Review: Travelon's Anti-Theft Classic Plus Convertible Weekender Backpack

As a frequent traveler, I know that different people like different bags for their travels. And, if you're like me, different trips call for different bags, though some bags are great for all trips, including this new weekender backpack from Travelon. It can be used as a weekender, but you can also use it as a briefcase or commuter bag. It has so many uses and so many different ways to carry it. It's a powerhouse of a carry-on and I can't wait for you to see everything it does.

If you're looking for a classic looking bag that'll work for a variety of situations and can carry your giant laptop (or a smaller one), you need to look into this backpack, because spoiler alert, it doesn't have to be worn as a backpack!

So, I packed this thing up like Eric was going on a weekend trip, since his clothing is larger than mine and you can see how two pair of pants and two shirts fit within the flaps. You could probably fit another one of either in there without having to sit on it to zip it up. I love that it still has tie-down straps, plus the flaps make it impossible to get clothing stuck in the zipper when closing your bag, because that's the worst, right? Because there was so much extra side space when the clothing was "locked up", I just shoved a few pair of socks in that open space (which you can see in the lower right corner up there). If I were packing this for me, this is where I'd shove a pair of sandals and my flat iron. Obviously, you don't have to fill it with anything, but I like to fill in what available space I have if I can. 

While your clothing is not sliding around getting all wrinkled, you also have two nice pockets to use for undies, socks, ties, toiletries. One has a stretchy top to keep everything in and one is a mesh zipper pocket, which is where I have used for a large battery backup for charging a phone and a tablet at once. I love that the main compartment completely unzips on three sides, so you can lay your bag flat for packing and unpacking.

In front of the main compartment is a smaller zipper compartment  that has two smaller slot pockets, which are perfect for your phone or other little electronics or necessities. There's a padded slot pocket for your tablet and an RFID-blocking zipper compartment in front of that for your passport. It has card slots for your credit cards as well, so you're completely organized and no one can steal your info

And you know that no Travelon bag is complete without a tiny flashlight so you can find everything inside. You never know when you might need this elsewhere too, plus it's on a clip leash, so you can also always find your keys.

Behind the main compartment is a huge padded slot pocket for your laptop. I have a giant 17" one and it fits with room to spare. Awesome! Oh and you know what's twice as awesome? This bag is checkpoint friendly. That means you can zip it open and lay it flat on the conveyor belt to go through the x-ray instead of taking your laptop out and putting it in a gray bin. 

There's a little zipper compartment in the back that you can use for change or other items you want close at hand. It fit my laptop charger in there, which is nice, because there's often no place for it that's convenient. 

And in the very front is a great pocket for other necessities. Since you always need to be able to get to your 3-1-1 liquid bag easily at security, I put mine in this pocket. It fit! (Also, that means any spillage would be contained to one pocket and not ruin anything in your bag.)

Last, but not least, is the zip out beverage (or umbrella) holder. I have this huge thermos that I take everywhere, but it fit just fine. You'll always have hydration within easy reach.

Okay, now lets talk about the outside of the bag. The inside is large, bu the outside makes it seemlike it's much smaller, because it's very compact and isn't overwhelming, even when packed full. 

The backside of the bag is all business and convenience. It has a pass-through slot for your carry-on handle (yay!), a padded mesh panel so your back doesn't get all sweaty or beat up while carrying it, and a big pocket that hides your backpack straps (which clip to the bottom when you want to use them

#1 way to carry it: Like a briefcase with this awesome padded side handle. I love the look of it like this, and sometimes you just need to grab your bag and toss it in the overhead. 

#2 way to carry it: Like a backpack with the hidden straps. Need to run through the terminal, hike up the steps on the Underground or get down the tiny airplane aisle? This is the way to do it. Plus, now your hands are free for coffee and snacks...oh and your boarding pass or phone. Your straps are adjustable, so little people can wear it just as well as big people, plus you have strap belts for your chest, so there's no slippage if your bag's a bit too heavy.

#3 way to carry it: As a crossbody bag. For the most part, this is my favorite way to wear my carry-on, because I can get to things inside if I need to. It also distributes the weight better for me than a shoulder bag. The Classic Plus Convertible Weekend Backpack has a removable padded shoulder strap that doesn't hurt your shoulder or dig into your neck. Love it!

#4 way to carry it: As a shoulder bag. Your shoulder strap is adjustable! So, if you're tall or short or want to carry it this way or another way, it adjusts to suit you. That's pretty awesome, right? That means I can carry this comfortably at 5'1" and my husband can carry it comfortably at 5'10". 

Want to carry this backpack around your destination or just make it practically impossible for anyone to steal your goods while in the overhead? This bag has locking zippers all the main compartments: the large one, the laptop one and the smaller front one. No one's getting past those without some time to figure it out. The bag (and removable shoulder strap) also has slash-proof construction, so they aren't getting your stuff another way either. None of these features make the bag bulky or heavy. It's very lightweight empty, so the only bulk is going to come from what you add. 

Here's another great gift for the traveler on your list, or go ahead and put it on your own wish list. I'm headed to Las Vegas again in February, so this may fit everything I need for four days of conferencing and sightseeing. I'm not that strong, and even though I can lift my normal size carry-on into the overhead, I panic and can't do it when there are people waiting for me to get out of the aisle. This will fit right under my seat and I'll be a lot more confident in getting out of everyone's way. And hey! There's that awesome top handle for pulling your bag out of the overhead or from under your seat. So. Many. Convenient. Features.

More details:

Where to buy it: Travelon website or Amazon | check local travel retailers

How much it costs: $124-175

Colors it comes in: Black

Other specs: Size: 14"x20"x7", Strap Drop Length: 12” – 21”, water-resistant 1260 denier nylon with top-grain leather accents

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Disclaimer: I  received the Anti-Theft Classic Plus Convertible Weekender Backpack from Travelon for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% my own.

Traveling In the Off Season is Good for Your Budget

We almost always travel in the off-season, because we can. It saves us a ton of money and allows us to be more relaxed, because our destination is never packed with other tourists and children. Go when a destination is less desirable and you, too, could save big bucks over visiting during when it's most busy. This awesome infographic from Marriott and Lifehacker shows you when and where to travel for the best deals and lowest crowds.

Now, there may be a few drawbacks to traveling in the off- or shoulder season. Though things may be cheaper and crowds much thinner, attractions and shops may be open shorter hours and there might be construction that means that you may not have the best views or you might have to skip something. You might also need to readjust your packing and go when the weather is either much hotter or colder than you expected. It happens to us often, but it's okay. It's a small price to pay for saving so much and being able to do more in less time. 

Do you have a favorite off-season vacation destination?

Making Your Home More Like a Hotel with Decoraport

The holidays are upon us, which means soon a lot of us will have family and friends staying in our homes. It’s been a while since I’ve had any overnight guests, but I do my best to make them feel more at home when I do. This can be accomplished in a lot of different ways. Use this time to give your home a little upgrade and kill two birds with one stone. Make your guests more comfortable (and envious) and get a jump on making your next staycation more awesome.

What’s the best part of staying in a hotel – besides that whole not cleaning up after yourself thing? For me, it’s feeling like I’m living in a bit more luxury than I’m used to at home. What’s the worst thing about staying at someone’s house? Is it because it’s just like staying at your own home, but you can’t rummage in their cabinets, unless you’re staying with your mom? Yeah, I feel like that’s probably it. It’s not a hotel. Sure it’s homey, but it’s still kind of awkward. Do you want your holiday guests to feel like that? Of course you don’t!

You also don’t want to be more disappointed in your own house when you have to stay there because a getaway is out of the question. Sometimes, we just have to save our money for our big vacation and forgo the weekend trips we hoped to sneak in throughout the year. A staycation can be fun, even if you can’t spend money to stay in a hotel.

We’ve talked about how to make your backyard a fun space for summer, but weather doesn’t always cooperate, and you eventually need to go inside for showering and food prep. Why not amp up your indoor space a bit at a time, so the thought of staying home is a little more exciting?

I look at the spaces I use a lot and would like to be more lux in my own home. Last year we pretty much gutted our second bathroom – it was an addition before we moved in and the size of a closet – and put in all new fixtures. It makes me happy to go in there, since it’s basically a brand new space and more usable now. I can’t wait to do this to my master bath and, at some point, parts of my kitchen.

Visitors have walked into the “new” bathroom and said it was night and day from the old one. It has personality and room to move around and it’s much brighter. Wouldn’t you like to feel like that about at least one room in your house? In the past, the room that got the mini makeover was our bedroom. We sprung for a fancy, king-size hotel mattress and it’s made sleeping cozier and better.

So, how can you spend a little to make a big impact on your guests and your staycations? I’ll tell you how! You know how when you go to a nice hotel and get in the shower and it’s like the best thing that’s ever happened and you wish you could take it home with you? Well, why don’t you? I mean, don’t steal it from the hotel or anything, but you can definitely replace your old shower head that isn’t really the greatest with a new shower panel that is kind of like a spa and gets you excited for the day. It’s not a huge project, but it makes a huge difference.

Decoraport sells a variety of luxurious shower panels that may make it difficult to declare you’re done and actually get out and go on with your day. They run anywhere from $160 to the mid-$300 range, depending on what features you want out of your shower head. I have a mid-century house, so I often look for pieces that would go with the period. I love the look of this bamboo shower panel that has a rainfall head, a handheld shower head and massage jets. Previous customers have said these panels were really easy to install, which is a plus, especially if you’re trying to save some bucks by doing your upgrade yourself.

Maybe your dream is to have a soaking tub. I can certainly understand why that is some people’s most wanted feature in a hotel room. After a long day out, you need to come back and unwind. Throw in some bath salts or a bath bomb and soak your angry muscles. Skip the shower panel and put in a great new hotel-worthy tub instead. Decoraport offers sizes that fit most bathroom dimensions and make you feel like you’re staying somewhere other than your own house. Your guests won’t believe you have such a posh feature in their bathroom.

I’m sort of in love with this whirlpool tub that has 10 water jets, adjustable settings, a handheld shower head and a see-through side. It looks a bit like an aquarium, but it’s definitely a lot more awesome. Imagine coming home from a long day of being a tourist in your own city and climbing in this baby, turning on the jets and reading a magazine to decompress. Everyone’s going to fight over who gets to use it. Your holiday guests may like it so much that you don’t see them as much as you thought you would, especially if you stock your bathroom with some big, fluffy towels as well.

Just think, having guests will be a lot less stressful if you provide something extra like this that will get them out of your hair for a few extra minutes. They’ll enjoy their stay that much more and you’ve now got a reason to love your home just a little extra. A new tub may not be cheap, but it’s absolutely less than a vacation…even just two plane tickets can cost more. Those are only good for a few days out of the year, but your new amazing tub is there every day.

Decoraport offers all these things and more for your bathroom and the rest of your home. Slowly make your home feel more like the best parts of a hotel, so staying in is a treat rather than a disappointment. Their prices are fair, giving you more bang for your buck.

How do you make your home more comfortable for guests?

Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by me on behalf of Decoraport.