|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bluedot Living’s BuyBetter Marketplace newsletter includes affiliate links, including to Amazon. If you purchase a product through one of our links, we may earn a commission. These commissions help us fund the great journalism that you see on Bluedot. Thank you for supporting us!
|
|
|
Dear Readers,
Do you like to travel? I always have, and for our honeymoon, my husband and I quit our jobs and took off. We tooted around Asia, India, Egypt, and Turkey for nine months via planes, trains, automobiles, jeepneys, tuk tuks, scooters, and boats, with only backpacks in tow. We made many last-minute plans and pivots, and while we endured plenty of hiccups, we generally considered ourselves experts at getting around.
|
 |
In 2010, my husband and I arrived on a small Malaysian island via boat, expecting to find a hotel. Instead, we slept on the beach, fending off crabs. We did enjoy the company of the tiny black kitten you see curled up on my pack.
|
Fast forward a few years: We were both burned out and needed a vacation. I called a friend who had started working as a travel advisor, and told her that we needed a peaceful, dog-friendly getaway within four hours of Manhattan. I gave her a budget and she did the rest, including booking the car, hotel, and restaurants and making recommendations for hikes and other activities. When we arrived, we received a free room upgrade and found some special treats along with a note from our friend. The only items on our to-do list: relax and enjoy. Now this was luxury.
As a proud independent traveler, I never thought I’d take a vacation someone else had organized, but the trip upstate made me rethink all that. Sometimes, you don’t want to make decisions: You just want to get out of town. I reflected on all the times I’d been somewhere only to realize after the fact that my last-minute travel style meant that I had missed something I would have loved to see. Perhaps taking a trip planned and led by experts is a great idea, after all!
With all that in mind, I’m thrilled to share what we’ve been dreaming up behind the scenes: Bluedot Living Travel. These trips invite you to explore stunning destinations while connecting with local environmental leaders. Each all-inclusive itinerary is designed with care — from farm-to-table meals to immersive experiences that reflect the spirit of each locale. We’re launching five trips for 2026, from the star-studded energy of Hollywood, California, to the coastal charm of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. We’d love for you to be among the first to join us. Visit our website
to explore our destinations.
Of course, you can’t go empty-handed. Luggage and travel gear have so many permutations, both stylistic and functional, that making recommendations is tough, so I’m including items to suit a range of tastes. For a list of some of my favorite easy-to-pack clothes, toiletries, and more, click here or keep scrolling.
Happy shopping, and happy trails!
– Elizabeth Weinstein, Marketplace Editor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Luggage for Life
|
Briggs & Riley not only makes amazing luggage, it also offers the best lifetime guarantee in the business. The Baseline collection, priced from $729 for a carry-on spinner, offers a suite of features that make the bag a joy to pack and travel with. A patented design keeps the handle on the outside, which creates more space and dramatically reduces wrinkles. An ingenious one-touch compression system allows you to fit significantly more. A light interior makes it easy to find everything. The company also offers hard-sided luggage. As my husband says: “Buy once, cry once.”
|
| SHOP NOW
|
|
|
Gear for Packing Light
|
Matador designs gear for travelers who like to keep things simple — and small. Thoughtfully made backpacks and compression cubes make it easy to travel carry-on only, while a packable line of weatherproof toiletry bags, daypacks, and even duffels folds down to the size of a grapefruit. The company uses bluesign®-approved fabrics and recycled materials throughout its collection, and offers in-house repairs whenever possible. A personal favorite is the teeny-tiny microfiber towel on a keychain: a great gift for any traveler.
|
| SHOP NOW
|
|
|
Adventure in Technicolor
|
If you’re not one for basic black, you’ll love Cotopaxi, a brand whose gear is as joyful as it is practical. Cotopaxi crafts its signature Del Día collection from leftover nylon that would otherwise go to waste. That reduces the carbon footprint of each piece by nearly a third, and means that no two backpacks, sling bags, coolers, totes, or travel cubes are alike. The Certified B Corp also makes colorful clothes for men and women. If you’re already thinking about holiday gifts, consider Cotopaxi for adventurous folks in their teens, twenties, and thirties.
|
| SHOP NOW
|
|
|
Rough and Ready Bags
|
If you seek flexibility in your packing — and don’t mind doing a bit of hoisting — you’ll probably enjoy Patagonia’s rugged travel gear. The company’s famous Black Hole line includes three wheelie suitcases as well as duffels ranging from 40 to 100 liters, all of which have straps and can be worn like a backpack. While you can fit a heck of a lot in these bags, the fact that they’re made in Fair Trade Certified factories with recycled materials may make your journey feel lighter. Patagonia also makes bags designed for fishing, climbing, and snow sports.
|
| SHOP NOW
|
|
|
Photographer’s
Favorites
|
Peak Design built its reputation among photographers, but its sleek luggage and everyday gear appeal to almost any minimalist who cares about performance. The brand’s thoughtfully engineered Travel Backpack and tech pouches make packing and organizing effortless, while its weatherproof phone cases and camera clips keep your devices secure and accessible. Peak Design really commits when it comes to sustainability. The company is The Climate Label Certified, a B Corp, and a 1% for the Planet member.
|
| SHOP NOW
|
|
|
Viewfinder Extraordinaire
|
Lightweight, compact, and comfortable for the hands and the eyes, Nocs binoculars are the rare travel accessory you’ll actually use on repeat. Yes, they’re perfect for birding and spotting wildlife. But they’re also great for admiring architecture and even getting a better view at the opera. The 12-ounce set slips easily into a carry-on or purse, and at $99.95 for the excellent base model, won’t put too big a dent in your wallet, either. The 1% for the Planet member company offers a lifetime warranty, guaranteeing years of great adventures.
|
| SHOP NOW
|
|
|
|
|
|
Be among the first to experience a Bluedot Living–curated travel experience, where you’ll connect with local environmental change-makers and enjoy carefully designed all-inclusive itineraries and farm-to-table dining, all in exquisite locales. With five trips scheduled for 2026, ranging from Hollywood, California, to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, there’s a destination to suit every traveler.
|
| Explore Our Destinations
|
|
|
|
Paid Advertisement with Money
|
Get a FREE debt evaluation |
|
Ever wonder if debt relief could make sense for you? Stop wondering and get a personalized savings estimate in just minutes. Freedom Debt Relief shows you how much you might reduce your total debt without affecting your credit score. Take the first step toward a more manageable future.
|
| FIND DEBT RELIEF
|
|
|
|
More Favorites for Travel
|
|
|
|
This elegant, wrinkle-resistant dress from Ninety Perfect is perfect for travel. And, it only costs $77.
|
|
Clothing and Shoes
Toad&Co: inviting, colorful, easy-to-clean clothes for daily wear
Artknit: luxe, polished, and wrinkle-resistant clothes
Pact: comfy organic cotton basics and loungewear
Ninety Percent: elegant, wrinkle-resistant draped dresses and more
Darn Tough: American-made wool socks for fresh feet
Rothy’s: comfy, lightweight, versatile shoes
Toiletries and Storage
Activist Skincare: perfectly tiny and complete travel set
Suri: a quiet electric toothbrush with a 40-day battery life
Cadence: chic, leakproof capsules for all your toiletries
Tidalove: handy waterless mouthwash tablets
Snacks and Drinks
Stasher: endlessly useful bags for snacks, toiletries, cords, and more
Contigo: a perfect, spillproof travel mug
Allkelr: a small, flat water bottle that fits in even small purses
Yeti: an indestructible bottle that keeps your water ice cold
- S’well: cheerful, nesting snack canisters for the plane
|
|
|
|
|
Paid Advertisement with Cash App
|
3 money habits teens can start building now |
|
With a Cash App Card, teens can take their first steps toward independence with a secure debit card. They’ll learn how to spend, save, and manage money, all with your guidance
and oversight to help them get started.
1. Learn to spend responsibly
A debit card gives them a safe way to practice managing money under your supervision. It gives you the opportunity to teach them how to make smart spending choices.
2. Start saving for their goals?
Setting goals can help them see how saving a little at a time can help them reach their short-term and long-term goals.
3. Manage their own money
?Whether they get paid with direct deposit or use Cash App to get allowance or gifts, they get real experience with money.
|
| Get started
|
Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App's bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See Terms and Conditions. Savings and direct deposit provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand.
|
|
|
|
|
Want to get in touch? I’d love to hear from you. Tell me about your favorite sustainable products and anything else that’s on your mind — email marketplace@bluedotliving.com. I’ll see you again Monday after next.
– Elizabeth Weinstein
|
Elizabeth Weinstein, Bluedot’s Marketplace Editor, lives in Manhattan with her husband; papillon Finley; and cats SanDeE* and Modell. When she’s not asking the folks at Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom to try on their most sustainable sneakers in a size 9½, she can be found at the Union Square Greenmarket or gardening on her rooftop terrace.
|
|
|
Our audience is informed, intentional, and tuned in to sustainable living. Reach our 300,000 readers by advertising here, or contact adsales@bluedotliving.com to reserve your space.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
