Tamperseal Travel Essentials Blog - Tips and Trends from your Travel Experts

Feature Friday: Disney Luggage

Looking for new luggage for your child? Consider bringing the magic of Disney into your child’s life with the Disney fiber optic carry-on luggage.

These bags will fascinate and delight with the beautiful imagery and magical lighting. The child can operate the lights easily with the on/off button on the front shell. The polycarbonate frame protects the contents of the bag while still ensuring the bag is lightweight for easy pulling by a small child. The junior-sized handle is ideal for a child’s small hand and the telescopic handle system ensures easy, single-handed use.

Lights embedded in wheels that light up as bag rolls

Fully lined interior with beautifully printed Disney patterns

Material: Polycarbonate composite

Handle: Modern aluminum trolley system with TPR grip

Warranty: 2 Year Warranty

Wheels: 2 Rubber wheels

Sizes: 18” x 11” x 9” - 45.7 cm x 27.9 cm x 22.9 cm

Weight: 4 lbs

Requires 3 AAA batteries

For more information on the Disney luggage and our other children’s luggage and accessories, visit us online at TamperSeal.com.

What Not to Pack on your Next Trip

There are many blog posts out there dedicated to packing – what you should pack, how you should pack, how to pack light, how to be prepared for everything… However, it’s important to know what you should be leaving at home. Even though we’re tempted to bring all our favorite things, over-packing for flights can cost more than just extra suitcase space. Some overseas flights charge up to $400 in excessive baggage charges. Check out this list of do not’s from Independent Traveler.

Don’t pack your entire Beauty Routine.

You may have beauty products that you love and swear by. However, you need to remember that you won’t look like a cavewoman if you limit yourself to just the essentials for a few days. Most hotels offer complimentary toiletries – use them! Lose the large containers for products you must take and instead put your essentials into zip-loc bags.

Don’t pack valuables.

You may have a few pieces of jewelry that you love to wear, especially on special occasions. However, a good rule of thumb is that if you can’t bear to lose it, you probably shouldn’t take it. While unlikely, there’s always the risk that something will be stolen, leaving you devastated.

Don’t pack more clothes than you need.

Try to bring clothes you can mix and match and only pack shoes that can be worn with multiple outfits. Make sure you pack according to the weather. If you’re going to be gone for an extended trip, pack small packets of laundry detergent so you can wash clothes in the hotel sink.

Don’t pack things you can buy there.

While many things are more expensive overseas, it may still be a better option, if you’re tight on space, to pick up some items (like travel books or reading material), after you have checked your bag. Try to pack disposable like magazines items in a backpack to carry on the plane with you.

Money-Saving Travel Tips

Incomes change and the economy changes. However, one thing that remains relatively constant is our desire to travel to new places, whether those places are out of state or in other countries. However, when our budgets become tight it’s important to find ways to save money, even when we’re traveling. Check out this list of money-saving ideas from TravelandLeisure.

1. Get deals and perks on hotels. Hotels around the world are offering great deals for travel in an effort to increase bookings. You’ll find the greatest deals on destinations like Las Vegas, Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico and Hawaii, all places where tourism plays a vital role.
2. Take a boat. Cruises are a great value with their all-inclusive pricing. Many cruise lines offer significant discounts for early booking as well as extra perks.
3. Be loyal. Hotels like the Hilton, Hyatt and Marriot offer great deals for customers who take part in their loyalty programs.
4. Go all-inclusive. Just like all-inclusive pricing we love on cruise ships, many resorts have changed their pricing model to be all-inclusive, where meals, drinks and basic activities are included in the rate. While excursions cost extra, like on cruise ships, you can enjoy many activities without having to worry about experiencing sticker shock at the end of the trip.
5. Sleep like a local. Enjoy significant savings by staying in a privately owned house or apartment on your next vacation. Unlike small hotel rooms, you get more square footage for your money and also the luxury of having a kitchen, allowing you to save even more money by cooking in for some meals. If you live in a desirable location, yourself, you can also try house-swapping, which is gaining in popularity.
6. Follow the money. Check out the global exchange rates and find out where your dollar will go the furthest. Avoid cities like London, which have become increasingly expensive for Americans.
7. Cash in on miles. Many of us hold on to miles for years without using them. Cash in on those miles for booking your flight. Or, if you are unable to find a seat, consider using the miles to upgrade your ticket.
8. Package deals. Many sites like Orbitz or Expedia offer great deals when you buy your airfare, hotel and car rental together. Keep in mind that the luxury properties offer the biggest discounts.

Continue reading our blog for more travel tips. To ensure you save money while flying, invest in a luggage scale so you never again have to worry about wasting money in excessive baggage fees.

Protect yourself Against Identity Theft

With technology constantly improving, we have to always be on guard for new security risks. This is certainly true with regards to your wallet. With the uptake of the easy pay credit cards to scanners that allow you to scan your card without having to swipe it directly, sensitive information is becoming more and more accessible, opening you up to greater risk for identity theft every day.

The question is: what can you do to protect yourself against the risk?

1. You can wrap your cards to passports in aluminum foil when you are traveling. This will block the RFID chips that hold your sensitive information from being transferred if someone with a portable scanner passes you within close proximity. However, while this plan may work for your passport or your credit cards you won’t be needing much during a trip, it isn’t practical for items you will need to be able to access easily.
2. Faraday Cage. This device blocks radio waves from entering or exiting.
3. RFID blocking wallet. There are many attractive, RFID-blocking wallets on the market that can be used to protect you on a daily basis. While it may seem like an unnecessary precaution for day-to-day activities, thieves are becoming more technologically savvy and are likely in the places you visit, unsuspecting, every day. There are many high quality leather wallets that block RFID waves. The same is true of the stylish, stainless steel wallets.

For more information on RFID blocking technology or stainless steel wallets, visit us at TamperSeal.com.

Tips for Winter Air Travel

Even though federal regulations have been passed to prevent delays longer than three hours, travelers are still at the mercy of the airlines when bad weather strikes, causing delayers. Check out these tips to plan ahead for winter air travel.

1. Fly nonstop if possible. Nonstop flights may be somewhat more expensive or more difficult to come across, but during the winter months, it may be worth the extra money or even the inconvenience of flying into a different airport to secure a nonstop flight.
2. If you have a connection…try to find a flight with a lengthy connection in the event you experience delays that might make you miss your flight. If you have a tight connection, let your flight attendant know, since he or she may be able to make arrangements to hold your next flight, or at least get you off the plane quickly. Check the weather at the connecting cities as well as departing and destination airports. If the weather looks like it’s going to be bad at your connecting city, you might want to try to get a different flight to reroute yourself through a different city.
3. Use southern connections. While there are no guarantees, try to book connecting flights through cities in the southern part of the U.S., since you decrease the likelihood of weather delays.
4. Choose morning flights. Morning flights are less likely to be affected by problems at your connecting or destination airports. Also, if you do experience delays, there is a greater likelihood that you will be able to secure a different flight before the day is over.
5. Be prepared for security. Take an extra 30 seconds to stow your cell phone, wallet, change and other items in your carry-on luggage before you get to security. You will reduce the likelihood something is lost, stolen or damaged.

For more travel tips, visit us online at TamperSeal.com.

Feature Friday: Inflatable Wine Carrier

If you are a wine lover or even just someone who finds themselves traveling with fragile items on occasion, you will love the Vinnibag Inflatable Travel Liquid Bag. This reusable travel bag features inflatable air chambers that protect and insulate your fragile items, whether they are wine bottles, other liquids, or anything else highly breakable. When you aren’t using it, it can be deflated and stored, taking up little to no space.






In a best case scenario, traveling with wine, olive oil, or even just a bottle of perfume can be an awkward, risky venture. However, in a worst case scenario, a leaky or broken bottle can be disastrous for the rest of your belongings.

The VinniBag was designed to withstand air travel and high altitudes and can allow for changes in air pressure and temperature.

One customer writes,

“I bought this as part of a gift for out-of-town guests--we paired the wine travel bag with a bottle of local wine. The gift was well received, greatly appreciated, and the bottle of wine made it safely home. We love the bag and so did our guests--we will probably buy more.”

For more information on this inflatable wine carrier, visit us at TamperSeal.com.

10 Things to Do During Airport Layovers

Everyone has experienced delayed flights at some point and for those who fly regularly, you may feel as though you experience it more often than not. Unfortunately, airport delayers and lengthy layovers are just a part of air travel we have to accept. There are, however, a number of things you can do to entertain yourself (even enjoy yourself!) during a layover. Check out these 10 ideas from Aeroplan.com.

1. Enjoy the free Wi-Fi. Just like at home, you can easily lose track of time answering emails, surfing the web or playing on Facebook. Before you know it, your layover is over and you’re boarding your plane.
2. Read. It’s sometimes hard with busy schedules to find the time to sit down and entrench yourself in a book or magazine. Throw that new bestseller or your favorite magazine into your backpack before you leave home in the event you have some extra, unexpected (or even expected) down time.
3. Enjoy a meal. Instead of grabbing an overpriced hamburger, sit down and enjoy a meal at one of the many sit-down restaurants that have sprung up within airports.
4. Relax in the lounge. Showers and entertainment are available in some of the nicer airport lounges. Check out what options are available at the airport where you are laying over.
5. People watch. You never know what or whom you will see while sitting in an airport, which makes people watching a favorite pastime for many.
6. Treat yourself. Try squeezing in a massage, manicure of pedicure between flights.
7. Get out. If you have an extended layover, ideally one that is more than four hours, get out of the airport and see what the city has to offer. Make sure you allow plenty of time for traffic.
8. Games and movies. If you are traveling with someone, bring along a portable game to entertain yourselves. If you are traveling alone, you could always play games or watch movies on your computer or cell phone. Just make sure you have your charger available so you don’t run your battery completely down!
9. Meet new people. Strike up a conversation with the stranger sitting next to you. You never know who you’ll meet, what you’ll have in common, and what you may learn.
10. Take pictures. You would probably be surprised with the interesting photographs you can bring home after a lengthy layover at the airport. Go take a look around the next time you fly!

For more travel tips, visit us online at TamperSeal.com.

Finding the Right Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bag

Traveling is considered to be one of life’s great adventures and one we can experience regardless of age. However, even those who love to travel the most will admit that they hate the act of traveling. New security that’s designed to make us safer can also be infuriating as lines grow longer and wait times increase. With more travelers carrying laptops than ever before, the lines are growing ever longer. Fortunately, there is some help with checkpoint friendly laptop bags.

Checkpoint friendly laptop bags generally come in one of three styles: clamshell or butterfly style, trifold style and sleeve. The butterfly style unzips and opens straight down the middle, which makes it simple to access your laptop when you reach the checkpoint. The tri-fold folds open and close from each end, similar to a tri-fold wallet. With the sleeve style, the sleeve slips over the laptop and zips over it. Each of the bags is designed to save the traveler time by allowing airport security easy access for examining and x-raying the computers. In the best case scenario, the laptop can even be x-rayed while in the bag.

If you’re considering purchasing a checkpoint friendly bag, your bag should have the following features:

Easy to carry: You need a bag that you can get from point A to point B quickly and easily, nothing too cumbersome of too heavy. If it is larger, you may want to consider purchasing a bag with wheels.

Easy access: The point of the bag is to be able to display the laptop and any other contents quickly. All of the external pockets need to be easy to open.

Aesthetics: This is entirely subjective, but since you are the one who will be carrying the bag, you will want a checkpoint friendly bag that looks good and that you will enjoy carrying.

To check out our selection of checkpoint friendly laptop bags, visit us at TamperSeal.com.

Find Cheap Accomodations while Traveling

Now is a great time to start planning ahead for your trips in the coming year. Even if your budget is tight, you can plan a great trip if you know how and where to cut costs. Aside from airfare, the largest expense you will incur while traveling is your accommodations. However, if you know where to look and you’re willing to ditch the hotel, you can find cozy, convenient lodging for a fraction of the cost.

Short Term Room Rentals

This is a relatively new trend that is seems to be a cross between a vacation rental and a homestay. Locals make extra money opening up their homes to travelers for low nightly rates and travelers receive a local’s-eye view of the location.

Religious Housing

Check to see if there is any affordable lodging offered by religious organizations, such as convents or monasteries.

Hostels

While they are traditionally used by youth, hostels can provide extremely affordable housing for anyone on a tight budget. Many offer basic private rooms at a slightly higher price that are still well below the cost of a hotel room.

Homestay

Homestays are the cheapest way to travel, as you will be sleeping in someone’s spare bedroom or possibly on their living room sofa. Because these accommodations are less private, they are, in many cases, free. This is a great way to immerse yourself within the new culture.

Vacation Rentals

If you are planning on staying somewhere for an extended period of time or you are traveling with a family or group, vacation rentals can provide the ideal accommodation. Larger than a hotel room, they also provide a kitchen which will save you big bucks by allowing you to avoid restaurants for every meal.

Academic Housing

If you are looking for cheap accommodations without any extra perks, check on academic housing. Many colleges and universities open their dorms to visitors when students are gone for the summer.

Farmstays

Farmstays are popular in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. This stay can include a wide variety of accommodations, from rural B&Bs to cattle farms.

Camping

Just short of free, camping out under the stars is probably the cheapest option available, especially if you cook over a campfire. You can stay in a cabin or luxury tent camp to avoid being eaten by misquotes at night.

In order to further cut costs, use packing organizers to pack light and fit everything you need into your bag.

For more travel tips, visit us at TamperSeal.com.

Stay Safe During Your Hotel Stay

While we all like to think that we are safe in our hotel rooms and the last thing you want to think about is hotel security while you’re vacationing. However, having had my room ransacked once during a trip backpacking across Europe, I cannot express to you enough the importance of being conscious of your surroundings and maintaining good safety habits while vacationing…even in your hotel room.

Before your Stay

Do your homework on the location and hotel before you ever book. Is terrorism a threat? Are tourists often the target of crimes? Is your hotel in an upscale neighborhood or in a seedy part of town? Even if the room is cheaper, you won’t do yourself any favors if you are robbed during your stay. Arrange to have a working cell phone with you during your trip and program in key numbers like your hotel, the nearest embassy and the country’s equivalent of 911. Make multiple copies of your passport and credit cards, leaving one with friends or family and another in a separate pocket of your bag. Make sure a family member or friend has a copy of your itinerary.

Checking In

Don’t accept a room on the ground floor if at all possible. Don’t allow your room to be announced loudly by the desk attendant. If it is announced too loudly when you are given a key, ask for a different room. After reaching your room, identify a fire escape route in the event of an emergency. Check the locks on the windows and notify the front desk if any are not functioning properly. You should check these locks each time you return to your room, just to be on the safe side.

During your Stay

Keep your doors locked when you’re in the room, including deadbolts or chains. Never open your door to anyone unless you know their identity, even if this requires you to call the front desk to confirm hotel staff is at your door. Place valuables in the hotel safe and use TSA luggage locks on your suitcases or cable locks to attach items to furniture.

While thinking about hotel security can be a downer, preventing problems and ensuring your safety during a trip can make all the difference and have you well on your way to having a smooth, fun vacation.

For more travel tips, visit us online at TamperSeal.com.