Overseas travel with laptop--need backpack recommendations
Feathers11
12 days ago
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Flying with glass jars/canned items
Comments (13)Marcia, I really recommend against trying to take a glass jar as carry-on. I have had a jar of homemade jam I was taking to my elderly, ill mother-in-law confiscated. (That batch had a nice, solid set, so I tried to argue it wasn't a gel and in the plaste test hadn't spread, but the agent said even the fact of it being in a glass container made it potentially dangerous. He had the good grace to be apologetic about it, at least.) I've shlepped across Europe car-free and budget-tight, too, and can imagine your dilemma. If it were me, I would cruise the dollar stores for a plastic box that would fit the jars, to give hard sides without adding a lot of weight. I'd pack them in it with lots of paper and a ziplock. A good buffer of wadded paper is better than clothes, though it's hard to devote the room to it, I know. But if something DOES break, paper is the best defense agains broken glass (which can slice your ziploc otherwise), AND it is more likley to be seen by the airport goons as packaging that needs to be replaced than clothing is [even though, as you say, a jar in a sock is obviously there for its protetction]. Your chances are better of your checked backpack avoiding de-packing and getting badly re-packed than of getting a glass jar of something through security and on in your carry-on. As for brining the liquor back, maybe you can buy it at the duty-free at the departing airport? Though I have successfully brought bottles of wine home in a checked backpack, wrapped in paper and a ziplock, then wadded up in cloths & placed in the centre of the backback. If the store you buy it in can supply a sturdy box, though, so much the better.... Good luck, in any case! I love the idea of bringing some homemade goodies to your overseas friends and can see why you'd want to do it despite the hassle. Good luck and have a great trip.... Zabby...See MoreVacation ideas?
Comments (43)Annie - I also was going to suggest New Mexico, as it didn't appear on your list. That looks to me like a very good tour by Taucks - it covers exactly the places i would suggest, Taos, Bandelier, Georgia O'Keeffe's homestead, the pueblos... It would also be nice to have the lectures and special visits that come with the trip. However, NM is a state very oriented towards visitors, and is easy to navigate by yourselves, especially if you explore it on the internet and do some reading in advance. Santa Fe, e.g., has some gorgeous inns and hotels, and excellent restaurants with varied cuisines, not to mention a stunning collection of art galleries (do not go to this city without a credit card). Several years ago DH and I made a special trip to NM to spend a week in Los Alamos, as DH is beyond fascinated by the story of Robert Oppenheimer and the Manhattan Project. We had a great time, searched out his house, visited the fascinating museum, explored the unique bookstores, drove along the perimeter of the National Laboratories - a huge area, and drove to various pueblos and Bandelier while there. That could be a good overnight for someone interested in the story of the Project. But the tour also looks fine. I also second the suggestion of Israel (where I lived for several years), a tiny country, the size of New Jersey, with an incredibly diverse population, and an excellent sense of preservation of historic sites, ranging from 5,000+ years ago up to the present, and very friendly people who like Americans....See MoreSearching for a nice, small cross body bag
Comments (39)Thank you for all the recommendations. I was familiar with some brands mentioned but some are new to me. I will be looking to get one with the RFID feature. I popped into Marshall's yesterday and found this Baggalini bag that is an exact match to my Poppy Tieks. I couldn't resist at the $20 clearance price. I generally wear black, white or navy bottoms, so it will not clash with those or my favorite black sandals. A cheery pop for summer that's different from the khaki or black I usually go for....See MoreOverseas travel with backpack only
Comments (27)If you are close to an Ikea, give the Ikea packing cubes a try. They are CHEAP, but they are soooo lightweight. I do not expect them to last for years. I think they are 6/$10. I recently bought a Tucano Tugo 20l, which would be too small for what you are contemplating. I bought it because it had a “clamshell” opening instead of a top zipper and because it weighed less than some of the other “clamshell” backpacks. Whatever you buy, if you are using it for travel, I’d opt for something that opens completely like the Topo you’ve identified. Mine also has the same pocket I’ve circled below. I find that pocket on mine to be virtually useless. It is very hard to see what is in it; it is very flat, as in you have to just push your hand in and feel around for whatever you need. YMMV As I’ve said in other posts, DH’s health isn’t great. He cannot walk distances, he cannot walk fast, and climbing stairs is out of the question. I’m sure you already know this, but I’m going to repeat it just in case it has slipped your mind. Get your mom a wheelchair at every opportunity. It is best if you notify the airlines ahead of time. At the airport, you will not need to do anything but walk along. btw, the Munich airport was absolutely the best wheelchair service we received on our most recent trip. FWIW, the absolutely most abysmal handicapped service was Toronto, but that was several years ago. Maybe they’ve upped their game. We are contemplating going to England next summer, so I’ve been looking to see if the places we want to go are going to be too challenging for DH. There are many websites that give advice on disabled travel in the UK. Euan’s Guide seems to be a good one. Visit London has good information too, but you have to dig for it. Another tip for traveling light, look at Eileen Fisher viscose jersey. I have 2 dresses in it , a pair of the System crepe pants, and a tunic in the tencel jersey. I can wash them out in the hotel sink, squeeze them in a towel, hang, and they will be dry by the next morning. Does your cottage have a washer AND a dryer or a washer-dryer combo? We stayed in a condo in a manor house in the Cotswolds one year. It had a washer-dryer combo that took SIX HOURS to do one load....See MoreFeathers11
12 days ago
bbstx
12 days agolast modified: 12 days agoOf the two I mentioned, the Tucano Tugo weighs 1.5 lbs. The Noamtic comes in at 4 lbs. When I travel, I’m all about weight, which is why I carry the Tucano and DD carries the Nomatic.
Check the airlines you will be flying on your trip. Some have weight limits for carry-ons.
Below is a chart that is neither exhaustive nor necessarily accurate, but will give you some idea of the limitations some airlines impose. I would check the website of the airline I’m flying for the most current and accurate information.
Feathers11 thanked bbstxFeathers11
11 days ago
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