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What do you think?

Çırağan Palace Kempinski in Istanbul with another recognition at the World Tourism Awards – “Leading Hotel in Europe” 2022

Almyros Beach Resort and Spa

Hotel Aluasun Helios Beach

Hotel Alua Helios Bay

Abv travels.

Welcome to the glamorous world of the luxury and high quality service! ABV Travel agency is full of enthusiasm and sincere desire to turn your    dreamed vacation into unforgettable and emotional memory. From the fresh ideas through the energy we put into the organization and the attention we pay to the last detail, we offer everything you expect from a professional and competent partner. Excellent organization, original ideas and impeccable service that every customer deserves! With us you can find all the offers you need for hotel accommodation, charter  programs to the Caribbean, the worm and hospitable Mexico, Dominican Republic, Cuba and etc., all personally checked by our professional team. The rich variety of offers for holidays and excursions offered by ABV Travels Ltd. will take you to the so close, hospitable and so loved by all, the amazing Turkey! We are specialized in offering bus excursions to Istanbul , with accommodation in carefully selected hotels with a light boutique flavor and charter programs to the Turkish Riviera-Antalya, Bodrum, Marmaris, Kusadasi, Fethie, Didim and others. The most important thing for all of us, ABV Travels team, is to take good care of your stay so that it equals to your dreams! Welcome to the world of the luxury travel!

+359 882 900 201 /+359 882 900 202 0700 40 200 [email protected] www.abvtravels.bg

Saudia’s New Era: Where Innovation in Aviation Meets Saudi Identity

The cruise to a dream business starting from an office in a café and an empty bank account

Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism – 15 years with a cause, 15 years of team work

Destinations.

Destinations – ultimate guide for your holiday

Personalities

Petra Lelovska, Ensana

Carmen Struck – the ambassador of health tourism in Bulgaria

Lachezar Todorov – CEO Terra Tour Service EOOD

Review Highlights

“ We just came back from Best of Greece 2022 tour trip escorted by 2 expert tour guides Simone Nga and Viet Hung. ” in 3 reviews

“ AV Travel is the best Travel Agency, not only traveling services but also Visa and paper works related to Vietnam. ” in 5 reviews

“ They also book flights within Vietnam so that was very convenient for our travels. ” in 8 reviews

Location & Hours

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10900 Westminster Ave

Garden Grove, CA 92843

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Amenities and More

About the business.

Business owner information

Business Owner

We work hard in meeting your travel requirements, and to provide you fun and exciting trips. Our service is not just about booking airfare and accommodations but also about finding ways for you to experience the local culture and to enjoy the activities specific to your destination. We want you to come back from your trip with a refreshed outlook, enhanced world knowledge and fond memories that last a lifetime. We pledge you our commitment for reliable, caring and quality service to provide safe, affordable and enjoyable travel. Whether your preference is to travel to multiple cities or get to a single destination, AV Travel can counsel you on the best choice given your time and budget. Staffed with friendly and experienced agents, we are ready to assist you find the right tour at the right price. …

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Ask a question

My family and I are looking to book a trip to American Samoa? Can you help with that?

Hello Therrey, Thank you for your question. Unfortunately, our office does not operate trips to American Samoa. You can check our available tours by visiting our website… more

Recommended Reviews

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Overall rating

Tú Uyên is a professional agent. She is helpful and nice to talk with. AV has a good services. I am pleased to work with them on my family trip coming up

We got our visas here. It wasn't too hard and $80 a visa even for our toddler. Payments are checks or cash

We recently had experience with AV Travel. This is some feedback from the last tour ---- AV Travel - Your agency is the epitome of dishonesty and mediocrity, with no accountability to your clients. Please read again your advertisement about "pledging commitment for reliable, caring and quality services" and take necessary responsibility. Ignoring our collective concern is extremely unprofessional. AV US action is to kick the can down the road for all mishaps: - AV Vietnam office problem because our group was lodged in the bad wing of Vinpearl. Really? So obvious AV US goal is to increase your profit margin against your travelers' comfort and expectations. We paid AV US for this service not AV VN. - Horrible tour guide in Phu Quoc because he is only hired help. Not AV US duty to vet your vendors? Really? We paid AV US for this service. - Mistakes on airline tickets are passed to travelers. Really? Are you not a travel agency with the utmost responsibility to issue our tickets in accordance with passport information, a service that again we paid to AV US. - The tour leader is responsible for all communications and misinformation. Really? Was she also an agent or remunerated for leading the tour with granted AV authority? Again we paid AV US for this service. You should alter your mission statement to state that your agency is below average with no care for clients and proving unreliable services to highly dissatisfied clients. You are only looking for profit and any potential problem incurred is your vendors' or a non-AV employee tour leader's mistake ???!!!!

We have had several private tours with this agency. The 1st tours are OK but the quality is getting worse. May be it's because they start to know us so they think they can squeeze as much as they can out from this group including: * Tours are getting more and more expensive when compared to others * There is less option to chose from and they are not keen to accommodate changes/suggestions from our group. This is not right as we always want private your so to have flexibility to change * The last 2 ones are worse o For the Italy tour in Sep 2022, we have the same menus during the whole trip: rissetto - pizza all day long although in different restaurants. The tour guide who is also the owner start to threaten us about security, theft in Sicily and strongly suggest to hire security guards to be with us ! ( of course with extra fees). Aslo they advertise that they have experiences/knowledge of Europe, in fact they have no clue about the culture and the dining experiences over there. All their references in Sicily are from American movies about mafia! o For the VN tour in Dec 2022, they put us in resorts that are loud while there is one next door that is dedicated to senior ( they know us very well). When there is error in booking flight ticket, we have to pay for their error! So stay away from this agency, there are much nicer agencies in Orange County!

Excellent service with well planned tour. AVTravel deserved a 5 golden stars in service. We just came back from Best of Greece 2022 tour trip escorted by 2 expert tour guides Simone Nga and Viet Hung. Our group of 30 members were well care by Nga and Hung throughout the journey just like a big family living in the same house. They both so kind, polite, generous and professional. Willingness to do what ever it takes to make the best for the group. Transportation and hotel were good and high-end except one little suggestion about buffet dinner at the Titania hotel in Anthens needs to improve in quality of food to be better like it called 5 star hotel. We're very satisfied and enjoyed the trip with AVtravel and love to come back again and again. Highly recommended

I recently used them for my Vietnam trip this New Year. To be honest I had my doubts. I didn't not look forward to use AV TRAVEL since I had a horrible experience with them before. I tried to include it in this review but it was way to long so I had to cut it out. But my boyfriend told me that his friends and him have used them for their Vietnam trips and it wasn't bad. Our itinerary was Hanoi, Phu Quoc, Saigon, Can Tho (which my boyfriend and I opted out on), back to Saigon. We started in Hanoi. Our tour guide was a local tour guide named Hung (who AV hired). He was amazing. I can't express how knowledgeable and great he was. Our second stop was Phu Quoc. This is when everything started to crumble. As we were checking in at the airport we were told that my boyfriend middle name didn't match his passport. We couldn't understand how they got that middle name when clearly we sent our passports to them multiple times. Also as I mentioned my boyfriend was a repeated client. Our guide went to talk to the airline for us and was able to change his ticket. The tour guide who picked us named Thanh. He made very vulgar jokes on the the bus which made me feel very uncomfortable, especially being a female. We specifically asked not to go to the Pearl factory since we already been there the last time we went to Phuc Quoc and it wasn't on the itinerary as the list of things to do in PQ. But he kept pushing. We ended up all sitting there till he realized we were all just sitting there waiting to move to the next tour. By the time it was done it was getting late so we had missed out on the city tour. When we filed complaint with AV TRAVEL, they brushed it off saying that he was a freelance guy. We chose Vinpearl resort since we had such a great experience there on our last trip. Once we got there we noticed it didn't look anything like the hotel we stayed at before. But it was Vinpearl so we just thought it was remodeled. Later on we found out that vinpearl is separated into two wings. Instead of booking us the wing that we stayed at last time (only reason why we decided to go back to vinpearl) they put us in the cheaper wing. The day before we head to Saigon I was told by a third party that my bf had to pay $64 for the name error or else he would not be able to check in to go to Saigon. How unprofessional is it that you couldn't tell me personally but to have a third part told me. Not only that but also to threaten me that I wouldn't be able to check in. I told the 3rd party I will deal with them when I get back to the states. To think they would leave a repeat client stranded for $64. Luckily for us we had already dealt with the airline directly to correct all his flights. The night before we were heading back to the states we were notified again by a third party since we didn't go to Can Tho we would have to find our own ride to the airport. IF THAT WAS THE CASE WHY DIDN'T IT STATE THAT IN OUR ITINERARY? Why did our itinerary show a pick up time with a confirmation voucher. That was never mentioned when we were asked about joining the Can Tho trip. When we called the driver he said he was supposed to take only 14 people to the airport. We told him that we were the original 14 people in the group so why aren't our name on that list. He called Us back saying he was told we weren't on that list. After complaining that a few of our friends already took earlier flights home and a few is staying later, so there would be less then 10 people why can't they take us on the 29 seater bus. They told us they can squeeze us in for $50USD. That was outrageous. The hotel told us that they can have a 7 seater car come take us for less than $10. The day before we hired driver to pick us up from Saigon and take us to several different orphanages in Bien Hoa and back to Saigon ( we hired him for 10 hours) and it only cost us less than $25 USD. With this price gouging can you imagine what else and how much they are up charging? Stay clear from this company!!!!

AV Travel is the best Travel Agency, not only traveling services but also Visa and paper works related to Vietnam. I'm their customer, with several services in the past and I'm so please to share my experiences. Highly recommended.

Thank you so much anh Hung and chi Simone Nga for a perfect Dubai and Maldives Trip. We had so much fun and lot of memories . The hotels and food that they booked are excellent. Our anniversary was planned perfectly by and Hung( tour leader). Every place we visited which was beautiful . In Maldives, the Centara Fushi Resort is very beautiful. Anh Hung connected with hotel staff to decorate the room and champagne for our anniversary when we arrived. We are highly recommend AV tour for all whenever you need a unforgettable memories and relax, so choose AV Travel, they are professional and exceptional in tour.

See all photos from Huy Jenie N. for AV Travel

Excellent service. 5-4 stars hotels & restaurants. I went on 3 trips with AV Travel. Will definitely go on more trips in the near future.

I've heart many good things about AV travel from friends and family members. This is the first time my family took a tour with them for the 2021 summer Hawaii trip. First of all, the package price was reasonable. They booked a nice hotel by the beach (Sheraton Waikiki Princess) accessible to shopping centers and restaurants. Secondly, the trip was joyful and relaxable. My family (married with 2 kids) was very happy with the trip after almost 2 years stay put due to pandemic spread out. We went to discover many nice places in Oahu island everyday with the tour and had good dinners with a lot of good food. The kids were very exited to go to the beach and hotel's pool. And lastly, thanks to Mr. Hung and Mrs. Nga, they treated us very well and accommodated everything we needed. Mrs. Simone Nga even volunteered to babysit my little kids for us to have time to go around freely. We will definitely go to AV travel for the next future trips and strongly recommend everyone this agency if you have a vacation plan in mind.

Fast and friendly service. They made buying tickets and visas to Vietnam easy. They also book flights within Vietnam so that was very convenient for our travels. Communication was excellent with calls to update me on what was happening. Visas were fairly priced. **Check your visas to make sure they have the correct dates on them! I noticed the dates were wrong, called them, and they quickly adjusted it and had me pick them up before our departure for LAX. They hustled!

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I’ve Been Using Away Luggage For Years — Here’s Why I Recommend It

By Morgan Greenwald

Morgan Greenwald

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

If you’ve done any sort of research on popular luggage brands or have spent some time scrolling through Instagram, odds are you’ve come across Away , the trendy, DTC luggage brand known for its sleek suitcases and vibrant colorways. The polycarbonate shell suitcases have maintained their popularity almost a decade after their launch and social media virality, but for those who may be hesitant to spend upwards of $300 on a piece of luggage, the question remains: Is Away really worth the hype (and price tag)?

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

• Editor’s Choice: Away The Carry-On Flex
• Large Carry-on Pick: Away Bigger Carry-On
• Also Consider: Away Large Suitcase

As a journalist and avid traveler, I have used Away’s Carry-On Flex , Bigger Carry-On , and Large suitcase since 2018 to travel everywhere from Spain and France to California and Vermont. During this time, I’ve tried other suitcase brands like Monos and Samsonite , but Away has remained my top choice thanks to its roomy interior and lightweight shell. There are some drawbacks to the bags — notably, the lighter colors scuff pretty easily and it can be hard to find your suitcase on a conveyor belt full of Away bags — but ultimately the pros far outweigh the cons, especially if you travel often.

In This Article

What is away luggage, what makes away luggage so unique.

• Away Luggage Pros & Cons

How Does Away Luggage Compare to Competitors?

• Is Away Luggage Worth it?

Away was founded in 2015 by Jen Rubio and Steph Korey, who previously worked together at Warby Parker. They originally launched with a single product — the Carry-On — but later expanded their suitcase offerings and eventually branched out into accessories, totes, and other travel-related essentials. 

Since its launch in 2015, Away has taken customer feedback to heart, and the brand’s suitcases have evolved significantly: Among other things, the bags now have a grab handle under the wheels that make them easier to carry, and previously existing handles now protrude less. The carry-on pieces were previously offered with built-in battery packs, but these have since been phased out based on customer feedback. (As someone who owns one of the older battery pack models, I agree that while the battery pack was convenient, it’s just as convenient to bring a portable charger with you on the plane.)

There are a lot of things to appreciate about Away’s suitcases . All of the brand’s signature carry-ons and checked bags are protected by a polycarbonate hard shell that, according to Travelpro , is sturdier and more crack-resistant than other common hardside materials like polypropylene. Thanks to the hard shell, it’s also easy to fill the suitcase to the brim without worrying about whether it will fit in an overhead compartment. “I am an overpacker through and through, and I love that the shell is hard but also flexible, so I can pack as much as I want into this bag that fits into a carry-on compartment,” says Becca Higgins , Rolling Stone ’s senior producer of artist relations who has been using her Bigger Carry-On for years.

The bags are also secured by a three-digit, TSA-approved combination lock that’s built directly into the suitcase. (A word to the wise, though: Do not forget your lock combination. More on that later.)

From a size standpoint, the Away bags also offer a lot of bang for your buck. All of the suitcases have an interior compression system that keeps your belongings compartmentalized while condensing them down. If you tend to be an overpacker, the Flex suitcases also come with zipper expansions that enlarge the interior to give you more packing space. 

Away The Carry-On Flex Review

Away carry-on flex.

Specs: • Measurements: 21.7″ x 13.7″ x 9″ (exterior) and 20” x 13.5” (interior)
 • Weight: 8.15 lbs
 • Capacity: 39.8 L (46.7 L when expanded)


Away’s The Carry-On is the bag that first helped the company rise to prominence in 2015. The smallest suitcase option in Away’s lineup, the bag has deep compartments on either side that are secured with either a zippered mesh sleeve or a buckled mesh compression divider.

“The square shape maximizes the usable storage in all bag sizes,” says Jessica Seib , Rolling Stone ’s VP of Commerce who owns several Away bags. “The mesh zip compartments and divider built-ins also make sorting clean and dirty or delicate clothing and shoes within one bag a breeze.”

When I used my Carry-On Flex for a four-day trip to Lake Placid, I had no trouble packing six outfits, a few sweaters, and all of my toiletries; however, there wasn’t any room left to pack a second pair of shoes, so I would recommend The Bigger Carry-On Flex (which has a 55.7-liter capacity) if you want to pack larger items like sneakers or a hair styling tool.

Away The Bigger Carry-On Review

Away the bigger carry-on.

Specs: • Measurements: 22.7″ x 15.4″ x 9.6″ (exterior) and 20.9″ x 15″ x 7.9″ (interior)
 • Weight: 7.9 lbs
 • Capacity: 47.9 L


The Bigger Carry-On has been my go-to travel companion since I first bought it in 2018. Though it’s just slightly bigger than the Carry-On Flex at its full capacity, I have found that it offers more room for larger items like shoes, jackets, and heavy sweaters. I have relied on my Bigger Carry-On alone for week-long work trips, bachelorette trips, and more; on average, I can fit up to eight or nine outfits in my bag, but that number gets smaller depending on how many larger items I need to bring with me. 

Away The Large Review

Away the large.

Specs : • Measurements: 29″ x 20.5″ x 12.5″ (exterior) and 26.9″ x 19.7″ x 10.6″ (interior)
 • Weight: 12.1 lbs
 • Capacity: 99.2 L


Away’s checked bag offerings include The Medium, The Large, and The Trunk, as well as Flex and Aluminum versions of the first two. The Large , which remains relatively lightweight at 12.1 pounds, has a shockingly sizeable interior; on a recent two-week trip across Germany and Denmark, I was able to fit everything into my Large suitcase without having to bring a carry-on (on top of my usual outfits, I had to pack gym clothes and a dirndl for Oktoberfest!).

The Large is easily my favorite Away suitcase of all the ones I own thanks to how reliable it is on longer trips. My light pink shell is pretty scuffed up after years of use, but there isn’t any damage that would compromise the integrity of the suitcase. The other thing that I love about The Large is that, when I’m not traveling, my Bigger Carry-On can be stored inside of it so the two suitcases aren’t taking up as much space inside my closet.

Away Luggage Pros:

• The Away suitcases are relatively lightweight, which makes them easier to lift into overhead bins and makes it easier to stay under the weight limit.
 • The suitcases’ 360-degree wheels hold up well after several years of use and easily glide across all types of surfaces, from carpeting to asphalt — “the wheels are 360-degree magic and so smooth,” Higgins says.
 • Away’s customer service is excellent and the lifetime limited warranty covers most major damage.
 • The myriad pockets (and optional packing cubes ) allow for maximized use of the interior space.


Away Luggage Cons:

• The polycarbonate shell scuffs relatively easily, especially in the lighter colorways.
 • The combination lock is impossible to reset if you forget the code.
 • The suitcases are on the pricier side, so they may not make sense for people who don’t travel as often.
 • Since Away bags are so popular, it can be easy to mix your bag up with someone else’s. “My suggestion: Buy an Away suitcase and then pick up one of these cheap accessories to help differentiate your bag from someone else’s,” says Tim Chan , PMC’s associate VP of editorial and commerce.


While I have found that the Away suitcases best fit my travel needs, some of the other popular luggage brands may be a better option depending on how often you travel and the type of travel you’re doing. If you’re looking for something to use for work travel, for instance, I am a fan of Monos’ Carry-On Pro ; in addition to boasting many of the features of the Away bag — like a polycarbonate shell, combination lock, and 360-degree spinning wheels — it also has an exterior pocket that can hold a laptop, notebooks, and other work travel essentials. A more affordable alternative that Chan is also a fan of is Brandless’ Checked Luggage : “It features a suitcase with vertical lines (Away has horizontal lines) so I can always pick my bag out of a crowd,” he says.

Though many of the popular luggage retailers offer similar features, one of the biggest selling points when it comes to Away is the company’s customer service. Most Away bags come with a lifetime limited warranty , which covers everything from cracks and unusable wheels to broken zippers and fabric tears. “My first Medium Bag zipper was damaged by an airline bag handler when it was brand new. I brought the bag to an Away store in Brooklyn and received a brand new bag within minutes,” Seib recalls.

So, Is Away Luggage Worth it?

Away’s luggage isn’t going to make sense for everybody; for those who travel less often, something more affordable might make more sense, and if you’re mostly traveling for work, you might want to consider a carry-on that offers easy access to your laptop, notebook, and electronics. However, if you travel regularly and are looking for a durable, sleek suitcase that’s easy to organize, the Away bags are well worth the price tag when you consider how long they last and the brand’s lifetime warranty. “I basically overstuff my suitcase and put it through the wildest conditions and it comes out unscathed,” Higgins notes. Away even has a 100-day free return policy on unused bags, so if you’re on the fence, you can order one to test out at home before you fully commit.

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Silversea cruise review: a Central and North American adventure

An incredible journey featuring cultural exploration, cooking classes, comfort and more

• Newsletter sign up Newsletter

Sailing on Silversea's luxurious and exquisitely designed Silver Nova ship is dreamy in itself, but add to that an incredible itinerary including the iconic Panama Canal and you have yourself a bucket-list cruise. 

As a solo traveller , I was pleasantly surprised by how well solo guests are looked after, with nightly solo traveller drinks, hosted by the friendly guest relations team. I made some fantastic friends here on day one, which turned into a group who met for dinners, drinks on deck and post-trip conversations. 

Tours and activities

Some people book their excursions as soon as they are released, but I booked mine the day I arrived and still managed to get on my desired trips. However, I would recommend booking tours and activities in advance, if possible, to avoid disappointment.

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For me, the stand-out excursion had to be my first Mayan ruins experience, in Belize. It was certainly worth the hike to see the fascinating geometric carvings face to face, and the tasty traditional lunch of Belize chicken, rice and beans beforehand certainly helped keep us going.

Another exciting excursion was the all-terrain vehicle trip through the rainforest in Costa Rica. Seeing the colourful flora and fauna comfortably from inside was fun, then we got out for a stroll where our guide pointed out local species such as the eye-catching bright red poison dart frog. 

In Honduras, we were exposed to the culture with song and dance, history lesson opposite the bright blue sea from a knowledgeable local, as well as a taste of the traditional taro bread. 

The high point, however, was traversing the Panama Canal. Guests sat together in the plush panoramic lounge, with mimosas in hand, eagerly waiting to pass through the first lock. It felt monumental, and the Panamanian cooking class and talk about the history of the canal, as well as the Panamanian dance show in the evening, made the day all the more memorable. 

During "sea days" there are a host of activities to choose from, including dance classes, language classes, and even origami. My favourite was the quiz sessions – especially since my team won a few times! 

For a more relaxing pastime, pay a visit to the smart Otium spa, where you're offered champagne upon arrival before an exfoliating and nourishing 'Roman Bliss' massage.

A cabin should be a place you look forward to retreating to after an adventurous day on excursion, or even a fun-filled day at sea, and my cabin was a real haven. 

There is a choice of toiletries, from pH-balanced Sebamed to luxuriously scented Bvlgari, and my attentive butler made sure I received the right ones. My delicious ganache chocolates were also topped up daily. 

The bathroom was very spacious, with clean lines and Carrara marble finish, which was carried through to tabletops in the suite. The walk-in closet meant I could stash my suitcase, with plenty of space to unpack and hang all my clothes, and ample shelving too. 

I also had a desk, a dressing area with plug sockets adapting to all nationalities, and a comfortable sofa to sit. If I wanted to dine outside, there was also a balcony with two chairs and a table.

Eating and drinking

Breakfast can be eaten at a few venues, as well as a room service, which was popular with guests, set up on their balconies and always brought on time. 

I particularly enjoyed the 'healthy' options at the Marquee restaurant which also offers fabulous poke bowls for lunch, or you could order an excellent pizza from adjacent restaurant Spaccanapoli, which are cooked in a traditional oven. 

There's a broad, ever-changing buffet menu at La Terrazza for lunch – its dessert selection is huge and for dinner Italian classics shine. At delicately designed Japanese restaurant Kaiseki, there's sushi and hearty ramen bowls, among a larger dinner selection. 

At my favourite, the S.A.L.T restaurant, where the menu centres on the country you're in, try some of their local cuisine, elevated yet authentic. You can enjoy some jazz accompaniment at La Dame, the ship's signature French restaurant.

Throughout the day I popped into the Arts Café for delicious coffee – always a plus –or a slice of cake and fresh juice in a light-filled space that's a joy to sit in. 

One evening I fancied something chocolate-y and ended up with one of the best brownies ever from the room service menu. 

The verdict

This voyage took me on an incredible journey from Fort Lauderdale to Cozumel, Belize to Roatan, Honduras and Costa Rica to Panama. 

As well as the journey, Silversea adds exciting context to the countries you are visiting, from cooking classes that highlight the fascinating cuisines, to talks giving the background history and much more – all creating an incredible and unforgettable trip. 

Yasemen Kaner-White was a guest on the Silver Nova ship, and her trip was a segment of the Fort Lauderdale, US to Callao, Peru voyage. 

Door-to-door fare is £9,700 per person based on double occupancy in a Classic Veranda (including private executive airport transfers, overnight hotel stay, round trip flights, food and beverage on board, butler service, expedition gear and shore excursions). For more information, visit Silversea.com or call 0844 251 0837.

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These Comfy Vuori Joggers Got Me Through a 38-hour Travel Day Without Wrinkling — Now I Won't Fly Without Them

Jennifer Chan is a seasoned fashion, beauty, and luxury travel writer, and a respected on-air media personality. Her work has been featured in InStyle, Elle, StyleCaster, Real Simple, Travel + Leisure , and Lonely Planet .

If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Travel + Leisure / Madison Woiten

Like most frequent fliers, I take a lot of pride in my packing skills . Not only do I meticulously plan my travel wardrobe for every occasion and activity during the trip, but I’m also strategic about my airport outfit , too. For a little background, when it comes to selecting vacation clothes, I tend to gravitate towards vibrant dresses or whimsical tops that will photograph beautifully against the backdrop of my destination; but when it comes to my day-of travel outfit, it’s all about maximum functionality without sacrificing style. 

If that sounds like an impossible task, hear me out. As someone who prefers to look ultra-presentable when arriving to or departing from a destination, I do everything in my power not to succumb to baggy sweats or sloppy loungewear when I’m in flight. After all, oversized comfy clothes may sound smart when you’re curled up on the plane, but realistically, they only add unwanted bulk to your suitcase later on. Enter: the Vuori Villa Cargo Joggers , which proved to be the perfect travel pants for my 38-hour voyage from the Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort back home to Los Angeles.

Vuori Villa Cargo Joggers

As a general rule of thumb, I think it’s wise to wear clothing that can be worn (and reworn) throughout my trip, and fleece-lined hoodies and sweatpants aren’t exactly versatile when you’re sweating your way through Thailand or The Maldives like I was recently. For my journey back home, I begrudgingly pulled on my new Vuori pants , which I paired with the matching Villa camisole — a stark difference from the swimsuits and sundresses I had been wearing daily for snorkeling and kayaking in the crystal clear ocean, dining at innovative and delicious eateries like Charcoal and The Skipjack Bar, and rejuvenating at the tranquil Avani Spa — and hoped for the best after my blissful few days staying in an idyllic overwater villa at the five-star resort. 

Though I was more than bummed to say goodbye to paradise as I knew it, let me just say that these lightweight bottoms exceeded my every expectation and I will continue to wear them on every airplane from here on out. For starters, they take up virtually no space (they crumpled up into a tiny ball that could easily wedge between shoes and souvenirs in my suitcase), and are wonderfully wrinkle-resistant and ultra comfy for hours on end. They kept up with me when I was napping in airport lounges, briskly walking through terminals, or stretching my legs at every opportunity. 

What's more, they have a natural stretch woven fabric that drapes beautifully on the body and gives an elevated silky aesthetic that’s anything but basic. But best of all, these breezy Vuori joggers are made with partially recycled materials that are naturally moisture-wicking, which is an absolute godsend when you’re stepping off a tiny sea plane and sweating profusely on a tropical island. 

Of course, they boast roomy cargo pockets that conveniently fit your phone and passport, and a stretchy elastic waistband that sits high on the torso for an overall elongating effect. They also dry quickly, which would come in handy if you were ever in a pinch and needed to rinse them out in your hotel sink for multiple days of wear. These joggers currently come in three (nearly sold out) neutral shades and could easily be dressed up or down depending on your choice of fancy footwear or accessories. 

See? You don't have to compromise style for comfort, especially when you've got the Vuori Villa Cargo Joggers in your suitcase. If you’re looking for other travel-friendly Vuori finds (I can vouch for just about everything from the brand), keep scrolling for several on-sale items that are not to be missed.

Top Travel Clothes Deals at Vuori: 

Vuori clementine shorts 2.0.

If you’re looking for a pair of sporty shorts for summer, these will definitely do the trick. Lightweight, breathable, and flattering, these quick-drying performance bottoms were designed for maximum airflow and feature a mesh lining and elastic waistband to keep you cool on even the hottest days. 

Vuori Miles Joggers

Stock up on these versatile joggers, which are currently on sale in both the azure and hazelnut colors. Made with sustainable performance knit material, these breathable, quick-drying bottoms boast four-way stretch and moisture-wicking properties, and would look amazing with a cute crop tank or a brightly colored long-sleeved crewneck this season. 

Vuori Lux Intentions Jumpsuit

Jumpsuits are the ultimate one-and-done travel outfits, and Vuori's Lux Intentions one-piece just might be the most comfortable version on the market. The brand's ultra-soft performance stretch knit fabric is the star here, and the jumpsuit features a collared long-sleeve top and wide-leg pants for extra style points. The drawstring waist adds shape so you look put together on your next flight, sightseeing tour, or casual lunch. 

More Vuori Sale Deals to Shop

• Vuori Lux Rib Split Bootcut Pants , $54 (originally $108) 
• Vuori Micro Mesh Tank , $40 (originally $50)
• Vuori Colorblock Corset Jumpsuit , $102 (originally $128) 
• Vuori Yosemite Bra , $29 (originally $58) 
• Vuori Lux Rib Half-zip Sweatshirt , $78 (originally $98) 
• Vuori Cove Funnel Neck Tank , $46 (originally $58) 
• Vuori Rib Crop Tank , $38 (originally $64) 
• Vuori Long-sleeve Dune Crew Shirt , $49 (originally $98) 
• Vuori Mid-rise Elevation Slim Bootcut Pants , $64 (originally $108) 
• Vuori Studio Pocket Leggings , $78 (originally $98) 

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week.

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ABC Travel Service   Reviews

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Reviews 4.4.

Most relevant

I give ABC Travel 100%, thanks to Claudia

I had a very good experience with ABC Travel today. Claudia was very professional and helpful. She ensured I understood everything I needed to know in order to make my reservation process successful. Her customer service skills are excellent.

Date of experience : April 16, 2024

Incredible rebooking service

I realized I didn’t give myself enough time for a layover during an international flight. I requested rebooking and was called the same day. The service agent was super helpful and provided me options. So glad I went through this service for my travel plans

Date of experience : September 04, 2023

Superb Customer Service

We've been booking our airline tickets through ABC Travel for a number of years now, and every single time, we've had incredible customer service on the phone and unbeatable ticket prices. Very pleased and highly recommend!

Date of experience : October 26, 2023

Big thank you to Denise for her…

Big thank you to Denise for her outstanding help with our cruise. We would still be waiting to sail if she had not gone through the extra steps to help us get the pre-sailing requirements completed. We appreciate her translating the phone calls, documents and more.

Date of experience : November 16, 2022

I can always count on ABC Travel to locate the best price!!

I can always count on ABC Travel to search & find the best flights for me quickly. I always leave the Ramstein ABC Travel office with a big smile on my face! Today, Mr. Becker was efficient and kind. He valued my time and was accurate and thorough with ticketing my trip! Mr. Becker is a huge asset to your company. Thank you for improving your website. It is helpful to search flights prior to arriving to the office. 😀

Date of experience : July 19, 2023

The ABCTravel team does a great job…

The ABCTravel team does a great job finding me the best price for flights. I had to reschedule some flights recently and they made this process work very smoothly, especially given the short-notice. Julian Imhof from the Ramstein office helped me in re-booking and found me new flights also with a good deal on the price. Highly recommend!

Date of experience : February 04, 2023

Traveling in these times can be very…C.S

Traveling in these times can be very nerve-wrecking and lead to extreme stress. It can start with booking a ticket and coping with the constant airline and flight changes to asking silly questions like when do I receive a ticket??? But knowing that I can count on the excellent, friendly service of the agents reassures me that all will go well...And it always has!!! Big big thank you to Mr. Daniel Becker, Mr. Corey Meyer and the many others who have supported me on all of my travels. Thank you very much..Mahalo nui loa. C.S

Date of experience : August 12, 2023

Great customer service

I have always booked all my flights for myself and family over ABC travel and their very helpful, professional and friendly agent Denise. She has always answered all my questions, and has made traveling last minute a great experience. Wonderful customer service-especially from Denise!

Date of experience : August 29, 2022

Abc travel my 1st go to!

We have been customers over many years, the customer service and knowledge of the agents are great. They are always very helpful to ensure our booking goes smoothly. We could not be happier to have found yet, another great flight once again. Many thanks!

Date of experience : January 11, 2023

Superior customer service: Denise Jahn

I have been coming to abc travel ramstein for many years. In particular to see Denise Jahn. Every time Denise helps me she is friendly, patient, and extremely knowledgeable in her craft. It is because of her personality and charm that I am an avid customer to your company. Ms Jahn also ensures I have the best possible experience on my trips by successfully suggestive details with her honesty and experience traveling. I commend her for customer service and passion, for traveling is not only an experience but a way of life. Thank you Ms Denise Jahn for all you have done.

Date of experience : December 05, 2022

True asset to the airline industry

The travel agent, Ms./Mrs. Haithover was very helpful in assisting me with my inquiries. She took the time to explain every question that I had in detail. Ms./Mrs. Haithover took the time to research multiple flight connections to fit my need. After my flight was altered by the airline, Ms./Mrs. Haithover rebooked my flights with better seating. Overall she was very polite,well-spoken and professional.

Date of experience : June 20, 2022

Abc Travel is not what it’s supposed to…

Abc Travel got to expensive their prices are outrageous. Found another Agency won’t be able to buy tickets from them anymore Atlanta Frankfurt flights too expensive. Flying with a Family of 4 10K.

Date of experience : December 11, 2023

Reply from ABC Travel Service

Dear Linda, the prices are actually provided to us by the airlines. We try to negotiate with the airlines to provide favorable rates for our customers. Nevertheless, you should find the normal rates with us that you can also book elsewhere. Something may have gone wrong with your search. However, the fact that air fares are currently very high is not the fault or poor performance of ABC Travel Service. It is a pity that you have to publish such a bad review immediately because of a slightly more expensive price. I hope you find more suitable results in your next search. Kind regards Christoph Steinel

Great Experience

Corey , was amazing. He demonstrated great customer service skills and patients going above and beyond to make my family’s last minute travels a smooth one.

Date of experience : January 24, 2023

Excellent Service

Really nice to get such wonderful service. I has been many years since i got to travel, so really appreciated the patience in handling my travel to the US. Went over and beyond and will highly recommend to all my friends.

Date of experience : June 16, 2022

Fantastic, quick service. First time booking with ABC Travel and it was an extremely pleasant experience. Will for sure come back for future trips

Date of experience : January 22, 2023

A horrible experience so far

Whoever wrote this last review two days ago may have mixed things up. You CANNOT call ABC Travel - the hotline advises since months that they are NOT taking any phone calls. Response time on any email requests - if answered at all - take weeks if not months. If they come back they pretend to solve the issue by making offers in accordance with your request (e.g. change itinerary) but you wait another endless time (weeks/months) before you get any written confirmation that your flights had been rebooked. This travel agent doesn’t deserve the name “agent” and they are not interested in customer relations, just collecting money and then, customer please shut up. Will never ever use or recommend these fake agents.

Date of experience : June 12, 2022

Great Customer Service

Elizabeth with ABC a travel has been so helpful and patient with my flight reservation requests and with all of the changes! She responded quickly and was very kind.

Date of experience : February 23, 2023

AMAZING EXPERIENCE!

My experience was amazing! Everything was done perfect! Customer service was amazing! Ms. Denise was so helpful! She did above and beyond! I had the most wonderful experience on my trip!

Date of experience : November 07, 2022

HORRIBLE! We took trip to Jamica only to find ourselves stranded because our travel agent did not confirm our booking. When we attempted utilize the contact information provided in case of emergency, we were bounced back and forth from ABC Travel to FTI Touristik and POC in Jamica. No one wanted to help because they all felt it was not their problem. To top it all off it was over a weekend and no one answered the phone past Friday evening. The Jamaican resort was the most helpful, but we had to pay out of pocket cost on top the $6K we already paid for the vacation.

Date of experience : October 13, 2022

Great agency got a very good price and…

Great agency got a very good price and they helped me not get scammed from other travels they also gave me a call on the day of my flight to remind me about my flight I recommend this agent.

Date of experience : May 08, 2022

Whisky reviews with objectivity and transparency

Balvenie & Glenfiddich Travel Retail

Most of us aren’t allowed to travel at the moment. But knowing a bit about the human psyche, some of us can get excessive after being unable to do something for a while. So, I assume the moment we are told the coast is clear to travel again, some of us will be more trigger happy with our spending. There’s nothing like still being high on adrenaline in the airport just as you’re about to fly home. I’m doing my part in helping our readers to decide what travel retail bottles can be deemed worthy or not to bring back home.

I know Jason has expressed his disappointment for William Grant numerous times. I don’t like the majority of the stuff coming from the big brands as well. But Glenfiddich has always been okay in my book. I love their 15 year old . I think their 12-year and 18-year are decent and well-priced. Recent label changes have been questionable for me, but they aren’t as unnecessarily flashy as the other brands.

On the other hand, I do think Balvenie is overpriced. I don’t find their regular releases that unique. Most of it may seem new to whisky beginners, but double maturations and finishes all sound gimmicky and normal nowadays. I guess, it’s partially because of that I don’t find them that much better than Glenfiddich to justify the price difference.

As always, the whisky will do the talking.

Balvenie 12 Triple Cask – review

Aged in first-fill ex-bourbon casks, refill casks and 1st fill ex-sherry casks, bottled at 40% ABV.

Color: amber.

On the nose: An initial wave of barley & barley husk with oranges and lemon peels. Then it gives way to an undertone of almonds, toffee and honey. There’s a hint of something zesty lime with unpeeled nuts with a surprising uppercut of ethanol at the end.

In the mouth: Hints of vanilla and a lick of cinnamon stick followed by a quick hello of coffee. Different citrus notes follow but different tastes of oranges are the most noticeable. An assortment of something peppery with honeysuckle, something waxy, licorice, apples and toffee at the end.

Conclusions

A very pleasant and interesting enough single malt which is, I think, held back by the lack of ABV. I don’t know how much this costs in Duty Free or other airports but this is scarily priced at £85 a litre via The Whisky Exchange.

Score: 5/10

Balvenie 16 triple cask – review.

Aged in first-fill ex-bourbon casks, refill casks and first-fill ex-sherry casks, bottled at 40% ABV.

On the nose: An astringent texture with a long scent of honey, followed by a big and quick smell of orange cough syrup and hints of other citrus. There are quick undertones of toffee, coffee and vanilla afterwards. Apples and hints of pineapple come out at the end.

In the mouth: There’s an off taste that reminds me of loose-leaf tea that’s been used too much. Some sort of acidity, mixed with cloves and vanilla. A moving mixture of apple juice, honey, toffee, coffee and thyme at the end.

There’s less dimension in this compared to the Triple Cask 12. This one has less degrees and has weaker citrus flavors. Again, I just hoped this was bottled at a higher ABV. What is it with the majority of travel retail releases being anemic? I’m seeing online that the average price for this is around £100, or was £99.90 on Master of Malt. About a £15 difference for a 4-year bump? Not bad. But I still think this whisky is overpriced for what you’re getting. I’ll think this is more justifiable if the ABV were at least 43% to 46%

Glenfiddich Select Cask – review

Aged in ex-bourbon casks, European oak cask & ex-red wine casks and bottled at 40% strength.

Color: honey.

On the nose: An incoherent mix of apples, orange peel oil, dates, honey, hints of simple syrup and hints of red grapes.

In the mouth: Apple juice, dried dates, barley tea, honey, hints of simple syrup, orange peel oil and undertones of grilled pineapple. Harsh tastes of toffee, hazelnut latte and coffee appear at the end.

This tastes young. Despite the age, this is very easy to drink. But is it due to the dilution or was this blend just made to be really easy to drink? There is no coherence in the flavor. Everything is all over the place.

For something worth about $50? I’ll never buy this. The 15-year solera is way better than this and is cheaper as well.

Score: 4/10

Glenfiddich reserve cask – review.

Aged in ex-sherry casks and bottled at 40% strength.

On the nose: Dried apricots, honey, cereals, an assortment of bitter notes that make me think of nut skins and thyme, undertones of caramelized apple mixed with stewed dates and apples.

In the mouth: An initial and lingering bitter taste that makes me think of cork, overused tea leaves, burnt BBQ sticks and rubber. Undertones of honey, toffee, roasted nuts and stewed apples at the end.

This is very pleasant on the nose. I was expecting sulfur notes because of the ex-sherry cask influence. But there were not. This was very lacking in texture, flavor, complexity and finish though. It all falls apart after sipping it. $60 and the worst of the batch? No thanks.

Score: 3/10

Glenfiddich vintage cask – review.

Barley peated to 25ppm. Aged in European oak casks and first-fill ex-bourbon casks, bottled at 40% ABV.

On the nose: I get pronounced yet balanced scents of smoke, seaweed, brine, iodine and peat. Behind those are subtle scents of prunes, honey, coconut sugar syrup and dates.

In the mouth: The peat and iodine here are more pronounced. The smoke and norid take a more supportive role. They’re accompanied by more undertones of honey, dates, apricots, peppers and something zingy. At the end is something like a mix of date and honey syrup.

I like this out of all the Glenfiddichs. For one, it’s not very common to encounter a peated ‘Fiddich. This is the most balanced and pleasant of the three travel retail ‘Fiddichs here. Yet, I’m curious to taste an unpeated version of this. Because the other 2 ‘Fiddichs disappointed, I have a nagging feeling the peat covered the faults of this whisky.

At £79, I’ll definitely pass on this. It might be worth buying just to have a peated Fiddich in the collection, but that’s it.

These sample bottles were gifts to me some years ago. Commission links are included above if you’re not at an airport.

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Thanks for the review! I have a bottle of Balvenie 14 Peated Triple Cask at 48.3% ABV (travel retail only), which I bought from Europe last year for $92. The bump up in ABV is nice, I enjoy the flavors, and I think the cask variety brings more dimension / complexity compared to the 14-year-old Balvenie Peat Week 2002 that I have, but it seems to lack “depth”. I could describe it as either being rather “harsh” / “bright” or, to make a musical analogy, being mostly treble with maybe a little upper mid-range. I feel like I’m missing the whole lower half of the spectrum, but perhaps that’s more of what a typical Speyside provides at 14 years of age. I don’t plan on buying another bottle, and I would say a “fair” price for it in my book would be $60 rather than $92.

Hi Dwight, thanks for commenting. 48.3% does sound very nice! I liked the Peat Week so its nice to hear that the 14 year Peated Triple Cask is better than it. I do sometimes describe a lot of citrus notes as being bright. So you’re pretty close to the mark there.

$92 for Duty Free does sound painful. Imagine how much more it would be with taxes! Good on you for trying and moving on though. This is an attitude more drinkers will hopefully adapt.

Morning John, definitely the last few times of flying (remembers fond sepia coloured memories) I’ve made more of an effort to see what’s around the duty free bar the usual suspects of Diageo, Willam Grants and Monsieur Ricard, finding some Scapa and Glen Scotia in the process.

What would you say would be your best duty free purchases?

Hi Ben, it depends on which airport you’re at and what you’re looking for. The best airport for single malt whisky is Taoyuan airport. HK DFS had some Transcontinental Line Rum and Rhum JM. I remember their whisky selection consisting of mostly of the big and boring brands. I can’t speak for Changi at the moment as they changed retailers (if that’s the right term). So I don’t know what has changed.

John, I don’t see any age statement associated with the 3 Glenfiddichs and the bottle shots don’t reveal that either. Do you know their age or are they all NAS?

Hi Greg, thanks for commenting. The Fiddichs are all NAS.

I’d hate to be the master blender at Glenfiddich trying to determine which casks are Select, Reserve or Vintage

Ha! I won’t disagree with you there, Mark. They’re not that different from each other too.

You say the Gf select tastes young despite it’s age! How old is it? Have you ever done the tours to find out the processes?

Hi Ryan, I don’t know the ages of the whisky that makes up this blend. But I’ve had enough young single malt from the big brands to make an educated guess is something is young. By young I mean something below 10 years old.

I’ve never been to Scotland so I’ve never been to any Scotch distillery.

I like your reviews and agree that the Glenfiddichs are nothing special. However I wonder if we ever get a rating of more than 7 on this website for a regular/daily sipper type of whisky? Or does it require real Vintage ones to get there?

Hi Ron, thanks for the comment. I’m pretty sure there are some out there. But it’s highly likely the regulars skus from the very accessible brands won’t get these scores. I think you’re more likely to get them from rum and mezcal than whisky.

I guess it will depend on where you are based. The Philippines whisky scene is still growing so I have to order most of my bottles online or buy bottles when I travel. So that makes me more picky with what I buy.

You can find quite a few reviews here that give 7 or higher for what I’ll consider regular/daily sipper although your definition may differ from mine.

The Glenfarclas 15, 17 and 21 are within my budget of what I consider daily sipper, ratings of 7-8. The Compass Box Hedonism doesn’t have a rating but it’s one of my favorite whiskies ever. The non Cask Strength Redbreast 12 was rated 8 but I can get it cheaper than the Balvenie where I’m at.

These are just from the top of my head.

I guess it all depends on what one’s budget is and what the availability is in one’s area.

Sorry John I miss read your comment on the age! I thought you knew when commenting “despite the age”. Still half asleep when reading your reviews. It is indeed young ,7yo. The process will reflect the price I think and is it not a litre you get in travel retail? Highly recommend a trip to the beautiful Scotland and a tour of the many wonderful distilleries.

Hi Ryan, No worries. I think all the travel retail Fiddichs I’ve seen are 1L. I could be wrong though as I don’t always pay attention to stuff I deem boring. Yes! Visiting Scotland is in the bucket list.

My palate is maybe not discerning enough, so I tend to trust master blenders to know what they are doing. I have decided that I’m quite taken with Grant’s Monkey Shoulder, which I understand is a blend of Glenfiddich, Balvenie and Kininvie. And lower priced than the single malts. Am I missing out? I’m almost relieved to read John’s 3, 4 & 5/10 scores for bottles more expensive than I’m comfortable buying!

Hi Clinton, I think some master blenders have no choice but to do the bidding of their corporate masters. They may know what they’re doing but they may not have all the materials they want. Monkey Shoulder has been reformulated from what I heard. I don’t know what they changed though. I think Kininvie is worth trying as it’s good whisky. But it’s just damn expensive.

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Glenfiddich Aged 21 Years Gran Reserva Rum Cask Finish

Balvenie DoubleWood 17 Year Old

Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Distillery Edition

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Acer Swift Go 14 review: It just keeps going and going

Expert's Rating

• Ample connectivity
• Fantastic battery life
• Wonderful typing experience
• Strong performance
• Reasonably priced
• Uninspiring design
• No OLED display

Our Verdict

The Acer Swift Go 14 is a reliable travel workhorse through and through.

What if you took an already good yet affordable laptop, added more features and newer specs, and lowered the price? That’d be pretty great, right? Now take that same laptop and add an extra six hours of battery life over its predecessor. That’s exactly what the Swift Go 14 (SFG14-73T-75FA) delivers. The only “problems” are that confusing name and availability. You’ll only find this model in Costco.

If you follow PCWorld laptop reviews, you might think we already reviewed the Swift Go 14 a few months ago . And in a way, you wouldn’t be wrong. But this is a new “line” of Swift Go 14 (referred to as the SFG14-73/T line) with some distinct differences from the model we reviewed last. And those differences add up so much, it might be worth springing for a Costco membership just to buy this version. Starting with the fact that you get extra features for a cheaper price: at $799.99 this model undercuts the last Swift Go 14 we looked at by $200.

Looking for more options? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available right now.

Acer Swift Go 14: Specs

For $800, it’s impressive what you’re getting in the box. This new Acer Swift Go 14 comes with nearly the same spec list as the last model we looked at, with a few improvements like WiFI 7. That’s so future proof that technically Windows doesn’t support it fully yet. And you probably don’t own a single WiFi 7 device either. And thankfully you still get Intel’s new Core Ultra 7 155H processor, along with a decent amount of RAM, plenty of storage, and more ports than you can shake a stick at. One spec not listed below that we’ll get into later is the trackpad, because it has a few tricks up its sleeve.

Specs as tested:

• CPU : Intel Core Ultra 7 155H
• Memory : 16GB LPDDR5X
• Graphics/GPU : Intel Arc integrated graphics
• Display : 1920×1200 IPS multi-touch display
• Storage : 1TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe solid state drive
• Webcam : 1440p QHD webcam
• Connectivity : 2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x HDMI 2.1, MicroSD card reader. 3.5mm audio jack
• Networking : WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.3
• Biometrics : Fingerprint reader
• Battery capacity : 65 watt-hours
• Dimensions : 14.5 x 8.5 x .58
• Weight : 3.05 pounds
• MSRP : $799.99

Acer Swift Go 14: Build quality and looks

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

I have so much praise to offer what Acer accomplished inside the Swift Go 14. But when it comes to the exterior, I don’t have any true compliments. Or complaints. If you asked a Wikipedia artist to draw a generic laptop image that didn’t scream of any particular brand, they’d probably end up drawing something just like the Swift Go 14. It’s so generic that my wife saw me looking at pictures of it and asked if it was a Framework laptop.

Now, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Generic means you won’t be embarrassed to bring this to work or school or just about anywhere else. It’s not loud, obnoxious, or screaming of “Shutterstock Hacker example” vibes. The aluminum exterior feels nice against the hands, but the laptop itself has a little more flex and give than I’d expect of the materials. I do appreciate that you can open the lid with just one hand, and the odd feet on the underside actually lifts the keyboard slightly when it’s open. That might, in theory, give the vents a better opportunity to work, but it’s technically less ergonomic.

It’s a decently thin and light laptop at just over three pounds, but thanks to the Swift Go 14’s overall boxy feel, it doesn’t feel as sleek as it is. If this were a premium high-end expensive laptop, all of that might be disappointing. But this is an $800 laptop, so all of that is perfectly acceptable.

Acer Swift Go 14: Keyboard and trackpad

The keyboard and trackpad, however, I have plenty of compliments to give. I suffer from varying hand issues that make me favor ergonomic keyboards, and when I move to a laptop keyboard it’s usually an uncomfortable experience. But typing on this Acer keyboard wasn’t bad. The travel is decent, you get some adequate click noise, and I never felt myself getting ahead of the computer or hitting the wrong keys.

That’s not to say every decision is perfect, of course. The arrow keys are cramped, and at this size you won’t get a numpad. But the biggest annoyance of all is out of Acer’s hand: the new Copilot button. I don’t think I’ve ever hit it on purpose. What’s the Copilot button you ask? It’s Microsoft’s push at building AI into Windows. It’ll call up the new Copilot AI and you can ask questions, find a recipe, or just about anything else ChatGPT does.

But do you remember the Office button? Yeah that was a thing for a hot minute, and I bet you never used it either. And that replaced the right side CTRL key, something that’s arguably more useful. Thankfully you still have a left side CTRL key, and a left side Windows  key, but if you’re used to using either of those on the right side of your keyboard, you’ll have to form new habits. Acer also includes an AcerSense Key up by the fingerprint sensor, and it’s exactly as useful as the CoPilot Key. I’d rather have something else, anything else, there instead. It fires up custom Acer software that you can just call up through the Start Menu anyway. That software is mildly important, as that’s where you customize the trackpad lighting (or turn it off).

Speaking of the trackpad, it’s a good size and very responsive. I particularly enjoy the extra features this model adds that wasn’t found on the previous Swift Go 14 we reviewed: media controls. Start up a video, whether it be a YouTube video in a browser or switch to a media playing app, and the media controls automatically light up on the trackpad. I expected them to be terrible and fidgety, but shockingly these are useful and responsive. For once a feature you didn’t ask for that actually adds something good to the package. Good job Acer! I did, however, have a couple of occasions where my palms brushed the trackpad just enough to cause my caret to jump up several paragraphs while writing this review. It didn’t happen frequently, but more than once, so it’s worth noting.

Acer Swift Go 14: Speakers and display

You can’t expect a lot out of $800 laptop speakers, and that proves to be the case here. You’ll get no thumping bass, no room filling sounds, or anything you’d want to host a concert on. But what you do get is a competent set of speakers that gets the job done. Dialog is clear, music is recognizable, and shockingly you get a bit of left and right surround. No seriously, I watched a movie with surround and I could get a sense of audio direction, which is more than I expected. But if you really want good sound, grab a set of headphones and plug them into the (thankfully included) headphone jack.

Adequate describes the display as well, at least the model I’m testing. This Swift Go 14 variant comes in two display flavors: 1900×1200 IPS and 2880×1800 OLED. My review unit is the IPS flavor, and it shows. Compared to OLED displays black colors are washed out, contrast is just so-so, and colors aren’t all that vibrant. The touchscreen is a welcome addition though, especially since it somehow doesn’t hold back the Swift Go’s epic battery life (more on that later).

All in all, none of this is “best in class” but you have to keep the price in mind. For the amount you are spending, I’m pretty happy with what you get. It’s a good enough display and good enough speakers without emptying your wallet.

Acer Swift Go 14: Webcam, microphone, biometric options

Check out the top bezel and you’ll find the Acer Swift Go 14’s 1440p webcam. I hate to repeat the refrain of “it gets the job done,” but it indeed gets the job done. At 1440p, you get a crisp image, with decent color and exposure. Naturally things start to struggle in dim lighting, and you will of course suffer from the classic laptop “up the nose” angle. But it supports Windows Studio effects, including background blurring, framing, and eye contact. That all works well enough, although the blur could do better edge work. The webcam also has a physical privacy shutter, which is a must have in this day and age.

The microphone does a pretty good job too, providing decent volume and crips vocals. You get a bit of noise cancellation, but it’s not overly aggressive so you’ll want to keep that in mind if you have a very noisy background. Like most laptops, you’d be better off with dedicated cameras and microphones, but if you don’t need the highest quality video calls than what Acer provides is more than good enough.

As for biometrics, you can’t log in with your face unfortunately. All you have is a fingerprint sensor that doubles as a power button. At the upper right corner of the keyboard, the placement is a little awkward but not the worst I’ve seen. The sensor works quickly and consistently, unless you have dirty or damp fingers, of course. It’s not as convenient as face unlock, but it’s a close second.

Acer Swift Go 14: Ports and connectivity

Do you know what always pleases me with a laptop? Plenty of ports. And here, the Swift Go 14 delivers. Look to the left side of the laptop and you’ll find two USB-C ports (one of which you’ll need for charging), and HDMI port, and a USB-A port. But Acer isn’t done. Head over to the right side and you’ll get another USB-A port, a headphone hack, a Kensington lock, and a microSD card. That’s so many ports.

And it’s not just any old ports either. The USB-C ports are the almighty Thunderbolt types, which is fantastic if you want to plug in a couple of portable monitors. The HDMI port? You get 2.1 for speedy connection if you prefer something that route. Even the USB-A ports are fast 3.2 Gen 1ports, great for transferring data. But it’s not all perfect: I really wish the USB-C ports weren’t on the same side. It’s more convenient when they’re on opposite sides, both for charging options and if you want to hook up two portable monitors.

Acer killed it in terms of connectivity too. The Swift Go 14 arrives with WiFi 7 out of the box. That’s so sparkly new that you probably don’t own anything else with WiFi 7, let alone the routers to support it. It’s backwards compatible of course, so you’ll get the maximum speeds your surrounds provide and future-proofing. Likewise, Bluetooth 5.3 is as new as you can get, and in my testing that means you can walk quite a bit away from the laptop and maintain a strong connection for your wireless headphones or earbuds. It’s fantastic.

Acer Swift Go 14: Performance

The Acer Swift Go 14 arrives with Intel’s new 14th-Gen Core processor, in this case the Core Ultra 7 155H. We’ve had a chance to test a few of these laptops now, and there’s more performance variation than you might think thanks to other choices like RAM, storage speeds, cooling, and so on. The Core Ultra 7 155H has six “performance” cores, eight “efficient” cores, and two “low-power cores” for a total of 16 cores and 22 threads. Acer paired this with 16GB of LPPDR5 RAM, and a 1 TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD. Other than gaming, this Acer has no excuse to run slow.

That good mix of hardware shows in our first test, PCMark. This Acer Swift Go scored 7,141, leading the pack even among other laptops running the same processor. To be fair, it’s within a hundred points of the ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2, so a few more tests could potentially have them trade places. But that ThinkPad costs $1,000 more, so that’s a very good start for Acer.

The Acer Swift Go 14 continues to shine in the Cinebench R20 test. This test is a multithreaded short-duration test, and the Acer jumps to the top of our list with a score of 5,656. Again it outperforms other laptops running the same processor, which suggests Acer is doing some good work in handling temperature and throttling. Admittedly, the difference in the top three laptops is pretty small, so in theory with enough tests these three could trade places. But considering the price difference, it’s still a pretty big win for the affordable Swift Go.

Next we run a Handbrake encoding test, and the Acer scores admirably here too. If we were to switch out the list to include much more powerful (and therefore much more expensive) laptops, you’d see the Acer fall further down the list. But stick with relatively similar and recent machines, and the Swift Go holds it own and barely squeaks out another win by margin of error. That it can hold its own against similarly spec’d laptops priced at hundreds (or even a thousand) dollars more, goes to show that paying more doesn’t always get you more power, sometimes it’s about other things like a larger 4K display in the case of the MSI Prestige 16 in our chart.

Next up is 3Dmark’s Time Spy benchmark, which focuses on Graphics Capability. On this test, I changed up the comparisons just slightly. Here, we substitute in the Dell XPS 16 9640, which uses the same Core Ultra 7 155H processor, but also throws in more RAM and a dedicated GPU. You’ll notice that among the laptops without a dedicated GPU, it fares very well. It takes second to the MSI Prestige 16 by just a few points, and noticeably ahead of the laptops the two ThinkPads, which rely on an i7 and AMD Ryzen 7 CPUs.

But once we add in a laptop with a dedicated processor, you’ll see the limits of integrated graphics, even with these new Ultra Core offerings. Despite running the same processor, the Dell blows the Acer (and everything else) out of the water, and that’s down to the GPU naturally. So, the takeaway is this: integrated graphics will still get you by for regular productivity and even very light gaming, but if you want to run the latest and greatest AAA games at max settings, you need a GPU. The same goes for video editing. You can do it in a pinch, but you wouldn’t want this Acer to be your main editing machine.

Acer Swift Go: Battery life

Holy cow, this new Acer Swift Go has staying power. To test battery life, we put the laptop in airplane mode and loop a 4K copy of Tears of Steel until the it dies. We actually tested another model of the Swift Go 14 late last year, and it put up merely respectable results of just over nine hours. So, imagine my shock when this less expensive more featured model lasted nearly 15 hours in the same test. That’s somehow despite having a lit-up trackpad with media controls.

In fact, only one laptop in our chart manages to go longer, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus. But that’s $100 more, heavier, and has a lower resolution display. And the Dell misses out on some other features, like a second USB-C Thunderbolt port, a faster HDMI port, and future proofing with WiFi 7. So that becomes a question of, how much do you want to give up just to get even longer battery life?

Looping video tests don’t always translate well to real world use of course, but I’m happy to say that the Acer does indeed having plenty of staying power. I easily make it through an entire workday with plenty of juice to spare, and I can usually make it through a second day too without sweating. In fact, as I write this, I’m through day two since I charged last and I’m sitting at 75 percent battery life. This is a laptop that, so long as I started on a full charge, I wouldn’t be too stressed if I accidentally left behind my charger. That’s peace of mind I’d pay extra for, and you don’t even have to this time.

Acer Swift Go 14: Conclusion

Acer might not be the very first brand you think of when buying a laptop, but maybe it should be. Or at least it should be in your consideration list. It’s true that the Swift Go 14 isn’t the most high-end luxurious model you can buy, but it’s not trying to be either. It’s a travel workhorse. Strong enough to get you through everyday tasks, whether that’s Office productivity apps or checking email, and light enough not weigh you down.

It’s also hard not to appreciate the generous port selection, as that means you can ditch the dongles and just worry about bringing the charger. But that might be my favorite bit about the Swift Go 14. For $800 you get a laptop that goes and goes for days, so honestly you may not even have to worry about bringing that charger after all. And thanks to USB-C charging, there’s a decent chance you could replace it if you absolutely had to anyway.

This isn’t a perfect laptop. You don’t get OLED, and I still wish Acer had placed one of those USB-C ports on the other side for maximum convenience. And you can’t expect to do anything that requires real power, like AAA gaming with Ray Tracing. But I go back to the price: it’s $800. I’ve spent more for laptops that didn’t offer everything the Swift Go 14 does and didn’t last half as long on a charge. For this price range, it’s very hard to complain when there’s so much to praise.

The only real catch is where you buy it: it’s a Costco exclusive. But the Acer Swift Go 14 might literally be worth the price of admission.

Author: Josh Hendrickson

Josh Hendrickson is a freelance journalist with years of experience in the tech field. He's the former Editor-in-Chief of Review Geek, and in addition to PCWorld, his work can be found at How-To Geek, PCMag, and more. He's covered computers, smart homes, and phones and has a YouTube channel dedicated to gadget reviews.

Recent stories by Josh Hendrickson:

• Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2 review: A few ports short of greatness
• What a $1,000 gaming laptop really gets you
• The 5 laptop features that matter most in 2024

photo credit: ABV

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Time travel and surveillance state paranoia collide in a witty, thought-provoking romance novel

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Book Review

The Ministry of Time

By Kaliane Bradley Avid Reader Press: 352 pages, $28.99 If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org , whose fees support independent bookstores.

“People aren’t history,” scoffs Adela, vice secretary of the Ministry, whose work is shrouded in secrecy and subterfuge. This retort comes late in Kaliane Bradley’s debut novel, “The Ministry of Time,” but it’s a telling line. Its dismissal of individual lives reveals the novel’s stakes. If people aren’t history, what is? This is a disturbing statement to come out of the mouth of a high-ranking British bureaucrat. For a book that could also be easily described as witty, sexy escapist fiction, “The Ministry of Time” packs a substantial punch.

Of late, many critically acclaimed books embrace mystery and absurdity in a way that both suspends and expands conventionally held notions of time. Hilary Leichter’s “Terrace Story,” National Book Critics Circle award winner Lorrie Moore’s “I Am Not Homeless If This Is Not My Home,” Ali Smith’s “Companion Piece,” National Book Award winner Justin Torres’ “Blackouts,” and Marie-Helene Bertino’s “Beautyland,” among others, forge poignant, bracing emotional connections. Their playfulness reveals possibilities and perspectives that might be lost in a novel bound by fact-checked 21st century reality. After all, in a world where nothing feels normal, fiction that embraces a disregard for physics and convention mirrors our new upside-down quotidian life.

To this end, Kaliane Bradley proves that it’s possible to address imperialism, the scourge of bureaucracy, cross-cultural conflict and the paranoia inherent in a surveillance state through her utterly entertaining novel. “The Ministry of Time” begins with a sixth-round job interview for an undisclosed position. The unnamed narrator is caught off guard when “the interviewer said my name, which made my thoughts clip. I don’t say my name, not even in my head. She’d said it correctly, which people generally don’t.” For the narrator, who “plateaued” as a “translator-consultant” in the Languages department of the Ministry of Defense, this top-secret job that pays three times her current salary is worth the mystery.

Soon the work is disclosed. The narrator, whose mother immigrated to the United Kingdom from Cambodia, will be working closely with people who might bristle at the term “refugees.” She’s now part of the Ministry of Expatriation working with one of five “expats” scavenged from the past. Confident in her storytelling, Bradley sweeps away the details of how and why time travel exists in the novel.

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“All you need to know is that in your near future, the British government developed the means to travel through time but had not yet experimented with doing it.” With that, from the jump, readers and characters alike are asked to take a leap of faith as the narrator assumes the role of a “bridge” between an “expat” and modern life. The larger purpose of her work is elusive to her as well, but, in short, the narrator is tasked to be the roommate of an explorer named Commander Graham Gore who died on a doomed Royal Navy Arctic exhibition in 1847. He’s mannered, understandably jumpy, but also rather sexy for someone who died close to 200 years ago. Will this be an odd sort of meet-cute, or is something more chaotic afoot?

Buckle up, the ride has just begun. Juggling notions of “hereness” (the present) and “thereness” (the past), the novel’s five expats come to grips — or not — with the fact that they have been snatched from the past. The ministry selected individuals who were on the point of death so that their departures from the past would in no way rupture their historic timelines. But how would they affect the present? The bridges take notes, and medical examinations are de rigueur, but these collected data are merely passed along without much in the way of analysis.

The expats and bridges adjust to life together in a largely amusing fashion, sharing lovely homes provided by the ministry, visiting pubs, learning about the very existence of cinema. Music streaming services are a hit, but, generally speaking, the expats find it hard to accept the scale of modern life. Whether this is due to some physical mutation created by the process of time travel or if it’s merely the challenge of cultural displacement for people “loose as dust in narrative time,” true fissures begin to surface.

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In a manner that feels wholly unsurprising to the reader, suspicions arise as to the nature of the project. Why exactly is there a need for secrecy and what are the particulars about this ability to time travel that we’re asked to tacitly accept? Tensions also flare between the narrator and another bridge, Simellia, who are the two people of color in this tightly knit circle. The specter of imperialism looms and informs a certain tension between the narrator and Gore. Yet, as a green bureaucrat, happy to rise in the ranks, she confronts Simellia, saying, “You signed up for this job… [knowing], as much as I did, that what we were doing was world-changing. That’s what you wanted, remember? Do you think the world changes by being asked politely? Or do you think there has to be risk?”

But this brash confidence begins to waver. The narrator recognizes, “Every time I gave Graham a book, I was trying to shunt him along a story I’d been telling myself all my life.” Then she notes that the ministry “fed us all poison from a bottle marked ‘prestige’ and we developed a high tolerance for bitterness.” While the book does assume some obvious postures of university level post-colonial theory and language, it moves past these more cliched moments by focusing its attention on the characters. A tight narrative rich with witty banter, cutting observations and interspersed passages from Gore’s doomed expedition also keep the novel taut.

“Maybe I was tired of stories, telling them and hearing them,” muses the narrator. Curiously, while she made languages her profession (hence her tendency to consider that “the great project of Empire was to categorize: owned and owner, coloniser and colonised, evolué and barbarian, mine and yours.”), her antagonistic younger sister became a writer. Finding herself falling in love with Gore, the narrator becomes the story, upending history.

As the story’s momentum builds into that of a spy thriller, Bradley pulls off a rare feat. “The Ministry of Time” is a novel that doesn’t stoop to easy answers and doesn’t devolve into polemic. It’s a smart, gripping work that’s also a feast for the senses. An assassination, moles, questions of identity and violence wreak havoc on our happy lovers and the bubble they create in London. Yet our affection for them is as fresh and thrilling as theirs is for one another, two explorers of a kind, caught in a brilliant discovery. Bradley’s written an edgy, playful and provocative book that’s likely to be the most thought-provoking romance novel of the summer. Check your history: That’s no small feat.

Lauren LeBlanc is a board member of the National Book Critics Circle.

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