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Heading Home for the Holidays?

For those of us who live at a distance from the places our hearts call home, the holidays arrive with a deep longing to return to our circle of family and friends. If you're planning to travel back home during the holidays, we have a few suggestions that might make packing, traveling and returning home a bit easier.

Check your luggage

Before you start packing, check your luggage! Are the zippers, handle and wheels working as they should? If not, Whole Earth can help you find a new bag whether you're looking for a carry-on, luggage with wheels, or a duffel, wheeled or not! There are lots of options for bags these days. Our knowledgeable staff can help you sort through your requirements and options.

Pack a duffel

If you're planning on doing some shopping while you're gone or you'll be bringing home gifts, consider an ultralight duffel that packs in your luggage on the way out, and can be deployed for use on the return trip as a carry-on. The Osprey Ultralight Stuff 30L Duffel is made of tough ripstock nylon. When not in use, it packs into its own pocket. Not traveling? Use it for the gym or other outings.

Pack like a pro

When you travel, pack like a pro and use packing cubes. Instead of searching through a jumbled mess in search of pair of clean socks or that top you know you packed but just can't find, use packing cubes to get organized. If you're not ready to commit to multi-cube packing, try using just one. Corral your underwear and socks together in one place or your accessories like belts, scarves and jewelry. The Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Cube has easy-view mesh so you can see what's in it, and it breathes to help keep items fresh. Looking for a packing cube for your dirty clothes? Try the Eagle Creek Pack-It Isolate Compression Cube. It keeps the dirty clothes from contaminating the rest of your clothing by locking in moisture and odors.  And when you return home, toss the cube in the washing machine for cleaning.

Manage those pills

It's easy to put all the vitamins and pills into one container when packing. But then, when our daily schedule is disrupted, it can be difficult to remember if we actually took the pills or vitamins, so we end up pouring them all out and counting. Resolve this dilemma with a BeWell Lift Magnetic Pill Organizer with Case. It's divided into a week's worth of compartments, one set for morning meds and vitamins and another for the evenings. A magnetic system holds the pill organizer in place within the case. The case flips open easily and is held together with an elastic closure. At 4 inches by 7 inches, it can fit in your purse, pack or luggage.

Make your own travel size

What if your favorite lotions, creams, shampoo and conditioner don't come in travel sizes for flying? If it's a short visit, stock up on a Nalgene Medium Travel Kit. It's a collection of eight travel size Nalgene bottles plus two extra dispensing caps that you can fill to get you through the weekend. And when you've returned home and emptied the bottles, they can be put on the top rack of a dishwasher to be cleaned and ready to go on your next trip.

No leaks!

If you've ever had shampoo or some other liquid leak in your luggage, you know how important it is to keep them safely sequestered in a waterproof bag. Nite Ize RunOff Waterproof Toiletry Bag has welded seams and a waterproof zipper. It's large enough to carry full size toiletries and has clear sides so you can see what's where. Made of TPU (Thermoplastic polyurethane) it is strong, flexible, abrasion resistant, and resists oil and grease staining. Keep you clothing and other items safe with a waterproof toiletry bag!

Arrive refreshed

Seasoned travelers know that if one is presented with an opportunity to nap while traveling, you take it! These travelers also know that a neck pillow offers real comfort and prevents a stiff neck. The Eagle Creek Memory Foam Neck Pillow shapes itself to you and offers excellent support. The pillow has a snap to keep it in place around your neck so it won't slip off should you shift your position while sleeping. The pillow has a soft micro-fleece cover that can be removed and washed. Try a neck pillow on your next trip and arrive at your destination fresh and ready to go!

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Keep it charged

You never want your phone to run out of juice while you're traveling. Head trouble off at the pass with a Goal Zero Flip 36 Power Bank and keep the phone alive with this pocket-size, battery backup charger. It’s a small item that’s handy for traveling and to have stowed in a bag for everyday use as well when a cable gets left at home or there’s no safe outlet available for use. The Flip 36 can charge three smartphones or one tablet. It also makes a great gift.

Stay hydrated

Bringing a refillable water bottle along on your trip can help keep you hydrated and save some money as well. Have you seen what they charge for bottled water at the airport? Many airports now have hydration stations where you fill up your bottle. And if you have an insulated bottle like the YETI Rambler 18oz Bottle with HotShot Cap, you can fill up with either a hot or cold beverage. The HotShot Cap is leakproof and an excellent choice for travel or everyday. Give the lid a half twist until it clicks and then drink from any side. The lid can be easily taken apart for cleaning, and YETI water bottles are dishwasher safe.

So these are just a few of the many items you'll find at Whole Earth stores or online that can make travel easier and more comfortable whether you're traveling over the river and through the woods or flying coast to coast on your way home.