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New Travel Service Lets You Borrow a Suitcase Full of Clothing

Nov. 19, 2016
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2 min read
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New Travel Service Lets You Borrow a Suitcase Full of Clothing
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Google the phrase “how to pack a suitcase” and you’ll be presented with more than 12 million articles. Clearly, packing is a problem — and one that a new start-up called unPack is hoping to solve. The basic premise is this: If you’re willing to let a stranger drive you around town via Uber or Lyft, and sleep in someone you don’t know’s guest bedroom courtesy of Airbnb, why wouldn’t you borrow someone else’s clothes?

Okay, so there’s a little more to it than that. According to the company, its goal (as discussed in the video below) is to “eliminate luggage and keep you from having to pack when you travel.” But it knows that personal style is important, so the first step in registering with unPack is filling out an online profile in which you'll share your clothing sizes and preferred fits as well as your favorite designers to better customize the experience.

When you’re ready to see what it feels like to travel baggage-free, you'll log in to the site, input your travel dates and destination, tell them what kind of trip it will be (as you’d dress differently for a lazy beach holiday than an important business meeting), share some of your planned activities and whether you need any additional items like toiletries. That’s it.

When you arrive at your hotel, a suitcase full of new-to-you clothing will be waiting for you. Yes, it's gently worn, but professionally cleaned every time it's returned (think Parks and Recreation's Rent-a-Swag, but with delivery). When it’s time to leave, you’ll leave the bag at the front desk (with all of the rented clothing intact, of course) and make your way back home without having to lug a thing.

If the concept sounds familiar, it might be because company co-founders Aaron Liskov and Andrew Zahornacky actually pitched the service on Shark Tank in late October, where they were looking for $500,000 for a 40 percent equity share. While – spoiler alert! — it did not end well for them, the company is pushing forward. Though it’s currently only available in New York City, Liskov and Zahornacky are looking to expand unPack to Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. in the near future. Welcome to the sharing economy!

H/T: Star2.com

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.