob has added a 3 ounce sized bottle to its repertoire, joining the best-selling 1.25 and 2 ounce sizes on shelves this week. Made from silicone, GoToobs are pliable and “squeezable”, making it a breeze to squeeze out whatever liquid or gel you’re traveling with. The bottles have leak-proof valves and a rubber seal in the cap to make sure it won’t leak in your luggage. And the 2 ounce bottles have a suction cup built into the side so they can easily be stuck to the shower wall or bathroom mirror. The bottle’s collar has a built-in labeling system that allows you to choose from conditioner, shampoo, sunblock, lotion or soap. And, when you fill the bottle the large opening is easy to fill and makes it easy to clean the bottles. And hey, the silicone is food-grade and bpa free, so you can even use them for something edible!

All three sizes of GoToob are TSA approved and carry-on friendly, so you can fill them with whatever you need on your next trip, slip them in your quart baggie and slip them into your carry-on luggage. Easy-to-fill, mess-free, environmentally friendly, simple to clean, and completely handy, we don’t know how people traveled before the GoToob!

Visit www.TravelEssentials.com to check out our entire selection of GoToobs!

Now through December 24th, Briggs & Riley is offering our customers a spectacular deal. Order any bag that costs $350 or more and automatically get $100 off the purchase price. Any bag you buy that is priced between $249 and $349 will receive an automatic $50 discount.  Plus, here at Travel Essentials, we offer you free shipping on any wheeled bag, making this an even more incredible deal!

Not only is this an amazing deal, but it’s a deal on an amazing product. Briggs & Riley make high-quality bags that will last you a lifetime, and they’re not scared to guarantee that with their “Simple As That” Lifetime Warranty, that ensures that they will repair your bag for life, no matter how the damage occurred, even if it was the airline’s fault.

U420XW Wide-Body Expandable Carry-On

One of our favorite new bags from Briggs & Riley is the U420XW 20″ Wide-Body Expandable Carry-On. Specifically designed to fit into more overhead compartments than 22″ bags, the U420XW adds a little bit of width to the bag to also offer maximum packing space in your carry-on.

The standard carry-on rule for domestic flights is that uprights need to be shorter than 22″. However, 22″ bags will not fit in some overhead compartments, meaning you will have to gate-check your bag, anyway. International flights and airlines have varying policies on carry-on luggage, many of which requiring bags to be 20″ or shorter, which the U420XW 20″ Wide-Body Expandable Carry-On accomplishes. Of course, you should always check with your airline before hand to make sure that you’re following their specific rules and guidelines.

Visit www.TravelEssentials.com to see all of our Briggs & Riley Bags.

Are you planning on heading south for the winter? Taking a vacation on a tropical beach? Or spending some time “down under” to escape the cold? If so, you’ll need to protect yourself from the sun. A lot of people rely on sun block to keep them from turning pink, but if you’re going to spend a lot of time outdoors, that doesn’t always provide the protection you need.

Adventure Hat

Sunday Afternoons specializes in clothes and hats that will keep your skin out of harm’s way. Most of their shirts are rated at an UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) of 40 or more. Most of their hats have the even higher rating of UPF 50+.

Our favorite Sunday Afternoons Hat is probably the Adventure Hat. Designed for both men and women, the Adventure Hat comes in a variety of colors.  As we’ve noted on our website, “The fabric of this hat, dermatologist approved, will block all UVA/UVB rays anywhere; in the desert, tropics, high altitudes, or offshore. Weighing only 3 oz., it makes it easy to pack in your suitcase or gear bags. This is a traveling necessity you don’t want to be without.”

Women's Passport Shirt

If you want to protect more than just your head (and most of us probably do), we’d recommend a shirt as well. For men, the Sunday Afternoons Island Breeze Shirt has UPF 40 rated protection and also manages to be soft, moisture-wicking and well-ventilated. And, for the ladies, the Sunday Afternoons Passport Shirt provides the same comfort and UPF 40 protection. Both shirts come in a variety of flattering colors.

Thermasilk Women's Top

Thermasilk Long Underwear make a great companion for winter travels. The simple, silk long sleeve shirts and pants (in both men’s and women’s) make an incredible base layer, providing a natural insulation against the cold of winter climes. The natural silk is also odor-resistant and quickly wicks moisture away from your skin when you’re working up a sweat, helping to keep you dry and fresh.

There are two things we really love about the Thermasilk long underwear. The first is that it’s so incredibly thin – but still manages to provide surprising warmth when you’re out in the cold. The second is that the natural silk still breathes. So, while it keeps you warm out in the cold weather, you won’t start sweating as soon as you step inside. The silk works with your body to keep you comfortable as you go in and out of shops, or restaurants. Perfect as a base layer for winter travel or a good winter pajama, we think everyone should have at least one pair!

Visit TravelEssentials.com to check it out!