Tag: Baggu

Best Weekender Bags Under $200

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Best Weekender Bags - AFriendAfar.com

Sometimes that rolling carry-on is just too big for your long weekend! We’re a little too old and a little too well-traveled to be carrying our old high school gym bags around, so we’ve rounded up the best weekender bags that make it easy to carry everything you need. These bags have all the stylish details we love and still hold up to constant travel.

The Best Weekender Bags Under $200

cuyana weekender

Cuyana Canvas and Leather Weekender Bag
Price: $150
Why We Love It: Cuyana makes a gorgeous twill and leather weekender in 3 colors. We love the leather strap, the contrast lining, and the gold hardware. With the option to monogram it, it’s a great bag to give or to get!

baggu

Baggu Sailor Stripe Weekend Bag
Price: $74
Why We Love it: Baggu bags are consistently showing up in our lists of travel must-haves and for good reason! This is a great price for a sturdy and roomy canvas bag, and the sailor stripe is so fun!

mark and graham

Mark & Graham Weekender
Price: $199
Why We Love it: This one comes in at the top of our budget, but we can’t get over the great details. The leather accents and monogram reflect an old-fashioned style of travel, and the long shoulder strap makes it easier to tote around when full. It comes in 4 colorways, and while we love the natural canvas option, this navy version is less likely to get dirty.

Stella & Dot Versatile 3-in-1 Getaway
Price: $138
Why We Love it: You’ve got to love a bag that does double-duty! Stella & Dot’s Getaway bag is the perfect size for the overhead bin when expanded, but it also fits under your seat when zipped down to its smaller size. We love the blue ikat and the red elephant designs!

Everlane

Everlane Twill Weekender Price: $98
Why We Love it: I have this bag as well as the twill tote, and I love packing it for a long weekend away! The leather straps are very sturdy, and the canvas is thick, water-resistant, and beautifully lined. The interior zip pocket and the outside pocket keep my cords and smaller items contained. It’s a great bag! Check out Hitha on the Go’s instructions for how to pack a duffel – it features this weekender.

Lo & Sons Catalina Canvas Weekender
Price: $120
Why We Love it: Lo & Sons makes an amazing carry-on bag for business travelers, and Stephanie’s currently toting it around Istanbul right now for work! Their Catalina Canvas Weekender is even roomier and more affordable, and it comes in 7 fun colors. We love the lower zipper compartment to keep shoes or dirty laundry separate and organized. The bag is even machine-washable, so it’s ready for an adventure!

Herschel

Herschel Supply Co. Novel Duffel
Price: $80
Why We Love it: I can’t even begin to count how many designs this bag comes in, but at just $80, it’s worth treating yourself to this fun buffalo check print that is everywhere this fall! Like some of our other favorite bags, the shoe compartment and padded shoulder strap will make your weekend travel a little easier.

Sole Society mason

Sole Society
Price: $80
Why We Love it: We’ve been seeing this bag all over travel and fashion blogs lately, and the customer reviews are really looking good! It’s a chic vegan leather in a classic style at a great price point. What’s not to love?

Do you carry any of these weekender bags? Let us know your reviews in the comments!

Looking for the perfect carry-on personal bag? You can find our favorites here along with a review of how our Everlane tote held up during a trip to France.

 

Meagan Martz at A Friend Afar

Meagan grew up in the North Georgia Mountains and spent her first trip abroad in Italy. She’s been traveling all over the world ever since, learning Spanish, Japanese, and Thai. She travels for the food, the culture, and the history.

http://www.AFriendAfar.com
Best Gifts for Travelers- www.afriendafar.com

Best Gifts for Travelers

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We’ve recently received some fabulous gifts that are so perfect for travelers that we couldn’t wait to share with you! We also scoured Pinterest for some unique ideas. Put these on your birthday, holiday, anniversary, or ‘I got a promotion’ wishlist, or consider these ideas when buying for your favorite traveler friend!

Best Gifts for Travelers- www.afriendafar.com #travelgifts #afriendafar #giftsfortravelers

Globetrotter Classic Hotel Key Tag: Travel-themed vintage-style hotel keychains are an adorable addition to your keys. We have ones that say “Not all who wander are lost” and “eat well travel often.” What great reminders!

Rifle Paper Co. Cities Coaster Set: We are in love with all things Rifle Paper Co., including their planners, prints, and calendars, but their Cities Coasters are a fun addition to your house regardless of your décor style. Meagan keeps some at her desk at work for a cheerful, global workspace.

Secret Paris Coloring Book:  A travel coloring book of Paris scenes? Yes, please! What a wonderful way to unwind and “color your way to calm!”

Leather World Map Passport Case: Passport cases are functional and a fun way to express your personality. Etsy always has amazing finds and we absolutely adore these leather world map cases. Here’s a Top 10 list with more ideas!

Urban Gridded Earrings/Necklace – Rome: You can’t go wrong with jewelry as a gift. The city pendant necklaces and earrings from Aminimal Studio are a unique addition to your collection and fun conversation piece. Pick your favorite city to show some love!

Standard Baggu: Reusable shopping bags from are the best for everyday life and shopping while you travel! In addition to the standard Baggu, the backpack is a super cute carry on and travel bag.

AFAR Magazine Subscription: AFAR is one of our favorite travel mags, and a subscription is a gift that gives all year long! We also love National Geographic Traveler.

Cartography Wash Bag: You can never have too many bags for keeping organized while packing and traveling! Isn’t this canvas and leather On the Road bag lovely?

Which gift would you most like to receive or give? Share other gifts ideas in the comments below!

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

Stephanie grew up road-tripping across the U.S., but her first flight was to Australia, and she’s been hooked ever since. She lived abroad in Thailand, where she met Meagan, and in Ghana with Peace Corps and has been to over 30 countries on 6 continents. She travels for the adventure, the stories, and nature.

http://www.AFriendAfar.com
Santorini Collage

What to Pack for a Week in Greece

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Check out my packing list below from the week I spent on my European vacation visiting Santorini, Hydra, and Athens! Greece had been at the top of my bucket list for a while so I was so excited to finally make it to a place I’d been dreaming about for quite a while.

What to Pack for Greece

Packing light is so freeing and makes travel so much easier. I packed all of this (and more) into a small carry-on, and still had room to bring back some great souvenirs!

What to Pack for Greece

Here’s what I packed for a week in Greece!

If you’re spending the majority of your time on the islands, you’ll want to bring light and airy clothing. I packed a lightweight scarf for breezy nights on the water, as well. You’ll want skirts, shorts or cropped pants for when your walks take you down to the shore. Hydra doesn’t have any cars, so you’ll need to bring comfy walking shoes and sandals.  Also Athens cobblestone are particularly slippery so bring shoes with traction. One last thing: don’t forget your swim suit! This is THE place to wear it!

Greece Packing List

2 pairs of pants – I packed my go-to cropped denim and some adorable, breezy printed pants. It’s still a little cool in the evenings, especially on the water, so these are perfect for sunset strolls. [The printed pair are from Old Navy this season, but I can’t find them online. Here’s a similar pair.]
3 tees – I packed olive green, white, and heather grey. I didn’t want my entire suitcase to be blue, and green is my favorite color!
1 black tank –  It’s always classic and easy, and I can dress it up with my jeans and some fancy jewelry.
2 dresses – I packed the blue and white striped dress that you see here, and another blue one that can be worn as a beach cover-up, a dress, or a skirt. So many options! Besides, who doesn’t want to wear blue and white while exploring Santorini? It’s the perfect dress! [Similar: J.Crew, J.Crew Factory, and Gap] You may recognize it from Meagan’s Florence post- I borrowed it from her.
3 pairs of shoes – I brought my cute Keds, which I’ll wear at the airport and for walking, some brown sandals, and some black sandals. I bought some sandals there, of course, and leaving my older ones behind.
1 swim suit – Are you seeing a theme with my colors? I couldn’t help but to pack items that fit the Mediterranean color scheme!
A Baggu backpack – My trusted Baggu backpack joined me in Cuba, and it was the perfect day bag in Greece as well. Those blue and white stripes – so perfect!
1 floppy beach hat – in navy, of course!
My camera and camera case – Check out my camera strap here. It’s the perfect accessory for any adventurer.

Cute Camera Strap

My most important packing tip:
Be sure that every piece you take can be worn multiple times or with multiple other items. You’ll have so many more outfit options! Even the bold, printed pants in the picture above can be worn with 3 of the shirts that I packed.

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

Stephanie grew up road-tripping across the U.S., but her first flight was to Australia, and she’s been hooked ever since. She lived abroad in Thailand, where she met Meagan, and in Ghana with Peace Corps and has been to over 30 countries on 6 continents. She travels for the adventure, the stories, and nature.

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

Cuba Packing List

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- www.afriendafar.com #cuba #packinglist

When I went on a week-long educational trip to Cuba, I made a packing list so I wouldn’t forget anything important. Here’s a look at what was inside my carry-on size roller board suitcase and my Baggu backpack for my Cuba packing list:

Top Row: BAGGU Canvas Backpack – Sailor Stripe | Keds White Canvas| Jersey Tank Dress
Middle Row: Noir Maillot from RedDollySwimwear | BAGGU Elephant Jade Standard | Art Deco Notebook
Bottom Row: Eyewitness Travel Top 10 Cuba | Havana StreetSmart Map |  Vintage Style Camera Strap

Wardrobe

Jeans, graphic tee, sweater, and Keds to wear on the plane on the way to Cuba
3 skirts, 3 solid tees, 3 print tops to mix and match, and 2 tanks
1 solid strapless dress that doubles as a skirt (an amazing J.Crew item from a few years ago)
4 dresses (2 solid, 2 prints)
4 pair of sandals including shower shoes
Another sweater for meetings in air-conditioned rooms
Minimal jewelry (left the wedding ring at home)
Vintage style swimsuit from Red Dolly Swimwear
Loads of cotton undies which is critical in the heat and humidity
Sleepwear

Other Essentials

Restocked medicine bag
Toiletries
Extra toothbrushes and toothpaste to leave for hotel staff since these items are difficult to find in Cuba
SPF50 sunscreen
Baggu shopping bag for souvenir shopping and doubled as a beach bag
Old Blackberry that I used with a temporary Cubacel SIM card bought in Havana
Journal
Sleep mask and earplugs (I don’t travel anywhere without them!)
Hankie
Travel poncho
Washcloth

Backpack Carry-on

Passport, copy of passport, important documents
Camera bag with camera and new fun strap
Top 10 Cuba guidebook and Havana StreetSmart® map
Cold, hard cash since Americans can’t yet use ATMs in Cuba
Scarf for the chilly plane
Cross-body purse with wallet, lip gloss with SPF, hand sanitizer, hankie, sunglasses, and the usual


This post is part of a four part series on Cuba. Check out the next post, Highlights of Havana.

{This is not a sponsored post. There are items I’ve bought and thought you might want for your next tropical city/beach vacation!}

Meagan Martz at A Friend Afar

Meagan grew up in the North Georgia Mountains and spent her first trip abroad in Italy. She’s been traveling all over the world ever since, learning Spanish, Japanese, and Thai. She travels for the food, the culture, and the history.

http://www.AFriendAfar.com