Don’t travel with a bad back!

Fully equipped backpack!

Comfy backstraps and waist strap for support

I’m sorry. I’m sorry, but it’s time. It’s the worst time. It’s the end of your fleeting freedom and days without  a care. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I have to whisper those three dreaded words for you school-age kids…..Back to School. Ugh, I know.

But there is a silver lining. The best part of the season and outfits (bathing suits for uniforms) changing? Well I’m a geek and I always enjoyed this – buying the new school stuff. The new pens, pencils, notebooks and most importantly?! The bag!

So for The Harbourmaster’s Travel Tip Tuesday’s Sheilagh Robertson, store owner, suggests taking some time in her Washington Mall store (near the Washington Alley entrance, ground floor) to figure out what works best for your back!

Tuesday’s tip: “August is a busy time as children of all ages look for the perfect “book bag”. For many this means a new backpack and parents should make sure they purchase a backpack that is the appropriate size for the age of the child and not too large as carrying too much weight can cause back problems.

High Sierra Backpacks in The Harbourmaster

“For older students with laptops, big binders and heavy books look for backpacks that have padded straps, and waist straps that help support the weight.”

Like the High Sierra Backpacks above. The grey backpack is able to carry a laptop, cell phone, water bottle, MP3 player and even has a strap to help support the bag around your waste. It will run you about $110 while the pink backpack above with run you abut $36 and is a light weight alternative.

These Land Backpacks are another alternative for sizes and high-end backpacks with the leather bag offering a more compact sized bag for $60. While going for the green will be $89.

Or perhaps you’re going to college? Or maybe you have a friend/daughter/son/niece/nephew going to University? What do they need? Why not help organize them? I can personally attest to the help of one of these organizers for everything from my college years to my trip around the world. They hold everything from visas to foreign currency….everything!

Passport holder and identification organizer

Tuesday’s Tips for the College bound? Going away to college is a major expense and practical gifts such as a passport case to keep travel documents and student visas secure are most appreciated. Gift certificates that can be used to purchase luggage are also welcome.

While nothing quite helps keep their passports up-to-immigration standards like the covers and passport holders available at The Harbourmaster.

Why not help the College student who will most certainly be traveling longer and further than before? Why not help them keep their things organized and their passports clean with these handy leather covers from The Harbourmaster?

The run from $30 for the passport holder to $59 for the passport organizer. Check them out at The Harbourmaster (on the ground floor of the Washington Mall near the entrance to Washington Alley)!

Check out The Harbourmaster on the ground floor of the Washington Mall

Roommate? Check.

Kipling on the move to college

And she seemed perfectly normal.

“So what are you going to bring?”

“Well I can’t bring much because I am coming from Bermuda. I have a CD player (does this date me or what?) I might bring so we can have music.”

“Cool, well I can bring the fridge.”

The ultimate roommate chat was done, but the worst was still to come. I rolled onto my University of Richmond, Virginia campus with my mom and whatever we could shove into the little Toyota rental. I checked-in, got my key and walked through the dark hallways to the heavy wooden door.

My room was empty so what else were we going to do? Uh…snoop of course!!! My roommate had one thing hanging in her closet – a plain white dress. In her top drawer? sock lined in a row. My mom started getting nervous. I started thinking I was in The Shining.

The shadow of a roommate returned. She was a mormon (no judgement) and she hadn’t packed anything. I was from Bermuda and had very little I could pack. We had an empty room.

Well except for my two massive suitcases that, luckily, our storage room downstairs could hold. But not so many people are lucky.

Which brings us to Tuesday. What day? yes just the second day of the work week (in Bermuda anyway) and it’s time for the Tip of the Week from…..The Harbourmaster.

What is it? Well I hate to tell you students, but it’s time to start planning for the return to school and for some that will mean packing your life into bags and boarding a plane.

So Tuesday’s Tip: Plan early! And take advantage of the Harbourmaster’s one month lay away plan if necessary. Luggage sells quickly this time of the year and shipments don’t always arrive when planned.

Convenient Kipling with duffel bag (wheels and handle included) lying in front. Matching suitcase standing to attention behind!

Kipling luggage is very popular with students because it is relatively lightweight, packs fairly flat and has proven to be very reliable.

Sheilagh Robertson, owner of The Harbourmaster (which you can find in the Washington Mall of course) says: “I recommend taking one large 30” duffel or suitcase on wheels for clothing, a carry-on bag, and possibly a second large folding duffel to take things that are needed to set up your dorm room at the beginning of the year that will stay there all year.

“Dorms have limited storage and soft bags take up less space. Most college students buy a lot of stuff second-hand after they arrive.”

Another option at The Harbourmaster? The Eagle Creek line with duffel bags that come complete with a collapsible carry bag for better storage. It’s all here in the slide show.

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And finally….my advice? Move-out from the Mormon before they get a chance to tell you, that you’re an “unfit roommate.”

Hey! At least I brought a CD player and I flew to two cities and drove miles with nothing more than two bulky suitcases….

I could have picked a better roommate and luggage. Now you’ve got the chance for both.

Visit The Harbourmaster for one of them!

Bags for any Trip