Take the bag. Please. Luggage is often overlooked when planning a vacation. Stand around the baggage claim for twenty minutes and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Many people pay more to check a bag than to purchase it. Perhaps they are unfamiliar with the old adage, you get what you pay for. Or in this case, win.

Luckily, the good people at Kipling are providing one lucky UpTake Vacations reader with a quality piece of luggage for all their travel needs, the Alcatraz II Backpack (pictured)!

As an added bonus (to me) Kipling provided one Alcatraz II Backpack for my consideration (this is called full-disclosure). I consider it a darn nice bag.

The Alcatraz II has room for your laptop and lots of other stuff. It can be worn as a backpack or wheeled as a whatever you would call that (a wheelpack?). And it’s airline carry-on acceptable, so you can skip the aforementioned baggage claim unless you just want to stop by and rub it in. That will show them.

The bag itself is strong and sturdy with lots of zippers and pouch pockets. It is also water-resistant, which is nice. The Alcatraz retails for $228 and is available in a variety of fashionable solid colors (although the one I received is more of a calico and looks like a thousand dirty penguins as seen from space, not that I’m complaining).

Bottom line, it’s a very nice bag and winning it will give you one less thing to worry about on your vacation. Plus, you’ll look really stylish and that’s always fun.

How to enter: Leave a comment about your worst luggage experience in the space below. Make sure to enter your email address in the box provided (not the actual comment).

Comments will be open until 11:59 p.m. PST on Friday, July 22, 2011. Winner will be picked in a random drawing. Winner will be contacted via email and have 24 hours from time sent to respond. Failure to respond with the allotted time will result in another winner being drawn. Contest open to U.S. residents 18 and over. Void in Alaska and Hawaii.

It’s time for our weekly monthly occasional look at the tweets, links and travel news packing our inbox (also, suitcase).

Here’s what’s going on in the world of travel:

USA Today has an interesting look at 10 popular travel stories.

The Tourist Trap looks interesting.

Welcome to the internet, Avid Blog! You look marvelous.

Take the Beatles tour of Britain, it’s fab!

Have you had life-changing experiences in the great outdoors? Outside magazine wants to hear about it.

Have you visited the Travelocafe?

Chicago’s Pierrot Gourmet celebrates Oktoberfest from September 24 through October 9, 2010.  Be there!

Bausch & Lomb want to give you a trip for two!

Win a trip to Australia!

And there you go, travel around the internets! Send us your links!

Don't let the seat full you, you'll be dancing to these tunes.

Every summer needs a soundtrack. Who better to provide the beat to your summer vacation, backyard bbq or sun-drenched road trip than Mr. Sergio Mendes? His new album, Bom Tempo, was released on June 1st and we want you to have a copy.

From the press release:

Sergio Mendes, producer, composer, arranger pianist, band leader and cultural sage, continues his magical ride with Bom Tempo, a beautiful slice of rhythmically fresh inspiration from the internationally celebrated artist.  He remains as vibrant and vital today as he was when leading Brasil ’66 to international superstardom. Mendes’ modern sensibilities and ultra sensitivity to the intricate and beautiful Brazilian musical language he himself helped create has always been his focus. Bom Tempo expands the maestro’s use of color, texture and street derived energy, highlighting his mastery of authentic Brazilian rhythms and composition.  In the end, Bom Tempo is a brilliant summer day celebration.

“This is bom tempo music, good times music,” says the Brazilian-born, U.S.-based Mendes, who sought to sum up the CD with a succinct Portuguese title. “It’s all about the good times, good weather, good tempos. The album is about the diversity, joy and sensuality of Brazilian music—songs I previously recorded and some that I never have—played by Brazilian and American musicians.”

Sergio Mendes sums it up perfectly: good times music. I received a digital copy of Bom Tempo, and I’ve been shaking my business around the office for days. It’s not pretty to look at, but you can’t deny the beat(s).  Seriously, there’s more sunshine pouring out of my speakers than… well, I live in Seattle, so that’s too easy, but man, it’s a great collection of good times.

Win a copy and you’ll agree!

How to enter: Leave a comment and tell us your favorite summer song. It’s that easy! The winner will receive one copy of the Bom Tempo CD and will be announced on Wednesday, June 16th. Open to residents of the U.S. and Canada, no P.O. boxes, please.

Good luck!

This contest is now closed. Find out who won the CD in our big winner post! Bring a friend!

Want to visit Sweden for free? Of course you do. Here’s how (straight from the press release):

CarplusVacation has partnered with Volvo, West Sweden Tourist Boards and Visit Sweden to give you the chance to win the road trip of a lifetime. Okay, Okay, so how does this work? EASY! Use the trip planner to explore exciting West Sweden and create your own itinerary from food to lodging. Submit your ideal vacation plan for a chance to win. Easy, Cheesy. [Editor's note - I like it when people say stuff like "easy, cheesy" in an official release, it's comfort food and comfort words.]

The prize includes: One winner will be chosen at random to receive two (2) return airline tickets with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), one (1) Volvo car will be loaned to winner for the duration of one (1) week including European road insurance. Winner will also receive a package of free accommodation and dining corresponding to items chosen in his or her itinerary. The contest ends July 1st, 2010.

Please note that UpTake is not affiliated in any way with Volvo, Carplus Vacation, the West Sweden Tourist Boards or Visit Sweden. Things show up in our inbox. We like to share things. The inbox is empty. Everybody wins.

Tell Sweden we said hello.