Welcome OF (and for that matter Cobo, too)
I'm pretty sure we have or at least used to have a member or two who use their straights in the shower. Personally unless I'm using a Friodur or other stainless razor, I don't like the idea of my razors in all that humidity. I don't even keep them in the bathroom (except Friodurs-those things are tough razors).
Enjoy the trip, you'll no doubt have more than just two straights before it's done...:D
I also don't think there's a "magic" brand. I have Dovos and TI's and honestly I don't think I could personally rate one brand over the other, although I've not tried the very expensive top end models from TI.
Vintage in good shape has been the way to go, I think. Get it honed to start with, get another vintage razor and your own hone and strop, and try to make the extra razor just as nice as the one you sent out. You'll have blades ready to shave in no time.
Also...fight stubbornness. I went for almost 2 years without a coarse hone, after my Norton broke. It took a now well established member during his newbie days coming over with his Norton, to help me see exactly what I was missing and how important the lower grits really are also.
I'm rambling.
Welcome.
John P.