Suitcase.com's Suitcase & Luggage Blog

This time around for Suitcase we talk travel, and more specifically, how to eat great and eat safe while you’re away from home. From avoiding food poisoning, to finding the best local hot spots (the ones not featured in your guidebook), these are some topics you don’t want to miss.

• Depending on where you travel, the best food to be found isn’t necessarily in a restaurant. In fact, in many places some of the most delicious treats are cooked and served right on the street. Street food  may be delicious, but there are also some tips you need to follow to make sure it doesn’t make you sick.
• Nothing can ruin a great trip faster than food poisoning. Be sure to keep yourself healthy by following these guidelines for avoiding foodborne illnesses.
• Good food is hard to find, and that is even more true when traveling. Don’t squander your meals while abroad by eating mediocre meals and food you could find at home. There are some simple tips to follow for finding great places to eat wherever you are!
• No matter how good a plate of food may look or smell, without the means of ordering it you can’t enjoy it. When traveling abroad it isn’t always as easy as it may seem, and you could find yourself without a common language to  express your desire. Worry not though, there are some easy ways around this.
• Eating new and interesting foods is simply part of the adventure of traveling. Be sure to make the most of your trip by following this simple guide.
• Finally, food is more than just a delicious benefit of traveling, it is a reflection of culture. WE discuss that aspect of it, and how to safe while eating in greater detail.

Without a doubt, one of the most enriching parts of travel is experiencing different cultures and other ways of life. Experiencing culture is more than just walking the streets and frequenting historic sites, and one of the best ways to truly dive into a new culture is to sample the cuisine. Food and culture are inherently linked on multiple levels, from the ingredients used, cooking methods employed, and way the food is finally served and eaten, all of these factors are a reflection of people and their way of life.

Because of the relationship between food, culture, and people, the more local the food you sample while traveling, the better. As globalization connects people around the world, and makes travel easier than ever, it is becoming increasingly convenient to find Western style food even in remote countries around the globe. While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a few meals of familiar food, if you don’t venture out of your comfort zone you aren’t getting the most out of your time away.

Straying from your comfort zone and being careless however, are two different things. Different cultures not only have different foods, but different standards of cleanliness among other things. Especially if you’re not used to eating exotic foods, there are some guidelines to follow when trying new foods to avoid falling ill. Nothing can sour a cultural immersion like having to spend days cooped up in your hotel’s restroom.

Dining out is a treat even when you’re in your hometown, but it becomes something even more when you’re traveling. With limited time and knowledge though, it can sometimes be difficult to find places to really tickle your tastebuds while you’re traveling. The Independent Traveler has you covered though, with six tips for making the most of your meals while on the road.

Source: http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/travelers-ed/six-tips-for-dining-abroad

Chances are if you’re traveling abroad, you’re going to find some delicious local eateries you’ll just have to try. Unfortunately, the more local the venue, the less likely it is that the person taking your order will share a common language. Fear not though, language shouldn’t stand in the way of a delicious meal. Jac of Go Girl Guides has a great article on how to order food when you don’t know the language.

Source: http://gogirlguides.com/featured/ordering-food-when-you-dont-speak-the-language/

When you travel to a new place, whether it be for business or pleasure, food can always be one of the highlights of the trip. To experience the best food possible though, it takes a little more effort than finding the hotel restaurant or pulling out your smartphone. Jason Sheehan of CNN Travel has six tips for finding great restaurants wherever you may be.

Source: http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/eat/6-foolproof-rules-finding-best-restaurants-while-traveling-891861

Just about nothing can ruin your travels faster than a case of food poisoning. When contracted in the comfort of your home it is a miserable experience, but when you add the stresses of travel, an unfamiliar place, and sometimes a foreign culture or language to tend with, the result is truly awful. Don’t let it happen to you, and follow this travel advice from Elizabeth Smith onUSA Today.

Source: http://traveltips.usatoday.com/food-poisoning-travel-advice-10638.html

If you’re traveling abroad, chances are you’ll be tempted by some delicious smelling, looking, and probably tasting food sold on the streets. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying these tasty offerings, in fact they are often culinary highlights of a culture, but be sure to exercise caution. One of the most notorious countries for illness inducing street foods is India, and Sarina Singh has an article for Lonely Planet on tips to keeping your stomach happy when you eat it. No matter what country you find yourself in, her advice should keep you happy, healthy, and above all, eating.

Source: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/travel-tips-and-articles/76066

All of us have our personal style when it comes to traveling. Some prefer air travel, some like riding buses and trains, some like long drives on the road, and so on. We also differ in our preferences of travel luggage. The good thing is that there’s no need to compromise as much, thanks to the different options now available to all travelers.

The thing to remember is that there is no one ultimate luggage type that’ll fit all kinds of trips and expeditions - so choose the right type for the corresponding traveling that you’ll embark on. Other factors to consider include the things and activities you expect to do when you get to your destination, the stuff that you have to bring, how much clothing must be packed and the overall nature of the trip. Here we will highlight some of these choices for you to choose from to better plan your trip ahead of time.

Wheeled Duffels

Gym buffs and overnight trip geeks know this for a fact - a duffel bag is the best choice for swallowing up baggage and gear. Now add wheels to the picture. Wheeled duffels are great for carrying heavy stuff, like sports gear. So this type of travel luggage is perfect for athletes and sports junkies. These come in different sizes and shapes too, so you can properly choose  the right one to fit all your gear. Light packers will be content with carry-on versions of wheeled duffels - bags that offer less space (around 22”) but, of course, this saves time during luggage inspection.

Recommended For:

• Adventure-themed trips that require bringing irregularly shaped and/or bulky gear and equipment
• Trips with the family
• Road trips

Duffel Bags

If you’re a simple traveler with simple preferences and needs, the good old traditional duffel bag should do the trick. No wheels, no pull handles, no frills. This is, of course, a lot lighter to carry and easier to store because it has no rigid parts - so you can fold it up when not in use. These are also a lot cheaper than the wheeled ones. There are a variety of options available depending on the size and capacity that you’re looking for.

Recommended for:

• Going to the gym / Playing sports
• Climbing / Trekking / Hiking / Camping
• Budget travelers
• College students

Wheeled Business Luggage

This type is obviously best for traveling businessmen and entrepreneurs. These pieces of luggage usually are compact sizes with strong, durable material to stand the beating expected in various public transport systems. These are great suitcases for keeping everything organized - papers and documents, toiletries and personal items, clothing, medications, etc.  because of their nifty pockets and compartments.

Recommended For:

• Business commuters
• Out of town seminars and meetings
• Visits to urban areas

Wheeled Backpacks

Without a doubt, backpacks are best suited for adventure-filled trips and expeditions. Wheeled backpacks combine the best things about two different types of luggage which include the convenience that you get with wheeled bags and the mobility and portability of a conventional backpack. You can stuff in a lot of items, gear and clothes easily in a backpack, and with a simple pull of its extendable handle, you can transport everything with ease. You can wear it as a backpack if faced with heavy foot traffic for the ultimate “Look ma, no hands” luggage experience.

Recommended for:

• Out-of-town trekking, hiking, mountain climbing
• Long road trips

Travel Packs

Travel packs give justice to their name. These are for those who love being mobile all the time even if it means carrying their stuff on their backs. The advantage of this type of travel luggage is that they have built-in frames, built-in security features and hide away shoulder straps. Women need not worry because there are lots of travel packs designed specifically for the female body frame.

Recommended for:

• Mobile travelers
• Attending public festivities, out-of-town or out-of-the-country bazaars and markets

Laptop Bags and Similar Items

These day, almost everybody owns a laptop, a tablet or other forms of electronic devices. These are often carried around wherever we go because they’ve become huge parts of our daily lives including both, school and career. Carry-ons with padded insides help protect these fragile gadgets of varying sizes and features. A lot of these even have added compartments or pockets for your papers and documents, laptop cables and accessories, etc. Manufacturers have been working on making these friendlier in terms of TSA checking at security checkpoints.

Recommended For:

• Laptop / tablet owners who travel frequently
• Urban travelers
• Students

Carry on Luggage

Carry on luggage is preferred by many travelers because of the hassle-free time you get at airports and security checkpoints. All of the types of luggage we’ve mentioned above all come in various carry on sizes and forms - from the duffels to the backpacks, wheeled or not. The majority of airports allow carry on luggage which do not exceed the 22” x 14” x 9” dimensions. However, these standards may not apply everywhere so always check your airport’s rules before leaving.

Recommended For:

• Light packers
• Mobile travelers
• Anyone who hates baggage claims and airport luggage fees

There are other forms of travel luggage available on the market like suitcases, briefcases, etc. The key is finding one that will be able to fit everything that you need to bring during your travels and one that you are most comfortable with. Keep in mind that the nature of your expected activities is a highly important factor as well.

In this issue, we talk a great deal about steamer trunks. While you might have a general idea of what these trunks are and how they are used, the following articles will really open your eyes to the versatility that is built right into these handy traveling storage compartments.

• From Collectors Weekly comes this informative and extensive article replete with lots of different examples of trunks through history.
• This article from This Old Trunk gives you a great overview of the history of steamer trunks in the United States. You might even recognize some of these historic trunks when you see them.
• If you love the look of the old steamer trunks but don't have one of your own, don't despair. This article tells you how you get furniture inspired by the same look.
• Creepy Los Angeles gives you a look at what can be found in old trunks that people move from address to address as they go through different phases of their life. After you read it, then decide if it is creepy or not.
• WiseGeek tells you anything, and everything, you've ever wanted to know about steamer trunks.
• While most steamer trunks will offer only those whimsical surprises like old love letters, you might find more than you bargained for if you happen to open a steamer trunk like the one Janet Barrie left behind.

Finding the right luggage, no matter what your needs might be, involves much more than simply walking into a store and choosing the first thing you see. The articles below offer a number of different things to look for as well as explain why some luggage sets are better than others.

• The AARP has a long history of providing great advice that people of all ages can use. This article about picking luggage is no exception.
• Lightweight Luggage reminds you why wheeled luggage is a good idea in this blog post.
• At the Good Housekeeping Research Institute, they detail how to find durable luggage.
• The Savvy Traveler goes into great detail about finding the luggage you need, no matter where you are traveling.
• This blog post by Michaela Hall tells you how to choose the best luggage for your needs by keeping several factors in mind.
• Durability, stylish design and forgiving materials all combine to make the best choice in luggage for you.