Congratulations to giveaway winners, Faye Heffele and Denise Joyce!
Thanks to everyone who entered!
5 Reasons why this Zee Alexis bag is the perfect travel purse…and how you can win one!
I’m really fussy about the purses I choose to take on my trips. Because handbags are typically bulky and weighty (juxtaposed against stringent airline baggage limitations), I never take more than one or two purses.
When I was asked to review the Beacon shoulder bag for Zee Alexis, I was delighted to discover my new go-to travel purse. Here’s what I love about the Zee Alexis Beacon Woven Shoulder Bag:
1- It’s lightweight
Even with the chain strap, it probably weighs less than a pound. When I’m touring, I need to carry a passport, wallet, cell phone, camera, sunglasses, notebook and pen, at minimum, so I don’t want the bag itself to start off heavy.
Also for reasons of weight, I generally opt for fabric over leather purses when traveling. Another pet peeve: I’m wary of any purse with heavy hardware.
2- It’s organized and secure
Let me count the ways: This purse zips across the top (so you don’t have to worry about something slipping out when you tuck it under the airline seat in front of you. It even has a small clasp for extra security you can use in crowded places where you worry about pickpockets (see the clasp on the left top of the bag above).
Inside, it has a place for everything: a zippered side pocket, zippered middle pocket, and two extra interior pockets to hold a cell phone and anything else you need ready access to.
On both sides of the bag exterior, there are lengthwise zipper pockets. I use one to hold my cell phone (so I don’t have to open the purse) to retrieve it when it rings. The other is perfect for a small notepad and pen, essentials tools for any traveler.
The purse isn’t so deep that anything gets lost at the bottom. The tan lining (rather than black) helps you spot things too.
3- It’s convertible
Like a little black dress, it works for day or dinner wear. The black metallic woven fabric has a slight sheen that makes it look more expensive than it is. I chose the Beacon Shoulder Bag in black because it’s neutral enough to go with everything in my wardrobe. It’s also a four-season bag that can be worn at any time of year in any climate.
In addition to the removable Channel-type strap of woven metal and fabric (that’s an ample shoulder length), it also comes with a longer fabric strap that can be worn crossbody during the day.
4- It’s right-sized
Like the story of Goldilocks, it’s not too big, not too little but sized just right! The 12x9x4 dimensions offer just enough room without the purse being too big and bulky to carry or pack.
5- It’s affordable
When I was young professional, I had an addiction to purchasing expensive designer purses from Italy and France, often acquired in the course of my travels. Now, I’m more moderate in my tastes and more frugal in terms of my “pocketbook.” With a Bottega-Veneta-type weave, the Zee Alexis line looks expensive but this bag retails for only $94.00.
Have I sold you on the goods? You can order one online at the Zee Alexis website. Shipping and returns are free. Alternatively, you can enter the giveaway below.
THE GIVEAWAY
Enter the More Time To Travel Sweepstakes to win your own Zee Alexis Beacon shoulder bag.
The bag comes in four different color tones: Black Metallic, Cobalt Multi, White/Black and Mosaic Multi.
- To be eligible to win, just leave a comment below with the choice of color you prefer and note any country in the world where you would like to use your bag.
- TWO lucky winners will be randomly selected to win Zee Alexis bags (and will have to satisfy the trip fantasy on their own).
- Deadline for the contest is 11:59 EST September 30, 2016. Watch here for the announcement of the names of the winners. Sorry, limited to U.S. or Canadian addresses only.
Disclosure: I received this bag for review but any opinions expressed in this post are my own. BTW, I had absolutely no problem writing this post after falling in love with the bag and was under no obligation to write it at all.
If you haven’t seen my Zee Alexis shoe review, take a peek at that. I love this company’s products!
38 Comments
Mary Crosby
September 8, 2016 at 6:38 amI would love to take your bag to Greece. Love the black metallic!
Melissa Breland
September 8, 2016 at 6:48 amI would love to win this to take on all of my cruises! I always looking for a bag that can transition from airport to using around the ship and while in port! I would love the black and white bag!!
Eileen Gallagher
September 8, 2016 at 7:40 amWould love to use the black bag right here in the USA as I travel from state to state going to college football games! Between my son being an assistant for his college team and my other son just entering the college scene, I have plenty of travel ahead. All of the bags look beautiful and surprisingly functional, but I agree that the black bag would be most able to accompany me on all my excursions.
Barb f
September 8, 2016 at 7:40 amI am always searching for the right bag too…this could be the one..black looks just right. I would use the bag in the USA. In Bermuda. In the UK! Okay, Italy and Argentina.
Maureen Baeck
September 8, 2016 at 7:47 amI admit that I have a bit of a handbag habit. I love to try new bags for travel. I want something that is light and will hold all my stuff. This bag looks like it fits the bill to a T. I would love to rock that black metallic bag. It will go with everything and transition to evening wear.
amy citrome
September 8, 2016 at 8:25 amThe bag looks extremely handy with all of those zippered compartments. I would like it best in solid black.
Denise Joyce
September 8, 2016 at 9:10 amHeading to Provence next May. Would love to have the solid black bag with me!
Penny
September 8, 2016 at 9:14 amI’d love the black for the same reasons you do. It would be perfect for Italy, where the longer cross-body strap , clasp and zipper on the top should prove to be a challenge for Italians out to pinch something other than my butt.
Elisa Dias
September 8, 2016 at 10:07 amVery nice! Please put me in for a black one!
And happy travels with your bag!
Mary Charlebois
September 8, 2016 at 11:47 amThis IS the perfect travel bag. I love that it’s not black inside – avoiding the black-hole syndrome so many bags have. That said, I like the multi-color purse. Thanks for your review, MaryGo
Kara Freedman
September 8, 2016 at 12:39 pmWould love the black bag and would totally use it while traveling. Great review!!
Peggy Johnson
September 8, 2016 at 12:46 pmI would choose the black metallic and would love to take it all over Europe
Linda Rosenzweig
September 8, 2016 at 6:39 pmI am going to India in November, and would love the black bag as it would be extremely versatile, not show dirt, be light on my shoulder, and prevent thefts due to the zippered closure and metal in the shoulder strap.
Kelly D
September 8, 2016 at 7:38 pmI like the Black Metallic and I would like to use it in Italy.
Faye Heffele
September 9, 2016 at 10:25 amI would chose the Black metallic as I like to stay neutral when travelling. I’d love to try it out on my next foreign trip – we go to Vietnam in January!
Cherie Montorio
September 9, 2016 at 2:47 pmI would love the Black Metallic and I would love to travel all through Europe with this purse.
Michele Daley
September 10, 2016 at 1:01 amWould love the mosaic bag for an upcoming trip to Australia
Ceil
September 14, 2016 at 12:48 pmI love a bag with a little pizzazz. The mosaic multi would be great for an upcoming trip to Canada.
Janice L Haskins
September 15, 2016 at 5:17 amThe bag looks sturdy and has pockets, which we all know are very important when travelling. I am always looking for a handbag which will fit in where ever we travel, but is functional (and also stylist). I think that the black metallic bag is perfect and hits all the right notes.
Angie W
September 14, 2016 at 12:49 pmI love the Mosaic Multi! I’d use it in Peru 🙂
Sara
September 14, 2016 at 1:01 pmWould love the black metallic for my upcoming trip to Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and India in the winter of 2017.
Meryl Baer
September 14, 2016 at 1:34 pmMy favorite is the black metallic. Will work perfectly with my travel uniform wherever I go – black, black, and more black, sometimes accessorized with a colorful scarf. First stop, Ireland in December!
Anne
September 14, 2016 at 3:07 pmThe black one, as you’ve chosen, would be the one for me, and I’d gladly take it on our next trip to France!
Janet
September 14, 2016 at 5:40 pmI would like the black and one bag. Can dress it up or down when I go to California Sonoma valley in the spring
Angeline Munoz
September 15, 2016 at 10:25 amWould love to go back to San Miguel de Allende with this Zee alexis bag in black.
Diana
September 17, 2016 at 4:43 pmDefinitely the black one for Madrid and Barcelona.
Laura
September 21, 2016 at 11:26 pmI would love to win the black bag! I would use it on my college road trips in the US.
Laura S
September 24, 2016 at 8:45 amI love the Cobalt Multi bag. I’d take it on my upcoming trip to Canada
Kim
September 25, 2016 at 11:13 amNeed to be different. Blue cobalt for me. Barcelona.
ABIGAIL HAMILTON
September 27, 2016 at 6:51 amI’d love the black one to take to Crete
Eugenia Taylor
September 27, 2016 at 8:22 amI could use this in black on an upcoming cruise to South America!
Lou Klym
September 27, 2016 at 6:20 pmThis bag is the ultimate in fashion and storage. I would love to take it on a trip!
Annmarie Thorpe
September 27, 2016 at 6:20 pmI would love to try this bag as I travel a lot and have been through so many different travel bags that were convenient and easy to use this bag has all of the versatility and design you want to see in a bag. I love that it’s convertible as I love a bag I can sling around my body when I have a lot of luggage to carry. The designs and colors are new I have not seen a bag with those colors and hues before. Looking forward to maybe taking it to Scotland as that is where my next vacation is going to be. Go outlander!!!!
Lou Klym
September 28, 2016 at 7:00 pmThis bag is the ultimate in fashion and storage. I would love to take it on a trip! Black Metallic and I would use it everyday in the USA.
Amy Sutton
September 29, 2016 at 6:04 pmI would love to take the black bag to England!
Sheryl
September 29, 2016 at 10:34 pmOoh, ooh, how pretty! I’d love to travel anywhere, anytime, with the black bag. It would be perfect in Portugal!
Rachel Heller
September 30, 2016 at 4:37 amI’m not in the US, but my daughter is, so if I won, it could be sent to her, right? I’d love the black one; it’s very elegant looking and would go with anything. I’d take it to all of my upcoming trips: Berlin, London, Prague and Dubai.
Grady Elliott
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