Travel Tip of the Day: The Best Luggage for your Next Trip

Hello & Welcome to 5 Minute Travel Tips with your host Neil Patil. This new podcast and blog by Veena World are all about turning you into a super savvy, super-smart traveller. Every week we will cover everything under the sun to help you my listener reach your full travel ninja potential.

This week’s episode is all about bags! And my fellow listeners, I cannot stress enough! This can make or break your trip. Travel bags come in all shapes and sizes and it is super important that you get yourself a quality travel bag before you jump on that plane or train again. When you are selecting the top travel bag, it is important to keep your personal preferences and style in mind.

But let’s make it simple when it comes to a suitcase. Get one with retractable handles and wheels! I cannot stress enough how easy it will be for you to move around when your suitcase has wheels. Convenience is what matters. And that is the secret to becoming a smart traveller.

I am often asked which are the top 10 suitcases that you recommend when it comes to planning your next trip. My reply often is that the more important question is whether you should buy a hard sided suitcase or a soft sided suitcase. A hard sided suitcase offers extra protection and often has an interior compression sleeve to protect your belongings on the inside.

A soft sided suitcase on the other hand offers less protection on the outside but can be great if you are the one who loves to overpack J Soft sided suitcases are also good because they offer a better organization.

Moving onto the next part of this podcast, when we speak of safety and baggage safety, a lock comes to mind. When you are picking a bag or a suitcase, please get one that comes with a TSA Approved Zipper Lock.

What is a TSA Approved Zipper Lock?

A TSA-approved luggage lock refers to one that meets the requirements of the Transportation Safety Administration. A TSA-approved lock can be opened by authorized agents when the need to check your baggage arises. This is done with a universal key that all TSA agents have access to. After Covid-19, most airports around the world have now started making it mandatory too for bags to have TSA locks. In the absence of a TSA lock, they reserve the right to break open or cut open your luggage thus deeming it unusable for the future. So next time you are picking up a lock, please make sure you pick up a TSA Approved lock.

Finally, let's come to check-in and carry-on luggage.

What is Check-in Luggage?

Check-in luggage is the luggage that goes into the luggage compartment of an aeroplane. Once you check-in your luggage at your departure airport, you do not have access to it until you reach your destination.

What is Carry-On Luggage?

Carry-on luggage is the luggage that you take with you onto the plane.

My personal preference is often to have a hard cover suitcase for check in luggage and a soft cover bag for carry-on luggage.

Investing in versatile and comfortable luggage for travel is a must. Of course, you need a quality rolling suitcase for that summer trip or a stylish and practical duffel bag for weekends on the go, but most of all, you need a bag that adapts to as many situations as possible. Functional design, quality materials, and efficient, customizable packing space are paramount to a successful travel experience, no matter how big or small.

With that in mind, we will see you next week with more travel tips and secrets. Have a great day and take care.