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Packing + Hacking

Traveling While Reading? Here Are the Best Audio Book Apps to Try.

Best-audio-book-apps-for-traveling

I’m a Big Reader. Seriously, whenEVER I find myself sitting still or waiting, I grab my book and read. Anywhere and any kind of waiting. I'm in love with paper books despite their bulky heaviness. That’s just me. So why would I care about the best audio book apps?

Because there are times when I need to lean into technology for reading, like when I’m traveling. Hey, just because I ALWAYS check my bag doesn’t mean it’s heavy. Packing a few paper books can make it heavy, though, so I use an audiobook app when I travel. 

Click here for the headphones I LOVE to use for listening to audiobooks while I'm traveling. 

Without doing any research on the best apps for listening to audiobooks, I started out using Amazon’s Audible app. 

How much is Audible?

I paid a $14.95 monthly subscription fee for a full year. But I don’t travel every month. After a year, I’d paid a whopping grand total of $179.40 for the luxury of being able to download audiobooks for the few trips I took. I think this is like the Gym Membership income model - you continue paying even though you don't go to the gym. Gym owners love it. Audible and Amazon love it!

Here's how Audible works. The monthly subscription fee gives you one credit. Each credit allows you to buy one audiobook and credits have to be used within 12-months of issuance. Audible sends an email if any of your credit(s) are expiring in the next 30 days, which makes it much easier to keep track. (I should know because I received that email - proving my point that I don't 'read' with audiobooks unless I'm traveling.)

What could be worse than spending $14.95/month and not using the credit? Having it go away forever. If not for the email warning from Audible, that would have happened to me! Yikes. But that got me wondering if there are other audio book apps like Audible? Apps that are better, or just as good? Well, it turns out there are several! 

Other Audio Book Apps

I don’t know if there is one audiobook app that’s the absolute best for travel. There are some that require a monthly or annual subscription (like Audible,) some let you read completely free, and some are subscription-free but you do pay for the audiobooks.

If you like to listen to audio books even when you’re not traveling, you’ll want to compare subscription costs, audiobook costs, and availability. Why is availability a consideration? Because some audiobook apps are connected and accessed through your local library membership. 

Waitlists!

If waitlists don’t bother you, join your local library and ask about the audiobook apps they’re connected to. Here's an overview of the most used apps by library systems.

Want to find out about other amazing apps to make your travel smoother, lighter - better? Then check out this post about the best apps for planning travel , or learn about the apps that keep your travel details organized while you're on your trip here. 

Library Books on Audio

If you have a library card, you might already access audio books, ebooks, movies, music, and magazines online for free. If you don’t have a library card - take a minute and go online to your county library and follow the directions to obtain a free membership. 

I didn’t have one (“WHAT?!” Yep, just got mine recently.) Even though libraries in my county are not physically open due to the Pandemic - I was able to apply in two minutes for an Ereader card online. The next day I received an email with my card number and Pin. 

Next, I learned about the services my library system is hooked up to for audio books apps. They’re popular and shared by most library systems, so read on and then check out your own library system!

  • Hoopla is one way I can access audiobooks and ebooks from my library. This app connects me to my library’s collection for both types of “reading” books, plus a whole lot more. I can use it to watch movies, TV, and listen to music and those are all things I actually do when I travel.
  • Overdrive is another source of audiobooks and ebooks from your public library. You can search for books on their site and then access them via your library. Search for your library on the Overdrive site and use your library card. Or, use the new app Overdrive now offers to make the process mobile - Libby.
  • Libby By OverDrive is a mobile app for Android, iPhone, or iPad. It even gives you the option to download straight to your Kindle. I use the Kindle app on my iPad to cut down on devices but either way works great.

Use the app with your library card, and your public library, to search for book titles. Once you find books to listen to, or read, you can download them immediately or get on the waitlist. Downloaded books will disappear on their due dates so you don’t have to worry about fines.

Like a Library Virtual Assistant!

The app is free and super easy to set up. All you have to do is make sure you have enough books in your queue to last for your trip and read them before the due date. Using one of these apps is like having an extra $180 to spend during your trip compared to a subscription service like Audible!

best-apps-for-listening-to-audiobooks

A Quirky Audio Book App

  • LibriVox is one more free option even if it’s a bit quirky. This app identifies itself as an “acoustical liberation of books in the public domain.” Books in the public domain are not the hot new titles advertised everywhere. But you know what - there are some wonderful books published in the past and this is your chance to listen to one or two. (How about “A Foreign Office Romance,” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?) The quirky caveat is the actual people recording the books - they’re all volunteers. It’s potluck on who you’ll be listening to but definitely an adventure. Feel like volunteering yourself? Check out the information on the website and take a look at the Forum there too.

Another Way to Access Books on Audio

Outside of the library, there’s a whole world of books to buy, of course. I’m an On-Demand kind of person - an impulse shopper at my core. Sigh. (Maybe I’ll change my ways now that I have an e-library card?) But is paying for a subscription the only other way?

Not at all, it turns out. There are apps you can use to find and access audiobooks and ebooks without a subscription called pay-as-you-go apps. Meaning you pay for the audiobook in order to read it. A great option for paper book lovers, like me, who only use audiobooks when they’re traveling.

Check out these options.

  • Google Play Books is available as an app for Android or iPhones. No subscription needed to access, you just log in and search for the title you want, purchase and download to listen. You can buy ebooks and audiobooks, but you’ll need to go to the website to purchase and then access your book via the app.

Here’s an example of an audiobook on Google Play Store and the cost is $14.95. Depending on how quickly you read and how long you’ll be traveling, you may want to buy 2 or 3 titles. Looks like that might get expensive. 

best-audio-book-apps-for-travel

 

Titles seem to range from $14.95 upwards to $25.99 for newer release books. There are definitely older titles available there which cost less, though. And one more cool tip about the Google Play Store - you can also rent movies and download to watch on the go!

  • Nook Audiobooks is an app available for Android and iPhone/Apple devices. This is the Barnes & Noble ebook/audiobook app and there is no subscription fee. But like Google Play, you buy the audiobook before downloading to read. Prices for bestsellers and new releases look like they run from $18 and up. For Android users, you can buy audiobooks directly from the app but iOS users need to log into the NookAudiobook.com site to purchase before downloading on the app to listen.
  • Chirp is another free app (Android and iOS devices) that doesn’t offer a subscription service - a ‘pay-as-you-go’ that looks easy and affordable. In fact - I smell a deal! You can access bestsellers on this app and website, but you can also hop on their limited-time deals. When I checked out the deals, there were several newish books at the $1.99 and less price point! There’s even a way to sort books by different deal prices like $6.99 or less, $4.99 or less, etc. The way my brain works - I’m already planning ahead to buy a new release on Google Play Audiobooks, or NookAudiobooks, and then grab two or three bargains on Chirp!

Audiobook Alternatives to Audible

Back to the paid subscription audiobook app model in search of affordable alternatives to Audible. Surprisingly, I did find options and options make me feel like I’m in charge of my own destiny.

Feast your eyes on these options:

  • Scribd is an app (Android and iOS) and a website where you can access audiobooks, along with ebooks, magazines, and articles. At only $9.99/month, it’s a bargain compared to Audible, and the book list is extensive, including new releases. It’s an even bigger bargain when you realize that a $9.99 subscription entitles you to listen to as many audiobooks as you want each month.

Are there restrictions on that? I haven’t personally tried Scribd but I read this on the Premier membership disclosure page here:

How many books can I read each month?

As many as you can! We strive to provide the most comprehensive catalog to all of our members.  We can’t guarantee the immediate availability of any specific title, but our members can always read an unlimited number of books and audiobooks each month. Occasionally, some titles in our library may be temporarily unavailable to you depending on your recent reading activity.

Still seems like a great deal and I’ve had nothing but positive personal recommendations for this app. I’m going to try it out and if you have personal experience please comment below or email me and let me know what you think! (cindi@travelinglater.com)

  • Downpour is a paid subscription app that’s a lot like Audible but for $12.99/month. You get one credit per month and you buy the audiobooks in exchange for a credit. But Downpour has one cool feature - you can rent books. And it costs much less while not taking up digital space.

The reality is you are bound by most app agreements to not share the audiobooks you buy. Plus, if you’re like me - it’s Uber rare that I ever reread a book. Except for Atlas Shrugged every five years, but that’s a different story (book reader pun and dangerously close to a Dad joke.) Rentals are for 30 days, generally, although for longer books (like Atlas Shrugged) they automatically give you a 60-day rental.

Downpour works on Android or iOS devices and if you go the rental route, it looks like you can access those without a subscription. Rentals have to be done on the desktop site and then you will be able to access the audiobook from the app on your mobile device.

  • Audiobooks.com is priced at $14.95/month but the difference between this app and Audible is the monthly subscription will let you access two books. One book will be from the Premium Titles section (new releases) and the other from the VIP section. 

What kind of books are in the VIP section? It’s a curated selection of books that is updated on the first of every month. You will also have access to podcasts (their website states over 1.2million podcasts) and the ability to trade your monthly credit for 30 days of unlimited reading via one of their book clubs.

All in all - if you’re an adventurous reader - this might be a good option to try.

  • Serial Box is something completely different. It’s not a place to buy audiobooks - but it is a place to get hooked on Sci-fi and Fantasy stories that are released, episodically, every week. Or - you have the option of buying the whole “season” and binging reading a la Netflix.

I saw titles for $9.99/season and I saw titles for $1.99/season. If you’re a true Sci-fi or Fantasy fan and also open to exploring new writers, this is a very cool way to entertain yourself on a long, long road trip (or, one day, on a long international flight.)

Check out this post about the travel hack for your iPhone! This tip might take a lot of travel anxiety out of the trip!

Not Interested in Audible Alternatives?

If deep down in your heart of hearts Audible is your favorite, you can still save some money. Choose the annual fee option and get all 12 credits at once. The plan gives you the first year for $119.50 which is equal to about $9.96/month. After the first year the annual fee increases to $149.50 which is $12.46/month. 

Had I chosen the annual subscription plan, I would have saved $59.90 in the first year and another $29.90 in the second year. A $90 savings over two years compared to paying $14.95/month! And yes -  you can buy 24 credits at once (for an annual payment of $229.50.)

Reading keeps me entertained when I’m in transit on a trip, which includes airport lounges, plane rides, and train rides. I can even read in the car! But my go-to is listening to an audiobook. My next challenge is to find and read some great travel books. Or maybe just books about far off places. Have any good suggestions?

 

Safe Travels,

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The Best Travel Hack for Your Smartphone (Hey, Siri)

best-travel-hacks-for-smartphone

One day, I decided to search for a mobile app to help me edit photos. When I opened the Apple store on my iPhone, the first thing that popped up - before I even started my search -  was a Travel App suggestion! In fact, it was an entire curated selection of Travel Apps.

I say curated because I'm pretty sure there was a little AI (Artificial Intelligence) going on in Algorithmland for those Travel Apps to be the first thing I would see.

And the thing is, once I saw them I had to check them out. And once I did - I had to put these Apps out here for the world to see. I never did search for the photo editing App I wanted to use.

But the coolest thing I learned - the most important thing I want to share with you - I've saved for the end. You'll want to keep reading for that - it's the coolest.

Four More Great Travel Apps

First - FYI - I've downloaded these Apps and already tested two. I'll let you know which ones down below. The other two I've downloaded but have NOT tested yet. I'll explain in a minute.

Even though there's a ton of content on this blog about the best apps to use while traveling, planning travel, and organizing travel - I've got to throw these four more out for you: 

App In The Air - Similar to Tripit, this App goes into your email account and looks for emails with flight information. It then compiles it and lets you sort between your flights and other people's flights. For example, I had a few emails with flight information for relatives visiting in the next couple of months. Those flights were added to my queue, and I easily sorted them to "People." You have three sorting options: My, Delete, People. (I deleted all the old flight information it found.)

I don't think this App will take the place of Tripit for me. Tripit has so much more to offer under the hood on the Pro version ($49/annual subscription.) Here's what you'll find on the Pro version.

tripit-pro-options

Hitlist - Bucket list - meet Reality! I downloaded this one immediately. Hitlist is an app that lets you capture all of the wonderful places in the whole wide world that you dream of visiting. AKA - your bucket list. Ok - so what? If you're like me, you've got lists and lists of those cities, and countries plastered all over your Language Arts PeeChee folder in cursive, block letters…(Never heard of a PeeChee folder? Can't help you.)

But here's the kicker with this App. You make a list, pick your home airport, and Hitlist starts to monitor airfares to the places on your list. According to the App, it will tell you when there are good or great fares for your wishlist destinations. You'll be one step closer to making those dreams a reality and my advice, if you see a great fare, is - pull the trigger. Take the trip and check your bag! (I know...blah blah blah. It's for your own good, People!)

Tile - I have one of these! Well, to be clear, I'm married to a car key loser and he has one. But since I'm the traveling bag checker, I'm going to download this App (have not done this yet), take his physical Tile (they cost $23 for one pack and $49 for a four-pack) and put it in my suitcase. Then, if my bag doesn't come riding off the carousel when I arrive at my destination, I can use the Tile App to ping and help locate it.

However - there are distance limitations, so check out their website here. What caught my eye was the Community Find feature on the App. It's why I'll be trying this out on my upcoming trip to New York. You can enhance your ability to locate lost luggage even if you're not close to 'the item,' with the Community Find feature.

When you activate Community Find, any Tile user close enough to your item (suitcase) will automatically transmit the info, and you'll see the location on a map on the App. In other words, a network of other people using the Tile App will automatically connect you. Maybe you'll even find your luggage before the airline can alert you!

ParkWhiz - If you're taking a road trip into a major city in the US and plan on parking your vehicle, get this App. It helps you find and pre-pay for parking before you even get to the city. I can tell you from experience - if San Francisco is one of your destinations, or maybe even Seattle, this is an app that you'll need. Or you could end up circling and circling.

It's free - your time is not. 

It’s a Siri(ous) Trick

The real trick  I learned when I opened the App Store on my phone - is only available for iPhones. I don't know if there's a similar function for Android phones, so if you have that type of Smartphone, you can stop reading now. Or keep reading and then go find out if it's out there for Androids. Email me if you find it!

I know. Everyone’s not a Siri user or lover but keep an open mind. Maybe, just maybe, you didn’t have a good enough reason to use Siri before now. 

If you have iOS 12 or later versions, you have something called Siri Shortcuts on your phone. Here's the link to the how-to information on Apples' support site. I wish they did a better job of pushing this information out to users proactively. Or maybe I wish I did a better job of receiving their notifications? Do they exist? Hello?

Be that as it may (favorite old school phrase), you can set up shortcut commands to use these apps, and others, via Siri. I followed all the instructions and now have a command in Siri that goes like this: 

"Hey, Siri."

"Yes?" (Says the male, Australian accented voice set up on my iPhone)

"Give me flight status."

smartphone-shortcut-command

And Voila' - he reads me the information on my flight and when it's scheduled to leave. I have a shortcut command to tell me hotel information, baggage carousel (I absolutely HATE standing around trying to figure out the correct baggage carousel), connecting flight, and gate information. All the features that come with the Tripit Pro version.

How'd I do all this? The Apple support site gives you the steps, but here they are (save time):

  1. Open up Settings
  2. Go to Siri & Search
  3. Go to All Shortcuts
  4. Choose an App and select the + sign
  5. Press the red dot at the bottom of the screen and record a short phrase (short - or you'll forget!)
  6. Hit Done and it's added to the My Shortcuts list

Don't worry - if you do forget what you recorded, go into the My Shortcut lists and see what phrase to use with Siri.

Hack With an App

Finally, whether you use the iOS or Android operating system on your smartphone, head over to the App Store. Now search for 'Travel Apps' and scroll through what comes up. Many of the Apps have been mentioned on this blog here and here. But it's a constantly changing landscape. Apps are created and Apps are retired/abandoned. So keep watching the App store - you might find the one cool App that will transform your travel into the Easy Travel experience we (I) crave.

Ok - game on. I'm using my Siri shortcuts on my next trip. I love step saving hacks, and not fumbling through multiple screens, pressing and swiping (while walking through a crowded airport?) sounds like a slice of heaven to me. 

I added one for Weather reports too. Umbrella out or in the Tote? 

Safe Travels,

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The Best Travel Carry-On Essentials for Long Flights

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Have you noticed? There are lots of “things” available these days that - supposedly - make a long airplane flight easier. The list of new travel carry-on essentials goes on and on. Literally. 

But are they all really essential?

That turns out to be an evergreen question because new, essential "things" keep being invented. Some look super cool and so necessary! But are they?

travel-carry-on-essentials

 

I conduct my own essential gear test every time I travel. No, it’s not the most frugal thing to do - but I buy one cool, amazing new invention for every trip. To try it out and see if it solves 'my problem’  - as advertised. I’ve been doing this for a couple of years now.

Spoiler alert: some don't live up to the hype and most work just okay. But I 'm not dragging an overly heavy bag around an airport, airplane or destination. If I’m not going to use something, or even NEED it, it's not going in my travel tote.

That’s prime real estate. And it's reserved for the absolute best things I've tested and now use before or during my flight, or while I'm at my destination. Here's how I pick what goes into my bag.

What to Pack

I work backward to select the lucky items riding inside the plane with me. I pack what I'll need when I arrive. If my checked bag is still ‘en route’ when I arrive - there are some personal things that need to travel with me. This includes

  1. Medications
  2. Clean undies
  3. Basic toiletries (face wash, moisturizer, toothbrush+paste, mascara, blush, lipgloss, brush)
  4. Appropriate power converter
  5. Portable charger for all devices
  6. Contact lens supplies

But a clean shirt is a want-to-have, so it goes on the waitlist.

Next up is my laptop (if it’s a work trip) and a camera. Although, depending on the purpose of the trip, my phone might be all the camera I bring.

Once that’s settled, I turn my attention to what I need in the air. It's a concise list:

  1.  Neck pillow
  2. Eyemask
  3. Blanket
  4. Noise-canceling headphones
  5. Earplugs
  6. Reusable water bottle
  7. Allergy-safe snacks (“she’s one of those people!”)
  8. And something to read (sometimes a book but usually a device)

These are the basic non-negotiables and there are so many options for every item on the list. Which ones go in my limited cargo space? Read on to see what I use and how to buy them.

Travel Essentials List

It wasn’t easy to narrow down my all-star list of items to bring on long flights. I kissed a lot of frogs along the way. And I'm still keeping my eyes open for things to bring because, on top of the one new thing I try every trip, I keep a revolving list of things I plan on purchasing in the future, based on:

  • Doing continual research
  • Needing something mid-flight - one time too many
  • Making do with a substitute of some kind for far too long 

But let's get on with it!

boarding-plane-with-carry-on

Photo by Anugrah Lohiya from Pexels

First up is my pillow and blanket. The Cocoon Cool Max travel blanket is warm, portable, and lightweight but the real reason I was sold is the small, squishy packing bag it comes inside. Some of the blankets I’ve tried were ok but failed on the fold/wad test. Too big.

To go with my Cocoon blanket I chose the Trtl travel pillow. I’ve gone back and forth on this decision. I was tempted to buy one when they first came out (“ohhh, so shiny….”) but I’d purchased a perfectly good (squishy) travel pillow that squished into its own bag like my blanket. 

Then the incident happened.

It was a flight from Berlin to Copenhagen and the string on my travel pillow bag got dragged onto the wet tarmac as I boarded my flight. Never saw it happen. But when I lifted my tote into the overhead bin - it dragged.

The wet string. Across the FACE of the man sitting on the aisle. Fortunately, I don't understand German swear words...

I threw it away when I got home and pulled the Trtl trigger. It's a unique design with a light fleece covering. Reviews are great, especially the one where the reviewer wanted to hate it. And the one that pointed out that the excess fabric can be used to hide your open mouth. Sold. 

My blanket and soon-to-be pillow are almost all I need for falling asleep on a long flight. And all I’ve used until now. But I’m about to buy myself a sleep mask. I don’t use them - ever - but something has to change. My level of in-flight sleep has fallen to zero. 

On the last two long flights, people had lights on next to me or went in and out of the mid-plane bathroom near my seat. Light on, light off, light on...Again with the research to find a way to use a sleep mask for the first time and avoid claustrophobic panic. Here’s what I found and what I’m buying: Nodpod weighted sleep pillow for your eyes. Same principle as the weighted blankets and I’m a big fan.

More Travel Necessities

The other piece of my light sleeping issue is noise, but I fail at earplugs. Something about it - no can do! What I can do is block external airplane sound with a pair of cozy, comfy earphones. Time for an upgrade on this item as well and this time I’m going with a pair of Sony Bluetooth headphones. These are the exact ones I’m buying. Might sleep like a baby.

noise-canceling-headphones

Photo by Anugrah Lohiya from Pexels

I alternate between binge-watching movies and entire Netflix seasons and reading on my Kindle (they’re so compact and lightweight now!) Up to this point, I’ve used my earbuds, but I’m done with ear pain from overwearing those when traveling for 6-12 hours on a plane.  

While I’m reading and bingeing, I’m snacking. I mentioned that I’m ‘one of those people.’ Food allergies to almost everything but lettuce. Not really but it feels like that at times. And airplane and airport food are slightly - shall we say problematic? So I bring my own. 

Those snacks keep me from becoming hangry but I’m tired of the plastic baggie trap. (too much plastic!) When I found the Stasher Reusable Silicone food bag I thought I’d give it try. Can’t sing its praises high enough. When I got home, I closed my eyes and threw it in the dishwasher. It was fine! Now going on my fourth trip using them! 

After the success of the silicone bag, I wanted to try an alternative to a hard-sided water bottle. Once I pass through security and fill up my water bottle, it’s fine, but until then I want to stay with the packable squishy theme. I found the Nomad Collapsible water bottle. I bought it to travel - but use it on the daily now. 

Empty, the bottle rolls up and the attached strap hooks onto a small latch on the front of the bottle. The latch is a bit shallow and the first time I tried to roll up the bottle, it was new and stiff and came unfastened. I planned on tossing it when I returned from my trip until I realized it no longer unhooked itself! 

I think after using the bottle it became more pliable and the strap/hook works fine. At least that’s been my experience.

Stay Charged the Right Way

When traveling internationally, part of your carry-on travel essentials must include a portable charger and an adaptor/converter. AND, if you’re like me and packing a blow dryer (yaaaassss), you need to get an adapter that will accommodate that portable wind tunnel machine (blowdryer). This is something I did not know while traveling in Italy back in 2014. 

In Sorrento, we stayed in a Relais (upscale B+B) that was once the home of a wealthy shipping magnate. I brought the right converter/adapter for my electronics but every time I used my blowdryer - poof! Electricity out. Hubby had to trudge downstairs and ask the owner to flip the breaker more than once. No one involved was the least bit happy. 

Finally, he came back to our room carrying a crappy little blowdryer that wouldn’t blow the circuit. My bad hair days in Sorrento are photographically preserved. (no power - no “Do”) Now I travel with the Travel Smart by Conair, a worldwide converter + adapter. No matter what country I’m in I look like my old self!

Ok, let’s talk about charging your smartphone before you head out sightseeing for the day. You have maps saved offline to lead the way and your photojournalist instincts are on high alert. And then it happens right after you stop for lunch. Ten percent battery alert on your phone. Panic!!

Seems silly but I let this happen to me time and time again. I’ve had portable chargers over the years - several in fact. But they die or get lost or don’t do much more than a little boost to get me to the next closest wall plug. No can do on the travel trail. 

Plus I use my phone a lot while flying - with podcasts to catch up on and Netflix bingeing. It’s the road to dead battery life. Until finally.  Finally. I got this Anker portable charger. That’s my answer for you if you’re taking an international trip or a domestic road trip. 

I did so much research before picking this one and chose it for its ability to charge my laptop as well as my smartphone. According to the Anker website, this little baby can get you more than seven phone charges before it needs to be recharged itself. Give it a good 24 hour charge the first time, though.

Carry Your Airplane Essentials

Finally, on top of those 14 items - I can’t leave you without sharing my favorite bag for bringing them all on the plane. Two words: purse and tote. 

If I’m on a trip without my laptop (non-work), my purse stores inside my tote while getting from point A to point B. Less pack-mule, more ease of travel that way. 

If that’s not possible - which happens - I sling my purse cross-body and hang it to the front. Definitely not on my hip. I’m hyper-aware of those around me for my purse security. I don’t want anyone slashing a strap, slashing the bottom/side, or slyly opening it unbeknownst to me. 

I’m also hip to the electronic reader today's thieves employ. They can steal my data as they stroll by me. I need the latest RFID material to prevent this from happening. It’s a lot to ask of a cross-body bag that has to be Swiss-Army knife useful and semi-chic. Here’s what I found after much searching. The Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Messenger Bag in black. 

The material used makes slashing difficult. Zippers on the exterior have little locking mechanisms and it’s got RFID material everywhere. 

I’ve seen its little RFID protection in action on the streets of Berlin. A couple approached me near Brandenburg Tor asking for directions. I answered while the woman stood in front of me and the man moved next to her - then up behind me - close. I stiffened, then remembered my little Travelon was working this situation for me!

I laughed and laughed all the way home.

And finally my tote. I use Briggs & Riley Kinzie Street Cabin Bag. It has RFID pockets, an interior pocket for my Kindle, and another for my laptop. There’s plenty of space for my travel items and a long strap to hang from my shoulder or go cross-body. In my seat, it easily fits below but can be maneuvered up to access my stuff.

I’m happy with it! I’ve gone through so many iterations of totes, including a couple of backpacks. I don’t know what it is about me or about backpacks but when I see one I’m so drawn to it. I want to do that - carry that. Yet when I actually have a backpack - nope. Hate it. It's just a personal preference.

So there you have it - all the things I absolutely need in my travel kit when I’m in for a long haul flight to a fabulous place. It’s easy to go overboard and fall for the next new thing. Been there, done that, lather-rinse-repeat. But when I add to this list, I’m just bringing something that’s either pure dead weight or I’ll use it when I don’t need to.

Does that make sense? Have you lugged your own dead weight? Heavy luggage isn’t always about your main bag. Before you overpack your carry-on tote, stop a minute. Think about your shoulder,  back, and wallet. You don’t need any more than THIS list! And if you need a lesson in packing to get your head on straight, check out this article and this one too!

Safe Travels,

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