African American Traveling alone in Antigua, Guatemala....HELP AGAIN
Sep 18th, 2013, 09:19 AM
#22
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come to Belize.. great bus to take you to either porto barrios then Livingston GUAt then Punta Gorda to Belize and bus to Placencia for you to relax and enjoy a peace country for any colors... on the caribbean sea... Or bus via flores to reach San Ignacio great jungle then visit Belize to go go south or north island we got it all.
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Verobelize
Sep 18th, 2013, 07:27 PM
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I've researched this heavily and vetted my top contenders and the information is below. I feel strongly that a good backpacking pack doesn't make the best travel pack. If you plan to continue to travel, my guess is you'd never regret investing in a great travel pack.
http://www.rei.com/product/809157/re...40-travel-pack
http://www.rei.com/product/837012/os...46-travel-pack
I have a terrific Gregory women's pack for actual backpacking but recently replaced my trusty Columbia Pakmandu which I've used for 10 years (no longer available). It's a strange shape and not well organized and I travel so much I felt I deserved an upgrade. Awhile back the Vagabond came on sale at the same time that REI was offering 20% off one regular priced item to members. I purchased both the Vagabond and the Osprey Porter 46 and took them home for a complete vetting with real packing and hikes up the hill from my house to assess comfort. My needs are specific to carry-on travel since I already have a different pack for backcountry pack trips and there's no replacement for actually trying a pack to be sure it fits you comfortably, but I'll summarize my findings below.
PORTER - Held more, easier to get into, a bit more of a classic carry-on shape, better compression system, a little simpler but still with nice organization features, similar to the Vagabond in that regard. The suspension system is not as nice as the Vagabond, both in terms of waist strap support and the part of the bag that lies against your back. The carry handles are a bit nicer than on the Vagabond.
VAGABOND - A bit smaller, narrower design, flap/zip system a tiny bit awkward by comparison, excellent suspension/strap system. It's a bit longer than the traditional carry-on measurement but I've made dozens of trips with Vagabond owners (relatives and friends I've recommended them to) and I've never seen one refused as a carry-on. In 2009 I lead a group of 15 people to Guatemala and nearly half had Vagabonds because they were closing out a very slightly different model and cut the price in half right before Christmas that year - no problems, everyone loved them. Nice organization features and a terrific suspension system all around, though it's a bit harder to stow away than the Porter's. This version is very different than the original which my son uses; I travel with the slightly smaller Hitchhiker version of the original (just got back from a long week-end trip to the east coast with it). The current one is improved in many ways, especially with a mild compression system and the included rainfly/cover, though it seemed a little awkward to use and wear the bag, almost designed more for carrying the bag with handles and for checking to keep the bag safer.
In the end I returned the Vagabond because the suspension/back system was plenty comfortable on the Porter for travel (better than the bag I've loved for years) and the general ease/opening/size/shape considerations for my traveling made it better for me (size was an important factor). I absolutely LOVE IT - really an amazing bag.
The eBags Weekender is popular with travelers:
http://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/e...ch+convertible
My brother- and sister-in-law traveled with those when we traveled with them for 3 weeks in Belize in 2009. The design and organizational features were very nice and the price is great. The suspension system is pretty dismal, so I wouldn't pick that one if you think you'll actually be wearing your pack a lot. I think the Rick Steves’ bag is similar in size and function:
http://www.ricksteves.com/news/trave...travelbags.htm
Both would be good value options for the sort of travel where you're mainly carrying it in brief stretches but sometimes I'm off the track enough I walk a lot with mine.
Hope that helps! Happy trails!
http://www.rei.com/product/809157/re...40-travel-pack
http://www.rei.com/product/837012/os...46-travel-pack
I have a terrific Gregory women's pack for actual backpacking but recently replaced my trusty Columbia Pakmandu which I've used for 10 years (no longer available). It's a strange shape and not well organized and I travel so much I felt I deserved an upgrade. Awhile back the Vagabond came on sale at the same time that REI was offering 20% off one regular priced item to members. I purchased both the Vagabond and the Osprey Porter 46 and took them home for a complete vetting with real packing and hikes up the hill from my house to assess comfort. My needs are specific to carry-on travel since I already have a different pack for backcountry pack trips and there's no replacement for actually trying a pack to be sure it fits you comfortably, but I'll summarize my findings below.
PORTER - Held more, easier to get into, a bit more of a classic carry-on shape, better compression system, a little simpler but still with nice organization features, similar to the Vagabond in that regard. The suspension system is not as nice as the Vagabond, both in terms of waist strap support and the part of the bag that lies against your back. The carry handles are a bit nicer than on the Vagabond.
VAGABOND - A bit smaller, narrower design, flap/zip system a tiny bit awkward by comparison, excellent suspension/strap system. It's a bit longer than the traditional carry-on measurement but I've made dozens of trips with Vagabond owners (relatives and friends I've recommended them to) and I've never seen one refused as a carry-on. In 2009 I lead a group of 15 people to Guatemala and nearly half had Vagabonds because they were closing out a very slightly different model and cut the price in half right before Christmas that year - no problems, everyone loved them. Nice organization features and a terrific suspension system all around, though it's a bit harder to stow away than the Porter's. This version is very different than the original which my son uses; I travel with the slightly smaller Hitchhiker version of the original (just got back from a long week-end trip to the east coast with it). The current one is improved in many ways, especially with a mild compression system and the included rainfly/cover, though it seemed a little awkward to use and wear the bag, almost designed more for carrying the bag with handles and for checking to keep the bag safer.
In the end I returned the Vagabond because the suspension/back system was plenty comfortable on the Porter for travel (better than the bag I've loved for years) and the general ease/opening/size/shape considerations for my traveling made it better for me (size was an important factor). I absolutely LOVE IT - really an amazing bag.
The eBags Weekender is popular with travelers:
http://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/e...ch+convertible
My brother- and sister-in-law traveled with those when we traveled with them for 3 weeks in Belize in 2009. The design and organizational features were very nice and the price is great. The suspension system is pretty dismal, so I wouldn't pick that one if you think you'll actually be wearing your pack a lot. I think the Rick Steves’ bag is similar in size and function:
http://www.ricksteves.com/news/trave...travelbags.htm
Both would be good value options for the sort of travel where you're mainly carrying it in brief stretches but sometimes I'm off the track enough I walk a lot with mine.
Hope that helps! Happy trails!
Sep 18th, 2013, 07:29 PM
#26
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PS I just looked at the updates on the Vagabond at REI over the weekend. It just might be the coolest travel pack in the world if you can travel really light - well organized with some interesting added features.
Sep 30th, 2013, 01:27 PM
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Aderonke, your posts have inspired me to look into Antigua as a trip for myself, husband and teen daughter, during spring break next March.
Please consider posting here again after your return and tell us how things went.
I saw photos of Antigua and immediately wanted to go there. I love old cities and ruins.
I'm also reading horror stories re: personal safety, and it's making me nervous. Fwiw, I happen to live just 20 minutes from the Chicago border, and we all know that certain parts of Chicago probably are the unsafest parts of the U.S. right now. Even downtown Chicago can be very iffy in the wee hours of the morning. I know it's all about time and place, and being a little street-savvy - and I've traveled to Europe before and know to take precautions against petty theft there.
And of course there are all the mass shootings throughout the U.S. right now in places typically deemed "safe" - malls, schools, movie theaters
All the same, reading about having to always have an escort/guide wherever one goes in Guatemala, is very un-nerving.
I have lodging booked for there already, but it's free cancellation, so honestly, I'm still just thinking about it, although I'd love to go, and I'd love to be able to take my 15 year-old daughter with us.
Anyway, please post again here and tell us about your trip! Thanks!
Please consider posting here again after your return and tell us how things went.
I saw photos of Antigua and immediately wanted to go there. I love old cities and ruins.
I'm also reading horror stories re: personal safety, and it's making me nervous. Fwiw, I happen to live just 20 minutes from the Chicago border, and we all know that certain parts of Chicago probably are the unsafest parts of the U.S. right now. Even downtown Chicago can be very iffy in the wee hours of the morning. I know it's all about time and place, and being a little street-savvy - and I've traveled to Europe before and know to take precautions against petty theft there.
And of course there are all the mass shootings throughout the U.S. right now in places typically deemed "safe" - malls, schools, movie theaters
All the same, reading about having to always have an escort/guide wherever one goes in Guatemala, is very un-nerving.
I have lodging booked for there already, but it's free cancellation, so honestly, I'm still just thinking about it, although I'd love to go, and I'd love to be able to take my 15 year-old daughter with us.
Anyway, please post again here and tell us about your trip! Thanks!
