Friday, July 2, 2010

Find the Perfect Travel Bag

Words by Courtney Kellar

Words by Allyson Murphy
Photo courtesy of Real Honeymoons

Every traveler needs a great bag. Finding the perfect one that looks cool while being cleverly practical isn’t always easy. Here are four that I think any traveling honeymooner or destination bride would be happy to have.

1. L.L.Bean Boat and Tote Bag (M) – $20.95 Probably one of the best known bags of all time, the L.L.Bean totes are built rugged and strong. They’re affordable and come in a variety of sizes. A preppy embroidered monogram of the happy couple’s initials is the perfect finishing touch for $6.

2. Aire Trashion messenger bag – $50 Created from old vinyl movie posters, these messenger bags are cool and totally unisex. Just like the women or men who carry them, each bag is unique. I like these bags because they’re made from recycled materials and support the sellers of Etsy. Both of these reasons make me feel warm and fuzzy.

3. Anna Tote by Timbuk2 – $30 I love this two-in-one tote because it’s not too girly and best part—its waterproof. It’s reversible, so you can choose between plain grey or the sweet bike print. The lightweight fabric and reinforced straps make it a traveler’s dream. It's nice enough to accompany you to an afternoon flea market, trip to the pool or dinner on the beach.

4. Oxford reusable bags by Envirosax – $37.95 I’ve always got at least one of these bags in my purse. They roll up super small and can carry up to 44 pounds each. The Oxford series is a great design option and you get 5 bags in a pouch. Use them on your trip as a beach bag, souvenir tote, or camera lugger. Then use them back home for groceries.

Hopefully one of these bags will be the perfect addition for one of you honeymooners or destination brides. If not, keep searching. After all, what woman doesn’t like to go purse shopping?

Allyson Murphy is the founder and editor of Realhoneymoons.com. The site offers tips, stories and travel ideas by sharing the real-life experiences of couples who’ve honeymooned around the world. She’s currently obsessed with home-made smoothies.