Fashion vs Function in a Travel Bag

Limited in what to pack for your travels, yet attempting to look fashionably chic? I know I often struggle with  fashion vs function in my travel gear; not so much with my luggage. I have found that the lightweight and durable Briggs and Riley luggage competes quite well on the fashion scene. It’s the purse, clutch, backpack situation that I struggle with. Backpacks and large shoulder bags are fine for day trips, but what do I use to carry my wallet, Canon Digital Camera, Flip Mino video camera, passport and lipstick when I’m at an upscale restaurant or on a cruise ship?

Urbandillo Classic Hobo Bag Travel Gear Review

Shrink and Go Urbandillo Hobo Bag

Created by Veronica James, the Urbandillo brands include the Classic Hobo Bag. Priced at $69, the Hobo bag compacts from 23″ x 21″ down to a ball form.  The Hobo, made of polyester material, arrives in a 7″ x 7″ x 4″ packaging tin. However, my travel bag sample didn’t arrive in a tin. Like the Genie, released from Aladdin’s magic lamp, I imagine it would be easier to remove the bag, than to stuff it back into the tin.  Personally, I prefer to tuck the bag in my carry on and pull it out when needed.

The Hobo travel bag has an adjustable shoulder strap for cross body and shoulder wear and a side snap pocket to fit your phone or iPod, unless you have an Otterbox iPhone defender case. Fortunately, my iPhone slides into the side pocket. However, my iPhone, wrapped in the protective Otterbox defender case, doesn’t allow the the snap to close.

The Hobo travel bag comes with plenty of storage compartments to fit a water bottle, cell phone and includes an attached key clasp. The Classic Hobo comes in black or purple.

Urbandillo Hobo Bag, a Travel Gear Review

Buy Urbandillo – Give Love

Travel writers and bloggers often write about how best to respond to third world children begging in the streets. To be sure, responsible travel is a subject fraught with much controversy. Urbandillo’s mission is to provide children in need with blankets. With every Urbandillo purchase, a blanket is personally given to a child in the US and worldwide.

Do you have a favorite travel bag? What travel gear can’t you live without?

If You Purchase: Urbandillo

Follow Urbandillo on Twitter and follow Nancy D. Brown on Twitter for travel tips.

Urbandillo supplied me with this travel gear for review.

Related Post:

Briggs and Riley BRX Explore 22″ Carry-on Luggage

Posted by Nancy D. Brown

Interview with Captain Henk Keijer of Holland America Line

 “Ladies and Gentlemen,” booms the voice over the PA system. “This is Captain Henk Keijer.”

Typically passengers don’t meet the captain of the ship unless they attend a ’cocktails with the captain’ party toward the end of the cruise.

Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting Captain Keijer mid-week on our seven day Alaskan Explorer cruise as a guest of Holland America Line.

When I heard his voice broadcasting through the Ms Westerdam cruise ship with an important message, I was not alarmed, but I knew something was up.

The September wind was blowing and the swells were picking up size as we were leaving Juneau, Alaska. Captain Keijer had decided to by-pass Sitka, our next port of call. Instead, he would guide our cruise ship up the protected and scenic Tracy Arm and was sharing the change of plans with the passengers.

Captain Keijer has spend 17 and one half years with Holland America Line and clearly enjoys his job. Originally from Holland, Keijer has traveled extensively and knew that he wanted to sail ships early on in his life. When he’s not piloting the Ms Westerdam, his days are spent in Seattle. His schedule is typically three months on and three months off the ship.

Margerie Glacier in Alaska as seen from Holland America Line MS Westerdam

 While I was interviewing Captain Keijer, the Margarie Glacier was calving in the background. I asked him if calving, or breaking off of the glacier, was a result of global warming.

“Calving is prefectly natural for glaciers,” explained Keijer. “It means that it is flowing, growing and advancing. If they stop calving, then there is a problem. That’s a bad sign,” concluded Keijer.

What are your favorite things to do in Alaska?

 I was a guest of Holland America Line. Photos by Nancy D. Brown

Related Posts:

Best Things to See and Do in Anchorage, Alaska

Best Things to See and Do in Fairbanks

Best Things to See and Do in Ketchican

Best Things to See and Do in Juneau

2010 Iditarod Sled Dog Race

Posted by Nancy D. Brown

Carnival Splendor Waterslide photo Nancy D. Brown

Out on the deck, the San Francisco bay spit water from the ocean floor and the skies above. A gray day in March, we were leaving all things familiar; Alcatraz, the Pyramid building, Coit Tower and the Golden Gate Bridge, heading for a two day cruise to nowhere. The 113,300 ton Carnival Splendor was pulling away from berth 35. I could hear the sea lions barking in the distance as they lounged like drunken sailors on the docks of Pier 39.

 This was my first experience on a SuperLiner and the 3,006 passenger Carnival Splendor dazzled me with its magnitude and luxury amenities.  In the interest of transparency, it should be noted that I was a guest of the Carnival Cruise Lines, along with several journalists and a ship full of travel agents. The company was introducing travel insiders to its largest ‘Fun Ship’ waiting to launch its maiden voyage from Long Beach, California to the Mexican Riviera. Beginning April 5, the Carnival Splendor will offer-year-round seven-day voyages to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.

As a newbie cruiser, I couldn’t help feeling a little over-whelmed with the sheer size of the ship. With 13 passenger decks and 22 themed public rooms and areas, I got lost several times making my way from my cabin on the 10th floor to the main lobby. Fortunately for me, the spa was located one floor above me and the food courts were one floor below, by the Lido deck. If my kids were with me, I’d know to find them in The Cool. Designed for 15-17 year olds, The Cool has music, big screens for Guitar Hero and a karaoke bar. Parents will appreciate the children’s playroom, outdoor mini-golf, a game room specifically for tweens (thank you) and the three story outdoor water slide. There’s also an internet cafe for those experiencing social media withdrawl.

At 21,000 square feet, the health and wellness center is as big as my house. I was fortunate to land in a Cloud 9 Spa Stateroom, which entitled me to the use of the Thalassotherapy Pool and Thermal Suite, two complimentary fitness classes and allowed me to book priority spa appointments. Unfortunately, the Spa was too expensive for this writer’s budget. I did enjoy sitting in the heated tile spa seats and looking out onto the Pacific Ocean. Had I been in another cabin, the charge to the spa, including pool and steam rooms, would have been an additional $35 per day.

Sailing Under The Golden Gate photo by Nancy D. Brown

One of the many appealing features of this Italian-made ship was the international crew on board. With a staff of 1,160, I loved hearing all the different accents. We sailed back under the Golden Gate Bridge, as our cruise to nowhere came to an end. Now that I have aquired my sea legs and I’m no longer a virgin cruiser, it would be nice to let my family in on the cruise ship experience. I think they’d be excited to take a cruise ship to Alaska. Then again, my teenagers would probably be happy with a cruise to nowhere.