HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR THE FREQUENT TRAVELER & TRAVEL AUDIOPHILE

Those of you who read my travel product tips regularly know I am in constant search for the best carry on luggage options for both national and international travel. Years ago, I wrote an article about traveling through Europe for a month-long trip through different climates—CARRY ON ONLY. It was somewhat novel for its time, but today, since lost and delayed baggage on connecting flights becoming a common occurrence, it makes sense more than ever to go the carry-on route.

THE AWARD WINNING ROLLINK LUGGAGE IS THE WAY TO GO FOR CARRY ON TRAVEL

During a recent cruise to Antarctica, I knew we had to pack as light as possible (not an easy chore when confronted with selecting a wardrobe for below freezing temperatures). We opted to try out our new Rollink Flex Aura International carry on plus for this challenging assignment. Its spacious interior was roomy enough to pack all the clothing items we needed for the cruise. We loved the large padded protected front laptop pocket, which allowed us to access our computers in a second while waiting for our various flight connections.

In addition, the wheels were very smooth gliding, which is extremely important when you are maneuvering down those narrow airline aisles. And you can even adjust the telescopic handle to your preferred height. This versatile bag, at a light 5.3 pounds and measuring 22”x14” x “9,” meets the requirements of most airlines carry-on luggage specs.

As an added bonus, the luggage collapses down to a mere 2” thick, which allowed us to easily tuck it away under our bed, freeing up space in our cruise cabin for the duration of our adventure. This luggage definitely gets five stars in our book!

THE NEW-AND-IMPROVED SCOTTEVEST IS A GAME CHANGER!

As photojournalists, my husband Tony and I travel around the world in search of the most beautiful travel destinations to share with our readers. This involves quite a bit of wise packing, and since he bought his first ScottEVest in 2000, I asked him to contribute a personal review of the new product:

I’ve been a fan of ScottEVest for several years and, without exaggeration, I cannot travel with confidence unless I am wearing one.

My wife and I have been travel journalists now for decades, and I will never forget the day in 2000 when she sent me a description of the newly-launched ScottEVest. After being robbed in a crowded bus in Paris earlier that year (which literally ruined our entire press trip due to the loss of my passport, a significant amount of cash, and other important documents), I was excited to see there was finally a solution to this upsetting event ever happening again on our world travels.

I was sold on the idea of a theft-proof vest, and I bought my first ScottEVest when it was first released. And believe it or not, it is still serving me well, despite the fact it has traveled with me around the world numerous times. Despite its age, has never failed to keep my travel docs, phone and other items safe.

I’m happy to report on the company’s newly-released series of travel vests for 2023. I didn’t think they could improve on perfect, but many of the new options available are very welcome (especially for the needs of the gadget-laden traveler in this new world of tech).

I chose the black vest with red liner as my new “travel partner’” not only because of its extensive storage options, but simply because it was quite fashionable.

There’s a secure pocket for everything that I’ll need for my trip. During my travels, I load up the pockets with passports, wallets, notebooks, cell phones, glasses, pencils, pens, tablets, a GO-Pro, and many other accessories. The RFID-blocking pocket secures your sensitive reader-prone items like credit cards and magnetic strip items. The upgraded version includes up to 26 pockets, including a new feature of a large sized rear pocket that can carry a tablet.

Your risk of pick-pocketing is reduced to zero with these fully zippered and inside pockets. What a great feeling not to feel at risk while you are trying to enjoy a leisurely stroll through a city, attending a crowded festival, or traveling on a bus, train, or packed venue of any sort.

TSA security checks are a breeze, with everything for your trip tucked away in the zippered pockets. Just place the packed vest in the security bin and you are done. No need to put items into separate containers, as your vest will go through security as one scanned unit.

I even thank my ScottEVest when I return home. I just need to reach into a pocket with the secure key storage and grab my car or home keys. No misplaced or lost keys, a frustrating event that has happened so many times on our travels!

ScottEVest has done so much to relieve the stress of our multiple press trips around the world, in so many situations, we are happy to give this vest our sincere 5-stars! And we aren’t the only ones. The vest was recently named one of the top holiday gifts for the business traveler by USATODAY 10Best.

Audiophiles will love this product

While the Live! Audio A3 isn’t a travel product per se, it has made our lives as travel journalists so much more productive that I wanted to give it special mention in my holiday gift guide.

In today’s media world, if you are a travel journalist, it’s important to have a presence on many social media platforms. I let my talented husband (@tonydibonatravels) take over the social media aspect of our travel writing efforts over the years, as he is definitely the tech guy!

He had the recent opportunity to review the Creative Live! Audio A3, the latest USB audio interface poised to transform the way users experience audio in their creative pursuits Here is his first hand account of his experience:

As a musician and video creator for our travels, I recently discovered a compact device to manage the various audio inputs for my projects. Without citing the numerous technical specifications of the Creative Live! Audio A3, I can report that the quality of the audio is superb. I connected mine to a laptop which provides the power and interface to an installed sound editor. In fact, you can install a free NCH Sound Editor (Wave Pad). The editor will further enable the user to embellish the audio creation. There are two XLR mic /line connections as well as 48VDC phantom power for those using condenser mikes. Headphone connections enable you to monitor the audio mixes without any troublesome latency. An output connector is also provided for your mobile device.

Even if you are not a travel journalist like myself, this product would be ideal for anyone seeking an easy way to manage a wide variety of audio solutions with a variety of applications.

Overall the Live! Audio A3 is a versatile device that I—and my delighted husband-- can fully endorse.

CULINARY "MUST HAVES" TO CREATE THE PERFECT HEALTHY MEAL

My mother had a favorite expression I remember her saying every time we sat down for dinner: You Are What You Eat (and she even had a cookbook by the same name!) I never forgot her words of advice and to this day I’m committed to creating healthy meals for my family (we even have our own organic garden, right in the heart of the city).

Like any chef, having the right tools is paramount to creating healthy and delicious meals—and it begins with a good knife.

THE CUTLUXE KNIFE

My son just got a job as a chef in one of San Diego’s premier hotels, so I had a perfect person to review this Cutluxe knife as it was used to chop a wide range of vegetables and chicken for a stir fry dish.

While this review may be a bit technical for those of us who just chop or slice with our kitchen knives, I think it is important to know that a professional chef endorses a product.  In this case, he mentioned all the positive attributes of this knife.

His first comment was that the knife was very well balanced. Most of the weight is in the handle, which allows more control during the cutting process (something I never even thought of, actually!)  He also mentioned that the bolster was slanted inwards, which makes it very comfortable to hold.

Finally, he noted that is quite sharp and “holds an edge” (another chef term that goes over my head) which basically means that you don’t need to sharpen it so often.

Bottom line is, if a professional chef loves this knife, it is definitely to be recommended. https://www.cutluxe.com/

Carbon Steel Wok

After seeing how easy it was to cut up all sorts of veggies with a good knife, I decided to buy a kitchen item I have thought about for years, but never purchased—an authentic wok. After doing quite a bit of research, I decided upon the Yosukata black carbon steel wok (available on Amazon).

My son immediately took charge and in minutes we had a delicious stir fry dish we served over the fried rice he had made in the wok earlier. Talk about a healthy, quick meal that far exceeded anything you could buy in a frozen package—at a fraction of the cost!

Disclaimer: I only review products that I have personally tested, and I am not monetarily compensated for any reviews. All opinions are my own.

CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR BY GIVING YOURSELF THE GIFT OF LUXURY BEDDING

Each January, I like to start out the New Year by treating myself to a household item that will enhance not only my well-being, but will add a touch of luxury to my everyday life.

Since most people get the recommended 8-hours of sleep nightly, that translates into close to 3,000 hours annually that we spend in the comfort of our beds. So it makes sense that our bedding should be a top priority, as life is definitely too short to put up with stiff and scratchy sheets!

I didn’t quite realize that my sleep experience on certified 100% Egyptian cotton would make such a difference until I snuggled into them for a test drive. The first thing I noticed is that these sheets have a soft, silky-smooth feel (which remains after washing, by the way).  The best Egyptian cotton sheets are reputed to help absorb excess moisture from your skin, helping to regulate your body temperature all night long.

As an added bonus, my Pure Parima sheets arrived artistically boxed, making them a perfect gift for friends and family for any occasion. In fact, I did just that as a gift for my niece’s recent wedding, and she reported that it was the most thoughtful, practical and luxurious gift she had received.

For more information, visit the Pure Parima website. 

Sweet dreams!

FROM TRAVEL ITEMS TO SKIN CARE, READ ABOUT MY MOST RECENT FINDS

IT’S A “SHOE IN” GOING THROUGH SECURITY WITH THESE INNOVATIVE SHOES

These stylish and practical slip on sneakers can make going through airport security a breeze.

Going through the security checkpoint at an airport can be a headache and a hassle. And YES, unless you have Global Entry you can make your way through security without removing your shoes. However, know that many airports in countries around the world still require you to remove your shoes when passing through security, even with Global Entry status.

Needless to say, trying to quickly remove and put your shoes back on can have you hobbling around and potentially forgetting important items in the process.

KIZIK SHOES are a stylish and perfect answer to this problem. They feature a patented heel design so all you have to do is slip your toes into the shoe and the heel will compress so your foot can slide all the way in. Then, once your foot is in, it will spring back into place securing your foot in the shoe. Sneakers are now as easy to put on as slides or flip flops. You can view videos of how the shoes work on the website.

THIS SIMPLE ACCESSORY CAN HELP YOU KEEP ORGANIZED—AND ENJOY YOUR FLIGHT MORE

“Get Organized” and enjoy your flight more with this ingenious product

If you travel as much as I do, you know how frustrating it is to find room in the airline pocket in front of you for all the accessories you need during your flight. That’s when the SERENITY ORGANIZERS TRAY ORGANIZER will be your new best traveling companion.  Just slip it over the tray table and organize items like electronic devices, magazines, water bottles, sanitizer sprays, eyeglasses, snacks and more.

It’s also great for parents with kids! You’ll also enjoy knowing you have a clean surface to use. When you depart, the organizer magically transforms into a drawstring tote to pack up your items. The organizer is washable, so a quick laundry wash will get you ready for your next trip. Simple, but genius!

ANTIDOTE TO A LONG HOT SUMMER: WHISPERING WILLOW BODY OIL

After a long hot summer here in San Diego, my skin was showing signs of stress. So I was delighted to have been given the opportunity to sample the WHISPERING WILLOW body oil (both the lavender and eucalyptus & mint versions).

Smooth away dry skin with this natural body oil

I need to preface this review by saying that I only use and endorse natural products which are cruelty free. Whispering Willow definitely fills those criteria. The skin oil immediately soaks into my skin, without leaving a heavy oil feel, and I see a definite improvement almost immediately. The generous 4.5 ounce bottle, with an attached pump, will definitely provide skin relief for many weeks, if not longer.

These products are handcrafted by a small team in North Carolina, and the company donates 10% of their profits to charities each year.

STREAM2SEA, PROTECT YOUR SKIN—AND THE OCEAN

Know you are helping to protect the ocean when you use these biogradable products

In keeping with my love of natural and biogradable products, I was happy to try out some of the sustainable Stream2Sea products  founded by Autumn Blum, a certified dive instructor and chemist with a mission to set a new and reigning standard for sustainable, ocean-safe body care products and sunscreens. Loving to swim in the ocean as I do, it’s a good feeling to know that my efforts to protect my skin from sun damage will not harm the ocean’s delicate ecosystem. I was happy to try out some of the sustainable STREAM2SEA products, founded by Autumn Blum, a certified dive instructor and chemist with a mission to set a new and reigning standard for sustainable, ocean-safe body care products and sunscreens.

Her Every Day Mineral Sunscreen is unique as it was formulated to become even more effective when it comes in contact with water. You can’t get any better than that!

IT’S A NEW YEAR, AND TIME TO GET TO THE “ROOT” OF YOUR BEAUTY PROBLEMS

Let’s face it, in this time of pandemic stress (and having to wear a mask over your face most of the day), you may have ignored your regular beauty regime. The beginning of a new year is a perfect time to review new products that may help with common skin and hair problems.

Here are our top picks:

BIOTIN FOR HAIR CARE

Hair loss, both in men and women, is the bane of people experiencing it. That being said, it can be vastly improved provided you treat it quickly enough.

Over the past two months, I’ve tested  Pureauty Naturals Biotin Hair Growth Serum which uses a blend of biotin, pea sprout extract and pro-vitamin B5 to strengthen hair. Since I refuse any chemical lotions or hair products on my body, I was happy to try it out. My treatment resulted in a substantial improvement in texture and smoothness overall. This serum is free from any alcohol, parabens and sulfates--more chemicals I look out for before I buy any product, to consume or add to my skin.

The fact that this line is made in the USA reinforced my commitment to using it.

I recently gave the Biotin eyelash serum a try. It’s filled with biotin, castor oil, and green tea extract.  I’ve been blessed with great eyelashes all my life, but this serum seemed to soften my lashes and, who knows, they may grow even longer as a result.

You can’t go wrong with the power of nature!

VENAMINE Morrocan Argan Oil

 Another product that I can highly recommend is Venamine 100% Moroccan Argan oil. You can find it on Amazon for $21, and it competes with the super high-priced oils I have tested over the years as a reviewer.

This oil soaks into the skin and doesn’t feel greasy, and just a few drops hydrates and nourishes your skin. I’ve been dealing with dry skin this winter, and this oil has given me great relief. Again, it contains all natural ingredients and because of that, and how it makes my skin rejuvenate, I can highly recommend this product.

Please note that I am not compensated for any reviews I post on this site. I do hope you enjoy my “ad-free” website, which allows you to enjoy all my articles without those constant annoying advertising pop ups. And do note that all our comments are written by me and unbiased. If a product sent to me for review does not meet my parameters, I will not write about it.

Thank you for visiting our site and hope to see you back again soon!