If a more stylish option is your cup of tea, consider the Tumi Voyageur Python Avignon International Carry-on.

Obviously, this suitcase isn’t made out of ACTUAL python. Air travel is grimy and rough at times, particularly on bags, and python just isn’t a durable material. Plus, it would have taken like a million of them to make a bag this big, and then only like four people would be able to afford it. Instead, we’ve got a python print on Tumi’s super tough nylon that’s trimmed in rich brown leather. I guarantee you that no one at the terminal will have luggage anything like yours. Buy through Tumi for $595.

Airports are disgusting (at least to me) in pretty much every way imaginable, and I don’t like putting my cheap duffel bag on the dirty conveyor belt to be checked, let alone a nearly $2000 piece of nearly white handcrafted luggage. It also doesn’t have any little wheelies on it, meaning you’re lugging it by yourself, and it weighs nearly nine pounds when completely empty. The price, the color, and the lack of functionality lead me to only one conclusion – these bags are made for those that have OTHERS that see to it that their luggage arrives safely at their destination. Buy through J.Crew for $1800.

If you have been reading this site for at least the past month, you will realize that I travel very regularly. Many times within the States, to NYC and Ohio to see family, but I am also an avid traveler abroad, mostly Europe. This trip to Spain has been amazing, providing us the most beautiful weather and eye opening experience. I always knew that many large European tourist cities have a plethora of tourist traps, but Barcelona and Madrid have seemed to show a little more this trip. I absolutely love both cities for different reasons. The art of Gaudi in Barcelona is absolutely stunning, the Madrid Royal Palace is breathtaking, but the cities are infested with those who can easily pick a tourist out of the crowd and lure them in. I am by no means calling myself perfect, but I have not been sucked in. Since Vlad and I are in Europe regularly, he has taught me the ropes of many of the different countries and cities and I am more ’street smart’. Even better is that most people think I am German rather than American. I can not tell you how many times someone asks me in German where I am from in Germany, it always makes me laugh. I suppose Vlad’s growing up in Germany has rubbed off on me! The fact of the matter is in the big cities many people are looking for an easy rob; most of these people are not looking to hurt you, rather grab your wallet and run. Even better, grab your entire purse. I brought two bags on this trip, my Rebecca Minkoff Wine Matinee and my Bird Handbags Ostrich Lil Lady. Both have perks in navigating the crowded streets where people are looking to grab and go with your belongings. For the Rebecca Minkoff Matinee if someone wanted to unzip and steal something, that proves to be near impossible. I love every single extra added pocket, some even hidden! Becky has said that she would like to re-vamp the Matinee and remove some pockets, but having all of these hidden compartments has been nothing but a savior for me. Either way I still must carry this bag close to my body and hold tight. This way, if anyone is going to try to take it they will have to pull it out of my lifeless arms. The perk of the Bird Handbags Lil Lady is that it is worn across my shoulder, but I can hold it in front of my body very easily. The long strap allows the bag to have a large shoulder drop, making it simple to pull it forward and carry it close. A downside of this bag is the open top, which can be reached into, but when I hold it close to my body it is not an issue. So both of these bags are fairing well right now, as I interchange them. But the trend I see here, even with the locals, is that they all carry their bags in front of their bodies. This makes it more of a confrontation if someone is to try to steal the bag or the contents. I am by no means scared walking through the streets of Spain, but I am a tad more cautious. Then again, this could happen in any city in the US.

So my question is: what is the perfect travel bag for you? Do you take into account the area you are in?

I have this issue with thinking that I am packing oh-so-light this time around and my bag always weighs a ton. Worse, my carry on luggage and purse are super heavy. I stuff every imaginable thing in my carry-on’s. I plan for the ridiculous unexpected. Like a scarf. I take a scarf on the plane in case, I don’t know, an arctic chill takes over the cabin. And don’t even ask to see what food I pack, but for this, I have an excuse. You see my list of food allergies is endless, you never want to go out to eat with me, because the waiter inevitably must ask the Chef to come speak with me and it makes for a tedious process to order a meal. So I pack food galore. And then there are the things to keep me occupied, and let’s face it, I loose interest easily. So when it comes down to it, I pack meals-on-wheels, 50 outfits for 10 days, and every single thing imaginable for any possible curve. The picture in this post is from our last trip to NYC, where we were there for 6 days. Yes, 6 days and all of that luggage. I used my Rebecca Minkoff Wine Matinee as my carry on purse, which has ample pockets to carry all of my needs, and stuffed my Samsonite carry on with 8 bajillion magazines, notes, computer equipment, etc.

Can any of you relate to me, or am I the lone ranger in admitting my horrible over-packing problem?

As we continue traveling, we continue shopping for a new travel bag. Vlad and I were tempted by a 50 cm Hermes Haut A Courroie (HAC), but it was just too big, yet his current messenger is just too small. We are like Goldilocks, we need something just right. I am waiting for a 40 cm Birkin, which will be the best option for me when it comes to a travel Birkin and Vlad is stumped. He needs a better carry-on bag for all of the traveling we do. We popped into Louis Vuitton Cologne and saw a great looking tote. For me, it was not a bag that I wanted him or I to leave with, but it is a great everyday bag nonetheless. The SA at Louis Vuitton said it is unisex, though I find it to be very masculine. The Louis Vuitton Utah Leather Kiowa Tote is designed with sturdy, yet supple hand-grained Utah calf leather and sports straps down the front of the bag. I am not blown away by this handbag, it is rather simple, but when it comes to giving a man a handbag, simple usually is the best route. The hardware is polished but is aged brass, so it is not too shiny for the man that does not care to draw attention to his man bag. It is always a plus to have a zip top closure, and the inside features a flat pocket and a cell phone pocket. Dimensions are still too small for a 17″ computer, but will fit the average laptop, 16.4″x 12.9″x 5.85″. I like it, I don’t love it, and I am waiting for another Birkin Buy through eLuxury for $1,940.

Three American brothers who have not spoken to each other in a year set off on a train voyage across India with a plan to find themselves and bond with each other — to become brothers again like they used to be. Their “spiritual quest”, however, veers rapidly off-course (due to events involving over-the-counter pain killers, Indian cough syrup, and pepper spray), and they eventually find themselves stranded alone in the middle of the desert with eleven suitcases a printer, and a laminating machine. At this moment, a new, unplanned journey suddenly begins.

There are some special guest stars in The Darjeeling Limited. Eleven of them, in fact. An entire monogrammed luggage set, designed by Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton.

(Well, there are actually fifteen guest stars, if you count the suits worn by all three main characters and Owen Wilson’s belt that matches the luggage set, all designed by Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton.)

The luggage set is a beautiful brown calf skin with prints of elephants, zebras, giraffes and palm trees. I personally could have done without the animals or palm trees, but they fit the characters and the movie.

While I thought the movie was very good, I found myself staring at the set throughout the movie. During certain scenes, I found myself wanting to shriek at the screen, but settled for quietly exclaiming, “Careful! Those are Louis Vuitton suitcases!”

I give The Darjeeling Limited (and the luggage set) Two thumbs up. Images via Elle.

A girl can never have too many jewels. Recently, I have become bling obsessed, buying diamond after diamond. When I travel, my jewelry is meticulously placed in my purse. I dare not place my jewels in my carry on, in case I happen to fly on a small plane that will need to check my bag under. There must be a better way to carry my jewelry. My obsession with Bottega Veneta is no secret and now my obsession is the Bottega Veneta Jewlery Box. Scrumptious Ebano leather is woven on the outside of the box which measures 12.3 x 8.4 x 5.1 IN. Carry your jewelry in a box that is beyond dreamy. Because the box itself is a stunning work of supple leather art and the jewels inside are worth far too much, I would never let this box leave my side. Buy through Bottega Veneta for $4970.

You think all towns and people are connected to the internet? Think again. This past week I was traveling once again. First I was in Washington DC, where the fast paced life was the norm. After seeing all the integral tourist attractions and waving at the White House, I was off to a small town on Lake Eerie in Ohio. Way up in the northeast part of Ohio is a town called Ashtabula. There my parents grew up and met. And for any of you Florida fans, it is where Urban Meyer grew up (boo to the Gators ). Let me tell you something, I love little Ashtabula but I felt as if I were in a time warp. We spent the mornings scouring Lake Eerie for sea glass, the days eating at the best local burger joint that feels as if you are sitting in a 50’s diner, the afternoons on the farm, and nights at various wineries. Life is slow there, the pace moves backward it seems. I kid you not, I bought 24 Swedish buns and a dozen assorted pastries from the bakery for under $9. I looked at the baker and he simply said to me, “You aren’t from around here, are you?”. It was liberating to feel free from my email and computer and even cell phone reception. I felt like the weight of the world had literally been lifted off my shoulders, so then I could have an amazing time with my family, all worries left back in the ‘real world’.

One afternoon we did venture to the sadly dying mall, where I popped into Dillards in hope of finding a little something. What I encountered were sales that made any sample sale look horrible. Sure, the selection was not amazing, but the prices made the goods feel free. My sister walked out with 5 pair of shoes totaling $190. Vlad strutted out with a pair of Nike shoes and Ralph Lauren shorts totaling $65 total. And I found the luggage deal of the century! I looked at the sign and had to do at least a quadruple take. Samsonite luggage marked 50% off, then take and additional 30% off. I have been traveling so often that my luggage has become worn down, so I snagged a large luggage bag and carry on for just about $200 total:!: What would have cost me nearly $560 cost me practically nothing. Next time you see a chic (but not always chic when traveling) lady in the airport with her Samsonite 400 Series Aspire luggage in blue, know that it is me carrying around my sturdy new luggage that I bought nearly for free. Luggage via Samsonite.

The spanking new LV Waterproof Keepall inherits the same measurements of the regular and loved Keepall 55. However, it has undergone serious steroid treatment in the advanced Louis Vuitton labs! The cowhide trim and handles were dumped for durable polyamide and polyurethane, the golden hardware swapped for brass and zamak pieces. This bag is the active traveler’s wet dream – even if you don’t end up submerging your Keepall in water, it is great to know you could (without ending up ruining your belongings). To me, this spacious bag could help me overcome my general disapproval of the monogram canvas. Still, is the advanced welding process (that ensures airtightness of the main compartment) worth the $800 extra over a regular Keepall 55 with shoulder strap?

The Waterproof Keepall is now available for $1,950 via 866-VUITTON or at eLuxury’s exclusive Louis Vuitton boutique.

Many of my friends seem to all be engaged and planning their weddings. I keep receiving ’save the date’ cards and keep wondering what I will wear and what I will buy for their gift. Better yet, I ponder what I will want from them at my not-planned wedding. Call me sick, but I enjoy thinking about my own wedding gifts in my sometime-in-the-hopefully-near-future-wedding. A gift that would have me bowing down at the givers feet would be a Louis Vuitton Trunk. I am determined to own an LV trunk and by-golly if I do not get one as a wedding gift I will use part of the gift money to buy one! Style.com had a mini idea section for good wedding gifts, and my eye got stuck on the Louis Vuitton Steamer Case. This case was first invented in 1901 as a smaller piece of travel luggage to be kept inside of the coveted LV Trunk. Gasp to the most perfect inside addition to the LV Trunk. The price is $3,050. So anyone who will be invited to my wedding, keep this post in mind! As usual, shop Louis Vuitton exclusively at eLuxury and this piece is available at select Louis Vuitton boutiques, (866) VUITTON. Try the lovely folks at Louis Vuitton Bal Harbour, Florida.

Via Style

You know you travel more than most when you start to have people who work the counter recognize you, can answer questions better than the airport staff, know exactly where each gate is at nearly every airport, and have the security check down. I am on land for another week and a half, and then up in the air on my way to Barcelona, then flying to Venice, then flying to Florida, then two weeks later to Ohio. Apparently I love cruising altitude more than steady turf. Yesterday I was lucky to sit next to a woman from Connecticut and talk about life, family, work, and everything in between. She was great. She has two kids and while I told her about Purse Blog she and I started to talk about travel gear. I couldn’t help but keep my mind from wandering about what would be perfect kid travel gear. Today I found a cool back pack for a dude and a cute roll on for a little girl. Funky and fresh, the Lipstik Luggage Roller is hand-painted and features, pink, denim, aqua, and purple coloring throughout. The front zipper pouch sports the words “love” and “peace” in paint. Easy to carry for a toddler to a tween, this roller is cute and affordable. Buy it through Neiman Marcus for $125. And for the cool dude, the Diesel Logo Backpack comes in an army green with blue denim trim and a white “Diesel 78″ on the front. Toss in an iPod, hand held game player, and a car magazine, and your cool dude is good to go. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $65.

Personally, the thought of buying luxury luggage makes no sense. Even if the bag is just a carry on, you are looking to have it exposed to dirt, residue, spills, scuffs, tears, and stains. I am not sure it makes me a hypocrite, but I do travel with my designer bag as my ‘purse’ carry on, and many times my bag ends up sitting on my lap. But to roll on an extravagant piece of travel gear, the kind of extravagance that people only dream can be on their handbag, is absurd. Right? Must be wrong, because the Bottega Veneta Intrecciato Trolley is being sold to the rich and famous and BV obsessed. Measuring approximately 20″ x 14″ x 9″, this trolley adheres to BV’s signature woven Nappa leather. The size is a perfect carry on, but if you have a commuter flight beware; your precious bag will get thrown under the plane with the rest of them, and undoubtedly will not be treated any kinder than the plain black luggage from Target next to it. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love this piece, but until I am flying private plane only, this will not be on my list. Buy it through Bottega Veneta for $3960.

There are some people who are home bodies and some people who can not sit still. I definitely fall into the latter category, I can not keep myself in one place for an extended amount of time. From New York to Ohio to Florida to vacations around the world, I am always on the move. Granted some of my trips leave me with a broken arm, but I can’t stop. This month I am off to Spain and Italy and then in May off to California. Personally, I never cared much for nicer luggage. Give me a bag that works and a bag that i can spot on the belt and I am satisfied. But the Samsonite Black Label by Alexander McQueen is the most bold line created by a quirky and outrageous designer along with Samsonite, a brand that is well known for its durable travel gear. Don’t expect a plain black bag from this creation, check out a roll-on with a skeleton like body and sleek and edgy designs. For more information, check out Samsonsite Black Label.

Not many men have a skincare regime everyday. Trust me, getting Vlad to rub a bit of lotion on is a feat. But for the men that have been truly tamed, or the females that don’t mind a very simple and unisex bag, the Ermenegildo Zegna Toiletry Kit can help you travel with the necessities. Toss in your sun screen, cleanser, toner, lotion, and tote this brown leather and silver tone hardware kit on trips. As long as your regime is not completely ridiculously long, this 6″H x 10 1/5″W x 4 7/10″D bag will be a great travel companion. Via Bergdorf Goodman for $395.

To me Bottega Veneta has to try really hard to go wrong. If they continue using their signature woven leather and continue using rich supple leather, they will remain on top as timeless and beautiful. Simplicity is part of Bottega Veneta’s plan and the Bottega Veneta Woven Cosmetic Case is a complete hit because it does not stray from their norm. A perfect stocking stuffer, this cosmetic case is designed with rich and supple brown woven leather which is accented with goldtone hardware. The two pull tabs come together to nearly resemble a small bow on their top zip. On the inside there is canvas lining and this little chic travel accessory measures 4½”H X 7½”L X 2″W. A total and simple hit for me and I would sure be happy to see it down in my stocking. Via Saks for $290.

No matter how well I may or may not be doing in life, I could never see myself spending nearly $3,000 on a piece of luggage that I knew would go through an abusive bag hell. It is unnecessary to say that the baggage folks at airports will bang your expensive bag around as much as the next, generic suitcase. Do you think it makes any sense to spend a big premium on designer luggage?

With my allergies in the state they are in, I’d love to pack up and leave (which is what I will be doing in 10 days- Can’t wait!!!) For traveling we all know that a good and easy overnight bag is key. For something fun and quirky for your travels there is the 31 Corn Lane Weekender Tote. Designed from retro pink and brown, which is one of my favorite color pairs, this tote measures 16.5″x13.5″ which gives you ample room for some weekend must-have’s or carry-on items. The best part is the matching pouch which has a checklist of toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, and makeup. That is quite the essential list because I always forget those! Buy the tote for a mere $50 through Fredflare.

I have been able to face the fact that I am not always practical at a young age. I still am not always practical. I realize that fashion is also not always practical. If I asked you to raise your hand if you have ever purchased a completely impractical item I bet there would be quite a few handbag lovers out there with arms raised behind their monitor. Mine is ! But just because it is impractical does not mean we don’t continue to do it. Again, by we I most definitely mean I for starters. This all brings me to traveling. Many of us travel, and I venture to guess that many of us travel often. But do we travel in style? I may always look at the family carrying all the Coach or LV luggage and smirk, but deep down I wish it were me with the goods. I can’t help it. My love of handbags radiates into travel gear. While I would never want to check such a beautiful bag under, I wouldn’t mind carrying it on. The Prada Large Travel Bowler embodies the chic kind of accessory I want and the impracticality that I don’t need. This bowler is a canvas tote trimmed in gold and showing off buckle details. Yup, that is it. There isn’t much more to this bag, but that completely backward thinking side of me wants it to place nicely under the seat in front of me. Measuring 12″H X 17″L X 7″W, this tote should be easy to travel with and use as your oober stylish carry on. Buy it via Saks for the ridiculously impractical travel bag price of $985 via Saks.