Upping the Ante on your Solo Luggage Game
I am in need of a new suitcase. Well perhaps, not in need but wanted a new, stylish traveling accessory to take me around the world on my solo trips. I procrastinated for a while, debating between various brands and costs for a carry-on traveling case and a 4 - 5 day luggage and then the opportunity presented itself. My current old but trusty Samsonite mid-sized spinner was damaged by the airport workers on my trip back from Tulum, Mexico. They managed to massacre the zipper while undoubtedly "randomly checking" my luggage. Imagine my mortification when I retrieved my luggage from the conveyor belt to find it held together by electric duct tape!
I began researching different brands then came across an article in Travel + Leisure Magazine featuring the best lightweight luggage to take on your next vacation. There were several suitcases to read up on with a focus on style, material, weight and durability.
I've been a fan of Samsonite for years but wanted to update and upgrade my luggage game. I then came across the Bellagio Collection by Bric's Milano, an Italian-made premium and luxury high-end luggage maker. The Bellagio is a stunning, full grain Italian leather-trimmed case, part vintage look but with modern features. It is a hard-shell poly-carbonate case with matte finish and a sophisticated look with adorable luxurious-looking details reminiscent of the steamer train trunks from the Golden Age of travel. The corner guards are also trimmed with Italian Tuscan leather. The 21" Carry-on case weighs only 5.8 lbs., an important feature for packing and for baggage weight regulations and guidelines at the airports, both domestic and international.
Finally, after weeks of contemplation and some anxiety, I ordered my new Bric's Bellagio Collection in the 21" Spinner Carry-on case and the larger 27" Spinner Trunk.
When I figured out and opened my 21" Spinner trunk (to be covered later), I was delightfully surprised by its two-sided compression panel packing system and organizational pockets. I could generously pack three or even four days of clothing in here. When you think of a 21" suitcase meant for the overhead bin on the airplane, you tend to think you may not have enough space for packing or that it may be limiting. In the Bellagio, you can pack many folded items within its confines and compress them down for more packing. There is a zip-around divider compartment, a snap-buckle divider compartment and two interior zipper pockets.
The interior is lined by cleanable satin nylon. In the 27" trolley, here is also a hanger bracket to easily pack clothes on hangers.
Now, when my lovely trolleys arrived, I was overexcited to examine them and suddenly I realized I had no idea how to unlock the TSA approved locks. I spent hours surfing the internet hoping to find a video, an electronic manual or even a blog to explain how to open these cases. Unfortunately, instructions could not be found on the Bric's Store official website but a Customer Service number and e-mail address are provided. I sent an e-mail to request instructions and it was answered in less than 24 hours. I've decided to give any reader or potential Bric's luggage buyer some help with this and hope you do not have to experience the minor case of helplessness that I felt.
Steps to unlock your Bric's Bellagio TSA Approved locks
- The YKK zipper is seal healing and water repellent with TSA Approved locks. When your case arrives, the combination dial should be set to 0-0-0. If not, make sure it is. To initially unlock the case, slide the TSA button with the keyhole inward towards the numbers. You will hear a click and the locks will pop open. Unzip your luggage and inside one of the interior zipper compartments is the pouch that contains the Bric's 5 year Warranty, a list of the Bric's authorized repair global locations and the sought-after Bellagio lock instructions.
- There is a small rectangular shaped change button between the lock slot and the combination dial. Take a pen tip and press down until you hear that "click" sound.
- Set your own 3-digit combination on the dial (for example 9-9-9).
- Last step is to now slide the TSA lock button back to the open position inwardly towards the numbers again and your own combination is set. You will now be able to open your zip lock using this new combination.
A few other great features are the handle which is adjustable to different heights and the removable Japanese double Hinomoto wheels which are durable and made for effortless maneuverability, especially useful over those airport carpets. Your case even comes with a leather luggage tag.
When I initially ordered my cases, I struggled with the color selections, a choice of six colors in the matte poly-carbonate. I agonized between clean cream, vibrant pastel pink and sultry fire-engine red. I finally went with the cream color and decided it was best to also order the Bric's clear protective luggage sleeve for the 21" and 27" Spinners which may get scuffed, especially if I have them checked at the airport. The website recommends to clean the poly-carbonate shell with a non-abrasive detergent cream like Ecover cream scrub. Scratches or fading due to bumps may also be removed by heating the area with a source of heat but I don't think I would ever resort to that. For the leather-trimmed areas, use a small quantity of a leather cleaning product or a neutral wax.
The Bric's Bellagio Collection is on the pricey side, it's true. The 21" carry-on is $550.00 and $595.00 for the 27" trunk. At the time of writing this blog post, I found the Bellagio on various shopping sites and stores including Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's and of course, the Bric's USA official website itself.
Every week, there were various and numerous sales with price reductions and fluctuations and after monitoring these shopping sites carefully, I managed to purchase both luggage spinners for under $400.00 with the help of a fantastic holiday sale on both the Saks.com and Neiman Marcus websites, a couple of valuable promotion codes and a welcomed gift card that came in handy for this coveted purchase. If you haven't come by a remarkable sale or a steal of a lifetime, go ahead and splurge anyway. You won't regret it.
