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Travelite Packing Tips

May 2000:

Aloha!

Looks like folks are starting to plan their summer vacations. I stifled my nervousness for an on-air interview with C|Net Radio yesterday, and I've talked with reporters from Midwest Woman (http://www.midwestwoman.com) as well as the the Times Herald-Record (http://www.th-record.com) in New York, all about packing for summer trips.

Starting soon, I will be appearing as a regular columnist at another Web site, concentrating on travel-related issues in the amusement-park and family vacation area. My inaugural column should be appearing near Memorial Day; I'll give you the URL in the June Travelite Tip email once I'm online.

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REI is having its big annual sale beginning today through May 29, and they have some items on sale that Traveliters might really enjoy.

First, the REI Tour II Travel Pack is back in stock and on sale for $74.99 (regularly $100). The Tour II is one of my favorite travel packs. Slightly smaller than the maximum-sized carry-ons, the Tour II can be worn by women and shorter men. The Tour II has a zip-off day-pack as well.

Traveling with your young one and need a kid carrier? REI has the Kelty Trek 5-Point Child Carrier on sale for $114.99 (regularly $150).

Other items you might want to pick up:

- lightweight underwear (for those cold winters when you need to layer)

- Low-cut hiking/walking shoes

- Camelbak hydration systems (one of the models, the Blowfish, works great as a daypack with a built-in water "bottle").

Best of all, REI members get 20% off of any single full-priced item during the annual sale. [It's only $15 for a life-time membership if you don't have one].

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A big thumbs-up to Magellan's new chat feature!

My favorite travel-gadget catalog company, Magellan's, has recently updated its Web site (http://www.magellans.com). Visit there, and you will see a button that says "CHAT". Would you believe you can actually chat with a live Magellan's customer service representative when you click on that chat button? The rep can provide you with the same service you get if you were to phone them. I tried it out and chatted with Chris, who was most helpful in answering my questions. This feature is limited to 9am to 5pm Pacific Standard Time, but it means you no longer have to hang up your modem to call them if you only have a single phone line! Overseas shoppers can chat with a rep without incurring phone connection fees!

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I was contacted by Don Chernoff, the inventor of a very interesting garment bag called the "Stow-Away" that uses a rolling technique instead of the standard A-frame folding technique. His bag was featured in QVC, and he is selling his current stock online for only $69.95. His bag meets carry-on restrictions (it's 22" long and 8" around) and to me, it looks like a short golf bag! I haven't seen any other bag like this, and the design is quite clever. You can go see it yourself at http://www.stow-away.net.

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Thanks go out to Doug Dyment (of the Compleat Carry-On Traveler Web site) for pointing out the following great bargains going on right now:

Patagonia (http://www.patagonia.com) is discontinuing the LBC travel pack. While supplies last, Patagonia is selling off existing stock at greatly reduced prices. The LBC is on sale for $109.00 (regularly $150). Looks like the larger MLC model has totally sold out already.

Campmor (http://www.campmor.com) continues to be the leader in fantastic bargains and sale prices for travel packs and various bags. As Doug points out, the Jansport Weekender Travel Pack is still available for a VERY affordable $39.97. But there are many other models to choose from, including the slightly smaller Jansport Carry-On Pack for $34.97.

Set on a rolling upright? Campmor offers Eagle Creek's compact Switchback model for only $99.97!

That's it for now. Continue sending me your comments about the Travelite FAQ Web site, your light-traveling experiences, and all the wonderful places you're visiting!

Happy travels,

-- Lani Teshima

Travelite Packing Tips

May 2000:

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