There I was, in the midst of a mobbed Dublin International Airport, when it occurred to me that I'd soon be going home having no memento for myself. I headed to one of the airport's many gift shops to put an end to the martyrdom. The 8.8-ounce box of Bewely's Finest Loose Tea is maybe a little taller than your average box of baking soda, but otherwise comparable. Seemed small until I remembered the significant effort I needed earlier to close my backpack.

This would be trip three for my new L.L. Bean Celia Day Pack, a versatile pack specially designed for women to manage comfortably. The straps and pack are narrower, so it aligns better with our backs and shoulders. The Celia comes in three sizes, small for 15-inch to 17-inch torsos, medium for 17-inch to 19-inch torsos and large for 19-inch to 21-inch torsos. I purchased the medium, though in retrospect, I should have gone for the small. The pack is durable, waterproof, cleans easily and includes compartments for everything from sunglasses, to water bottles, to fleeces, laundry, travel guides, a complete collection of Yeats' works (the dog sitter is a fan) and shampoos and the like (when you could carry these on). A yellow rain slicker is tucked in the bottom latch. The main compartment can be accessed from the top and bottom, and includes a loop to secure easily lost items, such as keys.

But did mine have room left for tea? It wasn't looking good after much of what I had stuffed into it earlier oozed out like cream a squished Twinkie. A little fighting with inanimate objects and the tea was in the bag. I easily lifted the pack, great with hodgepodge from my five-day trek of Ireland, and made my way to the gate. The straps, which include one that goes around your waist for optimal support, kept the pack tight to my back and not swinging out of control, hitting people or newsstands. Once onboard, I simply fit the pack into the overhead. About an hour later I quickly retrieved my headphones while the opening credits rolled on the in-flight movie.

This is just one example of my nearly 12 months with the Celia Day Pack. Like all L.L. Bean products, it was field tested before being marketed. It comes in great colors, such as citron, powder blue and wild iris, which I had my eye on. I went for the carbon, as I live in a house full of males who often swipe my stuff. The pack has since accompanied prepubescent males on a school trip to Washington D.C., a New Hampshire overnight camp, a visit to relatives outside Chicago and nana and grandpa in Florida (this last trip, it also held a Playstation 2 and accessories.)

The pack weighs approximately 2.2 pounds and is easily cleaned. It retails for $59 at www.llbean.com.

Is there something you'd like reviewed? Let us know before buying a new travel item. We'll let you know if it meets JSG's standards.

PHANTASTIC PHOTOS



"California Coast"
by Robert Pitt
http://www.robertpitt.co.uk

Do you have a photo that deserves a spot on this page? Send it to denise@ justsaygo.com. We'll post it here and send you a JustSayGo.Com TraveLetter prize.

Does it seem as the airlines and the government change the rules every time you fly? Don't know where to find the answers? Marina Farrell does — in her column, Travel Vitals, she shares her research. To learn more about the most updated regulations and where you can look when in doubt visit... MORE

Got a hot travel tip or vital travel information? Send an email to Marina at Travel Vitals and share YOUR bright ideas!

TALK TRAVEL by Denise Dubé, JSG TraveLetter Editor

New Year's is usually a day when it seems everyone is making resolutions. Mine usually involves losing weight, cleaning my office, getting more organized, spending more time writing, and the usual fare.

This year I decided to make an unusual and unlikely resolution. I resolve not to make any resolutions and let life and goals take me wherever. Yes, I'll keep trying to forego that extra piece of bread and that dessert I really don't need. I'll try and throw away all that paperwork I never use anyway and because of contstant deadlines, I'll probably spend more time writing. But, I'm not going to guilt myself into demanding more than I already do in my already packed life. Let's face it, in this technological day and age we are already doing way too much for our own good.

So, I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing. Hopefully, this will ease the February guilt when I see that I-as most humans-have slipped or slid into an old habit. Maybe, just maybe, I'll like myself a lot more and maybe just maybe, I'm already just fine the way I am.

Here's to your "New Year." May you be your best self, no matter what you do or don't do.

Is there something you'd like to share with us, write to Talk Travel at denise@justsaygo.com.

From the Traveler’s Bookshelf by Carol Sorgen, JSG Executive Editor

“Stylish, brutally frank, and sometimes, frankly brutal.” That’s how LUXE City Guides describes their accordion-pleated travel guides that are just the right size to pop into a pocket or purse. LUXE City Guides, headquartered in Hong Kong, first came out in 2002 with a series on—not surprisingly, Asian cities. Now there are 19 in the series featuring such tourist-friendly locations as Hong Kong, Melbourne, Phuket, Shanghai, Sydney, and most recently Istanbul, Madrid, and Paris.

The recommendations for each city guide are gathered from 25 residents of that particular city, and are then assembled by a local city editor. The publishing editor of LUXE then flies to each city to personally check out each of the final selections, with the yardstick being, “If we loved it, it’s in, if it’s not, it’s not worth it.”

Because of the format (the guides are printed on heavy card stock, with no illustrations), they can be updated twice a year so you know you’re getting the most current recommendations.

I recently ordered the Paris guide since that’s a city I know well…and always want to know better. The guide is subdivided into the usual categories of accommodations, restaurants, activities, shopping, and the like, but then is further subdivided into categories such as “Standout Stores,” “Smart and Casual Restaurants,” etc. There is also a section called “LUXE Loves” and “LUXE Loathes.” As often as I travel to Paris, I still found some recommended shops and the like that I wasn’t familiar with and will definitely make a note of for my next visit; for visitors who have never been to Paris, there is a good balance between the must-see attractions and the undiscovered spots that help you create a just-for-me type of experience.

What’s the most fun about these guides is the writing—light and breezy, not at all guidebook-y. Reading them is like having a chat with a very hip friend who’s telling you all the best places to go. And at only $9 a guide, the price won’t put a dent in your souvenir-shopping budget!

For more information or to order, visit www.luxecityguides.com.

Is there something you'd like to share with us, write to Talk Travel at denise@justsaygo.com.

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