Review & Giveaway: Domeo Grip Mini Folio

I hate when I gave to go back and amend a great review, but Domeo has proved to me to have less-than-great customer service, so if you do choose to order from them, please be aware that this might be the case.

This past Christmas many of you probably had a certain electronic gadget on your wish list. I’m talking, of course, about the iPad mini. While some of you may not have the iPad yet, I can tell you, we received both the original size and the mini as gifts over the years and I much prefer the size of the mini. The only problem? It’s super thin and, though it’s pretty rugged, that screen needs some protection, especially if you plan to travel with it. Of course, this is our plan and I’m enjoying its versatility so far. If you also received a mini over the holidays (or just bought one on your own) and are still looking for a useful cover for it, I have found a great one for you from Domeo Products.

The Grip Mini Folio was made for the person who wants to go everywhere with their iPad mini. It’s lightweight, but sturdy, comes in pretty colors and has a built-in stand. You’re gonna love it and I’ll show you why!

The mini has a ton of functions and the Grip Folio caters to all of them. Unlike your full-size iPad, you won’t look dumb carrying it around everywhere or even using it to take pictures, since it’s a more reasonable size. While on vacation, you can use it to find directions, make dinner reservations, keep up with your travel journal, read the great American novel (or write it!) and talk to friends and family back home on Facetime. If you’re using it on the go, then the strap built into the inside cover will keep you from getting all clumsy with your iPad and dropping it on the floor. It’s very secure, but not too tight that it’s uncomfortable. It’s also nice that it’s not on the outside, so it’s not going to get snagged on anything in your carry-on or day bag. It makes it really easy to use as an e-reader or surf the interwebs for long periods of time.

Using your mini to take photos and videos? Keep it in the case! Yup, that’s right. There is a convenient cut-out in the back for just that purpose. Your mini fits snugly into the case, so you don’t have to worry about it sliding around and ending up with pictures that are half cut-off. Nothing like a less-than-optimal product to ruin your vacation memories, right? You totally won’t get that with this. Your front camera is free of obscurities, too. And when your Folio is closed the elastic strap covers the camera lens on the back, keeping it safe from getting scratched and ruining your expensive device.

When the Folio is open, you can use the attached elastic strap to keep it open and secure, especially when using the hand strap to view it. It’s fantastic and works better than expected. I shook it all around to make sure it wouldn’t come undone, even when only partially on the outer edge – to keep it from obscuring the screen. It didn’t move at all, the mini didn’t fall out, my hand never slipped in the hand strap and I realized this is a fantastic cover for everyone. If you are prone to dropping things or plan to let your little ones use your mini to entertain them, this cover was made for you.

Flip the cover back and you can use the grooves in the cover to angle your mini and use it to watch videos and play games hands-free You just insert the edge of the cover into the slot in the back of the cover and you can use it with a sharp or slight angle, depending on how you place it on the table. You can also use this to have a better grip on your mini if you have larger hands, too.

While this cover is one of the more lightweight ones I’ve seen, it is definitely just as sturdy as other thicker ones, but takes up less room and is an animal-friendly fabric that is stain-resistant. Now you probably wonder what can make this mini cover any better. There are two things: It comes in four attractive color combos and you have a chance to win your own Domeo Grip Mini Folio! If you’re dying to get your hands on one right now, save a whopping 20% off your order and get free shipping when you use code STC.

More information

Where you can buy it: Domeo Products online

How much it costs: $29.99

Colors it comes in: blue/gray, brown/orange, gray/light gray, purple/blue

Other specs: Soft inside with stain-resistant outside.

Like Domeo and their great products? Find them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+.

Now, enter to win your own! (I'm sorry, but this giveaway is only open to shipping addresses in the U.S.)

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Disclosure: I was provided a Grip Mini Folio for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% mine.

5 Strategies for Avoiding Airline Fees

With all the fees imposed on us by the airlines, it’s more important than ever to save money wherever you can. Once you buy your plane tickets, you may assume you are done paying for your flight, but no. Now you can be charged for everything from your baggage to a snack. How can you avoid paying more and still have a great journey?

Pack light. You can save up to $35 each way by not checking bags. Make sure you can mix and match your clothing to be able to take less and still maximize your looks. If all tops coordinate with all bottoms, it makes putting outfits together a cinch. Pare down to two pairs of shoes – one casual, one a bit dressy – and stash a few key accessories into your carry-on to dress up something boring or wear it another way.

Headphones are easy to pack and can save you a few bucks. Want to watch that in-flight movie or listen to some music? You can’t do it without a set of headphones, but why pay $3 for the generic ones the airlines will grudgingly sell to you when you can grab a pair from home that will probably even last after your flight is over. Plus, if you plan to bring your iPod with you anyway, you’re already set.

Stock up on snacks. It can be fun to get treats and meals onboard the plane, but many routes don’t give you the option of an in-flight meal anymore. The ones that do may charge you up to $10 for a lukewarm TV dinner. Pack some veggies, trail mix, sandwiches or anything else you love to nosh on (that adheres to TSA security measures) and save money by not purchasing the “cheese plate” and also eat healthier.

Go offline. The Internet is fun and all, but you don’t need to be connected at all times. Use your flight time to relax and enjoy a movie, read a book or play a game with a travel companion, not catch up on e-mail. Cabin Wi-Fi can start at $4.95 and go up in price with the length of your flight. Your Facebook friends and blog will all still be there when you touch down. If you must post while you’re traveling, use a service like HootSuite to set up posts in advance and respond to anything once you reach your destination.

Say no to the upgrade. While you don’t often get offered an upgrade on most flights when you check in, avoid asking if there is one available, since often they will give you one if you are willing to pay extra for it (and seats are actually available). If you got a great deal on your plane ticket, adding an extra $49-99 each way can end up making it out of your original price range. That money can easily be used on your vacation instead of getting to it.

When you change the way you travel in small ways, it can make a big difference to your wallet, allowing you to travel more efficiently and do more at your destination. Once you incorporate some changes, you’ll see how easy it is to slowly change other things to save even more. Whether you do it to fit more into your budget, to spend less overall or to stay at a pricier hotel, saving a little bit here and there can add up quickly. How do you make flying cheaper?

This post originally appeared on FareCompare.

How to Dine on a Budget

When I travel, I’m almost always thinking about when and where we’re going to eat next. I want to eat my way through a city. It must be the combination of all the walking and the fresh air, or just the excitement of being in a completely new environment. I know it’s impractical. Not just because it’s unhealthy, but also because it’s totally unaffordable. If I did stop to eat a bunch during the day, I’d never get any sightseeing done either! If you’re like me and want to eat all day long, you’re going to need some tips on how to do it inexpensively, so at least you don’t go broke doing it. Here are just a few of the rules I follow to get the best bargains and keep my wallet from emptying out by the end of the first day.

Bring snacks! Trick your stomach by bringing snacks with you in your bag each day. This way, if you’re tempted to nibble on something, you know you have them on you and are less likely to spend money on food you don’t really need.

Eat where the locals eat. Just by avoiding touristy areas, you can save a lot on your meals. When you’re out, ask a few people where they recommend. They aren’t going to tell you they prefer a chain restaurant over their favorite local pub. The food is likely more authentic than those that you can find right near tourist attractions, making it cheaper, because it’s local and not shipped in from a different country.

Make lunch your main meal. If you really want to try one of the “hip” restaurants by a celebrity chef, make reservations for lunch. The food will be just as good, but it’s usually much cheaper at lunch than at dinner.

Hit up the food carts. Food carts can have a huge variety of different local and international foods, but can be half the price of (or less) than dining at a sit-down restaurant. With this kind of savings, you can try fare from several carts with no regrets.

Rent a vacation home or stay in a hotel with a kitchen(ette). This is my favorite way to stretch my food budget, because there are so many options. Renting can be a great value over hotel stays if you’ll be visiting for a week or more, plus it gives you the chance to check out the local grocery store. I am not a big breakfast person, so instead of eating out for that meal, I shop for new cereals and pastries that I can’t get at home. There’s never a better time to try new foods! 

Stay at a hotel that offers free breakfast. You don’t realize how much dining out can cost until you go on vacation. A reasonable breakfast can cost between $8-15 per person. If you multiply that by the number of people you’re traveling with and the number of days you’ll be staying, that number can be huge. If you find a hotel in your price range that offers free breakfast, you’ve hit a jackpot of savings.

Sign up for Groupon. Groupon.com is an amazing little site that offers daily deals on a wide assortment of things, not least of which is dining. Each day a new offer goes up at a big discount off the regular price. Dining certificates can be purchased quite often and many times I have gotten a half-off gift certificate to a new local restaurant or one just trying to bring in new customers. It works! Sign up at Groupon.com for the destination of your next vacation (they cover many international locations as well as the United States) and eat for less!

Don’t order off the kids’ menu. If you travel with children, you’ll notice that all kids’ menus seem to have the same small rotation of foods. Obviously, little ones don’t just live on hot dogs, pizza, chicken nuggets and PB&J sandwiches. Not only do they charge an outrageous amount for these “staples” that cost hardly anything to make, but they offer hardly any nutritional value and your kids are likely to eat only half of it before declaring they’re full. Instead, order a meal that you both will eat and share. This saves you money and might get them to eat a vegetable or two.

This is just a small list of things you can do to help stretch your food budget on your future trips, but they can save you quite a bit, as they have me and my family on our travels. Remember, the more money you save on meals, the more money you can spend on doing something else!

This post originally appeared on the blog of Dohop.com.