| | Home > Search
Best Vacation Packing Tips
Consolidate, take double-duty duds, get creative
By Anne E. Stewart
Last Modified: Sep 02, 2008
|
How you pack your bags can make the difference between a
carefree vacation and an exercise in frustration. Whether you’re traveling for
a week or a month, taking the time to pack well will have you singing your own
praises once you’re out on the road. Here are a few tips to remember the next
time you’re ready to head out.
| Prepare your gear.
|
Make sure your luggage is going to make the journey. Clean
out any remnants of past trips—receipts, beach sand, old candy wrappers. Oil
zippers and wheels to keep them moving smoothly. Mend any tears in backpacks or
bags, and bring a small sewing kit for on-the-go repairs. If your suitcase is
soft-sided, consider shoring it up with a piece of cardboard tucked beneath
your clothes. | Divvy up your stuff.
|
For most trips, two pieces of luggage will do the job: a
wheeled suitcase and a small backpack or personal bag. The wheeled bag lets the
ground bear the brunt of the load, and the small bag helps you keep important
items close. In the suitcase, pack things that you can afford to lose and that
can be replaced with relative ease. In the small bag, carry the essentials you
would need if your luggage was lost or damaged—clean underwear and a shirt, a
toothbrush, contacts or glasses, and your medications. Include some comfort
items as well: sunglasses, lip balm, a book, and a snack.
As for the really important things—money, credit cards, and
personal identification—disperse these throughout your belongings. Store your
passport and driver’s license in separate places (preferably with one of them
on your person), and put copies of your passport in both bags. If you have more
than one credit card, stash them separately.
| Pack less than you think you need.
|
Remember that whatever you bring with you will be yours to manage—hauling
it through airports, and, if you are on an escorted tour with many overnights, unpacking and repacking every few nights (one nice benefit of river
cruises or ocean cruises is that you only unpack once). So, try to reduce. Weed
out anything that you are not absolutely certain you will wear regularly. Be
ruthless and make the hard decisions before you leave—it’s far better than
having to toss something out mid-trip.
| Take double duty duds.
|
If you’re going to be traveling from city to country, or
through a variety of climates, you’re not going to be able to bring a whole
different wardrobe for each locale. So, choose items that can do double duty,
like pants that can go from sightseeing at the Louvre to dinner at a chic cafe
along the Seine. The short sleeve shirt you
wore while traversing the boiling streets of Rome
will add a layer of protection against the rainy chill of Holland when worn under a long-sleeve shirt.
Also, bring clothes in fabrics that are suited to traveling—sturdy, washable
fabrics that can stand being crunched into a suitcase, and preferably those
that will air-dry quickly if you have to wash them out in your hotel sink.
| Get clever about the way you make it fit.
|
Experiment with rolling and folding your clothes to find how
they fit best. Bulkier items like sweaters often fit better when laid out flat
at the top of the suitcase. Take advantage of hidden spaces, like the insides
of shoes, to tuck in rolled underwear and socks. Heavy items like shoes should:
a) be packed on the bottom of your suitcase and b) be kept to a minimum, three
to four pairs max—sneakers for sightseeing or working out, casual sandals for
easy walking, dress shoes for hitting the town should suffice.
| Consolidate your toiletries.
|
Think of your morning routine, and then miniaturize it. Take
just what you use every day, and leave the rest. Pour
lotion/shampoo/conditioner into travel-size bottles. Don’t take the whole box,
bag, or bottle of something when you only need a week’s worth.
| Leave room for souvenirs.
|
Whether your budget is big or small, you’re bound to pick up
at least trinkets here and there. If you’re not much of a collector, don’t
worry about it too much; but if you’re planning on buying out the entire stock
of an indigenous peoples’ craft market, you might want to make some space.
Anything really large should probably be shipped home rather than lugged
around, but smaller items should be able to find a place in your bag.
|
About the Author
| Anne E. Stewart is a freelance travel and food writer based in Florida. Contact her at stewart.anne@yahoo.com. |
| NOTICE: This article is general in nature and for informational purposes only. To the best of our knowledge, the information was accurate at the time it was written; however, we suggest you confirm specific details and prices with the appropriate vendors before you set out on your trip since services, policies, and prices can change with time. AffordableTours.com assumes no obligation with regards to the information or to update or inform the reader of any changes or other factors that could affect the information contained herein. |
|
