Tag: product review

Best Travel Razor for Women Travelers

Best Travel Razor for Women Travelers

This post is premised on a few things: 1. B and I travel. 2. B and I are proponents of shaving. You might not agree with #2, and that’s just fine. Do whatever makes you feel free. However, if you are on board with these 

Women’s wool sock comparison for travel

Women’s wool sock comparison for travel

Mostly for kicks and giggles, I thought it would be interesting to experiment and conduct a wool sock comparison for travel to see which ones I should take on my next trip. Here at Jane Sees the World, we have been quite vocal about our 

Foldable Flats for Travel [Product Review]

Foldable Flats for Travel [Product Review]

I review three different pairs of foldable flats for travel. If you are a woman traveler and you have your eye on a pair of foldable flats for your next trip, this post is for you.

Note: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you buy something through one of these links, we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

This product review compares three pairs of foldable flats that I used on my travels. I highlight the pros and cons of each shoe and give my honest review and recommendations. Also, be sure to check out our post on choosing the right shoes for your trip.

Foldable flats + travel

Ballet flats are not my usual style so I have never been a connoisseur. However, when I read a review about the benefits of foldable flats in regards to travel, well now, that made me pause. I really liked the idea of an easily packable shoe to wear on airplanes or slip on at night to go to dinner. I had no desire to replace my sturdier boots and sandals, but I figured it would not hurt to look into a foldable flat for certain travel situations. With that in mind, I purchased three different pairs of foldable flats:

  • Yosi Samra in gold shimmer
  • Crane ballet flats in black
  • Kigo Flit in gray

A note about Tieks

It does not take too long when researching foldable flats to come across the brand, Tieks. With their pretty turquoise soles, presence on Pinterest and a seemingly endless supply of positive views, it is not too long before you start questioning why you do not already own a pair (or 12). Of course, that reason is the price tag. If you are the kind of person who wears ballet flats all day, every day, well then Tieks are probably worth the investment.

However, I am looking for a pair of shoes to wear during specific travel situations (e.g. airplanes, trains rides, dinner, etc.). Since I will not be wearing ballet flats down cobblestone streets during Christmastime or on a hiking trail on some remote island, Tieks cost too darn much (as do the foldable flats from Tory Burch and Coach). Even as someone who has no trouble paying good money for good shoes, I cannot justify the price for a pair of shoes I will only wear occasionally. In addition, I wanted to compare and contrast different brands/styles and one pair of Tieks would blow my whole budget. So I guess that is a long-winded way of saying that I will not be reviewing Tieks today. Sorry.

Choosing a pair of foldable flats

I was actually surprised by the number of options available for foldable flats. Do a search on Amazon and you will get over 8,000 results! However, I was looking for a quality pair of foldable flats that did not cost too much money (under $100). I wanted a pair with some support, made from quality products that would be easy to slip on and off while on a plane or train. Between the price I was willing to pay and the desire for quality, there were not too many options available. I read and watched many reviews before settling on Yosi Samra, Crane and Kigo. After I purchased my shoes, I started taking them on trips. Below are the pros and cons of each pair of foldable flats for the purpose of travel:

Yosi Samra foldable flats for travel

Yosi Samra foldable ballet flats gold shimmer travel
Yosi Samra foldable flats in gold shimmer with black drawstring bag. A good option for travel.

Yosi Samra Pros:

  • These foldable flats come in a variety of styles and colors. Since I would be trying out my new pair on a Christmas trip to Europe, I wanted something a bit jazzier than I usually wear. I went with gold shimmer and called them my Christmas shoes.
  • They a very cute. I wore them to Arizona for my birthday trip and my girlfriends both commented on how cute they are.
  • These flats are perfect for a nicer dinner. They make you feel a dressed up but still allow for easy walking to and from the restaurant.
  • I loved that these shoes were comfortable right out of the box and required no breaking in for me.
  • Yosi Samra foldable flats arrive folded in a cute box with a black, drawstring bag. I am a sucker for cute packaging so this was a definite pro for me.

Yosi Samra Cons:

  • A pair of these foldable flats costs around $100, which is a little steep for shoes you may only wear on the airplane. Luckily, you can often find them on sale and save a bit of money (try Tosi Samra’s website or Amazon). I got mine off of Zulily for half the price.
  • Although these flats are fairly sturdy, I did take them off once we started walking around a lot. I do not feel like they mix well with cobblestone streets.
  • These foldable flats are not the best winter shoes. They are thin and not waterproof at all. For an airplane (which is why I bought them), they are fine. For any sort of exploration, they will get wet and cold quickly.

Final review:

Yosi Samra is a good choice for a foldable flat. I enjoyed the options for fun colors and I appreciate how comfortable they are. I will be taking these shoes on future trips, especially if I want to wear something pretty.

Crane foldable flats for travel

Crane ballet flats foldable flats travel black
Crane ballet flats in classic black are made in the Philippines.

Crane Pros:

  • All Crane ballet flats have pretty purple soles.
  • The flats arrive folded in a very cute, purple box and come with a black, drawstring bag. (Again, I am a sucker for packaging.)
  • The classic black color I ordered goes with everything.
  • The shoes are good quality and made with well. I have not worn them long enough to test out exactly how long they will last, but at least they do not arrive looking and feeling “cheap.”
  • These shoes are affordable. My basic black pair was $54. They also have a camouflage pattern for $58 and a textured pattern for $60. (See my note about shipping costs in the con section.)
  • Although these shoes ship from the Philippines, they arrived quickly (more quickly than the pair I ordered from Zulily).

Crane Cons:

  • There is no online store for Crane. You pursue the options available on Instagram. If they happen to have a color you like in your size, then you email them. After that, they send you an invoice and you pay via Paypal. At the end of the day, it was not all that difficult. However, it was not the usual way of shopping online. (Note: Crane says that an online store is coming soon, but it is not up and running yet.)
  • Show selection is very limited in both sizes and colors.
  • There are no returns and no refunds available. Luckily, you should not have any trouble reselling your pair if they do not fit (there is a following similar to Tieks).
  • Shipping is expensive. These shoes are made in the Philippines and for one pair, it costs $42 to ship. If you order more than one pair, the shipping is a bit higher ($49 total, not per pair), so it is a better bargain if you can get more than one pair.
  • I did not find the Crane flats as comfortable right out of the box (they rubbed my right pinkie toe a bit). I realize that most shoes require a break-in period, but since my gold flats did not, I was disappointed to discover that these did.

Final Review:

If Crane has your size available in a color you want, I say go for it. If they have two colors you want, even better! You will be taking a slight risk, but it is not too big in my opinion since reselling is an option. At the end of the day though, I would probably order a pair of Yosi Samra before ordering another pair of Crane ballet flats.

Kigo foldable flats for travel

Kigo Flits gray travel foldable flat
Kigo Flits in gray. A great little travel shoes that folds (rolls?) up.

Kigo Pros:

  • My Kigo Flits were super comfortable right out of the package. There was no rubbing and no break-in period.
  • They are very light, but also very sturdy—the best of both worlds when it comes to travel. This was the only pair of foldable flats that I feel comfortable doing some serious exploring and walking around in.
  • At $75 a pair, these shoes are a decent price. Even better, I got mine on sale for $35.
  • Instead of a traditional ballet flat look, Kigo Flits have a Mary Jane style that I like very much.
  • The gray color goes with just about everything and the stitching is a periwinkle blue, which is a nice touch.

Kigo Cons:

  • Kigo shoes do not come in a cute box or with a drawstring bag. This is not a deal breaker, but when it comes to packing, you may need your own shoe bag for them.
  • They have a more sporty look, which is okay for most situations. However, one of the reason I was interested in a pair of foldable flats for travel was so I could have a nicer pair of shoes for dinner. This pair will not always work for that situation.
  • The only come in two colors: black and gray.
  • These foldable flats do not fold up as flat as the others. They are more of a roll-up flat.

Final Review:

Two thumbs up for these shoes. Out of the three foldable flats I purchased, I have worn the Kigo Flits the most. I even wear them when I am not traveling.

gold ballet flats foldable flats travel
My eyes might not be open but my Christmas shoes could not be cuter.

Some final notes about foldable flats for travel

I would recommend different foldable flats for different types of travel. For example, I recommend a pair of Yosi Samra if you are going to a lot museums and nice dinners in places like Belgium, Washington D.C. or a cruise. On the other hand, if you are going to be visiting places like Hawaii, the Azores and New Zealand, I recommend the Kigo Flits.

Before purchasing a pair of foldable flats, read lots of reviews—the good and the bad. These will help you make an informed choice.

I would like to point out that foldable flats do not take up any less room than regular flats. They just take up different room. I do enjoy having the option to fold them if the folded shape fits better in my bag. However, often just laying them flat is a better fit.

Conclusion

After traveling with three different foldable flats, I have found them to be a useful addition to my bag and I will continue to travel with them in the future. Who knows, I may even invest in some new colors.

foldable flats crane ballet flats travel purple soles
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Using Credit Card Points to Book Travel

Using Credit Card Points to Book Travel

One of the biggest impediments to travel is cost. Even though B and I have talked about how we don’t spend as much as you would think on our trips, travel still costs more money than staying at home. One way to keep travel costs 

Travel-Size Toiletries Usage: How Long Do They Really Last?

Travel-Size Toiletries Usage: How Long Do They Really Last?

Travel-size toiletries usage can be tricky. But we tested them out and here is how long they really last. Note: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you buy something through one of these links, we may earn a small commission, at no extra 

A Spa Day in Bali

A Spa Day in Bali

Planning a Bali spa day is something we highly recommend. However, there are some key things you should know, which we share below.

Last week B’s friend K came into town and they had a great time catching up and comparing past travels and adventures. As they chatted, B mentioned an infamous massage event that she, S and I experienced in Bali. K’s eyes grew wide and she exclaimed, “You too?” It turns out that all of us experienced the same type of spa treatment–one that will never be forgotten. If it happened to us, and it happened to K, I figure it might happen to a few more unsuspecting Janes and perhaps a warning is in order. So here’s what went down and might possibly happen to you if you sign up for a massage in Bali.

As you all know, B and I like to do a lot of research before we visit a destination and when we were looking at things to do in Indonesia, spa packages came up frequently. After digging a little further, we found a spa that would pamper us like queens for hours and provide lunch and fruit drinks, all for the bargain price of 510,000 rupiah. (Around $50 with the exchange rate back then!) Crazy deal, huh? So, we contacted Eve Spa Bali and reserved three slots for the Spa Package 1.

Bali Spa Day

When we arrived around 10 in the morning, we were told that there were two rooms. So one of us would have a room to our self and the other two would share a room. S and B drew the short straw and went into the room where two massage tables were set up, along with one big stone bath tub (more on that later). I entered my private room and from this point on, the three of us experienced parallel paths of the following treatments. (S and B each had their own lady.)

Bali Spa day gear
Sure, lady, why wouldn’t you smear that stuff on me?

Massage

I hadn’t had many massages prior to this excursion, but B assured me that I just needed to disrobe to the point where I was comfortable and the massage person would respect my modesty and adjust the massage to my comfort level. Well, that is not at all what went down.  My spa experience began with my lady handing over a teensy plastic bag containing disposable underwear and walking out of the room. (Ditto for S & B).) Since we are all roll-with-it-kind of gals, we underwear-ed up and got our massage on. If the massage was awkward, that was nothing compared to what was coming…

Body Scrub

Next on the agenda was a full body sugar scrub. And yes, I mean full body. This part of the treatment involved the lady rubbing a coarse scrub into the skin to exfoliate the dead cells. It felt nice and scratchy in places like the legs and arms, but in other areas it was very strange to be manhandled by a stranger. It got really weird next…

Yogurt

Being as we were covered in a sticky sugar substance, we had to get clean, right? At this point our ladies gestured to the shower. (Did I mention these ladies didn’t speak English? Communication was based on pointing and nodding.) Over we went to the shower and while standing there, the lady first rinsed the sugar off and then proceeded to rub yogurt all over us. Everywhere that the tiny disposable underwear wasn’t covering. Everywhere.

Soaking in the Tub

I was then directed to the stone bathtub full of hot water and petals of flowers. It was quite beautiful, but I couldn’t help but wonder what was going on with my friends next door. Surely they each got their own bath tub, right? Well, nope. S and B were enjoying a romantic soak in an over-sized stone bathtub. (Pause typing while I laugh just thinking about it!) They told me it was fortunate that there were loads of flower petals they could strategically place… It was around lunchtime at this point, so our ladies brought us menus and while we soaked they ran next door to a restaurant to pick us up some food, which we then ate in the bath tub.

flower strewn bath tub Bali spa day
Just two friends sharing a bath…
Nasi Goreng
So this wasn’t actually the meal at the spa…but this dish of Nasi Goreng was what we ate at least once a day.

Hair mask

After the bath treatment, we were allowed to get dressed and head back out to the main spa area. We sat down at chairs like you’d find in a hair salon and our ladies coated our hair with some pasty substance that I’m sure had to have just been mashed up exotic fruits. You’d probably pay a fortune for a bottle of it here in the U.S.

Mani/Pedi

While our hair soaked up nutrients, we got manicures and pedicures. Usually I love a good pedi, but to be quite honest, at this point in the day I was over being pampered. I just wanted them to paint my nails and get on down the road. We were going on hour five at the spa, and all the relaxing was exhausting!

Feet in front of a waterfall
Pretty toenail colors

Finally, we were painted, primped, perfumed and were able to walk out of the spa and into the humidity. My hair immediately turned frizzy and we were covered in sweat by the time we walked back to our lodging. Oh well.

A few days later, we were in another town and the power went out. Since we couldn’t do anything else, we decided to hit up the spa! S and I were dubious of a repeat massage performance so instead went with reflexology on our feet. For some reason, we still hadn’t learned our lesson about how things are done a little differently in Bali than they are in the U.S. Instead of a relaxing foot massage, S and I were both in crazy amounts of pain as they squeezed and pulled with no mercy.

B said her massage was similar to the other one. Luckily, it was pitch black because the three of us were lined up in a row on tables–S and I grimacing in pain and B sunny side up for all the world to see, had their been lights. B’s friend K also got two massages in Bali and had nearly the same experience.

Conclusion

There are many takeaways from this little story about spa treatments in Bali:

  • Lesson Number One: do your research before you commit to something. We thought we had, but there certainly wasn’t anything describing what we experienced on the interwebs. Hopefully, someone will read this before they purchase the Spa Package 1 and be able to make an informed decision.
  • Lesson Number Two: do not assume things are going to happen the same way you have experienced them before. Why would a Balinese massage be the same as a Swedish massage or hot rock massage? Making assumptions is dangerous business. Side note: K did say that on other trips she is sure to book a Swedish massage and this has always been much more aligned with the type of massages we experience in the U.S.
  • Lesson Number Three: go with the flow. Sure, this experience was super awkward, and with respect to the reflexology, super painful. But you know what? I still crack up every time I think about it. The purpose of adventures is to try new things out. So what fun is it to stay inside your comfort zone when you are in a new place? If all else fails, it will make an excellent story when it is over.
Five things to think about when buying a new backpack for travel

Five things to think about when buying a new backpack for travel

When choosing a backpack to travel the world with, there are many things to think about and take into consideration. My first backpack was a lesson in what not to buy. We went on a couple of good trips together, but I learned some important 

Christmas Gift Ideas for Travelers

Christmas Gift Ideas for Travelers

Are you looking for the perfect gift for that traveler in your life? Gift giving in general can be a little overwhelming. It can be especially overwhelming if you are trying to delve into a world that is a bit foreign to you. I have 

Choosing the right shoes for your trip

Choosing the right shoes for your trip

Let’s talk about travel shoes for women. Travel = walking. A lot of walking. Having sturdy, comfortable shoes is crucial since you need to be able to wear them all day, every day. If they are cute, well, that is an added bonus. But honestly, that probably should not be your focus when packing for a trip.

Disclaimer: we have mentioned before that we are not fashionistas. We are all about comfort when we travel and you will not find us walking through the airport in a pair of heels. If that is your thing, well, you probably won’t get much out of this post.

Travel shoes for women

Confession: I am shoe addict. I love shoes. My love (aka obsession) with shoes sometimes makes it difficult to pack for a trip. I want to pack light, but I want to be prepared for every sort of situation. The two do not go hand in hand. Regardless of how many shoes you choose to pack, below are a couple of tips for selecting the right pair of shoes for a trip followed by some specific stories from the road.

Quality: you get what you pay for

Tip number one: invest in quality. It is time to say goodbye to cheap shoes (sorry Payless). It just is not worth it to skimp here. Blisters and bad smells are always a concern when it comes to shoes. Cheap shoes will only compound those issues. Trust me. Save up your moola and buy a quality pair of shoes. Not only will they be more comfortable, but they will also last longer. Cheap shoes wear out quickly or break and you will have to buy multiple pairs. I would rather spend a chunk of money on a pair that lasts then $20 over and over again on a pair that does not hold up.

R and I are both big fans of Chaco sandals and have been since before they became the “it” shoe on campuses around the country. When it comes to comfort and durability, my Chacos have never let me down. I have more pairs than I would like to admit, but my first pair is still going strong after 10+ years of solid use. That is impressive. Now I personally think Chacos are cute, but I understand that not everyone does. Regardless of how they look, they are comfortable and durable. Very few sandal brands can say the same.

Green Chaco sandals snail Bali travel shoes for women
Snails and Chacos in Bali.

Of course, sandals are only good for warmer weather. Traveling in colder climates requires a completely new strategy when it comes to choosing shoes. When the temperatures drop, I prefer my Teva boots. These boots have it all. They are waterproof, warm and very comfortable—I can spend all day walking around in them. In addition, they are cute. I have had them for over five years now and although they take up a lot of room in my bag when I am not wearing them, they have been worth every penny I spent on them.

Waterproof Teva boots Alps travel shoes for women
Teva boots in the Alps.

It really does not matter which brand you prefer. Just make sure to choose shoes that are comfortable and will stand the test of time.

Quantity: how many pairs of shoes do you really need?

Well that depends. Because shoes take up so much space in your bag, you want to make sure you really need a pair before you throw them in. Unless you know for sure you are going to go for a run, do not bother packing running shoes just in case (unless they also double as your walking-around-town shoes). Is the chance of rain small? I would not recommend packing your rain boots then.

As mentioned previously, R subscribes to a three-shoe rule: usually a pair of Chaco sandals, a pair of flip-flops and some sort of close-toed shoes. Between the three, she has most situations covered. I, on the other hand, prefer to pack only one or two pairs if possible. Therefore, I stress over my choices a bit more.

I find it easy to choose shoes for straight up cold or hot climates. It is the in between that gets me. Our last trip was to Puerto Rico. I packed one pair of shoes: Chaco sandals. For this particular trip to a tropical climate, my choice was spot on. They worked great for walking around town, hiking to a waterfall and combing the beach (although I usually took them off and walked barefoot in the sand). Trips to places with variable weather and temperatures are a lot harder to decide on.

travel shoes for women chaco sandals beach
Chaco sandals on the beach in Puerto Rico.

A note about work shoes

If you are not concerned about space or packing light, then you do not need to analyze your shoes quite as much. I will be traveling for work later this week and since I need separate outfits for every day I will be interacting with clients, I will not be bothering to pack as light as I do for my personal trips. That means I have plenty of room for shoes! I still do not plan to pack shoes I might never wear, but I am free to pack a pair I may only wear once.

cowboy boots travel shoes for women
Cowboy boots have their place in my life, but they are not the easiest shoe to pack.

Each trip is unique. Therefore, you should choose shoes that are appropriate for that specific trip based on the length of the trip, weather, activities and the size of bag you will be using.

Stories from the road

Foldable flats

I recently began packing foldable flats on some of my travels. I have found them to be a useful addition to my bag and I will continue to travel with them in the future. They work great for plane rides and easy walking. On a recent Christmas trip to Europe, I packed a gold pair of foldable flats to wear to our fancy Christmas dinner. They were festive and fun and took up very little room in my bag. I was also grateful to have them on the long plane rides.

Hiking boots

On my first backpacking trip through Europe, I packed my hiking boots. I am not entirely sure why. Maybe I had the image in my mind of what a backpacker is supposed to look like and it included hiking boots. Regardless, they were big, bulky and I rarely wore them—I remember having to tie them to the outside of my backpack because there was not enough room in my pack!

I did not need hiking boots to trek around London or Madrid. I did not need hiking boots to walk along the beach. Even when we traveled to rural areas like the Wicklow Way in Ireland, they were superfluous. I learned a valuable lesson on that trip: do not pack hiking boots unless you plan to do some major hiking. (And small hikes do not count since Chaco sandals or quality walking shoes work just fine in those situations.)

Several years after that first backpacking trip, a friend and I traveled to Peru to see the sights and hike to Machu Picchu. We opted to take a five-day hike over the Salkantay Pass. It was intense and hiking boots were very much needed for this particular trek. I was glad to have them. However, very few of my trips entail intense hiking. Therefore, very few of my trips require me to pack hiking boots.

Hiking Salkantay trail Peru travel shoes for women
Hiking boots were a must in Peru.

Rain boots

I mentioned my trip across Canada via the railroad in an earlier post. I went during a time when the rain could be counted on to fall and I made the choice to pack my rain boots knowing they would take up a lot of room in my pack. Well, it did rain and I was happy to have those rain boots even though they made packing light a challenge.

Any kind of boot should be carefully considered before it goes into your pack. However, in cold or rainy climates, you will not regret the extra bulk. R usually gets a little short on space in her pack as trips wind down. One thing she’ll do to make sure everything fits is to wear her biggest shoe on travel days during the trip. This frees up more room in the bag for newly acquired treasures.

Green rain boots travel shoes for women
For the right situation, packing rain boots is a great idea.

Slip-ons

On that same trip to Canada, I tried out my first pair of Toms. I resisted purchasing a pair (even though I love the One for One concept) because I thought they were ugly. Honestly, I still think they are ugly but their comfort is hard to beat. In terms of durability, they are not going to win any awards. But they were perfect for traveling on the train (and airplane) and they complimented my bulky rain boots nicely when it came to taking up space. Toms have worked great for me, but there are plenty of slip-on options to choose from should a trip call for that kind of shoe.

Trail sneakers

Now make sure that after you find that perfect pair of shoes, you break them in before you hit the road. R and I recently went hiking in North Cascades National Park and I packed a new pair shoes—some trail sneakers. Although I was familiar with the brand and had worn them the weekend before on an outdoor adventure, they were basically still new. Luckily, they performed like a champ and are now officially broken in. But still, it was risky of me to pack them without being certain they would be comfortable for hours on end and you never want to take that risk before a big trip.

Shower sandals

As mentioned previously, my days of hostel bunk beds and shared showers are a thing of the past. If that is still your thing or you are finicky about potential germs in the shower, I recommend you pick up some flip-flops for the shower. The last time I stayed in hostels on a trip, I packed a pair of those disposable flip-flops they give you at a nail salon. They do not hold up great, but they are cheap, light and do not take up a lot of space. They were perfect for showering and just before I came home, I threw them away.

Over the years, I have found shoe brands and styles that work well for me. However, I am always on the lookout for a good pair of shoes that might make a trip even more enjoyable (I recently bought a pair of Allbirds and I cannot wait to try them out). If you have any suggestions for a good travel shoes for women, I would love to hear about them.

Snow boots in the snow
Snow = a need for snow boots. (Obvs.)

Conclusion

Shoes are an important part of travel (and life, in my opinion). However, choosing the right pair of travel shoes for women can sometimes be a challenge. You want shoes that are comfortable and will stand up to miles and miles of walking. Sure, you may have to make an investment. But it will all be worth it when those shoes take you to some amazing place in this big old world.

Train Travel Tips for Two Weeks in Canada

Train Travel Tips for Two Weeks in Canada

Taking the train across Canada was a dream come true for me. I do not remember when I first learned that it is possible to ride a train across Canada, but I was young and it remained a dream of mine for many years. After