Search This Blog

Saturday, April 11, 2020

Best Travel Accessories 2020 | Always Carry These Travel Accessories

Best Travel Accessories 2020 | Always Carry These Travel Accessories

hello everyone and welcome back to my Blog. so, if you follow me on Facebook and if you don't you should. I have been traveling a lot lately, I have been very lucky and my friend really kind of got me into this travel bug. I never really was into it before but since me him I have had the opportunity to travel to lots of different places. and so because of that and because of my OCD quality. You know I have anxiety not so much OCD so, with that comes my need to organize and I love to be organized. And I love everything to look pretty and have its place so, because of all that I have put together this Blog.

Which is my top travel accessories now I've done like what's in my carry-on but I wanted to extend that a bit too just like my travel accessories. Whether that's like in your check bag your carry-on what-have-you just everything I need that I think to make traveling so much smoother and so much easier. And like I said I have been traveling a lot. so, I kind of have everything narrowed down I've gotten like really good products like from different airports and everything. Everything I talk about in this Blog will be listed down below. Most of these things you can get on Amazon, which is so great I actually have an Amazon store so I will leave my Amazon store listed down below and you can just click that and all of these products I talked about will be available.

Without further ado let's just get right into my top must-have travel accessories. I wish you guys could see the pile next to me because it's crazy, it's just crazy. I don't even know where to begin in no particular order.

1. This is my most favorite thing. Ever I got this at the airport it is a little bit more expensive than your average neck pillow but I have chronic neck pain and I tend to pull my neck all the time like an old man. And I like to sleep on planes I'm pretty much asleep on planes the entire time I'm a window seat person because I just want to sleep. So, I got this which is great because it comes in this little pouch it has a clip so you can clip it on to your bag or throw it in your bag how big your carry-on is. And then all you have to do is open it up and it unravels. he's got a give it a minute to like expand itself to grow into the beautiful butterfly that it is. So, the reason why I like this is it actually comes up so high which looks awkward but it actually is the best because the ones that you could just get anywhere that are really cheap like with filled with beans.

Best Travel Accessories

Best Travel Accessories

your neck is completely supported you won't fall at all it looks really awkward but again I just like sleep with a tiny angle right on this thing. You put it on your cheek it is so good. It is the only way to really get a good night's sleep for me. On the plane, so I would recommend spending a little bit more money. On one that actually supports your neck and still doesn't have you kind of moving all about. So, I absolutely love this one and I take it everywhere with me I travel. I'm not like walking on the street with this.

2. next travel essential is a little clear container, that is TSA approved. It says carry-on approved like I don't know that's official but it does say it. It's just a clear bag to contain all your liquids I love this one because it like stands up on its own you can clean it. It's got a nice sturdy zipper I just love how sturdy it is. So, it's not like all flimsy you can really just like stick in your bag really nicely. So, inhere I put any liquids I want to bring but you definitely need this that you're not like scrambling to pull it any of your liquids if they ask you.

Best Travel Accessories

Best Travel Accessories

You have them all in here you can easily pull it out of your bag during security. So, in there I typically carrying, wet ones these are a travel essential you get the travel pack. This one has 20 and I've been on a lot of trips with this. There is a lot of air locked in hang on there we go. So, I like to bring travel wet ones because I read an article that planes are so dirty. They don't wash them then, I also read an article that hotels are so dirty and okay a hotel TV controllers are the grossest things in the world. So, I bring these and I literally in that nerd who wipes down the plane, wipes down the tables, wipe down the windows and everything like that. So, these are a must-have for me even like not even to like disinfect but like let's say you spill something on yourself you can use these.

Let's say your hands get sticky for some reason. You don't want to go up to the bathroom you can use these like it's just there are so many different things that you can do with these so I must always have these. Then I bring a travel little pack this one's almost empty of makeup remover wipes. These are the Neutrogena ones these are great I love having these because again. Let's say maybe I have a tiny bit of makeup on and then I have a really long flight. I'll take my makeup off on the flight or if I'm just feeling gross I'll wipe my face with these. At the end before I exit the plane to kind of just like refresh and get all the gunk off my face so. I love having them and they're so thin and they really just like fit in here.

3. my next travel essential is a little thing of tissues. So, this is a little Kleenex thing it has like just ten little Kleenex is in there. Like I said you never know when you're gone a spill something, have a runny nose, just need a Kleenex. What-have-you so it's good to have and these are so tiny and these things all fit in here so beautifully.


Best Travel Accessories


4. Next is hand sanitizer goes without saying again you never know maybe when you'll be able to get to like a bathroom to wash your hands. If you're about to eat on the plane you can use this. So, I just love having a hand sanitizer. I then also always have to have a hand cream and this is my favorite one and it's really really tiny. To me, this is a travel essential because the planes are so dry. I don't care if you're a male or a female my friend's always like you have any hand creams? any cream?. Like airplanes just so drying and so dehydrating for your skin so you definitely have to bring a hand cream and again.

Best Travel Accessories

Best Travel Accessories


5. next essential now this is just for me maybe but I have to bring a mini bottle of mac fix+. any kind of hydrating spray will do they have some by Evian, Kota Lee makes some there's so many brands that just do like a hydrating refreshing spray. I like a nap on the plane if I'm like sleeping I wake up I'm like my skin is dry, my mouth is dry, my eyes are dry. I hate that feeling so, I just spray this on my face. It smells good it gets her at the plane smell and it just refreshes. your skin and makes you feel hydrated so, this may seem like a prince product but it isn't essential for me.

Best Travel Accessories

Best Travel Accessories


6. the next thing I want to mention is from Amazon and it is by this company called travelon and it is this kit of three pouches. So, you get a large one a medium and a small one so these are so great just for keeping it organized. They're really affordable they're on Amazon I love out their color-coordinated. So, typically in the big one, I put all of my chargers so this is like my headphones, my chargers, my adapters like that kind of thing everything goes in this one. And then in this one, I don't typically bring this in my carry-on. I do sometimes I have it now but this one is all my like medical supplies. I will say bring gravel that is a travel essential one thousand times over for me.

Best Travel Accessories

Best Travel Accessories


I always get carsick, seasick, plane sick probably just walking down the street sick. I always feel nauseous I'm very sensitive so, I need gravel and this is the ginger one that's not drowsy. so, I have that I recommend always bringing bug-bite. You never know where you're going to be with that we don't need to go over that. I will leave down below my what's in my carry-on to show you like exactly what I pack in these containers, but these bags are essential.

7. next essential my dad got me this so long ago and it is a suitcase scale. you can get the one Amazon. Basically, you turn it on and you like to lift up your suitcase with it and it weighs your suitcase. it's pretty frigging gin accurate I've never had a problem being overweight if this says I'm fine I've never been like overweight at the airport. So, I recommend not only when your suitcase before you go but bringing it with you because you typically buy things on vacation and your suitcase weighs more on your white back. So again you need to have this it's really small and compact and you just weigh your suitcase before you get to the airport. So, you know if you're going to have a hard time or not must-have.

Best Travel Accessories

Best Travel Accessories


8. next I recommend a universal adapter this comes in a little pouch obviously, if you're staying in your same country that's fine. But anyways this one is set up for the European one so that's just where we're going next but you can get one that's universal that has everything. obviously don't forget this, or you'll just have to buy it at the airport and it will cost a lot more money than it would on Amazon. So, you definitely need a travel adapter and check where you're going or get a universal one that has every single plug you could ever need which is just great peace of mind.

Best Travel Accessories

Best Travel Accessories


9. next my most favorite thing ever is this passport wallet. I typically have a backpack or a purse but I like to carry this in my hands. Its zipper so everything's safe you have your passport and then you can put all your cards in here. It's like debit cards credit cards there's a zipper pouch for some cash money. I put all of my like bag tags inhere in case your bag gets lost you have everything together you can put your boarding passes in here. You can put your phone right in there and then zip it all up and then. You don't have to like continuously reach into your bag. You have it all here you can have your like customs documents in here, anything you need. I love this it comes in many different colors I obviously got the pink one because I love pink but some kind of passport holder is a necessity.

Best Travel Accessories

Best Travel Accessories


10. next I wanted to talk about packing cubes. Everyone in my family makes fun of me for these. But, they are actually a lifesaver and I finally bought more. Because I had a couple but then like there was still some loose things in my suitcase but now I bought enough that like every single thing in my suitcase is in a packing cube. And that, might sound crazy but it's so wonderful it saves so much space, and it's so glorious when you get to your destination and you don't necessarily want to unpack. Because you're like I know in this cube it's all pants or in this one, it's all dresses. So, I have two kinds again leave them my Amazon store but basically, this is the largest one.

Best Travel Accessories

Best Travel Accessories


You just put all of your clothes in here put up and then put it in your suitcase like this. It stays so organized so neat and tidy and they come in like so many different shapes and sizes like this is the biggest one, They have like little ones you could put like your socks and underwear in this one or like bathing suits. I love this little guy because what I actually do is like putting a pair of like socks and underwear. I'm a big a change of from shirt or something and bring this in my carry-on, or if you're going to a tropical destination always pack your bathing suit in your carry-on. Just in case your luggage gets lost but packing cubes are a must for me.

I have so many and then the other kind I have are these ones I'll leave them less down below as well and these are compression cubes. So, they have like a double zipper system and it just squishes all the air out of them. So, like no matter how much you put they kind of like do stay like this size maybe it's like a little bit bigger. so I love these as well if you've like really bulky things, like big sweaters or anything like that. It just squishes the air out and you can be so organized when you get there.


11. Next essential headphones. Headphones aren't essential. It kind of depends how long I'm going for. I have these are buying beats they're wireless and they're like really comfortable. so, they're not going to like hurt your ears or anything like that. But, they obviously won't actually well these do come with a cord to be able to plug them into the like airplane armchair, to watch TV or anything like that so these are great I do really want the Bose noise-canceling ones. Because I hate the sound of airplane sleep but these are pretty great at blocking out the sound they're not as good as that these are definitely more for like music and stuff. But, I would highly recommend over the ear headphones who they tend to like those ones really hurt my ears but that's when you prefer that so you prefer just make sure you bring some headphones.

Best Travel Accessories

Best Travel Accessories


12. next is some sort of iPad maybe this isn't essential for you but this is for me I download like all my Netflix shows on this. I was just on WestJet and they don't have TVs on domestic flights. They only give you the app so you can watch the shows on your phone. or if you have an iPad you can watch on your Pad recommend getting a case that like stands up. So, you can watch your shows on the tree table something like that. If you read a lot like me and you don't want to like carry multiple books. Usually the books I read like this big - I highly recommend getting a Kobo because you can just like get on the Wi-Fi order a new book if you're bored of the old book and just keep moving on with your trip.

13. next I recommend getting travel containers these are from the Amazon. you can really find them anywhere and I highly recommend this. Because am a beauty and skincare fanatic and I don't want to leave home without any of my products. So, I put them here because I can't bring any of those big bottles. I literally put everything in a little container. I'm not even lying like I've used I use every single little one. I've even got like bronzing glow oil and this little one so, definitely little bottles that you could decant everything into this is the body wash this is toner this is cleanser like you just need to get them and they're so affordable

Best Travel Accessories

Best Travel Accessories


So, that's the best way to deal with that that was everything. I know this is a very long Blog but I am very crazy when it comes to travel. I like to be comfortable and I like to have all these things that make me feel good. I hope you guys took some good information from this Blog. leave down below what I've missed any recommendations down below, if you're a flight attendant let me know if I'm crazy but anyways thank you guys so much for Reading. I'll see you my next Blog bye you.

Thursday, April 9, 2020

What is Travel | 15 Reason Why You Should Travel the World?

What is Travel | 15 Reason Why You Should Travel the World?


We all need a break from our everyday life. Going on a vacation is fun and fulfilling but you can gain a lot more by actually travelling exploring and being present at the places you visit. Here are some benefits of travelling it is better to spend your money on experiences rather than on material things. The memories you collector like treasures they will remain forever and will bring you more happiness than some new clothes or other material things.

what is travel

Think how good it will feel when you’re old and you look back to see not only an ordinary routine but also adventures and unique experiences you had gone through, and not only when you're old. Ever a few years from now you can recall how much fun you had and plan your next adventure. In the end, you will not regret the things you've done but the things you didn’t do. Travelling is a great opportunity to temporarily get away from your everyday life and look at it from a different point of view. It's so much easier to deal with issues and solve problems when you look at them from the outside.

While travelling you have a lot of time to think without distractions and make healthy decisions. You will have a better perspective and maybe even realize that things are not that bad as you thought. In our everyday life, we are used to doing the same things, meeting the same people, going to the same places. We basically live in our comfort zone, when you travel you get out of your bubble, you meet new people, other travellers and locals, you're exposed to different cultures, you see different landscapes and views you experience new things. You learn that the world is diverse and it helps you understand people that are different from you.

Travelling actually makes you smarter, you learn new things all the time. When you travel you get into unusual situations and face different challenges. It makes you push your limits to handle things better and come up with creative solutions. After all the best way to learn is through experience travelling helps you to know yourself better. You're out of your comfort zone and get to see your behaviour in different situations. Sometimes even extreme ones you will be surprised to find out new things about yourself that you didn't know and decide what and how to improve. The best part of travelling is the people you meet along the way.

travel picture

You get to meet new people from countries around the world whom you would never have met in your daily life. You listen to their stories tell yours hear various opinions and experience things together with people. Happiness is greater when shared with others. Travelling may sound scary or too challenging to some people and it’s okay just remember that you can choose your own kind of travel. It doesn’t have to be trekking in the mountains although that could be fun you can do anything explore cities do some couch surfing relax in nature visit small villages and so on you will get more confident and learn what is good for.

15 The Reason Why You Should Travel the World

Today we're looking at 15 reasons why you should travel the world.

Welcome to Travel Lovers the place where future billionaires come to get inspired. It's amazing to have you back with us for another Blog. We are strong ambassadors of travelling and what exploring the world can do for your mindset. So, we decided to write a blog in order to go through the benefits we identified from our own experiences. A special distinction we want to make before we start is between travelling and being a tourist. 

Tourism is a commercial product very similar to having a movie pass you get to experience different things without going out of your comfort zone, while travelling is more similar with exploring immersing yourself in a destination to the point where you're as much a part of it as it is of you. Big cities are filled with tourists while travellers focus on the less travelled paths. The rewards are exponentially higher for travellers than for tourists but it all depends on the reason for your trip. Hopefully, by the end of this blog, you'll be ready to book a flight and start exploring the world. If you’re new here, welcome be sure to subscribe and follow us on Facebook. Here are 15 reasons why you should travel the world.

1. It’s outside of your comfort zone: 

what is travelling if not leaving the order and moving towards the unknown? How far into the unknown you’re willing to go well that's up to you. You’re going to places where you don’t speak the language, where people don’t know who you are and you got to be in control of yourself for once. That's why many people never go to new places they explored one place with which they are comfortable and they repeat that visit. Please, consider this next time you decide to go somewhere.

What is Travel | 15 Reason Why You Should Travel the World

2. It helps you escape the routine:

we use travelling as a tool to conscious we break our behavioural patterns, when we feel like too many days look the same. It’s a brute-force strategy but for us it gets the job done. We plan trips ahead of time and space them out throughout the year so you always have a new one to look forward to. It's also a great way to add a new dimension to your life which makes the hustle bearable.
What is Travel | 15 Reason Why You Should Travel the World

3. Travel is a more advanced form of education:

want to get smarter quicker go exploring travelling is like condensed education. So many skills and new forms of interconnected knowledge merged together in a travel experience, then you level up at the end of your trip. What we love the most about the type of knowledge you get while travelling is that. It gives you a detail of insight which you cannot match otherwise you make sense of history geography and of international events, which others only study in school books. This type of experimental knowledge allows this information to stick around a lot longer.

What is Travel | 15 Reason Why You Should Travel the World

4. You get to meet new people and hear their stories:

Despite being more connected than ever it's hard to make new friends and expand your network. Travelling is the perfect opportunity for this. Both parties actively want to expand their networks with people from different places around the world. So, the environment is optimized for this type of goal. The last thing you want when coming back from a trip is to have never spoken to anyone new. It's a missed opportunity to learn about the world. Just talk to people and they'll gladly tell you their stories about their past and their lives and how they ended up being the person they are today. This allows you to understand context and form in non-superficial relations with people, which will dramatically outlast the others it doesn't hurt to keep in touch once in a while either.

What is Travel | 15 Reason Why You Should Travel the World

5. You’re exposed to new ideas:

a single trip can change your entire worldview. People fear what they don't know or don’t understand, this is a very prominent issue especially today. When media chooses to portray the worst in people just because someone lives in another geography than you do. There’s colour is different and they worship a different supernatural being than you. It doesn’t mean they don't share the same emotions that they don't have the same desires or the same goals in our travel. We found that most people are good and welcoming and they'll share with you what they have in order to make you feel good. A smile is always returned no matter where you go. Explore the world talk to people and actively try to learn from them. We've been alive as humans for so long that different parts of the world have mastered different aspects of existence. The last thing you want to do is travel with the belief that you know everything because you'll be shocked by your own ignorance.

What is Travel | 15 Reason Why You Should Travel the World

6. It makes you more independent: 

one goal in life is to be self-sufficient meaning if it comes to it your own set of tools is enough to keep you going. We're seeing this with younger generations where parents are overprotective and do not allow their children to face the hardships of life until it's too late. They grow up in a bubble and then reality hits them like a brick in the face. Travelling is a great solution for this because although you can call your mom and dad to hit the Western Union or book the flight home you still have to rely on your own abilities to have a good time. Travelling in small groups or even alone gives you the superpower of being enough by yourself and decreases your reliance on external factors.

What is Travel | 15 Reason Why You Should Travel the World

7. The foodies amazing: 

life's too short to eat the same type of food every single day. Not exploring the food culture of the world is a major sin in our eyes and should be punished accordingly. Imagine there's a book with thousands of pages and you read over and over again the same first page, never turning it over once. Even hearing that makes you realize how stupid that is but that's how most people live. Their lives food is an extraordinary sensory experience. You’re literally bringing a part of the new environment inside of your body what’s more personal than that. Some of our best experiences happen food because people can be themselves when they're eating. Food has that power over people and it brings out their most natural selves.

What is Travel | 15 Reason Why You Should Travel the World

8. Travel makes you realize how much you don't know:

the more you travel the more you understand how closed-minded you've been living. The world is so vast and filled with knowledge and stories you would otherwise die without knowing. The beauty of life comes from expanding your horizons whatever form that might take. This might sound odd to some people but the more you explore the more you realize how complex human life is and it’s hard to comprehend that most people will never get that perspective. A life without travelling is like living in a cage you're not living you're just being kept alive.

What is Travel | 15 Reason Why You Should Travel the World

9. It de-stresses you:

we've experienced this ourselves life is complicated and it takes a strong toll on us as humans especially since, we're putting so much pressure on ourselves. Despite us justifying the importance of whatever it is we ‘restressing about for the moment. The world keeps on spinning in a major disregard of our minuscule existence. Travelling provides us with an escape from that it makes you a passenger in other people’s existences instead of your own usual position as the driver of your own life.

What is Travel | 15 Reason Why You Should Travel the World

10. You make memories:

Memories are the one type of wealth, which grows more value as time goes by. At some point in life, we'll all find ourselves left with just our memories. These will probably be the last thing we have to give up before we die so, we might as well invest in them. People who travel have stories to tell because they lived they've seen places they've met people life happened to them. And these memories are even better if they're shared with the people you care about because memories are the underlying bond of relationships. They set the cornerstones for true friendships.

What is Travel | 15 Reason Why You Should Travel the World

11. Freedom to travel is the new measurement for success: 

who cares how much money you have in the bank if you've never seen the world. Who cares what your cash flow is if you’re unable to leave the country because the government forbids it. Freedom to travel has become a new measurement for the newly rich. One week we're in Rome the next we’re settled into our apartment in Manhattan. Once the business is done we’re on a plane to Shanghai. The world is your playground and you need to start playing in it if you really want to feel wealthy.

What is Travel | 15 Reason Why You Should Travel the World


12. Travel forces you to be more social:

In this digital world, people have become excessively boring. They lack a personality because they no longer go out to form one because of their indoor existence. We are forming our personalities based on almost the same type of pattern provided on the Internet. We all laugh at the same memes, we all watch the same TV shows, and we order the same types of clothes from the same online retailers. You're no longer you. You’re a product of what the affirmation companies want you to be. The antidote to all of this is real-life conversations, even better if these are hard conversations meaning they're meant to test your current beliefs. We are so used to living in our own designed echo chambers that people are triggered when they hear something which goes against what they've been infused to believe and are massively outraged. Travelling teaches you to be social to talk to people you don't know and learn from them.

What is Travel | 15 Reason Why You Should Travel the World

13. It increases your problem-solving skills:

Want to get better at life? Travel!! Inevitably you'll be faced with situations where you'll need to be quick on your feet to get creative in your problem-solving and figure how to get yourself out of difficult positions. All this makes you a more resourceful individual and has side benefits into whatever you're planning to do in the future because life is very cyclical in nature. Only the details change we like people who travel a lot they seem more confident and are not shaken that easily.


What is Travel | 15 Reason Why You Should Travel the World

14. Some experiences have an expiration date on them:

You’ll never get to experience a city the same way you did the first time. Visiting Paris when you're a teenager holding hands with your high school sweetheart differs completely to the experience of a couple who just had their second child or that of someone who’s in their 50s. The experiences you can enjoy while travelling has an expiration date on them. This means if you don't travel right now you’re missing out on something, which you’ll never be able to experience again. Yes, you can see the landmarks but by now we expect you understand that travel isn’t about getting a selfie in front of a random building or construction, There’s more to it than that.

What is Travel | 15 Reason Why You Should Travel the World

15. Travel is a better investment than more material things: 

we take experiences over another set of fancy clothes any day. We've touched on this idea some time back but some investments you do for your financial portfolio which is meant to secure your freedom, while others you do for your soul. Everything else is just an expense and that’s all for today a lack sirs we hope this video sparked some interest in exploring the world and if you want to know what we need when we travel click here to check our travel accessories collection.

we're always looking for exciting new destinations so we’re curious to know what's your favorite country to visit let us know in the comments and for those of you still reading this Blog, we salute and thank you. As always you're getting a bonus reward.

What is Travel | 15 Reason Why You Should Travel the World

16. Travel makes you find who you really are:

It’s a very humbling experience making you realize life does not revolve around you. There are so many people living their own version of reality and having to really understand that is growing by itself. On top of that, you can finally find who you really are something you can’t do if you don't expose yourself to the new and to the unknown. Being face to face with the world allows you to define and polish the piece of art you are and from that point forward your destiny becomes clear. It's almost like an addiction once you realize the transformative powers of travel.

If you’re still reading this please write the number of countries you have visited so far in the comments as of 2020 there are 195 countries recognized worldwide. It doesn't matter if the number is high or low what is important is for you to be honest with yourself and realize how much more of the world you have to explore. We are so interested to see if you understand the importance of travel or not.

Thank you for spending some time with us Travel Lovers make sure to share and subscribe so you never miss another Blog. We’ll see you back tomorrow.

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Best amazonbasics slim travel backpack weekender

Best amazonbasics Slim Travel Backpack Weekender

The Amazonbasics Slim Carryon Travel Backpack Weekender is an awful lot of bag for its price. And after being slightly disappointed with the slightly larger, and more budget version of this pack, we were super excited to find out how this slimmer and sleeker version would perform.

Hi, I'm Arun from form Travel Lover, where we use our expertise and real-world experience to provide practical resources and honest opinions, guiding you towards smarter travel. So if you're new here, consider subscribing my blog. I’ve been testing the Amazonbasics Slim Carry on Travel Backpack Weekender for just over two months now, from the U.K. to the U.S. including a transatlantic flight. So let's dive into this review.
Starting with the look of this pack -it's hard to argue that there aren’t better looking and sleeker bags on the market. However, we actually don’t mind the look of it, and we think it looks pretty good especially for the price. However, as always, we thought we'd throw this over to our Instagram audience to get their take on it and here are the results.
amazonbasics slim travel backpack weekender


Moving on to the branding -it's actually surprisingly minimal on this bag, and you're only going to find an Amazon Basics logo on the zipper pulls and also a black logo on the bottom right of the pack. Now when it comes to the colour we went with the grey version, but there's actually a ton to choose from on the Amazon website. And this is great because it allows you to choose whatever colour suits your style and your taste.
amazonbasics slim travel backpack weekender


Moving into the materials of this pack, considering the Amazonbasics Slim Carry on Travel Backpack’s price point, it performs pretty well here. First up - the heather red fabric on the outside and the bright orange interior lining are 100% polyester. We typically prefer nylon as it's stronger, and softer to the touch. However, polyester is more abrasion resistant so it's not all bad. And after two months of testing, it’s holding up pretty well, so all good signs here. The slightly larger, and more budget version of this pack -just called the Amazonbasics Carry On Travel Backpack -lost a lot of points for having unbranded zips and unbranded hardware that was just unpleasant to use and just not trustworthy at all, especially if you're going to grab a bag and travel the world with it. But we're happy to report that the Amazonbasics Slim version of this pack fixes all of this.

All of the zippers are YKK, and all of the hardware is Dura flex. Both are high-quality brands that make some of the best gear out there. One small touch on the zippers that we're really digging is that you can lock them together, and in some places actually secure them to the bag using a small D-ring that’s attached using a bit of fabric. Now the fabric isn't tremendously secure, you could probably rip it off if you really tried, but it's a huge deterrent for anyone looking to get inside and get your valuables out of this thing. And one last note on the zippers is that the coil is exposed -which means there's very minimal weather resistance. And if you're going to be standing out in the rain it’s not going to pour through these zippers, but after time it's eventually going to find its way in. So we'd recommend picking up a rain fly if you happen to be going to any places where you could experience a torrential downpour. But, other than that, it’s all pretty solid here.
Starting with the harness system -while there's nothing too crazy going on, the 
delivers a pretty decent carry. The shoulder straps are padded and slightly curved for a better fit, and the back panel features three large areas of thick air mesh. And now this only goes to help the comfort against your back, but it also helps with airflow and ventilation which is great if you’re travelling anywhere hot and humid. Now, this whole system isn't perfect but Amazonbasics has done a pretty good job here. And built into this back panel is a luggage pass-through sleeve.

Now we don't find ourselves using this too often, it’s a pretty large bag to be put on top of the luggage roller. But that being said, some people really like this feature, and it's there if you need to use it. An even better bonus is if you're not it doesn't really get in the way and isn't overly noticeable, so it's a pretty solid addition here. And on this harness system, it’s important to note that there is no hip belt. Now around that 30 to 35-litre mar kit’s not necessarily a’ must-have' on this bag, but some people really like using one -especially if your bag is loaded full of heavy gear, it’s great at dispersing the weight. So just note that. However, there is a sternum strap which is height adjustable and does exactly what it's supposed to -which is disperse the weight away from your shoulders while you're wearing this bag.

And what we really like is that one side is elasticated so while you're walking it kind of flexes with your body as you walk. Really like that addition. And another thing we like on this bag is that the harness system is hideable -so it's easy enough just to unbuckle the straps at the bottom, slide those straps into the sleeve, and zip it up at the top. Outside of being carried as a backpack, you can also carry this pack over one shoulder like a messenger bag with the provided strap. We haven't really used this feature because we prefer to carry a backpack as a backpack, but it's there if you want to use it.

Now one thing we will note with these Duraflex buckles -which can be found on the messenger bag strap as well as the shoulder strap attachment points -is that the buckles can seem a little bit thin. Now considering it's Duraflex -and we've always had a great experience with the buckles -we're pretty reassured that they’re going to be all right. And the actual strap rests on the thick part here so it's not like its going Tobe resting on the thin part and just going to snap off. Moving on - there are two quick-grab handles on this bag, on the top and on the right-hand side. One really neat feature is that they sit close to the bag when not in use, but when you pull them out they actually come out and give you a little bit more room to grab hold of.
amazonbasics slim travel backpack weekender

While they're pretty stiff, and not incredibly comfortable, they’ll get the job done in a pinch. Around the side of this bag, there are four compression straps, and that is two on each side. Now, these help with compressing the bag, obviously. And it means when you’re carrying this thing as a daypack, you don't have much stuff inside, you can strap them up and have it's a little bit closer to your back. Or when you're carrying it as a one-bag travel bag and you've throw a load of stuff inside, you can kind of compress it down a little bit, which helps with the overall carry.

Now we have found that when you’re using the zippers they can get in the way, which is a little bit annoying. But it's a common trade-off we see with compression straps -and it's one, for this bag, we're happy to make. Rounding off the external components on this bag -there is a side water bottle pocket which can be found on the left. Now we typically like water bottle pockets that kind of zip open and come out, but otherwise, they sit really close to the bag. But this one is just a little bit too small and won't fit kind of an average big water bottle, so it's a bit annoying for that. 

We’ve gone out sometimes and tried to fit one in that we're typically used to using and it just won't fit into the side, which is a real pain. But other than that, it can be used to fit like a tripod with the compression strap or an umbrella, something like that. So it is a useful pocket, but just a little bit too small which is frustrating.

Moving inside the pack -there are two external pockets on this bag. Now the first one is this front quick-grab pocket which is a really great size and is useful for your passport and other quick-grab essentials when you're out for the day. And the second one is this one along the back. Now we haven't found ourselves using it but it's a really interesting pocket, and kind of sits below the back lower air mesh on the backside of the bag.
amazonbasics slim travel backpack weekender


Now if you're a little bit worried about someone fishing something out of the front quick-grab pocket - say your passport, if it's really important, which obviously it is -you could put it against your back and it's going to be more secure as this pocket sits across your back. So this is a really interesting pocket, we like the addition, we just haven't used it too much.

Now let's take a look at this front compartment -there is a load of organization going on inside of this one, but what you'll first realize is just how orange it is inside. Now it's a little bit garish, but it does serve a purpose, as anything darker you're going to put inside is going to be easy to find.
amazonbasics slim travel backpack weekender

Now, taking you through the pockets -we must note that they do all stack on top of one another. So if you put a large object in one, it’s going to kind of eat up into space. So you have to be a little bit careful about how you pack this, but let's run you through from top to bottom.

First up - we have some penholder little sleeves here, which are nice if you want to carry a pen, great when you're on the airline, you need to fill in documents et cetera. And then just below that, we have got probably the largest pocket in this thing, goes about halfway down the side of the pack. Then just below that, we’ve got another pocket which is very similar and that one goes down about the same way. Again, these two pockets stacked on top of one another, a little bit weird but good for slimmer items. In front of that one, we have got a mesh pocket, which does actually have a little bit of 3D space going on which is great. The mesh does feel cheap.

Now we've been impressed because it is such a budget pack with the materials on this thing but this kind of silvery mesh we’re not overly fond of, but that's another pocket there. And to the right of that, we have a stretchy pocket, which is useful. Again, with all of these, you kind of just need to figure out what works best for you as there is so much going on. Then down below we have two material lining pockets, and then we also have a little bit of space at the bottom. But as you can imagine, once you fill all of these up space is going to be eaten up quickly. Now, on the flap side of this bag, we also have a ton of stuff going on.
amazonbasics slim travel backpack weekender


First up on the right here, we have another mesh pocket which has a little bit of 3D space. So good for organizing smaller items you don't want to get lost. And then to the left of that, we have this kind of small material pocket - there's two here -there's kind of no way to secure anything in there. And especially with it being on the flap, if you open it up, it could fall out quite easily. So we don't really use these pockets, not entirely sure of the perfect use case for these. And then down below we have another mesh pocket, which is large. Again, there’s so much going on here. It is a little bit overkill. But if you find a way to use all of them then, great. And they all sit flat, pretty much, so you don't need to use all of them at any one point in time. And just kind of find out a system that works good for you, but certainly a ton of organization in this front compartment.

Now it's time to take a look inside the main compartment. We first have to undo the buckles, and then we can unzip the clamshell opening all the way. Here you'll first notice this bright orange interior again, and this large space here is good for throwing all of your packing cubes. Now, at this point, we must mention we think that the bag has been a little bit over-designed. And that's because you can see on this side here there’s another zippered access into another compartment. But just remember that anything you put into this main one here will eat space into this compartment, and vice versa.
amazonbasics slim travel backpack weekender


Now with this additional compartment inside, one thing that we really like is that there is a zippered opening at the top so you can gain quick access inside of here. And there's a fabric pouch so you can pop items in -anything that you need quickly you can just unzip the top, stick your hand in, take it out, and you are good to go. But as we said earlier on, we feel like it's been over-designed and we would maybe have just preferred one large compartment that we could pop stuff into.

Next up - let's take a look at the laptop compartment at the back. This opens up along the top and all the way down the right-hand side. And there's actually a ton of room in here. But just remember, again, that it's litre dependent with the main compartment. So don't go crazy if you plan on putting packing cubes in the main area of the bag. The fabric sleeve at the back will hold laptops up to 17 inches in size, but we're left wondering why there’s no bottom to the sleeve and the laptop is allowed to just hit the base of the bag. Fortunately, there is dense padding here, so it should be fine. But we’d have loved to have seen Amazon add a false bottom to the laptop sleeve here.

At the time of this review, we’ve been testing the AmazonBasics Slim Carry on Travel Backpack Weekender for just over two months now. And it's seen use as a go-to tech daypack, and as a carry-on bag for one-bag travel across the U.K. to U.S. transatlantic flights. And we're really pleased to report that there are no major signs of wear and tear as of yet.

Now there are small markings on the interior polyester lining, but yeah, other than that it’s pretty much good to go. The outside fabric has held up really well and we've been using it a lot for the last two months. So we're really happy that it’s all looking pretty good -even the stitching, there's a very few couples of frayed stitching. But for the price, it’s performing really well.

When it comes to testing, we’ve enjoyed using this pack a lot more than we thought we would -especially after being left so disappointed with the larger Amazonbasics Carry on Travel Backpack. We’ve been really pleased with its versatility as a daypack and as a larger one-bag travel pack. And as long as it keeps on holding up -which we think it will -we're more than happy to recommend this to anyone looking for a budget backpack.

Moving into the Pros and Cons:

  • This is one of the cheapest carry-on sized travel bags on the market.
  • High-quality YKK zippers and Duraflex buckles have been used throughout. And this bag can be

Moving into the Cons:

  • The polyester material does feel kind of cheap, but it's great for the price.
  • The clamshell main compartment opening is a little bit overdesigned. And the water bottle pocket is just a bit too small.
We’d have liked it to have been a little bit bigger, but it's a nice design. The Amazon Basics Slim Carryon Travel Backpack Weekender is a fantastic bag for its budget price. And the quality hardware used, and two months of solid testing has us assured it's more than durable enough too. It doesn't look like the fanciest pack, and it does feel a tad cheap in places, but this is a solid bag at an amazing price point that will serve you well, as both a larger tech daypack and a one-bag carry-on travel backpack. And there you have it, our review of the Amazon Basics Slim Carry on Travel Backpack Weekender. And as ever, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Thanks for keeping it here at Travel Lovers, your guide to smarter travel. We’ll see you in the next blog.

Best amazonbasics slim travel backpack weekender

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Best Vetelli Men's Leather Dopp kit with Travel Bottles

Best Vitelli Men's Leather Dopp kit with Travel Bottles

Hi, I'm a travel blogger this article is a part of my men’s essential accessories. Today, I want to talk about top kits. If you're doing any sort of travelling, even if it's only across town for a night, or if you're going to the gym, then you absolutely need a Dopp kit. No proper gentleman should ever be without one. And also, there are no great alternatives outside of what? A plastic bag? That’s not an appropriate option. Let me share with you a woman's perspective about why you should have a Dopp kit. It’s kind of like the saying a messy bed equals a messy head. When a man pulls out a Dopp kit it just shows us that he's an unorganized person that clearly has altogether. Because if your stuff is just thrown everywhere, it's like a red flag to us.

Aside from that, you want to Dopp kit because it just makes your life so much easier when you're travelling. And also, it keeps your toiletry items nice and organized. And in case of anything spills, it won't ruin the rest of the items in your luggage. Ideally, the perfect Dopp kit should be able to fit all your toiletry items. Of course, that’s a huge point. But it should also be easy to use. Now, there are a lot of different types of Dopp kits out there. But I prefer the zip-top style, which I have here.

Men's Leather Dopp kit
It’s just really easy to access the items in here without having to move a bunch of stuff around. The last thing your Dopp kit should do is last you. your entire life. So, if you are at all hesitant about investing in a high-quality Leather Toiletry Bag, then don’t be. Because you only have to buy it once and it'll last you forever. As for what material your Dopp kit should be, go with leather. Like all the other items I’ve been recommending in this series, leather is not going to stain easily. Which, in this case, is very important since you have liquids inside. And also, it's usually kept near the sink, you're usually splashing a bunch of water, so you don't want it to stay in easily. And it just looks really classy and nice. The other alternatives out there, which I've seen cloth and plastic ones, they just do not compare to leathers. Stick with that.

So what colour Doppkit should you own? I'm always going to recommend you stick with the classics and go with black or brown. You might be wondering should your Dopp kit match your weekender bag. I'm always going to default to yes because why not? I mean it’s nice when you have a cohesive look with your luggage. But if you want to go with other colours, then by all means definitely do that. All right, so let's get into the best kits that I've tested. So, first up is this Jack Spade Mason leather Dopp kit.

Men's Leather Dopp kit

I borrowed this one from my client. It's about two years old, but it still looks just as new as the day I got it for him. What I really love about it is the simple, clean design. Also, the leather is super durable. I love this handle on the side. The hardware, the zipper, is buttery smooth. It's my favourite style, which is a zip-top design. So easy access to all your items. It has a pocket on the top as well as the side of the top kit so it keeps all your small items nice and organized. And it has a nice, waterproof lining. So I have it here in black but I haven’t been able to find any other colours it's offered in. So if you know of other colours definitely let me know. If you want to see a brown, zip-top style Dopp kit, then just wait a few moments. I'm about to cover that. Next up is the travel kit so this is not the one that you see here is not the one that I'm recommending. But I wanted them to send this to me anyway so I could test out the leather and see how it feels. And I have to say they're leather is so damn nice.
Men's Leather Dopp kit


The one I'm recommending has a hinge opening. They’ve just been having a hard time keeping it in stock. But they assured me it's not going be an issue moving forward. Now, this bag is only available in black. But now you have two different styles and black that you can choose from. Now I've got these top kits to buy this is ground. So, it's actually technically a tech Dopp kit so it's supposed to keep your tech items like cords and all that good stuff. But I think it works just as well with your toiletries. It has my favourite zip-top style so it's really easy to access all the items inside. Also, the construction is just fantastic. Like with all their items, they really nail it down in this area.
Men's Leather Dopp kit


The only thing it's missing is I wish it had a waterproof lining. So, you got to be a little bit careful with your liquids, but shouldn't be too much of a problem. I really appreciate that they offer the stop kit in three different sizes. So, this is the mini version which I have in grey. I think it's a little too small to use as Dopp kit, but in case you really just have a couple items, then this is great. The size that I recommend for all you men out there is the regular size. This is the perfect amount of space for your toiletries. I have it here in cognac brown, which I really love. It’s beautiful looking. We've got the Grande version, which is their biggest version. I think it’s a little too large. This is their charcoal black.
Men's Leather Dopp kit


Unless you really need all that space, I would recommend going with this one. Instead, stick with the regular size. If you do get this Dopp kit, make sure you get it monogrammed. It just adds a nice little extra personalized touch to it. And lastly, I've got this stop kit by kill Spencer. So, like all their Stuff, it’s really nice. The leather is super supple. It has a waterproof lining inside. Also, I really like the unique look of this Dopp kit. It has almost like a tactical, square design to it. This Dopp kit does double as a folio, so you can actually unsnap the sides and press it flat. And it's now folio. I would not use it for this purpose.

I like it as a Dopp kit. But at least you have the option. I definitely have to say that this is on the larger side of Dopp kits that I’ve tested. It's not as big as the Grande one that we just saw, but it is quite large. But, if you're looking for a bigger Dopp kit, then this is perfect for you. 

So these are the best stop kits that any proper gentlemen should own. This blog is part of my men's essential accessories. If you want some more products or electronic items so check out my website for a more in-depth article as well as detailed pictures and descriptions about each of items subscribe to my blog for more article like this. And if you like this blog remember to give it a share or comment.

Thanks so much for watching I’ll see you in the next informative blog.