Favorite places to shop for travel stuff?

Nicole,
You can find some tips here
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/packing.htm

I get my small travel items at Target.
For carry-ons try ebags.com REI.com, sierratradingpost.com
Just about 2 months ago I got a nice High Sierra 22in carry-on with a small backpack attached to , from rei.com

for great quality stuff thats not cheap - sign up for the newsletter email at REI or similar outdoor specialists (or even the manufacturers they sell). there are lots of sales on all the time 20+% - these are inventsments for future trips as they should be quaily items - not disposable wear. But target can get you buy with plenty of cheaper but maybe less high-end-technical gear. shop early and oten before your trip - looking for deals.

Some of my favorite traveling clothes came from Sams Club and other from REI. I think you just have to be atone to want you want and need and be watchful.

I've bought things from REI, local travel store, Tilley, and Travelsmith as well as regular stores. I've always looking for things that will dry quickly, and won't wrinkle. I travel for business as well personal so I need things that handle business as well as pleasure.

Pam

For deals on travel clothes - campmor.com, backcountry.com (the outlet tab), sierratradingpost.com, rei.com (outlet tab). Go to a big name store and find out what you like first, then keep an eye out. Have also found great stuff at Macys, Target, and the like - keep your eye on key types of fabrics (blends, tencel) and you can find some great deals.

For travel bags, you can't beat ebags.com (if you have AAA membership, and link through them, you end up at ebags with a discount). I have their convertable ebags backpack and it's been to Italy, Scandanavia, all over the US, and on Friday, to Ireland. It has held up well and still looks good.

Hi. My name is Frank and I'm a travel gadgetaholic. I belong to Travel Gadgetsaholics Anonymous. If it's a newer, smaller version of something I already have, I'll probably buy it.

My favorite sites are:

www.magellans.com
www.packinglight.com
www.goinginstyle.com
www.travelsmith.com
www.ebags.com

For travel size toiletries and the like I go to Target, Wal-Mart and my local supermarket.

There's also www.minimus.biz which has a big selection.

If you are going during shoulder-season or off-season...I adore www.wintersilks.com.

Their washable silk selections are affordable and chic. Plus, silk dries quickly if you'll be washing your own clothes in sinks and hanging them up to dry overnight!

Best,
Amber

You can literally shop anywhere. The hard part is checking the labels for materials that are easy to travel with.

I buy very little "special" stuff.

Most of my stuff comes from Macy's (on sale) and Costco. I have a lightweight GoreTex shell that I bought from Cabelas online (along with some non-cotton t-shirts for layering). I check the sales at sporting goods stores. I just found my favorite travel socks and a microfiber blazer at JC Penny's outlet.

Target and Walmart work fine. I once took two pairs of pants for a month trip. One pair was an expensive pair of cotton Columbia travel pants (adjustable waist, hidden pockets, zip off legs) and a really inexpensive pair of microfiber cargo pants from Walmart. Within a week the Columbia pants were stretched and saggy so I ended up wearing the Walmart pants exclusively and lugged the Columbias around in my bag.

My convertible carry on is from e-bags. It's like the Rick Steves bag but about half the cost. I bought mine years ago and it's holding together well (it's been rubbed a lot on one corner and I have to wrestle with the zipper a little on that corner but not enough to buy a new one yet).

Check out www.onebag.com for a good discussion of what to look for in a bag then shop around online.

If it's travel clothes try the "travelers line" at Chicos. The clothes are expensive unless you shop at one of their outlets but I have also found some great travelers pieces by Chicos on ebay. The clothes come out of your suitcase wrinkle free, can be washed in a hotel sink & dry quickly.

I, too, like Chico's travelers line, but recently have started finding better deals at Coldwater Creek (ColdwaterCreek.com). They have expanded their travel-wear line and the prices, while not cheap, are better than Chico's. Also, they tend to offer more coupons online! The quality is great!

Look in the new CAMPMOR catalog: SUMMER 2008. In it
the OUTDOOR PRODUCTS ESSENTIAL CARRY-ON bag is priced at $ 29.95 (item # 60793-K), on page 51. It has padded straps for carrying on your back, and a non-slip shoulder strap. Quality materials. I own that bag : it was my primary bag for my trip to Italy. For people wanting a slightly larger bag, for carrying warm clothes for the Alps mountains, and food, and space for pictures and brochures and booklets and souvenirs that will be acquired in Europe or Britain : look at the new KELTY BASECAMP DUFFEL, size Medium, on page 49. (Item # 88067-K). Price = $ 34.99 Size = 24" x 13" x 11". It can not be a carry-on in an airplane, but it can easily be set on a baggage rack above the seats in a train in Europe. And the new MOUNTAINSMITH recycled Small Messenger Bag, on page 55, has a shoulder strap and a handle on top. (Item # 48415-K). Price = $ 36.99
On the internet at www.campmor.com

The Eagle Creek PACK-IT CUBES are 3 inches thick. That is the size that I like. The "Cube" - size 14" x 10" x 3" is in the CAMPMOR catalog : SUMMER 2008. Page 50. (item # 84645-K). Price = $ 12. Made of 500 denier Cordura Plus nylon, and a see-thru polyester mesh lid.

The most useful sites I have found are Ricksteves.com (I have the convertible carry on and the clothes line), Sierratradingpost.com, and walkabouttravelgear.com (for battery charger and adapters and the little things that make travel easier).

I actually have found the best pants that roll up into capris at Old Navy or stores within that range of stores (such as the Gap..all owned by the same company). I have also bought smaller and useful things at Target.

Items I can't live without: Travel battery charger, Eagle Creek pack-it folder, chaco sandals, and a good facial moisturizer with sunscreen.