My search for a cold weather travel boot began as soon as my husband and I made the decision to spend the winter in the mountains of central Mexico.
A previous winter stay in Cusco, Peru, where I’d given away a favorite pair of boots, had taught me that I wanted a boot that would provide stability on uneven, cobblestone streets, was warm and comfortable and versatile enough to be worn with jeans or dress pants, leggings or skirts.
The Veranda Mid by Merrell ticked all the boxes. Sleek and chic, they look fabulous and felt like a natural fit straight out of the box.
Ultimately though, I balked at the hefty price tag ($160) and assured myself that I could do without. Instead, I decided to give the money to a friend who works hard and rarely splurges on herself.
I’d waited until the evening before our Mexico departure to slip a check into a beautiful card and give it to my friend. It felt good to have forfeited something I desired. To give instead of get.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
These P^cubed Pick-Pocket Proof Pants™ by Clothing Arts, with an ingenious design for surreptitiously carrying passport, credit cards, mobile phone, etc., are perfect for modern day nomads like me. Cold weather or warm they go well with sweaters or T-shirts, boots or sandals. Better still, they’re durable and lightweight.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
“What to pack?” is the number one question I hear from friends, family and travelers who are setting off on a new adventure.
So, as I prepare for dual safaris in Namibia and Botswana, here are my 10 packing essentials for an African safari.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Winter: It’s cold. It’s snowy. It’s wet. So what.
It may not be the easiest season to pack for. But with a few chic essentials, it’s not as difficult as you think to stay warm and stylish, no matter how frosty it gets or how small your suitcase.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
With the right clothes, hot and sticky is easy breezy.
It’s 88ºF with 71% humidity right now in Granada, Nicaragua, where my husband, Hank, and I are spending the winter.
With weather forecasts back home showing snow and freezing temps, I couldn’t be happier to be hanging out in a hot place.
It’s been a month since we arrived and I’d looked forward to supplementing my travel wardrobe here, but clothing choices in Nicaragua are surprisingly limited. So, I’m grateful to have packed the Horny Toad Oblique Skirt, which has turned out to be perfect for daily wear.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
No matter how many time zones I cross, this quintessential travel essential goes the distance.
I’m forever on the lookout for clothing that’s not only figure flattering, versatile, and über comfortable, but that also packs down to nothing, breathes well, is machine-washable and doesn’t need ironing.
Enter Icebreaker’s Superfine Villa Dress, a lightweight merino wool classic that moves easily across seasons and continents. Perfect for travelling and packing light.
During a recent adventure yacht cruise in Mexico’s Sea of Cortes, the superfine merino fabric of this dress was ideally suited to the desert climate: keeping me cool in the heat of the day, and warm at night. Add leggings and a wrap, and I’m as comfortable in Alaska as Baja.
As I write this review, I’m in the process of packing for a year (or two) of nomadic exploration in Central and South America; an endeavor that requires me to fit only my most essential goods and gadgets into one checked bag, one carry-on and one laptop/camera bag. Be assured - this dress WILL be in my bag.
Available at www.Icebreaker.com as well as the Travel Store at EllenBarone.com powered by Amazon. Suggested retail price: $110.00.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
SeV’s Multi-pocketed Clothing Helps Travelers Beat the System and Save on Baggage Fees
SCOTTEVEST/SeV, maker of my favorite travel vest, has announced a whole new lineup of stylish choices for wearable carry-on clothing. Now you can beat the system, save on baggage fees AND look good doing it. NICE!
One of the newest designs is the Women’s Trench, a stylish trench coat with 18 travel-friendly pockets available in four colors. Taking cues from SCOTTEVEST’s female fans, the product was developed after repeated requests from SeV customers for a women’s equivalent of the popular SeV Carry-On Coat™. LOVE THIS!
The full line of SCOTTEVEST Travel Clothing ranges from jackets to vests, pants, hoodies and shirts, with their latest introductions adding:
- Women’s Trench Coat ($130) - SeV developed the SeV Women’s Trench with an eye for fashion-forward lines contained within a classic, belted trench silhouette, all without sacrificing any of the hidden functionality of SeV’s pockets. Designed to supplement or replace a purse while traveling - around town or around the globe - this coat’s 18 NoBulge™ Pockets maintain a smooth appearance regardless of what is carried.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Everyone knows that the new TSA rules are designed to keep us safe, but they can be a major hassle, too. Remain seated for the last hour? What if you need something from your carry-on bag stored above?
SeV Evolution JacketThere is an approved solution already on the market from SeV/SCOTTEVEST Travel Clothing. I’m a huge fan and rarely leave home without my SeV women’s travel vest.
Containing slim, interior pockets, each SeV piece is designed to carry what you need on your flight– even a netbook or eBook reader – and can be easily taken off and passed through the x-ray at security without emptying each pocket. With some pieces containing upwards of 50 pockets, SeV clothing just makes good sense for air travel these days:
- Easy-access pockets designed for specific items travelers carry, such as boarding passes, ID, cameras and much more. Icons stitched onto the interior pockets act as a map to help you find what you’re looking for without fumbling.
- SeV’s patented Personal Area Network (P.A.N.) - which manages wires and earbuds through the jacket’s lining, keeping them from tangling.
- Clear Touch fabric, which allows a traveler to see and control their iPod® (and cell phone, when appropriate) through the fabric without removing the device.
- NoBulge™ pocket design - just because you wear your carry-on, you don’t need to look like it.
- Weight Management System™ engineered to balance the weight from these added devices. This system is much more ergonomic than wearing a bag that puts all the weight on one shoulder.
To see the full line of SeV clothing, visit www.scottevest.com or The Travel Store at EllenBarone.com.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
I’m no stranger to travel clothes.
In fact, I base most purchase decisions on whether said shirt, sweater, pants, skirt, etc. will travel well.
Dry clean only: Not gonna happen.
Quick-dry, wrinkle-proof, lightweight: Now we’re talking.
When I went searching for a pair of travel pants for an adventure trip in Baja, I struck gold with ExOfficio’s Nio Amphi pant.
Check out the product details:
|
They had me at Repeloff and cinched the deal with drop-in cell pocket (So sue me, I travel with a BlackBerry). Better yet, after the morning chill burns off, and the heat of the day cranks up, I’m diggin’ the roll-up feature that turns pant to sylish capri with a simple button. No need for dorky zip-offs.
Shopper’s remorse? Not me. It’s day 13 in Baja and I’m in love.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".