We have a giveaway today! Yah!!

The good folks over at Vemayca asked if we wanted to give away one of their travel cosmetic bags. I am a lover of all travel bags so of course I said yes. And I’m glad I did! This bag is really nice!

Now fellas don’t stop reading yet!

Yes, technically this is a cosmetic bag but you don’t need to use it for cosmetics. It’s a great bag and you can use it for a multitude of items – in fact, I use mine to store my LensBaby lens kit. It’s the perfect size and everything fits. I don’t travel with that much make up so it works well for me to use it for other items. The bag is black so you don’t need to worry about it being a girlie color.

The details:

The bag is quite luxurious. It’s made of a plush material with one main pocket and two side pockets. The inside is made of a very silky silver fabric.

Soft is the name of the game here. The outside is soft, the interior is smooth & soft and even the liner is soft! The interesting thing here – and this makes the Vemayca bag unique – is that it has a removable inner liner. This is particularly good for make up, shampoos, etc. If you have a spill in the bag, you can simply clean or toss the liner and then actually throw the entire bag in the washing machine to clean it up.

The bag feels really nice and it’s a good size. As you can see from the photos below it actually holds a lot without being overly bulky. It’s great for anyone to use as an organizational travel bag, and if you aren’t in need of a small travel bag remember, you can always enter the contest and if you win, give it away to a friend as a gift!

We’re making this contest extremely easy because easy is good! So all you have to do is become a Facebook fan (if you are already a fan, just leave a comment below saying so) and then leave a comment on here telling me you friended us and we’ll enter you into the contest.

Easy like Sunday morning!!!

Looking for our Facebook Page? Just click – Beers and Beans Facebook Page to check it out and friend us.

The contest officially ends Friday 9/2/11 at 5pm so get your entries in quick for a chance to win!

It stands up on it’s own too!

This is how the liner attaches to the bag.

This is what the liner looks like if you remove it.

Check out all the different ways you can use this bag. Keep in mind that everything you see pictured actually fits inside this bag!

All of this fits in that bag!

You could use it for your crown jewels. Or the cheap stuff like I have...

This is how I use it - to store camera gear and keep all of my LensBaby gear in one spot!

All the stuff shown in the above photo is in the bag & side pockets! I couldn

You can use it for other gear too!

This is a really nice, compact bag that somehow fits quite a bit. It’s so soft that if you wanted to, you could probably stuff it and make a little pillow out of it. Be sure to enter the contest and check out Vemayca.com if you want to see more of their bags.

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*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

As some of you know my photo ebook – Getting Out Of Auto – launched last week and so far it is opening up to some great reviews! Honestly I am extremely flattered and humbled that so many people have enjoyed the book and are already using it!

If you’re thinking about purchasing it you might want to check out what some other people are saying:

“Beth has created what might be the best introduction to photography guide I’ve read: Getting Out of Auto. If you have a camera, especially an SLR, and you are shooting in automatic mode (aka “P” for programmed), then this is the book for you.

It is a better reference than anything I’ve found browsing at Barnes & Noble and at $9.99 it is also cheaper than any other introductory book you can find. I keep a copy of the ebook on my iPad just so I can show others.”

- Gary Arndt of Time Magazine’s 2010 Best Blog, Everything-Everywhere.com

“This is the book I wish I had read when I first got serious about photography.”

– Wes Nations of JohnnyVagabond.com

“My favorite section would be two where Bethany gives the low-down on all the composition and artistic techniques she uses to make some of those unforgettable images pasted on her blog. With this ebook, you can actually be armed with the knowledge of how someone would take a normal shot and turn it into art.”

– Brooke Schoenman of Brookevstheworld.com

“I just got a copy of your ebook and I must thank you for putting this together. It is just what a ‘constantly in auto mode’ person like me needs to get a handle on creative photography and making the most of my camera.”

- Mark Granelli – A new photographer who recently purchased the book.

“I loved your ebook. It was amazeballs, super informative, and very well put together.”

- Matt Kepnes of NomadicMatt.com

“Every now and then I have trouble writing a review. Getting Out Of Auto by Bethany Salvon has been giving me trouble for a couple of days now.

It’s not because I don’t like it. It’s because I’ve fallen in love with it.

There are plenty of books, blog posts, manuals and videos out there that will walk you through the basics of photography (and I should know, I’ve read enough of them.) This one takes you by the hand, lights some candles, whispers in your ear and seduces you into the world of photography.”

- Abi King of InsideTheTravelLab.com

“Now is your chance to make the jump into more professional pictures. Bethany of Beers & Beans has made the basics of photography readily available and super easy to read via her new book, Getting Out of Auto. She provides fantastic examples using easy to understand picture sequences to show what different settings can produce.

If you are seriously looking to push your boundaries as a photographer, or even your personal pictures, I highly suggest checking out Getting Out of Auto to get your mad skills in gear.”

-Erica Kuschel of OverYonderLust.com

Another great thing is that people are already using the book!

Brooke Schoenman has already used it the step by step instructions for improving your food shots in a post she wrote!

Check out Mouth Watering Food Shots to see how she used the lighting and composition guides to make some fab looking food on her lunch break!

Next week I’ve organized for a few people to do more ‘in use’ reviews of the book. Instead of just talking about it, they’re going to put it to the test and in essence, I’ll be putting my money where my mouth is. I feel really great about it and I know people are going to get a lot of this book so I can’t wait to see how those reviews turn out! I’ll be sure to put up links here so you can all check them out.

On another note I have a huge photo essay coming out tomorrow – Venice At Night. I’m editing the last of them now and this is going to be a great one so keep your eyes peeled for some cool shots from what has to be one of the most unique places on earth.

If you want to check out a more thorough write up of Getting Out Of Auto check out the page I have for it:

Getting Out Of Auto Photo Ebook

This page shows several screenshots and talks in detail about what’s included in the book!

If you’re interested in creating better photos today and you want to buy the book now just click on the image below and it’ll bring you right to the order form. Easy as pie!

Get the first glimpse of our new travel photos & posts! Subscribe by email and get new travel articles delivered straight to your inbox:

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*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

I’ve been talking about it for months and now it’s ready!

Getting Out of Auto is being published in collaboration with Almost Fearless, and the official launch is in just a few days! Next Monday (August 1st) is the big date and I am VERY excited!

Getting Out of Auto is a photography ebook that covers the basics of photography along with a lot of creative extras, step by step instructions, composition tutorials, historical photography facts and inspirational quotes from world famous photographers.

Seriously, I put a TON of information in this ebook. It was been a real labor of love and I am really, really happy with the results. It’s in the review stage now and has opened to some amazing compliments!

So what the heck is in this thing? A LOT – I’m serious! I have packed this book full of great information, including how to’s, tips, tricks of the trade & cheat sheets! Check out the table of contents:

Here’s a little sneak peek at what’s inside:

If you learned anything at all in the few pages above, imagine what you might get out of the entire book.

What Are Other People Saying?

The reviews are just starting to roll in. Here’s the first one!

“This is the book I wish I had read when I first got serious about photography.”

– Wes Nations of JohnnyVagabond.com

For the official launch next week, we’ll be having photographers week at Almost Fearless. Lots of great photographers are sharing three of their favorite photos and their thoughts about photography. It’s going to be great and I’m honored to also be a part of it! On Monday, we’ll also be hosting an official launch on Beers & Beans, and I’ll be putting up a couple more sneak peek pages for the book and elaborating on the contents and reviews!

If you’re wondering how much it’s going to cost I have great news – it’s only $10! It’s over 70 pages and a great deal! When I elaborate more on it next week, you’ll get an even better idea of what’s inside!

Next week is going to be a really exciting week here at Beers & Beans and on Almost Fearless. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I was so excited about something!

Thank you all for reading our blog and taking the time to read and comment on our photos and posts. Truthfully if it wasn’t for you guys, this blog wouldn’t be where it is today. Most likely Getting Out of Auto wouldn’t even exist. I wrote this book for all of you who are trying improve your photography. I put a lot of heart and soul into it so that you would get a lifetime of help from it and TONS of knowledge and inspiration.

O.K., I’m getting wordy and it’s 3 a.m. – more to come on Monday!

Editors note: How I Shoot: A monthly photo series where I highlight something I find useful in terms of travel photography – be it gear, tips, technical data, etc. Hope you enjoy it!

The last How I Shoot post was all about saving your back with an out-of-this-world camera bag strap that cost only $20. If you missed it be sure to check out The Best $20 You’ll Ever Spend on Camera Gear. This post features another affordable strap but this one is for your camera.

You know that strap that came with your camera? If you’re a Nikon user you can’t miss it since it probably has the word Nikon plastered all over it in bright yellow letters, along with the name of the model camera you are using. That strap sucks. No offense to anyone out there that is using it, I just can’t stand it. I guarantee if you try out the strap I’m writing about, you’ll never go back to your kit strap either, be it Nikon, Canon, etc.

The kit straps aren’t comfortable plus I think they are too short. To top it off, I hate broadcasting to the world exactly what camera I’m using. To me, it’s basically asking a thief to pay attention to my gear–which I really don’t want. The ad team at Nikon definitely did not have travelers in mind when they came up with that strap.

I know a lot of people use those straps because they come with the camera, and they come at a great price – free – with the purchase of your camera body. It’s hard to beat free, but carry your camera around enough and soon you’ll be wondering if there’s a better strap to save your aching neck. There is – today I’m going to tell you all about an awesome strap that I use and love. It’s the Op/Tech USA Classic Strap.

Mine is just like this but black. There is a quick release on each side of the strap.

Why do I love it? Here’s five reasons:

1. It Makes My Camera Lighter!

This is a big reason why I love it so much. It has a built in weight distribution system. Don’t ask me how they do it but it works. Like. A. Charm. Put this bad boy on your camera and your neck will thank you instantaneously. The bouncy, neoprene material makes your camera feel SO much lighter. If your camera feels too heavy to carry all day–try this strap and thank me later.

2. It’s Longer Than A Typical Camera Strap.

I think it’s probably only the difference of a couple of inches but it’s just enough. I hate carrying the camera on my shoulder or my neck alone. The extra length lets me put the strap across my chest – which is what I do. That way my camera is always to the front of my body, it feels safer, helps with weight distribution and I don’t have to worry about it slipping off my shoulder. Typically, what I do is wear it on the same side as my camera bag, and I will actually let the camera rest on the bag while I’m walking around–then it doesn’t really weigh anything. I can only do this because of the extra length. Granted at 5′,  I am not that tall, but I imagine if you are taller, you will appreciate this feature even more.

3. It’s Black & Nondescript.

Why invite someone to rip off your gear? I like to keep all my photo gear as nondescript as possible and this strap fits the bill. Mine is black, blends in with my camera bag strap and has no writing on it. If you don’t want to amplify the camera brand you are shooting with to the world, this strap is perfect.

4. It Has A Quick Disconnect System.

A close up of the quick release.

On each side of the strap there are two quick releases that let you quickly remove the camera from the strap. Set it and forget it–there’s no need to fiddle with the camera strap rings anymore. Some people might see the quick release as a con rather than a pro citing that the camera could disconnect from the strap accidentally, fall and break. In the 10 years I have used this strap that has never happened. This strap has been with me since my commercial days in Boston, on every news assignment, at every wedding and on all my travels. It has never disconnected. Ever.

Why do I love the quick disconnect? It gives me extra security and it let’s me quickly hang and tie my camera to something. If I feel a little sketched out and worried about my camera, I will undo one of the releases and wrap the camera strap around my camera bag strap and then click it back in place. I have used it to lock the camera to various items throughout my travels- on cafe tables, on trains, in hostels, etc. It’s just a little extra piece of mind that the camera is connected to another item which makes it harder for a thief to grab and go. As an example, in Paris we wanted a photo of ourselves in front of the Eiffel Tower. It was dark out and I don’t give my camera to strangers, not even for a quick photo. Fortunately, there was an iron gate and a short concrete wall across from the tower. I wasn’t about to leave my camera on the concrete wall and run away for a photo. Instead, I used the quick release and ran the strap through several parts of the gate and locked it back to itself. I set the self timer and we got a picture. It would’ve been tough for someone to undo it quickly enough to grab the camera and run off.

The other great design function is that you can entirely remove the neoprene part of the strap and snap together both sides of the remaining strap to give yourself a small, handy short strap. Great if you need to handhold your camera and the entire strap is too bulky for the situation. I love the quick release feature, and I’m sure if you get a strap like this you’ll find plenty of uses for it too.

5. The Price Tag

Unlike a lot of other camera equipment, this one has a pretty sweet price tag of about $20. In fact, I just did a quick search and found a grey strap on B&H for $17. Under $20 for extra comfort and security? You can’t beat it.

If you want to feel safer, shoot longer and more comfortably–get this strap. Seriously, get it today.

As a disclaimer, while I wish that B&H and Op/Tech USA wanted me to test out their gear, they did not contact me to write about this strap. This is the strap I own and use. I highly recommend it.

*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

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How I Shoot: A new monthly series from BeersandBeans where I highlight something I find useful in terms of travel photography – be it gear, tips, technical data, etc. Hope you like it – this is the second installation!

Raise your hand if you’ve brought a camera on your travels but when it comes to walking around town for the day you don’t want to bring it with you because after a couple of hours it gets too heavy and feels like a burden.

I hear ya.

Cameras and their corresponding bags and gadgets can get really heavy, especially when you are spending a long day on your feet.

Enter this little gem -  the Promaster Contour Pro Shoulder Strap.

If you’ve spent any time  in a camera shop there’s a good chance that you’ve seen this and have probably wondered if it’s worth the money. It is and no, I’m not getting paid to write about this. I haven’t even had any contact with this company whatsoever. I use this strap and I LOVE it.

It’s a padded strap with a neoprene gel like substance on the shoulder area. The strap has a bit of bounce to it and it’s extra wide which helps distribute the weight. I swear this strap takes 10 pounds off your gear. It has sturdy, metal clips so you can attach it to any bag you use.

I use it on all my bags, I don’t travel without it and I never shoot a wedding without it.

If you have a camera but you’d like to spend more time with it get yourself one of these straps. I swear it’ll be the best $20 you ever spent. You won’t believe the difference this strap makes – no other strap seems to compare to this one. The only thing you’ll wish is that you did it earlier.

*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of BeersandBeans.com, NarikosNest.com & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

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A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to get my hands on a copy of the latest e-book written by Christine at AlmostFearless.

Not only do I respect Christine as a writer but I also definitely consider her an authority on travel. Throughout the years I have peppered her with all sorts of travel questions. She is approachable, down to earth and to top it off – she really knows what she’s talking about! An e-book written by her is guaranteed to be full of great information.

I also own two other e-books she has written:

• Twitter for Travelers
• 30 Ways in 30 Days to Redesign Your Life and Travel the World

Both of these books are fantastic and great online library additions for any travel junkie. Her writing is always witty, concise and full of great facts. This visa e-book is no exception. In fact, it’s a 253 page travel visa wonder.

Seriously this thing is amazing.

In accordance with my disdain for travel planning one part of traveling that I never look forward to is figuring out visas. Searching online to find out the latest facts and info about how much it’s going to cost, what I need to do ahead of time and what the time limit is for a visa is ANNOYING. A definite travel buzz kill.

So I’ll say it loud and proud here – this e-book is the BOMB! Go ahead – name a country, any country. Pick it off the list and quickly go to the countries page for all the visa requirements including cost and time limits.  To top it off, she also provides links to authoritative websites so you can quickly do your own research and re-verify information.

The country by country breakdown is so simple to use–it’s foolproof. It has already saved me endless amounts of research time. Another aspect (and quite possibly my favorite) is the simple and quick seven page country by country guide. In an instant you can scan and compare each country to find out which might be the easiest and cheapest to visit–brilliant!

Buying this ebook is an investment you shouldn’t miss out on. In fact I would go as far to say it is a must have for any traveler planning a multi-country trip. At $10, it’s a downright steal and worth every penny! It is undeniably a fantastic resource, I use it personally and it has already become of my permanent travel go-to items.

I’ve uploaded a couple of screenshots to give you an idea of how the book is laid out and what you can expect if you purchase it. If you’re interested in buying a copy or want to learn more about it, then you can Click here to view more details.

Instead of spending endless hours toiling in front of a computer researching visa requirements, you can instantaneously save yourself a ton of headaches and start looking up the fun things you want to do instead.

Quick Country Breakdown:

Full Page Country Visa Info:

To learn more about Christine and her other travel e-books be sure to stop by her utterly addictive site – AlmostFearless.com

*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of BeersandBeans.com, NarikosNest.com & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

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How I Shoot: A new series coming from yours truly at BeersandBeans. It’s going to be a monthly series where I highlight something I find useful in terms of travel photography – be it gear, tips, technical data, etc. Hope you like it – this is the first installation!

Well I think a lot of my followers know that I am super budget when it comes to travel. I like to STRETCH my dollar as far as possible so I can stay on the road longer. But no matter what I do, one part of travel that can be extremely expensive is my photography gear. I try to buy the best deal possible, but sometimes what I need just costs a good chunk of money and there isn’t much I can do about it.

But I am always racking my brain for new ideas about camera gear that I can make myself or find cheaper–read: isn’t labeled as photographic gear. It seems once you add the “photo” label onto things the price goes through the roof.

Remember when I wanted the ridiculously overpriced Hoodman ($80) to check my LCD screen in the sun? Luckily the store ran out and I made my own (which I still use and carted around Europe with me) for only $1 !!! Sure it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, but it gets the job done and for a buck – I’m happy. If you missed that post check it out – Travel Photo Gear Hack.

Another great way to save money on gear is with your camera bag. I am always scouring around for the perfect bag. I love multiple pockets, over the shoulder bags and cool designs, but I hate the $100+ price tag that comes on most photo bags I like. Plus, I have one golden rule for traveling with my camera -

I WILL NEVER USE A BAG THAT LOOKS LIKE A PHOTO BAG.

Never. Ever.

Why should I? Nothing says “Please Rob Me” more than having a techie looking bag slung on your back, especially one that has a brand name on it. I have taken my camera to some pretty sketchy places and it’s nice to know that if I feel uncomfortable I can simply leave it in the bag and no one will know that it even exists. I also love shooting street photos and I like to be as undercover as possible. Plus, I find that most camera bags aren’t great for travel. They are too bulky, yet don’t have room for everything I need (guidebook, water bottle, etc). And I hate the way they stick out from my body when I am wearing them. As much as I still like to admire camera bags (I always play around with them at camera shops), I don’t really use them. I don’t even use a “camera” bag when I shoot weddings.

I will be honest and say that I have spent years constantly on the search for the perfect bag.

I’ve tried everything from a Mexican street bag to a small, flexible lunch cooler. For months, I scouted around, looking for the perfect diaper bag to use (they’re already padded and hey who is going to think about stealing a diaper bag!). But whenever I found one that was the right size and didn’t have a picture of Winnie the Pooh on it – the price was through the roof, which nixed the deal. Maybe someday if we have a kid I can do a combo deal – diapers & lenses! hahaha

ahhh....Pockets Galore!

At long last, I thought I found the perfect bag when I found this gem at an Army Navy store for only $27. It has several pockets and even two on the ends (I used one for my water bottle and and for my beer cozy loupe)! To top it off it was already lined with a plush padding similar to a real camera bag. I have no idea why but it’s perfect! And it actually came with a removable insert that I could use to separate items. To top it off the entire inside is made of velco (the soft side of velcro), which means I can actually arrange camera bag inserts into it if I want and they stay in place. It fits all my travel gear (Nikon D300s w/ 18-250 lens, 35mm lens, SB900 flash, various filters, cards, batteries) and it’s made out of a super tough canvas. It also looks cool. I love this bag and for $27 you can’t go wrong.

I love this bag, just a bit too big for every day use on the road.

I brought it to Europe, but as it turns out it was also too much to carry on a daily basis. After toting it around day in and day out, it ended up suffering from the same “too bulky” problem that most camera bags have. After awhile my back was killing me, and this bag was traded in for another bag I had brought with me as a back up. I still use the Army Navy bag but not on the daily basis that I use this $7 wonder.

The main bag I travel with (and shoot weddings with) currently is this little purple beauty.

Randy models the purple wonder!

I bought the purple bag at Walmart for $7. Yup, that’s right only 7 bucks. This little bad boy holds all of the same gear as the Army Navy Bag. It’s a great, simple bag; though, I had to make some minor adjustments in order to use it for my photo gear. I’m going to give a run down of what I did to it so that you can do the same if you wish.

Yes, you too, can be free of the bulky camera bag and the insane price tag that goes with it.

There are 4 important *Must Have* things I need in a camera bag:

1. A comfy strap

2. Pockets

3. Padding

4. Zipper Enclosure

Most likely a $7 bag is not going to come with all of those things.

So how did I turn a $7 Walmart bag into a kickin’ travel camera bag?

First: I snapped a padded shoulder strap onto the already existing metal areas for the original strap. I left the original strap on and it’s been a great decision because if I need to, I can use the camera strap and the normal strap for extra security and comfort. I already owned this strap but new it would cost about $20.

Second: My nickname as a kid was Pockets. I LOVE pockets – the more the better. Turns out this bag has 1 large zippered pocket and 2 smaller open pockets inside. At first, I thought I would need more pockets, so I bought a flexible pencil case to store my memory cards and batteries in. I was initially planning to sew it into the interior of the bag to create another pocket, but I never used it. Turns out the zippered pocket fits my credit cards, ID, passport and memory cards. I use the open interior pockets for easy grab items like filters, business cards and a pen.

This stuff is great - inexpensive, lightweight and protective!

Third: This bag is super thin and has NO padding at all – Good for being lightweight, bad for protecting gear. I actually love the thin, lightweight aspect of the bag, but I was definitely not going to throw all of my photo gear in a non padded bag and go off gallivanting the world that way and I don’t recommend you do that either. So while I was in Walmart, I headed over to the bedroom department and bought a twin egg crate mattress for $9. I went home and cut off a section that fit perfectly into my bag. Instant padding! I love this! Not only is it sufficient padding for the bag and my gear, I can also remove it if I have to and use it elsewhere to protect my camera. What is nice about this is you can really custom pad your bag with as much padding as you want. Another great thing is that I brought an extra piece which wraps around our laptop. Occasionally on a night out we would put all the gear, including the laptop, in the purple bag. It meant we could trade off carrying gear (instead of us both having a bag) and everything was protected with it’s respective eggcrate. Normally, the laptop is carried in a retrofitted CamelBak (with it’s own non-eggcrate carrier) that is also set up as a 2nd home for camera gear (I’ll elaborate on this in another post). The key thing in designing your eggcrate insulation is to remember that not only do you need to protect your gear from bumps on the outside of the bag, but you also you need to prevent your gear from bumping into other gear in the bag. When you make your own lining, you can customize your sections however you want, plus the egg crate material is really lightweight.

Yah! It expands for more space!

Fourth: This bag already had a zipper enclosure, and as an added bonus it’s also a long bag so the top actually flips down over the side. I love this because it really doesn’t look like a camera bag at all and if I need to put more items in there I can just extend the top and magically double my space! I can actually fit a journal, a guidebook/map, my camera, a flash, extra lens, extra batteries, memory cards and a couple other miscellaneous things in here. I put the guidebook and maps to the side to provide for extra padding. I can put a water bottle in here as well but I don’t out for fear of water leaking on my gear, so I just attach my water bottle to the outside of the bag. I recommend you never carry a water bottle in any camera bag, because one day it will leak and you will be really, really unhappy.

The water bottle reminds me of another important aspect of any camera bag (bought or created). Waterproof your gear if you can. I always get caught in rainstorms, so I carry around a duck back from REI as well (around $15) and I simply cover my bag with it. They are extremely lightweight and it is a must have for anyone on the road with technical gear, which I’m pretty sure is just about everyone. I have used it several times and like the shoulder strap, it’s priceless. In the backpack, I also carry a wet bag but we have yet to use it.

So for about $36 you could buy all of these items and make your own, fantastic camera bag. If you already own any of these items, you might be able to make a great camera bag for free! If you don’t want to make one but still want to find a more budget friendly option be sure to check out your local Army Navy store or Goodwill. You can find great bags in there at a huge discount that might be perfect.

My purple wonder is very lightweight, which for me is a huge bonus. I loved mine so much and I still had left over eggcrate so when we got back to the States I went back to Walmart and bought another one for $7 in black!

So whether you’re hopping trains in Europe, hiking mountains in Peru, partying up on clubbing holidays in Ibiza or just walking through the spice markets of Turkey you can be sure you have a great camera bag that not only protects your gear but is economical and won’t set off the radar of any would be thieves.

*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of BeersandBeans.com, NarikosNest.com & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

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If you are anything like me then you probably belong to a decent number of airline frequent flyer programs. Even if you haven’t flown the airline in a while it’s still nice to see how many miles you’ve racked up or more importantly – when they expire. But that’s where the problem lies – how do you organize your miles in a way that is easy to view and keep track of? Enter Award Wallet.

For years I simply shuffled each airline email I received into a special folder in my inbox called “Airline Miles” but it didn’t help much. Anytime I wanted to check on anything I still had to track down my frequent flyer number and my log in info. I was actually just about to start an Excel spreadsheet (boring) when I discovered Award Wallet (fun). I’ve been using them for about a year now and it’s a service I highly recommend for anyone looking to track their miles.

Another great thing to note is that once you set up an account with them they automatically update your miles for you. Take a flight on an airline in your account? They track & add the miles automatically. Buy dinner or a sleeping bag with your airline mile credit card?  You’re done – they automatically find and add the miles in for you. I love that!

There are two version of Award Wallet – the basic version and Award Wallet Plus. The basic version is free and it’s great! It has most of the information that you need. The Plus version allows you to see the expiration date of all of your airlines (not just 3) and it has more detailed data. There is also the option to update to the Plus program for free just by inviting a few of your friends to sign up but I think the basic will suit the needs of just about everyone initially.

Also it should be noted that Award Wallet not only keeps track of airline miles but it also keeps track of hotel points and credit card points.

Award Wallet also does something for me that most of my other travel gear can’t do – it saves me time. If I need to know one of my frequent flyer numbers, I can just log in and they are all right there in front of me. No more digging through endless emails!

Another great perk is that it allows you to not only track your own miles but anyone else you travel with (after they have signed up and given their permission). So I can log on, see how many miles I have and how many Randy has – it’s really useful for us when booking flights. They will also notify you when your miles are set to expire so that you can find a way to use them – instead of losing them. I really love this program and I highly recommend you try it out.

If you’re a brand new client they have given me a code our readers can use for 6 months of the Award Wallet Plus membership for free:

Beers6moAwardWallet

The code is only good until April 10, 2011 so don’t hesitate if you think you want to try it out. Also, I should note, if after 6 months you decided to drop back down the basic membership – don’t worry – all of your information will be kept in the system and you won’t lose any data! The only difference will be that you won’t have as many details in your report and you will only be able to track the expiration dates of three (instead of all) of your programs.

Note: I didn’t get paid to write this review.  Award Wallet did contact me to ask if I would write a review and I agreed immediately because it is so useful and personally I really love the system. When they offered the code for our readers I was ecstatic because I know a lot of you will find this program a must for your travels after you try it out. It’s an irreplaceable tool for me in keeping track of my award miles.

*Screen shots provided by Award Wallet. **Please remember all photos on this website are copyrighted and property of BeersandBeans.com, NarikosNest.com & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

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Whether we are traveling or working at home, Beth and I wear our ExOfficio underwear regularly. So, when ExOfficio asked us to review a couple pairs for their March “Epic Underwear Sale” (25% off all their underwear), we agreed and put them to the test. It turns out ExOfficio liked our reviews so much they decided to use them in their March newsletter! Be sure to click on that link and check out more of their underwear!

We’ve posted the reviews below. Beth decided to write hers, and for mine, we made a video review (below beth’ review), which was filmed during our time in New York City for the Times Travel Show. Enjoy!

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Where Sexy & Adventure Travel Meet

By Bethany Salvon

I have a confession to make: I have been wearing the same pair of underwear for 7 days in a row. I can’t help it. I am addicted to my new technically sexy ExOfficio Lacy undies.

Before you get too grossed out, I want to tell you that I have been washing them every night. Yes, it’s true; when you are tight on luggage space and you want to travel light, you can literally travel with one pair of underwear! These little beauties dry in just a few hours.

I honestly can’t go on enough about how much I love my ExOfficio underwear. Made out of a Give-n-Go stretch material, I guarantee that once you slip into a pair, you will be converted as well. They are so comfortable!

Give-N-Go Lacy Underwear

Maybe you have never noticed how important a good pair of underwear can be on your travels. But a long Trans-Atlantic flight or a bumpy chicken bus ride in Central America will show you the light. A pair of ExOfficio undies is worth its weight in gold on the road; they never ride or bunch up, and the material is soft. ExOfficio travel underwear not only dries quickly, but they are also odor resistant, and they wick sweat away from your skin. Whether you’re clubbing in the discotheques of London, trekking through the Sahara Desert, or zip lining through a cloud forest in Costa Rica, they are perfect for every type of adventure you are about to undertake. I am not kidding, once you wear them you will be hooked.

I have been enamored with my ExOfficio underwear for about 18 months, and secretly I hoped they would make a pair with a bit more sex appeal. Now they have!

ExOfficio has created a world where ‘sexy’ and ‘travel’ collide – the technically sexy Lacy style vamps the panties up a bit without sacrificing their great fit. I’ve been wearing them continually, and I LOVE them! To be honest, I might buy another pair before our Southeast Asia adventure in a couple months because even though I can live with just one pair; I would really like a black pair as well. A girl can never have enough sexy travel underwear!

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Check out these links for our other travel gear reviews including my ExOfficio Underwear review at the faux Plymouth Polar Bear Plunge.

Additionally, if you would like to enter to win a free pair of ExOfficio’s Give-N-Go Lacy Underwear, ahead over to Brooke vs. The World to enter her contest.

*Please remember all photos on this website are copyrighted and property of BeersandBeans.com, NarikosNest.com & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

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We were approximately 1 day (yes, the very first day) into the big trip when Randy’s backpack suffered an irreparable and massive fail.

The hip buckle broke.

Busted flat in Reykjavik, waitin' for a bus. First day of a camping trip through Europe the backpack buckle snapped.

We have no idea why, but he put it on and it just snapped. Since it took 4 hours just to find simple black thread in Iceland’s capital city of Reykjavik, we didn’t even attempt to find a replacement.

Saved by – My father’s ancient wheelie luggage thing.

One of my father’s pride and joys in life is his ability to pack luggage in the smallest, most compact way. He’s a genius at this! I have totally taken on this trait as well and I’m sure it drives Randy nuts, because I take my time packing and I make sure everything is done in the most aerodynamic way I can think of. Because of my father’s luggage pride, my parents have a large and strange assortment of luggage and luggage accessories.

Ancient luggage wheelie thing saves the trip!

One of the oldest things in this collection is this little luggage wheelie. Seriously, this thing is from the 80′s. I remember using this on family trips before wheeled luggage was invented. Yes, I am dating myself, but I know other readers on this site must remember the old days before luggage actually had wheels on it. At that time, travelers strapped their suitcases and duffel bags on these fold up carts and lugged them around airports & cities. Once wheeled bags hit the scene these thing got dropped like a hot potato in a snowman’s hand.

Fortunately, the day before we left the U.S. I asked my father if I could borrow one of his luggage wheelies. With all our camping gear and my photo gear, our bags were a bit heavy and I was nervous I might not be able to carry my backpack on my back for the entire trip. Because I was a little anxious about this, I remembered this ancient rolling goodness and the blue bungee cords from our family trips when I was a teenager.

My father dug it out of the closet and quickly it became the subject of conversation in the last 24 hours before we left. Everyone had a different opinion about bringing it. Most of my family said I shouldn’t bring it, because it would just be one other thing to lug around. My brother in law said it would be a disaster on cobblestone streets in Europe. Then, my dad said I should bring it and if it was a pain I should just leave it wherever I was and give it to someone else that might be able to use it.

Good thing we didn't have to lug it around uselessly for long - this is as small as they could make 'em in the 80's!

So I brought it. Thank God I brought it!! After the epic Kelty fail on day 1, Randy had no way to carry his backpack around. Without the hip belt for extra weight distribution it was too painful to carry the bag on his shoulders only.

Enter little life-saving wheelie luggage thingy circa 1989.

This thing saved the trip. We strapped Randy’s bag on it for the rest of the trip and it wasn’t bad because we would trade off carrying the other backpack which really helped. I think maybe they just made things better in the 80′s, because this thing wheeled like a champ over all types of ground cover including asphalt, cobblestones, grass, sand & even the rocky dirt driveway at the farm in Tuscany.

Of course the first thing I tried to do was stuff both bags on here so we wouldn’t have to carry either of them.

On our last day in Iceland, we decided to save ourselves the $10 ride and walk the 20 mins to the bus terminal in Reykjavik. You should have seen the way we huffed and  puffed through the streets. I came up with a variety of ways to push and pull what had to be like 80 lbs of luggage through the city. I even started using my scarf to pull it over my shoulder. In a few minutes we had ditched our heavy jackets and started sweating. At one point we were walking downhill and couldn’t stop! The wheelie thing broke free and crashed into a bush. I have no idea why I was hell bent on making it work but it didn’t — about 50 yards from the bus terminal the bungee cords broke from all the weight.

The engine that could - but not totally. Two backpacks is one bag too many! But didn't I do a nice job stacking them?

You can imagine our frustration at this point.  Luckily, it was an easy fix. I took off my bag and jimmy rigged one of the cords, which amazingly lasted for the rest of our time in Europe. The set up worked like a charm for the rest of the trip. We used it to carry Randy’s bag, the tent and an extra bag I had for photo gear.

The only other bummer about using this on the road was whenever we encountered a set of stairs it had to be picked up. We couldn’t pull it up or down because inevitably the carefully constructed backpack, tent and camera bag conglomerate would start falling apart until everything was a jumbled mess on the floor. It seemed this always happened when we were running down subway stairs late for a train. After doing that a few times and looking like total idiots in the process, it just became obvious that Randy would have to pick up and carry the entire ensemble up and down any flight of stairs we happened upon.

It wasn’t a big deal until we got to Venice.

We got lost in the maze of Venice streets right off the bat going up and over what had to be at least 100 small bridges. Each time we came to a bridge Randy had to pick this 45lb contraption up, carry it over the bridge and then put it back down again. Rinse, Repeat. We were lost for 3 hours and we went over an insane amount of bridges during this time. Randy was not a happy camper and at least a few foul words were muttered over every bridge. Looking back at it now really makes me laugh, although, at the time it wasn’t funny at all, at least not to him.

The Kelty Coyote backpack. It's cool but doesn't live up to a life on the road.

Anyway, I’ve been wanting to write this review for a while because the Kelty didn’t hold up on the road at all! If you’re in the market for a backpack you might want to try some other brands out before you settle on this one. This bag was about 1.5 years old and had only been used on a couple local trips previously. We bought it early on because of a great sale – it was marked down $100 to only $99. It was basically brand new when we brought it on the big trip. If we didn’t have the wheelie from my father, then I don’t know what we would’ve done. Most likely we would’ve had to buy a new bag on the road somewhere, which would’ve been a blow to our budget. It’s too bad because Randy really liked this backpack and it had a lot of great pockets. In all other aspects he loved this bag but a backpack without a working hip belt is like having no backpack at all.

Luckily, we bought it at REI and it will be getting returned. In the meantime, Randy is going to need a new backpack or piece of luggage for the next upcoming leg of our trip. If any luggage/bag distributors think their gear can live up to a life on the road and if you are open to having your gear reviewed give us a shout out – Randy is open to accepting luggage or a backpack in exchange for a few reviews of your bag on our blog.

Advice needed from our fantastic readers – do any of you have recommendations for a sturdy, budget friendly bag? Randy is also considering a wheeled suitcase instead, so if you have any opinions on wheeled luggage for budget travel in Southeast Asia or South America (good or bad idea?) please chime in. Thanks!