Shereen Rayle's Blog, page 106

Review: Travelon's Urban N/S Tablet Messenger Bag

I know I'm not the only one who travels with a bag full of entertainment and snacks. Yes, I have a designated bag. One that easily fits under the plane seat and has different compartments that will hold my electronics, games, snacks and reading material. Travelon has been designing innovative bags for over 30 years and their new Urban line is nothing less than stellar. They are gorgeous, unisex, anti-theft, very user friendly and comfortable to carry for everyone. 

When we travel, I have...

The Good, The Bad And The Downright Unedible

You all know by now I visited New Orleans earlier this month One of the things I was most excited about was the food, as I am when I travel anywhere. In my eyes, food can make or break a vacation. 

I don't really like jambalaya, gumbo or etouffe, which might be a mistake to get psyched up over other foods. I really was looking forward to the seafood on its own, but I really didn't feel like it held up to expectations. There was almost no singular dining experience that stood out to me on...

Exploring Louisiana's Oak Alley Plantation

Whenever I travel, I look for historical sites to visit. There's nothing more "Louisiana" than plantations. I mean, I know that the French Quarter in New Orleans is basically a whole city of history, but I wanted to explore a plantation. I went online and searched for one of the most popular and everyone agreed that if you only view one, it should be Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, about an hour's drive west of Nola.

I know there is a lot of controversy regarding plantations, but there's no...

Diving Into the Voodoo Culture of New Orleans

One of the things I was particularly interested in when visiting New Orleans was learning more about the Voodoo culture and visiting a few of the voodoo shops, which are all over the French Quarter. What we think of as traditional Nola voodoo culture is not exactly what it is. If you're thinking chicken blood, dolls with pins in them and witch covens, then you're definitely mistaking this with a darker voodoo, as I sort of was, too. It's more spiritual and earthy than that...and I didn't see...

Review: Lewis N Clark's WEA Carry-On Tote

Okay guys. You already know I'm a bag lady. I love a good travel bag and I probably have 15 in my arsenal. I've found a great new carry-on bag for those that need to drag their laptop everywhere, whether it's for travel or commuting. Lewis N Clark is expanding their product range and this new line of bags is pretty awesome. When I saw them at the Travel Goods Show, I knew I had to bring some of them to you. They agreed!

The WEA RFID-Blocking Tote is a very unisex carry-on with a classic look t...

Review: Zensah Even Stripes Compression Socks

As a traveler, I often find myself on long flights and walking all day long. I have poor circulation in my hands and feet, which is not normally a huge problem, unless its winter or I’m on my feet all day pounding the pavement. I’m also short, so my feet don’t always touch the floor on planes if I’m all the way back in my seat. I’ve been on a flight to London where I was unable to wear the shoes I had on the plane the whole rest of the trip. I’ve taken to bringing wide shoes where I can, but...

Visiting Portland's Doll Asylum

Sometimes you find a local attraction that is a total gem. I'm not one for haunted houses and I kinda think dolls are totally creepy, but when I saw the Doll Asylum was open again in Portland and was free, I was willing to give it a shot. An awesome North Portland family opens up their home to visitors for four days around Halloween, where they display over a thousand dolls of all sorts. Many are donated by fans, but the first ones were the mother's beloved dolls and thrift store finds. ...

Review: Travelon's Anti-Theft Heritage Small Crossbody Bag

I've just gotten back from New Orleans, you guys. It was a whirlwind week packed full of tours, beignets and lots and lots of walking. I took several new bags on my trip, all of which helped me in a different way. Travelon released four new lines this year, which is crazy. One of the bags I carried each day was the new small Heritage Crossbody Bag that has all the anti-theft features you love, packed in a smaller bag that holds all your everyday items at home and beyond.

The new crossbody...

Tips For a Relaxing Staycation

Sometimes you just need to get away. Unfortunately, it's not always in the budget. I travel 3-5 weeks a year and it's not always enough. I get it. During those times you can get a few days off, but you can't afford to get on a plane for a full-blown getaway, you can give yourself the gift of a relaxing and fun staycation. 

Staycations are great, because you can make one fit into any budget you have. Here are my tops tips for a staycation that rocks.
photo creditThrow a themed partyJust bec...

Planning a Halloween Getaway

Well, you guys. I've had some plans for my vacations for the coming years, but then someone posted a video on Facebook and I have now (mostly) planned an October trip for 2018. Wait, what? That's over two years from now! I hear you, but for those of you who have been reading this blog for any amount of time, you know several things: I always plan a trip in the Fall, I love going new places, I love Harry Potter, and I adore Halloween. So, 2018 is going to revolve around all those things. Perha...