Packing Tip

For any trip that's four days or longer, I've found that the best thing to pack your stuff in is a rolling suitcase. It just makes life easy—there's nothing worse than racing to catch a flight while bogged down with a heavy duffel on your shoulder. The tricky part is finding one that's smartly designed, is built to last, and looks good without costing a small fortune. Which is why I'm so impressed with the one I just came across on Kenneth Cole's website. From an aesthetic standpoint, there's something about the crisp shape and wide straps that reminds me of an old-fashioned steamer trunk, only steel gray nylon gives it a modern edge. Practically speaking, it's got tons of pockets both inside and out (including removable pouches you could use for lingerie, laundry, etc), and since it's not a hard-sided bag, it's bound to be relatively lightweight, and easy to lift and squish into an overhead compartment. I never check luggage unless forced, but on those rare occasions, in the inevitable sea of black rollies, this would be really easy to ID on a carousel. And unlike all the other suitcases I've seen and liked as much as this one, it comes in at less than $200.