Vera Bradley obsessed and proud of it!

[IBLarsen]

Thought I would try posting a question here for all you Vera Lovers!
This weekend I went into the store to buy the new Weekender, but instead I bought the Grand Traveler, and I'm really really having a hard time deciding if I should go back to exchange it for the weekender!

I want this as a carryon for airplanes. DH has his rollerboard, and the 2 kids each have a backpack for their activities and snacks.
I tend to pack everyones extras however, and am a huge over packer. But the Grand Traveler still seems like it will be too big. But the weekender almost doesn't look big enough.

We do check luggage as well, but i like to have extra clothes in our carryons in case luggage gets lost.

So any opinions of these two bags? Would love some insight if you have used either or both of these Do you find the Grand Traveler to be too cumbersome?

Thanks for any advice

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Thought I would try posting a question here for all you Vera Lovers!
This weekend I went into the store to buy the new Weekender, but instead I bought the Grand Traveler, and I'm really really having a hard time deciding if I should go back to exchange it for the weekender!

I want this as a carryon for airplanes. DH has his rollerboard, and the 2 kids each have a backpack for their activities and snacks.
I tend to pack everyones extras however, and am a huge over packer. But the Grand Traveler still seems like it will be too big. But the weekender almost doesn't look big enough.

We do check luggage as well, but i like to have extra clothes in our carryons in case luggage gets lost.

So any opinions of these two bags? Would love some insight if you have used either or both of these Do you find the Grand Traveler to be too cumbersome?

Thanks for any advice

I have a Weekender and it wouldn't be large enough for me. I haven't seen the Grand Traveler. I have a large duffel and I think it meets the size for carry on, it might work for you without being too big. I usually take 2 of them for a weeks vacation along with my weekender, but we drive, so size and quantity don't matter.

 

[Echo queen]

Thought I would try posting a question here for all you Vera Lovers!
This weekend I went into the store to buy the new Weekender, but instead I bought the Grand Traveler, and I'm really really having a hard time deciding if I should go back to exchange it for the weekender!

I want this as a carryon for airplanes. DH has his rollerboard, and the 2 kids each have a backpack for their activities and snacks.
I tend to pack everyones extras however, and am a huge over packer. But the Grand Traveler still seems like it will be too big. But the weekender almost doesn't look big enough.

We do check luggage as well, but i like to have extra clothes in our carryons in case luggage gets lost.


So any opinions of these two bags? Would love some insight if you have used either or both of these Do you find the Grand Traveler to be too cumbersome?

Thanks for any advice

I flew with the weekender a few weeks ago and loved it. I carried the weekender only and had plenty of space for all of my things. I also have the large duffle and feel its too large as a carryon for me. Good luck

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

I flew with the weekender a few weeks ago and loved it. I carried the weekender only and had plenty of space for all of my things. I also have the large duffle and feel its too large as a carryon for me. Good luck

The Grand Traveler is larger, so will carry more, but I've learned from frequent traveling, instead of my carry-on getting larger, it's getting smaller, because Im getting tired of lugging around the extra weight! If you chose to get the Weekender, I'd just have DH and kiddos carry their own 1 change of clothes and swimsuits (if you plan on hitting the pools before parks). One change of clothes won't take up much room for their individual carry-ons, where it'll add significant bulk and weight to your one bag. IMO, if I were to buy something larger than a weekender, I'd make sure it had wheels on it!! But that's just me, I'm tired of having grooves carved into my shoulders It's gotten to where all I carry-on is my 3oz or smaller liquids (mainly makeup), a laptop or IPad, my valuable jewelry, and "purse stuff" (I usually will pack a VB purse in my luggage, because I don't want to have a purse either, unless it's a hipster). I also usually tie a sweatshirt around my waist, because I always get cold on the plane. Going though security has gotten to be an art.

 

[kerriemiller]

VB outlet just openned about 30 minutes from me. Kids back to school so hopeing to run down there and buy more bags I dont need

 

[nonzerosum]

Is it worth it to make a trip to the Vineland Outlet for the VB store? I'd like to check it out on out next WDW, but only if it's worthwhile.

 

[Echo queen]

Is it worth it to make a trip to the Vineland Outlet for the VB store? I'd like to check it out on out next WDW, but only if it's worthwhile.

Yes, for sure it is worth it. I go to the outlet everything I go to Florida. Great selection and deals. I love it it part of my yearly WDW vacations.

 

[Echo queen]

The Grand Traveler is larger, so will carry more, but I've learned from frequent traveling, instead of my carry-on getting larger, it's getting smaller, because Im getting tired of lugging around the extra weight! If you chose to get the Weekender, I'd just have DH and kiddos carry their own 1 change of clothes and swimsuits (if you plan on hitting the pools before parks). One change of clothes won't take up much room for their individual carry-ons, where it'll add significant bulk and weight to your one bag. IMO, if I were to buy something larger than a weekender, I'd make sure it had wheels on it!! But that's just me, I'm tired of having grooves carved into my shoulders It's gotten to where all I carry-on is my 3oz or smaller liquids (mainly makeup), a laptop or IPad, my valuable jewelry, and "purse stuff" (I usually will pack a VB purse in my luggage, because I don't want to have a purse either, unless it's a hipster). I also usually tie a sweatshirt around my waist, because I always get cold on the plane. Going though security has gotten to be an art.

Yeah you really don't want to weight your self down too much, the next time I fly I am going to see if my VB large back pack will do. At times the weekender did feel a little heavy but I'm a mini hipster girl.

 

[goofystitchfan]

Guessing you have all seen the latest sale on line (ending today). Don't forget you get a free gift depending on what tote you purchase...

 

[mickey1968]

Okay, I finally took the plunge (thanks in large part to lurking here and QVC) and bought my first real piece of VB (other than an ID card keyring!) and now I am taking it back.

 

[snowcupid]

I got my daughter a mini hipster in In Bloom and myself a hipster in Navy Twirly Birds. We are now obsessed. I bought both of us bags to carry on the plane as our personal items and bought her a lanyard for school. These are SO popular at her school this year too... I had never really paid attention to it until I was looking for something for Disney. I seriously have to stop myself from buying more- I really like it!

 

[mickey1968]

The Hunt
I stalked the bags for about a week online and in the local Hallmark and Dillard's stores. I even drove about 40 miles RT to check out the new VB store in the mall. It was so hard to not only decide which pattern to get but also which style to get.

I really wanted a piece to replace my ugly little black suitcase that I use as a carry-on for short trips. I thought the Large Duffel would be perfect! And frankly all the chatty sales people just made it harder to choose! Geeze, let a girl think in peace!

Well, I finally broke down and bought both a large duffel in Baroque and a Get Carried Away tote in the new Provencal. I couldn't decide.

I did a practice pack last night and I was ecstatic that everything fit so well in the Large Duffel using my packing cubes. Only problem was I don't think I could carry it from the parking garage into the airport at home! It was quite heavy even to me. I don't know how all the little sorority girls do it!

 

[snowcupid]

Just ordered the Hanging Organizer in Indigo Pop and an Accordian Wallet in Happy Snails to match my favorite Hipster. I've been thinking about ordering the New Mini Hipster for my trip to Disney next Feb. I have the old Mini Hipster. I'm waiting for a better selection of colors, want a bag with lots of colors so it will pretty much match whatever I'm wearing. Wondering for those of you that have the old and new style, which do you prefer. Don't want to order the new one and hate it. Pros and cons of each?

THe new mini hipster has an ajustable strap. My daughter preferred the old one though because she likes the velcro - the new one has a snap closer.

 

[mickey1968]

Then I tried the Get Carried Away tote as just a carry-on for my things I need to keep with me on the plane (I can check the ugly bag with DME) like medications, toiletries, iPad, camera, change of clothes, etc. Well, it didn't seem to be too comfortable either. I think that one could be a little smaller, but still felt heavy. (I really didn't realize I was this high maintenance!)

Well, I am taking them both back after work today. I am thinking about getting either just a smaller tote like maybe the Vera or Miller that I can also use daily to for work or trying the Weekender in place of the Get Carried Away tote.

Also, somewhere in between I received a $20 certificate for the website for signing up for emails and I have decided to visit the outlet store on my Halloween trip to Disney.

Sooooo, what do you guys think? Should I try the weekender? or a smaller tote for now? Either way I will order online now instead of Dillard's.
:

TIA for any help!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Then I tried the Get Carried Away tote as just a carry-on for my things I need to keep with me on the plane (I can check the ugly bag with DME) like medications, toiletries, iPad, camera, change of clothes, etc. Well, it didn't seem to be too comfortable either. I think that one could be a little smaller, but still felt heavy. (I really didn't realize I was this high maintenance!)

Well, I am taking them both back after work today. I am thinking about getting either just a smaller tote like maybe the Vera or Miller that I can also use daily to for work or trying the Weekender in place of the Get Carried Away tote.

Also, somewhere in between I received a $20 certificate for the website for signing up for emails and I have decided to visit the outlet store on my Halloween trip to Disney.

Sooooo, what do you guys think? Should I try the weekender? or a smaller tote for now? Either way I will order online now instead of Dillard's.
:

TIA for any help!

That's hard to say, because I absolutely love my large duffle and my Get Carried Away, I just used it for the first time this past weekend and I am in love with this bag. I am not, however in love with my weekender, mine is a couple of years old and I use it when we go away for a week to pack undergarments, swimwear and some other smaller clothing items seperate from my other clothes, but otherwise it serves no purpose for me. I even use my large duffle for weekends, because I tend to over-pack. I have had no trouble stuffing it full and carrying it, but I usually carry a large, heavy purse, so I gues I'm used to it.

For me, the bigger, the better.

 

[mickey1968]

PrincessSuzanne- what is it that you don't like so much about the weekender? Too small? Too structured?

 

[CraftyMommy]

I'm just not a VB fan. I see so many of them around town and on campus. They seem to be popular with the young crowd. I just can't purchase a VB though. The patterns look like something my grandma would have used in the 70's and 80's. Dooney & Bourke handbags are my obsession.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

I use the Companion Attaché for traveling and absolutely love it. I like that it has the laptop compartment and a ka-zillion different pockets in it...the only negative part is the handle is too short....so I had to buy a longer strap for it to fit over my shoulder!

 

[mickey1968]

Well, I returned both of the bags to Dillard's after work but decided maybe I really do like the Get Carried Away tote. So I ordered it direct from the VB website using my $20 gift certificate/coupon! I got the Symphony in Hue which is on sale for $74.99 a penny shy of the $75 minimum for the coupon! So I added a matching ditty bag also on sale and a new iD card keychain. All together it was just over $100 which qualified for free shipping! YAY! Maybe I can sleep well tonight without visions of Vera patterns running through my mind!

 

[DisneyDanielle85]

Well, I returned both of the bags to Dillard's after work but decided maybe I really do like the Get Carried Away tote. So I ordered it direct from the VB website using my $20 gift certificate/coupon! I got the Symphony in Hue which is on sale for $74.99 a penny shy of the $75 minimum for the coupon! So I added a matching ditty bag also on sale and a new iD card keychain. All together it was just over $100 which qualified for free shipping! YAY! Maybe I can sleep well tonight without visions of Vera patterns running through my mind!

Visions of Vera Patterns running through your head! I love it! You got a GREAT deal on those bags. You made out like a bandit. I love Vera Sales. I want a new grand traveler in one of the new patterns but FH will kill me in my sleep if i purchase another Vera Piece as it is the collection in my closet is 120 pieces deep and I have to make room to store my wedding dress next month until 10/27. (My closet is VERY tiny) Hmmmm Maybe I'll sneak a wallet in there next week when i get to visit an authentic Vera Bradley store instead of the Authorized retailers in my area!!!