Roman Savell Resort Tote: The bigger the better

I love a big bag.  I know it’s not cool to admit in this era of wristlets and diaper clutches, but a big bag gives me a sense of security that a smaller bag just can’t.  I like knowing that if I need to whip out a board book for a quick distraction, it’s in there.  If I need a back-up outfit for a back-up outfit, it’s in there.  Maracas for an impromptu toddler jam session?  You guessed it.  It’s in there.  So you can imagine my excitement when I received the Roman Savell Resort Tote.  If you’re a big bag-lover like me, this bag will be your biggest dream come true.

When I say big, I mean it.  The resort tote ($95) measures in at 14"H x 17"W x 7"D.  Makes me feel giddy just thinking about it, and packing it is a sheer joy.  There’s so much space in play, you really have to see it to believe it.  Packing up two boys (even over-packing, as I clearly like to do) for a full day away from home was not an issue with the resort tote — at all.  A back wall zipper pocket and several other interior pockets means you have room to keep diapers and wipes separate from the other contents, and the top zips closed to keep everything secure. 

While it doesn’t have a dedicated pocket for bottles and sippies, it makes up for this omission elsewhere.  Like its sister bag the Bravo (read our review here), the resort tote offers a unique bottom storage compartment that we love.  But unlike the Bravo, the resort tote’s bottom compartment is thermal insulated.  Moms everywhere, rejoice!  This bottom space is just as ample as the bag, itself. I can easily fit a sandwich or two along with some juice boxes for lunch at the playground, open them up a few hours later and they’re still perfectly chilled.

We tested the resort tote in tan with black and white accents (shown at right); it also is available in blue with green accents (shown at intro of review) and red with blue accents.  From an aesthetic standpoint, it’s a natural-born classic.  Constructed with soft canvas, the accents dress the bag up quite nicely while a silver Roman Savell nameplate pops against the muted background.  You’ll never confuse the resort tote with your garden variety canvas grocery bag, that’s for sure! The inside lining is quite forgiving, made of water and sand resistant fabric. 

Speaking of the latter, I love this bag for a beach getaway.  Not only can you stuff it with toys and towels, if you manage to score a few hours of kid-free time it’s perfect for toting a stack of paperback books and magazines for some quality surfside reading.  The versatility of this bag simply knows no bounds, and because of it’s generous size, neither does your list of what you can pack for a day out with the kids. 

To purchase the resort tote, or to see Roman Savell’s other ‘mom’ bags, click here.