Three NEW Products from Travelrest®

Travelrest® recently released three amazing products to help our customers get better rest while on the go. We released a sleep mask set, U-shaped memory foam pillow, and new memory foam and velour cover for the classic Travelrest pillow.

The first product we released is the Travelrest Tranquility sleep mask set. This kit comes with a sleep mask, earplugs, and satin bag to hold the items. The sleep mask is made of a soft material that contours to the face, has eye pockets for air flow, and room for blinking for a natural feel. If you are someone who likes keeping things orderly while traveling, this kit would be a great addition to your Travelrest Pillow. The satin bag keeps the earplugs and the mask together so you’ll never have to go fishing for them in your bag.

The second item we recently released is the memory foam neck pillow. For those people who enjoy the classic feel of the U-shaped neck pillow, our Travelrest neck pillow will meet every need you are looking for. The ultra soft feel of the outer cover, combined with the contouring effects of the memory foam will surely help you sleep comfortably. There is also a small adjustable clip that attaches the open ends of the U-shaped pillow, so the pillow never moves once you find that perfectly comfortable position.

The final item we released recently is the new and improved Travelrest memory foam cover. After many reviews of the old cover not fully meeting everyone’s expectations, we did a lot of designing and testing to find the perfect solution. This completely new cover is made of incredibly soft velour that anyone will want to cuddle up to. There is an added zipper to the cover running along the side that allows the pillow to easily slide in and out. The hole near the bottom of the cover fits snugly around the valve, and the hole at the top allows the drawstring to still be used. There are also two pockets inside the cover where memory foam pads can be added for extra comfort. Lastly, the extra stretchy and durable elastic at the bottom of the cover allow you to roll up the pillow without removing the cover, and still be able to attach it to your luggage. We tested the cover out for 4 months of travel and it didn’t disappoint even once! This new cover is definitely worth the $14.95 for the added bit of comfort while traveling!

Packing for Travel Made Easy

Are you someone who has difficulty deciding what to take with you on a trip? Do you tend to overpack, forget important items, or take half a day to finish packing? Well, you aren't alone. Tons of people struggle with packing! Luckily, there are plenty of online resources to help you with your packing troubles. Here are some of the best resources:

1. Pinterest

We are always pushing pinterest for anything travel related. People post tons of packing lists for different locations, and you can be sure to find whatever packing help you need there. Whether its an image of a packing list, or a link to a packing website, pinterest is a great place to start for some packing help.

2. HerPackingList

Her Packing List is a blog site for women who travel. It offers tons of options for packing lists based on where you are going, what time of year, how long you will be traveling and more. HerPackingList is a great website for females packing for a place they've never been. It always good to have a little insight into what you should wear and take with you. It is important to respect the cultures of different places and dress can be a large part of that. This blog site is sure to take all those factors into account give you some of the best packing tips out there!

3. PackWhiz

PackWhiz is a website that allows you to customize your own packing list. It's been featured on Oprah, Lifehacker, and cool website of the day. Packwhiz give you the choice to use someone else's pre-made packing list for yourself, or create your own custom one to share with others. Use the packing list online or print it out and cross things off as you go.

4. Travel Tips and Tricks

Look on the web or pinterest for travel tips and tricks. Small tips and tricks can save you tons of space, and can help you avoid taking too much. If you check our TravelRest's pin board on Pinterest for travel tips and tricks, we are constantly finding little things that can help make your travels easier. From DIY mini single sized ointment packs, to car activity packs, to fire starters, to packing techniques that save space, theres a solution for everything!

Sleep is another one of those essential things you need to travel and enjoy your trip. Make your trip a little more enjoyable by making it easier to nap wherever you go. TravelRest makes rest easy and comfortable, so don't forget to take a travelrest pillow with you on your travels!

Best Online Resources for Travel Planning

When it comes to planning your travels, ditch the travel books and search the web! Books are heavy and a pain to carry around when on the road. By searching the web and finding the perfect resources for each location you're going to, you can simply create a small itinerary folder to guide you on your trip. Here are some of our favorite online resources for trip planning:

Destinations

1. Pinterest

Pinterest is a treasure trove of great ideas for travel. Whether you know where you would like to visit, or if you are still looking for a great place to go, Pinterest will definitely serve your needs. Posts on guides to exploring locations are common, and beautiful, awe inspiring photos will have you building a long list of places you'd like to see in the world. When we traveled Europe for three months, Pinterest was always one of our first choices for finding the next place to check out.

2. Rick Steves

Rick Steves  website is also a great resource for trip planning. His best articles and guides are definitely on countries in Europe, but he's been all over. The great thing about Rick Steves is that he recommends sights and places off the beaten path. These unique locations he recommends will be a better representation of the location's culture and country than other tourism driven places. We definitely noticed the difference in location choices when we used Rick's recommendations in Europe.

3. Trip Bucket

Trip Bucket is a forum where people post places they would like to go and they have been and share their ideas and experiences from travel. It's basically a huge collection of bucket lists from people all around the world and feedback from the parts they've completed. You can even create your own bucket list on there! They have recommendations of festivals, places, restaurants, sights, and more. You can sort lists by the most sought after destinations, man made versus natural, spiritual, extreme, sports...I think you get the point, but this site is awesome!

Places to Stay

1. Hostelworld and BedandBreakfastworld

Hostel World and Bed and Breakfast World are two great websites to find cheap places to stay all over the world. All you do is type in your destination and dates and they give you options based on what hostels, hotels, or bed and breakfasts have. You can narrow results to female only rooms, male only, co-ed rooms, or singles. Most of the places listed have ratings and reviews which usually helps in deciding where to stay. We found that the reviews became the most important aspect of choosing a place because everyone's standards and preferences for what is considered a good experience is different.

2. Airbnb

Airbnb is a great resource for people who are sick of staying in hotels and hostels. Airbnb offers a range of properties, but essentially is a place where people post homes, apartments, or rooms for rent. It has the same concept as staying in a hotel or bed and breakfast, with a warmer more homey touch. If you are worried that someone who has posted a listing is a serial killer or something, don't worry, people leave reviews for people they've stayed with and the website makes sure the listings are safe.

Vacation Deals

Everyone loves a good deal on an all inclusive vacation. Here are some of the best sights for getting the best deals for a vacation:

1. TravelZoo

TravelZoo publishes a top 20 every week on the best 20 deals you can get for travels. They have discounts on plane tickets, hotels, all inclusive vacation packages, and more. They even have options for local deals around you! Whether its food, mini excursions, or a one night getaway to a hotel, TravelZoo will be sure to let you know when to buy a deal.

2. Living Social

Living Social is a great resource for local deals and grand vacations. There are new options for deals almost every day and we can almost always find something that perks our interest. Its good to check in on this website from time to time to see what deals they have to offer.

8.5 Hour Train Rides with the TravelRest

Traveling by train has both positives and negatives. Some of the best things about traveling by train is that its pretty hassle free, convenient because train stations exist everywhere in Europe, and you get to see a lot of beautiful scenery on the way.

If you have a train pass like I do in Europe, then you probably want to get the most out of it that you can. Train passes aren't cheap, but they are definitely worth your money if you make trains your main form of transportation. That stated, you may opt for a pretty long train ride somewhere over a plane flight in some cases. In one particular case on my way to Croatia I chose to take the 8 and a half hour train  ride from Munich to Zagreb. It was the longest train ride I had encountered since I began my trip, and didn't know whether the train cars would be old or new. Well, the the train was pretty old, the seats were rather rigid, and the seats were also too short in height to be comfortable. 

Yet another moment when the TravelRest saved the day! I set the pillow up so it was partially attached to the headrest, and the bottom half would be used freestyle. I shift around in my sleep, so this method of using the TravelRest pillow is great because the pillow will automatically adjust with my varying positions. One exception is that it won't automatically shift to the other side of your head. We're still trying to figure out how that might be incorporated one day. 

If you haven't tried this using the TravelRest pillow like this, definitely give it a try and let us know what you think :) Or if you ever have feedback for us, we would love to hear from you so we can improve your experience with the TravelRest! Email us at info@travelrest.net

On another note, it might be beneficial to bring the TravelRest blanket with you on a European journey too. I've encountered hostels where providing your own blankets is expected. Almost all the trains I've ridden completely lack lumbar support, and the TravelRest blanket is a great way to support your back and keep from ending up in a slumping position. 

Sevilla and Ronda, The Gems of Spain

The entire Andalucia region of Spain beautiful. The picturesque white houses surrounded by reddish brown dusty mountains is a typical sight in these parts. Two of my favorite places were Sevilla and Ronda, and these cities also turned out to be my favorite in all of Spain. 

(Photo: Royal Alcazar Gardens)

Sevilla holds a lot of history for Spain. The Royal Alcazar is Sevilla's most popular sight, but don't let the idea of a crowd deter you. When I visited, there was barely anyone around. The Alcazar was one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen in my life. The tiles, carvings, paintings, woodwork, and architecture of the palace was breathtaking. Every inch of the place had incredible detail and this made it impossible to really absorb the intricacies of the Alcazar. You could easily spend a whole day here. The gardens behind the palace are 4 times as vast, and each new section of the garden transports you to a different country through the style the garden was created. Endless fountains, a maze, benches, walking paths, different plant life, and even peacocks exist! I highly recommend the Royal Alcazar to anyone visiting Sevilla. 

(Photo: inside the Royal Alcazar)

Another must see is the Plaza de España. It's difficult to describe how huge and marvelous the Plaza is, so you'll have to see for yourself. You can take a small rowboat in the tiny canal in between the plaza and the huge half moon shaped building in the plaza, which is a nice way to enjoy the scenery. Otherwise, there are plenty of benches around to soak up the Plaza, but you should really get up close to appreciate the intricacies. Like the Alcazar, there was a lot of detail put into the Plaza de España. D

There's also a great park nearby!

(Photo: Plaza de España)

Ronda is a small town easily accessible by train from Sevilla. Despite its small size, there's plenty to see and do. The famous Puente Nuevo bridge is amazing, but the best views of it are a short walk down the hill. The signs for the viewpoint aren't that obvious so be sure to ask your hotel or hostel reception for a map. There are also ruins of some baths you can visit, hanging gardens, churches, a small museum on the history of Ronda, and the bullfighting museum. Ronda is actually the birthplace of modern day bullfighting so this is a must see! 

 (Photo: Puente Nuevo)

(Photo: moonrise over Ronda)

Make sure to have some tapas while you're visiting Spain. There's a great place called Dos De Mayo in Sevilla where the atmosphere is lively, and the tapas are delicious! It's quick, easy, and very cheap too! You have to go to the counter to order and pick up your food, then pay at the counter after too, so this isn't your typical sit down restaurant. I highly recommend this place!

The Markets, Architecture, and Life in Barcelona, Spain

In every city where I can find a market, I always make it part of my plans to stop and check out what types of goods are being sold. Some markets, like the one in Nice, have a variety of food, handcrafted goods, artwork, and flowers. Others are more specific to just food or just crafts. The Boqueria Market in Barcelona is a food market where the fruit is stacked high, juices are fresh, the fish looks freshly caught, and you'll see more dried pigs legs hanging than you can imagine. The smells and colors in the market are enough to thrill your senses! Make sure to try a 1 Euro freshly blended juice. They are delicious and perfect for a hot day! I especially liked the papaya coconut blend. The vendors making food there also offer some great traditional flavors and are worth trying for a small snack.

This market offered a better variety of food than all the others I've seen, and if you stay long enough you'll get to see some locals quickly go through and pick items out for a meal. It's interesting to see what Spaniards choose to combine for food, as it is very different from a typical American diet. La Boqueria Market is located on la Rambla street, which is a street famous for shopping and food. La Rambla is also known for its live human statues who are on the end of the street side closer to the pier. The statues are great for taking photos with so drop 'em a coin and join the fun.

After you've satisfied your stomach, take a tour through a section of the city. Barcelona can't be seen in a single day so make sure to allow enough time to explore the city. I definitely suggest checking out some of the houses Gaudi designed like casa Batlló, as well as his park called Parque Guell where you'll see the famous ceramic tile lizard and Gaudi's residence. This park also offers a spectacular view of Barcelona! Admission to the park is free and buses run regularly. 

The Sagrada Familia is also a must see in Barcelona, but getting in is a hassle so make sure to arrive very early if you want a tour. The famed church is frequently undergoing maintenance, as it was when I saw it, so the outside of the church may not have the appearance you expect. However, the Sagrada Familia is still architecturally amazing, enormous, and shows beautiful detail everywhere. Go see it! 

A stop in Barcelona wouldn't be complete without a giant Seafood Paella, sangria, and a night out. My recommendation is Port Olímpic. In that port there are plenty of restaurants to choose from, but I especially liked La Fonda. It was perhaps the largest meal I've had on my entire trip for a reasonable price. If you go with another person, share their 15 Euro paella set menu. You get about 7 or 8 large appetizers, plus paella, plus a drink of choice, plus desert of choice, plus coffee. When I went, the waiter offered complimentary lemon liqueur with cakes as well. You won't be able to eat it all, but it was sure a delicious and cost effective way to try a variety of Spanish food. After your meal, there are plenty of clubs and bars at Port Olímpic to dance the night away! 

French Riviera in Summertime

The French Riviera is a must see if you are touring around France. It has something to offer everyone, but is the most beautiful during the summer when the beaches are lined with picturesque blue and yellow umbrellas. A few of the most accessible and best towns to visit are Cannes, Nice, and Monaco. I visited all three but enjoyed Nice the most, so let me offer you my thoughts on Nice.

By far the largest tourist destination of the three cities I listed, Nice can often be portrayed as too commercial or overly crowded. In some areas, you may find that true. But Nice has authentic charm and can offer solitary relaxation if you know where to go. The old town of Nice will have you oohing and awing around every corner as you weave through narrow cobblestone streets lined with cafes, boutiques, and specialty shops. Much of the old town finds its charm in the mix of French and Italian history that you can find out more about if you take a guided tour. A tour is definitely recommended for Nice because the major sights don't have any plaque descriptions of their historical significance. Walking in the old town you may pass by a gelato stand called Fenocchio, which offers 100+ flavors and its definitely worth trying some of their unique ones like avocado or lavender. If you go during the height of summer then you'll see that a gelato break is a great way to cool off a bit.

A must see in Nice is the flower and fruit market in the old town that happens 6 days a week, and the other day is a flea market. Make sure to check out the lavender and soaps at the market. The region is known for lavender and you'll see it everywhere. Buy some fruit, bread, vegetables or whatever you'd like and then take a walk to the end of the old town where you'll find stone steps leading to the top of a hill. This spot is a great place for a picnic! It has the best panoramic views of Nice and has a beautiful waterfall just below the top. It's a great spot to take some photos!

If you're looking for a place to relax, then head past the hill beyond the old town to a smaller sandy beach in VilleFranche Sur Mer. You'll notice that the beaches in Nice are pebbles, and that's not always the most comfortable. Not to mention, few people venture toward this other beach. The best way is to get there is by taking the bus, which has a stop right behind the hill for the picnic and view of Nice. You can also arrive by train, and I believe it's only one stop away. Local tip: take an umbrella and beach mat, and your TravelRest Pillow! The TravelRest came in handy in the French Riviera because sandy or pebbly, the beaches were still uncomfortable. The TravelRest pillow gave a little bit of extra comfort to laying on such a stiff surface. 

The reason I preferred Nice to Cannes and Monaco is because there is much more to see and do. Cannes is a beautiful day trip, with big label shopping stores and cafes and a nice sandy beach. If you love to shop, then Cannes is definitely your spot. The beach is taken up mostly by hotels and private beach clubs, so public areas are limited. Monaco is also a wonderful day trip, and the number of mega yachts and expensive cars are enough to keep anyone wide eyed. If that doesn't thrill you then, there's a fun garden in the outskirts of Monaco that has a huge array of cactus and other plants. Some small museums and art exhibits are scattered throughout too. But be prepared for a larger budget in Monaco, because nothing is reasonable there.