Most of us were warned never to talk to strangers as a kid. As an adult, you have probably repeated the age-old adage to the children in your family. “Safety” is the watchword these days and mostly for the right reasons, but while on vacation, it can be healthy to loosen up a little and allow yourself to meet new people.

“Loosening up” on vacation doesn’t mean you have to talk to everyone who crosses your path, but striking up conversations with fellow travelers and friendly locals can help create the ultimate travel experience. Travel should be an adventure, but you can miss a lot unless you interact with those around you.

Start at the Beginning

On a recent flight to Europe, one young man boarded the plane as usual, stowing his TravelPro luggage under the seat, and quickly turning on his iPod. He planned to spend the entire flight listening to music, but an hour later, the woman across the aisle nudged him.

“Are you going to Germany?” she asked, pointing toward the seat in front of him where a travel brochure was peeking out of his TravelPro luggage. When he confirmed his destination, they struck up a conversation that ended with the woman giving him the name and phone number of her relatives in Germany, people she said would be happy to treat him to dinner and take him on a tour.

Imagine if he had never had the conversation?

Talk to your seatmates whenever possible. Find out where they’re going and where they’ve been. You may not snag a phone number or dinner invitation, but you may gain a lifelong friend or pen pal. At the very least, you’ll enjoy a pleasant conversation and learn something you’d be hard-pressed to learn any other way.

Approach Locals

When traveling in a foreign land, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Most people take pride in their home and are happy to share information with tourists – and locals usually give much more interesting answers than tour guides do. Talk to bartenders in pubs, waiters in sidewalk cafés, and shopkeepers. Go where locals go and spend less time visiting flashy tourist sites. Visit local corner stores and restaurants, the kind that have been run by the same family for generations. Engaging this way promises a memorable and more authentic travel experience.

One last tip: While visiting local spots and enjoying the ambience, you may want to blend in to get a more natural feel for your destination. People may realize you are not a local, but most appreciate if you leave your loud Hawaiian shirt and Chanel sunglasses back at the hotel in your TravelPro luggage. If you dress like a native, sit down at the local watering hole to enjoy a regional drink (nothing with an umbrella in it, please), and keep an open mind, eventually you’ll find yourself making new memories with new friends. What more could you want?

Labels: how to prepare for vacations, innovation luggage, luggage, travel, TravelPro Luggage

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