Travel

Pack This: The Terroir Guides

Seeking the most savory corners of each of your travel destinations? Then get an insider's view, city by city, courtesy of The Terroir Guides ($19.96 each). Designed with the foodie in mind, each tome tells gastronomes where to trawl for gourmet treasures. Take Food Wine Rome, for example. Listings are broken down by neighborhood and then further into three umbrella categories: restaurants, retail shops, and wine shops and bars. Finding the perfect torta di ricotta—at Bar Benito—is a piece of (cheese) cake. Budapest and The Italian Riviera & Genoa are now available; Tokyo and Burgundy will be out in early 2010. Available at littlebookroom.com.

–Caroline Rath,  Modernluxury.com   

Photo: Find Your Craving.

Pack This: Quirky's Split Stick

Even the worst mid-flight queasiness can't compare to the distress of a mistaken document disclosure. To prevent information leakage, travel with Quirky's Split Stick ($25), a double-sided USB drive. This single handy stick houses a pair of 2G retractable drives, so you can keep work and personal docs easily separated. Just flip the switch in the center to eject the drive you need and maintain your own digital divide. Available at quirky.com.

–Isaiah Freeman-Schub,  Modern Luxury Magazines  

Pack This: Trace Me Luggage Tracker

Missed connection, misleading airport code, rolling-bag doppelgänger... Whatever the reason, we've all had luggage that inexplicably—and maddeningly—made its way to somewhere other than our desired destination. Ensure you always get your bag back with the Trace Me Luggage Tracker ($22), a simple yet super-smart tag with a barcode that links back to your registration particulars. That way, finders won't be keepers, and you can recover your possessions (including those hard-won souvenirs!) without too much ado. Available at iwantoneofthose.com.

–Caroline Rath, ModernLuxury.com  

Photo: IWantOneOfThose.com.

Pack This: OrigAudio Fold and Play Recycled Speakers

True road warriors are always on the lookout for ways to enhance their travel experiences without adding bulk and weight to their streamlined suitcases. Among the latest portable audio options? OrigAudio's limited-edition Fold and Play Speakers ($16), a set of two single-watt speakers made from completely recycled materials. The paper cubes, whose measurements come in at just over 3 square inches apiece, will plug into and play with any device that utilizes a headphone jack. Use them anywhere, then simply fold them flat and stow them in your laptop sleeve for no-hassle travel. Choose from five cool designs (Cityscape, Daydream, Lake, Surf Break or Flowers), or paint your own on the blank Canvas design. Better yet, opt for the Six Pack ($60), which includes one of each, and share! Available at origaudio.com.

–Caroline Rath, ModernLuxury.com  

Photo: OrigAudio.

Pack This: Solio Solar-Powered Electronics Charger

Want an easy way to reduce your ecological footprint and reduce frustration from battery failure when your favorite electronic devices are away from a wall socket? The Solio solar-powered electronics charger ($99.95) derives free power from sunlight; one hour of sun can produce 15 minutes of talk time! Use this clever contraption to power your Blackberry, iPhone, MP3 player, Bluetooth or digital camera (which also means reducing the number of chargers you have to tote along on your trip). The classic design comes in silver, black or white and includes a host of adapter tips to help hook you up. Available at solio.com.

–Caroline Rath, ModernLuxury.com  

Photo: Solio.

Pack This: Ivar Ergonomic Backpacks

Let's face it: Kids don't want or need a lot of fancy-schmancy luggage when traveling. All they want are some coloring books, crayons, a copy of any Harry Potter book, and perhaps for the school-age set, a well-stocked iPod and laptop for watching movies in-flight. This makes backpacks a near-perfect option for carry-on travel—but for the backbreaking ache that comes with dragging them around from airport to airport. Enter a new solution: Ivar's ergonomically designed backpacks ($70-$90) use a patented shelf system to save spines by evenly distributing weight. The brand's Urban style is wide enough to accommodate unwieldy binders and a 17-inch laptop, perfect for travel as well as school use. And if you "accidentally" find yourself borrowing the bag here and there... Well, we won't tattle. Available at luggageonline.com.

–Caroline Rath, ModernLuxury.com  

Photo: Ivar.

Pack This: Joby Gorillapod Bendable Tripod

Documenting one's travel escapades for posterity is one of life's great pleasures. But unless you're David LaChapelle, lugging along a full-size tripod is not terribly appealing—and possibly not even feasible if you're packing light. One rather genius solution? Joby's Gorillapod (available in four sizes, from $22), a super-flexible bendy contraption that's designed to assist with your on-the-go photographic adventures. In fact, in some ways it actually transcends the power of a tripod, since you can balance it on (or wind it around) just about anything to help you get that perfect timer shot. Available at joby.com.

–Caroline Rath, ModernLuxury.com  

Photo: Joby.

Pack This: Hermès' UL53 Suitcase

We say it's about time to embrace cheerful accessories and, luckily, Hermès is pleased as orange punch to help out. Enter the latest model of its UL53 suitcase ($7,950), this time in a bright new color. Practical and fuss-free as ever, the case includes new features like a removable, adjustable shoulder strap and an outside pocket that serves as an ID tag holder and passport pouch—all of which help you squeeze the most out of this vibrant valise. hermes.com.

–Isaiah Freeman Schub, Modern Luxury Magazines  

Pack This: Thomas Pink's Traveller Shirt

Leave it to those British gents to find an alternative to wrinkled, rumpled travel attire. The Traveller shirt ($99) from Jermyn Street fixture Thomas Pink is crease-resistant while it retains its luxuriously soft feel. Signature details like a breast pocket (perfect for a passport!) and the option of classic or slim-fit cuts will leave you looking travel-savvy and totally polished. Available at thomaspink.com.

–Isaiah Freeman-Schub, Modern Luxury Magazines  

Pack This: Valextra for OrphanAid Passport Holder

For those of us whose travel plans don't include a humanitarian aid trip to Africa anytime soon, there's still a smart—and chic—way to help out. A portion of the proceeds from Valextra's sleek, limited-edition passport holders ($290 each), created in collaboration with Margherita Missoni, goes to OrphanAid, a nonprofit supporting orphans and vulnerable children in Ghana. Available at yoox.com.

–Isaiah Freeman-Schub, Modern Luxury Magazines