Ultimate Luggage guide for Caribbean cruising

With all the damage the recent hurricanes have inflicted on Caribbean islands, many people who would have normally gone to a resort on an island are for the first time considering going on a cruise ship instead. This is a great option if your favorite island isn’t quite ready for tourists, but you still want to enjoy resort type amenities and the great weather the Caribbean offers. However, you will have to approach how you pack slightly differently. Below is a guide to help you out.

Luggage

What luggage you take with you depends on your needs; however, there are a few things you will want to keep in mind.

1. You will always want to take at least one carry-on suitcase. This is a bag you will keep with you at all times. All your valuables and any items you will need on your first day of the cruise should go in this bag. You will do a lot of walking so make sure your bag wheels well before your trip. If you have an older carry-on this might be a good time to upgrade.
2. Most of the time your suitcases will have to fit underneath your bed. This will require some planning if you are taking several cases. One option is to get a luggage set that can be nested. Another option is a rolling duffel that can be folded down for storage. This might be a good option for families.
3. If you are bringing lots of formal outfits you might want to consider a rolling garment bag. Your nicer garments will arrive ready to wear and the bag can be hung in a closet without taking your clothing out.

Accessories

The following travel accessories are recommended for any cruise travel:

–Packing cubes

–Adaptors and/or convertors (see this previous blog, check with the cruise operator if you need one)

-A small backpack or tote for day trips

–Toiletry bags and pill planners

–Waterproof phone pouch

–Luggage tags (the brighter the better) and locks

I always suggest reading the cruise operator’s website and follow their advice closely. Also, make sure to give yourself time to get to your boat (consider flying in the night before.) Travel insurance is recommended for everyone. Lastly, I highly suggest taking your passport with you and make sure it is not near expiration. Most of all relax and enjoy yourself.

College Luggage and Backpack guide

It’s the time of year every parent dreads; sending your kid off to college. First-time students will need items like backpacks, duffels, and other travel items. All this packing might seem overwhelming at first. However, a bit of planning can prevent the dreaded last-minute panic. Below is a handy guide of what you might need for the new college student.

Backpacks

A backpack in college can serve a very different function than they did in high school. The days of having to carry all your books and lunch to school are over. The college student won’t have to carry as many books but they probably will want to carry a laptop to class and study groups. Make sure that any backpack you buy has a padded compartment for a laptop. The North Face backpacks have been popular with college students for many years, and still standard issue at many college campuses. For most fashionable students, brands such as Kipling or Knomo might fit their style. For the student who wants to major in business, backpacks that are designed for professional use will be perfect to use for internships and job hunting.

The Weekend

One famous college tradition that hasn’t changed in many years is the road trip. Students will need a bag for coming home or visiting friends at other college campuses. Weekender bags are very popular because they are lightweight and because their designs can hold lots of clothing and accessories. Small, non-wheeled duffels are popular too because of their structured look and durability. If a student will be mostly traveling by plane to get home a carry-on suitcase might be a more practical idea.

Getting There and Back

If you are going by car then boxes and large duffel bags will suffice. However, if your student will be flying back and forth to school things get trickier. Wheeled duffels are a popular item due to their easy storage (they will fit under most beds). Luggage can be used too but take up more room in small dorm rooms. The next question is size. Duffel bags 34’’ and smaller usually will work with airline regulations as long as they are less than 50 pounds. Larger sized and overweight bags will usually incur extra costs so be careful if you are trying to minimize costs.

Final Thoughts

When I first went off to college over 25 years ago, my family and I had to buy and pack everything I would need to furnish my dorm room. With the advent of the internet and e-commerce now, things can be ordered beforehand and shipped to the school on the day they will arrive. This will save you from having to physically bring everything and speed up the moving process. Sometimes things do change for the better.

Hello Muddah Hello Faddah: A Summer Camp Duffel Guide

It might still be cool outside, but summer is not far away. For many kids, this means summer camp time and for parents, time to shop for a duffel. There are many choices and below is a handy guide to simplify the process.

Sleeping under the stars

The first step will be to determine what your camp’s guidelines are. For the classic overnight camps, where the kids will be transported by bus, most camps will require a large non-wheeled duffel bag. In this case the recommendation will be a 40’’or larger duffel bag. Being non-wheeled, it will still be easy to store and your child will be able to use the same bag year after year.

Game on

For specialty camps (such as sports camps), or in the situation where you will be driving your child to camp directly you might want to consider purchasing a large (36’’ or larger) wheeled duffel. The advantage of using this type of duffel will be the maneuverability that having a bag with wheels will offer. Imagine having to carry a 50 LB bag hundreds of feet!!! While a wheeled duffel isn’t quite as easy to store they will usually still fit underneath a bed.

Learning is fun

Older kids nowadays often go to academic camps which are hosted on college campuses. These camps tend to be shorter in duration, but might require flying to your destination. A wheeled duffel is still a good idea for these students; however, you will have to keep in mind airline regulations which are typically 62’’ (this is determined by measuring a bag adding together length plus with plus height) and a max weight of 50 LBS. If you go over this size or weight you might be hit with significant fees by the airlines. If your child needs to take more, then it might be cheaper to ship some items ahead.

Those who fail to plan plan to fail

Camps almost always provide a packing guide that lists what your child will need for the summer. Once you purchase your bag do a practice pack to make sure everything fits and do it well in advance. If organization is an issue, packing cubes can help. Last minute packing is no fun and finding out the bag you purchased isn’t correct can lead to unnecessary panic. I would try to have your list complete and the practice pack done at least 3-4 weeks in advance.

Final Thoughts

One final tip is summer camp isn’t the time for your son or daughter to bring out their new fashions. Old clothes will be nice and comfy and if they get ruined or misplaced they won’t be missed. At the end of the summer your kid can just throw them away rather than having to repack their items. Remember, simple packing equals more time for fun.

 

 

Take This Duffel Bag and Stuff It

This should be an Olympic sport … stuff your favorite duffel bag with as much as humanly possible. Leather duffels from David King, Le Donne, and Passage 2 let you pack, cram, jam — and organize — all of your clothing and travel accessories. It seems like everything you own would fit in these bags. WARNING — watch the airline baggage regulations and don’t try to pack the kitchen sink. It may just push you over the weight limit. Either way, there is plenty of room and space.

Duffel bags come in various leathers and sizes, and there are even wheeled options to meet the needs of today’s travelers. However, the duffel bag is not new to the luggage scene. It has been around for more than 400 hundred years.

Did you know this?

• The tightly woven canvas that was later used in the duffle bags was first manufactured in the 15th century in Duffle, Antwerp Belgium. It was never intended to be used for luggage.
• In 1611, the cloth was imported to Spain and Portugal for sailors to repair their ship’s sails.
• Sailors fell in love with the durable, seaworthy fabric and began to make their bags from this material. The bags were originally called sea bags or ditty bags.
• During World War I, the term duffle bag was first used.
• The US military first issued the official duffle bag in 1943 and it has remained the military’s favorite bag.
• Duffle is also spelled duffel. Why? No one knows!

The duffel bag users of yesterday would hardly recognize today’s leather duffel bag. David King, Le Donne, and Passage 2 are three of the finest bag manufacturers and are top featured brands at Irv’s Luggage. Their bags have plenty of pockets and compartments for travel items, and even dirty laundry. With the David King Vaquetta Leather Duffel with Bottom Compartment, it is easy to keep your messy, dirty things below and keep your clothes clean and fresh in the compartment above.

Duffel bags are often spotted filled with gear at sporting events or gyms. They make for great carry-on bags, as they are available in a variety of sizes that easily fit in the overhead bin or under the seat. College kids arrive home with the Passage 2 Collection Vaquetta Leather Rolling Duffel oozing with weeks of dirty clothes.

Weekend travelers also love duffels — especially the Le Donne Distressed Leather Getaway Duffel — because they can easily fit all their clothing, shoes and gear needed to go exploring. Each leather duffel from Le Donne is unique in its color tone variations, creases and weathered look. The bag feels like it has been a part of you, like your comfy leather slippers, and the shoulder strap removes if you prefer to carry it by hand.

Top Guide to Packing Luggage for College

Ah Graduation season! High School seniors everywhere are throwing their caps and gowns to the floor, clutching their diplomas and will soon be heading off to colleges all across the country. When the time comes to leave the nest, be sure that your student is fully prepared for even the most unexpected situations. You never know what adventures might occur! Here is your new guide to preparing for and packing luggage for college.

Bedroom: More than one set of sheets (they’re going to get dirty and will not be washed for weeks, I thought I should warn you up front) comforter, pillows, pillowcases, under bed storage – they are more useful than you know and will not only hold belongings that aren’t currently in use like sweatshirts but they make the trip home that much more organized – blankets

Clothing: T-shirts, long sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, tank tops, pants, jeans, khakis, shorts, sweats, socks, underwear, hangers, work out clothes/athletic clothes, dressy clothes, pajamas, gym shoes, flip flops, walking shoes, dressy shoes

Snacks: Fridge, microwave, cereal, Mac and cheese, “easy foods” like Ramen noodles; and of course you can’t forget utensils such as knife, fork, spoon, plate, cup, mug, bowl and paper towels

Bathroom: Towels, shampoo, soap, body lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste, shower caddy, washcloths, hamper, contacts, contact solution, glasses, special soaps or creams

Computer & Electronics: Computer/laptop, cables, printer, printer paper, mouse, mouse pad, ink, surge protector, Flash drive, extension cord, phone cases, phone charger, laptop cases/bags, laptop charger, iPad cases/bags

Cleaning supplies: Dish soap, laundry soap, vacuum, air fresheners, sponge and all purpose cleaner

School supplies: Backpack, Calendar, lamp, envelopes, stamps, pens, pencils, highlighters, dry erase board/markers, wall hooks, erasers, white out, glue, paper clips, stapler, 3 hole punch, sharpener, post its, rubber bands, ruler, scissors, staple remover, tape, calculator, index cards, notebooks, notebook paper

Miscellaneous: Quarters, change, ATM card, credit card, driver’s license, first aid kit, TV, DVD player, DVDs, video game systems, video games, paper towels, pictures from home, flashlight, sports equipment, alarm clock, umbrellas, men’s wallets, women’s wallets, handbags, camera case, dopp toiletry kits and cosmetic kits/cases

Now all of these items are super important for when your student is at school, but what about when you have to send the belongings (oh, and your kids too) to school and then pick them back up again? You’ll need some heavy duty travel bags to carry all of that “stuff” and you won’t find a better selection of luggage, travel accessories or duffel bags to travel back and forth with from school than from Irv’s Luggage.

If you’re in need of luggage to send with your college student, take a look at any of our TravelPro Luggage pieces, especially the Crew 8 series. They were designed with pilots and flight attendants in mind, meaning they’re super sturdy) and they have a great price tag that won’t make you cringe (like tuition bills might!) But if you’re looking for something less traditional, a duffel bag is the way to go. It will not only make weekend trips home much more organized (just throw everything in the bag, zip it up and get home!) but depending on the size of the duffel you can either roll it behind you and carry it over your shoulder for extra security. Our David King duffels make a great gift and are the perfect addition to any traveler’s wardrobe.

No matter where your student is going to college or how much they’re planning on taking with them, you will know they will be prepared for any situation with these planning tips. Now if we could only guarantee they will use them…Happy Learning!

The Perfect Graduation Gift The Gift of Leather

Leather, the perfect graduation gift in 2012; whether high school, college, graduate school or even professional school, leather is a gift loved by all! Why?  First, leather backpacks, leather messenger bags and leather duffels all have longevity; they are the type of gift that can be used over and over again and last a lifetime!  Leather is also a wonderful graduation gift because it is versatile; leather can be used for academic, professional and even personal use. Finally, leather can be personalized with engraving, a terrific way to make leather gifts even more special!  So if you are looking for the perfect graduation gift in 2012 you have to go with leather!

Leather Backpacks come in all shapes, sizes and even colors; David King and Le Donne offer a beautiful selection, something for everyone!  A great feature of many of today’s David King and Le Donne leather backpacks is they are designed to carry a laptop, a staple for many graduates!

Leather Messenger Bags are another great graduation gift idea. David King and Kenneth Cole Leather Messenger Bags are some of our best sellers.  With Kenneth Cole’s sleek designs and affordable pricing we have a hard time keeping them in stock this time of year. David King’s Distressed Leather Messenger Bag in British Tan is another very popular piece, a great year-round color for both men and women with wonderful organizational features as well!

Leather Duffels are another hot graduation gift idea.  As carry-on luggage, a great weekend bag or a super bag to bring to the gym, leather duffel bags are now being spotted all over town! Claire Chase and once again David King all make marvelous leather duffel bags that most any graduate would love!

Give the gift of leather this graduation season, the perfect gift for so many reasons!  All now available at great prices at IrvsLuggage.com.