Stunning Shoes and Comfy Sandals - but which colour?

Problem
How do I look stylish but stay comfortable when travelling?

Here are some of my favourites
Bang good
Socofy
Hotter
Clarks
Josef Seibel

Which colour low boots?
I recently ordered a pair of boots. I put on my favourite outfits then held the skirt and cuffs against the pictures of the shoes to see which matched. To my surprise and disappointment, the bright orange shoes did not go at all with my dark bottle green outfit. What went fabulously was the duller wine colour.

Which Size?
I made a point of ordering a slightly large size, and opting for a pair of leather shoes which might stretch. If boots are too big, you can wear socks.

If the feet are too small, too tight, there is very little you can do, except try to stretch them. In theory, you could cut out the toe (which I have never done and would only do if I were otherwise going to have to throw away or give away the shoes).

When the boots arrived, I tried them on. Oh, dear, they seemed a very tight fit. I changed into thinner socks. I could get the boots on. A snug fit. I felt very uneasy.

However, I kept them on for half an hour. By the time I was ready to go out, either the boots had adapted to my feet, or my feet had adapted to the boots.

Two people complimented me on the boots.

https://www.banggood.com/SOCOFY-New-Printing-Retro-Shoe-Splicing-Pattern-Flat-Ankle-Leather-Boots-p-1224391.html?p=NS241820230132201803

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.

Colourful and Chic Shoes and Boots

Problem - Dull Shoes and Boring Boots
My shoes and boots are dull, boring. I would like to wear amusing colourful shoes with leather flowers shapes, not just painted on, shapes. Anything decorative will do: buttons, fringes, contrasting colours, or appliqué.

However, I can't wear patterns with a patterned jacket.

I console myself with the thought that don't want to draw attention to my feet and away from my face. But I look down at my own feet, so I like colour, a little colour - or a lot.

Plain Black
I have always found that a pair of plain black leather boots is most practical. They go with everything. You can easily touch up scuffs with black, shiny scuff cote.

Clarks For Comfort
Yet I am tempted by pop up ads for fancy shoes. I went into a branch of Clarks. They make comfortable shoes.

Prices
I heard a customer trying to ask for a bigger discount. The member of staff at the till was explaining: Prices are set by the company. This is not a family run business and I don't have the option of altering prices.

"The shoes are already in the sale. Shoes are only sold at an extra discount when they have a fault such as one shoe damaged, scuffed or faded, in which case the manager is allowed, at their discretion, to lower the price further to secure a sale."

Prices were reduced. Yet nothing appealed. It seemed to me that the shop had clumpy, frumpy granny fashions with heavy looking round toes. The design offered no appealing structure. The shoes were without any support to the ankle or instep.

A few gold shoes. Very little of any decoration, in any way lively.

Yest, once home, I am assailed by ads for interesting shoes which you can buy online. Which colour should I choose? Let's compare the colours of the shoes with my clothes. I brought a reversible jacket, black once side.and a coat to my computer screen to place my clothes against pictures of the boots.

The red boots I liked did not go with a multi-colour, patchwork acket. They were too bright against a wine mac. So I chose wine colour.

Websites
http://www.banggood.com Free shipping.
https://www.newchic.com/

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Buy Travel Goods and services; discounted, or get them Free!

MAPS!

All over the internet for free

Countries , cities and surrounding countries from:

www.wikipedia

www.wikitravel

www.wikivoyage

Photograph your local area map to visit parks and shop.

Photograph similar in your holiday destination.

Maps of London underground are at stations in racks. You could also do a panorama of the map inside the station or train. Mainline city centre stations such as Euston have a map with the small area around the station.

I saw this map produced by Rent-a-car. 

http://www.rentalcars.com

When I tried to make the typed link live, they sent me an affiliate link. I wish I knew what to do with it.

We had already booked a car with another company and thought we had the cheapest deal but I did like their map.  

http://www.rentalcars.com/?affiliateCode=google&cor=gb&label=generic-81_VZpeFBa*rXXunHBqMQwS177283651678&ws=&ppc_placement=&ppc_target=&ppc_param1=&ppc_param2=&aceid=&adposition=1t1&ppc_network=g&feeditemid=&ppc_targetid=kwd-28173230&loc_physical_ms=9045963&loc_interest_ms=&ppc_device=c&ppc_devicemodel=&gclid=CjwKCAjwssvPBRBBEiwASFoVd2pd-5s_104wTSRWrkRREniCtQLjNhWjFVKwiaWLk43YkX_6oiwgVRoC4AAQAvD_BwE

Looking at their map, it was worth remembering your favourite places, Bucharest, the capital is in the south, Brasov, second city, due north. Ask the car company for the map. Usually there should be one in the car, but maybe the previous drivers took it and the car company forgot to replace it. Alternatively, they might tell you that the nearby tourist office has one.

Here's the map of the route taken by the Bucharestcitytour open top bus. While waiting for the bus (buy tickets on board) I photographed the route to memorise it and plan where to get off.

http://bucharestcitytour.ratb.ro

BOOKS and Guidebooks
Amazon : Travel guides. Maps.
Ebay
HMSO (Her Majesty's Stationery Office): Maps
Map shop in Covent Garden, London, England.
Most bookshops.
Motorway station shops and petrol stations: UK Newsagents such as W H Smith with local books and maps.
Racks of free local attractions and County attractions, often with a local map on the back marking the cities, roads and attractions.
Similar free brochure racks are in many supermarkets in tourist areas, as well as local coffee shops.
Free brochures, local maps and hotel cards from most Government or local Tourist offices.

CLOTHING
Look for anti mosquito or anti-insect clothing (NOSILIFE), anti tick socks (sold in Singapore at the shop at the base of the Bukit Timah uphill trail); anti sunburn clothes and swimsuits, and pickpocket proof clothing with double closure, multi-pocket jackets, especially ski jackets with inside pockets and double front closure of press studs with a zip underneath.
You can buy concealed pockets in hats, belts, tee-shirts.
Another travel item is the coat or long jacket with multiple pockets for going on airlines which charge for luggage.

Craghoppers N o s i L i f e insect repellent clothing such as ladies and men's shirts.
https://www.clothingarts.com/products/pickpocket_proof_business_travel_pants
Stocked by several companies such as Blacks.
www.craghoppers.com

Clothing Arts Warehouse
Questions and enquiries about orders, call tel:646 422 9222
email: info@clothingarts.com
3611 14th Ave Number 403
Brooklyn NY 11218

'Wearable Luggage'
Beat the baggage charges, or Pay Less For Luggage:
https://www.skyscanner.net/news/best-wearable-luggage-jackets-reviewed-beat-airline-baggage-charges
Brands reviewed are:
Rufus
Basket
Jaktog

FOOTWEAR

Shoes
www.sportsdirect.com
American websites say sneakers. The British websites say trainers.
Boots
Sandals
Customised

FOOTWEAR Brands:
Sandals for walking around the city:
Clarks; Hotter; Josef Seibel.
You can also buy second hand on ebay - and sell this season's to somebody else if you like to keep up with fashion.
I have articles on buying sandals in
travelwithangelalansburyblogspot.co.uk

HOLIDAYS / BUSINESS
COMPLETE PACKAGES
ACCOMMODATION+FOOD+ENTERTAINMENT
Club Med.
Sandals.
Some hotels in Scotland, such as
Peebles Hydro, especially in school Easter and summer holidays, Christmas, New Year and half-term breaks.
Golfing Hotels.

Country Clubs
Accommodation attached to country clubs - your home club may have reciprocal arrangements, but clubs vary as to whether non-members, in booked accommodation, or visiting for a meal, can use only the restaurant or all the sports and entertainment facilities.
Websites:
www.Tripadvisor.co.uk
www.Lastminute.com
High street travel agents with nationwide branches.
Accommodation advice and bookings at tourist offices in many airports in Arrivals, but may only be open during the working day.

BAGS & SUITCASES SOURCES

BAGS
T r a v e l o n sell anti-theft bags, waterproof items, RFID blocking locking zipper, hidden compartments, chain link construction to ward off slashing of panels and slash resistant straps. Prices range from $45 for a small bag to $80 for a tote and $110 for a backpack (prices Oct 2017).
https://www.travelonbags.com/anti-theft-rfid

The British word is luggage; the American word is baggage.
You have to decide, heavy and robust, or lightest and flimsiest. I want little, lightweight luggage, with four wheels.
https://www.skyscanner.net/news/cabin-luggage-guide-hand-baggage-sizes-and-weight-restrictions

Where to buy bags? (Americans say purse for a handbag).
Amazon
www.amazon.co.uk (There's another version www.amazon.com .)
Department Stores such as John Lewis.
https://www.johnlewis.com
Sports Shops.
Supermarkets
Ebay
Airport Shops

SUITCASE Brands:
Samsonite.
Verify brands, check latest styles, then look for prices.

More will be added in blogs on this website which I am in the process of creating:(www:luxurytravelforless.co.uk/blogs)

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Travelling in stretchy sandals - sensible and comfortable

I wore a very pretty pair of gladiator style sandals around San Francisco but after 24 hours all the pretty thin straps were coming lose from the base, some broke, and I wasted hours trying to find a shoe mender and then looking in shops for a more sensible pair of shoes which were less likely to wear out.

Nowadays I like shoes which fasten with Velcro or any brand of touch and close or hook and loop.  Adjustable sandals accommodate the changing shape of feet when you fly from one climate  to another, or if your feet swell on an airplane. My favourite brands in the UK are Hotter and Free-step and Cushion-walk.

Clarks, Hotter
Clarks also sell a range of sandals which expand. Now the shops in the UK have summer sales. Clarks and Hotter have shops in many UK high streets and indoor shopping malls. If you are in a shopping mall, the department stores also have shoe sections.

The latest trend seems to be elasticated straps. Some of the shoes have uppers entirely made of one tow or three pieces of elastic strap, sometimes in two or three parallel lines, others in a Y or X shape.

German brands include Birkenstock.

Sandals in practical styles common all colours, from earth browns, or match everything blacks and white, or lively reds and turquoise or yellow, or glamorous gold or silver which takes you through day and evening.

Brands I noticed in a chemist (pharmacy or drug store) in London, England were Rieker and Rapisardi. What are shoes and sandals doing displayed in a chemist shop? The sandals advertise themselves as being anti-stress.

I am trying not to buy another pair of shoes.
You can find customer reviews of products on Amazon.

Websites / contacts
jdwilliams.co.uk call 0871 231 2000
www.hotter.com (75 stores nationwide, UK) call free 0800 525 893


Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Travel shoes - comfort and style

Last time I took a flight we had to remove out shoes at security. This is not a good time to be wearing shoes with three buckles, or lace ups from toe to thigh. Trying to watch three trays of coats and bags and cameras and belts with metal buckles, metal pendants, while struggling with tripe buckled shoes is not my idea of fun.

I like to travel in shoes with velcro or 'snap and close' fastenings. They detach fast. They fit when your ankles swell in-flight or after a long flight, or going from home country to cold and vice versa.

Pineapples
I was in a branch of Office shoes looking at their sale items. I liked a pair of slip on flat canvas shoes with a pattern of pineapples. The first problem is white shoes will get dirty quickly. The second problem is you have to co-ordinate them with plain colours. I hate mixing one pattern with another. It used to be the sign of a disorganised person. Designers tried to make it a new fashion trend. But you have to be extremely elegant to carry it off.

Like torn jeans, it looks great if everything else is immaculate, freshly washed hair, perfect make up, fancy nails, brand new designer bag, and you have the figure of a model girl. If you have been up all night on an overnight flight, with tousled hair, baggy eyes, three pieces of luggage, one polka dot, one orchids, two patterns on the suitcase tags, pineapples on your shoes, palm trees on your skirt, striped Breton t-shirt, sorry, it looks a mess.

You would be better off all black or all white with just one item in a colour of pattern. So if I travel all black, or all white hm ....

Touch and close shoes:
This year's shoes from Hotter include the Glow design in two co-ordinating colours.
Clarks (currently sale)
Cushion-walk
Easystep
Free-step
Hotter (currently sale online and in store)
Josef Seibel


Angela Lansbury, travel writer, author, speaker.