At its worst, your next business trip could be a horrifying medley of blackout drapes and buffet breakfasts. Then again, it could be the perfect excuse to pamper yourself — and you don't have to mortgage your summer home to do it.
In the latest installment of our series on Affordable Luxuries, Forbes.com scoured the shelves of luxury retailers everywhere to bring you the cheapest ways to live large when on the road, from Chicago to Shanghai.
Want to fork over thousands of dollars on a Louis Vuitton luggage set? Be our guest. But do you really want to spend an entire flight worrying whether that all-important logo pattern got scratched in transit? We think not. And while you certainly can pay hundreds for a pair of Prada sneakers, if you're looking for something light, functional and easy to pack, there are sportier — and cheaper — options aplenty.
We know you can always spend more, but why? We're happy to find the deals for you.
Take Italian luggage-maker Bric's. Their practical, stylish offerings for business travelers include a two-wheel pilot case, made from durable nylon and available in several stain- and dirt-resistant neutral colors with sporty leather trim. The extendable handle means you never have to haul the bag over your shoulder. And best of all, the whole contraption is big enough to fit a laptop, but small enough to slide snugly into the overhead bin — saving you time at the baggage carousel. Total damage: $195.
What about hitting the hotel gym between the morning conference call and afternoon meetings? Try a pair of Daroga Leather sneakers from Adidas. The Nubuck leather shoes with high-traction rubber soles roll up in your bag for easy packing, but are still durable enough for a quick trot on the treadmill or a hike through city streets. At $70, these shoes keep your suitcase light but wallet heavy.
And there's no better way to dodge new-city disorientation than the Garmin Mobile 10, a sleek little gadget that turns any Bluetooth-enabled device into an instant GPS navigator. Simply use it with your pocket PC, smart phone or laptop, and click for directions to the nearest hotel, restaurant or airport.
We've also thrown in stylish leather slippers ($72), an audio-book subscription from Audible.com ($23 for one month's worth of service) and a hanging travel kit from Tumi ($195). In fact, any of the high-end travel accessories we’ve listed — all for under $200 apiece — will make your interminable flight or your bland hotel room a more bearable experience.
And you just might impress your colleagues, too.
