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|  | | | | | What to pack |  | | The number-one rule in packing for a trip is to pack lightly.
You will be moving your luggage into the trunk of your car, out of the trunk of your car, through the airport, off of the luggage carousel, to the train station, to the bus stop, onto the bus, off the bus, back two kilometers because you overshot your stop, up six flights of stairs, and onto the dresser.
While this might be great exercise, you might rather save your energy for climbing up to the top of the cathedral. |
| | Here are things that it is difficult to imagine not packing:
Toiletries
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrush
• Contact lens equipment and spare glasses
• Makeup (for business trips)
• Razor
• Hair care equipment (brushes, comb, blow dryer)
• Condoms
• Business/calling cards
If you are doing a low-budget trip, you should also bring cleansing products:
• Soap (in a plastic bag)
• Shampoo (or shave your head and use bar soap)
• Towel
Clothes (don´t forget these)
• Enough Underwear
• Warm clothes incase of a inclement weather.
• A pair of flip-flops (also called shower slippers)
Miscellaneous
• A small backpack or fanny pack.
• Neck wallet or money belt
• Tiny flashlight
• Earplugs, waterbottle (with water!), chewing gum, food
• Most important Phone Numbers
• Passport
• Watch with alarm
• Phone beeper
• Electrical transformers/plug adaptors |
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| | | | | | | What to pack in it | | |  | | Selecting Luggage
Having appropriate luggage can make a world of difference.
It may mean the difference between carry-on and stowed, health or a hurting back, and damaged vs. undamaged belongings.
This article assumes that you are packing for a plane flight; travelling by train, bus, or car may be slightly different. |
| | Garment Bags
Garment bags can be exceptionally nice for short business trips. Most airplanes have little compartments with a bar that you can hang them on. Be advised, however, that those compartments fill up pretty quickly, and you may have to jam it into an overhead bin, wrinkling your suits and dresses.
However, garment bags are not particularly easy to carry if very full or for a great distance.
Wheeled Luggage
If you must take heavy items, seriously consider some sort of wheeled contraption. One can purchase carts that can fold up and go inside the suitcase or suitcases that have wheels and a handle built in.
Suitcases with stiff, center-mounted racks are much more manageable than suitcases with "leashes". The leashed suitcases have a tendency to wobble, tip, get stuck, fall over, etc.
Cheap Luggage
On the opposite end of the spectrum, you should remember that it is not mandatory to purchase a special valise for carry-on items. A few sturdy garbage bags can work just fine.
You can also put things in boxes. Be sure to wrap them extremely securely with glass-reinforced tape, and recognize that they will get very rough handling. Furthermore, the airlines will not take responsibility for damaging anything in a cardboard box. You take your chances.
Backpacks and Camping Gear
You can ship camping-style backpacks as well. Some airlines will put them in large plastic bags to help keep things from tearing off. Otherwise, make sure that anything that you have attached to the pack (sleeping bag, tent, roll) is securely fastened. And, as with packing in cardboard boxes, airlines will not take responsibility for damaging anything in a backpack. Do not pack the good china in the backpack. |
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| | | | | How to pack | | |  | | | How to put your stuff in your luggage. |
| | Whatever you pack your gear in, be sure to clearly tag your luggage on the outside with your name, address, and phone number. (You might want to use a business address or PO Box instead of your home address.) Also put a piece of paper inside with the same information, in case the tag gets stripped off.
If you are traveling internationally, you should pack your own gear, then either lock it or keep it close to you at all times. If someone else packs your gear or you are separated from it, the best that could happen is that the airline will grill you about your luggage and possibly go through it. The worst that can happen is your airplane exploding from a bomb you inadvertently brought on.
Organizing The Space
You will undoubtedly want to organize the space in your luggage so that items are easily accessible once you get to your destination. Plastic Bags are Your Friends when it comes to this. You can pack your undies in one bag, your socks in another, your toiletries in another, and so on. (Don't forget to pack an extra bag for your dirty laundry!)
Avoiding Wrinkles
My former neighbor tells me that the best way to avoid wrinkling suits is to roll them up carefully, then put them in a plastic bag.
Avoiding Breakages
If you are traveling with anything breakable, surround it with soft and squishy items. Put your CD player inside a plastic bag, then put it inside a plastic bag filled with your socks. Put your Listerine bottle inside your one of your boots.
You might also want to put your breakable item inside a cardboard box stuffed with foam or packing "peanuts", then putting that box inside your suitcase.The best way to avoid breakage is to take the item as carry-on, if possible.
Maximizing Space Utilization
If you are having trouble fitting everything in, look for ways to use nooks and crannies. Fill the area around books with socks. Put your modem cables inside your shoes.
Also, you can cheat a little bit on the carry-on. Wear your jacket on the plane instead of putting it in your suitcase. (This is not a bad idea anyways, since airplanes are frequently cold.) Put your toothpaste, earrings, modem, or even a few pairs of underwear in your coat pockets. |
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