Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Travel & Vacation Luggage Packing Tips & Tricks

Packing for your next vacation does not have to be a daunting task - though most travelers indicate that packing is the most dreaded aspect of any trip.

Over the years different travelers have told us some of the tips and tricks they have learned while packing and we gladly pass them along to you.

The one piece of advice we hear most often is - Do NOT over pack.  Everyone is prone to over packing.  Taking a few minutes out to plan your wardrobe and accessories can help you pack just what is needed.

For example, chart out how many different outfits you need for a trip.  If you need 4 outfits for daytime wear and 4 or 5 nighttime outfits, you write that down.  After you have that information you want to pick your most versatile pieces of clothing.  A nice pair of jeans can be worn at least two-times if not three-times during your trip.  A shirt can be worn one day for your excursion and then can be used under a sweater or a jacket another day. A versatile dress can be worn at least twice.

Remember to pack a sweater or light jacket to wear in case it gets cooler than expected.  Bring your most versatile footwear, you do not really need a different pair of shoes for every outfit despite what you may think.

Bring enough undergarments, but don’t bring more than you’ll ever need - remember, in case of emergency you can buy more wherever you are.

In order to maximize the space in your luggage, consider having a professional laundry service prepare your clothes for packing - generally they can fold clothes much more neatly than most of us can and they will fit perfectly in your luggage.

Roll clothes rather than fold them if you are doing it on your own.  Rolled clothing generally comes out less wrinkled than folded clothing.

Consider the material of the clothing you are thinking about brining and try to pick those things that make the most sense - no one wants to spend time steaming or ironing clothes!

Bring your bare basic toiletries and remember you can buy stuff on the road if you run out or need things.  It’s more important that you anticipate and bring enough medications and other items that are not easily replaced.

Make photocopies of all your important documentation and keep them hidden in your luggage in case you lose anything important.

Put an emergency contact sheet in your luggage and a wallet sized version in your purse, fanny-pack, wallet, etc.  You want to have that information at your fingertips, or someone else’s fingertips at all times.

Keep a list in your wallet of any and all medications you or anyone you are traveling with are allergic to.

Call the hotels you are staying at and find out if you need any special converters for electrical items and ask the hotels what items they provide (many hotels have irons, hairdryers, etc).

The key to packing successfully is having a game plan and executing it.  Taking some time out to decide what is truly essential will help you from over packing.

If you have questions that you would like us to help you answer about packing - please post them in the Comments section and we will try and help!

Posted by VV Blogger on 01/04 at 03:44 PM
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