More engaged couples than ever before are skipping out on traditional church weddings in their hometown in favor of Destination Weddings. The allure is undeniable – you can exchange vows in a romantic, exotic location, and afterwards, move right on to the honeymoon. What is more, many couples love the idea of having close friends and family join them before the ceremony for a joyous, weeklong celebration. It’s a vacation that happens once-in-a-lifetime.

The Basics of the Destination Wedding

A destination wedding is generally more expensive than a traditional one, which usually means a relatively smaller guest list. While the wedding reception and related activities are paid for by the bride and groom, guests are expected to pay for their airfare and accommodations, and the reality is not everyone can afford this. Still, don’t put away your travel luggage just yet – many destination wedding packages feature discounted rates for guest rooms at certain hotels.

Most couples start to plan a destination wedding a year or more before the big day. Many send “Save the Date” cards to alert guests in advance, to give them ample opportunity to ask for vacation time and start scouting airfare. If you are invited to a wedding like this, view it as an opportunity to enjoy two wonderful experiences at once – attend a beautiful wedding and take a fabulous vacation with some of your closest friends and family. After all, if you’ve made the “short list,” it is clear the couple considers you one of their nearest and dearest friends.

For those who can afford the extravaganza, the planned activities leading up to the ceremony are usually a blast. When is the last time you had the chance to snorkel in coral reefs, sail a boat, and hop from island to island in celebration of a marriage? Couples usually plan at least two days worth of activities before the reception. After the ceremony, you can extend your vacation as long as you like!

What Do You Take to a Destination Wedding?

If you’ve decided to attend a destination wedding, take care with what you throw into your travel luggage. Consider the locale and type of ceremony. If you are heading to the tropics for a daytime wedding on the beach, you have no need for high heels and an elaborate cocktail dress. A beautiful sundress and flat sandals are more appropriate and will be much more comfortable on the sand. However, although dress codes are generally more relaxed in the tropics, it doesn’t mean men can wear cut-offs and a t-shirt with a beer logo to the ceremony. Be sensible.

In addition to your outfit for the main event, other items to pack include swimsuits, sunscreen, a camera, and a few versatile pieces to take you from day to evening. Consult the given itinerary when packing and remember to keep it simple and fun.

One last thing to consider when traveling to a tropical location is the weather. Evenings spent near water can be quite chilly, so you definitely want to bring a light sweater or jacket. Finally, don’t forget to bring the couple’s wedding gift in your travel luggage – and make sure it’s cushioned by clothing so it stays safe.

A destination wedding is bound to be an unforgettable experience. No other type of trip combines family, friends, an exotic vacation, and the momentous occasion that is marriage – not to mention the chance to get a tropical tan while sipping cocktails on the beach.

Bon voyage.

Labels: Destination Wedding, innovation luggage, luggage online, online luggage, Travel Luggage, Tropical Vacation

Travel prices are on the rise this year, particularly with the cost of fuel on the upswing. Savvy travelers know there are plenty of ways to shave some dollars off the cost of vacations if they plan ahead and keep the basics in mind. The biggest savings can be found in how you book your flights and travel accommodations, although you can also save money on little things that add up, too. For example, shopping for discounted luggage online and comparing prices to get the best deal can mean more money left over to enjoy oneself.

Here are some other money-saving tips:

• Travel Off-Season. There are popular travel windows for most parts of the world, but if you plan to relax in a tropical region or do a lot of indoor antiquing, museum hopping, and the like, you may be able to travel during the off-season and save, not to mention avoid the crowds. The price of everything like food, airfare, and accommodations is lower in most popular tourist destinations during the off-season. If you want to take advantage of good weather but still save money, look for the “shoulder season,” the weeks in between peak season and off-season.

• Compare Airfares. Airline tickets are usually the single biggest expense on a vacation doing some extra research is worth it. Don’t assume the airfares on one website will be the same everywhere else. Many airlines have different deals set up with individual ticket brokerage sites, so visit several. Recommended sites include Travelocity, Kayak, and Priceline.

• Bundle Your Travel. The same websites offering discounts on airfare can book your hotel room and have a rental car waiting for you at your destination. Often times, the more items you bundle into a package, the more you’ll save. In some cases, if you fly a particular airline, you can get a discount of up to 20% on reservations at certain major hotel chains

• Ask About Discounts. Hotels offer discounts for many organizations like AARP, AAA, and Diner’s Club International, but rarely advertise them. If you belong to an organization, always ask for a discount when you check-in. It takes just a moment and may save you a fair amount. In some cases, you’ll also score a free upgrade – AAA members can often upgrade their rental car for the same price, for example.

• Be Flexible. If you want to take a trip to the beach and can be flexible about when you travel, sign-up online with several airline or travel sites to receive email alerts about sales, discounts, and low rates. Often times you can get last minute, unadvertised discounts. You just have to look around.

• Fly Mid-Week. Most people fly on the weekends or on Fridays or Mondays. However, the lowest priced flights tend to fly on Tuesdays and Thursdays when flights are relatively empty. If you can plan around these days, you have a better chance of scoring a lower priced plane ticket.

• Book Early. If you book at least two weeks in advance of your trip, you’ll usually be able to lock in a better price. Booking just a week ahead of time means you’ll be paying full price, which almost no one does anymore. It’s like paying full price for your luggage - you don’t need to do it when discounted luggage is available online.

• Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For A Refund. No airline will tell you they’ll refund the difference if a fare drops in price 24 hours or a week after you purchase your ticket, but some will do it if you inquire, or offer you a discount on a future flight. It never hurts to ask.

If you are conscious of how much you are paying for the basics, you may be able to save enough to extend your vacation for an extra few days, or plan a long-weekend getaway later in the year. Taking the time to get discounts is worth it.

Packing for your vacation seems pretty simple at first glance – toss in your clothes, toiletries, and a few pairs of shoes into your set of leather suitcases, zip them closed and you’re ready to go, right? Not exactly, but it’s a good start. Still, there are essentials you should always have in your suitcase, regardless of your destination or how long you will be gone. Carrying these essentials will help make your experience more comfortable. Here are some things not to forget:

• A good book or two.

  You’ll be busy on vacation, but there will always be one or two evenings of relaxing and unwinding. Whether you’re going to be lounging on a beach or relaxing by a roaring fire, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to catch up on your reading. Take a few interesting titles but remember - you want to be engaged, not overwhelmed. Vacation isn’t the time to tackle War and Peace or Ulysses. Likewise, paperback books are best because they weigh less and you won’t mind leaving them behind if you happen to forget them. When you’re finished reading one, you can swap books with other travelers, too, and many hotels have lending libraries where you can leave one book and choose another to read.
  




• A folding tote bag

  
  Don’t get to your destination and pay for an over-priced, poorly-made-for-tourists tote bag. Your leather suitcases have more than enough room for a sturdy tote bag folded flat. You’ll use your tote to carry essentials to the beach, while sightseeing, and when shopping for souvenirs. When you are ready to head home, you can use your tote as an extra carry-on, too.
  




• Pain Killers

  
  No one wants to think about being injured or getting a headache on vacation, but things happen. What’s more, even the expected – like a rousing night at a local pub – can lead to predictable pain in the form of a hangover the next morning. Always have some aspirin, a known hangover helper, and any other pain relievers you rely on tucked into your suitcase. Muscle relaxants or general muscle relief creams you can rub into overworked muscles are also a good idea - a long day of sightseeing can lead to sore, stiff limbs and it’s much easier to take care of yourself when you have remedies on hand.
  




• Spare Glasses or Contacts

  
  Whether you wear reading glasses, sunglasses, or contacts, don’t leave home without a spare set of glasses. If you lose a contact or your eye is injured, you’ll want your glasses so you can navigate without your lenses. Spare contacts are also nice if you tear or damage a lens so take more than you think you’ll need. In addition, if you need reading glasses for menus and the like, be sure to tuck an extra pair into your suitcase. You don’t want to spend time looking around for an eye doctor or having to wait hours or even days for a replacement pair of glasses. People leave behind glasses in restaurants, drop them over the sides of tour boats, and sit and step on them every day, but it’s a lot more difficult to replace them in a foreign country. If you’ve had the foresight to stick an extra pair into one of your leather suitcases, you only have to make a quick stop in your hotel room and you’re back in business.
  




• Travel Guide

  
  You want to get the most out of your vacation, so bring along a travel guide giving you detailed information on lodgings, restaurants, activities, parks, and other attractions in the areas you’ll be visiting. In the evenings before you turn in, you can give these a quick review and highlight a few things you’d like to scope out the next day. Fodor’s, Frommer’s, and Lonely Planet each publish guides with their own unique personalities, so check out different versions to find one you enjoy.
  

Taking a backpacking trip across Europe is one of the most adventurous and rewarding ways to travel. You can set your own pace, hop on the various train systems, walk from small town to village, and make new friends along the way. A key to enjoying yourself while backpacking is light luggage – you’ll be carrying everything on your back, so it’s important to bring only the bare necessities.

Rethink Your Clothing

Even if you’re going for two weeks or more, you need only three complete outfits in your backpack. How can you get by? Bring nothing unless it is wash-and-wear. Many websites sell travel clothing made of acetate-nylon blends for easy care. Clothes like these can be washed in your hotel or hostel sink if necessary, and laid out to dry at night so they are ready to pack the next morning. Likewise, take care that your tops, pants, shorts, and skirts mix-and-match. The idea is to have as many outfits as possible at your disposal while bringing the least number of items. The only things you may want to pack extra pairs of are socks and underwear, which don’t require much space.

A good combination for most trips would be:

• 1-2 pairs of Khakis or dark pants, 1-2 pair of shorts. Forget jeans unless traveling in cold weather; they require more space and are usually too hot.
• 2-3 short-sleeved shirts or tanks, preferably in neutral or darker colors that won’t easily show dirt.
• 1 long-sleeved shirt and a lightweight sweater

Even if you think you’ll need to dress up on vacation, you don’t necessarily have to take a complete outfit with you. Most places in Europe require only a nice pair of slacks and a polo shirt for men. For women, the guidelines may be different, so ladies should always pack the quintessential black knit dress. It won’t wrinkle and can be worn casually, or dressed up with earrings and lipstick.

Other items to consider are a swimsuit or swim trunks and a Ziploc bag in case you have to store them wet, and a sunhat to protect your scalp, face, and eyes from hot temperatures. A foldable straw hat or canvas one is best so you can toss them into your backpack.

Shoes Must be Comfortable

It is a good idea to splurge on shoes. You’ll be walking a lot, so a quality pair of walking shoes is essential. Break them in before your trip and wear them when you leave. The only other shoes you may need are a pair of slightly dressier shoes or sandals in case you’ll be going somewhere with a dress code. Finally, if you have room in your luggage, bring some flip-flops to wear at the beach and in communal bathrooms where you’ll want to protect your feet.

Streamline Your Guidebook

You’ll need a guidebook and maps, but don’t stuff a huge, 800-page travel guide into your light luggage or backpack. It’s a better idea to rip out or copy the pages you need and leave the book at home. The same goes for maps – look for detailed regional maps and skip the larger, more comprehensive ones.

Leave the Gadgets at Home

Hair dryers, curling irons, and irons are not needed. Invest in a hairstyle you won’t need to fuss around with too much since you will be constantly on the go. As far as personal electronics, a compact digital camera and an MP3 player for long treks between towns will suffice.

Odds and Ends

Light luggage stays that way because you pack only what you need. Since you’ll be washing your clothes frequently, pack travel-sized bottles of detergent. The same applies to toiletries and medications – small bottles and travel sizes.

A small, folding travel umbrella will come in handy if the weather takes a turn for the worse. If you have room, add a lightweight poncho.

Finally, bring a money belt. There may be times when you can lock up your light luggage or backpack up at a hotel or hostel for the day, but you should never leave your debit or credit cards, passport, or other personally identifiable documents behind, no matter how soon you plan to return. A money belt is ideal for times like these and most stores selling luggage online offer money belts, too.

No matter what, remember you are backpacking across Europe to leave the weight of your life behind for a few weeks. Keep luggage light so you can enjoy yourself more freely. You may be amazed by how little you actually need.