If we took the right cue from our European brethren, we would vacation for the entire month of August. We would make it our birthright. And if our bosses said, "No way," we would make a hand gesture and leave the job for good. Instead, we feel guilty if we take our 10 days per year off consecutively, sneaking in a long weekend here and there so we don't miss too much work.
With the Labor Day long weekend fast approaching—the busiest travel day of the year for many airports—it seems a good time to look at luggage.
Suitcases are coming in fun colors again. And with women accounting for 70 percent of American luggage purchases, you can look for floral patterns as well as shades of apple-green, red, royal-blue, purple and orange. Hartmann's new Sky Luxe collection even features polka dots and checkerboard patterns (www.hartmann.com).
If you go black, invest in a great luggage tag: It will make identifying your bag on the carousel so much easier. One handy tip: Label the inside of your suitcase and include your itinerary. If it gets lost, the information will help the airline return it to you that much faster. Whatever you do, don't buy a bag that is taller than 3 feet unless you plan to throw your back out. No matter where you're going, you don't need that much stuff.
Speaking of which, teach yourself how to pack properly. Start at least a day or two before your trip. That counts for long weekends, too. Select your color palette and stick to it. Pair a bright color with two neutrals. Make sure some of your favorite clothes, shoes and accessories are included in the mix. You love them at home; you'll like them away. Pack two comfortable touring-around outfits and one nice dinner ensemble or something to wear nightclubbing if you plan to shake your groove thing while you're gone. Bring comfortable walking shoes, a pair of sandals and your dress shoes.
Compression bags can be a godsend. Target carries the Embark line, but any will do. They can increase the space in your suitcase by up to 75 percent, which means more room for gifts.
Toiletries should be travel-size whenever possible, and can be found at Wal-Mart, Walgreens and other non-W-starting stores. And don't forget the pain reliever or sunscreen.
When you return, let's talk about afternoon siestas.
Anne Kellogg is a native Las Vegan with a thing for purchasing stuff. E-mail her at
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