Staying At Yotel

I was super excited to be having a 12 hour layover in London on my way home from Italy.

image via TravelandLeisure.com

I had all these fantastic plans to check my bags and take the tube into town and go hit my old neighborhood. 
I figured I would have time to hit the Kings Road and Knightsbridge, Kensington High Street and Notting Hill - being that I didn't need to actually buy anything I could just walk and walk the streets and neighborhoods where my career started and where I kicked off my wild 20's. Hell, I would even have time to swing over to Camden town. It was going to be perfect!

Right up until I actually looked at my ticket and saw that my 12 hour layover was from 10 pm until 10 am.

So now I had to figure out how to play it in one of the most expensive cities on earth. A cab ride and a hotel could be super expensive, but I wasn't about to sit at Heathrow Terminal 5 for 12 hours.

Some international airports that have long layovers have hotels that you book by the hour, inside the terminal. So I decided to check out that option in case Heathrow did, and low and behold I found that they have one in Terminal 4.

Yotel is a fantastic concept for the long distance traveler. Instead of large hotel rooms that you book by the day, these are more like the berth on a ship or a large overnight train cabin. It's a micro-hotel and it is everything the weary long distance traveler needs.

A Yotel room is super streamlined, pristine and very modern. You have a bed with a big fluffy duvet and a flat screen TV, a slither of a bathroom with a monsoon shower, a desk and a chair.
Everything you need to freshen up, get a few hours sleep and catch your next flight without dealing with traffic and a commute.
Your suitcase has checked through to your final destination, so it's just you, your carry on, a hot shower and a good night's sleep.

image via yotel.com

You book and pay online ahead of time so check in and check out are extra quick. From walking through the main entrance to walking into my room was maybe 5 minutes. No standing around in lines, no waiting for elevators and walking through mammoth hallways in a hotel with hundreds of rooms. 
Yotel is relatively small. I'm not sure how many rooms they have, but am guessing it is fewer than 100.

Yotel Heathrow is outside the terminal so you do have to go back through security before your flight, unlike the terminal hotels at Singapore's Changi, which are enclosed inside the terminal. 
Had Yotel been inside Terminal 5 I would still own all my travel makeup, haircare and toiletries - can you tell I am still irritated at their version of TSA confiscating my things???

Regardless, Yotel was a fantastic experience. 
I had my room for 7 hours and it cost 72 Pounds Sterling, so a little over $US120. It was worth every penny.

One word of advice, book your Yotel as quickly as possible. While I was there it was fully booked, and the young man who checked me in said they are almost always at 100% occupancy.
The chances of you rolling up and being able to secure a room last minute are slim to none.

Book your Yotel at London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Amsterdam Shiphol or Hong Kong via Booking.com

How To Pack For An International Trip

I always read about people who pack an entire month's worth of travel into a carry-on bag, and although part of me is impressed with how clever that is the rest of me is horrified at the thought of wearing the same thing over and over!
When people tell me they pack one black dress and the next day wear it with a blue scarf and hey presto! a whole new outfit! I always just think "no, you are wearing the same now dirty black dress with a blue scarf. No difference."

I actually do work relatively hard to have items that mix and match and create lots of different outfits, based on a neutral palette, but that also bores me silly. There is this part of me that thinks a trip overseas is a major deal, and therefore I want to wear clothes that I love and feel happy in. And for me that tends to be bright colors that don't necessarily mix and match. So how I pack everything becomes a little more important because even though I wear everything I take with me,  by most people's standards it's too much.

Buy a really good suitcase. 

I am clearly not a backpack or duffle girl, although when I first started traveling I would happily have been.
A couple of years ago I changed suitcases and bought a 25 inch Samsonite suitcase.
When you are shopping for suitcases look at the construction over all else. The shops are full of super lightweight cases, but most will crush if a heavy bag lands on them, which means anything breakable you have inside, will break. My Samsonite is relatively lightweight, but super sturdy. Find a Samsonite like mine on sale  here and similar suitcases on sale at The Container Store here.

Don't buy black.

When you are standing at the baggage carousel after 10 hours flying and you are exhausted, watch how many black suitcases go swirling by you. They all look the same, which makes it easy for another weary traveler to pick up yours and head out into the world with it.
I bought a red suitcase, last year one of my travelers brought an orange one. They were easy to spot, and there were very few circling by us in the same colors.

Get 360 degree wheels.

Sooooo crucial! The difference in maneuverability is incredible, and the decrease in stress on your back is worth its weight in gold!
This is another reason to buy a quality case though, because you want wheels that stay on and don't break when your suitcase is being thown around by baggage handlers.
I found plenty of cool looking, chic cases that had flimsy looking wheels or cheap plastic wheels. Samsonite stands by their product and repairs any breakages, so should I have one at least they will fix it. My red suitcase has done multiple trans-world trips and so far nothing has broken.

Size matters.

I really can't do anything smaller than a 25 inch case, but I definitely won't go any bigger. I have friends that travel with a 23 inch, but that is too small for me. Always keep in mind how you are going to get your bag on and off the baggage carousel, and how you are getting it to and from where you are going. The bigger the bag, the more you will fill it.

Don't use a hard case carry on bag.

This may sound odd. For years I used a hard-sided rolling carry-on bag. It was genius in the airport, right up until I got my suitcase off the carousel, at which point it was hell. Especially traveling in Europe where you are getting on and off trains, maneuvering along cobble stoned streets, and climbing stairs to get to your apartment.
I now use a soft carry-on, and as soon as I have my suitcase at baggage claim I put the carry-on inside it, leaving me with just one suitcase and my handbag. Frankly it is one of my best travel hacks ever!

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Roll your clothing.

My mother is a world traveler, and is super chic. She told me years ago to roll my clothes when I pack them to stop creasing and to maximize space. It took me a while to get on board with it, but now I roll all my clothes.

Use packing cubes.

This is the best thing ever, especially if you need clothes for different occasions and climates. I use the Eagle Creek packing cubes, and I have them in a variety of sizes. I compartmentalize clothes for different parts of each trip, or breakdown clothes into categories and have one cube for lingerie and swimwear, another for T-shirts and tanks, another for skirts and sundresses - you get the picture. It makes travel so much easier. 
I also have a small cube that I use for all my chargers and electronic gadgetry. I always know where everything is, and I never have to rifle through a suitcase to find anything.
I always pack a cube with three days worth of outfits and necessities in case my suitcase doesn't arrive with me. Again it keeps everything super organized.

I bought my Eagle Creek packing cubes at The Container Store.

FYI The Container Store has a travel sale on right now, which would have been perfect timing for me, except that I already have everything. Except for maybe one of these Tab Messenger Seat Back Organizers. They look pretty cool.

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How To Beat Jet Lag

So you already know my main gig is being a makeup artist. That's been my career for years and years.
My second gig is blogging. I write around my insane makeup schedule. 
What you may not know is that I have a third business, which is taking small groups of women aged 35+ on private tours of Italy. They are called the Glam Italia Tours. Because frankly, they really are quite glam!

In June I have two Glam Italia tours, back to back. I'm so happy because Italy is my favorite place in the world to be.

With the combined total of both these tours I have no one who has ever flown internationally before. 
I'm thinking there are no doubt many of you reading this blogpost who have either never flown internationally, (or maybe never flown on a really long international flight before) or who are embarking on a big trip such as a trip to Europe, this summer.

The devil in long-haul travel is the dreaded jet lag.
Jet lag can steal the first few days of your trip if you're not lucky.
It can leave you in a brain fog, swollen, tired and irritated, and have you waking at 2 am and leave you barely able to put one foot in front of the other by 8pm.

Flying from Australia or New Zealand back to the USA gets me every time. The adjustment is always hard, partly because I get a heavy duty dose of homesick to pair with it, and partly because I break most of my rules to beat jet lag.

For my Glam Tour ladies and for anyone else doing some major travel this year, here is How To Beat Jet Lag

Before You Leave Home

So much of the key to beating jet lag happens prior to leaving home.

1. Get Extra Sleep

For as many nights as you possibly can, go to bed earlier than usual. An extra hour or more of sleep per night for a few nights can make a major difference. One of the worst things you can do is board an international flight sleep deprived.

Even if you do sleep on planes it's not deeply relaxing, restorative sleep. Unless you're up in first class.

For those of you who take a sleeping pill, know that that isn't proper sleep either. (and, oh lord! be careful taking Ambien - hello naked person running amok on the plane!)

Check out the Top Ten reasons why people buy Travel Insurance and see if it is right for you.

2. Get Extra Exercise

I love to do extra yoga in the days leading up to a long flight, and especially that morning if I can. I have friends who like to run (I hate to run) who add in an extra mile or two in the days leading up to their trip. Something you will never, ever catch me doing.

Whatever your exercise of choice is, go for it. Cardio and stretching/yoga/pilates types of workouts are generally the best. Bulky, heavy lifting not so much.

3. Super-Hydrate

For every hour you are up there you are going to lose an additional
8oz of water. You need to drink tons of water during your flight, but also drink extra in the days leading up to it.

4. Avoid Alcohol

Don't party-hearty before you leave. The effects of alcohol stay with you for a few days, so having a bunch of drinks in the days immediately prior to flying can add to the dehydration - feeling like hell syndrome that goes with jet lag.

5. Watch What You Eat.

Whether it's in the terminal before your flight or whether its at home, avoid high sodium, salty foods, processed foods and cruciferous vegetables  ( like broccoli). They will bloat you and make you gassy. 

image via Fresh Tart

During The Flight

1. Set Your Watch

Set your watch to your new time zone when your plane takes off.
You have to do your best to trick your brain into believing it's 2am not 4pm. If it's sleep time in the place you will be landing, try to sleep. If it's waking up time there, stay awake. Do whatever it takes to make your mind believe it's already on the new time.

2. Avoid Alcohol

Alcohol will super-dehydrate you and make you feel like hell when you land.
In saying that, I always have a glass of wine with my meal and a glass of champagne prior to take off when I'm flying first class. 
If you are going to have a drink with dinner, keep it to one drink and have an extra glass of water after, to try and offset it.

3. Wear Compression Socks

Absolutely the un-sexiest things ever, compression socks keep the blood flow moving and stop your feet and ankles from swelling. They also help reduce the chances of you getting DVT. I wouldn't fly without them.
Compression Socks At Nordstrom

If your seat doesn't have an ottoman or a foot rest put a bag under the seat in front of you and elevate your feet even just a few inches.

Read more about preventing Deep Vein Thrombosis on long flights

4. Sleep

If you can, sleep during the flight. 
Ear plugs, an eye mask, neck pillows can all help.
If you can't sleep on planes try using noise cancelling headphones to eliminate the buzz, and listen to yoga nidra. They say an hour of yoga nidra is equal to 4 hours of high quality sleep. I download yoga nidra programs onto my iPad, and if the airline doesn't have it on offer on their entertainment system I just plug into my own.
The one I use has some Aussie bloke chatting away on it. It's brilliant.

Bose noise cancelling headphones

Read About Why You Have Trouble Sleeping On A Plane

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When You Land

1. Get On Local Time
No matter how tired you are, get onto local time.
If it's lunch time, go eat lunch. If it's evening, go for a stroll and then go to bed. If it's early morning, have breakfast - even if you're not hungry.

2. Walk. And Walk, And Walk.

One of the best things you can do after you've checked in to your hotel or wherever you are staying, is go for a long walk. 
It gets your circulation moving again, helps your body after its been cooped up in a small chair for hours on end, and it clears your mind.
I swear by it.

3. Don't Nap.

No matter how tired you are, keep moving and don't nap. You have to get on to local time, and that nap is going to mess you up and put you back to your previous time zone.

4. Hydrate

Drink as much water as you can to help offset what you just lost in-flight. You will be amazed at how much better you will feel!

5. Stretch

A few sun salutations go a long way after a long flight. If you're not a yogi, still take the time to do some stretches. Your body needs it and you will feel so much better for it!

7 Things You Should Never Touch On A Plane

Oh. Lord.
I am getting ready to go to the airport to fly to Miami to pick up my travelers for the all new Corinna B's World Glam Italia II Tour.

It's kinda stressy running around doing last minute packing, readying the house for house sitters and child minders, fielding about a million texts and phone calls, and in the middle of it all finding your bag is too heavy, and your child needs more cash, and the child minder has a new list of foods they can't eat.....

So I decided to take a few minutes and look at some of my favorite blogs. I went to MyDomaine.com  and found this gem about germs on planes. Eeeewwwww!

FYI, I Lysol the hell out of the plane before I even sit down. Arm rests, seat backs, tray tables - you name it. I seriously don't want to get sick en route. Another frequent traveler tip - never use the seat pocket infront of you. People blow their noses and stick the kleenex in there, and those things never get cleaned.

Anyway, check out this post  from MyDomaine.com, and stock up on Lysol before your next flight.

Please Don't Touch These 7 Things on a Plane

Forget about snakes. What about germs on a plane? While we all love to travel, the actual flying part of the trip isn't always a pleasant experience. Personal space doesn't exist either, so that means enduring your fellow passengers' dubious hygiene habits, coughs, and colds. But according to Huffington Post, it's what you don't see that can really make you sick. There are some pretty lethal germs that live on planes, including E. coli, which can cause severe diarrhea, and MRSA bacteria, which are resistant to many antibiotics. And these harmful bugs can survive for days. So here are a few things you definitely shouldn't touch on a plane. 

1. The Armrests
2. The Tray Tables
3. The Inside Door Handle of the Restroom
4. The Flush Button on the Toilet
5. The Lavatory Faucet Handles
6. The Blankets
7. The Toilet Seat

To read why you shouldn't touch these seven things, visit Huffington Post.

Keep Your In-Flight Beauty Game - Strong! beauty Tip Of The Week #25

Have you ever watched an international flight deplaning? Especially a good, long flight?
It's like watching a real live episode of The Walking Dead, without the bloody bits.
Passengers tend to look a uniform shade of ashen grey, their hair is all over the place - in general they look like hell.

When my plane lands I'm always either bouncing straight into work or into some fun social engagement, so I need to have my game face on. Or at least not look like a vampire. for me it's all about which beauty products I take on board with me. This morning I'm packing for the Glam Italia 2 Tour which takes off tomorrow, so today we are looking at some Cabin Baggage Beauty.

Here is what is coming on board with me:

Beauty products going in my cabin baggage

Starting with skin care. I always fly with no makeup on. Makeup looks ghastly at the end of a long flight, so I work my skin care game throughout the flight and then either put on makeup an hour before landing, or in the restroom after we de-plane.

Read my post about beating Jet Lag here

Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist is a lifesaver. I spritz this on before the flight and then as needed during the flight for extra hydration and nourishment.

I give my skin a liberal coating of both Tatcha Ageless Revitalizing Cream and Tatcha Ageless Revitalizing Eyecream to bind in the moisture. I either buy them in travel size, or get them in sampler boxes from the Tatcha website. These items are from the Mother's Day Gift Set I received this year.

Tatcha Gold Camellia Lip Balm keeps lips from drying out and cracking and also feels incredibly luxe.

Don't forget your hands - they suffer from the lack of water in the air too. Keep your hands looking lovely with Tatcha Indigo Handcream (also available in travel size).

Instead of looking ghostly when you land, apply a sheer coat of Makeup Forever Skin Equalizer primer to give your skin an even surface, followed by Makeup Forever Lift Concealer (if you have dark rings under your eyes) and a little MAC BB cream to bring back some color into your complexion and get rid of the long flight pallor.
I love Inglot AMC Liquid Blush. If you don't have access to Inglot grab a Nars Multiple Stick in a warm tone like Portofino.

A full face of makeup isn't necessary, just focus on your brows, cheeks, lashes and lips. Givenchy makes a good brow pencil, I've used the Shu Uemura lash curler for years, and I'm a die-hard fan of Diorshow Blackout Mascara. I use a flesh toned pencil from Philosophy in the water line to brighten my eyes

When you are looking washed out your best friend is a pair of dark sunglasses and a bright lip.
Reds can be a little too fierce so I always go for the vibrant pop of color you get from bold pinks and fuchsias. Try MAC lipstick in Impassioned after shaping your pout with MAC lip liner in Vino.

Everyone smells awful after 8 hours+ in a cabin with recirculating air. More importantly your hair smells stale. 
Oribe Cote D'Azur Hair Refresher Spray smells like heaven and totally refreshes your locks. (you can buy it in travel size too)

All these items fit easily into my see thru Miami Blue cosmetics pouch from Stephanie Johnson.

Can you believe Katy Perry got the Carine Roitfeld treatment? I'm going to read all about it in the September issue of Harpers Bazaar during my flight.

10 Travel Tips To Get The Most Out Of International Travel

 With the new Corinna B's World Glam Italia Tour just days away from taking off, I am prepping my ladies for their big overseas trip. Some of the info I'm giving them is really good advice for anyone heading out on an international adventure, no matter which countries they are visiting, regardless of how many times they have already traveled.

If you are thinking about traveling any time soon (or at any time in the future!), bookmark this post, share it with friends, or maybe just read through this list a few times as you plan your trip.

All too often people tell me how exhausting their trip was, how they only saw the main tourist sights, or that they can't remember the names of the things they photographed. 

They blast through places as an observer, and miss out on the experience of being there. They miss out on the flavor of the place, the essence of what makes it special. And that is a huge shame, so here are my 10 tips to get the most out of international travel:

1. Plan To Get Up Early In The Morning.

Early mornings in foreign cities are pure magic. Especially big tourist cities such as Paris, Florence and Rome. 

Early mornings are when you see the city come to life, the locals heading to work, the fabric of the place is all exposed.

This is the time before the tourists disgorge en masse from their tour buses, cluttering up every statue, every famous building or sight, instead leaving you wide open spaces to take amazing photos in the beautiful morning light. You also have the sidewalks (almost) to yourself and can stroll freely rather than get caught in the crush of the tourist shuffle.

I adore early mornings in Florence. At 8 am the city is mine. The statues are my own to look at, for as long as I want, completely unencumbered. 

Watching the vendors opening their stores on the Ponte Vecchio and taking in every view in every direction an hour before the entire world arrives is just sensational.

It's well worth getting up early.

2. Slow It Down - Spend More Time Visiting Fewer Places

Trying to go to too many cities or countries in a short time is a huge mistake. 

You don't get to experience a place, you merely get to snap a few postcard pictures, and it's time to hit the road again. 

You will never ever get enough time to see and do everything. 
Slow down, breathe it in, and take time to enjoy the place you are in. When you aim to go to fewer places you will find that you see so much more.

And it will cost much,much less in transport, in accommodation (you get better rates when you are staying more days in one place), and in the total mental exhaustion that comes with repacking and checking out every day.

3. Keep some Free Time In Your Schedule.

Rather than blocking off every spare minute of every day, allow some flexi time to do the things you don't yet know about. Along the way you will meet people who will tell you about things to do and places to go that you have never even heard of before. You will also find that you want much more time in some of the places you were already going to. And then there's my personal favorite - taking time out to enjoy a coffee where the locals go. I adore time spent having coffee in the piazza in the morning, or ending the day with a pre-dinner glass of wine with the locals. if your schedule is too full and too rigid you end up missing out on some of the very best experiences.

4. Get To Know The Locals

This can be the very best part of traveling. Spending time talking to the locals, making new friends (friendships that can last lifetime), learning about different cultures, different life experiences, different ways of thinking - all these things add a richness to the tapestry of your life.

Chatting with the locals is the best way to find out about fascinating places that aren't in any guide book, restaurants where tourists don't go (where the real local cuisine resides) and festivities and events happening in the area.

5. Travel Light.

I pretty much suck at this one, but I'm making a concerted effort to pare my packing down.

I don't subscribe to the "one black dress and 3 different scarves and you have 3 different outfits!" routine. To me it looks like the same old dress with a couple of different accessories.

Plan your outfits, don't bring too much, leave room in your suitcase for shopping.

If you can't easily pick up your suitcase and put it in a car trunk, you've packed too much.

Last year we had the most amazing apartment in Florence, but it was up 4 flights of stairs with no elevator, so we were wishing we had packed light!

6. Keep An Open Mind.

Not everything will go as planned.

When Plan A is a fail, for whatever reason, Plan B is invariably more interesting anyway. Keeping an open and flexible mind is essential when traveling.

Don't expect everything to be the way it is at home, don't judge, just take in every new experience. We travel to experience something new, and sometimes that "something new" can include cultural differences, religious differences, social differences that go against our own beliefs. Keep your mind open and adopt a "how interesting" attitude rather than a "you need to change this" attitude.

7. Don't Compare It (Out Loud) To Home

One of the most nauseating things when you are overseas is having to listen to travelers banging on about how there is a better one or a bigger one at home. Or how it's better at home. 

If you feel the need to compare everything to home, stay home. Keep your travel dollars and your narrow mind in your own country. It's insulting to the locals, it's insulting to the people who have traveled here to experience something new. 

Remember too that most people make sacrifices and save up their money to go on an international trip. They have been looking forward to this trip, are excited to be here, they absolutely do not care what you have at home, and your negative and stupid energy can really ruin something special for them.

8. Don't Be Rude

Following on from number 7, don't be rude. To anyone.

You are a guest in their country so be polite. When you are being rude to someone you are not in a happy state. You upset you, the other person, and everyone around you. 

Chill out and let whatever perceived slight or annoyance that has you all riled up roll right off you.

You will be amazed at how well everything goes for you when your personal policy is to always maintain grace and dignity.

9. Splurge.

You may be traveling on a set daily budget, but when it counts, throw the budget to the wind and treat yourself. Maybe it's a killer meal at a famous restaurant, or a 16 euro hot chocolate in Paris. Maybe it's climbing the Sydney Harbor Bridge or going on a safari while you are in Africa - don't miss the chance to do something truly incredible, or to experience something you will remember and treasure for the rest of your life. So what if the next few days or week you are living on a shoestring? So what if you have to live on bread and apples and water for a few days to catch back up? (been there, done that) Or maybe you blow up your credit card on something special. It doesn't matter in the bigger picture of your life. 

Personally, my only travel regrets are for the things I didn't do.

So live a little. 

10. Plan To Walk. (or bike!)

Be like Kwai Chang Caine and walk the earth.

Hitting the streets and walking is the best way to experience a city or town. When you are walking around you get to see the real life of the locals, and you find fantastic details that you miss from the window of a bus. You discover the best places to eat, drink and shop, you find little museums and galleries that aren't in the tour guides, and you really get a feel for the place.

You can't discover too much from the window of a moving vehicle.

And when we travel, we travel to experience and to discover.

How To Buy Luggage

I've just been shopping for new luggage.
There was nothing wrong with my old luggage, which has been round and round the world with me countless times in the past 15+ years. It is still in great condition, is super sturdy and ready to go, but it was time for an upgrade on two fronts: I wanted 360 degree wheels, and a lighter suitcase.
I bought a Samsonite 25 inch Spinner.

This is the suitcase I'm taking to Italy on the Corinna B's World Glam Italia II Tour next month.



There are so many options to choose from when it comes to luggage, and it can get confusing, so here are my tips for how to buy luggage.

1. Where are you going?
I have chic leather weekender bags and I have durable suitcases for international travel. They don't really crossover, so you need to be looking for luggage specific to where you're going/what you're doing.

2. Hard Case or Soft Case?
A musician friend of mine had his hard sided suitcase burst open as he was running through an airport. He has never used a hard sided case since and neither have I.
It's all personal preference though.

3. Size Matters.
It really does.
So does weight. With a larger suitcase you will almost instinctively pack more, which means your case will weigh more, potentially costing you excess weight fines at the airport. It is also harder to maneuvre large suitcases off baggage conveyor belts, in and out of cars, on and off trains etc.
The thought of traveling with only a carry-on sized bag is mortifying to me, so I have split the difference. My old suitcase was 29 inch, my new one is a far more compact 25 inch.

4. Weight.
The big trend in luggage is to go super lightweight, but you need to be careful when buying lightweight luggage. I found plenty of 25+ inch suitcases that were 7lbs and under, but the problem with most super lightweight luggage is the structure of the case can't withstand weight on top of it.
Have you ever watched them throw suitcases onto baggage carts at the airport? Chances are a heavy case will be on top of yours. Or even a middle weight case. Try piling other cases on top of the one you are considering buying and watch how the frame holds up.
I found most just collapsed or buckled under the weight of empty cases.
The key is to look for a durable fiberglass frame which provides strength but is lightweight. 

5. Fabric
Assuming you are not going with a hard case, the fabric of your soft sided suitcase is really important.
It must be waterproof, and tear proof. Ballistic nylons are great as are industrial strength polyesters.
Also think about fabrics that are stain proofed. 
If baggage handlers toss your case into a puddle or leave it on the tarmac in a storm, you don't want to find dirty water has soaked through and ruined your clothes, and also you don't want your case to be stained and ruined.

6. Color.
Have you ever stood at a medium sized baggage claim conveyor belt and noticed just how many black suitcases come flying down the chute? I always think you have a far higher chance of your suitcase being mistakenly taken by another traveler if yours is black - they all look the same!
Pale colors are more likely to show scuffs and stains, but deeps reds and blues, greens and burnt oranges etc won't get lost in all the blacks and also won't look stained as quickly.
I chose scarlet for my new luggage. It's easy to spot in a crowd, won't look dirty after it's inaugural flight, and isn't goofy looking like the hot pinks and purples that the stores were full of.

7. The Zippers.
Test the strength of the zippers, and look at how well they are attached. Big name luggage brands such as Samsonite will use industrial strength zippers that won'r separate from the case itself. Check the strength of the zipper pulls too.

8. The Wheels.
Save the strain on your shoulders and back by investing in a case that has four 360 degree wheels. Check to see the wheels are mounted on sturdy stems that can handle the weight, and that won't break off when the baggage handlers throw your case. The wheels also need to be large enough to support the size and weight of the suitcase.

9. The Pull Handle.
Check to see how sturdy the pull handle is - it has to be able to withstand the pressure of an overstuffed, overweight bag.
My Samsonite has a beveled alloy pull handle that is super strong and ultra light.
Also look at the ergonomics. Does the pull handle have more than one height setting? You need to be able to push or pull your suitcase without crunching your back or shoulders.

10. The Top and Side Handles
No matter how great the rest of the case is, you still have to be able to haul it off baggage conveyor belts and load it in and out of cars.
Look for at least 2 handles, top and side, or top, side and bottom, so that you don't kill your back by taking the full weight of your suitcase by lifting just one handle.
The handles need to be strong and well constructed into the case itself. Handles that break off or tear turn a great suitcase into a liability.
One of the features I love about my new Samsonite is that the handles are integrated into the body of the case, top and side, and are padded for comfort.

11. Outer Pockets.
You need them, but just how many do you need??
Ideally you need two. One shallow one to put documents/boarding passes/papers that you need easy access to en route to and from the airport check in, and one larger one that can take your folded coat/scarf/ neck pillow etc.

12. An Expander.
A second zipper that expands the depth of your suitcase by an inch or two can make a huge difference, especially if you are shopping!

13. Internal Organization Pockets.
One cavernous compartment is okay, but suitcases that have plasticized pouches, mesh pouches, internal zippered sections all help to keep your items separated and organized.
If you are a super organized person you cannot beat the
Eagle Creek Packing Cubes and Folders 

14. Brand and Warranty.
Invest in a well known luggage brand. A designer who is sidelining in a luggage collection isn't going to be ruined if their luggage falls to pieces. An established luggage brand will.
I chose a Samsonite suitcase because that's what they do - build suitcases. And because that's what they do, and they do it exceptionally well, they also give a 10 year warranty. The shorter the warranty, the less faith a company has in their product.

Samsonite has a 25% discount available on all of their Spinner luggage until August 25th 2015. Use this link to access the discounts: 25% Off All Spinners at Samsonite with code: SPIN25 Ends 8.24

International Travel With Bitcoin

Are you wondering how to handle your money 

when you travel internationally?

I get asked about it all the time.

I also get asked about how to handle pickpockets stealing your cash or credit cards. Touch wood, so far I've been safe.

When I first started travelling internationally the entire money equation was a headache. You had to use International Travelers Cheques, which you would purchase in the currency/currencies of the country/countries you were traveling to, which was often a complete nuisance. 

You needed to wear a money belt under your clothes and keep your travelers cheques, passport and extra cash in it for safe keeping. 
You had to keep meticulous details on your travelers cheques - which you had cashed, and where you cashed them, in case your cheques were stolen.
If you had American Express travelers cheques you were OK because they would replace them within a day or two, but other companies were terrible, and you could be stuck out there in the world with no money for days on end.
You also paid a fee to get your travelers cheques, and then at the money changing places you would pay another fee to cash them.

Now we travel with plastic, but not all cards are created equal, and 
you have to be very careful which cards you travel with.

Currencies fluctuate from day to day and throughout the day, but you seldom get the actual official exchange rate when you swipe your card. 
Banks get really liberal with the numbers and are generally substantially different from the official rate. My bank is generally at least 6% higher than the official exchange rate, so I lose at best 6 cents on every dollar I exchange.
So in general, I don't use them.
When you charge something to a credit card you will pay multiple fees - sometimes from the local merchant, your bank will always charge you for using the card overseas, an exchange rate that is nowhere near the actual rate for the day, and a conversion fee. So if you are using a credit card, only use it for the big expenses. Also, unless using American Express you may find your credit card protection against faulty purchases, items broken in shipping, or shipped items that don't arrive, is either sketchy or non existant when dealing with a foreign purchase.

Ceramics purchased in Sicily arrived broken, Visa wouldn't help.

Last year I shipped ceramics from Sicily, some of which arrived broken. The merchant suddenly didn't speak english anymore, and Visa wouldn't reverse the payment, or help me at all.
(I wrote about it HERE) I specifically used a Visa card because I wanted a layer of protection.
But in the end I paid all those excessive credit card fees for nothing.

Debit cards are ideal, but also come with their share of headaches.

Firstly you have to find out what your bank charges you for walking up to a foreign ATM - there will be a fee and it is often a steep one. Also you may get charged by the local bank for using their ATM. You do however get the best exchange rate.
I use a credit union debit card as it has really low rates.


One thing I am looking into for international travel is Bitcoin.
Bitcoin is a crypto currency that is used digitally, and not affiliated with any bank, or any single currency.
I am looking at Xapo.com for bitcoin as they not only let you utilize a bitcoin wallet  (click link for information) but they also have a Xapo debit card, which you can use anywhere that accepts cards. Many major cities have bitcoin ATMs too.

One of the benefits of traveling with bitcoin is that lack of bank fees. Bitcoins instantly convert to the currency of the country you are spending them in, so all you pay for is the items you are purchasing. 
Another benefit is that with credit cards, merchants can wittingly or unwittingly share your payment credentials, exposing you to fraud. Plenty of travelers have had thousands charged to their cards or had access to their cards shut down while traveling due to fraud. Xapo.com is the leader in Bitcoin security, so you have that extra peace of mind when you are making purchases.

If you are relying solely on credit and debit cards when you are traveling you can find yourself in a world of trouble if your cards get lost or stolen. If you are in a major city such as Paris or Madrid, your bank can take days to replace your lost card, but it will probably get one to you. 
If you are anywhere remote, such as a small town or worse still on honeymoon in Bora Bora, there is absolutely no guarantee a replacement card will get to you prior to your trip ending.

Having a bitcoin account as a backup is a brilliant idea - if your cards are stolen you can still access money. And if you make purchases with your bitcoins you avoid all the credit card fees.

Last year on the Glam Italia tour one of my clients left her handbag in a taxi in Sorrento. Luckily I was able to retrieve it (after sprinting down the middle of the Corso Italia, looking into every taxi on the street), but had I not been able to get it back she would have gone multiple days on the trip of a lifetime, with no money.

 "Bitcoin perfectly acts as a single cross-border payment token that doesn’t ask hefty commissions or any sort of conversion charges. So selling a coffee on an on-board flight, or paying a restaurant bill in a foreign country becomes instantly easy, without relying on exchanging currencies firsthand."

Xapo.com Bitcoin is really easy to use. You simply download an app to your phone. At any time while you are traveling you can add money to your bitcoin wallet from your laptop. All you need is an internet connection.

Although I don't think that at this point I could exclusively use Bitcoin for international travel, I do think it will become the way of the future. 
I would however love to try taking a trip exclusively with bitcoin and see how well I do - wouldn't that make a fabulous live blog series??

For more information on traveling with Bitcoin, check out this article on the Benefits Of Bitcoin For International Travel

To purchase Bitcoins, or to get more detailed information on the crypto currency, check out www.Xapo.com

If you have traveled with bitcoin, or if you have a bitcoin story to share, please tell us about it in the comment section below.