REI Customer Service Excellence

Wow! I decided the shoes I purchased at REI last weekend were not right for me and decided to take them back. REI has an amazing return policy. 100% customer satisfaction guaranteed.

While I was there, I needed to figure out a solution for checking my new travel pack at the airport. I have read a lot of blogs and posts that say you should get a cover bag to protect it and keep all the straps from getting snagged in the conveyer belts. One of the guys at the store here in San Francisco was super helpful and showed me what they had and then while I was browsing he found me again and said he had some ideas to secure the bag better.

We worked together for what seemed like an hour on one of the bags at the store, (same model I had purchased) and added some little plastic strap holders and moved some of the buckles around etc. We eventually came up with a great way to secure the pack and make sure all the straps were secure and out of the way so they would not snag at the airport. I didn't end up buying a cover as I think our solution will work just fine.

I walked out after spending about $5 on some strap tie downs and thought, what amazing customer service.

Thanks REI.

Preparation

No! It's not the cream.  I am getting ready for a much needed and anticipated vacation to Asia and it's DAMN exciting!

I will be departing the ever wonderful city of San Francisco, for whom I have been resisting falling in love with, on November 29th. Yeah, that's 10 days from now!

I will arrive in Bangkok on December 30th at about midnight local time. Ouch! I transfer planes in Tokyo on my way there.

After a week in Bangkok, I will ta

ke a train and boat to Koh Tao and then Koh Samui for a week and then back to Bangkok.

Departing on the 16th for Tokyo. I hope to take the train from Tokyo to Osaka and Kyoto and find some beautiful sights and a relaxing onsen for a few days then return to Tokyo.

A week in Tokyo including Christmas and then returning to San Francisco on December 30th.

I forgot to mention that I have never been to Thailand before so it will be a new and exciting experience for me. I have only been to Japan once and didn't get to spend too much time in Tokyo so really looking forward to it. Not to mention I will be able to practice my Japanese.

I went to REI to pick up a sweet travelers backpack (REI Grand Tour Travel Pac) and some new shoes so I will be doing the backpackers thing this time. No suitcases! :)

Should be quite the adventure so stay tuned and I will do my best to keep posting with updates along the way and hopefully some amazing photos.

Cheers.