Review and Giveaway: Travelon Pack-Flat Toiletry Kit

One of the things I keep packed in my travel bag is a toiletry kit. I easily have extras of things I always use and items specifically for trips – like travel-sized deodorant, samples of makeup primer and a pop-out brush. Last month I reviewed Travelon’s Compact Hanging Toiletry Kit that is perfect for one person or short trips for two, but sometimes you just need to bring more stuff, you know? Maybe you have a family that likes to keep all their products together, like toothbrushes, combs and similar, or you are going on a long trip overseas where you won’t want to have to buy expensive things you already have. Whatever the case, the Travelon Pack-Flat Toiletry Kit is large, but not as thick as a normal-shaped toiletry bag, even when crammed full of stuff.

I wasn’t sure we would need something that big for our trip to London and Paris, but looking back on our last trip there, we could easily have used a bigger toiletry bag than what we had – the original Hanging Toiletry Kit from Travelon. Of course, this time around we are more savvy when it comes to packing in general and this bigger bag will allow us to bring substitutions for liquids, like shampoo and conditioner bars and solid lotions. 

I love that it packs in minimal space on top of the clothes in the carry-on bag, but also will fit in a smaller bag, too, like my fancy leopard print Travelon roller bag* that has been discontinued or even the Travelon React Weekender that I use as my personal item for the plane. (Yes, I love my Travelon products and have a long history of purchasing from them.)

As with all the toiletry bags they sell, the Pack-Flat has a webbing hang loop. This one is adjustable, so if you need it to hang on a door knob or a towel hook, you can make it smaller or larger. And if the only place you have to hang it is attached to something else, like a towel bar, you can use the buckle to make it work that way, too. It’s the next best thing to the hook that comes with some of the other bags. Once hung up, you can keep it closed or unzip the wraparound zipper, turn the bag around and see all your toiletries at once, flat against the wall or door, or wherever you choose to hang it.

The pockets inside are large and clear, which means you can pack them with a bunch of stuff with ease. The zippered openings are wide and open with only a little effort – nice when your hands are wet from the shower or you’re fumbling around way too early in the morning – and allow you to get your hand inside them to reach things at the bottom, which is a plus for a lot of people, including men who have large hands and can’t get their fingers into the snugger compartments of other toiletry bags. I know Eric will be able to use this bag with more ease and I won’t come into the bathroom to a counter full of products that I have to then pack back into the bag.

All the zippered compartments are vinyl, in case you have an unfortunate spill. They are easy to clean out and then fill back up. The outsides can be wiped down, too, if you’re prone to messiness. Then there are six elastic loops for eyeliners, mascara and other items you want easy access to, like maybe your toothbrush or razor.

Like to have some items right at your fingertips? There is an outside zippered pocket where you can stash things like lip balm and facial wipes. I love that. What would you keep in there?

As you can see, I packed a ton in this toiletry kit and there is still room for more. That will make it perfect when I get to my destination and unpack my 3-1-1 bag. I can get those items in the Pack-Flat and have everything in one spot for my trip. When I’m ready to move to my next destination, it zips right up for convenient packing and travel.

More information

Where you can buy it: Travelon online

How much it costs: $35.00

Colors it comes in: black | blue steel

Other specs: 420 D. Polyester fabric that is easily wiped down if you spill on it, 12.75 X 7.5 X 3 

Want to win your own Pack-Flat Toiletry Kit from Travelon? Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*This roller bag is the closest thing you will find to my discontinued bag. It’s great! Really roomy and organized for its small size.

Disclaimer: I was provided with the Pack-Flat Toiletry Kit for the purposes of this review, but all opnions are 100% my own.

Infographic: The Evolution of International Tourism

Statistics show that travelers are spending more money this year and are finally deciding that staying home is boring. Now that we're coming out of the recession a bit, people are trying to break out and plan leisure trips. Our next vacation is the furthest from home we've been in 7 years, so it's even apparent in our household, with all our money-saving ideas and saving plan in place, that we are now confident that spending the money on a large trip like this won't break us. 

Tourism infographic by memehalpern.

You all know we're traveling to London and Paris (both on the top 10 international arrivals), but where is everyone else traveling? And if you'll be taking a trip this year, where are you going and how will you get there?

Delicious Eats in Las Vegas

When we visited Las Vegas in June, we were there to enjoy some free things in the city, watch the NBA Draft with other rabid b-ball fans and see family, but we weren't going to go back and not try to find some yummy (and affordable) food. Even though it seems you can stay fore really cheap on the Strip, food prices feel like they've doubled from a decade ago. I made a point to check out our options before we left and planned our meals and activities accordingly.

It's no secret that Vegas is full of restaurants that are owned by famous chefs, and though I wanted to eat at one of Gordon Ramsay's joints, we just couldn't afford it and still eat at one of his restaurants in London. Instead of spending a ton of money on lunch, we chose to stop at Emeril's Fish House for happy hour. Sitting at the bar, we ordered several small plates:

Parmesan shrimp, fried ravioli and rum runner

Crab cakes and olive and cheese plate

A month before we left, I signed up for Groupon Las Vegas and picked up a great deal for a new vegan place called Pura Vida. I'm always up for a tasty and healthy meal, so we hit it up for breakfast. Though the Groupon menu is a bit limited, we found amazing dishes and would have gone back if we had the time. In fact, when we go back to Vegas, even though Pura Vida is downtown, we will be going back. The food is that good and the portions are totally large. In fact, you can order one entree and split it, because they seriously give you three people's worth of food.

Empenadas: You can't go here and not get an order of these

This is a short stack!

French toast with vegan sausage

I always want to visit the Paris and eating there is always a treat. We had planned to eat breakfast at Le Cafe Ile. St. Louis, but we had a change of plans and ended up having a late lunch/early dinner instead. You eat "outside" under the Parisian sky in what appears to be an outdoor cafe in a charming Paris setting. 

I chose the traditional croque madame

Eric got a tuna steak sandwich (not shown, we also had fondue. yum!)

We had been playing the myVEGAS game on Facebook in order to get comps, and one of the things we used it for was to get free tickets to Tournament of Kings at the Excalibur. At almost $70 per person, that's a big savings and it includes dinner and a show. Eat three courses with your hands - soup, entree and dessert.

Everyone gets their own whole chicken, biscuit, potato and broccoli, plus you receive tomato soup before and an apple hand pie for dessert. It's entertaining and delicious.

Of course, no trip to Vegas would be complete without a trip (or two) to a buffet. We hit up the Spice Market Buffet - which I was able to get a 2-for-1 Groupon for - and Riviera's R Buffet.

When you arrive at the bottom of the escalators and join the line to get a table, a photographer jumps in front of you and snaps a commemorative photo of you. Who wants to remember their visit to a buffet? Well, I guess we do, but we took our own picture on our way down the escalator, so $20 saved! You can eat around the world at Planet Hollywood's Spice Market Buffet, and eat any of over fifty kinds cupcakes and desserts. 

Just one side of the cupcake extravaganza!

You can graze from Mexico, Asia, South America and the Mediterranean and then make a plate of cheeses and meats. There's nothing you won't find at this buffet.

We stayed at the Riviera our first night in Vegas. Escalators and buffets must go together, because you have to go up to get to the breakfast buffet here. On a Thursday, it's not difficult to get a table at any time. You can go Eric's route and eat bacon, bacon and more bacon, or you can maybe get a variety of food from the entire spread. That's the way I went.

Potatoes, french toast and waffles

Fruit is always a good choice and you don't have to cut it up yourself

My first plate: If only there was fried chicken, this plate would be perfect

Needless to say, we had a pretty successful dining experience on our long weekend. I would definitely recommend any of these places. I would also recommend a BBQ at Eric's uncle's house, but I don't think they are open for business. Where's your favorite place to eat in Vegas? 

{For more ideas on where to eat and what to do in Vegas, check out my post here.}