Tailored for Trendy Travel

It must be difficult for blokes. For those not of Italian or DACH* extraction, a man-bag just looks odd. But what do you do with all that paraphernalia pertaining to plane journeys?

Shanghai Tang has finally come out with what I think IS a cool solution. Though I had to check it out in the store given the teenage model they chose for the picture does NOT make it look cool.

Bon Voyage!

Travel Tip: I always have US$100 in my travel wallet, with half of it in ten and five dollar bills. While I hate to admit it, the currency is recognized instantly and has gotten me out of a couple of tricky situations.

* Germany, Austria & Switzerland

Caring for Cufflinks & Earrings

If you only buy one of my Monday Must-Haves, it should be this week's recommendation.

Not much survives living in the bottom of my handbag pretty much permanently. But the Giorgio Fedon 1919 Patent Eco-leather Mini Case has!

Giorgio Fedon started his company making his now-world-renowned glasses cases near Treviso in 1919, and today the company is a leading brand with some truly beautiful travel accessories. Not only do these marvelous little boxes have an exterior that seems to shrug off dirt and stay looking lovely (well it did before one of my kitties savagely clawed it), the strong hinges keep all the contents inside the case too.

These fab. little cases come in a huge range of colours and now patterned ones are starting to appear.

Bon Voyage!

Travel Tip: I have a really small felt pouch into which I slip my pearl earrings before I put them in the case. While they won't get crushed because the cases are hard, it does provide peace of mind that over time something won't gouge a chunk out of them.

Crazy About My Kindle

I read a lot. My hubby says that I don't read, I skim. But either way I get through a lot of books. Typically I can get through up to four books on a five-day business trip. Together with a couple of my favourite magazines, the weight all adds up.

After a trek through Bangkok airport while in transit a couple of weeks ago, I decided that the welt in my shoulder was telling me something. So I weighed the books when I got home.

The stack came in at 7 lbs, 14½ ounces!!

I'd heard a lot about the Kindle, but was unsure whether to buy one. But this experience encouraged me to take the plunge and order one online.

When I got it, I loved it immediately. And encourage everyone who reads a lot to get one. It's so easy to read (have tested it in direct sunlight too), but best of all because it stores up to 1,500 books, you can keep all your old favourites with you. I immediately downloaded a book that includes some poetry I like, some Jane Austen and a couple of my other 'comfort reads'. The chance to download books on-the-go too is great. Instant access to new books when you read that rave review.

My only disappointments are that Katherine by Anya Seton isn't available (at all) and that Georgette Heyer's Regency romances are only available to U.S. residents. Amazon's advice? Write to the author to encourage her to speak to her publisher about publication rights. I didn't get a reply when I pointed out she's dead. Grrrr...

But these are only minor niggles given the access and ability to store all those books via a cool gadget that slots easily into my handbag, and weighs in at only 10.2 ounces.

Bon Voyage!

Travel Tip: Before setting out, download some of your favourite books from some of the freebie sites that have e-books, such as manybooks,net or freekindlebooks.org.

Portable Photos

On every trip, the first thing I make sure is in my bag is my travel photo frame, which has a picture of me and my hubby together, and one just of him. They sit by my bed in every hotel room in which I stay and it's the last thing I look at as I turn out the lights on a night.

To buy the frame pictured here, visit the Shanghai Tang online store.

Bon Voyage!

Travel Tip: The next thing in my bag is a little dish which I use to keep safe my earrings and rings as I sleep. Make sure it's an unusual one as otherwise you'll find that an overzealous maid will remove it when cleaning your room!

Travel & Toiletries

Okay so not everyone can get to the States, but if you do then make your way to a Crate & Barrel store and pick up a couple of their travel cases.

Apologies for the picture, but these sturdy, transparent plastic cases will carry all your airline-approved-sized containers in hand carry without them falling out or splitting the pathetic plastic bags now provided at airports.

And they have a cute airplane zipper too. Available in orange, turquoise and yellow.

Bon Voyage!

Travel Tip: In Hong Kong and Singapore, you still have to remove your laptops and put them in a separate tray as you go through the hand luggage screening, but you can leave your plastic toiletry bag in your hand carry.

Monday's Must-Haves

In an effort to introduce some structure to my site, any columns published on a Monday will promote a must-have for a girl (or boy) about Asia.

In my introductory session, I urge all of you to ensure that next time you step onto a plane that you have armed yourself with a copy of the Luxe City Guide to that location (if available).

Luxe has now published over 100 guides each packed with entertainment/restaurant/shopping tips, as well as quick tours for the tourist with time.

These sleek, slim-line guides are now also becoming available as mobile versions with editions now ready-to-download for Hong Kong & Macau, London, New York, Paris, Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney.

Bon Voyage!

Travel Tip: Although Luxe publishes new editions every year, register on their website, make sure you have the ISBN number of your guide handy and download an update to your hard copy before you set off on your travels.