How to Shop For a Luggage Set

If your luggage falls apart during your vacation, you will find yourself doing some unexpected shopping instead of lounging by the pool, or seeing the sites. It can be pretty inconvenient to shop for luggage in a location where there aren't any luggage stores. Your luggage will need to be able to withstand a baggage handler's bad day. Here's what to look for.

Step 1

Consider where you're going and what you're packing before you shop for new luggage. This will determine the quantity and size of luggage you'll need. Choose a luggage set, or single piece of luggage that's appropriate for the length of your trip. Keep in mind the possibility of needing to accommodate unexpected items or expand for a longer trip.

Step 2

Determine your budget before you shop. You can do a lot of research on brands and quality online. This will help steer you in the direction of quality luggage brands you can afford. A reputable luggage store that specializes in all types of luggage will give you advice based on your budget and travel needs, or if you feel that you have enough information to make your own choice, you can definitely get some great luggage sets online.

Step 3

Decide whether you want soft or hard-case luggage. Heavier, hard-sided suitcases offer far better protection for fragile items (if packed properly). Soft luggage is lighter. The lighter weight is a real plus because nowadays most airlines will charge you extra if your luggage weighs more than 50 pounds.

Step 4

Decide whether you want roller luggage, or you are going to carry your suitcase around yourself. This may not matter as much for the luggage you check, but your carry on luggage will get really heavy between airport gates if it doesn't roll. Look for heavy-duty wheels (some have durable in-line skate wheels) and a sturdy base. and handle. Is the handle strong enough to lift the bag when it's fully packed?

Step 5

When buying soft luggage, check the denier of a fabric. Denier is a measurement of the fineness of the yarn. The higher the denier, the more durable the fabric.

Step 6

Look for a quality zipper that's heavy-duty enough to support the weight the bag was designed to hold. (Top of the line zippers are YKKs.) Look for dual zippered pockets. Another feature you'll be glad you have is an extra zipper that allows the top of the suitcase to expand.

Look for bar tacking at all stress points. Critical seams and attachment points for webbing should be bar-tacked. Bar tacking is a specialized sewing stitch designed to provide immense tensile strength to the garment or equipment it is used on. Bar tacking is commonly used on backpacks, tents, tactical gear, and other heavy wear sewn items where normally sewn stitches might give way at a crucial moment. In general, bar tacking is a sign of good quality.

Step 7

Look for a luggage set that nests. A luggage set that nests is really convenient when you get home and store it.

Step 8

Make sure the bags fit airlines' approved carry-on luggage size. Most bags within the 22" x 13" x 10" (56cm + 33cm + 25cm) size restriction are considered legal on all planes. A good rule of thumb is that the length + width + height = 45 inches, but each airline is slightly different.

Garrett Rohde
Former Airline Pilot and Travel Expert
Luggage-Pilot.com

Are You Travelling For the First Time?

Many times when people plan to take a trip over the holidays, they will end up doing some of the travelling in a car first! However, it will be worth it once they finally get where they want to be.

If you are a beginner at taking a cruise, there are many tips that might help you out a little more! Because most of the cruise ships are large and complex, you can get lost easily; however, it is easy to find your way back!

One thing that you can do for the first day or so until you know you way around is by bringing a map with you. You may want to visit the dining area, some of the local shops, as well as the restrooms. Otherwise, you may also go to the internet café is you wanted to go online. There is always an information office or booth that will be more than happy to help you with everything.

If you should end up in an area or have no idea where you are, don't worry as you are the not first to have that happen to you; nor will you be the last! One thing that may help you is read the ship newsletter. In there you will find all the latest news, gossip, and events going on. Also, you will want to know what is cheap and what is not!

If you have plenty of time, you may want to check out some of the places that provide evening events! You never know what it'll be until it starts! One thing that many people do not like, but have to do is the mandatory lifeboat drill. It is incase the ship should sink; odds are close to zero! However, it can also be fun practicing it! Also, you will feel better knowing that everything is working and how to use the life vests!

Because you have had a little introduction as to what you can do on the ship, go out and have fun! Also, don't look back until you have too! Going on a cruise ship for the first time should be marvelous!!

Fabio Itonga usually edits detailed reports on subjects similar to cheap florence hotels. You can have a look at his contributions on good hostel at http://www.florence-italy-guide.com and different sources for good hostel to stay in florence news.

What Kind of Rambler Are You?

Few things define a person more than their choice of holidays - walking holidays even more so. If you're a serious rambler, you'll be very specific about the season, the destination, the pace and even the goal of your hike. Some tend to adopt a 'stop and smell the roses' approach, others leap out of their beds in the morning eager to burn up the trail. Wherever you choose to spend your trekking holiday, walking holiday or just the occasional amble, here's a guide to what kind of walker you may be.

What Kind of Rambler are You?

The Romantic

Style: Consumed; Given to stunned contemplation of the infinite.

Heroes: T.E.Lawrence, Samuel Taylor Coleridge

You cannot be without: Parchment and a quill.

Good companion for a walking holiday?: Only if it need be immortalised in verse.

The Nomad

Style:Stoic; Long-suffering.

Heroes:Moses, The Tuareg of the Sahara interior.

You cannot be without:New horizons.

Good Companion for a walking holiday?: Undoubtedly, though the journey may never end.

The Survivalist

Style:Wary; Self-sufficient

Heroes: Mick 'Crocodile' Dundee, Ray Mears

You cannot be without: A machete.

Good Companion for a walking holiday?: No, for disaster inevitably seeks you out.

The Natural Philosopher

Style:Obsessive; Simultaneously baffled and astonished.

Heroes: Charles Darwin, James Cook

You cannot be without: A rigidly maintained journal.

Good Companion for a walking holiday?: Yes, purely for the Royal Society dinner upon return.

The Captain of Industry

Style: Commanding; Resentfully unconcerned by natural disaster.

Heroes: Richard Branson, Scipione Borghese

You cannot be without: 23 Sherpas to supply your entourage.

Good Companion for a walking holiday?: Absolutely not. Ever.

The Explorer

Style:Audacious; Listless when comfortable.

Heroes:John Cabot,Ferdinand Magellan

You cannot be without: A sextant.

Good Companion for a walking holiday?: Yes, if unfettered by Curs and Blackguards.

The 'Summiteer'

Style: Perennially in the grip of 'Summit Fever'; Indefatigable.

Heroes:Reinhold Messner, Richard Bass.

You cannot be without: A flag emblazoned with your face.

Good Companion for a walking holiday?: In no way whatsoever. You stand alone.

There you have it. You may recognise yourself in these descriptions, you may not. Perhaps you've found that you're a mixture of many different styles... A 'Romantic Explorer' for example, or a 'Survivalist Philosopher'... Perhaps it's difficult to be an objective judge of your own characteristics and you'll need to ask your long suffering travel companions to tell you the truth about yourself. I sincerely hope that this cements some much treasured friendships and doesn't tear any apart!

Keep your eyes peeled for more observations on the trekking holiday and walking holiday scene. Doubtless there are plenty of attitudes and outlooks that I've left out of the above descriptions, so there'll be more to come in the future. Look out for my 'destinations guide' for each of these styles coming in a few weeks. Each type of rambler has their own ideal environment and location and I'll be endeavouring to pinpoint exactly which destination would suit each one of the above, make sure not to miss it!

Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Both a travel company and a charitable trust, Ramblers Worldwide have been operating since 1946 and now offer over 250 holidays in more than 70 different countries. They are dedicated to providing the very finest walking holidays at the best value prices.