Travel finds in unlikely places

When traveling, it’s not only the tickets and reservations that matter; what’s in your bag matters too! Several travel goods store have popped up around the metro, but you’ll be surprised that you can find travel stuff in shops you wouldn’t normally associate with traveling. Best of all, the prices aren’t too bad either!

Saizen is what you would call a hyakuen shop. It’s the local franchise of the Japanese Daiso chain, and the perfect example of where you can find great travel paraphernalia.

Hyakuen shops are Japanese discount dry goods stores that sell everything from kitchenwares and household goods to stationery and gifts, all at one price: 100 yen (hence the name, hyakuen).

Source: Magnetic-rose.net

You can find a whole range of items inside the store, including things for your trips. Here are my Saizen finds:

There’s an inflatable pillow, which is great for those long bus rides or when you’re sleeping underneath the stars; compressed washcloth, which inflates when you take it out of the packaging; compressing bag, which lets you fit everything in your backpack or luggage easily (no vacuum? Just roll it or sit on it!), and; plastic zipper bag, which comes in the regulation size for your toiletries. Everything is priced at Php 85 in Saizen. This travel haul costs a total of Php 340.

My other travel find was upon Kaoko‘s recommendation. As we were about to check in for our flight back to Manila from Macau, she whipped out this luggage scale. I’ve seen this kind of luggage scale before, so I thought it was nothing special. That is, until she hooked her bag into it and weighed her luggage. It works the same way as similar luggage scales, but what’s great about this scale is that it has a marker, so you won’t have to twist yourself into an awkward position just to see the weight of your bag. As an added bonus, the scale also comes with a tape measure that can measure up to 1 meter so you can check if your luggage meets the cabin requirements. The scale is lightweight, so while it takes up space in your bag, it doesn’t drastically add to its weight.

The Travelon Luggage Scale is priced at Php 499 at Handyman. With the 20% discount the store is offering, the price has been marked down to Php 399.

Saizen has branches in Robinson’s Galleria (Ortigas), Alimall (Cubao), Marquee Mall (Pampanga) and Trinoma (North EDSA). Handyman has branches all over the Philippines.

August is the month for great sales and bargains at all Robinsons Mall nationwide! Enjoy amazing discounts on premium international and local brands. Choose from a wide array of apparel, shoes, bags and accessories; from fashion items to electronics, from toys to gadgets and many, many more. Stay updated with sales, promos and events by liking the Robinsons Malls’ page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/RobinsonsMalls

Thanks to Saizen for the invite to their Trinoma Branch last July 30 and to Robinsons Mall Galleria for the invite last August 1.