Tips to Travel By: My Favorite Weekend Bags

Longchamp Mary Katrantzou Travel Bag; Longchamp Veau Foulonne Suitcase; Tumi Bedford Westley Weekender; Orla Kiely Weekend Bag; Alternative Vagabond Bag; Fossil Duffel Bag

I'm traveling again this weekend! This time to Denver, CO for some last chance skiing. Just like most of you, I have a very limited number of vacation days with my job. That's why I try to squeeze in a lot of my get-a-ways on the weekend. Many times my only impression of a destination has to come together in just 36 hours. So I am constantly on the hunt for a fabulous weekend bag that I can easily tote along. I love the size of weekenders too because it's easy to bring as a single carry-on or throw the backseat of the car.

These are the weekenders I'm currently lusting over. I've been wanting that Longchamp Veau Foulonne Suitcase for about five years!

Baggage

Orla Kiely

Fact: I love weekend bags. Also fact: I've been oogling this one. The playfulness of the cars in so many different colors inspires me to pack up my polka dot bikini, sunglasses, and flip flops and go for a road trip tour of Florida beaches... which I'm sort of doing this week as we travel from family to family up the West coast of Florida. What are you doing for the holidays? Do you travel or does family come visit you? do they stay with you? Can you believe Christmas is only a few days away?!

The High Heeled Traveler's Companion Gift Guide

shave cream, Birds of America, tie, collar stays, scarf, shoes, lather brush, Whiskey book, glasses, weekend bag

I wasn't sure how to start this post, so I'll start by saying - I love men. I've learned a lot from the men in my life which has made me a more well rounded person. My father was good about teaching my sister and I about sports as we grew up, my high school boyfriend taught me about cars, my college boyfriend taught me about music, cigars, whiskey, and men's fashion. Gman has taught me to live in the moment.

In addition to loving men, I love shopping for them. I love their clothes, shoes, accessories and lifestyle accoutrements. My dad is one of my favorite people to shop with. He carefully considers the quality of what he is looking at. He takes pride in his style while having fun with it too.

With Christmas only days away, here is a last minute gift guide for the High Heeled Traveler's companion inspired by the men in my life and Gman's closet {As he said when he reviewed this for me, "hey! that's all my stuff!"}.

A rugged weekend bag will be suitable for all your holiday travels as well as for those romantic weekend get-a-ways. He could use this year round too, which makes it a practical gift, and what man can say no to practicality?

A wool tie and scarf will spruce up his winter wardrobe.

Gman loves his leather converse. They remind him of his glory years without being childish. They are also uber versatile and he wears them almost everyday and on vacations.

Treat your companion to a touch of luxury with this shave brush and cream.

I had these Tiffany's collar stays engraved with Gman's initials one year and he wears them everyday. Women aren't the only ones who appreciate that little blue box, you know.

If the man in your life has always been curious about scotch or whiskey, give him this guide and glasses to get him started.

A classic coffee table book is also nice for the man who takes pride in his home. Audubon's Birds of America is a favorite of ours. One of the original elephant folio (huge size) copies sold at Sotheby's last year for $11.5 million(!).

If you are still at a loss, try a subscription to National Geographic to inspire you both to take your next trip. Tickets to a sports game or concert never go un-appreciated in our house either.

Now get shopping! I've got to go - there's a lounge chair by the pool calling my name...

Travel Bags

I am on the constant hunt for the perfect luggage for my many travels. I consider luggage to not only be an extension of your total vacation look but as a companion that shares in your adventures. I recommend investing in suitcase staples, no matter how often you travel.

Even if you only travel once or twice a year, isn't it infuriating when you dust off that old bag and the zipper breaks before you leave the house? Or what about the handle of your wheely bag ripping off as you leave baggage claim? Imagine you're trecking through the Rocky Mountains, your bag rips open, and everything gets soiled (Horrible! Why are you in the mountains?)? Its little frustrations like this (luggage breaking, not nature) that keep people from experience the true joy of getting away from it all. It might seem expensive up front, however, having reliable bags will only enhance the enjoyment of the awe inspiring journey you are choosing to take.

This little baby goes everywhere with me

The two brands I highly suggest, based on their durability and fantastic warranties are Briggs & Rily and Tumi. They are both pretty darn stylish too.

Since we bought our Briggs & Riley luggage two years ago it has gone from NYC to: Canada, Boston, Nantucket, Bar Harbor, Vermont, Washington D.C., Chicago, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Pakistan, Paris, Bordeaux, Dublin, Florida (five or ten times at least, what can I say? It's home!)... and I'm sure one has escaped me. You get the idea. And the bags are still in great condition.

We did encounter one handle break (they are awesome but not magical). But because we registered the bag with the company, the bags are guarunteed for life worldwide and we reiceved a free same day repair at a shop near our apartment. The nightmare of having to find another bag (or duct tape the handle for really classy travel) was diverted and the whole experience - dealing with the company, finding a repair shop, and getting the bag - took less than a day and was relatively stress free. Worth every penny.